Pastor Rick's Musings

Parenting Adolescent Sons

2011-11-15T07:25:00.003-06:00

THE FATHER’S RESPONSIBILITY IN PARENTING ADOLESCENT SONS

Well-known pastor and theologian John Piper recently wrote in his little book What’sThe Difference that one of the contemporary church’s most devastating sins is its lack of spiritual leadership by men at home and in the church. Piper laments that spiritual aimlessness, weakness, laziness, and a lack of courage characterize today’s men.[1] He asks, “Where are the men with a moral vision for their families, a zeal for the house of the Lord, a magnificent commitment for the advancement of the kingdom, an articulate dream for the advancement of the church and a tenderhearted tenacity to make it real.”[2] Where are these men?

The contention of this paper is the mighty generation of future fathers and spiritual leaders Piper envisions are already in our churches. They are our sons. The question is will our sons achieve their potential, or will they continue to repeat the spiritual sloth and complacency of the present generation? In large part, their success or failure is dependent upon their fathers. Will their fathers repent of their passivity and complacency? Will this generation’s fathers embrace their God-ordained role and fulfill their responsibilities to their sons? This purpose of this paper is to exhort, encourage and equip fathers for this vital responsibility, with a specific focus on adolescent sons.

In what follows, we will briefly review some of the reasons fathers have shirked their parental responsibility to their children, and the subsequent consequences. Then we will carefully examine Scriptural instructions given to fathers and discuss their contemporary application, with a special emphasis on parenting methods and goals for adolescent sons. In spite of the specific focus on adolescent sons, much of this paper will be relevant to fathers in general. Finally, we will address how biblical counselors can come alongside fathers, encouraging repentance, application of biblical principles and establishing accountability.

Reasons Fathers Have Shirked Parental Responsibility

A comprehensive discussion of the numerous reasons father shirk their parental responsibilities is beyond the scope of this paper. Therefore, we will limit ourselves to a brief exploration of the most obvious reasons for contemporary fathers’ parental neglect. These reasons are historical, cultural, and spiritual.

Allan Carlson, Ph.D., historian, and family advocate provides exceptional insight into the historical reasons for cotemporary fathers’ parental neglect in America. Before the mid-19^th century, Carlson says:

American Protestant Christianity was a home-centered religion. This was particularly true in North America, beginning with the Jamestown and Massachusetts Bay colonies of the 17th century. For over 200 years, daily family prayer, Bible reading, and the religious training of children and servants were central activities for Americans, with the father in the informal role of domestic priest and family prophet. This understanding carried well into the 19th century.[3]

However, Carlson goes on to say, “. . . since the mid-19th century, a series of assaults on the meaning of fatherhood and of manhood commenced.”[4] These assaults included industrialization, numerous court decisions overturning centuries old common law concerning fathers’ custody rights, compulsory school attendance, and government welfare programs. Interestingly, Carlson attributes the roots of feminization in the church to modern industrialization. He says, “In the late 19th century, as men moved into factories and offices, their role as religious leader declined. Paternal leadership of Bible study and prayer became increasingly rare, and mothers—by default—commonly became the religious leaders in the home. Christianity, in general, became less muscular, more feminized.”[5]

A view that validates and supplements Carlson’s is Mary Kassian’s, author of The Feminist Mistake, who writes:

Up until the middle of the last century, Western culture as a whole generally embraced a Judeo-Christian perspective on gender, sexuality, and the purpose and structure of the family. Heterosexual marriage, marital fidelity, and the bearing and nurturing of children in an intact family unit were highly valued concepts and the norm of societal practice. Most agreed that the primary responsibility of the male was to lead, protect, and provide for his family, while the primary responsibility of the female was to nurture and care for her children and manage her home. Differences between male and female were accepted and seldom questioned. [6]

According to Kassian, the Judeo-Christian perspective on gender and the structure of the family came under serious attack during a thirty-year period between 1960 and 1990 by the philosophy commonly known as feminism. This philosophy erroneously suggests that women find happiness and meaning through the pursuit of personal authority, autonomy, and freedom.[7] Additionally, Kassian says, “the cataclysmic consequences will continue to crash on culture’s shores like a tsunami throughout the opening decades of the new millennium.”[8] In her book The Feminist Mistake she details some of these consequences. Certainly, no one can honestly deny that feminism has had a devastating impact on the church and the family. The feminists, both secular and professed Christian, have successfully undermined the biblical view of male leadership in the home and the church.

Intertwined with the historical reasons for father’s parental negligence are those cultural. Due in large part to the historical assaults on fatherhood previously mentioned, and the subsequent deterioration of parental authority, our culture now views adolescent rebellion as normative. In fact, Tedd Tripp, author of a Shepherding a Child’s Heart, describes today’s parents as “part of the generation that threw off authority.”[9] In his view, the protests and antiestablishment attitudes of the 60’s have shaped modern parent’s attitudes toward authority. Consequently, it is no longer culturally acceptable for Dad to be boss at home.[10]

Tedd Tripp’s brother sees the cultural reasons for parental irresponsibility from a different angle. In Paul Tripp’s words, “We live in a culture of cynicism when it comes to teenagers. This cultural negativity has infiltrated the Christian family as well. This cynicism has its roots in a biological view of teenagers that sees them as little more than a collection of raging, rebel hormones, physically incapable of living responsibly.”[11] The idea that our adolescents are incapable of living responsible finds it roots in modern psychology, which essentially says that people are not responsible for their behavior. Instead, they are helpless victims of their environment and unmet psychological needs. Regrettably, this psychological view of people has permeated our culture, including the church.[12] Many of the supposed experts that Christian parents turn to for parental advice are psychologists rather than biblical theologians.

In brief, culture has had a devastating impact on modern fathers because it has undermined parental authority, promoted adolescent rebellion as unavoidable, and exchanged the biblical view of man as a responsible moral agent for the hapless victim as defined by psychology. Admittedly, these are just a few of the many damaging cultural effects on fatherhood. We have not discussed the negative effects of the entertainment industry, media, public education, or political correctness. Nevertheless, it should be obvious to all that the biblical view of fatherhood is under attack.

While the historical and cultural effects on fathers are both real and potent, the most devastating, and indeed the most significant cause of parental negligence is spiritual. As John Piper lamented, the vast majority of this generation’s men and fathers are spiritually complacent.[13] One expects such complacency from those men who have not embraced the gospel, but there is no excuse for those whom God’s Spirit has regenerated and indwelt. So what is the problem?

According to Paul Tripp, we can trace a major portion of the problem to idolatry. In his book, Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens, he defines idolatry as exchanging the worship and service of the Creator for worship and service of created things. Tripp declares that effective Christian parents must deal with the idols of their hearts.[14] Tripp says, “If our hearts are ruled by comfort, respect, appreciation success and control we will unwittingly hunger for our teens to meet our expectations rather than ministering to their needs . . . we will view them as frustrating, disappointing irritants, and we will experience growing anger against the very children to whom we have been called to minister.”[15]

Admittedly, Christian fathers can do nothing to change history, and little to change the prevailing culture, but by God’s enabling grace and their sustained effort, fathers can fulfill their God ordained responsibility. If this generation’s fathers are going to prepare their sons to lead tomorrows’ families and churches, they must repent of their spiritual complacency and idolatry, renew their love for Jesus Christ, and be filled with God’s Spirit.

The Apostle Paul, who exhorted Christians to be filled with the Spirit in Eph. 5:18, wrote that one of the four results of being Spirit- filled is proper subjection to one another (Eph. 5:21). In the verses that follow, he unpacks what this subjection looks like in the Christian family. Especially of note, is Eph. 6:4, which says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (NASB).” In short, a Spirit-filled father will instruct and discipline his children in the Lord. We will soon give this truth the careful attention it deserves, but before we do, it is necessary to unpack the tragic consequences of Christian father’s failure to biblically parent. By now, some of those consequences should be blatantly obvious. For example, we have observed that parental idolatry leads to anger and conflict in the family. However, it gets much worse.

The Consequences of Christian Fathers’ Parental Neglect?

The consequences of negligent fathers in America are well documented and startling. So startling in fact that family advocate James Dobson says that he fears the collapse of Western civilization. In detailing the reasons for his fear, he writes:

“Because we as parents are raising the next generation of men who will either lead with honor and integrity or abandon every good thing they have inherited. They are the bridges to the future. Nations that are populated largely by immature, immoral, weak-willed cowardly and self-indulgent men cannot and will not long endure. These types of men include those who sire and abandon their children; who cheat on their wives; who lie, steal, and covet; who hate their countrymen; and who serve no god but money. That is the direction culture is taking today’s boys.[16]

While Christian fathers are doing somewhat better than the culture at large, they are, as repeatedly noted, failing to exercise faithfully their parental responsibilities. What are the consequences when men of God neglect their parental responsibilities? We shall answer this question with illustrations from the Scriptures and one from contemporary life.

The Old Testament is replete with examples of fathers whose failure to faithfully parent brought devastating consequences to them and their children. Three glaring examples are the generation of fathers who conquered the Promised Land, Eli the priest, and King David.

Judges 2:10-12a describes the generation that arose after those who conquered the Promised Land, “All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel. Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals, and they forsook the LORD . . . (NASB).” Sadly, it appears an entire generation of fathers failed to heed the Lord’s command to instruct their children as outlined in Duet. 6:1-11, and various other texts. A consequence of these fathers’ irresponsibility was that their children became idolaters, but that is not all. The Bible goes on to say:

The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Wherever they went, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had spoken and as the LORD had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed Jud. 2:14-15 (NASB).

The lesson is clear. Every generation of fathers is responsible to prepare the next generation to serve God by teaching them his truth and his ways. When fathers are unfaithful in this responsibility, it is almost certain that their children will turn away from the Lord, and therefore become the subjects of his discipline. Instead of their children enjoying God’s blessing, the hand of the Lord is against them for evil. No father wants God’s hand against his children for evil, but spiritual complacency and laziness in instructing them in God’s ways almost guarantees it.

1 Sam. 2:12-4:22 tell the story of Eli the priest, and describe the tragic consequences of his failure as a parent. The narrative begins, “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the LORD 1 Sam. 2:12 (NASB).” 1 Sam. 2:29 unpacks the sin of Eli and his sons. God condemned Hophni and Phinehas for their presumption in taking the fatty portions of every offering, which were for God alone. God condemned Eli for honoring his sons over him. Eli scolded his sons (2:23-24), but he took no decisive action to restrain them, or remove them from their office. Eli willing tolerated their sin, and by doing so condemned his sons to death. The Bible says:

“. . . Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them. Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever 1 Sam. 3:11-14 (NASB).”

Not only did Eli’s parental negligence lead to his sons’ deaths, but also his own (1 Sam. 4:18), and what is worse, Eli’s progeny lost their privileged status, and were reduced to begging for very humble priestly jobs (1 Sam. 2:30-36).

Amazingly, Eli’s sons grew up in a priest’s home, but “they did not know the LORD (1 Sam. 2:12b NASB).” Admittedly, no father can guarantee the regeneration of his children, but still he must teach them to fear God, and the real-life consequences of violating his holiness. Clearly, Eli failed in this regard, and his ongoing negligence in disciplining his sons was obviously a large part of the problem. As Prov.19:18 says, “Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death (NASB).”

The Bible describes King David as a man after God’s heart in Acts 13:22. Every man of God hopes to have something similar said of him. Unfortunately, David was a dismal failure as a father. The Scriptures repeatedly note his failure to discipline his sons, and in every case, it leads to their destruction.

The first account of David’s parental carelessness is found in 2 Sam. 13. David had many wives and children. One of his son’s, Amnon, lusted after his beautiful sister, Tamar. So much so, that he schemed to get her alone, and then he raped her. After doing so, the lust that he had previously mistaken for love turned into hatred, and immediately he sent Tamar away in shame. The Scriptures say, “Now when King David heard of all these matters, he was very angry. But Absalom did not speak to Amnon either good or bad; for Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar 2 Sam.13:21-22 (NASB).” Amazingly, David said or did nothing! However, Absalom took matters into his own hand. He plotted and carried out the murder of his brother Ammon (2 Sam.13:23-28). Then he fled to another country.

The Bible says David mourned over his separation from Absalom, and that he longed to go to him, but he did not (2 sam.13:37-38). In fact, it is likely they would have never seen each other again without the intervention of a third party, Joab. He concocted a plan to bring Absalom home, which was successful, but David and Absalom were never truly reconciled. It would be two years before he and David actually saw each other. Shortly after, Absalom initiated his strategy to usurp his father, which ended in his violent death at the hands of Joab. Of course, David wept bitterly over the loss of his son, which was large in part the tragic consequence of his parental negligence (2 Sam. 14-18).

The final instance of David’s failure as father is detailed in 1 Kings 1-2. David’s son Adonijah recognizes that David is close to death, and determines it is time for him to be king. “Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run before him. His father had never crossed him at any time by asking, "Why have you done so 1 Kings 1:5-6a (NASB)?"” The Holman OT commentary describes the situation:

He (Adnonijah) apparently knew that Solomon, and not he, was David's intended choice, or he would have been content to let events take their course. But David had not publicly named his successor, so the opportunistic Adonijah decided to make a play for the throne. The description of David's indulgence of Adonijah has an ominous tone, especially combined with the reference to Absalom. Like Absalom who rebelled against his father, Adonijah was spoiled, handsome, and willing to go behind his father's back in a bid for personal power.[17]

Through the intervention of Nathan the prophet, and David’s wife Bathsheba, Adonijah’s attempt to steal the throne is thwarted, and Solomon is anointed king. When Adonijah realizes his plot has been overturned, he seeks asylum at the tabernacle. In response, King Solomon extends mercy, but warns him about the consequences of future rebellion. However, Adonijah fails to learn his lesson and continues to seek the throne by asking for one of his father’s concubines in marriage. Once again, the Holman OT commentary adds insight:

But his request for Abishag, David's concubine (1:2-4), was not the innocent appeal of a man for the hand of the woman he loved. Because he knew that Bathsheba, as the queen mother, had access to the king, he went to her with his request: ask King Solomon... to give me Abishag... as my wife. In the culture of the time, possession of the former king's harem was linked to a claim on the throne (see 2 Sam. 3:8; 16:20-22). Adonijah clung to the idea that he was the rightful king (All Israel looked to me as their king), and almost certainly this was the opening move for another attempt to displace Solomon.[18]

This time, Solomon responds to Adonijah’s intrigue by having his brother executed. Yet another of David’s sons needlessly loses his life. David’s failure as father is one of the primary reasons.

By now, the tragic consequences of a father’s failure to instruct and his discipline his sons’ should be blatantly obvious. If not, perhaps a pertinent and painful illustration from my life will make it so. Like Eli and David, I am father who has failed to faithfully instruct and discipline his sons. I was profoundly convicted of my parental negligence and its consequences during a week this past September when my oldest son came to visit. That painful week is one of the primary impetuses for this paper.

My oldest son’s adult life has been marked by bad decisions and choices. He has reaped some devastating consequences, including being court martialed, dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corp, spending sixteen months in a military prison, and being permanently marked by a felony conviction. Yes, he is responsible for his choices and the resultant consequences. However, it does not change the fact that I failed to fulfill my obligation to him as a father. Looking back, I realize that during one of the most important periods of his life, his adolescence, I essentially checked out. I bought the cultural lies, worshiped the idols of comfort and ease, and went into survival mode. Paul Tripp’s warnings proved true in my case:

Parents with a survival mentality will try to control the child and respond out of anxiety, irritation, and fear. They will respond emotionally and foolishly, try to manipulate the teen into obedience, and initiate unproductive power struggles. Their relations with their teen will disintegrate and the teen’s rebellion will increase. They will finally quit parenting while telling themselves that they did everything possible.[19]

Sure, I sent him to Christian school, made him go to church and took him to youth camp every summer. However, my primary parenting goal was to get him out of the house. How I regret that decision.

Biblical Instruction to Fathers

When the Scriptures instruct about parenting, they always specifically address fathers. Commenting on this fact, William Farley, author of Gospel Powered Parenting, writes; “Throughout Scripture, fathers are the parents, and their wives are their assistants. The wife is a crucial assistant. Parenting is a team sport. It is very hard to do alone. But in a two-parent family, Dad is the chief parent, the one accountable to God for his family. Mom is there to assist him.” [20] Biblical counselors and authors Fitzpatrick and Newheiser agree with Farley. In their comments on Eph. 6:4 they write, “Paul speaks specifically to “fathers. In doing so, he isn’t excusing mothers from his warning. But he was speaking to the head of household…because fathers are the head or the leader of the household they carry the ultimate responsibility to guide and direct the family.” [21]

Although there are numerous Scriptures addressed to Fathers, nearly all of them fit into three basic categories, which are love, instruction, and discipline. The first category, love, is essential because instruction and discipline attempted without genuine love will likely foster resentment (Eph. 6:4). Amazingly, no verse of Scripture specifically commands a father to love his children. Instead, the Scriptures assume fathers will naturally love them. For example, “Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. Psalm 103:13 (NASB).” In spite of the fact they are no specific commands for fathers to love their children, there is a tremendous amount of Scripture addressed to Christians on the subject of love of loving one another. Nearly every book in the New Testament emphasizes this theme. A verse that wonderfully summarizes the New Testament command to love is 1John 3:16, which states, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” A father should do no less for his children. According to Scripture, a father who truly loves his children will make the sacrifices necessary to instruct and discipline them. For example, “He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently Prov. 13:24 (NASB).”

The second category of Scriptural commands to fathers is instruction. Instruction involves purposefully teaching children the Word and ways of God so they will develop a biblical theology and worldview. In the Old Testament, the primary passage that addresses the father’s responsibility to instruct his children is Duet. 6. The apostle Paul summarizes this text in Eph. 6:4 when he says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (NASB)” Andrew Davis does an outstanding job of linking these two texts together in his article, “Fathers and Sons in Deuteronomy 6: An Essential Link in Redemptive History,” and unpacking their importance. Davis writes:

“A wise Christian father, therefore, will see the word "fathers" in Eph 6:4, take his own responsibility seriously toward his children, and turn to Deuteronomy 6 for practical insights into how to bring up his children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. But he will do more than that. He will develop the multigenerational vision clearly taught in Deut 6:2 and will prepare his sons to lead their own families into spiritual obedience and lasting fruitfulness for the glory of Christ. . . .The future health and spiritual prosperity of the church of Jesus Christ depends on fathers who will delight in the multigenerational vision of family leadership laid out in Deuteronomy 6 and confidently trust in God's Spirit to prepare their sons and daughters to walk in a law now written on their hearts by faith.”[22]

Notice Davis emphasizes a multigenerational vision for families. His conviction is today’s fathers must “train their sons to love God with all their hearts and to keep his commandments, so that they, in turn, can train their own sons to lead their families in the same pattern.”[23] Davis outlines several steps from Deut. 6 a father should take to prepare his son for family leadership. We can summarize them thus: Fathers must be faithful examples who love and fear God, cherish his commandments, and review his faithfulness. Therefore, they teach their sons to do the same by consistent repetition, in everyday life situations, and by physical reminders, especially taking advantage of teachable moments when their son’s hearts are open.[24]

Obviously, one of the father’s primary goals in instructing his children is their regeneration. Therefore, father must communicate the gospel message by every means available. Certainly, this includes the Bible’s teaching about God, man, sin, and salvation, but it also includes living a life worthy of the Gospel (Eph. 4-6). Additionally, fathers must always remember two parallel truths as noted by William Farley in Gospel Powered Parenting. The first truth is God exercises sovereignty over salvation. As Jesus said, “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him (Matt. 11:27 NASB).” The second truth is that God uses means of grace to draw people to himself, and parents are the normal means of grace God uses to reach their children.[25] We must note a caution by Farley about keeping these two truths in balance. Farley says, “It is fatal to presume upon God’s sovereignty by neglecting parental faithfulness. Yet it is also a mistake to assume that it all depends upon us. It doesn’t. In fact, none of your efforts will prevail unless God bestows the gift of faith on your children. We are utterly dependent and responsible at the same time.”[26]

The final category of Scriptural commands to fathers relate to discipline. Discipline is necessary because children are sinners by nature at birth, and foolishness is bound up in their hearts (see Gen. 8:21, Ps. 51:5 and Prov. 22:15). The purpose of discipline is to mold character, with a primary focus on the heart rather than behavior. Scripture clearly teaches that behavior flows from the heart, for example see Proverbs 4:23, Mark 7:21, and Luke 6:45. Ted Tripp says, “a change in behavior that does not stem from a change in the heart is not commendable; it is condemnable.”[27]

The Old Testament book of Proverbs provides the most specific instruction on the subject of discipline. About a third of Proverb’s teaching is especially pertinent to parents, while the rest essentially deal with one’s proper response to discipline. The Proverbs applicable to parents are 3:11-12; 13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13; 29:15 and 29:17. Proverbs 3:11-12 compares a father’s discipline with the Lord’s, stating the Lord disciplines his children much like a father disciplines a child he delights in. The rest of theses verse exhort parental discipline, note the rewards of faithfulness, or warn about the consequences of negligence, which we have already detailed. We should note that Proverbs commands spanking, but we will not address this subject since our emphasis is on adolescent sons who are normally too old to spank.[28]

Clearly, Scripture commands discipline. Unfortunately, many misunderstand what biblical discipline looks like. According to Ted Tripp, biblical discipline is correction done in love and for the benefit of the child. Parents must not discipline in anger or punitively.[29] In Tripp’s words, “If you correct and discipline your child because God mandates it, then you need not clutter up the task with your anger. Correction is not displaying your anger at their offenses; it is rather reminding them that their sinful behavior offends God. It is bringing his censure of sin to these subjects of his realm. He is the King. They must obey”[30]

In summary, fathers are to love, instruct and discipline their children. They are the chief parents and their wives are their assistants. Their families, by God’s design, are to be the principal learning communities for their children (Deut. 6). Fathers must embrace and live up to their responsibilities as primary teachers and disciplers of their children for the express purpose of producing generations of descendants who love God and live for his glory.

Biblical Methods for Applying the Biblical Instructions to Fathers

Many Christian fathers have a basic understanding of their Scriptural responsibilities as parents. However, they often struggle to live them out in everyday life. Therefore, we have an obligation to address the following question: What biblical methods must a father employ to fulfill his responsibility to love, instruct, and discipline his children? Thankfully, the biblical methodology for parenting is as simple and clear as God’s instruction to fathers. However, this simplicity does not imply that its application will not require intentionality, hard work and sacrifice.

The ultimate example of fatherhood in Scripture is God himself. Therefore, it follows that a father’s methods should image our heavenly Father as closely as possible. One of the primary images used of God in Scripture is that of a shepherd. For example Psalm 100:3, which says, “Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture (NASB).” Of course, we must also mention Psalm 23, which begins “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want (NASB).” This image as shepherd is the one Tedd and Paul Tripp say fathers should embrace in parenting their children.

The New Testament does not directly support the Tripp’s conclusion, but it does infer it, and here is how. When the New Testament talks about leadership in the church, it often describes it with shepherding terms, for example see 1 Pet. 5:1-4 and Acts 20:28. According to these Scripture, and many others, shepherds lead, feed, protect and care for their flocks, which is exactly what fathers must do. Additionally, the New Testament declares that qualifications for church leadership are godly character, and the proven ability to manage or shepherd one’s home (1Tim. 3 and Titus 2:5-9). Clearly, God’s plan is for fathers to be the shepherds of their homes, which also serve as a training and proving ground for leadership of God’s household, the church (1Tim 3:15).

How should fathers shepherd their adolescent sons? They must seek to exemplify godly masculinity, shape influences, focus on their son’s hearts, continually communicate the truth in love, nurture the father and son relationship, administer age appropriate discipline, be real and undergird all these efforts with prayer. We will briefly discuss each of these.

Exemplifying godly masculinity to adolescent sons is vital. As William Farley notes, “…men are born male, but masculinity is learned.[31] He defines masculinity as unselfish servanthood and the willingness to initiate or lead. Farley says men learn biblical masculinity from two sources. First, they learn it from God, and particularly his son, God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, who was the ultimate masculine man. Secondly, they learn if from other men whom the gospel has transformed. Thus, fathers must be men who have been radically transformed by the gospel into biblical models of masculinity.

A father is responsible for the shaping influences that affect his children. Shaping influences is a term coined by Ted Tripp, which he defines as the events and circumstances in a child’s developmental years that impact their growth. He says this shaping is not automatic because it depends on how the child responds to these events and circumstances. Shaping influences include things such family structure, roles, values and the like. Tripp warns that positive shaping influences do not guarantee godly children because they respond to them out of their hearts. Nevertheless, fathers should seek to construct biblical shaping influences, and trust God to do what only he can, which is transform their children’s hearts.

Since the heart is the source of all attitudes and behavior, as previously noted, it must be the focus of a father’s shepherding efforts. In Paul Tripp’s words, “The Bible attributes many important functions to the heart. We feel, think, purpose, desire, believe with our hearts. We also receive or reject God’s new covenant for our hearts. If the heart is the steering wheel of the human being, if it’s what causes us to do what we do, then it’s quite obvious that the focus of parenting has to be with the heart of the teenager.”[32] The temptation will be to focus on the behavior rather than the heart, and therefore revert to various behavior modification techniques. Paul Tripp warns:

I can control a child’s behavior through a variety of means. If I lay enough guilt on my child, it will move him. If I manipulate my teen with something he wants, a new car or a new bike, I will be temporarily effective. If I threaten him, he may comply. But the problem is that none of these strategies have lasting effectiveness. The inner person, the teen’s heart, hasn’t changed. The minute the threat or the incentive is gone, the child goes right back to what he was doing.[33]

Fathers have a responsibility to instruct their sons in the truth, but they must communicate the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). Father’s must heed the apostle’s words in 1 Cor. 13:1,” If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal (NASB).” Additionally Eph. 4:29 which says, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear (NASB)”

Biblical Goals for Fathers of Adolescent Sons

In addition, most Christian fathers have no clear goals in mind for their parenting, particularly when it comes to their adolescent sons. They have failed to think deeply about what a mature man is and therefore they have nothing to aim at.

Therefore, in this section we will discuss biblical methods for applying the biblical commands and then By no means will they be comprehensive, since entire books have been written on this subject. Again, our specific focus will be adolescent sons.

1. The father must renew his commitment to pursue Christ with passion and to live worthy of the gospel for Christ’s glory. Therefore, he must become consistent in his personal, family and corporate communion with the Lord. He must be intentional and purposeful in pursuing a growing knowledge of God’s Word and obedience to it.

2. The father must pursue forgiveness and reconciliation with his adolescent son. He must commit himself to rebuilding the relationship by expending whatever time, energy and sacrifice that is necessary. At the same time, the father must understand that his that God is sovereign and only he change the son’s heart.

3. The father must commit to obeying the biblical commands addressed to fathers. Hence, he must accept the responsibility that he is to be the primary discipler of his son. He must develop a plan for accomplishing that task.

4. The father must commit to parenting with biblical methods. This means that his parenting must directed at the heart.

5. A renewed commitment to parent with biblical goals

How to Apply Scriptural Instruction and Principles in Counseling Fathers

Paul Tripp provides a helpful ministry model for assisting brothers and sisters in Christ with any shortcoming in his book, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hand and companion workbook, Helping Others Change. Four key words, “love”, “know”, “speak” and “do”, summarize this model.[34] We will apply this model specifically to helping fathers faithfully parent their adolescent sons. I personally apply this model to all my counseling and discipleship opportunities.

According to Tripp, God always changes people in the context of relationships based on love. Therefore, we must build relationships in which love provides a context for God's work of change. The question is how do we do establish such a relationship? Tripp says there are four steps we must take. The first and most obvious step is to enter the person’s world through what Tripp calls “entry gates.” An entry gate is not a problem, circumstance or another person; instead, it is the person's experience of a situation, problem or relationship. Therefore, in the case of a father and his adolescent son, the entry gate will likely be their experience of a crisis, trial, or conflict that has arisen due to father’s failure to fulfill his parental obligations.

A second step we must take when entering a person’s world is incarnating the love of Christ. Ministry to the hurting will always mean sacrifice and suffering for us. Like Christ, we must be willing to die to ourselves to see spiritual growth in another person. We must remember that God has not only called us to proclaim his truth, but to be an example of it also. This is especially true when the sins of the people we minister to surface in our relationships. For example, if a father is an angry person eventually they will be angry with us. If they struggle with trust, at some point they will distrust us. When they sin against us, we must model Christ.

The third step we must take when entering a person’s world is to identify with their suffering. Identifying with a distressed father who is suffering due to parental laxity would be simple for someone like myself. I know the heartache and sorrow firsthand. However, such experience is not necessary to minister to a hurting father. As Paul Tripp says, God calls all of us to suffer so that we can be instruments of His comfort and compassion. When ministering to the suffering, we must remember where has God led us through suffering and what has he taught us through it. Then we can use that knowledge and experience to comfort others.

The final step in entering a person’s world is to accept with an agenda. Paul Tripp reminds us that change is God's agenda. His plan for us is to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ. Therefore, if we love people with Christ’s love, we must hold before them the call to change. While doing so, we must be careful to avoid a critical, condemning or self-righteous spirit. Instead, we must grant them the same mercy, love, and grace that God has showered on us.

The “know” part of Tripp’s ministry model is self-descriptive. This portion of the model requires patience, good listening skill and complete dependence on the Holy Spirit. We need to gather knowledge about the situation; the father and sons’ response to the situation; how they are interpreting it and finally, what motivates their behavior. Therefore, we need to know the answers to four questions. The first question is, “What is going on?” The answer to this question tells what their world is like. It must include both the past and the present. What pressure, opportunities, responsibilities and temptations are they facing? Who are the important people in their life and what are they doing? What do we know about their past, including people and circumstances. From all this information, we need to filter the things that will help us understand their situation.

The second question is, “What is the father doing in response to what is going on?” Here we include the facts that describe the person's behavior. We are looking for themes and patterns. What are the typical ways they respond to their sons and situations? Themes and patterns will give us insight into what is going on in the heart. Are there idols we must expose? Is there pattern of sin we must confront?

Our third question for knowledge gathering is, “What does the father think about what is going on?” In other words, how is the father interpreting his world situation? As Tripp says, people are meaning makers and they seek to understand what is going on in their lives. Therefore, they need to see things from a biblical perspective. Their thinking about their situation must line up with Scripture before real change can take place. The thoughts of the heart precede and determine our activity.

The final question in the “know” portion of Tripp’s ministry model is, “What does the person hope to gain from what is going on?” Include what you learn about the father's desires, goals, purposes, treasures, motives, values and idols. What are they living for? What really rules their hearts? Whatever rules our hearts will control our behavior. Our behavior is always our attempt to get what is important to us from people and situations. Therefore, real change will always include the motive of our hearts.

“Speak” is the third aspect of Tripp’s ministry model. Once we understand the father’s situation, responses, motives and behavior, and have thoroughly examined them through the lense of Scripture, then we are ready to speak the Truth. We must speak the Truth in the love, and with God’s goal of change and sanctification in mind. Our goal is to help the father see himself in the mirror of God's Word, and be God’s instrument to bring him to repentance. A quote from Tripp fittingly describes the how should speak the truth:

My goal is that through the things I say (message), the way that I say them (methods), and the attitudes I express (character), God will change the heart of this person. A mistake we often make is to emphasize the law over the gospel. But Romans 2:4 and 2 Cor. 5:14 show that it is God's kindness and love that compels us to change. The grace of the gospel turns our hearts and forgiveness is abundantly available.

In speaking the truth there are four goals we want to accomplish. First, we want fathers to consider their sin from a biblical perspective. Therefore, we must point them to Scriptures we mentioned in this paper. We should include those narrative passages that describe the tragic consequences of failure. A simple way to do this is to assign them as homework, and request that they answer three simple questions. What is the point of the passage? How does the passage apply to your situation? What is God saying to you about your situation from this text?

Our hope is that when a father measures himself against the standard of God's Word he will see the sins of his heart and behavior he must confess. Confession is our second goal in speaking the truth. A sincere confession according to Tripp is one that “is concrete and specific with no “buts” or “ifs.” The problem is that we sinners often find confession difficult. We want to deny, explain away, blame, defend, and hide. Tripp cautions that we must take care not to confess for someone or to assume confession. Instead, we must encourage a person to make their own confession to the Lord and to those against whom they have sinned.

After genuine confession, we must seek a father’s commitment to God’s agenda for change and sanctification. The question to ask is how specifically is God calling this father to a new way of parenting? To what new ways of thinking is God calling them? What new biblical desires would God want to control his heart? To what new responses is God calling them? In what new ways is God calling them to serve and love their sons? What things must they stop doing? What new things should he start doing? What steps of correction and restitution is God calling them to make? What new habits does he need to cultivate? Is this father committed to these changes?

Once we determine there is a sincere commitment to change, we must aid the father in adopting a definite plan of action to implement the necessary changes in his life. Tripp warns, “It is easy to assume that change has taken place because a person has gained insight and made new commitments. However, change has not taken place until change has taken place!”

What might a definite plan of action look like for a father who is repenting of negligence in parenting his adolescent son? It would likely include the following:

4. The father must commit to parenting with biblical methods. This means that his parenting must directed at the heart.

5. A renewed commitment to parent with biblical goals

The final step in the ministry model is “do.” In this step, my responsibility is to help the person implement a plan of action for change. I must continually encourage them by reminding them of their identity in Christ and the resources God has provided for overcoming sin and living a godly life. Since change is hard and it demands tremendous perseverance, I will provide loving accountability. Tripp says, “Accountability is about providing loving structure, guidance, assistance, encouragement, and warning to a person who is fully committed to the change God is working in his life.”[1]

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books

Dobson, James C., Bringing Up Boys: Practical Advice and Encouragement for Those Shaping the Next Generation of Men, Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.

Farley, William P. Gospel Powered Parenting: How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting, Phillipsburg, NJ: P &R Publishing, 2009.

Fitzpatrick, Elyse, Jim Newheiser. You Never Stop Being a Parent, Phillipsburg, NJ: P &R Publishing, 2010.

Fitzpatrick, Elyse, Jim Newheiser and Dr. Laura Hendrickson. When Good Kid’s Make Bad Choices, Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2005

Inrig, Gary. Holman Old Testament Commentary – 1, 2 Kings. Edited by Max Anders. Nashville, TN: Broadman Holman, 2003. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.

Kassian, Mary A. The Feminist Mistake, Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005.

MacArthur, John F. Jr., Wayne A. Mack and Master's College, Introduction to Biblical Counseling : Basic Guide to the Principles and Practice of Counseling, Electronic ed. Dallas, TX: Word Pub., 1997.

Peace, Martha and Stuart W. Scott. The Faithful Parent, Phillipsburg, NJ: P &R Publishing, 2010.

Piper, John. What’s the Difference, Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2001

Tripp, Paul David. Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens, Phillipsburg, NJ: P &R Publishing, 2001.

Tripp, Paul David and Timothy S. Lane. Helping Others Change, Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press, 2000.

_________. Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping Others in Need of Change, Phillipsburg, NJ: P &R Publishing, 2002.

Tripp, Tedd. Shepherding a Child’s Heart, Wapwallopen, PA: Shepherd’s Press, 2005.

Articles

Carlson, Allan. “The Decline of Paternity: An American Case Study,” [online]. Accessed 20 Dec. 2010. Available from http://www.profam.org/docs/acc/thc_acc_paternity.htm.

Davis, Andrew M.. “Fathers and Sons in Deuteronomy 6: An Essential Link in Redemptive History,” JBMW Volume 12 No. 1 (Spring 2007) [online]. Accessed 20 Dec. 2010. Available from http://www.cbmw.org/Journal/Vol-12-No-1/Fathers-and-Sons-in-Deuteronomy-6.

Mohler, R. Albert. “From Boy to Man–the Marks of Manhood, Part One,” (April 2005) [online]. Accessed 22 Dec. 2010. Available from http://www.albertmohler.com/2005/04/21/ from-boy-to-man-the-marks-of-manhood-part-one/.

Mohler, R. Albert. “From Boy to Man–the Marks of Manhood, Part Two,” (April 2005) [online]. Accessed 22 Dec. 2010. Available from http://www.albertmohler.com/2005/04/21/ from-boy-to-man-the-marks-of-manhood-part-two/.

Tripp, Paul David, “What is "Success" in Parenting Teens?,” Journal of Biblical Counseling, Vol. 23, No. 3, 2005, pp. 13-20.

________. “Age of Opportunity Leader’s Guide” [online] Accessed 22 Dec. 2010. Available from http://www.wtsbooks.com/pdf_files/age-of-opportunity-leader.pdf.

[1] Ibid., Lessons 11-12.

[1] John Piper, What’s the Difference (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2001), 68.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Allan Carlson, “The Decline of Paternity: An American Case Study,” [online] (Accessed 20 Dec. 2010) Available from http://www.profam.org/docs/acc/thc_acc_paternity.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Mary A. Kassian, The Feminist Mistake (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), 8.

[7] Ibid., 7.

[8] Ibid., 7

[9] Tedd Tripp, Shepherding a Child’s Heart, (Wapwallopen, PA: Shepherd’s Press, 2005), xviii.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Paul David Tripp, Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens (Phillipsburg, NJ: P &R Publishing, 2001) 257.

[12] John F. MacArthur Jr, Wayne A. Mack and Master's College, Introduction to Biblical Counseling: Basic Guide to the Principles and Practice of Counseling, Electronic ed. (Dallas, TX: Word Pub., 1997), 17.

[13] Piper, 68.

[14] Paul David Tripp, Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens, 29

[15] Ibid., 38.

[16] James C.Dobson, Bringing Up Boys: Practical Advice and Encouragement for Those Shaping the Next Generation of Men (Wheaton, IL:Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), 54.

[17] Gary Inrig, Holman Old Testament Commentary – 1, 2 Kings. (Nashville, TN: Broadman Holman, 2003). WORDsearch CROSS e-book. 1Kings 1:5-10.

[18]Ibid., 1Kings 2:13-25.

[19] Paul David Tripp, “Age of Opportunity Leader’s Guide” [online] (Accessed 22 Dec. 2010) Available from http://www.wtsbooks.com/pdf_files/age-of-opportunity-leader.pdf.

[20] William Farley, Gospel Powered Parenting: How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting (Phillipsburg, NJ: P &R Publishing, 2009),136-142.

[21] When Good Kids Make Bad Choices p. 144

[22] http://www.cbmw.org/Journal/Vol-12-No-1/Fathers-and-Sons-in-Deuteronomy-6

[23] Ibid.

[24] Ibid.

[25] Farley, 21-22.

[26] Ibid

[27] Tripp Shepherding p.4

[28] Tripp Shepherding A Child’s Heart

[29] Ibid

[30] Ibid

[31] Farley 142

[32] Tripp, Paul David, “What is "Success" in Parenting Teens?,” Journal of Biblical Counseling, Vol. 23,

No. 3, 2005, pp. 13-20.

[33] Ibid

[34] Tripp, Helping Others Change, 1.

Counsel from the Cross: A Book Review

2011-10-13T11:03:00.003-05:00

Elyse Fitzpatrick’s nearly twenty-year involvement in biblical counseling and Dennis Johnson’s experience as a pastor and seminary professor of practical theology uniquely qualify them to write a volume addressing gospel-centered counseling and discipleship. They have done outstanding work. Their expertise and passion for the gospel in Counsel from the Cross are desperately needed in the church today. Sadly, most of the contemporary church has blindly substituted man-centered psychology and self-help for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and its life transforming truths. Fitzpatrick and Johnson have written a powerful, and practical corrective that if heeded will serve to reignite that church’s passion for the gospel, particularly when it comes to counseling and discipleship.

Fitzpatrick and Johnson begin Counsel from the Cross by charging that many Christians are overfamiliar with the gospel, and therefore need to experience it anew and relish in its glorious provisions. Then in chapter two, the authors describe the transformation that takes place as Christians behold God’s glory through gospel preaching, baptism, the Lord’s Supper and fellowship. These may seem weak and ineffective, but God is pleased to work through them.

Chapters three and four of Counsel from the Cross address God’s love. The gospel reveals God’s great love to us, and motivates us to love God and others. Some take it too lightly, others attempt to earn it, but God’s love enthralls gospel-centered Christians.

In chapter five, the authors shift the discussion to the necessity of Gospel-centered counseling. They define it as “the process of one Christian coming alongside another with words of truth to encourage, admonish, comfort, and help—words drawn from Scriptures, grounded in the gracious saving work of Jesus Christ, and presented in the context of relationship (91)." They expand on this definition in what follows, and exhort biblical counselors to maintain balance between gospel-demands and the Christian’s new identity in Christ.

From chapters six through eight, the authors aim to show that the gospel is as necessary for sanctification as it is for initial salvation. First, the gospel reminds us of our union with Christ, and the resulting ability to live holy. Second, meditating on gospel truths transforms emotions, which is vital since one’s emotions affects moods and physical health. Finally, relationships rooted in the gospel are harmonious and glorify God.

Fitzpatrick and Johnson conclude Counsel from the Cross by contrasting what they call the “glory story” with the gospel story. The “glory story” wrongly says we can attain glory through rigorous self-effort and self-discipline. Whereas the gospel story teaches that, we share the glory of another, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fitzpatrick and Johnson state a four-fold purpose for writing Counsel from the Cross. First, they desire to take “the truth of our acceptance before God by Christ’s righteousness alone and make it practical. . .” for everyday living (19). Second, they aim to equip Christians involved in helping ministries to serve their suffering brothers and sisters. Third, the authors want to caution biblical counselors about the necessity of keeping gospel identity, which is who we are in Christ, in balance with gospel imperatives and commands. They argue that it is all too easy for biblical counselors to overemphasize what Christians are to do while neglecting the resources available in Christ to empower obedience. Finally, the authors write to offer “a gift for all believers who love their Savior and want to spend time savoring him (22).” Unquestionably, they accomplished all their stated aims.

Counsel from the Cross establishes the gospel’s practicality, and absolute necessity for daily living through the authors’ thorough exegesis, excellent case studies and real life examples. At the end of each chapter, the authors provide well-crafted questions that seek to aid the reader in plumbing the depths of the truths proclaimed. The reader is encouraged to summarize and personally apply the gospel truths. Consequently, if one reads carefully, answers the questions, and works through personal application, he or she will certainly discover firsthand the gospel’s practicality and transforming power. Moreover, the reader will cultivate an increasing appreciation of the Savior’s finished work on he or she’s behalf, which will serve as motivation to pursue a growing Christlikeness. Therefore, Counsel from the Cross makes an excellent resource for gospel-centered counseling and discipleship, whether one is a new believer or has been one for many years.

Christians involved in helping ministries will definitely discover the tools they need for gospel-centered ministry in Counsel from the Cross. They will learn that their most important and powerful tool is indeed the gospel itself. For example, in the first chapter the authors tell the about a devoted Christian mother who is blinded-sided by the immorality and pregnancy of her adolescent daughter, a professed believer who has been living a double-life. How does one minister in a difficult and painful situation like this one? Fitzpatrick and Johnson definitively answer this question with an adept application of the gospel. They clearly describe and illustrate the gospel’s power to redeem, heal and transform people and relationships ravaged by sin and its destructive consequences.

One of the helping ministries which Fitzpatrick and Johnson are obviously passionate about is counseling, as the title of their book indicates. They wrote Counsel from the Cross to admonish biblical counselors about the necessity of keeping the life-changing gospel central in their ministries. The authors’ definition of gospel-centered counseling aptly validates this fact:

…gospel-centered counseling, as we are defining it, is the process of one Christian coming alongside another with words of truth to encourage, admonish, comfort, and help—words drawn from Scripture, grounded in the gracious saving work of Jesus Christ, and presented in the context of relationship. The goal of this counseling is that the brother or sister in need of counsel would grow in his or her understanding of the gospel and how it applies to every area of life and then respond in grateful obedience in every circumstance, all to the building up of the church and for the glory of God (91-92).

Thankfully, the authors do much more than give a definition of gospel-centered counseling. They build a rock-solid biblical foundation for it, and describe how to do it. Although the entire volume is aimed on how to do gospel-centered counseling, the second half, chapters five through nine, are especially helpful in this regard. These chapters deal with the problems that biblical counselors most often encounter with their counselees.

One of the key problem areas the authors address is emotions. Negative emotions such as fear, anger, and sorrow overwhelm many believers. These negative emotions have the power to affect one’s moods as well as one’s mental and physical health. Unfortunately, too many Christians have been duped by the predominant theory of modern medicine, which the authors describe as materialistic determinism. This theory essentially says that humans have no inner person, and that their emotions and choices are due to certain chemical levels in the brain. Therefore, if one seeks help from the medical community for emotional problems the prescribed solution will likely be pharmaceutical. In contrast, Fitzpatrick and Johnson advocate renewing one’s mind, the inner person, with the truth of the gospel. In their words, “The only way that we can change our feelings is by changing our core beliefs and the thoughts that occupy our minds (140).” This helpful insight is just one of many in the authors’ discussion of emotions. Granted, some may find it simplistic, but only if they lack faith in the clear teaching of Scripture, for instance, Rom. 12a which says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. . . (NASB)”

As mentioned earlier, the authors’ last purpose for penning Counsel from the Cross was to help believers who love Christ to savor him more. Frankly, it is impossible for a sympathetic reader not to develop a growing appreciation of Jesus Christ and his finished work. Fitzpatrick and Johnson continually remind the reader that treasuring the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the absolute key to loving him better and living for his glory. In addition, the authors show this gospel to be the balm one needs for sins’ wounds, whether they are self-inflicted or perpetrated by another. In the authors’ words, “we are all more sinful and flawed than we ever dared believe but more loved and welcomed than we ever dared hope(49)."

In short, Counsel from the Cross is a tremendously useful book. Pastors, biblical counselors, and Christians who want to grow in love and obedience will benefit immeasurably from its contents.

Putting Your Past in its Place: A Book Review

2011-07-27T08:34:00.003-05:00

Many secular and Christian authors have written on the vital subject of dealing with one’s past. However, Putting Your Past in Its Place is the first book on the subject that I would call truly biblical. In this volume, pastor and biblical counselor Steve Viars carefully unpacks the all-sufficient truth of Scripture, and skillfully applies it in a way that makes it fresh and practical. Yes, Viars’ has produced an ample theology of the past that will serve to aid struggling Christians to gain freedom and forgiveness. Moreover, it will equip pastors and biblical counselors with a powerful and trustworthy tool for ministry to those struggling with the past.

Viars divides Putting Your Past in Its Place into three sections. The first section describes how many Christians are not growing spiritually because they are hindered by their past. Viars explains these Christians tend to fall into two categories. Some view their past as everything and others view it as nothing. Those who view the past everything often use it as an excuse for their present bad choices, and rarely take ownership for their sinful responses to perceived hurts. In contrast, those who view the past as nothing are inclined to focus on works. Viars say these folks eventually run out of what he calls “behavioral steam” because they have ignored the issues of the heart, which eventually catches up with them. Since the Bible teaches that all behavior issues from the heart, Viars’ conclusion makes sense.

The second and third sections of Putting Your Past in Its Place are the how-to sections of the book. In these sections, Viars divides one’s past into four categories or mental buckets. The first is the innocent past when one responded well. Next is the innocent past when one responded poorly. Third, is the guilty past when one responded poorly, and finally, the guilty past when one responded well. He does a thorough job of explaining, illustrating, and unpacking the scriptural principles related to each category. Additionally, Viars uses real life case studies, which demonstrate the power of biblical truth to transform those struggling with the past.

Putting Your Past in Its Place is unashamedly biblical. Viars carefully exegetes and applies the Scriptures. He clearly demonstrates his belief in Scripture’s authority, and sufficiency for dealing with one’s past and all of life. In contrast to many authors in the Christian counseling genre, Viars does not misapply Scripture. Too often, Christian authors teach the right truth, but use the wrong Scripture to do so. Viars has avoided this critical error in Putting Your Past in Its Place.

In addition to good exegesis and sound application, Viars expounds sound biblical theology. Putting Your Past in Its Place is not just a theology of the past. It addresses a wide range of related topics that are vitally relevant to living the Christian life, such as suffering, forgiveness, repentance and sanctification to name a few. Perhaps, the most helpful section of the book is the one in which Viars unpacks the biblical view of suffering, and the proper response to it. Suffering is something every Christian experiences, but sadly, many grow bitter through it because they do not have a solid theology of suffering. Viars has provided a sound remedy for this problem.

No Christian book can be called truly biblical if fails to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Viar’s book definitely passes this test. He proclaims the gospel in a way that makes it clear, relevant, and necessary for day-to-day living. Too many contemporary Christians view the gospel in past tense, but Viars demonstrates that we desperately need its powerful truths daily.

Putting Your Past in Its Place practicality is evident on every page. Viars has simplified what many have perceived to be a complex problem. He clearly establishes that dealing with one’s past is not complicated if one is willing to address it biblically. That is no to say the process of dealing with the past will be easy or pain-free. Self-confrontation, sorting through past suffering, and confessing sin can be sorrowful and painful to say the least. However, the joy and the freedom at the end of the process will make it more than worth struggle. Viars does a wonderful job of explaining and illustrating this truth from the Scriptures, and by means of case studies from contemporary life.

Another feature of Viars’ book that makes it extremely practical is the simple diagram he developed to illustrate the process for dealing with one’s past. The diagram enables one to easily remember the basic teachings of the book, which makes it particular helpful to pastors and biblical counselors. They can use that diagram to unpack the entire process of dealing with one’s past in just a few minutes. In addition, a pastor or counselor can use it as a diagnostic tool to determine what category of the past with which someone might be struggling.

I would equate reading Putting Your Past in Its Place to having the rare opportunity of being apprenticed under a highly experienced pastor and biblical counselor. In short, Pastor Viars has taught me more about dealing with the past in a couple hundred pages than I had previously learned in over twenty years of ministry. Interestingly, he did not teach me anything new. Instead, he did what all good Bible teachers do. He took the ancient and trustworthy truths of Scripture wove them together in a way I had never before seen.

Seminary Scholarship

2011-05-05T12:55:00.000-05:00

Going to Seminary is expensive. On top of that, finding a scholarship can be really difficult. That's why I was so excited to find this Seminary Scholarship website today. Not only are they giving away a $1,000.00 scholarship and a digital theological library, all I had to do to apply was watch a short video and answer a few questions! It took less than 15 minutes. What is best of all is that if you're in seminary and apply for the Seminary Scholarship, and put my name(Rick Crampton) as the person who referred you, if you win the scholarship, so do I! We could both get a $1,000.00 scholarship and digital theological library. So, do us both a favor and go apply for the Seminary Scholarship today.

Love And Respect: Less than Biblical

2011-04-29T10:29:00.002-05:00

The fact that Dr. Eggerichs is an integrationist is evident on the back cover of his book Love and Respect. It proclaims that the message of the book is “based on over three decades of counseling, as well as scientific and biblical research…” Reading the book confirmed that Dr. Eggerichs based his work primarily on psychology rather than the all-sufficient truth of Scripture. When he did use Scripture, Eggerichs often interpreted it through a humanistic, psychological lens rather than by sound hermeneutical principles. Some of the most glaring results of Dr. Eggerichs’ faulty hermeneutics are he misinterprets God’s teaching about marriage, misdiagnoses the reason for marital conflict, and reduces the process of sanctification to behavior modification.

In the first part of Love and Respect, Dr. Eggerichs’ says that the secret to a better marriage is for the husband and wife to meet each other’s primary needs. He defines those primary needs as love for women and respect for men. Eggerichs came to this conclusion from a flawed interpretation of Eph. 5:33 which says, “Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband (NASB).” The problem is the apostle Paul is not defining needs in this verse, or in the surrounding context, but rather giving commands for how husbands and wives are to relate to one another in Christ. In Eph. 5:18, Paul commanded believers to be continually filled with the Spirit. In the verses that follow, 19-21, he unpacks four results of the Spirit’s filling. The last of those results is in verse 21 where the apostle writes, “be subject to one another in the fear of Christ (NASB).” Then in Eph. 5:22-6:9, a passage commonly labeled as household codes, Paul unpacks how a family filled with the Spirit should relate to one another. This passage has nothing to do with husbands and wives getting their needs met.

So how did Eggerichs reach his faulty interpretation? He, like many integrationists, embraces the popular psychological view of man as a needy, empty cup that must be filled. This is especially evident on page 37 where he talks about the wife’s love tank and the husband’s respect tank. Yes, husbands and wives have needs, but their needs are not primarily love and respect; rather, their needs are spiritual and physical. They, like all people, need food, water, clothing and shelter. Most of all they need Jesus Christ to forgive them, set them free from sin, and empower them through the Holy Spirit for godly living. Sadly, Eggerichs fails to emphasize or clearly proclaim these powerful, gospel truths.

Eggerichs goes on to say that when husbands and wives do not get their needs met it leads to what he describes as the “crazy cycle,” or more simply stated continuous conflict. Again, he misses the biblical truth. Conflict in marriage is due to the fact that husbands and wives are not living by the Spirit. As already noted, according to Ephesians, being Spirit filled results in husbands loving their wives, and wives submitting to their husbands. Any other response is the result of living according to the “old humanity” which Paul exhorted them to strip off in Eph. 4:17-5:5. In addition, husbands and wives are to put on the “new humanity,” “which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth (Eph. 4:24b NASB).”

James 4:1-2 gives further biblical insight into the cause of human conflict. James 4:1-2 says, “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask (NASB).” In this passage, James says that conflict is not due to unmet needs, but rather unmet desires. These unmet desires can easily turn into demands. If someone does not give into our demands then we fight and quarrel to get them met. When we come to the place that we elevate our desires to point of need, and therefore must have them met in order to be content, we slip into idolatry. Certainly, it is not wrong for a husband to desire respect, and for a wife to desire love. However, to elevate these desires to the point where one cannot be content without them is idolatry. This truth is just one reason why Dr Eggerichs’ view of marriage is flawed and spiritually dangerous.

The second part of Love and Respect unveils what Dr. Eggerichs calls the “energizing cycle” which is his solution to the “crazy cycle.” The energizing cycle is his love motivates her respect; her respect motivates his love (113). In other words, you modify your behavior towards your spouse in order to get what you desire. The trouble is behavior modification is no substitute for the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. One’s behavior is an expression of his or her heart (Mark 7:21), and therefore, no lasting behavioral change can take place unless the heart is changed. As one cooperates with the Holy Spirit in the process of sanctification, heart change is the result, and changed behavior will follow. Furthermore, one’s motivation for obeying God’s Word should always be God’s glory not to get one’s perceived needs met (Col.3:17 and 1 Cor. 10:31).

This brief overview exposes just a few of the numerous flaws in Love and Respect. In spite of its many flaws, it does contain some biblical truth. Ironically, Dr. Eggerichs’ best and most biblical advice was in the last section of the book. For example, Eggerichs writes on page 274, "To the world it may make no sense for a wife to put on respect toward a husband who is harsh and unloving. It makes no sense for a husband to put on love toward a contemptuous, disrespectful woman. But it makes sense to God. These seemingly fruitless efforts matter to God because this is the kind of service He rewards." The problem is one must wade through and too much psychobabble to get to what is worthwhile. Frankly, it is just not worth the effort.

The Enemy Within: A Book Review

2011-03-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

Introduction

Kris Lundgaard bases The Enemy Within on two classic works by the Puritan theologian, John Owen, Indwelling Sin and The Mortification of Sin. Lundgaard mined these works desperately seeking help with his own sanctification and battle against sin. He found the help for which he was searching, but with much labor due to Owens style and tedious seventeenth century language. Out of gratitude and a desire to share his hard fought discoveries with contemporary believers, Lundgaard wrote The Enemy Within. A book highly recommended by Puritan expert and well regarded theologian, J.I. Packer. I wish I felt the same.

Summary

The author divides The Enemy Within into four sections. The first section defines the power of sin and the section that follows describes how that power works in the life of the Christian. In the third, which is a single chapter, Lundgaard explains what sin seeks to accomplish. Lundgaard closes the book by with a discussion of vital principles for overcoming sin.

Lundgaard begins the first section by describing the reality of indwelling sin. Rom. 7 is his primary scriptural support, and from this text, he defines sin as a law that operates from within the believer. Indwelling sin, or the flesh as Lundgaard sometimes calls it, seeks to keep the Christian from doing right and it never rests. Because the human heart is deceitful and indwelling sin is always lurking, believers must be continually on guard and ready to battle sin. Every time the believer seeks to commune with God, the flesh fights against their souls. However, Believers can experience victory because they have new hearts, the mind of Christ and the Holy Spirit to empower them.

In the second and longest section of the book, Lundgaard describes how indwelling sin operates in the believer. It attacks the mind, will and affections. Indwelling sin deceives the mind about the real consequences of sin, tempts the believer to get grace and holiness out of balance, and it seeks to entice them by entangling their affections and capturing their imaginations. Lundgaard says the mind is the key to obedience and winning the battle against sin. Therefore, the believer must be constantly saturating their minds with the Scriptures, be thinking hard about obedience and be resisting spiritual laziness. Lundgaard wraps up the second section by discussing the necessity of engaging the will and avoiding passivity in battling sin.

Chapter 10 or the third section, discusses the various ways the flesh seeks to erode the Christian’s love for Christ. In short, the believer must continually cultivate their love for the Lord and put to death the flesh.

In the last section of The Enemy Within, Lundgaard says the antidote for sin is a life of worship based on a healthy reverence and awe of God. This reverence or fear can only come by God’s revelation of Himself, whether by vision or Scripture. In addition, he warns about a false peace the believer’s flesh can provide. Therefore, they must guard against the flesh’s deceptions and seek the true peace only Christ can provide. In closing, Lundgaard points to faith in Christ’s finished work and absolute dependence on the Spirit as the primary means to overcome sin.

Critical Evaluation

The Enemy Within is a much-needed book because it addresses a topic the modern church rarely considers, sin in the life of the believer. It is well written and packed with excellent illustrations. In fact, the illustrations are probably the best part of the book. The “Questions for Reflection and Discussion” sections at the end of each chapter help make the book practical.

The book does have a glaring weakness, a weakness that undermines its important and much needed message. In this reviewer’s opinion, Lundgaard bases the book upon an incorrect interpretation of Scripture. The author bases his understanding of indwelling sin on Rom. 7. In the notes on page 151 the author states, “Romans 7 has been variously interpreted; but on close inspection it is clearly describing the experience of a believer, rather than an unbeliever.” Unfortunately, this reviewer disagrees and so do some of the most respected New Testament scholars of our day, such as Douglas Moo, Gordon Fee, Frank Thielman and Ben Worthington III to mention only a few.

A thorough examination of Rom. 7 and its surrounding context lies outside the primary purpose of this review, but I would lie to note a couple of important points. First, before Augustine, the vast majority of the early church Fathers recognized that the apostle Paul was using rhetorical devices in Rom. 7 to describe the experience of those who were attempting to gain a righteous standing before God by keeping law. Augustine himself, at one time understood Rom. 7 in this light. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, Augustine changed his position and nearly all the Reformers adopted it. Augustine’s interpretation has had tremendous influence on the church ever since.

A second important point is that even a limited examination of Rom. 7 and 8, in a good, literal translation of the Bible, will demonstrate that the discussion in Romans is not about the struggle of two natures within a believer, but two ways of living. One can live according to the flesh or the Spirit. Life according to the flesh is described in Rom. 8:7-8, “because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God (NASB).” In these verses, Paul’s description of the “flesh” certainly seems to describe an unregenerate person. Rom. 7:5 and 8:9 indeed confirm conclusion. Rom. 7:5 says, “For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death (NASB).” This verse describes our time in the “flesh” as past tense. Rom. 8:9 confirms this when it says, “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him (NASB).” So according to Paul, to be in the “flesh” is to be without the Spirit and to be without the Spirit is to be unregenerate. Therefore, a believer cannot be in the flesh and the Spirit simultaneously. Of course, this is not to say a believer cannot act fleshly, or in other words, behave as if they are still in the flesh, see 1 Cor. 2:14-3:4.

Rom. 7 is not the only passage Lundgaard misinterprets or misuses. He makes the exact same mistake with Gal. 5 that he did with Rom. 7. Again, he takes the discussion about the flesh and Spirit to be mainly about the struggle of two natures within a believer. This reviewer acknowledges this is a popular interpretation but believes it is incorrect. Paul wrote Galatians to a community of believers who false teachers, probably Judaizers, were pressuring to go back under law for justification and sanctification. Like Rom. 7 and 8, the discussion about the flesh and Spirit in Gal. 5 has to do with two ways of living, not about the battle of two natures within an individual believer. For anyone interested, Dr. Ed Welch wrote an excellent article discussing how this interpretation might apply to biblical counseling in The Journal for Biblical Counseling, Spring 2002.

Rom. 7 and Gal. 5 were not the only passages the author misinterpreted and therefore misused, but they were by far the most obvious. Unfortunately, the misinterpretation and misuse of Scripture in The Enemy Within is all too common in contemporary Christian writing. Often what authors are attempting to say is theologically and experientially true, but the Scripture they use does not actually support their point. It seems that many authors depend heavily on the works of others, theological systems and popular interpretations as the basis for their works. They themselves fail to do the hard work of hermeneutics and exegesis. Sadly, this undermines their credibility, and makes it difficult for those who value good exegesis and hermeneutics to hear their message and take them seriously. In this reviewer’s opinion, that is definitely the case with The Enemy Within.

Conclusion

In spite of the recommendations of some well-respected Christian scholars and teachers, I would not recommend The Enemy Within. In my opinion, the book is fundamentally flawed because the author bases it on a popular misinterpretation of Scripture. I acknowledge many of my brethren would disagree.

I believe and know by experience that Christians continue to battle with sin after being born of the Spirit. If this were not true our New Testaments would be much shorter and our experience vastly different. Regrettably, well-meaning Christians often use the wrong Scriptures to teach about this reality and they misuse others. We must strive to avoid this error and instead heed the admonition of 2 Tim. 2:15, which says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth (NASB).”

Shepherding A Child's Heart: Summarized & Reviewed

2011-01-26T15:07:00.005-06:00

God has graced Dr. Ted Tripp with keen insight into what the Scriptures teach about biblical parenting. Additionally, God has granted him years of experience as a father, pastor, biblical counselor, and school administrator. Being a wise steward, Dr. Tripp has combined these gifts of insight and experience into a ministry for equipping Christian parents. The core teaching of this equipping ministry is contained in his book Shepherding a Child’s Heart, which is the subject of this review.

Ted Tripp divides Shepherding a Child’s Heart into two parts. The first and longest part of the book focuses on the foundations of biblical parenting. Tripp begins his teaching on foundations by unpacking Scripture’s declaration that all human behavior comes from the heart. Therefore, parenting must focus primarily on the heart rather than behavior. Since only God can change the heart, and only does so through the gospel, parents must continually point their children to Christ.

Tripp continues part one’s teaching on foundations by stating that children are the product of all life’s shaping influences, and who or what they worship. Hence, wise parenting requires providing the best shaping influences possible and shepherding a child’s response to those influences by teaching them to know and honor God. God has assigned parents with this very important task. In order to carry out this assignment parents must have biblical goals and methods.

Tripp say the biblical goal is to teach one’s children to glorify God and enjoy him forever. The biblical methods are wise communication and the rod of correction. Wise communication, according to Tripp is more than instructing your child. It is a two-way process where you seek to build a relationship with your child and truly understand them. In addition, wise communication must help one’s children reflect on the contents of their heart, and discern their need for God’s grace and mercy, which is only available through Christ.

In the second part of the book, Tripp gives specific instructions on how to apply the biblical methods unpacked in part one. He reviews what the Scriptures teach about spanking, discusses when to begin and end spanking, and teaches parents how to spank biblically. In addition, he outlines training procedures and desired outcomes for infancy, childhood and adolescence.

Shepherding A Child’s Heart is indeed a rare book, because it has no easily discernible weakness. Clearly, Dr. Tripp has based the book on sound biblical wisdom, hermeneutics, and theology. These facts alone make it unique among contemporary Christian books, which are too often theologically lite, and hermeneutically flawed. In what follows, we will focus on some specific characteristics that distinguish Shepherding a Child’s Heart from the majority of Christian books on parenting available today.

Dr. Tripp’s book is exceptional among parenting books because rather than concentrating on behavior modification, or constructing a positive environment, it focuses on the absolute necessity of doing as its title describes, shepherding a child’s heart. Why is Tripp’s focus superior? Scripture teaches that behavior flows from the heart, for example see Prov. 4:23, Mark 7:21, and Luke 6:45. Therefore, behavior modification is an ineffective means of parenting because it fails to address the source of all behavior, the heart. If parents focus on behavior alone, it is very likely that they will raise children who learn to be outwardly obedient while remaining inwardly rebellious. What is worse, their children may view themselves as righteous, and thus fail to recognize their need for a Savior. As Tripp warns, parenting by behavior modification can result in producing modern day Pharisees.

Tripp warns that parents often deny the connection of their child’s heart to behavior. He gives an excellent illustration to describe this foolish denial. In the illustration, he likens what parents often do as stapling good apples on bad trees. Parents train their children through emotional appeals, rewards, shame or various other forms of manipulation to do the right behavior, but for the wrong reasons. Unfortunately, parent’s fail to recognize that what they train their children with is what their children will become. In short, if parents manipulate their children they will become manipulators.

According to Tripp, rather than succumbing to behavior modification and manipulation, parents should seek to bring their children to the place where they long for heart change. Parents need to understand that their children’s hearts are not neutral. Their children will worship either God or idols. Like all people, children are prone to idolatry. Therefore, parents must teach their children to cry out to God for a changed heart, and repeatedly emphasize that a changed heart is only available through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. As Tripp says, only a renewed heart is capable of pleasing and enjoying God.

Another insufficient method of parenting is constructing a positive environment, because like behavior modification, it also fails to address the heart. Tripp does emphasize the importance of a positive and biblical environment, but he warns against the danger of seeing it as the determining factor in successful parenting. If a positive environment were enough to produce heart change, the Fall would have never occurred. After all, no one has ever lived in a more perfect environment than Adam and Eve. They had everything they needed, including face-to-face communion with God, and yet they still chose to rebel against him.

In addition to the focus on the heart, Tripp’s stance on parental authority makes Shepherding a Child’s Heart unique when compared to other contemporary parenting books. Once again, Tripp returns to the Scriptures to make his point. He reminds parents that God has called them to act on his behalf. Therefore, parents are never free to shape their children how ever they choose. Rather, they have a responsibility before God to parent in ways that in are keeping with his plan and purpose. Their assignment is to teach their children to walk in God’s ways by doing what is just and right. Parents must recognize that their children are a stewardship from the Lord, and he will hold them accountable for their fidelity. Tripp does a skillful and thorough job of unpacking this truth.

Closely related to the concepts of parental authority and stewardship, is the matter of goals. Tripp astutely argues that too many parents have unbiblical goals for their children. For example, some parents view their child’s worldly success in education or sports as tantamount, rather than focusing on godly character. Others, as mentioned earlier, focus primarily on having well behaved children. Still others see their primary goal is to get their child saved. These parents often become obsessed with getting their child to pray, “the sinner’s prayer (42).” As Tripp notes, wanting a child to know the Lord is a worthy objective, but saying a particular prayer does not guarantee that outcome. Parents need to do what God has called them to do, and trust God for their children’s salvation. Only God can give a child a new heart, and he will do it in his timing, not ours. Anyway, a child’s salvation does not change the primary goal of parenting, which is to teach one’s children to glorify God and enjoy him forever. As Tripp wisely states, “This goal is the only one broad enough and flexible enough to cover every stage of a child’s life (45).”

Another characteristic of Dr. Tripp’s book that makes it stand out is its simplicity. As referenced in the summary, Tripp says that parents must combine the biblical message with biblical methods. The biblical message, of course, is the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, and the biblical methods are wise communication and discipline. According to Tripp, being a godly parent is not complicated. That is not to say parenting is easy. In fact, parenting is impossible and utterly overwhelming apart from the wisdom and grace of God.

Finally, the most controversial and distinctive characteristic of Shepherding a Child’s Heart, is that Tripp advocates spanking as the primary means of discipline for children. He demonstrates that the Scriptures command spanking, and declares that parents who fail to discipline their children scripturally are in fact disobeying God. Tripp goes into great detail describing why, when, and how to spank in a way that honors God, and communicates genuine love to the child. Wise parents will carefully consider Tripp’s instruction on discipline, as well as the rest of Shepherding a Child’s Heart, and then carefully apply it.

Shepherding a Child’s Heart is a book I wish I had read many years ago. Regrettably, I have learned most of its truth and wisdom the hard way, with much trial and error. Apparently, that was God’s plan. Nevertheless, I am grateful to have read Tripp’s book because now I have a trusted resource to recommend to parents. Perhaps, I will have the privilege of helping them avoid some of the pain and unnecessary mistakes that I have made. More importantly, I can aid them in nurturing children who bring God glory and enjoy him forever.

A Book Worth Reading!

2011-01-25T14:46:00.005-06:00

I am presently reading Putting Your Past In Its Place: Moving Forward In Freedom and Forgiveness. It is by far the most biblical and practical book I have read on this vital subject. I will post a review of it in the near future. Please don't wait for my review before you get a copy of this book!

Boundaries: A Book Review

2011-01-21T15:21:00.001-06:00

Boundaries is not an easy book to understand or digest. This difficulty is due to the authors’ intentionally integrating, and syncretizing biblical truth with psychology. Therefore, a reader has to sift every word to discern what is biblical and what is not. I am extremely grateful to Ed Welch for his article “Who Are We? Needs, Longings, and the Image of God in Man” in the Journal of Biblical Counseling, Fall 1994, because it fortified me with the biblical, and theological discernment I needed for the task.

Authors Cloud and Townsend, state that the goal of Boundaries is to help readers achieve the relationships and purposes God intends for his children (28). They define boundaries as the characteristics that define a person. In the authors’ words, “they define what is me and not me (31).” According to Cloud and Townsend, knowing one’s boundaries is what helps one determine their responsibilities, so they can take control of their lives. The authors go on to say one’s boundaries develop in relationship with God and others, primarily in the early years of life. Boundary conflicts are most often due to inadequate or negligent nurture in these early years. These conflicts can only be resolved by following the authors’ nine-step procedure. One can apply this procedure to every kind of human relationship, including a person’s relationship to self and God. Finally, the author’s warn that applying this procedure will be difficult, and not without inner and outer conflict, but in the end it will be worth struggle, because people with boundaries live happily ever after.

In spite of the authors’ claims, Scripture never commands people to develop boundaries, or take control of their lives. So where did the authors’ get the concept of boundaries? They got it from psychology. For example, on page 39, the authors write, “man’s most basic need in life is relationship.” They repeat this assertion on page 66 where they say, “Our deepest need is to belong, to be in relationship…” The idea that man must have his needs met in order to experience fulfillment began with Maslow. According to Scripture, man’s most basic need is not relationship, but regeneration, and the forgiveness of his sins. The authors’ view of man is that he is a needy psychological receptacle that must be filled with “relationship,” so that he can set proper boundaries in relationships with others. In contrast, the biblical view of man is that he is a depraved sinner who needs to be forgiven and born again (Rom 3:9-23; Eph. 2:1-3). Man’s receptacle is not empty. Instead, it is overflowing with pride, selfishness and wickedness. These sinful motivations manifest themselves in all man’s relationships, which inevitably lead to conflict and alienation. In short, man does not have a “boundaries” problem; he has a heart problem (Mark 7:21-23). Only adherence to the heart-changing gospel of Jesus Christ can cure him.

What is even more disconcerting is the authors attribute this same relationship need to God himself. The author’s wrote, “Like God, our most central need is to be connected (66). However, the God of the Bible has no needs and is completely satisfied with himself. In fact, his greatest pleasure is himself and his inexhaustible glory. For God to have greater pleasure in anyone or thing besides himself would be idolatry, because it would exalt the creature over the Creator. The reason that he loves man is for his own pleasure and glory, not because he is a needy God who needs relationships with human beings to be complete.

Cloud and Townsend also have an unbiblical view of sin and its source. They claim, “. . . many psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety disorders, addictions, impulse disorders, guilt problems, shame issues, panic disorders, and marital and relational struggles, find their root in conflicts with boundaries (28).” Unfortunately, this list is simply a catalogue of sinful behaviors and attitudes renamed and redefined with psychological terms. According to Scripture, the source of these ungodly attitudes and behaviors is the human heart. As previously stated, God has only one plan for dealing with the human heart, namely the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The authors state the goal of the Boundaries is to aid readers in using biblical boundaries so that they can achieve the relationships that God intends for his children (28). However, it is not God’s intention that his children live by an unbiblical concept called boundaries. According to Scripture, specifically Gal. 5:16 and 5:25, all Christians are to live by the Spirit. This is also the main point of Rom. 8. The fruit of the Spirit as described in Gal. 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are precisely what is needed for healthy and harmonious relationships, not boundaries.

In closing, Boundaries is another example of the psychological teaching that has infiltrated the contemporary church. For almost two thousand years, the Gospel, the Holy Spirit, and the Scriptures have been sufficient to convert the souls of men, and empower them to live godly lives. However, according Dr. Henry Cloud, and Dr. John Townsend, these are no longer sufficient. Now we need boundaries. Ironically, on page 39 the authors promote the necessity of their psychological teaching by stating, “Many people have been taught by their church or their family that boundaries are unbiblical, mean or selfish.” How I wish this statement were true. Boundaries are unbiblical, mean and selfish because they lead people away from the all-sufficient truth of God’s Word. In former days, the church used to call this heresy. We had better return to those days before it is too late.

Women Counseling Women: A Book Review

2010-11-03T08:43:00.003-05:00

Elyse Fitzpatrick is eminently qualified to edit a book that addresses women’s struggles from a biblical perspective. For over twenty years, Fitzpatrick has been ministering to women from God’s word. She holds an M.A. degree in biblical counseling, has authored numerous counseling books, and heads a ministry called Women Helping Women. Her latest effort, Women Counseling Women, is the collective work of twenty women who are experienced biblical counselors. This book aims to offer biblical solutions to the various problems women face and it absolutely hits its target. Yes, Christian women have a trusted friend and counselor in Elyse Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick has divided Women Counseling Women into four parts. The first part, “A Women and the Word,” is composed of five chapters that build a scriptural foundation for the rest of the book. The first two chapters focus on the gospel as the ultimate answer to women’s problems and assurance of salvation. Chapters three and four deal with the important topics of hermeneutics and spiritual discernment. The fifth chapter emphasizes the importance of sound doctrine, and briefly describes how to develop a biblical counseling and discipleship ministry in a local church.

Part two of the book focuses on women’s emotions. This section of the book unpacks a basic, biblical theology of emotions, and then proceeds to provide biblical counsel for overcoming fear and anger through proper application of the gospel. From there the book moves on to give biblical advice for understanding, and navigating depression. This section concludes with a physician, and biblical counselor stressing the importance of a balanced view of the use of medicine in treating depression.

In part three, Women Counseling Women gives counsel to women about their relationships. This section is the longest, and most comprehensive in the book. It covers a wide gambit of relational issues such as singleness, marriage, abuse, parenting, motherhood and caring for one’s elderly parents. In discussing these various relationships, the writers apply the Scriptures to each situation, and provide sound biblical advice on how to relate to others in a way that most pleases God, and adorns the gospel.

Women Counseling Women’s final section addresses four specific problems women face. These problems are overeating, generational sin, pornography, and same-sex attraction. Again, the authors seek to give biblical instruction for addressing these difficult problems, and they do amazing job of getting to crux of each issue in a very limited space. They clearly demonstrate how believers can overcome these problems through the gospel, and God’s grace for His glory.

Fitzpatrick states that the purpose for Women Counseling Women is to be useful for self-help and as a guide to biblical counselors. Certainly, the book has accomplished its stated purpose. Every chapter provides solid, biblical counsel and practical help for the problems women face. The book covers a wide range of issues, some of which the church has often been negligent in addressing. For example, the last two chapters of the book discuss women’s addiction to pornography and same-sex attraction. When was the last time anyone heard those issues discussed in the church?

Women Counseling Women has few weaknesses, but numerous strengths. Its greatest strength is its faithfulness to the Word of God. Regrettably, many books written for Christians claim to be scriptural, but all too often they adhere to popular interpretations of Scripture based on faulty hermeneutics, and flawed theological systems. This sad reality makes pastors’ jobs very difficult because they often find themselves commenting on, and correcting the teachers their women congregants esteem. However, such will certainly not be the case with Women Counseling Women. In fact, the book contains a brief, but excellent chapter on basic hermeneutics followed by a chapter on spiritual discernment. Frankly, these are two of the greatest needs for the modern-day church because unsound teaching is leading so many Christians astray.

Another outstanding strength of Women Counseling Women is its presentation of the Gospel as the solution to every problem women face. Too many in the contemporary church have viewed the gospel as their ticket to heaven, but have failed to see its relevance for everyday living, and its power for overcoming life’s problems. Women reading this book will see that misguided view exposed and corrected. Furthermore, chapter two will challenge women to examine their lives and make sure they have truly been born again. After all, and as the book makes obvious, the gospel’s promises and power are only available for those who have truly believed and experienced its life-changing power.

Yet another strength of Women Counseling Women is that it provides an outstanding means to minister to women in churches that lack women’s ministries. Unfortunately, many pastors, of whom I am one, find themselves in churches where women have not been encouraged or equipped to minister to one another from God’s Word. Women Counseling Women provides pastors excellent insight into the issues woman face, and it is an exceptional resource for them to share with the women in their flocks. If pastors use the book prudently, it might well become the impetus for establishing a healthy, biblical women’s ministry in their church. In fact, chapter five gives some brief, but helpful advice for establishing just such a ministry.

The book does have some weaknesses. First, it gives few subjects the complete treatment they deserve or necessitate. This criticism may seem unjust since Fitzpatrick intended the book to be a guide for counseling others, and not an all-inclusive manual. However, Fitzpatrick also states that she designed Women Counseling Women for self-help, and some women may find themselves disappointed with the brief treatment various problems get in the book. What the book does say about each problem is always helpful, and the book more than makes up for this weakness by pointing readers to resources that provide more depth on the subjects addressed at the end of each chapter.

A second weakness of the book is chapter ten. This chapter discusses the importance of having a balanced attitude towards the use of medicine in dealing with depression. The chapter is helpful in that it exhorts biblical counselors to hear objectively both sides of a controversial subject, and to maintain a Christian attitude in the midst of the debate. On the other hand, some of Dr. Hendrickson’s advice is not very useful, and may even be dangerous.

Dr. Hendrickson wrote, “Some individuals come to me in so deep an emotional hole that it seems best to recommend the physical boost of psychiatric drugs in addition to the ministry of God’s Word to restore them (131).” This statement is problematic for a couple reasons. To begin with, a small number of biblical counselors share the same expertise and training in fields of medicine and psychiatry as Dr. Hendrickson. So how would they determine whether someone could use a physical boost from psychiatric drugs and what could they do about it? It seems that their only recourse would be to refer them to a medical doctor or psychiatrist. Unfortunately, many if not most biblical counselors lack access to someone with Dr. Hendrickson’s medical credentials, and background in biblical counseling whom they could trust to make such an assessment. Furthermore, there are biblical counselors who share Dr. Hendrickson’s medical credentials, and counseling experience, who would disagree with her conclusion. One such person is Dr. Robert Smith, the author of The Christian Counselor’s Medical Desk Reference. Smith says on page 88 of his book “drugs are not needed in biblical counseling because the biblical counselor has the superior answer.”

Dr. Hendrickson said, “. . . it seems best . . . (131).” Frankly, that sounds as if she is basing her conclusion upon a subjective rather objective basis. Could it be that her secular training in medicine, and psychiatry, is unduly influencing her conclusions? Moreover, Dr. Hendrickson’s statement gives the false impression that God’s Word is somehow insufficient. It is doubtful that is what she actually intends because of over all tenor of Women Counseling Women, but that is how some might take it. In fact, it is quite possible that some women reading this chapter will use it as the basis for seeking medication because it has ignited, or confirmed their doubts about sufficiency of God’s Word for dealing with depression. Such an outcome would be tragic indeed.

Women Counseling Women is a rare book. Unlike much popular and contemporary nonsense in Christian bookstores, it truly addresses women’s issues from a sound, biblical perspective. I found the book to be encouraging and edifying, and except for one paragraph in chapter ten, I found nothing with which to disagree. I am excited about promoting the book to the women in my church because it is an answer to prayer. The men in my church have been praying that God would inspire some godly women to start a Titus 2:3-5 ministry. I can envision Women Counseling Women sparking just such a ministry.

Trusting God

2010-09-27T07:01:00.003-05:00

In the preface of Trusting God, Jerry Bridges states the purposes of the book are to “glorify God by acknowledging His sovereignty and goodness. And to encourage God’s people by demonstrating from Scripture that God is in control of their lives, he does indeed love them and that He does work out all circumstances in their lives for their ultimate good” (9). Bridges definitely accomplishes his purpose

Jerry Bridges begins Trusting God begins with a question that is relevant to every believer. Can we trust God in a fallen world and life that is often marked by suffering, brokenness, frustration and pain? His answer is yes we can, if we will view our circumstances through faith. Namely, the faith imparted to us through the Scriptures and applied to our hearts by the Spirit, which teach three essential truths about God (45). God is Sovereign, infinite in wisdom and perfect in love (16). These three truths are basic outline of the book.

In introducing God’s sovereignty Bridges says, “If there is a single event in the universe outside God’s control we cannot trust Him” (35). God is in absolute control and no act or circumstances can occur outside of God’s sovereign will, and no one can thwart his purposes or plans. God has a special purpose and plan for believers. That plan it is to make them like Jesus and it requires some adversity. Bridges goes on to talk about how God’s sovereignty relates to people, nations, nature and human responsibility. He finishes his discussion about God’s sovereignty by exploring the relationship between it and human responsibility. He observes that Scripture teaches both truths, but it is impossible to reconcile them. Bridges adds that God’s Sovereignty does not negate human responsibility.

After God’s sovereignty, the author discusses God’s wisdom. He points out that God is infinite in wisdom, incomprehensible in his ways and never makes mistakes. He knows what is best for us and how to work that out, which often includes adversity.

The next section of Trusting God, chapters nine and ten, focus on God’s love. Bridges begins this section by stating the more we believe in God’s sovereignty the more we are tempted to question his love in adversity. We are apt to think, “If God is in control of this adversity and can do something about it, why doesn’t He” (109)? When tempted to doubt God’s love we must remember God’s love expressed at the cross, our identity as his adopted children and his love continually expressed to us because of our union with Christ.

The final four chapters of Trusting God hone in on personal application. Chapter eleven talks about accepting the way God made us. The following chapter focuses on cooperating with God in adversity to reap the greatest spiritual benefit, which is to know God better. Chapter 13 reminds us that it is not enough to know the truth about God, that he is sovereign, loving and wise, we must choose to believe and act on the truth. The final chapter closes the discussion by stating that if we truly believe in a sovereign God who is all-loving and all-wise, we will show it by thanking him, worshiping him, humbly submitting to him and seeking his glory in adversity and prosperity.

Bridges arguments for trusting God, “even when life hurts,” are excellent. They are well supported and illustrated by Scripture. In fact, one can find little with which to disagree, except for his statement on pages 128-129, where Bridges says that “God never explains to us what he is doing and why.” He says this in the context of his discussion about wisdom and Job’s suffering. While Bridge’s statement is certainly true about Job, it is not universally true at all times. God does sometimes choose to explain what he is doing and why, especially when it comes to suffering.

For example, in 2 Sam. 12:1-14 in the Lord’s confrontation of David through Nathan the prophet, he reveals what he is going to do and why. Nathan tells David that adversity will never depart from his house because his sin against Uriah gave the Lord’s enemies a reason to blaspheme. Then Nathan details for David the specific kinds of suffering that he will experience due to his sin. Granted this suffering was due to God’s judgment of David’s sin, but it does disprove Bridge’s statement that God never explains (128).

In the New Testament, James 1:2-4 also argue against Bridge’s claim. These verses tell us to count it all joy when we encounter various trials. We are to count it all joy because the testing our faith produces endurance and leads to spiritual maturity. These verses may not detail specifics but they do tell what God does and why. God sends trials into our lives to build our endurance and make us spiritually mature.

Heb. 12:1-11 is another passage that confirms that God does reveal to us the “what” and the “why” of suffering. Admittedly, it is not specific in details, but it does show that God disciplines us because he loves us and intends that we share his holiness. In the context of Hebrews, God’s discipline was essentially in the form of persecution and suffering the recipients experienced due to their decision to follow Christ. For us, discipline may come in different forms and reasons but it serves the same purpose.

The three passages just reviewed demonstrate that God does indeed choose to tell us what he is doing and why in regards to suffering. Yes, God is often silent on specifics. However, unlike Job, no New Testament believer has to wonder what God is doing when trials and adversity enter their life. God in his perfect wisdom and love is transforming them into the image of Jesus Christ.

In spite of this lone disagreement with Bridges, Trusting God is a very edifying book that recovers a truth that many in the modern church seemingly have forgotten. God is sovereign! The world is not out of control and God is not up in heaven wringing his hands. As Bridges so aptly writes, God wisely and lovingly guides all things to their appointed end. Nothing or no one can stop His plan. If more Christians really believed and lived out the implications of God’s sovereignty, our churches would be vastly different. They would not be peppered with stressed out, anxious, complaining Christians seeking relief through antidepressants or various idols that appeal to fleshly lusts. Instead, they would be seeking help from the only one who can truly help them, God Almighty.

Another important corrective for modern church is on page 52 of Trusting God. Bridges says, “Trusting God is not a matter of feelings but my will.” Too many in today’s body of Christ today are living by their feelings rather than by God’s truth. They falsely assume that they are never supposed to experience unhappiness, depression or suffer. When adversity strikes, they run back and forth looking for relief rather than clinging to the truth of God’s sovereignty and trusting him for the grace to endure and to grow. Yes, these dear brethren need a strong dose of Trusting God.

As the book’s title communicates, Bridges writes mainly about trusting God in the midst of adversity, but he also gives a timely warning about trusting God in the midst of prosperity (215-219). To summarize, Bridges says that as difficult as it is to trust God in adversity, it can be equally or more difficult to trust him in times of prosperity. The reason for this difficulty is that in seasons of prosperity we are often tempted to value life’s blessings over the one who provides the blessings. Bridges appropriately notes that the nation of Israel fell into this trap repeatedly in the Old Testament. Of course, the ultimate danger in all this is that we can turn the blessings of God into idols. Unfortunately, this has too often been the case in American church, which has experienced an unprecedented period of prosperity in Christianity’s history. We would do well to heed Bridges’ warning, both individually and corporately.

I first read Trusting God in 1990 in a period of overwhelming adversity. During this time, my first wife Melinda, who has since gone to be with Lord, was chronically ill and confined to a wheelchair. I resigned what had been a difficult and draining pastorate to care for her. To top it all off, someone burglarized our apartment and a short time later, someone else stole our car. All of this was wedged in between long hospital stays for Melinda who suffered from one complication after another.

Trusting God was healing balm to my weary soul. Bridges’ book helped me to understand what God was doing in our lives and why he was doing it. It helped me to see that God was not angry with my family and me, and that there was indeed a good purpose for all the adversity. God’s sovereignty, wisdom and love were at work making us more like Jesus. Yes, the suffering was painful, “but afterwards it yielded the peaceable fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:11d). Every Christian should read Trusting God; they will need its medicine at some point in their lives.

Shall We Dance?

2010-09-25T15:42:00.003-05:00

Brian Edwards’ book Shall We Dance addresses a very important question facing the contemporary church. How should the contemporary church worship and evangelize? Edwards explains that we can divide Christians into two camps on this question. One camp has embraced and promoted dance and drama in their practice of worship and evangelism. They have done so because they sincerely believe that dance and drama add new life to these vital functions of the church. In contrast, the other camp has viewed dance and drama as worldly alternatives to true biblical and God-centered worship and evangelism.

Edwards definitely fits in the second camp and so do I. His arguments are clear, convincing and most important, Biblically correct. He examines the practice of dance and drama in worship and evangelism from three different, but complementary angles. Edwards reviews their use historically, biblically and practically. I will attempt to summarize briefly and comment on his arguments.

Historically, the early church rejected dance and drama because of its pagan religious roots and blatant immorality. Drama and dance in the first few centuries of the early church were vile indeed. All the early church fathers agreed that they had no place in the life of a Christian, not to mention worship. Cyprian expressed the majority opinion when he said, “Scripture forbids gazing upon what it forbids to be done.” Modern Christians would do well to heed Cyprian’s words regarding television and movie viewing!

Unfortunately, as the church entered the Middle Ages it was filled with sin and corruption. Much of this was due to Constantine making Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire. As the Empire forced pagans into the church, they brought the trappings of their pagan worship with them. This led to a long period of spiritual decline. It was during this period that they introduced dance and drama into the church. Edwards astutely observes that a period of spiritual decline always precedes the introduction of dance and drama into the church’s worship. In my opinion, the historical facts bear witness to his conclusion.

Some have claimed that reintroducing dance and drama into the contemporary church is essentially reclaiming what the church lost during the Middle Ages. Obviously they have failed to interpret the events of church history correctly. For the church to reintroduce dance and drama into its practice of worship and evangelism is to acknowledge it is in a state of spiritual decline!

After the darkness of the Middle Ages, the early reformers like Groot, Hus, Wycliffe and Tyndale came onto the scene of Christianity. They had little time for drama or dancing because they were to busy trying to stay alive! Their primary response to these activities was to condemn their practice. As Edwards aptly points out that the early reformers reintroduced preaching into the church not plays!

In contrast to the early reformers, later reformers began to use plays for their purposes. The truth is they were used mainly as weapons to attack the Catholics and their doctrine. The Catholics returned the favor. In England, this feud between the Protestants and the Catholics led to intervention by the monarchy. This intervention resulted in secularization and rapid moral decline of drama.

England’s Puritans were not unlike the early reformers in their response to drama. They generally rejected drama that was immoral but tolerated it if it was good. Of course, it must be stated that there was some disagreement among them. Some Puritans totally rejected plays of any kind. Puritans also loved good music and enjoyed proper dancing. It should be emphasized that despite how they felt about drama and dancing, these were never a part of their worship and evangelism practices in the church.

The successors to the Puritans were the evangelicals. Like the Puritans, they were against plays because of their immorality. In addition, they saw them as mere entertainment lacking any power to transform people’s lives. Charles Spurgeon, a Victorian evangelical and Baptist preacher, considered dancing and drama to be a severe hindrance to spiritual life. His view adequately reflects that of most Victorian evangelicals.

This concludes my summary of Edwards’ historical argument against drama and dancing in the church. This brief survey of history reveals a couple of important facts. First, it’s only during times of spiritual decline that the church has resorted to drama and dancing in worship and evangelism. Second, many Christians have also excluded these activities from their personal lives because they recognize them as hindrances to spiritual life. These facts show there is really no historical basis for using drama in the worship of the contemporary church. In my estimation, when we introduce these into our practice of worship and evangelism it simply shows our ignorance of church history.

Edwards’ second and most significant argument against the use of drama and dance in worship was the Biblical argument. It’s the most significant argument because as New Testament Christians we believe that the Scriptures are our final authority in faith in practice. This definitely applies to how we practice worship and evangelism in the church.

Is there any evidence in the Scriptures that dance should be a part of worship? Some Christians would say there is. Edwards demonstrates that these adherents of dance cannot prove their position from the Scriptures. After my own review of the Scriptures, I would have to agree with his conclusions.

When one examines the New Testament there is absolutely no evidence or support for dancing in worship. In fact, dancing is mentioned only five times in the entire New Testament. Two of those verses, Matt.14:6 and Mark 6:22, talk about Herodias lewd dance that led to the death of John the Baptist. The other three verses, Matt. 11:17, Luke 7:32 and Luke 15:25, are used by Jesus in sermon illustrations.

The Old Testament contains twenty references to dancing. We can divide these references into five categories. Our first category would be the victory dance, which was done in response to a military victory over an enemy. This is the kind of dance described in Ex. 15:20, Judges 11:34 and 1 Sam. 18:6-7. A second category would be the festival dance. This is what was apparently taking place in Judges 21:21-23. A third category would be dance in pagan worship. We see this illustrated in Exodus 32:19 and 1 Kings 18:26. The fourth category is dancing in Hebrew poetry and prophecy. It is usually used to illustrate joy after a period of sorrow or judgement. The final category is David’s dance. This is the category that dance adherents believe gives them their strongest Scriptural support. The problem is they have not done the hard work of Biblical exegesis to support their claim. David’s dance was as Edwards put it, “ . . . exceptional; it was not David’s customary way of worship. The truth of the matter is David’s dance was a single moment of enthusiastic celebration.

In summary, there is no support for dancing in worship anywhere in the Scriptures! If God had wanted us to dance in worship He would have made it clear in His Word. God went to great lengths in the Old Testament to teach His people how to approach and worship Him. Dancing was not a component of that teaching. This also is true of New Testament teaching on worship.

Edwards’ conclusions about the Scriptural evidence for dance are mirrored when it comes to drama. The New Testament says absolutely nothing about drama. Neither does the Old Testament. Some would attempt to use figures of speech like parables to make a case for it. In reality, figures of speech do not meet Edwards’ or anyone else’s definition of drama. Other adherents of drama attempt to claim that symbolic acts like Passover, The Lord’s Supper and baptism make a case for drama. Again, these symbolic acts do not meet any thinking person’s definition of drama. Furthermore, their purpose is not to reenact but to remember and identify. The primary scriptural ground that adherents cling to for drama in worship is the Old Testament Prophets. They claim that the symbolic actions of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel give support to their position. Clearly, as previously stated, there is a vast difference between symbolic action and drama. The crucial point is that we can make no case for drama from the Scriptures. My belief is if the Scriptures do not teach it then we should not be doing it!

Edwards’ third argument against drama and dancing in worship was the practical argument. In his practical argument, he gave seven reasons why contemporary Christians should not introduce dance and drama into the churches’ worship. First, Edwards said that dance and drama reflect the worst of society’s standards. I would have to agree. Church history, modern television, and the movie and music industries all serve to support his conclusions.

The second practical reason Edwards gave against dance and drama in worship was that they often trivialize the serious. Edwards said, “ Dance and drama are fundamentally entertainment.” Therefore it is easy to trivialize serious subjects like Christ’s suffering and death.

Another practical reason Edwards gave against dance and drama was they avoid direct or personal confrontation. He rightly pointed out that the primary means of delivering the gospel in the New Testament was public preaching and personal witnessing. These require personal contact. The gospel by nature is a message that requires confrontation and demands a response. Drama and dancing definitely fall short in this regard.

The next two practical reasons Edwards gave in opposition to drama and dance are closely related. He said they must be interpreted and that they are not the most effective means of communication. Again, I would have to agree with his conclusions. Dance and drama always are open to individual interpretation. If we want people to get the correct or intended meaning, we have to explain it to them. If we have to explain it to them then why not simply preach the truth the way the Scriptures command?

Edwards’ sixth practical reason for not allowing dance and drama in worship is that they are nothing more than an escape from reality. This is closely related to the idea they are entertainment. Unfortunately, the majority of people today use entertainment as an escape. We in America call it vegetating. This is the last thing we want people today when they come to worship! True worship is focusing on God and responding to Him. You cannot do that while vegetating!

Edwards’ final practical reason against dance and drama in worship was they are open to sensual responses. I must admit this reason speaks loud and clear to me. I come to church to worship God not to experience sexual temptation. Unfortunately, the way some women dress today makes that difficult. Having young ladies dancing around in leotards would make it a hundred times more difficult! No thank you!

The practical reasons against dance and drama in worship and evangelism are powerful. Coupled with the historical and Biblical arguments they slam the door shut on the use of dance and drama in the church’s worship and evangelism. Edwards also does a fair job of exposing the danger of dance and drama from a personal perspective. He says these activities are not wrong per se but they have the easy potential for misuse. My experience and observation would lead me to agree completely!

Edwards ends Shall We Dance by declaring that preaching is the best way to do worship and evangelism in the contemporary church. He proves his point both historically and scripturally. The early church, the reformers, the Puritans, and the evangelicals all believed that preaching was the best way to worship and evangelize. Early church preaching turned the world upside down. The preaching of the reformers led society and the church out of the dark ages. Evangelical preaching sparked revival on two continents. History clearly shows that God blesses and uses preaching.

The Scriptural arguments for biblical preaching in the New Testament are overwhelming. Edwards does a fair job of presenting them. Matthew 28:19-20 would be enough evidence for preaching by itself. Each gospel has similar exhortations. In addition, the book of Acts is the historical account of the early church preaching the gospel publicly and privately. Acts contains thirty-six references to preaching and it is filled with sermons and testimonies. Also, the epistles are filled with exhortations to preach and witness. My favorite exhortation is in 2 Tim. 4:2, “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.”

In short, Shall We Dance is an important book that every preacher and worship leader should read. Amazingly, I found little in this book to disagree with! It does an excellent job of explaining why preaching should be central to our practice of worship and evangelism. I would heartily recommend reading the last two chapters of this book on a regular basis. They provide tremendous encouragement and motivation for those who are committed to preaching the Word!

Power Encounters: A Book Review

2010-09-21T07:52:00.002-05:00

Those who practice biblical counseling know David Powlison well. He is eminently qualified to write a book on spiritual warfare because he has a reputation for sound hermeneutics, exegesis and application. Powlison’s books on various aspects of biblical counseling exhibit his belief in the sufficiency of Scripture for every aspect of the Christian life. Power Encounters is no different.

Power Encounters is a book that seeks to correct many of the modern church’s errors in the realm of spiritual warfare. It definitely accomplishes its purpose. David Powlison has thoroughly and graciously exposed and corrected the unsound hermeneutics that is the foundation of most contemporary teaching on spiritual warfare. Unfortunately, the shelves at Christian bookstores are full of this flawed and even dangerous teaching. It is too bad Powlison’s book is out of print, because it is one of the few available on the subject that is theologically, hermeneutically and practically sound.

In the first chapter of Power Encounters, Powlison explains the necessity of reclaiming spiritual warfare from well-meaning Christians who have strayed from the truth. Powlison sets the groundwork for a careful, scriptural evaluation of this movement and promises a more biblical view.

The second chapter compares the contemporary deliverance movement, which Powlison labels EMM, an acronym for “ekballistic” mode of ministry, with the classical mode of spiritual warfare. “Ekballistic” is a term Powlison created from the Greek word ĕkballō, which means to “cast out.” EMM practitioners base their methodology on the idea that demons, like lust, rage and rebellion dwell in the human heart and that they can get rid of them. In contrast, Powlison explains that the classic mode of spiritual warfare depends upon provisions such as God’s protection, his word, prayer, repentance and obedience for deliverance.

Chapters three through eight of Power Encounter comprise a section where Powlison examines what the Bible actually teaches about spiritual warfare. He looks closely at key passages in the Old Testament, the Synoptic Gospels, Acts and the Epistles. Powlison employs sound hermeneutical principles to unpack the biblical truth. He demonstrates that the fundamental mistake EMM advocates make is resorting to proof texting rather than interpreting Scripture in its context. Also, rather than letting the text speak for itself, they read their own theological conclusions into the text.

Chapter nine takes the biblical principles that Powlison uncovered in preceding chapters and skillfully applies them to eight specific questions concerning EMM. Then in the final chapter, Powlison illustrates the classical mode of spiritual warfare through two case studies. In both cases, EMM failed, but when the individuals faithfully practiced classic mode spiritual warfare, they grew in grace and began to experience real victory for the first time in their Christian lives.

Powlison does a masterful job of exposing the serious flaws in the contemporary deliverance movement in Power Encounters. Yet his manner is gracious and his tone irenic and non-combative. Clearly, his aim is to humbly expose and correct error, while at the same time edifying the body of Christ. It is obvious that Powlison does not view those immersed in the contemporary deliverance ministry as foes, but as erring brothers whom he loves and shares a common goal. Both seek to deliver God’s people from the enemy, but Powlison’s way is biblical.

The brief rundown Powlison provides describing the history, players and strengths of the contemporary deliverance movement in chapter two is helpful. One would be wise to consider how the different players’ theological systems influence their variation of EMM. Sadly, but all too typical, one of the key influences in the contemporary deliverance movement is actually a novelist and not a theologian. Novelist Frank Peretti has wrongly influenced countless Christians’ views on spiritual warfare over the last twenty-plus years.

Unfortunately, poor hermeneutics, as evidenced in EMM and Peretti’s novels, is epidemic in the contemporary church. In twenty-two years of ministry, I have read a shelf full of books on spiritual warfare from numerous theological perspectives, and all were essentially based on EMM. Without exception, those books failed to remain true to the Scriptures and propagated ideas and practices that were inherently unbiblical. In every case, I could trace these unbiblical ideas and practices to the fact that the books’ authors were not doing proper hermeneutics, which led to their espousing bad theology and practice.

In contrast, Powlison bases his scriptural arguments in Power Encounters on sound principles of biblical interpretation and exegesis. He looks at relevant passages in both the Old and New Testaments, and does a thorough but succinct job of unpacking them. His conclusions are well stated, and supportive of his proposition that classical spiritual warfare is indeed the biblical mode of warfare. In fact, after reading Powlison’s scriptural arguments, one cannot help but conclude that EMM’s problems are fundamentally a matter of bad hermeneutics, which have resulted in unscriptural theology and practice.

Powlison’s hermeneutical skills are especially evident on page 128 where he unpacks two EMM, proof texts, Eph. 4:27 and 1 Cor. 10:4. He rightly interprets Eph. 4:27 when he states that this verse is not about the devil gaining a foothold in the life of an individual, but about him gaining the opportunity to bring division in the body of Christ through unresolved anger. And then in unpacking 1 Cor. 10:4 in its context, Powlison correctly points out that this text is not about strongholds in the life of an individual, but about the stronghold of false teaching in the Corinthian church. False teaching which the apostle Paul was seeking to destroy with the truth of the gospel. I cannot begin to count number of sermons, Bible studies, books, commentaries and prayers I have observed where these two Scriptures have been misinterpreted and misused. Powlison’s careful hermeneutics are refreshing indeed.

One of the critical theological points that Powlison makes is in chapter five, where he examines Jesus’ ministry in the Synoptic Gospels. In this examination, he unpacks the difference between situational evil and moral evil. He explains that situational evil includes aspects of life like suffering, hardship, death and demonization. These aspects are situational because they are the result of external circumstances. In contrast, moral evil is due to the wickedness that resides in the human heart. Powlison demonstrates that Jesus dealt with the situational evil of demonization by casting out the demons, but he dealt with moral evil by calling people to repentance and faith in himself as Messiah and Lord. This point is critical because it destroys the primary scriptural and theological basis which EMM adherents claim for their practice of spiritual warfare.

In addition to dealing with hermeneutical and theological issues, Power Encounters makes a couple of important points about EMM that we dare not miss in chapter nine. A significant point that grabbed my attention was that Christians who have turned to psychology and those who have turned to EMM have much in common. Each has turned away from the classic spiritual warfare and embraced a system that cannot help them. Psychology redefines sin and EMM blames it on evil spirits. Both of these enable one to avoid responsibility for sin. Therefore, there is no confession or repentance, just continuing bondage to sin and ignorance concerning the sufficiency of Scripture to deliver and heal.

Another critical point that Powlison makes in chapter 9 is in response to a question; If EMM is unbiblical, then why have some experienced success with it? Powlison’s short answer is the grace of God. His long answer is that God will honor that in EMM which is true, and will grant grace and deliverance to someone who has a truly repentant heart. I know this to be true from my own experience. Many years ago, under the influence and direction of EMM books, I sought deliverance from a particular besetting sin. The Lord in his mercy delivered me, even though I was theologically confused and misinformed.

Powlison’s Power Encounters is a book with which I am highly impressed and will recommend without reservation. Frankly, it is the best the book I have ever read on the topic of spiritual warfare. Every pastor and biblical counselor should read it. I wish I had read the book in 1995 when it first came out. Reading it would have saved me from learning many of its truths the hard way. My hope is Power Encounters will soon be reprinted so many others in the body of Christ will have the opportunity to be edified by it.

Why I Don't Believe in a Pretrib Rapture of the Church & Why I'm not a Dispensationalist

2008-11-13T14:38:00.004-06:00

Many Christians today adhere to what I call “popular eschatology” (eschatology is the study of last things). Too many Christians have embraced this particular system of belief without thoroughly examining the Scriptures. The popular slant on the study of last things in America is based on a theological system called dispensationalism. A whole series of very successful fiction books called the Left Behind Series were based on this theological system.

There was a time in my life when I also believed the “popular eschatology.” Early in my Christian walk I was indoctrinated with the dispensational system of interpretation. In fact, most evangelical Christians and particularly Baptists are taught this system. I assumed dispensationalism was true because sincere and godly people taught it to me. I was not aware other interpretations existed. But as I began to study the Scriptures for myself I became extremely uncomfortable with the “popular eschatology.” It became evident to me that I would have to twist Scripture and make assumptions based upon arguments from silence to reach the same conclusions as the dispensationalists. I simply was not willing to do that. It was a very uncomfortable time for me. It’s always uncomfortable to discover that something you have sincerely believed is in error.

What are the origins of dispensationalism? In short, the Dispensational system of thought was first developed by a man named John Nelson Darby in the early 1800’s. Darby was associated with a small group known as the Plymouth Brethren, but his views eventually reached a much broader audience through the notes that C. I. Scofield included in The Scofield Reference Bible which was first published in 1909. The Scofield Reference Bible was one of the first Bibles to combine text and commentary into one volume. The Scofield Bible became very popular within Fundamentalist’s circles and its interpretation of last things was widely adopted. Dispensationalism was then taught in conservative colleges and schools where many preachers were trained. These preachers then taught it to their congregations.

Dispensationalism is system that divides world history into a series of periods that will culminate with the 1,000 year reign of Christ on the earth. Dispensationalists are premillenialists because they argue that conditions on earth will worsen until Christ’s return. They believe that prophecy is actually history that is written in advance so that the prophetic passages in the Bible are like a script that will be played out in the end times. They also believe that no single book of the bible contains the entire script and that verses from various parts of the Bible must be joined together like pieces of a puzzle so that people can see the whole picture.

I agree that conditions on earth will worsen until Christ’s return. I also agree that prophecy is often history written in advance. I disagree that the prophetic passages in the Bible are like a script to be played in the end times. I also disagree with the jigsaw puzzle method of interpretation. Every prophetic passage in the Bible had relevance for its original recipients. For example, the prophetic New Testament book of Revelation was written primarily to 1st and 2nd century believers in Asia. It’s apparent from reading the letters to those seven Asian churches that the prophecy’s purpose was to warn the sinning and the compromising to repent and to encourage the suffering and the persecuted to persevere. John wanted these suffering Christians to be assured that God is sovereign over the earth and in control of its history and future. God has a definite plan to defeat and dethrone the evil powers that presently rule this world. He will bring His plan to pass. God will judge the wicked and reward the righteous!

The dispensationalist approach to the book of Revelation leaves the book without any significance or relevance for the believers to whom it was originally addressed. Not only that, but dispensationalism gives false hope to Christians by promising that before things get too terrible the rapture will occur. Listen, no one in the church before 1830 and John Nelson Darby believed in a pretrib rapture of the church. I despise this teaching for two reasons. First, it totally contradicts the teaching of Scripture. Please closely examine Matthew 24:26-31, Mark 13:24-27,1 Thess. 4:13-5:13 and 2 Thess. 1:1-2:12. Second, by believing this dangerous teaching many Christians will be unprepared for the conflict and suffering that’s surely ahead. What did Jesus say on the night before he went to the cross? John 15:18-21 (NASB95) 18 "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 20 "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.

I recognize that in America the idea Christians will suffer is not popular, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s true. In 2 Timothy 4:3 (NASB95) the Scripture says, For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires. The teachings of dispensationalism and the pretrib rapture of the church are very comforting and ear tickling, but I don't believe they are biblical! Don’t take my word for it. Study God’s Word for yourself and pray that the Spirit will teach you. Please let Scripture speak for itself rather than laying a theological system like dispensationalism on the text!

In closing, I want to say that in spite of my passionate dislike for dispensationalism I do love my dispensationalist brethren. I hope they will love me back and consider my appeal to let the Scriptures speak for themselves in their literary and historical contexts.

Honoring God and the Gospel

2008-01-28T08:50:00.000-06:00

In my message yesterday from 1 Timothy 6:1-2 I preached that our attitudes and actions ought to be motivated by a desire to honor God's name and gain a hearing for the gospel, even if it means suffering some injustice or mistreatment. After all, isn't that the example our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, set for us? I encourage you to read and meditate on 1 Peter 2:18-25 if you’re unsure. You'll discover that every Christian has been called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Now it's true that in 1 Timothy 6:1-2 the apostle Paul is talking directly to 1st century Christian slaves. In verse 1 Paul says, (NASB95) All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against. Paul is clearly saying that these Christian slaves' actions and attitudes should always reflect positively on God and the gospel. Therefore they should never intentionally give their masters reason to speak evil of God or the gospel. Does this instruction apply only to 1st century Christian slaves or does it apply to all Christians at all times? It's my conviction the latter is true. In fact, 1 Peter 2:12 agrees saying essentially the same thing, (NASB95) Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

So beloved, are your actions and attitudes bringing honor to God and gaining a hearing for the gospel? What's your impact at your workplace, your neighborhood and in your home? Have you given anyone a legitimate reason to speak evil of God or the gospel? People are watching you! Like it or not they will judge the God you worship and the gospel you claim to believe by your attitudes and actions.

I'm grieved to say that I have failed many times in this area. Too often I have acted like the old humanity descended from Adam rather than a new creature in Christ. Each time the Holy Spirit has convicted me of my sin and selfishness. Often it took the equivalent of a spiritual 2x4 to gain my attention. I praise God for His patience with me!

When the Holy Spirit convicts me, I have learned to respond by; confessing my sin, seeking my Heavenly Father's forgiveness and asking for the desire and power to change. Then I attempt to be intentional about changing, knowing that I must rely completely on the Spirit's empowering presence in my life for victory. I know cannot change on my own. Past failures have etched this truth in my mind! But I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! So can you! Will you cooperate and submit to the Holy Spirit so that your actions and attitudes always bring glory to God and make the gospel attractive. That's my prayer for you and I today.

In God's love and for His glory,

Pastor Rick

Unity

2006-05-23T07:11:00.000-05:00

Ephes. 4:1-6 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, [3] being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

In the late 1800’s there were two deacons in a small Baptist church in Mayfield, KY. These two deacons didn’t get along and they always opposed each other in any decision related to the church. On one particular Sunday, one deacon put up a small wooden peg in the back wall so the preacher could hang up his hat. When the other deacon discovered the peg, he was outraged that he had not been consulted. People in the church took sides and eventually there was a spilt. To this day, they say you can still find the Anti-Peg Baptist Church in Mayfield, KY.

One of the worst things that can happen in a church is when God’s people begin to fight instead of working together. Yet it happens all the time. History is full of sad stories about Christians fighting among themselves. Let me share one that I recently read.

Tradition claims that Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher is built over the cave in which Christ is said to have been buried. In July 2002, the church became the scene of ugly fighting between the monks who run it. The conflict began when a Coptic monk sitting on the rooftop decided to move his chair into the shade. This took him into the part of the rooftop courtyard looked after by the Ethiopian monks.

It turns out that the Ethiopian and Coptic monks have been arguing over the rooftop of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher for centuries. In 1752 the Ottoman Sultan issued an edict declaring which parts of the Church belong to each of six Christian groups: the Latins, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox, Copts, and Ethiopians. Despite the edict, conflict over the church remains.

The rooftop had been controlled by the Ethiopians, but they lost control to the Copts when hit by a disease epidemic in the 19th century. Then in 1970 the Ethiopians regained control when the Coptic monks were absent for a short period. They have been squatting there ever since, with at least one Ethiopian monk always remaining on the roof to assert their rights. In response a Coptic monk has been living on the roof also, to maintain the claim of the Copts.

This brings us to a Monday in July 2002, when the Coptic monk moved his chair into the shade. Harsh words led to pushes, then shoves, until an all out brawl ensued, including the throwing of chairs and iron bars. At the end of the fight 11 monks were injured, including one monk unconscious in hospital and another with a broken arm.

How tragic that a church which serves as a memorial to Christ is the scene for such bitter conflict among those who claim to be his followers. This is a far cry from Christ’s call to love one another, turn the other cheek, and his prayer that his followers might "be one".

When the church is divided it always produces tragic results. On the other hand, when the church is unified it unleashes a power that cannot be stopped. In the book of Ephesians, more than any of Paul’s letters, he calls the church to unity. Paul mentions the unity of the church 18 times in this letter. You see, unity is essential in the church because it brings glory to God and it reflects one of God’s key attributes. Moments before he went to the cross, Jesus prayed for the church that would be established after his death and resurrection. He didn’t pray for large buildings or church growth. He asked for only one thing: “I pray that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” If we’re going to be the kind of people God intends, then we need to be unified.

2006-05-22T06:24:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.

This verse doesn't teach that we should seek popularity for its own sake. In fact, popularity can disappear just as quickly as wealth. Neither does it counsel us to continuously wonder what other people think of us or labor to get them to like us. Popularity can be a stumbling block in fulfilling God’s will. Note Paul’s words in Galatians 1:10. For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

Today’s verse means we should live consistent lives that are above reproach. This applies particularly to money; we must be seen to be honest in the way we acquire it and wise in the way we use it. As Christians we bear Christ's name and his reputation is linked with ours. People are prone to judge our Lord by us.

May God grant us the grace and the wisdom to seek a good name over riches. Having a good name and reputation because of good character is to be valued far above having much wealth. Riches are useless if in gaining them one ruins his character.

2006-05-20T06:25:00.000-05:00

James 1:19-27 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; [20] for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. [21] Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. [22] But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. [23] For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. [24] For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. [25] But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. [26] If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. [27] Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

I believe James’s teaching in this passage needs to be proclaimed in every church in America. God is not fooled by people who come to church, listen to the Word of God proclaimed, and yet never act on what they hear. God is not fooled by people who claim to believe His Word when in fact their lives remain unchanged.

Do you know that 60 percent of Americans claim to be “born again” believers? Listen, if this were actually true America would be a different country. The sexual immorality, materialism and selfishness that presently pervade this nation would be greatly diminished. Our politicians and judges would not get away with calling good evil and calling evil good. Over 50 percent of all marriages would not end in divorce. If 60 percent of Americans were truly Doers of the Word righteousness would prevail in America and spill over into uttermost parts of the earth. As it stands today, America’s greatest export is filth and wickedness.

What about you this morning? Are you a Doer of the Word or merely a hearer who has deluded yourself? Are you a person who claims to be believer, but yet your life remains unchanged? Is your faith dead or alive? Folks this is so important! Listen, church goers do not inherit eternal life. Hearers of the Word only do not inherit eternal life. So called believers with dead faith do not inherit eternal life. Only Doers of the Word inherit eternal life! That’s why I am sharing this message. I want each and every one of you to inherit eternal life. My Heavenly Father desires that none should perish but that all should come to the knowledge of the truth! Please hear and respond to His Word this morning.

Now I want you to understand that James is not saying and I am not saying that you earn salvation by doing. Salvation comes to us through faith in Jesus Christ. If you have faith in Jesus Christ you will become a “Doer of the Word.” Saving faith changes your life! Dead faith leaves you just as you are!

Christian, are you a Doer of the Word or a forgetful Hearer? Do you cooperate with the Holy Spirit in continually stripping off the old humanity? Are you humbly receiving and submitting to the Word. Is it your “how to guide for life?” Or are you conveniently picking and choosing what you’ll obey and what you’ll ignore. To do so is the height of pride. As James will say later “God gives grace to the humble but He resists the proud.” Do you feel like God is resisting you? Maybe you need to examine your life more closely this morning. If God is resisting you it’s due to the fact you have been to proud to do things His way. Are you abiding in the Word? Is your life marked by self-control, acts of service to meet the needs of others and holiness? Are you a Doer of the Word? Don’t be deceived! Only Doers of the Word inherit eternal life because their faith is genuine!

Folks let me clear up any confusion you might have. We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ and not by works. But if we are truly saved then we shall be Doers of the Word! If you are a Hearer only and not a Doer your lost! If you claim to be believer and there is no fruit or “works” to use James’s words, to verify or prove genuine your faith then you’re lost! So I ask again; are you a Doer of the Word? If not, then the first step in becoming a Doer of the Word is believing in the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. Will you turn away from your sin and believe in Jesus Christ? Will you become a Doer of the Word?

2006-05-19T06:44:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 20:9
Who can say, "I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin"?

This proverb is put in the form of a question: "who can say?" Of course the answer is “no one”. This proverb proclaims the universal sinfulness of the human heart. This sad reality is confirmed in other Scriptures such as Romans 3:10 which says, “There is none righteous, not even one.”

You’ll notice the proverb is in the first person singular because each of us individually has to realize and acknowledge our sinfulness. Many struggle with the concept of total depravity in our politically correct and theologically inept society. But total depravity alone explains why behave as we do. There is no other explanation. Those who are bewildered by humanity’s deceitfulness, selfishness and violence have never faced up to this horrifying truth.

The bad news is “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The good news is, “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-26)

Do you want to have a cleansed heart? Keep looking to Jesus!

Don't Blame God

2006-05-17T21:51:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 19:3 NLT People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.

This truth of this verse has been confirmed often in my ministry. I have known many people who have chosen to live as if God did not exist or like He is irrelevant. They foolishly chose to ignore God’s revelation and they rejected the wisdom of His Word. Eventually they reaped the results of their rebellion and folly; a ruined life.

Some of those shattered souls cried out to the Lord for forgiveness, accepting responsibility for their sinful and foolish rebellion. In His mercy and grace, the Lord forgave them and slowly rebuilt their ruined lives. But far too many became angry and bitter at God. Instead of asking for forgiveness and repenting of their folly, they angrily cursed Him. They blamed God and anyone else within pointing range for the destruction caused by their own foolish choices. Their bitterness separated them from the only One who could repair their broken lives.

Is your life a mess? Don’t give into the temptation to angrily blame God for your foolish choices. Instead, confess your folly and seek His forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

2006-05-17T20:07:00.000-05:00

Col. 2:16-23 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. [17] These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. [18] Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, [19] and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. [20] If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— [21] "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" [22] (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? [23] These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Some time ago, I was watching the TV game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire. One of the questions was how did God first appear to Moses. The man correctly answered in a burning bush. The shows host responded, “That’s right yes He did.” Then she said, “Actually we don’t know if God is a man or a woman.” Her remark is representative of the religious confusion in our country. Most people in this nation have no idea who God is or what He requires of them. I refer to God as He because this is how the Bible refers to Him. It is true that God is not a man. The Bible says God is spirit. John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

I told you this story because it exemplifies what is happening in our nation. Unfortunately it also exemplifies what is taking place in the church. Many people are being led away from faith in Christ by false religious teachings and philosophies. These false teachings and philosophies are not new. The church has had to deal with them from its beginning. In fact, every book in the New Testament except Philemon mentions the dangers of false teaching. In Christ’s letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation He warned and rebuked the churches in Pergamum and Thyatira because they had allowed themselves to be influenced by false teachers. I wonder what Christ would write to the church in America today. I am sure He would also rebuke and warn us!

Man is a very religious creature. He is going to worship something even if it means worshiping himself. Because of man’s religious nature and his sinfulness many religions have been developed. Unfortunately these religions serve as religious substitutes for the true faith in Christ. Many of these substitutes are very deceptive because they use Christian terminology. We must not let this fool us. False religion will always provide some other way to God than Jesus Christ. My goal in sharing this devotion is to help you recognize and avoid these religious substitutes. This morning’s text describes three specific religious substitutes for faith in Jesus Christ. They are legalism, mysticism, and asceticism. Every false religion or philosophy is based upon one or a combination of these religious substitutes. Dear People of God, beware of any so-called religious substitutes for Christ!

Partnership for the Gospel

2006-05-16T07:58:00.000-05:00

Philip. 1:3-5 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, [4] always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, [5] because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

This morning's devotion will focus on Greek word koinonia from Philippians 1:5. In the NIV, RSV, NAB and HCSB this word is translated partnership. In some other versions such as the KJV, ASV and NKJV the word is translated fellowship. In the NASB and NET, koinonia is translated participation. In the NRSV the word has been translated sharing. In the NLT the word has been translated as partners spreading. My point in sharing with you how all the different English versions translate this word is to show the difficulty in translation. This is why it's important that you look at several English translations when studying the Bible. When several translations disagree then it means the word or phrase likely has several different meanings. This is the case with the word koinonia. In fact, koinonia has even more meanings than reflected in this text. It can also refer to an offering or collection. This is this word from which we get our word coin

I believe the best translation of koinonia is partnership because it best fits the context of the letter. Paul and Philippian church were fellow participants for the advancement of the gospel. In other words, they were in partnership. Their partnership was marked by an intimate relationship with one another. It was based upon mutual love, respect and the common goal of advancing the gospel.

Why am I talking about partnership this morning? Our LVCC family has been granted the incredible privilege and opportunity to enter into a partnership with some dear friends for the advancement of the gospel in Central Asia. I pray that each of you will answer God's invitation to participate by praying, giving and going!

Love your Enemies

2006-05-15T07:17:00.000-05:00

Matthew 5:43-48 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' [44] But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? [47] And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? [48] You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I grew up in the 60's and 70's. These tumultuous years were marked by the cold war with the former Soviet Union. In grade school we used to have drills in preparation for a nuclear attack by the Soviets. I hated the Soviets because I believed they wanted to destroy our country. This hatred and animosity intensified when I joined the Air Force. All Air Force personnel were shown films about our enemy’s intentions and efforts to destroy our way of life. I took that threat very personally and seriously. I viewed the Soviet Union as an evil empire and a godless people.

This past week I did something that I never thought possible. I spent a week in a Russia and I worshipped God there. I worshipped God in the land of my former enemies and the hatred in my heart has been transformed to love. What an amazing glorious God we serve! He changes the hearts of people and makes former enemies brothers and sisters in Christ.

Dear people of God love your enemies and overcome evil with good. When we respond this way we are imitating our Heavenly Father. "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

2006-05-05T07:12:00.000-05:00

1 Tim. 5:1-2 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father. Treat younger men like brothers, [2] older women like mothers, younger women like sisters, in all purity.

In First Timothy chapter 5, verses 1 and 2, the apostle Paul advises Timothy on how to relate effectively to individuals who make up various groups in the church. Paul’s advice was that Timothy handle people in various age groups as he would members of his own family. Once again, we see that the home is the training ground for relationships and ministry in the church and the world.

It is so important that we learn how to develop and maintain healthy relationships in our homes. If we fail to learn these lessons at home, it will greatly diminish our ability to relate properly to others. This is why we who are parents must faithfully teach our children these skills if we want them to succeed and prosper in life. I have seen very gifted and talented people fail to reach their potential because they could not get along with others.

This morning I would like to recommend an excellent resource that will help you in developing and maintaining healthy relationships in your families. It's entitled Peace Making for Families by Ken Sande. The book is primarily a Biblical guide for handling family conflict. More than that, it will teach you how to relate to your family in ways that are Spirit led and glorifying to God.

Healthy families are the foundation of a healthy church and they bring God glory. I'm praying for your families (LVCC). May God be glorified in your homes through healthy relationships!

Praise

2006-05-03T21:39:00.000-05:00

Psalm 34:1-3
I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
[2] My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
[3] Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

Dear people of God, how different our lives would be if we would follow David's example in Psalm 34:1-3! So often our focus is on ourselves and our circumstances. Sadly, our natural nearsightedness keeps us from recognizing and acknowledging the incomprehensible goodness and greatness of our LORD.

What would happen if we deliberately chose to praise Him in every circumstance whether good or bad? If we truly believe in God's Sovereignty this should be an easy choice to make! Furthermore, if we believe that God is good and loving then we should be able to praise Him at all times! His praise should always be on our lips!

Romans 8:28 says: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Everything that happens in our lives passes through the hands of our Lord and He is working it out for our good and His glory. We may not enjoy or even understand what's happening in our lives, but we can always praise God because we know it's for our good! Folks don't listen to your feelings! Trust in God’s Word and give Him praise! It will change your outlook on life. I guarantee it.

I know someone who is enduring terminal cancer who would testify to the truth of these words. I know another who needs a heart transplant who would shout “Sure enough!” I know a third person who is facing Alzheimer’s who would also agree. Most of you know the folks I’m talking about. They are praising God in the midst of great adversity. His praise is always on their lips. Many lives are being touched by their faithful endurance as they rely on God’s enabling grace. I have personally heard each of them boast in the Lord in the midst of their suffering.

Father, I thank you for these three and their testimonies. Please continue to sustain them with your grace! Please continue to fill their mouths with your praise. Your power is perfected in weakness and your grace is sufficient for every circumstance. Help the rest of us to learn from their examples. Amen.

2006-05-03T07:47:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. [6] In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Each day we are required to make many decisions. Hopefully, our desire is to make decisions that are pleasing to God and fulfill His will and purpose for our lives. How do we go about making wise decisions? Over the years I have leaned on the wisdom packed into these two short verses.

The first key to making wise decisions is to trust God completely. He delights in giving us guidance and direction. He wants us know to know His will and purpose more than we desire to know them. Bit if we fail to trust God, for whatever reason, we will not be blessed with His guidance. Remember, He reserves His wisdom and guidance for those who seek Him. If we truly trust God, we will ask Him for wisdom, wait for his answer and refuse to develop an alternate plan.

This leads to the second key for making wise decisions. Do not lean on your own understanding! I cannot emphasize this point enough. God is omniscient and we are not. In other words, He knows everything and we know very little. So does it make sense to depend on our own limited understanding when we know the One who knows everything? Folks, leaning on our minute understanding is what gets us into trouble! Think of the number foolish decisions you have made because you chose to depend on your own wisdom rather than God’s. Ouch!!

The third key to making wise decisions is to acknowledge God in all your ways. Another way of communication this would be to say, “be so intimate with God that you talk to Him about even the smallest details of your life and then submit to His will.” No detail of you life is too small for God’s concern!

If you’ll apply these three keys, then you can count on the promise contained in these verses: He will make your paths straight. God will remove the obstacles, make a smooth path and bring us to the appointed destination. I like what Eric Lane says about this promise:

Most people would give a lot to be sure of this. For us creatures of time the future is at once a reality and an uncertainty. We know there is a future but we don't know what it holds. God offers us a future in which we can see our way ahead clearly, like a straight road with no obstacles to hinder us (cf. v.23, 4:11f). This may sound too good to be true — like an offer of infallible foresight combined with a cosmic bulldozer to cut out all the corners and flatten all the bumps. This is not what it means or even says, for it is he (God) who makes our path straight. A path is only a way to a destination. Our destination is sure — final glory, to which we are predestined’ (Rom. 8:29). It is what happens on the way that is uncertain. The bus to London has its destination on the front, but what sort of journey will it be?

A journey is marked by many decisions along the way. I urge to trust God for the wisdom to make each one!

2006-05-02T08:16:00.000-05:00

1 Tim. 3:5 For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?

This verse is from a passage that details the standards for elders in God’s church. I review it often because it reminds me not to neglect my responsibilities at home. It doesn’t matter how well I take care of God’s church if I fail to manage my own household. Failure at home disqualifies me from shepherding God’s people. This makes perfect sense! If I cannot love, serve and nurture the three people who live with me, how I am going to minister to God’s people? All ministry begins at home and our homes are the training ground for ministry. This is God’s design.

Folks, this principle is not just for elders but every Christian. Our effectiveness in ministering to others will be largely determined by our faithfulness at home. If we fail to love our husbands, wives and children, can we really love those outside our families? If we neglect the development of healthy relationships at home isn’t it foolish to assume that we will be able to do so with other people? If we neglect to nurture and disciple our families do we have the credibility to teach others?

I recognize that learning to manage our homes is a life long process. None of us have it all together. But are we cooperating with the Holy Spirit? Are we becoming “Doers of the Word” and not “Hearers only?”

Before any of us contemplate becoming involved in ministry to others we need to ask ourselves this all important question: Am I managing my responsibilities at home in such a way that God is glorified and my family is edified? I challenge you to ask you spouse and children that same question. Most importantly, ask your Lord.

16 years ago, I resigned from the pastorate to care for my wife Melinda who was seriously ill. I resigned because of 1 Timothy 3:5. I found it impossible to properly care for her needs, raise my son and meet the demands of shepherding a church. I continued to serve God’s people, but in less demanding ways. I thank God I made that decision and I’m certain I was in the center of His perfect will.

After Melinda passed away, the Lord reopened the doors to the pastorate. The church that called me did so not because of my education or abilities but because of my faithfulness at home. I give God all the credit for my testimony. I would not have been faithful apart from His enabling grace. I was tempted to give up many times but I thank God His power was perfected in my weakness.

The Lord knows that I am not trying to discourage any of you from ministering to others! There’s so much ministry that needs to be done! But the Bible teaches that ministry begins at home. Be faithful at home and God will expand your ministry in His time.

Traveling Mercies

2006-05-01T07:05:00.000-05:00

Psalm 121:1-8
A Song of Ascents.

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
[2] My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
[3] He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
[4] Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
[5] The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
[6] The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
[7] The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
[8] The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

As many of you know, I’m about to take a long trip. For the first time in my life I’m going to leave the borders of North America. I’m going to a country that was once our country’s greatest adversary. My purpose for going is my Dad’s business. He has people there He wants to invite into our family.

I would be dishonest if I didn’t admit that every once in a while I feel some apprehension. For example, I don’t particularly like to fly. This trip requires that I spend almost two entire days on an airplane. My prayer life always radically improves when I fly!

I found great comfort and assurance in this morning’s Psalms. As is my habit on the first day of the month, I read Psalm 1,31,61,91 and 121. The last four Psalms happen to major on the theme of God’s protection. I found verse 8 of Psalm 121 particularly comforting. “The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”

This verse goes beyond guaranteeing traveling mercies. Someday it will be time for me to make the journey from this world to the next. In fact, that day is already on God’s calendar. This verse promises that the He will see to it that I safely reach my destination!

What Does the Bible Say about Homosexuality?

2006-04-28T21:02:00.000-05:00

The Bible has much to say about homosexuality and its utter sinfulness. Before discussing the passages directly related to homosexuality there are two foundational truths that need to be unpacked. First of all, according to Genesis 1:27 gender is a gift from God. God made human beings both male and female. He made them to be sexually compatible. Our sexuality is a gift from God. Secondly, God founded the institution of marriage in Genesis 2:24-25. These verses teach that marriage between a man and a woman is God’s design. Any relationship that seeks to alter this design is rebellious and sinful. Furthermore, God designed sex to be enjoyed only in a marriage relationship. Therefore any sexual relationship outside the bonds of marriage is sinful, including homosexuality.

The first recorded instance of homosexuality in the Bible is in Genesis 19. This passage describes God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. It should be stated up-front that the people of Sodom were guilty of other sins besides homosexuality. This doesn’t alter the fact their homosexual behavior was debauched and immoral, and worthy of God’s judgment.

In answer to Abraham’s prayer in Genesis 18, God sent to angels to rescue Lot and his family from the coming judgment. The angels came into the city and Lot invited them into his home. In Genesis 19:5 the men of the city demand that Lot turn over his guests so that they could have sex with them. Lot responded by offering his virgin daughters to these perverts. They in turn threatened to rape Lot. Then the angels intervened by blinding the perverts. Amazingly, they continued to look for the door to get in Lot’s home. God destroyed the cities the next morning.

God’s anger at Sodom and Gomorrah’s sin of homosexuality is obvious. The biblical revisionists would disagree. They base their arguments on Ezekiel 16:46-59. Revisionists use this text to say that Sodom’s real sin was neglecting the poor. Other revisionists say the issue was pride. They claim that the crowd was not demanding sex but wanting to know the divine presence. In essence, they wanted to rise above the divine in an act of pride. They base this argument on a faulty interpretation of the Hebrew word yada. Yada does mean to know but it is also a word that is used to describe sexual intimacy. Five out of the ten times this word is used in Genesis it is used to describe a sexual relationship. For example, in Genesis 4:1, the Bible says Adam knew Eve and she became pregnant. The problem with these arguments is they are based on a false dichotomy. Sodom was guilty of all these sins not either or!

The revisionists also conveniently ignore the context of the Ezekiel passage. In verse 43, Ezekiel uses the term lewdness, which is the Hebrew word zimma. This word is used in another passage that clearly forbids homosexuality, Leviticus 18:22. In this passage zimma is translated abomination and refers to deliberate sexual sin.

Jude 7 also teaches that sexual immorality was a major reason for the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah. This passage says they went after strange flesh and indulged in gross immorality. The revisionists respond by claiming the cities were judged for rape and not homosexuality. This doesn’t explain why God’s judgment fell on the entire area and not just the guilty. In addition, the text doesn’t teach that homosexual sex would have been okay if it was consensual.

Another revisionist argument is that Sodom and Gomorrah were guilty of breaking ancient hospitality codes. Some say it was the city that broke the code while others blame Lot. The first argument says the men just wanted to rough Lot’s guests up, not rape them. The second argument says that Lot failed to properly introduce his guests to the city leaders. When they came to Lot’s door, they just wanted a proper introduction. Again this argument is based on a misunderstanding of the Hebrew word yada. This word is clearly being used to describe a sexual relationship in this verse. If the men didn’t have sex on their mind, why did Lot offer them his virgin daughters? The revisionist view would also make God unjust and less than omniscient. If you believe the revisionists, God misunderstood what they men really wanted from Lot and mistakenly judged the city.

In addition to Genesis 19, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 clearly condemn and forbid homosexual behavior. In fact, one passage declares homosexuality a capital offense. The revisionists say that if we embrace these Scriptures then we must favor capital punishment for homosexuals. This is because they fail to understand the differences between the ceremonial, civil and moral law in the OT

Some revisionists claim these passages only condemn homosexuality in pagan worship. This argument won’t hold water because they fail to recognize the context of the passage. Other sinful behaviors like incest and child sacrifice are mentioned in the context. Would these acts be okay if they are not a part of pagan worship? Of course not.

Some Revisionists say this passage is concerned only with ritual purity and not right and wrong. This argument is based on an exegetical fallacy with the Hebrew word to’ebah. We must remember that a word’s meaning is determined by its context. When the revisionists try to limit to’ebah’s meaning to ritual impurity, they are conveniently ignoring the fact its meaning includes any behavior that is morally detestable.

Judges 19-20 is another passage that speaks to homosexuality in the OT. It has some interesting similarities with the Genesis 19 passage. A man who is a guest in another’s home becomes the object of some homosexuals’ wanton desires. They demanded that the man come out and satisfy their perverted lusts. He responded by tossing them his concubine. They raped her until morning and she died a short time later. In anger, the man cut his concubine in pieces and sent them to the tribes of Judah. The tribes of Israel confronted the tribe of Benjamin because the perverts were from this tribe. Benjamin refused to hand over the guilty party. The other tribes responded by nearly destroying Benjamin in a civil war. This all happened in a period when “every man did what was right in his own eyes.” Clearly the tribes of Israel viewed sexual perversion, including homosexuality, much differently than the revisionists.

The New Testament also has much to say about homosexuality. Romans 1:18-32, I Corinthians 6:9-11, and I Timothy 1:9-11 all address the issue. In Romans, Paul condemns moral chaos, pagan worship and radical autonomy. He specifically addresses male and female homosexuality and makes it quite clear this behavior is deserving of God’s wrath. The revisionists claim Paul is not taking about people they conveniently claim are “constitutionally” homosexuals. This simply means they were born homosexuals. Instead, they claim Paul was addressing people who are “constitutionally” heterosexual participating in homosexuality. The problem is the revisionists have no proof to back up their contention. No where in the Scriptures does it say God created people to be homosexual! Science hasn’t proven this contention either.

Other revisionists argue that Jesus never personally said homosexuality was wrong. Since Jesus is greater than Paul, he must be right and Paul is wrong. The problem with this logic is that Jesus never mentioned many things that are wrong. For instance, Jesus never expressly forbids beating our wives. Yet virtually no one would claim that beating our wives is acceptable behavior. In addition Jesus clearly recognized the inspiration and authority of the OT Scriptures. Furthermore, it’s a false dichotomy to say that we must choose between Paul and the Scriptures.

I Corinthian 6:9-11 is a vice list weighted with sexual sins. Paul uses two important words that revisionists dispute in this passage. The first word is malakoi and the second is arsenokoitai. Malakoi, meaning soft, refers to the passive partner in a homosexual relationship. Arsenokoitai is made up of two words, male and intercourse refers to the active partner in a homosexual relationship. Interestingly this word is a compound of two words found in the Septuagint passages of Leviticus 18:22, 20:13. Revisionists claim these words can have other meanings. This is true, but a word’s meaning is always determined by its context. Paul has already used the words in this list for sexual immorality among heterosexuals. If these words refer to heterosexual sin then Paul is being redundant. Furthermore, the fact these two words are coupled together strengthen the argument they refer to homosexual behavior.

The important truth we get from I Corinthian 6:9-11 is that homosexuals can be saved and transformed by the gospel! This is not a popular message in our politically correct society.

Our last New Testament passage is I Timothy 1:9-11. In this text the apostle Paul makes it clear that some lifestyle behaviors are ungodly, unholy and rebellious. He declares that these behaviors are in violation of God’s moral law. The Apostle includes homosexuality in this list.

In short, the Bible makes clear that homosexuality is sin and a violation of God’s design for sex and marriage. Furthermore, God takes sexual sin very seriously and He will judge it. Praise God that through His glorious gospel He can transform the homosexual just like he does the fornicator, adulterer, and sinners every ilk!

Righteous Lot?

2006-04-27T20:22:00.000-05:00

In my Bible reading this morning I read Genesis 19. The story of Lot captured my attention. In verse 16, the Bible says, “…the compassion of the Lord was upon him.” The “him” is referring to Lot. From all outward appearances, Lot was not a man who deserved the Lord’s compassion. In fact, Lot’s ungodly choices, worldliness, and greed put him on a collision course with God’s judgment. In spite of this, God chose to save Lot and his family from His planned destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. To do so, God’s angels had to practically drag Lot out of the city. When the angel told Lot to run to the mountains he said “No” and then he begged to go to Zoar. At the end of the chapter, Lot becomes involved in an incestuous relationship with his daughters. Why in the world would God want to save a guy like Lot! It’s hard to see how Lot is much different from the people who lost their lives in Sodom and Gomorrah!

I discovered the answer to my question in verse 29. This verse says, “Thus it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.” It is obvious to me that God saved Lot in answer to Abraham’s prayer in chapter 18. Abraham had asked God to spare the cities if they contained 10 righteous people. Unfortunately, God only found one and that man was Lot! Who would have guessed by Lot’s lifestyle that God counted him as righteous? I discovered that 2 Peter 2:7 actually refers to Him as “righteous Lot!”

This passage shows us just how important and powerful prayer is. I doubt that God would have saved Lot apart from Abraham’s prayers. Why else would the Lord put such emphasis on Abraham’s prayer in chapter 18 and mention it again in chapter 19?

Another truth we get from this passage is that it is possible for a Christian to be so enamored and involved in the world that only God can tell they are saved! Sadly it appears many American Christians have much in common with Lot. What is scarier is that sometimes I am more like Lot than I care to admit. Father please forgive me for my worldliness. Through your grace and the power of your Spirit may I be more like Jesus. Amen

James 1:13-18 Resisting Temptation (Part 4)

2006-04-26T21:30:00.000-05:00

James 1:13-18 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. [14] But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. [16] Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. [18] Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

This one of those times the preacher is going to say something beyond what the text actually says, but my point is theologically and biblically true. The third key to resist temptation is that we must trust God for the ability to overcome it.

James says in verse 17 that God is the source of every perfect gift, and in verse 18 he makes it clear that God is the source of our new birth. Folks, if God is the source of every perfect gift with greatest gift being our salvation doesn’t it follow that we can count on Him for the ability to resist temptation? The Apostle Paul said we could in 1 Cor. 10:13. “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” Furthermore, in the Lord’s Prayer Jesus taught us to pray for God’s deliverance from temptation. Listen; if God is willing to deliver us from sin and death then certainly He is just as willing to deliver us from temptation. Isn’t God good? James agrees!

In addition to teaching us about temptation, this text teaches us three important truths about God; He is holy (13), He is gracious (17a, 18) and He is unchangeable (17b). When we resist temptation we are imitating God’s holiness. When we give mercy, forgiveness and love even to our enemies we are imitating God’s grace. When we persevere in the midst of adversity we imitate God’s unchangeableness. The good news is that God will give us the grace to be all these things. Because He is the giver of every perfect gift, we can count it!

James 1:13-18 Resisting Temptation (Part 3)

2006-04-25T22:19:00.000-05:00

James 1:13-18 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. [14] But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. [16] Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. [18] Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Today we are going to examine the second of three keys for resisting temptation. If we are going to resist temptation we must understand its course.

I want to remind you of the fact that temptation is common to every person and it is no sin to be tempted. The trouble comes when we desire what temptation offers more than we desire God. This is the very essence of sin. As John Piper says, "God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him." Sin is the result of seeking to find satisfaction in someone or something else.

Dietrich Bonheoffer, in his book entitled Temptation, describes how temptation can extinguish our desire for God:

With irresistible power desire seizes mastery over the flesh. . . . It makes no difference whether it is sexual desire, or ambition, or vanity, or desire for revenge, or love of fame and power, or greed for money. . . . Joy in God is . . . extinguished in us and we seek all our joy in the creature. At this moment God is quite unreal to us, he loses all reality, and only desire for the creature is real; . . . Satan does not here fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God. . . . The lust thus aroused envelops the mind and will of man in deepest darkness. The powers of clear discrimination and of decision are taken from us. The questions present themselves: “Is what the flesh desires really sin in this case?” “Is it really not permitted to me, yes — expected of me, now, here, in my particular situation, to appease desire?” . . . It is here that everything within me rises up against the Word of God.

Folks this is so true! When we are overwhelmed by desire we distance ourselves from God. We become idolaters who have forgotten our true identity as God’s children. We willfully ignore the pleadings and judgments of His Word.

What happens after we give into temptation and sin is conceived? Sin gives birth to death. Usually when we think of death, we first think of physical death. Sin always leads to physical death. This is why we all die. This has been true since the Garden of Eden when Adam’s sin brought death into the world.

Sin also leads to spiritual death if one fails to trust in Christ’s finished work on Calvary’s cross. But I believe death can manifest itself in other ways that we often fail to recognize. For example, the children of Israel, whom God delivered from Egypt, experienced a type of “death” that we would not necessarily categorize as physical or spiritual. If you know your Old Testament, you will remember this generation of Israelites refused to trust God and enter the Promised Land. Because of their sin of unbelief, God caused them to wander around in the wilderness for forty years. For forty years they went around in circles and they were “dead” long before they actually died. Their lives were wasted because of their sin. They missed forever the opportunity to enjoy God’s provision of the Promised Land.

When we give into temptation and sin is conceived, “death.” will always result. We all have observed what I am describing and most of us have first hand experience. Our sin has led to the death of trust, integrity, relationships and future opportunities. We continue to grieve these loses. Yes, we thank God for His mercy, grace and forgiveness, but we must live with the consequences of succumbing to various temptations.

Painful memories of lessons like these motivate me to resist temptation. I have learned through failure and God’s revelation that the course of temptation is always “death.” I have experienced enough “death” in my life. How about you?

James 1:13-18 Resisting Temptation (Part 2)

2006-04-25T14:19:00.000-05:00

James 1:13-15 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. [14] But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Yesterday, we began a discussion about resisting temptation. James gives us three keys to resisting temptation. The first key is to recognize temptation’s source.

In verse 13, James unequivocally states that God cannot be the source of temptation. James says, “God cannot be tempted by evil and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” God is not temptable because there is nothing in God which temptation can appeal to. In 1 John 1:5 the Bible says “God is light and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. God is absolutely holy which means He is completely separate from sin. Therefore it follows that He would never induce anyone else to sin.

So who is responsible for temptation? You’re probably thinking it’s the devil, right? No, we are! “Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.” James uses an illustration taken from the sport of fishing. A fish sees the lure and is tempted to strike. When the fish takes hold of the bait, it is suddenly dragged away and pays with its life for its innocence and ignorance. But we cannot claim innocence and ignorance. James takes away all excuses and the ability to place the blame on someone or something else. He says, in effect, that the cause lies within us. Our desires lead us into temptation, and if we are not controlled by the Spirit of God they lead us into sin. The heart of man is deceitful, as Jeremiah prophesied (17:9). Jesus repeats the same thought when he describes the human heart in these words: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matt. 15:19).

The next time your tempted take note of the fact that temptation simply reveals the true condition of your heart. If a desire for evil did not reside within, you could not be tempted.

So what is the source of temptation? Your own evil desires!

James 1:13-18 Resisting Temptation (Part 1)

2006-04-23T19:51:00.000-05:00

James 1:13-18 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. [14] But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. [15] Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. [16] Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. [17] Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. [18] In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

Along with every trial or test that God designs for our spiritual growth comes temptation. The original recepients of this letter would have been faced with some very specific temptations. Hopefully you remember that the recipients of James letter were Jewish Christians who became refugees due to intense persecution. They fled Jerusalem and Judea to escape, but many of them continued to suffer for their faith in the various places to which they scattered. What kind of temptations did these refugees face? For one, they would have been tempted to give up on or turn away from Christianity. This is always a temptation when persecution arises. The book of Hebrews was written primarily to deal with this very issue; Jewish Christians who were contemplating a return to Judaism because of persecution.

A second temptation these Christians would have faced would have been to grumble and complain about God. “If God is good and loves me why is he allowing me to suffer?” “God this is not fair, I don’t deserve this!” “Life was so much easier before I became a Christian.” We see this kind of response illustrated by the Israelites in the wilderness after the Exodus. Grumbling and complaining always reveal that we doubt God’s goodness.

Another temptation for these refugees of persecution would have been to blame God for their failure to respond properly to the testing and falling into sin. Folks, this is a temptation that has marked humanity from the beginning. Remember the scene in the Garden of Eden. Adam blamed his sin on Eve and God. Eve blamed her sin on the serpent.

One of the most frustrating things about ministry is the number of people I meet who refuse to take responsibility for their behavior. “It’s my parent’s fault.” “It’s my boss’s fault.” “It’s my pastor’s fault.” “It’s God’s fault! He made me this way! If He didn’t want me to do this or that He shouldn’t have put me in this situation.” I have met Christians who have blamed God for almost every kind of sin you can imagine.

The thing that bugs me most about modern psychology is that it seeks to relieve people of responsibility for their behavior. Modern psychology has renamed numerous sins and called them disorders. Instead of holding people responsible, which is the first step to change, they have given them excuses to continue their sinful behavior. A person who makes excuses is trying to shift blame from himself to something or someone else. A Christian, on the other hand, accepts responsibility for their sins, confesses them, and asks God for forgiveness.

We must have a correct view of God in order to persevere during times of trial and testing. Additionally, we must understand God’s view of our temptations. Trials and temptations always present us with choices. God wants us to make righteous choices, not evil ones. It is important for us to always remember that God tests people for good; He does not tempt people for evil.

We’ll talk more about this tomorrow. Are you resisting temptation? Are you making excuses?

The Assault on Traditional Marriage

2006-04-21T20:15:00.001-05:00

American Christians now face the most serious attack on their faith and values that has ever been launched. Amazingly, the church has basically been asleep while this assault has intensified. The assault on traditional marriage has been steadily escalating for a period of more than fifty years. It’s way past time for the church to wake up and engage the battle! Christians must awaken out of their drowsy stupor and recognize what has happened. They must understand what’s at stake and why the battle against same-sex marriage is so vital. Finally, they must fight this battle with every weapon at their disposal, which includes weapons both spiritual and political. This article will limit its focus on the Christian’s spiritual weapons.

What’s happened and how did get to this point? Traditional marriage has been under attack in America since the late 1940's. The attack began in earnest with Alfred Kinsey’s Sexual Behavior in the Human Male. This book made the outlandish claim that 10 percent of men are homosexual. Worse than that, it helped begin the long and steady march toward same-sex marriage.[1]

The attack on marriage continued with the sexual revolution of the 60's fueled in part by Kinsey’s writings and research. As Erwin W. Lutzer describes, “Sexual self-expression, which traditionally had been regarded as a privilege, became perceived as a right; something to be expressed publicly, frequently, and outside of monogamous, lifelong marriage.” [2] Before the sexual revolution the majority of people recognized that promiscuity was wrong. Although promiscuity existed, it was the exception not the norm. Regrettably, the sexual revolution changed that.

Another grave attack against traditional marriage was the implementation of no-fault divorce laws. Dr. James Dobson comments on no-fault divorce help us to understand how these laws have served to undermine traditional marriage. “. . . for the first time in our nation’s history, the understanding of marriage as a personal and spiritual contract was no longer backed by law. And once heterosexuals dismissed the essential as long as we both shall live component of marriage, it was only a matter of time before someone tried to do away with the fundamental husband and wife part.” [3] Of course, this is precisely what we face today.

The most recent and devastating assaults on traditional marriage have been launched by our nation’s courts. On June 26, 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in Lawrence v. Texas that the Constitution of the United States guarantees the right to sodomy. Amazingly, the highest court in the land declared morality outdated and perversion legal. Unfortunately, this volley was only the beginning of the assault. In November of 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court used the ground gained from Lawrence v. Texas to recognize the legitimacy of same-sex marriage. On May 17, 2004, the state of Massachusetts began handing out gay marriage licenses. These couples are now legally married. As Dr. Dobson says, they have fanned out across the nation demanding legal recognition of their new status.[4]

Thankfully, the results from the November 2004 elections give us some hope that traditional marriage can be defended. Ten states overwhelmingly passed constitutional amendments to protect traditional marriage. It remains to be seen if the courts will continue their assault on marriage and overturn the will of people. Unfortunately, this is precisely what happened in Louisiana last year when an activist judge over turned a constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage. The amendment had passed by a whopping 78 percent of the vote.

Clearly, traditional marriage is in trouble. Even so, why is it so important that Christians defend it? Dr. Dobson’s book Marriage Under Fire provides several good answers to this question. We will examine several of his most convincing answers.

First, Dobson says that legalization of same-sex marriage will eventually destroy traditional marriage and the family.[5] This has already proven to be true in Western European nations that have instituted gay marriage. Supporting this conclusion, Gene Edward Veith of World Magazine wrote;

Sweden was the first country in Europe to legalize homosexual unions in 1989,and Denmark and Norway followed soon thereafter. Today, a majority of children in those countries are born out of wedlock. Although some older couples are getting married after having more than one child, younger couples are dispensing with marriage altogether. Southern Seminary president Al Mohler reports that in Sweden, the few young couples who do get married often do not like to admit it,since what they have done is so far out of the norm that they feel embarrassed.[6]

This is exactly what will happen in America if same-sex marriage is legalized. Traditional marriage and family will become abnormal. In fact, that’s nearly the case in America today since only one in four families is considered to be traditional. By traditional I mean having both a father and a mother.

Next, Dobson points out that our children will suffer the most if same-sex marriage is legalized. This fact has been testified to by many social scientists. Studies have proven that children do best when raised by a committed and loving father and mother. Children need both parents because God designed the family this way.[7] What will happen if we defy God’s design? A quote from Dr. Dobson answers this question.

If the present trends continue the majority of children will have several moms and dads, perhaps six or grandparents and dozens of half siblings. It will be a world where little boys and girls are shuffled from pillar to post in an ever-changing pattern of living arrangements; where huge numbers of them will be raised in foster homes or living on the street . . . Imagine an environment where nothing is stable and where people think primarily of themselves and their own self preservation. And have you considered what will happen when homosexuals with children divorce? Instead of two moms and dads, they will have to contend with four moms or four dads.[8]

When a child’s family unravels it usually leads lead to that child being placed in another home either through adoption or foster care. If same sex-marriage becomes legal, our present adoption laws will become obsolete. Defenseless children will be placed in homes with people who will glorify and exemplify a lifestyle contrary to Scripture and God’s design. In addition, Christian foster-care parents will likely be required to undergo sensitivity training to rid them of heterosexual bias. Moral training against homosexuality will be forbidden. This is already the case in the state of California.[9]

What will happen to our children at school? Every school in the country will be required to embrace homosexuality and teach that this deviant behavior is on equal footing with marriage. I recognize this is already the case in some schools, but if same-sex marriage is legalized it will be mandatory everywhere.[10] Christians who send their children to public school will have no choice in the matter. Their children will be indoctrinated. This fits the desires and the plans of the homosexual activists. In fact, Alan Sears & Craig Osten, in their book The Homosexual Agenda witness to this point;

Homosexual activists know the best time to reach children is during the earliest, most impressionable ages. Christian researcher George Barna has documented that the chance for an individual to make a personal decision to believe in Christ greatly diminishes after age fourteen. Just as children are more receptive to the gospel and religious instruction at an early age, they are also more susceptible to homosexual indoctrination.[11]

In their private meetings, homosexual activists make it clear their goal is to get Christian children to reject their parent’s beliefs. At the 1999 Atlanta Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Educational Network conference, these comments were made; “The fear of the religious right is that schools of today are the government schools of tomorrow. And you know what, they’re right. If we do our jobs right, we are going to raise a generation of kids who don’t believe the claims of the religious right.”[12]

One of the direst consequences of same-sex marriage for Christians will be the loss of religious freedom. One only has to look north to Canada to verify this statement. In fact, Canada recently passed a law known as C-250. Before C-250, London, Ontario, officials recently fined a Christian mayor $10,000 for refusing to proclaim “Gay Pride Day.” A Christian businessman in Toronto was fined $5,000 for refusing to print materials for a gay-rights group. After C-250 things will only get worse.[13] A quote from a World Magazine article, “Remaining Silent,” explains the devastating ramifications of C-250:

Before C-250 it was already illegal to publish, distribute, mail, import, or speak any communication that could be perceived as promoting or inciting "hate"against "identifiable groups," such as members of a certain race or gender. The new law recognizes gays and lesbians as an identifiable groupCand makes any person who criticizes homosexuals publicly subject to two years in jail.[14]

The World Magazine article went on to explain that in light of C-250's passage, church-law analysts were already advising religious leaders how best to protect themselves. Essentially, they advised church leaders to avoid public criticism of homosexuals and to limit their opinions to private conversations.[15] Now pastors in Canada are wondering whether they can preach from several passages in Scripture that clearly prohibit homosexuality. As it is, a Focus on the Family radio program on homosexuality was declared homophobic by the Canadian Radio and Television Commission. Focus on the Family has not been allowed to address the subject since.[16]

Canada is not the only nation to hinder religious freedom due to homosexuality. Last year, Swedish authorities jailed a pastor for preaching that homosexuality is immoral and a violation of biblical teaching. The pastor was arrested, tried, and sentenced to 30 days in prison for violating Sweden's law forbidding hate speech against homosexuals. Imagine, a preacher was arrested and imprisoned for preaching a sermon in his own church! It should be noted gay activists are promoting similar hate-speech laws for the United States.[17] Will anything be left to hinder them if same-sex marriage is legalized?

Now that we understand the frightening ramifications of same-sex marriage, how should Christians respond? As I said at the beginning of this article, we must respond with every weapon available to us. Our most powerful weapons are spiritual. We must not shrink back from using them in this conflict! Our spiritual weapons are best defined by what the Apostle Paul taught in 2 Cor. 10:3‑5 NIV: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. [4] The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. [5] We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” In the context of 2 Cor. Paul identifies the weapons of the world as things like learning, personal influence, impressive credentials and rhetorical polish. He discounted and discarded these things. Paul did not wage war as the world does or use their weapons. The weapons Paul used were weapons with divine power, namely prayer and the proclamation of God’s Word. These weapons are weak by the world’s standards, yet they are able to demolish the arguments and every lie of the gospel’s foes.[18] By and large, the proponents of same-sex marriage are foes of the gospel.

Prayer is the Christian’s mightiest weapon and often the least used. If the church expects to win the battle waged against traditional marriage it must unleash the mighty weapon of prayer. First, the church must pray for the homosexuals and their allies. Our Lord commanded us in Matthew 5:44‑45 NIV “. . . Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Secondly, we must pray for those in authority as Paul instructed in 1 Tim. 2:1‑2 NIV when he wrote, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone‑‑ [2] for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” Third we must pray for our Christian leaders as Paul requested the Ephesians to pray for him. In Ephes. 6:19, Paul requested, “ Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel . . .” Today’s Christian leaders must fearlessly stand for the truth of the gospel and the Word of God, which includes defending traditional marriage. Finally, Christians must pray for themselves and their families that God will grant them the spiritual boldness and commitment to wage this battle.

Our second spiritual weapon in defeating same sex-marriage is the bold proclamation of God’s Word. Sadly, many Christians have been silent rather than boldly proclaiming God’s Word concerning homosexuality. Others have totally surrendered the truth and embraced homosexual behavior. We can neither afford to be silent nor surrender the truth. The Apostle Paul said in Romans 1:16 NIV, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” Only the Word of God can change people’s hearts and lives. If we surrender this weapon or leave it unused, the church has no hope of defending traditional marriage! More important, it will render itself impotent in delivering homosexuals and their allies from the horrible bondage of sin and eternal punishment in hell.

The proclamation of God’s Word in reference to same-sex marriage needs to be focused on three important truths. First, we must proclaim God’s design for marriage. Secondly, we must declare God’s condemnation of homosexuality. Finally, we must make known God’s abundant forgiveness, healing and deliverance for those who will repent of their homosexuality and turn to Him in faith.

God’s design for marriage is found in the book of Genesis. According to Genesis 1:27 gender is a gift from God. God made human beings both male and female and He made them to be sexually compatible. Our sexuality is a gift from God. In Genesis 2:24-25, God founded the institution of marriage. These verses teach that marriage between a man and a woman is God’s design. Therefore, any relationship that seeks to alter this design is rebellious and sinful. Furthermore, God designed sex to be enjoyed only in a marriage relationship. Therefore any sexual relationship outside the bonds of marriage is sinful, including homosexuality.

God’s condemnation of homosexual behavior is scattered throughout the Scriptures. The first recorded instance of homosexuality in the Bible is in Genesis 19. This passage describes God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. It should be stated up-front that the people of Sodom were guilty of other sins besides homosexuality. This doesn’t alter the fact their homosexual behavior was debauched, immoral and worthy of God’s judgment. Ezekiel 16:43, a passage that further describes Sodom’s sin, corroborates this conclusion. The New Testament passages of 2Pet. 3:6-7 and Jude 7 also agree.

In addition to Genesis 19, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 clearly condemn and forbid homosexual behavior. In fact, one passage declares homosexuality a capital offense. Judges 19-20 is another passage that speaks to homosexuality in the OT. It has some interesting similarities with Genesis 19.

The New Testament also has much to say about homosexuality. Romans 1:18-32, I Corinthians 6:9-11, and I Timothy 1:9-11 all address the issue. In Romans, Paul condemns moral chaos, pagan worship and radical autonomy. He specifically addresses male and female homosexuality and makes it quite clear this behavior is deserving of God’s wrath.

The above Scriptures, though unpopular with many, must be proclaimed and defended. Needless to say, there are those liberals and revisionists who will attempt to subvert and twist the truth of these Scriptures. Dealing with the revisionists is beyond the scope of this paper. An excellent resource for refuting the revisionist’s arguments biblically is Thomas E. Schmidt’s book Straight and Narrow: Compassion and Clarity in the Homosexuality Debate.

When Christians boldly proclaim God’s truth about same-sex marriage they must expect and prepare for tremendous opposition and persecution. This shouldn’t surprise us. In the New Testament, our Lord promised us that we would face such opposition whenever we proclaim the truth. Also, the book of Acts records how the apostles boldly proclaimed the truth in the face of great opposition. In addition, Philip. 2:15-16, from a book whose theme is partnership in the terrifying campaign to advance the gospel in face of great opposition, the apostle Paul exhorted the Philippians to hold forth the Word of Truth in a crooked and perverse society. In Philip. 1:29 Paul wrote, “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him . . .” Yes, if we proclaim the truth we will suffer, but to do anything less is disobedience and cowardice!

Christians must not only proclaim the truth concerning same-sex marriage boldly, but we must also do it in love. Too often those who boldly proclaim the truth do it without any vestige of love. For example, the infamous Fred Phelps, who claims to be a Christian but his message, in his own words, is “God hates Fags.” Thomas Schmidt’s comments about such people are enlightening and need to be heard by all. Schmidt says;

I will be blunt. Christians who cannot yet deal with the issues calmly and compassionately should keep their mouths shut, and they should certainly stay away from the front lines of ministry and the public policy debateCnot to mention television talk shows. Such people are hard to reach, because they suspect those who call them to account are “soft on sin.” They must be convinced the way of Jesus is the “Wounded Healer” not the “Holy Terror.”[19]

Paul’s instruction in 2 Tim. 2:24‑26 NIV support Schmidt’s comments. “And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. [25] Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, [26] and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” Bold proclamation must be coupled with love to be effective.

Finally, Christians must live the truth they boldly proclaim. This means we must exemplify God’s truth in our families. Every Christian husband must love his wife as Christ loved the church. Every Christian parent must raise their children in the nurture and instruction of the Lord. Furthermore, we must acknowledge our own sinfulness and repent. Too many Christians have approved sin by their actions they have objected to with their words. For instance, a multitude of Christians have embraced entertainment that supports the very behavior they preach against. We must live our message as well as proclaim it!

When the truth for God’s word about same-sex marriage is proclaimed boldly in love and without hypocrisy lives will be changed! Paul made this point in I Cor. 6:9-11 when he wrote that some of the Corinthians were formerly in bondage to sexual sins, including homosexuality. Verse 11 of that passage states, “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” How did this all occur? Paul preached truth of God’s Word and they repented of their sin and trusted Christ. Because Paul was faithful to preach the truth, they experienced God’s forgiveness, healing and deliverance.

In short, American Christians are now engaged in a life or death struggle for traditional marriage. This is a battle we cannot afford to lose because as the family goes the church goes. If same-sex proponents have their way the family and the church in America will be destroyed. Religious freedom will be a distant memory. The good news is that the church has incredibly powerful spiritual weapons at their disposal. These weapons are prayer and the proclamation of God’s word. The question is do we have the commitment and courage to use them?

[1]Dr. Alan Branch, “Christian Ethics Class Notes” (Kansas City: No Publisher 2004), 97.
[2]Erwin W. Lutzer, The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage. (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2004), 17.
[3]Dr. James Dobson, Marriage Under Fire. (Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 2004), 38.
[4]Ibid., 39-42.
[5]Ibid., 47.
[6]Gene Edward Veith, “The Nordic Track” World Magazine (March 6, 2004), available online at http://www.worldmag.com/displayarticle.cfm?id=8599 accessed November 23, 2004.
[7]Dr. James Dobson, Marriage Under Fire. (Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 2004), 53-54.
[8]Ibid., 55.
[9]Ibid., 56-57.
[10]Ibid., 56.
[11]Alan Sears & Craig Osten, The Homosexual Agenda. (Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 2003), 47.
[12]Ibid., 47. These comments originated from: Torres, “Conference :New Moment.”
[13]Lynn Vincent, “Remaining Silent” World Magazine (May 8, 2004), available online at http://www.worldmag.com/displayarticle.cfm?id=8871 accessed November 23, 2004.
[14]Ibid,.
[15]Ibid,.
[16]Dr. James Dobson, Marriage Under Fire. (Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 2004), 60.
[17]Gene Edward Veith, “Losing Liberty” World Magazine (May 8, 2004), available online at http://www.worldmag.com/displayarticle.cfm?id=9596 accessed November 23, 2004.
[18]John F Walvord, Roy B. Zuck, and Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985).
[19]Thomas E. Schmidt, Straight & Narrow: Compassion and Clarity in the Homosexuality Debate. (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1995), 172-173.

Revelation

2006-04-20T21:12:00.000-05:00

Rev. 1:1-8 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, [2] who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. [3] Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. [4] John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, [5] and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— [6] and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. [7] Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. [8] "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

This morning’s musings are about the book or Revelation. As you all know, Revelation is a book that people have mixed reactions about. For many people the book of Revelation terrifies them. The vivid pictures of God’s wrath being poured out on the earth are frightening indeed. If you are reading this and you haven’t made peace with God through Jesus Christ you have reason to be frightened. The wrath and the judgment described in Revelation will be poured out on all those who have rejected God’s provision of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Even though many people are frightened by Revelation, most continue to be curious about its prophecies. You see most people want to know what the future holds. Revelation does give us some very important details about the future. The most important detail being that Jesus Christ is coming back to defeat the forces of evil and claim His bride the church.

Unfortunately, some people have tried use the book of Revelation as a manual for date setting. The have misunderstood why God has given us this book. God did not give us the book of Revelation for date setting. He gave it to us to provide hope for the future. Also, God gave us the book of Revelation so we would be able to see His complete redemptive program.

To fully comprehend the purpose of the book of Revelations we must recognize that it had a clear meaning and message for the Christians who first received it. The original recipients of Revelation were under severe persecution. Even worse times would follow. Literally millions of Christians would be slaughtered over the next few hundred years. Therefore, they need to be encouraged to persevere and stand firm in their faith. They needed to be reminded that God is in complete control and that righteousness will be rewarded and evil will be judged. We must keep this fact in mind as we study the book.

Folks, I believe persecution of Christians will intensify before Christ returns. This will likely include America. All over this planet people are laying down their lives for Christ. 2,000 Christians a day are martyred for the cause of Christ. American Christians have enjoyed a long season of respite from persecution. That is not the norm. Persecution will soon reach our shores and some of us may be called upon to lay down our lives. This is precisely why we need to study the book of Revelation. We will need the same encouragement and hope that it provided its original recipients some 1900 years ago.

I recognize that many of you have been taught to believe that the rapture is going to save you from the troubles to come. This is a teaching I also believed for many years. I think it is important for you to know that this view is only 150 years old. No one in the early church or any Christian for several centuries believed this. I personally believe this view is dangerous because it causes many Christians to have a false sense of security and an escapist mentality. We have eternal security in Christ , but Jesus promised us that we would have tribulation in this world. Jesus laid down his life and each of the apostles laid down their lives. Millions of Christians have laid down their lives since. Who are we to think that we will be any different?

I recognize that much of what I have just said may be unnerving or cause fear. Don’t be afraid. John 16:33 says, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

2006-04-19T22:31:00.000-05:00

1 John 2:3-6 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. [4] The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; [5] but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: [6] the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

Today we are going to talk about the marks of real Christians. Our Scripture passage teaches that there are two identifying marks. First, real Christians are obedient to the commands of Christ and secondly, they walk as Jesus walked. Clear biblical teaching like this is not popular in our day. Many are offended by the idea of examining people to see whether or not they are Christians. Sometimes people use the Bible to defend their position. For example, “judge not lest you be judged,” is an often quoted verse.

Folks, when the Bible says “judge not lest you be judged” it is instructing us not to condemn people. It is not saying do not practice discernment. The Scriptures plainly teach that it is every Christian’s responsibility to exercise discernment. We must exercise discernment so that we can avoid the perils of false teaching. We need discernment in order to recognize temptation and avoid sin. We need discernment to know who we should and should not fellowship with. God through His Word and His Spirit provides discernment. It is our responsibility to use it!

Recently, someone was upset by the fact that I said no one living a lifestyle of habitual sin would go to heaven. That includes adulterers, liars, thieves, and homosexuals to name a few. Folks, this is not just my opinion, but the teaching of Scripture. It does not matter if one professes to be a Christian. If you are living a lifestyle of habitual disobedience to God, and are not attempting to walk as Jesus walked you will not enter heaven. I’m not claiming we earn our way into heaven by obedience and by following Jesus example. What I am saying is that if you have truly placed your faith in Jesus Christ your life will show it! No one who trusts Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord remains unchanged. In fact, the Bible says in 2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

Is your life marked by obedience and Christ-like living? Are the “old things” passing away?

2006-04-19T14:18:00.000-05:00

Psalm 139:1-6

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
[2] You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
[3] You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
[4] Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O Lord, You know it all.
[5] You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
[6] Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.

These first six verses of Psalm 139 are about the omniscience of God. Simply stated God knows everything! He is intimately acquainted with each one of us. There's nothing we can hide from Him. He knows us even better than we know ourselves.

I find this knowledge both comforting and unnerving. God's omniscience is unnerving because He knows everything! I cannot hide my thoughts from Him. He knows when I doubt Him. He knows when I lust. He knows when hatred fills my heart and I mentally plan acts of vengeance. He knows when I say one thing with my mouth and another thing in my heart. I'm laid bare before Him. God knows me thoroughly and completely.

God's omniscience is comforting because God loves me in spite of the fact He knows all my awful flaws. He's not surprised when I sin or fail Him. He knew what I was going to do long before I actually do it, yet He still loves me. How do I know that God still loves me? I look back at the sacrifice He made at Calvary's cross. God loves me so much He punished His Son for my sin so He could forgive me. He did that with full and complete knowledge of my utter sinfulness. As David said, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it." But I thank God for it!

Galatians 1:6-9

2006-04-17T21:01:00.000-05:00

Galatians 1:6-9 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; [7] which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. [8] But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! [9] As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

To understand these verses we must comprehend the situation that provoked Paul into writing the letter of Galatians. When Paul first preached the gospel in Galatia, a number of people believed and accepted Christ. When they believed the gospel they received the Holy Spirit. The presence of the Spirit was verified by the fact He did miracles among them and led them to worship God.

Shortly after Paul’s missionary activity in Galatia, some Jewish Christians appeared on the scene. They taught these new Gentile converts that faith in Christ was not enough, but they also most become Jews. Therefore these new converts also have to adhere to the requirements of Jewish law and religion which would include; circumcision, Sabbath keeping and food laws (see 2:12-14; 4:10; 5:2-3; 6:12-13).

The message of these legalistic teachers seduced the Galatian believers. They foolishly began trying to earn salvation by observing the law. Bewitched by these Jewish teachers, they began to turn away from Paul’s gospel message of grace. Their focus shifted from faith in Christ and dependence on the Spirit to identification with the Jewish nation and keeping the law.

The book of Galatians was one of the first New Testament books to be written. As you can see, the gospel message has been under attack from its beginnings. Over the centuries many have attempted to add to it, subtract from it or distort it in some way. They will continue to do so until Christ returns. Any revision or addition to the apostolic gospel (the gospel preached by the apostles and recorded in the New Testament) must be rejected. You’ll notice Paul uses very strong language about the destiny of those teachers who would dare pervert or distort the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In our day, there are many so called biblical scholars who are in danger of being accursed! Over the last week, I have heard some of them on the History channel and National Geographic channel seeking to explain away or distort the gospel. For illustration purposes I have attached a story from Baptist Press about the recently rediscovered gospel of Judas. It does a good job of explaining the documents origin and purpose. What Paul says in Galatians applies in this case as well!

WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP)--“National Geographic’s promotion of their costly manuscript acquisition and television program, ‘The gospel of Judas,’ is one of the most deceptive and brazen attempts to profit from the general public’s unawareness of early church history since, well, ‘The Da Vinci Code,’” seminary professor Fred M. Williams III said in a statement to Baptist Press.

Williams, associate professor of history and languages at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., observed that the promoters of the gospel of Judas and The Da Vinci Code imply that the Gospel writers had something to gain either financially or otherwise in their eyewitness accounts of Jesus Christ.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” Williams responded. “The only expectation that the New Testament Gospel writers -- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John -- and their followers had was exclusion from the polytheistic society of their day, fear of persecution from those misunderstanding the Christian message, or torture and death from the Roman authorities if they were identified.”

Referencing Irenaeus (130-200 A.D.), a disciple of Polycarp who sat at the feet of the Apostle John, Williams said, “Irenaeus was aware of, and described the contents of, the gospel of Judas just as it is being described by the National Geographic Society today. Irenaeus said that it was a product of a cult known as the Cainites who deliberately honored every wicked figure in the Bible so as to promote their own immoral lifestyle. The Cainites considered the God who created the world as evil and Satan as good.

“Obviously, they would especially glorify the traitor Judas,” Williams said. “We have known all this for more than 1,800 years.

“Why is the National Geographic Society promoting this as the most sensational and important archeological find in the last 60 years?” the professor asked. “Obviously, National Geographic has a lot more to gain financially from all this than Matthew, Mark, Luke and John ever did.”

Proverbs 17:17

2006-04-16T23:30:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.

Have you been blessed with real friends? Proverbs 17:17 teaches that real friends love and stick by you no matter what. They are available when you need them most, especially in the midst of adversity.

You find out who your real friends are when adversity strikes. Sadly, when my first wife Melinda became wheel chair bound it was amazing how quickly many of our friends disappeared. Her illness made them uncomfortable and when we needed their friendship and support the most they were no where to be found. It was a very painful experience and lesson.

Thankfully, God in His mercy blessed us with some friends who really loved us. The harder things got the more helpful and supportive they were. I don’t think I would have survived those days without their friendship.

Real friendship is based upon love. Love is constant at all times, even in the bad times or when things or people turn against us, even when we let our friends down. Such was Ruth's love for Naomi in Ruth 1:16. But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. David and Jonathan are another example of such friendship. From their first meeting, when David was in the King's favor, "Jonathan loved him as himself" (1 Sam. 18:3). But when Saul turned against him and Jonathan stood by him, David began to refer to him as "brother" (2 Sam. 1:26).

Do you have such a friend? If you know Jesus Christ you do. Jesus came to be “the friend of sinners” (Matt. 11:19), to call us "no longer servants but friends"(John 15:13-15); in fact, “he was not ashamed to call us brothers” (Heb. 2:11-18). His friendship comes to us, not only directly, but through our Christian friends.

Are you a real friend?

Guarding the Treasure 1 & 2 Timothy

2006-04-07T20:39:00.000-05:00

At the end of 1 Timothy, Paul instructed his son in the faith, Timothy, to guard what had been entrusted to Him. Paul repeats this instruction in 2 Timothy 1:14 (HCSB) "Guard, through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, that good thing entrusted to you." The previous verse clarifies what the treasure is that Timothy must guard. 2 Timothy 1:13 (HCSB) says, "Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." The pattern of sound teaching that Paul is talking about is the apostolic gospel. The context makes this absolutely clear!

Paul viewed the gospel as a treasure that must be guarded. He passionately desired that Timothy view it the same way. You see, the gospel was under attack in Paul's day. He understood that attack would continue to intensify during these last days.

The gospel is indeed under attack today. One example is the book and soon to be released movie "The Da Vinci Code." These are clearly the enemy's effort to undermine the gospel. Many gullible people have already succumbed to the ignorant and vile ramblings of fiction writer Dan Brown who falsely claims his story is historically factual. If you don't know the story line let me summarize it for you. The story is about a secret religious organization that will stop at nothing to protect a secret that threatens to overturn 2,000 years of accepted dogma. The story claims that Jesus married Mary Magdalene, had a child in that union, and a clandestine society once headed by Leonardo Da Vinci has protected this information for centuries against a threatened Catholic hierarchy.

Gene Fant Jr., a professor at Union University, says, "The problem with Brown’s book is that most readers do not read with a biblical worldview. They conform their theology to Dan Brown, rather than holding up Brown’s story for scrutiny against the clear teachings of Scripture. Critics of Brown rightly have pointed out that he has simply repackaged old heresies and conspiracy theories for an age that craves mysticism and secret knowledge. People who “believe” Brown’s theories have placed his work as authoritative over and against Scripture itself. Christians, however, should elevate the Word above all other words."

The movie is set to be released on May 19 and stars Tom Hanks. It's almost certain to be a great success. After all, the book has sold over 60 million copies. Undoubtedly, most of us will encounter people who will have either read the book of seen the movie. Unfortunately, a number of these people will assume what they have read or heard is true. Some will buy in because they have never liked the gospel; it offends them. Others will buy in because they are biblically illiterate and don't know any better.

How should we Christians respond? I think Paul's instruction to Timothy is the answer. We must guard the treasure of the gospel through the Spirit who resides with in us! We must hold onto the pattern of sound teaching no matter how the enemy seeks to distort it! Is this enough? No, we must be prepared to also heed Paul's instruction in 2 Timothy 2:23-26 (HCSB) "But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. The Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance to know the truth. Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him to do his will."

Get ready folks! We are going to have many opportunities in the near future to both guard and share the treasure we have been entrusted with!

2006-04-07T07:28:00.000-05:00

1 Cor. 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

Today's devotional is the result of a witnessing encounter I had with a man at the coffee shop next door to our church. Many of you will remember that I recently made a commitment to witness to at least one person a week. Since I rarely meet an unregenerate person in my office, I have begun taking my laptop to the coffee shop next door and working there. Today, God arranged an opportunity to witness. This opportunity would have never occurred if I had not been intentional about hanging out with unsaved people. How about you, are you intentional and available to witness? I recognize for some of you this isn't a problem, but unfortunately many Christians have become isolated from a lost world. They will have to be very intentional about being available to witness.

The man I encountered shared that he was attending a Catholic church, but that he found it lacking. This man was not Catholic, in fact, when I asked him if he had a personal relationship with Christ it was clear that he was not a Christian of any sort. He said something about believing in an impersonal force. The man also shared that he couldn't believe in any god who wouldn't accept Muslims, Buddhists or any person that kept a set of rules similar to the Ten Commandments. If I understood him correctly, he essentially believed you earn your way to heaven by being good. The man’s beliefs were not well thought out. In fact, many of them were based on his personal opinions and feelings. Interestingly, some of his beliefs were even contradictory.

What I found really amazing was that the man had grown up in a Christian home going to church three times a week. He shared that both of his parents continue to be devout Christians. How is it that a man with his background can be so blind to biblical truth and the gospel?

I only have one answer and it's likely to make some of you uncomfortable. 1 Cor. 2:14 says, “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." A natural man is a lost man. All men in their "natural" state are unregenerate and without the Spirit. Without the Spirit they are unable to comprehend spiritual truth. Therefore God has to do something so they can understand spiritual truth and believe it. What does He do? Somehow God reveals it to them.

Remember, Peter's words in Matthew 16:16 when he confessed Jesus was the Christ. Jesus responded by saying, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." God the Father revealed the truth to Peter. The Bible doesn't say how.

Before I came to Christ, I heard the gospel many times. One day the "light came on" and I believed. I don't know how the "light came on", I just know it did. Suddenly spiritual truth made sense and I was capable of understanding spiritual things. Before that time, spiritual truth bounced off me like bb's on a block wall.

Some claim to have this mystery figured out. I don't. I do know that in order to be saved the Father must draw you and reveal the truth to you. This is His work and no man can do it or initiate it. When the Father reveals the truth, we have a responsibility to respond.

What's my point today? We are responsible to witness. As every Christian knows, the Bible has commanded us to witness! But God is responsible to reveal spiritual truth and save men's souls. We should not be surprised when we witness if the truth seems to bounce off. The gospel doesn't make much sense to someone who is unregenerate. God has to "turn the light on." We can't do that and a lost person certainly cannot do that!

The man I witnessed to yesterday was open to listening. The seeds of the gospel have been sown into his life. They were planted a long time ago by his parents. Yesterday, I attempted to water them, but as Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 3:7 only God gives the growth. I'll be praying that God in His mercy will "turn on the light" for him.

Psalm 96

2006-04-05T21:18:00.000-05:00

Psalms 96:1-13 (HCSB) 1 Sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to the Lord, praise His name; proclaim His salvation from day to day. 3 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonderful works among all peoples. 4 For the Lord is great and is highly praised; He is feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name; bring an offering and enter His courts. 9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of [His] holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations: “The Lord reigns. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. He judges the peoples fairly.” 11 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and all that fills it resound. 12 Let the fields and everything in them exult. Then all the trees of the forest will shout for joy 13 before the Lord, for He is coming— for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with His faithfulness.

Why does the psalmist instruct us to sing a new song? In the Old Testament, worshipers sang a new song whenever God intervened on behalf of His people to deliver them. For example, in Exodus 15 Israel sang a new song after God delivered them from Pharaoh and the Egyptian army at the Red Sea. Also, the writer of Psalm 40 sang a new song after God delivered him from "the pit of destruction."

I hope you can sing a "new song" because the Lord has delivered you through Christ from the domain of darkness into His marvelous light! Through His mercy and grace you have been delivered from the cruel masters of sin and death and blessed with eternal life. Therefore, each of us should heed daily the psalmist's exhortation in Psalm 96:2-3. "Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. [3] Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples."

Do you see what God is after? He seeks our worship and the worship of the nations! Why you ask? Is God an egotist? No, God does not need our worship or us for that matter!

God seeks are worship because He alone is worthy! Psalm 96:4-6 says, "For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. [5] For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens. [6] Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary." These verses declare that the Lord (revealed through the written and living Word) is the one true God. Every other god is an idol!

The rest of Psalm 96 exhorts the peoples and nations to worship the LORD. The last verse declares that the LORD is coming to judge the earth. On what basis will He judge? Worship. You see, it is either worship or wrath! If you think this is too harsh or don't believe me, read Romans 1:18-32.

Will just any worship due? No you must worship God in spirit and truth. How do you do that? It begins with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Remember Jesus' words in John 14:6. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. Therefore, there will be no worshipers of Allah, Buddha or any other god in heaven.

Folks, this is why it's so important we take the gospel to the nations! We must offer them the opportunity to worship the one true God! Are you ready? Are you willing? Romans 10:14-15 say, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? [15] How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!"”

Let's take the gospel to the nations so we can all sing a new song together! Rev. 5:9-14 says, “And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. [10] "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." [11] Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, [12] saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." [13] And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." [14] And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped.”

James 1:9-12 (Focus on Rewards During Trials)

2006-04-04T23:57:00.000-05:00

James 1:9-12 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; [10] and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. [11] For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. [12] Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James says blessed is the man who perseveres under trial or testing. Yes, blessed! A person who perseveres under trial shows their faith is real or genuine. In the OT, Job was such a man. Do you remember what Job said when he lost his children and possessions all in a single day? “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” In the NT Paul was such a man. In 2 Tim. 1:12 Paul wrote, “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” Then in 2 Tim. 4:6-8 he said, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; [8] in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Folks, trials test the validity of our faith and our love for God.

If we walk away from the Lord when trials come then it proves we really don’t have genuine faith or love. It was one thing for me to tell my first wife Melinda I loved her and would remain faithful until death do us part. It was another thing to prove that love by taking care of her through seven years of chronic illness. The testing proved my love was genuine. It proved it to me and proved it to her. Genuine faith in God and love for Him will endure the trials and tests of this life! If it doesn’t, then it was not genuine to begin with.

What happens if you pass the test? James says you will receive the promised crown of life! This same promise is repeated to the suffering church in Smyrna in Rev. 2:9-11.

Beware, if you’re not careful you’ll get the idea that you earn or maintain your salvation by endurance. Neither of these things is true. If you have been born again you will endure! You will endure because the Holy Spirit will enable you to persevere! As Paul said in Ephesians, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption.

Jesus said in John 10:27-30, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; [28] and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. [29] "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. [30] "I and the Father are one." Jesus brother in the flesh Jude wrote, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, [25] to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

So what’s today’s main point? Wise Christians will look forward to their promised reward. What have we learned so far this week? First, wise Christians will evaluate themselves and their situation by God’s standard and not the worlds. Second, wise Christians focus on the eternal rather than the earthly. Finally, wise Christians will look forward to their promised reward.

You who claim to be followers of Christ, are you responding wisely to the trials of life. Are you evaluating your situation by God’s viewpoint or this world’s? Is your focus on the earthly or eternal? Are you looking forward to your future reward or do you have some anxiety about the judgment? What has God said to you this morning? Is there sin that you need to confess or forsake? Are there attitudes that need to be changed? Are there Priorities that need to be rearranged?

For you who are not Christians, that is believers and followers of Christ. God the Father invites you to believe in His son Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin and as Lord of your life. What does it mean to trust Christ as your Lord and your Savior? It means that you turn your back on the ways of this world and follow Jesus Christ. It means that you love Him with all your heart through the good times and the bad. It means that you will be rejected by this world but embraced by God. It means that you will be rescued from this domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. It means that all your sin was paid for all Calvary’s cross and your sins are forgiven. It means that you will receive eternal life. It means that you will become a child of God! Will you believe? Will you decide to follow Christ? If you choose to follow Christ, pray this simple prayer as a way of expressing your commitment. Lord Jesus Christ, I confess that I have sinned and lived life my own way. Today I turn away from my sinful foolishness and I commit to follow you from now on. I will follow you through good times and bad. Please help me keep my commitment. Please teach me everyday from this day forward what it means to follow you. In your name I pray Lord Jesus. Amen

James 1:9-12 (Focus on the eternal vs. the earthly)

2006-04-03T21:12:00.000-05:00

James 1:9-12 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; [10] and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. [11] For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. [12] Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

I do not believe verses 10-11 are written to rich believers as some do. Instead, I think James is simply pointing out what is going to happen to the rich oppressors of the poor and persecuted believers. James is saying the rich man maybe enjoying life now but humiliation is coming! Why because he has failed to recognize that everything in this life is temporary. Folks, the only things in this life that are not temporary are a man’s relationship with God and his relationships with other believers!

Jesus parable of the rich man illustrates the foolishness of focusing on the temporal in Luke 12:13-21. Someone in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." [14] But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?" [15] Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." [16] And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive. [17] "And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' [18] "Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. [19] 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry." ' [20] "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' [21] "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Notice also Luke 12:33-34 "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. [34] "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Does God have a problem with rich people? No, not at all, Abraham and Job were both very wealthy! What angers God is when His people have the wrong attitude towards wealth. The Apostle Paul advised Timothy on how to instruct to wealthy Christians in 1 Tim. 6:17-19. Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. [18] Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, [19] storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

What’s the point? Wise Christians keep their focus on the eternal rather than the earthly. If God blesses you with earthly riches invest them in eternal treasures! God will hold each of us accountable for how we have used His resources. Remember, you can not earn your way to heaven folks. Salvation is a free gift. But you will be held accountable for what you have done with the gifts and blessings connected to it! Paul says we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of our lives. Those who have been faithful will be rewarded and the unfaithful will suffer loss!

Some of you maybe thinking these truths do not apply to you because you do not consider yourself wealthy. By biblical standards and by comparison to the rest of the world, nearly every American is rich!

James 1:9-12 Responding to Trials (part 7)

2006-04-02T17:23:00.000-05:00

James 1:9-12 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; [10] and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. [11] For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. [12] Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Today's text is about the practical application of godly wisdom. James wants his audience to understand and respond to their situation from God's perspective. To lack wisdom, is to lack God's perspective.

Remember that James wrote to Christian Jews who were refugees of persecution. They were suffering financially and being taken advantage of by rich oppressors. (See James 2:5-7 for some evidence of this fact.) In the first century, there was no justice for someone who was poor or of low status because court cases were decided by status rather than facts. Therefore, the rich always won since they were of higher status. They used their status to take away what little the poor had and to cheat them of their rightful wages. (See James 5:1-6)

James instructs these poor refugees to evaluate their situation from God’s perspective. In this world they maybe despised and rejected but God has chose them before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him in love (Eph1:4). In this world they maybe of low status but in God’s kingdom they are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a people for God’s own possession (1 Peter 1:9). In this world they maybe persecuted, but at Christ’s coming they will be vindicated. (see 2 Thess. 1:3-10) In this world they maybe impoverished, but in God’s economy they are wealthy beyond measure. In fact,1 Peter 1:3-6 says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, [5] who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials. In this world you maybe suffering, but in the next you will receive glory. Romans 8:16-18 says, The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, [17] and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Are you in the midst of a trial? Are you wisely viewing it from God’s perspective? Often, this is our greatest struggle. This was the struggle for the original recipients of James’ letter. They came from a background that saw poverty and trouble as sign of God’s displeasure. If someone were prosperous they viewed that as evidence of God’s blessing and favor. James turned their worldview upside down!

Listen folks! The fact you have trials shows that God loves you and deals with you as His beloved children. He is seeking to build endurance into your lives. He wants to multiply you faith, strengthen your character, and mature you. These are the reasons for your trials! As Peter says, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time!

What’s the main point of today’s devotion? Wise Christians will evaluate themselves and their situation by God’s standard and not the world's. V9

2 Peter 2:1-3

2006-03-31T21:07:00.000-06:00

2 Peter 2:1-3 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. [2] Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; [3] and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Satan has two weapons he uses to attack the church. One of those weapons is persecution. Most of us know nothing about persecution. Of course, this is because we live in a nation where we are free to worship as we choose.

The second weapon that Satan uses to attack the church is deception or false teaching. Every person reading this has been exposed to some form of deception or false teaching at one time or another. At times you immediately recognized it and other times you didn’t.

My first experience with false teaching came early in my walk with Christ. A few weeks after I became a Christian, I received a copy of a magazine called The Plain Truth. This magazine, as some of you may remember, was published by the Worldwide Church of God which was founded by Herbert W. Armstrong. After reading one of those magazines, I began to struggle with worshiping on Sunday. The magazine I read presented a convincing argument for worshiping on Saturday. It was especially convincing to a new Christian who knew almost nothing about the Scriptures. Before long that magazine had me questioning many things. Finally, I went to my pastor and he set me straight on those issues. He showed me how the teaching in The Plain Truth was in error. He also explained to me that the Worldwide Church of God was a cult. Looking back at my experience, it is clear to me that enemy will do all he can to deceive us with false teaching.

The problem for us is that Satan is sneaky and deceptive. He doesn’t come to us and say, “Hi I am the liar and the deceiver and I am here to give you some false teaching.” Instead he comes as Paul writes in 2 Cor. 11:14. In that verse Paul says, “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” False teachers always disguise themselves. Usually, they appear to be good and moral people and their teaching will be appealing and persuasive. It will always contain some truth mixed with error. They use the just enough truth to get people to listen.

Peter warned us about such teachers in 2 Peter 2:1-3. “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them‑‑bringing swift destruction on themselves. [2] Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. [3] In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” Peter makes at least four important points here. First there will be false teachers in the church. Second they will introduce destructive heresies. Third they will bring Christianity into disrepute. Finally they will be motivated by greed. Does this describe any of the so called Christian teachers you are familiar with? I can think of several, and most of them are on a particular Christian TV network.

My purpose in writing this devotion is not to denounce TV preachers. But I do want to adequately prepare you to stand against the onslaught of false teaching in the church today. That is my responsibility as an under-shepherd of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How can you avoid being deceived? First, study the Word of God for yourself and measure everything you hear by it. Second, pray for discernment. Third, pay attention to the Holy Spirit inside you and His promptings. The Spirit will raise a caution or check in our spirits if we are exposed to error. Whatever you do don’t quench the Spirit, instead thoroughly search the Scriptures and pray for answers. Fourth, join a Bible believing church if you don't belong to one. Finally, invest the time necessary to gain a basic understanding of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. If you’ll do these things you won’t be easily deceived!

Colossians 4:12-13

2006-03-30T19:57:00.000-06:00

Col. 4:12-13 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. [13] For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Yesterday, one of my spiritual fathers emailed and shared that he had been praying verse 12 for me at 5:00 am in the morning. Talk about encouraging! I praise God that I have someone who is so concerned about my spiritual growth that he is praying Scripture over my life. I am confident that God will answer.

My spiritual father is like Epaphras. Note what the Life Application Commentary says about Epaphras. "He was a hero of the Colossian church, one of the believers who had helped keep the church together despite growing troubles. His earnest prayers for the believers show his deep love and concern for them. The word for wrestling is the same word used in 1:29 and 2:1. It describes physical striving and conflict, as with an athlete in an arena. Just as Paul was struggling for the church in ministry, so Epaphras was struggling in intercessory prayer. Such descriptions indicate that prayer was not a one-time event, but a long-term labor requiring complete energy."

Epaphras prayed two things for the Colossians. First he prayed for their spiritual maturity. That’s what he means by standing perfect. Second he prayed that they would be confident or fully assured about God's will.

Maturity is becoming complete in Christ. It is becoming all that God has planned for you to be. It is reaching your full potential in Christ.

Being fully assured about God's will is to know His truth and plans. This includes more than just knowledge. It involves discernment. You see, there were those in Colossae trying to deceive the believers (See Col.2:4 ff.). Epaphras was in essence praying that the Colossians would be so sure of God's will that it would be impossible to deceive them.

Maybe you don't enjoy the blessing of having a spiritual father who faithfully prays this way for you. I want you (LVCC) to know that I consider it a privilege to interceed for you. Have a great day!

Proverbs 30:7-9

2006-03-29T21:21:00.000-06:00

Proverbs 30:7-9 Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die:[8] Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, [9] That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the Lord?" Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.

I have made it my habit to read through Proverbs every month for the last several years. I read chapter 1 on the first day of the month, chapter 2 on the second day and so on. By reading Proverbs this way, I have etched many of the book's nuggets of wisdom into my mind.

One of my favorite nuggets of wisdom is contained in today's passage. Agur, the human author of this text, makes two requests of the Lord. He asks the Lord to give him neither poverty nor wealth, but just what he needs.

Some wrongly assume when Agur asks to be kept from "falsehood and deceitful words" in verse 8, that it is a separate request. But Old Testament scholar Duane Garrett says "The “falsehood and lies” of v. 8 are the deceptiveness of both wealth and poverty. The former convinces one that God is not necessary; and the latter, that either he is of no help or that his laws are impossible to keep."

Folks, Jesus taught us to pray this same way when he instructed us to ask for "our daily bread." In the first century, when Jesus uttered those words, one was considered well off if they had clothes on their back and food for the day. How foreign this is to the American way of thinking. Most of us have several days’ food in our cupboards. In fact, most Americans have such abundance that they have lost their sense of dependence on God.

Could it be that our apparent prosperity has caused us to assume that God is not necessary? Is this why there are more cars in the parking lot of the local Wal-Mart on any given Sunday than our churches? Who can deny that America's material prosperity has created an atmosphere of spiritual poverty?

No doubt, some of you are struggling financially. Could it be that God is trying to teach you to trust Him on a daily basis for your needs? Could it be that God is teaching you to be content with the basics? Maybe you’re struggling financially because of your tendency to drift away from God when you prosper. Whatever the reason, draw near to the Lord and trust Him to meet your needs. Resist the urge to depend on Visa or MasterCard!

Also, notice Agur's motivation for seeking God's provision in verse 13. He doesn't want to be put in a position where he will give in to temptation and profane God's name. Agur's request is not so much about himself or his comfort as it is about God's reputation and His glory. God will answer this kind of prayer.

Now do you see why I read Proverbs everyday? God's wisdom is available to those who take the time to seek it. Are you making time on a daily basis to seek God's wisdom?

James 1:1-4 Responding to Trials (part 6)

2006-03-28T20:38:00.000-06:00

James 1:1-4 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. [2] Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, [3] knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. [4] And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Yesterday morning as I was praying for several from our church family who are going through difficult times, I believe the Lord gave me this insight. The Lord is planning to use LVCC to do some incredible things for His glory. He is using our present circumstances to build perseverance in us individually and corporately. The Lord is bringing our corporate body to maturity. He wants us to grow up and reproduce! As I have said before, there are no shortcuts to maturity. Maturity is developed as we struggle through trials with God's help.

In addition to character and maturity, God is seeking to establish and strengthen our faith. It will take great faith to do the things God is preparing for us. Think about what is ahead. We are on the verge of forming two different partnerships to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. Folks, this will take perseverance, maturity and faith!

I believe God has more planned for LVCC. He intends to use us to impact the Fox Valley in some unique ways. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us. It will not be easy but it will be worth it! Again, we will need perseverance, maturity and faith.

We have some decisions to make. Will we learn and grow as a corporate body from our present trials? Will we let them make us better or will we cave into bitterness and miss the opportunities that lie ahead? God is looking for a people who will love and trust Him whether times are good or bad. It's easy to love God and follow Him when things are good. Only the faithful hang in there when times are really tough! Let endurance have it's perfect work so that LVCC will be mature and complete, lacking nothing. We want to be ready for the Master's use!

James 1:5 Responding to Trials (part 5)

2006-03-27T21:37:00.000-06:00

James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Today's devotional is in honor of my friend and brother in Christ, Garrick Eppinger. Garrick is having a pump surgically implanted in his chest today. This is a temporary fix until a donor heart can be found for a transplant.

Garrick's attitude through this trial has exemplified James words in James 1:2-4. Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

Garrick views this time of illness as an opportunity to witness and minister to others. He has determined to encourage and show Christ love to everyone he encounters. In fact, when you go to the hospital to minister to Garrick you leave knowing that he ministered to you.

No nurse or doctor works on Garrick without hearing about his Lord and receiving some encouragement. When the hospital chaplains come to see Garrick he prays for them. One chaplain recently commented that Garrick should be a chaplain. Garrick is a chaplain where ever he goes!

Wisdom is the ability to see life from God's perspective and respond accordingly. Garrick's wise and godly response to his adverse situation is the result of possessing this wisdom. Where did he get it? Is it available to everyone? James 1:5 answers this question. Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.

The next time you find yourself in the midst of adversity let me encourage you to follow James command and Garrick's example! Such a response will glorify God, strengthen your faith and character, and impact the lives of others.