A Boomer in the Pew

When should we haul out the Sword of the Spirit?

I have been struggling with something lately that I would like to put out to the Christian community.

Is there a proper time to haul out the Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) when dialoging with people about the things of Christ?

I have learned a lot in the past six months and I am beginning to have "eyes that can see".  There is a lot of false teaching going on in this world.  I also understand that Satan's best weapons are confusion and divisiveness.

So here is the question:  How would Christ have us confront this? 

My temperament, coming from the business world, is to attack it head on.  Full frontal attack.  I certainly see examples of this from the life of Christ, Peter, Paul and many others.

Today, I was reading an article from Dr. Ray Ortland regarding church unity.  He makes, it seems to me, a good point.

So...when do we draw the sword? 

Ephesians 6:10-18:

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication..."

I drew the sword on William P. Young's book, "The Shack".  Was I out of line?

I was just watching a movie on the book of John last night.  Jesus was constantly on the offense with the Jewish leadership of the day.  I certainly understand that I am not Jesus.  But I don't think Jesus would stand for the "health and wealth" teaching of the day, for example.  Should I just keep my mouth shut and not confront it?

If we don't confront it, are we not just leaving the door open for purveyors of untruths to have their way with the church and the flock?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter. 

God, the Father's, Love Letter - Video

As I am exploring my relationship with my heavenly Father, I thought this video was certainly meaningful.

Redefining my "Coca-Cola" Christianity

Parking the bus in the Doctrine of Adoption

"The Return of the Prodigal Son" c 1667/1670 by Bartolome' Esteban Murillo. 

Having just completed my reading/review of A.W. Pink's "The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross", I have been giving some thought to the direction of my blog in the coming weeks.

Primarily I have been reading/reviewing Dr. Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology,  reading/reviewing Christian Classics with Tim Challies, and studying/listening to Dr. Albert Mohler in the book of Matthew while I work out four days each week, as well as adding content from Jamie Rasmussen, my senior pastor at Scottsdale Bible Church.

These studies have proven to give me plenty of material to record my faith journey along the way.

As I began to contemplate the next chapter of Dr. Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology, my heart was telling me to slow down.  The last two chapters on Justification and Adoption have been incredibly enlightening.  However, I desire them to be deeply life changing.  I desire those gifts of God to take deep root in my life. 

Therefore, I am going to park the Systematic Theology bus for a spell and drink from the two refreshing wells of Justification and Adoption.  I remember Wayne Grudem, in his recording on the Doctrine of Adoption, stating that the gift of Adoption is perhaps even more precious than the gift of Justification.  I intend to explore that.  I want to understand and experience what he means by that.

Therefore, the Doctrine of Sanctification is going to have to wait a moment for my heart to catch up with my mind.

I invite you to come along, and please, hit the comment button if you have something to add to my journey.

Thanks!

What does it mean to have God as your Father?

I have been thinking quite a bit about my post yesterday on the Doctrine of Adoption.

I have also been listening to Dr. Albert Mohler's exposition of the book of Matthew on my iPod.  Yesterday, while putting in my 5 miles on the elliptical machine, Dr. Mohler was beginning to dig into the Sermon on the Mount.  This particular teaching was also exploring the idea that God is, and Jesus instructs us to address the God of the universe as,....Father!

Dear reader (may I call you that?)...can you or I begin to fathom the depths of what that means?

As I was walking home from the gym, in 107 degree temperatures (gotta love Scottsdale, Arizona), I was finishing up listening to Dr. Mohler's exposition and I must confess that I was melted.

There I was, walking down the street with rivers of tears flowing down my face.  I have them again now as I write this.

I implore you...don't just take "Our Father" as words we have heard a million times before.  Please take some time to understand our adoption into God's family.  Understand that every single time Jesus addressed God, save once on the cross, he called him Father!  Understand that the God of the universe, the God who spoke to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Ten Commandments and the Law, the God who knows all things, the God who with a Word created all things, the God whose Son became man and died for us on a cross...that God...the only God....wants you and I to call Him.....Father.

I am speechless and completely stricken with awe!  I long to wrap my arms around His neck.

Tim Russert, Death and Eternity

I was struck with sadness when I learned of Tim Russert's recent death.  I had recently become a viewer of Tim's "Meet the Press" show on Sunday mornings as we prepared ourselves for church. 

After viewing a few months of his programs, I found myself drawn to his passion for life, family and his obvious love of the political process.  His personality was contagious and I feel loss, as I was just getting to know him.  For the few months that Tim Russert was in my life, he left a very favorable and lasting impression. 

As I listened to the news of Tim's death, I immediately felt shock and my thoughts quickly went to his family.  "How are they handling this sudden death", I wondered.  Then, interestingly enough, I found myself wondering if Tim was in the presence of Christ.  What must that be like?

I am aware of Tim's lifelong relationship with the Catholic Church.   I am further aware that some would contend that because he was Catholic, he isn't in heaven, and at the other extreme most Americans believe that we are all going to heaven.

Well, my contention is, who am I to judge.  Only Tim Russert and Jesus Christ know of the relationship they held with one another.  My hope and prayer is that he is safely in the arms of Jesus and that is all I have to say about that.

But...Tim's death does force a question upon all of us.  What is really going to happen when we die?

It occurs to me that most, in our postmodern society,  have spent precious little time on this most critical of questions.  It seems that many hold the belief that because they are "good" they are assured a seat in heaven's community. 

Isn't that, however, the most arrogant of positions to hold?  Are we to presume that God is building his heavenly family around what you or I think? 

It seems to me that if we really do hold a belief in God, then perhaps we ought to crack the pages of the Bible and see what God has to say about the matter.  For in truth (hmm..there is that despised world of this relativistic society) God is very clear about who will be spending eternity with Him.

John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Let us all take stock in our lives and go to the Creator to find our course after death.  Do not lean upon your own understanding, but go to God's holy written word and seek to find what God has to say in the matter.

I will miss you Tim Russert.  I feel sadness that I didn't have you in my life earlier.  Your life's testament is clearly portrayed in the outpouring of millions of your fans.  I pray for the comfort of your family and  I hope that perhaps you can create a heavenly show called, "Meet the Savior".  That, my friend, would be big!

Amazing Light Shadows from Garbage

One of the things that I am learning, in my faith journey,  is that I tend to come to the reading of God's word with my own presuppositions.

When I first saw this photograph, I was immediately irritated because I saw a pile of garbage and presumed that someone had the gall to call this art.

Upon further reflection I noticed the couple in the background, sitting backs against one another, with one enjoying a glass of wine and the other a cigarette.

Now this had me scratching my head.  What on earth do the two have to do with one another?

As I continued my curiosity, I learned that these two artists (Tim Noble and Sue Webster) build their works of art from garbage and light to build interesting shadows.

I am learning that it doesn't matter what I think the Word of God says.  It matters fully what God is trying to teach me through His Holy Word.  I clearly need to think beyond the garbage that I bring to the reading of His Word and let the light of the Holy Spirit illuminate the Word and with very careful thought, prayer, and seeking the wisdom of other godly men look for the depth of God's meaning.

I was amazed once I understood these artists talent to create shadows from garbage.  Far more significantly, I have been amazed at what I have learned from God's word in the few short months I have been blogging my faith journey.

II Timothy 3:16-17:

"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 competent, equipped for  every good work."

The Great White Throne Judgment - Is there really a Hell?

"Last Judgment Triptych" c 1467-1471, by Hans Memling.

Revelation 20:11-15:

"Then I saw a great white throne and One seated on it.  Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.  I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.  Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. 

Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works.  Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.  This is the second death, the lake of fire.  And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."

I have mentioned several times, in this blog, that it seems that my Christian diet has been primarily oatmeal.  I have no one to blame for this but myself.  But it does strike me as odd that this, and many other truths of the Bible, do not get preached in today's postmodern church.  It seems that those things that are uncomfortable or perhaps controversial are left out.  If we can't hold hands and sing "Let there be peace on earth" then it isn't brought to the light of day. 

Certainly God is love.  Clearly Jesus Christ died on the cross to save sinners.  Post-modernity has no problem with much of this part of the story.  But what about hell?  What about the Holy God, who has given Jesus Christ all authority to judge in that last final judgment.  What about the part of the truth that if you don't come to a saving faith and believe in Jesus Christ that you are clearly destined to Hell? 

This part is dismissed as hell-fire and brimstone.  "Lets not talk about that, can't we just sing another round of Kumbiya?", they say.

My friends, my family...do you believe in God?  Do you believe that the Bible is the holy inspired Word of God?  Then you simply can not dismiss the parts you don't like.  It is all God's Word.

I just finished listening to Dr. Steven J. Lawson on the subject of the Last Judgment.  Dr. Lawson is a Baptist preacher.  Dr. Lawson is a well known and respected expositor of the Word of God.  When I first started listening to this topic, my mind went to that place....you know...."oh here we go...hell-fire and brimstone".  The Baptist preacher is going to try and scare me into heaven"

I had to ask God's forgiveness for those thoughts.  Because you see...these are not Dr. Larson's words.  These are the Words of Almighty God.  I had better heed them.

I would ask that you give a listen to Dr. Lawson's message on the Last Judgment.  If you are one of God's elect then I would think that this message would give you more urgency in your evangelism.  If you are not "born again"  and one of God's elect, then I implore you....give this message an open mind and listen to God's proclamation to us all.

Here is the link to the message. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter.  Hit the comment button and share your thoughts.

You Must Be "Born Again"

Postmodern America seems to despise these words.  The church in postmodern America seems to be ashamed of these words.

American's in huge numbers believe in God and further believe that they are going to heaven.  And how will they get there?  By being good!

I just finished my study of the Doctrine of Regeneration (being "born again") and I seem to be stuck.  If a believer of God will take time to sit down and read just what God has to say, in His Word, it is in distinct contrast to the general belief!

I have been listening to Dr. Albert Mohler's Sunday School class, on my iPod,  while I work out.  They are studying the book of Matthew.  I am currently on chapter 4, of the book of Matthew, and I learned that the very first words out of Jesus mouth, as He began His ministry,  was repent.  American's don't like that word.  You generally won't find that word on a church's website. 

Luke tells us that the reason Jesus became man and came to earth was to "seek and save".  "Hey", American's say, "I don't need saving.  I am doing just fine, thank you!"

Jesus further claims that He is the "only way" to heaven.  "Hey, who does this guy think he is, God?"  That's why they killed him.

And to top it off, American's think, he wants me to be "born again"?  "Am I to climb back in my mother's womb", Nicodemus asked.

Come on...repent, be saved, the only way, born again???? 

That is what it says!  I didn't make it up. 

I am stuck because I see our culture diametrically opposed to these ideas.  I am stuck because I see society believing that the way to heaven is being good.   I am stuck because I see in myself, and our culture, an unwillingness to challenge our beliefs and read God's book and find out for yourselves just what He says in there.

Can I ask you a question?  Would you be willing to spend 40 minutes listening to a highly respected teacher talk about this very subject?  Would you trust me enough to tell you that our culture, for the most part, has it wrong?

Here is a video from Dr. John Piper on this very topic.  Give this a view.  If this wets your appetite, then here is a whole series of video, on the topic of "born again",  from Dr. John Piper.

My friend, it is clear.  We must repent and be born again. 

Please, don't let our culture, and your belief in what culture has told you, make this incredibly important decision on your behalf.  Check this out for yourself.  Isn't it worth a few hours of your time to make sure you get this right?   

 

A Message of Love and Forgiveness

There is a man and there is a woman who are a part of my world.  The man and woman have been married for a great number of years and have the most beautiful children a man and wife could ever dream for.

This man and wife were moving along in the world and happily tasting of the success that comes with hard work.  He was very successful in his career and she would likely win a national contest for mom of the year.

Their children, when you met them, would melt your heart with their various talents, contagious smiles and their clear and present content to live in such a wonderful family and home.

Little did this family realize that stirring in the heart of the man was a tempest of temptation and a world system calling him to its delights.  Slowly over the years, the man began to listen to this siren's song.  Slowly over the years these sirens seduced the man until one day it happened...he fully succumbed to the siren's song, the devil's evil ways, and the man wound up in jail with his whole world collapsed around him.   

The man spent many months in jail and the woman, hanging on to the slightest thread, stayed married to the man.  During this horrific time the family was engulfed in a hurricane of assaults on their beautiful family.

Today, this man has paid his debt to society but now one tremendous wall stands in his way.  Forgiveness.  How can he forgive himself?  How could his wife possibly forgive him?  And perhaps most painful of all, how could the children forgive?