"Repent and believe." The New Testament says that it is just that simple - and it is. But what does the word "repent" actually mean?
Proverbs gives us a pretty good starting definition: "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion." (Proverbs 28:13 NASB) We must confess and forsake our sins. Confession without forsaking is hypocritical lip service.
But let's expand on this view a bit. What does it really mean to "forsake our sins"? The New Testament is relatively silent when it comes to expounding on repentance. However, this may be because such explanation has been adequately made in the Old Testament (hereafter, OT). The theme of faith in the OT sheds much light here. Faith is expressed with several key terms in the OT, including believe, delight, trust, and commit. To trust in God is to not trust in one's self. (Proverbs 3:5) To commit carries the thought of committing to God's way and rejecting your own. (Deuteronomy 30:2; Psalm 37:5; Proverbs 12:15; 14:12; Ezekiel 18:30) This theme of the way of God and the way of man is constantly seen throughout the OT. As William Dyrness put it, "Turning from one's own way and following the Lord and His statutes implies that the past way was wrong." (Themes in OT Theology, 163) That is, the past way is the way of sin. Our thoughts, our words, our actions...if they are not God's thoughts, words, and actions...are sin. This is why people like John MacArthur can say things like, "It doesn't matter what you think, or what I think. What does scripture say about the matter?"
So then, the first act of repentance is committing to the way of God. All later acts of repentance are returning to the way of God. This is why repentance is so important - even to elder saints! Any deviation from the way God has prescribed is treason against the Lord of the universe! It must be cast off without delay!
***The Application of the Matter***
(1) So many people, including church leaders, make the mistake of seeing repentance as merely the "confession of sins." Within the New Testament understanding of confession is implied the forsaking of that sin - running away from our way and returning to God's way.
(2) So much more dangerous is this crowd that asks, "What does this verse mean to you?" As if you or I were the final authority on what scripture says! It amazes me how many "Christians" say things like, "Well, I don't think God would..." (Go to scripture and find out!) or "My god is not like that!" (You are right! But the God of the Bible IS!) Scripture is the ultimate authority on who God is and how He works. To think incorrectly about God is to create a god of your own making - that is idolatry and arrogance. This is making a god to suit our way, not following God's way!
***The Ultimate Conclusion of the Matter***
If repentance is committing your life to the way of God (desiring to think, talk, and act as He would), which is the fullest sense of the word, then many people who flood the doors of American churches on Sunday mornings (including many church leaders) are NOT repentant - and therefore should not be seen as "Christians."
July 18, 2009
April 1, 2009
Where Has "Christ" Gone in "Christian Music"?
Allow me to begin with a disclaimer: I like almost ANY style of music. Style is not even an issue. My issue is with the lyrics of what is labeled as "Christian" music today. There have been several disturbing trends that need to be halted in the "Christian music industry." (Also, I will be focusing specifically on music because, quite frankly, I do not even want to begin discussing the mess that is touted as "Christian" radio.)
1. The extreme lack of Christ-centeredness...
This doesn't just happen in contemporary Christian rock/pop either. Many later hymns (post 1800 mostly) and most of the praise & worship and choir music today is guilty of being either man-centered or not centered on anything. On this point, I want to say up front that I'm sick of hearing about strutting around heaven with my crown on and getting my keys to my mansion! WHAT ABOUT CHRIST? DO WE NOT CARE THAT HE WILL BE THERE? I wonder how many people that call themselves "Christians" would sit and sulk on the streets of gold if they actually found out that "a place" doesn't mean a town full of gold mansions with silver lining and that they would have to - as we will all do - lay their crowns at the feet of Jesus - who is the WHOLE REASON heaven is what it is!
If Christ is the focus of the Bible (both the Old and New Testaments) - and He IS - then why is our music not centered on Him? So much of Christian music has gone to lyrics about creation. If I may paraphrase Tom Clay from GraceLife Chruch in Muscle Shoals: "Anyone can sing about God's creation, but only [true] Christians can understand and sing about Christ and His work." Should we be content "worshipping" with lesser songs than those that glorify the Savior who brought us from death to eternal life?
2. The generic language in the lyrics...
Aside from a general lack of Christ-centeredness, "Christian" music has taken (I'm guessing) a universalist view of God. What I mean is, instead of actually saying "God" (much less the more specific names for God like "Elohim" or "Adonai") or "Jesus," the "Christian music industry" has begun using generic pronouns like "you" to reference God. Why is that a problem? When a song does not reference God specifically, then it becomes no better than a secular love song - depending on the point of view from which a person views the lyrics. Examples:
Choice A: "From this moment, I have been blessed; I live only for your happiness. And for your love, I'll give my last breath..."
Choice B: "I'm living for the only thing I know; I'm running and not quite sure where to go. And I don't know what I'm diving into - just hanging by a moment here with you."
Which song sounds more Christian? If you said "A"- that would actually be Shania Twain...a country singer...and the song has nothing to do with God. By the way, the other excerpt is from Lifehouse - who is, or at least at one point was calling themselves a Christian band. There are countless other examples that I just don't have time to include.
3. The muddled lines between "Christian" bands and secular bands...
What does it mean to be a Christian? The word literally means little Christ. What does that mean? It means to live like Christ and be DISTINCT from the world!!! Sadly, we live with a cultural Christianity where the distinct people are almost extinct.
Here is an example on the one hand: The first time I saw a CD by the band Evanescence, it was on the shelf of a Christian book store. That same day, I heard the clerk actually recommend the CD to a friend for their teenagers. Granted, I've heard their music and SOME of it could be mistaken for Christian. However, a few weeks later, when asked about their huge "Christian" following, one of the band members, if I may paraphrase, said, "I don't know what these ****ing Christians are thinking; our music isn't Christian."
Here is an example on the other hand:
The band Lifehouse (I don't mean to pick on them, but they are just a really good example of my point.) became incredibly popular on the secular scene, yet as soon as they mentioned that they were "Christian," the Christian bookstores were flooded with their CDs. That's not to say that their music isn't good. In fact, they have some great messages, if you look at the music from a Christian perspective. The problem is that their songs do NOT mention God, Jesus, or anything else that would single them out as Christian. Their most popular songs are a great example of the previous point: when generic words like "you" are all that are used to refer to God or Jesus, the song becomes nothing better than a secular love song, especially to a person that is not a Christian.
4. Commands without reasons...
Praise the Lord! Give glory to His name! True...we should do these things, but WHY?
So many praise choruses today give commands to worship, love, and glorify God. However, those same songs say nothing of WHY we should do so. The "why" is essential! The Bible constantly reminds us to REMEMBER what GOD HAS DONE! If we do not understand why we should worship and make the "why" a reality in our own lives, then we become no better than the Pharisees, of which Jesus said, "They honor Me with their lips, but their HEARTS are far from me."
Conclusion...
In a cultural Christianity that (sadly) listens to "Christian" music more than it reads its Bible, and as a result gets its views more from those songs than the Bible, WE NEED SOLID MUSIC THAT IS GROUNDED IN THE WORD OF GOD AND IS CENTERED ON CHRIST!!!
1. The extreme lack of Christ-centeredness...
This doesn't just happen in contemporary Christian rock/pop either. Many later hymns (post 1800 mostly) and most of the praise & worship and choir music today is guilty of being either man-centered or not centered on anything. On this point, I want to say up front that I'm sick of hearing about strutting around heaven with my crown on and getting my keys to my mansion! WHAT ABOUT CHRIST? DO WE NOT CARE THAT HE WILL BE THERE? I wonder how many people that call themselves "Christians" would sit and sulk on the streets of gold if they actually found out that "a place" doesn't mean a town full of gold mansions with silver lining and that they would have to - as we will all do - lay their crowns at the feet of Jesus - who is the WHOLE REASON heaven is what it is!
If Christ is the focus of the Bible (both the Old and New Testaments) - and He IS - then why is our music not centered on Him? So much of Christian music has gone to lyrics about creation. If I may paraphrase Tom Clay from GraceLife Chruch in Muscle Shoals: "Anyone can sing about God's creation, but only [true] Christians can understand and sing about Christ and His work." Should we be content "worshipping" with lesser songs than those that glorify the Savior who brought us from death to eternal life?
2. The generic language in the lyrics...
Aside from a general lack of Christ-centeredness, "Christian" music has taken (I'm guessing) a universalist view of God. What I mean is, instead of actually saying "God" (much less the more specific names for God like "Elohim" or "Adonai") or "Jesus," the "Christian music industry" has begun using generic pronouns like "you" to reference God. Why is that a problem? When a song does not reference God specifically, then it becomes no better than a secular love song - depending on the point of view from which a person views the lyrics. Examples:
Choice A: "From this moment, I have been blessed; I live only for your happiness. And for your love, I'll give my last breath..."
Choice B: "I'm living for the only thing I know; I'm running and not quite sure where to go. And I don't know what I'm diving into - just hanging by a moment here with you."
Which song sounds more Christian? If you said "A"- that would actually be Shania Twain...a country singer...and the song has nothing to do with God. By the way, the other excerpt is from Lifehouse - who is, or at least at one point was calling themselves a Christian band. There are countless other examples that I just don't have time to include.
3. The muddled lines between "Christian" bands and secular bands...
What does it mean to be a Christian? The word literally means little Christ. What does that mean? It means to live like Christ and be DISTINCT from the world!!! Sadly, we live with a cultural Christianity where the distinct people are almost extinct.
Here is an example on the one hand: The first time I saw a CD by the band Evanescence, it was on the shelf of a Christian book store. That same day, I heard the clerk actually recommend the CD to a friend for their teenagers. Granted, I've heard their music and SOME of it could be mistaken for Christian. However, a few weeks later, when asked about their huge "Christian" following, one of the band members, if I may paraphrase, said, "I don't know what these ****ing Christians are thinking; our music isn't Christian."
Here is an example on the other hand:
The band Lifehouse (I don't mean to pick on them, but they are just a really good example of my point.) became incredibly popular on the secular scene, yet as soon as they mentioned that they were "Christian," the Christian bookstores were flooded with their CDs. That's not to say that their music isn't good. In fact, they have some great messages, if you look at the music from a Christian perspective. The problem is that their songs do NOT mention God, Jesus, or anything else that would single them out as Christian. Their most popular songs are a great example of the previous point: when generic words like "you" are all that are used to refer to God or Jesus, the song becomes nothing better than a secular love song, especially to a person that is not a Christian.
4. Commands without reasons...
Praise the Lord! Give glory to His name! True...we should do these things, but WHY?
So many praise choruses today give commands to worship, love, and glorify God. However, those same songs say nothing of WHY we should do so. The "why" is essential! The Bible constantly reminds us to REMEMBER what GOD HAS DONE! If we do not understand why we should worship and make the "why" a reality in our own lives, then we become no better than the Pharisees, of which Jesus said, "They honor Me with their lips, but their HEARTS are far from me."
Conclusion...
In a cultural Christianity that (sadly) listens to "Christian" music more than it reads its Bible, and as a result gets its views more from those songs than the Bible, WE NEED SOLID MUSIC THAT IS GROUNDED IN THE WORD OF GOD AND IS CENTERED ON CHRIST!!!
March 18, 2008
A VERY False Gospel - My Plea for Discernment among the True Church
Rarely do I feel the need to concern myself with current events, but an email passed by my desk this morning that was simply too disturbing to ignore. Apparently, Oprah Winfrey is endorsing a year-long study through a workbook called "A Course in Miracles." This book depicts a New Age "version" (if you could say such a thing) of Jesus. It is so heretical that I would love to know if the author meant to write a fiction novel and it simply found its way to the wrong shelf. It is probably the biggest heresy since the gnostic gospels (known as the "books that didn't make it into the Bible") were originally written 1700 years ago. Here are just a few points that the workbook makes:
- "There is no sin." - What about John 15:22? "If I [Jesus] had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin." (Also Matt 12:31; John 8:7, 11 and more) These are Jesus' words that specifically confirm that sin exists. Speaking of John, in his letter, he wrote: "If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us." (I John 1:10)
- "A slain Christ has no meaning," "the journey to the cross should be the last useless journey," and "do not make the pathetic error of 'clinging to the old rugged cross.'" - On the contrary, "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." (Heb 9:22) Also, "but He [Jesus], having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God." (Heb 10:12) Without the sacrifice of Christ, the entire WORLD is in a downward spiral of despair and utter hopelessness! That cross, that sacrifice, so despised by the unregenerate world, is THE ONLY way for the world to be saved! Without the cross of Christ, there is nothing for us but the fires of hell.
- "The Name of Jesus Christ....is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray." - What about I Timothy 2:5: "For there is ONE GOD, and ONE MEDIATOR also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus"? One of my mentors put it this way: "Someone who believes that there are many ways to heaven, really doesn't believe in Jesus Christ, or the Bible. They may say they do, but they can't [believe in Him]. Because the Bible clearly states (Christ Himself speaking), that He is the ONLY way (John 14:6)! 'I am the Way, and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through ME!' The definite article in the Greek is very important. The Way, The Truth, The Life. That is pretty clear to me." Amen brother!
- "The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself." - News flash...I'm not God, you're not God, Oprah's not God, Marianne Williamson (the writer of this heresy) is not God.
Granted, there are plenty of heretical books out there (The Da Vinci Code, for example), but this one is being promoted by probably the most influential person in the world. What's worse is that Robert Schuller (the mentor of Rick Warren, who is spear-heading the "purpose driven church" movement that has invaded the church in recent years) endorses the book, and has a book based off of "A Course on Miracles" in the bookstore of the Crystal Cathedral!
People, please hear me! If this garbage was put out to slander Islam, what do you think the muslim nation would do? Paul's words have been prophetic in the past few months: "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;" [and I say with Paul] "AVOID SUCH MEN [AND WOMEN] AS THESE." (II Tim 3:1-5)
- "There is no sin." - What about John 15:22? "If I [Jesus] had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin." (Also Matt 12:31; John 8:7, 11 and more) These are Jesus' words that specifically confirm that sin exists. Speaking of John, in his letter, he wrote: "If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us." (I John 1:10)
- "A slain Christ has no meaning," "the journey to the cross should be the last useless journey," and "do not make the pathetic error of 'clinging to the old rugged cross.'" - On the contrary, "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." (Heb 9:22) Also, "but He [Jesus], having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God." (Heb 10:12) Without the sacrifice of Christ, the entire WORLD is in a downward spiral of despair and utter hopelessness! That cross, that sacrifice, so despised by the unregenerate world, is THE ONLY way for the world to be saved! Without the cross of Christ, there is nothing for us but the fires of hell.
- "The Name of Jesus Christ....is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray." - What about I Timothy 2:5: "For there is ONE GOD, and ONE MEDIATOR also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus"? One of my mentors put it this way: "Someone who believes that there are many ways to heaven, really doesn't believe in Jesus Christ, or the Bible. They may say they do, but they can't [believe in Him]. Because the Bible clearly states (Christ Himself speaking), that He is the ONLY way (John 14:6)! 'I am the Way, and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through ME!' The definite article in the Greek is very important. The Way, The Truth, The Life. That is pretty clear to me." Amen brother!
- "The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself." - News flash...I'm not God, you're not God, Oprah's not God, Marianne Williamson (the writer of this heresy) is not God.
Granted, there are plenty of heretical books out there (The Da Vinci Code, for example), but this one is being promoted by probably the most influential person in the world. What's worse is that Robert Schuller (the mentor of Rick Warren, who is spear-heading the "purpose driven church" movement that has invaded the church in recent years) endorses the book, and has a book based off of "A Course on Miracles" in the bookstore of the Crystal Cathedral!
People, please hear me! If this garbage was put out to slander Islam, what do you think the muslim nation would do? Paul's words have been prophetic in the past few months: "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;" [and I say with Paul] "AVOID SUCH MEN [AND WOMEN] AS THESE." (II Tim 3:1-5)
February 21, 2008
Amazing Grace
Watson said this so well that I'm going to leave it in his capable hands. This is humbling, encouraging, and (missions) stimulating all at the same time!
THE LOT OF FREE GRACE!
By Thomas Watson from "A New Creature"
"Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17
The new creature is a work of free grace. There is nothing in us, to cause God to make us anew. By nature we are full of pollution and enmity—yet now God forms the new creature. Behold the banner of love displayed! The new creature may say, "By the grace of God I am what I am!" In the creation, we may see the strength of God's arm; in the new creature, we may see the working of God's heart! That God should consecrate any heart, and anoint it with grace—is an act of pure love! That He should pluck one out of the state of nature, and not another—must be resolved into sovereign grace! This will increase the saint's triumphs in heaven, that the lot of free grace should fall upon them—and not on others.
The new creature is a work of rare excellency. A natural man is a lump of dirt and sin mixed together. God loathes him! But upon the new creature is a spiritual glory—as if a piece of clay, was turned into a sparkling diamond!
Those are not new creatures, who continue in their sins and are resolved so to do. These are in the gall of bitterness, and are the most miserable creatures that ever God made—except for the devils. These stand in the place where all God's arrows fly! These are the center where all God's curses meet!
An unregenerate person is like one in debt—who is in fear of being arrested by death, and carried prisoner to hell! Can that traitor be happy—who is fed by his prince in prison—only to be kept alive for his execution? God feeds the wicked like prisoners. They are reserved for the day of wrath!
THE LOT OF FREE GRACE!
By Thomas Watson from "A New Creature"
"Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17
The new creature is a work of free grace. There is nothing in us, to cause God to make us anew. By nature we are full of pollution and enmity—yet now God forms the new creature. Behold the banner of love displayed! The new creature may say, "By the grace of God I am what I am!" In the creation, we may see the strength of God's arm; in the new creature, we may see the working of God's heart! That God should consecrate any heart, and anoint it with grace—is an act of pure love! That He should pluck one out of the state of nature, and not another—must be resolved into sovereign grace! This will increase the saint's triumphs in heaven, that the lot of free grace should fall upon them—and not on others.
The new creature is a work of rare excellency. A natural man is a lump of dirt and sin mixed together. God loathes him! But upon the new creature is a spiritual glory—as if a piece of clay, was turned into a sparkling diamond!
Those are not new creatures, who continue in their sins and are resolved so to do. These are in the gall of bitterness, and are the most miserable creatures that ever God made—except for the devils. These stand in the place where all God's arrows fly! These are the center where all God's curses meet!
An unregenerate person is like one in debt—who is in fear of being arrested by death, and carried prisoner to hell! Can that traitor be happy—who is fed by his prince in prison—only to be kept alive for his execution? God feeds the wicked like prisoners. They are reserved for the day of wrath!
September 1, 2007
The Word of God-Where the One Road and One Passion Collide
Make time to read Psalm 119. Passion, wisdom, instruction, and direction all weave together here. Here are a couple of excerpts:
Verses 1 & 2: "How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord, how blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart."
Verse 11: "Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You."
Verse 35: "Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it."
Verse 97: "O how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day."
Verse 103: "How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"
The Word of God, for the unbeliever, is just another book of harsh, rigid rules.
For the professing, or wannabe, Christian, the Word of God is that book they take to church on Sunday. Their life is dictated by their own philosophy, not God's Word (See Proverbs 12:15).
But for the TRUE Christian, the Word of God is his treasure, his collection of loving instructions from his Father, his manual for life. Who should you marry, Husband/Wife responsibilities, disciplining children, how to serve God, how to serve people, how to pray, what kind of entertainment should you watch/listen to, what should you wear, etc., etc.-It's all there.
What we are seeing in the American church today are congregations full of (at best) "baby Christians" that have no discernment and little, if any, knowledge of the Bible. The problem is that so many churches never preach and/or teach beyond John 3:16, the "Romans Road," and "7 Keys to [whatever] in Your Life."
My desire is that you fall in love with the Word of God and seek the path that leads to life and cling to it. Go beyond the Sunday morning pep rally and dig into the truth of God's Word! Check out some of the "Solid Sources"-particularly Desiring God and Anchored in Truth.
Let me know your thoughts on Psalm 119; I would love to hear how God uses it in your life!
God Bless.
Verses 1 & 2: "How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord, how blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart."
Verse 11: "Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You."
Verse 35: "Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it."
Verse 97: "O how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day."
Verse 103: "How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"
The Word of God, for the unbeliever, is just another book of harsh, rigid rules.
For the professing, or wannabe, Christian, the Word of God is that book they take to church on Sunday. Their life is dictated by their own philosophy, not God's Word (See Proverbs 12:15).
But for the TRUE Christian, the Word of God is his treasure, his collection of loving instructions from his Father, his manual for life. Who should you marry, Husband/Wife responsibilities, disciplining children, how to serve God, how to serve people, how to pray, what kind of entertainment should you watch/listen to, what should you wear, etc., etc.-It's all there.
What we are seeing in the American church today are congregations full of (at best) "baby Christians" that have no discernment and little, if any, knowledge of the Bible. The problem is that so many churches never preach and/or teach beyond John 3:16, the "Romans Road," and "7 Keys to [whatever] in Your Life."
My desire is that you fall in love with the Word of God and seek the path that leads to life and cling to it. Go beyond the Sunday morning pep rally and dig into the truth of God's Word! Check out some of the "Solid Sources"-particularly Desiring God and Anchored in Truth.
Let me know your thoughts on Psalm 119; I would love to hear how God uses it in your life!
God Bless.
August 5, 2007
What's Here and What's Coming Soon
Just a quick FYI.
The two studies below come from two of my most recent speaking engagements-both of which were affiliated with my home church. The first is from our College retreat to Fall Creek Falls in Tennessee. The second is the notes from the last time I spoke in "Big Church" (ha ha - yeah, that's what we call it! You call it that too, admit it, lol).
I chose these two studies because 1.) I think they exemplify the basis for 1road1passion, and 2.) you just don't here much preaching like this anymore. Please understand, I'm not trying to put myself on a pedestal-it is only by God's grace that I found guys like John Piper, Jeff Noblit, and others who have, through their sermons, instilled this in me. Much of what you will read here is just a product of their teaching. God still has solid Bible teachers all over the US, though they are getting fewer and farther between.
Over the fall semester, things are really going to be crazy here. I've got four internet classes and a full time job to juggle along with teaching on Wednesday nights. I may not be able to keep something going here every week, but hopefully time will allow.
I pray that you will learn something of use here and that you will help us spread the truth all over the world!
Thanks in advance and God Bless!
The two studies below come from two of my most recent speaking engagements-both of which were affiliated with my home church. The first is from our College retreat to Fall Creek Falls in Tennessee. The second is the notes from the last time I spoke in "Big Church" (ha ha - yeah, that's what we call it! You call it that too, admit it, lol).
I chose these two studies because 1.) I think they exemplify the basis for 1road1passion, and 2.) you just don't here much preaching like this anymore. Please understand, I'm not trying to put myself on a pedestal-it is only by God's grace that I found guys like John Piper, Jeff Noblit, and others who have, through their sermons, instilled this in me. Much of what you will read here is just a product of their teaching. God still has solid Bible teachers all over the US, though they are getting fewer and farther between.
Over the fall semester, things are really going to be crazy here. I've got four internet classes and a full time job to juggle along with teaching on Wednesday nights. I may not be able to keep something going here every week, but hopefully time will allow.
I pray that you will learn something of use here and that you will help us spread the truth all over the world!
Thanks in advance and God Bless!
August 3, 2007
Examine Your Steps!-Which Road Are You On?
Adoniram Judson, the great missionary to Burma (now called Myanmar), lived in the early 1800s. At that time, Burma was so opposed to the Gospel that William Carey told Judson, “Don’t go there. It is useless. All the missionaries their either died or quit.” For William Carey to say such a thing about a country is quite a statement. William Carey is the reason Baptists are still in mission work today. When everyone else wanted to sit back and let the rest of the world go to Hell, Carey was the one to stand up and say, “Something must be done!”
While in Burma, Judson only made one trip back home—and that was to escort his second wife back to the States in hopes that she might recover from her sickness. Judson lost two wives and 6 of 13 children to diseases. He was imprisoned during Burma’s war with England. His feet were bound, and at night, they were lifted off the ground by a bamboo pole so that only Judson's head and shoulders touched the floor. This was just the beginning of the trials God would allow Judson to go through.
For all that he suffered in his 38 years as a missionary, Judson translated the Bible into the Burmese language, and put together a Burmese-English Dictionary for later missionaries to use in language training. After decades of service, Judson saw great rewards in 1831. People would come from all around to hear from whom they called the “Jesus Christ man” and to get his writings to take back with them. Adoniram Judson did all of this for the glory of his God.
“But that was 200 years ago,” you might say. Well, let us look at some more recent examples. Aside from the numerous and, dare I say, “typical” bombings of churches, and beatings, murders, and beheadings of Christians all around the world, there are a few instances of persecution in our time of which we should take note:
• Iraq—one priest of the Syriac Orthodox Church was disemboweled, quartered, and beheaded.
• Ethiopia—one Christian was first beaten, and then hanged on a cross.
• Somalia—Christian children have been kidnapped and taken to Islamic schools for “rehabilitation.”
• China—prison, torture and death await anyone who professes Christ.
In June 2002, the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary heard this testimony from Ok Lee, a former prisoner in a North Korean prison camp:
“The cast iron factory was considered the most difficult place to work in the entire prison. Christians were usually sent there to work. I was carrying a work order to the cast iron factory in the male prison. Five or six elderly Christians were lined up and forced to deny their Christianity and accept the Juche Ideology of the State [that Kim Jong Li is god]. The selected prisoners all remained silent at the repeated command for conversion. The security officers became furious by this and killed them by pouring molten iron on them one by one.” (From www.persecution.org)
We think we are spiritual because we can drag ourselves to a church building on Sunday morning—if we are not too tired from the wild night before—put on a “Christian” T-shirt, sing a couple of warm-fuzzy songs, and maybe give the preacher an amen during his sermon—if we have not already fallen to sleep.
Do you see something wrong with this picture?
I am becoming more convinced that when—not if—persecution comes to this country, most of the so-called “churches” you see will be able to make a couple of minor adjustments and continue on just as if nothing ever happened. You might now ask, “Why are you so down on the church in America?” I am not down on the church in America; I am down on the American Church. There is a distinct difference. The American Church is a congregation of people who repeat a little meaningless prayer, take a swim in a baptistery, live like Hell 6 ½ days out of the week. They do nothing, nor do they care about anyone else but themselves and their little circle. They have their rights. They have their savior. They are still lord of their own lives.
But the church—the true church—in America is a Remnant—a beautiful Bride. She is a people—regenerated by the Holy Spirit, redeemed by the blood of Christ, and justified by God the Father. Though not perfect by any means, she strives for perfection through love and grace. Her heart beats for her Bridegroom, and to do what he commands.
Look at Matt 7:13-14: "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
The American Church has been set upon a road. You will see hundreds of thousands of people on the left side of that road, and hundreds of thousands of people on the right side of that road. But in the middle of that road is a scarlet thread. There are few that find it. There are even fewer that actually walk it. Only the Remnant finds that scarlet thread and walks its length. They suffer ridicule and scorn. Family and friends turn their backs on them. They will be called legalists, blasphemers, blind, brainwashed—even heretics and cultists. People will try to pull them off that thread, push them off that thread, and beg them off that thread. They may even suffer torture and death because they walked along the thread.
But, one day, the Remnant will find their feet clinging to nothing but that scarlet thread, because the road has descended to its destination at the gate of Hell. The Remnant will cling to that thread until they have passed through the fire, and their journey will have a most blessed end.
Now, look at Matt 7:21-23: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'"
“Lord, Lord”—this is what is called parallelism. The Hebrew writing system (particularly) had no other way to emphasize a point other than stating that point two or sometimes even three times because they did not have punctuation. The “Lord, Lord” in these verses is an emphatic expression.
“You who practice lawlessness”—this literally reads “you who lived as though I never gave you a law to obey.” Do you see the context of this passage? (Ref. Matt 7:15-20) A Christian is not a Christian because he keeps the laws; a Christian keeps the laws because he is a Christian!
Before I move on, let me tell you about the four distinct differences between the Old and New Covenants.
1. The sacrificial system is no more. Jesus Christ—the perfect sacrifice—came and died for our sins. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ. (Rom 8:1)
2. The law of God is no longer written on stone (in the literal sense), it is written on the hearts of Christians. (Ref. Scripture below)
3. Each Christian is ultimately accountable for his own actions.
Here is a great passage on the New Covenant. See if you can find points 2 and 3 here. Jer 31:31-34 “’Behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,’ declares the Lord. ‘But this is a covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,‘ declares the Lord, ‘for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.’”
4. The condition of the heart is permanently changed when a person becomes a believer and follower of God.
Look at Ezek 36:24-27: “’For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from your all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.’”
This passage is the very definition of the doctrine of regeneration. A man’s heart MUST BE CHANGED in order for him to walk according to the law of God. Conversely, if a man is not walking, or not at least striving to walk, according to the law of God, that fact is evidence that he does NOT have a changed heart!
If you need further proof, lets look at another passage: Luke 6:46-49: “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against the house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Again, context demands that this passage is not talking about the difference between a blessed Christian and an un-blessed Christian that still gets in because he prayed a prayer. The context demands that this passage is talking about the difference between a REAL Christian and a NON-Christian! Now that we understand a little bit about regeneration—the essential work in the heart of a true Christian—I want you to examine yourself with one of the simplest commands in scripture to see if that work has been wrought in your heart:
Ex 20:4-6: “’You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord you God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing loving-kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.’”
We need to understand just exactly what idolatry is. Idolatry is not just bowing before a wooden or stone carving. Idolatry is worshipping something that is less than God. Louie Giglio stated in his book on worship: “You cannot help but worship something…Worship is our response to what we value most. [To find where and what you worship,] You simply follow the trail of your time, your affection, your energy, your money, and your allegiance. At the end of that trail you’ll find a throne; and whatever, or whomever, is on that throne is what’s the highest value to you. On that throne is what you worship.” (The Air I Breathe by Louie Giglio)
So what do you really love? What do you worship? What consumes your thought life? Maybe it is one of these things:
• A certain television program?
• A certain music group?
• Your job? Do you spend so much time at work that you hardly know your children—much less where they are at and what they are doing?
• Your vehicle?
• That new house?
• A boyfriend/girlfriend or the desire to have one? (And no, unfortunately, I’m not just talking to single people.)
• A certain football team? After the last game of the season, is the next day you look forward to the first day of the next season? All this twelve national championships, and the thumb—what will it all mean in eternity?
• Hunting? Have you ever said, “I can’t wait for hunting season to start so I can get out of the house and away from my wife”? I have heard that, in not so many words. If that is you, you need to get on your knees and repent before Almighty God! And you should probably read 1st John again to test your salvation, because you are not only an idolater, but you have disdain in your heart for the wife of your youth—the wife that you made a covenant before God to love, honor, and cherish!
• That position in the church? Deacons, Sunday school teachers, etc.
• A larger congregation? “We have 400 people on the church role…” So what? Are they all TRUE Christians-loving and living for God with every single fiber of their beings?
• Your rewards? How many people would sit and sulk on the streets of gold if they found out that they do not get their gold mansion with silver trim? I'm laying my crowns at the feet of Jesus, and if I get the beggar's seat just inside the gate of Heaven, I will praise Him forever because I know that I do not deserve even that seat.
I do not want to make you angry for the sake of making you angry. But, I want to confront you with your sin so that you have the opportunity to repent and go on loving God with all your heart!
REMEMBER JESUS' WORDS! Mk 12:29-30: “Jesus answered, ‘The foremost is, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”’”
Do you love God enough to spend the rest of your life doing whatever it is that He has for you to do—whether it is preaching, teaching Sunday School, or even spending the rest of your earthly life in a jungle telling people about Him? Are you willing to suffer and maybe even die in order to glorify Him?
While in Burma, Judson only made one trip back home—and that was to escort his second wife back to the States in hopes that she might recover from her sickness. Judson lost two wives and 6 of 13 children to diseases. He was imprisoned during Burma’s war with England. His feet were bound, and at night, they were lifted off the ground by a bamboo pole so that only Judson's head and shoulders touched the floor. This was just the beginning of the trials God would allow Judson to go through.
For all that he suffered in his 38 years as a missionary, Judson translated the Bible into the Burmese language, and put together a Burmese-English Dictionary for later missionaries to use in language training. After decades of service, Judson saw great rewards in 1831. People would come from all around to hear from whom they called the “Jesus Christ man” and to get his writings to take back with them. Adoniram Judson did all of this for the glory of his God.
“But that was 200 years ago,” you might say. Well, let us look at some more recent examples. Aside from the numerous and, dare I say, “typical” bombings of churches, and beatings, murders, and beheadings of Christians all around the world, there are a few instances of persecution in our time of which we should take note:
• Iraq—one priest of the Syriac Orthodox Church was disemboweled, quartered, and beheaded.
• Ethiopia—one Christian was first beaten, and then hanged on a cross.
• Somalia—Christian children have been kidnapped and taken to Islamic schools for “rehabilitation.”
• China—prison, torture and death await anyone who professes Christ.
In June 2002, the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary heard this testimony from Ok Lee, a former prisoner in a North Korean prison camp:
“The cast iron factory was considered the most difficult place to work in the entire prison. Christians were usually sent there to work. I was carrying a work order to the cast iron factory in the male prison. Five or six elderly Christians were lined up and forced to deny their Christianity and accept the Juche Ideology of the State [that Kim Jong Li is god]. The selected prisoners all remained silent at the repeated command for conversion. The security officers became furious by this and killed them by pouring molten iron on them one by one.” (From www.persecution.org)
We think we are spiritual because we can drag ourselves to a church building on Sunday morning—if we are not too tired from the wild night before—put on a “Christian” T-shirt, sing a couple of warm-fuzzy songs, and maybe give the preacher an amen during his sermon—if we have not already fallen to sleep.
Do you see something wrong with this picture?
I am becoming more convinced that when—not if—persecution comes to this country, most of the so-called “churches” you see will be able to make a couple of minor adjustments and continue on just as if nothing ever happened. You might now ask, “Why are you so down on the church in America?” I am not down on the church in America; I am down on the American Church. There is a distinct difference. The American Church is a congregation of people who repeat a little meaningless prayer, take a swim in a baptistery, live like Hell 6 ½ days out of the week. They do nothing, nor do they care about anyone else but themselves and their little circle. They have their rights. They have their savior. They are still lord of their own lives.
But the church—the true church—in America is a Remnant—a beautiful Bride. She is a people—regenerated by the Holy Spirit, redeemed by the blood of Christ, and justified by God the Father. Though not perfect by any means, she strives for perfection through love and grace. Her heart beats for her Bridegroom, and to do what he commands.
Look at Matt 7:13-14: "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
The American Church has been set upon a road. You will see hundreds of thousands of people on the left side of that road, and hundreds of thousands of people on the right side of that road. But in the middle of that road is a scarlet thread. There are few that find it. There are even fewer that actually walk it. Only the Remnant finds that scarlet thread and walks its length. They suffer ridicule and scorn. Family and friends turn their backs on them. They will be called legalists, blasphemers, blind, brainwashed—even heretics and cultists. People will try to pull them off that thread, push them off that thread, and beg them off that thread. They may even suffer torture and death because they walked along the thread.
But, one day, the Remnant will find their feet clinging to nothing but that scarlet thread, because the road has descended to its destination at the gate of Hell. The Remnant will cling to that thread until they have passed through the fire, and their journey will have a most blessed end.
Now, look at Matt 7:21-23: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'"
“Lord, Lord”—this is what is called parallelism. The Hebrew writing system (particularly) had no other way to emphasize a point other than stating that point two or sometimes even three times because they did not have punctuation. The “Lord, Lord” in these verses is an emphatic expression.
“You who practice lawlessness”—this literally reads “you who lived as though I never gave you a law to obey.” Do you see the context of this passage? (Ref. Matt 7:15-20) A Christian is not a Christian because he keeps the laws; a Christian keeps the laws because he is a Christian!
Before I move on, let me tell you about the four distinct differences between the Old and New Covenants.
1. The sacrificial system is no more. Jesus Christ—the perfect sacrifice—came and died for our sins. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ. (Rom 8:1)
2. The law of God is no longer written on stone (in the literal sense), it is written on the hearts of Christians. (Ref. Scripture below)
3. Each Christian is ultimately accountable for his own actions.
Here is a great passage on the New Covenant. See if you can find points 2 and 3 here. Jer 31:31-34 “’Behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,’ declares the Lord. ‘But this is a covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,‘ declares the Lord, ‘for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.’”
4. The condition of the heart is permanently changed when a person becomes a believer and follower of God.
Look at Ezek 36:24-27: “’For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from your all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.’”
This passage is the very definition of the doctrine of regeneration. A man’s heart MUST BE CHANGED in order for him to walk according to the law of God. Conversely, if a man is not walking, or not at least striving to walk, according to the law of God, that fact is evidence that he does NOT have a changed heart!
If you need further proof, lets look at another passage: Luke 6:46-49: “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against the house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Again, context demands that this passage is not talking about the difference between a blessed Christian and an un-blessed Christian that still gets in because he prayed a prayer. The context demands that this passage is talking about the difference between a REAL Christian and a NON-Christian! Now that we understand a little bit about regeneration—the essential work in the heart of a true Christian—I want you to examine yourself with one of the simplest commands in scripture to see if that work has been wrought in your heart:
Ex 20:4-6: “’You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord you God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing loving-kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.’”
We need to understand just exactly what idolatry is. Idolatry is not just bowing before a wooden or stone carving. Idolatry is worshipping something that is less than God. Louie Giglio stated in his book on worship: “You cannot help but worship something…Worship is our response to what we value most. [To find where and what you worship,] You simply follow the trail of your time, your affection, your energy, your money, and your allegiance. At the end of that trail you’ll find a throne; and whatever, or whomever, is on that throne is what’s the highest value to you. On that throne is what you worship.” (The Air I Breathe by Louie Giglio)
So what do you really love? What do you worship? What consumes your thought life? Maybe it is one of these things:
• A certain television program?
• A certain music group?
• Your job? Do you spend so much time at work that you hardly know your children—much less where they are at and what they are doing?
• Your vehicle?
• That new house?
• A boyfriend/girlfriend or the desire to have one? (And no, unfortunately, I’m not just talking to single people.)
• A certain football team? After the last game of the season, is the next day you look forward to the first day of the next season? All this twelve national championships, and the thumb—what will it all mean in eternity?
• Hunting? Have you ever said, “I can’t wait for hunting season to start so I can get out of the house and away from my wife”? I have heard that, in not so many words. If that is you, you need to get on your knees and repent before Almighty God! And you should probably read 1st John again to test your salvation, because you are not only an idolater, but you have disdain in your heart for the wife of your youth—the wife that you made a covenant before God to love, honor, and cherish!
• That position in the church? Deacons, Sunday school teachers, etc.
• A larger congregation? “We have 400 people on the church role…” So what? Are they all TRUE Christians-loving and living for God with every single fiber of their beings?
• Your rewards? How many people would sit and sulk on the streets of gold if they found out that they do not get their gold mansion with silver trim? I'm laying my crowns at the feet of Jesus, and if I get the beggar's seat just inside the gate of Heaven, I will praise Him forever because I know that I do not deserve even that seat.
I do not want to make you angry for the sake of making you angry. But, I want to confront you with your sin so that you have the opportunity to repent and go on loving God with all your heart!
REMEMBER JESUS' WORDS! Mk 12:29-30: “Jesus answered, ‘The foremost is, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”’”
Do you love God enough to spend the rest of your life doing whatever it is that He has for you to do—whether it is preaching, teaching Sunday School, or even spending the rest of your earthly life in a jungle telling people about Him? Are you willing to suffer and maybe even die in order to glorify Him?
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