Serving with Gladness

     We live in a consumer-driven society. We have options to choose between different restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations. If we prefer one genre of literature or movie over another, then we have options for that, too. The free marketplace is loaded with an untold amount of "stuff" to satisfy our every desire. The free market economy moves to serve the needs of the consumer. In reality, these are the signs of a healthy and diverse economy. However, what happens if this mentality creeps into the church? What if church members demanded to have things a certain way? What would happen if church members demanded to keep doing things the way we've always done them? What if members expected the church to act like the free market society to serve their preferred desires? Are you picking up on the rhetoric in these questions? All too often, this becomes the mark of some church members. They expect a particular “product” and they often get upset if it's not “packaged” a particular way. Serving others and an outward focus are the last things on their mind.

     The New Testament has a great deal to say about serving. The word servant is used over fifty times and the word serve is used over fifty times, as well. If someone takes the servant motif and makes it about their needs or their desires, then we see the church like the free market economy. In this case, it should move to meet all of our demands. However, a biblical model and understanding of service is not focused on me, myself or I. A biblical model of service is always setting aside our preferences or desires for the greater good of others and the church.

     Just think, the God of the universe in the person of Jesus Christ didn't come to earth to be served. Rather, He came so that He might serve the world (Matt 20:28; Mark 10:45). Therefore, if we have been raised with Christ, we should put aside the need to have our desires met and put on Christ’s desire to serve others, the church and ultimately God (Col 3).

     Now there’s some who will inevitably read this and say to themselves, "Well, I’m already serving in the church." To that I would say, thank you and glory be to God. However, I would also urge you to look around and see where more needs might be. Maybe you’re serving in an area that already has the primary needs met, but there’s another ministry that seems to be struggling. If that’s the case, I want to strongly encourage you to consider how you might get  involved in serving that greater need. Don’t feel like you can only serve in areas where you feel "called." Find areas where you will be stretched.

     Finally, remember that biblical service is never done out of obligation, but rather out of delight. Serving others and the church is never done to receive favor from God. Besides, left to ourselves, we would never please God (Rom 8:8). That’s the whole point of the gospel. Jesus has done for us what we could never do for ourselves. Out of this proper understanding of the gospel, the church thrives with members who see others as greater than ourselves and who put aside our own preferences for the greater good of the Kingdom of Christ.

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Theology Thursdays: A Biblical Perspective of Marriage, Manhood and Womanhood

It goes without saying, the "traditional" understanding of marriage, family, manhood and womanhood are under attack in our society. Unfortunately, it's not just society that's feeling it's effects. The ever so subtle leak of liberal theology and pure biblical illiteracy in our churches are adding fuel to the fire. Which is why a resurgence of a biblical understanding of manhood and womanhood is so critical among evangelicals. Therefore, today I though it might be helpful to introduce you to what is known as the Danvers Statement of The Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. In short, the Danvers Statement shows the Bible teaches a complementary understanding of manhood and womanhood. This understanding of Scripture is where the theological term of Complementarianism comes from, which essentially means men and women are equal in their value and compliment one another by fulfilling their unique roles within their marriages, homes, churches and society (A more in depth introduction to this subject can be found on the TGC blog). I would strongly encourage you to take time to familiarize yourself with the foundational gospel truths presented in this statement. Enjoy!

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The “Danvers Statement” summarizes the need for the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) and serves as an overview of our core beliefs. This statement was prepared by several evangelical leaders at a CBMW meeting in Danvers, Massachusetts, in December of 1987. It was first published in final form by the CBMW in Wheaton, Illinois in November of 1988.

Rationale

We have been moved in our purpose by the following contemporary developments which we observe with deep concern:

1. The widespread uncertainty and confusion in our culture regarding the complementary differences between masculinity and femininity;

2. the tragic effects of this confusion in unraveling the fabric of marriage woven by God out of the beautiful and diverse strands of manhood and womanhood;

3. the increasing promotion given to feminist egalitarianism with accompanying distortions or neglect of the glad harmony portrayed in Scripture between the loving, humble leadership of redeemed husbands and the intelligent, willing support of that leadership by redeemed wives;

4. the widespread ambivalence regarding the values of motherhood, vocational homemaking, and the many ministries historically performed by women;

5. the growing claims of legitimacy for sexual relationships which have Biblically and historically been considered illicit or perverse, and the increase in pornographic portrayal of human sexuality;

6. the upsurge of physical and emotional abuse in the family;

7. the emergence of roles for men and women in church leadership that do not conform to Biblical teaching but backfire in the crippling of Biblically faithful witness;

8. the increasing prevalence and acceptance of hermeneutical oddities devised to reinterpret apparently plain meanings of Biblical texts;

9. the consequent threat to Biblical authority as the clarity of Scripture is jeopardized and the accessibility of its meaning to ordinary people is withdrawn into the restricted realm of technical ingenuity;

10. and behind all this the apparent accommodation of some within the church to the spirit of the age at the expense of winsome, radical Biblical authenticity which in the power of the Holy Spirit may reform rather than reflect our ailing culture.

Affirmations

Based on our understanding of Biblical teachings, we affirm the following:

1. Both Adam and Eve were created in God’s image, equal before God as persons and distinct in their manhood and womanhood (Gen 1:26-27, 2:18).

2. Distinctions in masculine and feminine roles are ordained by God as part of the created order, and should find an echo in every human heart (Gen 2:18, 21-24; 1 Cor 11:7-9; 1 Tim 2:12-14).

3. Adam’s headship in marriage was established by God before the Fall, and was not a result of sin (Gen 2:16-18, 21-24, 3:1-13; 1 Cor 11:7-9).

4. The Fall introduced distortions into the relationships between men and women (Gen 3:1-7, 12, 16).

• In the home, the husband’s loving, humble headship tends to be replaced by domination or passivity; the wife’s intelligent, willing submission tends to be replaced by usurpation or servility.
• In the church, sin inclines men toward a worldly love of power or an abdication of spiritual responsibility, and inclines women to resist limitations on their roles or to neglect the use of their gifts in appropriate ministries. 

5. The Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, manifests the equally high value and dignity which God attached to the roles of both men and women (Gen 1:26-27, 2:18; Gal 3:28). Both Old and New Testaments also affirm the principle of male headship in the family and in the covenant community (Gen 2:18; Eph 5:21-33; Col 3:18-19; 1 Tim 2:11-15).

6. Redemption in Christ aims at removing the distortions introduced by the curse.

• In the family, husbands should forsake harsh or selfish leadership and grow in love and care for their wives; wives should forsake resistance to their husbands’ authority and grow in willing, joyful submission to their husbands’ leadership (Eph 5:21-33; Col 3:18-19; Tit 2:3-5; 1 Pet 3:1-7). 
• In the church, redemption in Christ gives men and women an equal share in the blessings of salvation; nevertheless, some governing and teaching roles within the church are restricted to men (Gal 3:28; 1 Cor 11:2-16; 1 Tim 2:11-15). 

7. In all of life Christ is the supreme authority and guide for men and women, so that no earthly submission-domestic, religious, or civil-ever implies a mandate to follow a human authority into sin (Dan 3:10-18; Acts 4:19-20, 5:27-29; 1 Pet 3:1-2).

8. In both men and women a heartfelt sense of call to ministry should never be used to set aside Biblical criteria for particular ministries (1 Tim 2:11-15, 3:1-13; Tit 1:5-9). Rather, Biblical teaching should remain the authority for testing our subjective discernment of God’s will.

9. With half the world’s population outside the reach of indigenous evangelism; with countless other lost people in those societies that have heard the gospel; with the stresses and miseries of sickness, malnutrition, homelessness, illiteracy, ignorance, aging, addiction, crime, incarceration, neuroses, and loneliness, no man or woman who feels a passion from God to make His grace known in word and deed need ever live without a fulfilling ministry for the glory of Christ and the good of this fallen world (1 Cor 12:7-21).

10. We are convinced that a denial or neglect of these principles will lead to increasingly destructive consequences in our families, our churches, and the culture at large.

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Danger! Playing with Dynamite and Your Walk with Christ

Imagine what it would be like if you took a stick of dynamite and set it off in your house. You light it and run as fast as you can. You make it across the street in just enough time to take cover. Boom! After the smoke settles you go back to examine what happened and find a dramatic transformation. Nothing looks the same as it did before. Your house now bears the marked effects of a dynamite explosion.

In Acts 1:8, before Jesus ascended back to heaven, he promised everyone that they would receive “power from the Holy Spirit” so that they could continue the mission he had already begun. The Greek word for power (dynamin) is the same word that we get the word dynamite from. This should help you understand the dramatic change and nature of what’s taking place in someone’s life when they experience the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in their life. There’s death and then there’s life (Eph 2:5). This is a picture of a dramatic transformation. It’s not just an external one, but an internal one. This kind of life will bear the marks of an explosion.

The marks of a true Christian should be obvious. However, in our current culture of ”easy believe-ism” the standards are pretty low. There seems to be this prevailing belief that someone can “say the prayer”, “walk the aisle” or even “believe in Jesus” and never see real transformation in their life.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Baptist pastor and theologian from the late 1800’s had this to say about the marks of a true conversion:

When the Word of God converts a man, it takes away from him his despair but does not take from him his repentance. 

True conversion gives a man pardon, but does not make him presumptuous. 

True conversion gives a man perfect rest, but it does not stop his progress. 

True conversion gives a man security, but it does not allow him to leave off being watchful. 

True conversion gives a man strength and holiness, but it never lets him boast.

True conversion gives a harmony to all duties of Christian life… It balances all duties, emotions, hopes and enjoyments. 

True conversion brings a man to live for God. He does everything for the glory of God, - whether he eats, or drinks, or whatever he does. True conversion makes a man live before God… He desires to live as in God’s sight at all times, and he is glad to be there… And such a man now comes to live with God. He has blessed communion with him; he talks with him as a man talks with his friend. [1]  

What type of marks are you bearing?

Are you bearing the marks of an explosion?

No matter what your answer is, there’s hope. That hope is found in Christ alone because he lived a life you could not live. He died a substitutionary death that you deserved to die. He conquered an enemy that you could not conquer. And he’s risen from the grave. Furthermore, if you repent of your sins and believe in Christ, you can be reconciled to God forever.

While justification is once and for all, repentance isn’t just a one-time thing that happens when you first become a Christian. Repentance is something that happens daily. A truly regenerated Christian, will continually bear the marks of repentance and faith. Although believers will all still struggle with the presence of sin to varying degrees and may even feel distant from God in certain seasons, a truly regenerated life will consistently seek to put off the old self and put on the new self (Col 3:1-17). The true Christ follower is never satisfied to remain in his or her sin.

Don’t believe the lies cultural Christianity tells you. If you are a believer in Christ, you will bear the marks of an explosion. You will bear the marks of regeneration. You will have power to put off sin, put on righteousness, and live rightly. This power is not of your own strength, but it is the power of the Holy Spirit!

[1]  The Forgotten Spurgeon by Iain Murry, pgs 119-120

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Theology Thursday: The Authority of the Bible

Wayne Grudem on The Authory of the Bible:

All the words in the Bible are God’s words. Therefore, to disbelieve or disobey them is to disbelieve or disobey God himself. Oftentimes, passages in the Old Testament are introduced with the phrase, “Thus says the LORD” (see Ex. 4: 22; Josh. 24: 2; 1 Sam. 10: 18; Isa. 10: 24; also Deut. 18: 18 – 20; Jer. 1: 9). This phrase, understood to be like the command of a king, indicated that what followed was to be obeyed without challenge or question. Even the words in the Old Testament not attributed as direct quotes from God are considered to be God’s words. Paul, in 2 Timothy 3: 16, makes this clear when he writes that “all Scripture is breathed out by God.”  

The New Testament also affirms that its words are the very words of God. In 2 Peter 3: 16, Peter refers to all of Paul’s letters as one part of the “Scriptures.” This means that Peter, and the early church, considered Paul’s writings to be in the same category as the Old Testament writings. Therefore, they considered Paul’s writings to be the very words of God. 

In addition, Paul, in 1 Timothy 5: 18, writes that “the Scripture says” two things: “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain” and “The laborer deserves his wages.” The first quote regarding an ox comes from the Old Testament; it is found in Deuteronomy 25: 4. The second comes from the New Testament; it is found in Luke 10: 7. Paul, without any hesitation, quotes from both the Old and New Testaments, calling them both “Scripture.” Therefore, again , the words of the New Testament are considered to be the very words of God. That is why Paul could write, “the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14: 37).  

Since the Old and New Testament writings are both considered Scripture, it is right to say they are both, in the words of 2 Timothy 3: 16, “breathed out by God.” This makes sense when we consider Jesus’ promise that the Holy Spirit would “bring to” the disciples’ “remembrance” all that Jesus said to them (John 14: 26). It was as the disciples wrote the Spirit-enabled words, that books such as Matthew, John, and 1 and 2 Peter were written. 

The Bible says there are “many ways” (Heb. 1: 1) in which the actual words of the Bible were written. Sometimes God spoke directly to the author, who simply recorded what he heard (Rev. 2 :1, 8, 12). At other times the author based much of his writings on interviews and research (Luke 1: 1 – 3). And at other times, the Holy Spirit brought to mind things that Jesus taught (John 14: 26). Regardless of the way the words came to the authors, the words they put down were an extension of them — their personalities, skills, backgrounds , and training. But they were also exactly the words God wanted them to write — the very words that God claims as his own.  

If God claims that the words of Scripture are his own, then there is ultimately no higher authority one can appeal to for proof of this claim than Scripture itself. For what authority could be higher than God? So, Scripture ultimately gains its authority from itself. But the claims of Scripture only become our personal convictions through the work of the Holy Spirit in an individual’s heart. 

The Holy Spirit doesn’t change the words of Scripture in any way; he doesn’t supernaturally make them become the words of God (for they always have been). He does, however, change the reader of Scripture. The Holy Spirit makes readers realize the Bible is unlike any book they have ever read. Through reading, they believe that the words of Scripture are the very words of God himself. It is as Jesus said in John 10: 27: “My sheep hear my voice … and they follow me.” Other kinds of arguments (such as historical reliability, internal consistency, fulfilled prophecies, influence on others, and the majestic beauty and wisdom of the content) can be useful in helping us see the reasonableness of the claims of the Bible. 

As God’s very words, the words of Scripture are more than simply true; they are truth itself (John 17: 17). They are the final measure by which all supposed truth is to be gauged. Therefore, that which conforms to Scripture is true; that which doesn’t conform to Scripture is not true. New scientific or historical facts may cause us to reexamine our interpretation of Scripture, but they will never directly contradict Scripture.  

The truth of the Scriptures does not demand that the Bible report events with exact, scientific detail (though all the details it does report are true). Nor does it demand that the Bible tell us everything we need to know or ever could know about a subject. It never makes either of these claims. In addition, because it was written by ordinary men in an ordinary language with an ordinary style, it does contain loose or free quotations and some uncommon and unusual forms of grammar or spelling. But these are not matters of truthfulness. The Bible does not, in its original form, affirm anything contrary to fact. 

If the Bible does affirm something contrary to fact, then it cannot be trusted. And if the Bible cannot be trusted, then God himself cannot be trusted. To believe that the Bible affirms something false would be to disbelieve God himself. To disbelieve God himself is to place yourself as a higher authority with a deeper, more developed understanding on a topic or topics than God himself. 

Therefore, since the Bible affirms that it is the very words of God, we are to seek to understand those words, for in doing so, we are seeking to understand God himself. We are to seek to trust the words of Scripture, for in doing so, we are seeking to trust God himself . And we are to seek to obey the words of Scripture, for in doing so, we are seeking to obey God himself.

Grudem, Wayne. Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (Kindle Locations 64-108). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

*Purchasing this book using the link I have provided above supports the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention

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Don’t Just Wait for Someone to Feed You. Feed Yourself!

My youngest son John Wicks is growing up way too fast. It seems like just yesterday he was a newborn who depended on us for absolutely everything. Now, he’s almost a year old and is wanting to be more independent, especially when it comes to eating. Let me tell you, that boy loves to eat! Now, when we try to feed him something from a spoon he gets very upset and forcefully pushes the spoon away. However, if we simply place the food down in front of him, he will devour it. He wants to feed himself.

As Christians, we experience a similar spiritual reality when we are born again through repentance and faith in Christ( John 3:3). At first, we are wholly dependent on others to show and teach us God’s words (i.e. pastor, teacher, disciple-maker) and provide spiritual nourishment. Although we never completely outgrow our need to hear the Word of God taught through preaching and teaching, as we grow in faith we should be learning to feed ourselves. Furthermore, we should develop the discipline of feeding on the Word of God on a daily basis. Just as food and water bring life to promote and sustain our physical growth, God’s Word brings life to promote our spiritual growth and sustain our souls (Rom 10:17). Christians cannot live without the Word of God. We need it to grow in Christ-likeness (Matt 4:4). We need it to teach us what pleases God (2 Cor 5:9). The written Word is the means by which we are conformed into the likeness of the Living Word, Jesus Christ. To neglect regular reading of the Bible is detrimental to the health of the soul.

God’s Word speaks for itself, promising that it is profitable to teach us how to live. It confronts and corrects our wrong thinking and way of living. Furthermore, it trains us to become more like Christ. Though physically written by men it is divinely inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16-17). Therefore, the Bible is the very Words of God Himself. Wayne Grudem says, “since the Bible affirms that it is the very words of God, we are to seek to understand those words, for in doing so, we are seeking to know God himself. We are to seek and trust the words of Scripture, for in doing so, we are seeking to trust God himself. We are to seek to obey the words of Scripture, because in doing so, we are seeking to obey God himself.”

My prayer for you is that you would grow in your desire to feed yourself. Don’t just wait for someone else to feed you. There are many resources available to help you in this. Get a good study Bible. Pick a Bible reading plan. Buy a few easy-to-read commentaries.

Finally, I want to encourage you to commit to walk alongside someone else as you help them grow up in Christ. Show and teach them the Word. Help them get a grasp on what the Bible is about. Point them to Christ in the Old Testament. Use the New Testament to show them their new life and future inheritance in Christ. More importantly, help them learn how to feed themselves. Please contact me with questions about obtaining the best, most helpful resources for where you are in your faith walk.

*Blog adapted from the FBC Hartselle May 2014 Newsletter

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Theology Thursdays: The Sovereignty of God and the Book of Jonah

Jonah and The Sovereignty of God from the New Dictionary of Biblical Theology:

The first main theological statement in the book is forced from the lips of Jonah by the intense questioning of the sailors. In a creed-like statement Jonah confesses, 'I worship (Heb. 'fear') the Lord, the God of heaven who made the sea and the land' (1:9). In this confession, Jonah condemns himself: knowing this about God, he still chose to disobey. The statement describes the nature of God as revealed to Israel. The Exodus from Egypt had demonstrated that the Lord was the God of the sea and the land: the plagues, the deliverance at the Red Sea and the provision in the barren wilderness all manifested his remarkable control of nature.

God's sovereignty over the sea and the land is demonstrated in several ways in the book of Jonah. He 'sends' the storm (1:4); the verb means to cast or throw and it is used again when the sailors throw Jonah overboard. He calms the storm (1:15). He prepares a great fish to swallow Jonah, and later speaks to it causing it to vomit up its hapless passenger (2:10). The phenomenal growth of the planet shows that fertility is a gift of God (4:6). Even a worm furthers his plans (4:7).

God's power over nature is unrivaled: other gods are useless during the storm, and in the psalm of Jonah (ch. 2) idols are described as "worthless'. Jonah's declaration that God is the maker of heaven and earth reflects Israel's faith in the Lord as the supreme authority. As the psalmist declares, 'The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land' (Ps 95:5). 

- J. McKeown, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Exploring the Unity & Diversity of Scripture by Brian S. Rosner, T. Desmond Alexander, Graeme Goldsworthy and D. A. Carson, p.247

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Discomfort Isn't Always a Bad Thing

Let's be honest, no one likes to be outside of their comfort zone. We don’t like to feel pain. We don’t like to be embarrassed. We don’t like to be told we’re doing something wrong. We don’t like to confront someone else if we see them caught in sin. We don’t like when the preacher preaches about a sin that exposes our guilt. Furthermore, our natural tendency is to excuse, justify and even ignore certain parts of God’s Word because it confronts us in our self-perceived righteousness. We often avoid biblically intentional accountability and discipleship because it makes us feel uncomfortable. Ironically, though, discomfort and pain are often emotional agents that God uses to initiate change in our lives.

Whenever people understand the gospel for the first time, they are confronted with the reality of their sin. They will see their sin in light of a holy God who requires absolute perfection. This encounter with God is uncomfortable, and it’s supposed to be this way. If it weren’t uncomfortable, then there would be no urgency to repent. However, biblical repentance is brought about by people seeing their sin as the wretched wickedness that it truly is and recognizing that they cannot attain God’s required righteousness on their own strength, because the bondage of sin is too great. This is a very uncomfortable feeling. If this discomfort leads to true brokenness and godly sorrow over sin, it will inevitably lead people to repent and cling to Jesus Christ in faith (2 Corinthians 7:10).

After people repent of their sins and respond in faith to Jesus, their spiritual journey begins. This spiritual journey is a process called sanctification, in which believers are becoming more and more like Christ. There is no magic bullet for this process. It is a long journey of intentional and dependent (on the Holy Spirit) work that does not happen overnight. Often times, the Lord uses discomfort to lead His people to repentance of sin, greater dependence upon Him, and greater conformity into His image. When people live in constant comfort and ease, they are prone to forget their great need for Christ. Discomfort is often the crucible God uses to sanctify His people. God uses all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). That good that he refers to is to be made more like Jesus, to be changed little by little and prepared for glory with Him one day (Romans 8:29). The reality is that we as Christians need one another in this growth process. We were not meant to live the Christian life alone. We need encouragement, accountability, confrontation of sin, and true community with others. All of these things come in the context of one-on-one discipleship and require us to be transparent with one another. Sometimes these things require us to get out of our comfort zones and be a little uncomfortable. However, these things are necessary for our spiritual health.

Don’t settle for comfort. You can rest assured, Satan wants you to be comfortable. He wants you to be comfortable with your current spiritual condition. The enemy wants you to be comfortable with the idea that your friend is lost. He wants you to assume someone else will share the gospel with them and disciple them. He wants you to be comfortable being a pew sitter the rest of your life. Don’t waste your life being comfortable. Seek a little discomfort and do the work of the ministry!

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