Every Thought Captive

An All-Sustaining Vision of the Worthy Lord and the Worthy Lamb:

2007-06-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

Hope and Encouragement from Revelation 4 and 5 (Part Two)

The Worthy Lamb

John’s attention in the throne room of Heaven is drawn to a scroll held in the hand of the Father. There are seven seals which bind the scroll. A “strong angel” (possibly Gabriel whose name means “strength of God”)[1] asks, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?” Even in the midst of this august body of the saints from across the ages there is no man able to take the scroll from the Father’s hand and open its seals.

The response of John at this may seem puzzling. Emotionally overcome, he weeps much. This is no light grief, but a deep and despairing one. Why such a response? The answer is revealed as we consider the nature of the book and remember the context in which John wrote this.
The exact identity of this scroll is shrouded in mystery. Whatever else may be said about this scroll, it becomes clear as Revelation unfolds that the sealed scroll represents the right to execute justice and bring human history to its ultimate and intended end.[2]

The historical context in which John writes is a hurricane of violent persecution against the people of God. From every earthly perspective, it would seem that God’s people are without help and hope. Now even within the very presence of God, it appears that there is no one who can effect justice and bring believers to their desired end! Is there no hope in heaven or earth? No wonder John is deeply distraught!

But John is not left to despair. One of the elders steps forward, telling John that One has been found worthy. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David. Both of these designations are Messianic.[3] Christ Jesus is worthy to execute justice and bring history to its desired end!

The Paschal Lamb

And now the focus of the scene in Heaven shifts from the Father to the Son. There in the midst of the throne room stands a Lamb as it had been slain. The Greek word used for “lamb” in the text is very specific. It refers to a little pet lamb. Why such a description for the Son? From its inception in Egypt, the Passover tradition followed the command of God that the sacrificial lamb be brought into the household on the tenth day of the first month but not slain until the fourteenth day of the month.[4] The lamb would essentially be a family pet for four days until it suffered a violent death for the sins of that very family. Jesus, as the Lamb of God, came and lived among us. He was then violently slain for our sins.

The Risen Lamb

This Lamb was slain, but now lives. Lest any wonder about the authenticity of His death, He still bears the marks of His violent torture and bloody death. Death was not able to conquer the Lamb! The fact that He is risen demonstrates that He is the sacrifice acceptable to the Father, and has accomplished the salvation of His people.[5]

The Powerful Lamb

Yet the Lamb is not simply a weak and docile Lamb. He is portrayed as having not one horn, but seven. Throughout Scripture the horn is used as a symbol of power, likely due to the fact that animals used their horns as implements of aggression.[6] It was the horn that would inflict wounds upon other beasts. The use of the number seven is deliberate. Seven is the number of completeness or perfection. Thus this Lamb does not simply possess power; He possesses perfect power![7] The Holy Spirit in all of His fullness and wisdom proceeds from the Lamb.

The Response

From eternity past the Father had ordained that only the Son, by virtue of His sacrifice, be worthy to open the scroll. In recognition of the greatness of the Lamb the four seraphim and the 24 elders burst forth in exuberant praise. The song of the saved is—“Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth (Revelation 5:9-10).”

And from this expression of worship a great ripple effect is produced. In ever expanding waves of praise creation bears testimony to the greatness and worth of the Lamb, until the entire universe lifts up her voice in adoration. This is the song that will echo throughout eternity! Worthy is the Lamb!

For Our Encouragement

So where does this vision of John intersect with our busy contemporary lives? The message of this passage remains unchanged and as relevant as if it were written two minutes ago. In every circumstance of life, God still occupies the throne of Glory. The Lamb is still worthy. He will execute justice and sovereignly bring human history to its ordained end.

When every natural instinct we possess tells us that there is no hope, we can and must look to upward. In each tempting, trying, testing, taxing, troubling experience of life we can rest secure. When our hearts cry out “Hath God forgotten to be gracious?” we are sustained with a glimpse into the heavenly throne room, for there we behold the worthy Lord and the worthy Lamb.

[1] John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary, Nelson, 2005, p. 2003
[2] Each of the seals, when opened, initiates a form of judgment. The seventh seal initiates seven trumpet judgments. The seventh trumpet initiates seven bowl judgments. When these judgments are complete the scroll is finally and fully open and the eternal state of final judgment in Hell and eternal felicity in Glory commences.
[3] Genesis 49:9-10 and Isaiah 11:10
[4] Exodus 12:1-6
[5] Hebrews 2:9-10; 10:12-14; 13:20
[6] John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary, Nelson, 2005, p. 2003-2004
[7] John Gill, Gill’s Expositor electronic edition, E-sword, 2006, Revelation 5:6

An All-Sustaining Vision of the Worthy Lord and the Worthy Lamb:

2007-06-07T13:07:00.000-07:00

Hope and Encouragement from Revelation 4 and 5 (Part One)

Were these simply the words of a human author, their mystery and majesty would give us reason to take note. But our knowledge that these words do not merely emanate from the pen of a human author ought to cause us to do more. They are part of the inspired record, the Word of God.

The Historic Context

It is the mid-90’s A.D. John is the last surviving apostle. He has seen the rise and spread of the Way of Christ. He has witnessed the rise of Nero and horrific persecution that attended his diabolical regency—an intensity of persecution which reached ghastly heights and depths following the Great Fire of Rome (A.D. 64).[1]

John is now witnessing a second great persecution of Christianity. Emperor Domitian has risen to the throne. Domitian’s cruelty and perversity is well-known.[2] As a young boy whose childhood was marked by prolonged periods of isolation, he was fond of mutilating insects. Domitian is known to relish gladiatorial combat. Yet apparently the standard practice of such combat does not hold enough barbarism for him. The emperor seeks contests between little people (dwarfs) and women. Coupled with this cruelty, Domitian harbors a burning hatred for two other groups—Jews and Christians. It would appear that his hatred for the Jew is partly fueled by his desire for their money. Furthermore, since he demands to be referred to as “Master and God,”[3] the refusals of both Jews and Christians to do so infuriate him. Domitian has released a state-sanctioned attack upon both Christianity and Judaism. In fact, it is likely by the decree of Domitian that John has been tortured and banished to this island of Patmos.

The most powerful throne upon the earth thunders forth decrees against the people of God. From the perspective of a Christian in this time, matters would appear hopeless. No doubt the sentiment of the Psalmist, “Hath God forgotten to be gracious?”[4] was upon the minds, if not the tongues, of the people of God. And it is at precisely this time that God reaches down to His servant and discloses to him an incomparable vision of Himself.

The Worthy Lord

When John is caught up into the heavens His attention is arrested by the sight of a great throne and the One who sits upon that throne. In fact, every element of this chapter is calculated to highlight the greatness of the throne and of the One who occupies it. Thus, this throne is referred to some 11 times throughout this chapter alone.

Sovereign Authority

Of course, the point of the revelation of the throne is not simply the physical piece of the furniture. A throne symbolizes authority. The one who sits upon a throne exercises authority. The physical location of a throne indicates to us in some measure the extent of the monarch’s regency. For example, if a throne is to be found in the basement of a common citizen, we can assume that the authority of the one sitting upon such a throne is very limited. But if the throne is to be found in the palace in the capital city of a country, we can assume that the one sitting thereupon possesses much greater power. He is the ruler of that country.

The location of this throne is neither in the basement of a common citizen, nor the palace of a country. It exists over and above these in every way! It is the throne of Heaven.

The thrones of men and earthly kingdoms are transient. They may be occupied by one today and another tomorrow. Death, disaster, and revolution may dismiss earthly leaders. Time and conflict may diminish the greatness of the throne. But the throne of Heaven remains occupied by One whose power and authority will never diminish. The Father[5] will never abdicate his throne or abandon it due to pressure from a more powerful antagonist! He will continue to rule in sovereignty, exercising His authority over every minutia of His creation.

Such authority is demonstrated through the lightnings, thunderings, and voices that proceed from the throne; these representing the righteous pronouncements of justice and control over the earth and heaven above which the throne is established. The Holy Spirit in all of His power proceeds from the throne.[6]

Sovereign Majesty

The Father is described as being in appearance as a jasper and sardius stone. As we bear in mind the symbolic nature of the description, we understand that John is not asking us to consider the Father to simply be a mineral protuberance!

Jasper was the last stone in the breastplate of the priest[7] and is the first in the foundation of the New Jerusalem.[8] It is described as “clear as crystal” in Revelation 21:11. This clarity, coupled with the great strength and stability demonstrated in its placement as first in the foundation of the New Jerusalem, has led many to conclude that the stone mentioned here is specifically a diamond. Whether or not that is the case, the stone demonstrates stability, beauty and majesty.

Sardius (“sardine” [AV]) was of intense blood red colour. The more intense the colouring, the greater was the value of the stone. Today these stones are known as red carnelians. Though the market value of these stones has diminished since the first century, their beauty has not. Once again, the incredible beauty demonstrates the majesty of the Father.

Sovereign Holiness

Beneath and before the throne there is a pavement of such purity that it is transparent. John describes it as a sea of glass, though there is no sea in heaven.[9] The sight is reminiscent of the vision of God granted to the elders of Israel where the floor beneath His feet is described as possessing a clarity like the body of heaven.[10] This detail is not without significance. That pavement upon which the throne of heaven sits takes upon itself the purity of the throne and the One seated upon it. Its transparency is a transparency of holiness.

Nor is this the only element of the passage calculated to reveal to us the sovereign holiness of God. There exist before the throne four creatures whose eternal purpose is to express the sovereign holiness of God. These creatures are the seraphim which Isaiah saw in the year that King Uzziah died. Their description demonstrates that, like other creatures of nature, they have been perfectly suited to the environment for which they were created. They possess strength, humility, reason, and swiftness.[11] Furthermore, each has six wings. A comparison with Isaiah reveals the purpose each pair serves.[12] With two they fly about, doing the bidding of God. With two they cover their faces in the presence of the fully exposed glory of God’s majestic holiness. With two they cover their feet, a symbol of their “creatureliness.”[13]

Beyond the implicit message of their physical description of these seraphim, their unequivocal spoken message is a focused and continual expression of God’s ineffable holiness. They do not simply cry “Holy!” Their cry is “Holy, Holy, Holy!” It is certain that if God’s Word declares any thing once it is truth. It must not be dismissed. If something is repeated we can be sure that we ought to take notice of it. We remember the many times when our Lord Jesus prefaced His words with “Verily, Verily.” Certainly it ought to be enough for us that Christ uttered the words, but the fact that He underscored their importance by twice emphasizing the truthfulness of those words drives home their magnitude. Here the declaration of the seraphim is not emphasized to the second, but to the third degree. Only one attribute of God is ever elevated to this degree. (Sadly, this is one attribute which, in its various expressions, is most often diminished in our theological emphases and our personal walk.)

In the splendor of Glory God’s holiness stands out and is the never-ending theme of the seraphim’s song. For now and evermore, the thrice-holy God will be praised!

Sovereign Grace

John describes a rainbow before the throne of Glory. From the time of Noah the rainbow specifically symbolized God’s faithfulness to His Noahic covenant, but also came to express God’s faithfulness to His Word and gracious covenant promises in general. The rainbow symbolized God’s grace. For from the days of Noah who found grace in the eyes of the Lord, God had faithfully kept His promises made to His people. The ark of Noah’s day was buffeted by the waves, keeping those within safe. Christ as the antitype of the ark had passed through the waters of judgment, safely keeping His people.[14] The rainbow had appeared after the waters of judgment had receded, showing a tranquility possible only because justice had been met. This judgment would never be repeated. So there is a peace and safety that is secured for the people of God because justice has been met through the gracious provision of Christ.

Twenty four elders seated upon lesser thrones demonstrate the visible reality of this grace of God. While there is considerable debate regarding the specific intention of the number 24,[15] we know that they are redeemed individuals. First, they are clothed in white garments, an enduring expression of the imputed righteousness of Christ,[16] and the enduring life of righteousness possible only through His saving and sanctifying work.[17] Second, they have crowns of gold upon their heads, indicating that they have endured to the end, demonstrating the reality of their faith.[18] Third, they plainly declare in the following chapter that they have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.[19]

The Response

In the presence of this sovereign, majestic, holy, gracious Lord, the only fitting response is demonstrated by the seraphim and the elders—“And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”[20]

[1] http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/nero-index.html
[2] http://www.xs4all.nl/~kvenjb/madmonarchs/domitian/domitian_bio.htm
[3] http://www.xs4all.nl/~kvenjb/madmonarchs/domitian/domitian_bio.htm
[4] Psalm 77:9
[5] That the One occupying the Throne of Heaven is God is manifest (consider Lucifer’s boast in Isaiah 14:12-15). That the person of the Godhead who sits upon this Throne is the Father is demonstrated as the text unfolds. The Lamb (Jesus) is introduced in the fifth chapter in the presence of the One who sits on the Throne. He is not the One seated in chapter four, but takes the book from the One seated. Also, the Spirit of God is shown as proceeding from the One seated upon the Throne (4:5) and from the Lamb (5:6). This reinforces the testimony of Scripture that the Spirit of God proceeds from Father and Son (John 14:26 & 15:26). Thus, we can rightly conclude that the Father is the One who occupies this Throne.
[6] The description of seven spirits is not a technical description of the number of spirits which make up the Holy Spirit; it is simply a designation of completeness.
[7] Exodus 28:20
[8] Revelation 21:19
[9] Revelation 21:1
[10] Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness (Exodus 24:9-10).
[11] Represented by the faces of a lion, calf, man, and eagle, respectively.
[12] Isaiah 6:2
[13] R.C. Sproul, The Holiness of God, Tyndale, 1998, p. 23-24
[14] Wayne Grudem, I Peter, IVP (Eerdman’s), 1999, p. 163
[15] It is my opinion that these individuals are representative of the redeemed of the ages, from both Old Covenant and New Covenant contexts (12 tribes and 12 apostles). That they stand for more than merely 24 would appear beyond dispute due to their self description as redeemed “out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation (Revelation 5:9).” It is manifest that there exist far more than 24 kindreds, tongues, peoples, and nations!
[16] Isaiah 61:10, Zechariah 3:1-5
[17] Revelation 19:8
[18] Revelation 2:10, 3:11
[19] Revelation 5:9
[20] Revelation 4:9-11

Another Book to Recommend

2007-01-31T13:26:00.000-08:00

I have begun reading When People Are Big and God Is Small by Edward T. Welch. Though I am only three chapters into the book, I believe that this may be one of the most important books I read (and reread) this year.

The book asserts that we struggle with a fear of man that keeps us from doing what we ought. We look to men to give us what we ought to be seeking for in God. Our remedy is a true fear of God and love for men. Sounds remarkably simple, but it is profoundly poignant.

The book meets a personal need. I pray that God would use its Biblical truth to teach me to live before God and man in the way that I ought to.

A Prayer upon the Commencement of a Spiritual Endeavor

2007-01-24T07:47:00.000-08:00

Father, we stand upon the threshold of a new endeavor for You.

Help us to remember the imperfect vessels that we are;
the dullness of our minds with respect to Your Word,
the waywardness of our steps with respect to Your will,
the idleness of our hands with respect to Your work,
the foolishness of our tongues with respect to Your wisdom;
and may it drive us to our knees.

May we seek Your perfection in our imperfection,
Your illumination in our dullness,
Your guidance in our waywardness,
Your compulsion in our idleness,
Your wisdom in our foolishness.

Forgive us for the many sins that we commit before You every day.

By Your sovereign power alone shall any good be accomplished,
And so we beg You for Your power.

Unless the Lord build the house, we labour in vain and so we seek the sovereign operation of Your power at this time.

May our God be glorifed,
our Saviour magnified,
and Your Spirit depended upon
in every detail of our service for You.

By Your grace alone and for Your glory alone be the Captain of this endeavor.

Arminius on Calvin's Commentaries

2007-01-11T05:42:00.000-08:00

I read this the other day at The Thirsty Theologian (An excellent site that I will add to my links.) Reminds me of the thoughts of my own father. He would never wear the label of "Calvinist," but he has read Calvin extensively and on more than one occaision has told me that Calvin's Commentaries have been of more personal benefit to him than any other commentary or commentary set that he has.

"Next to the study of the Scriptures which I earnestly inculcate, I exhort my pupils to peruse Calvin’s Commentaries, which I extol in loftier terms than Helmich himself [a Dutch divine, 1551–1608]; for I affirm that he excels beyond comparison in the interpretation of Scripture, and that his commentaries ought to be more highly valued than all that is handed down to us by the library of the fathers; so that I acknowledge him to have possessed above most others, or rather above all other men, what may be called an eminent spirit of prophecy. His Institutes ought to be studied after the [Heidelberg] Catechism, as containing a fuller explanation, but with discrimination, like the writings of all men."

—Jacob Arminius

Another Favorite Quote

2007-01-06T07:16:00.000-08:00

"Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, if sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies; and if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay, and not madly to destroy themselves. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

One of My Favorite Quotes

2007-01-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

"The cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, but we have to get near enough for its sparks to fall on us." —John Stott

Melito, Bishop of Sardis from a message on the Passover—

2007-01-01T10:10:00.000-08:00

“And so He was lifted upon a tree and an inscription was attached indicating who was being killed. Who was it? It is a grievous thing to tell, but a most fearful thing to refrain from telling. But listen, as you tremble before Him on Whose account the earth trembled!

He who hung the earth in place is hanged.
He who fixed the heavens in place is fixed in place.
He who made all things is made fast on a tree.
The Sovereign is insulted.
God is murdered.
The King of Israel is destroyed by an Israelite hand.

This is the One who made the heavens and the earth, and formed mankind in the beginning,
The One proclaimed by the Law and the Prophets,
The One enfleshed in a virgin,
The One hanged on a tree,
The One buried in the earth,
The One raised from the dead and who went up into the heights of heaven,
The One sitting at the right hand of the Father,
The One having all authority to judge and save,
Through whom the Father made all things which exist from the beginning of time.
This One is “the Alpha and Omega,”
This One is “the Beginning and the End”…the beginning indescribable and the end incomprehensible.
This One is the Christ.
This One is the King.
This One is Jesus.
This One is the Leader.
This One is the Lord.
This One is the One who rose from the dead.
This One is the One sitting on the right hand of the Father.
He bears the Father and is borne of the Father.
“To Him be the glory and the power forever. Amen.”

—as quoted by James White in The Forgotten Trinity, p 184-185

How Deep My Sin. How Great My Saviour!

2006-12-31T08:15:00.000-08:00

Every day gives evidence of the depth of my personal faults, failings and deep sinfulness. That sin which I hate, I do. That good which I would do, I do not.

How often do I pursue my own glory and ambition rather than that the glory of my Saviour.

How often does the fear of man ecplise my fear of God.

How often do I fail to faithfully pursue the spiritual disciplines I know to be so necessary for the health of my soul and walk with God.

How often when I do pursue these disciplines do I find my motivations for doing so to be flawed, my heart dull, and my mind weak.

How often when I have pursued these displines with some degree of fidelity and focus do I find my heart lifted in pride and fail in my diligence of striving against sin.

How often when I have striven against sin and found in myself some some measure of a pattern of obedience do I find myself exalted in pride and begin to lack sympathy to fellow men in their own struggles with iniquity.

How often when I see my weakness in the struggle against sin and self do I faint in the battle rather than seek the strength of my Saviour.

How often do I focus more upon the waves than upon the Master and the crisis more than the Cross.

Oh, wretched man that I am!

Yet, in all of this, when sin and self and Satan would drive me to abandon hope and give in to utter despair, grace lifts my eyes to the lowly manger, the lonely cross, and the vacant tomb. My ears are opened to hear my pleading Priest rebuke the Accuser and declare of me, "I Jehovah, have chosen him. Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?" And I know that He who was crushed for my iniquities lives and intercedes on my behalf forever more.

Surely the greatness of my Saviour, the kindness of my Shepherd, the mercy of my Father, the love of my God, and the magnitude of grace is displayed the clearer against the backdrop of my sin.

Oh, Father! Crush me often with despair of self that I might see the sufficiency of grace that flows from Calvary. Warm my heart with undying passion to know Your saving health and to make it known to all men!

You Make the Willing Free

2006-12-30T08:50:00.000-08:00

This is one of my poor attempts at songwriting. :-)

Once we walked in darkness
Our lives controlled by sin;
We lived our lives as rebels.
We had no light within.
You were not in our thoughts;
We gave You not Your place.
Unable and unwilling
We did not seek Your face.

chorus:
Only Your great power
Could draw us unto Thee.
You make the rebel willing;
You make the willing free.

You called us out of darkness.
You set us free from sin,
And those who once were rebels
Now have Your light within.
Captivate our very thoughts
And claim Your rightful place.
Make us ever willing
To come and seek Your face

bridge:
Cause us to remember, Lord
Your loving, sovereign power.
Strengthen us to seek Your glory
Every single hour.

I Love My Children!

2006-12-29T08:41:00.000-08:00

John and Claire. I love them more than I could ever have imagined loving two children. I am blessed beyond measure!

Wells Hits the Mark with This

2006-07-26T13:21:00.000-07:00

After mentioning the emergence of self-made, individualistic spiritualities in our current context, Wells makes this very perceptive comment—

"And what will prove even more momentous to the evangelical world than its engagement with other religions, I believe, will be whether it is able to distinguish what it has to offer from the emergence of these forms of spirituality. Therapeutic spiritualities which are non-religious begin to look quite like evangelical spirituality which is therapeutic and non-doctrinal." —Above All Earthly Pow'rs (p5)

From my perspective, despite the fact that it seems to be "cool" to be evangelical right now, much of evangelicalism is almost indistinguishable on a practical and philosophical level from these emerging spiritualities. When the "message" is pop psychology mixed with a few castrated Bible quotes, and the program emphasis is to please the visitors rather than God Himself it is small wonder that many attenders can feel every liberty to live by their own existential impulses. It is also small wonder that they can continue to live life apart from a comprehensive worldview when there is no such view regularly and accurately proclaimed from the pulpit (or bar stool, couch, reclining chair, group hug, etc.). If the philosophy proceeds from and terminates upon man, what really does distinguish it from these spiritualities? The misuse of Scripture and occaisional reference to Jesus can be found in the emerging spiritualities. At a confessional level there ought to be a glaring difference, but with doctrine so often being set aside even this distinguishing element is blurred and often obliterated.

Postmodernism and Postmodernity

2006-07-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

"As we try to understand our contemporary world, it is necessary, I believe, to distinguish between postmodernism and postmodernity. The former is the intellectual formulation of postmodern ideas on the high end of culture. It is their expression in architecture, in literary theory, philosophy, and so on. Postmodernity, by contrast, I am taking as the popular, social expression of the same assumptions but in ways that may be unselfconscious and often not intellectual at all, making this a diffuse, unshaped kind of expression. If the one is found in books and art, if it is debated on campuses and in the academy, the other is found in rock music, in the malls, on television, and in the workplace."

— David Wells in Above All Earthly Pow'rs (p64)

From my perspective this is a helpful and workable distinction. Even in academic circles, postmodernism as a philosophy seems passe. Few everyday individuals have a clue or care about the formulations of Lyotard and others. There are also many distinctions that can be made between the two (postmodernism and postmodernity). The main concern of the average citizen is how their own thinking and living patterns are intensely personal and real to them, but not to be imposed on others. Our concern as Christians in this age is how the Gospel comes to bear upon the individual in his own life, not how it may be used to fight against a formulation that may have been extrapolated and modified more or less until it comes to assume the shape of the individual's thought. Is it interesting to understand how things got to be the way they are today? Absolutely! But it is of much more value for us to understand the times themselves than what a philosopher may have said about the way he would like things to be. This is particularly true in dealing with people who think within the basic mental framework that most individuals live with today— that there is no absolute truth. (Maybe more on this one later.)

A Book Worth Reading...and Reading Again!

2006-07-04T14:18:00.000-07:00

I am currently about half way through David Wells' Above All Earthly Pow'rs. It is an excellent, thought-provoking book. Over the next several days I intend to make a few quick entries about certain of Wells' points that have informed and challenged me.

This book is not just a skim read. It is worth your full attention and if you are like me will probably demand an immediate reread!

Sound But Lazy

2006-06-16T05:59:00.000-07:00

It is good to hold fast to the old truths, and to contend earnestly (but not savagely) for the faith once delivered to the saints; but it is possible to be sound in doctrine and sound asleep at the same time. Truth turned into a pillow for an idle head is a good thing turned to most evil use. If we wish our form of teaching to exercise power, we must exhibit its practical influence right diligently. A doctrine that will not work will not live. Some very orthodox people are very lazy, and laziness is certainly heterodoxy of the worst type. A good-for-nothing Christian is a great sinner. There never was a period when there was more need for zeal and faithfulness than now. We have fallen upon bad days for slumber: activity is lord of the hour. Oh, lovers of truth, bestir yourselves. Work together when you can; but, most of all, see to it that you are each one faithful to his own conscience. Thoroughly consecrated and quickened men are needed now that the fight grows hotter than ever.

—C.H. Spurgeon (from the August 1883 Sword and Trowel)

Contending for the Faith?

2006-02-27T13:35:00.000-08:00

I am a fundamentalist. I am a separatist. (In reality, you cannot be the former without the latter.) But I have recently been spurred to think about the matters over which we as fundamentalists are willing to go to war. There are obviously many diverse issues which we set ourselves in array over. I have recently pondered whether we have occaisionally forgotten to contend for the faith itself. There have been enough examples within the ranks to cause me some unease.

This concern once again presented itself to me after conversing with a good Christian friend regarding the person and works of C.S. Lewis. I mentioned the very clear theological error of Christ's atonement as a ransom paid to Satan espoused in the Narnia Chronicles. My friend told me that while this was a problem, it was not the biggest problem she had with Lewis. Her biggest problems with him were his views on miracles and his use of magic in his novels. I might have missed something of context in the conversation and so I am more than willing to believe that her statement was nuanced by other factors I was not fully apprehending. However, as I later pondered our conversation I put the issues "on the balance," so to speak. Which of these matters is of the most importance? In contending over any of these issues, which battle would find us truly contending for the faith? Which ought to be the first cause?

I am not for a moment suggesting that the only matter that is ever worth contending over is heretical soteriology. But should not our fundamentalism first discover itself in our tenacious, non-negotiable adherence to the faith itself?

I don't want this to just be a pot-shot at fundamentalism, but a challenge to all of us, particularly myself. Sometimes it may seem easier to debate the band-wagon issues and let matters of much more moment slide. May each of us resolve to truly obey the Jude 3 imperative, by God's grace.

A Passion for God

2006-01-26T15:03:00.000-08:00

This outline that I made of these Psalms and preached from several years ago was a blessing to me recently.

Text: Psalm 42-43
Because God alone is our hope, we must place our confidence in Him.
I. The Longing of the Psalmist
A. The Intensity of the Longing (42:1-2). David, as the author likely is, explains a longing that surpasses all others. He describes his longing as a deep thirst. The thirst is the thirst of a deer that has been hounded by the dogs and has fled before their ravages. Imagine the scene. A deer racing from the pursuing hounds, its sides heaving with its exertion. His coat steaming with the heat of its exertions. His tongue parched with a desperate longing for the water that would assuage the deep thirst. Yet he fears even the pause that would enable him to drink, lest he be overtaken by the howling beasts. It is a thirst that seems to be unquenchable. Have you ever had a deep thirst? Have you had such a thirst?
I can remember a time of such deep thirst. I was competing in the Joslin’s Canadian Open Grappling Championships. I competed in a match that went the distance and had no breaks. I went all-out. The thirst that I felt after the match was incredible.
Yet the longing that David had was not simply for the assuaging of a dry tongue, it was a thirst for Almighty God Himself!
B. The Object of His Longing (42:1-2). He longed with all his being for God Himself. He describes God as the living God. What a wonder that we serve the Living God! How much a desire do we have for God Himself? Everything else in this world seems to exalt itself over the knowledge of God. David experienced such a struggle. We see this intense longing for God within the context of incredibly trying circumstances. David experienced this longing while in the throes of great dejection, yea even depression. Now just because David went through such struggles does not make it right, yet this psalm gives us a picture of a great saint going through what many of us ay have gone through in the past and will likely go through in the future.

II. The Dejection of the Psalmist
A. The Extent of this Dejection To what extent had this dejection of the psalmist gone?
1. Sorrow (42:3,5,6,11; 43:2,5) We see David overcome with sorrow. Is this not one of the first things that overtakes us in such times? Indeed, how often is sorrow such a great part of depression. Each so often leads to the other.
2. Sleeplessness (42:3) Such was the depression and sorrow of David that it invaded his sleep. Ever had this happen to you? When this is the case, how frustrating it can be! Even great believers of the past struggled with this difficulty. Jonathan Edwards, for example spent long periods of life in the throes of insomnia. I have felt its ravages myself.
3. Disquiet (42:5,11; 43:5) This disquiet refers to an inner turmoil of soul. What turmoil of soul accompanies depression!
B. The Causes of this Dejection (The ultimate cause of this dejection, as we shall see, is turning our selves and our focus from our true Hope, God.)
1. The Mockery of the Wicked (42:3,10) How the taunts and jeers of the wicked can get us down! Is it right that this is so? Of course it is not, but we still often are influenced by their taunts.
2. The Longing for Fellowship (42:4) David wrote these psalms more than likely when at some period of separation from the fellowship and religious devotion in the temple. How a longing for fellowship can get us down, but this does not make it right. Do we fellowship with those believers that God has placed in our local church? Do we come together in worship of God and fellowship with other believers?
3. The Fixation upon Self (42:5,11; 43:2,5) Really, in many ways, almost every depression finds its roots in a fixation on self. David displayed a definite fixation on self in this time of depression.
4. The Circumstances of Life (42:7) David certainly realized the sovereignty of God in the midst of this struggle. When times are bad so often because of our skewed perspective, they seem much worse. Here the psalmist describes his state as though wave after wave of trouble has overtaken him.
5. The Deceit of the Wicked (43:1) A deceptive man can bring us to depression in many ways, particularly when we are taken in that deception-fooled. The purchase made. The story believed. The idea accepted. We also think about the times when deceivers spread stories about ourselves or loved ones. Sometimes the rumours seem insurmountable.
6. The Injustices of the Wicked (43:1) It seems that the psalmist was being accused unjustly by the wicked around him. How this can get us down.

III. The Hope of the Psalmist- God David realizes that this depression is not right, there is no true reason for him to stay in such a state. He strongly rebukes himself on three occasions in these two psalms. He clearly shows that such a condition is the result of an improper view of God. He reminds himself of several blessings of God throughout this passage that should cause his depression to turn to joy and praise.
A. His Presence (42:5) The psalmist speaks of the help of His countenance. This refers to the blessings of God’s presence. What a blessing that we as believers have in knowing that our God is with us. Christ has said that He is with us always, and He has sent the Spirit to minister to us through His Word.
B. His Past Provision (42:6) David calls to remembrance the past blessing of times with God. He remembers times when he spent hours of sweet communion with His God. How has God helped us in the past? Can He not be trusted in the present?
C. His Loving-kindness (42:8) “Lovingkindness is a noble life-belt in a rough sea. The day may darken into a strange and untimely midnight, but the love of God ordained of old to be the portion of the elect, shall be by sovereign decree meted out to them. No day shall ever dawn on an heir of grace and find him altogether forsaken of his Lord: the Lord reigneth, and as a sovereign he will with authority command mercy to be reserved for his chosen.”- C.H. Spurgeon
D. His Leading (43:3-4) David realized his utter dependence upon God, even to the point of leading him into confidence in God. Oh that we might pray that God would do such a work in our hearts that we would desire Him! Light, truth, joy and praise are seen as dependent upon God Almighty.
E. His Salvation (42:11; 43:5) The salvation spoken of here is not soul salvation, but salvation from the despondency of life. Such salvation is not seen in the absence of difficulty, but in the thick of it! The health of the countenance is God! He brings health to the depressed visage! It is not found in ourselves or in changing the circumstances of our life; God alone is the hope and confidence!

So as you live your life and the circumstances of life surround you, place your desire upon God Himself. Place your dependence and confidence in Him alone to fulfill the greatest and deepest of life’s desires with Himself. May He become our passion! May we turn our gaze from all else to Him!

Because God alone is our hope, both in fulfilling our greatest needs and in overcoming the times of despondency, we must place our confidence in Him alone!

The Issue of "Tongues"— Part 11

2006-01-05T06:22:00.000-08:00

DOES THIS FIT THE FACTS OF HISTORY?

I Corinthians 14 is the last passage of Scripture to mention the gift of tongues. No other passage of Scripture written after it records any reference to this gift. This is not to say that it passed from use immediately after this passage was written, but it does speak to the fact that tongues were not the all-important experience that some make them out to be. For example, none of the directives regarding deacons or elders in the Pastoral Epistles (I & II Timothy, Titus) mention tongues speaking. If not even the pastors or deacons of the church were required to speak in tongues, what can we assume about the laymen within the church?

Considering that the gift of tongues was revelatory, why would there be further need of such a gift once Scripture was penned? Considering that it was also indicating a transitional period of Old to New Covenants and that transition has taken place, what need is there of the gift of tongues? In light of such considerations, we must see that the gift has no necessity for the church today.

Ephesians 2:20 gives further evidence of the fact that tongues are no longer needed for today. It reads, speaking of the church- “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” Both the Person, life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord, and the prophets and apostles were foundational to our faith. The prophets and apostles were foundational for the recorded revelation of truth for our faith. The Lord Jesus Christ was foundational for the atoning work that secured our faith. Neither needs to be done again! Just as we have no need for our Lord to come to earth, live, die, rise, and ascend again, so we have no need for the revelation of God’s truth to be given again! We need no further revelation any more than we need expect our Lord shed His blood again![1]

II Peter 1:16-21 emphasizes the importance of the revelation of Scripture. No encouragement is given to seek revelatory gifts or some experiential basis for belief. Instead, Peter records these words- “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” So far from encouraging expectations of any revelatory gifts or experiential basis for truth, Peter commands them to “take heed” to the “more sure word of prophecy (Scripture).” What is the Scripture more sure than? In context, it is Peter’s wonderful experience upon the mount when he beheld the transfiguration of Jesus. Rather than taking his experience as the basis of faith and conduct, Peter said the Scriptures were more sure than even that marvelous experience! This is a point to be emphasized in light of this topic. Our basis for truth is not experience, but Scripture. We must never interpret Scripture in light of experience, but rather interpret experience in light of Scripture.

History records for us that tongues did cease. If we are to trust what Scripture says, they ceased for all time. Not only was tongues not mentioned by any later New Testament books, but it was also not mentioned by any in the post-apostolic age.[2]

Both Augustine and Chrysostom, theologians of the eastern and western churches, considered tongues obsolete by their time.[3] Considering their status in the churches at the time, we can reasonably trust their assessment to be correct. And once again, according to Scripture, once tongues as a gift ceased, it ceased for good.

EXPLAINING THE PHENOMENA

In light of the truths studied, how do we explain the phenomena of “ecstatic utterances” in the churches today? We can first state that what is being called the “gift of tongues” today in the charismatic movement is not the gift as recorded in the pages of Scripture. I know of no “tongues speakers” today who claim to totally understand the message that they are giving. I know of few “tongues speakers” that pray for the gift of interpretation. When interpretations are given, they are not infallible word-for-word revelation of God. Furthermore, they do not speak the mysteries of God in any Biblical sense. What is seen in the churches today is a counterfeit! I am not claiming here that all charismatics are deliberately deceitful. Many charismatics are truly saved and wish to honour God with their lives. However, this does not make their beliefs correct. Tongues ceased (were cut off) with the completion of the New Testament.

There are three basic ways in which we can explain what is gong on in the churches today. First, it is possible that the “ecstatic utterance” is a learned behavior. Many, if not most, charismatic churches today have some sort of educational program instructing individuals on how they can have the “gift of tongues.” Second, it is possible that it is psychologically induced. Many charismatic churches knowingly or unknowingly use psychological manipulation to induce ecstatic utterances. I have spoken to many charismatics who have told me that any believer who does not speak in tongues may quite legitimately doubt their salvation. Others have told me that it is an experience that every believer must have if he hopes to progress in his walk with God. Still others have suggested that the lack of this fruit in one’s life is a sign of spiritual hardness and the resisting of the Holy Spirit. Many charismatic services effectively use manipulation through repetitive choruses or emotional stirring to produce an environment conducive for the abandonment of inhibitions and the phenomena of ecstatic utterance. In an environment of such beliefs and emotional manipulation, it is no wonder that people let loose their inhibitions, and utter unintelligible sounds. The late George Gardiner, a former charismatic, often said that he could produce the phenomena of ecstatic utterance with anybody if those persons were willing to go along with every step of directions he gave to them. Third, the experience can be Satanic or demonic in origin. Cults and mystery religions have long had their ecstatic utterances. They are alive and well in cults all around the world today, including the Mormons. Even in the time of the Corinthian epistles the phenomena was practiced in the mystery cults of that city along with the immorality so prevalent in their worship. I do not wish to suggest that all tongues speakers are satanically or demonically inspired to do so. However, the connection between their use of the phenomena and the cultic use of the phenomena is often very close. When a person abandons his mind, I believe he opens himself wide to the attacks of spiritual darkness and depression.

[1] Hebrews 9:28- “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” and Hebrews 10:12- “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;” clearly emphasize this point!
[2] Cleon L. Rogers, "The Gift of Tongues in the Post-Apostolic Church", Bibliotheca Sacra 122 (April-June 1965), p. 134
[3] John F. MacArthur, Jr., Charismatic Chaos, Zondervan, 1992, p. 284

The Issue of "Tongues"— Part 10

2006-01-04T06:10:00.000-08:00

THE MURKY MIRROR

“For now we see through a glass, darkly (I Corinthians 13:12a)”

In this clause, Paul gives further evidence of the truth that the revelatory gifts would pass away when Scripture was complete. He gives the picture of an individual looking into a polished glass or even metal mirror and seeing but a murky reflection himself. The mirrors of the time were very crude and distorted by today’s standards. There was very seldom a mirror that gave a very clear reflection. Even if it did, the reflection was incomplete. The individual looking into the mirror saw things that were real and true, but in a murky, distorted, incomplete way. This was the position of the believer who received truth “in part” through the various revelatory gifts.

James uses the same image of a mirror to speak of the revelation of God. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:22-25)” It is obvious that James is referring to at least a part of the written Word of God, and he seems to suggest that it gives an accurate reflection.

FACE TO FACE

“but then face to face (I Corinthians 13:12b)”

Some say that the reference of seeing face to face has reference to seeing Christ one day in Heaven. Some charismatics suggest that this is when the revelatory gifts, such as tongues, will cease. However, this view fails to take into account the full analogy of the mirror.

When one looks into a mirror, whose face does he see? Is it someone else’s? Absolutely not! The face he sees is his own! Is it not one of the key purposes of Scripture to show us as we really are? Is it not to strip away the pretenses to display and judge our very thoughts that we may deal with them?[1]

There is yet another proof from this section of the verse that indicates that the completion of Scripture is in view. It also deals with the term “face to face”. In the first editions of the Authorized Version there was a cross-reference given at this phrase. The Old Testament passage given was Numbers 12:6-8- “And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”

The Lord speaks here of the revelation that he would give to the various prophets in the time of Moses. He contrasts this with the revelation that he will give to Moses. He will speak to Moses “mouth to mouth”. This phrase is the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek phrase “face to face” used in I Corinthians 14:12. In fact, many Hebrew scholars translate the Numbers passage as “face to face”. What is the point of contrast between the regular prophets’ revelation in this passage and the revelation given to Moses? Is it that one was infallible and the other wasn’t? No the point of comparison was in terms of clarity! Moses’ revelation was far clearer than that of the other prophets, though their revelation was true and inspired. It had to be! If their revelation was found to be false, they were to be put to death![2]

Thus the phrase “face to face” does not mean a future heavenly experience (though we then will certainly see the Lord face to face); it refers to clarity of revelation.

KNOWING IN PART/ KNOWING AS I AM KNOWN

“now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known (I Corinthians 13:12c).”

Once again, a partial knowledge due to immature revelation is mentioned. I know in part now, but one day I will know as I am known. Does this refer to knowledge that can only be obtained in Heaven? No, this knowledge is not absolute knowledge, but complete and adequate knowledge brought about by the fullness of revelation.[3]

The fact that there is a full disclosure of God’s truth places us in a position in which we are enabled to see fully and completely. Partial revelation does not afford us this privilege.

[1] Hebrews 4:12&13- “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
[2] Deuteronomy 18:20-22- “But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”
[3] Victor Budgen, Charismatics and the Word of God, Evangelical Press, 1989, p.83

The Issue of "Tongues"— Part 9

2006-01-03T05:15:00.000-08:00

THAT WHICH IS PERFECT

“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away (I Corinthians 13:9-10).”

The Bible states that these gifts would end for good when that which is perfect was come. Our understanding of when these gifts ceased for all time hinges upon this. I believe that the perfection that was to come spoke of the completion of the Holy Scriptures and that the passage to follow bears this out.

The word translated “perfect” most often carries the meaning of “mature”. I believe that it does so in this case as well. There is this element of maturity or completion even in our modern use of the term “perfect”. It seems that Paul is contrasting partial revelation with fuller, complete revelation that was to come. He says, “We prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect (mature, complete) is come that which is in part (partial revelation) will vanish away.”

What complete, full, mature, perfect revelation of God is there other than His Word? It is certainly enough to make its followers mature and complete![1] There is no other!

MEN AND CHILDREN

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things I Corinthians 13:11).”

Verse eleven serves to reinforce this point. A child, because of his limited maturity, often only sees part of a situation that he goes through, becoming fixated upon smaller or fewer details. An adult going through the same situation understands and can remember more of the whole. This is the point of comparison being brought out here. The believer, prior to the complete, perfect revelation of completed scripture, grasped but a portion of the whole because the revelatory gifts gave but a portion! They prophesied “in part.” When the completed Scripture came, the partial revelatory gifts were “put away” or “ceased” in the sense that they were replaced by that complete revelation. The child’s limited understanding is replaced by fuller understanding as he grows older.

When my sister-in-law Elisabeth was much younger, she was taken to McDonalds by my father-in-law. When they arrived there, Elisabeth was both surprised and somewhat frightened to see someone dressed up like Grimace. For those of you who are familiar with Grimace, you will know that he is entirely purple. Elisabeth was very small at the time and was very taken by the part of Grimace that she was able to see best because of her height- his feet. She recounted the tale to others when she got home, but was fixated upon the fact that Grimace had purple feet. In fact, that was basically all that she had to say about Grimace, even though all of Grimace was purple, and there were many other unusual features that would bear recounting! She “saw in part” because of her immaturity.

Just as a person puts aside an immature and incomplete understanding to replace it with a fuller mature understanding when older, so the incomplete understanding given by the revelatory gifts was replaced with the completeness of full revelation given in Scripture.

[1] Paul write to Timothy- “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (II Timothy 3:14-17)”

The Issue of "Tongues"— Part 8

2006-01-02T14:13:00.000-08:00

Having investigated the nature of tongues, we now turn to a matter even more hotly debated than the nature of tongues- when do tongues cease? The Bible clearly states that tongues will cease.

“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away (I Corinthians 13:8).

As we begin this inquiry let me state that I know of few who have honestly interacted with I Corinthians 12-14 and believe that tongues are for today. Among those who do honestly evaluate the Word and come to the cessationist position (that tongues have ceased from use and are not operative today), there are a few varying ideas of exactly when this cessation took place. However, those varying ideas differ very little in terms of time, differing more in terms of events which brought about the end to the era in which the gift of tongues was given.[1] I believe that I Corinthians 13 teaches that the gift of tongues ceased with the completion of the canon of Scripture.

If we were to study the previous chapter of I Corinthians we would see that Paul has spoken of the necessity of using the gifts for the good of the entire church body. They are sovereignly bestowed by the Holy Spirit, and the Corinthian believers are not to desire to have the gifts just for their flashy nature. (The ear should not desire to be the eye, etc.) The individuals of the church should not be desirous of that which would simply elevate their personal status before others. At the close of the chapter, after having listed a number of spiritual gifts in order of importance[2], Paul encourages the church body as a whole to focus on the best gifts, or those gifts of primary importance. He concludes by saying that he will show the Corinthian believers a “more excellent way”. In context, this way refers to the use of the spiritual gifts. The way that he is referring to is the way of love. Paul emphasizes that all of the gifts are to be exercised in love, as opposed to pride. Paul speaks of the supremacy of love in service, overriding any personal ambition or quest for glory. He then makes the statement quoted earlier- prophecy, tongues, and knowledge will cease.

WHAT DO THESE THREE HAVE IN COMMON?

All of these gifts- prophecy, tongues, and knowledge referred to a gift of infallible, God-inspired revelation. We have already demonstrated that both prophecy and tongues were infallible revelatory gifts. But what about knowledge? How can that be considered infallible revelation?

Though some would differ with my interpretation on this point, I believe that knowledge was some manner of gift that allowed infallible interpretation of Old Testament Scriptures.[3] The fact that it is included with two other “flashy” gifts that Paul seems very pointedly to be telling the Corinthians will pass away seems to be indicative of this. In some way, whatever this gift was, it was a gift that the Corinthians were coveting in all the wrong ways. I believe that Paul had a dual goal here. He wanted the Corinthians to focus on using their gifts in love for the church, and he wanted them to understand that the gifts that they believed to be so wonderful and desirable would pass away. The love spoken of throughout the chapter would not pass away, but the “flashy” would.

All three gifts will pass away. The ceasing of tongues was given the strongest word. It speaks of an abrupt, permanent cessation. All three of the gifts would cease. Tongues, however, would cease abruptly and permanently, while the other two would pass away. However, they would all pass away beyond recall. Verse ten speaks of a definite time by which and because of which all revelatory gifts would pass or “vanish” away. This is the future indicative passive of the Greek word katargeo. The verb form speaks of an obliteration beyond recall.[4] It is easy to see why the translators chose the phrase “vanish away”! It is important to note that Biblically speaking, if these gifts passed away at all, at any point in history, they will not be renewed again.

Though tongues are not listed here in particular, I believe that it is there by association as a revelatory gift with the same potential for edification as prophecy when interpreted.

We must now turn our attention to exactly when these gifts, particularly tongues, would “pass away” or cease for all time.

[1] Some believe that tongues ceased with the death of the last apostle. Some believe that they ceased with the completion of the canon of Scripture (this author’s position). Yet another view on the cessation of tongues was held by George Gardiner, a former charismatic. This view states that tongues ceased with the destruction of Jerusalem. While these views differ with respect to the exact event that brought about the end of the gift of tongues, they differ very little with respect to the basic time limitations upon the gift of tongues. The city of Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70. The last book of the Bible to be penned was most likely written around A.D. 95-96. John, the last apostle and the human author of Revelation probably died in the late A.D. 90’s or early A.D. 100’s. The same basic time period is in mind with all views.
[2] I Corinthians 12:27&28 -“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
[3] Some examples may include Peter’s use of Old Testament Scriptures in Acts 2, Peter’s words before the high priest in Acts 4, and Stephen’s defense before the synagogue in Acts 7.
[4] Douglas Judisch, An Evaluation of Claims to the Charismatic Gifts, Baker Biblical Monograph, 1978, p.83.

The Issue of "Tongues"— Part 7

2005-12-22T08:12:00.000-08:00

PAUL’S PERSONAL TESTIMONY

“I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue (I Corinthians 14:18-19).”

As mentioned earlier, Paul spoke with tongues more than all the Corinthian believers. Yet Paul declares that he would rather speak five words in the church by his own understanding, than ten thousand words in a tongue. When Paul, or any other tongue speaker, spoke the message from God it was not produced by an effort of their understanding. They understood as they spoke it, but it was a product of the Holy Spirit. What Paul is referring to in this passage is five words to be understood, as opposed to ten thousand words unintelligible to others because they are in a tongue.[1] He once again points to the necessity of edification, particularly teaching here, for the benefit of others. It is interesting to note that Paul has just spoken of tongues’ abuse not edifying the unlearned, and now declares his desire to communicate so that others may be taught.

DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT CARE ABOUT THE MIND?

“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men (I Corinthians 14:20).”

God the Holy Spirit communicates a very important truth in this verse- “Use your mind!” Christianity is not a religion of mysticism and thoughtless fanaticism. The Corinthians had plenty of local options if that was their pleasure. Ecstatic utterances were to be found in local religions, but ecstatic utterances were not the gift of tongues! God desires that His children be understanding of His truth and loving of Himself, and has given His children gifts that they may build up the body to that end. Christianity was never intended to bypass the mind. We are to be mature in our understanding. The analogy is of children and men. Be immature and unedified in malice, but not in understanding!

VERSE 28

Having studied verses 21 through 25 already in whole or in part, I now turn to one more evidence that the tongues speaker understood what he was saying. Verses 26-40 emphasize order in the worship service so that people be edified[2] and because of the character of God[3]. The believers were to have no more than two or three tongues speakers, and then they could only speak in turns.[4] There had to be an interpreter if there was to be speaking in tongues.[5] At this point we arrive at yet another conclusive proof that the tongue speaker understood what he was saying.

“But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God (I Corinthians 14:28)”

If there was no interpreter, the tongue speaker was not to publicly pronounce the message, but he was to simply speak to himself and to God. Occasionally, I talk to myself. Several times even during the writing of this booklet I have contemplated matters by talking them over in my mind, whether verbally or mentally. There has never been one time when I simply uttered gibberish when speaking to myself! There certainly has been no time when I uttered only sounds instead of words when speaking to my God!

Some say that this idea of praying to God without understanding what you are uttering is found in this verse. It is not. Once again this passage, like so many others that we have studied in this chapter, points to the fact that the speaker understood what he was saying. A person speaking to himself does not just utter mindless gibberish, and a person speaking to God certainly should not utter gibberish to his Heavenly Father![6]

[1] It is possible that here Paul is using a Greek construction known as an “objective genitive.” This would render the expression “my understanding” as “understanding of me.” This would reinforce the primacy of intelligibility that Paul is setting forth here, but it is not essential to do so. The argument is equally eloquent with the subjective genitive, which would indicate that this was five words of a message produced by Paul’s own understanding, preparation, and study for the purpose of teaching the body, particularly the unlearned.
[2] I Corinthians 14:26- “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”
[3] I Corinthians 14:33- “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
[4] I Corinthians 14:27- “If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.”
[5] ibid
[6] Many charismatics say that the practice of uttering unintelligible sounds to God as prayer is taught in Romans 8:26- “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” They say that in times when one just doesn’t know what words to utter, praying in tongues is the Holy Spirit’s way of helping him pray. In other words, when words fail, ecstatic utterances can step in. The belief fails, like so many other charismatic arguments, in that it fails to exegete the passage. The passage plainly says that it is the Holy Spirit which makes intercessions, not us. In response to the objection that the Holy Spirit is praying through us by uttering these sounds with our vocal projection, the response is simple- “they cannot be uttered.” If sounds of any sort spill forth from the mouth, it is not the Spirit’s work of intercession. His intercession is with groanings which cannot be uttered or spoken in any way.

The Issue of "Tongues"— Part 6

2005-12-20T13:02:00.000-08:00

WHAT ABOUT VERSE FIFTEEN?

“What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. (I Corinthian 14:15)”

When many people who hold the position that tongues are not a gift in operation today reach this verse they are intimidated and pass over it. This verse seems to contradict what we have previously been trying to establish. Some charismatics say that this verse suggests that when Paul spoke, prayed, or sang in tongues (or “in the spirit”) he did not understand what he was saying.

Once again, we must remember the context. Paul is still stressing intelligibility for the purpose of edifying the church. He is stating the conclusion or main point of the passage- “I will minister in such a way that will be for the best for the body. I will show love by ministering in a way that builds up the church.” This is immediately obvious from the context both before and after verse fifteen.

It is important to note that Paul does not use the adjective “my” when referring to understanding. Paul is obviously not referring to his unfruitful understanding or really his understanding in any primary way at all. The understanding in view is the understanding of the body.

“Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? (I Corinthians 14:16)”

Verse sixteen proves the point just made with respect to “the understanding” in verse fifteen. Who will not understand if ministry is done in an unintelligible way? The unlearned. This speaks of the uninformed believer.[1] He will not understand, and therefore will not be edified (verse 17).

Verses sixteen and seventeen taken together also bear evidence that the tongues speaker understood what he said.

“Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified (I Corinthians 14:16-17).”

The Apostle mentions the importance of ministering in an intelligible way, using the examples of praying and singing. The point that he makes is that if these things are done in tongues it will be impossible for the unlearned to say Amen!” In fact, it would be an idle word. If the unlearned said “Amen” or “so be it” when he had no idea what was prayed or sung, it would be a useless expression. Even though you may give thanks very well, the individual hearing you is not edified.

How does this bear evidence that the tongues speaker understood what he said? He understood that he was giving thanks! If he had no knowledge of the message of the words that he said, how could he know that he was giving thanks? He would have to know what he said! How could he even have the more fundamental understanding of what type of action he was performing (i.e. praying, preaching, reciting the alphabet, etc.)?

[1] Some suggest that the uninformed are unbelievers, particularly Jews. It hardly seems likely that Paul would criticize the Corinthians for not building up an unbeliever. Furthermore, verses 23 and 24 seem to list unbelievers and uninformed ones as separate groups of people. The similar response in verse 25 does not conclusively prove that both groups are unsaved. Both groups could conceivably respond in such a fashion as described in this verse even if understood as uninformed believers and unbelievers. Both groups could be convicted by the message of prophecy and moved to worship God, understanding that God’s power is upon the ministry of the local church. Having said this, many scholars whom I greatly admire hold this position. These objections are in no way meant to belittle them or their ministries.

The Issue of "Tongues"— Part 5

2005-12-19T12:50:00.000-08:00

PRAYING TO INTERPRET

We have already spoken about the significance of the word “interpret” in this passage. There is a point that must be drawn out of verse thirteen.

“Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.”

In verse five Paul pointed out that unless the tongues speaker was to interpret the church would not be edified by the gift. Here he goes a step further. He commands the tongues speaker to pray that he may interpret (or translate). In light of the fact that the good of the whole, the edification of the church body is in view, this is not strange. Once again, this implies, if not directly points to the fact that the tongues speaker understood what he was saying when he said it. It is most reasonable to command the one who had knowledge to pray that he may interpret as opposed to first asking someone who had no knowledge of what was said to do so.

Yet the question is asked, “Why would the person that spoke and understood the message have any need to pray that he may interpret? Why not just interpret after speaking the message in tongues while the message is still on the mind? Doesn’t this argue against your understanding of this passage?”

This is a good question and demands a reasonable response. It must be remembered that tongues, like prophecy, spoke completely infallible revelatory truths from God. In order to be true to the message, the interpretation or translation must be entirely without error as well. This would require a supernatural gift from the Holy Spirit.

Suppose that an individual who spoke both of our official languages fluently was to go the province of Quebec and there listen to an address given by a speaker. How likely do you suppose it would be that he would have the ability to stand up immediately after the speech and repeat it verbatim? It would obviously be impossible! Yet this is the accuracy that infallible revelation from God would demand. The tongues speaker did not have the liberty to just “give the gist” of the message.

Far from hurting our understanding of the gift, this actually helps it. Truth is not contradictory.

SPIRIT, UNDERSTANDING, AND FRUIT-BEARING

“For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful (I Corinthians 14:14).”

We come now to the passage that many Charismatics regard as the coupe de gras to the position promoted here. To many it seems that this indicates a certain mindlessness of the gift of tongues, as though the Holy Spirit bypassed the mind “to go straight to the heart” in this gift. Does it?

Much of the confusion is in regards to the term “my spirit.” The personal pronoun indicates that Paul is speaking hypothetically of himself as the one speaking tongues. We do know that Paul did speak in tongues; in fact, he spoke more in tongues than all the rest of the Corinthian believers! Paul’s own spirit is in view here. We must understand what a person’s “spirit” is in order to properly “divide”[1] this passage.

In order to understand what a man’s “spirit” is, we must look to the pages of Scripture. One passage is of particular importance in that it was written in reference to this very subject of a man’s “spirit” by the same human author who wrote this verse- Paul. I Corinthians 2:11 tells us, “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” Paul is speaking of our reception of the Holy Spirit’s teaching (illumination) here. The point being driven home here is this- our own spirits can remember, think upon, and know the thoughts of which we are conscious as no other human can; so the Spirit of God can know the things of God as no man can. The spirit of a man is a knowing faculty! It is the conscious, knowing, undying part of man, and is not divorced from thinking.

So often within the Charismatic movement people promote the idea that in truly spiritual people the Holy Spirit bypasses thinking to speak to the spirit or heart of man. In fact, it is often stated that God withholds blessing from those who do not let go of their minds in order to worship. However, God is a God who expects reasonableness from His people.[2] Rather than expecting us to abandon our mind in worship, He commands us to use it.[3]

There are many other passages which emphasize that the spirit of a man is an undying, conscious, knowing faculty: Matthew 26:41, Mark 2:8, Luke 1:47, Luke 23:46, Acts 7:59, Acts 17:16, I Peter 3:4, to name a few.

The next portion that must be dealt with is “my understanding is unfruitful.” Many take this to mean that the tongues speaker did not have a clue what he was saying. We must remember to interpret this verse and all others within their proper context. Paul has been stressing the importance of intelligibility so that the body may be edified. In this verse he is continuing the same train of thought.

Some suggest that this portion of the verse is saying, “My understanding is unknowing”, but that is not what is said. The understanding is said to be unfruitful, that is, it did not bring forth some kind of fruit. Now what fruit is lacking in the gift of tongues if it is left uninterpreted?- the fruit of edification! Paul is simply stating what he has been emphasizing all along. Spiritual gifts are for the good of the body, not the individual. Tongues by themselves are inferior to prophecy because they do not edify the whole church body, but only the individual. Prophecy builds up the whole body because it proclaims the infallible truth of God in an intelligible manner. Tongues have the same effect only when they are interpreted. Intelligibility is of vital importance because gifts are for the edification of the whole church. Thus the unfruitful nature of the speaker’s understanding is in its failing to bring forth the fruit of edification in the church as a whole.

[1] II Timothy 2:15- “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
[2] Isaiah 1:18- “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool”
[3] Matthew 22:36&37- “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

The Issue of "Tongues"— Part 4

2005-12-18T14:09:00.000-08:00

PROPHECY, TONGUES, AND EDIFICATION

“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church (I Corinthians 14:3-4).”

Interestingly enough, Paul claims that tongues have the same effect upon the speaker as prophecy has upon the public gathering of believers. Prophecy, infallible revelation (in this case, the gift of speaking the infallible truths of God directly from God) is said to, among other things, edify men (plural). What is in view here is the congregation of believers. The word “edify” means “to build up”. Tongues are said to do the same thing to the tongues speaker.

When I have pointed this out to many charismatic Christians, the response has often been, “So what?” The point is- what is unintelligible cannot build up! I can never be built up in any true sense by that which I have no clue about. This weighs very heavy upon me as I prepare messages to preach every week. If I speak the message in such a way that no one can understand what is being said, the congregation will not be edified. However, if I preach in language that people can understand and they apply their hearts to know the Word, with the Holy Spirit’s illuminating work, they will be built up. Indeed, the Bible is the Word of God, and particularly the Word of God the Holy Spirit.[1]

The gift of tongues was not just gibberish unintelligible to the speaker. He understood what he was saying. Though the Spirit was producing the truths in his mouth, he understood what he was saying. He was edified!

This also reinforces our understanding of the gift of tongues as speaking the definite truth of the mysteries of God. The tongues speaker would certainly be built up in speaking and understanding the great truths of the New Covenant!

“I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying (I Corinthians 14:5).”

In light of the fact that the carnal Corinthian believers desired the most “flashy” gifts for personal prominence, Paul points out again what he has previously[2] said- spiritual gifts are for the good of the whole, not simply the individual. Prophecy builds up the congregation; they hear and understand the infallible revelation of God. Tongues only build up the speaker (he speaks and understands the infallible revelation of God), but what happens when he (in context, the tongues speaker) interprets? The church is edified!

The point that tongues had definite content of revelation from God is thus emphasized. Both prophecy and tongues can edify the congregation, but tongues cannot do it alone. Interpretation is essential. When interpretation takes place, the congregation is edified.

We must also examine the word interpret (diermeneue) in this verse. This same word or a form of this word occurs three times in this chapter (v5, 13, 27). Each time it is translated “interpret”. There is good evidence to suggest that an even more exact translation would be “translate”. However, with either word a clear and valid point arises.

In order for me to either interpret or translate something, I must have knowledge of the original matter which needs that interpretation or translation. The tongues speaker in this passage was no different in this respect. He would have to have or receive knowledge of the original in order to interpret it. In light of the fact that he was edified by the message that he spoke, it is apparent that he had knowledge of the “original” when he spoke it. Once again the text teaches that the tongues speaker understood what he was saying.

“Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. (I Corinthians 14:6-12)”

These seven verses emphasize the importance of intelligibility for the edification of the church. Only that which is intelligible edifies.

Paul gives the example of a trumpeter in war. If the trumpeter does not clearly play the notes that would indicate “Charge!”, the troops are confused. They do not know whether to go forward or back. So it is with something that is unintelligible- it does not point people in the right direction. It does not build up.

We have already mentioned that Paul’s illustration of communicating with a barbarian points to the fact that real languages are in view, but the point bears repeating. Both people trying to communicate in such a situation are speaking a real language; it only sounds like gibberish.

Verse twelve records Paul’s emphasis on building up the church. He indicates that the carnal Corinthian believers are zealous for the spiritual (likely that which would bring them prominence) and says that their goal should be the building up of the church as a whole.

[1] I Peter 1:19-21- “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”; and John 16:13 (Christ’s words to His disciples, including later authors of Scripture)- “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.”, underscore this point.
[2] I Corinthians 12:7-“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man (individual) to profit withal (the whole).”

The Issue of "Tongues"— Part 3

2005-12-17T15:13:00.000-08:00

I CORINTHIANS 14 AND TONGUES

I have previously stated that I Corinthians 14 is the definitive chapter in the Bible with respect to the gift of tongues and their use in the church. It is to this chapter that we now turn to examine the nature of this gift. There are several points the text makes that will be emphasized. First, the tongues speaker understood what he was saying. Second, the tongues speaker spoke the truths of God. Third, the gift was edifying to the church when it was interpreted. Thus intelligibility is stressed throughout the chapter. Fourth, the gift was a sign gift indicating to the unbelieving Jewish hearer that the speaker uttered the truth of God.

VERSES ONE AND TWO

“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”

Paul introduces this passage in light of chapter 13 by saying that in the pursuit of love, prophecy is of greater importance than tongues. As we look at the gift of prophecy throughout both the Old and New Testaments, we see that it was a gift of infallible revelation from God. The speaker spoke the message of God directly from God to the hearers.[1] Paul begins to expound why prophecy is of greater importance than tongues in verse two. The individual who spoke in tongues (without interpretation) spoke not to men, but to God. The reason given for his not speaking to men is that they do not understand him.

It is important to note that Paul uses the word lalei to indicate how the tongues speaker spoke to God. This is a word for normal, logical speech. Why Paul would not use a different word to indicate a simple uttering of unintelligible sounds is an interesting question considering that Paul is just beginning to broach the subject of the gift of tongues. Why use a word indicating normal speech if it were really unintelligible speech? This certainly fits the pattern of the book of Acts. In chapter 2 as well as the other instances of the use of the gift of tongues in that book it would certainly seem to indicate that the tongues speaker understood what he was saying.

Yet another word that must be focused on is the word musteria (mysteries). This is very important to our understanding of the gift of tongues for here Paul declares exactly what the tongues speaker is uttering. Many people who promote the use of tongues in worship today simply fly by this word, giving the impression that the “mystery” is something that was unintelligible to the speaker. The intimation is that the message was “just a mystery” (in our modern use of that phrase) to everyone. Who knows what the content was, including the speaker?

However, to take such a view is to overlook an essential truth of the gift. As we look through the pages of the New Testament, we find that the word “mystery” has definite content. Several New Testament passages mention and even discuss what a mystery is— Romans 16:25-27, I Corinthians 2:7-10, I Corinthians 15:50-54, Ephesians 3:2-6, and Colossians 1:25-27.

Romans 16:25-27- “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.”
I Corinthians 2:7-10- “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
I Corinthians 15:51-57- “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 3:2-6- “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”
Colossians 1:25-27- “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

While it is beyond the scope and intent of this book to go into a detailed exegetical analysis of these passages, we can clearly note several truths with respect to the information they give about mysteries.
1—Each concerns some aspect of the New Covenant and its results.
2—A truth emphasized often is the inclusion of the Gentiles in the church.
3—It was a truth previously hidden (in the Old Testament) but now gloriously revealed.

There is much more that could be exegeted from these passages, but these truths give us a fuller understanding of what it was that the tongues speaker uttered. These mysteries were not unintelligible gibberish, but had definite content. When the unsaved Jew heard the mysteries, he would see the plan of God unfolding. They would have heard the truths of God’s grafting in of the Gentile nation because of their (Jewish) unbelief as a nation. When the unsaved Jew heard this message it would have been repugnant to him, as it spoke of God setting aside His people to work with the Gentiles. In a sense, it was a message of judgment, just as Paul’s illustration of the Assyrian captivity through the quotation of Isaiah 28:11 spoke of a previous judgment of the Jews for unbelief. The message was of both judgment and blessing, given during the transition period from Old to New Covenants. It was a message of blessing in that it spoke of the blessing of inclusion for the Gentiles. It was a message of judgment in that it spoke of God’s passing over the Jews because of their unbelief in order to work with those Gentiles.[2]

The “mysteries” that the tongues speaker uttered were uttered before the canon of Scripture was complete. Many of these truths had not yet been penned by the human authors. These truths were unavailable at the time in written form, but were later recorded in the pages of Scripture. With the completion of the canon of Scripture, there was certainly no need for any other revelation. This is a point to which we will return later.

[1] I am well aware that many who believe that the gift of tongues has ceased for today believe that the gift of prophecy is still in operation. A distinction is made to this effect- “Prophecy concerns not only foretelling, but forthtelling. Thus the gift is still around today in the form of the special empowerment of the preacher or evangelist.” To be sure, a study of God’s Word will reveal times when prophecy foretold the future, times when prophecy forthtold the truth, and times when both foretelling and forthtelling were involved. However, I believe that this view overlooks what appears very obvious to me from Scripture- prophecy was infallible. I have read through the pages of the Bible several times and never have I found a true prophetic utterance which was not infallible. Biblical prophecy in both Testaments was infallible revelatory truth supernaturally enabled and prompted by God. I do not know of any clear-thinking Christian who would claim infallibility for every word and portion of any sermon that he has preached, let alone all of them! As Christians today we have prophecy, but not the gift of prophecy. We have the infallible truth of God revealed to us in the Word of God. We do not have a gift of infallible revelatory utterance.
[2] John F. MacArthur, Jr., Charismatic Chaos, Zondervan, 1992, p. 282

The Issue of "Tongues"- Part 2

2005-12-16T10:18:00.000-08:00

TONGUES AS HUMAN LANGUAGE

There are definite Biblical reasons to positively assert that tongues were real human languages.

The first is the use of terms describing the gift in both I Corinthians 14 (the definitive chapter with respect to the gift of tongues and its use in the church) and Acts 2 (the first New Testament record of the use of the gift of tongues). Throughout I Corinthians 14 the word glossa is used to describe the gift of tongues. This is exactly the same word used to describe the gift of tongues in Acts 2. In Acts 2, it is manifest that the hearers heard ordinary human language. Not only did they hear ordinary human language, but on two occasions (Acts 2:6, 8) the Bible records that the Jews gathered there from every nation heard the message in their own dialektos. The Greek word dialektos is the word from which we get our English word “dialect”, and carries precisely the same meaning. The fact that the hearers not only heard the message in their own language but even in their own dialect is incredible Biblical proof that the gift of tongues involved real human languages! Each of the Jewish hearers heard the message in his own dialect. This was not simply ecstatic utterances! The other two recorded incidents of the gift of tongues also bear this out.[1]

There is further Biblical evidence to prove that the gift involved human language rather than words unintelligible to anyone. In I Corinthians 14 Paul uses an illustration to point out the necessity of the gift of tongues edifying the whole church, rather than the loveless use of the gift to only edify the speaker. This loveless use occurred when the speaker in tongues spoke in the church without there being an interpretation of what was being said. Under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration he wrote, “So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.” Paul has real human languages in mind in this passage. The illustration involves an individual hearing someone speaking a language they do not understand. If there was no understanding of the language spoken, the speaker and hearer would be as “barbarians” to one another. Yet even “barbarians” speak to one another in ordinary human language! In fact, the Greek word for barbarian used here is barbaros. It came to popular use to describe an individual whose language was not understood by the one hearing it. To the hearer, the language sounded like “bar bar bar…”. This is how the people described language they could not understand. This is not unlike what people still do in our politically correct age when they imitate the sound of the language spoken by someone of a different origin! Once again, the point to be emphasized is that though the language sounds like gibberish, it is true human language. To the uncomprehending listener as the gift of tongues was used, the language sounded like gibberish, though it was a true human language.

Paul uses yet another reinforcing illustration in I Corinthians 14 that emphasizes the fact that tongues involved human languages. In I Corinthians 14:21 he quotes, “In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.” This quotation is from Isaiah 28:11. Once again, the King James rendering has included words that have obscured rather than illuminated the meaning of the text. The words “men of” are italicized indicating that they are not part of the original text. When we study Isaiah 27-28, we see that it is the language of the Assyrians that is in view. The Lord tells His people (Jews), in effect, “Since you did not listen to me when I sent prophets to speak of me in your own language, I will judge you and draw your attention to Myself through the speech of the Assyrians as you are in captivity to them.” The point of comparison is once again the uncomprehending listener to the gift of tongues. Even as the language of the Assyrians may have seemed like gibberish to the people of God, so the use of the gift of tongues sounds like gibberish to the uncomprehending listener! Even as the Assyrian language was a real human language, so the words uttered by the tongues speaker were real human language! Let us not fall into confusion in this area. The biblical gift of tongues involved real human languages.

[1] The only other two recorded incidents of tongues speaking are in Acts 10:44-47 (the conversion of Cornelius) and Acts 19:1-7 (Paul’s ministry to twelve Jewish men who had evidently been saved before Pentecost [evidenced by the fact that they had received the baptism of John]). Far from being normative, even in the book of Acts, the gift of tongues was rare. In every case, there were Jews present.

The Issue of "Tongues"- Part 1

2005-12-15T07:32:00.000-08:00

(I will state at the outset of this series that I have been very influenced by Victor Budgen's book The Charismatics and the Word of God. Many of his thoughts have become such a part of my understanding that I can write and have written upon the subject without specifically referencing any particular portion of his book. However, his work upon the subject has so helped to shape my thinking that many of the ideas mentioned in these articles will have had their source in his writing.)

The issue of tongues or glossalalia in the church is a matter of much debate in our age. Unfortunately, the debate often centers upon personal experience as the test of validity and truth. One person argues for the modern use of tongues in worship on the basis of a wonderful experience that he personally enjoyed. Another argues against the use of tongues on the basis that his experience was harmful or traumatic. In both cases, the most important focus has been missed. Our inquiry into the issue must not center upon personal experience, but upon the truth of God’s Word. It is to this end that I write this. I wish to look into the Scriptures and see what they say about the gift of tongues. May the reader come to that conclusion so essential to our walk with the Lord- I must believe what the Bible says, not what I want the Bible to say. May the Holy Spirit bless His Word.

TONGUES AND “ANGELIC” LANGUAGES

We must first understand that the Scriptures teach that tongues were real human languages. They were not simply “ecstatic utterances” devoid of earthly meaning.

Some object to this assertion on the basis that the King James translation of the Scriptures repeatedly refers to the gift of tongues as unknown tongues. For example, I Corinthians 14:2 reads- “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.” The objection is that since the gift is described as “unknown” it must not be a human language. The flaw in this argument is that the word “unknown” in this passage is an italicized word, indicating that the word is not in the original Greek language. It is obvious error to attempt to prove a biblical doctrine based on a word that is not part of the text! Even if the word was in the original Greek, it does not necessarily follow that the “unknown” would prove that the tongue was not a human language. There are many human languages in the world today. In fact, there are about 6,600! Due to the fact that I can only fluently speak English, it can be properly said that the other languages are unknown to me. I do not know how to speak them. I cannot understand them when they are spoken. I cannot read them. In a very true sense, they are “unknown tongues” to me. Yet, just because they are unknown to me does not mean that they are anything other than ordinary human languages!

Some point to I Corinthians 13:1 to prove that tongues were and are not ordinary human languages. Paul states, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” Because the words “tongues of men and of angels” are recorded, the argument is that Paul understood the gift of tongues to include a “heavenly language” that was something different from the language of men. Once again, the argument fails. What Paul is expressing is a hypothetical case, not a definitive description of the gift. Paul is pointing out the primacy of love. He is saying, “Even if I were able to do the impossible in terms of actions, if I did those actions without love it would be meaningless.” Other may object to this understanding of the passage, claiming that it is simply an attempt to explain away the teaching of Scripture. However, if we look at the very next verse, it becomes exceedingly clear that this interpretation is correct. “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” Paul states several other conditions which are clearly impossible in this verse (understanding all mysteries, having all knowledge, having all faith), theoretically stating that even if all these impossible conditions were met, without love they are meaningless. Verse three reinforces this interpretation where Paul says, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” When read in total, as Paul intended the passage to be read, we see that Paul is supposing himself to hypothetically meet all of the conditions presented here. He is pointing out that even if he were able to do all of this (which is clearly impossible), without love it is meaningless. The point to remember is that a hypothetical statement clearly pointing out the uselessness of loveless fantastic conditions impossible to meet is no text to be using to base an entire doctrine on.

Why did Paul even mention tongues of angels? The most likely reason is rooted in the fact that the supposed glossalalia of speaking in the tongues of angels was very prevalent in various cults in the area of Corinth. It seems as though the spurious gift was even perhaps considered something to be used in the Corinthian church. Paul’s inclusion of the phrase “tongues of angels” is likely an ad hominem conditional argument based upon the fixation many had with it. This is not unheard of in Scripture.

Furthermore, there is no Biblical evidence that proves angels speak in a language different from human language. Every time they appear in Scripture, they speak in human tongue. Though it is remotely possible that they do speak a different language, it is serious error to base a doctrine upon mere conjecture.

A Prayer Gem of Spurgeon

2005-11-13T07:18:00.000-08:00

This prayer of Spurgeon was a particular blessing and challenge to me this morning.

O GOD! we would not speak to Thee as from a distance, nor stand like trembling Israel under the law at a distance from the burning mount, for we have not come unto Mount Sinai, but unto Mount Sion, and that is a place for holy joy and thankfulness, and not for terror and bondage. Blessed be Thy name, O Lord! We have learnt to call Thee "Our Father, which art in heaven"; so there is reverence, for Thou art in heaven; but there is sweet familiarity, for Thou art our Father.

We would draw very near to Thee now through Jesus Christ the Mediator, and we would make bold to speak to Thee as a man speaketh with his friend, for hast Thou not said by Thy Spirit, "Let us come boldly unto the throne of the heavenly grace." We might well start away and flee from Thy face if we only remembered our sinfulness. Lord! we do remember it with shame and sorrow; we are grieved to think we should have offended Thee, should have neglected so long Thy sweet love and tender mercy; but we have now returned unto the "shepherd and bishop of our souls." Led by such grace, we look to Him whom we crucified, and we have mourned for
Him and then have mourned for our sin.

Now, Lord, we confess our guilt before Thee with tenderness of heart, and we pray Thee seal home to every believer here that full and free, that perfect and irreversible charter of forgiveness which Thou gavest to all them that put their trust in Jesus Christ. Lord! Thou hast said it: "If we confess our sins, Thou art merciful and just to forgive us our sins and to save us from all unrighteousness." There is the sin confessed: there is the ransom accepted: we therefore know we have peace with God, and we bless that glorious one who hath come "to finish transgression, to make an end of sin," to bring in everlasting righteousness, which righteousness by faith we take unto ourselves and Thou dost impute, unto us.

Now, Lord, wilt Thou be pleased to cause all Thy children's hearts to dance within them for joy? Oh! help Thy people to come to Jesus again today. May we be looking unto Him today as we did at the first. May we never take off our eyes from His Divine person, from His infinite merit, from His finished work, from His living power, or from the expectancy of His speedy coming to "judge the world in righteousness and the peoplewith His truth."

Bless all Thy people with some special gift, and if we might make a choice of one it would be this: "Quicken us, O Lord, according to Thy Word." We have life; give it to us more abundantly. Oh, that we might have so much life that out of the midst of us there might flow rivers of living water. The Lord make us useful. Do, dear Savior, use the very least among us; take the one talent and let it be put out to interest for the great Father. May it please Thee to show each one of us what Thou wouldest have us to do. In our families, in our business, in the walks of ordinary life may we be serving the Lord, and may we often speak a word for His name, and help in some way to scatter the light amongst the ever-growing darkness; and ere we go hence may we have sown some seed which we shall bring with us on our shoulders in the form of sheaves of blessing.

O God! bless our Sunday schools, and give a greater interest in such work, that there may be no lack of men and women who shall be glad and happy in the work of teaching the young. Do impress this, we pray Thee, upon Thy people just now. Move men who have gifts and ability also to preach the Gospel. There are many that live in villages, and there is no gospel preaching near them. Lord! set them preaching themselves. Wilt Thou move some hearts so powerfully that their tongues cannot be quiet any longer, and may they attempt in some way, either personally or by supporting some one, to bring the gospel into dark benighted hamlets that the people may know the truth.

O Lord! stir up the dwellers in this great, great city. Oh! arouse us to the spiritual destitution of the masses O God, help us all by some means, by any means, by every means to get at the ears of men for Christ's sake that so we may reach their hearts. We would send up an exceeding great and bitter cry to Thee on behalf of the millions that: enter no place of worship, but rather violate its sanctity and despise its blessed message. Lord! wake up London, we beseech Thee. Send us another Jonah; send us another John the Baptist. Oh! that the Christ Himself would send forth multitudes of laborers amongst this thick standing corn, for the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few. O God! save this city; save this country; save all countries; and let Thy kingdom come; may every knee bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Our most earnest prayers go up to heaven to Thee now for great sinners, for men and women that are polluted and depraved by the filthiest of sins. With sovereign mercy make a raid amongst them. Come and capture some of these that they may become great lovers of Him that shall forgive them, and may they become great champions for the cross.

Lord, look upon the multitudes of rich people in this city that know nothing about the gospel and do not wish to know. Oh! that somehow the poor rich might be rich with the gospel of Jesus Christ. And then, Lord, look upon the multitude of the poor and the working classes that think religion to be a perfectly unnecessary thing for them. Do, by some means we pray Thee, get them to think and bring them to listen that faith may come by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

Above all, O Holy Spirit, descend more mightily. Would, God, Thou wouldest flood the land till there should be streams of righteousness; for is there not a promise, "I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground." Lord, set Thy people praying; stir up the Church to greater prayerfulness.

Now, as Thou hast bidden 'us, we pray for the people among whom we dwell. We pray for those in authority in the land, asking every blessing for the Sovereign, and Thy guidance and direction to the Parliament, Thy benediction to all judges and rulers as also upon the poorest of the poor and the lowest of the low. Lord, bless the people; let the people praise Thee, O God! yea, let all the people praise Thee, for Jesus Christ's sake.

Amen and Amen.

An Appeal to Both "Sides" of Fundamentalism

2005-11-12T14:48:00.000-08:00

I have commented before on the state of fundamentalism in my area, but would like to appeal to the wider movement, as I see it. Of course, I will be seeing much of this through the lens of my particular experience in this area, so it might not all fit. There seems to be great debate and battle lines being drawn between the “young fundamentalists” and the “established fundamentalists.” (I will refrain from using the label “old.”) :-) I’ll refer to the groups as “YFs” and “EFs” from here on. (I recognize the limitations of any designation, so please don’t take me to task over these. If you think about it for a bit, you will probably understand what I mean by them.) This post will be name-free, though some will probably put faces to the stories and examples.

I am getting the impression that many of the “EFs” have the idea that the “YFs” are simply rebellious individuals who are questioning widely held beliefs and opinions just for the sake of questioning them and expressing their disapproval of those matters by doing so. They are also characterized as having done no real thinking on the subjects, and having nothing substantive to add to the matters debated. In short, they are not fundamentalists.

On the other hand, many of the “YFs” see the “EFs” as harsh and inflexible, holding beliefs and practices without completely substantive reasons for doing so, unwilling to truly face the objections and questions to those beliefs and practices.

I have seen examples of both. My advice to YFs is essentially what I have posted before, but…YFs—

We need to check our attitude out. To claim that you are simply responding in kind is the argument of the second-grader on the playground! “He did it first!” Comments disparaging someone because of their hairpiece really have no place in meaningful discussion. Some of us need to grow up!
We need to check our argumentation out. Is it really responsible? Do we have valid objections against a particular practice? Are our concerns in a matter grounded?
We need to check our attentiveness out. Are we really hearing what the other side is saying? Are we seriously considering their points? Don’t fall into the same pattern of dismissiveness you may think you see in others. These men usually have done much thinking about and studying of the issues in question. More than some of us are willing to give them credit for.
We need to check our application out. Do we only have pot-shots and objections, or do we have some idea of where we are going with what we are saying, how we might implement it, and what potential impact such application may have.

EFs (I am not saying that all of you do these things)—

Please don’t jump to conclusions about our attitude. There are rebels in our number. Not all of us are, though.
Please don’t try to intimidate us. Intimidation is the province of bullies. We don’t need your resume each time we discuss something. You have degrees and experience in ministry that we do not. Let’s get to the issues.
Please don’t dismiss our objections and ideas out of hand. Some of our arguments are stupid and flawed. Point that out. However, some of us have done quite a bit of thinking about the issues, the Biblical texts in question, and the application of those texts.
Please don’t misrepresent us. As I cite this example, I am not stating my personal stand on music. Most of the “YFs” who advocate a more open view of music do not claim musical styles communicate nothing. They claim that what a style of music communicates can be very subjective and may also change with time. By the way, most of us have never even considered “O That Will Be Glory for Me” as a song better suited to the roller skating rink than the choir loft or angelic hosts! :-)
Please don’t be too quick to push us out of the fold. Some will leave. That is certain. But many of us are truly committed to an “earnest contention for the faith once for all delivered unto the saints”! In my experience, most of us are fundamentalists.

I close with a final appeal to the “YFs” who are thinking about jumping ship. Carefully consider where you are going. Don’t leave fundamentalism because of some errors you perceive in the movement and then fall for much greater errors that are found outside the movement. I for one am staying, by God’s grace. And those of you who leave fundamentalism as a movement- please do not leave fundamentalism as a philosophy. It is possible to not be associated with any segment of the current movement and still be a fundamentalist, but probably not easy!

(I agonized over publishing this one. It may place me in the middle, taking shots from both sides!) :-)

A Remembrance Meditation

2005-11-11T08:57:00.000-08:00

This is a meditation I had the privilege to give on Remembrance Day 2002 during the Township of Innisfil ceremonies.

Remembrance Day is but one day that we set apart to dwell upon those people and events that have given to us that which we enjoy every day of the year. Simply because we set only one day aside specifically for this purpose should not mean that it is only at this time of year that we ever should think upon these matters. Unfortunately, this is the very real situation in many people’s lives today. Many of us can never really remember in any true sense the four great conflicts that this day commemorates (the Boer War, The Great War, The Second World War, and The Korean War). But we must never let this become the excuse for failing to dwell upon the sacrifice that has brought us the peace, freedom, and safety, of the world in which we live.

Remembrance Day is not a day set aside for the glorification of war. We do not relish war. We as Canadians have a reputation as peace-makers and peace-keepers. Yet we as Canadians also understand that there is a peace that can only be found at the end of a sword. It is understood that no war, in fact, no human effort no matter how noble can ever bring about infallible, everlasting peace. But this should not stop us from preserving what freedom and peace that we do have.

Today, we think of those who have done just that. We remember those who have gave of the best years of their lives. We remember those who gave of their health. We remember those who gave of their wealth and time. We think of those who paid the prices of war. Those whose physical health was taken. The strong made weak. Those whose mental health was taken. The stability of the mind left shaken and even in some cases destroyed. Those whose friends were taken. Those whose loved ones were taken. Those who paid the ultimate sacrifice with their very lives.

We humbly bow before Our Holy God, knowing that every good gift, including freedom, is ultimately from His hand. We understand that He, not us, is sovereign over the affairs of this earth. Few passages explore the truth of God’s sovereignty like Psalm 33.

Psalm 33
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

And so today we stand together in awe, humility, and praise before our Almighty God.

We also stand together with a debt of gratitude to those who gave of themselves that we may be free. To those of you who stand here today as veterans of these conflicts, you are to be honoured. “Thank you.” You stand before us as a link that connects the past with the present. We who gather with you salute you.

Today, may each of us pledge that in God’s providence, we ourselves will become a link that connects the present with the future. May we pass along the memory to the next generation, that in gratefulness to those who have given of themselves so that we may be free, their memory will not be forgotten.

The Challenge of Our Culture- Part 3

2005-11-04T15:47:00.000-08:00

The final mindset I will mention is the presence of conspiracy. This is seen in so many areas that mentioning all of them would be next to impossible. Translations and translators, denominations, banks, various ethnic groups, and UFOs are all groups that I have heard blamed for widespread conspiracy to control men and destroy the world or intentionally prepare the world for the Antichrist! If these were just the pet theories of some odd ducks in the back pew, we would face enough of a challenge. However, this is unfortunately not the case. Each of the groups mentioned above has been blamed for these widespread conspiracies by men in positions of teaching and preaching authority in my own hearing!

Conspiracy theories are hard to refute, largely because those believing them will ignore any other possibilities regarding their observations or ideas. For example, a man may believe that the Illuminati have installed the photo monitering at the local intersection so that they can track the movement of independent Baptists. When you tell him that the Department of Transportation did so he narrows his eyes and tells you they are simply pawns in the hands of the Illuminatti. When you state that the cameras are there to catch those who would speed and run traffic lights he marvels at your naive thoughts. After all, any fool could tell you that if they simply wanted to do that they would post a policeman at the intersection. Your reply that the police staff is stretched thin with the growing population and the technology in question allows them to be deployed in other important places of duty is met with disdain. Don't you know that the ratio between crimes committed and policemen in service is two to one? Surely the police can handle that much crime! Your objections that not every officer is on duty at the same time and that not every officer is "on the beat" and that investigating crime is not the only task of the staff go nowhere as well. They have officers which you are not aware of..., etc.

I do not have the answers to dealing with this mindset, except to say that I have noted the churches which have solid expositional preaching are much less likely to harbour these theories in their midst. Perhaps if our worldview is gleaned more from the Bible than the Daily Reporter or National Enquirer...?

Challenge of Our Culture- Part 2

2005-11-02T18:17:00.000-08:00

The second cultural myth I wish to address is the inevitability of success. This myth leads many to believe that if certain conditions are met and procedures are followed, success is certain to come. One huge problem with the mindset is how "success" is defined. Unfortunately, it is often seen as something Big. Do you want to have a big church? Follow these steps. Do you want to have a big building? These are the procedures. Big offerings? Here is how it is done. Huge missions budget? This is the way to get it. Big revival? Follow this plan. So the story goes, sprinkled liberally with stories (often embellished) of how Brother Steadfast got to where his ministry is running 2,000 in attendance with 45 buses (or more), 400 saved each week, 30 baptized :-), 500 missionaries supported, etc.

So there is a significant problem with how success is defined. However, the myth states that this is possible to anyone and everyone who will just do x, y, and z. Tremendous pressure is placed on some to live up to expectations that are entirely unreasonable, and possibly undesirable! I remember one famous preacher who spoke at my home church when I was in high school. The occaission was an annual conference hosted by our church. At that time he was being invited every few years. One of those years on the final night of the conference the man spoke about building up a church. Toward the end of the message he looked out at the hearers, many of whom were pastors, and said that he would not come back if my home church was not running a certain number in two years. Now my church was and is one of the largest independent Baptist churches in Canada. Even so, it fell far short of the attendance the visiting speaker desired. I know that nearly every visiting pastor had congregations of far less. What an incredible burden to place upon a servant of God. As though only a church which ran a certain number was worth speaking at! I remember the event vividly. It left a very bad impression upon my mind. Interestingly enough, when the time had elapsed and the man was invited back he came even though we did not meet the numerical standard he had imposed! How many times has a pastor faced serious problems with discouragement that arises from comparing himself and his ministry to another man and that man's ministry? This belief in the inevitability of success encourages these unwise comparisons.

Another monumental problem with this mindset is its view of man and God. You see, this mindset suggests that God's work is really man's work! Those who espouse this mindset almost always have a small view of God and a big view of man.

We must realize that we are called to strive mightily for souls. We are to labour and toil in the work of God. But there is no man-contrived formula which can guarantee this type of "success" suggested by many! Let us return to a Biblical view of success. Let us return to a Biblical view of God and man. Let us cease from foolish comparison. And let us remember the words of Paul, "I planted, Appollos watered, But God gave the increase!"

Challenge of Our Culture

2005-10-28T23:59:00.000-07:00

In an article found in the very useful compendium The Art & Craft of Biblical Preaching Rick McKinnis describes three cultural myths or mindsets that make ministering in the United States challenging at times. His article caused me to ponder the prevalence of the same or similar attitudes found in much of Canadian fundamental movement. Over the next few blogs I intend to post my thoughts on the mindsets he identifies. I will, of course, adjust or adapt them to fit the movement with which I am familiar.

It seems that within much of our movement we have the ingrained belief in the supremacy of the simplistic. This mindset reveals itself in these interrelated ways-

The use of pithy and trite statements to speak to areas of great complexity in life. Just one example of many possible. If I had a quarter for every time I heard, “Let go, and let God,” I would be quite a bit closer to the support level I need! Not that the statement is without its truth. The problem is that it is just blurted out like so many other clichés, none of which are explained with reference to the situation at hand. What does it truly mean to “let go?” How does one go about “letting God?” Most people who hear the statement in church have absolutely no idea. I dare say that many who utter the statement in the churches have no idea. Yet this sagacious advice is tossed out to speak to just about any trial of life! Much the same could be said about the many Christian clichés in our common vocabulary.
The sermon content in many of our pulpits. Serious exposition of the Bible is often jettisoned for the sake of a easier message for the people. Though it may retain hearers in the present, this does no favours to those hearers in the future.
The aversion to the deeper doctrines of the Word of God. This aversion is shared by those in pulpit and pew alike. The attitude seems to filter down from the pulpit. How many times has the misuse of Scripture Itself been used to justify this attitude? “These doctrines will corrupt you from the simplicity in Christ!” You wonder how some of these individuals would articulate such doctrines as the Trinity, Virgin Birth, or the Hypostatic Union!

This mindset is incredibly damaging. I am all for stating teaching and doctrine in understandable terms. The problem is being simplistic. Comprehensibility is the key. The simplistic mindset does not promote comprehension. It misses this by treating complex matters in such a surface manner that no understanding is possible, or by assuming that a matter is not necessary to be understood. Several possible results of this mindset await. One, as people are faced with the rigors and complexities of life they find that the simplistic does not adequately address their trials. Disillusionment is a very probable consequence. Two, too much “junk food” ruins the appetite for a hearty meal. Third, the pastor and people alike have little or no grasp of fundamental doctrine. This leaves them unable to answer the objections of those who would contradict. It also leads to an incorrect understanding and application of separation. Not knowing what is truly fundamental brings a church and pastor to the point of identifying as fundamental that which is merely preferential or often political.

So what ought we do in light of this?
1. Recognize the complex nature of the “real world.”
2. Shy away from the use of trite expressions. If one is to be used that does have practical and theological merit, clearly explain what is meant rather than assume the hearers have this understanding.
3. Preach the Word! Preach it in all of its beautiful and unified, but also divisive and difficult truth. Make the truth clear to your people, don’t sacrifice it!
4. Do not despise doctrine! May your delight in it overflow into the lives of your people.

Why Don't I Post More?

2005-10-26T10:07:00.000-07:00

In response to some who have asked and perhaps others who have wondered why I do not post more blogs on the site, I think I should explain. First, I do not want to be consumed by blogging. There are others who seem to be able to post prodigously and carry on both family and ministry life. At this point, I have not developed the talent! And to be quite honest, this is not that high a priority! Second, pre-field ministry makes blogging a difficulty. It is very difficult to spend time doing this on a different computer (your host's) from night to night. Perhaps if I had a better laptop with the whole internal wireless high speed modem thing and an attending high-speed wireless internet plan spanning North America, it would be easier. Third, every time I do blog my father's sagacious definition of a fool resounds in my memory. Don't know where he got it from, but it is good! "A fool is someone who has nothing to say and says it anyway!"

Having said this, my upcoming schedule seems to be lending itself more to spending time doing this. I plan to crank out at least three posts a week for the next couple of weeks. I hope that in doing so I do not prove myself a fool! Another of my father's sayings is "Better to remain quiet and have everyone think you a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt!"

Some Thoughts from Blaise Pascal

2005-10-14T19:03:00.000-07:00

“We never keep our minds on the present moment. We remember the past, as though we wanted to slow down the passage of time. And we look forward to the future, as though we wanted time to accelerate. We wander about in times that do not belong to us, and do not think about the only time that does. We dream of times past and future, and flee from the present. The reason is that the present is usually painful. We push it out of sight because it distresses us – only on those few occasions which are truly enjoyable are we truly sorry to see time slip away. We try to reduce present pain with joyful hopes of the future, planning how we are going to arrange things in a period over which we have no control and which we cannot be sure of reaching…The past and present are our means, and the future alone is our end. Thus we never actually live, but hope to live. We are never actually happy, but constantly planning how to become happy.”

Hypothetical Question

2005-10-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

Here is an email message that I sent to a number of friends several months ago. It generated some interesting responses.

Here is an entirely hypothetical question. Let’s say that you had to move and minister elsewhere. You could only take a Bible and five books. Let’s say you are going to an English speaking area. What do you bring? My list-

1. Bible- The King James Study Bible (Nelson Publishers). It has my Bible of choice for the last seven years. Excellent, conservative, and largely dispensational (derived, not imposed) study notes. Great book backgrounds. Very readable font. Excellent footnotes.

2. The New Linguistic and Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament by Cleon Rogers, Jr. It is filled with an incredible wealth of material. Really a library in itself. I have used my copy so much since I got it a few years back, that it is falling apart. And the book is not shabbily constructed!

3. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge Basically an incredibly huge book of cross-references, a few explanatory notes, and other study aids. Its value is in the vast cross-references. The Bible is the best commentary on itself!

4. A Vision for Missions by Tom Wells. A short book, but one that is rich in God-soaked theology. My favorite book on missions, and one that I am always reading. It warms my heart every time that I read it.

5. Preaching that Changes Lives by Michael Fabarez. It is not the largest book on the subject, but it is the most practical and challenging that I have encountered. One to continually read and reference.

6. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Complete in One Volume by Tolkien. I think that I would want a book for diversion, and this one is so large and complex that it would still entertain for many years of re-reads.

Some that did not make the list, but were definitely in the running-
Strong’s- the ultimate find it.
The Pleasures of God by John Piper. His best, in my opinion. Edifying, challenging, and comforting.

Another kind of list-

Bible- Either The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures or The Word on the Street

The Christian Religion by Friedrich Schleiermacher
Self-esteem: the New Reformation by Robert Schuller
Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays by Bertrand Russell
Thus Spake Zarethustra by Nietzsche
Being and Nothingness by Jean-Paul Sartre

Catch the irony of Sartre and Schuller on the same list?

Truth, Baseball, and the Postmodern Mind

2005-09-29T09:38:00.000-07:00

"Pilate saith unto Him, 'What is truth?' (John 18:38)"

I recently read this story in the book Emergent Hope. Three umpires are discussing balls and strikes. The first umpire says, "I call them as they are." To which the second replies, "Well, I call them as I see them." Umpire three, obviously annoyed, says, "You guys are both all wrong! They ain't nothing 'til I call them!"

The Wonder of His Love

2005-09-24T00:04:00.000-07:00

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God! (I John 3:1a)"

"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)"

I will never forget the 2003 Christmas that my family and I spent with my parents. Times were very hard for them at that time. Regular, long term work was difficult to find. In fact, during the couple of weeks that we spent together my father was laid off from his job at the hardware store an hour away. With a lack of consistent employment, my parents were struggling to start a couple of businesses, hoping that one would "pan out." At the time, none of those businesses had come anywhere close to providing much more income for the family.

Christmas came, and with it the old familiar traditions- the reading of the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke, a time of expressing gratefulness to God for the wonderful Christmas gift of Jesus, prayer, and then the unwrapping of gifts. Toward the end of the giving and recieving of gifts, the time came for my mother to open her gift from my father. It was a large and surprisingly light box, wrapped beautifully. Knowing my father's lack of wrapping skills and the fact that he had personally wrapped the gift himself, I knew that he had taken extra care and attention to the gift this Christmas. As the paper and ribbons were removed and my mother opened the box, she burst out laughing. Roll after roll of toilet paper was packed neatly, apparently filling the entire box! Mom explained that Dad had told her he wouldn't have much money this Christmas and might be only able to afford toilet paper. The house filled with extra family made this gift a timely one! Mom set the box to the side, still laughing, not looking for or expecting anything else from him.

Then Dad said, "You might want to look a little deeper." At first Mom did not understand. As she realized that there was more, she reached for the gift and began removing rolls of toilet paper. One layer of rolls was removed. Another layer was removed. Yet another. The bottom of the box also held rolls of toilet paper, but in the center of that final layer a couple were missing and in their place a small box. Mom reached for the box, and as she lifted it from between the rolls of toilet paper her breath stopped. For probably a full ten seconds she did not take a breath, and the moment she finally did, the tears started. She struggled for words, but only sobs came.

Dad had realized that he was likely to be laid off that winter. He knew times were tough. He also knew that there was a beautiful Eos Rebel SLR camera at the store that Mom would really love. He had literally sacrificed time and health for love of my mother. Dad put in all the overtime he could and saved every penny he could for months just to give Mom a gift that showed her he loved her with a passion undiminished by time and circumstance. It stole her words away. The gift was great, but the love behind that gift undescribable.

My earthly memory resonates with Heavenly parallel. Explanations and proclamations of our Father's love are necessary to our Christian faith and walk. Yet how inadequate our words! How precious are those times when the wonder and the joy of it all leaves us speechless.

Traditional Fundamentalism in My Area and My Thoughts Thereon

2005-09-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

Traditions in Fundamentalism in my Local Experience

I have taken a little time recently to ponder the role of tradition within my own particular life and experience in the independent fundamental circles with which I fellowship in Canada. I have come to several conclusions regarding tradition in this context-

Tradition is not simply alive, but promoted and thriving in our indy-fundy circles.
Tradition often preserves the movement from the excessive and ungodly pragmatism rampant within professing evangelicalism.
Tradition often promotes an excessive and ungodly pragmatism that is somewhat peculiar to indy-fundyism.

That tradition is alive within these circles is to me quite manifest. Recently I have heard a number of leaders speak out for a continuance in the exact same pattern of ministry as has been the norm for some time (30 years or so) within this segment of fundamentalism. Their appeals have been twofold. First, this is who we are. That is, our practice or belief within the recent past in this area of the world is definitional of what fundamentalism is and should be. Now they would not use the term "recent", but their illustrations of great men of the past in reference to our movement are either entirely inappropriate, using men who would never have considered themselves as part of the local movement, or are illustrations that only go back to the early 1970's. Now I can see a degree to which a movement can be identified with its pattern of ministry. The second argument is a quick utilization of "proof texts" for fundamentalism. Even in this the appeal to tradition is utilized as the Scriptures are given an assumed meaning without specific exegesis of the passages and demonstration how they interact with the time at hand or the pattern of ministry utilized. This is not to say that the traditional understanding is always wrong, but the passage is often never truly interacted with in determining why the position is held. Thus tradition replaces exegesis. Much more could be said to reinforce my belief that tradition is alive and well.

I have noted as well that our movement is to be commended for its refusal to jump into every pragmatic program that is to be found in evangelicalism today. Our movement is not driven by contemporary evangelical fads. In many cases, the preserving force is tradition. We have not done it that way before, so we should not do it now! Now as I look at the depths that many in the contemporary evangelical scene have sunk, I am thankful for the preserving force of tradition. There is a movement in evangelicalism that seeks to loose itself from all moorings in practice and even theology, it seems! The result is that much of evangelicalism has lost the evangel- the message of the Gospel itself. When I look at those extremes I am much happier to be aligned with our movement than with that element of evangelicalism! However, as I will comment on a little later, the belief that "if you are not in our group (even our specific element of fundamentalsim), you're in that one" is seriously misleading!

How is tradition a promoter of certain ungodly pragmatic elements? When the traditions are themselves pragmatic! There are certain practices within our segment of indy-fundyism that have no clear root in Biblical imperative or principle. Their driving root is largely pragmatism. Not that all the motivations for the practices were wrong. The original thought may have been- "What can we do to get more people into church?" or "What can we do to get more people saved?" Not entirely wrong motivations, but still flawed foundationally. The failure seemed to be not asking and answering all the "why's?" before proceeding with the "what's?". In this I must be careful not to be too critical. I think that we all have this tendency, to some degree or another. However, I now see certain practices (some bus ministry practices, altar call techniques, and Gospel presentation models) which are beyond evaluation in our segment for no other reason than tradition. They are "God-honouring" in people's minds simply by default of tradition, particularly when many of them are found almost exclusively within our movement! The same is held to be true with respect to certain theological beliefs.

What Now?

As a young fundamentalist, I propose that our generation respond in several ways-

Recognize the existence of tradition. It is the reality of our movement. To suggest otherwise is to really be burying our head in the sand.
Realize that not all tradition is wrong in and of itself. There are some who have thrown it all away, leaving the movement and everything that characterizes it behind them. The baby is laying screaming in a puddle of soapy water outside the bathroom window!
Recognize that the "if you are not completely of us, you are against us" mentality is oversimplified and not in keeping with reality. There are many strata of fundamentalists, including some who would not claim the label. I think that in many cases the us versus them mentality has caused some of my generation to run to a ridiculous extreme because they have been taught there is no middle ground and have believed it! Having become disillusioned with our segment of the movement, they jump to the other extreme.
Return to the truly Biblical tradition of semper reformanda. The Reformers and Christians of years past had the motto semper reformanda, "Always reforming!" Their goal was not just a continual change for its own sake, but rather a mindset that tenaciously sought to bring every thought to the captivity of Christ by honest evaluation in light of the Scripture. They did not always get it right, and neither will we. But we will be a lot closer to the right if we regularly and honestly consider every aspect of our life and ministry. This mindset will also help to guard our own hearts against erroneous adherence to traditions of our own making!
Reach out to the lost with passionate, God-honouring proclamation of the Gospel of the glory of Christ. Just because we may have seen some approaches to evangelism that were less than God-honouring does not give us the right to simply take pot-shots at their pragmatism without obeying the imperative of Christ upon our own lives! It is our duty and priviledge to make much of Christ, and it should also be our joy. Also, the older generation of fundamentalists seems to appreciate a zeal for "soul-winning," as they call it. From my experience, they will respect and even support a zealous and evangelistic young fundamentalist even if they do not entirely agree with him.
Realign yourselves with the original intent of the true early fundamentalists, but take the necessary steps forward. In reading the early fundamentalist writers and those who have studied their lives, the intent of early fundamentalism was to both aggresively preserve and promote Biblical Christianity. We ought not shirk from this task. It is our duty to earnestly contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints. However, there are some steps we must take beyond those already taken. We must seek to know and articulate what is truly fundamental to Christianity. This is admittedly a difficult task, but to stand for the faith we must know what is essential to the faith. We find fault with the older generation of indy-fundies for their willingness to separate over non-essentials without personally understanding what the essentials really are. It is not just enough to know what is not a fundamental, we must seriously ponder what beliefs or lack of beliefs change orthodox Christianity into non-Christianity. This leads to the next step we must take. We must then personally and/or collectively develop a separation paradigm. Separation is essential to fundamentalism. There may be differences in degree or intensity of separation, but it remains separation. And separation remains both a Biblical command and a practical necessity.
Respectfully and Biblically articulate your position when challenged. Younger fundamentalists have sometimes been characterized as disrespectful rebels. I feel that this has often been very unjust. It has been like the impression that some people have of motorcycle riders. Because they have encountered a few donkeys riding bikes, it is assumed that all bikers are donkeys. I know that the logic is seriously askew, but that is the context in which we find ourselves! Most of the men who would challenge us are really worthy of respect, though they do not agree with us on every position. They have served God faithfully for years and been Godly examples in many areas. If we are to be prepared to give an answer to the lost with gentleness and reverence, surely we should be willing to extend the same courtesy to our brothers in Christ. However, this does not mean that you have to simply conform because of their objections and prominence in the movement. We must Biblically articulate our position. If we are convinced by the Word of God regarding a certain position, personal conformity to a different position is wrong. If you are forced to choose between conviction and conformity, conviction must be held. This is not to say that we cannot fellowship or work with those who do not share all of our beliefs. Of course, this goes back to the separation paradigm. But we cannot and must not change our position or conviction simply out of conformity to personality and tradition.
Realistically seek peace with all men. We are admonished to pursue peace with all men. As much as lies within us, we are to live at peace with others. Peace ought to be our goal in interaction with others within fundamentalism. But that must be tempered with reality. Good men disagree. Good men sometimes disagree strongly. Sometimes good men disagree so strongly that cooperation is an impossibility. Remember Paul and Barnabus? There are times when despite our best intentions peace cannot be maintained. Let us just do our best that unless in issues of very grave theological and practical importance, the lack of peace comes from the other side. I once had a discussion with a brother whom I considered a friend (I still do) over a certain issue that is a hot one in indy-fundyism in this part of the world. The other became very upset with me. Our conversation ended on a very sour and angry note, with him essentially accusing me of a lack of love for and adherence to the Word. I knew that I would see the man again. I also knew that from my perspective he was still my friend and brother in Christ and that the issue in question was not one that made separation necessary. The next time I saw him I made a definite point to speak with him and by both my demeanor and words demonstrate my regard for him. I praise the Lord that even though we have significant disagreement over the issue in question, we remain friends. However, this does not always happen. And we have to be prepared to face that fact with courage.
Remember the Audience of One. Our ultimate ambition is to be pleasing to Him. In light of that the importance is not really on whether another man considers us a fundamentalist or is willing to fellowship with us or is openly in favour of our lives and ministry. They do not search our hearts. They will not stand before the Bema Seat in our stead. May we take heart that if it must come down to a decision between tradition and conviction and our decision ostracizes us, we never really stand alone. Conviction, not conformity, marked the historic fundamental movement. May it ever be the same!

On the Deputation Trail

2005-08-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow Sarah and I will be rising early, packing our van, bundling our two little children into that van, and taking off for a long “road trip” that will take us from our home in Canada to Michigan, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. This will be the first extended trip that we have made as a family since our little boy, John, was born. These extended trips are part and parcel of the process that we call deputation.

Deputation is essentially the process that most missionaries go through in seeking to raise the financial support that is needed to minister in the field to which they are going. This is the essence of deputation, but if a missionary looks at it from this perspective alone, I believe he will quickly become disheartened.

There are several difficulties that a missionary on deputation encounters. First, the traveling itself can be hard on a family. Sometimes trips to churches will find us traveling as much as ten hours in a day. The driver has to balance his desire to arrive at the church at the right time with the need of children to get out and run around! Second, deputation can be hard on the family physically. In traveling from church to church the family is exposed to every sickness that is out there, it sometimes seems! There is also very little physical activity and much food! I returned from a trip a couple of months ago to realize that I was weighing over 230. This was not all muscle! Thankfully, I have had a little more time at home lately with the birth of John and was able to eat a little healthier and get some exercise. I dropped over twenty pounds and feel great right now. I can expect my weight to go up a little over the next several months, but hopefully not too high! I know that some missionaries have gained over fifty pounds on deputation. Third, deputation almost always takes a missionary longer than they expected. A missionary hears stories of how some missionaries raise their support in less than a year and will sometimes secretly expect that it will not take them a whole lot longer than that. Then as months go by and the support level does not jump as quickly as they had hoped, there is a temptation to be discouraged. This is one of the reasons why a missionary should not look at deputation as a just a support-raising venture. Fourth, the family often has to sacrifice their privacy for extended periods of time. They essentially live under scrutiny for weeks at a time, not just because of staying in other people’s homes, but also because of simply being in a place of prominence in church after church and feel as though they have to be nigh unto perfect or their support may not come in!

Now if the deputation was just about the last paragraph, it would be pretty harsh! Thankfully there is a lot more to it. First (maybe not in importance), deputation does allow you to raise the money needed to work on the field. When the process is done, the missionary can devote his time to the work of the ministry, rather than having to spend most of it working in secular employment. Second, it solicits the prayers of God’s people. God accomplishes so much through the prayers of His people that we will never understand this side of Heaven. A missionary is powerless without prayer in his own life, and is incredibly aided by the prayers of others on his behalf. Third, it enables you to meet many fine men and women of God that you would not have otherwise been able to meet. Many of these people will continue in contact with you. God often uses these people to encourage you by their sending an email at a key time, just letting you know they still think and pray for you. Fourth, it allows you to regularly and publicly emphasize the needs and opportunities of the field that God has burdened you for. Fifth, deputation gives you opportunity to encourage and challenge people for the great cause of world evangelism. I often pray that God might in some way use me to encourage someone to give their life to missions. Sixth, since you are “in the spotlight” at churches it gives the incomparable privilege to show Christ as the only all-satisfying Treasure of life.

These are a few of the challenges and privileges of deputation. It has been a testing and rewarding experience in which God has shown Himself incredibly gracious over and over again. That being said, I don’t want to do the deputation thing forever! :-) It is not the end, just a means to it.

The Blessing of God-centered Friends

2005-08-16T08:26:00.000-07:00

"Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27:17

"I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts." Psalm 119:63

"And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God." I Samuel 23:16

I am very thankful for the influential friends that God has given me. They are not all alike in every respect. Their ages range from late teens/early twenties to late fifties. Some are athletic or interested in sports, others are not. Most hold to varying degrees of Calvinism, others are decidedly opposed to that doctrinal position. Most are Baptistic in their view of church government, some hold to a Presbyterian view. Most would hold to a form of Dispensationalism, some would be more Covenantal in their hermeneutic. Some are veterans in the field of God's service, others are preparing to give their lives in "full-time" serice, still others magnify Christ daily in secular employment. And there are many, many more contrasts that could be drawn! The number that could be listed in the group of influential friends could be counted on two hands; the closest of these on one hand.

Friends are important as "iron sharpeners," encouragers, strengtheners, and even rebukers! As I consider this, I am often a little dismayed by the types and levels of friendships that many professing Christians seek out. It is not uncommon to be among a group of Christians for an extended period of time and not hear a single element of edifying conversation. I do not suggest that every element of conversation must focus on Scripture, soul-winnin', and sanctification! It is a little troubling, however, when the spiritual and Scriptural is never spoken of. I do not claim any sort of perfection in this area. I know that too often I am fixated on the trivial, temporal, and foolish to the diminishment or exclusion of important, eternal, and wise. Yet I know the influence of friends, and by God's grace I desire to cultivate friendships with those who would influence me in the right way.

Those friends in my life that have the greatest and most meaningful influence in my life are the ones who exhibit a God-centered focus on life. These men fear God and strive to keep His precepts. They focus their lives in a passionate pursuit of His glory. And it is they who sharpen my countenance in a proper manner, and truly strengthen my hands in God by their encouragement, and even rebuke. Faithful are their woundings, examples, and encouragements, for by God's grace they encourage me along the path of sanctification for the treasure of knowing and following Jesus.

How Does One Magnify Christ in Death?

2005-08-15T15:03:00.000-07:00

Few stories had impressed themselves upon my memory more than the story of the dying joy of Roy Orpin. In 1961, Roy married his sweetheart Gillian and shortly thereafter they moved to what is today known as Thailand there to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people living in the jungles. The work was hard. They were treated rudely. Some disagreement even arose among the missionaries working in the area. Still they continued to serve and seek to proclaim the message. Gillian became pregnant with their first. As the time of her due date approached, the Orpins decided that it might be best for Gillian and the baby if they were to go to a more modern area until the baby was delivered. Roy made the difficult decision to stay and work with the natives. After taking a trip into the more modern populated areas, Roy was dropped off by bus as close to his place of service as possible. He would then have to make the long hike back into the jungle to the village where he ministered. Shortly after getting off the bus, Roy was accosted by robbers who shot him in the process of robbing him of a very insignificant amount of money. Roy was discovered and taken to hospital where he seemed to be recovering. However, the internal injury that he had sustained was greater than what the doctors realized. After three days, some of Roy’s internal organs began to fail. It became apparent that Roy would die. Gillian was at his side when he asked her to recite the words to the hymn “Jesus, I Am Resting.” She leaned over and whispered in his ear-

“Jesus, I am resting,
Resting in the joy of what Thou art.
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.”

When she finished, Roy smiled and said, “How good God is.” Moments later he had fallen asleep in Jesus.

How could Roy say that God was good in the midst of those circumstances? Roy was only recently married, looking forward to a lifetime with Gillian. Roy had only just started in ministry, and was looking forward to serving God in Thailand for many years to come. He was expecting his first child, and no doubt looking forward to watching that child grow up. All of this was being taken from him in death. How could he have such joy in Jesus when he was losing all of this?

I believe that Roy could have this joy because he had the same mindset as Paul. Paul wrote, “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:20-23)” To be with Christ was not only better than life-it was far better. Roy lived and died to magnify Christ, and the evidence of this is that he gave his life in Jesus’ service and looked forward to being with Him more than anything on earth. To Roy, God’s lovingkindness was better than life, and he praised Him even in death (Psalm 63:3).

May God give me a passion for Him that is greater than my desire for anything on this earth. This is a passion and purpose to live die with!

Some Books That Have Influenced Me- Part 3

2005-08-10T15:56:00.000-07:00

No compilation of books that have influenced me would be complete without John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life. I was given a copy by my sister and brother-in-law but did not actually read it until about five months later. I am glad I did not put it off even longer!

Five Big Reasons Why the Book Impacted Me:

Piper's book stands on a solid theological and Biblical framework. The arguments and appeals of the book are rooted in Scripture properly divided. (One exception, in my estimation, is his thoughts on fighting Satan on the biological front.) Page after page brings forth the demands of Scripture upon a person's life.
Piper shows the importance of Christ-centered living in practical everyday contexts. Two chapters in particular, "Living to Prove He is More Important than Life" and "Making Much of Christ from 8 to 5," are much needed in the contexts with which I am familiar. Too often the appeal to live a life devoted to passionate service for Christ is directed toward those who would enter "full-time service."
Piper emphasizes the needs and opportunities that exist in world evangelism, particularly in "frontier missions," preaching Christ where He is not named. I had a pre-existing burden for these areas prior to the book, but the burden greatly intensified with the reading of his words on the subject. I am thrilled to see what God is doing in these areas in my generation. It is not all happening in the indy-fundy circles that I am in, but groups like To Every Tribe Ministries are seeing some incredible progress and commitment of late. May God use them and a multitude of others to bring His Gospel where Christ is not currently named.
Piper's prayer at the end of the book is overflow of a spirit of love for and commitment to Christ. The authenticity of it has often caused me to consider my own prayer life, not out of a desire to simply emulate Piper, but having seen (read) a prayer of such passion and power, a desire to consider the level of my own power and passion in communicating with God.
Piper's writing style is fantastic. He writes with the heart of a poet and the head of a theologian. I believe that this is one of the key gifts that God has given Piper and is using in him.

Consciences Bound to...Popular "Christian" Opinion?

2005-07-25T22:05:00.000-07:00

Professing Christianty is in some pretty bad shape right now. Specifically, professing evangelical Christianity is in pretty bad shape right now. Writers like Phil Johnson (and a good many others) have noted this. Phil has begun to weigh in on the subject with posts like this. I look forward to his thoughts in the upcoming days.

I had the misfortune today to experience firsthand a little of the doctrinal ignorance and compromise that seems to be indemic to much of evangelicalsim today. I had just purchased "Through the Gates of Splendor" at the local Christian bookstore when a kind lady that has worked there for years struck up a conversation with me. She attends another church in the area which church two of my sisters and one brother-in-law attend. I have some differences with certain pragmatic philosophies espoused by the church, but there is still much that is good about it. I told the lady that I was happy to know that the pastoral staff had cancelled a speaker they had scheduled recently. The lady said that she did not understand the reason for the cancellation. I told her that the man had been asked not to come because he had recently returned to the Roman Catholic Church.

The woman still expressed some confusion about why they would not have the man. "After all, he seems pretty good to me, and my husband enjoys his radio broadcast." I pointed out that the man now espouses an unbiblical, damnable view on justification. I reminded her of the Bible's teaching on justification in the books of Romans and Galatians. She considered that for a moment and said, "Well, I am sure that there are many Catholics who really love God." My reply was that if they truly do, they are not good Catholics! They cannot truly hold to the church's theology and be lovers of God in truth.

She seemed a little troubled at this point pointand brought up the recent death of Pope John Paul II. She mentioned that Dr. James Dobson had spoken of the pope in glowing terms and said that he was a godly man. She also mentioned something about Dr. Billy Graham's comments which unequivocably numbered the former pontiff among the redeemed. I told the lady that I was extremely disappointed with the doctrinal compromise and error expressed by these men regarding the apostate Roman church. The lady seemed very shocked by my reply and quickly said, "Well, we don't know these people's hearts." I told her that the beliefs they express both in word and action surely mean something. If what they are saying and doing is what they believe, then they are unregenerate. They must be lovingly corrected and pointed to a Christ Who saves and satisfies completely apart from the deeds of the law. At this point the woman began returning to what Graham and Dobson had said, and how we must not judge. As we continued speaking it seemed that Paul had nothing on these guys! (OK, I am overstating things a bit!) She seemed so hesitant to contradict these men, even when confronted with very plain Scripture.

One could write this off as coming from a person within a compromising church, but the church elders had taken the right stand on the issue. I am finding this mindset in churches across the evangelical spectrum. I even recently had an individual in an ostensibly Reformed Baptist church say something similar!

May God give us the grace to say with Luther, "My conscience is bound to the Word of God."

Some Books That Have Influenced Me- Part 2

2005-07-23T18:30:00.000-07:00

Important details of life such as the birth of my son John Thomas have kept me from blogging for a little bit, and I now wish to return to this series regarding books that have influenced me.

After graduating from college I admit that I had a misguided view of preaching. The fault did not lie with my college classes alone, though I do think that my homiletics class presented the applicational aspect of preaching as perhaps too small a portion of the whole. I had the view that preaching was to be, above all, informational. My overemphasis on the importance of the didactic element led me to often compose an entire sermon with little or no thought to what change the truth presented should require of the listener. As I matured a bit my preaching did, too. I began to include applicational elements into sermons, but even at this point I knew that there was more that was needed.

In the Fall of 2001 I was called to be interim pastor of a small church near my home town. As my preaching ministry took shape week after week for the first several months I saw serious shortcomings in my messages. I was presenting life-changing truths, but not seeing life-changing results. As I evaluated myself, I realized that I was not presenting those truths as life changing truths. That is, I was simply bombarding my people with the facts without clearly pointing out to them how these facts were to impact their lives.

Sometime in first part of 2002 I was perusing books in the local Christian book store and came across Preaching that Changes Lives by Micheal Fabarez. I held off on buying it for a week due to the price, but finally caved after browsing it several times and seeing its important and relevant subject matter. The book was a Godsend. It hit the very issues and deficencies I was struggling with.

Fabrez very convincingly makes the case that the goal of preaching is transformational, not just informational. He shows the Biblical necessity of constant change in the life of the minister himself. He tackles difficulties that must be understood by the preacher and addressed by his preaching in our day, including the matter of postmodernity's difficulties with authority.

Fabarez impacted me very much philosophically regarding preaching, but some of his most important contributions are in very practical chapters regarding preparing life-changing sermons. From prayer to specific attitudes in Bible study to outlining to time allotments to understandability to Christ-centeredness to doctrinal foundations to church involvement through study to follow-up application Fabarez very practically sets forth brief, yet comprehensive manual on Biblically grounded, applicationally driven preaching. This book is important enough that I believe every preacher should have a well-worn copy on his shelf.

A Great Thought

2005-07-16T12:52:00.000-07:00

Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. (Mark 10:28-31)

“For my own part, I have never ceased to rejoice that God has appointed me to such an office. People talk of the sacrifice that I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice which is simply paid back as a small part of a great debt owing to God, which we can never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view, and in such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a forgoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice.
- David Livingstone on December 4, 1857 to the students of Cambridge University

Some Books That Have Influenced Me- Part 1

2005-07-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

There is little doubt in my mind that Tom Well's book, A Vision for Missions is one of the most influential books that I have ever read. I treasure the book and its message so highly that I bring it with me on every trip (deputation or otherwise) that I take. I have read it probably six or seven times, and I am always in the process of reading it.

So what makes the book so special? It is the clearest presentation of a God-centered, passionate approach to world evangelism that I have ever encountered. Recently, (within the last five years) John Piper's book Let the Nations Be Glad has made a big impression in certain segments of fundamentalism. Yes, we fundamentalists are a bit late! Piper's book was published in 1993 and made a pretty big splash in general evangelicalism at that time. I am very thankful for Piper's important contribution to the subject. His opening paragraph in the book is probably the best articulation of the proper place of and reason for missions. As good and important as Piper's book is, I find Well's book to be even more so.

A Vision for Missions has two important theses. First, God is worthy to be known and proclaimed for who He is, and that fact is an important part of the missionary motive and message. I believe that we fundamentalists have long suffered under an inadequate impetus for world evangelism. So often the appeal to become involved in this great task has been that many around the world are dying and going to hell, and that if we do not involve ourselves in light of that then we are truly heartless individuals. Or the appeal has even come across (like A.W. Tozer said) as though God's great love and mercy has painted Him into a corner that He cannot extricate Himself from! With such flawed motivations and anemic views of God that often accompany them, it is no wonder that few today feel any lasting desire to become involved in world evangelism wherever that might take them! The greatness and sovereignty of our God is motivation at its highest. God is worthy to be known! How that knowledge should propel us into His harvest fields! Not only is it motivation, but it is also an important part of the message. The God that we proclaim to the world is worthy to be known! He is not some weak and helpless being that awaits man's sovereign assent. He is the sovereign, immutable God!

The second thesis of the book is those who know the most about God are the most responsible and best equipped to tell of Him. It is one thing to point out the flaws in another's theology and look down upon them as they present God in an incomplete and inadequate way. It is quite another to take a proper and complete view of God into the work and labour to turn men's eyes to that God ourselves. I find this thesis particularly challenging. I am one of those who can spot an unworthy God a mile away. But do I take the knowledge that I do have and use it to tell others of the true and living God, or do I simply look down my nose at the ones who proclaim God in an unworthy way? I fear that far too often my zeal for proper theology eclipses my zeal for the God of that theology. That is, I can discern, dissect, stew over, and debate the errors that I see in a person's theology and view of God; but how often I do not proclaim the message of God himself to the world that does not know Him! Well's book is an important reminder to me that zeal for theology may not necessarily be a zeal for God.

Wells writes about certain of God's perfections and how they are both motivation and message for missions. One of the best chapters in the book is "Glory...in the Face of Jesus" where he demonstrates that a God-centered theology of missions is a Christ-centered theology of missions. He also has an excellent chapter about God's glory and human need, showing that a God-centered philosophy does not eliminate an emphasis upon human need, but rather puts it into its proper place.

Several chapters of the book demonstrate how these great truths impacted particular missionaries when brought to bear upon their lives. The lives of David Brainerd, William Carey, and Henry Martyn provide vivid and accurate examples of these truths in action.

All in all, I cannot recommend this book too highly. I am thankful to God for bringing it to my attention, and pray that He would continue to burn its truths into my heart that I might live out my life in passionate pursuit of His glory.

A Good Lesson in an Unlikely PLace

2005-07-07T20:44:00.000-07:00

I took a moment the other day in the local Christian bookstore to briefly peruse Donald Miller's book "Blue Like Jazz." The general content of the book was no real surprise to me. It represents so much of the worst that the Emerging Church Movement is bringing with it. The book emphasizes the exaltation of emotions and passions to the exclusion (not just diminishment) of propositional truth. It oozes with the bizzarre and outright foolish, and if you were to drop the book...well, let me just say it would be best not to step in it!

However, the book did include a story that made me think. Miller tells of a friend seeking out prominent religious figures to ask them what Jesus meant to them. The answers that he got did not really click with him. It is obvious that the replies were far to objective, and stated too much propositional truth. However, one encounter was different. When he asked the late Bill Bright (founder of Campus Crusade for Christ) what Jesus meant to him, Bill was so overcome with emotion that he could not even reply. Now, I know that Campus Crusade has some very major problems. I also know that Bill Bright has not exactly been the shining example of what a Biblical separatist should be! I also know that loving Christ does not necessarily mean that you dissolve into sniffles when questioned about Him! I know all of the these things. However, I believe that Bill's answer demonstrated a true and moving devotion to Christ. And so the late new evangelical made this young fundamentalist stop and think. Does the liberating, life-giving truth that I know of my Saviour cause me to have a true passion for Him? Or better, does my Saviour Himself call forth my entire being (mind, soul, strength, and heart) to exalt and rejoice in Him?

I decry the modern search for personal meaning by following the latest existential zap. I see the quest for individual significance that only follows the dictates of pure emotion as eternally harmful. But I also know that our relationship of worship with our God and Saviour is in "spirit and in truth," that is with both proper heart attitude and a Christ-centered, Scripturally grounded grasp of truth. Yes, the proper heart attitude is contingent upon humility and understanding before the Word. But what a tragedy to have a knowledge of truth without a passion and love for that truth and the God Who is the Source and Revealer of that truth- that God who became flesh and lived among us, Who so embodied truth that He referred to Himself as "the truth." He is not the truth because of His conformity to a standard of truth outside of Himself; He is the truth because He Himself is the Source of all truth! May God so move in my heart and mind that I might echo the words of the Psalmist, "As the hart (deer) panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God (Psalm 42:1)!"

Tragically Accurate?

2005-07-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

Pragmatic Foolishness Undercuts the Power of the Word

2005-07-04T15:35:00.000-07:00

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching (or "the message preached") to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (I Corinthians 1:17-25)

I have been dismayed recently by the extreme pragmatism that I have both personally seen and heard of within independent, fundamental Baptist churches. Though our movement is characterized by those who would claim that they "just preach the Bible" in superior comparison to all the other Christian movements in the world, I am finding that the claim is not quite as accurate as they would suggest. To my dismay, I am finding that there are many who really do very little preaching of the Word, filling their public addresses with a high percentage of pragmatic, emotionally-driven appeals instead of the sincere milk and meat of the carefully exposited Word. I will give two recent examples.

At a recent youth conference in a church that I love dearly, whose pastor is a godly man and friend in the ministry, a visiting speaker gave a message on hell. The topic of the message is certainly not wrong. (In reality, this topic is often bypassed in much of evangelical Christianity today since it is too negative. To the "seeker-friendly," emerging church the certain everlasting punishment of wicked men is far too negative to weigh people down with emotionally!) However, the attending antics were certainly wrong. The speaker at this youth conference had the church turn the heat up in the building as high as it would go during the "preaching" of his message on hell. The conference was in the late spring/early summer, so it was plenty warm already! Anyway, he had also sequestered a certain percentage of those in attendance to scream, moan, and wail at key moments during his "message" as though they were the very souls of the damned! He filled the evening with many stories of the lost and conjecture regarding specific experiences they had and were having. Of course, he did not state that it was conjecture! Now when I say he "filled the evening," I do mean exactly that. He "preached" for over two hours. By the end of the evening, the whole group was worn down emotionally by the content of his "message," and physically by the exposure to extreme heat for such a long period of time. He was able to get almost everyone up to the front to make one decision or another. The amazing thing is, he is lauded for his preaching in a certain segment of fundamentalism! The whole "That is a man who knows how to get results" awe follows the mention of his name. Finney would have been proud to know this man! (See this article for more regarding that statement.)

The other story occured in a VBS program. At the end of the week the children were to cast their vote for either Jesus and Heaven or the Devil and Hell by placing a folded paper "vote" into the corresponding barrel. Throughout the week, the children were bombarded with emotional appeals about how good Jesus and Heaven were and how bad the Devil and Hell were. When that moment of voting came the children were ushered by the two barrels. The barrel representing Jesus and Heaven was decorated beautifully with appealing colours. The barrel representing the Devil and Hell was incredibly ugly and even had smoke issuing from it! Not surprisingly, every child put their "vote" into the Jesus barrel! The church then broadly proclaimed to anyone that would listen (and a few that would rather not) how they had seen incredible numbers of children saved at their VBS!

What these individuals are saying in a very blatant fashion is that the "message preached" is not sufficient to the task. When a man implements these emotionally manipulative practices, he very clearly demonstrates what his true hope of "results" lies in. Within our movement today the words of our LORD must be heard again "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isaiah 55:11)." Also, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:16-17)." And "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of the message preached to save them that believe (I Corinthians 1:21)". Proclaim the message boldly and passionately; but above all proclaim it accurately in dependence upon the very Spirit who spoke it into existence, trusting that He will, through His Word, do His work in the hearts of men.

Some Thoughts to a Friend on the Nature of Foreordination and Evil

2005-07-03T16:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some thoughts on the subjects that I once hashed through with a friend-

The foreordination is a very deep issue, and it is no surprise to me that you have incomplete understanding of it. (I know that I have an incomplete understanding as well.) Did God cause sin? Is He the Author of wickedness? I won't try to pretend to be the great master of all knowledge in this issue. Let me ask you to evaluate some of the things that you said. You said that God is good and cannot create evil and because sin is evil God can't have created evil. Where did sin come from? Well, if we take Augustine's opinion to be accurate, as many thinkers have throughout the years, sin is a negation or privation of that which is good. Therefore it is not created in the same sense as other products of God's special creation. It does not have a positive or efficient cause, but a negative and deficient one. Good itself is not a created thing in the sense that there was a time when it did not exist, for it has existed for as long as God Himself has. Evil is a negation or privation of good. Now the question to ask is how is an action constituted evil? Puritan Jerom Zanchius spoke wisely when he said, "By proceeding from a wrong principle, by being directed to a wrong end, and by being done in a wrong manner." Something else to toss into the pot is that fact that whatever God wills and does is not willed and done because they were in their own nature previous to God willing them just and right, or that God ought to will and do them, but they are just, right and proper because He who is holy wills them and does them. (This is a paraphrase of Zanchius as well.) We often miss this perspective when we consider such things as God's eternal decree.

Does God create sin? No. God is not a negative or deficient cause with respect to good. God cannot twist what He is, for in doing so He would no longer remain what He is. (I hope that this is not causing an Exedrin headache, or horrible flashbacks of me explaining natural revelation to Stirling!) This contradicts the very plainly taught doctrine of God's immutability. Can we ever say that God does things from a wrong principle? No. Can we say that He does things directed toward a wrong end? No. Does he do things in a wrong manner? No. He does all things well. Now when God moves an unsaved man to do something, is that action going to be good? No, for he is destitute of faith. He has no desire for the glory of God. These actions are done for all the wrong reasons (mentioned above) and are thus to be properly deemed evil. So God moves the man to do something. When the man performs the action, it is evil. But is God the author of that evil? Without God, the man would never have done anything at all for in Him we live and move and have our being. But does that mean that God is the cause of sin? In the sense that He is the Supreme Author of all mankind's action, perhaps; but when we see what makes an action evil there is a great gap between that and what God is and truly does. We think of Christ delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God slain by the wicked hands of men. Was the act evil? Absolutely! It goes without saying that to murder the Son of God is evil. Was God's act evil? In no way. I hope that this is not too complicated and boring to you.

Now just a note on the origin of evil. Was God evil to create Satan? Was God evil to give Satan the very ability to sin and draw away a third of the angels with him? Was God evil to give him the power to tempt Eve and thus bring Adam's race to sinful ruin? This is a very hard topic, but we must remember that God has created all things yea even the wicked for the day of judgment. I don't have problem when a person says that God allows sin, but when you really get in to thinking that whole matter through, there is more to it than people usually mean. Are only the hearts of good kings in the hand of the Lord? and on and on the questions could follow.

What About Live 8?

2005-07-02T15:35:00.000-07:00

"Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble (Psalm 41:1)."

Several days ago I was asked what my thoughts were regarding the upcoming Live 8 concert. I had to confess that I did not know much about it at the time. Of course, one portion of the world-wide concert is being held in my home town (Barrie, Ontario) and I should have had more of a clue, but other matters had occupied my attention so I did not really think much about it until the question pressed me to do so. I believe that to answer a matter before hearing it is foolish and shameful (Proverbs 18:13), so I did not reply in ignorance. I simply said that I did not know.

Since then I have been confronted with the concert(s) every evening in the news as my home town has both geared up for the influx of people from around the country and made physical preparations for the concerts itself, and I have thought through certain of the issues that surround it. Of course, as you probably know, the concerts held around the world are free concerts organized for the stated purpose of raising awareness of the impoverished situation specifically, but not exclusively, in African nations. In hearing further interviews with the organizers, I have come to understand that their desire is not simply to raise awareness on an individual lay level, but to pressure the major economic powers of the world (G-8 nations) to change or adjust certain policies in order to eliminate poverty. One specific policy that the organizers would like to see enacted is a cancellation of all debts owing from these underdeveloped nations to the G-8 powers. Theoretically, the money that would have been used to pay off the debt would then be directed to humanitarian efforts. From what I have heard and observed, a major sentiment seems to be that the great wealth of these G-8 nations is morally wrong in contrast with sad situation in Africa. The organizers have not sought to make money at these events, and have barred charities that work directly in these impoverished nations to seek to raise funds for their charity efforts at the concerts.

After having spent some time considering Live 8, these are my thoughts.

First, the raising awareness of extreme need has been eclipsed by the emphasis on the stars and their music. I am not suggesting that this emphasis is a motivation to all of the stars for being involved in the concerts, but it has been a major result. The attitude of the vast majority of concert-goers in this area seems to be a star-struck, "Dude, where else could you go to a concert with Bryan Adams (or whoever) for free?!" Despite the fact that most of the artists are including comments about the great need, the message seems to have had little effect on the average concert-goer. I would be interested to see if there is much of an increase in charitable giving to help in these nations, and how long such an increase in giving will last. This leads into my second observation.

Second, the concerts seem to send a confused message regarding poverty and riches. If my observations are accurate, the organizers and many of the artists seem to have cast aspersion on the richer nations in the world becuase of their riches in the face of the poverty of other nations. Yet those performing on stage are fantastically wealthy! To vilify wealth in the face of poverty on a national and international level while ignoring it on a personal and individual level is somewhat skewed. If you accept their proposition that it is wrong for one nation to have extreme wealth while other nations have little or no wealth, does this not have philosophical repurcussions on an individual level?

Third, it seems that their propositions for the elimination of poverty are overly simplistic. To simply cancel a debt to an under-developed nation will not raise their status. There are many other factors that must be elevated for this to occur. Advancements in the areas of technology, agriculture, education, and medicine seem to be much more needed than a cancellation of debts. The G-8 nations constantly increase their own debt from year to year in the form of budget deficits, among other things. This has not caused extreme poverty. I am not saying that it theoretically should not. The global economic system today does not work off of the old simplistic money in/ money out ideals. What I am saying is that personal poverty has not increased because of incredible governmental debt load in major industrialized countries. Furthermore, the poor nations in question are not really seeking to pay off the debt. They are absolutely unable to do so! The debt that hangs over their head at this time is not what is causing them to sink into the mire of poverty. So many factors other than national debt play a much more major role. When a monetary gift is given (I realize that charity can be given in other more specific forms, but we seem to have a history of simply throwing money at problems) there is an incredible likelyhood that the money will not reach its proper destination due to governmental corruption. So there are major needs in the area of governmental reform. Of course, many nations are seeking to do such and have been mired in destructive civil wars that seem to be interminable. Often the physical geography of a country plays a major part, particularly in African nations where desertification of prime land is inceasing. So there are major needs in terms of agricultural education and technology for the purpose of geographical ammendments. In many of the nations the health of the people is terrible as wave after wave of horrible disease sweeps over them. When individuals are unable to produce because of poor health, the nation is not likely to be able to produce. Thus there is extreme need for advances in health care. The current health crisis in many of these nations is often due to contaminated water sources, and there is great need for new wells and water purification systems. And these are only a sampling of needs! Perhaps we can see why our Saviour said, "The poor you have with you always."

Fourth, the concerts place undue emphasis on governmental involvement at the expense of emphasis on personal kindness and charity. The situation calls to mind the not so distant tsunami relief effort in Southeast Asia. The media cried loudly about the great need for governments to give more and more money to the effort, but it was the contributions of individual citizens that made the greatest impact. My impression of the concert's emphasis has been that one could go and listen to all the songs and artists, be personally gratified by the free musical entertainment, get a little piqued a the governments of wealthy nations, and yet leave feeling little personal responsibility to help. It seems to me that this is reinforced by the concert's barring of charities seeking to raise funds for relief in these countries.

Fifth, the concert obviously ignores the deepest need of these nations- their spiritual need. These countries are buried beneath a great poverty of soul. They need to experience the grace of God that brings salvation. "How shall they hear without a preacher?" asked Paul in the book of Romans. I pray that God might move in the hearts of His people that we might see and be moved by not only the physical poverty of the needy in our world, but also be moved by their spiritual poverty. May such concern be not merely grounded in our emotions for the people of these nations, but by the overwhelming desire to see the glories of our Saviour's name spread through all the earth abroad! May God send a multitude to these needy areas with the burning passion to display the supremacy of Christ. Perhaps these impoverished souls will see in them the surpassing glory of Christ as Christains give of themselves to clothe and feed and care for the downcast, not seeking their own personal comfort. I am not suggesting that these activites be performed apart from the passionate proclamation of the Gospel, but that the Gospel be lived out before the needy visually as it proclaimed to them verbally. And may God use the efforts of His servants to magnify His surpassing glory.