One of the things that the modern church, and to be honest most of us, avoid at all costs is suffering. One of my favorite sayings is, “I don’t like pain; it hurts me”. But Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulation”. One of the most intrinsic questions in humans when suffering happens is “Why did this happen to me?”. Two common answers are given to this question. One answer is that somehow God is not good after all. The other idea is this must be some kind of punishment from God. However God’s perspective is often quite different than ours. I am drawn to the passage of Scripture in John chapter nine. Here was a man blind from birth. Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind”. The prevailing thought was sickness was the result of yours or your parent’s sin. Jesus however had a quite different answer. He replied, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life”. (John 9:3) Think of that statement! God was not angry at this man nor his parents, but this was part of God’s plan. God was not looking at this as a bad circumstance, but an opportunity to for the glory of God to be revealed. Job struggled with this concept as well. Dr. Zacharias pinpoints the struggle in his book, Cries of the Heart. “Job had repeatedly said that as far as he knew he lived an honorable life. But he had assumed all along that if one walked the straight and narrow, and lived a life of purity, prosperity and freedom from pain would naturally follow. The was a false conclusion.” Because we know that God is good, and we know that we are serving Him, a natural conclusion is that suffering should be non-existent. When suffering happens is that God is not good, or I am bad. However, Jesus completely demolishes both of this ideas through His life. Here was the God-man on the cross suffering immeasurably. Jesus Christ was not suffering on the Cross because He was being punished, nor to make Him a better person. He was suffering for our sin, to abolish it. So in one sense suffering is a result of someone’s sin, Adam’s. And it took the suffering of the second Adam to atone for the first Adam’s sin. So in our personal pain as Christians, it does not do much good to question God, or search for something in our lives which we think God might be punishing us for. I recall again what Ravi Zacharias said when a news reporter asked him where God was on 9-11. Ravi’s classic answer was, “Right where you asked Him to be”. That I think is the real answer. God must so be the anchor of our lives, that he can also say, “This happened so that the work of God might be displayed in my life”.
On Suffering
The Greatest Scandel
Greetings friends. I hope you are all have a wonderful Christmas season this year. Recently, I had some thoughts cross my mind about the events that unfolded around the first Christmas. In our day, we like to romanticize the Christmas story, which is alright to some degree. It’s comforting to think of the angels, the star, Mary and the Babe, and wisemen worshipping Jesus. But I’m not so sure that events played out so wonderful as our manager scenes depict at our local churches. I think that it was the greatest scandal ever pulled off in all of history.
Think about it. An angel comes to this poor young women, and tells her she is pregnant? What is Joseph to think? He is to marry her soon, and to find out that she is with child? Has she been unfaithful to him? No wonder he planned to put her away privately. But do you think that this was easy for him? I believe that Joseph was the kind of man that loved her with all of his heart, and Mary was a pure, Godly woman. But just imagine the emotions and thoughts that ran through his mind. He must put her away, but do you think that it did not about kill him to do so? No doubt, God sent the angel to him in a dream to not only tell him what to do, but to reassure his mind and give him peace. And imagine what the parents of both Mary and Joseph felt. Imagine what the townspeople were saying. We don’t know for sure, but I believe that probably one reason Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth was to escape the turmoil surrounding her in Nazareth. Perhaps her parents sent her there to shelter her until it was time for the baby to be born. Now the Jews knew full well that the Messiah would be born to a virgin. But when that would happen no one knew for sure. So they did not believe Mary’s story. Image if one of the young women in your church that was engaged, suddenly was found pregnant before the wedding. Would you believe her if she said that an angel told her that the Holy Spirit conceived this baby in her? I think you would have difficulty believing that.
That is why I say that it was the greatest scandal in history. So great, it seems preposterous. The humiliation for those involved was great. And why did God let His choice servants be humiliated in such a way? That I cannot answer, for God’s ways are higher than our ways. I just know that He did. And then I wonder what things God is doing in my life, and yours that might seem scandalous. We would like to think that God does everything by a three-step plan that fits together perfectly. But often He does not. He might be doing something right now in your life, asking something of you, that others would say is sinful. Jesus was accused because He ate with sinners and publicans. Jesus most of the time did not fit the norm of regulated Christian life. However He was always obedient to the Father. Now , do not take me wrong. I am not suggesting that you can sin, and God will approve. What I am saying however, is that God is unconventional to our way of thinking, and He might be working through you right now in a way that others would deem to be a scandal. But just as Mary kept her attitude right before God, we can come through, if we keep our hearts right toward God, as she did hers.
John Wesley on Prayer
“It is true that outward religion is worth nothing without the religion of the heart. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24 KJV) Therefore, external worship is lost labor without a heart devoted to God. The outward ordinance of God profit much when they advance inward holiness. But when they do not advance it, they are unprofitable and void. And when they are used in the place of inward religion, they are an utter abomination to the Lord.
All outward means whatever, if separate from the Spirit of God , cannot profit at all, cannot lead in any degree either to the knowledge of the love of God. Without controversy, the help that is done upon earth, He doeth it Himself. It is He alone who by His own almighty power, works in us what is pleasing in His sight.
All outward things, unless He works in them and by them, are mere weak and beggarly elements. We know there is no inherit power in the words spoken in prayer, in the letter or the sound of the scripture read, or in the bread and wine received in the Lord’s Supper. It is God alone who is the giver of every good gift, the author of all grace. The whole power is of Him, whereby, through any of these, there is any blessing conveyed to our souls.”
Underline is mine.
Spiritual vs. Material
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Gen. 1:1
When God created the world, it was a very physical world, not only a spiritual one. God and creature were united in perfect harmony. God created a very physical garden. From some people you would get the idea that the Garden of Eden was a continuous virtual church service. I do not think it was quite like that. I think it was more like two lovers strolling through a park. Perfect peace and rapturous communication. I believe work was delightful and peaceful. Unfortunately sin entered the garden and everything changed.
Genesis 3:17-19 tells us what happened. God brought curses upon Creation, and death and destruction were the result. Verse 23 says, “Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.” I believe this verse records the great divorce between spiritual and material.
No longer is there perfect harmony between the spiritual world and physical one. Of course Christ came and paid the way for redemption, however this did not restore us to the Eden experience. One of the greatest struggles for the Christian maturing in holiness, is this divorce between spiritual and physical. Often the duties and struggles to earn a living and to provide for the physical body, consume much of our time and energy. Material concerns can obscure our spiritual sight. The Apostle Paul referred to this in I Cor. 13:12 “For know we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am known.” It takes faith in Christ to keep our spiritual vision keen.
This is not to downplay the wonderful world God has given for our enjoyment. However even this we are not often able to enjoy, because of the necessities of living. But rejoice there is hope! I look forward to the day of Isaiah 11:6, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” Once more spiritual and material will be inseparably united forever!!!
Quotes
Some thoughts from my good friend Brent,
Dear friends and family,
I have been reading a book called the Kingdom of God by John Bright. He was the professor of Hebrew and the Interpretation of the Old Testament at Union Theological Seminary around World War II. It is interesting reading. I found a few quotes that I thought were relevant to our day.
In referring to the monarchy in Israel under David and Soloman, he says, “So it is that the question before us is not unlike that which the monarchy posed for Israel…it is a question which cannot be evaded, and it matters greatly how we answer it. Will our destiny as a nation which calls itself Christian be satisfied in terms of the economic prosperity and the national might which we have created? Will we seek no higher salvation than the present order can provide in terms of increased incomes(security), automobiles(mobility), and television sets(entertainment)? What is worse, will we, because we have churches and because our political forms are hospitable to their growth, assume that the present order is the God-ordained order which God–if He be just–may be called upon to defend always? The people that answers the question so, will see it as the sole function of religion to support and to hallow in the name of God its own material best interests. But it will never begin to understand the meaning of the Kingdom of God.” (italics mine)
When talking of bad and good times, he writes, “But may we not also be led to reflect that times that seem evil to us may serve a better purpose than time that are good? This may seem a strange thing to say, but there is much truth in it. The good times that we desire are time of freedom from disturbing bother–in which a man can read his paper without worrying, can get on with his business, can have gas for his car and the pleasures and luxuries which we all enjoy. Those, we would say, are good time. But perhaps from the divine point of view they are not. For the purpose of God for us is not the comfort of our bodies or the preservation of our interests, but the discipline of our spirits that we may become truly his people.”
In reference of the effort to legislate morality, he states, “Jeremiah saw that it would take more than Josiah’s reform to make Judah the people of God. How strange their delusion, yet how familiar! We yearn for a Christian society and know no way to gain it save by organizing meetings, financing programs, enacting laws, and padlocking the more nauseous resorts of ill fame. And Israel yearned tor covenant peace with God–and padlocked the false shrines and became very busy at the temple. We shall not decry reform measures are called for. But Jeremiah tells us that if we have no more than reform measures, we are chopping Hydra’s heads, lopping at the leaves and branches of mortal frailty and touching the trunk of it not at all. Jeremiah told his people that the covenant bond is simply not to be restored externally. He wheeled upon their busy observance of the cultic law and appealed from the external of the law to th heart of it. Said he: God does not care how fussily you regulate public worship. Offer your sacrifices this way or that–it’s all one to God! For the heart of God’s demand is not busy religion, but obedience. Only an obedient people can remain in covenant with God; only over an obedient people will he rule. As for this people, it must repent from the heart…The people of God are a people of clean heart.” (italics mine)
I found these quotes to be very relative to our day in both the political and spiritual climates in which we are living. The lines between political and spiritual are being so blurred by our political activism. We live in a church world that believes if we can outlaw this or outlaw that, that somehow that is going to turn around how God may view our country. I think that Bright points out very aptly that only clear obedience to God will change anything.
We are also convinced that the survival of the American church as we see it is necessary for the kingdom of God to advance or continue. Bright points out that the political Israel collapsed, but it is the spiritual circumcision that keeps the kingdom of God advancing.
I just wanted to pass along some of these quotes. Enjoy!
Brent
Sober Minded
Here is a thought provoking article from friend Stephen Geise. You can visit his blog at http://geiseblog.blogspot.com.
It is appalling to me the amount of empty, silly, foolishness that characterizes the western world and nowhere is this drivel so prevalent than on blogs, sites, and other means of communications.
Our culture as a whole worships at the altar of entertainment and sacrifices to the god of humor. But what is even more shocking is the nonsense that is regurgitated by those who name the Name of Christ. My mind turns to Titus 2:6 where young men are exhorted to be sober-minded. When we see an individual with red eyes, slurred speech, and a staggering gate we clearly understand what it means to be drunk and what it means to be sober.
But it seems that when it comes to entertainment somehow the word “sober” is confusing and difficult to understand. Christians have become intoxicated with frivolity and lightness and think nothing of it. It seems we have joined those of “Higher Criticism” and thrown out the Word of God. Truth is no longer relevant but relative.
A very elementary perusal of the New Testament reveals eleven passages where we find the injunction to be “SOBER”. (I Thessalonians 5:6, 8; I Timothy 3:2, 11; Titus 1:8; 2:2, 4, 6; I Peter 1:13, 4:7, 5:8) What are we to do with these commands? Are we going to foolishly fritter away our lives feasting on the swill of those who are spiritually famished? On what do you feed your soul? (Isaiah 55:1-3) Let me share the words of a song by E.A. Hoffman which echo the longings of my soul.
Lord, I am fondly, earnestly longing
Into Thy holy likeness to grow;
Yearning Thy love more fully to know.
Dead to the world would I be, O Father!
Dead unto sin, alive unto Thee;
Crucify all the earthly within me,
Emptied of sin and self may I be.
Filled with Thy Spirit, lost in Thy love;
Come to my heart, Lord, come with anointing,
Showers of grace send down from above.
Chorus:
Open the wells of grace and salvation,
Pour the rich streams deep into my heart;
Cleanse and refine my tho’t and affection,
Seal me and make me pure as Thou art.
Grey Areas
This is another great and thought provoking post from David Lorimer at http://dlorimer.blogspot.com/.
“Grey Area” Sometimes when a person rejects the Christian faith, it is pretty obvious that they are no longer following the Lord. One may do what they know is wrong, as a rebellious act of clear defiance. But most often, we find ourselves concerned about someone because we just don’t know where they are. They haven’t clearly stepped over a line, but neither do they seem to be doing well spiritually. Sometimes, the person doesn’t even know themselves. Often, people in this state will call themselves Christians, even after they seem to have long since abandoned God. How does this happen? Can it happen to us? Would we notice if it did? There is a large piece of ground between heaven and hell. “Grey Area” is a dry and trackless wasteland, without signposts, landmarks, or boundary lines. It is very difficult to know where you are and whose side you are on. It is not like walking off a cliff and falling into sin (like most people fear, and like our first case, above). It is like wandering without any sense of direction. You can walk right into sin, and not even know it. By the time you recognize a landmark, you may find that you are a hundred miles inside the enemy camp. By choosing to live in Grey Area, you are choosing to live without the knowledge of right and wrong. It may seem like freedom, but you’ve sacrificed knowledge. We often like to think that God doesn’t know where the line is either, so it’s safe to be out there. But if we don’t know where we are until we finally see a landmark, whose landmark do you think we will see? It’s the temptation that Christian faced in “Pilgrim’s Progress” when he saw a green path that ran “parallel” to the road. He didn’t know the path soon disappeared and left him without direction. Grey Area doesn’t make you right, it makes you lost. Many of us want to live in Grey Area, for we do not like the idea that God will judge us for our actions. We feel we are safe out there, because we cannot fall into sin. There are no cliffs; there is no danger. We are outside the clear voice of God, and outside the reach of Satan. It’s a safe middle-of-the-road. But friends, if we are outside the voice of God, how will we hear when He calls His children home? Do you know for sure that how you are living is right? “Grant me, O Lord, the grace to know what should be known, to praise what is most pleasing to You, to esteem that which appears most precious to You, and to abhor what is unclean in Your sight.” — Thomas a Kempis (Imitation of Christ, p. 236) “Let a man but have so much piety as to intend to please God in all the actions of his life, as the happiest and best thing in the world.” — William Law (A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, Chapter 2) Important Note: *There is a difference between observing others in a “grey area,” and choosing to be there personally. I strongly encourage you to personally stay out of grey areas. Choose to live the way you know for sure is right. If you don’t know for sure, stay clear away from it! On the other hand, I encourage you to have grace with others you observe. Just because you don’t know if they are right doesn’t mean they don’t know. Don’t announce that they are going to hell. We are to hold each other accountable and spur one another on in the faith. Ask if they know for sure what they are doing is right. Point them to God’s Word as the boundaries and signposts for our lives. Exhort them to a life that abandons grey area in favor of right living. All of us, in any spiritual state, need to hear that exhortation.Sometimes when a person rejects the Christian faith, it is pretty obvious that they are no longer following the Lord. One may do what they know is wrong, as a rebellious act of clear defiance. But most often, we find ourselves concerned about someone because we just don’t know where they are. They haven’t clearly stepped over a line, but neither do they seem to be doing well spiritually. Sometimes, the person doesn’t even know themselves. Often, people in this state will call themselves Christians, even after they seem to have long since abandoned God. How does this happen? Can it happen to us? Would we notice if it did? There is a large piece of ground between heaven and hell. “Grey Area” is a dry and trackless wasteland, without signposts, landmarks, or boundary lines. It is very difficult to know where you are and whose side you are on. It is not like walking off a cliff and falling into sin (like most people fear, and like our first case, above). It is like wandering without any sense of direction. You can walk right into sin, and not even know it. By the time you recognize a landmark, you may find that you are a hundred miles inside the enemy camp. By choosing to live in Grey Area, you are choosing to live without the knowledge of right and wrong. It may seem like freedom, but you’ve sacrificed knowledge. We often like to think that God doesn’t know where the line is either, so it’s safe to be out there. But if we don’t know where we are until we finally see a landmark, whose landmark do you think we will see? It’s the temptation that Christian faced in “Pilgrim’s Progress” when he saw a green path that ran “parallel” to the road. He didn’t know the path soon disappeared and left him without direction. Grey Area doesn’t make you right, it makes you lost. Many of us want to live in Grey Area, for we do not like the idea that God will judge us for our actions. We feel we are safe out there, because we cannot fall into sin. There are no cliffs; there is no danger. We are outside the clear voice of God, and outside the reach of Satan. It’s a safe middle-of-the-road. But friends, if we are outside the voice of God, how will we hear when He calls His children home? Do you know for sure that how you are living is right? “Grant me, O Lord, the grace to know what should be known, to praise what is most pleasing to You, to esteem that which appears most precious to You, and to abhor what is unclean in Your sight.” — Thomas a Kempis (Imitation of Christ, p. 236) “Let a man but have so much piety as to intend to please God in all the actions of his life, as the happiest and best thing in the world.” — William Law (A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, Chapter 2) Important Note: *There is a difference between observing others in a “grey area,” and choosing to be there personally. I strongly encourage you to personally stay out of grey areas. Choose to live the way you know for sure is right. If you don’t know for sure, stay clear away from it! On the other hand, I encourage you to have grace with others you observe. Just because you don’t know if they are right doesn’t mean they don’t know. Don’t announce that they are going to hell. We are to hold each other accountable and spur one another on in the faith. Ask if they know for sure what they are doing is right. Point them to God’s Word as the boundaries and signposts for our lives. Exhort them to a life that abandons grey area in favor of right living. All of us, in any spiritual state, need to hear that exhortation.
Can Man Worship Himself?
A thought has been rolling around in my head for a week or so now. I am not sure it is totally accurate, but I am going to throw it out there for comment and criticism. The idea is this. Can a man (or woman) ever truly worship himself? Often we say that a person worships himself instead of God. In a sense this is true, but just as a blanket statement, I am not sure this is totally accurate. Men will have other men worship them all day long. They will want others to worship their book, work, power, wealth, fame, and so on. Some will even go so far as to make an image of themselves and have others worship it. However, I do not recall ever hearing of such a man worshipping that image himself. It is almost as if he instinctively know that it is not a god, even if he wishes everyone else to believe it is. My thesis is that man are too religious to truly worship an image themselves. They do want to pamper themselves, and desperately want other men to worship them. But even an atheist is too needy to worship at a shrine of his own image. He simply worships his lack of worship. An the heathen will worship trees and animals before himself. Man is so needy and so desires worship, that he will go great lengths to worship anything but himself, as he is never secure in himself. The Bible does affirm this notion of men needing to worship and praise another. The sad part is that too often it is not the living God. Well, that is my observation. Is it in line with God’s Word and reality, or just nonsense? Think it over and post your thoughts!
In Image of His Holiness
Here is a good article by a friend who graciously gave me permission to post it. Please take a few minutes to check it out.
http://dlorimer.blogspot.com/2009/09/in-image-of-his-holiness.html
