Mark 14:38 (ESV)
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Edward Griffin (1770-1837) was a Presbyterian minister involved in the Second Great Awakening. He was pastor of several churches in New Jersey and New York, professor at Andover Theological Seminary and later President of Williams College. An outstanding preacher, his sermons were marked by spiritual warmth and theological depth.(cite. by “Fire & Ice” Sermon, “Enoch Walked with God”).
I came across this sermon by Griffin in my preparation for a sermon on Matthew 14:39, dealing with the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The theme of temptation was not the direction that I explored to great detail, but I found this excerpt of immense help to me and wish to share it with the grid readers this week. This first paragraph is my summation of Griffin’s points in my own attempt to translate to our contemporary struggles. But, Griffin, as was Jonathan Edwards before him, is as ever relevant to our life and times.
There are five things that we ought to attend to in avoiding temptation. First, we should know our enemy and his methods. The important thing to know is that the devil knows you well and knows where to direct his efforts. Secondly, it follows that you should know your own heart. Perhaps the greatest enemy to the progress of holiness is our own heart. Thirdly, be proactive for doing good deeds. Sloth leads to many sins, more so than being busy. Fourthly, be in tune with what God is doing in your life. Don’t let your work delude you into thinking you are in charge. Fifthly, learn to listen to the Spirit’s promptings. Cultivate the habit of spontaneity born out of a lovers delight. Obedience to God and avoiding sin is not so much a matter of giving something up, it is primarily about being getting more than we deserve: being the objects of God’s love.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Every Sunday Church?
The French Atheist, Voltaire said, "If you wish to destroy the Christian religion you must first destroy the Christian Sunday."
Exodus 31:13 (ESV)
"You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, 'Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you.
Exodus 31:15 (ESV)
Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death.
God instructed that Moses place a golden jar – with manna in the Ark of the Covenant. It was a perpetual reminder to Israel of God’s provision – and the Sabbath rest - one day when God rested – one day when He did not supply, because He had already supplied a double portion.
For us not to rest and enjoy His benefits is an insult to God. It is to say that I don’t need God’s help or provision. It is the utmost declaration of independence from God. When the faithless gatherers sought to hold on to more manna than was allowed it became spoiled with maggots. Their extra work and sense of self-preservation turned into a disaster. Can’t we see how this is the view that so many have about observing Sabbath today? We have many good reasons not to attend the assembly of the saints. We even tell ourselves we need the rest. We play hard on Saturdays and even work long hours and then when the first day of the week – which belongs to the Lord- comes, we think physical rest is needed. Just a couple of hours at church seem too laborious and too stressful.
Our attempts to find rest or an extra hour at work, apart from God’s provisions turns into maggot food, as we wake up Monday morning even more tired and depleted, perhaps not in body, but in soul. God seems distant and your spiritual well is dry. Well then we wonder, “Why God have you left me”? And God replies, “I have not left you my poor child, you did not come and drink from my fountain.” This is the secret, which is loudly declared in the Bible – there is no other fountain! Worship is not imitated on the golf course, the TV or in the quiet confines of one’s room. It ought to spill over into those areas, but it flows from the appointed means God has given us. I feel great sorrow for those that neglect worship on a regular basis. Can we turn into law enforcers and penalize those to whom something is more important than church? We ought to listen to the wife of C.S. Lewis on this issue - “Stop trying to force or terrify or bribe men into attendance. A forced churchgoer has no religion, a terrified churchgoer has no morals. We don’t want men who come to church because the golf course is closed, but men who prefer God to golf.” (Davidman, pg. 58). We can’t do anything to contrive a forced love for Christ. We desire above all that our people come, because they long to more than anything else. Nor can we draw people with mocha cappuccinos, good entertainment and fun. All we can do is to offer a place for lovers of God to come and pray and to hear Him speak. If that is not enough, then nothing is.
Exodus 31:13 (ESV)
"You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, 'Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you.
Exodus 31:15 (ESV)
Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death.
God instructed that Moses place a golden jar – with manna in the Ark of the Covenant. It was a perpetual reminder to Israel of God’s provision – and the Sabbath rest - one day when God rested – one day when He did not supply, because He had already supplied a double portion.
For us not to rest and enjoy His benefits is an insult to God. It is to say that I don’t need God’s help or provision. It is the utmost declaration of independence from God. When the faithless gatherers sought to hold on to more manna than was allowed it became spoiled with maggots. Their extra work and sense of self-preservation turned into a disaster. Can’t we see how this is the view that so many have about observing Sabbath today? We have many good reasons not to attend the assembly of the saints. We even tell ourselves we need the rest. We play hard on Saturdays and even work long hours and then when the first day of the week – which belongs to the Lord- comes, we think physical rest is needed. Just a couple of hours at church seem too laborious and too stressful.
Our attempts to find rest or an extra hour at work, apart from God’s provisions turns into maggot food, as we wake up Monday morning even more tired and depleted, perhaps not in body, but in soul. God seems distant and your spiritual well is dry. Well then we wonder, “Why God have you left me”? And God replies, “I have not left you my poor child, you did not come and drink from my fountain.” This is the secret, which is loudly declared in the Bible – there is no other fountain! Worship is not imitated on the golf course, the TV or in the quiet confines of one’s room. It ought to spill over into those areas, but it flows from the appointed means God has given us. I feel great sorrow for those that neglect worship on a regular basis. Can we turn into law enforcers and penalize those to whom something is more important than church? We ought to listen to the wife of C.S. Lewis on this issue - “Stop trying to force or terrify or bribe men into attendance. A forced churchgoer has no religion, a terrified churchgoer has no morals. We don’t want men who come to church because the golf course is closed, but men who prefer God to golf.” (Davidman, pg. 58). We can’t do anything to contrive a forced love for Christ. We desire above all that our people come, because they long to more than anything else. Nor can we draw people with mocha cappuccinos, good entertainment and fun. All we can do is to offer a place for lovers of God to come and pray and to hear Him speak. If that is not enough, then nothing is.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
A Neglected Love: Church Discipline, Part 1
Joe has not been in church for a while. When a church member told him he was missed, he complained about the stress of his job and the schedule of his kids. He did say he was to be there this coming Sunday. But, Joe was not there the next week.
Martha has a little habit that everyone seems to notice, except her. No matter who is talking or wherever she is, she interrupts others. It happens in Bible Studies, Sunday School and social gatherings with the members. Everyone pretends that it doesn’t bother them. New people are often offended, not knowing Martha’s other good points, tend to just avoid her. No one wants to offend her. A couple of women think the Elders should talk with Martha. She is beginning to notice that a few people will not talk to her. She is wondering why?
Terry is a new Christian, even though he grew up in a Christian home. He is growing in his faith and eager to know more about the Bible. There has been a noticeable change in his life as he has walked with the Lord. But he struggles with a sin that has had a long hold of his life. A few people in the church have noticed this “weakness”. But, since a few others in the church struggle with it, no one feels obligated to help or pray with Terry. Sometimes Terry feels alone, even though people are courteous and friendly.
How can we help Joe who has neglected the worship of God, see the value of regular worship? How can godly women help Martha to see something she can’t and encourage her? Why does Terry feel alone and who should help him? What all three of these fictitious persons need is for the Body of Christ to help them. All three are facing some struggle with sin. A reality of living in falling world is dealing with sin. If truth were known, just about everyone in the church is dealing with their own stuff – their own sin issues. They were too kind, too loving to say anything. After a while, “the issues” had to be dealt with in a formal way. The elders are notified; they meet and then have to confront the offender. What happens to Joe, or Martha or Terry?
This scenario is carried out again and again in so many churches. It points out a major misunderstanding of the role of church discipline. Biblically, the discipline of the Church is not a matter of the leaders dealing with the problems that no one else wants to, but the whole Body of Christ helping each other grow into maturity in Jesus Christ.
The Body of Christ is called to be a special type of people. Peter used such lofty labels as kings and priests (1Peter 2:9). It is not because they are no longer sinners struggling with temptations, bad attitudes and habits. It is because they are sinners that have been shown a love they could never earn, a forgiveness they could never buy and a grace they would never deserve. This grace has power to change lives (John 3:5-8; Gal.2:20). There are two parts to this life changing reality. Theologians call the first part of this reality, Justification. It is like a legal declaration by a Judge that a criminal is free, pardoned and his record cleaned. It is what God declares us to be on the basis of what Jesus has done. His righteousness is credited to our account (Rom.4:24). We are free, not just in a theoretical sense, but really and actually set free from the bondage and the penalty of our sins and all that is wrong with us. This is not legal fiction. But it is also not a statement on our moral transformation. It is sinners that need a Savior
The reality does not end there. It is ongoing, but not in the same sense that God has to justify us everyday – declare us pardoned. The problem is that the process of living in the reality of God’s free grace is precisely a process, meaning it is a long journey or walk in a certain direction. We call this Sanctification. It refers to this ongoing reality of the work of grace in the life of a believer to change our actions, habits and attitudes. This is the Christian experience of living in God’s already and not yet truth that is so much a part of biblical teaching of kingdom reality(the classic text that we look at is Romans 7:7-25).
When it comes to the Church we look at its present situation with the vantage point of this truth of God’s grace. The way I look at the Body of Christ that I am attached to is much like the way I look at my own life: A child of God, saved by Grace, but still a big sinner and if everyone knew what was in my heart they would kick me out. Groucho Marx, humorist of the silver screen used to say, “I don’t care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as a member.” There needs to a realistic assessment of our hearts and our sinful conditions. Such an acknowledgement can lead to either two things. In a negative direction we can deny the struggle and pretend to be something we are not. Just act real holy and self-righteous and better than the sinners around us. That’s the problem of being a Pharisee, which is about being long on holiness and right living, but short on humility and repentance. Yet, there is a positive way to grapple with what Paul called the “law at work in my members” which is the power of remaining sin in those who know the reality of God’s forgiveness (Rom.7:23). This way is the way of keeping two truths constantly in view. I am a big sinner, and I rest in God’s forgiveness offered freely in Christ.
When you look at the group of people you attend worship with in light of this truth it will give you a proper perspective on the nature of the Church. The already and not yet reality of the kingdom is ever present. This does not excuse bad behavior, ungodly conduct or sinfulness in the Church; it only explains why it is there. In other words, don’t pitch in the towel and drop out, whenever you see sin in the church. It is there, because that is the way of this walk of sanctification. Acknowledging this reality also, if we be true to what Scripture tells, means that we are doing something about it. “Go and sin no more,” means living in a redemptive way so that grace is being manifest in one’s life. This is no less true for the Church. This is the principle reason why the Bible teaches about Church discipline. It is not about keeping the sinners out of the fellowship of the saints. All attitudes about keeping “the Club” free from unsavory elements is out of harmony with biblical teaching. Church discipline is always about restoring, in the final analysis, making grace known and not about house cleaning. There is a corrective element to discipline, to be sure, but even that is done in love. It is about the love that reaches out to a stumbling brother or sister to reclaim them and redirect their life around the Gospel of Christ (Gal.6:1-2). It is living out truth that the “Lord disciplines those He loves” (Heb. 12:5)
Martha has a little habit that everyone seems to notice, except her. No matter who is talking or wherever she is, she interrupts others. It happens in Bible Studies, Sunday School and social gatherings with the members. Everyone pretends that it doesn’t bother them. New people are often offended, not knowing Martha’s other good points, tend to just avoid her. No one wants to offend her. A couple of women think the Elders should talk with Martha. She is beginning to notice that a few people will not talk to her. She is wondering why?
Terry is a new Christian, even though he grew up in a Christian home. He is growing in his faith and eager to know more about the Bible. There has been a noticeable change in his life as he has walked with the Lord. But he struggles with a sin that has had a long hold of his life. A few people in the church have noticed this “weakness”. But, since a few others in the church struggle with it, no one feels obligated to help or pray with Terry. Sometimes Terry feels alone, even though people are courteous and friendly.
How can we help Joe who has neglected the worship of God, see the value of regular worship? How can godly women help Martha to see something she can’t and encourage her? Why does Terry feel alone and who should help him? What all three of these fictitious persons need is for the Body of Christ to help them. All three are facing some struggle with sin. A reality of living in falling world is dealing with sin. If truth were known, just about everyone in the church is dealing with their own stuff – their own sin issues. They were too kind, too loving to say anything. After a while, “the issues” had to be dealt with in a formal way. The elders are notified; they meet and then have to confront the offender. What happens to Joe, or Martha or Terry?
This scenario is carried out again and again in so many churches. It points out a major misunderstanding of the role of church discipline. Biblically, the discipline of the Church is not a matter of the leaders dealing with the problems that no one else wants to, but the whole Body of Christ helping each other grow into maturity in Jesus Christ.
The Body of Christ is called to be a special type of people. Peter used such lofty labels as kings and priests (1Peter 2:9). It is not because they are no longer sinners struggling with temptations, bad attitudes and habits. It is because they are sinners that have been shown a love they could never earn, a forgiveness they could never buy and a grace they would never deserve. This grace has power to change lives (John 3:5-8; Gal.2:20). There are two parts to this life changing reality. Theologians call the first part of this reality, Justification. It is like a legal declaration by a Judge that a criminal is free, pardoned and his record cleaned. It is what God declares us to be on the basis of what Jesus has done. His righteousness is credited to our account (Rom.4:24). We are free, not just in a theoretical sense, but really and actually set free from the bondage and the penalty of our sins and all that is wrong with us. This is not legal fiction. But it is also not a statement on our moral transformation. It is sinners that need a Savior
The reality does not end there. It is ongoing, but not in the same sense that God has to justify us everyday – declare us pardoned. The problem is that the process of living in the reality of God’s free grace is precisely a process, meaning it is a long journey or walk in a certain direction. We call this Sanctification. It refers to this ongoing reality of the work of grace in the life of a believer to change our actions, habits and attitudes. This is the Christian experience of living in God’s already and not yet truth that is so much a part of biblical teaching of kingdom reality(the classic text that we look at is Romans 7:7-25).
When it comes to the Church we look at its present situation with the vantage point of this truth of God’s grace. The way I look at the Body of Christ that I am attached to is much like the way I look at my own life: A child of God, saved by Grace, but still a big sinner and if everyone knew what was in my heart they would kick me out. Groucho Marx, humorist of the silver screen used to say, “I don’t care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as a member.” There needs to a realistic assessment of our hearts and our sinful conditions. Such an acknowledgement can lead to either two things. In a negative direction we can deny the struggle and pretend to be something we are not. Just act real holy and self-righteous and better than the sinners around us. That’s the problem of being a Pharisee, which is about being long on holiness and right living, but short on humility and repentance. Yet, there is a positive way to grapple with what Paul called the “law at work in my members” which is the power of remaining sin in those who know the reality of God’s forgiveness (Rom.7:23). This way is the way of keeping two truths constantly in view. I am a big sinner, and I rest in God’s forgiveness offered freely in Christ.
When you look at the group of people you attend worship with in light of this truth it will give you a proper perspective on the nature of the Church. The already and not yet reality of the kingdom is ever present. This does not excuse bad behavior, ungodly conduct or sinfulness in the Church; it only explains why it is there. In other words, don’t pitch in the towel and drop out, whenever you see sin in the church. It is there, because that is the way of this walk of sanctification. Acknowledging this reality also, if we be true to what Scripture tells, means that we are doing something about it. “Go and sin no more,” means living in a redemptive way so that grace is being manifest in one’s life. This is no less true for the Church. This is the principle reason why the Bible teaches about Church discipline. It is not about keeping the sinners out of the fellowship of the saints. All attitudes about keeping “the Club” free from unsavory elements is out of harmony with biblical teaching. Church discipline is always about restoring, in the final analysis, making grace known and not about house cleaning. There is a corrective element to discipline, to be sure, but even that is done in love. It is about the love that reaches out to a stumbling brother or sister to reclaim them and redirect their life around the Gospel of Christ (Gal.6:1-2). It is living out truth that the “Lord disciplines those He loves” (Heb. 12:5)
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