Here are a few principles for parents in disciplining their children. These are taken from Douglas Wilson, who states that the methods of discipline are not as important as the principles that underly the disciplinary process. So here are some of the principles he highlights.
As we parent, our discipline must be:
Practiced by faith. Parents must ensure that discipline in the home clings to God's promises on the subject. As Christians, we discipline out of obedience to God, and we trust that He will bless us accordingly.
Affectionate. This is taken directly from Hebrews 12 which states, "whom the Lord loves He chastens." Discipline, in the biblical context, represents love, affection, and identification. Wilson states, "A man who refuses to discipline his son is, in effect, disinheriting him." Failure to discipline is failure to love.
Judicial as well as spiritual (Gal 6:1). Discipline must always follow a trespass. We discipline our children by faith in the Lord who is both loving and just. As we look to Him in our disciplining, our children will look to Him in their repenting.
Swift (Gal 6:7; Prov 13:24). We are also teaching our children the principle of sowing and reaping. There are consequences to our actions. God is faithful to respond to our obedience as well as our disobedience. In order to teach this principle effectively, the time between sowing and reaping should be as short as possible.
Painful (Heb 12:11). If it is not painful, it is not discipline, nor is it loving (also cf. Prov 13:24). It must be done swiftly and must always be followed by comforting love. Wilson adds, "A man who is incapable of lovingly encouraging his children after discipline is not qualified to exercise any discipline at all."
Followed by instruction and prayer. If the child has any questions after being disciplined, they should be answered. Prayer is also appropriate at this time. The Lord, who the child has ultimately disobeyed, is present and forgiving - the breach of fellowship is now gone. The parents should also take special care to be cheerful and warm.
Effective (Heb 12:11b). Discipline is different than punishment in that it is corrective. It seeks a change in character and behavior. If it is not having this effect, then it is not discipline. Change the method, not the principle.
According to biblical standards (Mt 15:9). The difference between house rules and God's rules should be clearly maintained. The child must know and understand the biblical standards that constitute and command his covenantal obedience. For example: God does not require that a child not throw a ball in the house. But God does require children to obey their parents - this is why they must not throw a ball in the house.
Very simply, our children must understand that they must live under the Lordship of Christ in faith and obedience. His Word is clear about how we should do this. Scripture, therefore, should follow discipline - especially those that speak of the blessings that follow obedience to parents (Exod 20:12)!
To summarize, our aim in disciplining our children is to have them live under the gracious blessings of God. It is the farthest thing from some dogmatic power-trip to labor with all of our might to get our children to heaven.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Some Of The Most Dangerous Words In Print
Richard Dawkins, who is perhaps today's most influential evolutionary biologist, is known for writing and speaking many words concerning religion and reductionism. It is obvious that he is anti-religious, and sees no problem whatsoever with writing statements like this:
We are survival machines - robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules [of DNA] known as genes.
If Dawkins is correct is asserting that the discovery of the structure of DNA and its genetic code "has dealt the final blow to the belief that living material is deeply distinct from nonliving material," then human beings are of no more value and have no more purpose in living than the non-living table I am currently leaning upon.
These words, and more importantly, the ideology that underlies them, are some of the most dangerous words in print. Here are just a few of the reasons why:
1. If we are nothing more than "robot vehicles blindly programmed" then there is no such thing as freedom. Dawkins and myself are no more responsible for the words we write than the wind is for blowing. Here and there, this idea or that, we have no way of controlling what we say or do. Our "life-like" expressions are nothing more than the result of our blind programming.
2. If this is true, then we have no way of predicting our behavior in the future. Sure, Dawkins may say that he will "probably" act this way or that, but even that inference via induction is entirely inconsistent with an empirical worldview. Dawkins has no way of assuring us that he will not be a child molester tomorrow.
3. If he becomes a child molester tomorrow, then, according to his worldview, he is not responsible for such and can be judged by no objective ethical standard. His atheistic worldview may sit nicely packaged on the shelf, and it may sound intelligent enough through his british accent, but it is deadly and poisonous. He may be a nice guy who believes what he writes wholeheartedly, but one thing is certain...
Should he molest a child tomorrow, and should he be convicted and incarcerated, he will soon meet a very large, strong, and brutal organism. And given that most incarcerated organisms are blindly programed to detest every single DNA strand of child molesters, Dawkins will forcefully be compelled to yell to the top of his lungs "STOP!" to which his adversary will respond, "I read your book. As far as I am concerned you are not living."
We are survival machines - robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules [of DNA] known as genes.
If Dawkins is correct is asserting that the discovery of the structure of DNA and its genetic code "has dealt the final blow to the belief that living material is deeply distinct from nonliving material," then human beings are of no more value and have no more purpose in living than the non-living table I am currently leaning upon.
These words, and more importantly, the ideology that underlies them, are some of the most dangerous words in print. Here are just a few of the reasons why:
1. If we are nothing more than "robot vehicles blindly programmed" then there is no such thing as freedom. Dawkins and myself are no more responsible for the words we write than the wind is for blowing. Here and there, this idea or that, we have no way of controlling what we say or do. Our "life-like" expressions are nothing more than the result of our blind programming.
2. If this is true, then we have no way of predicting our behavior in the future. Sure, Dawkins may say that he will "probably" act this way or that, but even that inference via induction is entirely inconsistent with an empirical worldview. Dawkins has no way of assuring us that he will not be a child molester tomorrow.
3. If he becomes a child molester tomorrow, then, according to his worldview, he is not responsible for such and can be judged by no objective ethical standard. His atheistic worldview may sit nicely packaged on the shelf, and it may sound intelligent enough through his british accent, but it is deadly and poisonous. He may be a nice guy who believes what he writes wholeheartedly, but one thing is certain...
Should he molest a child tomorrow, and should he be convicted and incarcerated, he will soon meet a very large, strong, and brutal organism. And given that most incarcerated organisms are blindly programed to detest every single DNA strand of child molesters, Dawkins will forcefully be compelled to yell to the top of his lungs "STOP!" to which his adversary will respond, "I read your book. As far as I am concerned you are not living."
Thursday, July 28, 2011
The Reason We Believe What God Says
As I work through Frame's, The Doctrine of God, my faith is increasingly strengthened. I am also more convinced that the naturalistic bend of our current educational culture, to qualify science as that which is founded upon reason while religion is that which is founded on faith (faith being in their mind defined as that which is without reason), is nothing more than a rebellious bias against the all-knowing, personal Creator.
We have solid and sure reasons for trusting in God. This excerpt from Frame explains why:
Since God created and governs all things, He is the original interpreter of creation, the one who understands the world in all its depths - not only its material nature, but also its ultimate meaning and purpose. God, therefore, has the ultimate viewpoint on the world - the broadest, deepest understanding of it. His word about Himself or about the world, therefore, is more credible than any other word or any other means of knowing. It obligates belief, trust, and obedience.
Simply put, because God tells us so, we have the best reason available to believe and know things about our world. It is the mark of an irrational mind to believe Dawkins, a mere man, with very limited information and ability, over God, the One who personally created everything Dawkins has ever studied as well as the mind with which he studies.
We can trust what the Lord says.
We have solid and sure reasons for trusting in God. This excerpt from Frame explains why:
Since God created and governs all things, He is the original interpreter of creation, the one who understands the world in all its depths - not only its material nature, but also its ultimate meaning and purpose. God, therefore, has the ultimate viewpoint on the world - the broadest, deepest understanding of it. His word about Himself or about the world, therefore, is more credible than any other word or any other means of knowing. It obligates belief, trust, and obedience.
Simply put, because God tells us so, we have the best reason available to believe and know things about our world. It is the mark of an irrational mind to believe Dawkins, a mere man, with very limited information and ability, over God, the One who personally created everything Dawkins has ever studied as well as the mind with which he studies.
We can trust what the Lord says.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Recap of Amos 1-6
I am preaching through the book of Amos. I have two sermons left that will cover chapters 7-9. The following is a recap of what we have covered in those sermons.
Amos 1. The Lord roars from Zion, as a Lion coming in judgment, against the nations (1:2). He is speaking to His people through His prophet Amos. He is sovereign over all peoples and consequently has the right to demand obedience from all peoples. He also has every right to curse in response to covenantal disobedience. These countries surround Israel on all sides and as the list progresses their sins become more heinous. The Lord is patient (“for three transgressions and for four”), but patience, by nature, has an end (“I will not revoke the punishment”).
Amos 2. This is a rhetorical noose that Amos ties around Israel’s neck. Being from the Southern Kingdom (Judah), Amos would have had to build some clout. As he indicted the surrounding countries, Israel would have agreed wholeheartedly and would have praised God for His justice. The people of God would have loved Amos’s preaching until 2:6 when the indictments turned toward themselves. The people of God were abusing, neglecting and oppressing the poor and marginalized for their own personal gain. They, too, deserved God’s judgment (2:6-16).
Amos 3. Being the elect of God, those upon whom lies the special love of God (3:2), does not exempt them from judgment, but is rather cause for more judgment. They had forgotten and rejected the ways of the Lord (2:4). They had misrepresented Him terribly. Rather than blessing others, they were abusing others. And rather than being a spectacle of righteousness for the other nations to see, they were just the opposite (3:9-10). For Israel, the Lord was faithful to bless, but not to curse. They were wrong. The curse would come through destruction - by both natural disaster (1:1) and exile by a foreign army (3:11).
Amos 4. Israel’s cultish religion and material affluence had caused them to ignore God’s previous warnings. The disasters that Israel previously experienced were specific covenant curses that were laid out in the law (Deut 28). They should have interpreted natural occurrences covenantally and theologically. Because they had rejected the law of the Lord, they did not see the natural disasters as Personal warnings for their covenantal misconduct. Instead of being led to repentance by the disasters and “returning to the Lord” (4:6-11), Israel saw themselves as innocent victims of random acts of nature. Again, they were wrong. Therefore, they were to prepare to meet their God (4:12).
Amos 5. The Lord explains more precisely what His judgment will be (the judgmental “this” of 4:12). Israel would be completely destroyed (5:2-3). Escape, via human strength or human righteousness, was simply not a possibility (5:8-9). The Sovereign, All-Knowing Lord of the universe was coming with justice. Israel was guilty (5:12). The only safe response was to seek Him in order to live – to hate evil and love good (vv.5, 6, 14, 15).
Amos 6. God hates those who are religious (5:21-23), self-confident (6:1-3) and self-indulgent (6:4-7); as well as those who “turn justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood” (6:12). Empty people who constantly consume at other people’s expense (like cows of Bashan – 4:1) are an abomination and a horrible distortion of God’s purpose for humanity. Israel, instead of blessing the nations with the justice and righteousness of God (Gen 12:3), and, instead of being an everflowing fountain of love, generosity and equity (5:24), they were a people who the helpless feared most. Israel would therefore become helpless. They would go into exile (6:14). Before, they desired the Day of the Lord (5:18), after, no one would want to mention His Name (6:10).
While the main message of Amos is seemingly grim, light can be seen throughout in the most majestic ways. The Lord is not indifferent to oppression. He hates injustice. He knows about and will sovereignly judge all acts of injustice. These are glorious truths. However, in an age when people are more prone to despise a police officer for giving a speeding ticket, than to thank him for doing his job well, Amos may be a difficult message for us to hear.
But the message of salvation through judgment is clear. The Lion is coming in judgment. Only those who repent and believe will live.
Amos 1. The Lord roars from Zion, as a Lion coming in judgment, against the nations (1:2). He is speaking to His people through His prophet Amos. He is sovereign over all peoples and consequently has the right to demand obedience from all peoples. He also has every right to curse in response to covenantal disobedience. These countries surround Israel on all sides and as the list progresses their sins become more heinous. The Lord is patient (“for three transgressions and for four”), but patience, by nature, has an end (“I will not revoke the punishment”).
Amos 2. This is a rhetorical noose that Amos ties around Israel’s neck. Being from the Southern Kingdom (Judah), Amos would have had to build some clout. As he indicted the surrounding countries, Israel would have agreed wholeheartedly and would have praised God for His justice. The people of God would have loved Amos’s preaching until 2:6 when the indictments turned toward themselves. The people of God were abusing, neglecting and oppressing the poor and marginalized for their own personal gain. They, too, deserved God’s judgment (2:6-16).
Amos 3. Being the elect of God, those upon whom lies the special love of God (3:2), does not exempt them from judgment, but is rather cause for more judgment. They had forgotten and rejected the ways of the Lord (2:4). They had misrepresented Him terribly. Rather than blessing others, they were abusing others. And rather than being a spectacle of righteousness for the other nations to see, they were just the opposite (3:9-10). For Israel, the Lord was faithful to bless, but not to curse. They were wrong. The curse would come through destruction - by both natural disaster (1:1) and exile by a foreign army (3:11).
Amos 4. Israel’s cultish religion and material affluence had caused them to ignore God’s previous warnings. The disasters that Israel previously experienced were specific covenant curses that were laid out in the law (Deut 28). They should have interpreted natural occurrences covenantally and theologically. Because they had rejected the law of the Lord, they did not see the natural disasters as Personal warnings for their covenantal misconduct. Instead of being led to repentance by the disasters and “returning to the Lord” (4:6-11), Israel saw themselves as innocent victims of random acts of nature. Again, they were wrong. Therefore, they were to prepare to meet their God (4:12).
Amos 5. The Lord explains more precisely what His judgment will be (the judgmental “this” of 4:12). Israel would be completely destroyed (5:2-3). Escape, via human strength or human righteousness, was simply not a possibility (5:8-9). The Sovereign, All-Knowing Lord of the universe was coming with justice. Israel was guilty (5:12). The only safe response was to seek Him in order to live – to hate evil and love good (vv.5, 6, 14, 15).
Amos 6. God hates those who are religious (5:21-23), self-confident (6:1-3) and self-indulgent (6:4-7); as well as those who “turn justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood” (6:12). Empty people who constantly consume at other people’s expense (like cows of Bashan – 4:1) are an abomination and a horrible distortion of God’s purpose for humanity. Israel, instead of blessing the nations with the justice and righteousness of God (Gen 12:3), and, instead of being an everflowing fountain of love, generosity and equity (5:24), they were a people who the helpless feared most. Israel would therefore become helpless. They would go into exile (6:14). Before, they desired the Day of the Lord (5:18), after, no one would want to mention His Name (6:10).
While the main message of Amos is seemingly grim, light can be seen throughout in the most majestic ways. The Lord is not indifferent to oppression. He hates injustice. He knows about and will sovereignly judge all acts of injustice. These are glorious truths. However, in an age when people are more prone to despise a police officer for giving a speeding ticket, than to thank him for doing his job well, Amos may be a difficult message for us to hear.
But the message of salvation through judgment is clear. The Lion is coming in judgment. Only those who repent and believe will live.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Pajama's From Hell
As far as I am concerned these baby pajamas could burn. I don't even want them to exist in my home - not even for play dolls. For three pajama transgressions or for four, I will not revoke this punishment. These pajamas are from you know where - and there they shall return!
"Why?" you ask? Isn't it obvious?
Oh, wait. I forgot. You are the perfect, patient, parent aren't you, who thinks its fun to snap 873 buttons at the end of the day while clothing a child who moves around more than a recently exposed earthworm (I have no idea where that came from!).
Oh yeah, sure, I bet your child is the obedient phenomenon too, doing exactly what say as you whisper, "Be still little sweet pumpkin so I can snap your pajamas..."
Yep, I bet you are that parent with a degree in pajamanetics, who can immediately figure out which side is the front and which is the back. And I am sure that you never have to undo all the snaps at the end because you missed a snap in the process!
And, finally, aren't you just the wonderful parent that loves changing diapers so much that in order to get to the diaper you have to unsnap the whole blaming pajama to get to it and then repeat the whole process!
Oh, wait, I forgot again that your child never wets or dirties her diaper right after you put her jamies on.
Sure.
Am I bitter? Yes. Why? Because I took economics in college (I think). Therefore, I understand this little thing called supply and demand. These pajamas are supplied in stores because there is a demand for them. Yes, you demand them, Mr. and Mrs. Perfect-Parent-Pajama-Putter-Onner. You couldn't look one rack over at the store and purchase the zipper ones huh? Show off.
Thanks a lot. Now, when I'm asked to put my little girls pajamas on, I go into a panic attack.
"Why?" you ask? Isn't it obvious? Oh, wait. I forgot. You are the perfect, patient, parent aren't you, who thinks its fun to snap 873 buttons at the end of the day while clothing a child who moves around more than a recently exposed earthworm (I have no idea where that came from!).
Oh yeah, sure, I bet your child is the obedient phenomenon too, doing exactly what say as you whisper, "Be still little sweet pumpkin so I can snap your pajamas..."
Yep, I bet you are that parent with a degree in pajamanetics, who can immediately figure out which side is the front and which is the back. And I am sure that you never have to undo all the snaps at the end because you missed a snap in the process!
And, finally, aren't you just the wonderful parent that loves changing diapers so much that in order to get to the diaper you have to unsnap the whole blaming pajama to get to it and then repeat the whole process!
Oh, wait, I forgot again that your child never wets or dirties her diaper right after you put her jamies on.
Sure.
Am I bitter? Yes. Why? Because I took economics in college (I think). Therefore, I understand this little thing called supply and demand. These pajamas are supplied in stores because there is a demand for them. Yes, you demand them, Mr. and Mrs. Perfect-Parent-Pajama-Putter-Onner. You couldn't look one rack over at the store and purchase the zipper ones huh? Show off.
Thanks a lot. Now, when I'm asked to put my little girls pajamas on, I go into a panic attack.
Monday, July 25, 2011
How Women Can Help In The Battle Against P0rn
Many of you know my story. That for many years I fought to be liberated from the slavery and tyranny of pornography. Counseling helped, sometimes. Strategies also kept me clean, occasionally. But it wasn't until I saw the light of the gospel of Christ through the brokenness of my wife (2 Cor 4:7-12), followed by her active and continual willingness to bear my burdens, that I finally felt freedom. I wrote about this process here.
This post is primarily directed to the married women in the church. It will consist of both correction and admonition.
First, the correction. It has been my experience that many [if not most] wives are oblivious to their husband's struggle with pornography. I guess the assumption is that their husbands are not "one of those guys." And they may very well not be. But I can assure you of this, that they fight not to be. In an over-sexualized culture, visually stimulated men are under constant attack. To remain oblivious is the equivalent of leaving an outnumbered soldier to fight by himself in a very intense battle. It won't be long before he falls.
It has also been my experience that many wives who are aware of their husband's battle make the decision to have him deal with it on his own. There could be many reasons for this. Either women do not feel equipped to help, or they may be too hurt to help, or maybe they are to repulsed to visit the subject any further. The hope is that their husband will get over it (quickly) so that it will never come up again. While this would be nice, it is simply not reality.
For the longest time, I would have agreed with those who say that wives cannot help because they just don't understand. Not any more. It's a lie. I can think of no better person than my wife to help me. She is with me more than any other. She knows me better than any other. She loves me more than any other. And she is committed to me more than any other. Why in the world would wives not be on the front lines of this battle field? Perhaps our pseudo-mochoism has gotten in the way. Women, contrary to popular belief, are very good soldiers.
Now for the admonition. If you are a wife who is either alarmed, convicted, and/or motivated by what you have just read, here are some practical ways that you can fight for and with your husband. I also understand that wives are not immune to the pornography trap - so, husbands, this is for you too. We must fight together against a sin that, by nature, would have us die alone.
First, wives must understand that, while pornography is something that he struggles with, it is not merely his problem. In marriage two become one. There is a way in which sin is no longer addressed at his or hers, but ours. I am not saying that wives are guilty of their husband's sin. But I am saying that our spouses should never fight their sin alone. If one spouse sins, the whole family suffers. Therefore, the whole family must take responsibility and go to war.
Second, women should talk to their husbands frequently and openly about sexual sin. Walking in light is the liberating way. Often times, indulging in pornography is the result of a sequence of frustrating events. Confessing and talking about those things helps so much. The ultimate solution to pornography is not canceling the internet service, but rather confessing and discussing struggles, pains, frustrations and sorrows to someone who cares and who is prepared with the gospel.
It is so liberating to know that when I am having a rough day, I can call my wife and tell her that I am tempted to think about or look at bad things. It is during these moments when the gospel has been applied to the most wounded parts of my life. My wife has provided a marital environment that promotes walking in light, especially during times when we are tempted to run into darkness.
Third, the environment must be saturated with both justice and mercy - yes, the Cross of Christ must be center. Indulging in pornography is sin that deserves an eternity in hell. It deeply hurts those who love us and are committed to us. It communicates to women that they are unloved, un-pretty, and unfit to give us physical, emotional and sexual gratification. Pornography strikes at the very heart of our wives existence.
Wives, you should never undermine the severity of this sin, nor should your pain be ignored or suppressed. Pornography is adultery, and in a very real way gives you a judicial/biblical reason for divorce. A man needs to see and know this. He needs to see how his sin hurts others.
Wives, you should also know that this is precisely when and where mercy shines most. When a sinner does not get what he knows he deserves it humbles him. And when a sinful husband sees his wife bearing the pain of what he has done, while embracing him in love, this changes him. This shadow of the Cross changes everything. This is my testimony. I have never been the same. My wife has never been the same either.
Forth, wives should be more concerned with the "sin underneath the sin." Indulging in pornography is not the ultimate problem. It is only a symptom; and just as a symptom pales in comparison to the actual disease, so does pornography pale in comparison to the sinful heart that will not run to Christ in the gospel. Your response to his sin should not be to merely say STOP!, but rather, to ask him why he cannot stop. In other words, don't give him a stop sign, give him a Savior. Heal the heart and the symptoms will simply go away.
Finally, women must walk in light as well. As a husband should openly confess his sins to his wife, so should the wife openly confess her sins to her husband. When one spouse is not confessing sin, the other is more inclined to hide. The repentant environment in the home must flow both ways. Husbands should not be the only ones who are graced with the ability to repent and place their faith in Christ. A wife who knows the forgiveness of Christ will be more liberated to offer the same forgiveness to her husband (and vise versa; cf. Lk 7:47).
Women, this will also protect you from falling into temptation. Bearing burdens is a dangerous task when attempted by "perfect" people (cf. Gal 6:1-2). However, when sinners bear the burdens of other sinners, somehow we "fulfill the law of Christ." This is amazing grace.
My corrections and admonitions are intended to bring healing to our lives, through faith and repentance, and in obedience to Christ alone. In a world that is so enslaved to this awful sin, I believe that gospel-saturated women are vital to our victory. Women cannot remain oblivious, but must relentlessly march, armed with the gospel, into the battlfield of their husband's heart. Soon and very soon we will have no less days to sing God's praise than when we'd first begun. Wives, get your husband to heaven.
This post is primarily directed to the married women in the church. It will consist of both correction and admonition.
First, the correction. It has been my experience that many [if not most] wives are oblivious to their husband's struggle with pornography. I guess the assumption is that their husbands are not "one of those guys." And they may very well not be. But I can assure you of this, that they fight not to be. In an over-sexualized culture, visually stimulated men are under constant attack. To remain oblivious is the equivalent of leaving an outnumbered soldier to fight by himself in a very intense battle. It won't be long before he falls.
It has also been my experience that many wives who are aware of their husband's battle make the decision to have him deal with it on his own. There could be many reasons for this. Either women do not feel equipped to help, or they may be too hurt to help, or maybe they are to repulsed to visit the subject any further. The hope is that their husband will get over it (quickly) so that it will never come up again. While this would be nice, it is simply not reality.
For the longest time, I would have agreed with those who say that wives cannot help because they just don't understand. Not any more. It's a lie. I can think of no better person than my wife to help me. She is with me more than any other. She knows me better than any other. She loves me more than any other. And she is committed to me more than any other. Why in the world would wives not be on the front lines of this battle field? Perhaps our pseudo-mochoism has gotten in the way. Women, contrary to popular belief, are very good soldiers.
Now for the admonition. If you are a wife who is either alarmed, convicted, and/or motivated by what you have just read, here are some practical ways that you can fight for and with your husband. I also understand that wives are not immune to the pornography trap - so, husbands, this is for you too. We must fight together against a sin that, by nature, would have us die alone.
First, wives must understand that, while pornography is something that he struggles with, it is not merely his problem. In marriage two become one. There is a way in which sin is no longer addressed at his or hers, but ours. I am not saying that wives are guilty of their husband's sin. But I am saying that our spouses should never fight their sin alone. If one spouse sins, the whole family suffers. Therefore, the whole family must take responsibility and go to war.
Second, women should talk to their husbands frequently and openly about sexual sin. Walking in light is the liberating way. Often times, indulging in pornography is the result of a sequence of frustrating events. Confessing and talking about those things helps so much. The ultimate solution to pornography is not canceling the internet service, but rather confessing and discussing struggles, pains, frustrations and sorrows to someone who cares and who is prepared with the gospel.
It is so liberating to know that when I am having a rough day, I can call my wife and tell her that I am tempted to think about or look at bad things. It is during these moments when the gospel has been applied to the most wounded parts of my life. My wife has provided a marital environment that promotes walking in light, especially during times when we are tempted to run into darkness.
Third, the environment must be saturated with both justice and mercy - yes, the Cross of Christ must be center. Indulging in pornography is sin that deserves an eternity in hell. It deeply hurts those who love us and are committed to us. It communicates to women that they are unloved, un-pretty, and unfit to give us physical, emotional and sexual gratification. Pornography strikes at the very heart of our wives existence.
Wives, you should never undermine the severity of this sin, nor should your pain be ignored or suppressed. Pornography is adultery, and in a very real way gives you a judicial/biblical reason for divorce. A man needs to see and know this. He needs to see how his sin hurts others.
Wives, you should also know that this is precisely when and where mercy shines most. When a sinner does not get what he knows he deserves it humbles him. And when a sinful husband sees his wife bearing the pain of what he has done, while embracing him in love, this changes him. This shadow of the Cross changes everything. This is my testimony. I have never been the same. My wife has never been the same either.
Forth, wives should be more concerned with the "sin underneath the sin." Indulging in pornography is not the ultimate problem. It is only a symptom; and just as a symptom pales in comparison to the actual disease, so does pornography pale in comparison to the sinful heart that will not run to Christ in the gospel. Your response to his sin should not be to merely say STOP!, but rather, to ask him why he cannot stop. In other words, don't give him a stop sign, give him a Savior. Heal the heart and the symptoms will simply go away.
Finally, women must walk in light as well. As a husband should openly confess his sins to his wife, so should the wife openly confess her sins to her husband. When one spouse is not confessing sin, the other is more inclined to hide. The repentant environment in the home must flow both ways. Husbands should not be the only ones who are graced with the ability to repent and place their faith in Christ. A wife who knows the forgiveness of Christ will be more liberated to offer the same forgiveness to her husband (and vise versa; cf. Lk 7:47).
Women, this will also protect you from falling into temptation. Bearing burdens is a dangerous task when attempted by "perfect" people (cf. Gal 6:1-2). However, when sinners bear the burdens of other sinners, somehow we "fulfill the law of Christ." This is amazing grace.
My corrections and admonitions are intended to bring healing to our lives, through faith and repentance, and in obedience to Christ alone. In a world that is so enslaved to this awful sin, I believe that gospel-saturated women are vital to our victory. Women cannot remain oblivious, but must relentlessly march, armed with the gospel, into the battlfield of their husband's heart. Soon and very soon we will have no less days to sing God's praise than when we'd first begun. Wives, get your husband to heaven.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Great Word on Divine Sovereignty
Here is a great word on divine sovereignty from Dr. John Frame's book The Doctrine of God:
To say that God's controlling power is efficacious is simply to say that it always accomplishes its purpose. God never failed to accomplish what he sets out to do. Creatures may oppose him, to be sure, but they cannot prevail. For his own reasons, he has chosen to delay the fulfillment of his intentions for the end of history, and to bring about those intentions through a complicated historical sequence of events. In that sequence, his purposes appear sometimes to suffer defeat, sometimes to achieve victory. But...each apparent defeat actually makes his eventual victory all the more glorious. The cross of Jesus is, of course, the chief example of this principle.
For anyone desiring to know more about theology, especially from the pen of someone who labors to keep deep matters on the same readable level as Newsweek or Time magazine (this, Frame has explicitly communicated), I would highly recommend this book. I would also recommend Salvation is of the Lord
for a systematic primer.
To say that God's controlling power is efficacious is simply to say that it always accomplishes its purpose. God never failed to accomplish what he sets out to do. Creatures may oppose him, to be sure, but they cannot prevail. For his own reasons, he has chosen to delay the fulfillment of his intentions for the end of history, and to bring about those intentions through a complicated historical sequence of events. In that sequence, his purposes appear sometimes to suffer defeat, sometimes to achieve victory. But...each apparent defeat actually makes his eventual victory all the more glorious. The cross of Jesus is, of course, the chief example of this principle.
For anyone desiring to know more about theology, especially from the pen of someone who labors to keep deep matters on the same readable level as Newsweek or Time magazine (this, Frame has explicitly communicated), I would highly recommend this book. I would also recommend Salvation is of the Lord
for a systematic primer.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
The Human Heart and Home Appliances
The human heart, and consequently the human life (because essence precedes existence - that is, who you are precedes what you do), without God, is like one huge vacuum cleaner. It is constantly taking in anything that happens to come within its reach. Vacuum cleaners, in a very practical way, are the most selfish machines around. All they do while they're on is take, take, and take some more.
If the analogy is accurate, then we must understand that those who are not filled with God cannot give anything rightly. Even if they do physically give of themselves or their possessions, we understand that this is really a form of spiritual selfishness. Giving is just a means of getting - that is, they are giving without the proper motivation.
On the other hand, the heart that is filled with God through faith in Jesus Christ, ceases to be a vacuum and is transformed into a blower. It exists to generously and constantly distribute to others. Because the Lord, by His Spirit, is ever-giving and overflowing, He causes His people to be givers and not takers. The riches that He provides them are freely given to all who come in contact with them.
Note: I understand that the analogy can break down if we consider that a blower actually pushes things away! But, forget about that for now and just follow along :)
Those who are filled with God have no need to take from others. The Creator of the universe is now intimately living inside of them by His Spirit. He provides all that they need. Now the believer may spend his/her time and possessions focused on others. This empowered existence is far from selfishness and is rightly characterized by love. Their giving is not only commanded (providing the right standard), but is also done with the right purpose (unto the glory of God) and with the right motive (love for others instead of self).
This could possibly be the worst analogy that I have come up with, but it gets the point across. Hopefully vacuuming your house will never be the same!
If the analogy is accurate, then we must understand that those who are not filled with God cannot give anything rightly. Even if they do physically give of themselves or their possessions, we understand that this is really a form of spiritual selfishness. Giving is just a means of getting - that is, they are giving without the proper motivation.
On the other hand, the heart that is filled with God through faith in Jesus Christ, ceases to be a vacuum and is transformed into a blower. It exists to generously and constantly distribute to others. Because the Lord, by His Spirit, is ever-giving and overflowing, He causes His people to be givers and not takers. The riches that He provides them are freely given to all who come in contact with them.
Note: I understand that the analogy can break down if we consider that a blower actually pushes things away! But, forget about that for now and just follow along :)
Those who are filled with God have no need to take from others. The Creator of the universe is now intimately living inside of them by His Spirit. He provides all that they need. Now the believer may spend his/her time and possessions focused on others. This empowered existence is far from selfishness and is rightly characterized by love. Their giving is not only commanded (providing the right standard), but is also done with the right purpose (unto the glory of God) and with the right motive (love for others instead of self).
This could possibly be the worst analogy that I have come up with, but it gets the point across. Hopefully vacuuming your house will never be the same!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Bearing Racial Burdens
I wrote an article for Holy Culture on bearing racial burdens. In this article I argue that it's the deep, non-transferable, non-purchasable things that are most significant - the things that are deeply woven into the fabric of our culture. These things offer opportunity both to love and to hate. And it is at this level that we must commit ourselves to bearing one another's burdens.
It is the gospel alone that commands us to painfully take upon ourselves the very thing that should cause us to run away. When people from different cultures lock arms this way, people notice.
Here is an excerpt from the article:
There are traits, experiences, cultural idiosyncrasies, tragedies, histories, and influences that are so deeply woven into our “racial fabric” that they are nontransferable. They are things that are a part of my whiteness, and things that are a special part your blackness. You cannot buy them in a store. You cannot download them on iTunes.
In a very real way, it is these things that truly matter. They are the deep things – the things that help us to love one another better; and, unfortunately that provide opportunities for us to hate one another. When they are embraced, we feel deeply loved. When they are rejected, we feel deeply hated. These particular idiosyncrasies carry weight, more weight than the jewelry we may wear, or the music we listen to, or the language we employ. After all, even if I were to dress and talk like a black man, there would be something (other than my skin) quite “un-black” about me. I would not BE black. And that’s okay...
It is our Christian duty to “bear” the burdens of others, while it is our cultural climate to despise them, or, simply act as if they don’t exist. In other words, if I choose not to bear the burden of my black brother, I will either despise him or I will superficially befriend him. Both are prejudiced. Both are hateful. We must bear one another’s burdens if we are to advance the Kingdom of God together in love...
You can read the rest of the article here.
It is the gospel alone that commands us to painfully take upon ourselves the very thing that should cause us to run away. When people from different cultures lock arms this way, people notice.
Here is an excerpt from the article:
There are traits, experiences, cultural idiosyncrasies, tragedies, histories, and influences that are so deeply woven into our “racial fabric” that they are nontransferable. They are things that are a part of my whiteness, and things that are a special part your blackness. You cannot buy them in a store. You cannot download them on iTunes.
In a very real way, it is these things that truly matter. They are the deep things – the things that help us to love one another better; and, unfortunately that provide opportunities for us to hate one another. When they are embraced, we feel deeply loved. When they are rejected, we feel deeply hated. These particular idiosyncrasies carry weight, more weight than the jewelry we may wear, or the music we listen to, or the language we employ. After all, even if I were to dress and talk like a black man, there would be something (other than my skin) quite “un-black” about me. I would not BE black. And that’s okay...
It is our Christian duty to “bear” the burdens of others, while it is our cultural climate to despise them, or, simply act as if they don’t exist. In other words, if I choose not to bear the burden of my black brother, I will either despise him or I will superficially befriend him. Both are prejudiced. Both are hateful. We must bear one another’s burdens if we are to advance the Kingdom of God together in love...
You can read the rest of the article here.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Relationships, Law, Grace, and The Gospel
Every person was created to be in relationship with God and with others. Relationships, therefore, are meaningful, satisfying and essential to our everyday lives. However, given that we take most good things for granted, the value of relationships is best illustrated negatively - that is, we understand their value, not while we have them, but when we don't. The gratitude we express while we're in relationship pales in comparison to the loneliness we feel when we're not.
It is essential (and loving) therefore, to clearly communicate the guidelines that serve to protect the relationship from fracture. The Bible calls these guidelines commandments. His commandments communicate to us what pleases and displeases Him. When we know and do that which is pleasing to Him, we can be confident that our relationship with Him is safe and secure. This is what the Bible calls freedom.
Breaking a commandment is called sin. The consequence of sin is loss of relationship, which the Bible calls death, slavery, and/or exile. The symptoms of which are fear, anxiety, depression and despair. Regaining life - or, restoring the relationship - is now frustrated by what the Bible calls the "dividing wall of hostility" (Eph 2:14).
We feel the effects of this wall in our own personal relationships as well. Try hugging someone you have offended. Approaching them as if nothing happened is wholly out of the question until the "wall" comes down.
But that raises the essential question, "How do we get the wall to come down?" In our efforts to be free from death, as well as to be satisfied in life, we often turn to the commandments to "work" our way back to where things used to be. We want our life back and we, in our arrogance, try to do all of the things the person likes as well as stay away from the things they do not like.
We try and pay our own debt. The only problem is, the debt is more than we can ever pay. This is why Hell is forever (contra., Rob Bell).
Following the commandments perfectly is what the Bible calls righteousness. It secures right relationship. But because our record is already fractured by sin, this righteousness through the law is impossible. To use the law to bring the wall down is to use it unlawfully. For the unrighteous, the law is not a means to deliver from death, nor is it a formula to enter into life.
God graciously gives His law to those whom He has delivered (cf. Exod 20). He does not give the law in order to be delivered. The difference is essential.
Righteousness, therefore, must come to sinners apart from the law. The Good News is that it has! But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart form the law (Rom 3:21). Sinners now have hope to be restored and reconciled to God, by faith in Jesus Christ, who alone is righteous (1John 2:1). Jesus Christ was exiled instead of us (Matt 27:46). He brought the wall down (Eph 2:14). He also gave us His righteousness (Rom 4:5) - reconciling us to God (Rom 5:10).
There is perhaps no better way to diagnose the human condition than St. Augustine's famous quote: You have made us for Yourself, therefore our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You. Faith in Christ alone is the only way to find our rest in God.
It is essential (and loving) therefore, to clearly communicate the guidelines that serve to protect the relationship from fracture. The Bible calls these guidelines commandments. His commandments communicate to us what pleases and displeases Him. When we know and do that which is pleasing to Him, we can be confident that our relationship with Him is safe and secure. This is what the Bible calls freedom.
Breaking a commandment is called sin. The consequence of sin is loss of relationship, which the Bible calls death, slavery, and/or exile. The symptoms of which are fear, anxiety, depression and despair. Regaining life - or, restoring the relationship - is now frustrated by what the Bible calls the "dividing wall of hostility" (Eph 2:14).
We feel the effects of this wall in our own personal relationships as well. Try hugging someone you have offended. Approaching them as if nothing happened is wholly out of the question until the "wall" comes down.
But that raises the essential question, "How do we get the wall to come down?" In our efforts to be free from death, as well as to be satisfied in life, we often turn to the commandments to "work" our way back to where things used to be. We want our life back and we, in our arrogance, try to do all of the things the person likes as well as stay away from the things they do not like.
We try and pay our own debt. The only problem is, the debt is more than we can ever pay. This is why Hell is forever (contra., Rob Bell).
Following the commandments perfectly is what the Bible calls righteousness. It secures right relationship. But because our record is already fractured by sin, this righteousness through the law is impossible. To use the law to bring the wall down is to use it unlawfully. For the unrighteous, the law is not a means to deliver from death, nor is it a formula to enter into life.
God graciously gives His law to those whom He has delivered (cf. Exod 20). He does not give the law in order to be delivered. The difference is essential.
Righteousness, therefore, must come to sinners apart from the law. The Good News is that it has! But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart form the law (Rom 3:21). Sinners now have hope to be restored and reconciled to God, by faith in Jesus Christ, who alone is righteous (1John 2:1). Jesus Christ was exiled instead of us (Matt 27:46). He brought the wall down (Eph 2:14). He also gave us His righteousness (Rom 4:5) - reconciling us to God (Rom 5:10).
There is perhaps no better way to diagnose the human condition than St. Augustine's famous quote: You have made us for Yourself, therefore our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You. Faith in Christ alone is the only way to find our rest in God.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Here Is The Blood - Watch At Your Own Risk
Live Action has produced this video called Here's The Blood. I have never seen anything like this. My first instinct is not to direct people's attention to the video - it being one of the most disturbing films I have ever watched.
Abortion, as a practice, has a tendency to remain in the abstract portions of our minds. Videos like this, however, bring those abstractions into reality. And they force us to respond somehow.
Here is the link to the video.
Here is a link that will provide information concerning the authenticity of what you are about to watch.
Abortion, as a practice, has a tendency to remain in the abstract portions of our minds. Videos like this, however, bring those abstractions into reality. And they force us to respond somehow.
Here is the link to the video.
Here is a link that will provide information concerning the authenticity of what you are about to watch.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
How Money Cannot Pay Our Nation's Debt
As talk of our nation's financial position continues to flood the public square, we must be aware of a few critical truths. Like a meticulous and caring physician, it is our obligation to assess the situation accurately and offer a diagnosis that faithfully represents the truth. While I don't pretend to be an economist, I feel that our Christian presuppositions empower us to offer an objective, deeper-than-economics, perspective.
Here are a few of my thoughts in this regard.
First, that we must cease to exalt money as God. One of the greatest injustices our nation has ever seen and/or committed is the active promotion and exaltation of the worthiness, sovereignty and satisfaction of money. Money is all-powerful and can fix the foundations that, by any other means, are unfixable. This is simply a lie.
As I mentioned in a previous post, America (or any other nation for that matter) cannot buy redemption. And if we continue to trust money for that end, we will continue to acquire debts beyond our ability to repay. This is the financial equivalent of total depravity - being personally responsible beyond personal ability. This is why bankruptcy is just over the horizon.
Second, that money, without a gospel-centered life accompanying it, will serve to deceive rather than deliver the person receiving it. By giving money alone, we exalt the power of money alone to solve all of life's problems. We therefore pay more attention to the stories of how money has done this or that, rather than cherishing the Word of God the testimony of how the Lord does whatsoever He pleases (Ps 115; Matt 13:22).
Third, by giving money alone, we affirm our own trust in money. If my second point says something about money, this point says something about us. Instead of fighting for justice on behalf of the marginalized, we try and purchase it. In other words, we send money to work for us. Writing a check is less of a sacrifice than bearing a burden. Instead of showing how the Lord loves through us, we send the message that money works instead of us.
Finally, as money is shown in the coming days to be powerless, we must spend our lives sharing the All-Powerful One. This is done by repenting for the times when we have not trusted in Christ alone and then actively clinging by faith to Christ alone for our righteousness.
It is quite possible that the days to come will bring great hunger and thirst. As Christians, however, we should not reject this; but rather wholeheartedly welcome it. Hunger and thirst, while physically tragic, often accompany the spiritual redemption of the Lord (Exodus 15-17; Numbers 10-11). For stubborn sinners such as ourselves, it takes great hunger and thirst to shake us from our idols. But our gracious God uses such times to save stubborn sinners by giving them Manna from heaven and water from the Rock.
Our debt is not ultimately financial. It is moral. We don't need a loan. We need redemption. For this Christ alone is sufficient.
Here are a few of my thoughts in this regard.
First, that we must cease to exalt money as God. One of the greatest injustices our nation has ever seen and/or committed is the active promotion and exaltation of the worthiness, sovereignty and satisfaction of money. Money is all-powerful and can fix the foundations that, by any other means, are unfixable. This is simply a lie.
As I mentioned in a previous post, America (or any other nation for that matter) cannot buy redemption. And if we continue to trust money for that end, we will continue to acquire debts beyond our ability to repay. This is the financial equivalent of total depravity - being personally responsible beyond personal ability. This is why bankruptcy is just over the horizon.
Second, that money, without a gospel-centered life accompanying it, will serve to deceive rather than deliver the person receiving it. By giving money alone, we exalt the power of money alone to solve all of life's problems. We therefore pay more attention to the stories of how money has done this or that, rather than cherishing the Word of God the testimony of how the Lord does whatsoever He pleases (Ps 115; Matt 13:22).
Third, by giving money alone, we affirm our own trust in money. If my second point says something about money, this point says something about us. Instead of fighting for justice on behalf of the marginalized, we try and purchase it. In other words, we send money to work for us. Writing a check is less of a sacrifice than bearing a burden. Instead of showing how the Lord loves through us, we send the message that money works instead of us.
Finally, as money is shown in the coming days to be powerless, we must spend our lives sharing the All-Powerful One. This is done by repenting for the times when we have not trusted in Christ alone and then actively clinging by faith to Christ alone for our righteousness.
It is quite possible that the days to come will bring great hunger and thirst. As Christians, however, we should not reject this; but rather wholeheartedly welcome it. Hunger and thirst, while physically tragic, often accompany the spiritual redemption of the Lord (Exodus 15-17; Numbers 10-11). For stubborn sinners such as ourselves, it takes great hunger and thirst to shake us from our idols. But our gracious God uses such times to save stubborn sinners by giving them Manna from heaven and water from the Rock.
Our debt is not ultimately financial. It is moral. We don't need a loan. We need redemption. For this Christ alone is sufficient.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Dying to Live - Episode 1
I'm not sure where this is going, but I'm interested.
Also, PRo is releasing a new album next month. Here is a small taste. I'm pretty stoked about this one!
Also, PRo is releasing a new album next month. Here is a small taste. I'm pretty stoked about this one!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Decaying Bodies and Hopeless America
Americans, along with so many in other affluent cultures, have lost all hope. Heaven is not really a reality because it's not really needed. And because it's not really needed, it's not thought of all that much. Again, we have lost all hope.
When this futility stricken world drags us into sobriety, we have the ability to purchase all that we need to take us back to what we think is heavenly. We would never call it that; but it's what we do. We simply cannot wait patiently for heaven, and so we use endless resources to drag it closer. I propose that this is the very reason we are in so much debt.
The attempt to purchase a world without futility will bankrupt any treasury. Only a divine ransom will do.
Evidences of this are seen in the health and cosmetic industry. According to the ASAPS, $10.7 billion was spent on cosmetic procedures in 2010. Over ninety percent of those procedures were performed on women. I want to be careful here. While I cannot go into the biblical ethics of each person's procedure, I think it would be irresponsible, even unloving, to remain voiceless.
God subjected the creation to futility (Romans 8:20). Consequently, our bodies are decaying and dying. This is divinely ordained and the result of sin. While this sounds grim, the end of the verse is utterly stunning. He [God] subjected creation to futility "in hope"; a hope which will one day include the "redemption of our bodies." This verse, along with passages like 1 Corinthians 15:35-57, is meant to bring hope to those who are eagerly awaiting their final adoption as sons [and daughters] of God (Rom 8:23).
Ironically, however, we are not a waiting people. We like glorification now and are left spinning our wheels in our efforts to reverse the futility. But there is a major problem with this. If there is no futility, there is no hope. Again, this is where we find ourselves today.
Am I saying that all cosmetic surgeries are wrong? No. But I will say that attempts to reverse the futility are morally wrong. Why? Because no matter how hard we try to glorify our bodies, we will always continue to decay. And this is devastating for those with no hope. Decaying bodies are meant to make us dependent upon Christ. Simply put, aging is redemptive.
Even in aging, we must apply the gospel - that there will soon be a day when that which is perishable will be raised imperishable; and that which is sown in dishonor, will be raised in glory...we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
Yes, Christ changes everything. With eternity in view, our time in our perishable body is but a vapor. Soon enough Christian, soon enough. As you see the wrinkles and as you feel the ache in your joints, long for heaven, hate sin, and eagerly wait for the redemption of your body.
When this futility stricken world drags us into sobriety, we have the ability to purchase all that we need to take us back to what we think is heavenly. We would never call it that; but it's what we do. We simply cannot wait patiently for heaven, and so we use endless resources to drag it closer. I propose that this is the very reason we are in so much debt.
The attempt to purchase a world without futility will bankrupt any treasury. Only a divine ransom will do.
Evidences of this are seen in the health and cosmetic industry. According to the ASAPS, $10.7 billion was spent on cosmetic procedures in 2010. Over ninety percent of those procedures were performed on women. I want to be careful here. While I cannot go into the biblical ethics of each person's procedure, I think it would be irresponsible, even unloving, to remain voiceless.
God subjected the creation to futility (Romans 8:20). Consequently, our bodies are decaying and dying. This is divinely ordained and the result of sin. While this sounds grim, the end of the verse is utterly stunning. He [God] subjected creation to futility "in hope"; a hope which will one day include the "redemption of our bodies." This verse, along with passages like 1 Corinthians 15:35-57, is meant to bring hope to those who are eagerly awaiting their final adoption as sons [and daughters] of God (Rom 8:23).
Ironically, however, we are not a waiting people. We like glorification now and are left spinning our wheels in our efforts to reverse the futility. But there is a major problem with this. If there is no futility, there is no hope. Again, this is where we find ourselves today.
Am I saying that all cosmetic surgeries are wrong? No. But I will say that attempts to reverse the futility are morally wrong. Why? Because no matter how hard we try to glorify our bodies, we will always continue to decay. And this is devastating for those with no hope. Decaying bodies are meant to make us dependent upon Christ. Simply put, aging is redemptive.
Even in aging, we must apply the gospel - that there will soon be a day when that which is perishable will be raised imperishable; and that which is sown in dishonor, will be raised in glory...we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
Yes, Christ changes everything. With eternity in view, our time in our perishable body is but a vapor. Soon enough Christian, soon enough. As you see the wrinkles and as you feel the ache in your joints, long for heaven, hate sin, and eagerly wait for the redemption of your body.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
A Lesson I Am Learning In Marriage
I am learning a very difficult, but extremely important lesson. This is probably a lesson that others are learning as well, and very probably a lesson that many have learned in the past. Are you ready? Here it goes.
I need to listen to my wife.
There.
Profound huh?
I'm not talking about listening to her advise per se; but more along the lines of, I need to listen to how she feels about things and what she is thinking. When she expresses concerns, I need to resist the temptation to go directly into problem solving mode. There is, however, a listening that is much more difficult for me. And this is where the lesson is being learned.
It's when she tells me how she feels about me; and when she expresses concerns about us. While this is going on I want to either defend myself, or, tell her that she is perceiving things incorrectly. Simply put, my unwillingness to hear about the possibility of my own sin prevents me from loving my wife well.
If she says, for example, that she doesn't feel like I am spending enough time with her (and this is only an example), I need to resist the temptation to list all of the times that I have spent quality time with her over the past week. Rather than trying to figure out whether she is right or wrong, I should simply hear that she feels lonely. And instead of worrying about my own justification, I should be ready with the gospel for my wife.
I am learning that it is almost impossible to defend oneself and love someone else at the same time.
If she is right, then listening to her provides a gracious opportunity for repentance and faith (easier said than done!). If she is not right, then listening to her provides her with love that covers a multitude of sins.
The gospel centered "dynamic" (as someone has called it) allows us to get below the surface in our relationships. If we know that we are justified by faith in Christ, our need to immediately fight for our own innocence becomes unnecessary. We can hear that we are sinners, because we know that's the truth. If someone calls me a jerk I should really take that as a complement, rather than take offense.
I am deeply grateful for this lesson. I am also aggravatingly thankful that the Lord provides ample opportunity for me to continue the learning process. Listening to my wife has helped me to know myself and her so much more. And after seven years...I never knew it could be this good.
I need to listen to my wife.
There.
Profound huh?
I'm not talking about listening to her advise per se; but more along the lines of, I need to listen to how she feels about things and what she is thinking. When she expresses concerns, I need to resist the temptation to go directly into problem solving mode. There is, however, a listening that is much more difficult for me. And this is where the lesson is being learned.
It's when she tells me how she feels about me; and when she expresses concerns about us. While this is going on I want to either defend myself, or, tell her that she is perceiving things incorrectly. Simply put, my unwillingness to hear about the possibility of my own sin prevents me from loving my wife well.
If she says, for example, that she doesn't feel like I am spending enough time with her (and this is only an example), I need to resist the temptation to list all of the times that I have spent quality time with her over the past week. Rather than trying to figure out whether she is right or wrong, I should simply hear that she feels lonely. And instead of worrying about my own justification, I should be ready with the gospel for my wife.
I am learning that it is almost impossible to defend oneself and love someone else at the same time.
If she is right, then listening to her provides a gracious opportunity for repentance and faith (easier said than done!). If she is not right, then listening to her provides her with love that covers a multitude of sins.
The gospel centered "dynamic" (as someone has called it) allows us to get below the surface in our relationships. If we know that we are justified by faith in Christ, our need to immediately fight for our own innocence becomes unnecessary. We can hear that we are sinners, because we know that's the truth. If someone calls me a jerk I should really take that as a complement, rather than take offense.
I am deeply grateful for this lesson. I am also aggravatingly thankful that the Lord provides ample opportunity for me to continue the learning process. Listening to my wife has helped me to know myself and her so much more. And after seven years...I never knew it could be this good.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Knowing is Dependent Upon the All-Knowing One
Here is a great quote from Cornelius Van Til, in his book A Christian Theory of Knowledge:
"If one does not make human knowledge wholly dependent upon the original self-knowledge and consequent revelation of God to man, then man will have to seek knowledge within himself as the final reference point. Then he will have to seek an exhaustive understanding of reality. Then he will have to hold that if he cannot attain to such an exhaustive understanding of reality, he has no true knowledge of anything at all. Either man must then know everything or he knows nothing. This is the dilemma that confronts every form of non-Christian epistemology."
Without a doubt, this comment is loaded with a ton of implications. Get the book. But it is also gloriously comforting - that the final reference point, the final word in all things, is personal, caring, just, good, all-knowing and so much more. Our theory of knowledge does not demand that a divine weight be placed upon our human [frail] backs. We need only to place our faith in Christ alone.
The scientist or rationalist will then say: "There he goes with that faith stuff again..." The truth is, we all place our faith in someone or something. I have yet to meet a scientist who conducted all of the science himself. He rather begins quoting the findings of other scientists - findings that he embraces by faith.
The real question is, Is that someone or something worthy? With the endless limits of the scientific method (empiricism) as well as the fickle nature of the human mind (rationalism), I am unashamed to cling to Jesus Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3).
"If one does not make human knowledge wholly dependent upon the original self-knowledge and consequent revelation of God to man, then man will have to seek knowledge within himself as the final reference point. Then he will have to seek an exhaustive understanding of reality. Then he will have to hold that if he cannot attain to such an exhaustive understanding of reality, he has no true knowledge of anything at all. Either man must then know everything or he knows nothing. This is the dilemma that confronts every form of non-Christian epistemology."
Without a doubt, this comment is loaded with a ton of implications. Get the book. But it is also gloriously comforting - that the final reference point, the final word in all things, is personal, caring, just, good, all-knowing and so much more. Our theory of knowledge does not demand that a divine weight be placed upon our human [frail] backs. We need only to place our faith in Christ alone.
The scientist or rationalist will then say: "There he goes with that faith stuff again..." The truth is, we all place our faith in someone or something. I have yet to meet a scientist who conducted all of the science himself. He rather begins quoting the findings of other scientists - findings that he embraces by faith.
The real question is, Is that someone or something worthy? With the endless limits of the scientific method (empiricism) as well as the fickle nature of the human mind (rationalism), I am unashamed to cling to Jesus Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3).
Monday, July 11, 2011
A Letter Written to a Mother Considering Aborting Baby With Genetic Disorder
Here is a letter to a mother who is considering terminating her pregnancy because the baby has a genetic disorder. It is a letter full of both grace and truth. We have a great deal to learn from such communication.
Emma,
I am so sorry that you received this news. Please know there are hundreds around you who have been in this same or a very similar position. We know the pain that facing this decision brings you. Many others before you have followed the advice of doctors, family, and friends to terminate such a pregnancy. I understand that the decision they make is almost always out of the highest love for their child and a desire to prevent suffering. I want to be very sensitive to that, but to also encourage you to look from a different point of view.
It seems to be a foregone conclusion in our culture that preventing suffering is the highest goal, but I think we lose sight of the fact that sometimes in our lives the greatest blessings come to us after we have gone through the greatest suffering. I was advised to terminate with two of my ARPKD daughters after their 20 week ultrasounds. The following weeks, months, and years have been difficult and even terrifying, but I am so glad that I did not follow my doctors’ advice. Yes, my daughters have suffered to some degree (though I know not as much as many other ARPKD kids do), but their pain and tears have grown them into strong little girls who do not take life or health for granted, and who know how to be thankful for the little things in life. They are more mature, more wise, more grateful, more loving, than so many other children their age who have always had “perfect” lives.
Children with special needs have a way of blessing and inspiring those around them too, in a way that healthy children never could. I know greater suffering probably lies ahead for our girls as we face esophageal bleeds and organ transplantation, but we have talked these things through with our oldest, and if my seven year old daughter can face these things with courage, then perhaps she doesn’t need to be shielded from the suffering, but only equipped to walk through it. Someday my girls will take the faith and the strength that they learned from their sufferings and use it to inspire and bless all those around them. It would have been great loss for all who know them to have ended their lives early.
I know that this is one of the most sensitive and personal topics. I pray that I do not sound judgmental in any way. I only mean to offer hope.
With love,
Katherine Eby
(HT: BTW and EJ)
Emma,
I am so sorry that you received this news. Please know there are hundreds around you who have been in this same or a very similar position. We know the pain that facing this decision brings you. Many others before you have followed the advice of doctors, family, and friends to terminate such a pregnancy. I understand that the decision they make is almost always out of the highest love for their child and a desire to prevent suffering. I want to be very sensitive to that, but to also encourage you to look from a different point of view.
It seems to be a foregone conclusion in our culture that preventing suffering is the highest goal, but I think we lose sight of the fact that sometimes in our lives the greatest blessings come to us after we have gone through the greatest suffering. I was advised to terminate with two of my ARPKD daughters after their 20 week ultrasounds. The following weeks, months, and years have been difficult and even terrifying, but I am so glad that I did not follow my doctors’ advice. Yes, my daughters have suffered to some degree (though I know not as much as many other ARPKD kids do), but their pain and tears have grown them into strong little girls who do not take life or health for granted, and who know how to be thankful for the little things in life. They are more mature, more wise, more grateful, more loving, than so many other children their age who have always had “perfect” lives.
Children with special needs have a way of blessing and inspiring those around them too, in a way that healthy children never could. I know greater suffering probably lies ahead for our girls as we face esophageal bleeds and organ transplantation, but we have talked these things through with our oldest, and if my seven year old daughter can face these things with courage, then perhaps she doesn’t need to be shielded from the suffering, but only equipped to walk through it. Someday my girls will take the faith and the strength that they learned from their sufferings and use it to inspire and bless all those around them. It would have been great loss for all who know them to have ended their lives early.
I know that this is one of the most sensitive and personal topics. I pray that I do not sound judgmental in any way. I only mean to offer hope.
With love,
Katherine Eby
(HT: BTW and EJ)
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Report Uncovering the Injustice of Planned Parenthood
Although the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA or Planned Parenthood) advertises itself as an organization promoting health for women and families, it is the nation’s largest abortion provider and has been plagued by scandal and abuse. Here is an executive summary of AUL's (Americans United for Life) special report: The Case for Investigating Planned Parenthood:
Planned Parenthood, and its affiliates, receive hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayers’ funds every year – a significant portion of which comes from the federal government...
In this report, Americans United for Life documents the known and alleged abuses by Planned Parenthood, including:
Misuse of federal health care and family planning funds. State audit reports and admissions by former employees detail a pattern of misuse by some Planned Parenthood affiliates.
Failure to report criminal child sexual abuse. Substantial and still-developing evidence indicates that many Planned Parenthood clinics fail to report all instances of suspected abuse, and instead advise minors and their abusers on how to circumvent the mandatory reporting laws.
Failure to comply with parental involvement laws. Some Planned Parenthood affiliates exhibit a pattern and practice of violating and circumventing parental involvement laws.
Assisting those engaged in prostitution and/or sex trafficking. Some Planned Parenthood clinics have demonstrated a willingness to partner with pimps or sex traffickers to exploit young women instead of safeguarding their health and safety.
Dangerous misuse of the abortion drug RU-486. Planned Parenthood’s admitted disregard for the FDA’s approved protocol puts profits above women’s lives and safety.
Misinformation about so-called “emergency contraception,” including ella. Planned Parenthood boasts of its role in the approval of a new drug ella, yet provides considerable misinformation about the drug.
Willingness to provide women with inaccurate and misleading information. Some Planned Parenthood affiliates continually demonstrate a disregard for women’s health and safety through their willingness to provide inaccurate and misleading information regarding fetal development and about abortion’s inherent health risks.
Willingness to refer to substandard clinics. Some Planned Parenthood affiliates put the lives and safety of women and girls at risk by associating with substandard abortion providers.
In addition, this report documents the efforts of Planned Parenthood and its affiliates to defeat legislation intended to protect women and families, and to overturn common-sense federal and state laws, further enriching their “bottom-line” with attorney fee awards. In order to assess the extent of the scandal and abuse at PPFA and its affiliates, a full-scale, thorough Congressional investigation is necessary. In this report, Americans United for Life poses potential questions aimed at uncovering the depth of the problems within Planned Parenthood.
Reading this summary gives us a sobering idea of what pragmatism coupled with a love for money can and will accomplish. It is clear that Planned Parenthood has decided that the end (the monetary bottom line) justifies the means (the killing of innocent children). Taking action is a must.
Actively and regularly proclaiming the Gospel is not unrelated to the solution. Organizations like Planned Parenthood are in business because there is a demand for their services. The demand is coming from those who have not repented and believed the Gospel.
Planned Parenthood, and its affiliates, receive hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayers’ funds every year – a significant portion of which comes from the federal government...
In this report, Americans United for Life documents the known and alleged abuses by Planned Parenthood, including:
Misuse of federal health care and family planning funds. State audit reports and admissions by former employees detail a pattern of misuse by some Planned Parenthood affiliates.
Failure to report criminal child sexual abuse. Substantial and still-developing evidence indicates that many Planned Parenthood clinics fail to report all instances of suspected abuse, and instead advise minors and their abusers on how to circumvent the mandatory reporting laws.
Failure to comply with parental involvement laws. Some Planned Parenthood affiliates exhibit a pattern and practice of violating and circumventing parental involvement laws.
Assisting those engaged in prostitution and/or sex trafficking. Some Planned Parenthood clinics have demonstrated a willingness to partner with pimps or sex traffickers to exploit young women instead of safeguarding their health and safety.
Dangerous misuse of the abortion drug RU-486. Planned Parenthood’s admitted disregard for the FDA’s approved protocol puts profits above women’s lives and safety.
Misinformation about so-called “emergency contraception,” including ella. Planned Parenthood boasts of its role in the approval of a new drug ella, yet provides considerable misinformation about the drug.
Willingness to provide women with inaccurate and misleading information. Some Planned Parenthood affiliates continually demonstrate a disregard for women’s health and safety through their willingness to provide inaccurate and misleading information regarding fetal development and about abortion’s inherent health risks.
Willingness to refer to substandard clinics. Some Planned Parenthood affiliates put the lives and safety of women and girls at risk by associating with substandard abortion providers.
In addition, this report documents the efforts of Planned Parenthood and its affiliates to defeat legislation intended to protect women and families, and to overturn common-sense federal and state laws, further enriching their “bottom-line” with attorney fee awards. In order to assess the extent of the scandal and abuse at PPFA and its affiliates, a full-scale, thorough Congressional investigation is necessary. In this report, Americans United for Life poses potential questions aimed at uncovering the depth of the problems within Planned Parenthood.
Reading this summary gives us a sobering idea of what pragmatism coupled with a love for money can and will accomplish. It is clear that Planned Parenthood has decided that the end (the monetary bottom line) justifies the means (the killing of innocent children). Taking action is a must.
Actively and regularly proclaiming the Gospel is not unrelated to the solution. Organizations like Planned Parenthood are in business because there is a demand for their services. The demand is coming from those who have not repented and believed the Gospel.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Yahweh - The Lord. A Brief Theology.
As Frame states in his book The Doctrine of God, there is no name, no description of God that is more central to Scripture than this - that God is the Lord. It is the name by which Moses and the people of Israel were to call Him. And, when we echo the Apostles in saying Christ is the Lord, we are saying that Jesus is God. He is the Lord who has been with His people from the beginning.
Dr. Frame does a fantastic job summarizing what it means to be the Lord.
First, Yahweh is the name of a person. He speaks and acts. He commits Himself to deliver His people. He promises blessing and threatens punishment. Frame continues:
He is not, therefore, an impersonal force to be manipulated by human ingenuity. He has His own purposes, His own standards, His own delights and hatreds. He loves on His own initiative, rather than merely responding to events...Each of us relates to Him as one person to another. Rather taking Him for granted, as we do with impersonal things and forces, we must always take His concerns into account, responding to Him in repentance, love, thanksgiving, and worship.
Second, Yahweh is the Holy One. Though we are to treat Him as a person, we must not treat Him as an ordinary person. He is extraordinary. He is radically different from us. His holiness is "His capacity and right to arouse our reverent awe and wonder.
Think of how you would feel if you were to stand in line at a restaurant behind Lebron James or Denzel Washington. You would immediately act differently. You would be impacted by their "greatness." While it is the shame of our nation to treat humans as more holy than Yahweh, this is a small shadow of what we should feel as we direct our minds and hearts toward God in worship.
Finally, God is the Lord of the covenant. Lordship is relational in nature - between God and His creatures. As our Lord, He has delivered us; He has given great benefits, but also expects covenant fidelity and obedience from His people. He is faithful to meet every act of obedience with blessing, as well as every act of disobedience with its just punishment. This covenant, He has graciously recorded in His Word and given to His people.
Frame states, "Israel's relationship to God was not to be governed by the people's imaginations, or by religious wisdom, or by scholarship, or by oral tradition, but by a written word, authored by the Lord."
While there are many other ways which Scripture describes the relationship between God and His people, Lordship is central. In summary, "the name Lord names the head of a covenant. His essential relationship to us is that of a great king who has delivered us from death and calls us to serve Him by obeying His written word."
Dr. Frame does a fantastic job summarizing what it means to be the Lord.
First, Yahweh is the name of a person. He speaks and acts. He commits Himself to deliver His people. He promises blessing and threatens punishment. Frame continues:
He is not, therefore, an impersonal force to be manipulated by human ingenuity. He has His own purposes, His own standards, His own delights and hatreds. He loves on His own initiative, rather than merely responding to events...Each of us relates to Him as one person to another. Rather taking Him for granted, as we do with impersonal things and forces, we must always take His concerns into account, responding to Him in repentance, love, thanksgiving, and worship.
Second, Yahweh is the Holy One. Though we are to treat Him as a person, we must not treat Him as an ordinary person. He is extraordinary. He is radically different from us. His holiness is "His capacity and right to arouse our reverent awe and wonder.
Think of how you would feel if you were to stand in line at a restaurant behind Lebron James or Denzel Washington. You would immediately act differently. You would be impacted by their "greatness." While it is the shame of our nation to treat humans as more holy than Yahweh, this is a small shadow of what we should feel as we direct our minds and hearts toward God in worship.
Finally, God is the Lord of the covenant. Lordship is relational in nature - between God and His creatures. As our Lord, He has delivered us; He has given great benefits, but also expects covenant fidelity and obedience from His people. He is faithful to meet every act of obedience with blessing, as well as every act of disobedience with its just punishment. This covenant, He has graciously recorded in His Word and given to His people.
Frame states, "Israel's relationship to God was not to be governed by the people's imaginations, or by religious wisdom, or by scholarship, or by oral tradition, but by a written word, authored by the Lord."
While there are many other ways which Scripture describes the relationship between God and His people, Lordship is central. In summary, "the name Lord names the head of a covenant. His essential relationship to us is that of a great king who has delivered us from death and calls us to serve Him by obeying His written word."
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Does Disaster Come To A City Unless The Lord Has Done It?
(655 words)
There is no such thing as a whimsical, arbitrary act of nature. Warm and cold fronts to not accidentally come together to form tornados. Large storms to not capriciously make landfall. Lightening does not strike without direction. And even flood waters to not rise over the tops of houses with out sovereign allowance.
As I preach through the book of Amos, this truth is overwhelmingly clear; and it is one that Israel had forgotten. The Lord God is faithful to bring destructive judgment upon those who disobey His commandments (cf. Lev 26; Duet 28). He uses many different means to do so, two of them being placed in the categories of natural disaster and/or exile by foreign nations.
This theological pill is hard to swallow, but swallow it we must. In Amos at least, the Lord is relentlessly proclaiming, "You (Israel) have sinned against Me. I will therefore destroy you as I said I would (cf. Deut 28; Lev 26). Repent of your idolatry and seek Me in order that you may live."
It was necessary that Israel interpret the coming earthquake (Am 1:1; Zeph 14) as well as the Assyrian invasion (3:10) not as random, whimsical acts of nature or nations, but as the active, intentional work of the Lord's judicial hand against His rebellious people. Israel needed to know that their Lord was faithful, not only to bless them, but to curse. We need to know this as well. Why?
First, so that we may interpret historical events accurately, providing the ability to respond to them rightly. The religious fanatics say that disasters destroy only sinners, while avoiding the sinless (namely, themselves!). The religious liberals claim God has nothing to do with disasters (the affected are simply innocent victims of an arbitrary act of nature). Christ, however, in Luke 13, gives the right interpretation. We must all look upon these events with repentance and awe lest we all likewise perish.
Second, so that we may revere rightly. We should not give more reverence to violent storms than we do the Supreme Lord. All who run from a storm, must run toward Christ - there is no other safe option. Should the tornado take our life, we must be right with God who is Lord over the tornado.
Third, so that we may worship rightly. As strong as foreign armies or hurricanes may be, they are not stronger than Christ, who holds all things together (Col 1:15-20). The judgment that the Son will bring on the last day will make all historical tragic and awesome events pale in comparison. Only those who are "in Him" will be safe. This theology removes the pathetic jesus from our pulpits and proclaims the Sovereign Majestic Christ in its stead.
Fourth, so that we may love others quickly. While the progress of all history is rooted in the foundations of the Triune God, it turns here or there according to His willful decision. Events happen so freely that they scare us. When will the next tornado come? Only the Lord knows. Tomorrow is promised to no one. We must love now and call all people to repentance and faith in Christ alone, while there is still time.
Finally, because the alternative is deadly. If the Lord is not over these things; if storms and other tragic events are whimsical and arbitrary, then we have no occasion whatsoever for rest or security in life - being constantly subject to the random reactions of an impersonal nature; or, worse yet, the ultimate plans of a malicious terror.
But knowing that the All-Wise, All-Powerful, Sovereign Lord is in heaven, faithfully doing exactly what He pleases (Ps 115:3), we can say will the upmost certainty and rest that, though He slay me, I will hope in Him (Job 13:15). And this is our only security, that all who are in Christ Jesus cannot be separated from His love (Rom 8:35-39).
There is no such thing as a whimsical, arbitrary act of nature. Warm and cold fronts to not accidentally come together to form tornados. Large storms to not capriciously make landfall. Lightening does not strike without direction. And even flood waters to not rise over the tops of houses with out sovereign allowance. As I preach through the book of Amos, this truth is overwhelmingly clear; and it is one that Israel had forgotten. The Lord God is faithful to bring destructive judgment upon those who disobey His commandments (cf. Lev 26; Duet 28). He uses many different means to do so, two of them being placed in the categories of natural disaster and/or exile by foreign nations.
This theological pill is hard to swallow, but swallow it we must. In Amos at least, the Lord is relentlessly proclaiming, "You (Israel) have sinned against Me. I will therefore destroy you as I said I would (cf. Deut 28; Lev 26). Repent of your idolatry and seek Me in order that you may live."
It was necessary that Israel interpret the coming earthquake (Am 1:1; Zeph 14) as well as the Assyrian invasion (3:10) not as random, whimsical acts of nature or nations, but as the active, intentional work of the Lord's judicial hand against His rebellious people. Israel needed to know that their Lord was faithful, not only to bless them, but to curse. We need to know this as well. Why?
First, so that we may interpret historical events accurately, providing the ability to respond to them rightly. The religious fanatics say that disasters destroy only sinners, while avoiding the sinless (namely, themselves!). The religious liberals claim God has nothing to do with disasters (the affected are simply innocent victims of an arbitrary act of nature). Christ, however, in Luke 13, gives the right interpretation. We must all look upon these events with repentance and awe lest we all likewise perish.
Second, so that we may revere rightly. We should not give more reverence to violent storms than we do the Supreme Lord. All who run from a storm, must run toward Christ - there is no other safe option. Should the tornado take our life, we must be right with God who is Lord over the tornado.
Third, so that we may worship rightly. As strong as foreign armies or hurricanes may be, they are not stronger than Christ, who holds all things together (Col 1:15-20). The judgment that the Son will bring on the last day will make all historical tragic and awesome events pale in comparison. Only those who are "in Him" will be safe. This theology removes the pathetic jesus from our pulpits and proclaims the Sovereign Majestic Christ in its stead.
Fourth, so that we may love others quickly. While the progress of all history is rooted in the foundations of the Triune God, it turns here or there according to His willful decision. Events happen so freely that they scare us. When will the next tornado come? Only the Lord knows. Tomorrow is promised to no one. We must love now and call all people to repentance and faith in Christ alone, while there is still time.
Finally, because the alternative is deadly. If the Lord is not over these things; if storms and other tragic events are whimsical and arbitrary, then we have no occasion whatsoever for rest or security in life - being constantly subject to the random reactions of an impersonal nature; or, worse yet, the ultimate plans of a malicious terror.
But knowing that the All-Wise, All-Powerful, Sovereign Lord is in heaven, faithfully doing exactly what He pleases (Ps 115:3), we can say will the upmost certainty and rest that, though He slay me, I will hope in Him (Job 13:15). And this is our only security, that all who are in Christ Jesus cannot be separated from His love (Rom 8:35-39).
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