Hate This Best Life Now!

If I were to say to you that I hate life, you would probably not want to spend a great deal of time with me. You might find my comment a great reason to finally pick up Joel Osteen’s book in an attempt to avoid such a pessimistic view of the world. As opposed to the depressing rhetoric of hating life, the therapeutic tones of positive thinking sound very attractive. The problem is, the motivational theism of some modern preachers is not eliminating your reason to hate life, but only delaying it. They may, however, be eliminating your ability to obtain true and lasting contentment and peace by sheltering you from the way reality directs us to what is truly the best life. 

While Joel Osteen has been greatly criticized by many evangelicals for his explicit book titles like “Your Best Life Now,” I wonder how surprised we might be to find out the number of pastors who are unwilling to stand in front of their congregation and echo the words of King Solomon. Ecclesiastes 2:17 So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

The main point we need to understand from King Solomon is that this statement is made after being very successful at living his best life, in this life. By the time you read this statement in Ecclesiastes 2:17, you have already read that Solomon had lived a life making the most of every resource available to him as a powerful and rich leader who was the envy of the world (see 1 Kings 10). It is after living his best life now that King Solomon said he hated life under the sun. For some people, it is not until our death beds that we realize the futility of this world and all that it has to offer.  Even when some preacher has given us great motivation to clean up our life and grab on to some type of great living and success, what have we but the fading words on a tombstone?

Here is the reality. We live in a world under judgment and there is no amount of riches and wisdom and pleasure or pursuit that can undo it. There is no satisfaction to be found in this world and Solomon even says that what we leave is given to someone who didn't earn it (2:21)…and they too will die. Even our legacy is pointless. Where do we look for lasting satisfaction when this reality sets in and we ask, “What’s the point?” If you do achieve your best life now, you will not even have to wait for eternity to realize your mistake. You will hate your best life on your last day “under the sun.”

Preaching the gospel is a solemn task and I feel the weight of this responsibility more every day. The gospel is not the good news of saving you from your drug habit. It does not allow you to simply overcome some tragedy in your life. It’s not the promise of gaining wisdom and it’s not the gateway to power, prominence or property. It is not the avenue of social equity in this world and it has no promise of preserving rights (except for the right to become children of God in Christ). It is the news that Jesus Christ is God’s only Son, second in the Trinity, who came into this world to appease the eternal wrath of God that is rightly rested on every human rebel. We live in a world that is corrupted by our sin and we live as enemies of our Creator in our rebellion to him. That means we are living in a judged world and face judgment later. If we don’t hate that life, even in the very best of it, we will never know the everlasting love that is only found in the grace of the cross.

So, for the sake of your eternal enjoyment of the One who is infinitely beautiful and satisfying, please, I plead with you. Hold onto the wisdom of Solomon to hate this “under the sun” life now so that you might love the glorious beauty of the Lord through redemption for all eternity!

The Illogical Nature of Worldly Philosophy

Before you judge the title, I don’t have a view that all philosophy is evil. As we look through the annals of church history, we can be thankful for some of the contributions of Christian thought. We should however notice the adjective I just used, “Christian.” A reason informed by the authority of Christ (and his word) will always think differently to a reason under the authority of self. In saying that, even Christians can leave the certainty of biblical revelation and wander into the uncertain realms of trusting finite human fallibility. It is the finite limitations upon human philosophy that reveal the nature of many illogical human conclusions. In saying this, there is one fundamental illogical conclusion that we must see in the very nature of worldly philosophical thinking: That is, the idea that humanity can improve humanity (and this world) through its own knowledge and experience and autonomous conclusions in this world.

There is a concept that no human can escape, and it is very well articulated in thought of the Preacher in the book of Ecclesiastes. It is a thought which is captured in essence using three simple words, “under the sun.” This is the realm of humanity and the very realm of this world.  All of it is under the sun.

The author of Ecclesiastes is explaining a simple and yet profound reality on which we should all meditate and consider very carefully. The problems of this world are in this world. The nature of humanity exists in this world. Our experiences, knowledge, and meditations happen within the realm of a confined parameter. You might object to this and suggest that the world is indeed a very big and diverse parameter. My answer? Finite is finite, no matter how big the border.

Philosophical pursuit for existence, meaning, purpose and fulfillment operates within a limited realm of fallible capacity. In one thousand years, humanity will be no closer to finding out the undeniable answer to these questions through its own autonomous pursuits of reason. Existence, meaning, purpose and fulfillment do not come from within but without. We do not invent a computer and seek it to find out its own purpose, but we design it with function and purpose. The computer’s purpose comes from that which is outside its own realm. For it to be otherwise would be absurd. The writer of Ecclesiastes calls this, “vanity.”

Christianity has a claim that no other human religion can boast. The Christian is completely dependent on revelation to understand what would otherwise remain an enduring secret. In the revelation of God’s Word, we are no longer reliant on a fallible reason limited to the realm of “under the sun.” We are recipients of truth from beyond this world and from the only One with authority and infinite capacity to inform us of our existence, meaning, purpose and fulfillment. God revealing himself to us through his word and his Son, Jesus Christ, is our only avenue of certainty to the fundamental answers to life in this world. Only with this foundation can we think without thinking in vain. Psalm 119:113 I hate the double-minded (KJV- vain thoughts), but I love your law.

Does Your Life Testimony Speak of God's Tangibility?

To say that God is my God is no small claim. Christianity is so often seen as a set of beliefs, and while many of us would say it is so much more than that, there is a great difference between conceptual acceptance and tangible reality. It is often in the midst of turmoil, conflict and dispute when this difference becomes more definable. When we face trouble, where (or whom) we turn to is often an indicator of our idea of reality and tangible help. The priority of our speech, actions and disposition is the message of what we portray as tangible reality.

I am not saying that a patient with a cancer diagnosis should not go to a doctor for treatment. Nor am I saying that we should not make an appeal to our governing authorities when injustices are being committed. These can be actions for both believer and non-believer. For the believer there is always a greater reality and one that should have real implications in the way we respond to everything in this world. It is not that we have a religious belief that can be put aside while we deal with a real-world problem. For a Christian, while we go to the doctor, the doctor himself is not the sum total of reality. For the Christian, it is the very knowledge of God that dictates a greater reality in every situation that affects our speech, our priority, and our approach in every circumstance.  God is the tangible reality by which we live and breathe and have our being.

In the bible there are consistent and regular implications and commands for God’s people simply by knowing his existence. In Genesis when God was making covenant with Abram (Abraham), he does so simply on the basis that he is God. There are real expectations from knowing this truth. Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. Because God is, Abraham must live according to his standards. When Jacob was told to take his family to Egypt without fear, the reason for doing so was because God is God. He was to believe and act on the reality that God could build him into a great nation in Egypt. It was not Pharaoh’s kindness, but God’s sovereignty that made Israel a great nation in Egypt. Genesis 46:3 Then he said, "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. When Moses was to lead the people of Israel, they were to accept Moses as their leader because he was sent by the one who simply is. Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

 In the Psalms, we are told in Psalm 46:10 that we can, “Be still and know that I am God.”  These words are not just nice thoughts on a tranquil day. They are tangible realities to be enacted in our temporal and physical existence.  To “be still” is an action required on the basis of knowing reality. When we are faced with trauma and dilemma in an uncertain world, the Christian need not rally troops and speak with fear mongering desperation.  Neither do we need to curl up on a ball in our beds in spiraling depression. Our stillness is based, not on religious sentiment but on the tangible reality of the self-existent, all-powerful, all-knowing God who through Christ is our God. Our temperament, speech and actions should all convey the priority of this tangible reality.

We may go to doctors, we may appeal decisions, we may go to the basement during a tornado, but we do so knowing that God is God. The hands of the doctor are under the sovereign control of God. He puts the governing bodies in power and sways the heart of the king. He controls every element in the universe. This is why a Christian is calm, prayerful, and has a greater source of comfort and strength for the anxious moments of life. We sound, act and think differently and portray it in all the signs that show the world a calm disposition in a greater even more tangible reality. We have God.

Responding Well to Losing "Rights"

As our governments have been grappling with both the decisions and the reach of those decisions in dealing with this crisis, I have seen many Christians expressing disagreement in ways that seem (at least to me) to have words of worry and sometimes a sense of entitlement. As a fellow citizen and one who enjoys (and believes in) the separation of church and state as much as any believing American, I benefit from the reminder that Christ never promised us an easy relationship with the state and the Scriptures must dictate both my attitude and approach to earthly authorities. The current crisis has posed real dilemmas on governments and navigating the waters of conflicting data and opinion cannot be easy. We have all had instances of both agreement and disagreement with our civil leaders’ statements and actions during this time. Many Christians have shared particular concern about both possible and actual infringements of rights. Please allow me to share ten points from some important biblical texts by which we can test our speech as we consider decisions being made – even ones we may disagree with during this period.

1.     Christians should realize, no matter what the state says or does, we can live as free in Christ. This allows us to calmly love God and serve others even when the state is in opposition. We must show honor to our authorities and in every case reflect that in our speech.

1 Peter 2:16-17 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

On this point I am constantly reminded of Daniel. He had lost all rights as an Israelite in captivity, and yet in serving under one of the most powerful tyrants of history, Daniel would approach Nebuchadnezzar by saying, “O King, live forever.” (Dan. 6:21).

2.     Christians are to be subject to our authorities even when they are unjust and be willing to endure suffering. This means, without grumbling or sowing discord.

1 Peter 2:18-19  Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.’

Romans 13:1-2, 6-7 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. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. ... 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 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.

3.     We need to actually love those we cannot agree with and even those who may want to hurt us.  This should be evident in our lives and speech.

Matthew 5:43-44, 46-47 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ... 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

4.     We must be careful to recognize that our tongue will easily represent our evil heart. Any individual in authority we speak about is created in the image of God and must be spoken about with great respect.

James 3:8-9 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

5.     There are no special dispensations for Christians to ignore the fruit of the Spirit. These are the very character attributes of God who lives within us.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

6.     Our consciences are not clear because we make a good defense but because we did so with gentleness and respect as pointing to Christ and honoring him.

1 Peter 3:14-16 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,  but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,  having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

7.     We need not speak with a fearful tone or have anxious rhetoric because our constitutional rights are in threat. We are in the care of our God who is sovereign over every matter from the least to greatest.

Matthew 10:28-30 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 

8.     An eternal perspective of our eternal home will help us to balance out the real importance of our perceived earthly rights being taken away. We don’t need to speak as if losing a constitutional right takes away our very life.

Philippians 3:18-21 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

9.     With right perspective we calmly know that opponents of God live in uncertainty and face judgment in an instant. We should care more about their souls.

Psalm 73:18-20 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. 19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! 20 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.

10.  Ultimately there are only two really important rights to know about.  The right to eternal judgment for all humans, and the right to be children of God for those who believe in Christ. These should be the main two rights that Christians show they are most concerned about. If these are not the priority rights you are speaking about, you need a new priority.

John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

Please understand, I am not advocating for silence and inaction, but we need to make sure both our speech and actions will align with Scripture and our first priority to glorify God. Brothers and sisters, please allow me this pastoral plea for us never to sound like losing a constitutional right is more important to us than our calling to act and speak pleasing Christ. Let’s be this way with our families, friends and neighbors. We have an opportunity right now to show that our temperament is one of peace and joy because we have a greater security than this world. And…a greater hope.

Beware the Isolation Sin of Self Interest

It’s not at all difficult to understand why coronavirus is the main topic of conversation between most humans on the planet.  As I text with my family, we are often asking about restrictions and death rates and curves and governing decisions.  When the lights go out, it is easy for our minds to head in that same direction and perhaps even apply the situation to our future job security, bank account or general feeling of safety.  The dominating subject right now is understandable, but the way we deal with this subject can inadvertently allow self-interest to dominate our minds. Self-interest takes our hearts away from Jesus and elevates ourselves to the position of what we worship most.

When Jesus was ministering in Galilee, the Pharisees were too focused on their own purposes and plans to accept his greater and glorious purpose.  Jesus had performed miracles and preached in a way that unquestionably identified him as the Messianic King anticipated in their own Scriptures. Their self-interest clouded the greater reality and they rejected him.  Before you point your fingers too sternly at the Pharisees for missing the glory of Christ, bear in mind that they too were facing major hardship in their time.  Rome had conquered and was in the process of conquering the world as the major power of the day. Under Roman rule there was peace only if you abided by all of Rome’s demands. For the Jewish people, the intrusion on their values and way of life was not a menial dilemma. As Jews defied their oppressors, they died. In fact, in 70 A.D. Roman armies demolished the temple and brought devastation to Jerusalem.

The Pharisees were looking for their own idea of a Messiah.  Sure, they knew the Old Testament Scriptures, but in looking for the one who would protect their Jewish religion and life and keep their perceived identity as a people, Jesus was not serving their interest.  They wanted a Savior to defeat the Romans, not one who would be hung on a Roman cross.

The sin of self-interest, even as a response to turmoil, blinds us to reality and when that reality is Jesus, the sin is exponentially greater. This is why Jesus responds to the Pharisees in telling them that their rejection of him places them under greater judgment.  In one example Jesus uses, he talks about the Gentile Queen of Sheba.  “The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.” (Matthew 12:42).  In this statement Jesus is making two big points. 1. This Gentile queen marveled at the wisdom of Solomon and travelled from great distances to see him. Solomon was great, but he was no Jesus.  2. The Pharisees have the much greater Jesus right in front of them but have rejected him in compliance with their own self-interest. They are under greater judgment.

If we are to consider any of this in the light of our current crisis, we must consider that Jesus is always greater in importance than anything this crisis might mean for our temporal, current situation. Your health is important.  Your family is important. Your job is important.  Please don’t hear me trivializing the temporal importance of our lives.  The priority, however, is always that Christ is greater. If we are centered on self in the temporal and forgetting Christ, we are ignoring the greater glory and in danger of placing ourselves in the same Christ-rejecting position as the Pharisees.

Jesus’ example of the Queen of Sheba is such a great example for us to meditate upon.  If the Queen of Sheba thought Solomon’s kingdom was a kingdom of wisdom and glory, how much more would she have marveled at the wisdom and glory of the kingdom of Christ which is infinitely greater than Solomon. If this means greater judgment for the Pharisees, doesn’t it also mean that there is great responsibility upon us not to forsake the much greater Jesus for our own self-interest?

Self-interest is a sin because it turns us away from the glory of Christ, even the self-interest that is concerned about a real and present danger. During this time of isolation, I pray that the Lord would protect us from focusing on self in an unhealthy way and to turn our hearts and minds to the infinite glory and greatness of Christ. If we do so, I believe it will affect every aspect of our speech and actions and temperament during this difficult time. Don't ever forget we have Jesus.  He is always greater and infinitely glorious. Self-interest will only ever blind us to that reality.

Are You Thankful for our Crisis?

If you are anything like me, the Coronavirus crisis has encouraged you to think upon the Lord even more than usual.  For example, today Trish and I were walking into Costco to pick up some items for our pantry. Most people were wearing masks and we were ushered carefully into the store through new walkways designed to keep people distanced from each other.  There was an air of fear and I thought to myself that this is exactly what I would consider a pandemic to look like. Trish suggested we take some photos to show our future grandchildren what it looked like in our community when the world stopped. Right then my mind instantly thought of Jesus.

Trish didn’t mean that the world was ending, she just meant that there have been shutdowns all over the world. Even so, I walked out of Costco with Trish thinking to myself how thankful I am that in Christ I have certainty when the world has none. In Christ, I know that the true end of this world will only happen when the trumpets sound the great day of his return. In Christ, I know that with every step I take in this time of pandemic, I am a child of God and in his eternal care. These are but a few of the thoughts that are filling my mind right now.

If you are a Christian, I hope that this crisis is having the same effect for you.  It should be. So often when I read the Psalms, I find that crises and threat from enemies constantly result in pointing the Psalmists to turn to God and meditate on him. When David is in the wilderness, he turns to God (Psalm 63). When his enemies are closing in on him, he turns to God (Psalm 3). When Asaph can’t understand the worldly success of wicked men, he turns to God (Psalm 73). When David is in the depths of sorrow and sadness, he turns to God (Psalm 13), When the nations have defiled God’s temple, Asaph turns to God (Psalm 79). These are but a few examples of a great host of Psalms that show that for God’s covenant people, one of the main results of tribulation is that we turn to God.

 Brothers and Sisters, isn’t it a good thing to turn to God? Would you be thinking as much about your hope in him if there was no pandemic? Would you be meditating on the certainty of the cross if there was no mortality rate? Would you be anticipating the glory of a new creation if there was no wilderness? Would you turn to God as much if there was no trouble?

I am not joyful at the death of others. Nor do I have some morbid delight in the spread of sickness. This is a world filled with the consequence of original sin and it saddens me.  At the same time, I am thankful that pandemics push me closer to Jesus.  How about you?

Perhaps in your crisis you can think exactly like King David. “My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.” Psalm 63:5-8.

Controlling Your Thoughts in the Corona Commotion

If you have been reading my blogs over the last few weeks, you will notice that during this time of isolation and uncertainty, the Psalms of David have been not only a great encouragement to my soul, but a great source of wisdom to face our current crisis. Again today, a Psalm of David helps us to tune our minds in a God-ward direction. How do we avoid uncontrolled fear in the commotion of the Covid19 crisis?

1.     Acknowledge that fear and dread is a matter of the mind.

“Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.” (Psalm 64:1).

Like many of David’s Psalms, the situation in Psalm 64 yet again has David facing his enemies. David’s enemies plot and conspire against him and seek to do him harm by sewing discord and dissension. In the face of those who would gladly take his life, David’s first request of God is not directed at his opposition but at his own mind.  He does not ask God first to preserve his life from his enemies, but from the dread of his enemies.  David has a real complaint to bring to God, and his thoughts are no doubt filled with the possibilities of what might happen to him, but David acknowledges that his dread will not help him.  He asks God to preserve his life from his own fear. His enemy is the dread in his mind before it is the threat in his world.

2.     Acknowledge the reality of the threat as you seek God’s help.

Even though David starts with his own fear and dread, he also defines his problem as he cries out to God. By reading the words of David’s prayer we know that men were against him and that their main weapon in this instance was their words.  They were secretly plotting against David and seeking injustice (Ps. 64:2-6).

While it is important to first acknowledge that our thoughts are inclined to promote fearful thinking, it does not mean we cannot take the reality of the threat before us to God.  David is able to describe in his prayer both the nature of the threat and the fallen nature from which it comes. We should be informed of the nature of the threat before us, but if we are managing our fear and dread, we will act responsibly as we trust God rather than engaging in social media fearmongering or spiraling in hopeless anxiety. 

3.     Meditate on the reality of God’s power, authority and victory.

Psalm 64:7-9 But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads. Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.

How does David manage the priority of fear and dread in his own mind? He reminds himself (through his own prayer) that God has the last say. In David’s situation, the evil words of the men will be used against them in God’s ultimate judgment.  Evil will not prevail and ultimately God’s righteousness must see justice reign. It will not be as if it is something difficult for God, but in his limitless power and sovereignty he will overturn their evil “suddenly.” David prays about his dread but follows that up with a meditation on God’s sovereignty.

Unlike David, we have the ability of looking back to the completion of that sovereign victory in the cross of Christ. That gives us certainty to look ahead to a final consummation that will be the realization of the comprehensive victory of the cross for all eternity. 

4.     Convert dread to praise as you realize the truth

Psalm 64:10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!

David first asks God to preserve his life from his fearful thoughts before he brings the actual threat to God.  He meditates on the justice and power of God and reminds himself that the threat is not a threat to God. He is then able to put his mind to rest from fear and exult in the Lord who is his refuge.

Conclusion:

We may not have a group of people spreading rumors and consorting to bring us to ruin, but in Coronavirus we do have a real physical threat around us that has potential to bring harm to us and those we love. David’s approach here tells us that before we think about the global pandemic and its possible effects, we should bring our own disposition before the Lord. We should acknowledge that sinful fear and dread is not something a virus brings to us, but something we nurture in our own thoughts.

If you have just read through these four points, please remind yourself that this happens in the doing. Dread of our enemy is not resolved in the acknowledgement that there is truth in this article.  Our life is preserved from dread in the application of these points. When you sense the presence of dread, will you worry about the threat or will you take your dread to God? In acknowledgment of the threat will you meditate on your God who cannot be threatened? In the knowledge of God’s sovereign victory and justice, will you agree that you are better to face the reality of your challenge with an exultant heart rather than one full of dread? “Let all the upright in heart exult!”

What Does "Refuge" Really Mean?

Sometimes we hear statements from scripture quoted by other Christians and even though we might understand a surface meaning, we fail to comprehend the depth of riches behind them. One of the biblical concepts I have used and am hearing a lot in this time of crisis, is that “God is our refuge.” What does this really mean? 

In Psalm 61, David is crying out to God from what seems to him to be the end of the earth.  His heart is ‘faint.’ He is wearied and forlorn. We know that for David, this could fit any number of circumstances in his life as he was often surrounded and hunted down by enemies. David looks beyond his physical hiding places and his loyal band of warriors to find ‘refuge’ in God and describes five ways that God is our refuge.

God is our rock.

Psalm 61:2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

In this first description David likens God to what humans know in creation as the sturdiest structural matter on which we can stand.  This, however, is not any rock, this is a rock higher than David. This is a strength and more solid foundation than David himself can provide. It is elevated and from this vantage point David can discern what is coming.  As we see God as our rock, we understand that he has this strength and wisdom as the God of the universe.  In God’s truth we can understand the world and remain founded upon a higher strength to discern the turmoil that comes against us in life.

God is our tower.

Psalm 61:3 for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.

Even more that a solid rock in creation, God is for David a purpose-built structure designed to withstand the attacks of an enemy. When we see a fortress with its surrounding walls and lookouts, it is for a signal of safety.  It is in our High Tower that refuge provides an eye on all that is against us and is actually purposed for providing security in the threat of attack. We know that in this world we are not immune to the effects of a fallen creation. Every human at some stage succumbs to death and human enemies and threatening diseases lurk around us. They may even overcome us, but there is a High Tower who has purposed to give us security beyond this world and he knows every threat that comes upon us.

God is our tent.

Psalm 61:4a Let me dwell in your tent forever!

As our refuge, God is not impersonal. He is not some force or energy that we use for protection. He is where we can actually dwell.  We get to be inside his tent, and it is in tents where David knew that only friends would be invited. In tents friends can share an intimate meal and have fellowship with one another. There is an intimate notion of dwelling and presence and this is what God’s chosen friends can have with him. When we take refuge in God, we don’t just seek safety from worldly threats, we seek community and fellowship with our God who, in Christ, is our friend.

God is our caring Father.

Psalm 61:4b Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah

If the intimacy of a tent excites you about our refuge in God, try the picture of being a chic sheltering under the wings of your parent. By now I hope you are realizing that when we think of God as our refuge, it is not just any kind of shelter from a storm, it is relational and intimate and it tells us more about God than it does about hiding from our own problems. God is our safe place because nobody cares like our Father. We want to be under his wings because he loves us and covers us. In and through Jesus Christ, his love for us will never end even when this world does.

God is the provider of our eternal community.

Psalm 61:5 For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

This verse is where David looks into the future and realizes that refuge in God means the provision of an entire community of his people. David realized that the people of God were an inheritance for each other. David never had to worry about his solitude or the emptiness of never having community. God will provide people for his people and they will be people who all love God and are on the same side. As we continue to renew our allegiance to God (vows), we are never and will never be alone. It is a refuge of community.

God is our King.

Psalm 61:6-7 Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! 7 May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

It’s easy to imagine that David is probably recalling the words of Samuel here in 2 Samuel 7:12-16. David is looking to a kingdom established by God that will bring a King enthroned forever and be surrounded by love and faithfulness. His refuge is not without rule and reign but gives hope in an appointed King. This is surely a direct Messianic statement.  The forever King is no doubt Jesus who has come from the line of David and has conquered sin and death and every evil in the world through the power of the cross. Jesus is the greater David, our King. It may be a foreign concept to us to associate kingship with refuge, but when the King is loving and faithful, righteous, true and just, we want to come under the protection of his rule and the providence of his care. Most of all, we want to live in the security of his victory.

Conclusion:

This is refuge, and the more we meditate upon it, the more we realize that God is a greater refuge than any earthly definition of the term. The Foundation is sure and strong, The Tower views every threat, The Tent is welcoming to friends, The Father cares for his children, The Provider of Community ensures we are not alone, The King of the Kingdom brings us under his rule, victory and providence. What have we left to say?

Psalm 61:8 So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day.

No se refugie con la prioridad equivocada, una carta abierta a la familia de mi iglesia

Gracias al pastor David Salgado por la traducción.

Nos preocupamos por la salud y el bienestar de nuestros vecinos y hemos escuchado el llamado a proteger los sistemas que brindan la asistencia más urgente y capaz a los más vulnerables. Estamos de acuerdo y oramos por todos los trabajadores y líderes de atención médica en nuestra nación. También notamos la gran diferencia que esto está teniendo ahora en cada una de nuestras vidas diarias.

A medida que dejamos de llevar a nuestros hijos a sus prácticas deportivas, dejamos de ir al gimnasio, de socializar en restaurantes y que las restricciones continúan limitándonos a vivir bajo nuestro propio techo, puede que no pase mucho tiempo hasta que te sientas como David, viviendo en una cueva y huyendo de Saúl.

Si crees que te sientes como David, también puede ser una buena idea preguntarte sobre la mentalidad de David mientras estaba encerrado. Afortunadamente, esto no se deja a nuestra imaginación porque David nos lo escribió en el Salmo 57: "Un Mictam de David en la cueva, cuando huía de Saúl.” 

El refugio de David no está en su cueva.

El título del Salmo de David podría darnos el contexto de dónde tuvo que residir David. Nos ayuda a saber que estuvo allí debido a una amenaza para su vida, pero no significa que la cueva fuera la seguridad de David en su vida. Podría haber estado en esa cueva debido a la amenaza, pero la cueva en sí no era su seguridad. David no dice, en la cueva me refugio. Él dice: “Ten piedad de mí, oh Dios, ten piedad de mí, porque en ti se refugia mi alma; en la sombra de tus alas me ampararé hasta que la destrucción pase.” (57: 1)

El Dios de David no está fuera de contacto.

Para alguien que vive la amenaza de un enemigo en una cueva, puede ser tentador pensar que el Dios del cielo está de alguna manera desconectado de su situación. Este no es el caso de David. Él sabe que Dios es el Dios Altísimo, pero también sabe que los propósitos soberanos de su Dios se relacionan personalmente con él. "Clamo al Dios Altísimo, a Dios que cumple su propósito para mí". (57: 2) En el caso de David, Dios lo ungió para tomar el trono de Israel y confiaba en que Dios cumpliría su voluntad soberana hasta su finalización. 

David no olvida su prioridad en medio de la realidad.

En el versículo cuatro de este salmo, David describe su realidad cuando habla de sentirse como si estuviera en medio de leones y siente la pesadez de las armas, el odio y el discurso que lo apuntan directamente. Aun así, no encontramos a David viviendo en autocompasión introspectiva, ya que se preocupa más por su propio bienestar físico. La prioridad de la vida de David no es él mismo. David define inmediatamente su prioridad en sus próximas palabras. “¡Sé exaltado, oh Dios, sobre los cielos! ¡Que tu gloria sea sobre toda la tierra!” (57: 5) En medio de la realidad, exaltar a Dios es la prioridad de David.

David se anima a responder de acuerdo con su prioridad.

Si bien David todavía reconoce el peligro que lo rodea, también sabe que Dios inevitablemente tendrá la última palabra (v. 6). Conociendo esta verdad, el corazón de David es firme de acuerdo con su prioridad (v. 7). Si David hubiera terminado este salmo con las alabras en el versículo siete: "Mi corazón es firme, oh Dios", nunca hubiéramos considerado que este salmo todavía requiriera algo extra. Según el lugar donde David encuentra su refugio y conoce su prioridad, se anima a actuar de manera coherente con la verdad que cree. “¡Despierta, mi gloria! ¡Despierta, arpa y lira! ¡Despertaré al amanecer!” (57: 8) Es como si David se estuviera diciendo a sí mismo: “Despierta y toma tus instrumentos y deja de sentarte en la tierra. Tu Dios es tu refugio y tu prioridad, y él es fiel en sus propósitos. ¡Es hora de cantar! "

“Te daré gracias, Señor, entre los pueblos; Te cantaré alabanzas entre las naciones. Porque tu firme amor es grande para los cielos, tu fidelidad para las nubes. ¡Sé exaltado, oh Dios, sobre los cielos! Deja que tu gloria sea sobre toda la tierra". (57: 9-11).

Familia de la Iglesia, mis queridos hermanos y hermanas, vemos la amenaza del coronavirus en todas las noticias e incluso estamos volviendo a publicar alertas en las redes sociales. La conciencia es buena, la amenaza es real, y parece ser necesario refugiarse. Pero... mi petición a todos nosotros. ¿Dónde está tu refugio? ¿Quién es tu prioridad? Y… ¿Cómo se está predicando a usted mismo algo que puede ser vivido y destacado en su vida frente a su familia, sus amigos y cualquier otra persona que pueda mirar dentro de su cueva?

Exaltemos a nuestro Dios.

Pastor Steve.

Don’t Bunker Down with the Wrong Priority - An Open Letter to My Church Family

Dear Church Family,

We care for the health and well-being of our neighbors and have heard the call to protect the systems in place that give the most urgent and capable assistance to the most vulnerable. We agree and we pray for all the health care workers and leaders in our nation. We also notice the big difference that this is now having in each of our daily lives.

As we stop taking our kids to sport, stop going to the gym, stop socializing in restaurants and as the restrictions continue to confine us to life under our own roof, it may not be too long until you feel like David, living in a cave, and on the run from Saul.

If you do think you feel like David, it may also be a good idea to ask yourself about the mindset of David while he was bunkered down. Thankfully, this is not left to our imagination because David wrote it out for us in Psalm 57 – “A Miktam of David When he Fled from Saul in a Cave.”

David’s refuge is not in his cave.

The title of David’s Psalm might give us the context of where David has had to reside.  It helps us to know that he was there because of a threat to his life, but it does not mean that the cave was David’s security in his life.  He might have been in that cave because of the threat, but the cave itself was not his security.  David does not say, in the cave I take refuge.  He says, “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.” (57:1). 

David’s God is not out of touch.

For someone living out the threat of an enemy in a cave, it might be tempting to think that the God of heaven is somehow disconnected from his situation. This is not the case for David. He knows God is the Most High God, but he also knows that the sovereign purposes of his God personally relate to him.  “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for ME.” (57:2). In David’s case, he was anointed by God to take the throne of Israel and was confident that God would work out his sovereign will to completion.

David doesn’t forget his priority in the midst of reality.

In verse four of this Psalm, David describes his reality as he talks about feeling like he is in the midst of lions and feels the heaviness of weapons, hatred and speech pointed directly at him. Even so, we don’t find David dwelling in introspective self-pity as he concerns himself most with his own physical well-being. David’s priority of life is not himself. David immediately defines his priority in his very next words. “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!” (57:5). In the midst of reality, exalting God is David’s priority.

David encourages himself to respond according to his priority.

While David still acknowledges the danger around him, he also knows that God will inevitably have the final word (vs. 6). Knowing this truth, David’s heart is steadfast according to his priority (vs. 7).  If David had finished this Psalm with the words in verse seven, “My heart is steadfast, O God,” we might never have considered that this Psalm still required something extra. According to where David finds his refuge and knows his priority, he rouses himself to act in consistency with the truth he believes. “Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!” (57:8). It is as if David is saying to himself, “Wake up and get your instruments and stop sitting in the dirt. Your God is your refuge and your priority, and he is faithful in his purposes. It’s time to sing!” 

“I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth.” (57:9-11).

Church family, my dear brothers and sisters, we see the threat of coronavirus all over the news and we are even re-posting alerts on social media. Awareness is good, the threat is real, and bunkering down seems to be necessary. But…my plea to all of us. Where is your refuge? Who is your priority? And…. How are you preaching to yourself that it may be lived out and prominent in your life in front of your family, your friends and anyone else who is able to look inside your cave?

Let’s all exalt our God,

Pastor Steve.

Gentle Jesus is No Pushover

So often in our world we seem to think that gentle means weak. What do we do when we read about Jesus and find him to be gentle, patient and compassionate? Jesus called little children to himself. Jesus had a message to love one another and if someone needs help, to walk the extra mile. Jesus showed compassion on those who were sick and suffering.  He healed lepers and gave sight to the blind. He looked at crowds of people and his heart melted as he described them as sheep without a shepherd. Jesus was often attacked verbally and threatened physically by the Pharisees. He was interrogated by Pilot and Herod and felt no need to defend himself and seek justice for unfair accusation. Jesus was silent.  Jesus withdrew from the fight.  Jesus was gentle. But was Jesus a push over?

When Matthew talks about Jesus in this way, he quotes Isaiah 42:1-4.  Within the statements in Isaiah (and quoted in Matthew 12), the gentleness of Jesus is portrayed. “A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench.” (42:3). Jesus will not see a crushed reed and snap it off.  He will not snuff out a struggling lamp.  This is saying that Jesus does not see the weak and needy and sinful without showing a gentle restoring compassion. If these were the only words, we might think that Jesus is a soft target from whom we might take advantage. This couldn’t be further from the truth.  The next line of Isaiah 42:3 states, “he will faithfully bring forth justice to the nations.”

Jesus might be gentle, but Jesus has the power and will to bring justice.  Jesus will right wrongs. Jesus will see sin payed for. Jesus will see evil overcome in true justice.

One of the other statements that comes in Isaiah 42 is that, he will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law (vs.4).  This statement is quoted a little differently in Matthew.  Matthew states, “until he brings justice to victory and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (Matthew 12:20b-21). Why the difference? Matthew is not saying anything different to Isaiah. He has condensed the quote to say the same thing.  Jesus will persevere in his ministry until justice has been fully executed.  Matthew also says that the Gentiles (the nations that Isaiah describes as coastlands) will wait for or hope for his law.  Jesus is the one who fulfills the law and brings justice according to his perfect law. To say that the coastlands wait for his law is exactly the same as saying the Gentiles hope in his name.

Jesus has brought ultimate defining justice in the cross. The wrath of God has been poured out upon Christ as he substituted himself for us so that justice might be expended upon our sin. In Christ, the law has been fulfilled in his life and in his atoning sacrifice the offenses against it have been punished. In him the nations hope. The cross is the pivotal point in history for all humanity.  One day Jesus will return and bring full and final retribution upon every God rejecting human. It will be a decisive judgment for all eternity that will result in everlasting torment for every person who ignored his gentle patience for them to repent and believe in him.

Jesus is gentle, but he is definitely no push over.

Don't Lose Worship in Dogma

How do you approach reading the bible?  As a pastor, I often find myself reading the Scriptures in my devotion time with the Lord and considering teaching points and sermon illustrations. In those moments I stop myself, sometimes write a note for later, and then do my best to concentrate on something much more important.  What is God saying directly to me in this text? What does this Scripture say about me? How does this truth impact my relationship with Christ? I start asking very personal questions that provoke me to meditate on the Lord and to respond prayerfully. Even in the passages that seem the most intimately personal in Scripture, we can so easily miss our opportunity to commune with the Lord as we consider theological truths or look for information to increase our knowledge.  This is not just a plague on pastors.

I am not saying that doctrine is unimportant.  There is definitely a great need for us to think deeply about theological truths in Scripture and to consider appropriate methodology to ensure we are not importing ideas into the bible that were not originally intended by the biblical author. What I am saying is that in the doing of this, we can make a correct interpretation the end of the pursuit. Let’s consider an example.

In Psalm 51, David is pouring his heart out to the Lord as he considers his sin of sexual immorality and murder exposed by God through the prophet Nathan. David makes his remorse explicit and as we read this psalm we get an indication of what true repentance sounds like.  We can start to piece together a doctrine of repentance. We might even see these clear truths and write down some helpful notes. Repentance in this psalm shows a hate for and renouncing of sin.  It acknowledges that all sin is primarily against God. It focuses on the truth that only God can truly forgive by an act of grace. It understands that our sin is bred from a sinful world including our own parents. It looks for a new heart and restoration in God for a new walk of life. We could make many more points from Psalm 51 and be very clear about the nature of repentance.  We might read this psalm considering this important doctrine and finally say, “Now I know.”

Each one of the above points should provoke response in our life as we hear this truth and then apply it to our own life before the Lord.  As I recently read through this psalm I saw something that helped me to grab on to what seemed to me to be a new aspect of the nature of repentance in my life. In verse 6 David doesn’t pray about himself, but what he knows to be true about God. Psalm 51:6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. When I was asking God to show me something about him in this psalm, this verse pierced my heart. When I come to God in true remorse and repentance over my sin, it is because I have recognized that I am not walking in the truth.  The overwhelming point is that even when I have disregarded God’s truth in my sinful action, God delights in bringing me back to his truth and teaching me wisdom in my inner being.  How intimately glorious is God’s merciful love? My mouth dropped and with tears I thanked my Lord that he actually desires to forgive and redirect our hearts toward righteousness that we might live for and in his glory. God actually wants to turn me around even though I have sinned against him. 

These cannot just be theological truths in and of themselves.  When we read the Scriptures, we commune with God in the realities of life. We thank him for his promises.  We pray according to them. We meditate on his goodness. We weep and mourn over our sin. We revel in his mercy. We go with joy and peace into our day. We know that we are never alone. We stand in the victory of our Savior. None of these thoughts has anything to do with arguing a point of dogma or outlining a sermon. This is me and God. This is how I know and love Jesus more.

How are you approaching the bible?

Come out of Babylon

If you are like me, you find comfort and confidence in God’s sovereignty in salvation. When God does a saving work according to his electing love, we live in confident hope of his eternal promises and power to keep us. We relish in the thoughts of God’s saving power and we are so relieved that we do not rely on our own power or the ability of others for people to know salvation.  While this is a glorious truth of Scripture, sometimes it is easy for us to overlook that it is also a glorious truth that God indiscriminately appeals to all mankind to repent of sin and come to faith in Jesus Christ. 

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus stands before a crowd full of people who seem to so easily reject him.  As much as Jesus says, “Woe” to those who reject him (11:20-24), Jesus appeals to all and also says “Come to me.”  Jesus offers rest to all those who will leave the burdensome life of this world and trust in him.

In Revelation, this same sort of appeal is made to us who are enticed by this world and blinded to its burdens.  As the Apostle John writes Revelation (as a revelation from Jesus), he often considers how the types and shadows of the Old Testament are universalized in the New.  In the Old Testament, Babylon is a nation that conquers the people of God and exiles them under the opulence and immorality of its own culture. It is a picture of power, wealth, worldly knowledge and pleasures. Those drawn into the pomp of Babylon and its false gods are subject also to its fall under God’s judgment.  In the same way, in Revelation this whole world is likened to Babylon.  The name Babylon depicts all the wealth, pomp, power, and pleasures of the world that are an abomination in the sight of God. They never satisfy and only accumulate the burden of judgment on the shoulders of all who embrace it.

 Revelation 18:2-5 And he called out with a mighty voice, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. 3 For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living." 4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; 5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

Have you ever considered that God’s appeal to come out of Babylon is a glorious example of his grace? All those who forsake this world to trust in Jesus Christ will become part of the kingdom of Christ.  This is the victorious kingdom that will have comprehensive, eternal victory and provide hope for all its citizens for all eternity.  It is the kingdom of eternal rest and refreshment.

At the end of the day, God’s appeal to us must provoke us to consider that it is an appeal to save. It is an appeal for us to flee from judgment and to the arms of an all-powerful Savior who has completely dealt with our sin.  It is a flee to reconciliation and eternal hope. Jesus says, “Come.”

When we hear the word come, we should also consider that Babylon is simply not worth it. Jesus offers so much more!

Incomprehensible Savior: Guest blog from Nathan Ham

People have tough questions about God.

Questions like:

• Why would a loving God cast “good” people into hell?

• Why would an all-powerful God allow so much death and suffering in the world?

• Why would a good God allow children to suffer?

• If God knew the world was going to turn out so badly, why did He make sin possible in the first place?

We could go through each question and come up with some details from the Bible to help answer, but ultimately we will never be able to completely understand why God does what He does. This is because God is incomprehensible. He can’t be fully known and understood. And the only things we do know about God we know from an act of God’s self-disclosure. It’s not like we can scientifically study God and put Him under a microscope and figure Him out. And guess what? God doesn’t disclose all the reasons why He does what He does.

But the Bible does give us some foundational truths that will help us form a baseline for learning to trust the Lord with child-like faith (Matthew 11:25).

1.  God is working to showcase His multifaceted glory and power and beauty.

In Romans 9, Paul clearly states in verse 22, “What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power…” It’s a hard truth to accept, but God is working to show more than just His love and mercy. God’s justice and holiness and righteous anger are on display as well.

A big reason why such a thing as Hell exists is that God desires to display for all to see the purity of His holiness, the awfulness of sin, the magnificence of His power, and the fairness of His justice.

2.  We have a low view of sin.

Even if you’ve been saved 40 years, you probably don’t see sin as bad as what it really is. Sin is so bad and our sinful condition is so terrible that Isaiah 64:6 says the best we can ever do is this: “all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment”.

All of us have lied at some point.  God. Hates. Lying. God calls a lying tongue an abomination in Proverbs 6:16-17. Lying is so bad that God punishes liars in eternal fire (Rev. 21:8).

Some answer: “Well, nobody is perfect and I was born this way. I can’t help it. God’s too harsh.”

I’ll never cease to be amazed that people would rather justify themselves than just admit their sin and seek God’s forgiveness. It really is that easy.

But at the end of the day, if God never intervened in human history and let every single person die in their sins and go to hell, God would be completely fair and just. Do you know why it’s hard to accept that truth? We have a low view of sin.

3.  The cross is our anchor.

Anytime you struggle with whether or not God is a good, loving God -- look to the cross and remember John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

God was willing to pour out all of his wrath and hatred of sin against His only Son so that if you humble yourself and acknowledge your sin and trust Him as Savior, God will forgive you of all your sins. This is an incredible act of love and the most beautiful thing that’s ever happened in this world and it’s our anchor point to always know that God’s love knows no limits.

So next time you struggle with understanding God and why He does things the way He does, look to Christ. See Him as the Sovereign Savior who willingly suffered the righteous wrath of Almighty God so that we might have everlasting life if we believe in Him. It’s the goodness of God in Christ that makes me realize that even if I don’t always fully understand the Lord, I know that I can trust Him.

Was Jesus Harsh?

I would suggest that sometimes it is not easy to navigate between the biblical directions clearly given to us or whether the descriptions of the actions of others are for us to follow. Many scriptures clearly command us how to approach correcting others and approaching matters of sin. In 2 Timothy 2:24-26 we find a very direct command from the Apostle Paul for us not to be quarrelsome in correcting others. We are to be kind, able to teach and to correct our opponents in gentleness. In 1 Corinthians 13, love is commanded so that in our teaching we do not become a clanging gong as if we are just annoying noise in the ears of those under instruction. In Galatians 6 we are to restore a sinning brother or sister in gentleness. These and many similar verses are all commands of Scriptures. Theologians call these prescriptive texts because they are prescribed for us to obey in full compliance. If we believe these Scriptures to be the infallible word of God and of the same authority of every other Scripture, then we are obligated to obey them and live them out in faith.

At the same time someone may express an objection to only considering the prescriptives in the bible. They might say that there are many descriptive texts that would seem to suggest that we should think about the prescriptive texts in another way. Descriptive texts are those that narrate the actions and words of others. For example, in Matthew 11:20-24 Jesus seems to be very direct with people to the degree that some might say he is not living out what he himself commands of us. Is there a difference between us and Jesus? Well, I would answer “Yes, there is.” Let’s consider this one text of Matthew 11:20-24. “Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you." Sounds heavy, doesn’t it?

Often Jesus is talking about judgment in a way that you and I can never can. Everyone in these cities will one day stand before Jesus in judgment. Jesus, and only Jesus, is able to point a finger of judgment because he is the God who knows the heart of every human of all time. If we were to say words like this, we would be speaking outside of our authority. In fact, just earlier in Matthew 7, Jesus warned us in his Sermon on the Mount that we should not judge because we will be judged with the same standard by which we judge others. He is not saying that we cannot make good judgments based on Scripture, just that we should acknowledge that even by our own standards of judgments we proclaim upon others, we will fail. Only Jesus never fails his own judgments and only Jesus can rightly point a finger of judgment that we can never point without being harsh and hypocritical.

In our Matthew text above, Jesus also displays something in his speech that we can never reproduce. Jesus displays his sovereign will over all time and with every person. Jesus makes a very clear statement of knowing every contingent possibility in history. If the cities of Sodom, Tyre and Sidon had experienced the revelation of Christ, it would have been better for them than for Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. Because they rejected Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus can stand in front of them and say the words, “Woe to you.” These are three words that come out of the mouth of God in righteous judgment as he alone can see the heart of man. If we used words such as “Woe to you,” we would be speaking from an authority and knowledge we simply do not have.

Does that mean that a Christian cannot tell another person that their position outside of Christ is perilous? Does it mean we cannot warn others that they may be under the threat of the eternal judgment of God in hell? Of course, we can and must tell people what the bible clearly says about those who reject Christ. We must call people to repentance of sin and faith in Christ. We could even point to Matthew 11 and show how rejecting the revelation of Christ places one under the seriousness of responsibility before God in judgment. We must be true, but we must not be Jesus. There is only one God, and I am not him.

I do not think there is any contradiction between the prescriptive and descriptive in the biblical text. I do, however, think there are many who want to use the descriptive as license to use harsh speech and claim an authority that God doesn’t give them. The point is, the authority of Christ is Christ’s. I live under it. I can point to and live under his authority. I can even show how this authority allows me to confidently make correct statements about the world and the human condition. What I can’t do, is live out something I am not and in doing so ignore his direct commands in Scripture. I can’t treat another human being as if I am above them.

At the same time, we can actually warn people about hell using gentleness and compassion, showing them what the true judge of every man has proclaimed. Matthew 11 shows us that Jesus says “woe” to anyone who has heard of the gospel of Christ and rejected it. Jesus is not harsh, he is the only one who can use words of judgment with full righteousness of character and an absolute knowledge of the person in question. Jesus is not harsh. He is righteous and all knowing. You…..are not.

The Old Testament is Just the Introduction to Jesus

In some ways, saying this about the Old Testament may seem to trivialize what is very much the inspired Word of God. If we were saying that the Old Testament is like the prologue to a book that is easily skipped without really missing the real story, we would indeed be guilty of such trivialization. 

The Old Testament is a great span of history from the very creation of the world to the post-exilic era of Israel as we anticipate the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. If you are like me and believe the reality of the historical account in the Old Testament, then you also believe we are looking at an era of time of roughly around 4000 years. That is a significant chunk of human history.  As far as biblical history is concerned, the New Testament adds around 90 years (if John wrote the book of Revelation somewhere around 90 A.D.). In the span of biblical history, the Old Testament outnumbers the New in terms of the years of human history it records.

How then would we consider that the Old Testament is “just” and introduction? Well, it depends on what the Old Testament is introducing.  One clue we get is given by Jesus when he addresses the crowds concerning John the Baptist.  In Matthew 11:11 Jesus makes an astounding statement about John the Baptist. “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” On the one hand Jesus says that John is the greatest living human to that point of history, yet on the other, anyone living in the Kingdom of Christ is greater than John.

John represents the last of the Old Testament era (or the era of salvation history prior to the cross.). John lives like and is numbered among the old covenant prophets of God.  He is looking forward to the Messiah and longing for the kingdom of God to break into this world. He is the greatest among men because as the old era progressed toward the actual appearance of Christ, John is the prophet who was actually able to stand right in front of him and even dunk him under the water in baptism. John didn’t just prophecy about Jesus, he had the unique privilege of all old era history of introducing Jesus the Messiah to the world.  John however never got to see the ministry years of Jesus miracles or teaching, and he did not get to see the risen Savior after his redeeming work on the cross.  John was the introduction to Jesus and as such he really was the culmination of all in the Old Testament that looks forward to the Messiah longing to introduce Jesus to the world.

As John represents the old era, it helps us to understand the way in which the Old Testament is an introduction to Jesus.  As we see all the types and shadows in the Old Testament, we soon realize the each one in their own way is God’s masterpiece of literary genius as he designs all of the Old Testament history to point to Jesus.  The Old Testament introduces Jesus.  Let me give you a few examples.

Melchizedek is a king and priest who has no recorded beginning. – Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchizedek.

David is the King, sitting on the throne of an everlasting kingdom. – Jesus brings his kingdom into the world and establishes its rule for ever.

Israel is the son of God who are rescued from slavery in Egypt. – Jesus is the greater Son who increases the border of Israel to all tribes tongues and nations.

The temple is the house of worship in the midst of God’s people. – Jesus is the fulfillment of the temple indwelling all who believe in him.

The spotless lamb is brought to the altar for sacrificial atonement for the forgiveness of sins. – Jesus is our once and for all sacrificial atonement for the forgiveness of our sins.

The sabbath is the day of rest to be kept holy in the Lord. – Jesus is our sabbath rest forever more.

The promised land is the land of rest for the people of God coming out of exile. – Jesus is our rest and hope for an eternal rest in the new creation.

In these and so many other ways, the Old Testament introduces Jesus.  The Old Testament is glorious in the way it helps us see God’s sovereign plan of using actual human history to point to his Son.  God used 4000 years of human history to introduce Jesus.  Now that Jesus has come and the work of the cross is finished, it is our job to introduce Jesus to everyone else we know.

Do You See the Justice of God?

If you are a Christian who pays attention to the culture around you, you just might be tempted to yearn for some justice. We seem to so often be in a minority position. The power of the modern sexual revolution, the atheistic ideologies of our universities and the attack against the value of life seems utterly overwhelming. Many of us wonder how many more meetings of congress, or what legal decision might deem much of what we do and say to be illegal. Where is the justice for God’s people?

It’s easy to look at the world around us and miss some basic facts.  We know from Scripture that every single person one day will stand before the God of the Universe (Hebrews 9:27, 2 Corinthians 5:9-10). We know that God is sovereign over the nations and that there is none who will ever have power over him (Psalm 2, Isaiah 40:15, Revelation 11:18). We only need to read the book of Revelation to know that Christ brings victory in every realm in this world and over every spiritual force including Satan himself. We read these truths in Scripture and while we long for wrong to be put right at the end, we also wonder how it can be that the wicked prosper.

King Asaph wondered this very same thing and then realized that anyone rejecting God in this world may prosper for a while but will see greater folly in what is to come. Psalm 73:18-20 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.

Often a Christian will take solace in the fact that God’s judgment will happen at some future time.  One thing many of us don’t consider is that God has already come into this world in salvation and judgment in the person of Christ.  In the reality of Christ and his work on the cross there is a sealing of judgment upon all who will not repent of sin and trust him. We understand this in two ways.  First, we understand that God is a God who is righteous and holy and must bring judgment upon sin. Second, this is displayed in the cross.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God’s justice is shown in the cross in that it was poured out on Christ who substituted himself to receive punishment due for our sin. The reason we can be forgiven of sin is because of God’s justice.  His justice has been delivered upon Jesus. Anyone who believes in Jesus for forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God can do so because justice has been served on the Son in our place. The cross is the seal of the justice of God. In rejection of the cross, God’s justice remains on the sinner and will be finally executed on the final day. 

Where is the justice for God’s people? It has already been delivered on Christ. Where is the justice for the rest of the world? It remains hanging over the head of every soul who will not repent and believe in Jesus Christ. We should be very careful to see that the winnowing fork of justice has indeed come in Jesus Christ and delivered in and through the cross. Whether someone does well or seems to have power in this world in the meantime is a trivial matter.  The cross will be the weapon of justice that everyone remembers for all eternity.

Please, Brothers and Sisters, Worship God!

One of the most serious and damning statements in the entire bible is the one that Jesus makes to the Jews who are accusing the disciples of overlooking Jewish customs and rules. It appears that the disciples did not wash their hands to eat and the Jews used this to accuse them of being unrighteous (Even though it was not a requirement of the Old Testament law to do so). Jesus, in his infinite wisdom, turned the Pharisees attention to the fact that they so easily ignore the law of God for their own traditions which end up in harsh treatment of others. They were more concerned for their traditions and rules than they were for living for God. Jesus says to them, "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

The Pharisees were not worshippers of God, they were protectors of their own glory.  What came out of their mouths about righteousness was not the same as what was in their heart about loving God. Their worship was in vain.  Their worship was nothing.

This is a huge warning for us. We can so easily come to church on a Sunday and speak and act as if our whole lives revolve around the glory of God when they don’t.  It’s possible for us to teach a Sunday School class with our lips and have our hearts far from God. It’s possible for us to sing the most beautiful harmonies to a hymn and yet have hearts during the week that sing the delights of the idols we worship.

The big point for all of us here is that worship is a matter of the heart. We worship God not through ritual or mere words but through a heart that is intent on his glory and submission to his authority. It is a heart that revels in the forgiveness found in the cross and responds with undying active gratitude. When we worship in all that we say, do and think, we declare with our whole being that God is Lord and has my love and devotion in every avenue of my life.

If we are to be a church of worshippers, we need to be a people intent on our gatherings being a reflection of what is already happening in our hearts.  We meet on Sunday because on Monday to Saturday God is adored and praised. And when we open our mouths to sing together on a Sunday morning, it is the culmination of week of adoration. It is the reflection of our hearts for God.

Church Membership is Helpful for One Anothering

One of the dilemmas some people have with church membership is the purpose of it.  Some people have rightly been against a formal church membership on the basis that it has been explained as the way of inclusion into the church.  Hopefully we would all agree that salvation through faith in Christ alone is that which brings inclusion into his church.  Church membership is not about inclusion, but identification. We are identified as believers through our testimony of Christ and hopefully through the fruit of Christ that will be evident in our lives (none more so than love).

We should be careful to note that when we gather together as God’s people, we will often have those among us who are not believers. Paul says as much in 1 Corinthians 14:23. How do we identify members of the church when we so often have unbelievers among us. As we get to know people, hopefully we get to ask about and hear their testimony and make assessment as to whether they know and have responded to the gospel. We make fallible assessments knowing that only God can truly see one’s heart. Have you personally done this with everyone in your church? Can you identify by actual spoken testimony and fruit who are members of the church? In most congregations, I would suggest the answer is no.

In the Scripture there are many responsibilities that church members have for the care of each other and the church as a whole.  The church as a congregational body is ultimately responsible in acknowledging the discipline of one from their number. To do so, the whole church body must first be aware that the disciplined member was already counted among them. The church as a body comes together to verify eldership direction in important matters of church life, direction, appointment of leaders, and sending for mission. One of the most important responsibilities each church member has for another is simply found in the one another statements in the New Testament. As an example, in Hebrews 3:13 we read, “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” In this particular example, we are to regularly keep watch on each other and keep each other aligned with the truth of Scripture so that we might not stray into error and sin. The question is, who can you identify as the “one another” you are actually responsible for?

The objection so often arises that we see no example of a formal counting of membership in the New Testament as if there was no careful system in place to account for the actual known body of Christ.  If we think for a moment that there was no concern to formally identify members in the early church, I suggest we are being naïve and uncharitable to our ancestral brethren. I do not believe that the elders of the first formed New Testament churches were lax about who exactly they were given responsibility to shepherd. The responsibilities given to elders and churches necessitate that formal identification of church members has been in place from the very beginning. In fact, many times in the book of Acts we read that people were “counted” among the church upon their public identification in baptism.

The way membership lists help the church today is with this same seriousness of identifying the body. Through either baptism or public testimony of a believer who has already been baptized as such we publicly welcome believers among us as identified formal members. We ensure the other members are aware of it in a public setting and we formally note it. In this way we are declaring to the body that this person is your responsibility for one-anothering. We do not leave this to chance or guesses. The one another responsibilities of the church are too important for that. A caring church will be intentional about promoting membership and as such we will be intentional about taking the one another statements very seriously.

Have you been formally identified as a member yet?

Little Baby - Big God!

The book of Isaiah holds the two most quoted Old Testament statements about the promise of Jesus. In Isaiah 7 we hear of the promise of a virgin giving birth to a son. Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. In Isaiah 9 we are told that this promise is greater than anyone might expect. Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. In Isaiah 11 we are even told the ancestral line from which to expect this mighty child. Isaiah 11:1-2 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

These verses are not only quoted in the New Testament and fulfilled in Jesus, but they also exist in the context of the book of Isaiah. It is so easy for us to have a sentimental view of Scriptures that we love so dearly. We sing them in carols, and we use them in children’s stories. We love to remind ourselves that these are prophecies that are fulfilled 700 years after they are written and tell ourselves that the bible is true. Of course, it is. The bible is true, and we should dearly cherish these precious statements about our Savior.

It is also true that the New Testament authors have shown us how to truly see these verses in all their fulfillment glory. They quote them to show that God inspired the words of Isaiah in the progressive revelation of his redeeming grace. Even so, when we understand the themes and context of the book of Isaiah, we also realize that the New Testament authors do not quote these verses as a proof text but in context.

Isaiah is constantly warning the kings and people of Judah not to put their trust in the gods and nations around them. Particularly in the first half of Isaiah, there is a repetitive behavior in Judah. They are threatened by a nation, they fear, and then the look to other nations (and even gods) to come to their rescue. They are constantly being told that God is greater than the nations. They have the only one true God and yet they are trusting in powers that are either non-existent or in comparison to God, impotent. It is God who judges and God who saves.

From chapter 40 in Isaiah we find Isaiah writing to a people who have suffered the consequences of not trusting in God. When Judah comes under the domineering power of Babylon, they are captives looking for a Savior. A repetitive message in the second half of Isaiah is that Judah will not be saved by the might of nations. The Savior will not come by military conquest but ultimately will bring them redemption through a suffering Servant. This Servant will be “pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). Because of this selfless act of substitution, this same Servant is the one in Isaiah 63 who comes in the victorious red robes stained by the blood of his enemies.

When we understand the big picture of Isaiah, we must consider the quotes used in the New Testament as they relate to the big context of the Old Testament book. The New Testament authors are not merely saying that the baby in a manger is a fulfillment of prophecy. They are saying that the baby in a manger is the God of the universe. He is bigger than the nations. He is the Savior of his people and he will come in conquering victory. They are giving us the same basic message that Isaiah was giving to Judah. Do not trust in the poor pitiable nations, kings and false gods. Behold your God who is bigger than your greatest enemies.

Our greatest enemy is sin and death, but we have a Savior. Isaiah’s Savior is our Savior. He is Christ the Lord and he might have come as a little baby, but he is a BIG God.