Having a humble opinion of oneself

Here is the next installment from the old, old book I am reading. Feel free to guess the author any time you like. But more importantly, consider what he says. I know I need to do so.

EVERY man naturally desires knowledge; but what good is knowledge without fear of God? Indeed a humble rustic who serves God is better than a proud intellectual who neglects his soul to study the course of the stars. He who knows himself well becomes mean in his own eyes and is not happy when praised by men.

If I knew all things in the world and had not charity, what would it profit me before God Who will judge me by my deeds? Shun too great a desire for knowledge, for in it there is much fretting and delusion. Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul, and he who concerns himself about other things than those which pertain to salvation and sanctification is very unwise. Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a godly life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God.

The more you know and the better you understand, the more you shall be expected to do, the higher the standard to which you shall be held, unless your life is also the more holy. Do not be proud, therefore, because of your learning or skill. Rather, fear because of the talent given you. If you think you know many things and understand them well enough, realize at the same time that there is much you do not know. Hence, do not affect wisdom, but admit your ignorance. Why prefer yourself to anyone else when many are more learned, more cultured than you?

If you wish to learn and appreciate something worthwhile, then love to be unknown and considered as nothing. Truly to know and despise self is the best and most perfect counsel. To think of oneself as nothing, and always to think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom. Wherefore, if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain in good estate. All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail than yourself.

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General thoughts about living for Him by one wiser than me... post Thanksgiving thoughts

   I give you this quote from an old public domain book by a theologian of

   long ago who got a lot right and got a little bit wrong. His thoughts

   on living the Christian life are fairly solid. And while I can’t agree

   with everything he says… I do agree with this short chapter from his

   most well known book. He keys in on understanding and application. Since

   the book is in public domain, I may from time to time post excerpts.  It’s

   an old book and printing so some of the language may seem a tad archaic.

   Feel free to guess who this is and commentJ.I’ll reveal it after a while.

                       ----Keith

“…you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John 8:32)

"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

   HAPPY is he to whom truth manifests itself, not in signs and words that

   fade, but as it actually is. Our opinions, our senses often deceive us

   and we discern very little. (God’s word never does).

   What good is much discussion of involved and obscure matters when our

   ignorance of them will not be held against us on Judgment Day? Neglect

   of things which are profitable and necessary and undue concern with

   those which are irrelevant and harmful, are great folly.

   We have eyes and do not see.

   What, therefore, have we to do with questions of philosophy? He to whom

   the Eternal Word speaks is free from theorizing (and the word of God indeed speaks to us).

   For from this Word are all things and of Him all things speak--the Beginning Who

   also speaks to us in His word. Without this Word no man understands or judges aright.

   He to whom it becomes everything, who traces all things to it and who sees

   all things in it, may ease his heart and remain at peace with God.

   O God, You Who are the truth, make me one with You in love everlasting.

   I am often wearied by the many things I hear and read, but in You is

   all that I long for. Let the learned be still, let all creatures be

   silent before You; You alone speak to me.

   The more recollected a man is, and the more simple of heart he becomes,

   the easier he understands sublime things, for he receives the light of

   knowledge from above. The pure, simple, and steadfast spirit is not

   distracted by many labors, for he does them all for the honor of God.

   And since he enjoys interior peace he seeks no selfish end in anything.

   What, indeed, gives more trouble and affliction than uncontrolled

   desires of the heart?

   A good and devout man arranges in his mind the things he has to do, not

   according to the whims of evil inclination but according to the

   dictates of right reason. Who is forced to struggle more than he who

   tries to master himself? This ought to be our purpose, then: to conquer

   self, to become stronger each day, to advance in virtue.

   Every perfection in this life has some imperfection mixed with it and

   no learning of ours is without some darkness. Humble knowledge of self

   is a surer path to God than the ardent pursuit of learning. Not that

   learning is to be considered evil, or knowledge, which is good in

   itself and so ordained by God; but a clean conscience and virtuous life

   ought always to be preferred. Many often err and accomplish little or

   nothing because they try to become learned rather than to live well.

   If men used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as

   they do in discussing problems, there would not be so much evil and

   scandal in the world, or such laxity in religious organizations. On the

   day of judgment, surely, we shall not be asked what we have read but

   what we have done; not how well we have spoken but how well we have

   lived.

   Tell me, where now are all the masters and teachers whom you knew so

   well in life and who were famous for their learning? Others have

   already taken their places and I know not whether they ever think of

   their predecessors. During life they seemed to be something; now they

   are seldom remembered. How quickly the glory of the world passes away!

   If only their lives had kept pace with their learning, then their study

   and reading would have been worth while.

   How many there are who perish because of vain worldly knowledge and too

   little care for serving God. They became vain in their own conceits

   because they chose to be great rather than humble.

   He is truly great who has great compassion and love. He is truly great who is

   little in his own eyes and makes nothing of the highest honor. He is

   truly wise who looks upon all earthly things as folly that he may gain

   Christ. He who does God's will and renounces his own is truly very

   learned.

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Can things get any worse...

I knew when I read this entry on a blog that I might not like what I was about to see.

Money must be VERY tight at Fellowship Church. After all, the monthly payments on that private jet are VERY expensive. There's only one way that folks at Fellowship Church can save Ed Young, Jr's jet...Automatic Withdrawal.

Please act now or Ed Young, Jr. will be forced to sell the private jet, forced to sell his mansion, his condo in Miami, the fishing boat, the $15,000 espresso maker and will have no choice but to move to a bland and boring middle-class suburb and worst of all fly coach to all the conferences that he speaks at. Don't let this ministry travesty happen to Ed Young, Jr. He can't be effective for God's Kingdom unless he is rewarded with the very best and most expensive toys that this life has to offer.

At first I thought I would be disturbed by the nature of the blog. Then I realized I was disturbed by Ed Young, Jr. The video says it all. It's hard to imagine that people can check their discernment (and their Bibles) at the door and support the most disturbing kinds of antics.

 

 

<p><a href="http://vimeo.com/16359090">Ed Young Goes After Access to Bank Accounts of Church Members</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4054328">FBCJax Watchdog</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

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A Great Article on the Implications of Theistic Evolution the Debate Surrounding Biologos

I'm not sure how many of you follow the very public debate between the "Christian Scientists" at Biologos (an evolutionary apologetics group) and Dr. Albert Mohler of Southern Seminary. Here's a link to Mohler's recent response to their last "broadside (http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/11/09/no-pass-from-theological-responsibility-the-biologos-conundrum/)." Central among the claims of the Biologos people is that they question the authority and sufficiency of Scripture in all matters of faith and practice. This leads them in interesting directions they state that Paul was mistaken about the historicity of Adam and Eve (cf Romans 5:12) and the implications of the Fall in God's garden. Implicitly they question the understanding of the Lord Jesus, who in Matthew 19 refers to Adam and Eve as historical people during His discussion of marriage and divorce. 

Questioning both the inspiration of Scripture and the understanding of Jesus Christ of the historicity of Adam and Eve sooner or later brings into question all the doctrines of the Christian faith---since they are based on Scripture as well as the deity of Christ. When does such questioning and denial move us from the position of misinformed believers to the realm of unbelief? If Jesus and Paul were wrong about something as basic to the Christian faith as creation and our "first parents" what else were they wrong about? Moreover, who will judge them, the folks at Biologos? I'd hate to sit in judgment of an Apostle and the Son of God, God the Son. 

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A video you won't want to miss...

Take five minutes to watch what happened at the Macy's in Philadelphia. The Opera Company of Philadelphia doing "a random act of culture" performs the Halleluia Chorus from Handel's Messiah in the Macy's store in Philadelphia. Christ is preached! I realize they think it is simply good opera; however, I'm reminded of what Paul says in Philippians 1:15-18:

 

Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice...

 

Take a few moments and take it all in!

 

#!

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Talk about a loss of perspective.

God's word tells us to be imitators of God. God says in both Old and
New Testaments, "Be holy for I am holy." The upward call is to be
godly. The other call is to remain as we are. I sure these folks meant
well. As to the state of the modern church the picture speaks for
itself.

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When you know a church has lost perspective...

Click here to download:

photo_JPG - Gmail.mht (53 KB)

God's word tells us to be holy because God is holy, "...because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (1Pe 1:16 NAU)OLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (1Pe 1:16)

 

We are told to be imitators of God. The Christian's goal is to become more like Christ and less like ourselves. Imagine wanting to become less godly. I'm sure they meant well---it's just that they weren't thinking biblically.

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Who Do You Love?

If I insulted your mother would you call me your friend? What about if someone else insulted your mother---PUBLICLY---and I laughed about it---PUBLICLY---would I be your friend since I had become an party to such a “crime” against your dear mom’s character? Stop and think about it. Most of us take family seriously. Most people, with few exceptions, tend to honor, or even venerate, their moms. Why is this? It’s because our mom’s loved us, cared for us, and even sacrificed for us. Therefore, we loyally love our dear sweet mothers.

When I was a younger, unsaved man, a wrong comment about my mom could get you a bloody nose and end a friendship as “blood is thicker than water” and the relationship between a young man and his mom was “sacred.” His mother, my mother for instance, was nothing to be mocked or laughed at.  Even today most people will tell you that you cannot expect to make fun of a person’s mother and get away with it. And anyone who witnessed and joined in the fun (the ancient equivalent of today’s text speak “lol”) could expect treatment equal to that visited upon the offending party. Mom’s are special. Stop and think about it.

What’s my point? I have to confess, my point has nothing to do about moms—mine, yours, or anyone else’s. It has to do with your loyal love for Christ, the Savior, who loved you so much that He suffered the agonies you deserved, dying for your sin (and mine) at Calvary’s cross and with His resurrection provided for you what you could not (and would not) provide for yourself. He cared for you and cares for you in ways no mother can. His loving sacrifice demands our loyalty---His deity commands our worship. The problem is that all too often Christians, particularly younger ones, value their relationship with others more than they do the good name of their God, Christ Jesus. As they come to Christ and they and their friends begin to serve different gods, they allow their friends to mock their God, blaspheme their Savior, in ways they would never tolerate if such friends did anything remotely resembling this to their moms.

Why is this? Well, there could be a number of reasons, none of which are good. First, it could be they love their moms and friends more than they love Jesus. What would Jesus’ response be to such a sentiment? Jesus, making similar analogies say this: ²⁶ "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple”. (Luke 14:26-27 NAU) Second, it could be that they are embarrassed to confront their friend’s blasphemous behavior. They don’t want to bring the word of God to bear upon their friend’s life. To such an excuse, we look to the Scriptures to understand how Jesus would view such embarrassment: “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38 NAU) A third reason might be that they don’t want to lose a friend. They want to keep their friend. What would Jesus say to this kind of thinking? He might say this:

³⁶ "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? ³⁷ "For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ³⁸ "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:36-38 NAU)

Make no mistake about it, I’m not implying that these complacent Christians will lose their soul by worshipping a friendship. I’m just implying they ought to stop and think. Many might object to what I am saying and reply, “Well, they are perhaps trying to keep the door open for evangelism! They are engaging in relationship evangelism.” This is an excuse often given in situations where the believer is more concerned about the relationship with their worldly friend than evangelism. Usually, if not always, there’s a great deal of relationship going on but very little if any evangelism. Besides, friendships with mockers and scorners is offensive to God. James writes that friendship with the world is hostility with God. And so I ask them, “who do you love?”

We can be friendly to the unsaved. But we cannot be their friends and confidants. We cannot bind ourselves together with them. We cannot be bound together with them.

¹⁴ Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? ¹⁵ Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. ¹⁷ "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. ¹⁸ "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty. (2Co 6:14-18 NAU)

This doubly applies to those who mock your Christ. So, who do you love? How could a Christian tolerate someone mocking their Savior, when most would not put up with someone mocking their Lord, whom they say they love? What triggered these thoughts? The picture below was posted and enjoyed by two apostates who used to attend my church participated in this mockery of Christ. And after a little stormy weather, their Christian friends continued the friendship.How? This is worse than insulting mom!

Now, it’s not my job to be the “friendship police.” It is my place to ask out loud, “Who do you love?” There are some relationships that a person cannot afford to have.

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Loyalties, Priorities, and Idolatry--Rethinking Your Life and Mine

Where do your loyalties lie? As Christians, our loyalties should be with Christ. Paul writing to the church at Ephesus on two separate occasions provides us with sufficient reasons to reexamine our lives and our priorities. In Ephesians 2:8-10, the Holy Spirit speaking through the pen of Paul tells us that God saved us not because of what we did (i.e. good deeds, good thoughts; good intentions)  because of what He wanted to accomplish through us.

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Eph 2:8-10)

Our salvation was (is) a gift bestowed on us. We didn’t deserve it. We couldn’t earn it. We didn’t earn it. He chose to forgive and redeem us not because of any merit of our own. You might say, we were “saved to serve.” In fact, that’s exactly why, as believers, we were given the gift of eternal life. God wanted to employ the unworthy for His worthy service. He opened our eyes to the truth; we surrendered; we received eternal life. We received better than we deserve and our reasonable response is loyal service to Him who did for us what we could not and would not do for ourselves.

So, how are you doing? I mean what is the quality and quantity of your reasonable service? Writing on another occasion to the church (and pastor) at Ephesus, Paul, challenges them and us saying:

No soldier in active service entangles himself in the daily affairs of life so that he might please the one who enlisted him (2 Timothy 2:4).

Here Paul tells Timothy, the church at Ephesus, and you as well as me, to serve God loyally, single mindedly, and faithfully.  The war time analogy is appropriate because as believers we are constantly at war with temptation, a hostile culture, and our own selfish tendencies. Soldiers on the battlefield have little time for distraction. With the enemy before them and bullets whizzing about them, they really cannot afford to take their eyes off of the front. Paul is writing to Timothy during a time of intense persecution under the Roman emperor Nero. We, at least for now, do not face such persecution. However, we do face great distraction. We do not face the adversities of the early church as it struggled for its very life. Nevertheless, we do struggle with complacency as we live life.

There are so many distractions. There are so many distractions in fact that quite often serving God becomes an extra-curricular activity---an afterthought. We pursue our careers, we take our kids to soccer games, music lessons, and the like. We watch football, go hunting, and generally want our families to have “what we didn’t have.” Church becomes the stuff of the “weekend warrior” and we are as out of spiritual shape as the middle aged man who plays touch-footfall on the weekend with his pals.

Jesus Christ, after His resurrection, gave His disciples (all His disciples for all time) three simple commands, a short list of their purposes): go make disciples (tell people about Me); baptizing them (those who are saved); teaching them to do all that I commanded you (teaching them the word of God by precept and example). This is the “Great Commission” found in Matthew 28:19-20. This is not the pastor’s job---this is everybody’s job. This is your calling as much as it is my calling. You were saved to serve. How are you doing? Are you loyally fulfilling the Great Commission? What’s getting in the way?

No soldier in active service entangles himself in the daily affairs of life so that he might please the one who enlisted him (2 Timothy 2:4).

I call your attention to the last verb in 2 Timothy 2:4---“enlisted (him).” This verb, “enlisted,” ties in nicely with Ephesians 2:8-10. A alternative translation would be “drafted (him).” You see, God drafted you into His service. He didn’t choose you for your abilities. And you certainly did not choose Him on your own. More than likely He chose you for your disabilities so that He could use the weak things of the world to glorify Himself and demonstrate His power, mercy, and grace. You have been drafted. You were saved to serve. You are to go and tell people about Christ, seeing them baptized when they are saved and then do your part to teach them all that Christ commanded. I’m reminded in verse 18 of Matthew 28 includes the statement “all authority has been given Me.” That’s pertinent because you and I have been drafted. Christ is our authority. We have our marching orders (i.e. the Great Commission). We have our purpose (saved to serve).  The question is, “how are we doing?”

No soldier in active service entangles himself in the daily affairs of life so that he might please the one who enlisted him (2 Timothy 2:4).

Are there other priorities getting in the way of your life’s purpose? Stop a moment. Close your eyes and bring to mind all the matters that are at the forefront of your life and mind right now.  Have you relegated Christ and serving Him to the end of that list? Whatever the first thought that popped into your mind was (car, career, kids, boyfriend, girlfriend, test, exam, spouse, etc…) is your god. Think about it. You’re reading an essay about God and your loyal service and you’re still thinking about something else? Think about this: “You shall have no other gods before me… you shall not bow down to them or worship them or serve them…” The first two commandments are about having priorities (or idols) in your life that take the place of God. What or whom are you worshipping?

Let me encourage you to inventory your priorities and jettison anything that is coming between you and Christ and or keeping you from serving Him faithfully. Think eternally, think biblically, and ask yourself, “where do my loyalties lie?”

No soldier in active service entangles himself in the daily affairs of life so that he might please the one who enlisted him (2 Timothy 2:4).

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Mac Giveways!

<p>Logos Bible Software is giving away thousands of dollars of prizes to celebrate the launch of Logos Bible Software 4 Mac on October 1. Prizes include an iMac, a MacBook Pro, an iPad, an iPod Touch, and more than 100 other prizes!</p><p>They’re also having a special limited-time sale on their Mac and PC base packages and upgrades. Check it out!</p>

                                                                                       

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Cultural Diversity Unbiblical?

I once ministered in a cross cultural context of sorts as the English language pastor at an Asian church. During a Friday night time of worship I mentioned that I did not believe in “cultural diversity.” A gasp went out over the room as I violated seemingly sacrosanct rules of political correctness. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that the people present weren’t Bible believing Christians. On the contrary, many were. The challenge was twofold. First, we were living in one of the most culturally diverse states in America—California. Second, the culture has pretty well indoctrinated, or influenced, the thinking of many in the Church.

Sensing their concern that Pastor Keith was somehow succumbing to some form of xenophobia or racism, I reassured them by explaining to them that where Chinese or Western Culture harmonized with the Bible, each cultural perspective was “okay.” I reminded them that the differences in language and such stemmed from the Fall of Man in God’s garden, generally, and from the events resulting from mankind’s further rebellion at the Tower of Babel. Consequently, many aspects of our culture are the result of sin. The original “culture” (before man’s rebellion against God) was homogenous. One may wryly observe that where any culture harmonizes with the Bible, we may indeed celebrate it. Where Chinese Culture, African Cultures (for they are many), Native American Culture, and so-called Western Culture harmonizes with God’s word they homogenize and become indistinguishable from one another, save for our slight differences in physical appearance. They cease to be diverse, but become homogenous. Hence, the title of this essay. Think about it.

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Untitled

“We all don’t believe that. We believe in universal salvation. God will accept everyone into heaven.” A friend of mine recently hosted a family reunion. At some point the discussion among siblings turned spiritual. Within this family gathering were those with divergent views about God, the Bible, and Eternity. The “liberal” sentiments of one segment of the family were expressed by a younger sister. She believed that no one is really bad enough to go to hell and that God would not turn anyone away from heaven.

You often hear such statements today. “My God would not condemn anyone to hell…” “That’s not the Jesus I know…” “The Jesus I know is a forgiving savior.” Their belief system breaks down if you ask them a question like, “Well, then Adolph Hitler is in heaven?” One usually receives an answer like “Well no… bad people like Hitler don’t go to heaven.”

These folks are the same folks who are inclined to judge those who seek to apply God’s word to certain popular, or acceptable, behaviors today (i.e. calling sex outside of marriage, or other sexual sins, “sin”) as judgmental. Such folks usually reject the Scriptures as either authoritative or sufficient for today’s problems. However, bring up Hitler and others of his ilk and you usually hear something like “Well, he’s really bad.” To this line of thinking I am inclined to ask, “Says who?” Who says Hitler was really bad? By what standard then do we determine and delineate really bad behavior and heaven bound behavior?

The fact is we are all bad. The Bible says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).” In the same epistle we read, “The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). In the run up to the “all have sinned statement” we read “there is none righteous, no not one… there is none who does good not even one…” Nearby these statements we learn that the mind set on the flesh does not obey God and cannot obey God (Romans 8:3ff).

The reality is that everyone is bad enough that they don’t deserve to go to heaven. However, God offers forgiveness and salvation to all people, regardless of race, color or creed, or even sexual orientation. The problem is that He only grants forgiveness to those who will receive His offer on His terms. He offers the free gift of life despite our “badness.”

“For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).”

What is problematic and of eternal consequence is that unless you are willing to receive the gift of eternal life, on the basis upon which it is offered, you will not receive what you reject because you want God on your own terms. This is bad news for many religious people found in churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious places. Religion does not equal a life changing, saving relationship with the One True God. A radical trust in God is what matters and Christ is God. Thus, rejecting Christ is to reject forgiveness. To receive Christ, is to receive the gift of eternal life. Without Christ, no one goes to heaven (Acts 4:12) for there is no other name given among men under heaven by which a person can be saved. It’s not outward religion that changes a person inside out and transforms them. If your faith hasn’t changed you then it has not saved you. That’ why Jesus warns:

²¹ "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. ²² "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' ²³ "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.' (Mat 7:21-23 NAS)

People may do religious things. But make no mistake. Not everyone is going to heaven. People trusting in religion and doing religious things---even apparent miracles will not go to heaven.  It is those who trust in Christ. In whom do you trust?

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Every Picture Tells a Story

And this one is not pretty…

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. (Psa 20:7)

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In What (or in Whom) Do You Trust?

In What (or in Whom) Do You Trust?

In what, or whom, do you trust? As I reflect upon 2 Timothy 3:16-17, I continue to marvel at those who evaluate Scripture through the lens of their experience. Understanding our emotions, or “feelings” change like the tides but God’s word stands forever, as Peter writes elsewhere, people who profess to be Christians remain predisposed to evaluating divine truth based upon the ever changing criteria of how they feel about an issue at the moment, or this week, or this month, or this year.

Ultimately, they trust in themselves more than they trust in God as they put themselves, or someone else, in the place of final arbiter of what is true or false in Scripture? They demote God and elevate themselves to judge His word? How’s that for arrogance? I remember discussing with a couple of folks the prohibition against women as elders and pastors. They pointed out to me that this passage in 1 Timothy 2 was superseded by Galatians 3 (there is neither male nor female nor free man nor slave…). They continued to point out that Paul had been a strict religious Jew (i.e. a Pharisee) and that his background had prejudiced his thought process. They added something to the effect that “besides, there were special problems with women in Ephesus being uneducated and susceptible to false teachers… so that teaching was limited to a specific geography.”

I was amazed. First, 1 Timothy, Titus, and 2 Timothy were written after Galatians, which, if their theory were true would mean that 1 Timothy 2 superseded Galatians 3. Furthermore, as is often the case, Galatians 3 was taken out of context. It’s about salvation not gender roles---Christ died for the sins of all types of people, regardless of gender or socio-economic background. Third, insinuating that Paul’s cultural prejudice infected his thinking and somehow frustrated God’s “attempt” to give inspired Scripture, kind of elevates Paul as sovereign over God, relegating God to the position of being inept or incapable to communicate as He intended. Fourth, somehow teaching that women in Ephesus were less competent than men, theologically, demeans women. Finally, male leadership in the church is taught in 1 Timothy 2 and 3; Titus 1 and 2, and 1 Corinthians 11. Thus, given the distances between Ephesus (1 and 2 Timothy), Crete (Titus), and Corinth (1 Corinthians) the bogus idea that such teachings preserved and transmitted down through the ages in Scripture does not really hold water.

But what’s at the heart of all this? Experience over Scripture. We elevate our sensibilities over and above the word of God when its teachings collide with our culture or our sinful preferences. When we do so we build our house upon the sand, rather than the Rock. We, as Christians, should know better. Will we judge God? There is a God in heaven. We are not He. He has spoken through His word and we are accountable to Him, not the other way around. Think about it. Do you say, “I know the Bible says this… but…?” Think what you are saying, “I know God says this but I want to do this…” or “I prefer this…” God does not care what we prefer. He wants us to follow Him. The next time you affirm 2 Timothy 3:16 and 17… take time to ponder the implications of what you say you believe:

¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2Ti 3:16-17 NAS)

In what or in Whom do you trust? Do you trust in God and His word, or something less?

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Don't Talk About Sin Talk About Grace

If you don't realize how bad you are then you can't realize how good Christ is! Recently, a visitor at our church complained about the Sunday sermon. I had preached a sermon on repentance as one avenue toward the road to reconciliation with God. At the heart of the message was the grace of God. However, the visitor did not want to hear about sin or fearing God. They wanted to hear about the grace of God. They said something about their God not being "an angry God" but a gracious God. The truth is were we not all sinners deserving death and hell (i.e. the wages of sin) then we would not need the grace of God. Apart from understanding our own sinfulness we cannot understand the glory and wonder of God's grace. As Paul writes in Romans 6:23, the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. We deserve, we earn, hell but we all, in Christ, receive better than we deserve, God's unmerited favor: grace. Wanting to ignore our sin and our need for repentance, perhaps inadvertently, is wanting to downplay the grace of God. If we are not lost, then we don't need to be found. If we are not dead in our sins and trespasses, then we do not need rescue. If we are not sinners, then we don't need the Savior. But the truth is, we are not good people. We are terrible sinners, which makes Christ a wonderful, merciful Savior. Christ offers forgiveness to all people. He grants it to those who will not reject His gospel. We can only receive grace if we really, really understand our great need as we are revulsed and repulsed by the deformity of our sin. Jesus is a wonderful Savior to those who will receive forgiveness and a divine judge to those who reject Him. There's no away around admitting you're a terrible sinner in need a saving grace. It's at the heart of the gospel.

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