This week we saw a headline that for nearly 50 years seemed unthinkable, impossible… “The Supreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade.” Thanks to an unprecedented leak the beginning of May, it seemed that this headline was a foregone conclusion. Even so, for those who have fought tirelessly to secure protections for the most vulnerable among us, there was a strong sense of anticipation previous to the actual ruling.
Yet, the very decision which has produced rejoicing among abortion’s foes, this last weekend of June, 2022, has resulted in angry protest among abortion’s supporters. If you listen for even a few moments to the rhetoric of these protesters, you find a consistent cry of the victimization of women, the annihilation of human rights and the ravaging of freedom. But the question which begs to be asked is whether this narrative is true or false. Ironically, this weekend also coincides with the so-called Pride weekend. Yet, this celebration of Gay Pride also raises serious questions about the veracity of the narrative. This blog is my humble attempt to help us see these false narratives for what they are and consider how we can speak truth in love into these stories as a means of pointing people to Jesus. ABORTION—A RIGHT OR A WRONG? From the moment the leak of the likely overturning of Roe v. Wade occurred, politicians in Seattle have been falling over each other to get in front of a mic to voice their absolute disgust with this decision. It’s the same rhetoric repeated this weekend in light of the actual ruling. One politician said the ruling reflected a “rigged court.” Another said, “It’s the first-time rights have been taken away” by the Supreme Court. Nancy Pelosi referred to it as “criminalizing health freedom.” And President Biden offered his two cents with, “Let's be very clear, the health and life of women in this nation are now at risk.” What you cannot help but see in all of this political commentary is the unbelievably slanted perspective it offers. It’s as if, with the publishing of the ruling, someone said, “let the gloves come off and the let the spin begin!” What is terribly evident is that spin is exactly what it is. For example, Biden’s statement that “the health and life of women in this nation are now at risk” makes it sound as though every woman in America should be taking out a life insurance policy. The truth is, the year prior to the legalization of abortion, 39 out of 130,000 illegal abortions resulted in the death of the would-be-mother. In other words, while three one hundredths of a percent of illegal abortions resulted in the death of the would-be-mother, one hundred percent of all abortions result in the death of the baby. Yet this is not a perspective you will hear voiced by such politicians. President Biden went on to state that this is the first time a constitutional right has been taken away. This statement is not just slanted, it’s an absolute falsehood. Abortion has never been a constitutional right. Instead, it was a law introduced long after the constitution and relevant amendments were ratified. But it isn’t just the politicians who have gotten in on the spin. It’s shocking how unabashedly biased our “unbiased” media has been in their remarks. Chuck Todd of Meet the Press fame has indicated that at stake in this decision is nothing less than the “future of women’s rights.” This came alongside the statement that in the Supreme Court “there are no black ropes, the ropes are red and blue.” Again, the spin is dizzying. First of all, it is astonishing that no one among the mainstream media gives even a moment’s consideration of the rights of the unborn. I guess it’s because they have concluded that the unborn have no rights. Second, the “red and blue” ropes remark portrays today’s Supreme Court as an entity that is all of a sudden making decisions based on political views as opposed to pure interpretation of the constitution. But, in truth, could this not also be said of the decision to take away the rights of the unborn nearly 50 years ago? Certainly, the mainstream media and politicians of all stripes have the right to their opinions. But I think it is imperative that we see these narratives for what they are…a reflection of a worldview that finds its center not in the Word of God but in the wisdom of man. I think it is fair to say that the overwhelming majority of rhetoric we find in the town square, these days, represents a narrative that is at odds with God’s Word. This needs to be said because I believe that we, as followers of Christ, are more susceptible to influence by these false narratives than we might imagine. PRIDE—THE INTOLERANCE OF TOLERANCE Another great example of the power of false narratives is that which indicates that if you are not a fervent and affirming supporter of the LGBTQ movement, you are a bigot, a hater, intolerant. But as was pointed out in my “Intolerant Tolerance” seminar some years back, the definition of tolerance has been changed. The old school definition of tolerance was, according to Webster’s Dictionary, “To allow; permit; not interfere with. To recognize and respect (others’ beliefs, practices, etc.) without necessarily agreeing or sympathizing. To put up with; to bear.” A more recent definition of tolerance, arriving at very different conclusions, can be found in the online dictionary, Encarta, “ACCEPTANCE OF DIFFERENT VIEWS – the accepting of the differing views of other people.” Can you see the difference? In the old definition, tolerance usually meant “I DO NOT agree with you, but I am willing to treat you respectfully, in spite of my disagreement.” But under the new definition, tolerance requires acceptance of the validity of the opposing viewpoint or affirmation. It is the more recent definition of tolerance that is enmeshed in the rhetoric of the LGBTQ movement. Yet, it must be said that genuine tolerance, as reflected by Webster’s above, does not require one to accept the LGBTQ lifestyle as a good or healthy choice. In truth, it is impossible to affirm this lifestyle and remain faithful to God’s Word. But this does not mean that we, as Christ-followers, are haters. To the contrary, we can disagree with this lifestyle while treating its adherents with respect. In fact, we are compelled to do so by the law of love. Yet we must not confuse love that flows from old school tolerance with the kind of love that chooses to ignore truth, or the truly inalienable right of God to determine right and wrong. Let’s turn to an even more specific question: Should we, as believers, support Gay Pride? It has become popular, in our culture, to vilify and demonize anyone who does not support Gay Pride, as if such individuals are mean-spirited, unkind. But it's helpful to clarify that you do not have to support Gay Pride in order to support the notion that all people, regardless of race, religion, creed or sexuality, should be treated in a courteous and kind manner. Once again, this is at the heart of old-school tolerance, that all people should be treated with dignity and respect. Why? Why should all people be treated with dignity and respect? First, because all people are made in the image of God. True, we have marred that image by sinful choices…something that is true of ALL OF US! But because we are all made in God's image, ALL OF US are also deserving of dignity and respect. Second, we should treat all people this way because of the law of love (think second greatest commandment, Mark 12:31). Jesus doesn't say love your neighbor if they think, speak, act or believe like you. In fact, Jesus takes it a step further when he argues that we should love our enemies (Matt. 5:43-44). So, does loving our neighbors, and even our enemies, mean that we, as believers, should support Gay Pride? Well, what does Gay Pride stand for? It stands for sexualizing preschoolers. It says that our public-school children should be exposed to sexually explicit topics and agendas which are in opposition to Biblical teaching. It stands for requiring Christian ministries that are founded on the Bible to hire individuals who are militantly opposed to the core beliefs of the organization. It stands for discriminating against companies or organizations that do not embrace the Gay Pride agenda, like the City of Seattle refusing to do business with Christian-based companies. Our culture paints anyone who does not support Gay Pride as mean, hateful. But you need to see through this false narrative and recognize that you can be against Gay Pride while being for kindness and courtesy to all people. I’ll take it a step further, if you adhere to the truthfulness of Scripture, you must reject Gay Pride as an agenda, but you must also seek to treat its adherents with respect. Again, this does not require that we are “affirming.” To the contrary, for the sake of the most vulnerable in our society, our children, we must seek ways to take a stand against such false narratives. I don't know how many companies I've unsubscribed from during the so-called Pride Month. As well, when I've had opportunity, I've let companies know that I don't appreciate the infusion of a sexual agenda into the market place. It has also impacted the places I patronize. It is good to support those who are not giving into this sexualization of our culture and our kids. I'm not saying we should refuse to do business with anyone who disagrees with us on these issues. That would be adopting the same discrimination that has been showcased by the Gay Pride agenda. But I am saying that for those companies who are in your face and intentionally antagonistic toward people of faith...we should avoid patronizing them, when possible. By the way, there is an assumption I've not made explicit here that probably needs to be stated. God's Word, that is what God has conveyed to us in the Bible, makes clear that sexuality outside of marriage between one man and one woman is against His law, in opposition to His design. This is not debatable. God's Word is very clear. Just read the last half of Romans 1. There are teachings in Scripture that are less clear and which leave room for differences of opinion. This one, however, is absolutely clear and leaves no room for differences of opinion among those who would treat God’s Word with integrity. If God's Word is our authority, then we must confess that sexuality outside of marriage between one man and one woman is sinful. If you reject that, then you reject our Sovereign Creator’s right to determine what is right and what is wrong. You, in essence, are embracing the lie that is as old as the Garden of Eden, that we can be our own gods and determine right and wrong for ourselves. SPEAKING TRUTH IN LOVE Does this mean we should mistreat those who disagree with us or who embrace a lifestyle at odds with God's Word? No. Does it mean that we should give into the "us vs. them" mentality propagated by those who practice intolerance toward people of faith? No. Truly, we must not ignore God's Word or compromise Biblical standards for the sake of the affirmation of a culture which has "exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.” Yet, we also must not give into the temptation to see abortion and Gay Pride supporters as enemies. Our true enemy is the one who has blinded this world to God’s truth, the one who seeks to kill, steal and destroy (2 Cor. 4:4 and John 10:10). Believers, we must stand strong for both truth (as defined by the only One who has the right to define it) and love (as revealed in the character traits described in 1 Corinthians 13 and applied to all people). I'd love to chat more with you about these tough topics. It's hard, at times, to know how to apply such truths in a culture so militantly opposed to truth. Yet this makes it all the more important for us to be talking through such things with those who share our love and respect for God and His Word. My prayer for us is the same as Paul’s prayer in Romans 15:5-6… “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5
I love the book of Proverbs. I especially appreciate sections like this where a father is offering wisdom to his son. How we need parents who are willing to instruct their children in the wisdom of God, especially as they are bombarded with the often-anemic and empty wisdom of the world. What is the wisdom the father shares at the beginning of the second chapter of Proverbs? Pursue Godly wisdom with all that you are! Pursue understanding and divine truth with unreserved passion, as if you were searching for hidden treasure. Recently, in our Renton Gospel Network pastors’ lunch, this Scripture was shared as a devotional thought preceding our time of prayer. What we realized, as we grappled with this passage and applied it to our own lives, is that our desire for God and for the things of God is too often weak and changeable. Certainly, there are times when we feel the longing for God, when we are moved to want more of Him, like times of sweet worship where we truly sense the presence of God or, at the other extreme, times of bitter grief when we cannot help but cry out for God. But all too often, we are so busy in “other” pursuits that the pursuit of God and the things of God are minimized and marginalized. To make room for what? A funny show or a thrilling drama, time for playing at whatever we like to play at, the never-ending pursuit of more…more money, more recognition, more power. The eternal, life-transforming, deeply fulfilling things of God are brushed aside in our quest for distraction, entertainment, a temporary high. Certainly, “other” pursuits can be healthy and good, when put in their proper place. But too often we allow what is good to supersede what is best. Think Martha! She was so distracted by the “good” of showing hospitality to her guests (including the God of all creation, no less!), that she asked Jesus to chastise her sister Mary for doing nothing but sitting at Jesus’ feet, soaking in His words. Jesus chastised, alright…not Mary, but Martha…indicating that Mary had chosen what is best (Luke 10:38-42). How do we counteract this tendency to allow the good to become the enemy of the best? How do we heed this fatherly advice in our own lives, making our pursuit of God and the things of God our highest goal each and every day? How do we cultivate a zeal for God that supersedes our zeal for other “treasures”? First, we need to surround ourselves with the wise. As we read in Proverbs 13:20, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Sadly, we don’t need to seek out the companionship of fools…it’s all around us…on our phones, computers, tvs, print media and around the “water cooler.” Obviously, there are some things that we do well to cut out of our lives. But a key to surrounding ourselves with the wise is making choices, sometimes difficult choices, to prioritize opportunities to hear from those who prioritize Godly wisdom, be it found in a book, in a men’s or women’s fellowship, or in a community or life group. Second, we need to prioritize the regular opportunity to immerse ourselves in the Story of God alongside the people of God on the Sabbath of God. The self-absorbed, humanistic stories of this world are playing on a constant loop every day of our lives. It is for this reason that we need regular, set apart time with God’s people where we can be reminded to daily make Jesus the Hero of our stories; to trade in the selfish pursuit of personal pleasure for the pursuit of that which produces real joy in us, in others, and in God; and to cast off the pursuit of success which depends on my scheming, my accomplishments, my power, for authentic fulfillment sourced in God’s plan, God’s purposes, God’s power. Finally, we need to make the pursuit of God a reality in our lives by daily seeking to understand and obey His Word. Granted, there are times when we don’t feel like making time with God a priority. But this is true of just about any discipline or habit that is good for us! Yet, also true, are the blessings we experience when we overcome worldly inertia by the power of the Spirit so that we might learn to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength! How attractive the shiny things of this world can seem. But there is no worldly treasure that can begin to compare with the treasure we find in a growing walk with Christ. May we take our cue from Mary and put this pursuit above all others. May we put to the test the offer we find in Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Mark 12:43-44
Most of us are familiar with this story, “the widow’s mite.” What exactly is a mite? The King James says “she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.” That doesn’t help much…and now I have to figure out what a farthing is! It’s time to turn to my Funk and Wagnall’s Dictionary: “1) MITE noun 1 Any of various small arachnids….” I don’t think this is what we’re talking about. Next entry: “2) MITE noun 1 A very small amount or particle. 2 Any very small coin….” Bingo! So, if you recall the story from Mark, when it was time to take up an offering at the temple “many rich people threw in large amounts” while the widow put in “two mites,” or “two small copper coins.” Jesus’ lesson? It’s actually two-fold. First, following on the heels of a warning about “showy” religious people, Jesus condemns how some make a spectacle of their “large” gift to garner the praise of on-lookers and to show just how generous they are with God. (This is a little ironic, since all that we have is God’s anyway). Second, Jesus says that the significance of your gift is relative to your wealth. A million-dollar gift for the average person would be a life-changing windfall. For the likes of Jeff Bezos, it’s chump change. Similarly, for a person with only twenty bucks, putting twenty bucks in the offering plate is immeasurably greater than giving thousands for the one who has many thousands more. There are a few very obvious applications of these verses for finances. First, if we are giving as an act of worship, we should do so not to get praise from man, but to get praise from God (cf. Matthew 6:2). This is why we give anonymously. Second, God calls us to give sacrificially, as an act of worship, which means that the significance of the amount we give to Him is relative to what we’ve been given. Yet, as I meditated on Mark 12 this week, I saw more profound application in my own life not in my finances, but in the giving of other resources. For example, time is one of my most precious resources. As a result, I can be rather greedy about my time. As I pondered this, I was drawn to think about the amount of time I spend just thinking about things that I want or things I want to do. I’m pretty sure that a fairly sizable portion of my thought life is devoted to contemplating such things (e.g., shows to watch, things to buy, places to go), pursuing my plans, my pleasures, my purposes. Obviously, such thoughts are not evil, in and of themselves. The real issue arises when I compare time spent contemplating self-centered pursuits versus God-centered pursuits. The widow was “all in” with her financial resources. When it comes to time as a precious resource in my life, I cannot say that I am anywhere close to “all in.” Such thoughts leave us conflicted. Some resolve the conflict by going to extremes. It’s the hermit/ascetic who practices self-deprivation, selling all possessions, and living in a cave on the side of a mountain. At the other end, it’s the self-contented Christian who decides, “I’ll give God this much,” then devotes the rest…the bulk…to “me, myself and I.” But what if there was a third option that was not self-deprivation or self-contentedness? What if the third option was a desire to increasingly give of who I am and what I have to make an eternal, Kingdom impact and to bring glory to God? Maybe the choices aren’t as extreme as “join a commune” or “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die!” Instead, what if we increasingly sought to live circumspectly in the world in view of the Kingdom of Christ. “Circumspectly adv 1. Watchful and discreet; cautious; prudent… 2. Well-considered” (Webster’s Dictionary). The intent behind walking circumspectly, as we find it in our church membership covenant, is living thoughtfully in view of the reality of Christ’s Kingdom! Believers, may we increasingly see our time as not something that we own, but something that God provides for us to use for His Kingdom purposes and glory. May we learn the lesson of the widow who was not stingy, but gave sacrificially out of her love for God, by thoughtfully and intentionally giving of our time for things that have an eternal impact. Certainly, we can enjoy the sweet pleasures God sends our way, but may we increasingly find our joy in making disciples, gathering with and encouraging fellow believers, prayer, meditation on the Word, serving, worship. May we not model ourselves after the self-contented big-spenders who, in reality, gave very little of what they had for God, but after the widow who gave all she had out of love for her Lord. It’s all His anyway, so may we increasingly steward our time and resources in a manner pleasing to our God! This is a question taken up in chapter 3 of the book Rediscover Church, which our elders recently read, which we’ll provide for a book discussion at our March Annual Meeting and which I’m teaching in Sunday school
But this question—the importance of gathering—is more important than ever for Christ’s church. It’s ironic that prior to the pandemic there was already discussion among pastors about a shift among “regular church-goers” from attending weekly to sporadically. Illness or vacations used to be the primary reasons we’d miss church. In the 80’s, I recall schools refusing to schedule sports on Wednesday evenings so as not to conflict with youth group. Today, no time is sacred, not even Sunday morning. This isn’t about nostalgic longing for the “good old days,” or a legalistic view of church attendance, or a heavenly attendance chart used to determine who’s naughty or nice. But it is about the value God’s Word places on church. We see it at the birth of the church, at the end of Acts 2, where we find believers meeting daily; in the well-known admonition of Hebrews 10:25, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing”; and in Jesus’ simple promise, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” As one who loves to travel, whether to see family or to explore God’s great big world, I know that there are occasions when we won’t be able to gather with our home church. Yet I also believe that when Jesus chose the church as the means of expressing His presence and continuing His mission in the world, from its establishment (Matt 16:18), to its authority (Matt. 18:17), to its magnificent beginning in Acts (2:41-47), the “assembling” together as believers was priority. That’s actually what ekklesia, or church, means…a word we find 79 times in the Bible. Yet if the pre-pandemic shift toward sporadic attendance is noteworthy, the shift occurring since the pandemic began is nothing less than profound. While some have given up church attendance altogether, others have gone online instead of in-person. But online church, for all its benefits, does a very poor job of expressing essential aspects of why it is that we gather together. Even The New York Times has called out the problem in a recent article titled “Why Churches Should Drop Their Online Services,” where the author makes a compelling case for prioritizing “embodied community.” She writes, “embodiment is a particularly important part of Christian spirituality and theology. We believe God became flesh, lived in a human body and remains mysteriously in a human body.” She goes on to quote one of the authors of Rediscover Church on the importance of rubbing shoulders with others, including those much different than us. She concludes, “These are not mere accessories to a certain kind of worship experience. These moments form and shape who we are and what we believe.” Do you agree? Do you believe that being physically present with others forms us? That there is something significant about people of all stripes coming together regularly to engage in the sacred task of worshiping God, receiving His Word, and experiencing fellowship with His people? According to Rediscover Church, what makes gatherings so powerful is “the fact that you are physically there. You see. You feel. Unlike watching something on a screen, in which you’re bodily removed from the thing you’re watching, a gathering literally surrounds you. It defines your entire reality. God made us soul and body, and somehow, mysteriously, he intertwines them so that what affects the body affects the soul.” Closely connected with this is the fact that we are created in the image of God. As I wrote in my last blog, “Imaging Creatures,” we are image bearers of our God in this world. There are few places this is more profoundly expressed than in the gathering of believers. “In a gathering, we experience what other people love, hate, fear, and believe, and our sense of what’s normal and what’s right can shift comparatively quickly. The loves, hates, fears or beliefs of the crowd become ours. This isn’t surprising. God also made us ‘imaging’ creatures (see Gen. 1:26-28). He created us to image his own righteousness, but we’ve chosen to image other things. This is how cultures form. We image, mimic, or copy the people around us in good ways and bad. Gatherings simply speed up the process.” We are, all of us, being formed by gatherings of various kinds, not just in the community in which we live, work and play, but in our entertainment, online culture, what we read. My Sunday school class estimated that we spend upwards of 70 hours a week in non-church gatherings of various kinds, taking in worldly content. What we must realize is that, whether we like it or not, where and with whom we invest our time has a formational effect on us. It is one strong reason why meeting once a week with God’s people should be seen as the bare minimum for the sake of spiritual formation among those who have been redeemed by Christ and are pursuing His Kingdom. We need each other. The Christian life, as described in Scripture, is not primarily about my individualistic spiritual pursuit. Rugged, isolationist, Marlboro man spirituality is not Biblical. We definitely need daily time alone with God, but there is at least as much emphasis in Scripture on the importance of gathering together. “Jesus organized Christianity this way. He means to center our Christianity around regularly gathering together, seeing one another, learning from one another, encouraging and correcting one another, and loving one another. Spiritual things happen when Christians stand elbow to elbow, breathe the same air, join our voices in song, hear the same sermon, and partake of the one bread.” In an increasingly isolationist world and a Christian sub-culture that diminishes worship together, the Bible speaks a different word…one that prioritizes koinonia, community, regularly gathering with God’s people. Herein lies the rub (thanks Shakespeare!), gathering occasionally is not difficult for most Christians to embrace. It's the regularly part that causes us to stumble. Why is it so important to gather regularly? It goes back to our role as image bearers and to spiritual formation. Years ago, I hiked the Grand Canyon, which means I hiked down to the canyon floor and, more importantly, I hiked back up again! It was hard. In the months leading up to that trip, I hiked every week, to train my body for the big hike, as per the counsel of my “guide” (thanks Rick!). The point of those weekly hikes was formational, to train my body for the physical strenuousness of the task ahead. If I decided, in place of weekly hikes, to just go on a long walk once or twice a month, I’m pretty confident I would still be in that canyon today. (No joke!) Just as occasional walks have little formational impact on us physically, occasional church attendance minimizes the formational impact it has on us spiritually. More than that, it hinders our ability to have a spiritual impact on others. It’s hard to speak meaningfully into the lives of others if we see them so rarely we struggle to remember their names! By all means, don’t give into legalistic church attendance. But, equally important, don’t let that pendulum swing to the other, very unbiblical extreme where weekly worship is marginalized. Maybe it’s time we give some gentle push back against activities scheduled on Sunday morning. Would it be a terrible thing to tell our civic or sports organizations that we prioritize church Sunday mornings? Or when we’re out of town, maybe we should do some advanced research on a good church to attend. Again, it’s not about legalism or appearances or gold stars on a heavenly chart. It’s about the priority God’s Word places on Christian fellowship and our need to image Christ to others, and to let others image Christ to us. So, my prayer for us is that, as we read in Hebrews 10:25, we will not give up meeting together, but we’ll be faithful in gathering so that we might encourage one another and “all the more as you see the Day approaching!” Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27
One of our fondest family memories from when our kids were young is a trip we took to Whiteshell Provincial Park near Winnipeg, Manitoba. We had actually made the trip north from Marshall, Minnesota so Debb could get Lasik surgery. Finances not only dictated our decision to have this procedure done in Canada, but also dictated our decision to bypass a hotel and stay in a cabin on a lake outside of Winnipeg. An added bonus was that it gave the kids some beach time. As Debb and I sat further up on shore, we noticed the kids were playing at dunking each other in the lake. We couldn’t figure out what they were doing so we asked and they answered, “We’re baptizing each other.” So, I guess that’s the answer to the question of what pastor’s kids do for fun. They hold mini baptismal services at the lake. We are imaging creatures. Every parent knows this. Whether it’s a child “imaging” a parent in a “pretend” kitchen or putting on a tool belt so they can be little “workers,” kids naturally reflect or image their parents. As they grow older, kids begin to increasingly image their peers in the clothes they wear or music they listen to. But it isn’t just kids…adults image one another in similar ways in clothing, cars, even the way we speak. We are imaging creatures. To image others is actually part of our DNA, part of what it means to be human, as those created in the image of God. It’s right there in Genesis 1, “in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” The problem is that by Genesis 3, instead of imaging their Creator, Adam and Eve had already chosen to image, instead, created things…the serpent. Here we see the birthplace of idolatry, as described in Romans 1:23, we “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.” It was their decision to image a reptile and, maybe more significantly, their own selfish desires, that got them removed from the Garden and from constant fellowship with their God. Yet, our purpose as image bearers was never lost, even if it was marred by sin. God continued to call us back to our creation purpose of imaging our Creator, as we see in Enoch who “walked with God,” and Noah who reflected God’s righteousness and “walked with God,” or Moses to whom God revealed both His person and His will on Sinai. But what were the people doing down below? They were fashioning a golden calf, imaging other creatures instead of the God who had redeemed them. In spite of the fact that God’s people became stiff-necked, like the calf they worshiped, and unable to see or hear, like the idols they carved, God did not give up on His people, but sent His one and only Son, the very image and glory of the Father. Yet the Son was made in the likeness of sinful man (Rom. 8:3) so that He might redeem us and enable us to, once again, fulfill the purpose for which we were made—to be image bearers of our God. This is no easy task, even for the redeemed of God, for we live in a world of competing images. G.K. Beale, in his book We Become What We Worship, has done an excellent job of exposing the struggle we face as those called to be image bearers of God. He asks the question, "What do you and I reflect? One presupposition of this book is that God has made humans to reflect him, but if they do not commit themselves to him, they will not reflect him but something else in creation. At the core of our beings, we are imaging creatures. It is not possible to be neutral on this issue: we either reflect the Creator or something in creation." So, we ask the question again, “Who or what do you and I reflect?” Like Dylan said, “your gonna have to serve somebody.” So, who do we serve? What do we image? Another significant question we might consider is this: “How do we affect who or what we image?” Assuming, as those who are redeemed by Jesus, that we desire to increasingly image and reflect Him in our lives, how does this happen? Jesus actually provides us with a model. How did Jesus make disciples? He walked with them. Like Enoch and Moses walked with God, the disciples walked with Jesus. Is this not the same invitation that Jesus gave to us all? “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Here is where imaging begins, in the presence of our God. Our world is constantly seeking to remake us in its image…in the media we absorb, the people we spend time with, the things to which we devote our time, energy and money. If we would increasingly image our Savior, we must walk with Him, spend time with His people, and devote ourselves to the things that matter to Him. We become what we worship. May we choose wisely who, or what, we image in this world. Years ago, Debbie and I loved A Terrible Beauty Irish Pub in Renton. It wasn’t because we’re Irish (though, to some extent, we both are), nor was it because we love beer (the only kind I really like is root beer), but because of their great food! Actually, the initial draw was a BOGO coupon (shocking, I know!). But it was their Reuben—thick with Corned Beef—that kept us coming back. Sadly, the place closed down years ago. Probably too many people using coupons! But the phrase terrible beauty was brought to mind this morning as I was doing my devotions, not because of corned beef, but because of the juxtaposition of that which strikes terror and that which is beautiful found in Psalm 29. After a challenge for God’s people to ascribe glory to Yahweh, the psalm goes on to describe the voice of God using the terminology of a massive storm, one that “thunders” and “breaks the cedars” and “strikes with flashes of lightning.” The psalm concludes… The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!” The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” What powerful imagery is found in this psalm—with equally powerful truth. A storm can be beautiful to witness from a safe distance because of its powerful effects, but it can be terrible if you find yourself the object of its destructive power. By using the storm as a metaphor for God’s power, the psalmist paints an unbelievably evocative portrait of God. For those who do not believe in God—who reject His Word, His love, His life—God should strike terror in their hearts. For to those who reject their Maker, His arrival is cause for grief, just as the arrival of a parent for a disobedient child is cause for grief. But for those who trust in God—who embrace His Word, His love, His life—God’s presence inspires peace in our hearts. For to those who embrace their Maker, His arrival is cause for rejoicing, just as the arrival of a parent for an obedient child is cause for joy. Our culture, and even too many in the Christian sub-culture, have sought to portray God as one who is only beautiful, whose presence only means peace, regardless of whether His will, His Word and His person have been rejected. But this portrayal of God simply does not cohere with God’s Word. This is exactly what we see when God reveals Himself to Moses in Exodus 34:6-7: And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” Our God is gracious and compassionate, yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished. But even this statement, “He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers,” does not speak of arbitrary judgment against the innocent, for God makes clear in Deuteronomy 24:16 that a child must not be punished for the sin of a parent. What is Exodus 34:7 saying? That there are corporate ramifications for our sins. As recorded in Hard Sayings of the Bible: This notion is difficult for Westerners to appreciate, since we place such a high premium on the individual. But Scripture warns us that there is such a thing as corporate responsibility. None of us functions in complete isolation from the society and neighborhood to which we are attached. Want proof? Just ask the mother of the child killed by senseless gun violence in a culture that rejects the sanctity of human life. We are all susceptible to victimization in an increasingly God-rejecting culture.
Having said this, the focus in Exodus 34 is clearly on the love of God demonstrated to thousands. And even though one might be under condemnation for sin, what we find in Scripture is a God who longs to relent in judgment, as revealed in Jonah. The Ninevites, by repenting of their sin, stayed God’s hand of judgment. In the same way, all who look to God in faith, no matter our pedigree, cultural upbringing or personal failings, experience grace and forgiveness from the One who abounds in love and faithfulness. It’s true! God’s power and justice means terror for those who reject Him, both from temporary, earthly consequences for sin and eternal separation from our Maker in Hell. But for us who look with faith on Him, receiving forgiveness in Jesus’ sin-conquering death, we find that “Yahweh blesses His people with peace.” In 2022, may we be those who share this peace with others, trust in this peace ourselves, and respond to this peace with “Glory!” Christmas is the unique time of year when you listen to music that you wouldn’t think of listening to in any other season. In fact, even humming or whistling Christmas carols in March or July or September can result in a less than gentle rebuke from your nearest and dearest. Trust me, I know of that which I speak!
Not only is the music catalog of Christmas unique in terms of when it is considered “seemly” to sing, it is also unique in that there is no other kind of music so ancient, yet sung by so many. It’s funny when you think of the archaic songs so many sing this time of year. For example, there are very few songs, whether in pop music or worship, that begin with the word, “Hark.” Or think of the strangeness of singing in King James English, “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne”? So, a person might ask, why do we sing songs with language so strange? One huge reason is certainly their sentimental significance. In fact, this is true not just of Christmas carols, but of the Christmas songs of pop culture. It’s funny that all, but one, of the most streamed Christmas songs this time of year were written more than a half century ago. (Think “White Christmas.” Don’t ask me how Mariah Carey fits into this group with the likes of Andy Williams and Bing Crosby.) We are sentimental people…and this is certainly a big reason why we love Christmas carols that have been sung for hundreds of years. But I believe there is another significant reason why we love these old hymns…because they speak of timeless truths that are just as relevant today as the day they were written. I think, in particular, of one song that led to more than a little time devoted to internet research this past week: “God Rest you, Merry Gentleman.” The first significant factoid my research produced was regarding it’s ancient roots. I had no idea of the ancient history of this hymn. It’s quoted in George Eliot’s 1861 novel, Silas Marner. An almost identical phrase is found 200 years earlier in Shakespeare’s As You Like It, where we read, “God rest you merry, sir.” But one of the most interesting quotes of this Christmas carol, for me, is in A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens 1843 novella. Funny thing, I am a big fan of Dickens, having read almost everything he wrote, but I never knew, until this week, that the Christmas carol of A Christmas Carol is “God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen”. Toward the beginning of A Christmas Carol, a caroler is seen to be looking in at Scrooge’s key hole, but just as he begins to sing, “God bless you merry gentlemen may nothing you dismay,” he sees Scrooge grab a stick as if to strike whoever dares to sing such a song. Fear of Scrooge sends the caroler running off into the cold, dark night. Someone has remarked that if Ebenezer Scrooge had listened to this Christmas Carol rather than flying into a rage, he might have avoided those nasty visits from Christmas past, present and future. I think, however, a lot of us can relate much better to Scrooge than we might like to think. Frankly, given all the things going on in our world today, I find myself often tempted these days to say, along with Scrooge, “Bah Humbug.” I’m certain there are many in Kentucky right now who feel that way. But the truth is, even if we aren’t facing the dismal effects of a tornado wiping out our town, we all face things in life that tend to cloud our sunny dispositions. But it is at this point that the message of this carol is most needed, especially if you accept the historical punctuation of this song. If you read it the traditional way, with the comma after the words “God rest you,” followed by “merry gentlemen,” then it may be a little confusing. If these Gentlemen truly are merry, then why do we need to say “God rest you” or “let nothing you dismay”? But if you put the punctuation the way this phrase is found in Shakespeare, so that it says, “God rest you Merry, Gentlemen,” it makes a lot more sense. The song isn’t sung to gentlemen who are already merry, it is sung to gentlemen who are struggling with dismay, who are facing difficulty. The carol, then, becomes a prayer that God will bless these people with joy…“God rest you merry” or “God bless you.” Kind of like Tiny Tim says in A Christmas Carol, “God bless us, everyone!” Isn’t that the message of Christmas? That in spite of life’s troubles, in spite of the very clear evidence that Satan is at work in our world sowing hate and promoting sinful selfishness, that there is a reason for comfort and joy? What is the reason? The good tidings, or good news, that the Son of God is born. This isn’t just good news for a select few, it is good news of great joy, as we read in Luke 2, that is for all people. And it is a message of good news that stretches way back, well beyond the 1st century, all the way back to the first book of the Bible, Genesis, where we see the promise of Eve’s seed crushing the serpent. It is a message that is repeated throughout the Hebrew Old Testament (TaNaK), introduced in the Law (Torah), expanded on in the Prophets (Nevi’im), and brought to prophetic fullness in the Writings (Kethubim; see Luke 24:44; watch Know Your Bible Seminar #2 - "The Story of God"). What is the message? That in view of our sinfulness, God devised a plan for our redemption by sending His one and only Son to be the Savior of the World. Here is the crimson thread running through the tapestry of God’s Word which finds its fulfillment in Luke 2:11, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Here is the Good Tidings or Good News of Christmas. It’s not in the Christmas tree or Christmas lights or Christmas presents. These are all wonderful, but they are only symbols of the true source of comfort and joy this Christmas season…that God sent His Son, Jesus the Messiah, who was born as a baby in a manger, who grew up to teach us divine wisdom, who died on a cross to pay for our sin, and who rose from the grave, conquering sin and death, so that all who believe in Him might have the hope of eternal life. Here’s true tidings of comfort and joy. So, this is my prayer for you this Christmas season: God rest you merry! In the face of dark and difficult days, may you know the joy that only comes from living by faith in Jesus Messiah who has crushed the serpent and conquered sin through His death on the cross. The birth of Jesus is the birth of divine hope, joy, love and peace. May you know and share these divine blessings as you celebrate Christmas this week! “PETA Urges MLB to Change ‘Bullpen’ Term Over Insensitivity to Cows!” It is this headline which I shared in my recent sermon on Romans 1:8-15 (a sermon not recorded but distilled below). As funny as this headline might seem, it was not meant as a joke. There are real people advocating for the removal of the word “bullpen,” leading me to believe that it’s not “the gods must be crazy” but “the culture must be crazy.”
We live in a world in which every day, every hour, every moment produces another headline upbraiding societal norms, with every new headline even stranger than the one before, whether it’s inviting biological males to compete against girls in athletics or allowing tent cities to overtake public parks forcing elementary schools to close. What is wrong with our culture?!? Actually, believe it or not, there is a very clear and simple answer for that question: sin. Of course, if you ask most city officials or politicians for the source of the problem, they will talk about everything but sin. Is it any wonder that no matter how much money we throw at the issues plaguing our culture, solutions can never be found? But in God’s Word, we find not only the problem…we find the solution. What is the solution for our crazed culture, for sin? One Word: Gospel. It is for this reason that Paul says, in Romans 1:15, “I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.” Why is Paul so eager to preach the Gospel? Because, believe it or not, the first century culture was just as crazy as ours is today…just as selfish, just as deceitful, just as destructive, just as oversexualized, just as hopeless. It is Paul’s desire to create a culture there in the heart of the Roman empire that is rooted in the Gospel of Christ, rooted in the hope of eternal life, rooted in the love of Jesus…to create a Gospel culture. So, how does he seek to accomplish this great task? By providing us with a book that is nothing less than a treatise on the Gospel: The Letter to the Romans! What does Gospel culture look like in Paul’s letter to the church in Rome? We find the answer in Romans 1:8-15. But it can be boiled down to the six following characteristics, beginning with the fact that… Gospel Culture Celebrates Kingdom In-breaking After Paul’s initial greeting in Romans 1:1-7, Paul follows first century letter-writing etiquette by expressing thanks for those he is writing to. At the heart of Paul’s thanksgiving, however, is his gratitude that the Gospel is changing lives in the heart of the Roman empire. The in-breaking of God’s Kingdom, of Gospel Culture, is happening even in Rome. If we would embrace Gospel Culture over and against the crazed culture all around us, then we must celebrate the ways we see God’s Kingdom producing real change all over our world. Naturally, thanksgiving over the Gospel’s spread leads to the next characteristic… Gospel Culture Prays for Believers Not just occasional prayer, Paul is moved to pray constantly for the believers in Rome. What we see here is a wonderful example for believers today who would embrace Gospel Culture—to be praying for fellow-followers of Jesus, including the persecuted church around the Globe, missionaries faithfully taking the Gospel message to the unreached, and those in our own local fellowship of believers. We’ve got to be praying for each other! More specifically, we see in Paul’s prayer that… Gospel Culture Craves Fellowship Paul longs to visit the believers in Rome that he might bless and encourage them and that they might bless and encourage him. Authentic fellowship is key to growth as a disciple of Christ. And as made clear in Scripture, authentic fellowship is centered in the weekly gathering of Christ’s church, a reality that has come under severe attack in recent years. The ease with which we set aside weekly worship is especially ironic when we consider stories like that of Eric Liddell (Chariots of Fire) who gave up the chance to race for an Olympic medal out of his conviction to prioritize weekly sabbath. And it stands in stark contrast to the challenge in Hebrews 10:25, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” But it isn’t just about my personal spiritual needs because… Gospel Culture Gives and Takes Even the apostle Paul, whose worldwide impact is second only to Jesus, recognized his own need for “mutual” encouragement from the believers in Rome. When we marginalize fellowship, we not only miss out on the encouragement of others, they miss out on encouragement from us, for… Gospel Culture Grows Together Paul speaks of having a harvest in the church at Rome, a word that simply means fruit. When we minister God’s Word to each other, we experience more fruitful, God-blessed lives. But at the heart of this ministry is the Gospel… Gospel Culture Longs to Share Good News Gospel means good news, which is the very thing Paul is eager to preach to the Romans. This may seem odd since he addresses them as saints, as those who have embraced the Good News. Yet what it reveals is that the need for Gospel-preaching does not end when we place our faith in Christ, for it is the perpetual life-source for the follower of Jesus. Gospel is not merely a concept to accept, it is a way of life, our modus operandi, the heartbeat of the believer and the church. May God increasingly grow within His church, within Renton Bible, among the churches in the Renton Gospel Network, and around the globe, a Gospel-centered culture! All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. Acts 4:32
Today afforded two special opportunities to pray with others, one that was planned, the other that was not (at least, not by me). The first opportunity arose shortly after I came to the office after a few days away. A note on my desk indicated a missed call from a man who’s relative lay comatose at Valley…a relative with a connection to our church from years gone by. My hospital visit was difficult as the patient could not speak. But there was obvious physical response to my words, if not recognition of my name and voice. I read of God’s mercies from Lamentations 3:21-26. And I prayed. The second opportunity found me joining with five other pastors at our monthly Renton Gospel Network lunch. It was a rich time of fellowship that included the sharing of burdens, mutual encouragement in the work of the Kingdom, and hearty laughter. And we prayed. The first time of prayer reminded me of our world’s unbelievable need for Christ, especially since the coma was induced by alcohol abuse. But whether our idolatry takes the form of substance abuse, or pride, or the relentless accumulation of stuff, it exposes the overwhelming hopelessness all around us…and our own susceptibility to counterfeit gods. And it serves as yet another reminder of the importance of our mission to make fully devoted disciples of Christ. My time with the pastors was a much different, but no less potent, reminder of the challenge of discipleship. If you haven’t noticed, the church, today, is under attack. Certainly, Covid has provided some profound and unique obstacles to the mission of the church. But this is in addition to all of the usual suspects, including a culture that is increasingly hostile to truth. Yet, as I chatted with these fellow shepherds, I was reminded that some of the most profound challenges we face in the church come from within, including challenges which arise from differing perspectives and our aversion to commitment (i.e., flakiness!). Both of these times of prayer, however, are reminders of the importance of the mission we’ve been given as a church…and the importance of pursuing that mission with one heart and one mind. In our fractured world, we’ve grown accustomed to dissension and infighting as the acceptable norm. In the culture, that’s expected. In the church, it’s unacceptable. I love the fact that so many in our church are reading A Place to Belong. (If you missed the Life on Life group sign-ups, I encourage you to get a copy of this book and read it for yourself.) This book is not about a clever concept or a novel idea, but Biblical instructions on the church, like this one: The church is not a man-made society that we can participate in—or opt out of—according to our own level of comfort. The PTA, the neighborhood association, or the library booster club do not obligate us to personal sacrifice when things get tough. Family does. Because God’s people are our family, we will hold our own preferences and priorities loosely (Acts 4:32; Phil. 2:3–4). It’s true, there are many groups that really don’t require commitment. If things get tough, or you grow less fond of the members, or your interest wanes…you can bail. It’s no big deal. Not so in the church. In the church, we are family. You don’t bail on family. You just don’t. Also, being part of the church will require personal sacrifice. It’s shared so matter-of-factly in Acts 4:32 above, but you can be sure that the mutual sharing described here required personal sacrifice. Want proof? Check out Ananias and Sapphira’s attempt to skirt such sacrifice in the following chapter. They wanted the benefits of membership without the cost. But as they found out, in rather dramatic fashion, you can’t have one without the other. Being “devoted to one another in brotherly love” (Romans 12:10)…is hard. But it’s not optional for those in Christ. You cannot have Jesus without His church. Which means, as the quote concludes, “because God’s people are our family, we will hold our own preferences and priorities loosely.” That’s a tough one. We all want what we want. But in Christ, we serve a higher purpose…His Kingdom, His glory, what He wants. Our church has grown increasingly diverse in recent years with the influx of newer members (praise God!). But we must remember, we are called to be one in heart and mind, because we serve one Lord. Let us pray for God’s Spirit to give us an ever-increasing unity in spirit and purpose (Phil. 2:2) as we participate with Him in the building of His Kingdom! “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
This is one of the first verses I ever committed to memory as an adult. It is the beginning of a short three-verse passage from Matthew’s Gospel. I’ve preached it, written about it, and shared it countless times. Yet, as so often happens with Scripture, today during my morning devotions I was struck by something in this passage I hadn’t seen before. In the words of author Dane Ortlund, “His rest is gift, not transaction” (Gentle and Lowly). Our world is filled with transactional relationships—relationships built on the expectation of reciprocation. It’s the relationship you have with a barber, a mechanic, a barista, and a server at a restaurant. Even though these people may be genuinely friendly, their relationship with you, in some way shape or form, depends on the fact that you are going to pay them for their services. It is a transactional relationship. Transactional relationships aren’t limited to those in which money changes hands. Sometimes we are friendly to others and others are friendly to us in view of the fact that at some point we may need their help. There is an expectation of reciprocal courtesy. For example, if I see that my neighbors unwittingly left their garage door open, I will tell them, knowing that “one good turn deserves another.” Transactional relationships aren’t bad. In fact, such relationships are necessary for functioning on planet earth. Having said that, I do believe there are some relationships that are never meant to be transactional. For example, the love I have for my children, or grandchildren, is not transactional, for even if my love is not reciprocated, I will still love them. Likewise, the relationship we have with Jesus is not transactional. Nor is His offer of rest in Matthew 11:28-30. In a “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch your back” world, it’s easy for Christians to think in transactional terms when it comes to our relationship with Christ. It’s easy to superimpose onto our relationship with Jesus this sort of transactional mindset, this sense that if I’m a good boy and eat all my spinach, Jesus will reward me. Don’t get me wrong…rewards are a real thing in Scripture. The Bible makes clear that how we live in this world will directly impact eternal rewards. As Jesus says in Revelation 22:12, “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” Yet, the existence of rewards doesn’t mean that this is the primary basis by which we relate to Jesus. In truth, far more frequent than the word reward in the New Testament is the word grace or gift. Reward is found around 25 times in the New Testament, while grace or gift is found nearly 175 times. Especially noteworthy is the fact that in Matthew 11:28-30 we bring nothing to the table but ourselves. We do nothing to earn or deserve this rest. Jesus simply bids us come and He will give us rest. I guess someone could read the following verse from a transactional perspective. Jesus continues, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble (or Gentle and Lowly) in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29). Yoke is an implement of labor. Does that mean Jesus wants us to work for our rest? That’s not the point of the yoke analogy. The point of the yoke is that we find rest when we realize that we don’t have to carry our burdens alone. If you picture two bulls sharing one yoke as a means of working the land, then you get the picture that when we take on Jesus’ yoke, we are tied to Him, the one who is able to carry the load. When we are yoked with Jesus, He carries the weight. It’s kind of like a child who is “helping” mommy or daddy carry a heavy object. When we come to Jesus for rest, He takes the weight of our burdens and exchanges them for His easy and light burden. So, what is our part in experiencing or finding this rest? Our part is simply coming to Jesus. To those who are worn out, tired, or exhausted by life’s burdens, Jesus says “come” and “find.” It’s not transaction, it’s grace. Rest is provided not as a reward for good behavior, but as a gift to all who come to Him. Which brings us to the real question: Do you come to Jesus? Do you come often, regularly, daily? How ironic it is that the very thing we need the most (see Mary and Martha, Luke 10:38-42) is the thing we so easily neglect. All we need to do is come to Him. Yet, it is the coming to Him that we find so difficult in a busy world. It is for this reason that we, as a church, offer Sunday School classes, community groups, Treasures, Life on Life, Ladies Bible Study, Men’s breakfast, JAM, Bible studies, AWANA, and Kids Grow. These are all “come to me” opportunities. They aren’t transactional, things we do to earn God’s approval and favor. They are of grace—the gift of rest Jesus gives to those who come to Him. As we enter another busy season, may we take advantage of opportunities that will help us prioritize coming to Jesus. May we do so not with a transactional mindset, as if we are putting in our time or doing our duty so we can get a reward. But may we be driven by a desire to know Him, grow in our love for Him, and experience the soul rest that is only found in His presence. |
Dan GannonDan has ministered at Renton Bible Church, with his wife Debbie, since 2003. Archives
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