As it Was Written: Luke 24:44-45

Today marks the conclusion of our 2010 Lent series, Path to Glory. We hope you've enjoyed the experience as we have reflected on our Lord's journey through humiliation into glory. Before we conclude with one final reading, I want to mention a couple of things:
1. Thanks to all who've contributed to this series. It wouldn't have happened without you!
2. Tomorrow, I plan to start a several part series tentatively entitled: Christian Grace in Political-Cultural Crisis. Based on Psalm 37 this series will present a better response to our current poltical-moral-social crises than that which I perceive in many believers today. I hope it helps.
3. But before that, one last Lent post, this one from Ernie Kerwin, calling us to know and love the risen and ascended Lord. Enjoy.


After His resurrection, Jesus had some priority reminders for his disciples. Shortly he would be ascending to his Father, so he wanted to make the best use of his time with them.

The women at the tomb were given a reminder, from angels, of something Jesus had said to them,

"'He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.' And they remembered his words."

The two on the road to Emmaus were reminded, by Jesus, from the words of the prophets,

"'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?' And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself."

Then he paid a surprise visit to His disciples. He reminded them,

"'These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.' Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" (Luke 23:44, 45).

Later on in the chapter He reminds them of the promise of the Father, power from on high. My focus, for this time, specifically is Luke 24:44, 45.

Here are a few questions for you, how well do you know Jesus? Would you like to know him better? Are you wondering how you can know him better?

Paraphrasing Jesus' words the answer would be "everything you want to know about me you will find in the Scriptures". Jesus once said, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me."

So, how can we get to know him better? READ THE SCRIPTURES! Intimacy with someone you love can only truly happen as you get to know that someone on an ever deepening level. How deep do you want your love to be?

Are you having trouble understanding what you are reading? You're in good company, the disciples were obviously having trouble but Jesus "opened their minds to understand the Scriptures." He will do the same for you just ask "that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (Colossians 1:9b).

One last item, the things written about him "must be fulfilled". This is important because in the priority reminders of Chapter 24 it is the Gospel, which is of first importance that is proclaimed.

As you read your Bible look for Jesus. Look for the Gospel. The Gospel is not just confined to the New Testament. Dive in deep, drink deep; eat the rich Word of God.

by Ernie Kerwin

Lenten FAQs (4): What Is an Evangelical Way to Observe Lent?

I've been a hold-out on Lent, and, as commonly practiced, I still am. All human traditions have a built in high-risk factor which is one reason why I try to undermine them every chance I get!

This gets me into a lot of hot water, but I believe that traditions about music, Sunday attire, men's and women's roles (other than those spelled out in God's Word), holy days, liturgies, and more, must be deliberately altered periodically, or else in time they will replace God's Law. I must intentionally change the way I've always done things or the way I've always done things will supplant God's Law in my conscience.

Spiritual growth should never depend on a tradition, but on God and all His ordained means of grace alone. All else is sand. Traditions are just tools to be used or not, as the moment may suggest, and the heart may choose.

But with all that necessarily said, I think there are helpful ways we can observe traditional holy seasons if we so choose. Regarding Lent you might choose from the following options (from various sources):

1. Take a deep repentant inventory of soul. This should happen regularly (do not wait for Lent!), but it can be helpful to use the Lenten emergence from winter as a kind of spiritual emergence from any soul-winter we may be in. You can ask questions like:

- What are my characteristic sins, and how can I work and pray for change?
- What idols have captured my imagination and cooled my love for the living God?
- In what ways is my devotion to Christ and his church less than wholehearted?

2. Memorize a gospel, cross-focused text like Isaiah 52:11-53:12.

3. Write one gospel-presenting letter each Lenten week to an unbelieving person expressing the love of Christ.

4. See Lent and the Good Friday/Resurrection Day event as a reminder of your solidarity with all true believers everywhere. It's undeniably stirring, if you have a love for the universal Church, to realize that in such "holy seasons" true Christians everywhere are united in repentance, faith, and love for Christ.

5. Read good books about the finished redeeming work of Jesus Christ--through Whom alone we have our salvation apart from works and traditions. Fill your mind with grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone themes.

6. Plan to make three visits to people who are lonely or especially needy. Read them Scripture on the death and resurrection of Christ and encourage their faith and hope in Christ.

7. Choose to fast, going without food for a meal or a day or longer, using the time and energy saved to pray and meditate.

Whatever you choose never think of your way as God's Law. Never think that your observance of Lent is penance or atonement for sin. Jesus' blood alone atones. By His blood and righteousness alone are we justified in God's sight. Trusting in Jesus alone, make your choice regarding Lent. This is an evangelical way to do Lent.

As we proceed now to offer 40+ readings on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus--His Path to Glory--the way is clear for us to reflect and worship with no legalistic strings attached.

Lenten FAQs (3): What about Holy Days?

Most of my early life major influences had a strong distrust of holy days, and an instinct to avoid them. They saw verses like Colossians 2:16-23, and (in my judgment) rightly concluded that any legalistically required observance of holy days (what Paul calls new moons, festivals, etc.) is a form of spiritual babyhood; a reverting to "elemental" principles of religion below that to which we are called in Christ. We've been set free from such childish requirements.

They also pointed out that the Bible nowhere mandates Lent or Good Friday or Easter or even Christmas observance. And they were right. These are human traditions, and nothing more. And as such, they cannot be required for anyone. No one has a right to command what God does not command.

They also observed how many people treat these "holy days" as if they are really holier than other days. They noticed how people act more spiritual on these days than on others. In other words, people play the hypocrite, and feel that all is okay between them and God because they've done their Easter/Lent/Christmas thing. And so my early influences reminded me often that Paul says that all days are to be consecrated to God as equally holy (Romans 14:1-12). And they were right.

I thank God for these early influences. They gave me a due caution toward all traditions and man-made additions to God's Law. I live with what I think is a healthy resistance to anything that is a human add-on to God's Word. I hate legalism and thank God for all those who've guarded me from the deadening effects of tradition.

But I do think that many in my early life missed something else Paul said. It's found in Romans 14:5-7. Honoring one day above another in a special way is not sin. It can be done for God's glory.

So long as we avoid all the dangers alluded to in my last post, it's possible and permitted to observe special days. It's possible and permitted to set apart Christmas to celebrate the birth of Christ, Good Friday to remember the death of Christ, Easter (or as I prefer to call it, Resurrection Day) to rejoice in the victory of Christ, and--if we are so inclined--Lent, to do whatever our hearts desire to draw closer to God, more appreciative of grace, more humble before the Holy One, more repentant over sin, more trusting in Christ alone for our salvation, more in love with the Savior.

All the warnings still apply, but one thing we cannot do is forbid what God allows. If some choose to honor a season as unto their Lord in a way that does not compromise any truth of the gospel, then more power to them. May God truly bless those who do. And may God truly bless those who do not!

All that said, tomorrow we'll look at a suggested evangelical way to observe Lent if you so desire.

Lenten FAQs (2): What Is Lent?

Many would ask what Lent is. People put ash on their foreheads; others go without meat or some other pleasure for a few days or weeks; still others fast seriously for a season--and we wonder what to make of it all.

The word "Lent" refers to spring, signalling emergence from the cold barrenness of winter to life-renewal on planet earth. The symbolic usefulness of this is plain. Lent can mark the coming of spring with a reflection upon how our souls may need renewal, as they often grow cold and barren for a season.

From back in the 100s AD some Christians have prepared for the Good Friday/Easter event with fasting and prayer. Marked by repentance, this was a season for personal reflection about one's own relationship with Christ, with an accompanying sorrow and confession over sin.

Someone has written: "The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial, for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ."

So Lent, with most of its individual components as practiced by many Christians throughout the centuries, is really a merging of many Christian disciplines into one forty day long event.

It's hard to argue with any of this. We evangelicals embrace penitence (not the same as penance), confession, fasting, prayer, self-evaluation, almsgiving, self-denial, and even the observance of holy days. Who can deny the value of these practices? In fact, each (with the exception of holy days) is biblically required of believers in some form or another, at one time and another.

What is optional is whether one attaches them to a Lenten pre-Good Friday/Easter experience. If one chooses to do so, I'd only urge that the following safeguards be observed.

--Lent must never be seen as a form of penance or personal atonement for sin.
--Lent must never be required of a believer by any Church or spiritual authority
--Lent must never be elevated above human tradition status. We must keep in mind our Lord's teaching in Matthew 15:1-9 that traditions are very dangerous things.

If so guarded, this discipline can prove and has proven immensely helpful to many. After all, don't we all have sin-winters in the soul from which we need to emerge into springtime life and renewal?

Lenten FAQs (1): Is Lent A Catholic Holy Season?

Today FreeTruth begins a Lenten series entitled Path to Glory. Nearly twenty of my friends will contribute to this 45+ day journey through the life, passion, resurrection, and triumph of our Lord Jesus Christ--His path to glory.

I think there's wisdom in first getting this "Lent thing" straight in our minds, before we present about forty meditations heading into the Good Friday and Easter season. If you're an evangelical Christian like me--someone who has a legitimate concern to keep the gospel free from man-made traditions and legalistic additions--you've probably asked questions about Lent. If you haven't, you probably should have, for traditions and additions can kill unguarded evangelical faith.

Let's see if I can help out with a few posts answering some FAQs about Lent.

FAQ #1--"Isn't Lent a Catholic holy season?" Answer: Yes and No.

Yes, Roman Catholics observe Lent every year. No, Lent is not only a Catholic holy season. The fact is that through the centuries to this day, many evangelical, Bible-believing Protestants have observed the Lenten season to one degree or another. That doesn't mean it's right or wrong. It just means that it isn't strictly accurate to say that Lent is only a Catholic holy season any more than to say that Christmas is only a Catholic holy day because Catholics observe that too.

Church history shows that Lent-like practice was observed widely before the Roman Catholic Church ever became very dominant and as seriously in error as it is today. Widely diverse observance of some form of fasting, repentance, and prayer, all leading into the Good Friday/Resurrection Sunday (Easter) season, traces back at least into the 100's A.D. That doesn't mean necessarily that this is a good thing to do; it simply means that a lot of real Christians have been observing Lenten-type practices for a long time.

Truth be told: there are troubling Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Coptic, High Church Anglican or Lutheran, and even superficial evangelical ways to observe Lent, and there can be a truly evangelical, gospel- and grace-saturated way to observe it.

It is by no means critical that we choose to observe Lent. I never have. And many other Christians have chosen not to and are strong devoted believers. What matters is that if we choose to observe Lent (which I believe a Christian may do), we do so in a way that in no way compromises the gospel of God's free justifying grace through the atonement of Christ alone.

We'll see if we can outline an approach to such holy seasons that does not undermine the gospel in the process.

Fervent Prayer Accomplishes Much: A Few Weeks of Answered Prayers

Many of you know James 5:13-18. I feel like I'm just beginning to really know it, if you know what I mean. I've got a long way to go, but at least in recent time, this is what I've seen:
1. A brother in severe back pain just before a missions trip, stand and walk within minutes of prayer, and stay strong throughout the next days of his long ride and work.
2. Another brother have potentially serious surgery near his brain, go into the hosptial one day, be told he'd be there at least 4-5 days, and in recovery for months, only--in response to many fervent prayers--have the surgery, get a wonderful report, and leave the hospital the next day!
3. A mom's long and persistent prayers for a prodigal son answered this week with him "coming home" to Christ with a contrite heart and humble faith.
4. A sister and daughter travel to Haiti to serve; get there and back safely and with a deepening heart for Christ and others; having left a mark on dozens of children and families--prayed for all the way there and back again.
5. A brother in the Lord--and son of one of our TFC sisters in Jesus, prayed for on Sunday and now--this Thursday given a medical report saying his cancer is in remission.
6. Long damaged and even broken relationships prayed for, talked through, and on the mend.
7. A brother with a recent stroke--prayed for and experienceing the sustaining grace of God in trial.
8. Another brother with cancer, not fully healed but prayed for and tasting the very good, very sufficient grace of God.
9. A brother caught in sin, and earnestly prayed for, now repenting, and being restored to family and those around him.
10. A family mourning the tragic loss of a son, but through prayer and fellowship going on with God in grace.

I could add more my friends, but this will do to make this point: pray on dear ones. Pray on!

Hearing God Speak: A Short Reflection

Just a short thought for today folks. We just finished a series showing reasons to believe the Bible is God's Word. That leads to this reminder: in the Bible God speaks. I read Numbers 7:89 in my devotions this morning. Friends: everytime we open our Bibles we are entering the tent of meeting to hear God's voice.

Here are several questions I have often found helpful in hearing Him speak as I read a Scripture text:
1. What do I learn here about God's character & works?
2. What do I learn about the Lord Jesus Christ?
3. What do I learn about God's law? What demands my immediate and determined and happy obedience?
4. What do I learn about my own self and sin?
5. What do I learn about God's thoughts toward me? Am I under his favor or under his frown?
6. What do I learn about God's grace and salvation?
7. What promises of God are here for me?
8. What cause for worship and praise do I find?
9. What should I pray for now in response to God's voice?
10. What can/must I share with others?


A few suggestions for life.
Open to any feedback.

One more suggestion: to help encourage a few more to get into the conversation let's keep all comments to no more than four sentences.

The Preciousness of Time

As we enter into this new year I do so thinking about the spiritual disciplines and how I need to pursue them with greater effort over the coming days and months. Foundational to all the disciplines is the wise and careful use of time. Jonathan Edwards knew the importance of how we are to respond to the time given us by God, regarding which Donald Whitney has helpfully commented:

At the root of all discipline is the disciplined use of time. Without this one, there are no other disciplines. Edwards recognized this early on, and thus three of the very first of his famous Resolutions--in this case, numbers 5-7--were on the stewardship of time:

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

One of Edward's best-known and most soul-searching sermons is on this very subject. In December 1734 he preached on "The Preciousness of Time and the Importance of Redeeming It." Taking the words "redeeming the time" from Ephesians 5:16 as his text, Edwards reminded his listeners that time is the only brief preparation we have for all eternity. This time is short, it is passing, the remaining amount of it is uncertain, and whatever time is lost can never be regained. We will give an account to God of how we use our time, Edwards noted, and our precious time is so easily lost. In the most solemn section of the sermon, Edwards called his hearers to consider how people on their deathbed, and especially those in hell, long to have the time that we have at this moment, and how we ought to use our time as they would, if they had the opportunity." ("Pursuing a Passion for God Through Spiritual Disciplines: Learning from Jonathan Edwards," Donald S. Whitney; in--A God Entranced Vision of All Things: The Legacy of Jonathan Edwards, John Piper and Justin Taylor--General Editors, Crossway Books, pages 123-124)

Time is indeed precious. I am particularly struck by the observations made by Edwards that it is "the only brief preparation we have for all eternity", that "time is short, it is passing, the remaining amount of it is uncertain, and whatever time is lost can never be regained." Moreover, "we will give account to God of how we use our time", and that "our precious time is so easily lost."

How will we, how will I, use the time God gives us this new year? Pray that it will be redeemed well. The eternal implications of this for our lives are enormous.

On the New Year

I have just a few thoughts as we embark on another new year. I have come to value this holiday increasingly as the years have passed. As a child it meant no more than I got to stay up past midnight on New Year's eve. Today it means that I have a chance to pause, to think, to evaluate, to set goals, to take stock of life.

Gayline asked me last evening if I'd be willing to take some time this evening to talk over our personal and family goals for 2010. It was a great idea (she's got lots of them!), so that's part of what we're going to do.

I suspect that this is going to lead us toward a few goals like these:
1. Make sure that we're both going hard and happy after God in 2010.
2. Make sure that we're going hard and happy after personal character and faith in 2010 by mortifying specific sins of which we're aware and bringing to life the fruit of the Spirit.
3. Make sure that we're going hard and happy after Truth in 2010, through daily reading of the Word and extensive reading of the Truth-gold that others have written.
4. Make sure that we're both going hard and happy after each other in 2010.
5. Make sure we're both going hard and happy after our children and grand-children in 2010.
6. Make sure that we're both going hard and happy after our spiritual family in the church in 2010.
7. Make sure that we're going hard and happy after good nutrition and exercise in 2010 that we might seize whatever years we have left with as much energy and good health as it's in our power to develop.
8. Make sure that we're going hard and happy after joy--in all God is, and all God does--in 2010.

Now if we are enabled to apply specifics to all of this, all in the strength which God supplies, it will prove to be a God-filled year.

What are your goals?

Have a blessed new year.

Prayer, Evangelism, and the Mysteries of God

The third question asked in response to my message on the end of the unbeliever (which is destruction) this past Lord's Day was this: How do I approach prayer for unbelievers (and prayer in general) knowing that everything has been ordained before I even existed?

This too is a question the answers to which are incomplete and shrouded in mystery. And having only a few minutes to post this morning I will have to reply very simply and succinctly. Having just read Jesus' words in Matthew 5:8 in my devotions this morning, let me answer simply with this: The fact that God knows what we pray for before we pray says to me that prayer is fundamentally not so much about what it produces (by way of answers) as it is about what it produces in us (by way of humility, desperation, faith, dependance).

I can only develop this briefly but I believe that prayer is mainly a means of grace to change us, to humble us, to remind us of our need for God, to deepen within us a sense of our utter inadequacy. God calls me to pray not so much that He can get things done through my prayers as so that He can get things done in me through my prayers. Prayer for the lost, prayer for needs, prayer for anything is always helpful if for no other reason than that it reminds me that conversion and provision are God's work and God's gifts. For a sinner like me who tends arrogantly to rely on self, this is a reminder I need multiple times, daily.

There is more to be a gained through prayer, but there is always this: I am forced to think about God's sovereignty and my need for His help. For that reason alone I will keep on praying for the lost, for the sick, for the hurting, for the lonely, and for today's bread.

Sorry I can't add more at the moment, but the heart and encouragement needs of a son bid me come.

When Nothing But Prayer Will Work

In yesterday's RMMR reading, we found ourselves hearing Jesus say: "This kind cannot be driven out but by prayer" (Mark 9:29). Some aspects of spiritual warfare can only be won with prayer.

There are certain challenges, certain spiritual impediments (in this case demonic possession), and certain spiritual battles, in which the enemy can only be defeated, the sin can only be vanquished, the habit can only be broken, the demon can only be exorcised by real and prevailing prayer.

From the context of Jesus' life as recorded by Mark and the other gospel writers, it is clear that Jesus does not have in mind here simple, quick, or easy prayers on the run. He means prayer like the prayer He prayed. Look at texts like Mark 1:35; 6:46; and 14:32-42 to see what I mean. When Jesus prayed He prayed.

This is not to say that quick spontaneous prayers of gratitude or need are not real prayers; it's just to say--and this is Jesus' point in Mark 9:29--that there is a different kind of prayer needed for some kinds of needs. There are really hard, really tough, really entrenched, really supernaturally evil spiritual foes that we will confront at times that can only be faced when first we have drawn near to God in earnest, prolonged, fervent, focused, prevailing prayer. It is this that explains why some translations have added the phrase "with fasting" to Jesus' call to prayer. The early copiests of the texts were in tune with the fact that Jesus was talking about prolonged and sustained prayer. This isn't prayer lite; this is prayer with power.

When I ponder this, one question that comes to mind is this: what are the types of spiritual battles that can only be won through this kind of prayer? When is prayer the only thing that will work?

Can I suggest a few answers based on 27 years of pastoral warfare side-by-side with my fellow soldiers in the cause of Christ? This kind of prayer is needed:

1. When there is or may be demonic activity involved; when the struggles of a person's life seems beyond the norm, beyond the run-of-the-mill, garden variety spiritual problem. When it seems that the battle is born in hell, the prayer must increase.
2. When there is physical and spiritual addiction to drugs or porn or food involved. These bondgaes usually do not get broken without profound prevailing prayer.
3. When children are deceived by their flesh and the world to go prodigal on us and God. This blindness can be so darkening and senseless that only prayer can cause the light to shine.
4. When there is chronic long-term disease or malady or handicap being faced. These afflictions have a cumulative affect on people and their families that can eventually debilitate them if not countered and conquered through much prayer.
5. When there are long-standing habits, traditions, preferences, and opinions that are entrenched so deeply in people's mindsets and lifestyles that they have become to them as inflexible law and/or hopelessly enslaving bondage.

Just a few thoughts about battles and needs in which only prayer will work.

Can I suggest by way of application that you think through a few such needs in your life or in the lives of those you love, and then commit some prolonged seasons of prayer to wrestle with God until He gives the victory?

Using the World

In 1 Corinthians 7:31 there is an interesting concept. It's missed in the translation I use, but is captured more accurately in several others. The NASB translates the verse: "...and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away." This "full use" seems to imply an abuse, as other translations make clear.

It is this concept of using the world without abusing it that intrigues me. Today there will be many aspects and benefits of the world that will come across my path. I have at least three options when they do:

1. Non-use. This option is often chosen by the ascetic types among us. These are those who view the stuff of this world as being bad. They may not realize it but they have more in common with pagans in this point of view than they do with Christians. The idea that created things in this world are bad; things like food and work and making money and sports and music and drink and sex and the internet and TV and whatever else might have made the various taboo lists people have, is simply a bad idea. It's not true. God made all these things or gave man the ability to make them. So unless you're ready to say that God makes bad stuff, you'd better recant any notion that stuff is bad. It's as simple as that. (Let me qualify just enough to say that if you are one who has a hard time with addictions/bondage to stuff or pleasures or drink or food, the rules are a bit different for you. The Bible says things like "Flee temptation" and it means it. Stay clear and don't play with fire.)

2. Abuse. This option is often chosen by the free-spirited types; those that are allergic to rules and boundaries, and just feel that they can do what they please when they please. These too are more pagan than Christian and need to repent of their lawlessness real soon or find themselves on the wrong side of heaven's gates.

3. Right use. The Apostle advocates the right use of the stuff and pleasures and good things of the world .

But what is the right use of the world? That, I think, is a very good question; a question worth pondering. The right use of the world's stuff and pleasures obviously includes a use of them in compliance with God's Law. That's a given, or at least ought to be.

But in addition to that I'd suggest that a right use of the world's stuff and pleasures is any use that:
1. Increases joy, gratitude and love for the Giver more than the gift (Psalm 104:1-31; 1 Tim 4:1-5).
2. Balances out the tasks and duties of life with glad-hearted enjoyment of earth's simple pleasures (Eccles. 5:18, 19)
3. Builds bridges to the world for evangelism (1 Cor 10:27; Jesus ate and drank with sinners)
4. Adds spice and pleasure to married life. (Proverbs 5:18, 19; Song of Solomon; 1 Corinthians 7:3-5)
6. Makes a profit in order to be able to give more! (Eph 4:28)

I'm sure more could be added, but I'll, leave it at that. Interesting that in the middle of a joyful austerity month-long experiment in which I'm simply trying to get close to a need-only way of life, God should lead me to think on the right place and use of the things of this world. These things may not be needed for mere physical survival but they may be part of an over-all healthy life on planet earth, as God defines that.

Any thoughts?

Stuff-Stuffed and a Joyful Austerity Experiment

One of the woeful effects of the evolutionary theory that Peter wrote about yesterday (isn't it good to hear that the peddlers of folly are at least squirming a bit under the weight of having no proof?!) is that it has given a pseudo-intellectual credibility to the age-old philosophy of materialism. It has made the idea that all there is and all that matters is matter. The realm of the spirit and the supernatural has been denied even more openly and brazenly than ever.

One effect of this has been an emergence of crass hedonistic materialism. We're told to love money and what money can buy, because after all there is nothing but the body and the present to live for. Even though our world's woeful condition of unhappiness (I saw a report just this morning that 27 million stuff-stuffed Americans are on anti-depressants!) would surely imply that stuff doesn't bring happiness, and life disconnected from the Living God and connected only to matter, is bankrupt, the blind still don't know they're blind.

A few weeks back I told you I wanted to do a 30 day experiment in joyful austerity; a commitment for one month to live as close to a need only existence as I can get. It has begun. For one month I'm going to eat, drink, shower, spend, relax, and simply live with need rather than mere pleasure or habit in mind. I started on Saturday. Three days in I'm learning some things about what we really need and what we don't. I'll try to keep you posted.

BTW this really isn't inteneded to be something like a fast; it's not really a profound spiritual plan so much as an intentional learning experience. I want to learn a bit more what God sees as my needs, what others have and don't have, and just how happy and contented I can be without all the stuff that money buys.

As one stuff-stuffed American to others, I'm hoping to learn some things that'll change my life.

Becoming a Resident Theologian (2)

In Acts 17:11 and 2 Timothy 2:15, God indicates His standard for nobility and approval: diligent and daily examination of His Word of truth. I know the Timothy passage is written to a pastor, but that really doesn’t let any non-pastors off the hook. After all, we’re all pastors to someone; we've been called to shepherd at least one or two in the way of truth. Noble and approved men and women of God are those who spend much time in God’s Word, examining, studying, applying, and then teaching it to others.

To this end we will need to:
1. Redeem our time. Time seems scarce for us all; let’s use it well by scheduling it diligently. We’ll need to plan devotional and study time. It’ll surprise us how much time we have when we strategize its use (e.g.-we can redeem even commute time by listening to selected sermons or Scripture on tape).

2. Read more, and read more selectively. Based on your reading skills, plan out the books you’ll read for the next year (six per year for those just getting started, perhaps twelve for those further along, then go from there.) Ask a good theologian in your church for how-and-where-to-get-started advice.

3. Resource technology. Those who struggle hard with reading need not despair. Technology is God’s gift, providing audio resources galore for truth-hungry men. In today’s world, inability to read well is hardly an excuse for being a poor theologian. Start by listening to your pastor’s recorded weekly sermon at least one or two times each week. Then ask your pastors for recommended audio series.

4. Strive for theological accuracy and consistency. Don’t read and study smorgasbord style. Too many American Christians are listening and reading based on what’s hot on the Christian scene, what appeals to their tastes, or how a writer/speaker tells stories or makes them feel. Remember II Tim. 4:3, 4, and be warned. Friends, truth and time are too precious to be spending hours reading what may be appealing, but is less than fully nourishing. Seek theological accuracy and consistency in your reading. Read books and listen to series that reflect consistently sound doctrine and application. In our church, our bookstore selections and all recommended materials and ministries provide a consistent, balanced and carefully applied theology for life. There’s enough spiritual pastureland in these resources to feed men and their families for the rest of their lives.

5. Create a library and study area. Again, ask your pastors what basic book and audio resources would be valuable for you to collect into a theological library for you and your family. If possible create a study area set apart for you and the Word.


Well friends, this gets you pointed in a right direction. There's no time like the present to go hard after God and truth. Enjoy.

Becoming a Resident Theologian (1)

Some of the better theologians I know are not career pastors or seminary professors. One is an engineer, one a social worker, one a teacher, one an insurance guy, one a phone system operator, one a banker, one a computer geek, one a broker, one a musician, one a mechanic. There are more, but I hope you get the point. Theology is for everyone.

Looked at one way, we could say that all believers are, in fact, theologians. There’s no question that everyone has a view, or theology of God, life, sin, and salvation. That makes each one a theologian. The only real question is whether one is a good theologian or a bad one. The real concern is whether or not each one has developed a lifestyle of learning to ensure that his/her theology is true, Biblical, and pleasing to God. So what kind of theologian are you?

Before you beg off by copping an “I’m not the bookish type” attitude, you need to understand that whether that is true or not is irrelevant. A love of theology is not determined by bookishness; it’s determined by a love of God.

Friends, this isn’t hard to figure out. Theology is the study of God’s revealed truth, character, works, grace, salvation and glory. So if we love God we will love theology, since it is a study of who He is, what He is like, and what He does. It really is that simple. So, on to the question: how do we become better theologians?

Here are two initial suggestions:

1. Be grateful for grace. If you're reading this blog (which is an attempt at theological reflection on God’s truth, glory and love revealed to us), it means that you want to learn, and that God’s theology-teaching grace is already functioning in your life. Praise the Lord!

2. Redefine your relationship with Christ. The most common New Testament word for a Christian is disciple. A disciple is a student or learner in the school of Christ. That idea needs to be near the center of your self-understanding as a Christian. Get it there and you’ll be on your way to becoming the studying and learning theologian God wants you to be.

Biblical Fellowship: Live Together or Die Alone (6)

Questioning Questions

There is no one way to do fellowship. The Bible presents many approaches to personal care for each other’s souls. One very effective method relies heavily on the use of questions. Now you may find yourself questioning the use of questions: “Is there a biblical precedent for this? How is this helpful? Will this feel oppressive and intrusive for the one being questioned?”

“Where Are You” Adam?
In the first ever personal ministry and counseling time (Genesis 3:9-13), we find God searching for Adam following Adam’s act of disobedience. As God approaches this hiding sinner (which describes all of us to some extent), He approaches him with questions, questions the answers for which God already knew.

God asks Adam a series of questions in order to give Adam an opportunity to come out of hiding and to see issues of his heart in ways more helpful than if God had simply come to Adam with a series of corrections or pieces of advice.

The use of questions to help people see the needs and issues of their hearts is a common biblical approach to personal care and correction.* It is not the only valid approach but it is an extremely effective one. One of its advantages (in contrast to a more informational and advice-giving approach) is that it allows people to hear their own thoughts and attitudes without having to be told them by others. In this way, under the blessing of the Holy Spirit, the process of conviction goes on more personally and directly.**

If you obtain my full booklet on this topic (Live Together or Die Alone: a Call to Radical Fellowship), you will see an example from my own life of when I was led into seeing my own heart through a brother’s effective use of questions. In that situation, I do not think I would have seen my heart as clearly if I had been approached by someone loaded with observations and words of wisdom or correction to bring to my attention. The use of gentle questions was effective in opening my heart to see my own issues without proud defensiveness or argument.

Here is a list of questions that can be useful for our conversations/fellowship together:
1. What evidences of grace are you experiencing these days (i.e.-clear signs of growth in Christ and joy in the gospel)?
2. What is one specific truth you gained from that sermon or study or book?
3. What is one specific application of it that you plan to make in your life?
4. What are you struggling with these days?
5. What are biblical terms for this struggle?
6. Why do you think you are struggling with it?
7. How might your view of God affect this struggle?
8. How does the gospel affect you in this battle?


* For a sampling of other examples see God’s questioning of Cain in Genesis 4:6, 9, 10 and of Job in Job 38-41; Samuel’s probing of Saul in 1 Samuel 15:14; Jesus’ use of questions in John 6:5, 6; Luke 24:17, 19; apostolic deployment of questions in James 4:1f; 1 Corinthians 4:7.

** Another fruit of the practiced use of specific questions is an ability to self-assess and self-counsel. Individuals can ask themselves questions which aid in their awareness of the issues and state of their own hearts, so that even when others are not present, the work of sanctification can proceed at full speed.

Biblical Fellowship: Live Together or Die Alone (5)

Hebrews: A Model of Gospel Centered Correction

As stated earlier, the book of Hebrews is both a call to warning and exhorting fellowship, and an example of it. It calls us to warn each other and it is itself an extended warning. So it models what it commands.

If space allowed we could unpack various aspects of such ministry that the author utilizes in this letter.* We would see that he uses a variety of tools in his exhortation appeal to his readers: fear, hope, the love of God our Father, promises, historical examples of what happens to people who do not persevere in faith, and then examples of what God does for those who do.

More than anything, the author proclaims the surpassing worth of Christ (Hebrews 1-4) and the surpassing work of Christ (Hebrews 5-10) as the chief means to inspire his readers to keep on keeping on in the faith of Christ. This is another reminder that all ministry—even warning and exhortation ministry—must always remain gospel ministry. All one anothering in the body of Christ must always be thoroughly Christ and cross centered, or it will not be effective ministry at all.

This is truth for life. I’m reminded of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 where the ongoing process of being saved (i.e.-the process of perseverance in faith) is maintained through a never ending commitment to the gospel of a crucified and risen Savior. Hebrews models this wonderfully.

All ministry, all fellowship, all correction and wounding grace must be lived out in an atmosphere saturated with an everyday focus on the Person and Work of Christ. Never correct anyone without giving them Christ. Never receive correction without receiving Christ in a fresh way along with that correction.

Correction, the harder work of fellowship, will do only harm unless it is accompanied by reminders of the free justifying, adopting, preserving, and forgiving promises of the gospel—all guaranteed for us through the redeeming work of the Savior.

The writer of Hebrews knew that; so should we.



* For a more complete understanding of the Hebrews’ call to radical fellowship you may obtain a spring, 2008 series of messages presented by TFC, entitled, Live Together or Die Alone. Visit our website to order or download this series.

** For more on cross centered living see our Cardiphonia entitled, Gospel Centered Living from A-Z as well as C.J. Mahaney’s Living the Cross Centered Life and Jerry Bridges’ The Gospel for Real Life.

Biblical Fellowship: Live Together or Die Alone (3)

There is much about fellowship, that could be said, but I can’t draw this series out for too long so I’m going to have to zero in here on a few matters that I think need focus because they are areas of weakness in contemporary fellowship.

Where We Are Not So Strong

As we encounter the one another commands of Scripture we are not given the luxury of selective obedience; we have to pursue faithfulness in all that fellowship involves. With this in view we realize that there are aspects of fellowship in which most Christians are not so strong. Particularly I would identify the aspects of biblical correction, warning and admonition. We’ve yet to fully embrace the Bible’s teaching that we are to seek out and offer a ministry of mutual accountability and warning care, such as is encouraged in Proverbs 27:5, 6, 17:

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Proverbs isn’t calling us to a ministry of criticism or to a witch-hunt in the church. Rather God is challenging us to notice when brothers and sisters in Christ are caught up in patterns and habits of sin, and to do what we need to, to lead them into the forgiving and transforming grace of God.

Fellowship’s Harder Work

This is what I would call fellowship’s harder work. I say it’s harder, because, well, other things are easier. If anyone finds this work easy, I’d suggest a heart transplant. Frankly, anyone who enjoys wounding a friend is disturbed. People who love find no immediate pleasure in speaking correction or rebuke into the lives of those they love. Parents will know well the experience of disciplining their kids, and being compelled to say to them in the process; “This hurts me at least as much as it hurts you.” Why? Because it does.

Hebrews: A Mandate for Wounding Fellowship

The New Testament letter called Hebrews serves at least two functions. It is both a wounding and warning letter, and it is also a call to wounding and warning fellowship. In this letter the Holy Spirit warns us to stop sinning against, and wandering from Christ,* and He also commands us to warn one another, lest any of us should so wander. Here are three key texts commanding the latter:

“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today’, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin…”

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

“Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal” (Hebrews 3:12, 13; 10:24, 25; 12:12-16).

Hebrews makes it clear that we are our brothers’ (and sisters’) keeper. What matters to you should matter to me, and nothing matters more than that you (and I) keep on keeping on in the way of Christ.

Next time we'll look at what's at stake in all this.


* See Hebrews 2:1-3; 3:12; 4:5-13; 10:26-39; 12:18-29; 13:22. In Hebrews 13:22, the author calls his whole letter an exhortation/warning: “I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.”

Biblical Fellowship: Live Together or Die Alone (2)

One Anothering

Biblical fellowship is fleshed out through a series of New Testament one anothering commands.* Numbering over 50, these commands define the breadth, depth and scope of fellowship as revealed by God. Through these one anothers we see that biblical fellowship cannot be reduced to one-dimensional conversationalism, but must be pursued as a multi-faceted and multi-layered enterprise of love. In order for a church to care faithfully and fully for its members, it needs to embrace all these dimensions of fellowship and practice them with intentional focus.

Selective Fellowship

My experience has been—as I witness my own inclinations and those of others I love—that we tend to be selective in our practice of fellowship. We define and do fellowship in commitment terms with which we are most at ease. We choose aspects of fellowship that fit our personality most readily, make our friends most comfortable, or avoid the tasks most unpleasant.

But the thing about one anothering commands is that they are one anothering commands. All of them are imperatives which mean that none of them is optional. So practicing the one anothers is not a matter of personality or spiritual gifting; it’s a matter of obedience. All of us must do all these things in whatever sphere of fellowship and responsibility God entrusts to us. God calls us to step into this work with faith that He will enable us as we go.

God Gives What God Commands

Sometimes we avoid certain duties because we fear we cannot do them. When obedience is neither comfortable nor easy nor natural, we are tempted not even to try. It was this battle with moral paralysis that led the early church father, Augustine to pray: “Lord, give what you command, and command what you will.”

Augustine prays for grace from God so that he might be obedient to God. He asks God to give what He commands. Then in the confidence that God will do just that, this early Christian pastor boldly invites God to command whatever He wills. And he does so backed up with biblical promise:

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:8-11, emphasis added).**

It is this confidence that God gives grace whenever God gives duty that can liberate us to enter the world of true fellowship with believing hope.


* For example: Romans 13:8; 12:5, 10, 16; 15:5-7, 14; 16:16; Galatians 5:13; 6:1, 2; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9; 5:11, 26; 1 Peter 1:22; 5:14; 1 John 3:11; John 13:34, 35; Acts 2:46; 4:32; Ephesians 4:2; 5:21; Philippians 1:27; Hebrews 3:12, 13; 10:24,
25; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; Colossians 3:12, 13.

** See also Philippians 2:12, 13; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, especially v.11

Biblical Fellowship: Live Together or Die Alone (1)

I’ll be away on vacation for a few days, but in my absence I’ve prepared a few posts that are excerpted from my booklet: Live Together or Die Alone: A Call to Radical Fellowship. I hope you are stimulated to love and good works by them.

Introduction

The Greek words for fellowship appear twenty-seven times in the New Testament, and speak of something shared or held in common or partnered in. Fellowship, a shared life of faith and love, is an essential dynamic of the Christian life. It is essential in that it is part of the essence of life in Christ: we cannot be in Christ without sharing the life of His body (1 Corinthians 12:12, 13).* And it is essential in that none of us can get along without it.** Literally it is true: we live together or we die alone.

Going Beyond “How Are You?”

It’s been observed often that we Christians know well how to dilute the idea of fellowship. We reduce it to little more than chit-chat, being masters of the superficial, engaging in the equivalent of a social dance with a stranger, synchronizing our conversational steps so as to move slightly in each other’s direction without stepping on each other’s toes or getting too close.

We ask each other “How are you?” but then don’t wait around for anything resembling a real answer. If anyone answers with anything but a smiling-faced “I’m fine!” we don’t know how to respond and we’re quite sure we don’t want to. We know that we’re supposed to go beyond how are you, but we seldom seem to get there.

I wish these last two paragraphs exaggerated churches’ fellowship deficiencies, but as I re-read them, I’m startled by how precisely they describe much of my own flawed interaction with others. I’m guilty of the sin of shallow fellowship.

May I encourage you to feel bold enough in God’s forgiving grace in Christ to look hard at yourself to see if you have been guilty of fellowship neglect as well? Let’s realize that grace covers even our failures to love one another in the church as we ought, and with that knowledge let’s stare sin in the face so we can see where we need to grow.


* “All believers share a common life in Christ, whether or not we recognize it. We are in fellowship with literally thousands of believers from every nation of the world. Although we have never met most of them, yet we are in fellowship with them. We disagree with many of them over various issues of faith and practice, yet we are still members of the same Body. Even though we struggle to like some of them, that does not alter the fact that we share together a common life in Christ. Neither our attitudes nor our actions affect this objective sense of koinonia (fellowship). We are in fellowship with all other believers, whether we like it or not--or even recognize the fact. This objective truth of koinonia is meant to provide the foundation for the experiential aspects of fellowship. The realization that we do in fact share a common life with other believers should stimulate within us a desire to share experientially with one another. This is the whole thrust of New Testament teaching on koinonia" (Jerry Bridges).

** "We should not...think of our fellowship with other Christians as a spiritual luxury, an optional addition to the exercises of private devotion. We should recognize rather that such fellowship is a spiritual necessity; for God has made us in such a way that our fellowship with himself is fed by our fellowship with fellow-Christians, and requires to be so fed constantly for its own deepening and enrichment” (J.I. Packer).