How Can I Rejoice Now?

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope... (Romans 5:3-4)

As Paul sat in a Roman prison, he wrote, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice" (Phil. 4:4).  If you're a Christian, you've heard this text quoted often.  Through it, we're reminded that rejoicing isn't a "sometimes" activity.  Rejoicing is an "all the time" activity, including those times when life is hard, pain is deep, and suffering will not let go.

In Romans 5, Paul rejoices in the "hope of the glory of God" (v. 1-2).  By God's grace, we have come to trust in Christ, we are now justified, we live at peace with God, and we have access to God that's impossible apart from Jesus (v. 1-2).   Who wouldn't rejoice at that?!?  But Paul goes on to say that we also rejoice in our sufferings.  In essence, he's saying we rejoice in the Lord always.

But how can I rejoice in my sufferings?  How can you rejoice in your sufferings?  When cancer wrecks our bodies, or the bodies of family members.  When your husband, father, or grandfather can no longer remember you due to their Alzheimer's.  When dementia leads to violent behavior.  When tragedy suddenly steals away a child.  When you lose your job because of circumstances out of your control.  When your wife suddenly abandons you.  When your adult children are in a deep, unchanging pattern of rebellion against God.  When friends and family cut you out because of your faith in Jesus.  When the world seems to be spinning out of control. 

How can I rejoice at these times?  How can I rejoice always?  Two words in Romans 5:3 help answer that question.  These two words equip us for rejoicing always.  Here they are: "knowing that."

What I know will determine whether I rejoice.  In particular, what I know of the Lord will determine whether I rejoice in the Lord.  And, what I know of the Lord will determine when I rejoice in the Lord.  Don't believe the lie that theology is for scholars and not ordinary Christians.  Our view of God matters when it comes to rejoicing.  Think about it.

The view that it is God's job to give me the life I want, to respond to my faith in Him by giving me health, wealth, and unwavering happiness in this life, isn't based on the Bible.  It's based on some version of God I've created in my mind.  However, if this is my view of God, when will I rejoice?  I will rejoice only when my bill of health is clear, my bank account is full, and my circumstances please me.  I won't always rejoice.  I'll sometimes rejoice.  Why?  Because what I know of God will determine when I rejoice in God. 

However, if I have a biblical knowledge of God, things change.  If I know that His design is to make me more like Jesus (Rom. 8:28-29), and if I know that being like Jesus requires suffering, rejection from friends, pain, and heartache, then do you know what I will do?  I will rejoice always.  I will say what Paul says.  "We rejoice in our sufferings..."  Why?  "...knowing that suffering produces..."

If I am convinced that suffering is only something to escape and not something God employs for His glory and my good, I will not rejoice.  However, if I know that suffering - in the hands of God, endured by faith - will produce Christlike character and trust and endurance I wouldn't have otherwise, then I can rejoice.  This is rejoicing "in the Lord"...in relationship to Him, with a right knowledge of Him, trusting in Him.

To be sure, rejoicing in the Lord always is not pain-free rejoicing.  There's nothing painless about cancer, Alzheimer's, abandonment, tragedy, rebellious children, ostracism from friends and family, or any other suffering you may endure.  However, because of what we know of God - His greatness, His goodness, His wisdom, and His purposes - we can rejoice all the same.  We will be "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (2 Cor. 6:10).

Here's where the rubber meets the road.  Since rejoicing in the Lord is based on knowing the Lord, then each of us should be committed to knowing the Lord and growing in that knowledge.  We should aim to diligently obey Peter's command: "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

Are you committed to growing in your knowledge of the Lord?  What will you do today to grow?

Family Ties

"...faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness...The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised" (Romans 4:9, 11-12).

In elementary school, backyard games of kickball or wiffle ball often stirred heated emotions, and verbal sparring would break out.  If things escalated, and the threat of a physical showdown was imminent, someone would claim superiority based on family heritage.  It wasn't superiority based on income or race or education; it was superiority based on sheer physical strength.  "My dad can beat up your dad!"

Looking to family heritage as a source of pride is nothing new.  In the first century, the Pharisees were appalled when Jesus said they needed to be set free from sin.  They told him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone...Abraham is our father." (Jn. 8:33, 39).

Jesus knew they were physical descendants of Abraham, as was He.  But Jesus also knew that genetics were not the determining factor in being a child of Abraham.  There's more to it.  "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did..." (Jn. 8:39).  And what did Abraham do that the Pharisees are not doing?  Abraham believed.

And Abraham is Paul's prime illustration in Romans 4, as he teaches what it means to be justified.  Declared "Not guilty!" by our divine Judge.  Declared righteous by our Righteous God.  How did Abraham attain such status?  What feat did he accomplish?  What work did he do?

Paul's answer is Genesis 15's answer: "And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness" (Gen. 15:6).  This is the same "work" Jesus calls everyone to do.  "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent" (Jn. 6:29).

Abraham was justified by faith.  He held a righteous status before God because he believed God.  In Genesis 15, it was faith in the promise that God would do what He said He would do (i.e., give Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars).

But make note.  Abraham didn't see having innumerable descendants as a reasonable thing.  He knew his body was "as good as dead" (Rom. 4:19).  So, his faith was based neither on his body's ability to produce children, nor on the fertility of his wife's womb (Rom. 4:19).  Human effort could not accomplish God's promised work.  No, Abraham's faith was based on the firm conviction that God is God.  God can do what God says He can do.  And God will do what God says He will do.  "...he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised" (Rom. 4:20-21).

Paul concludes by taking our mind's eye from Abraham to ourselves.  "It [i.e., righteousness] will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.  Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 4:24-5:1).

It is this spiritual reality - justification by faith - that connects us to Abraham.  Because of this, Paul says that Abraham is "the father of all who believe" (Rom. 4:11).  Elsewhere, he writes that "it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham" (Gal. 3:7).

Whether Jew or Gentile, the only ones who can truly say "Abraham is our father" are those who believe in Jesus Christ.  Abraham's children know their souls weren't just "as good as dead"...they were "dead" (Eph. 2:1).  Abraham's children believe that Jesus made the once-for-all atonement for our sin through His death on the cross.  Abraham's children believe that God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day, victorious over sin and death and hell.

Abraham's children believe that what God has done, in Christ, what He said He would do.  Abraham's children believe the gospel.  Do you believe?  Is Abraham your spiritual father?

The Phrase or the Organization?

Black lives matter.  Black Lives Matter.  These three words seem to be everywhere around us.  They're on T-shirts.  They're on posters.  They're on bumper stickers.  They're spray painted on plywood boards that cover holes where windows once were.  They're on social media and television.  They were on the lips of a parade of peaceful protesters I saw while getting ice cream on Mass. Ave. Sunday night.

I'm sure you took notice of how I wrote those two trios of words at the beginning of the post.  One is written as a sentence, and the other is written as a name.  One is a phrase.  The other is a reference to an organization in the forefront of the cultural discussion at the moment.  When asked what I think of this arrangement of words, I need clarity.  Do you mean the phrase or the organization?

For some, this seems like splitting hairs because the organization exists to promote the phrase, right?  That's a great question!  I'll come back to it.  For now, let me start with the phrase.

Black lives matter.  No faithful, Bible-believing Christian can deny the truth of this statement.  Of course, black lives matter.  But I'd say it this way: "Every black life matters."  It may not seem like much of a difference.  And I know it doesn't have the rhythm needed for a peaceful protest chant.  But in my mind, it's clearer.  It better reflects the Bible's teaching.

Every black life matters.
The life of every black human being innocently taking a jog, walking through his neighborhood wearing a hoodie, or resting in her apartment after working as an EMT matters.
The life of every black human being who breaks the law and requires the intervention of civil authorities to correct and deter future lawbreaking matters.
The life of every black human being who stands trial or who acts as prosecutor or defendant in a trial or who sits in the jury of a trial or who presides over a trial as judge matters.
The life of every black architect matters.
The life of every black construction worker matters.
The life of our only black president thus far matters.
The life of every black teacher matters.  Mrs. Henderson, who taught me to love math in 5th grade, matters.
The life of every black, unborn baby matters.
Every black life matters.

Every black life matters because God knit every black human being together in his/her mother's womb.  Not as a collection of lives.  But each individual life.  One by one.  Womb by womb.  Each one fearfully and wonderfully made.  Indeed, God does this with every human being.  Every black life matters.  Every Asian life matters.  Every Latino life matters.  Every white life matters.  Each one matters because every life matters.

To be clear, some people respond to "black lives matter" with "all lives matter", as if latter is an argument against the former.  I'm not arguing against a right emphasis on the fact that every black life matters.  I'm seeking to explain why every black life matters.  God has created every human being in His image.  So, every life matters.

Given my rephrasing, I'm good with the phrase "black lives matter."  But that brings me back to the question.  Doesn't the organization Black Lives Matter exist to promote the fact that black lives matter?  Well, let's think about that.

A quick glance at the "What We Believe" section on the Black Lives Matter website will reveal statements that might lead you to answer "yes."  One example is this statement: "We work vigorously for freedom and justice for Black people and, by extension, all people."

However, mixed in with statements about racial justice, you will find others.  Consider these, followed by a brief explanation:

• "We are self-reflexive and do the work required to dismantle cisgender privilege and uplift Black trans folk..."  Also, "We foster a queer‐affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking, or rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual (unless s/he or they disclose otherwise)."
• These statements mean that Black Lives Matter is not an organization focused solely on race issues; it is clearly aligning itself with the LGBTQ agenda as well.
• "We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and 'villages' that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable."
• The "Western-prescribed nuclear family structure" (i.e., a father, mother, and their children) is not a "Western" idea at all.  It is the biblical pattern of the family.  Certainly, God works in all kinds of family situations.  However, to disrupt God's way rather than seek to establish and promote it is wrong.
• Click here to check the page out for yourself.

Now, I don't point out these things because I hate LGBTQ individuals, though I know calling any lifestyle sinful or wrong is often assumed to be equivalent to hatred.  I also don't point out these things because the nuclear family is an idol we must all worship...far from it!  I point out these things because I presume that the Christians who are promoting this organization don't know them.  If they did, I hope they wouldn't be asking me to support it or give my money to it.

Someone will say, "Yes, but shouldn't we support Black Lives Matter for doing something good, even if this other stuff comes with it?"  Another good question.  The simple answer is no.  Let me explain why by looking at what it would mean to support two other organizations.

Do you oppose white supremacy?  Of course.  Do you oppose the abuse of power in government?  Of course.  Then, why not support Antifa?  Because this is the group that resorts to violence to try and accomplish its purposes, and to support it is to try and overcome evil with more evil.

Do you want women to have more affordable testing for breast cancer and cervical cancer?  Of course.  Then, why not support Planned Parenthood?  Because doing mammograms and pap smears can't possibly make up for killing countless babies in the womb.

Dear Christians, it is wrong to champion the cause of those who would tear down biblical truth.  So, while we must embrace the truth of the phrase "black lives matter" (i.e., that every black life matters), we must not embrace the organization known as Black Lives Matter.

Are you behind yet?

When a new year rolls around, it's not uncommon for Christians to recommit themselves to the spiritual discipline of Bible reading.  It's a great goal, and our spiritual lives are fed by such a discipline (Mt. 4:4). 

Was that one of your goals for 2020?  Is this the year you're finally going to read through the New Testament?  Or maybe the whole Bible?  There are resources on the internet and your phone that can help you stay on track.  You can even create your own customized Bible reading plan.  In our congregation, we offered three different plans to help people read the Bible daily.

Lots of people make resolutions, and lots of people plan to act on them.  But today is January 7, and my question is: When it comes to your Bible reading plan, are you behind yet?  Maybe not.  Maybe you're still getting up a little earlier, staying up a little later, or eating lunch at your desk to stay on task.  Excellent!  Stay at it!

But maybe you're behind.  Maybe you started with great zeal, but you've started hitting the snooze button instead of popping out of bed.  Or you're staying in front of the TV too long at night, instead of shutting it off and reading.  Maybe you've missed a day.  Or two.  Or more.  Now, even as you read this brief post, you feel the pressure to "catch up."

Well, it would be great to catch up, but I think there are some bigger questions.  Why did you set this goal?  Why did you want to read through the Bible?  What are you hoping to accomplish?

In my childhood, I went to a church that had special offering envelopes.  On the outside of those envelopes, there was a checklist.  It had several items on it, including things like this: Attended Sunday School.  Attended worship.  Brought Bible.  Read Bible daily.  Prayed.  Made visits. 

Looking at the list, there's nothing bad on it.  They're all good and beneficial activities.  However, if my heart is focused solely on finishing the list, I will miss out on all that is good and beneficial.  My heart has to be in the right place if my spiritual disciplines are going to have the right effect.

This is true of our Bible reading plans.  We can get so focused on finishing our Bibles that we fail to focus on fellowship with God through reading the Bible.  If that's the case, at the end of the year, we will have read all the words of God, but we probably won't have a greater grasp on the truth of God.

So, what should you do if you're behind?  I'd suggest four things.

1. Don't worry.  To do so would violate the very Word you want to read (Phil. 4:6).
2. Ask yourself, "Why am I behind?"  Is it because of uncontrollable, providential events?  Is it because I was lazy and neglected what I knew I ought to do?  Is it because something else captured my heart today?  In response, repent of any sin you discover, change what needs to be changed, and pray for God's help.
3. Start again with today's reading, and keep going.  If you can come back later and pick up what you missed, great.
4. Keep your heart focused on seeking the Lord through your Bible reading.  It's better to know more of God after reading less of the Bible than to know less of God after reading all the Bible.

God's Word is precious.  Reading God's Word, especially in our own language, is a privilege.  Read on...and stay steady.

Walking by Sight, Not by Faith

In 2 Corinthians 5:7, Paul says that Christians "walk by faith, not by sight."  This should be the normal rhythm of the Christian life.  What God says, not what I see, governs how I live.  God's Word determines how I walk through the circumstances of life.  The circumstances of life do not determine how or whether I walk with God.

Yet, so often, the circumstances of life are like muggers.  They ambush us on the sidewalk, beat us up, and take our wallet.  As a result, the way we walk through life can change.  We look over our shoulder in fear of what might happen next.  We believe a "good day" is merely one without pain or trouble.  In other words, we start walking by sight, not by faith.

One picture of this reversal is in Exodus 4-6.  In chapter 4, Moses pronounces God's promise of deliverance to the Israelites, with accompanying miraculous signs to validate his message.  In response, "...the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped" (4:31).  They're prepared to walk by faith, not by sight.  So far, so good.

In chapter 5, though, circumstances begin to take a turn for the worse.  Pharaoh is outraged at the call to "Let my people go" (v. 1).  As a result, he makes life worse for the Israelites.  They were already slaves, but now, they must keep meeting their daily work quota without Pharaoh providing the resources needed to do so.

The Israelites' painful circumstances have pounced on them, and they're left staggering.  They question Moses (5:21).  In turn, Moses questions God (5:22-23).  The faith displayed at the end of chapter 4 is nowhere to be found.  Why?  They're responding to what they see, but not with faith.

The story goes on.  In chapter 6, God's Word comes through Moses again.  God reiterates the truth about who He is and what He will do for His people.  He is the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob...the LORD (v. 3-4).  He has heard their groaning for mercy, and He will keep His promises (v. 5).  He will deliver them from their bondage, redeem them by His power, be their God, and give them the land He promised (v. 6-8).

Now, remember, in chapter 4, God's Word was received in faith, and the people bowed their heads in worship.  Will they respond in faith again?  Will worship break out once more?  Will they gain new strength to trust the Lord as they wait for Him to work?  Sadly, the answer to all three questions is no.

"Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery" (Ex. 6:9).  They can't get their eyes off their circumstances long enough to see the hope of God's promise.  In chapter 4, they had sung, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow..."  Now, they sing again.  It's the same melody, but in a minor key and with different lyrics: "Where's God when all my burdens grow?..."

Why have they changed their tune?  Because they are walking by sight.  They see Pharaoh's anger.  They see harsher masters and harder labor.  And quite frankly, they see no end in sight.  And what they can see is determining whether they will listen to the Lord, trust the Lord, or hope in the Lord.  They are walking by sight.

Oh how easy it is for us to walk by sight!  How common it is to measure the reality and benevolence of God by the circumstances of our lives!  How often my soul has been mugged by opposition, mauled by suffering, and molested by trials!

And it is here that we need the Lord's grace to clear away the scales that blind us to His promises.  We need the Lord Jesus Himself to clean out our spiritual ears, so we hear and believe the truth.  And what we need to hear, with ears of faith, are the same truths God spoke in Exodus 6. 

We need to hear that God has made a covenant with us in the blood of His Son, Jesus.  It is an eternal covenant, securing our forgiveness and making us right with Him.  And it cannot be broken.  We need to hear that we have access to God's throne of grace through Jesus, our High Priest.  There, we can groan for mercy and grace in our time of need and expect to be heard.

We need to hear, over and over again, that Jesus Christ has broken the bondage of sin's slavery and has redeemed us to be His people.  We need to hear that, because we've been redeemed and reconciled to God, God Himself is our God, and we are His people.  We need to hear that the promised eternal home on the new earth awaits, and the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our safe arrival.

With that faith in place, how are we to live in this world of sorrows?  The apostle Paul tells us.  "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:17-18).

In short, walk by faith, not by sight.

Worship with Regularity

How do we approach public worship as a Christian?  What about private worship?  Have we made it a habit to worship the Lord publicly, as well as privately?  Do we discipline ourselves to do both regularly?  Now, I realize that asking such questions may result in confusion or even accusation.  After all, when we talk about making habits and establishing routines, aren't we jumping into legalism?  Isn't it only the heart that matters?  You know, being genuine.


Well, of course, being genuine is a great concern for God.  God hates vain, meaningless offerings (Is. 1:12-20).  He also despises empty, rote, religious action (Is. 29:13; Mk. 7:6-8).  Habits, actions, and routines, in and of themselves, are quite meaningless, fruitless, useless, and a monumental waste of time.  However, I think we've made a mistake when we pit the habits of the Christian life against genuine Christian life.  This makes it sound like habits can't be genuine and genuineness only expresses itself in spontaneity.  That's just not true.


Take expressions of love in marriage.  Spontaneous, romantic trips and dates are great.  Surprising your wife by finishing some home project while she's away for the day is a loving thing to do.  Picking up flowers for her when all she needed from the store was mustard is a kind, generous act. 


These can be genuine, but the vast majority of our loving expressions in marriage can be quite routine.  Always hugging and kissing before you leave the house, or once you arrive home.  Calling or texting at lunch to check on one another.  Choosing to do the grocery shopping, mow the yard, pay the bills, wash the dishes, make the bed, or clean the toilet because you know your spouse hates it. 


These are routine, meaning we make a habit of them, and we could do them in an empty, callous, or even hateful way.  However, it's it true that they can all be absolutely genuine.  Everyday, routine actions full of genuine love for the other person.  The same can be said of a nightly routine to talk, a monthly date, a yearly overnight trip.  These things need not be spontaneous to be genuine, and the same can be said of worship.


I bring this up because the God who despises empty, routine offerings and religious gatherings is also the God who commands routine offerings and religious gatherings.  This was made clear once again when I read Numbers 28 this morning.  It's a very repetitive chapter.  It's a chapter we may be tempted to speed read without thinking about it.  That way, we can check it off our plan and be one step closer to reading the Bible in a year.


However, let's not do that.  Let's consider what's happening.  God is establishing a routine.  A habit.  A regular rhythm of worship.  There are daily offerings (v. 1-8), weekly offerings (v. 9-10), monthly offerings (v. 11-15), and yearly offerings (v. 16-25).  Then, we move on to feasts that should be observed with regularity, which starts in verse 26 and doesn't finish until the end of chapter 29.


God isn't commanding regularity for the sake of regularity.  Habit for the sake of habit.  Routine for the sake of routine.  God doesn't want His people to know that He's got them under His thumb, like some cruel dictator.  No, these are gracious commands that God gives to His people.  God has already shown His commitment to them by delivering them from slavery in Egypt.  He would be their God, and they would be His people.


Then, in Numbers 13-14, the people chose against trusting the Lord to help them enter and take the promised land.  Still, God is committed to His people.  God knows that His people need a regular reminder of His goodness, His grace, His mercy, His redemption...as well as their sinfulness, their need, their dependence on Him.  So, He establishes a regular rhythm of worship.  Through the many offerings that will be offered daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly, the people will be reminded of their need and God's provision.  Their weakness and God's strength.  Their sin and God's forgiveness.


The same is true for us.  We need routine reminders of God's grace, mercy, and love.  We need reminders of our sin, our neediness, our weakness.  These are what regular public and private prayer provide us.  We sing songs together, being reminded of God's greatness and our need to recognize that greatness...that He is God and we are not.  We pray corporately, reminded of His power and sovereignty, as well as our dependence on Him for all things.  We give, worshiping God as the source and owner of all things and expressing that we are stewards who act for the sake of our Master.  God's Word is preached, recognizing our regular need to hear God speak and submitting our lives to His scrutiny.


Are you getting the picture?  A regular rhythm of worship is good.  Of course, routines can dissolve into ruts, but don't assume that they will.  Fight against it.  Recognize that the ability to develop routines and habits has been given for God's glory and for our good.


With all this in mind, let me leave you with some questions to consider.  Again, the goal is not to establish a legalistic mindset, but we do need to be challenged to think about our lives.  Very often, we get into the wrong kinds of habits with our time, energy, money, etc., and need to be shaken out of it.  So, here are questions for me and for you:

• Is it your routine to be involved in public worship?  Do you discipline your time in order to make sure it happens?
• Do you have a regular rhythm of private worship - getting into God's word on your own, meditating on it and memorizing it, praying regularly and often, etc.?
• Are there regular routines at your church that you're choosing to ignore?  Maybe it's a Sunday morning Bible study, a Sunday evening service, a gathering for prayer, or Wednesday evening small group.
• Why are you ignoring them?  Do you think it's unnecessary for you to have any rhythms other than Sunday morning?
• Have you convinced yourself that busyness in your life forbids being involved?  Has it also forbidden Facebook, television, playing/watching sports, and other recreational activities?
• Do you have a regular rhythm of giving money away for the sake of God's kingdom and for the good of others?  My guess is that your church offers such opportunities regularly.  What would keep you from giving regularly, as God would have you do?
• Have you established any regular rhythms in your family?  Rhythms in any family may vary from one season to another, but is there any sense of rhythm?
• Natural rhythms are things like game nights, eating dinner together, going on walks, movie night, family vacations (either the out-of-town or stay-at-home kind), playing catch, bedtime routines, etc.  (These are called "natural" rhythms because one doesn't need to be a Christian to do them.  However, when Christians do them, we should be motivated to please the Lord and serve our families.)
• Spiritual rhythms may include praying, singing, reading the Bible, reading through a helpful book, serving, regular conversation about spiritual issues and growth, discipline aimed at the heart and not just behavior, etc.

So, God has commanded routines.  He commands habits.  It glorifies Him for us to have a regular rhythm of worship, and it does our souls good.  Let's fall into the trap of believing that simply having spiritual habits makes them inauthentic.  Instead, let's be committed to authenticity in the midst of spiritual habits.

The New Phonebooks Are Here!: Church Directories, and My Bittersweet Experience

In the 1979 movie, The Jerk, Steve Martin plays Navin R. Johnson, a character described as a "befuddled homeless simpleton".  In one scene, Navin yanks a phone book out of a delivery guys hands and begins furiously whipping through pages.  Then, he stops and yells that most famous line.  "The new phonebook's here!  The new phonebook's here!"

Why is he screaming about such a mundane event in life?  He's excited because he found his name.  On page 73.  What a moment!  He's sure millions of people will see his name in print.  And as a result, he's convinced that great things are going to start happening for him.

Our congregation, like many others, occasionally produces church directories.  This last week, the new directories came in.  I didn't jump up and down screaming, "The new directory's here!" However, I do like having a directory.  A church directory isn't just a photo album.  And it's not just a phonebook.  A church directory should be a tool for prayer and ministry.  Let me explain.

Do you pray for the other people in your congregation?  Not just those on "the prayer list."  Not just those facing crisis.  Surely, we need to be praying for them, but are you praying for every member?  Using the directory as your guide, you can systematically pray for every member of your church.  Even if you don't know all the inner workings of their life, you can pray for them.  I've always found that using Paul's prayers as a model is helpful when I'm praying for someone I don't know as well (e.g.- 1 Cor. 1:4-9; Eph. 1:15-21; Eph. 3:14-19; Phil. 1:9-11; Col. 1:9-12; etc.).

We can also use our church directory as a tool for ministry.  Are there faces in the directory that you haven't seen lately in the Sunday morning gathering?  Use that as an opportunity to write a card, pick up the phone, or make a visit...not to your elders, so they'll do something about it.  Take responsibility for your brother/sister in Christ.  Express your concern about their absence. 

Are their children plagued by illness?  Is there a conflict with another church member she's avoiding?  Is his boss demanding work on Sundays?  Is there some change they're struggling to embrace?  Have they decided things just aren't as exciting as they were at first, so maybe they need to "make a change"?  Is there some other issue that needs to be addressed?  God can use you to speak into your friend's life.

There's more ministry than just noticing who's absent.  As we peruse the church directory, we see the faces of those struggling.  Those recently diagnosed with one malady or another.  The single mom dealing with her rebellious teenage son.  The man who lost his job 6 months ago and can't find work.  The single woman who's subtly expressed her loneliness.  The young couple about to have their first baby.  The not-as-young couple about to have their 6th.  And all these are opportunities to speak and act in the lives of others...for God's glory and their good.

But beyond these basic, helpful uses of the church directory, I find my first glance at a new church directory both bitter and sweet.  The pictures can stir grief and burden.  I see pictures of men or women.  They're alone in their pictures.  However, the last time we produced a directory, a husband or a wife was present.  I also see those struggling with God's purposes in the midst of diagnoses that weren't present the last time their picture was taken.  There are also those struggling with their unbelieving spouses or children.

Then there are those I don't see.  For various reasons, they're no longer part of our congregation.  In another state.  In another county.  In another congregation.  It's probably the last of those three that's most difficult.  People leave churches for all kinds of bad reasons.  And people often just silently sneak away, thinking they're being nice...doing everyone a favor by not talking about their struggles.  But that's simply not true.  And why isn't it true?  Well, that's another blog for another day.  It's sufficient to say that I'm burdened for those I don't see.  (Of course, I didn't mention those absent because of church discipline...or those who have left church altogether.)

That's the bitter part of the church directory experience, but there's sweetness too.  The sweetness of seeing pictures and thinking of how God is at work.  The couple who's fighting for their marriage...and winning.  The families with children in this picture...who weren't in the last picture.  Families we have sent to serve the Lord in other countries.  Men and women who are involved in ministry far beyond what they would've imagined the last time directories were published.

Older couples who have renewed vigor in serving the Lord.  Young, single men and women sacrificing worldly ambition for the sake of others.  People who are being trained in biblical counseling...and sitting in on biblical counseling.  Retired folks who are working like crazy for the Lord, seeking first His kingdom.  Young men who want to pursue pastoral ministry of one kind or another.

Five years of serving in this congregation, and the pictures mean a lot more than they did on day 1.  At the beginning, I was just trying to get the right name with the right face.  Now, I long to know the right spiritual condition that goes with that name and face.  Their needs.  Their strengths.  Their weaknesses.  Their struggles.  And I'm certain these pictures will mean more in five more years.

The new directory's here!  And it's a bittersweet experience.

Reflections on "The Soulwinner's Reward"

One of the books I'm currently reading is The Soulwinner by C.H. Spurgeon.  My colleagues and I on the pastoral staff are reading and discussing it together.  I have found this book and our discussions on it to be helpful and challenging.

The chapter we are reading this week is called "The Soulwinner's Reward."  In it, Spurgeon addresses rewards for those who are actively evangelizing.  Seeking to win souls.  And I thought I'd share a few passages that could encourage us in our evangelistic efforts.

The first paragraph encourages us when we don't see the conversions we would like to see.  When our evangelism doesn't seem to be "working."  We've all been there, right?  An evangelistic conversation is shutdown for one reason or another.  Then it happens again.  And again.  It's heartbreaking because we want to see people come to faith in Christ.  Does God really reward these unsuccessful attempts to evangelize?  Hear Spurgeon's words:

"Even if we did not succeed in it [i.e.- our evangelistic effort], the Lord would still say of it, as He did of David's intent to build a temple, 'Thou didst well that it was in thine heart' (1 Kings 8:18).  Even if the souls we seek all persist in unbelief, if they all despise and reject and ridicule us, it will still be a divine work to have at least made the attempt.  If no rain comes out of the cloud, it has still screened off the fierce heat of the sun.  All is not lost, even if the greater purpose is not accomplished.  What if we only learn how to join the Savior in His tears and mourn, 'How often would I have gathered thy children together...and ye would not!' (Matthew 23:37).  It is sublime honor itself to be allowed to stand on the same platform with Jesus and weep with Him.  We are better for such sorrows, if no others are." (p. 172)

It's good to know that there is reward in the going.  In the attempting.  In the sharing.  In the preaching.  In leaving a tract.  In trying to start conversations.  But some might hear this and be tempted to remain satisfied with never seeing people converted.  I don't mean we don't want to see people converted.  I just mean that we can become so satisfied in attempting that we lose our passion...our drive...our hunger...to succeed in seeing people saved.  We can forget the joy of being part of God's work in the world.

Parents, surely there is a sense in which we must be satisfied with remaining faithful in teaching our children the gospel.  In faithfully praying for them.  In using every means God has given us to teach them the faith.  That's all we can do...really.  But how can a Christian parent not hunger for their child's conversion the way a starving man wants just one bite of food?  How can we not be driven to see it happen?  Can we really think of ourselves as "Christian" or "parents" if we remain apathetic?

Part of the problem is that we won't keep attempting if we become apathetic.  We won't keep sharing the gospel.  Very often, we would just as soon give up as keep failing to see conversions.  Well, Spurgeon has encouragement for us here, too.

"I may be speaking to a few who have not succeeded.  If so, I would recommend that they steadily look over their motives, their spirits, their work, and their prayers, and then begin again.  Perhaps they may come to work more wisely, more believingly, more humbly, and more in the power of the Holy Spirit.  They must act as farmers do who, after a poor harvest, plow again in hope.  They ought not to be dispirited, but they ought to be roused.

"We should be anxious to find out the reason of failure, if there is any, and we should be ready to learn from all our fellow laborers.  But we must steadfastly set our faces, if by any means we may save some, resolving that, whatever happens, we will leave no stone unturned to effect the salvation of those around us." (p 173)

He aims at two things to do...examine yourself, and examine your work.  Look into your heart.  Do we believe in the power of the gospel as we share it?  Do we know that the dead can be raised right before our eyes?  Are we sharing as a proud man who has religious insight or as a humble man who has received God's grace?  As one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread?

Also, look at your work.  What exactly are we sharing?  What is our focus?  Does our conversation focus only on how bad the world is?  Are we putting forward some message other than the gospel (e.g.- political, social, etc.)?  Do we ever express the truths of the gospel?  If we believe we need to grow, then what are we doing to grow in our evangelism?  How are we learning from fellow laborers?

One way to learn from others is to read what they have written about evangelism.  But BEWARE...reading about evangelism does not make us more evangelistic, but books and articles can help us grow.  With those warnings given, here are a few suggestions to consider:

• The Soulwinner by C.H. Spurgeon - How could I not recommend the book I'm quoting in this post?  You can get it in Paperback or on Kindle (for only 99 cents).
• The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever - This is a very helpful book to think about what the gospel is and some practical ways to improve your evangelism.  It's also not as long as Spurgeon's work.  Paperback or Kindle
• Here's an article from Jim Eliff at Christian Communicators Worldwide that will help you think more intentionally about evangelism: "A More Spontaneous and Genuine Evangelism"

Let me quote one last passage.  It reminds us of the pleasure of God in our evangelism, and it is a fitting way to finish this post.

"When you bring others to His feet, you give Him joy, and no small joy, either.  Is not this a wonderful text: 'There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth' (Luke 15:10)?  What does that mean?  Does it mean that the angels have joy?  We generally read it so, but that is not the intent of the verse.  It says, 'There is joy in the presence of the angels of God.'  That means there is joy in the heart of God, around whose throne the angels stand.  It is a joy that angels delight to behold.

"What is this?  Is the blessed God capable of greater joy than His own boundless happiness?  What a wondrous thought!  The infinite bliss of God is more eminently displayed, if it cannot be increased.  Can we be instruments of this?  Can we do anything that will make the Ever Blessed glad?  Yes, for we are told that the Great Father rejoices beyond measure when His prodigal son, who was dead, is alive again, and the lost one is found.

"...It is a great pleasure to be doing a kindness to an earthly friend; but to be doing something distinctly for Jesus, something that will be of all things in the world most pleasing to Him, is a great delight!...

"Go, dear friends, and seek to bring your children and your neighbors, your friends and your relatives, to the Savior's feet.  Nothing will give Him as much pleasure as to see them turn to Him and live.  By your love for Jesus, become fishers of men." (p. 178-179)

Grace, Gladness, and a Good Man

"The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.  When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.  And a great many people were added to the Lord." - Acts 11:21-24

I've been to a lot of funerals.  I've conducted a lot of funerals.  That means I've heard a lot of eulogies.  Had several "open mic" sessions, where friends and family stand and give testimony to the character and life of the person who has passed.  The stories make people laugh, cry, stay silent, think, etc.  One of the adjectives often used as people speak of their loved one is "good".  He was a good man.  She was a good friend.  Dad was always good at listening.  Aunt Sally was such a good mother to her children...like a second mother to me.

But we describe people as "good" apart from funeral services.  Someone asks about your boss.  "He's a good man."  Your co-worker?  "She's a good woman."  A child may be said to have "a good heart," even though his/her actions seem to say otherwise.  Words that are used so generically...so often...can sometimes lose their meaning.

I ran across this word "good" today as I read Acts 11.  It's a word Luke uses to describe Barnabas.  If you're familiar with this man and his role in the book of Acts, then you know his reputation as an encourager.  Here, Luke says Barnabas was a "good man."  That identification stood out as I read.  And I don't believe Luke means it in the general way we sometimes use that phrase: "He's a good man."  He's not just trying to be nice.

In chapter 18 of Luke's gospel, he records an encounter between Jesus and a rich man.  The man comes to him with a question: "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Lk. 18:18).  Not just Teacher...Good Teacher.  It's a compliment.  It's nice.  It's a way to even gain favor with the person you're calling "good."  No problem, right?  Wrong.

Jesus doesn't begin by answering his question.  He begins by addressing this "good" business: "Why do you call me good?  No one is good except God alone" (Lk. 18:19).  Apparently, Jesus doesn't think slapping the adjective "good" on a person is a good idea.  There may be relative goodness in the acts that we do.  One man may be good when compared to the rest of his family.  His co-workers.  His neighbors.  His community.  Even the world!  But no one is good when we remember the ultimate standard of goodness.  God.  God alone is good.

You may be thinking, "Yeah, but Jesus is God in the flesh.  Why didn't He just accept what the guy said and answer his question?"  Here's why.  The rich man didn't know who Jesus truly was.  He knew Him only as a teacher.  Not as Messiah.  Not as Savior.  Not as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  Just as a teacher.  Jesus knows that.  And if this rich man is assuming Jesus is just a man...just a teacher...then he needs to be corrected.

So, it is best to believe that Luke is doing something else.  He's not just paying a compliment.  He's saying something genuine and important about Barnabas.  So...what is he saying?  What does Luke mean by "he was a good man"?  Luke helps us answer that question in two ways.  First, he describes human goodness in relation to God.  Second, he describes human goodness at work.

First, Luke says this "good man" was "full of the Holy Spirit and of faith."  The fullness of the Spirit and the presence of a robust faith in Christ made Barnabas a good man.  This is the way Luke described another good man back in chapter 6.  The first Christian martyr, Stephen, was "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 6:5).  These descriptions speak of one's relationship to God.  Both are marks of born-again Christians.

Apart from faith in Christ...apart from the Holy Spirit's regenerating work...here's who we are: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one" (Rom. 3:10b-12).

But by God's grace, we have been rescued out of this condition.  Freed from the slavery of sin.  Made righteous in God's sight.  Our good God has made us good in His eyes.  The Christian life, then, is to "be who you are."  You are declared righteous in Christ.  You are saints, set apart by the Holy Spirit in Christ.  You are declared good and acceptable to God because of the person and work of Jesus.  That's what the Bible calls justification.

Now, being justified.  Live righteously.  Live saintly lives.  Live good and acceptable lives.  Not to become righteous, saintly, and good, but because God has declared you righteous, saintly, and good.  However, while this is true of all believers in Christ, Luke is not simply saying, "Barnabas was a Christian."  There's more here.  Luke's saying that Barnabas' Christian goodness was observable.  If you look at his life, you'll see the evidence of goodness.  You should see him and come to the same conclusion: "he was a good man".  Jesus says we'll know people by their fruits (Mt. 7:15-20), and Paul says that goodness is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

And that brings us to the second part of the answer to our question: What does Luke mean by "he was a good man"?  How was this basic Christian character observable in Barnabas' life?  Here's Luke's answer: "When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose" (Acts 11:23).

Barnabas had been sent to gather information about the supposed new church in Antioch.  The apostles heard a lot about them in Jerusalem.  If they had e-newsletters in that day, Antioch would have made the headlines: "A New Church Allegedly Planted in Antioch."  But, being good shepherds and wanting to protect the integrity of Christ's church, the apostles send Barnabas to make sure it's a genuine church.  Genuinely believing and preaching the gospel.  Genuinely marked by God's grace.

And Luke says that Barnabas arrives in Antioch.  He goes to the church.  And what does he see?  The grace of God!  What a captivating idea...he sees the grace of God.  In other words, Barnabas sees the evidence of God's grace.  He sees faith and works that can only be explained by the grace of God at work in their lives.  And how does he respond?  He's not suspicion.  He doesn't cast doubt on the story of their conversion.  He's glad!

Barnabas has always been a guy who is slow to suspicion and quick to rejoicing.  Remember when Paul was converted?  Nobody was ready to believe he was a Christian, but Barnabas came to his side.  Stood up for him.  He saw the grace of God in Paul's life and was glad!  This is observable goodness in Barnabas' life.

Again, think about Luke's gospel.  In chapter 15, Luke records three parables from Jesus about things that are lost: a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son.  After the first two, Jesus says that there is great joy in heaven...rejoicing among the angels...when one sinner repents (Lk. 15:7, 10).  Then, in the third parable, a father throws a party to celebrate the repentance of his prodigal son (Lk. 15:22-24).  Joy is the right response to seeing the grace of God in others.  It is the heavenly response.  The godly response.  The good response.

So, Barnabas' goodness is observable in his response to seeing the grace of God.  It's also observable in what he does next.  He doesn't pack his bag and leave town.  He doesn't Skype with the apostles back in Jerusalem and tell them: "Looks like their good!"  No, he does something else.

Barnabas doesn't just see the grace of God.  He encourages them to continue in the grace of God.  "...[And] he exhorted them to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose..." (Acts 11:23b).  Barnabas speaks.  He talks to them about persevering in the faith.  He warns them about the danger of turning away and exhorts them to stay faithful.  But being faithful won't just happen.  It's not automatic.  It's not like setting the cruise control on your car.  These Christians have steadfast purpose.  They have to be intentional.

You see that?  That's goodness at work!  Christian goodness means caring about the lives of others.  Caring about their spiritual lives.  Caring enough to speak God's truth.  To speak it in love.  To speak God's Word so that our brothers and sisters will grow in goodness.  So that the fruit of the Spirit will observable in their lives, too.

Barnabas was a good man.  He was full of the Spirit and of faith.  And that goodness was observable in two things: (1) joyfully seeing God's grace in others and (2) faithfully exhorting God's people to continue in God's grace.  That brings me to a question: Am I a good man?  Are you a good man?  And like Luke, I don't mean, "Are we Christians?" (However, that's the right place to start!)

What I mean is...do we rejoice in seeing the grace of God in others?  In seeing the evidence of grace worked out in their lives?  Do we suspect that it's not genuine, or do we celebrate what we see?  Are we encouraging other Christians to stay steady, to remain faithful, and to persevere in the faith?

More than what I think about me.  More than what I think about you.  What do you think others might say?  If someone were recording this time in your life.  If they observed you at your church.  And if they used the criteria that Luke mentions here.  What would they say?  Are you good?

Sickness, Snow, and the Sunday Offering

[Even before you start reading, it's best to just say it.  Just seeing this post is a bit comical, isn't it?  A pastor.  Writing about giving.  On a week after there was no church service.  No offering.  Giggle to yourself.  I did.  Then I thought, "How should we think about these things?"  And I decided this question was worth the giggles...the rolled eyes...the criticism.  So, now that that's out the way, let's get started.]

We've all been there.  It's Saturday night.  The kids are bathed.  They're sound asleep in bed...or at least, that's what we're telling ourselves.  Eventually, we tuck ourselves in bed.  The alarm is set.  And we fall asleep looking forward to being with our church family the next morning.

Then...it happens.  Either in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning.  The greater majority of the house has picked up the latest bug going around.  Wartime mentality sets in.  Quarantine the sick.  Get the meds.  Pull out the humidifiers and the gas masks.  And try to make sure the healthy remain healthy.  And...we can't go to church.  [Of course, there are times when our absence is not unexpected...say, if we're out of town.  Keep that situation in mind as you read this post, as well.  It's relevant.]

This past week, it wasn't sickness that kept me out of church.  It was snow.  A major storm was set to move into our area this past Sunday morning.  A different kind of wartime mentality set in.  Grocery stores were emptied of the usual supplies (i.e.- bread and milk).  But I also saw one cart with frozen pizza and a multi-flavored cheesecake.  It must have been a tasty couple of days for them!

Either way, the unfortunate reality set in on Saturday afternoon.  While getting to the church building would have been possible, getting home would probably be another story altogether.  So, for the sake of safety, we canceled our services Sunday morning.

One of our members commented on Facebook, "It just does not feel like Sunday morning!"  I couldn't agree more.  Sunday doesn't feel like Sunday without gathering with God's people.  Encouraging others and being encouraged by others.  Singing God's praise together.  Praying together.  Opening and hearing God's Word together.

That's the stuff we always think of, right?  Fellowship with one another.  Singing.  Praying.  Preaching.  But, there's one element missing.  We also give when the church gathers.  To promote gospel ministry in our local church.  To support missionaries all around the world.  To help meet the needs of those struggling financially, especially in my own congregation.

So, what do we do about our tithes and offerings?  Do we just let them go?  Do we simply forget that we had planned to give X% of our income in worship to the Lord?  But since we didn't gather, can't we just roll that into our spending?  Save a little extra this week?  I think these are important questions, and the apostle Paul can help us answer them.  Look at his words to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 9:7 - "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Paul has been talking about a collection for the churches in Judea.  Those Christians were struggling, and Paul is getting churches from other regions involved in providing their needs.  In chapters 8-9 of this letter, Paul is exhorting the Corinthians to generously participate.  And while these chapters are about a special offering, we also learn a great deal about Christian giving, in general.

And that's what we have here in 2 Corinthians 9:7.  This isn't just about a special offering.  This is about the Christian's method and manner of giving.  Let's go backwards and start with the manner of giving.  That's in the second half of the verse.  "...not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."  That's how we should give.  Whether helping a struggling family, supporting a church planter in Pakistan, or putting my check in the offering plate each Sunday.

Giving is not to be a drudgery.  Just something I have to do.  It is a joy.  We'll see that we must do it, but we musn't do it reluctantly, under compulsion, or with a grimace in our hearts.  A few verses earlier, Paul makes it clear that the Corinthians' offering was to be "a willing gift, not...an exaction [i.e.- a tax or payment for service]."  Also, remember John's words?  "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.  And his commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3).  That certainly applies to giving.  It is not a burden to bear, but a joy to experience.

Now, let's go back to the beginning of the verse to see the method of giving - "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart..."  Break that phrase down.  First, "Each one must give..."  This should go without saying, but Christians are givers.  The One who saved us is a Giver.  Jesus Christ gave Himself for us on the cross, so that He might give us forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life.  Through His poverty, we have become rich (2 Cor. 8:9).

Also, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked about three deeds of righteousness...deeds that should be done properly.  "When you give" (Mt. 6:2).  "When you pray" (Mt. 6:5).  "When you fast" (Mt. 6:16).  He didn't say if in any of these situations.  Most people would agree that prayer is really not an option for the Christian.  It is, as Robert Lewis Dabney described it, the Christian's vital breath.  However, we don't typically put fasting and giving into that same category.  But Jesus does.  He's saying that His disciples are givers.  Christians are givers.  "Each one must give..."

The second half of the phrase says this, "...as he has decided in his heart."  Isn't that interesting?  Paul isn't telling Christians to give if they feel a certain way...if they feel moved.  Certainly, there are times when you and I are moved by a difficult situation.  Or by a missionary's work.  Or something else.  And we give.  But there are also times when we feel like we can't afford to give.  We don't feel like being generous.  We don't feel as moved.  Yet, we should still give.  Why?  Because Christians don't give based on feelings.  Really, we don't live based on feelings.

Don't get fooled by the word "heart" here.  It's not a reference to feelings.  In the Bible, the heart is not a factory of feelings, as it is in pop culture today.  The Scripture speaks of the heart as the very core of who we are as human beings.  So don't associate "heart" with only "feelings."

With that in mind, realize that Paul is calling us away from emotional manipulation.  Away from waiting on our emotions to get revved up before we write the check.  Away from thoughtless giving.  Instead, we must think.  Think about the generosity of Jesus Christ toward us in salvation.  Think about the generosity of God toward us in providing our needs...and beyond.  Think about the act of giving as worship.  Think about the fact that as I give, I am recognizing the greatness and faithfulness of God.

Now that we've taken a look at this verse, let's go back to the sick day.  Back to the snow day.  I've missed a Sunday.  Should we just let that offering go?  Use it for something else?  Well, based on this verse from 2 Corinthians 9, I would say the answer is, "No."

Here's why.  Before that missed Sunday.  Before the sickness.  Before the snow.  You and I made a decision to give.  In my home, we try to have a written budget every month, which is code for "it doesn't always get written down".  But written or not, giving is at the top of our budget, and we give every week.  You may give bi-weekly or monthly in your home.  Point is...we made a decision to give.

And Paul says, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart..."  Because we have decided to worship the Lord through giving, we must give.  Our yes should be yes...especially to the Lord.  We should give the missed week's offering and the current week's offering together.  In our home, that will mean doubling the check written.  Not because it's a toll.  A tax.  A payment for the worship service.  Not under compulsion because we'll be behind budget if the snow day offering isn't made up...though that's true.  Not reluctantly because it's double what we normally give in one week.

But we should give as we have decided in our hearts because it honors the Lord.  We're recognizing that the provision during the week we missed church and the provision of the week we're back...both came from His hand.  God graciously gave us both week's provision.  And if we had decided beforehand to magnify Him through giving X% for every week of provision He gives us, then we should do it.  We must do it.  And we must do it with joy.  Because He is faithful.  He continues to provide.  He feeds the birds and clothes the fields with beauty, yet He values us all the more.

So, yes...we must give as we have decided in our hearts.  But really, why wouldn't we?  Isn't our God worthy of such giving?  Answer: Yes...and He's worth infinitely more.

So Others Will Glory in Christ

"...so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again." - Philippians 1:26

This morning, as I read Philippians 1, I was struck by this verse.  I paused.  Went back.  Read the paragraph again.  And was struck even more deeply.

In this verse, Paul is telling the Philippians that he wants to be part of the reason they glory in Christ Jesus.  In that same paragraph are these well-known words: "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (v. 21).  Paul says that whatever comes of him...life or death...he is eager to honor Christ.  Honor Christ through his life.  Honor Christ through his death.

Then, Paul talks about the struggle in determining which he would prefer, if the choice were left to him.  Obviously, being free of this world and its entanglements is far greater.  But, he says, it is more necessary to remain.

Imagine the scene.  It's a Roman prison, and Paul is dictating his letter.  Paul's scribe is faithfully taking the apostle's words down.  Paul has just said that being with Christ would be far better, and maybe the scribe is nodding as he writes.  And then Paul says: "But to remain in the flesh is more necessary..."  The scribe stops and puts the pen down.

"More necessary, Paul?" he inquires.  Paul replies, "Yes, more necessary."

Still puzzled, the scribe asks another question: "Better than being with Christ, Paul?"  Paul shakes his head: "I didn't say that, brother.  I said it is more necessary.  To keep living.  To keep preaching.  To keep teaching.  To keep suffering."

"But why, Paul?"  "Let me finish my sentence...But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account" (v. 24). 

Paul felt it more necessary to keep living.  But not just to keep living.  Not so he could continue to breathe in and out.  Not so he could retire and live a life of ease in the last years of life.  No.  He determined to live his life for the good of others.  For the building up of the church.  For the advance of the kingdom.

He wanted to come to this Philippian church again.  To continue working for their progress in the faith.  To see their joy in the faith continue to increase.  Why?  "...so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus..."

Don't misunderstand.  Paul doesn't want the Philippians to think highly of him.  To give him a plaque of appreciation for all his years of service.  To name their meeting space "The Apostle Paul Worship Center."  If offered, he probably would have said: "May it never be!"

Paul is not the focus at all in Paul's mind.  Paul's life is about Jesus...for me to live is Christ.  But even then...with all his focus on Jesus...Paul wants his life to matter for the glory of Christ.  That's his goal.  His aim.  Paul wants to be the means by which Christians grow in their love for Jesus.  He wants to serve the church in such a way that they may forget all about him, but they will never forget about Jesus.  And he works hard at it.

Paul goes to great lengths to identify with unbelievers around him so that he can see them come to faith in Christ (1 Cor. 9:20-23).  He expends all his strength in preaching Christ so that every single Christian he encounters will grow to full maturity (Col. 1:28).  He pours himself out like a drink offering for the sake of others (cf. Phil. 3:17).  He even goes so far as to say that, by the grace of God, he has worked harder than anyone else in doing these things (1 Cor. 15:10).

This picture of the apostle Paul challenges me.  It confronts me.  It pushes me to keep on.  It prods me to work hard by God's grace.  To expend all my energy for His purposes.  To go to great lengths in promoting the gospel.  To give myself fully to the task God has laid before me, not turning to the right or to the left.  So that as I do this, my wife...my children...my neighbors...the congregation I serve...will have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus.

What about you?

Grace is Not a Mulligan

At this point in our church's life, I have the joyful responsibility of not only preaching the Word of God to the people of God...I also have the privilege of leading God's people in God's praise.  I get to lead an talented group of brothers and sisters in our praise team.  Together, we work hard preparing for Sunday morning's service.  I spend time writing chord charts each week.  Leading Wednesday night rehearsals (one of which starts in about 2 hours).  It is an additional "thing" on my plate, and it can't go on forever.  But I have to admit...it is fun!

In a recent rehearsal, one of the musicians made a mistake.  That's not really rare...we all make mistakes as we're working on music.  What was rare about this time was that someone called out, "Give him a second chance!"  I jokingly said, "We don't give second chances here."  Then came the reply, "That's not very gracious of us."  In that moment, it struck me.  I knew it before then, but it came into focus once again as I stood among musicians trying to work out a song.

Grace is not about giving second chances.  Oh, you may listen to the radio and hear your favorite DJ say exactly those words.  But they're wrong.  Contrary to my favorite song (musically speaking) in the Veggie Tales movie, Jonah, God is not the God of second chances.  Let that sink in, and maybe disturb you for a minute, and I'll come back to it.

I love playing golf.  I love that when you're on the course, it's really hard to think about all the things you "need to get done" in the office.  I also love mulligans.  You know what a mulligan is?  It's a second chance.  You hit a bad shot off the tee, and your buddies tell you to take a mulligan.  So, you tee up another ball, and you take another swing.  That second chance may be an improvement.  And it may actually be worse than the first shot.  But it's a second chance.  A second chance to make a good shot.  To give it your all.  To improve on your first shot.

That's not grace.  Grace is not getting to tee it up again.  Taking another swing at life.  Seeing if you can improve on the first attempt.  Grace would actually be crippling if that's all it was.  Grace is far more than that.  It's more than a mulligan.  God did not send Jesus Christ to die in our place so that we could take another shot at being good people!  To see if we could improve on our moral record!  There's nothing amazing about that concept of "grace."  Nothing awe-inspiring.  Nothing worth singing about.

Grace is God's favor given to us apart from anything we could do to earn it.  In fact, Jesus earned all of God's favor for us...in our place.  Titus 3:7 says we are justified by grace.  That means that because of God's grace, we are credited with the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  He was counted as the vilest of sinners on the cross; in exchange, I am credited with His righteousness.  He bore the red stain of my sin; in exchange, I am as white as snow.  He died under God's curse; in exchange, I live forever blessed.

Grace is not God looking at you and saying, "Ok...you can give it another try.  Hope you get it right this time."  No!  No!  A thousand times no!  Grace is Jesus doing everything in your place.  Living a perfectly righteous life under God's law in your place.  Dying the death God's law requires of sinners...in your place.  And then you get all the credit for His work!  You are righteous!  That's what grace has accomplished.

You see..."Mulligan Christianity" is only works righteousness in disguise.  "Works righteousness" is the idea that God accepts us for our goodness.  Don't fall for it!  Works righteousness can subtly sneak into our thinking and our living, but it is an enemy of the true gospel.  No matter how many mulligans you get, you can't do it.  No matter how many shots at living righteously, you'll fail.  Even our best works are filthy rags before a holy God.

So, put down the score card.  Put down the clubs of moral effort and philanthropy and church involvement.  Stop thinking of life as a series of second chances.  Stop trusting the mulligan.  Instead, trust in Jesus Christ alone.

Forgive and Forget?

[This post follows a sermon titled "From Forgiven to Forgiving."]

There are times, as a preacher, when I have a clear sense that what I will say is particularly relevant.  Three important Sundays come to mind in this respect.  The first was April 18, 2004.  Six days prior I had been called to a 9 PM meeting of all the pastoral staff of the church where I served.  That night, it was revealed that our pastor had sinned such that he must resign.  Obviously, he would not be preaching on the following Sunday, and my brothers asked me to fill the pulpit.  My text for the day was Hebrews 12:1-3.  I don't remember much about that day or about what I said (except when I look back at my notes).  However, I distinctly remember feeling the weight of preaching in the wake of such a tragic moment in the life of the church.

The second was July 22, 2007.  The setting was a different church, but having been there for almost two years, I was convinced that we needed God to breathe a reviving wind into our congregation.  Though my normal pattern is to preach through books or sections of books in the Bible, I broke from my pattern that day to preach on Ezekiel 37...the famous vision of the valley of dry bones.  I look back on those notes, and I remember the weight of that day as well.  It was challenging as we considered the dryness of our live, but it was encouraging as we turned our eyes to the God who brings times of refreshing.

The third was two days ago.  Though God did use a circumstance to prompt a change in my preaching pattern again, it was not a change to address a tragedy.  It was a change to address something that is very hard for all of us...forgiving one another.  The text was Matthew 18:21-35 (the parable of the unforgiving servant), and again, I felt the weight of its relevance...in my own life and for all who would hear.  After all, what spouse has never been tempted to hold the past over the head of the other (though repentance and confession has taken place)?  Who has never been tempted to think of "that hurt" when "that person" walks in the room, though forgiveness has been extended?

[Pause for commercial break] There is much that could be said in this arena, but I will have to limit what I say to a "blog-sized" thought.  For more on forgiveness, I would recommend the following resources:

• From Forgiven to Forgiving by Jay Adams - I should publicly say that it is no coincidence that my sermon has this title...I intentionally borrowed Jay's.  Jay makes the case, quite well, that forgiveness is not a feeling...it is a promise.  This is a critical distinction in our feelings-driven culture.  So, if you find yourself saying something like "I don't feel like forgiving" or "I don't feel like I have forgiven," this book would be beneficial.
• Unpacking Forgiveness by Chris Brauns - Brauns works through the topic of forgiveness by addressing lots of great questions.  Here are a few: Should I just get over it?  How should I respond to the unrepentant?  How can I conquer bitterness?  How can I stop thinking about it?  These are important questions to think through.
• Relationships: A Mess Worth Making by Timothy S. Lane and Paul David Tripp - This is not a book primarily about forgiveness but about relationships (in case you were having trouble decoding its mysterious title).  However, within the wide range of issues associated with relationships, Lane and Tripp deal with sin, mercy, and forgiveness.  I have benefited greatly from their other books, and while I have not read this one, it's on my list.
• Forgiveness: Showing Grace When You Have Been Hurt by Rob Green - For those who think a whole book might be too much, this booklet gets to the point and is very practical.
• What Do You Do When Your Marriage Goes Sour? by Jay Adams - This is another booklet, and it includes an explanation of the three promises we make when we forgive.  I have several in my office if you'd like to have one.

[Back to our regularly scheduled blog]  When it comes to forgiveness, it is a common thing to hear the phrase "forgive and forget."  It is also common to hear people speak about not having a problem forgiving but having a big problem forgetting.  I think this is a good place to stop and think for a few minutes.

How does one possibly forget a wrong done?  How do you put it out of your mind?  How can you erase the memory?  In 2002, I was treated unjustly by my senior pastor, and as a result, my family suffered for it.  Even as I type this blog, I can remember the events of that day as clearly as the day it happened.  What am I doing wrong?

These are good questions, and in order to get the right answer, it's important we have the right definition of "forget"...a definition shaped by the teaching of the Bible.  I am convinced that, when it comes to forgiven sins, the biblical concept of forgetting is not the same as me failing to get milk at the grocery store because my mental recall failed (something that happens all too frequently).  So, let me take you to two texts (one from the NT, one from the OT) to get a grip on what it means to forget.

• 2 Peter 1:9 - "For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins."  Here we have a prime example of forgetting.  Prior to this verse, Peter lists qualities that should be increasing in the life of the believer: virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.  These are the qualities that will keep Christians from being "ineffective" or "unfruitful." 
  
  Then, in verse 9, if we lack them, we're nearsighted to the point of blindness, "having forgotten" that we were forgiven of our sins.  Here, Peter does not mean that our mind has gone blank...that information which was in our mind is no longer there.  No, what Peter means is that we are living as if we had never been forgiven.  So, "forgetting" something here means that this something (i.e.- the forgiveness of sins) is no longer affecting the way we think or live.
• Jeremiah 31:34b - "For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."  If Peter's "forget" didn't quite land in your mind, then this verse will certainly help.  Here, the Lord is speaking through Jeremiah about the new covenant...that new covenant which was signed, sealed, and delivered by the blood of Christ.  Part of the blessing of the new covenant is the final atonement for sin.  Our sin is fully and finally forgiven on the basis of Christ's death in our place.  We are off the hook...we are not liable anymore.  And here, the Lord speaks of the fullness of this forgiveness when He says, "I will remember their sin no more." 
  
  Certainly, we should not think that the all-knowing God loses track of some knowledge or that His memory lapsed.  If that's the case, then how does God "remember...sin no more"?  The answer is similar to what we saw in Peter.  God does not "remember" sin...God "forgets" sin...in that our sin no longer affects His relationship to us.  He does not remember our sin against us.  He will not hold our sin against us; He will not make us pay.  He has done everything necessary to make the payment for our sin in Christ, and no further payment is necessary.  Because of Christ, our sin is forgiven and forgotten.

To recap...what does the Bible mean to "forget" something?  It means that the thing forgotten no longer has any bearing on the situation.  So, forgetting our sins have been forgiven means that God's forgiveness is not defining the way we live.  God not remembering our sins means that our sins no longer define God's relationship to us.  In both cases, there are things forgotten.

In our relationships with one another, we should think about forgiving and forgetting in the same way.  When we forgive, we let people off the hook.  We have experienced real pain, real hurt, but when we forgive, we are declaring that the other person will not be held liable for that pain.  When we forget, we are saying that even when the events of this day come to my memory, I will not hold them against you.  I will not let the forgiven past dictate my relationship to you.

In doing these things, we are not condoning sin anymore than God condones the sin He forgives and forgets.  We are not saying "It's okay" (which is the wrong way to respond to an apology, by the way).  We are actually saying, "It's not okay, my pain is real and deep, but because you are repentant, and because of the greater mercy I have received from God, I release you from liability toward me, and I promise not to hold it against you (publicly or privately) from this point on."  In other words, "I forgive you."

Applying Philippians 3 to Our Lives

[This entry follows a sermon titled "That I May Know Him."]

In Philippians 1, the apostle Paul tells his readers that they must contend side by side for the sake of the gospel.  They must defend it and advance it in the midst of adverse conditions.  In chapter 3, we get a glimpse of this glorious gospel.  Paul describes what it is to be part of the "real circumcision"...the true people of God...truly Christian.  He says that they are those who worship by the Spirit of God, glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh (v. 3).  From this point, the apostle gives a glorious exposition of what it means to put no confidence in the flesh and glory in Christ Jesus (v. 3-11).

If anyone could boast in their life, Paul could.  In verses 5-6, he writes that he was "circumcised on he eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law blameless."

The apostle Paul was known as Saul before he became "the apostle Paul."  Saul's Jewish heritage was second to none.  He was born into the right family, and that family was full of religious devotion.  Saul was circumcised on the 8th day, per Genesis 17, and his family made sure he knew the Jewish language (Hebrew) and Jewish custom.  He was, truly, a Hebrew of Hebrews.

Not only was his heritage right, his life was right.  He took great pains in living a religious life.  Saul was a strict student and teacher of the law of God; he would let no one twist God's words and get away with it.  He zealously defended the reputation of God's people, especially against this new religious group called the Christians.  Finally, Saul obeyed when he ought to obey, and where he sinned, he atoned in the way he ought to atone.

However, this grand spiritual resume...all this gain...looked different after the resurrected Jesus came and spoke to him (see Acts 9).  Saul saw that none of this so-called "gain" made for a solid foundation on which to stand before God.  He saw that, in depending on his heritage and his religious effort, he was actually trying to build his house on sinking sand.  All that he once counted gain, he now sees as loss (v. 7-8).

Rather than looking to himself and putting confidence in his flesh, this new man now looked to Jesus Christ in faith.  He gloried in Christ Jesus.  Through faith in Christ, Saul was counted righteous, made right with God, called to be an apostle of Christ, and eventually, he became known as Paul.  God had opened his eyes.  Thus, the apostle Paul was born...or, more accurately, born again...and we are all still benefiting from his work.

It really is a glorious text, and the truth of this text is one we must come back to over and over again.  Specifically, in Sunday's sermon, I reminded our congregation that we must never fall into the trap of putting confidence in our great spiritual heritage or our spiritual efforts.  Both can be great gifts of God's grace, but neither are a sufficient grounds for being made right with God.  Only Christ and His atoning death suffice for that!

These truths are part of what is called the doctrine of justification.  Justification is the truth that on the ground of Christ's atoning death, God forgives sinners and proclaims them righteous in His sight when they trust in Christ alone.  Think of it as a great exchange.  Trusting in Christ, all our sin was laid on Him, and all His righteousness is laid on us.  He took the eternal curse we deserved, and we got the eternal blessing He deserved.  Christ was forsaken by the Father, so that we could be received by the Father.  God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21).  What a sweet truth it is!

But it's also a practical truth.  Allow me to list a few practical applications of this doctrine as seen in Philippians 3.  I pray they are as meaningful and beneficial to you as they are to me.

• Just as we must not count on our spiritual heritage, we must not count ourselves out if we don't have one.  This struck me afresh yesterday as I listened to two sermons: one by Alistair Begg and one by Voddie Baucham.  Both men spoke at the same pastors' conference in 2008, and I have been listening to its contents of late.  Alistair Begg has a great spiritual heritage; I remember him speaking of sitting in the pew as a boy with his father pointing to Bible verses as the pastor would read.  His parents were great Christian influences in his life.  On the other hand, Voddie Baucham was raised, as he says, in drug-infested, gang-infested, south central Los Angeles by a single, teenage, Buddhist mother.  No gospel influence there!  Yet, both of these men, by God's grace, are being used to for His glory in gospel ministry.  Just as Alistair Begg cannot count on his spiritual heritage, Voddie Baucham cannot count himself out.  And neither should you...if that's your story.
• We must be careful not to boast in our standing before God, but in Christ who has died for us.  I realize that for some, it may seem that I am splitting hairs by making this distinction, but I think it's an important distinction to make.  It's a hair that needs splitting.  Why?  Because thinking of oneself as a "true Christian" can become a source of arrogance.  We think about the world and the grave sinfulness of man, and we are tempted to think, "I'm so glad I'm not like all of those people!"  Suddenly, we are one of the characters in Jesus' story about two men praying in the temple, but we're the wrong one (see Luke 18:9-14).  Yes, it is a great blessing to be forgiven and to be counted righteous.  Yes, we live our lives in the full knowledge of these things.  But no, we do not boast in them...we do not think ourselves superior because of them...because we had nothing to do with them!  It was all Christ; we must boast in Christ.  We must not boast in the gift of righteousness but in the Giver of righteousness...the Righteous One! Paul wants to know nothing among his listeners but Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2).  He wants to boast in nothing but the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 6:14).
• Parents must look to this text and find relief...but not relief from our responsibility.  Raising children is a heart-wrenching exercise.  One day, we are rejoicing at the progress we see.  The next day, we wonder if the progress we once saw was just an illusion.  It's three steps forward, two steps back, two steps back, two steps back, one step forward, two steps back, three steps forward...you get the idea.  When we parents remember that a sterling spiritual heritage is no guarantee of being right with God...and we remember that a sub-par spiritual heritage is no guarantee of not being right with God...then we should praise God and stop believing our children are doomed because we forgot family devotions last week.  [Just to be clear...this also means that getting it all right, all the time, in every way, with every devotional, every bedtime prayer, being at church every time the doors are open, etc., etc., ad nauseum, is no guarantee of salvation or spiritual maturity.]
  
  Of course, this does not mean that we are relieved of our responsibility.  We are to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).  We are to constantly look for opportunities to teach them...in both formal and informal settings (Deut. 6:4-9).  We have the devotions, we pray with and for our children, we have them involved at church, we seek to teach and model, etc.  But we are to do so realizing that we are merely God's fellow workers in our children's lives.  We will plant the seed of the gospel, and we will water it with all the influence we are granted.  However, it is God who gives the growth (1 Cor. 3:5-9).
  
  For those of you who are now empty nesters, take refuge in the truth of this text.  Did you fail?  Did you fail heinously?  It's quite possible.  You may need to go to your adult child and confess your failures and seek his forgiveness for not being the mother or father God called you to be.  However, your parental failures cannot stop the power of God from transforming your child's life, so stop torturing yourself.  Likewise, your parental successes cannot help God transform your child; while God uses means for His work, He needs no help.
  
  No matter where we are on the parenting spectrum, this text is both freeing and humbling.  It is freeing for us who are overly discouraged by our failures, and it is humbling for us who are over encouraged by our successes.  And it drives all of us to our knees to pray that God would give our children power to comprehend His love for them in Christ (Eph. 3:14-19).

I think the list could go on, but I will stop here.  The point is this...the truth of justification by faith alone is relevant.  It is not merely a doctrine for ivory tower theologians to debate.  It is a doctrine which communicates the gospel to us, and it is a doctrine that gives us encouragement and help as we live for Christ.