Arrow #3

In case you haven't read Phyll's blog, in His goodness the Lord has seen fit to fashion another arrow for our quiver (Psalm 127:3-5). What a blessing! I look forward to God's gracious expanse of our heritage and reward!

Controversial Christianity

I have been reading The Pleasures of God by John Piper. This quote really stood out to me: "Can controversial teachings nurture Christlikeness? Before you answer this question, ask another one: Are there any significant biblical teachings that have not been controversial? I cannot think of even one, let alone the number we all need for the daily nurture of faith. If this is true, then we have no choice but to seek our food in the markets of controversy. We need to stay there. We can go home and feast if the day has been well spent. But we must buy there. As much as we would like it, we do not have the luxury of living in a world where the most nourishing truths are unopposed. If we think we can suspend judgment on all that is controversial and feed our souls only on what is left, we are living in a dreamworld. There is nothing left. The reason any of us thinks that we can stand alone on the truths that are noncontroversial is because we do not know our history or the diversity of the professing church. Besides that, would we really want to give to the devil the right to determine our spiritual menu by refusing to eat any teaching over which he can cause controversy (121-122, emphasis mine).

As I reflected on this statement, I realized how right it was. There is not a single biblical doctrine that is not controversial. God's sovereignty and delight in his own glory is questioned. Creation, the miraculous, and divine revelation are doubted. The deity and humanity of Jesus is disputed. The bloody death of Christ as a substitute for the penalty we deserve is repugnant. The sinful nature of man is denied. The exclusivity of Christ is abhorred. Even the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper cannot escape controversy when you reflect upon what they symbolize. One might argue that everyone can agree that God is love, but when examined in light of the biblical picture of God's love, it too is contended. If we attempt to strip or water biblical truth down to an inoffensive message, we are left with nothing. A virtually non-existent but needy God makes one of many paths to him by way of a nice guy who people don't really need. What is the point? Why would anyone accept a gospel that is unnecessary? It is no longer good news, only nice news.

We need to realize that Christianity is controversial. Some will hate it. Some will hate us as a result of it. We cannot let our fear to offend keep us from preaching the whole counsel of God. We are not responsible for the appeal of the message, only of our right handling of it. To some it will smell of death, but to others the aroma of Christ will be the fragrance of life. "
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ" - 2 Corinthians 2:14-17. Let us not peddle a pleasing message that tickles the ears of unbelievers but has no power to save. Instead, let us realize that all who are in Christ are commissioned to speak the whole, controversial message of Christ. To God be the glory!

True Repentance, part 3: The Insufficiency of Penance

Penance is a personal, outward attempt by a guilty party, upon recognition of his culpability, to make a satisfaction to God for his wrongdoing. In the Roman Catholic Church, it was meant to be preceded by contrition (sorrow) and confession (Council of Trent, Canons on Penance, Canon 4 [1551]). Although Protestant Christians reject the Catholic penitential system as an unbiblical attempt to add to the completed work of Christ, many professed believers erringly endeavor to compensate for their sins through penance. Penance, at its core, is a faithless act. It can be performed by believer and unbeliever alike. One who attempts to make a satisfaction for his own sin apart from repentance and trust in Christ’s ability to atone is acting in unbelief, even if he feels sorrow and confesses. Penance demonstrates a trust in man’s ability to appease God, rather than Christ’s.

Furthermore, acts of penance are simply an external means to please God without any true desire for change. Feeling a sense of worldly grief, many seek to absolve themselves of the guilt and consequences of sin by an outward pious action without ever focusing on “the inward renewal of the mind, which bears with it the true correction of life (Calvin, Institutes, 3.4.1, p 623).” Those who resort to penance are not dissatisfied with the corruptness of their hearts which produce sin. They only want freedom from the results of their sin. Stuart Scott adds that penance focuses on: 1) what the person wants rather than what God wants, 2) what the person does rather than on what Christ has done on their behalf, 3) a semi-public display versus a private display before God and 4) a human priest or advocate. Without concern for the way God desires reconciliation, the one who resorts to penance attempts to make restitution for his sin on his own terms.

Both Judas and Saul were guilty of performing penance. Judas indeed felt sorry for his betrayal, but instead of repenting, he tried to justify himself by returning the money and confessing to the Pharisees. Rather than humbling himself before God and seeking to reconcile to him on his terms, Judas did it his own way by taking his life. Saul confessed his sin and begged Samuel to go out with him so that he could worship God. But his heart was not changed. He still feared man.

There are numerous other biblical examples of attempts to appease God through penance (a few examples are Zech 7:5-14; Jer 14:10-12; Hos 6:1-6; Lk 18:9-14). Israel attempted to merit God’s favor by fasting in Isaiah 58. In verse 1, God told Isaiah to declare to Israel their transgression. This is in spite of the fact that they: “seek me daily and delight to know my ways…they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God” (v. 2). The people wondered why God had not seen their fast. They assumed that they had humbled themselves, yet God did not respond. Why? It is because they were still transgressing They were unrighteous, having forsaken God’s judgments (v. 2). They sought their own pleasure, fought each other, and oppressed their workers (v. 3-5). Although they were keeping the religious rituals of the Law, and even showing contrition through fasting, their hearts were not changed. In the rest of the chapter God proclaims that he chooses the fast that shows compassion on others. This is the fast of the truly penitent. If the Israelites would love their neighbors, God would be present with them to protect, provide for, and guide them.

Are you attempting to outwardly appease God? Are you trying to come to him on your own terms rather than on his? Are you efforts external rites rather than inward change? Are you seeking to atone for your sins or are you truly resting in the sufficient blood of Christ? David said in Psalm 51:16-17, "For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." May we not seek to cover our sin by our own feable efforts, but let us mourn over and hate our sin as we run to and rest in the only sacrifice that can truly atone for our transgressions: the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

True Thanksgiving

Recently I was invited to preach this coming Sunday, 11/30, at a small, rural church outside of Shepherdsville, KY happily named Sunnyside Baptist Church. Being the Sunday after Thanksgiving, it didn't take me long to decide what to preach on. I had been meditating on Psalm 100 (A Psalm for Giving Thanks) before I received the invitation, so when I heard the date I immediately knew my sermon text.

Thanksgiving is a great holiday. I like it because it is much less captive to consumerism, it is outward focused - showing gratitude for life's many blessings, AND it's yummy (oh how I miss my Grandma Rosemary's cinammon rolls)! It gives people an opportunity to contemplate all that they have to be thankful for and hopefully acknowledge that those good gifts come from someone other than themselves. I am always prayerful that those who do not believe might realize that all the wonderful blessings they have received come from a Gracious Giver who showers his gifts on both the righteous and the unrighteous (Acts 14:16-17). I hope that they see that these blessings came from God and that they might turn and respond to him in praise and adoration. After all, that's the purpose of the holiday, is it not?

Thanksgiving Day is a time in which we should show gratitude to our gracious Father, yet if we just stop at thanking God for the blessings we have received from him without worshipping him for who he is, we have not been truly thankful. We must be careful not to relish in the gifts, without glorifying the Giver. This was all to clear to me as I was preparing my sermon on Psalm 100. The entire passage is focused on God, with barely a mention of the gifts received (we are his people, the sheep of his pasture). The Psalmist instructs us that true thanksgiving comes from a recognition that God is king over all, a realization that we belong to Him, and a reliance upon his perfect character. In other words, true thanksgiving comes not from gratitude for his gifts, but from a true knowledge of God. It is a real, intimate, trust-filled knowledge of God that results in genuine gratitude, not in a deep appreciation for his blessings. We are truly thankful when we truly know God and confess him as Lord over our lives. The result of this authentic adoration, according to Psalm 100, is joyful proclamation, glad service, and exuberant praise. Our thanksgiving does not stop at words but results in God-glorifying action. We are pleased to do God's will because we find our delight in him. We trust in his sovereignty and flawless nature and therefore gladly submit ourselves to him, regardless of our current circumstances. Despite pain and sorrow, failure and unmet expectations, we can rejoice because we have received the greatest possible blessing. We have received God.

Do you find yourself unsatisfied? Do you feel joyless and ungrateful? Is it hard for you to whole-heartedly worship God? It may sound simplistic, stony, or stupid, but true thanksgiving comes from a true knowledge of God. Joy and gladness will come if you seek the Lord. Satisfaction cannot be found in our reveling in our gifts. Instead, our hearts are truly happy when we delight in the Giver. It is to this end that we were created.

Please pray for me as I preach this Sunday. To God be the glory!

True Repentance, part 2: Godly Grief versus Worldly Grief

If we are to know whether or not our repentance is genuine, we must first examine the nature of our sorrow. Is our grief godly or carnal? The passage which gives the clearest demarcation of true remorse and worldly sorrow is 2 Corinthians 7:8-10:

8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it- though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

Grief goes beyond mere emotions. It is not uncommon to feel guilt, shame, or regret when caught in a sin. Yet true grief is identified by one’s response to it. If one is godly, the shame that he experienced will lead him to humble himself before God. He will recognize that he has disgraced God and will earnestly desire to be restored to him. Mourning loss of communion between himself, God and others, he will grow to hate his sin. As William Cowper said “I hate the sin that made thee mourn and drove thee from my breast.” His grief will lead to repentance, which will result in salvation without regret. This occurs because the godly man turns away from his sin and focuses on the pardoning grace of God. He will recognize that he has received God’s mercy and forgiveness of his sin. John Calvin puts it this way:

“The sorrow of the world is, when men despond in consequence of earthly afflictions, and are overwhelmed with grief; while sorrow according to God is that which has an eye to God, while they reckon it the one misery — to have lost the favor of God; when, impressed with fear of His judgment, they mourn over their sins. This sorrow Paul makes the cause and origin of repentance. This is carefully to be observed, for unless the sinner be dissatisfied with himself, detest his manner of life, and be thoroughly grieved from an apprehension of sin, he will never betake himself to the Lord.”

Therefore godly grief is that remorse or sorrow which leads one to humbly repent to God. In the previous example of Peter in part 1, John 21 portrays his intimate restoration to Christ. Peter’s godly grief over denying him three times results in his humble triadic affirmation to shepherd Jesus’ flock.

Conversely, Paul describes worldly grief as leading to death. All emotions of shame and regret do not result in a humble repentance for those who experience ungodly sorrow. Instead, worldly grief leads to death because there is no restoration to God. Stuart Scott says that:

“Shallow remorse can involve: 1) sorrow over getting caught and being found out, 2) sorrow over the consequences in or of getting caught, 3) sorrow over the response of others. 4) The offering of an apology saying, “I’m sorry” without any mention of repentance or change and without asking forgiveness. 5) Trying to do penance by doing unrelated good things to make the consequences go away, to try to cancel out one’s wrong-doing, or to appease God. 6) Making at least some justification for the sin committed. 7) Complaining about the expectation of real change.”

In short, they do not hate their sin or desire to do what is necessary to truly reconcile severed relationships. Therefore, worldly grief is sorrow over the consequences of sin, yet without any remorse over dishonoring God. It leads to a focus on self and away from God. Judas felt great sorrow over his sin, but he never sought reconciliation to God. His grief was not from the recognition of the evil of his sin but from the punishment he would receive as a result of betraying innocent blood.

Another biblical example of worldly grief is King Saul. In 1 Samuel 15, God commanded Saul to go to battle against the Amalekites and to devote all of them to destruction. Saul was not to leave a single man or animal alive. After mustering his troops, Saul went to war with the Amalekites and God granted him victory over them. But Saul failed to keep his vow to God by sparing Agag, king of the Amalekites, and the best of the animals. As Samuel approached Saul, the king lied to Samuel saying that he had fulfilled God’s command. Samuel rebuked him for his disobedience. Saul then attempted to respond with false piety as he said that he saved the choicest animals to offer them as a sacrifice to God (rather than taking away from his own personal flock). Samuel was not convinced and told Saul that God had rejected him as king.

Overwhelmed with grief, Saul confessed his true motive – the people took the spoil rather than destroying it, and Saul feared them (v. 24). His desire to please man was greater than his desire to please God. Saul pleaded with Samuel to pardon his sin and return with him so that he could worship the Lord. Yet he was not truly interested in worshipping God, but being honored by Samuel before the eyes of men. When Samuel refused, Saul seized his robe and it tore. Again Saul begged Samuel to go with him before the people, this time Samuel agreed. His compliance was probably due to the fact that even though Saul was a sinful king, he was still anointed by God. Until another king took his place, he would serve as the spiritual representative of the people. Samuel’s allowance would protect the nation from following Saul’s example further. Saul was able to save face before the people, yet he was not allowed to carry out God’s command to destroy Agag and the remaining flocks. Samuel fulfilled this task.

Unlike his successor, David, he never truly humbled himself and repented to God. As a result of Saul’s worldly grief he was rejected by God and given an evil spirit to torment him. He eventually lost both his throne and his life because he feared man more than God (1 Chr. 10:13-14). This should lead us to ask a few questions of ourselves. Why do you feel sorrow over your sin? Is it because you fear man or consequences? Or is it because you are grieved by knowing that you have offended God? Do you really hate your sin? Are you willing to do what is necessary to be reconciled to God and those whom you have sinned against? In part 3, we'll look at biblical instruction for how we are to repent, but in the mean time may we all be grieved over our sin, leading us to repent and place our trust in the only one who can restore without regret.

True Repentance, part 1

Most Christians know who Simon Peter and Judas Iscariot were. Both were apostles of Christ. Both walked with him and were taught by him for years. Both were given authority by Jesus to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons (Mt. 10:5-15). Both appeared outwardly in every respect to be loyal to Christ. Peter, after all was the one who professed Jesus as the Messiah (Mt. 16-13-20), and Judas was given charge over the money bag (Jn. 13:29). Yet both turned their backs on him. Judas betrayed him and Peter denied him. Upon recognition of their unfaithfulness, both showed remorse. Judas, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, “changed his mind” and attempted to return the thirty pieces of silver saying “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood” (Mt. 27:3-4). Peter, after denying Christ three times, ran away weeping bitterly (Mt. 26:65). Yet only one was truly penitent. Judas threw down the silver and went out and hanged himself. Peter, on the other hand, returned to the disciples and afterward was restored to Christ (John 21).

How can it be that both were regretful and yet only one response led to reconciliation? How could Judas, being anguished by his sin to the point of suicide, not have received mercy from God? And if his sorrow did not lead to salvation, how can one be sure of the validity of his repentance?

I wish I could say that questions like these were common, but unfortunately there seems to be much confusion regarding the nature of repentance. Often it is viewed as a one time event of sorrow over sin and confession, but repentance goes far beyond grief and acknowledgment of transgression. Therefore, I thought it might be helpful to pass on a little insight I've been given on the nature of repentance in the hope that it may bolster our understanding and draw us to our knees as we endeavor to "keep to Christ in repentance and faith." To do this, we must first examine the distinction between worldly and godly grief. Second, we must explore the differentiation between penance and repentance. This will become increasingly clear as we identify the fruit of true repentance and then make a few personal points of application. I pray that we may truly mourn over our sin as we look upon the him whom we have pierced (Zech 12:10; John 19:37)and respond as Peter did, in an obedient and continual trust in the only true Savior, Jesus Christ.

A Song of "WHUP!"

Seeing as how my posts have a tendency to make some people cry (JB), I thought I might try to bring a little humor to your day. So, I present to you my favorite youtube video (though I almost never go to youtube). Here he is, the pride of Peoria, IL, Mr. John Daker! P.S. Keep your eyes on the eyebrows. They'll make you sing, "Ah-ah-AH-ah-ah-ah-ah-aye-ah-ah-OH!"