Withering Grass

Human pride, what the Greeks called hubris, is a strange and unreasonable thing. It leads us to form an estimate of ourselves that is far too high, at least according to the Bible. We naturally think of ourselves as worthy of love and deserving of respect because of who we are or what we have done or how we have been gifted. Yet with one broad stroke Scripture paints us as flowers of the grass that soon wither (Jas 1:10). Great and small, rich and poor alike appear for a short while, and then fade away like front lawn blades that wither under the sun’s scorching heat. Experience confirms it. Just as a flower’s beauty perishes (Jas 1:11), so one’s outward appearance exhibits the ravages of time. Various creases, losses and illnesses multiply as the years rack up and prove that our bodies are ephemeral, at least in this life. Our earthly existence is fleeting! The inescapable truth is that life is short, beauty is vain, and sin is misery.

In light of this, the Psalmist prays that God would teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom (Ps 90:12). Considering our frailty as well as the shortness and uncertainty of life, we ought to realize that there is no room for human pride. Such meditations, if sincerely pondered and suitably applied, ought to lead us to seek true wisdom, that is, to seek the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Col 2:3). The swift approach of death and the vast expanse of eternity should lead to a heartfelt trust in and earnest embrace of the One who alone can give us hope of a blessed future. Let the march of time and ravages of age motivate our thought, and let us apply ourselves to the humble pursuit of genuine godliness, for that is wise. The Lord Jesus is an inestimable treasure on whom we may rest our confidence, in whom we may find inexpressible joy (1Pt 1:8), and from whom we may receive the words of eternal life (Jn 6:68). Ponder and be wise!

Called By Name

Being anonymous in a strange place is a lonely feeling. It seems as if no one cares. The popularity of the 1980’s sitcom Cheers was due in part to its being a place “Where Everybody Knows Your Name.” The notion of a local pub with familiar faces, warm acquaintances and intimate friendships was appealing, especially in a culture plagued by fractured relationships, decentralized and sprawling communities, an ever-increasing sense of isolation, and rampant alienation. Interest in such a concept came as no surprise because we were created as social beings who crave the warmth and familiarity of close relationships. Indeed, friendship is one of life’s finest comforts. At root is the fact that God has placed eternity in our hearts (Eccl 3:11). We were made for fellowship! Augustine said, “Our souls cannot find rest until they find their rest in You.”

Perhaps nowhere do we find a more heartening promise of this kind of intimacy than when Jesus says He calls His own sheep by name (Jn 10:3). He refers not to the general appeal made to all, but to that special, intimate, effectual call of an omnipotent King whose Spirit glides sweetly and savingly into the innermost recesses of the soul. He calls by name! He is intimately acquainted with each and every sheep. He knows you individually. He understands you thoroughly. He loves you particularly. There is no need to explain anything to Him. He already knows. You have been called by name. And He says, “Nothing will ever separate us.” Despite the disintegration of family ties, one’s union and communion with Christ can never break. So do you know Him? Does the King know your name? He promises you will never seek His face in vain. Cheers!

Brutish Prayers

What fills your prayers? For what do you spend most of your “knee-time”? In many cases the focus of our prayers fixates on earthly goods and temporal welfare. We ask God to bless our work, fill our coffers, heal our bodies, provide our food, increase our giving, enlarge our church and protect our nation. But if animals could speak, would not this absorb their devotions as well? If ease and comfort occupies first place, do not our prayers resemble the howls of hounds crying at the slightest inconvenience? He would be justified who classifies such petitions as nothing other than brutish prayers.

Jesus says Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matt 6:33). Herein lies the answer to what should fill our prayers. Our first concern, our great request, our primary petition must involve our Lord’s kingdom. The one whom God chooses and who enjoys His favor is he who places Christ’s reign and righteousness before all temporal blessings such as food, clothing and other earthly comforts. Like a deer that pants for flowing streams, his soul pants for the living God. He thirsts for God (Ps 42:1-2). He longs for the place where the sacred assembly gathers (Ps 84:2) and is most glad when he can attend the worship of God (Ps 122:1). He is most concerned about Christ’s kingdom and considers that his first priority in life. Not surprisingly his prayers are both well ordered and God-centered. He is content with any circumstance as long as he enjoys God (Ps 73:25). As Thomas Manton points out, this only is how to be freed from complaining about God’s providence and questioning His love. Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually (Ps 105:4). This is the secret to living a contented, steady, fruitful Christian life. In all things Jesus Christ is preeminent.

A Lottery Life

There is something beautiful about symmetry. It is pleasing to the eye. By contrast, irregularity and unevenness and lop-sidedness seem distasteful and ugly. The Law says No one who has a blemish shall draw near, such as one who has a limb too long (Lev 21:18). Such a man could not serve the altar because, being asymmetrical, he was blemished. Symmetry is beautiful. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in a uniform life. When a man’s thoughts, words and actions harmonize the result is like a beautiful fugue. Yet too many in our day have lives that are disorderly and irregular. Their minds, mouths and manners are all at odds and disproportionate. Their experience is not all of one piece. Sometimes right, sometimes wrong, normally confused, often inconsistent, there is no uniform godliness. Their lives are like a lottery in which thoughts, words and actions are jumbled together and governed by “chance”.

This helps to explain David’s prayer, Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name (Ps 86:11). He longs for a well-ordered life, when all is done well with a single focus, a united heart. Not a multiplicity of ends but one overarching purpose predominates. For us it means an eye fixed on Christ and a clear sense of final judgment. Under the Spirit’s blessing this brings harmony to all the disparate aspects our lives. Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom (Ps 90:12). A divided mind and wavering heart will produce an inconsistent life, a man who is unstable in all his ways (Jas 1:8). But one who knows Jesus and his own mortality, expecting the consummation of all things, will enjoy increasing symmetry in knowledge to think well, grace to speak well and power to live well to the glory of God.

Ancient Paths

Recently I noticed a signed emblazoned on the glass window of Starbucks, Take Comfort in Rituals. The semi-obvious suggestion was that I should stop in and buy a cup on a regular basis. This economically-motivated slogan touched on a universal feature of human experience, viz. there is something reassuring about a regular routine. When everything else seems to be in flux, our daily habits and familiar traditions provide stability as well as reassurance that there is a “normal” to our experience. Those rituals link us with a past, perhaps even ancient, and give us hope for familiarity in an unknown future. Nowhere is this more important than in the Christian life. Following well-worn, ancient paths of the faith in faith we may enjoy a fullness of contentment and depths of pleasure.

Paul commends the Corinthians because they maintain the traditions as delivered (1Cor 11:2). These traditions are divinely-inspired, apostolic teachings and practices designed to build faith, strengthen character and provide stability in a dark and dangerous world. We are pilgrims and strangers making our way to the celestial city, and God knows we need such rituals. Not only do they offer reassurance for “resident aliens” but the Holy Spirit has promised to attend them with His presence and to accompany them with His blessing. They are, as our forefathers called them, means of grace, i.e. divinely-designated means through which God conveys His grace. So the early church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (Acts 2:42). The Thessalonians stood firm and held to the traditions taught them (2Ths 2:15). Timothy was to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching (1Ti 4:13). Through these means God prepares a table for us even amidst our enemies (Ps 23:5). So Take Comfort in Rituals – the rituals of Christ – and expect a glorious future!

Heaven's Breeze

Some lament, “Why does it seem that so few in our day believe?” Perhaps the more appropriate question is, “Why does anyone in our day believe?” Everything seems stacked against it. The world’s temptations, the devil’s malice and the weaknesses of fallen humanity (“the flesh”) all conspire to prevent sinners from accepting the free offer of grace. We are no match for these foes. The enemies of our salvation are too powerful for us. Our great Champion has won salvation at the cross, but unless some mighty Advocate applies that amazing victory to each of us individually, it will be to no avail. In other words, apart from being delivered, rescued, liberated, we will perish.

The apostle John assures us that sovereign grace will prevail. He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1Jn 4:4). Take, for instance, the crucified yet believing thief. Hanging from nails, struggling for breath, defending our Lord, he expressed a simple but firm confidence in the majestic royal priesthood of Christ. Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom (Lk 23:42). The man somehow overcame all odds to believe this King would intercede for him in heaven! In fact, the very charge for which the Lord Jesus was sentenced by the religious elite served as a basis for this man’s faith. Christ is King! How did the thief embrace such a conviction? The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes (Jn 3:8). The Breeze of Heaven, the Holy Spirit, blew into this man’s soul, gliding sweetly into its innermost recesses, implanting faith in his heart, bringing life to his spirit and securing his eternal dwelling in paradise with Christ (Lk 23:43). We believe in the Holy Spirit, that heavenly Zephyr whose grace is invincible.

Thoughts on the PCA Strategic Plan

The PCA’s website asserts that its Strategic Plan is a contribution “to the progress of the gospel and the building of God’s kingdom with wisdom and intentionality.” As I understand it, the Plan appears to be strong on intentionality but weak on (true) wisdom (few if any Scripture passages are quoted, paraphrased, or alluded to). It has been in the making for two years, and its three themes consist of providing for 1) “safe places” to discuss new ideas, 2) increased involvement and more diverse representation in PCA leadership, and 3) more effective participation in global mission. Each theme includes various means by which the respective goal is to be reached. The General Assembly approved the entire plan except for one of the means under increased involvement: “establish standards for voluntary certification of men and women for specific non-ordained vocational ministries.”

Having read the plan and listened online to Dr. Bryan Chapell’s presentation, I think its strength lies in its social, cultural, and ecclesiastical analysis. Strategic planning is certainly not wrong. It is biblical. Paul himself was a master strategist (e.g. seek out synagogues in major cities). The Cooperative Ministries Committee has done a good job in assessing some of the strengths and weaknesses of our denomination at this historical juncture. Its desire to facilitate discussion, expand denominational participation, and promote greater effectiveness is noble. The structure of the Plan is clear, having three major themes with stated goals and specified means to achieve them. Much of the material should be considered carefully as it may prove helpful to us as a church in fulfilling our commission.

However the Plan is extremely weak on biblical rationale. This is likely to be the Achilles’ Heel of the whole project. In fact, the Plan is strikingly undersupplied with references to Scripture. Hence, the whole tenor of the document has a pragmatic air to it. It may be argued that biblical principles are assumed rather than stated because everyone is aware of the foundational underpinnings. However, even if a majority of PCA’ers understand them (which we should not assume), it is helpful and important to be reminded of them in a document such as this.

Equally bothersome is the fact that some of the proposed means may be contrary to biblical principle. For instance, “Public forums at GA to test ideas without vote or risk” may open the door for heretical opinions being unaddressed and passed over for the sake of “safety.” This contradicts our commitment to uphold biblical standards in belief as well as practice. Also, enlisting a more diverse involvement in our leadership may lead to quota systems much like those we must endure in politically-correct America rather than godly character which matters most. In addition, the proposed “unifying funding” sounds like an ecclesiastical tax to me, which flies in the face of God’s delight in and approbation of cheerful giving (2Cor 9:7) and His implied non-delight in conscripted giving. If ultimately passed, every church, if they want a vote at GA, must pay the legislated fee (I think it was 1/3 of 1% of annual budget). Lastly, the express mention of withdrawing from NAPARC so that we can minister more effectively seems to undervalue the importance of truth. The Plan suggests we “withdraw from organizations with whom we share doctrinal history, but not ministry priorities, currently draining our ministry energies (e.g. NAPARC).” What would constitute ministry priorities apart from doctrinal concerns? Do we not receive our "marching orders" from Christ our King? Does He not reveal those orders in His word? Is that not doctrine? I fear this weakness might lead to the proverbial “slippery slope.”

In sum, I think there are beneficial aspects to this Plan. As a mere advisory document aimed at spurring us on to think of our place in history and its unique challenges, the Plan has some merit. As a binding aspect of our denominational life, I think the Plan is dangerous. It has a pragmatic, worldly air that concerns me and keep me from lending it my full support. At best it is severely lacking in biblical support. Perhaps like the 17th century Parliament, we should send it back for Scripture proofs (though I’d rather have more than mere “proofs”).

A Devil's Dream House

Immoral behavior seems to have increased dramatically in American society. This should not surprise anyone for as outward restraints are removed, inward lusts find freer expression. As a result, support groups have sprouted up across the landscape as many grope for answers and seek by various means to reestablish morality, civility, and decorum. In some instances, a degree of external reform is achieved and society is benefitted in some provisional way. But the advantage is small and often short-lived. The solution to America’s moral decline is not a 12-step program but a rebirth of souls.

Indeed, mere behavioral improvement without spiritual rebirth is a surefire way to build a devil's dream house. The Lord Jesus makes this point while being accused of collaborating with Beelzebul. He exposes His opponents’ fallacy by stressing the principle of a divided house and the practice of their own sons (Lk 11:17-19). It is in that context that He says outward reform without inward renewal is like neatening a house for a vacationing demon (Lk 11:24-25). Mere external restraints and moral reform groom a soul for demonic repossession of a worse kind (v. 26). The religious leaders themselves were as whitewashed tombs because they worked hard to appear outwardly righteous but remained inwardly corrupt. In other words, the hypocrites were furiously religious but ungodly at heart (Mt 23:27-28). The truth is, apart from a sincere, heart-felt profession of Christianity, reforming conduct is like applying lipstick on a pig. Paint it with the market’s best cosmetics and at the end of the day it is still a pig. So while both the reform of morals and the renewal of souls are vitally important, the latter should be our most fervent prayer. May the Spirit breathe life into Christ’s church!

Redeemer Church (PCA) Building Dedication

I wanted to share a few photos from our building dedication service last Sunday.

A view from the front

Elder James Pavlic

Elder Mark Klein

Elder Ray Gilliland

Salvation is a Man, Not a Method

An uplifting sermon by our Elder James Pavlic.

The Return of Christ

"Love is Kind"

Our guest speaker this week was Dr. T. David Gordon who delivered his sermon from 1 Corinthians 13.

Doctrine of God - God's Grace

Our series on the Doctrine of God concluded this week with God's Grace.



You can check out our other sermons, studies and guest speakers here.

The Son of God

Part two of a series on Mediation.



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The Need for Mediation

Yesterday we began a new study on mediation. Check it out below.



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The Grip of Gold

In our age, as in every other, the lure of riches has foiled more than one aspirant to heaven. Through the refining fire of worldly temptation many Demas’s have been exposed. The wealthy man in Jesus’ parable illustrates this point. He had a lot going for him – civility, morality, general respect. His outward adherence to God’s law must have commanded hearty respect from many (Lk 18:21). But his inward disposition was under the grip of gold. Like so many he lacked the ability, or more accurately the heart, to forego earthly treasures out of devotion to Christ. In stunning fashion, Jesus concluded that we might sooner expect a camel to glide through a needle’s eye than a wealthy man like this to enter the gates of heaven (Lk 18:25). The clasp of riches cannot easily be broken. It is powerful. Many today have been seized by this fatal attraction.
Is there anything that can break gold’s grip? The only answer, according to Jesus, is the almighty power of our gracious God. What is impossible with men is possible with God (Lk 18:27). He alone is able to free the fettered heart from its enslavement to mammon. A poor sinner must experience what Thomas Chalmers calls the expulsive power of a sincere love for Christ. Love for money cannot just be removed. It must be replaced. The old must come off and the new must be put on (Eph 4:22-24). Sinners are utterly incapable of re-tooling their souls to aim heavenward. The Holy Spirit must blow through their hearts with the fresh breeze of Christ-glorifying, sovereign grace. Only then will a money-loving, mammon-serving person be freed the clench of copper. A sincere, heart-felt love for Jesus will reorient affections and produce a radical change.

Living Water

The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a reminder of man’s propensity to pollute the earth. For all sorts of reasons, such as greed and sinful ambition, he fouls the environment and endangers life. The oil spill is just one example of how this celestial globe lies defiled under its inhabitants (Is 24:5). An ocean region teeming with life is now a contaminated ecosystem where birds, mammals, shellfish and other organisms find it difficult to survive. As the creation groans we do so inwardly under such a burden as this. What a tragedy! It is a reminder that apart from the wise and gracious providence of God, this earth would have been uninhabitable long ago. Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth, preserves and governs the natural order, yet offers something better.
The Samaritan woman marveled when He mentioned as one of His amenities living water (Jn 4:11). Her misinterpretation of it as a physical provision led Him to contrast the short-term quenching qualities of Jacob’s well water with the eternally-satisfying character of His (vv. 13-14). Christ’s water goes beyond that which teems with life. It is living water. The polluted resources in the Gulf give pause for reflection and reason for sorrow. Man should be a better steward. But there is cause for rejoicing as we ponder the rich, unlimited supply of heavenly irrigation that is offered in Jesus. It is a spiritual resource that cannot be spoiled by human greed and sinful ambition. It cannot be polluted but can purify the foulest sinner. Jesus offers Himself as a reservoir of blessing that is of absolute purity, eternal duration, and infinite extent. He is the fountain of life. Man’s pollution fouls the earth’s water. Christ’s water removes the soul’s pollution. It is an amazing contrast. May you drink from this fountain of living water and rejoice!

Sunken Treasure

Not long ago, treasure seekers discovered a vast horde of ancient gold coins at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. After years of expensive endeavors and costly failures they finally "struck gold." It was a once in a lifetime find and everyone associated with it instantly became rich. But while this brought unusual "padding" to their bank accounts, it did nothing for their heavenly reward. In fact, the vast wealth now available to the discoverers was a huge temptation to greed. For that reason, it was "sunken treasure"!

Jesus says, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Lk 12:34). That for which we spend ourselves and our resources will rivet our affections. The discoverers devoted all their time, energy, and resources to finding sunken treasure. Part of its “sunken-ness” has to do with its temporality. It fades. It does not last. It will eventually perish. But heavenly treasure is eternal. That means if we focus our efforts on and spend ourselves for the things of God, then our wealth is forever preserved in heaven. But if our hearts are set upon the things of this earth, then our treasure will be short-lived. Worldly possessions spoil and are spoiled. They have the potential of choking the soul out of its hold on the truth, are easily stolen and may be destroyed by both seen and unseen forces. Scripture teaches that spiritual riches ennoble the soul and neither rust nor may be taken away. Why settle for "sunken treasure" when you can have heavenly riches that will not spoil with the keeping, not waste with the spending, and not disintegrate with the passage of ages? Jesus guarantees that if you seek, you will find (Mt 7:7). And you need not dive to the bottom of the ocean!

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The Irony of Unbelief

At the feast, the people were unbelieving. This despite the fact that Jesus had done so many signs before them (Jn 12:37). The world itself could not contain the books if records had been kept of all that He had done (Jn 21:25). A great light had shone. Its brilliance was stunning. Yet, they stubbornly refused to receive the testimony of His miracles and acknowledge Him as God's Son. The continuous aspect of the verb indicates an ongoing refusal to believe despite the radiance of His light. So Isaiah's prediction had come true (many times over), and these folks persisted in their unbelief. Jerusalem housed the spiritually blind, deaf and dumb. How tragic for them. How insulting to Jesus. How defiant before the Majesty who had thundered from heaven (Jn 12:29).

The plot thickens when John reveals the result of their unbelief, which was more unbelief. He writes, Therefore they could not believe (v. 39). Literally, they were not able to believe. Divine judgment had come in the form of spiritual blindness and hardening (v. 40). Sadly the Jews had no idea their own unbelief signaled both their guilt and (provisional) punishment. If persisted in, their unbelief would incur the full weight of divine fury hereafter. For now, they were storing up wrath through unbelief, incurring the judgment of more unbelief, and increasing their burden as well as adding to their guilt.

I'm reminded of Jesus' words: To the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away (Mt 13:12). Almost certainly those crowds did not recognize unbelief as a form of judgment. Lightning bolts had not struck, the earth had not swallowed, the waters had not transgressed their boundaries. Life seemed good. Little did they know that spiritual thunder bolts had struck stripping them further of any opportunity to receive Christ. Their unbelief was both a sin and punishment.

How often today do people mistake their freedom to sin as proof of heaven's impotence or indifference. Such a mistake is typically made by the spiritually blind, deaf and dumb. Clearly whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him (Jn 3:36). As children of wrath, born and bred under the Judge's frown, they simply incur a greater penalty and retain less opportunity by persisting in their unbelief. That is the judgment. May the Lord keep us from stubbornly refusing to receive Christ whose light shines brightly in the pages of Scripture.

Hearing His Word

The advance of modern technology has its disadvantages. Along with better communication and more effective cures it brings with it a constant barrage of distractions. The seemingly infinite number of calls, emails, texts, and commercials tends to interrupt our concentration on things that matter most. But then, the world's countless distractions have always been problematic. For example Martha was tempted to distraction by household chores for she was anxious and troubled about many things.

In this situation Mary's example is instructive. As a godly woman she was no less hospitable than her sister. Yet when Jesus arrived she sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching (Lk 10:39). The preposition at, perhaps better rendered toward, suggests a posture of humble receptivity. Mary's entire focus was Christ-ward. She digested every word. It required conscious effort, for it meant refusing to let otherwise good things distract her from the one thing necessary (v. 42). Mary's priorities were straight. Her mind was alert. Her attention was riveted. It was to her as if time stood still and like Wesley’s experience centuries later, her heart was strangely warmed.

The contrast between Mary and Martha is not one of faith and unbelief. Rather it is one of focus and distraction. Both women loved Jesus. But only one at His feet enjoyed undistracted fellowship with Him. To which are you most prone? We are not ignorant of the devil's schemes. If he can't dissuade you from believing the truth, he will try to distract you from hearing the word. It is a subtle method of taking away from us the good portion (v. 42). In a day of unprecedented hustle and bustle, what steps have you taken to ensure a posture of humble receptivity to what is most important in life? Are your priorities straight? Do you resolutely make time for the one thing necessary?