One Holy Christian and Apostolic Church / Part 5

By the way, this title is found in the "Nicene Creed." I grew up until the age of twelve reciting the Apostles' Creed in Sunday worship service each week, but what I learned about the Nicene Creed and love to say about it is that it's a creed with some teeth to it. 

These two along with the Athanasian Creed are the three ecumenical ( I'm always afraid to use that word since the Charismatic Renewal Movement because the word sort of carries a different meaning for some folks, but I think the creeds can speak for themselves on this misunderstanding actually, if read. ), anyway these creeds were written in times when heresy threatened the Church. For instance, from the Nicene Creed we get a solid Christology when the false teaching that Jesus was a created being surfaced and began making the rounds.  

These creeds are not extra biblical information, no, they are our statement of faith as Christians. They are what we believe. 

They are a summary of the Scriptures and were constructed by church fathers and councils when most people did not have a Bible as we do today, and many couldn't read anyway. So reciting the creeds together in church was vital. Reciting the truths were meant to keep us on track in our faith and hold the shepherds accountable for what they were feeding Christ's sheep. So we could readily test the spirits as John instructed us in his epistle. ( 1 John 4 ) 

The creeds were to be read and taught to our children so they could be raised with sound biblical doctrine and learn to defend the Christian faith, be an effective witness of the Gospel, and disciple others.  It's sad to me that the creeds seem to have fallen out of fashion and are no longer read in many, I hate to say it, but most churches, along with the Lord's Prayer each Sunday. 

There's something so beautiful to me about a congregation reciting and confirming out loud what we believe about God and then reading the Scriptures together. There's Holy Spirit power in that as we obediently come and gather each week around Christ and his Word. 

I know speaking those doctrines summarized in the Apostles' Creed so often at such a young age along with the Lord's Prayer had a profound effect on my life. Even though I didn't come to faith in Christ for many years, those biblical, doctrinal truths never left my heart. Today it's my goal to make up for lost time and treasure them a bit more each day.

No wonder angels long to look into them. ( 1 Peter 1:12 ) 

💜

"I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. 

And I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And he will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

Amen"

💜

T.G.I.M. ( 6 minute read )

"One Holy Christian and Apostolic Church" Part 4 / Biblical Theology ( 6 minute read ) 

Hey, Friends, today I have a guest blogger! I am sharing a wonderful, short transcript from Barry Cooper lead pastor at Christ Community Church in Daytona, FL and who also holds a position at Ligonier Ministries. 

Since we've established that the true preaching of God's Word is the first mark of a true church I thought Pastor Cooper's words are relevant and insightful in laying a foundation of just what this true preaching will look like since last time I asked the question: How do we know we're learning the truth when we read the Bible because many teachers and preachers "use" the Bible unaware or aware for their own agendas or gain? 

This is worth the read: 

"The word Bible comes from the Greek word biblia, meaning “books.” What you hold in your hands when you hold a Bible is a library: a collection of documents.

But we shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking that this “library” is a random grab-bag or, as we say on my side of the pond, a hotch-potch. The books hang together as a whole. They’re more like single episodes in a sixty-six-episode TV season, with each “episode” developing and expanding and deepening the overall story line. The Bible as a whole has many, many themes that run all the way through it, all the way from Genesis to Revelation.

That is what biblical theology is all about: tracing those themes across the timeline of Scripture as a whole, to see how they develop.

Biblical theology is often contrasted with systematic theology. At the risk of oversimplifying, systematic theology is like reading an encyclopedia, and biblical theology is like reading a story. 

The first takes individual subjects—for example, “salvation”—and tries to summarize everything Scripture says on the subject. 

But biblical theology traces the theme of salvation as it grows and develops across Scripture from start to finish. Biblical theology recognizes that Scripture itself is not an encyclopedia. It is a story, a true story, played out across the stage of human history. Like any story, it has a beginning, a middle, and an end, and we won’t be able to understand the story as a whole if we don’t attend to all those pieces, in sequence.

Like any good story, although the biblical narrative involves many different characters, there is a hero at the heart of it all, and the story, ultimately, is about Him. Jesus Himself is clear about this when He says that all of Scripture “bears witness about me.”

After His resurrection, Jesus shows two of His disciples (on the road to Emmaus) how all of Scripture relates directly to Him. The text says that “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”

Now notice that Jesus began with Moses and the Prophets. He could presumably have just pointed to Himself and said, “Don’t worry about all that old stuff. I’m here now.” But no, Jesus encourages them—and us—to begin with Moses and the Prophets. That’s because if we don’t understand the “then,” we won’t properly understand the “now” or indeed the “not yet.” That is why we do biblical theology.

Read Scripture in this way, and you begin to see that there’s a progressive revelation at work, meaning that biblical truth becomes progressively clearer and clearer to us as the story develops. By the time we reach Revelation, we are able to see things in Genesis that we would have missed if we’d only had Genesis to go on. And we see things in Revelation we never would have seen had we not read Genesis first. As Augustine put it, “The New [Testament] is in the Old concealed; the Old is in the New revealed.”

Perhaps it might help us to see the value of biblical theology if we think for a moment about what might happen if we neglected it.

Let’s say I really want to understand Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (amazing book, by the way). It wouldn’t work if all I did was to dip in and out of it at random spots, pointing at individual sentences and saying, “Ah, so that’s what Jane Eyre’s all about.” It would also be unwise to start reading in the middle of the book without reference to what’s gone before. My picture of who Jane is, or who Mr. Rochester is, would be seriously impaired if I’d ignored the first nineteen chapters.

The best approach would be to read it from start to finish, to see how it unfolds as a story (that’s biblical theology). And then also, once I’ve done that, it would be good to dip in and out of it in different places to concentrate on particular themes (that would be systematic theology).

But to make sense of the “micro,” the details, we really need to get to grips with the “macro,” the overarching story of the whole book—the way the story unfolds, chapter by chapter, with each chapter building on the one before, revealing more and more about character and plot.

So it is with Scripture. And that’s why we do biblical theology."

💜

Happy Monday! 

"Stay cool in the pool," Aslan says. 😎

"One Holy Christian and Apostolic Church" Part 3 B

Yesterday I published the first part of this - I had made a couple of assertions and this part should help develop them out. I hope it makes sense. I just want to keep them short. Some friends have asked. 

So, since according to the Scriptures and biblical theologians, the first mark of a true church is the true preaching of God's Word, we need a contextual understanding of the Bible as a whole as well as that of the smaller parts that form the whole. This is of vital importance because what we believe about the Bible will determine what we believe about God. 

We were created for God, and the pursuit of our Christian lives is to know Him, the one true God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. This is eternal life. ( John 17:3 ) Do we actually "know" him or just maybe know some things "about" him? Or worse, do we believe what the American Gospel is selling, and thus believe in a god of our own making and not the God of the Bible? 

Throughout most of the last two-thousand years of church history, Christ's church has not had access to a Bible; many folks were actually illiterate and relied on the clergy to read and teach them the Scriptures. 

The main thrust of the Reformation was the "rediscovery" of the Bible ( and justification by faith alone ) and it was William Tyndale who promised to get the Bible into the hands of a plow boy that he may know more of the Scriptures than Tyndale himself. 

Praise God. I'm very sure I don't know as much of the Scripture as Tyndale, but I'm thankful for the ultimate price he paid for God's Holy Word. By the way, historically we can see that the church has had the most growth when we faced times of greatest persecution. And I'm willing to bet this is true on an individual basis as well. 

Coinciding with the invention of the printing press, the Reformation indeed made the Bible more accessible to the common people. Sadly, today we have more Bibles available to us, especially in the western world, and yet, people are just as biblically ignorant as ever. 

Why is that? 

Every era of church history has had its unique battles and heresy to combat, but the authority, inerrancy, and sufficiency of the Scriptures has been an on-going, never-ending bombardment against Christ's church down through all ages. 

I believe the enemy's greatest attack against us is to keep God's Word out of the hands and hearts of God's children because the Bible is God's revealed Word to his us, his "special revelation." You can see how it differs from the "general revelation" we see about God in his creation. ( Romans 1:19-20 ) His written Word is specific and gives us all we need to lead a godly life. 

And the Bible is how God actually speaks to us - how we know him. Satan would love nothing more than to blind us from this truth.  

And he's hard at it. 

The progressive movement here in America in the last century within the mainline denominations has questioned severely the inerrancy, authority, and sufficiency of the Scriptures and leaves it up to the church folk to decide what parts of the Bible we would like to keep and what offensive parts to toss out as antiquated and archaic. And in doing so, out goes the core, essential doctrines of the Christian faith. Thus, out goes Christianity altogether. 

Without the core doctrines, there is no faith. You know that, right? 

And if Satan can't start a dumpster fire with the Bible, he'll move onto plan B which is a twisting of the truth, and the temptation he used on Jesus. I guess he knew he couldn't get Jesus to disregard the Scriptures, so his tactic was to contort and twist God's Word. The devil is slick. 

And Jesus is God - so he didn't fall for it.

But Eve did. 

"Did God really say......?" The serpent deceived her. 

And she bit into the lie and gave some to her husband to eat. 

And as sons and daughters of Eve, let us not become prideful. We are just as susceptible today. Look at us! There are so many false teachings masquerading as the truth in our "Christian" culture just as the Bible said would happen. 

So again, what we believe about the Bible will influence what we believe about God and ourselves. We need to think deeply about this because there are movements claiming Christianity that have actually created a god that is not the God revealed in Scripture. There's is a distant or weak and impotent god, a god that man controls or a god more like Santa Clause than the one true God. 

And it's not enough just to have the Bible and be reading it!!!! 

We MUST have the correct interpretation of the Scriptures, a.k.a. "hermeneutics." There is only one true meaning of a text. It's not, "Let's go around the circle and everyone tell what this verse means to them" kind of a thing. That's dangerous. There can be different applications, but only one original meaning that God spoke to us. It doesn't matter what it means to us - we're the creatures. What matters is what it means to God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. The sovereign, eternal God. This is what matters. 

This is also where false teachers come into play. Remember, they "use" the Bible - that's how these wolves in sheep's wool snatch up and deceive people. There is always some truth mixed in with the error, as they also rely on their dreams and visions going beyond the Scriptures. ( Jude 8 ) We need to be aware of this, so we are not led astray. ( Matthew 24:4 ) 

A couple of weeks ago I was talking to a friend who is involved in a false movement Bible study where the author of the book they are using for the study not only rips verses out of their context to back up his false teaching, but continually tells of his dreams and visions instead of teaching the Bible. And my friend said in defense of the study, "But Rebecca, they do quote from the Bible!" 

"Exactly," I said, "So does Satan." ( Matthew 4:1-11 ) 

For example, if you've been in a church that has a misunderstanding of what it means to be created in the image of God and presents a false dichotomy of the creation story, teaching that God created man divine and you are just like Jesus, that's going to pollute your understanding of God, not to mention puffing up yourself with pride. Anything you attempt to build off of that false notion and foundation of being a little god, including your relationship with God, will end up crooked. 

So sound biblical hermeneutics is everything. "Sound interpretation leads to sound doctrine leads to sound living." 

We don't want to just possess an appearance of godliness with dead bones on the inside - that's what the American Gospel is producing. ( 2 Timothy 3:5 )  Rotten fruit is not the goal. 

But how do we know what we are learning is the truth? 

That's an important question. One we should take very seriously. 

For one thing we need to employ our God-given reasoning, common sense, and critical thinking skills. If you are in a church or movement that claims doctrine divides or that we don't need reasoning. Please grab your family and run to the nearest exit. 

Asking the question, "If God made man divine, how did Adam and Eve sin?" is just one small example of using our brains. Another one: Am I trusting this leader no matter what he spews or am I trusting what I read in the Bible? 

Or if we believe the Bible is outdated in modernity, how do we trust what we think is acceptable and not acceptable in the Scriptures when every church age has approved of all kinds of societal ills such as slavery and primogeniture at one time or another? 

Do you see what I mean? That's subjectivism. 

And for the love of all that is good in this world, we must read the Bible in context. Hijacking a verse out of God's original meaning is a common practice of false teachers. When I list a biblical reference in my blog, please, read the verses surrounding it. But better yet, read the entire chapter. I pray that my work inspires others to read and examine the Scriptures for themselves and know God better. 

There are hard things in the Bible, but we must let them stick if we are going to engage in authentic Bible study with any degree of integrity. The Bible is God's narrative, not ours. He alone says what it means. 

Lastly, and more importantly, the Holy Spirit doesn't just convict us of our sins; as I touched on briefly above, Jesus promises us that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, will guide us in the truth. He will never deceive us. We can trust Him as we trust Christ to lead us in paths of righteousness. ( John 16:12 ) 

I know this isn't what my blog is about today, but I also want to interject quickly that the Holy Spirit equips us to serve God. Whatever is on our plate each day, no matter how daunting a task, the Holy Spirit empowers us to see us through. With joy and grace, I might add, and to the glory of God the Father. ( Philippians 1:6, 2:12, 1 Peter 4"11, Colossians 1:29 ) 

So, pray before you open your Bible each morning that the Holy Spirit will also open your mind to understand the Scriptures. ( Luke 24:13-35 ) If you aren't attending a local church, pray for God to guide you to a Gospel-centered church that is committed to the true preaching of God's Word. Don't be in a hurry. Wait for it. If we come before our Father in Heaven with a hunger and desire to understand his Word to us accurately, and this among his saints, I know that's a prayer he will answer. 

He has been answering it for me and my family, and I know he will answer it for yours. Don't give in to the enemy's attacks. Keep praying. And I'll continue on these true church essentials in the blogs to come. 

💜

healingbrookfarm1.blogspot.com 

Friends, I want to share some prayers for you and your family: Teach us your way, O LORD, that we may walk in your truth; unite our hearts to fear your name. ( Psalm 86:11 ) Sanctify us in the truth, your word is truth. ( John 17:17 ) Please help us to divide Scripture rightly. ( 2 Timothy 2:15 ) ( Charles Spurgeon likened this verse to hoeing straight rows in a garden. I like that analogy. )  To handle your Word with fear and trembling. ( Isaiah 66:2 ) To hide it in our hearts that we may not sin against you. ( Psalm 119:11 ) Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly. ( Colossians 3:16 )  Each morning let us awake with a hunger for the Scriptures and let us taste and see that you are good. Satisfy us with good so that our youth is renewed like the eagle's. ( Psalm 5:3, Psalm 103, Psalm 19:7-11 )  Also Psalm 119 - it's all about the Scriptures. You can pray prayers right out of the Scriptures, not just from the Psalter. Paul's epistle prayers for the Church are amazing and another favorite is Daniel's humble prayer in The Book of Daniel chapter 9. 

Amen and amen. 

"One Holy Christian and Apostolic Church" Part 3 A

The most devastating thing about the American Gospel perhaps is its avoidance of preaching on subjects deemed "unpleasant" and not "seeker friendly," such biblical doctrines as sin, God's wrath and judgement, hell, atonement, blood sacrifice, suffering, and anything else not in accordance with the "gospel of nice." And yet, to not preach or convey these biblical truths is to not proclaim the true Gospel of Christ or preach the full counsel of God's Word. So how is that truly being "nice?" 

And at a more concerning level it means to not be obedient to our Lord's command of the Great Commission, and thus not to see souls saved. 

Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit comes he will convict the world of sin, but if sin is not preached, if the human condition of being dead in our trespasses and sin as Ephesians 2:1 clearly states, is not taught, how can people be convicted of their sins, repent, and come to faith in Christ? 

"And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" ( Romans 10:14 ) 

The American church is shooting itself in the foot by insisting that the love of God, along with His kindness and goodness be taught while God's other attributes, the offensive ones, that don't typically draw a crowd, be downplayed. How does this hollowed-out message help anyone? It doesn't. In fact, it adds a greater burden to the person already looking for relief from their sin, guilt, and shame. 

God's attributes are present in God all at once, all the time. He's not like us. When we are angry we can easily forget to love. God's love isn't severed from his justice or his mercy from his wrath. 

We tend to think that God's holy wrath is directed at innocence. No, God's holy wrath is directed at evil because He IS love. His love demands that he be a just judge and execute righteous judgement against sin. And He does and will. ( Romans 1:18, 2:5 ) 

If sin isn't preached and the truth told, is the Holy Spirit even in a church service? 

I think it's a fair and important question. And further, what is the proof of the Spirit's work in someone's life? Encounters, emotions, a warm feeling inside? How can we trust these things? 

If the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, righteousness, and judgement as Jesus says how can He be present to convict hearts if the preaching of the true Gospel as shown in the Scriptures, including man's sin and God's wrath isn't present?  ( John 16:8-15 ) I'm not trying to belabor the point, but in order for sinners to come to faith in Christ, they must first hear the word of Christ. ( Romans 10:17 ) 

And as believers, we still need to hear the Gospel message. We never get beyond it. I know, I write this a lot. But still, every sermon on any passage of Scripture will point to Christ in some way we haven't seen before. Each passage reveals more of the Godhead to us, and thus more of ourselves, so becoming an applied theology. Faith and practice. 

But we must hear the truth, and that means the whole truth, not just the parts we like, if we are to both be saved and then grow. Christ's sheep don't grow on a diet of self-help, positive confessions, pep talks, or bulletin points that more resemble a popular business model than the Word of God. 

The true Gospel is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes," ( Romans 1:16 ) and is the same power that transforms us into the image of Christ after our conversion. 

In my study on the denominations of Protestantism, I've learned there are three main criteria that biblical scholars, faithful Bible teachers, and Reformation theologians have agreed compose a true church from the Scriptures, ( even AI agreed lol ): 

1.) The true preaching of God's Word 

2.) The proper administration of the sacraments 

3.) The exercise of church discipline 

( These blogs are a series in response to my Roman Catholic friend who told me that his was the one true church, because we Protestants are divided into many denominations. And we are. However, another good friend in addition to my MIL educated me since that blog post that Roman Catholics actually do have denominations themselves. ) 

Spoiler alert: Christ's church is spread out all over the world, and as Saint Augustine reiterated, only God knows who are his. (2 Timothy 2:19 ) We don't. Yes, there are some evidences in a person's life, including their theology and character. However, it is very possible for a new believer to start out in a false church and eventually move to a true church. I suspect this happens a lot. 

I'll get to the second and third criteria in a later blog, but I wanted to expound some more on the first one. It's crucial the church get this one right, all of them, yes, but all other components of a true church are built off of the pure preaching of the God's Word. 

We have got to have a firm foundation on the Scriptures to ensure proper building. 

"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." ( 2 Timothy 4:1-2 ) 

Wow, that's strong language and a heavy exhortation coming from the Apostle Paul - who knows his time is short - to young pastor Timothy. He's charging him to preach the Word in the presence of God and Christ who is to judge us! 

With complete teaching! 

In other words, don't leave anything out. 

Paul tells the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:27 that he did not shrink from declaring to them the whole counsel of God. 

All of the Scripture must be taught. Old Testament and New Testament. We must be in churches that feed our souls if we are to be like Christ. That means even the above mentioned "uncomfortable" parts. 

We need a contextual understanding of the Bible as a whole as well as that of the smaller parts that form the whole. This is of vital importance because what we believe about the Bible will determine what we believe about God. 

I'm going to end here and post Part 3 B tomorrow because I'm attempting to keep these things short, like a 5 minute read, with hopefully small nourishing chunks for us to savor and think on in the between time. Friends, thank you for joining me and reading. 

Pops' Smoke Pit 

"One Holy Christian and Apostolic Church" Part 2

"I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so people fear before him." ( Ecclesiastes 3:14 ) 

"Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth." ( 5:2 ) 

"...then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out." ( 8:17 ) 

The first mark of a "true church" according to the Church Fathers, faithful Bible teachers, Reformation theologians, biblical scholars, ( and even AI agreed, lol ) is: The true preaching of God's Word. ( 2 Timothy 4:1-4 ) 

And some biblical truths are not sitting on the surface of the pages of Scripture for us to reach down and gather them up into our pails like seashells scattered on the beach, but rather they are hidden beneath the shoreline waiting for us to knell in anticipation and dig for their worth. 

God has revealed himself in this way in his Word to his Church. God says who He is - not us. 

I think of the Farmer indulging in one of his favorite pass times, walking along the far reaches of the waves with his earphones on his head and his metal detector in hand, hovering it over the terrain, listening intently for the beep. 

He's also found antiquated pieces of the past at our farm, some broken and chipped, no matter, I display the vintage dishes, rusty tools, and cloudy, glass bottles on shelves in my little cabin - tangible heirlooms of those who came before me. Artifacts I can wrap my dirty fingers around and imagine more clearly the life they lived. One man's trash is another man's treasure. 

I think about that this morning as I awake in the sweet, little guest room of my son and daughter-in-law's Atlanta home for a long weekend visit, and my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude to the Farmer who will watch over the farm and my dad to make this possible for me. It's those type of treasures, like the priceless, fragmented pieces of pottery on my fireplace mantel, that I am most thankful for in this life. 

God's grace, his amazing grace. This truth is not hidden in the least. 

My personal Bible reading plan has me excavating in the Book of Ecclesiastes today, along with Proverbs and Job they are known collectively as Scripture's "wisdom literature." With this in mind, I feel it best I read at least one portion out of them daily. 

Although Solomon never directly states in Ecclesiastes that God is sovereign, the truth weaves itself through every thought and verse. Man can not escape this reality of the God who created him, from his birth to his death to everything that lies in between. To not understand this biblical truth and live in light of it is foolishness Solomon warns. 

And yet, man is not a puppet on a string; man makes decisions. He has a free will. Or does he? 

When asked which of his theological writings he would hope to survive above all others, Martin Luther replied, "The Bondage of the Will." I think it's fitting that this year marks the 500th anniversary of that book. And thankfully it has survived. 

The book was in response to the on-going, and perhaps most famous, certainly I believe most important, debate in church history, between Luther and Erasmus, at least as important as St. Augustine and Pelagius in the 4th century, over freewill and predestination. 

Luther unpacks man's depravity, sin, God's sovereign grace, and explains how even though we may seem to be free spirits, ( I'm paraphrasing a bit ) when our first parents fell, it not only effected our physical bodies in sickness and death, but their sin also tainted our free spirits - including our minds and our wills. In other words, no part of us or our agency was left untouched by the power of that first sin.

We have a will, but it is in bondage. 

If we think we are free - try not to sin. It's impossible. One may possibly make a good effort at first, but the flesh eventually caves in on itself. Read Romans 7. Contrary to what some will have you to believe, in this chapter Paul is talking about being a saint - the verbiage is present tense. 

"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin." ( Romans 7:24&25 ) 

We are waiting for the redemption of our bodies. ( Romans 8:23 ) We are slaves to sin. We choose only in accordance with our nature. "no one seeks for God." ( Romans 3:11 ) 

Luther pointed out that if Satan rides, the will goes where Satan wills, If God rides, where God wills. Either way, there is no free choice. I know, it seems to be a hard pill to swallow, but honestly when I think about it this morning, I wouldn't want it any other way. 

J.I. Packer says in "Concise Theology: A guide to Historic Christian Beliefs" that what Augustine affirmed against Pelagius and most of the Greek Fathers is that original sin has robbed us of free will in the sense that we can choose God's way because we have no inclination Godward; our hearts are in bondage to sin, and only the grace of regeneration can free us from that slavery. 

We need God to be sovereign, and He is. Even if it were possible, do we really want man to be in charge? I do not. Look around at us. The only reason the earth doesn't crack down the center and split wide open from the power of sin is due to God's common grace and mercy over this place. 

"He has mercy over all that he has made." ( Psalm 145:9 ) "He rains on the just and the unjust" ( Matthew 5:45 ) "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy." ( Exodus 33:19, Romans 9:15 ) "His mercies are new every morning." ( Lamentations 3:23 )  

It took only one sin in the Garden of Eden to ruin all of humanity throughout the entire history of the world. Think about the power of that! 

Sin left without God's sovereign grace and mercy is hell. 

But what about our decisions?  I don't know. Even the greatest theologians couldn't thoroughly explain it. Charles Spurgeon said that the two don't need reconciled because they are friends. It's known theologically as "compatibilism" -  God's sovereignty and man's responsibility working some mysterious way together. 

Not only is this truth found in Ecclesiastes, but it cuts straight through the Scripture and spreads to every passage. 

From the life of not just Joseph, perhaps the most well-known example, but to all of the saints. And to his Son Jesus Christ as Peter tells the Jews gathered on the day of Pentecost that they were responsible for crucifying and killing Jesus. ( Acts 2 ) 

And yet it was also God's definite plan, Peter preached, without letting them off of the hook for their sin or by excusing them for being coerced. No, they were held responsible. "Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him.." ( Isaiah 53:10 ) This is the verse the Farmers says overwhelms his heart the most for the love and grace of God.  

For some, this tension between God's sovereignty and man's responsibility causes great angst, not to mention a headache, but for me, it brings great comfort. In this world that seems to be getting crazier by the minute and determined to bust hell wide open, I rest my body and spirit in the soft feather bed of this comforting doctrine.

One man's angst is another man's refreshment and joy, I guess. I thank God for his sovereignty in the midst of this messy world full of man's sinful debacles and frailty. What a hope for us to cling to. 

It's like one of those hidden treasures that has been unearthed in the red clay of Healing Brook. I love to pick it up from time to time and explore with visitors the mystery of what it means and where its been, and then place it back on the mantel to marvel at and enjoy. 

As I've pointed out before, in Christ, we are all learning and growing, and even the Church corporately, we see throughout her history, has followed in this painful and ponderous path of faith. And that doesn't happen over night. This is how God in his sovereignty has chosen to do things with his children, and we should all display grace to each other in these journeys. 

On the surface this can look like an ugly place, but the beautiful explanation is found hidden beneath the waves and beyond the clay and the sand. 

One day we will all have a new, perfect, resurrected body with a perfect will to match. For now, let's find comfort and unity together in Christ's Church in the mysterious ways he has seen fit to build us. 

Because what I do know is that while we were sinners, slaves to sin, Christ died for us, making us slaves instead to righteousness, clothed before God in His righteousness. Because of the sovereign grace of God alone, he has not allowed us to remain dead in our trespasses and sins. When we could do nothing to help ourselves, God sent his Son to do what we could never do. 

We could not unlock the shackles, but Christ has set us free. ( Galatians 5:1, John 8:36 ) 

Repent and believe. 

💜

"And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

'Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’

for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place." ( Acts 4:24-28 ) 

"This is the end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every evil deed into judgement, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." ( Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ) 

"If God be for us..."

"There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories." Ursula K. Le Guin 

My one and only grandson is five and a half. That "half" is important to a child. The other day Jonah asked me, "Gigi, how did Jesus walk on the water?" I said, "Jesus is God." I thought for a minute how to introduce to his small mind the concept and mystery of the Trinity, but before I could begin my teaching moment, he replied, "I know, Gigi, God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit." 

"Wow," I said, "Your parents are doing a great job." The next day I told the story to his uncle on the phone who as a young adult struggled in his faith, walked away, and in recent years has been rebuilding, or I should say Jesus has been rebuilding. ( Matthew 16:18 ) 

And I've been learning how far to stand back from the construction site and just observe the raw beauty in my hard hat. The Holy Spirit has our teaching moments. 

He said, "Mom, I see now that all of the Christian life can be summed up in the story of Peter walking on the water. For years I heard that if you come to Jesus, things will be better and smoother; you can attain your dreams. Everything will be fine, but that didn't happen for me." 

"However, when I walked the other way, away from Jesus, I kept sinking. I finally realized I can't do this without Him." You come on Christ's terms, not your own. You give up your life to follow him." ( Mark 8:34, Matthew 16:24, Luke 9:23 ) 

"When Peter wanted to get out of the boat and come to Jesus, Jesus said, 'Come.' Peter climbed over and walked on the stormy sea, but he began to sink when he took his eyes off of Jesus." 

Matthew 14:22-33 unfolds the narrative. It says that the boat was beaten by the waves because the wind was against them.

He went on to say, "When we come to faith in Christ, so many people think it will be calm and smooth sailing, that the storms cease, but the Bible doesn't teach this. I don't understand all of the Bible, but I'm reading it each morning. And the wind is against us. The storm didn't go away when Peter got out of the boat. The storms continue to rage, and we walk on top of them if we keep our eyes on Jesus. If we don't, we sink." 

"That's the Christian life in a nutshell," he said. 

"Who was it that just sat at Jesus's feet and listened to him, Martha?" 

"No, Martha was the one who was running around worrying about everything," I said, It was her sister Mary who was listening to Jesus." 

"Jesus said that Mary chose the good part - she had her eyes on Him. We're suppose to be like Mary," he said. 

"Yes, yes we are." 

I told these stories to his grandmother shortly after that. She said, "That is beautiful and so true. I love this." It touched her heart. She said that we tend to think we have to do some great purpose for the kingom of God, but we are called to be faithful with what is in front of us each day. This is greatness. 

Like Jesus, we come to serve and not be served. ( Matthew 20:28 ) 

The wind was against them. It's against us too, we're not different. But Christ is for us. That's all that matters. That's all we need to know and all we need to sustain us and hold onto each day in our faithfulness, and if we think we are beginning to sink, reach out to him. And do you know what is mysterious and so amazing about all of this? 

In our mind's eye we see Jesus grabbing us up out of the stormy sea; we gasp taking great breaths of air for dear life, but the truth is: He never let go of us. 

How do I know this? 

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh could not do." ( Romans 8:1-3 ) 

God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit 

💜

Happy Weekend! 

Happy Father's Day

"They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green.." 

I know you have deep sadness in your life, much of it we carry together. Loved ones gone, estranged, or miles away, even the good memories we share seem to hold a breath of pain. However, I find comfort in the twinkle of your soft blue eyes whenever you tell one of your medical team members a corny joke. 

Or when you hold out your fist to each resident as you roll by. And they bump your fist with theirs. And you make them smile. 

I love on the video chats with your great-grandchildren how you call them each by their full names as if somehow this acknowledgement causes the moment to press deeper into your soul. These happy moments - I know you don't want to forget them. I love that you lived to see my grandchildren, and I love how you tell yours that you're praying God's very best for them every single day. And you do. 

I guess I shouldn't be surprised by all of your visitors; even though you are a quiet man, you are kind and gentle. It says so much about their character, and about yours, the Christ-likeness. Neither goes unnoticed to me. 

I'm sorry Mom has been gone for so long now, but I not sorry for how much better I know you. And you know me. I smile and laugh through tears when I think of the arguments we've had and how much patience you shower on me as I navigate this uncharted journey through decisions, paper work, appointments, and attempting to take your fun foods away. 

I have to admit I love the Wendy's meals we've shared in your little room, and the baseball games, and watching Sovereignty run his races has been an extra special blessing. And what a perfect, poignant name!  A handsome descendant of the legendary Secretariat we kept up with together in his glorious victories that summer I turned nine and cheered as he won the Triple Crown. 

I love the joy we've experienced together, but I don't despise the heartache we've endured because it's made us both stronger and better. I love how God has used every inch of our pain to draw us together and into Christ, preparing for us both an eternal weight of glory in the life to come. 

I pray God will let me bring you home soon. I know you're tired and ready, but I pray he grants us a bit more time together before he takes you to the home he's preparing for you. I know that's probably selfish, but I cherish you, Dad. 

I love how you pray for me every time I have to leave you, and you say, "I'm okay. Tell the ducks hello."  

"I love birds because of you, Dad. You instilled that in me. 

And I love you too. 

Happy Father's Day, Dad! 

💙

"The righteous flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him." ( Psalm 92:12-15 ) 

T.G.I.M.

"This I know, that God is for me." ( Psalm 56:9 ) 

This morning in the predawn hours while the farm still sleeps, after a night of storms, I sit in the calm and quietness, to think for a moment before I read. Bible and coffee on my lap. Cleo purrs and pushes against me, imploring and insisting I make room for her too.

Today I'm attempting to wrap my mind around my oldest man child turning 40. It's the sort of thing that causes one to pause and reflect and take stock, to catch ones breath. At least it is for me, but I tend to think too much. Blessing or curse, it passed on to him too; both of us, perhaps too philosophical for our own good. 

I think about the walks we took near his old home in Atlanta before he and Melissa bought their first house a suburb over. We'd stroll down the wide sidewalk of Ponce de Leon Avenue. On one side of us would be the busy street traffic, beside the flow of cars was the constant stream of boxcars clanking over the steel rails. Oftentimes Johnny and I would have to shout over the noise in our existential debating. 

However, on the other side of our walk there was no life whatsoever, well except for the occasional visitor or dog walker. It is a cemetery spread out as far as the eye can see. Quiet, with a bit of an uneasiness to it. I couldn't remember seeing a cemetery so big. I would always point out to Johnny what a stark reality and sobering picture it was of this fragile existence we all walk through. Life and death on either side. How is it all governed? 

Before we could reach any solid conclusions on the problem of evil or solve the world's collective dilemmas, the sidewalk would run out, and we'd pivot around to go back to their apartment. But not before we stood a minute to enjoy the savory smells that floated out of the Dai Sing Noodle and Fortune Cookie Factory. 

In the last few years in the new neighborhood walks, my heart becomes overwhelmed with the grace of God in our lives. He allowed mental illness, doubt, death, and heartache, but saw us through. He didn't leave us to fend for ourselves. He also allowed mercy, belief, joy, and laughter. Johnny and I talk about this. 

God didn't cut and discard the pain from our lives like editing scraps on a director's floor, no, he was using it all along to transform us into the image of Christ. Nothing is wasted. The purposes and workings of our Sovereign Lord in his children's lives may be beyond our understanding, and how it all works itself out with our free agency, but the mystery is a sweetness too good to ignore. 

This morning I decided that's one of the perks of getting older and having a kid turn 40 - there's enough journey behind you to see much of God's almighty and gracious hand, and we should never pass up a chance to sit in the quiet and savor the sweetness. And to be thankful for it all. 

These walks have been some of my favorite life memories. I see now arriving at truth meant arriving back home. 

So, blessing it is, and never a curse. One can never think too much about God! 

In Christ, no matter what, it is always and always will be that God is for us! This I know. 

Happy Birthday, Johnny! 

I love you. 💙

Johnny & Melissa celebrating life. 

First Things First, and Always

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas ( Peter ), then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles." ( 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 )

This weekend I posted an unpacking of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on my blog site, although can anyone of us truly unpack the Gospel sufficiently or completely of its worth? 

Today as we head to Sunday worship service, I think it's important to remember that as our pastors and elders teach us the Scriptures, we don't leave the Gospel behind like it's a done deal, once for all time knowledge. Paul said that it was of first importance. I've even heard the Gospel described as the Scriptures. It may be a bit confusing, but here's why I believe: 

We always bring the knowledge of the Gospel with us. never leaving it behind as we journey to a deeper understanding of the full counsel of God's Word. For instance everyday, I see new ( and old )  sins I need to repent of. Each morning and throughout our day, we meditate on the love and mediation Christ has for us in our salvation; the grace and mercy of God in Christ overwhelms our hearts in new ways as we understand and experience them at greater levels. 

Maybe, we could understand the Gospel as an everlasting, gracious life preserver that fits tightly around us as we explore the deep doctrines of our faith. 

We have learned those elementary truths, and we are saved but once. However, as we grow, or learn to swim, so to speak, we keep the life vest firmly in place, never forgetting its worth. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the foundation we build on, but it is also the substance that permeates every other precious truth we learn about God and us as we increase in the knowledge of his will. We are working our way through the Book of Exodus on Sunday mornings and each week I am astounded at the Gospel of Christ that weaves through everything God commanded and instructed his people to do after delivering them from slavery. 

"Every verse whispers his name." 

I think as we study all of Scripture, it helps bring the Gospel into sharper focus, also as we begin to live these truths out in our lives, in time, they help us explain the Gospel to others in a more complete and sufficient way. 

A mixed bag of metaphors this morning, I know, but hopefully, like a tug boat, bringing some clarity and truth in tow.

Happy Sunday! 

💜

"What Must I Do To Be Saved?"

"There are those who are clean in their own eyes, but are not washed of their filth." ( Proverbs 30:12 )

"Jesus answered him, 'If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.'" ( John 13:8 ) 

"What must I do to be saved?"  ( Acts 16:30 ) 

In my study of Christian denominations, I think it's best that nothing be assumed and that I lay a proper foundation to build upon. I should define my terms so to speak. Because depending on who you ask about how one is saved, the question could generate a plethora of answers. 

At various times, when I've heard someone attempting to explain something, they often start with what that particular thing isn't. So I decided to try that route too. 

I don't like to drag American politics into my blog, but the first example that popped into my mind, yes, I know, that's possibly my first mistake, but the first one that came to me is the interview I saw last year of President Trump and Laura Ingram on Fox News. You can google it. 

I'm not saying that I agree or disagree with anything in that interview; truth be told, I don't watch the news, possibly to a fault. But I overheard this conversation when the Farmer was following the election, and it piqued by interest. 

I want to primarily focus on a couple of sentences. In this interview before he was elected to his second term, Laura asked various political questions to Donald Trump, and then, a bit abruptly, changes her direction and asks him what he prays for. 

Trump goes on to talk about how Americans aren't as religious as they once were and says,"Religion gives you some hope, gee, if I'm good I'm going to heaven." 

Laura quickly pipes in and asked him if he believes in heaven, and Trump says that he does. He goes on to say again, "If I'm good I'm going to heaven." And then interestingly he says, "and if I'm bad I'm going to some place else, like, over there, right?" 

Over there? Over where? 

I think it's interesting that Trump, for whatever reason, doesn't or can't bring himself to say the word "hell." I mean, I've heard him say "hell" many times in speeches, so it's puzzling as to why he didn't say it then. Oh well, those are just my musings. 

Back though to the part about going to heaven. To put it bluntly, "If I'm good I'm going to heaven" is a gross misunderstanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that's taught on every page of Scripture. One would think Trump's "spiritual advisors" would have taken him aside and explained the Gospel more accurately to him. Again, my musings. 

If you are a true born again believer, you know that you came to saving faith by God's grace alone, through faith alone, in the atoning work of Jesus Christ on your behalf when you were convicted of your sins, repented of them, and trusted Christ for the forgiveness of your sins even if you couldn't quite articulate it in theological terms at the time. 

Not many of us could. 

That's okay. Our new way of walking is about to begin in the renewing of our mind, and glory hallelujah, our teacher and guide is the Holy Spirit himself who gets right to work in transforming our old nature into the image of Christ.

But I have to say that if someone asked any of us, even in our spiritual infancy, how we get to heaven, I have to believe most would say something like, "By the blood of Christ." Or at least, "in Christ" or "by Jesus" or "by the grace of God." 

Scripture teaches us that our good works can't save us. 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." ( Ephesians 2:8-9 ) 

In the beginning, God created a good world with good creatures and good humans, but after Adam and Eve, our first parents, sinned that goodness went from bad to worse because their sin was then imparted to everyone born after them. 

( Genesis 3:15, 6:9, Isaiah 53, 64, Psalm 14, 38, 51, 53, 143:2, Proverbs 20:9, Job 42, Jeremiah 15, 17, John 3:18, Romans 3, Ephesians 2:1-3, 1 John ) 

"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned ---") ( Romans 5:12 ) 

"None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." ( Romans 3:10-12 ) 

We can still do good things for people, but because of our sin nature, these good works are like filthy rags before the holy God of creation. In fact, Jesus told Nicodemus we are condemned. ( John 3:18 ) 

What are we to do? 

There's nothing we can do. 

To be acceptable before a thrice holy God, God's holy standard must be met perfectly. That standard is revealed in the law, the Ten Commandments, and no human being can obey the law completely. We stand condemned before God, dirty, dressed in filthy rags. Separated from the God who created us. 

This knowledge always reminds me of C.S. Lewis's ontological argument for the existence of God in Mere Christianity: Inside of us, we all know there is a moral law. We know we should be obeying it; however, we also know, try as we might, we can't. ( That's a paraphrase. ) Paul calls it the natural law inside of us. 

Some have said when presented with this truth, "He's God, he can just forgive us - He can look the other way." 

"No, he can't do that. God is perfect in all of his attributes including justice. If he let us go without payment for our sins against him, he would not be just. God in no way can clear the guilty. Payment must be rendered. ( Exodus 34:7 ) 

And anyway, do we really want a God who isn't just? Think about that. A judge who will do a "wink-wink," and pardon the worst crimes imaginable? If one of our loved ones was raped and murdered, would we want the judge to let the criminal go without handing down the punishment? Heck no. Christians rejoice in the hope that there will be a day of reckoning, a final judgement day when God executes justice for all the sick atrocities this world has ever known. 

God's wrath is holy. 

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." ( Romans 1:18 ) 

And here's the Good News on the heels of all of this bad news about our sin nature and the creation that groans around us to be restored: God provided the sacrifice himself. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." ( John 3:16 ) 

I have two sons, and I can tell you, it would be worse to watch them go through a beating than to take it myself. Anyone would feel this way. This one act alone displays to us the unimaginable grace and mercy of God. Unfathomable. Simply unfathomable. 

Jesus Christ not only died the death we should have died, but lived the perfect life, obeying God's law completely, that we could never live. That's why he came as a baby and was wrapped not just in swaddling clothes but in human flesh, so he could be a faithful high priest. He experienced all we experience, was tempted as we are tempted. Completely God and completely man. He did NOT lay aside his divinity. Or else he couldn't have paid for our sins with his perfect life. And He did it all for us, willingly. 

Now when we repent of our sins and trust in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, we can be reconciled back to God. 

Friends, even though I feel I've just bumbled my way through this explanation, we must be clear on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the power of God for salvation. ( Romans 1:16 ) Nothing else. 

When I talk with folks who say that they don't want anything to do with being a Christian, and then I listen to their explanation of Christianity, I realize that what they just interpreted to me was a false gospel. 

It's either works-righteousness, a gospel they know they can never attain. Or it's all the prosperity, health-wealth, and faith message stuff that turns them off, along with the TV preachers and televangelists exploiting the poor and gullible out of their last dollar in return for a "miracle" or a "breakthrough." I get it. The Gospel is not for sale. 

I tell them that I don't like that stuff either. If someone is rejecting true Christianity, I can live with that, but not if they are rejecting a false gospel. I reject that as well. I think that's why when a high profile individual speaks or insinuates something false about the true Christian Gospel, we need to counter it. We need to bring clarity. 

As I said in my last blog, the Scriptures don't command us to make nice; they require us to cultivate and show kindness, speaking the truth in love. Love doesn't watch while others crash and burn. Love warns. Love rescues. 

So in the final analysis, "If I'm good, I'm going to heaven," spoken in its proper context and meaning is actually right. 

The only way I can get into heaven and be in the presence of the holy God of the universe is to be good, through and through. But the question remains - How can I achieve such goodness? By my own efforts or the efforts of another? 

That's a question we all need to ponder. Paul reminds us to examine ourselves to see if we are indeed in the faith. ( 2 Corinthians 13:5 ) Did President Trump mean that? When Trump said, "If I'm good, I'm going to heaven," did he mean the goodness that can only be attained when we are imputed with the righteousness of Christ at the moment of justification? Is that what he meant? No offense, but I don't think so. 

And I'm not giving Trump the benefit of the doubt either. I pray for his salvation because God alone knows the human heart he created. I care deeply about his soul as I do that of President Biden, and I prayed for him when he was in office. 

Romans 13 and other passages instruct Christians to pray for our government leaders and those in positions of authority over us whether we agree with them or not."For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." ( v.1 ) 

"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings." ( Daniel 2:21 ) 

God is sovereign in all things. 

So back to the question: "What must I do to be saved?"

 Nothing. 

"I" can't do anything to be saved. That's the whole point of Christ coming into the world. In fact, that's the entire biblical narrative: God sending his Redeemer to save and reconcile his sinful people back to him. It is truly found on every page of Scripture in one beautiful form or another. 

Friends, if you feel you must bring something to Christ in order to be saved, great, bring your sin. When you confess your sin, he's faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Jesus Christ will exchange your feeble attempts at earning your own salvation along with your filthy rags for a robe of righteousness without spot or blemish, secured in heaven for you. 

By Christ alone. Now you can enter heaven in the joy of your Master and live with Him forever. To God be the glory alone. 

The jailer "trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.'" ( Acts 16:29 - 31 ) 

"Oh, to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be. Let thy goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to thee." 

Repent and believe in Christ 

💜

I know this is a bit lengthy, but I wanted the Gospel unpacked on my pages. Thanks for reading! 

I have to get a jump on the decorations.

Soli Deo Gloria

"Let the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." ( Psalm 19:14 ) 

A couple of years ago a fairly well-known minister passed away and the next morning after his death, I began to scroll online to see what other fairly well-known folks were saying about him. I came to a tribute written by a fairly well-known Christian women's speaker and author. As I read the short homage, I was struck with the beauty of the words, the metaphors, and the sparkling sentences, and I said out loud, "Gee, I wish I could write like that." 

I read it again, a second time, just to hear the shear eloquence of the words roll off of my tongue. The third time I got down to business and looked specifically for the substance of the matter. What impact did the pastor make on her life; how was she better for knowing him? 

But I quickly realized that there was no substance, no richness. For all of the seemingly organic metaphors and exquisite language and shiny sentences, it lacked any degree of density. It satisfied like a stick of cotton candy on an empty stomach. 

She wasn't actually saying anything. It didn't seem like she even knew the man. And I never forgot this moment because it really, really made me think. 

This woman obviously has a great talent, but I found myself not envying her anymore. I want what I write to have substance. And it's not to say at all that she never does, honestly, I don't know. I just know that day was some type of awakening for me in what I do for the kingdom of God. I saw it with a fresh set of eyes. I took it more seriously. 

Paul told the Corinthians, "And I when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you expect Jesus Christ and him crucified." ( 2:1-2 ) I love these words - they have become beautiful to me because in two sentences Paul sums up the Christian life and focus. He didn't back down from speaking and writing the greatest substance of all. 

"Jesus is the substance."

The Scriptures do not teach us to make nice; they command us to cultivate and display kindness and to speak plainly. They teach us to speak the truth in love, and often times, the truth hurts. But love doesn't watch someone go down in flames. Love rescues. 

God has given all of us gifts of one sort or another, and what we may not realize is that as his children, his fellow workers and workmanship, our Sovereign Lord determines not only the talents we are given, but how we use them for his glory. The Spirit gives a variety of gifts, services, and activities, as He wills. Not us. 

This should cause us to pause and meditate. Scripture reveals to us that the purpose of our gifts are for the common good and to build up Christ's Church. Since Christ is the One doing the building through us, it only makes sense that we follow his blueprint. 

Whatever we speak or write, whether it's to our children or to a neighbor or to a coworker or to blog readers, I believe the substance of those words will be determined by the condition and motivation of our heart, to please us or to please our heavenly Father. To be acceptable to us and others, or to be acceptable to Him. For our glory or for His. 

💜

An early birthday present from my Farmer

"The Proof in the Pudding"

Knowing God by J.I. Packer is perhaps the book that has most helped me in my Christian faith outside of the Bible. We should read good books - I wanted to say this after yesterday's blog post. The books I was referring to were most current trendy "Christian" literature on the market today. 

I don't want to insinuate that we can't read books outside of the Bible. We can and should. The thing about a good book is that it will help deepen your faith by unwrapping the biblical truths a layer at a time to slowly reveal the treasure inside. It will help us understand the Bible better and lead us not only to know about God, but to know him. 

Maybe it's like listening to a good sermon. We are participants, if that makes sense. Our pastor reads a particular passage of Scripture and then he begins to unfold the napkin, I'm mixing metaphors here. The unrolling of the cloth reveals the sparkling silverware. 

The spoon feeds me the easy to digest foods that may be gleaned from the top layer, but the fork offers the solid meat that's been dug out from underneath the top. The knife cuts me to the heart over my sin in the ways I have not followed God's truth, but the gapping, raw wound is needed and allows for the infection to be extracted and for healing to begin in that area of my life. 

I don't just sit in the pew in a state of inactivity while the pastor spoon feeds me - I hear, take notes, and receive the goodness. On the way home, I meditate on the words I heard and during the week I apply them. 

The sermon doesn't tickle my ears, but confronts my heart and reveals Christ. This is the power of the Scriptures. Jesus instructs shepherds to feed his lambs and sheep and to tend to them, but we sheep have work to do also in chewing and swallowing the meal. It has to get into us if its to do any good. ( John 21 ) 

I know, I'm all over the place today with metaphors. But the Bible itself uses many different pictures to describe the Christian life; these comparisons are beneficial in helping us see the truth. Rarely does God spell things out in his Word, but the doctrines of grace are unearthed out of the historical narrative, poetry, letters, prophecies, and commandments. 

Studying the Scriptures is a beautiful endeavor. 

In the same way, I believe we interact with a good book. As we read, we begin to make notes in the margin and highlight the parts we don't want to forget. We pause and think about what we just read, or maybe reread a certain paragraph over again and again to grasp the author's point and for the meaning to sink into our hearts. A good book should strengthen our faith. 

I guess I should stop and reiterate that I'm not talking about all books. Most of what is pumped out and placed on racks in book stores under the heading "Christian" is sadly not edible for sheep. I have read many of these bestsellers in the past, and still do at times. I do this to get a flavor of what's out there under the banner of Christianity. And most all of the books are shallow, empty, and self-centered, nothing like the richness of an old Christian classic that's withstood the test of time. I don't know how else to say it. 

I'm not saying we shouldn't read modern books; there are some great ones out there. I'm just saying that you have to dig for them, and it's worth the hunt. Knowing God was published in 1973, so it's not an ancient book, but it's certainly held up over the years. Sovereign Grace Music even wrote a playlist based off the book. 

They say on their website that SGM exists to write songs that are theologically driven and Christ-exalting. They say Dr. Packer's Knowing God isn't just a book to be read, but songs waiting to be sung. So I believe we should extend this to music too. Read good books and sing good songs. It matters greatly. We are feeding our souls. 

I just wanted to say that this morning - to encourage all of us to read our Bible and to be careful what we read and listen to. Friends, more than anything I want to encourage you in your pursuit of "the one true God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent." ( John 17:3 ) 

I'll end with a quote from Knowing God, if you're looking now for a good book, please consider it. I know "beach season" is upon us, so maybe it can be your vacation read this summer. I'll even post my Mac wallpaper of my favorite little people who went to the beach on their spring break to inspire you. 

Happy reading! 

"so we are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about the God whose world it is and who runs it. The world becomes a strange, mad, painful place, and life in it a disappointing and unpleasant business for those who don't know about God." 

"I ask you for the moment to stop your ears to those who tell you there is no road to knowledge about God, and come a little way with me and see. After all, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and anyone who is actually following a recognized road will not be too worried if he hears non-travelers telling each other that no such road exists." 

"Storm or no storm, then, we are going to start. But how do we plot our course?" ( page 15 ) cliffhanger lol

T.G.I.M.

If I'm being honest, sometimes I get agitated and anxious by all of the "Christian" voices that surround our culture today and have even infiltrated the Church - this movement and that movement, this prophesy, that word, this best-selling book. How can one possibly know if anything anyone is claiming is true? I was thinking this morning about how the noise just seems to be getting louder and louder, and more annoying by the minute. 

I immediately thought of the character Christian in the Puritan John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. I went to look for my well-worn copy, and as I dug it out was thankful the book originally belonged to my sons' back in the day. 

However, Christian is anxious too and doesn't know what to do. The Evangelist gives him a roll of parchment to read that said, 

"Fly from the wrath to come." 

"But fly where?" 

"Do you see the distant wicket gate"? 

"No." 

"Do you see the distant shining light?" 

"I think I do." 

"Then follow the light. Knock on the gate. You shall be told what to do." 

"So the man began to run. Seeing him, his wife and children cried after him to return. But the man put his fingers in his ears and ran on crying, "Life! Life! Eternal life!" 

When questioned by "Obstinate" and "Pliable" if he meant to leave friends and comforts behind? 

"Yes, answered, Christian, for that was now the man's name. Those are not worthy to be compared with what I seek. I seek an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that never fades away. It awaits in heaven, to be bestowed on those who diligently seek it. Read about it in my Bible." 

In the midst of all of the confusion and claims to Christianity in this day and age, we must run like Christian, like prodigal children seeing our Father in the distance running more vigorous toward us than us to him. With our fingers shoved into our ears drowning out the clamor of false ways and the voices begging us to return to the slop, we must focus on the light and be assured that we will, in deed, arrive at the truth. 

It's a jungle out there. 

And this is the Scripture I want to share; it's the Apostle Paul in his last letter before his execution by Nero to young pastor Timothy. When a person knows they are about to die, I believe they will leave us with what is closest to their heart. And Paul knew a thing or two about suffering and living in the midst of a world gone mad. 

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." ( 2 Timothy 3:16 & 17 ) 

Paul is saying to Timothy and to us that God's Word - the sacred writings - are enough. They are sufficient. In other words, if I don't ever hear a word from God outside of the Scriptures, I won't be incomplete because he promises that his Word completes me. 

This doesn't mean I don't listen to my brothers and sisters in Christ or wise counsel from trusted mentors - I think this passage speaks into that for itself. 

And for the love of all that is good in this world, "test the spirits" and "weigh the prophecies." ( 1 John 4:1, 1 Thess. 5:20-21, 1 Corinthians 14:29 ) Examine the theology and character. ( Matthew 7:15-20, 1 John 4:1-6 ) God gives sobering and scary warnings in Scripture to those who speak a word that he did not speak. ( Deuteronomy 13, 18, Jeremiah 14:14, Ezekiel 13:9, Matthew 7:21-23, this is just the tip of the iceberg. ) Of course, we don't put false prophets to death today, but that does inform us of just how serious it is to God to speak a word for him that he did not speak. Be careful. 

But what this passage in 2 Timothy does mean is that I won't fail in God's purposes for me if I don't listen to the latest prophecy so I "can know how to be prepared for what's coming" ( hint: read the Book of Revelation ) or buy the latest "Christian" book or purchase the author's set of CDs for three easy payments. 

Psalms 119:105 tells us that God's Word is the lamp to our feet and light to our path, not anything else. 

And the Apostle Peter instructs us, interestingly also right before his death, not to even look to the fact that he was on the holy mountain top with Jesus and saw his glory. He uses this glorious experience to testify that the Resurrection is real, that what he and the other apostles are proclaiming is true. We can believe them - they were there. 

But he points us not to the experience for our nourishment and completion, but to "the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts knowing first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." ( 2 Peter 1:16-21 ) 

Why would we ever want to take someone else's word, be it the latest movement or whatever, over the prophesy of Scripture produced by God himself? 

This week, my Friend, stick your fingers in your ears if that's what it takes to quell the clamoring voices and focus on the objective Truth, the Holy Word of God Almighty, that promises it alone is sufficient to see you through.  

And run like a wild child toward the arms of your Father. 

"follow the light" 

"Life! Life! Eternal life!"

"Read about it in my Bible."

Happy Monday! 

"Therefore since we are surrounded by such great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter to our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." ( Hebrews 12:1-2 ) 

"One Holy Christian and Apostolic Church"

I have a good friend who is Roman Catholic, and he and I undertake in amicable, doctrinal discussions from time to time. Not too long ago though he said something to me that has sent me on another spiritual adventure which is why we should listen and engage with others from differing traditions and not just our own tribe, so to speak. And "tribe" is precisely what he has me thinking on. 

He asserted that his church is the one true church because in Protestantism we have a gazillion different denominations. It is a fair point - because we do. 

I told him even so, Protestants are united and fully committed to the authentic Gospel of Jesus Christ which is not just something we confess once and are done with, no, but the Gospel is the entirety of Scripture. 

Furthermore, two distinctive doctrines at the heart of this discussion make all Protestants Protestant. In other words, though we may disagree on such issues as say, infant baptism and the particulars of predestination, within those denominations, and I'm not letting denominationalism off the hook here, but there are deep, abiding commonalities that glue us all together. 

These essentials of the faith are what the Reformation fathers gave their hearts and lives to and for: Justification by faith alone and the supremacy of Scripture over all things, as well as inerrancy and sufficiency. 

Sadly, even many who claim to be a Protestant don't know this. Some will even assert that they are not protesting anything. Protesting, in and of itself is not bad. Somethings are worth protesting for and sticking to our guns over, and the Bible is one of them. Justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone is another. 

I've found the greatest course of study we as Christians can embark on outside of the Scriptures is a study of Church History, aka our family tree. As Christians, of course, we do study other things other than the Bible even though these studies, in one way or another, seem to lead us right back to God and his Word. 

I continually study the science of veterinarian, farm medicine out of need. Not only has it saved money but has helped ensure a healthy maintenance of our flocks and herd, which also saves money and time, helping me to be a better steward of the little chunk of God's creation that's in my charge. 

But I know my limitations. Today, in fact, my wonderful vet is making a farm visit to draw the dogs' blood and administer rabies shots. And I'll pick her brain as usual, like I do my wonderful Roman Catholic friend who I love dearly. 

The Farmer's extent of study is too broad to post - he's quite the renaissance man. But it's worth noting that God has given us the gifts of a mind and reason, a curiosity to study and learn about all aspects of his creation along with the critical thinking skills needed to ponder it all. He has revealed himself in his Word ( Hebrews 1 ) and through his creation ( Romans 1 ) which includes the amazing creatures who inhabit it. We in turn manufacture all kinds of products, handiwork, technology, and art by this God-given wisdom he allows us to acquire. 

Both learning the Scriptures and our relationship with Christ are a progressive reality. Each day I feel I learn a bit more of spiritual truth and grow closer to Him at the same time, as well as the proper procedure in turning a lamb in the womb. This is how God has arranged our learning. It's not overnight, but through the processes of study, experience, listening, and meditating. 

From the study of God's doctrines of grace in Scripture, our praise springs forth. 

Back to the many Protestant denominations. I want to cover this in some more detail in further blog posts because I'm just getting started with the research and learning. In my doctrinal class at Grace Church, we use John Frame's Systematic Theology Book for our study, and in the chapters on ecclesiology, ( the study of the church ), Frame, a reformed theologian, who I can tell isn't too keen on denominations, doesn't get into as much as he'd like on the subject, but does recommend another book of his for further study and reflection: Evangelical Reunion, Denominations and the Body of Christ. In case you're interested. I also recommend his theology book which is unlike any I've read as it is written in first person and delightfully personal and easy to understand. 

I ordered the denominational book and have been working my way through it and would like to leave you with an encouraging word. It may even be the summary in all of our wonderings about why a sovereign God would allow such divisions in his Church, although I believe and can see through Church History that God not only grows us in the Body of Christ as individuals who start out as babies nursing milk who progress eventually to sinking our teeth into the solid meat, but the Church as a whole is growing in this child-like manner as well.

For instance, "the Church existed for 300 years before agreeing on a definitive formulation of the doctrine of the Trinity." ( pg.92 ) Thanks to our Church fathers' due diligence in the study of the Scriptures, the Church understands these biblical core truths summarized in creeds, confessionals, and catechisms to deepen that understanding and teach to our children. 

And this pattern continues throughout the centuries with other biblical truths as the doctrines are not always presented straightforward, but are slowly extracted from the Scripture's various genres and types of language, including poetry, narrative, wisdom literature, apocalyptic, law, and epistles, in indicatives, imperatives, parables, so on and so forth...

Again we see how God has encouraged us to use our minds to love him as well as our hearts. This is how God chooses to grow us. "We are his field." ( 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 ) 

"It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out." ( Proverbs 25:2 ) 

Here's the end of the matter; I would love to write more about the middle later as I learn. Not only does Jesus promise in Matthew 16 that he will build his Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it, but in John 17, the Priestly Prayer, Jesus prays to his Father four times for unity within his Church. 

"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me." ( 20 & 21 ) 

Frame's response to this passage: 

"Do we really want to say that the Father did not answer Jesus' prayer? I have no doubt that the prayer of Jesus will one day be fully answered, that God will unite the church in his own time and will unite it organizationally as well as in all other respects. That seems plain from many other passages. But we also know that God does not always immediately accomplish his will ( and that of his Son ). For some reason, God often accomplishes his purpose through a historical process that sometimes tries our patience. There is always at least a beginning of a fulfillment. Biblical theologians speak of "the already, but not yet." God has begun to unify his church ( even organizationally! ), but there is more unity to come in the future." ( pg. 29 ) 

Friends, I think in the midst of the mystery and the promises that's a comforting thought to end on, and may God direct our hearts to love, truth, grace, and unity, whatever denomination we think is best. 

For now.