The past 8 or 9 years have found me in a significant period of transition regarding my understanding of the Scriptures. Although theological transitions will hopefully continue throughout my life, the current transition has radically altered my thinking regarding the Scriptures.

Perhaps it is best if I review my past thinking, teaching, and preaching. My perspective of the Scriptures was based on a very legalistic, moralistic approach where the proclamation was primarily focused on how God told us to live. The result was that I and my listeners would come away understanding what God expected of us but would know little regarding God the Father and Jesus Christ. This was most pronounced in my studies of the Old Testament although would regularly be evidenced in the New Testament studies as well.

My transition began when I was studying the Gospels and came to Jesus on the road to Emmaus. There Jesus declared that people were fools if they did not believe all that the prophets had spoken. All my life I thought I believed all the prophets had spoken. However, this time I saw what the Scriptures said next. Jesus proceeded to show them how all the Old Testament talked about Him. I shuddered to a stop and asked myself if I really believed that and if I could actually look at the various passages in the OT and see Christ. I know the classic prophetic passages that point to Him but what about Samson, Cain and Able, the Proverbs, etc.? I was not so sure.

So, the past years have been one of new exploration. How is Christ seen in all the Scriptures? And when I began to look I also noticed that I had settled far to short of Christ. I was satisfied with moralisms and legalisms. I was satisfied merely with knowing what I should be and do and did not understand that those things I was doing and being were not for God’s glory but mine.

That is bad enough but I was also teaching, preaching, and counseling these same perspectives. I was not focusing on Christ but on getting people to “look” more Christian. In effect I was helping people to be able to stand before God and say “but did we not do all these things in your name” only to hear Him say “depart from me, I never knew you.”

Ultimately, who really cares is I preach, teach, and counsel how to do better and be better (read, live more consistent with the Scriptures) if the result is that the listeners do not know and love Jesus more. Jesus came seeking worshippers, not merely people who do the right thing and act the right way.

It is because of this that I want to repent of how I have ministered to many of you over the years. My prayer for you is that, in spite of my failures, the Holy Spirit captured your hearts for God and caused you to love Jesus more than you love anyone and caused you to know Jesus more than you know anyone.

Let us not be fools and slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken.

Philosophy of Ministry

Our view of reality is determined by what we believe about truth. It is my firm belief that there is no truth apart from what God has breathed to man and preserved in the pages of His Word; God’s Word is called truth (John 17:17). Truth can only be known by faith, the faith that begins with the Living Word, Jesus Christ (John 14:6). The Word of God is sufficient for all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). These three principles form the foundation for my ministry and the approach that I take in making disciples.

It is the responsibility of every Christian to make disciples, baptizing them (evangelism) and teaching them to observe the commands of the Word. The goal of my instruction and interaction with those whom God has created in His image is not a modification of behavior. Too often outward change is accomplished when the Law is applied without teaching its purpose – to drive the sinner to the cross (Galatians 3:19-25). We are driven by what we value. God’s patient and loving discipline and the sword of His Word divide the thoughts and intents of the heart, exposing values which are idolatrous, providing opportunity for change through faith.

As a minister of God’s grace it is my responsibility to always and in every way manifest Jesus Christ to every man’s conscience. It is the cross of Christ and its promises that are the hope for change for those who have been born out of death into life and are being pressed into the image of Christ. It is the covenant in His blood that interprets life; the responsibility, therefore, of His ministers to explain how the cross applies to every situation that a person encounters.

The dilemma that man faces is not his environment, nor his genetics, etc., but rather his sin. The solution to man’s dilemma can only be had when he repents, acknowledging his helplessness and inability to be right with God, and trusting in the promises and provision of the cross. Repentance is an event that punctuates the life of the believer, initially unto salvation, and continually in his sanctification. Though repentance is an event that begins the process of change, change is accomplished over time. Following admonition, the minister’s responsibility in helping the repentant to change is to encourage the timid, help the weak, and be patient with everyone (1 Thessalonians 5:14, 2 Timothy 2:24-26), knowing that it is God who will cause the growth in His time (1 Corinthians 5:3-9, Galatians 6:9).

It is through the afflictions of life that God humbles and teaches His children what it means to fear Him (Psalm 119:67, 2 Timothy 3:12). The sufferings of the physical life have the eternal purpose of storing up for the afflicted an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). The minister of God’s grace is commanded to comfort those who are afflicted with the promises that God has made through His Son (2 Corinthians 1:3-8). Comforting those who are afflicted and encouraging their obedience provides opportunity for them to show forth in a very clear and present way the sufferings and obedience of Christ (the Gospel) illustrating what is lacking in our present understanding of the sufferings of Christ (Colossians 1:24). The glory of God shines most clearly though a redeemed but broken vessel (2 Corinthians 4:7); it is the charge of the minister of God’s grace to communicate this truth in action and in deed to those whom God providentially brings his way.

 (This is part 2. Please read part one below)

 Then, to complete the hopelessness, David then effectively allows the reader to understand the result of living this way. It is as if the reader is left as a starving man looking through a window into a banquet hall and seeing the monstrous turkey all golden brown and the mountain of mashed potatoes with butter cascading down the sides along with the endless pile of hot dinner roles, etc. And to top it all off the exhaust fan is on and focused right on the spot where he is standing and the wonderful smell is overwhelming. Yet, he is left standing there without a possibility of entering.

That is what we find in verses 5, 6. Why is it so important that we ascend? We will receive a blessing. And what is that blessing? Righteousness! From the God of his salvation. What is David trying to do? It is as if he is saying “here are the requirements to be able to receive righteousness. And yet you can’t attain it without righteousness. Therefore, you have no hope.” Exactly. That is what he is doing. We are hopeless. We can not do it. We are excluded from climbing the hill. We are excluded from righteousness. We are excluded from blessing. We are excluded from salvation.

And yet, The Psalm does not end there. One would expect that the conclusion of the Psalm would speak of how the Lord is done with His people because of their rebellion and sinfulness. However, the next declaration is quite the opposite. Rather than being hopeless, the call is for the gates of the city to be lifted up. The reference is symbolically of the gates of Jerusalem. But the idea is for those of the city (who were just told of their hopelessness) to be lifted up. In other words, the call is to not be discouraged  with the reality that you can not measure up. Why? Because the king is coming!

But who is this king? The text tells us. Verse 8 and 10 gives an excellent explanation. He is strong and mighty in battle. And then He is described as the Lord of Hosts and the king of glory. Clearly, the Lord Himself is being described. The one on the holy hill is coming! That is, the one we have no hope of going to is coming to us! Which, of course, begs the question, why is He coming? These two verses give the first clues. He is called the Lord of hosts in verse 10. This description refers to the reality that this Lord is the Lord of armies. And combining this with verse 8 in becomes clear that He is coming to do war!

So, first we find out that we have so fallen short that we have no hope of ascending the holy hill and receiving the blessing of righteousness from the God of salvation and then we find out that He is coming to us. But He is coming with His army. From hopelessness to utter hopelessness. But wait. We need to go back to verse 7 and 9. The call is to lift up your heads. Why? So that the King of glory may come in! He is coming to do what we could never do! And He is bringing His army. But armies destroy don’t they? Yes. The only issue is what they come to destroy. Here, David declares that the King of glory is coming with His army not to destroy the people but to destroy the dirty hands, the impure hearts, the souls that are full of falsehood, the hearts that have sworn deceitfully. But that’s not all. Once those are destroyed then we are qualified to receive the blessing from the Lord. Righteousness from the God of salvation is ours.

How is this possible? Because the Lord of hosts has come in the person of Jesus Christ! And he has destroyed sin and death. If you have acknowledged your utter helplessness and desperation and need of a savior and have received the salvation of Jesus Christ because of His finished work on the cross you are able to ascend the holy hill of the Lord!

If you have not, I pray that you will acknowledge your hopelessness and need for a savior, Jesus Christ. Cry out to Him today. Ask Him for forgiveness of your sin against the Holy God and your need for Him do what you can not do. Receive Him as your savior.

If you have been captured by the Lord of Hosts, been forgiven of your sins, ask yourself, “am I ascending the holy hill?” That is, am I experiencing a growing enjoyment of having my sins forgiven, being made to be able to stand in the presence of the Lord, a growing desire to have the experience of clean hands, pure heart, no falsehood, and not deceitfulness? Am I in pursuit of living out what is real? Or am I still living as if I have no hope?

Psalm 24

A Psalm of David.

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains,

The world, and those who dwell in it.

2 For He has founded it upon the seas

And established it upon the rivers.

3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?

And who may stand in His holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood

And has not sworn deceitfully.

5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord

And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 This is the generation of those who seek Him,

Who seek Your face—even Jacob. Selah.

7 Lift up your heads, O gates,

And be lifted up, O ancient doors,

That the King of glory may come in!

8 Who is the King of glory?

The Lord strong and mighty,

The Lord mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads, O gates,

And lift them up, O ancient doors,

That the King of glory may come in!

10 Who is this King of glory?

The Lord of hosts,

He is the King of glory. Selah.

This is part 1 of two parts. Visit again for part 2 in a few days

It seems to me that we do not really understand the reality of our condition. We vaguely understand we need a savior because we vaguely understand we are sinners. This often demonstrates itself in several ways.

The way we approach worship is quite telling. Ask yourself this question: “how much time to spend in heart preparation for gathering in corporate worship?” Or how about: “how often to I acknowledge that the activities and events that happen between the bookends we call “church” are inherently worship?” Isn’t it interesting how we cling to a vague acknowledgment of the truth that all is worship and yet when we are in the events we often do not even acknowledge Christ’s existence?

Or consider our perspective of eternity. There is no question that the Scriptures tell us that it is normal and appropriate for Christians to have a heavenly focus. Richard Baxter said: “some are so earthly minded that they are no heavenly good.” Today we turn that 180 degrees the other direction and actually speak against those who have a strong heavenly focus. So, ask yourself these questions: “What do I know of heaven?” “What is the big deal?” And most important for self evaluation: “how strongly do I feel the pull to be with my savior?” Without a strong pull to be with Christ and away from this fallen world there is no motivation to glorify God and certainly no enjoying of Christ.

All this brings us to Psalm 24. David begins this great Psalm by making a declaration in the first two verses. Notice that his overarching statement is a proclamation of His immense power and sovereignty. Everything is His. Why? Because He created it. He has ownership. The title is His. But also notice He not only owns the world, He also owns the contents. That includes what you own and what you do. But most important, it includes you. The ramifications of this are stupendous. Of importance is the question of what He does with what He owns. Which leads us to verses 3-6.

If it true all is owned by God, the question is who can be in His presence. Of course, the over arching teaching in the Scriptures is that Man is in desperate straits. Because of sin he is left with no hope, which makes the questions of verse 3 utterly important. What difference does it make if one may be able to “ascend the holy hill of the Lord?” Because the alternative is to be rejected. That is, it is to be destroyed in hell. So, the questions are of amazing importance. Who among all that God owns may actually enjoy His blessing? Who may have the privilege of living in the place of ultimate enjoyment, peace, blessing, and joy?

The hoped for answer would probably be one of two possibilities. One would probably be everyone can come. He is the owner isn’t He? So, why can’t he just let everyone come? Of course this answer comes out of a rejection of the complete fall of man into sin and the utter holiness of God.

The other probable answer to the question is “just tell me what I can do to gain entrance.” And this is exactly what David tells the reader. However, rather than explaining requirements that are attainable, his fourfold description of what is required leaves us utterly hopeless. No one is able to measure up. No one is able to ascend into the hill of the Lord. Clean hands? A pure heart? No falsehood? No deceitfulness?

We must not miss the point David is driving at here. Who has clean hands? That is, who has never sinned with his body? Who has lived in such a way that he has never demonstrated sin in his physical body? And just when we realize the stark reality of our answer he brings up the second requirement. A pure heart. That is, one who would be allowed in the presence of the Lord is one who has not sinned in his heart. Who has not thought thoughts of hatred, bitterness, anger? Or what about lust, or coveting?

And yet, the answer is not over yet. The one who has the privilege of being in the presence of the Lord is one who has never practiced falsehood. In other words, the one who is allowed to ascend is the one who has never set up idols in his heart. That is, he has never placed other things, people, or activities in greater prominence than God. Nothing has captured his attention, focus, and desire other than God. Who has not found themselves repeatedly being drawn to other things? And worse than that, who has not found themselves completely given over to those other things?

Part two will be posted in a few days.

Matthew 10:27-36

Do you ever find yourself struggling with fear? Perhaps you are afraid of what others will think if you stand up for the truth. Or perhaps you struggle with confessing your sin to one you sinned against. Your mind is racing and your pulse is pounding in your ears as you run through all the possible scenarios. Rejection, hatred, ridicule, mockery, humiliation, etc. Isn’t it interesting how quickly those thoughts begin to pop into your mind. And quickly those thoughts about all the possibilities morph into probabilities and finally into certainty. If you are like most people the result is the fear wins and you don’t do what you know you should or you don’t say what you know you should say. Then, later the guilt begins to inundate your thinking.

In contrast to this common way of thinking, Jesus makes a startling proclamation. “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” What Jesus is doing is trying to jar the thinking of the disciples back to a biblical reality. “What are you afraid of?” In effect, He is challenging them to ask themselves a very important question. “What is the worst thing anyone can do to you?” The obvious answer is that they could be killed. For what? Jesus made this very clear in verse 27 when He instructs them to be prepared to proclaim, or shout, the truth from the housetops. That is, communicate the truth in such a way that no one within hearing distance could mistake the message. Don’t pull any punches. Tell it the way you hear it. What you hear only from me, tell to everyone you can. Don’t be shy.

Why? Because, although they should not fear man who could kill the body, They should fear God Himself. He is the one who has the power to destroy both the soul and body. What God can do is in a completely different category. He alone passes judgment regarding hell.

Let me pause a moment and ask you a few questions. Do you find your focus is more on what others think of you or what God knows about you? Who do you fear specifically? What exactly do you fear about them? In what situations does your fear of that person begin to develop? What does God say about that person?

Why is it so important that you fear God rather than man? Verses 29-33 give us the answers. First, the one that we are to fear is concerned about you. Notice that Jesus begins the verse by talking about birds that are basically worthless. Yet, in spite of their lack of value almighty God is involved in the very fabric of each of their lives. Then He introduces the amazing contrast when He declares that the Father cares even about your individual hairs. He cares so much that He has them numbered!

Now, that does not mean that humans are in some way necessary to God. Quite to the contrary, Jesus declared that man is worth many sparrows! In other words, we are worth “many cents!” It is not that man has great inherent worth and value. Rather, we are worth more than just a couple of sparrows. Kind of discouraging, isn’t it?

However, don’t miss the point. He calls us not to fear man but to fear God. Why? Because, even though we are a bit more valuable than sparrows, God deeply cares for and loves you. Did you catch that? In spite of ourselves, God loves us enough to care about our hair.

How much more does he care about the rest of us? That becomes obvious in verse 32. He actually will confess us to the Father. This is the same Father that said we are to fear the one (himself) who can destroy… What is Jesus doing? He is saying “I will defend you.”

If your God is so good that He would interact with you in this way why would you spend your days fearing man? What has man offered in comparison? What has man done in comparison?

Why should we not fear man? Verse 34-36 give a clear picture of the situation. Why did Jesus come? Did He come to bring peace? No. The gospel of Jesus Christ must divide. It must of necessity bring with it conflict. It must produce persecution. Jesus made it clear when he said he brought a sword. The gospel is all about conflict. It is all about hatred. It is all about ridicule. It is all about rejection. It is all about humiliation. Remember what happened to Jesus just a bit after he said these things. In chapter 12 it became clear that the people were rejecting him and then just a short time later He was crucified. He came to bring a sword. And that sword was to be used on Him first. Now, because it was used on Him, it is appropriate for it to be used on you. Remember what Peter said in I Peter 4 that the world hated Jesus so of course it will hate you.

Last, Notice the only other option in verse 37-39. If you are not willing to love Jesus Christ more than you love relatives you are not worthy of Him. That is, treat Him as worthy and you will be worthy of Him. He continues by reminding you of the need to take up the cross and follow Him. Taking up the cross and following Christ means more than just loving Jesus more than relatives. It means loving Jesus more than anything. It means loving him enough to be crucified to everything else. It means loving to the point that the “stuff” of this world is crucified or dead to you.

Who do you fear? Do you find that you love others or other things more than Christ? Do you fear losing relationships, belongings, position, or status? Do you believe that that Lord cares about the issues of your life? How is that demonstrated in the way you interact with others? God wants you to fear Him. Jesus wants to confess you before the Father.

We love our own little kingdom. In fact, I am convinced that we often place our own little kingdom in such a position that we don’t even have a view of the kingdom of God. The strange thing is that we talk as if we really believe in the beauty and glory of God’s kingdom but, if our lives were ever biblically examined, it would quickly become obvious that our prayer often looks more like “my kingdom come, my will be done, on earth as it ought to be in heaven.”

This is what troubles so many unsaved people as they consider the claims of Christ. They can’t get past the “followers” of Christ and their little kingdoms on earth. This is exactly what Gandi was referring to when he said the following:

“I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

Mahatma Gandhi

A number of years ago I met a woman dying of cancer. My purpose for seeing her was to encourage and comfort her in those last, terrible hours. While in her home I happened to notice a note on her refrigerator. Here was a woman who, rather than needing encouragement and comfort, realized her ministry in the midst of trial. I jotted the note down for the purpose of ministering to others. Little did I know that years later cancer would strike all around me.

So, what was the note on the door of this elderly woman’s fridge?

“Cancer is so limited—
It Cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot corrode Faith,
It Cannot destroy peace,
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot suppress memories,
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot steal eternal life,
It cannot conquer the spirit.
Cancer is so limited—”

She had a perspective that was focused on the life to come. II Cor. 4:16-18

If our thoughts and choices are determined solely by the activity of our brains rather than by our inner person, then when we do wrong it must not be our fault. A disease must be to blame. If this is so, Jesus death on the cross was utterly foolish and a waste of his life. He should have merely figured out how to correct the chemical makeup of the person. Because, if the problem is chemicals then we are not responsible. And, if the problem is chemicals then our savior is the Pharmacist. Hmmmm.

It has been an interesting and challenging two years. I am sure that many who read this would say that their lives are more challenging than mine. However, this is not a “pity me” post. Quite to the contrary, my hope is that some who are experiencing difficulties would read this post and be encouraged to worship and enjoy the God of mercy and grace.

It was a little over two years ago that my wife lost her cousin to ovarian cancer. Shortly after that event we found out that her brother had colon cancer that had moved to his liver. He died a bit over a year ago. During that time we found out that my wife had cancer. And, after the proceedures and surgery we found out that the insurance company refused to cover any of the costs. Then, Ruth’s father was diagnosed as having a tumor on his brain. And then, about one year ago my brother was diagnosed with cancer. And then my aunt was twice diagnosed with lung cancer and sarcoma in her leg. In several of these cases, death was the result while in other cases the battle is still ongoing.

On another front, I am reminded again and again that being a pastor is a call to die. Christ died for his bride and I am called to be the protector of his sheep. That demands death.

Why do I mention all this when many who may read this do not know me nor will ever know me? because of what the Lord has taught me repeatedly through these experiences. A dear friend pointed me to a song a number of months ago that has continued to challenge and encourage me when I find I am shrinking my life down to the size of my life rather than seeking to glorify Jesus Christ. It is an old hymn written by William Cowper:

God moves in a mysterious way

1. God moves in a mysterious way
   His wonders to perform;
   He plants His footsteps in the sea
   And rides upon the storm.
2. Deep in unfathomable mines
   Of never failing skill
   He treasures up His bright designs
   And works His sov’reign will.
3. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
   The clouds ye so much dread
   Are big with mercy and shall break
   In blessings on your head.
4. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
   But trust Him for His grace;
   Behind a frowning providence
   He hides a smiling face.
5. His purposes will ripen fast,
   Unfolding every hour;
   The bud may have a bitter taste,
   But sweet will be the flow’r.
6. Blind unbelief is sure to err
   And scan His work in vain;
   God is His own interpreter,
   And He will make it plain.