It is safe to say that I was raised in a musical home. It wasn’t a home where my parents played different musical instruments. It was a home where music was constantly listened to. If a chore was being done, music was selected to go along with the chore. If you were going to sit on the couch, then you needed a good album selection to go along with this time. My childhood was filled with music! What I really enjoyed about it was the vast genres of music I was exposed to. I never knew what kind of album would be played next – country, rock, blues, jazz, bluegrass … I just never knew! All I know is that I usually enjoyed most of what was played.
Over the years, I have gained more and more of an appreciation for bluegrass. Now, I know that this isn’t a first choice for a number of folks when it comes to musical styles. It took some time to grow on me! But, I have grown to be a fan of it. One of the reasons why I like bluegrass is because of its organic nature. Bluegrass can be played anywhere! You can find folks playing bluegrass - on the front porch “pickin’ n’ grinnin’”, on the big stage of the Grand Ole Opry, and even in White Oak Hall! Bluegrass just has an organic nature to it – and I think that is why it reverberates with so many folks. It is a music that can be enjoyed at any time, in any place with any number of folks joining in.
Another part of its organic nature is that each part in the group contributes to the whole. Many times in a bluegrass setting, each instrument will add something very important to the song, which adds up to the completion of the song. The banjo, mandolin, guitar and bass all join together to complete the melody. You take away one piece, and there is something missing with the song. Bluegrass is really the musical equivalent of a team effort! It takes all band members to complete the song.
The same is true for Christians. We are all part of an important team – the church. We each play a vital role in the way that the church operates. Not only that, but the church is very organic – we can meet together in a sanctuary, or in a field, or in a gym, or on a front porch. No matter where the church meets, it is still the church. Christ tells us that “for where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matthew 18.20) What is required is that believers gather together for His glory. I have heard from people who worshipped in Africa that their meeting place was a concrete slab – and that is it. Christians in China must secretly gather in houses to worship for fear of what the authorities would do if they were found. Folks in the Gulf Region worshipped in public parks after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their church. However, their main goal was to gather together and give God the glory. Because the church is organic, it only depends on Christ – and He promises that if we gather, He will be there.
As the church, we all play a vital role in its function. There is never an unimportant person in the church – we are all equally important when we are a part of the body of Christ! Either it be through teaching, serving, cleaning, hugging or a simple hand shake – we are all part of the same team, aiming for the same goal. As long as our goal is to give God all the glory, then we will succeed in our role. Being a part of the same team also means respecting each others roles – no one is more important than the other, and no ones work means any less because of its visibility! God has designed the church to operate like a body – and a body needs the eye to act like an eye, and an ear to act like an ear. The church needs each of us to act like the way He has ordained for us to act in our God-given role.
The church is one of the most beautiful gifts God has given to us and to the world. My prayer is that we would each love the church in the same way that God loves the church – which He describes as being His bride! May we long for the greater good of the church, and may we each thrive in our roles, knowing that it is God himself who has prepared us and put us in these roles.
Semper Refomanda – Pastor James
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
It, too, is under my porch
On his album “Illinois”, Christian musician Sufjan Stevens sings a song about the life of John Wayne Gacy, Jr. You may not be as familiar with his name as you are with his actions. Gacy confessed to the murders of 33 young men and boys. When the police went and searched his property, they found a number of these victims buried underneath the porch of Gacy’s house. What makes Gacy’s story even more chilling is that he would hold block parties for his neighbors, and he would dress up as a clown to entertain the children at these parties.
In his song about Gacy, Sufjan Stevens gives a recap of the life and actions of Gacy – and he ends the song with this chilling stanza: “And in my best behavior I am really just like him; Look beneath the floorboards; For the secrets I have hid.” What a chilling end to a song – it is unexpected in the flow of the lyrics. However, I think it is most chilling because the essence of what Stevens is singing is true – in my best behavior, is there really any difference between me (and you) and John Wayne Gacy, Jr.? What have sins have you hid beneath the floorboards of your life, pretending as if they aren’t even there?
This is what makes grace so amazing. Evolutionists like to say that there isn’t much separating man from ape – just a few tweaks here and there, and all of sudden you can take an ape and make him into an Einstein, or a Mozart, or Luther. No matter the debate on that, what is true is that there isn’t much separating you from being a John Wayne Gacy, Jr. All that separates you from being that “bad” is the grace of God.
A favorite mantra of Christians is “there but for the grace of God go I”. I am sure you have heard it said – and may even have said it yourself. Have you ever stopped to think about what that really means? This phrase was said by John Bradford, an English Reformer. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London, and several men being escorted to their execution. Bradford was so moved by this scene that he said “There but for the grace of God goes John Bradford”. He would eventually be burned at the stake, condemned for being a heretic. When Bradford saw these men, who were guilty of crimes (unlike Bradford, whose crime was being a Christian and sharing the Gospel) and who were on their way to their death, maybe not even knowing Christ – Bradford understood that he could have been in their shoes. Instead of being guilty of loving Christ so much that he would want to share this love with others, his crime could have been more worldly – robbery, murder, kidnapping and the likes. When Bradford saw a man who would be guilty for an eternity, he didn’t puff up his chest and proclaim some sort of moral victory. No, what he did was look at that guilty, and release that it was grace that saved him – and it was only grace that made him any different.
Sufjan Stevens understood that when he looked at the life of John Wayne Gacy, Jr. What stopped him from being that vile? Grace. What stopped him from committing such heinous acts? Grace. What stopped him from being that evil? Grace. What makes you any different from being that evil? Grace.
Every day, God’s grace is at work in your life – it is God’s grace that gives you breath … it is God’s grace that places food on your table … it is God’s grace that you have a house, clothes, cars, boats, guns, and other sundry items. My question for you is this – do you realize the magnitude of God’s grace and the way it works in your life? Do you understand the price for this grace? It is no less than the perfect work and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Do you understand what works this grace in your life every day? The third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who lives and works within your life to show you grace. The grace of God isn’t a little pithy item in life – it is the work of the Gospel … this work which changes you … this work that keeps you from being a John Wayne Gacy, Jr. May you understand this grace – and, as you understand it, may you embrace it and love it – and may you, through the work of the Spirit, allow it to guide your life – and may it make you humble before the Grace Giver.
Soli Deo Gloria --- Pastor James
In his song about Gacy, Sufjan Stevens gives a recap of the life and actions of Gacy – and he ends the song with this chilling stanza: “And in my best behavior I am really just like him; Look beneath the floorboards; For the secrets I have hid.” What a chilling end to a song – it is unexpected in the flow of the lyrics. However, I think it is most chilling because the essence of what Stevens is singing is true – in my best behavior, is there really any difference between me (and you) and John Wayne Gacy, Jr.? What have sins have you hid beneath the floorboards of your life, pretending as if they aren’t even there?
This is what makes grace so amazing. Evolutionists like to say that there isn’t much separating man from ape – just a few tweaks here and there, and all of sudden you can take an ape and make him into an Einstein, or a Mozart, or Luther. No matter the debate on that, what is true is that there isn’t much separating you from being a John Wayne Gacy, Jr. All that separates you from being that “bad” is the grace of God.
A favorite mantra of Christians is “there but for the grace of God go I”. I am sure you have heard it said – and may even have said it yourself. Have you ever stopped to think about what that really means? This phrase was said by John Bradford, an English Reformer. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London, and several men being escorted to their execution. Bradford was so moved by this scene that he said “There but for the grace of God goes John Bradford”. He would eventually be burned at the stake, condemned for being a heretic. When Bradford saw these men, who were guilty of crimes (unlike Bradford, whose crime was being a Christian and sharing the Gospel) and who were on their way to their death, maybe not even knowing Christ – Bradford understood that he could have been in their shoes. Instead of being guilty of loving Christ so much that he would want to share this love with others, his crime could have been more worldly – robbery, murder, kidnapping and the likes. When Bradford saw a man who would be guilty for an eternity, he didn’t puff up his chest and proclaim some sort of moral victory. No, what he did was look at that guilty, and release that it was grace that saved him – and it was only grace that made him any different.
Sufjan Stevens understood that when he looked at the life of John Wayne Gacy, Jr. What stopped him from being that vile? Grace. What stopped him from committing such heinous acts? Grace. What stopped him from being that evil? Grace. What makes you any different from being that evil? Grace.
Every day, God’s grace is at work in your life – it is God’s grace that gives you breath … it is God’s grace that places food on your table … it is God’s grace that you have a house, clothes, cars, boats, guns, and other sundry items. My question for you is this – do you realize the magnitude of God’s grace and the way it works in your life? Do you understand the price for this grace? It is no less than the perfect work and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Do you understand what works this grace in your life every day? The third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who lives and works within your life to show you grace. The grace of God isn’t a little pithy item in life – it is the work of the Gospel … this work which changes you … this work that keeps you from being a John Wayne Gacy, Jr. May you understand this grace – and, as you understand it, may you embrace it and love it – and may you, through the work of the Spirit, allow it to guide your life – and may it make you humble before the Grace Giver.
Soli Deo Gloria --- Pastor James
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Worship
I think that Pastor Tom and I have the best seats in the house week after week. We get to be right in front of the choir and enjoy their singing … we are sandwiched in between the organ and piano so we are able to fully hear and enjoy Mrs. Kathy and Mrs. Janice’s (and sometimes Ms. Mary June’s) playing … we are in the direction in which most of the congregation is singing … and, we get to sit next to each other when we preach!
I also say we have the best seats in the house because, week after week, we each can look out and see which of the congregants are engaged in worship. And, rest assured, we do scan the sanctuary during the worship service. To be honest, what I often see are some people who are disengaged from worship. Either it be the singing, the reading of scripture, the prayers, or the exhorting of God’s word to His people, there are many Sunday mornings where I see some people who are not fully participating in worship. It is quite a sad sight to behold.
Go to Athens, Georgia … or Columbia, South Carolina … or Atlanta, Georgia on any given fall Saturday afternoon, and what do you find? Thousands of people who have directed their full attention to a group of young men who are using their God-given talents in the game of football. These groups of fans hang onto every play, every call, every timeout, every score as if it is the most important thing happening at that moment. In all the college football games that I have witnessed, I can’t ever remember seeing some people sleeping during a goal-line stand. I can’t remember seeing some people reading the program while the home team is marching down the field with less than a minute left in the game, and they are down by 6 points. I also can’t remember seeing some people looking at their watch while they wait for a kick-off to be returned for a touchdown. However, I can remember people sleeping during a sermon … or looking at their watch during the service … or flipping through the hymnbook while the covenant community around them sings praises to their merciful and faithful God.
Why is this? I know there are many reasons to this, but I think it truly boils down to one fundamental fact- the worship of God isn’t as exciting, and therefore isn’t as meaningful, as a college football game (or any other sport or hobby). Frankly, some people find the worship of God to pale in comparison to other activities. We can find more meaning in other things, such as a college football game, than in the worship of God. Sunday has just become a part of the routine of life. It is something else for us to endure in between the more ‘meaningful’ parts of life. Well, if this is true, then would these bored parties find satisfaction in heaven?
It is interesting to note how Scripture describes heaven. The book we often turn to for details of heaven is the book of Revelation. The first detail we get of heaven from the apostle John is his seemingly involuntary reaction to fall down and worship. He didn’t run around and high five the angels … he didn’t hug Jesus … he didn’t turn a full 360 degrees to take in the sight of heaven. No, his first reaction was to worship.
John then goes on to talk about heaven – and the common thread is worship. What are the angels doing in heaven? Worshipping! What are the elders doing in heaven? Worshipping! What are the martyred saints doing in heaven? They are worshipping! What are the saints in heaven doing? Worshipping? Why is this? Because “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever” – meaning, worship. We have been created to worship God in all spheres of life – but especially when we gather together as the bride to come before our bridegroom. Our spiritual DNA screams out for us to worship. As Christians, we should know no other way to live.
Do you find worship boring? Is it not as ‘meaningful’ as other things in life? Maybe you need to reintroduce yourself to the living God. There is nothing boring or meaningless about this God. He is the one whose very presence calls for all of heaven to bow down and worship. He is the God whose very grace and mercy calls for us to offer Him our worship. He is the living God who gives His people life – and they naturally respond in worship. He is God, and, as Christians, we are His chosen people. Can this really be boring? Can this truth really call us away from worship? No, it isn’t and it can’t. This truth should resound in our heart and motivate us to worship this Triune God – in His word, in the prayers and in the hymns. May we be reminded of this often, and remember the words of the apostle Peter, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
I also say we have the best seats in the house because, week after week, we each can look out and see which of the congregants are engaged in worship. And, rest assured, we do scan the sanctuary during the worship service. To be honest, what I often see are some people who are disengaged from worship. Either it be the singing, the reading of scripture, the prayers, or the exhorting of God’s word to His people, there are many Sunday mornings where I see some people who are not fully participating in worship. It is quite a sad sight to behold.
Go to Athens, Georgia … or Columbia, South Carolina … or Atlanta, Georgia on any given fall Saturday afternoon, and what do you find? Thousands of people who have directed their full attention to a group of young men who are using their God-given talents in the game of football. These groups of fans hang onto every play, every call, every timeout, every score as if it is the most important thing happening at that moment. In all the college football games that I have witnessed, I can’t ever remember seeing some people sleeping during a goal-line stand. I can’t remember seeing some people reading the program while the home team is marching down the field with less than a minute left in the game, and they are down by 6 points. I also can’t remember seeing some people looking at their watch while they wait for a kick-off to be returned for a touchdown. However, I can remember people sleeping during a sermon … or looking at their watch during the service … or flipping through the hymnbook while the covenant community around them sings praises to their merciful and faithful God.
Why is this? I know there are many reasons to this, but I think it truly boils down to one fundamental fact- the worship of God isn’t as exciting, and therefore isn’t as meaningful, as a college football game (or any other sport or hobby). Frankly, some people find the worship of God to pale in comparison to other activities. We can find more meaning in other things, such as a college football game, than in the worship of God. Sunday has just become a part of the routine of life. It is something else for us to endure in between the more ‘meaningful’ parts of life. Well, if this is true, then would these bored parties find satisfaction in heaven?
It is interesting to note how Scripture describes heaven. The book we often turn to for details of heaven is the book of Revelation. The first detail we get of heaven from the apostle John is his seemingly involuntary reaction to fall down and worship. He didn’t run around and high five the angels … he didn’t hug Jesus … he didn’t turn a full 360 degrees to take in the sight of heaven. No, his first reaction was to worship.
John then goes on to talk about heaven – and the common thread is worship. What are the angels doing in heaven? Worshipping! What are the elders doing in heaven? Worshipping! What are the martyred saints doing in heaven? They are worshipping! What are the saints in heaven doing? Worshipping? Why is this? Because “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever” – meaning, worship. We have been created to worship God in all spheres of life – but especially when we gather together as the bride to come before our bridegroom. Our spiritual DNA screams out for us to worship. As Christians, we should know no other way to live.
Do you find worship boring? Is it not as ‘meaningful’ as other things in life? Maybe you need to reintroduce yourself to the living God. There is nothing boring or meaningless about this God. He is the one whose very presence calls for all of heaven to bow down and worship. He is the God whose very grace and mercy calls for us to offer Him our worship. He is the living God who gives His people life – and they naturally respond in worship. He is God, and, as Christians, we are His chosen people. Can this really be boring? Can this truth really call us away from worship? No, it isn’t and it can’t. This truth should resound in our heart and motivate us to worship this Triune God – in His word, in the prayers and in the hymns. May we be reminded of this often, and remember the words of the apostle Peter, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Days 2-3
Yesterday was really busy for us --- up early so we can eat breakfast, then an hour drive (mostly in and around the mountains) to go to church. The church we are having VBS at, Upper Fork Methodist Church, was kind enough to provide a covered lunch for all of us after the service! I even got a chance to stand in front of the congregation and tell them where we were from and what we were there for. After the lunch, some of us set up the site for the week, and others went and drove the route - which was even more curvy and windy than the main roads! We finished soon enough to get back to play some baseball, and then it was off to Middlesboro to eat and make a Wal-Mart run! The day was finished up at Sonic ...
And, then the alarm clock rang at 5.45 am for me to start our week of VBS! Pretty soon, most of the group was up and down in the cafeteria for a bite to eat before leaving the campus at 7.15 am. The first day of VBS went well - we had 14 kids from the community come! There were some 'technical' difficulties, but we can quickly clear those up! Thankfully, our set up is pretty quick - so, after the kids leaving and eating lunch, we were able to get back to our rooms by 2.30 - and it was off to the baseball field for more baseball and football games (and, for some of, some sunburning!). Dinner was on the grounds - some kind of BBQ - and now we are getting ready to attend our evening meeting - and hopefully get some much needed rest!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Appalachia 2007 - Day One
We made it! No problems, no excitement - just dull driving to get to our destination. We had our first meeting tonight, and, so far, everything is good. I will try and post some more pics and give you updates on the week.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Family Time
Back to the Future
When I was young, Whitney Houston had a hit song with these lyrics: “I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way …” I remember this song being played all over the place, and so many people singing along with the radio. It’s a shame that the sentiment expressed in those lyrics have fallen to the wayside in our society, both in and out of the church.
As the pastor for youth and family, I have a passion for Christian covenantal families. Being a product of a broken family that suffered from many familial dysfunctions, I am fully aware of what kind of spiritual and emotional damage that can be done to children who are not raised in the loving and merciful Scriptural standards and boundaries. And, as I am entering into my 30s, I look around and see so many discarded carcasses of the covenantal family – and it is all being done in the name of self.
I had a pastor recently tell me that a large amount of problems with families stems directly from the selfish attitudes of parents, and how they mistakenly view their calling as parents. Providentially, the same day this pastor made this remark to me was the same day a devotion was emailed to me, detailing a mother’s struggle with this same thing. Here are some things that were mentioned in this devotion:
When my third child was born, my oldest was three. And they were all active boys … In those difficult three years I kept trying to regain my old life. An organizer and leader by nature, I’d volunteer to oversee something at church and then make my kids and me miserable trying to get it done. My heart is heavy when I remember the times I dragged my three little boys to one event or another, only to leave angry and in tears because they couldn’t sit still … instead of accepting my life as it was, I plowed ahead, wanting to serve God and feeling certain He was pleased with my sacrifices … what I know now is that sometimes God calls us to a new mission field that on the surface looks like we’ve been called out of the “game”, but nothing could be further from the truth! Instead I missed the opportunity to minister more deeply to my children … I wish someone had told me that God would not forget me, that I was right where He wanted me, and that I should relax and see the opportunities He had placed in front of me.
These are powerful words of regret from a mother who loved her family. But, notice what she said – she sacrificed her family all in order to regain her old self. She lost sight that God wasn’t calling her back to her old self, but that He had given her a ministry of the here and now – and this ministry was her family! Her Father in heaven had called her to be a mother to three sons – three sons she was to minister to by being a Godly mother.
God places a very high importance on the family. He relates to us in a familiar sense – He is our Father and we are his beloved children who have the privilege of calling Him “Abba, Father”. He loves the family so much that He gives instructions on how the family should be ministered to (Deuteronomy 6). God so desires that the covenantal family will be successful that He outlines what a Godly mother and wife is to be (Proverbs 31). He even tells husbands that they are to love their wives like He has sacrificially loved the church (Ephesians 5). God is not silent on the family … not in the least bit. Rather, God has spoken to families through His word – He has told each covenantal family what He lovingly desires of them. To have a family is a high calling from God.
Interestingly, when God talks about families, He never talks about ‘self’. He never equates a successful mother and father with ‘self’. Rather, it is the absence of self – a Godly parent is one who never focuses on him or her self. No – this parent always looks to God first and longs for God to be honored in the home and in the family. It is never their selves who comes first – it always the will of God in all things.
The covenantal children of the home are indeed the future of the church – these little ones may be future elders, deacons, pastors, Sunday School teachers, etc. They need to be loved and cared in the same way that God has loved and cared for us. Can you think of a higher selfless act than the sacrifice of an only son, all in order for a relationship to be repaired with a rebellious child? That is exactly what the Father in heaven did … He sent His son in order to call you out of rebellion. Parents – let me ask you the very blunt question: do you selflessly love your children? Are you emulating the love of the Heavenly Father with your children? Do they truly come first in all things and in all ways? This is the mission field that God has called each parent to. Fathers and mothers – are you answering this call? Are you ministering to the family that God has so blessed you with?
Soli Deo Gloria – Pastor James
When I was young, Whitney Houston had a hit song with these lyrics: “I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way …” I remember this song being played all over the place, and so many people singing along with the radio. It’s a shame that the sentiment expressed in those lyrics have fallen to the wayside in our society, both in and out of the church.
As the pastor for youth and family, I have a passion for Christian covenantal families. Being a product of a broken family that suffered from many familial dysfunctions, I am fully aware of what kind of spiritual and emotional damage that can be done to children who are not raised in the loving and merciful Scriptural standards and boundaries. And, as I am entering into my 30s, I look around and see so many discarded carcasses of the covenantal family – and it is all being done in the name of self.
I had a pastor recently tell me that a large amount of problems with families stems directly from the selfish attitudes of parents, and how they mistakenly view their calling as parents. Providentially, the same day this pastor made this remark to me was the same day a devotion was emailed to me, detailing a mother’s struggle with this same thing. Here are some things that were mentioned in this devotion:
When my third child was born, my oldest was three. And they were all active boys … In those difficult three years I kept trying to regain my old life. An organizer and leader by nature, I’d volunteer to oversee something at church and then make my kids and me miserable trying to get it done. My heart is heavy when I remember the times I dragged my three little boys to one event or another, only to leave angry and in tears because they couldn’t sit still … instead of accepting my life as it was, I plowed ahead, wanting to serve God and feeling certain He was pleased with my sacrifices … what I know now is that sometimes God calls us to a new mission field that on the surface looks like we’ve been called out of the “game”, but nothing could be further from the truth! Instead I missed the opportunity to minister more deeply to my children … I wish someone had told me that God would not forget me, that I was right where He wanted me, and that I should relax and see the opportunities He had placed in front of me.
These are powerful words of regret from a mother who loved her family. But, notice what she said – she sacrificed her family all in order to regain her old self. She lost sight that God wasn’t calling her back to her old self, but that He had given her a ministry of the here and now – and this ministry was her family! Her Father in heaven had called her to be a mother to three sons – three sons she was to minister to by being a Godly mother.
God places a very high importance on the family. He relates to us in a familiar sense – He is our Father and we are his beloved children who have the privilege of calling Him “Abba, Father”. He loves the family so much that He gives instructions on how the family should be ministered to (Deuteronomy 6). God so desires that the covenantal family will be successful that He outlines what a Godly mother and wife is to be (Proverbs 31). He even tells husbands that they are to love their wives like He has sacrificially loved the church (Ephesians 5). God is not silent on the family … not in the least bit. Rather, God has spoken to families through His word – He has told each covenantal family what He lovingly desires of them. To have a family is a high calling from God.
Interestingly, when God talks about families, He never talks about ‘self’. He never equates a successful mother and father with ‘self’. Rather, it is the absence of self – a Godly parent is one who never focuses on him or her self. No – this parent always looks to God first and longs for God to be honored in the home and in the family. It is never their selves who comes first – it always the will of God in all things.
The covenantal children of the home are indeed the future of the church – these little ones may be future elders, deacons, pastors, Sunday School teachers, etc. They need to be loved and cared in the same way that God has loved and cared for us. Can you think of a higher selfless act than the sacrifice of an only son, all in order for a relationship to be repaired with a rebellious child? That is exactly what the Father in heaven did … He sent His son in order to call you out of rebellion. Parents – let me ask you the very blunt question: do you selflessly love your children? Are you emulating the love of the Heavenly Father with your children? Do they truly come first in all things and in all ways? This is the mission field that God has called each parent to. Fathers and mothers – are you answering this call? Are you ministering to the family that God has so blessed you with?
Soli Deo Gloria – Pastor James
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
The Internet: Good or evil? Heaven-bound or hell-sent?
The internet is an interesting tool. You can find almost anything you want on the internet, from daily Bible devotions to the most wretched of pornography. It is a source of great good, and sometimes a source of even greater evil. The current generation of youth and children are exposed to the internet in great amounts. Do you, as their parents and loved ones, know exactly what is going on when your child logs on to the computer? From MySpace to Facebook to message boards, your child is interacting with a superior technology, and is able to be in contact with thousands and thousands of people. They can find information on how to commit suicide, how to poison someone, and people who are willing to sexually exploit them. They can also find information on how to read their Bible better, what church camps are worth going to, and meet other like-minded believers. It is with this in mind that I encourage you to attend this workshop. I will take you through different sites that your children like to frequent, and show you some of the pitfalls of the Web, along with some of the bright spots. We will meet on Saturday, May 5th at 9.00 am, and we will be done by lunch time. Please put this date on your calendar and plan to attend – and don’t assume your child is immune to the bad side of the Internet. The average age a child is exposed to internet pornography is 11, and by the time they are 17, there is an 80% chance they have had multiple experiences with pornography. If that isn’t scary enough, 90% of 8-16 year olds have viewed pornography. Plan on joining us as we equip you with weapons to defend the soul of your child.
Prayer Thoughts
The Puritans were an unusual group of men and women. They devoted their whole lives to being pure before God, hence their name. Their devotion was so deep that they left England and migrated to America, all in order to practice Christianity without the sinful regulations defined by the government. The Puritans are our spiritual forefathers in many ways. There is so much we have learned from them, and there is so much more that we can learn from them.
One of their pastors was a man named Thomas Watson. He was not only a devoted pastor, but also an author. One of his works is titled ‘Heaven Taken by Storm’, which explains that Christians are to be violent (i.e. acting with or characterized by rough force; intense in force, effect, etc.) in their pursuit of being more like Jesus Christ. Rev. Watson counsels believers to be violent in their reading of the word, hearing of the word, sanctifying the Lord’s Day, etc. One of his more striking points is when he talks about prayer.
“Jesus Christ went more willingly to the cross than we do to the throne of grace.”
Is this true for you? Be encouraged to think about these words – Rev. Watson wrote this to people who had devoted their lives to being pure before God. As one who has full access to the throne of grace, go to it with all the willingness that God has given you, and enjoy the sweet fellowship of heaven that can only be obtained through prayer.
One of their pastors was a man named Thomas Watson. He was not only a devoted pastor, but also an author. One of his works is titled ‘Heaven Taken by Storm’, which explains that Christians are to be violent (i.e. acting with or characterized by rough force; intense in force, effect, etc.) in their pursuit of being more like Jesus Christ. Rev. Watson counsels believers to be violent in their reading of the word, hearing of the word, sanctifying the Lord’s Day, etc. One of his more striking points is when he talks about prayer.
“Jesus Christ went more willingly to the cross than we do to the throne of grace.”
Is this true for you? Be encouraged to think about these words – Rev. Watson wrote this to people who had devoted their lives to being pure before God. As one who has full access to the throne of grace, go to it with all the willingness that God has given you, and enjoy the sweet fellowship of heaven that can only be obtained through prayer.
Live at the Fillmore: The Psalms
My dad is a voracious music fan. He listens to all kinds and styles of music. His record collection boasts albums from Ry Cooder to Willie Nelson to Hank Williams to the Beatles to Miles Davis to Led Zeppelin, and so on. From the earliest time that I can remember, there was always some kind of music being played in the car and around the house. So, it was virtually inevitable that I would develop the same sort of passion for music – and, I did!
One of the musical forms that I have a keen interest in is the blues and blues-rock. I love this style of music … the rough recordings of Robert Johnson … the opening slide riff of ‘Statesboro Blues’ by the Allman Brothers … Derek and the Dominoes pouring out blues guitar in “Live from the Fillmore East”. One of the things that I love about this style of music is its brutal honesty. The musical side of the blues is really unpretentious, and is based upon letting your feelings show in the way that you play your instrument. Many times, this is what is recognized as being the blues. However, the lyrics of blues songs also portray the raw emotions of the human heart, with Robert Johnson singing about the hardships of life in the delta of the Mississippi and John Lee Hooker wondering whether heaven and hell really exist because of the conditions that he sees right here on earth. The blues can really be characterized as being a form of music that provides a platform for a man or woman to expose their emotions and desires in both music and lyrics.
Interestingly enough, the same could be said for the book of Psalms. Bono, lead singer of the rock group, U2, says the same thing, “That's what a lot of the psalms feel like to me -- the blues …” In this book of the Bible, we have so many examples of man laying himself bare before his God. There are times when he is shouting for joy before the Lord … there are other times when he contemplates about who God is … there are times when he is verbally shaking his fist at God … and there are times when he is bent down in tears, wondering where his God is. Psalm 22 is a striking example of an emotive psalm – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?” We tend to remember this psalm only around Easter, when we recount the story of Jesus on the cross. But, we need to remember that this was first written by David, and given to the choirmaster for use in worship. Think of David’s words again, “My God, why have you forsaken me? … why are you so far from saving me?” Can you read in between the lines and see the stark emotion of a man who feels as if God is so far from him that he cannot be saved? A man, who is later described as being a man after God’s own heart, is in a place where he sees no hope, because he sees no God. You can almost imagine David’s tears falling down on the parchment of this psalm, causing some of the ink to run down the page.
There are numerous examples of the psalmist laying his soul bare before God. Psalm 69 actually has the audacity to say “My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God”, and Psalm 109 opens with these words, “Be not silent, O God of my praise! For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues.” These words inspired and directed by God himself, gives to us the example of a heart being laid wide open for God. Emotions are not hid nor imagined to not really exist. On the contrary, they are presented before God, and the psalmist pleas with Him from his broken heart.
However, there is a stark difference between the blues and the psalms. Many times, the blues end on a low note – hence the appropriate title for this style of music! Usually, there is no resolution to the problem … life is hard, and this will never change. The psalmist never sees his life that way. Even in the midst of great trials and hardships expressed in the words of the psalms, he always comes back to God – and how great and trustworthy our Lord in heaven truly is. He knows that life is hard – but that God is greater than any hardship. He knows that life can be unfair – but that God is eternally gracious to his children. He knows that life can seem to be filled more with enemies than with friends – but that God is always the victor, and claims victory for his people.
There are many things we can learn from the psalms – and one of the greatest lessons is that we need to be honest with God, because He already knows how we feel. We also need to learn to see our problems in the larger context than our hole of pity – God is always victorious, and the cross of Jesus Christ should always remind us that this victory is now our victory. We can sing the blues, but we can always end with a smile, because God is our God and Father.
Soli Deo Gloria
Pastor James
One of the musical forms that I have a keen interest in is the blues and blues-rock. I love this style of music … the rough recordings of Robert Johnson … the opening slide riff of ‘Statesboro Blues’ by the Allman Brothers … Derek and the Dominoes pouring out blues guitar in “Live from the Fillmore East”. One of the things that I love about this style of music is its brutal honesty. The musical side of the blues is really unpretentious, and is based upon letting your feelings show in the way that you play your instrument. Many times, this is what is recognized as being the blues. However, the lyrics of blues songs also portray the raw emotions of the human heart, with Robert Johnson singing about the hardships of life in the delta of the Mississippi and John Lee Hooker wondering whether heaven and hell really exist because of the conditions that he sees right here on earth. The blues can really be characterized as being a form of music that provides a platform for a man or woman to expose their emotions and desires in both music and lyrics.
Interestingly enough, the same could be said for the book of Psalms. Bono, lead singer of the rock group, U2, says the same thing, “That's what a lot of the psalms feel like to me -- the blues …” In this book of the Bible, we have so many examples of man laying himself bare before his God. There are times when he is shouting for joy before the Lord … there are other times when he contemplates about who God is … there are times when he is verbally shaking his fist at God … and there are times when he is bent down in tears, wondering where his God is. Psalm 22 is a striking example of an emotive psalm – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?” We tend to remember this psalm only around Easter, when we recount the story of Jesus on the cross. But, we need to remember that this was first written by David, and given to the choirmaster for use in worship. Think of David’s words again, “My God, why have you forsaken me? … why are you so far from saving me?” Can you read in between the lines and see the stark emotion of a man who feels as if God is so far from him that he cannot be saved? A man, who is later described as being a man after God’s own heart, is in a place where he sees no hope, because he sees no God. You can almost imagine David’s tears falling down on the parchment of this psalm, causing some of the ink to run down the page.
There are numerous examples of the psalmist laying his soul bare before God. Psalm 69 actually has the audacity to say “My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God”, and Psalm 109 opens with these words, “Be not silent, O God of my praise! For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues.” These words inspired and directed by God himself, gives to us the example of a heart being laid wide open for God. Emotions are not hid nor imagined to not really exist. On the contrary, they are presented before God, and the psalmist pleas with Him from his broken heart.
However, there is a stark difference between the blues and the psalms. Many times, the blues end on a low note – hence the appropriate title for this style of music! Usually, there is no resolution to the problem … life is hard, and this will never change. The psalmist never sees his life that way. Even in the midst of great trials and hardships expressed in the words of the psalms, he always comes back to God – and how great and trustworthy our Lord in heaven truly is. He knows that life is hard – but that God is greater than any hardship. He knows that life can be unfair – but that God is eternally gracious to his children. He knows that life can seem to be filled more with enemies than with friends – but that God is always the victor, and claims victory for his people.
There are many things we can learn from the psalms – and one of the greatest lessons is that we need to be honest with God, because He already knows how we feel. We also need to learn to see our problems in the larger context than our hole of pity – God is always victorious, and the cross of Jesus Christ should always remind us that this victory is now our victory. We can sing the blues, but we can always end with a smile, because God is our God and Father.
Soli Deo Gloria
Pastor James
Thursday, March 1, 2007
March Newsletter piece
Hug a Presbyterian!
This coming Sunday, I have the privilege of starting to teach the communicants class. The format for this class is to teach through each of the six membership questions each child will have to satisfactorily answer. I am responsible for teaching through the last three questions – do you now resolve and promise in humble reliance upon the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes a follower of Christ? Do you promise to support the church in its worship and work, to the best of your ability? Do you submit yourself in the spirit of love to the government and discipline of this church and promise to strive for its purity, peace and prosperity? I am looking forward to this time with our six youth who desire to join the church. I am especially looking forward to teaching on the last question.
I have come to find that I am somewhat unusual in my passion and fervor of being a Presbyterian. Many times, when I tell someone that I make it a habit to thank the living God for calling me to be a Presbyterian, they give me a weird look – as if they are wondering why in the world I would ever pray about something that divisive? In our current Church society and philosophy, denominations have been branded as being outdated and exclusive – and why in the world would we ever want to do something that our forefathers held to & practice something that may offend just one single person?
Well, there are good reasons why we have Presbyterian denominations – and why each one of us is Presbyterian. The main reason – and really the sole reason – is that it is Biblical. The absolute genius and beauty of our theological heritage is that it reminds us that God’s holy writ – the Scriptures – is the sole authority on all matters. This is even true when it comes to something as dry and boring as church government. Isn’t it amazing that God, in his absolute sovereignty, saw fit to instruct his bride in how she should be organized? He did – and, as Presbyterians, we truly understand and believe that we are keeping as close to his word as we can – even in our church government.
Presbyterianism really started with Moses. In Exodus 18, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, saw how much work Moses was doing for Israel. Out of concern for Moses’ health, Jethro advised him that he needed to choose some able men to go out and start doing some of this spiritual work that was totally upon Moses’ shoulders. So, Moses chose from the nation some able men to help do the spiritual work that these people needed. Sounds suspiciously like elders, doesn’t it?
Where we start to see the fruition of the foundation of Presbyterianism is in the early church of Acts. In chapter six of the book, we read of widows being neglected, so the twelve disciples gathered together and hatched the plan of electing deacons – men who would spiritually serve the church by taking care of the physical needs. This enabled the 12 disciples to fully focus on being elders. Is this starting to sound familiar to your Presbyterian ears?
Finally, in Acts 15, we read of the first General Synod. The elders from the churches of Jerusalem gathered together to do the work of the church – in this instance, to grapple with a theological issue concerning circumcision. They met and discussed this issue, and issued a ruling that would help the church to deal with these sorts of situations. If you were to go to Bonclarken for General Synod, you would see the same sort of thing happening.
These are just a few of the Biblical references to our Presbyterian church government. I don’t think it is being divisive in being humbly proud of your church and the way that it operates – because we understand that our form of government is seeking to be true to Scripture. I think we should all thank God that he has called us to be Presbyterians! It is in his providence that we are members of a Presbyterian church – and it is in his grace and mercy that we operate in such a way. Let us all endeavor, then, to be the best Presbyterian that God has called us to be, because “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10.31) – even being a Presbyterian, because it is Biblical.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor James
This coming Sunday, I have the privilege of starting to teach the communicants class. The format for this class is to teach through each of the six membership questions each child will have to satisfactorily answer. I am responsible for teaching through the last three questions – do you now resolve and promise in humble reliance upon the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes a follower of Christ? Do you promise to support the church in its worship and work, to the best of your ability? Do you submit yourself in the spirit of love to the government and discipline of this church and promise to strive for its purity, peace and prosperity? I am looking forward to this time with our six youth who desire to join the church. I am especially looking forward to teaching on the last question.
I have come to find that I am somewhat unusual in my passion and fervor of being a Presbyterian. Many times, when I tell someone that I make it a habit to thank the living God for calling me to be a Presbyterian, they give me a weird look – as if they are wondering why in the world I would ever pray about something that divisive? In our current Church society and philosophy, denominations have been branded as being outdated and exclusive – and why in the world would we ever want to do something that our forefathers held to & practice something that may offend just one single person?
Well, there are good reasons why we have Presbyterian denominations – and why each one of us is Presbyterian. The main reason – and really the sole reason – is that it is Biblical. The absolute genius and beauty of our theological heritage is that it reminds us that God’s holy writ – the Scriptures – is the sole authority on all matters. This is even true when it comes to something as dry and boring as church government. Isn’t it amazing that God, in his absolute sovereignty, saw fit to instruct his bride in how she should be organized? He did – and, as Presbyterians, we truly understand and believe that we are keeping as close to his word as we can – even in our church government.
Presbyterianism really started with Moses. In Exodus 18, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, saw how much work Moses was doing for Israel. Out of concern for Moses’ health, Jethro advised him that he needed to choose some able men to go out and start doing some of this spiritual work that was totally upon Moses’ shoulders. So, Moses chose from the nation some able men to help do the spiritual work that these people needed. Sounds suspiciously like elders, doesn’t it?
Where we start to see the fruition of the foundation of Presbyterianism is in the early church of Acts. In chapter six of the book, we read of widows being neglected, so the twelve disciples gathered together and hatched the plan of electing deacons – men who would spiritually serve the church by taking care of the physical needs. This enabled the 12 disciples to fully focus on being elders. Is this starting to sound familiar to your Presbyterian ears?
Finally, in Acts 15, we read of the first General Synod. The elders from the churches of Jerusalem gathered together to do the work of the church – in this instance, to grapple with a theological issue concerning circumcision. They met and discussed this issue, and issued a ruling that would help the church to deal with these sorts of situations. If you were to go to Bonclarken for General Synod, you would see the same sort of thing happening.
These are just a few of the Biblical references to our Presbyterian church government. I don’t think it is being divisive in being humbly proud of your church and the way that it operates – because we understand that our form of government is seeking to be true to Scripture. I think we should all thank God that he has called us to be Presbyterians! It is in his providence that we are members of a Presbyterian church – and it is in his grace and mercy that we operate in such a way. Let us all endeavor, then, to be the best Presbyterian that God has called us to be, because “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10.31) – even being a Presbyterian, because it is Biblical.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor James
Friday, February 16, 2007
Thoughts on getting deeper into the Scriptures
I found this post on another site, and would like to share it with you ...
And I will show you a still more excellent way ...
I'd like to share a happy discovery I've made since I've been back in my home state of Texas. My family and I came here a month ago to spend the holidays with our families. And here, as in Scotland, I've been reading a lot of church history and theology, off- and online (mainly blogs). I want to highlight the most life-changing post I've read in months -- maybe ever. In it Justin Taylor cited Joe Carter, who had taken a strategy from a book by the late James M. Gray. Taylor's post was entitled, 'Four Steps to Transform Your Life'. Here they are:
1. Choose a book of the Bible.
2. Read it in its entirety.
3. Repeat Step 2 twenty times.
4. Repeat this process for all 66 books of the Bible.
To make a long post (that has very little to do with the Puritans) short, I decided to take Gray's/Carter's/Taylor's advice, and I'm now beginning my 15th reading of 1 Thessalonians. The results? Well, I haven't been caught up to the third heaven or had any epiphanies.
But I can say, without exaggerating, that I've experienced more sublime peace and gained more insight and encouragement reading Paul's heartfelt epistle these 14 times than I've ever known scouring the musings of men in print or around the blogosphere.
In fact, since I started following this plan I've come to the conviction that an intimate knowledge of God's sacred Word -- the kind of familiarity I believe anyone with a 6th-grade education can obtain by simply following these four steps in earnest -- is many times more valuable and profitable than any education any theological institution can offer. Don't get me wrong: I've had eight years of formal theological training, and I still recommend a (conservative) seminary education to anyone thinking seriously about going into full-time ministry. But if you finish all of that and you don't know and love the Scriptures, I can't help but think it's all an expensive waste.
This program isn't a magic formula for spiritual maturity. In its essence it's simply a way to master the Bible, one book at a time. And it's effective.
Read books, read blogs, read the news, read whatever you feel edifies you -- but you'll never find rest for your harried soul until you return to the pages of God's Word and make it your home. If you're preparing for vocational ministry or are already immersed in it, I can think of no better way to train yourself than to follow the four steps above prayerfully and obediently. I guarantee that if you do, you'll never lack the power or resources needed to feed the Lord's flock. By God's grace you'll be a holy powerhouse. Try it!
And I will show you a still more excellent way ...
I'd like to share a happy discovery I've made since I've been back in my home state of Texas. My family and I came here a month ago to spend the holidays with our families. And here, as in Scotland, I've been reading a lot of church history and theology, off- and online (mainly blogs). I want to highlight the most life-changing post I've read in months -- maybe ever. In it Justin Taylor cited Joe Carter, who had taken a strategy from a book by the late James M. Gray. Taylor's post was entitled, 'Four Steps to Transform Your Life'. Here they are:
1. Choose a book of the Bible.
2. Read it in its entirety.
3. Repeat Step 2 twenty times.
4. Repeat this process for all 66 books of the Bible.
To make a long post (that has very little to do with the Puritans) short, I decided to take Gray's/Carter's/Taylor's advice, and I'm now beginning my 15th reading of 1 Thessalonians. The results? Well, I haven't been caught up to the third heaven or had any epiphanies.
But I can say, without exaggerating, that I've experienced more sublime peace and gained more insight and encouragement reading Paul's heartfelt epistle these 14 times than I've ever known scouring the musings of men in print or around the blogosphere.
In fact, since I started following this plan I've come to the conviction that an intimate knowledge of God's sacred Word -- the kind of familiarity I believe anyone with a 6th-grade education can obtain by simply following these four steps in earnest -- is many times more valuable and profitable than any education any theological institution can offer. Don't get me wrong: I've had eight years of formal theological training, and I still recommend a (conservative) seminary education to anyone thinking seriously about going into full-time ministry. But if you finish all of that and you don't know and love the Scriptures, I can't help but think it's all an expensive waste.
This program isn't a magic formula for spiritual maturity. In its essence it's simply a way to master the Bible, one book at a time. And it's effective.
Read books, read blogs, read the news, read whatever you feel edifies you -- but you'll never find rest for your harried soul until you return to the pages of God's Word and make it your home. If you're preparing for vocational ministry or are already immersed in it, I can think of no better way to train yourself than to follow the four steps above prayerfully and obediently. I guarantee that if you do, you'll never lack the power or resources needed to feed the Lord's flock. By God's grace you'll be a holy powerhouse. Try it!
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Girls Gone Wild
This week's edition of Newsweek has an article about the effect that celebrities and their actions have on teenagers. It is an eye-opening article that makes one reconsider how much influence and power we allow celebrities to have over our children. Should these people who we don't really know - all we know is the image they choose to put forth - be allowed to shape our children? From casual sex to casual drug-usage to their lack of clothing - is this who we really want our children to grow up to be, especially our girls, who tend to be more susceptible to this? Whatever happened to the shining example of the Proverbs 31 woman?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16961761/site/newsweek/
Please be aware that there is some frank talk in this article - and some pictorial slide shows that go along with it. Proceed with caution ...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16961761/site/newsweek/
Please be aware that there is some frank talk in this article - and some pictorial slide shows that go along with it. Proceed with caution ...
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Interesting Thoughts
A friend of mine, who is an ARP pastor in the upstate of SC, has a blog, and he posted this quotes - interesting thoughts to ponder on ...
Richard Baxter: "All churches either rise or fall as the ministry doth rise or fall, not in riches or worldly grandeur, but in knowledge, zeal, and ability for their work."
Charles Spurgeon: "Today there is not very much Gospel about; the church has given it up; a great many preachers preach everything but the living truth. This is sad; but it is a strong reason why you and I should teach more Gospel than ever. I have often thought to myself -- Other men may teach socialism, deliver lectures, or collect a band of fiddlers, that they may gather a congregation; but I will preach the Gospel. I will preach more Gospel than ever if I can; I will stick more to the one cardinal point. The other brethren can attend to the odds and ends, but I will keep to Christ crucified. To the men of vast ability, who are looking to the events of the day, I would say, 'Allow one poor fool to keep preaching the Gospel.' Beloved teachers, be fools for Christ, and keep to the Gospel. Don't you be afraid; it has life in it, and it will grow: only bring it out and let it grow."
John Calvin: "It is certain that if we come to church we shall not hear only a mortal man speaking but we shall feel (even by his secret power) that God is speaking to our souls, that he is the teacher. He so touches us that the human voice enters into us and so profits us that we are refreshed and nourished by it. God calls us to him as if he had his mouth open and we saw him there in person."
Richard Baxter: "All churches either rise or fall as the ministry doth rise or fall, not in riches or worldly grandeur, but in knowledge, zeal, and ability for their work."
Charles Spurgeon: "Today there is not very much Gospel about; the church has given it up; a great many preachers preach everything but the living truth. This is sad; but it is a strong reason why you and I should teach more Gospel than ever. I have often thought to myself -- Other men may teach socialism, deliver lectures, or collect a band of fiddlers, that they may gather a congregation; but I will preach the Gospel. I will preach more Gospel than ever if I can; I will stick more to the one cardinal point. The other brethren can attend to the odds and ends, but I will keep to Christ crucified. To the men of vast ability, who are looking to the events of the day, I would say, 'Allow one poor fool to keep preaching the Gospel.' Beloved teachers, be fools for Christ, and keep to the Gospel. Don't you be afraid; it has life in it, and it will grow: only bring it out and let it grow."
John Calvin: "It is certain that if we come to church we shall not hear only a mortal man speaking but we shall feel (even by his secret power) that God is speaking to our souls, that he is the teacher. He so touches us that the human voice enters into us and so profits us that we are refreshed and nourished by it. God calls us to him as if he had his mouth open and we saw him there in person."
Monday, January 29, 2007
Super Bowl XLI
February 4th – 6.00 p.m. at Garry, Abbie & Katie Wakefield’s – 45 Tanqueray Street, Sharpsburg. We will provide transportation from the church to their house. Please be at the church at 5.30 pm if you need a ride. There will be pizza provided – guys, please bring a 2 liter drink; girls, please bring a dessert. If you need any more information, please contact Pastor James.
Feb newsletter column
Aiming for Worship
Last month, I talked about the importance of family worship. One of the reasons why it is important to have family worship is that it daily brings us into the presence of our God, and reminds us of the eternal Gospel. One of the tools of this Gospel worship is music.
Martin Luther once said that music is a gift of God, and that it is the handmaiden of theology, and second only to theology. Music plays a large role in our worshipping and understanding our God. When you read Biblical accounts of heaven, a very striking and dominant theme is that everyone is singing in heaven! Their worship is marked by their heartfelt songs, not matter their talent. Worshipful singing is meant to be a trademark of a true child of God. With this in mind, I would like to inform you about some resources available to help you and your family in your journey of worshipping our great God through music.
Judy Rogers has devoted herself to producing CD’s of music for children. She is the wife of a Presbyterian pastor, and has written many songs to help children understand their heavenly Father better. She has recorded an album of songs based on the Children’s Catechism, and another on who God really is. The great thing about her endeavors is that she wants to encourage children to always be biblically based. You can find out more about her and her albums at www.judyrogers.com.
There is a movement taking place where a number of artists are taking theologically rich older hymns and putting them to new tunes. This has really exploded, and it is seeping its way into mainstream contemporary Christian radio. It is really exciting to hear their results, and to be challenged by their music and the text. The first to do this is a group called Indelible Grace – www.igracemusic.com . They are taking many familiar hymns and reworking the tunes to more modern sounds and harmonies. On their website, they have a wealth of information about worship that is well worth reading. Another group in this movement is from a Presbyterian church in Birmingham, AL - www.redmountainchurch.org/rmm/. This group is taking a 17th century hymnal, The Gadsby Hymnal, and writing new tunes for it. Their latest album, “Help My Unbelief”, looks at the themes of Christian doubt and longing. Jars of Clay have also recently put out an album of older hymns, “Redemption Songs”. I would encourage you to go to these sites and listen to some clips to see if you are interested … I am using these albums as a part of our worship time in our evening youth meetings.
If you are more inclined to the more traditional renditions of hymns, don’t be worried! There are plenty of resources available to help you in your worship. Ligonier Ministries - www.ligonier.org – has made available some beautiful recordings of many favorite hymns and psalms. They even offer a CD of James Montgomery Boice’s “Hymns for a Modern Reformation” – a number of hymns he wrote based on Biblical truths. It is a very encouraging album!
I hope you will listen to some of these albums, because I truly believe they will spiritually benefit you and your family. As Dr. Luther said, music is the handmaiden of theology – and all theology truly is, is a deeper understanding of God. Why not immerse yourself into something that will help you to know God better & that will aid you in your worship of Him? May we all endeavor to worship like the saints in heaven – and may we do it at home with our family, and in the church with our fellow brothers and sisters.
Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be the glory)
Pastor James
Last month, I talked about the importance of family worship. One of the reasons why it is important to have family worship is that it daily brings us into the presence of our God, and reminds us of the eternal Gospel. One of the tools of this Gospel worship is music.
Martin Luther once said that music is a gift of God, and that it is the handmaiden of theology, and second only to theology. Music plays a large role in our worshipping and understanding our God. When you read Biblical accounts of heaven, a very striking and dominant theme is that everyone is singing in heaven! Their worship is marked by their heartfelt songs, not matter their talent. Worshipful singing is meant to be a trademark of a true child of God. With this in mind, I would like to inform you about some resources available to help you and your family in your journey of worshipping our great God through music.
Judy Rogers has devoted herself to producing CD’s of music for children. She is the wife of a Presbyterian pastor, and has written many songs to help children understand their heavenly Father better. She has recorded an album of songs based on the Children’s Catechism, and another on who God really is. The great thing about her endeavors is that she wants to encourage children to always be biblically based. You can find out more about her and her albums at www.judyrogers.com.
There is a movement taking place where a number of artists are taking theologically rich older hymns and putting them to new tunes. This has really exploded, and it is seeping its way into mainstream contemporary Christian radio. It is really exciting to hear their results, and to be challenged by their music and the text. The first to do this is a group called Indelible Grace – www.igracemusic.com . They are taking many familiar hymns and reworking the tunes to more modern sounds and harmonies. On their website, they have a wealth of information about worship that is well worth reading. Another group in this movement is from a Presbyterian church in Birmingham, AL - www.redmountainchurch.org/rmm/. This group is taking a 17th century hymnal, The Gadsby Hymnal, and writing new tunes for it. Their latest album, “Help My Unbelief”, looks at the themes of Christian doubt and longing. Jars of Clay have also recently put out an album of older hymns, “Redemption Songs”. I would encourage you to go to these sites and listen to some clips to see if you are interested … I am using these albums as a part of our worship time in our evening youth meetings.
If you are more inclined to the more traditional renditions of hymns, don’t be worried! There are plenty of resources available to help you in your worship. Ligonier Ministries - www.ligonier.org – has made available some beautiful recordings of many favorite hymns and psalms. They even offer a CD of James Montgomery Boice’s “Hymns for a Modern Reformation” – a number of hymns he wrote based on Biblical truths. It is a very encouraging album!
I hope you will listen to some of these albums, because I truly believe they will spiritually benefit you and your family. As Dr. Luther said, music is the handmaiden of theology – and all theology truly is, is a deeper understanding of God. Why not immerse yourself into something that will help you to know God better & that will aid you in your worship of Him? May we all endeavor to worship like the saints in heaven – and may we do it at home with our family, and in the church with our fellow brothers and sisters.
Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be the glory)
Pastor James
Friday, December 29, 2006
The Star that shone on the birth of Jesus
Here is an interesting take on the star of Bethlehem.
http://www.reformation21.org/Reformation_21/20/
http://www.reformation21.org/Reformation_21/20/
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Notes from Parents Meeting
Parent & Youth Meeting
December 3, 2006
• I have asked for both parents and youth to be here because I want each group to hear what the other group is being taught and told about. I want each of y’all to know what responsibilities I am laying out for each group. Youth – know what your parent’s responsibilities are. Parents – know what your youth’s responsibilities are.
• First thing, my area of responsibility is K-12 grade participants and their families. This is my congregation – and I am your pastor. Please utilize me as such – I have been called to be your pastor, so please use me as such. I am here for you.
• Philosophy of ministry – this revolves around the covenantal family.
• Jeremiah 31.33 - I will be their God, and they shall be my people… this is the crux of the covenant that God has made with His people, and this is the foundation from which I am building this ministry.
• In particular, my focus is on helping and aiding the covenant family, because God works through the covenantal family structure.
• I am here to aid the parents in their role of raising their children… please understand, I am not a miracle worker – I do not walk on water, nor do I turn water into wine – and I cannot snap my finger and make your kids good and your family ok. That is not what I do – my calling is to come alongside the family and to help you along.
• This ministry will be built to aid the parents, not to do those things that you don’t want to do. Which means this – my ministry to your family will look just like how you minister to your family.
• So far, we are off to a good start – because you are here this evening, and that shows me your seriousness in this ministry and your part in it.
• But, parents please understand that I am here to aid you as you seek to raise your family according to the covenant.
• Think about the way our week is scheduled at this church – I have an hour every other week with your kids. They spend a little less than one hour in Sunday School.
• Who do they spend a majority of their time with outside of the church? It isn’t with us – so which means that we are limited to what we can do.
• We aren’t there every day – we aren’t in the homes with them – we aren’t family.
• The burden of ministry falls upon your shoulders – and we are here to aid you in that.
• Hughes Oliphant Old, a professor at Erskine College and Seminary, said that the family is a little church – I believe that, and I want to aid you in that.
• How are we going to do that? Through teaching and relationships.
• Here are some of my goals in how we are going to structure our ministry – sometime in the next year, I want youth group to be a weekly meeting instead of every other week.
• This time will be spent in singing songs, praying for each other and being taught from Scripture on a number of issues and topics. We will also use our time to social with each other, to build relationships with one another.
• Our teaching will be heavy – meaning that I will focus on the Bible and to bring your youth along in their understanding of it – that from this teaching, we will be preparing Proverbs 31 women and Ephesians 5 men.
• Also, I would like for us to do some more singing in the groups – which means that I need some musical people to help out with this! I play guitar, but my voice scares more than it helps!
• This will be our main way of helping the family.
• We will also schedule social events – right now, I am looking at a ski trip for the winter break in Feb.
• We will do some big events scattered around smaller events – all of them aimed at building relationships with one another.
• Another thing we will start in the New Year is I would like to come and visit each family under my care – to pray with you, to fellowship with you, and to help you out anyway that I can… I will let you know more about that as I try and get that together.
• Finally, I hope to have parent’s meeting set up periodically – probably quarterly – to give you the opportunity to have a hand in all of this.
• Now, the best way that we can minister to your youth and child is if they are active in the church – in Sunday School, morning worship and in youth group… this is where our main exposure to your youth will be… if they aren’t involved, then we cannot minister to them.
• So, we need the youth to be involved in order for us to be able to minister to them.
• Parents, I encourage you to make this ministry a priority in the life of your family…I know that families are busy with different things at different places… but, what we are talking about here isn’t another extracurricular activity – we are talking about the care and nurture of your child’s soul and salvation… please make this ministry a priority in your life.
• Another idea for parents – your children model your behavior… this is proven over and over again… model for your children what a Christian should be, both in & out of church.
• I am amazed at how many parents think they can do what they want to and for it to not affect their children.
• Your children will model your behavior – so give them good behavior to be modeled after.
• Be active in church – come to church and be a part of the community.
• When you encourage your youth to come to youth group, why don’t you also go to evening worship? What better way to model this priority than for you to be a part of the evening activities here?
• Youth – you need to make this ministry a priority in your life, because each person working in this ministry is doing so for your benefit.
• I am the only paid worker here – the rest are volunteering to do this – and that shows you how much care there is for you in this church.
• Please make this a priority in your lives – get your homework done ahead of time, get your chores out of the way – and come and be a part of this time with each other.
• I am excited about the opportunities here – we have a good core of youth! There is no limit to what this ministry can do in the lives of each other.
• But, we all have to be dedicated to this in order for it to work… I have never seen a truly successful youth ministry that doesn’t involve the family in all ways, and that is what we aim to do.
• As I end my part, let me read to us a passage that explains to us the fundamentals of the covenant family – Deut. 6.4-9, 20-25
• I would like to give our other youth workers a moment to say a few words, and then open up the floor to any sort of discussion.
December 3, 2006
• I have asked for both parents and youth to be here because I want each group to hear what the other group is being taught and told about. I want each of y’all to know what responsibilities I am laying out for each group. Youth – know what your parent’s responsibilities are. Parents – know what your youth’s responsibilities are.
• First thing, my area of responsibility is K-12 grade participants and their families. This is my congregation – and I am your pastor. Please utilize me as such – I have been called to be your pastor, so please use me as such. I am here for you.
• Philosophy of ministry – this revolves around the covenantal family.
• Jeremiah 31.33 - I will be their God, and they shall be my people… this is the crux of the covenant that God has made with His people, and this is the foundation from which I am building this ministry.
• In particular, my focus is on helping and aiding the covenant family, because God works through the covenantal family structure.
• I am here to aid the parents in their role of raising their children… please understand, I am not a miracle worker – I do not walk on water, nor do I turn water into wine – and I cannot snap my finger and make your kids good and your family ok. That is not what I do – my calling is to come alongside the family and to help you along.
• This ministry will be built to aid the parents, not to do those things that you don’t want to do. Which means this – my ministry to your family will look just like how you minister to your family.
• So far, we are off to a good start – because you are here this evening, and that shows me your seriousness in this ministry and your part in it.
• But, parents please understand that I am here to aid you as you seek to raise your family according to the covenant.
• Think about the way our week is scheduled at this church – I have an hour every other week with your kids. They spend a little less than one hour in Sunday School.
• Who do they spend a majority of their time with outside of the church? It isn’t with us – so which means that we are limited to what we can do.
• We aren’t there every day – we aren’t in the homes with them – we aren’t family.
• The burden of ministry falls upon your shoulders – and we are here to aid you in that.
• Hughes Oliphant Old, a professor at Erskine College and Seminary, said that the family is a little church – I believe that, and I want to aid you in that.
• How are we going to do that? Through teaching and relationships.
• Here are some of my goals in how we are going to structure our ministry – sometime in the next year, I want youth group to be a weekly meeting instead of every other week.
• This time will be spent in singing songs, praying for each other and being taught from Scripture on a number of issues and topics. We will also use our time to social with each other, to build relationships with one another.
• Our teaching will be heavy – meaning that I will focus on the Bible and to bring your youth along in their understanding of it – that from this teaching, we will be preparing Proverbs 31 women and Ephesians 5 men.
• Also, I would like for us to do some more singing in the groups – which means that I need some musical people to help out with this! I play guitar, but my voice scares more than it helps!
• This will be our main way of helping the family.
• We will also schedule social events – right now, I am looking at a ski trip for the winter break in Feb.
• We will do some big events scattered around smaller events – all of them aimed at building relationships with one another.
• Another thing we will start in the New Year is I would like to come and visit each family under my care – to pray with you, to fellowship with you, and to help you out anyway that I can… I will let you know more about that as I try and get that together.
• Finally, I hope to have parent’s meeting set up periodically – probably quarterly – to give you the opportunity to have a hand in all of this.
• Now, the best way that we can minister to your youth and child is if they are active in the church – in Sunday School, morning worship and in youth group… this is where our main exposure to your youth will be… if they aren’t involved, then we cannot minister to them.
• So, we need the youth to be involved in order for us to be able to minister to them.
• Parents, I encourage you to make this ministry a priority in the life of your family…I know that families are busy with different things at different places… but, what we are talking about here isn’t another extracurricular activity – we are talking about the care and nurture of your child’s soul and salvation… please make this ministry a priority in your life.
• Another idea for parents – your children model your behavior… this is proven over and over again… model for your children what a Christian should be, both in & out of church.
• I am amazed at how many parents think they can do what they want to and for it to not affect their children.
• Your children will model your behavior – so give them good behavior to be modeled after.
• Be active in church – come to church and be a part of the community.
• When you encourage your youth to come to youth group, why don’t you also go to evening worship? What better way to model this priority than for you to be a part of the evening activities here?
• Youth – you need to make this ministry a priority in your life, because each person working in this ministry is doing so for your benefit.
• I am the only paid worker here – the rest are volunteering to do this – and that shows you how much care there is for you in this church.
• Please make this a priority in your lives – get your homework done ahead of time, get your chores out of the way – and come and be a part of this time with each other.
• I am excited about the opportunities here – we have a good core of youth! There is no limit to what this ministry can do in the lives of each other.
• But, we all have to be dedicated to this in order for it to work… I have never seen a truly successful youth ministry that doesn’t involve the family in all ways, and that is what we aim to do.
• As I end my part, let me read to us a passage that explains to us the fundamentals of the covenant family – Deut. 6.4-9, 20-25
• I would like to give our other youth workers a moment to say a few words, and then open up the floor to any sort of discussion.
Yes, Virginia, There is a God
Yes, Virginia, There is a God
Isaiah 7.14
Scripture
The grass withers & the flowers fade, but the word of God endures forever. Amen.
Prayer
Introduction
Eight year old Virginia O'Hanlon was having a crisis – some of her friends were telling her that Santa Claus didn’t exist. Like most little girls, the first thing she did was to go to her father… and she asked him – was there really no Santa Claus? He told her that she should write their local newspaper, The New York Sun, and ask them this same question. This letter came before Francis Church, and he responded with the column that has become famous, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”. In this editorial, Mr. Church sets forth an argument that a belief in Santa Claus is warranted. Here are some of his reasons he sort forth of why we can believe that there is a Santa Claus…
VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They do not believe except [what] they see… Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
His argument is based upon believing in the unseen and the unproven – basically, if you want to believe in Santa Claus, then you can, without any sort of proof or evidence… and this same logic also applies to fairies dancing on the lawn.
Thankfully, Santa Claus and God are not equals, because in the Christian faith, our belief that there is a God isn’t based on the unseen or unseeable or unknowable, for God has made himself known and seeable to his people.
We see God proclaimed in the nature around us…
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Nature declares to us that there is a God – from a sunset to a fresh snow to leaves falling to a spring evening… all of this declares that there is a God.
We also behold God in mankind…
Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
When we look at each other, we see the image of God in each other – in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.
God has made himself known to us… especially in what we celebrate in the Christmas season.
Our passage this evening is found in the Old Testament, and was given as a prophecy of the coming Messiah. What is interesting to note is the name given to the coming Messiah – Immanuel, which literally means God with us. Some 700 years before the first Christmas, God’s people are promised that God himself will be with us. This same prophecy is retold in the birth account of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1.
Matthew 1:20-23 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us).
This promised Messiah, who we are told will be God with us, is said to be Jesus Christ.
Now, if this was the only instance of this claim for Jesus as the Messiah, then we would have some right to be suspicious.
But, the Scriptural proof that this Messiah is Jesus Christ, the son of God, is overwhelming. First, we have the birth account – Isaiah foretold that the Messiah will be born of a virgin… and this Messiah was born of a virgin. The prophet Micah says that the Messiah will come from Bethlehem… where this Messiah was born. Isaiah tells what the life & death of the Messiah will look like in chapter 53… and it is the life and death of this Messiah.
It is also interesting to note how this Messiah considers himself…
In Luke 4, Jesus goes into the synagogue, and began to read from the prophet Isaiah…
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." 20 And Jesus rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
Jesus clearly identifies himself as the Messiah as prophesied in this reading from Isaiah, that he is the fulfillment of the promised Savior.
In John 10, Jesus says this about himself…
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."… 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
Jesus considers himself to be God – he says explicitly that he and the Father are one… meaning that Jesus is God.
This is a constant theme in his ministry, even when faced with persecution, beatings and stonings. But, he isn’t the only one who proclaims him to be the Messiah.
When Jesus asked his apostles who they thought he was, Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” When Jesus was on the cross, his manner of death so impressed the centurion that was supervising his crucifixion that he uttered, “Truly, this was the son of God!” Even the demons and unclean spirits would proclaim Jesus to be the son of God! Paul and the other New Testament writers always made reference to this Jesus as being the Messiah, the son of God. Even the apostle John, when taken into heaven, continues to reference Jesus as the Messiah, the son of God.
But, what is most telling that this is the true Messiah was his manner of death as prophesied in Isaiah 53.
Jesus, as an innocent man, went upon the cross and suffered a cruel death – so cruel that at one point he is pushed to cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” As he was being crucified, the earth shook, the night turned into day, and the veil in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. He died on this cross, was buried in the tomb of a rich man, and on the third day he rose from the dead. After his resurrection, he was seen by more than 500 people, some who were still alive during the writing of the New Testament.
He then ascended into heaven, which was witnessed by his disciples. When God entered into our world, people knew… it had been prophesied, and they saw these prophecies fulfilled.
The Messiah proclaimed himself to be the true Messiah, God incarnate on earth to save his people – and his people recognized that their Messiah had come to save them. They saw him… they touched him… they were healed by him… and they talked & wrote about their experiences. There is overwhelming proof that God entered into our world in the form of a man who was named Immanuel.
For Mr. Church, when we wanted to answer the question of proof of Santa Claus for little Virginia, he had to turn to the proving of nothing – all he could tell her is that you can’t prove that Santa isn’t real. For Christians, this same logic doesn’t hold true – we know that there is a God because of Christmas. With this season, we celebrate that the son of God came to earth to save his people – he was born of a woman… seen, touched and heard by a multitude of people… died on the cross and resurrected… and ascended into heaven.
On Christmas, we celebrate that God is real – so real that His son was born to us and beheld by many, and his saving work is experienced to this very day.
Yes, Virginia, there is a God – and we can be sure of that because of Christmas.
Isaiah 7.14
Scripture
The grass withers & the flowers fade, but the word of God endures forever. Amen.
Prayer
Introduction
Eight year old Virginia O'Hanlon was having a crisis – some of her friends were telling her that Santa Claus didn’t exist. Like most little girls, the first thing she did was to go to her father… and she asked him – was there really no Santa Claus? He told her that she should write their local newspaper, The New York Sun, and ask them this same question. This letter came before Francis Church, and he responded with the column that has become famous, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”. In this editorial, Mr. Church sets forth an argument that a belief in Santa Claus is warranted. Here are some of his reasons he sort forth of why we can believe that there is a Santa Claus…
VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They do not believe except [what] they see… Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
His argument is based upon believing in the unseen and the unproven – basically, if you want to believe in Santa Claus, then you can, without any sort of proof or evidence… and this same logic also applies to fairies dancing on the lawn.
Thankfully, Santa Claus and God are not equals, because in the Christian faith, our belief that there is a God isn’t based on the unseen or unseeable or unknowable, for God has made himself known and seeable to his people.
We see God proclaimed in the nature around us…
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Nature declares to us that there is a God – from a sunset to a fresh snow to leaves falling to a spring evening… all of this declares that there is a God.
We also behold God in mankind…
Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
When we look at each other, we see the image of God in each other – in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.
God has made himself known to us… especially in what we celebrate in the Christmas season.
Our passage this evening is found in the Old Testament, and was given as a prophecy of the coming Messiah. What is interesting to note is the name given to the coming Messiah – Immanuel, which literally means God with us. Some 700 years before the first Christmas, God’s people are promised that God himself will be with us. This same prophecy is retold in the birth account of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1.
Matthew 1:20-23 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us).
This promised Messiah, who we are told will be God with us, is said to be Jesus Christ.
Now, if this was the only instance of this claim for Jesus as the Messiah, then we would have some right to be suspicious.
But, the Scriptural proof that this Messiah is Jesus Christ, the son of God, is overwhelming. First, we have the birth account – Isaiah foretold that the Messiah will be born of a virgin… and this Messiah was born of a virgin. The prophet Micah says that the Messiah will come from Bethlehem… where this Messiah was born. Isaiah tells what the life & death of the Messiah will look like in chapter 53… and it is the life and death of this Messiah.
It is also interesting to note how this Messiah considers himself…
In Luke 4, Jesus goes into the synagogue, and began to read from the prophet Isaiah…
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." 20 And Jesus rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
Jesus clearly identifies himself as the Messiah as prophesied in this reading from Isaiah, that he is the fulfillment of the promised Savior.
In John 10, Jesus says this about himself…
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."… 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
Jesus considers himself to be God – he says explicitly that he and the Father are one… meaning that Jesus is God.
This is a constant theme in his ministry, even when faced with persecution, beatings and stonings. But, he isn’t the only one who proclaims him to be the Messiah.
When Jesus asked his apostles who they thought he was, Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” When Jesus was on the cross, his manner of death so impressed the centurion that was supervising his crucifixion that he uttered, “Truly, this was the son of God!” Even the demons and unclean spirits would proclaim Jesus to be the son of God! Paul and the other New Testament writers always made reference to this Jesus as being the Messiah, the son of God. Even the apostle John, when taken into heaven, continues to reference Jesus as the Messiah, the son of God.
But, what is most telling that this is the true Messiah was his manner of death as prophesied in Isaiah 53.
Jesus, as an innocent man, went upon the cross and suffered a cruel death – so cruel that at one point he is pushed to cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” As he was being crucified, the earth shook, the night turned into day, and the veil in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. He died on this cross, was buried in the tomb of a rich man, and on the third day he rose from the dead. After his resurrection, he was seen by more than 500 people, some who were still alive during the writing of the New Testament.
He then ascended into heaven, which was witnessed by his disciples. When God entered into our world, people knew… it had been prophesied, and they saw these prophecies fulfilled.
The Messiah proclaimed himself to be the true Messiah, God incarnate on earth to save his people – and his people recognized that their Messiah had come to save them. They saw him… they touched him… they were healed by him… and they talked & wrote about their experiences. There is overwhelming proof that God entered into our world in the form of a man who was named Immanuel.
For Mr. Church, when we wanted to answer the question of proof of Santa Claus for little Virginia, he had to turn to the proving of nothing – all he could tell her is that you can’t prove that Santa isn’t real. For Christians, this same logic doesn’t hold true – we know that there is a God because of Christmas. With this season, we celebrate that the son of God came to earth to save his people – he was born of a woman… seen, touched and heard by a multitude of people… died on the cross and resurrected… and ascended into heaven.
On Christmas, we celebrate that God is real – so real that His son was born to us and beheld by many, and his saving work is experienced to this very day.
Yes, Virginia, there is a God – and we can be sure of that because of Christmas.
Monday, December 11, 2006
C.S. Lewis on Christmas
I found this about C.S. Lewis and his thoughts about Christmas...
From "What Christmas Means to Me":
The interchange of presents was a very small ingredient in the older English festivity. Mr. Pickwick took a cod with him to Dingley Dell; the reformed Scrooge ordered a turkey for his clerk; lovers sent love gifts; toys and fruit were given to children. But the idea that not only all friends but even all acquaintances should give one another presents, or at least send one another cards, is quite modern and has been forced upon us by the shopkeepers. Neither of these circumstances is in itself a reason for condemning it. I condemn it on the following grounds.
1. It gives on the whole much more pain than pleasure. You have only to stay over Christmas with a family who seriously try to ‘keep’ it [in the commerical sense] in order to see that the thing is a nightmare. Long before December 25th everyone is worn out—physically worn out by weeks of daily struggle in overcrowded shops, mentally worn out by the effort to remember all the right recipients and to think out suitable gifts for them. They are in no trim for merry-making; much less (if they should want to) to take part in a religious act. They look far more as if there had been a long illness in the house.
2. Most of it is involuntary. The modern rule is that anyone can force you to give him a present by sending you a quite unprovoked present of his own. It is almost a blackmail. Who has not heard the wail of despair, and indeed of resentment, when, at the last moment, just as everyone hoped that the nuisance was over for one more year, the unwanted gift from Mrs. Busy (whom we hardly remember) flops unwelcomed through the letter-box, and back to the dreadful shops one of us has to go?
3. Things are given as presents which no mortal ever bought for himself—gaudy and useless gadgets, ‘novelties’ because no one was ever fool enough to make their like before. Have we really no better use for materials and for human skill and time than to spend them on all this rubbish?
4. The nuisance. For after all, during the racket we still have all our ordinary and necessary shopping to do, and the racket trebles the labour of it. We are told that the whole dreary business must go on because it is good for trade. It is in fact merely one annual symptom of that lunatic condition of our country, and indeed of the world, in which everyone lives by persuading everyone else to buy things. I don’t know the way out. But can it really be my duty to buy and receive masses of junk every winter just to help the shopkeepers? If the worst comes to the worst I’d sooner give them money for nothing and write it off as a charity. For nothing? Why, better for nothing than for a nuisance.
Taken from C.S. Lewis, “What Christmas Means to Me,” in God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994), 304-305.
From "What Christmas Means to Me":
The interchange of presents was a very small ingredient in the older English festivity. Mr. Pickwick took a cod with him to Dingley Dell; the reformed Scrooge ordered a turkey for his clerk; lovers sent love gifts; toys and fruit were given to children. But the idea that not only all friends but even all acquaintances should give one another presents, or at least send one another cards, is quite modern and has been forced upon us by the shopkeepers. Neither of these circumstances is in itself a reason for condemning it. I condemn it on the following grounds.
1. It gives on the whole much more pain than pleasure. You have only to stay over Christmas with a family who seriously try to ‘keep’ it [in the commerical sense] in order to see that the thing is a nightmare. Long before December 25th everyone is worn out—physically worn out by weeks of daily struggle in overcrowded shops, mentally worn out by the effort to remember all the right recipients and to think out suitable gifts for them. They are in no trim for merry-making; much less (if they should want to) to take part in a religious act. They look far more as if there had been a long illness in the house.
2. Most of it is involuntary. The modern rule is that anyone can force you to give him a present by sending you a quite unprovoked present of his own. It is almost a blackmail. Who has not heard the wail of despair, and indeed of resentment, when, at the last moment, just as everyone hoped that the nuisance was over for one more year, the unwanted gift from Mrs. Busy (whom we hardly remember) flops unwelcomed through the letter-box, and back to the dreadful shops one of us has to go?
3. Things are given as presents which no mortal ever bought for himself—gaudy and useless gadgets, ‘novelties’ because no one was ever fool enough to make their like before. Have we really no better use for materials and for human skill and time than to spend them on all this rubbish?
4. The nuisance. For after all, during the racket we still have all our ordinary and necessary shopping to do, and the racket trebles the labour of it. We are told that the whole dreary business must go on because it is good for trade. It is in fact merely one annual symptom of that lunatic condition of our country, and indeed of the world, in which everyone lives by persuading everyone else to buy things. I don’t know the way out. But can it really be my duty to buy and receive masses of junk every winter just to help the shopkeepers? If the worst comes to the worst I’d sooner give them money for nothing and write it off as a charity. For nothing? Why, better for nothing than for a nuisance.
Taken from C.S. Lewis, “What Christmas Means to Me,” in God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994), 304-305.
Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Senoir High Happenings
Here is a reminder that the Senior High Youth Group Christmas party is this Fri, the 8th, at 6 pm in WOH. There will be dinner (something good I hope- Peggy is in charge of it!), then an exchange of white elephant gifts, some games - & then we will head into town to watch 'The Nativity' - be ready to spend some time in discussion of this movie come Sun morn! I hope to see y'all there, and if you need any info, please call me, Daniel or Peggy!
Pastor James
Pastor James
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Some links that may interest you...
Here are some links you may find interesting:
www.reformation21.org - a great collection of articles and such, from many renowned Reformed pastors and scholars.
www.igracemusic.com - a group of Reformed musicians who are taking old hymns and putting them to new music. Great stuff here!
www.redmountainchurch.org/rmm/ - this is a group of musicians from a Presbyterian church in Birmingham, AL who are dedicated to putting old hymns to new music. Recently, they have started working on putting new music to a 17th century hymnal. Both of these efforts are rich in theological truth and Reformed heritage and breathe new life into some of the great hymns of the faith.
www.monergism.com - another site chock full of articles about theological issues. Well worth a look if you have time.
www.cafepress.com/reformjugband - this is a site that is near and dear to my heart... this was an idea that I helped to hatch when I was in college, and a good friend of mine made it a reality. Please, get some of these products so when can spread the word!
www.reformation21.org - a great collection of articles and such, from many renowned Reformed pastors and scholars.
www.igracemusic.com - a group of Reformed musicians who are taking old hymns and putting them to new music. Great stuff here!
www.redmountainchurch.org/rmm/ - this is a group of musicians from a Presbyterian church in Birmingham, AL who are dedicated to putting old hymns to new music. Recently, they have started working on putting new music to a 17th century hymnal. Both of these efforts are rich in theological truth and Reformed heritage and breathe new life into some of the great hymns of the faith.
www.monergism.com - another site chock full of articles about theological issues. Well worth a look if you have time.
www.cafepress.com/reformjugband - this is a site that is near and dear to my heart... this was an idea that I helped to hatch when I was in college, and a good friend of mine made it a reality. Please, get some of these products so when can spread the word!
Dec Newsletter column
I have always been fascinated by the minor/ secondary characters in the Christmas story. We are well familiar with the story of the birth of our savior. But, what is interesting to me are the characters that are mentioned only in this story and we never hear from them again – namely, the shepherds and the wise men. They show up for this brief story, and we never hear from them again. However, their story within the larger story begs for our attention.
First, the shepherds – their story begins with them sitting in the field one evening, tending their flock. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared to them and announced, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” After this was proclaimed, a host of angels appeared, praising God in verse. What did the shepherds do? They went to the city of David, Bethlehem, and sought the Christ! They went “with haste” and found Joseph, Mary and Jesus. What is interesting to me is how their story ends: Luke 2:20 “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” Notice their reaction – after meeting their Savior, they left the stable and returned from where they had left, glorifying and praising God! The shepherds wasted no time in doing what should come naturally to all the people of God – their hearts leapt in glory and praise of God – they had beheld him, and knew that their King had come to deliver them from their estate of sin and misery!
The other minor characters that fascinate me are the wise men. They had seen the star of Jacob that was promised in Numbers 24.17. When they saw this fulfillment of the Scriptural promise, they immediately went out to seek their Messiah. Matthew tells us that “when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Matthew 2.10). They were rejoicing because they knew their Messiah had come! They found the house where the family was, and the worshipped him by falling on their knees and offering him gifts. These wise men had given him gifts of great value because they knew the great value of this little child. What is the final word on their story? Matthew 2:12 “And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.” They went back home – and we can rightly assume that they began to tell people that the Messiah has come – he has come to save his people!
I love the fact that these 2 groups of characters have such a little role in the Christmas story, and after this story we never hear from them again, but their reactions are everlasting. Each group, having seen the One who was promised to save them, worshipped and praised God for this gift – and each went back to their people, with the Good News on their lips! Although Scripture never explicitly says that they told others, we can be sure they did because of their previous reactions. These were men who knew of God’s promises – and when they saw this promise fulfilled, they were immediately led to worship. We can imagine them running back to their homes and to their neighbors, excitedly telling them of what had just happened to them!
What reaction does the birth of Christ stir up in you? For many of us, this holiday season can provide a lot of distractions and stress for us. It is easy for us to get caught up in all the madness and frenzy of the Christmas season. Do you share the same reaction of the shepherds and wise men? Do you know that your Savior has been born to deliver his people? Do you worship God for such a sacrifice that is our gift? Do you offer before Him your worship in all ways? Christmas has never meant to be the busiest and most expensive time of your life. From the time of Jesus’ birth, it has only meant one thing to his people – glory & praise in worship. This year, I would encourage you to slow down and remember the examples of the shepherds and the wise men - & gather your family around, and share the good news of the son of God, born unto a woman, in order to save his people.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor James
First, the shepherds – their story begins with them sitting in the field one evening, tending their flock. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared to them and announced, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” After this was proclaimed, a host of angels appeared, praising God in verse. What did the shepherds do? They went to the city of David, Bethlehem, and sought the Christ! They went “with haste” and found Joseph, Mary and Jesus. What is interesting to me is how their story ends: Luke 2:20 “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” Notice their reaction – after meeting their Savior, they left the stable and returned from where they had left, glorifying and praising God! The shepherds wasted no time in doing what should come naturally to all the people of God – their hearts leapt in glory and praise of God – they had beheld him, and knew that their King had come to deliver them from their estate of sin and misery!
The other minor characters that fascinate me are the wise men. They had seen the star of Jacob that was promised in Numbers 24.17. When they saw this fulfillment of the Scriptural promise, they immediately went out to seek their Messiah. Matthew tells us that “when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Matthew 2.10). They were rejoicing because they knew their Messiah had come! They found the house where the family was, and the worshipped him by falling on their knees and offering him gifts. These wise men had given him gifts of great value because they knew the great value of this little child. What is the final word on their story? Matthew 2:12 “And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.” They went back home – and we can rightly assume that they began to tell people that the Messiah has come – he has come to save his people!
I love the fact that these 2 groups of characters have such a little role in the Christmas story, and after this story we never hear from them again, but their reactions are everlasting. Each group, having seen the One who was promised to save them, worshipped and praised God for this gift – and each went back to their people, with the Good News on their lips! Although Scripture never explicitly says that they told others, we can be sure they did because of their previous reactions. These were men who knew of God’s promises – and when they saw this promise fulfilled, they were immediately led to worship. We can imagine them running back to their homes and to their neighbors, excitedly telling them of what had just happened to them!
What reaction does the birth of Christ stir up in you? For many of us, this holiday season can provide a lot of distractions and stress for us. It is easy for us to get caught up in all the madness and frenzy of the Christmas season. Do you share the same reaction of the shepherds and wise men? Do you know that your Savior has been born to deliver his people? Do you worship God for such a sacrifice that is our gift? Do you offer before Him your worship in all ways? Christmas has never meant to be the busiest and most expensive time of your life. From the time of Jesus’ birth, it has only meant one thing to his people – glory & praise in worship. This year, I would encourage you to slow down and remember the examples of the shepherds and the wise men - & gather your family around, and share the good news of the son of God, born unto a woman, in order to save his people.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor James
Genesis 1.26-28 & Exodus 20.14 - “And on the 6th day, God created sex and it was good – Biblical sexuality”
Introduction
We have a delicate and personal topic before us this morning. My goal is for us to understand, in order for us to practice, proper Biblical sexuality.
For some of us, we may be a little wary of having sex preached from the pulpit. We are proper Southerners… and, this topic isn’t suited for polite company, such as church. To be honest, I would mostly agree with you on that – I do think that sex is a private matter between a husband and a wife. But, we have a problem - polite company is shrinking more and more every day… and as it shrinks, the other company is growing. And, you know what they are talking about? Sex. It is all over the mass media – it seems like almost every show on TV deals with sex in one way or another – and you know what? They aren’t promoting Biblical sexuality. It is in all the music my generation and younger listens to – and they aren’t promoting Biblical sexuality. It is all over the movies, radio, magazines and internet – and the vast majority of them are not promoting Biblical sexuality. The major voice in our world isn’t polite company and the church – the major voice in the world is mass entertainment, and they are seeking to destroy the idea of Biblical sexuality.
Case in point – one of the most popular TV shows ever was “Friends” – a show about a group of singles living in NYC. One of the major characters was a young lady named Rachel, who ended up getting pregnant out of wedlock. Someone did a study on the show, and found that over the course of the 10 year run of that show, Rachel had over 50 different sexual partners. Another popular show tells you its whole premise in its title – “Sex in the City” – a show about a group of women living in NYC who are sexually promiscuous.
The point being is that the world is talking about sex, and talking about it in an un-Biblical way, and they are steadily and systematically destroying the true identity of sexuality. The church’s silence isn’t helping the matter – our silence only allows the voices to be louder and clearer. As Christians, we need not be afraid of sex or talking about sex… the Bible is full of discussion about this topic, from the imagery used in the Song of Solomon to the practical wisdom in the book of Proverbs to the admonitions of Paul in his letters. Our God is not shy about talking about sex in the proper manner and context… and neither should we be. We need to gather together this morning and learn at the feet of our Father about how we need to think and act with this topic.
Creation Ordinance
As we begin our look into this topic, we need to recognize that the Bible does talk a good deal about sex, but we can only deal with a few passages this morning. We will begin with our Genesis passage.
Take notice where this passage appears in Genesis – it is in the story of creation. God created all things in the span of six days, and rested on the 7th. With our passage, we are in the 6th day – the day God created man. First, take notice of the basis of God creating man.
V. 26“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”
In this verse, the Triune God is having a conversation within himself, and He says that He will make man after his image. As our confession explains it to us, we are made in the image of God “in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.” Dr. Johannes Vos explains this idea of being made in the image of God – “The image of man consists in man’s rational nature, man’s moral nature, and man’s spiritual nature… that man has a mind, a conscience and a capacity for knowing and loving God.”
We are made in the image of the holy and perfect God… and then notice the first directive that He gives to His created beings.
V. 28 “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth…”
The first thing that Adam and Eve were commanded to do after being created by God was to be sexually intimate with each other. They were not commanded to worship… to tithe… or anything else… the first command was for them to be intimate with each other. To some, that may seem strange and maybe even offensive. But, once we think about it, it really isn’t.
As I try to explain this, I would ask you to bear along with me as I take you through the logic of what I am trying to say. This idea I heard first from Joe Novenson, pastor of Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church – and I need to give credit where credit is due! Man is created in the image of the Triune God – and it is within the Triune Godhead that we see the model of relationships. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit – one God, same in substance, equal in power and glory. These three are all in eternal relationship with each other – a relationship that is perfect in harmony, joy, love and peace. Scripture passages such as John 15.10 & Matthew 3.16-17 show us this perfect relationship. It is also within this Triune relationship that we see the perfect model of intimacy. You cannot be any closer than when you are one with each other – and that is the model we see in the Trinity – ultimate intimacy in their ultimate oneness. Father, Son and Holy Spirit – the three in one… the model of intimacy. And, it is from this model of intimacy that man and woman was made – and it is in that image that we have been molded. At no point can a man and woman be any closer to each other then when they are sexual with each other… when they literally become one. I would say that in our proper Biblical sexuality, we mirror the intimacy of our Triune Godhead. Now, I am not saying that the Triune God is sexual within Himself. The relationship of the Triune God is an intimate relationship, and He has created man to be intimate through sexual relations. And, when we can understand and grasp this, then it doesn’t seem so strange that the first command to the man and woman was for them to mirror the relationship of their Creator.
There is something else for us to understand also. The model of intimacy that we see in the Triune Godhead is practiced within the boundaries of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The same is true for us – our intimacy has boundaries. Sexuality is to be practiced within the bounds of marriage. That is how Adam and Eve were created. We see this in chapter two, where God creates Eve to be the helper of Adam.
2. 21-24So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
God sets Adam and Eve within the context of a covenantal marriage, and then directs them to be intimate with each other. That is the process of this creation ordinance – that man and woman be married, and then, and only then, can they delve into the wonderful gift of sexual intimacy. The world seeks to distort that – and make intimacy an “any person, any situation” activity. However, from the beginning of time and creation, God has ordained that this gift be practiced within the boundaries of marriage. His intimacy has the boundaries of the Triune Godhead – so it would only make sense that boundaries would be set around his created image also. The boundary of our intimacy is that of marriage. Scripture makes it clear that sex is not meant for any other sort of relationship than marriage. Sexual intimacy is a part of God’s created order, and we must respect that.
Before we go to our next passage, let me mention one more thing. Many think that sex and sexuality is inherently dirty and borderline evil. Let me debunk that quickly. We are made in the image of God – and He created us to be sexual… if sex were sinful, then why would God create us to be sexual? He set man and woman in the garden, in the perfect paradise, where there dwelt no sin – and he commanded them to be sexual… if it were sinful, why would God command man to be intimate with woman in the midst of His beautiful and perfect paradise? Sex is not dirty or evil – it is a beautiful and precious gift that we need to protect. The world has taken this beautiful thing and corrupted it. But, sexuality practiced within the proper Biblical boundaries is a beautiful gift from God – for He created us to engage in it from the beginning of creation.
Positive From a Negative
Let us now turn our attention to the Exodus recording of the 7th commandment – “You shall not commit adultery”. Many people tend to notice one thing when they read this commandment – the negative aspect of it. You shall NOT commit adultery – they read it as if the “not” is in all capitals. We tend to look at just the negative side of this commandment – that we are being commanded to not do something. But, if we were to just focus on that aspect of it, then we will not understand the fullness of this commandment. What is the 6th commandment? “You shall not murder”. You know what the meaning is of that commandment? It isn’t just a directive for us to not kill anyone. No – the foundation of the 6th commandment is that life is good and precious, because life is a gift from God. We are commanded to not murder because of what life is – it is from God only and we need to take care of it and to protect it… it is a good and precious. The same premise is behind the 9th commandment – “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor”… or, as some of us know it, “you shall not lie”. Why this commandment? Because of how precious truth is – that the foundation of the 9th commandment is to preserve truth and the way we handle truth.
This is all true for the 7th commandment – it isn’t just a directive from God for us not to do something. The basis of the commandment is how good and precious Biblical sexuality really is. It is meant to protect us and this gift. It is God knowing our tendencies – that in our fallen and broken nature we will ruin all that is good – and because of this, he sets up rules and boundaries to protect us and to protect this gift to us. It is him saying to us, “I know what sex really means, because I created it… and I know what really goes into it, because I gave it to you… so, I am giving you guidelines so you can get the most out of this.” This commandment isn’t meant to be a chain around our necks keeping us from the real fun of sexuality – like so many of us tend to believe. No, this commandment is meant to give us the full satisfaction and joy that sex is meant to be. It is when you take away this commandment and our faithfully obeying it that sex is destroyed from its original creation.
Look at all the perverse sexual practices of those who ignore God’s commands on it. The list of perversions is long and disgusting – and they all find their root in disobeying what God has commanded on sex. When we come to this commandment, we need to see it as a loving directive of our loving Father to protect us from destroying that which is inherently good and beautiful. It is the Father putting his arms around us and pointing us in the direction of total enjoyment of the precious gift that he has given to all married couples.
The 7th commandment is a command for us to enjoy proper Biblical sexuality as the Creator has defined it for his creation.
Achievement only in our Christ
As we talk about proper Biblical sexuality, there is one lynchpin that we cannot forget, and that is Jesus Christ. It is only when we are in covenant relationship with our Christ that we can enjoy sex for what it was created for. In Revelation 19, Christ’s relationship with his people is illustrated in terms of a marriage.
Revelation 19.6-8 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
This is set in terms of a huge wedding feast, celebrating the eternal marriage of Christ and His church, the beautiful bride. So great is this event that John is instructed to write down the invitation.
19.9 And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."
Blessed are those who are in covenant relationship with Jesus Christ, because they are the ones who will be eternally married to Christ. Blessed are those who are eternally in covenant with Jesus Christ, because they are the only ones who will fully understand what true intimacy is, because it is those who are in covenant with Christ that are forgiven of their sins, and the Spirit is set upon their hearts to help them understand and practice the ways of the Scriptures.
Sin and sinfulness has taken sex and destroyed it… and it is only in the cleansing blood of Christ can the true meaning of sexual intimacy be found.
One of the more powerful Psalms is Psalm 51, where David says things such as, “Have mercy on my, O God, according to your steadfast love… for I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me… purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean… restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold my with a willing spirit.” What caused David to write these words is his own sexual sin. He had an adulterous affair with Bathsheba, the wife of Urriah… and he fathered a child with her… to remedy the situation, he had Urriah killed during battle and took Bathsheba as his wife… Nathan, the prophet, eventually came to David and called him out on his sin. This sexual sin of adultery and fathering a child with another man’s wife – and what does David do? He turns to Jesus Christ – that is what Psalm 51 is about. He recognizes his sexual depravity, and turns to the cross and cries out to his God “Have mercy on me! Wash me thoroughly and cleanse me from my sin! Against you have I sinned… I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Why could David do this? How could he throw himself before God in such a way? Because he knew that Christ was covenantally loyal to him. He trusted faithfully in God for his salvation, and knew that the covenant of grace was the promise of his salvation. David knew that it was only God who could cleanse him from his sexual sin – so he turned to his covenantly loyal God and sought His forgiving mercy of God.
This morning, we are all guilty of some sort of sexual sin – either it be adultery… sex out of wedlock… lustful thoughts and eyes… immodest dress. We all sit in the pews as David, with our hands stained from sexual sins. We need to turn to the cross to find forgiveness and restoration – forgiveness for our sexual depravity, and restoration to Biblical sexuality. There may be some who have never trusted in God’s covenant with His people… this morning, I would call you to heed the promises of God and to find forgiveness, grace and mercy at the cross of His Son… come to this cross and be forgiven and restored. Many of us in here have trusted in God’s covenant – and this morning, I call you to be covenantally loyal to your Christ, just as loyal as he has been to you. Recognize your sin, return to the cross and be restored from your former sinful self. It is only when we live in the shadow of the cross of Jesus Christ that we can understand and practice Biblical sexuality – for it is only in the shadow of the cross that there is forgiveness from sins and restoration to the image of God. As we close, let me close with this story to help us see the forgiving grace of God, even in our sexual sins, and the call to proper Biblical sexuality.
Luke 7:37-38 (note: the woman of the city, a sinner, is commonly recognized as being a prosititute)37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner."… 44 Then turning toward the woman Jesus said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven- for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." 48 And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" 50 And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
May we too find the same forgiveness, and be reconciled to the cross, and be restored to a proper Biblical sexuality, and go in peace into the world.
Soli Deo Gloria
We have a delicate and personal topic before us this morning. My goal is for us to understand, in order for us to practice, proper Biblical sexuality.
For some of us, we may be a little wary of having sex preached from the pulpit. We are proper Southerners… and, this topic isn’t suited for polite company, such as church. To be honest, I would mostly agree with you on that – I do think that sex is a private matter between a husband and a wife. But, we have a problem - polite company is shrinking more and more every day… and as it shrinks, the other company is growing. And, you know what they are talking about? Sex. It is all over the mass media – it seems like almost every show on TV deals with sex in one way or another – and you know what? They aren’t promoting Biblical sexuality. It is in all the music my generation and younger listens to – and they aren’t promoting Biblical sexuality. It is all over the movies, radio, magazines and internet – and the vast majority of them are not promoting Biblical sexuality. The major voice in our world isn’t polite company and the church – the major voice in the world is mass entertainment, and they are seeking to destroy the idea of Biblical sexuality.
Case in point – one of the most popular TV shows ever was “Friends” – a show about a group of singles living in NYC. One of the major characters was a young lady named Rachel, who ended up getting pregnant out of wedlock. Someone did a study on the show, and found that over the course of the 10 year run of that show, Rachel had over 50 different sexual partners. Another popular show tells you its whole premise in its title – “Sex in the City” – a show about a group of women living in NYC who are sexually promiscuous.
The point being is that the world is talking about sex, and talking about it in an un-Biblical way, and they are steadily and systematically destroying the true identity of sexuality. The church’s silence isn’t helping the matter – our silence only allows the voices to be louder and clearer. As Christians, we need not be afraid of sex or talking about sex… the Bible is full of discussion about this topic, from the imagery used in the Song of Solomon to the practical wisdom in the book of Proverbs to the admonitions of Paul in his letters. Our God is not shy about talking about sex in the proper manner and context… and neither should we be. We need to gather together this morning and learn at the feet of our Father about how we need to think and act with this topic.
Creation Ordinance
As we begin our look into this topic, we need to recognize that the Bible does talk a good deal about sex, but we can only deal with a few passages this morning. We will begin with our Genesis passage.
Take notice where this passage appears in Genesis – it is in the story of creation. God created all things in the span of six days, and rested on the 7th. With our passage, we are in the 6th day – the day God created man. First, take notice of the basis of God creating man.
V. 26“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”
In this verse, the Triune God is having a conversation within himself, and He says that He will make man after his image. As our confession explains it to us, we are made in the image of God “in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.” Dr. Johannes Vos explains this idea of being made in the image of God – “The image of man consists in man’s rational nature, man’s moral nature, and man’s spiritual nature… that man has a mind, a conscience and a capacity for knowing and loving God.”
We are made in the image of the holy and perfect God… and then notice the first directive that He gives to His created beings.
V. 28 “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth…”
The first thing that Adam and Eve were commanded to do after being created by God was to be sexually intimate with each other. They were not commanded to worship… to tithe… or anything else… the first command was for them to be intimate with each other. To some, that may seem strange and maybe even offensive. But, once we think about it, it really isn’t.
As I try to explain this, I would ask you to bear along with me as I take you through the logic of what I am trying to say. This idea I heard first from Joe Novenson, pastor of Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church – and I need to give credit where credit is due! Man is created in the image of the Triune God – and it is within the Triune Godhead that we see the model of relationships. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit – one God, same in substance, equal in power and glory. These three are all in eternal relationship with each other – a relationship that is perfect in harmony, joy, love and peace. Scripture passages such as John 15.10 & Matthew 3.16-17 show us this perfect relationship. It is also within this Triune relationship that we see the perfect model of intimacy. You cannot be any closer than when you are one with each other – and that is the model we see in the Trinity – ultimate intimacy in their ultimate oneness. Father, Son and Holy Spirit – the three in one… the model of intimacy. And, it is from this model of intimacy that man and woman was made – and it is in that image that we have been molded. At no point can a man and woman be any closer to each other then when they are sexual with each other… when they literally become one. I would say that in our proper Biblical sexuality, we mirror the intimacy of our Triune Godhead. Now, I am not saying that the Triune God is sexual within Himself. The relationship of the Triune God is an intimate relationship, and He has created man to be intimate through sexual relations. And, when we can understand and grasp this, then it doesn’t seem so strange that the first command to the man and woman was for them to mirror the relationship of their Creator.
There is something else for us to understand also. The model of intimacy that we see in the Triune Godhead is practiced within the boundaries of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The same is true for us – our intimacy has boundaries. Sexuality is to be practiced within the bounds of marriage. That is how Adam and Eve were created. We see this in chapter two, where God creates Eve to be the helper of Adam.
2. 21-24So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
God sets Adam and Eve within the context of a covenantal marriage, and then directs them to be intimate with each other. That is the process of this creation ordinance – that man and woman be married, and then, and only then, can they delve into the wonderful gift of sexual intimacy. The world seeks to distort that – and make intimacy an “any person, any situation” activity. However, from the beginning of time and creation, God has ordained that this gift be practiced within the boundaries of marriage. His intimacy has the boundaries of the Triune Godhead – so it would only make sense that boundaries would be set around his created image also. The boundary of our intimacy is that of marriage. Scripture makes it clear that sex is not meant for any other sort of relationship than marriage. Sexual intimacy is a part of God’s created order, and we must respect that.
Before we go to our next passage, let me mention one more thing. Many think that sex and sexuality is inherently dirty and borderline evil. Let me debunk that quickly. We are made in the image of God – and He created us to be sexual… if sex were sinful, then why would God create us to be sexual? He set man and woman in the garden, in the perfect paradise, where there dwelt no sin – and he commanded them to be sexual… if it were sinful, why would God command man to be intimate with woman in the midst of His beautiful and perfect paradise? Sex is not dirty or evil – it is a beautiful and precious gift that we need to protect. The world has taken this beautiful thing and corrupted it. But, sexuality practiced within the proper Biblical boundaries is a beautiful gift from God – for He created us to engage in it from the beginning of creation.
Positive From a Negative
Let us now turn our attention to the Exodus recording of the 7th commandment – “You shall not commit adultery”. Many people tend to notice one thing when they read this commandment – the negative aspect of it. You shall NOT commit adultery – they read it as if the “not” is in all capitals. We tend to look at just the negative side of this commandment – that we are being commanded to not do something. But, if we were to just focus on that aspect of it, then we will not understand the fullness of this commandment. What is the 6th commandment? “You shall not murder”. You know what the meaning is of that commandment? It isn’t just a directive for us to not kill anyone. No – the foundation of the 6th commandment is that life is good and precious, because life is a gift from God. We are commanded to not murder because of what life is – it is from God only and we need to take care of it and to protect it… it is a good and precious. The same premise is behind the 9th commandment – “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor”… or, as some of us know it, “you shall not lie”. Why this commandment? Because of how precious truth is – that the foundation of the 9th commandment is to preserve truth and the way we handle truth.
This is all true for the 7th commandment – it isn’t just a directive from God for us not to do something. The basis of the commandment is how good and precious Biblical sexuality really is. It is meant to protect us and this gift. It is God knowing our tendencies – that in our fallen and broken nature we will ruin all that is good – and because of this, he sets up rules and boundaries to protect us and to protect this gift to us. It is him saying to us, “I know what sex really means, because I created it… and I know what really goes into it, because I gave it to you… so, I am giving you guidelines so you can get the most out of this.” This commandment isn’t meant to be a chain around our necks keeping us from the real fun of sexuality – like so many of us tend to believe. No, this commandment is meant to give us the full satisfaction and joy that sex is meant to be. It is when you take away this commandment and our faithfully obeying it that sex is destroyed from its original creation.
Look at all the perverse sexual practices of those who ignore God’s commands on it. The list of perversions is long and disgusting – and they all find their root in disobeying what God has commanded on sex. When we come to this commandment, we need to see it as a loving directive of our loving Father to protect us from destroying that which is inherently good and beautiful. It is the Father putting his arms around us and pointing us in the direction of total enjoyment of the precious gift that he has given to all married couples.
The 7th commandment is a command for us to enjoy proper Biblical sexuality as the Creator has defined it for his creation.
Achievement only in our Christ
As we talk about proper Biblical sexuality, there is one lynchpin that we cannot forget, and that is Jesus Christ. It is only when we are in covenant relationship with our Christ that we can enjoy sex for what it was created for. In Revelation 19, Christ’s relationship with his people is illustrated in terms of a marriage.
Revelation 19.6-8 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
This is set in terms of a huge wedding feast, celebrating the eternal marriage of Christ and His church, the beautiful bride. So great is this event that John is instructed to write down the invitation.
19.9 And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."
Blessed are those who are in covenant relationship with Jesus Christ, because they are the ones who will be eternally married to Christ. Blessed are those who are eternally in covenant with Jesus Christ, because they are the only ones who will fully understand what true intimacy is, because it is those who are in covenant with Christ that are forgiven of their sins, and the Spirit is set upon their hearts to help them understand and practice the ways of the Scriptures.
Sin and sinfulness has taken sex and destroyed it… and it is only in the cleansing blood of Christ can the true meaning of sexual intimacy be found.
One of the more powerful Psalms is Psalm 51, where David says things such as, “Have mercy on my, O God, according to your steadfast love… for I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me… purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean… restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold my with a willing spirit.” What caused David to write these words is his own sexual sin. He had an adulterous affair with Bathsheba, the wife of Urriah… and he fathered a child with her… to remedy the situation, he had Urriah killed during battle and took Bathsheba as his wife… Nathan, the prophet, eventually came to David and called him out on his sin. This sexual sin of adultery and fathering a child with another man’s wife – and what does David do? He turns to Jesus Christ – that is what Psalm 51 is about. He recognizes his sexual depravity, and turns to the cross and cries out to his God “Have mercy on me! Wash me thoroughly and cleanse me from my sin! Against you have I sinned… I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Why could David do this? How could he throw himself before God in such a way? Because he knew that Christ was covenantally loyal to him. He trusted faithfully in God for his salvation, and knew that the covenant of grace was the promise of his salvation. David knew that it was only God who could cleanse him from his sexual sin – so he turned to his covenantly loyal God and sought His forgiving mercy of God.
This morning, we are all guilty of some sort of sexual sin – either it be adultery… sex out of wedlock… lustful thoughts and eyes… immodest dress. We all sit in the pews as David, with our hands stained from sexual sins. We need to turn to the cross to find forgiveness and restoration – forgiveness for our sexual depravity, and restoration to Biblical sexuality. There may be some who have never trusted in God’s covenant with His people… this morning, I would call you to heed the promises of God and to find forgiveness, grace and mercy at the cross of His Son… come to this cross and be forgiven and restored. Many of us in here have trusted in God’s covenant – and this morning, I call you to be covenantally loyal to your Christ, just as loyal as he has been to you. Recognize your sin, return to the cross and be restored from your former sinful self. It is only when we live in the shadow of the cross of Jesus Christ that we can understand and practice Biblical sexuality – for it is only in the shadow of the cross that there is forgiveness from sins and restoration to the image of God. As we close, let me close with this story to help us see the forgiving grace of God, even in our sexual sins, and the call to proper Biblical sexuality.
Luke 7:37-38 (note: the woman of the city, a sinner, is commonly recognized as being a prosititute)37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner."… 44 Then turning toward the woman Jesus said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven- for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." 48 And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" 50 And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
May we too find the same forgiveness, and be reconciled to the cross, and be restored to a proper Biblical sexuality, and go in peace into the world.
Soli Deo Gloria
Friday, November 10, 2006
Welcome!
Welcome to "A Voice from White Oak"! I hope you enjoy your time interacting with this blog.
Here are my goals for this little marvel of technology - 1) to provide notes to sermons 2) post interesting articles and quotes as I come across them 3) to provide a forum for discussion of topics and ideas that may interest you.
Basically, I am hoping that this will be a place for us to gather to be informed and to inform! Please pass along some ideas as you see fit!
Pastor James
Here are my goals for this little marvel of technology - 1) to provide notes to sermons 2) post interesting articles and quotes as I come across them 3) to provide a forum for discussion of topics and ideas that may interest you.
Basically, I am hoping that this will be a place for us to gather to be informed and to inform! Please pass along some ideas as you see fit!
Pastor James
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