Teaching Good Manners: Part 3

In Part One of this series, we emphasized from the Scriptures that the heart determines behavior. Therefore, our aim as parents should not be mere reformation on the outside but true transformation on the inside. As we shepherd the hearts of our children in the ways of God according to His Word and in reliance on His Spirit, we can be sure that the good that is taking place on the inside will work its way to the outside.

In Part Two, we emphasized four key scriptural principles that are indispensable in teaching our kids good manners. First, we have to teach them that they are not the center of the universe; God is. Everything we do is ultimately for His glory. Life revolves around the Lord, not us. Second, we want to help them to discover the personal joy that courtesy brings. When we seek to be a blessing to others, we ourselves are blessed. (It helps to think of JOY as an acrostic: Jesus, Others, You. When we make this our pattern, God is pleased, and we are blessed.) Third, we as parents should set the example (see 1 Cor. 11:1; Phil. 4:9). Fourth, teaching ordinary, everyday etiquette to our children takes disciplined effort on our part as parents. Consistency is key!

A great place to start is with speech. As was noted in Part One, what comes out of a person's mouth indicates what's in his heart. As Jesus put it, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matt. 12:34). Again, we cannot emphasize enough that our goal as parents is to reach the hearts of our children! Keeping that in mind, we can point out to them by their words what they need to work on in terms of their heart attitude. For instance, our words may reflect a spirit of ingratitude or disrespect or insensitivity. These are the heart issues that need to be addressed. We should always point to Christ as our pattern (Phil. 2:5) and power (Phil. 4:13) in overcoming bad habits and developing proper etiquette.

Below is a summary of showing good manners in reference to our speech. They are adapted from Disciplines of a Godly Family, by Kent and Barbara Hughes:

Courteous Words
Ever since I was old enough to remember, my parents ingrained in me that "magic word" -- Please -- as well as its corresponding expression of gratitude: Thank You. These words are so simple to learn, and they are so important to use! Even children that can't speak in complete sentences can learn these simple words of courtesy. Parents can reinforce their importance by never responding to an screaming demand or even an uncourteous request. Show your kids that courtesy is the way to get positive consideration. In addition to teaching them terms like "please" and "thank you," train them to use other common courteous expressions such as "you're welcome," "pardon me," etc.

Introductions
When it comes to introducing people, always say the older person's name before the younger, and the woman's name before the man. These should be prioritized in that order, assuming the age difference is obvious. "Grandma, I'd like you to meet my friend Johnny." "Mr. Smith, I'd like you to meet my cousin Rebecca."
If you forget the name of the person when introducing someone, simply say, "I'm sorry, I've forgotten your name."
Young children can easily be taught how to respond when their parents introduce them to new people. They should be taught to stand, look the person in the eye, and respond with something like, "Nice to meet you."
Boys should understand that when they are introduced to other males, they should smile and extend their hand, firmly shaking hands while greeting the other with "Hi" or "Nice to meet you" or some other friendly expression. Boys should never shake the hand of a girl or woman unless she extends it to him.

I remember as a kid watching The Muppets TV show. My two favorite characters were those grouchy old men that would make wise-cracks from the balcony. Unfortunately, they weren't very good examples when it came to courteous speech! Nevertheless, The Muppet Guide to Magnificent Manners neatly lists some very helpful tips for children learning to converse. I've also attached some corresponding Bible references to show their consistency with Scripture:

1. Try not to interrupt. If you must, say, "Excuse me for interrupting, but. . ." (Fletcher's footnote: Even better than this rule, I like the "Interrupt Rule" that Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo teach in their course, Growing Kids God's Way. When breaking into their parents' conversation with someone else, children are taught to rest their hand on their parent's arm or shoulder. That signals to the parent that his/her child wants to say something. The child is taught to wait patiently until the parent responds. We taught this when our kids were little, and we were amazed at the impression it made on those to whom we were speaking!)
2. Don't brag or exaggerate. (Romans 12:3; 1 Corinthians 4:7)
3. Don't pretend to know more than you do. (Prov. 12:13, 22; 18:2)
4. When someone compliments you, say "Thank you." Don't belittle the other person ... or get a swelled head. (2 Cor. 10:12-13)
5. Don't finish other people's sentences for them.
6. If you give an opinion, state it as such, not as fact.
7. If you disagree with someone else's opinion, don't say, "You're wrong" or "You're crazy." Say something like "Do you think so? I don't see it like that." (Fletcher's footnote: Of course if a person's opinion is contrary to Scripture, we have the responsibility to "speak the truth in love" - Eph. 4:15. But when we're talking about personal opinions, we have to acknowledge the legitimacy of differing viewpoints and preferences.)

Certainly more common courtesies in reference to speech could be added. Negatively, we should teach our kids not to gossip, tattle, whisper secrets in front of others, criticize or make fun of people, etc. Positively, we should teach them to cheerfully greet others, answer when they're spoken to, always address adults by their proper titles (Mr., Mrs., Miss, etc.).

Of course even more could be added, but you get the idea. As we address heart attitudes, we can also work on using words that can best reflect what should be a positive heart attitude. Some may have a zeal for good manners, but not according to knowledge! So let us be sure to give some helpful guidelines while emphasizing God-honoring attitudes of the heart.

Next time we'll talk about cultivating good table manners! We could probably all use a refresher course on that!

Teaching Good Manners: Part 2

If there's one point we emphasized in Part 1 of this series, it was that the goal of godly parenting is not mere behavior modification but heart transformation. That's what we're after, because that's what God is after. Our Lord Jesus said in Luke 6:45, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."

One of the parents in her comments on the last posting made reference to Ted Tripp's book, Shepherding a Child's Heart. The first key thought of the book is: The heart determines behavior. Certainly this includes speech, as Jesus indicated in Luke 6:45. But it goes beyond that to include all sorts of behavior (see Mark 7:21-23). What we say and do on the outside is but a reflection of what's really on the inside. Therefore, teaching good manners begins with the training of the heart.

What's the goal of every Christian? To glorify God by becoming like Christ. The apostle Paul set forth the example of Christ as the basis for being considerate of others when he said, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:4-5). Self-sacrificing love is at the heart of good manners.

It's important to remember, too, that Christ is not only our pattern; He is also our power. After telling believers to follow the example of Christ, Paul says Christians can do this, "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13). In Christ we find both the pattern and the power to do what is right!

So it all begins with the heart. Children, like adults, are by nature self-centered. But in Christ we are able to put the interests of others before our own.

Now, with this in mind, how can we as parents consciously teach and train our children to have good manners? Let me start off with four basic elements offered by Kent and Barbara Hughes in their helpful book, Disciplines of a Godly Family:

1. Teach your children that they are not the center of the universe; God is. Everything they have, even life itself, is a gift from God. The Scriptures command all God's children to be grateful people who perpetually give thanks (1 Thess. 5:18; Phil. 4:6; Rom. 1:21). Self-pity and egocentricity are telltale signs of a self-centered, grouchy heart. Manners move us away from self.
2. Help your children discover that courtesy brings joy. We can find genuine pleasure in helping those in need, whether it's an elderly woman needing assistance across the street or the person seated across the dinner table whose glass needs filling.
3. Set the example. Be gracious yourself. Let your example include being courteous to your own children when correcting their manners. Don't embarrass them. (Fletcher's footnote: This issue of parents being an example was another issue that was raised in people's comments on the last posting. The influence of our own example cannot be underestimated! How can we teach our children to be gracious if we ourselves our rude? Good manners must begin with us!)
4. Understand that teaching ordinary, everyday etiquette will take disciplined work on your part.

Good manners are not developed with a passive "let go and let God" kind of mentality. No, it is precisely because we have the power of Christ within us that we are to give ourselves vigorously to this endeavor. Paul himself said, "To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily" (Col. 1:29). There you have it: a personal effort that is fueled by God's energy. Well-mannered believers make a conscious, deliberate effort to serve others conscientiously and consistently by the power of God for the glory of God.

Next time we'll delve into the specific area of speech. Between now and then, how about reading Philippians 2 with your children? Talk about the example of Christ and how we can pursue His likeness in this area by allowing the Lord to fill our hearts with His love and power? You can even point out, as Paul did, how Timothy and Epaphroditus did this (see verses 19-30), then think of ways in which you and your kids can demonstrate selfless service in your own lives.

May the grace of God go to work in your hearts and in your home as you obey His Word in the power of His Holy Spirit!

Teaching Good Manners: Part 1

Agur, an ancient sage who lived around the time of King Solomon, decried the lack of respect, purity, humility, and sensitivity that he saw among his own peers or the younger generation of his day. His observations are recorded in Proverbs 30:11-14:

There is a generation that curses its father,
And does not bless its mother.
There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,
Yet is not washed from its filthiness.
There is a generation -- oh, how lofty are their eyes!
And their eyelids are lifted up [in arrogance].
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,
And whose fangs are like knives,
To devour the poor from off the earth,
And the needy from among men.

In commenting on this text, John MacArthur writes, "These proverbs condemn various forms of unwise behavior and are connected with this common phrase which points to the fact that certain sins can permeate a whole society or time period." Indeed, we are this very day living "in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom [we as Christians] shine as lights in the world" (Phil. 2:15). Therefore, as Christians, we do not want to be characterized by the same traits as the unbelieving world. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:3, "Let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints."

If you look at the Proverbs text, you'll note that the deplorable conduct of an ungodly generation includes:
- disrespect toward parents
- self-righteous attitude ("pure in its own eyes") that refuses to admit fault or failure
- mean-spirited and hurtful words toward others
- preoccupation with self that causes them to be insensitive to -- and even take advantage of -- the less fortunate.

Now let me ask you a question: How many of your own kids struggle with these things?

Let me answer that question for you: They all do. Why? Because it is their natural inclination as sinners! Yet by God's grace they can belong to "the generation of the upright" (Psalm 112:2), who show their fear of God and faith in God through their conduct toward others!

That's what I want to address over the next several blogs. I want to talk about reclaiming good manners among our children. This presupposes salvation in Christ, for it does no good to try to reform our kids on the outside if they have not been regenerated on the inside. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Cor. 5:17, emphasis added). Our mandate as Christian parents is to "tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done. . . . so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children" (Psalm 78:4, 6; emphasis added).

The training of our children begins and ends with God, for without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5), yet with Him all things are possible (Matt. 19:26).

Within the next day or so, I'll write "part two" of this series, getting into this whole subject of good manners. But before I write or you read anything further, why not spend some time in prayer, asking the Lord to do a work in your heart and that of your children? Remember, what we're after is not mere behavior modification but true heart transformation. Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7). Parents, let's claim our kids for God! Let's lift them up in prayer, asking God to be glorified in their lives! For those of you who think your kids are too far gone, ask God for the impossible! After all, He "is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (Eph. 3:20). Let that power go to work in you and your kids! Unleash that power through prayer.

Do that today. And by tomorrow or the next day, we'll move on to some practical pointers.

Calling on the Lord

We are six days into our Week of Prayer here at First Baptist Church. Each day a different member of our church family has shared a devotional to encourage us in our prayers. Today's devotional was submitted by Dana Edwards, who has been here at First Baptist since his birth! The same is true of Dana's wife, Leanne. Both have been actively serving the Lord here for many, many years in various capacities. Currently, Dana teaches an adult Bible School class and participates in our monthly nursing home ministries, among other things. Leanne serves as a deaconess and teaches a children's Bible School class. The Lord has blessed Dana and Leanne with four children: Ben, Celia, Jake, and Kaitlyn. In today's article, Dana shares what the Lord has taught him about calling on His name.

I work in advertising as an art director. Advertising is a very deadline-driven field. It seems that nobody really plans ahead and the art director is always designing at the eleventh hour to save everyone’s bacon.

There was a nine-year stretch in my career where I worked on my own. I was a freelancer. I had a mixture of ad agencies and my own clients for whom I worked. I was a one-person operation. Whatever work needed to be done, I was the one that had to do it.

There was a specific lesson the Lord had to teach me five or six times before I grasped what I was supposed to learn. Every once in a while I would have more than one job that needed to be completed on the same impossible deadline. I would immediately go to work designing. And worrying. As the deadlines drew closer and closer, the effort and the anxiety grew greater and greater. It seemed like the clock on the wall was really a fan.

Finally, when it was certain that I would never be enough time to finish all the work, I would call out to the Lord and say something like “Lord, you’ve got to do something here. It’s humanly impossible for me to accomplish what needs to be done.” Each of those half dozen or so times, the phone rang within half an hour with a client on the phone explaining that something came up that was going to push back the schedule. Each time, I found myself laughing in delight and praising the Lord for His goodness.

I believe there were two primary lessons the Lord wanted to teach me through these experiences. First, the Lord wanted me to know I could call on Him in the day of trouble and He would answer me. That His ear was inclined toward me and he delighted in meeting my need because that would bring Him honor. Psalm 86: 4-7 says “Make glad the soul of Your servant, For to You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You. Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; And give heed to the voice of my supplications! In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You, for You will answer me.”

The second lesson he wanted me to grasp (and this is the one that I didn’t learn until the last time) was that I didn’t have to wait until the last possible minute to call on Him. I finally realized that I could call on the Lord the minute I was aware that the schedule would be tight. That He would give me the peace of the Spirit in the beginning, middle an end of the trial. What a difference it was to call on Him at the start and enjoy His presence through the whole process instead of just at the last second.

Oh what peace we often forfeit,
Oh what needless pain we bear --
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
–Joseph M. Scriven

Sweet Hour of Prayer

Today's devotional was submitted by Ed Chisam, who serves as Chairman of the Deacons at First Baptist Church. Eddie's wife, April, also serves as one of our deaconesses. Eddie and April are expecting their first child, and they are grateful to God for His precious gift. In today's blog, Eddie shares a word of exhortation from the Psalms, blending its theme with a testimony from the life of William Walford, who wrote the much-beloved hymn, Sweet Hour of Prayer. This has special relevance to us as a congregation at this particular time, as we have been meeting each evening to spend an hour before God's throne throughout this Week of Prayer. We thank Eddie for sharing this encouraging devotional, which I'm sure will bless and strengthen your heart.

When we meet together to pray, we stir each other up to praise God's holy name. To help reflect upon the Lord's faithfulness and love towards us, I often read some of the Psalms, which help to stimulate a prayerful spirit.

Last night, I read Psalm 146, which teaches us to place our trust in the Lord:

Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— the LORD, who remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD.

An example of a man who trusted in the Lord was one William Walford, a blind pastor who lived in England in the 1800's. Though he was blind, the Lord gave him an uncommon insight. He memorized large portions of scripture, which he would quote verbatim during his sermons. Walford composed musicial verses of praise. And he prayed continuously to the Lord.

Some in the world may have pitied William Walford, because he could not see. But God loved him, and loved to hear his prayers, and blessed his ministry. Thomas Salmon, from New York, spent some time with William Walford. One day, William Walford recited a song he had been working on, and Thomas Salmon copied down the verses. Today, we sing his song, "Sweet Hour of Prayer", which is a fitting composition from a man who drew such great strength and joy from his time of prayer with the Lord:

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

A Hole in the Shoe and our Heavenly Father

During this Week of Prayer at First Baptist Church, we are hearing from various folks in our congregation regarding their own journey in the discipline of prayer. Today's contribution comes from Linda McMorrow, who serves as a deaconess and has been a member of First Baptist Church for many, many years, along with her two sons, Chris and Paul. Here is Linda's testimony that she wanted to share with our readership:

Is there anyone out there in trouble and bewildered? Is there anyone out there in pain? I want you to know that the Lord God is aware of all the details of your problems. In fact, if you belong to God as His child, your problems have been designed and sent by Him.

Now, what do we do? If we know God is sovereign over all our affairs, it makes sense to go to the One who sees trouble coming from afar off and who provides for a solution at the same time.
Once I was on my way to work on a dismal day, fragile in spirit and physical strength. My problems that miserable March day were a hole in my shoe and the prospect of a long walk through the slushy city streets, a cold and wet foot for the day, and a daunting assignment. I pleaded with the Lord my Heavenly Father all the way into the city to rescue His pathetic daughter somehow. The prospects looked dim.

After parking my car and getting out, I opened the rear door to retrieve my work equipment. To my everlasting delight, I saw on the opposite floorboard a pair of Eddie Bauer boots, top of the line! I later found out that my son's friend Brad had "accidentally" forgotten to take them home after a sleepover. They fit me perfectly and I walked on glory clouds to my destination. To top it off, when I got to my assignment I was told by the receptionist that the job was canceled. I was able to go home that day which is where I needed to be. I marveled at what a tenderhearted Father I had and I often think back to His precious provision in answer to those whining prayers of mine. God's solution was already in place for me the whole wretched time and I didn't even know it! So be exceedingly glad. The Lord delights in you. He has already answered your prayer and, in due time, it will be revealed to you.

"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).

"He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted me" (Psalm 18:19).

Living Double Lives

As I mentioned in yesterday's posting, this week we are featuring different articles submitted by members of our congregation at First Baptist Church as part of our Week of Prayer emphasis. Today's posting was contributed by Brendan Burke, who serves as one of our deacons. Brendan and his wife Julie have been part of the First Baptist Church family for a few years, and during this time the Lord has blessed them with a beautiful daughter, Elizabeth. In today's devotional, Brendan shares with us as believers the importance of being fully devoted followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).

After Christ came into my life, the Holy Spirit showed me what this text meant. The more I turned from my old sinful ways, the more true joy and peace I would find. This is only found in our new life in Christ.

The apostle Paul reminds us, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:3-4).

Meditate on these words. We should have only one life and it ought to be hidden in Christ Jesus. Isn’t this one of the first steps of our Christian walk: Recognizing that we are not our own, but that we are God’s. We have been bought with a price. I believe we lack a great deal of peace in our lives because of the way we approach God each day. We can go through the motions of a daily quiet time: read the Word and say a quick prayer. All the while we plan our day and decide our own agendas. We forget the rest of Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Did you get that? Whatever. That means everything. Do not forget that when you lose your life you will find it. If God was big enough to save you from your sins as you trusted him for your salvation, which is for eternity, surely you can trust him when your day is simply not going very well. Do not forget that Jesus is the potter and we are the clay. Let Jesus mold you into something beautiful. Jesus was one with the Father. He trusted him even to the point of shedding His own blood. But look at the beautiful results from Christ’s life. Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” If we are trying to hold on to our old self we will never find true peace. Is there anything attractive about someone who lives hypocritically? How quickly we can recognize when someone’s actions don’t line up with their words. Why then do we think it is acceptable when it comes to our walks with God? Please read Colossians3 in its entirety. It is a good chapter to put to memory.

We are not here to serve ourselves. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (Rom. 12:1).

If you believe the Bible is God's Word, please take Jesus at His word. Acts 2:42 says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

God has not changed. He will still hear our prayers if we cry out to him. Like it says in Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

God, Our Source of Help and Hope

Throughout this Week of Prayer at First Baptist Church, I have decided to post testimonies and devotionals on prayer from various folks in our congregation. I pray that these contributions will bless and encourage you in your own prayer efforts as you read them.

Today's contribution is by Ellen Capozzi, who along with her husband Joe, have been part of the FBC family for about a year and a half. They both teach Bible School classes and are devoted to the Lord and His Church. Here is what Ellen has to say regarding her own education in the school of prayer:

When I was a new Christian I loved reading and studying my Bible, but I didn't pray much, if at all. I would call my sister or Pastor any time I had a problem, once even in the middle of the night. After a while, the Lord not so subtly was trying to teach me to come to Him, and not to put my hope in people to rescue me from my troubles. For a long time either no one was available to help me, or they totally let me down. My favorite verse at the time was Psalm 108:12- "Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless."

I'm so thankful that the Lord was so patient to teach me to pray, and so faithful and gracious to answer my prayers through the years. Truly "He is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). Now I know that people can help me only as God helps them.

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him" (Psalm 62:5).

Make Believe

One of a parents’ greatest joys on Christmas morning is watching their children open up their presents. The most “excited” age group tends to be that which lies between the toddler and teen years, when a child's glee over gifts seems to be at its zenith. The air is filled with laughter as girls play with their new dolls and boys conquer the universe with their action figures. Many games and adventures are enjoyed by our children as they utilize one of God’s greatest gifts--imagination.

About thirty years ago, when my siblings and I were caught up in our own imaginary world, my father took notice of our fanciful fun and wrote a poem about it. In essence, Dad's poem reminds us of the role that imagination plays and the importance of keeping it in its proper place. The poem is entitled "Make Believe." I've thought of this poem many times over the years while watching my own kids play in their little world of "let's pretend." I hope that you, too, will enjoy the poem and take its message to heart.

I often watch my children play,
And how amazed am I that they
Are occupied for hours on end
With games that start with “Let’s pretend.”

They play at “house”, they play at “store”;
They play at “school”, they play at “war”.
They play at “cops and robbers”, too;
There’s nothing little minds can’t do.

Yes, “let’s pretend” contributes joy
To every little girl and boy;
And drab and dull would childhood be,
If it were not for fantasy.

The thought that weighs upon my mind
Is: Some don’t leave those years behind.
Concerning things “beyond the veil”,
They still let fantasy prevail.

They make believe there is no hell;
They make believe their souls are well;
They reason, under false pretense,
That works will be their sure defense.

Behold, the final, fearful end
Of those, like babes, who still pretend!
For in eternal things, you see,
There is no room for fantasy.

For fantasy oft times conflicts
With that which God on high edicts;
And fiction from the days of youth
Must not displace the written truth.

Because the Bible doth reveal
That mankind’s need for Christ is real.
Imagination has a role,
But not in matters of the soul.

And what of you, good Christian friend?
Do you serve God, or just pretend?
Do you the Holy Spirit grieve,
By service only “make believe”?

How Has God Magnified His Word Above His Name?

This morning I was reading Psalm 138 and came across an intriguing statement: "You have magnified Your word above all Your name."

If you think through the implications of this statement, then you can see why it’s so intriguing. God’s name speaks of His great power and majesty, His perfect character and utter holiness. His is the name which is above every name (Phil. 2:9). Since God’s name represents His person, how can anything – including God’s word – be magnified above His name?

To answer this question, we must go to the context in which this statement occurs. Psalm 138 is written by David, after having been delivered from a difficult or perilous situation. Here are the first three verses of the psalm in their entirety:

I will praise You with my whole heart;
Before the gods I will sing praises to You.
I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
In the day when I cried out,
You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul.

So the context has to do with God’s faithfulness to His servant. Other gods (notice the small ‘g’) are everywhere, but David worships the one true God - the God who has been true to His word. God did not only do what He said He would do, but a whole lot more. Through the abundant fulfillment of His promise to David, God showed Himself to be more than what David had already thought Him to be.

Along these same lines, it may also be said that this demonstration of God’s faithfulness surpassed all previous revelation concerning Himself. This would be very consistent with David’s prayer in 2 Samuel 7, which he gave after receiving the Davidic promise. In verses 21-22, David prayed, "For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears." God, through His faithfulness, showed Himself to be even greater than that which had been previously revealed to His people. In this way, He magnified His word above all His name.

There’s a third and final sense in which this statement might be interpreted, and this is in reference to Christ Himself. What if this statement, like so many others in the Psalms, is Messianic in nature? That is to say, perhaps it has an immediate reference and application to David’s present circumstances as well as an ultimate reference and application to the Lord Jesus Christ. If "Your Word" in Psalm 138:2 refers to the Incarnate Word, then it means that God has magnified His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, above every other manifestation of Himself. Consider the following Scriptures:

John 1:14, 18 - "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him."

Colossians 1:15 - "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."

Hebrews 1:1-4 - ""God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son. . . who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."

The name of Jesus Christ is indeed the name "that is above every name" (Phil. 2:9). Now this is pretty exciting stuff, but it gets better! Second Corinthians 3:18 says, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." The mirror is the Word of God. As we go to the Bible, we see Jesus revealed in all His splendor. We don’t see Jesus simply in the light of His moral beauty – and certainly not His manly beauty (Isa. 53:2) – but in His present glory, exalted at the Father's right hand (Phil. 2:9-11; Col. 1:15-18; 1 Tim. 6:15-16; Heb. 1:1-13; Rev. 1).

If all this were not astounding enough, there is yet another glorious reality expressed in 2 Corinthians 3:18. Did you catch it? Paul says that as we behold the glory of Christ in Scripture, we "are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." Herein lies the secret to Christian holiness: Preoccupation with Christ as revealed in Scripture. The more we truly come to know Him, the more we become truly like Him.

Granted, this transformation is not automatic or immediate, but gradual. As we let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly (Col. 3:16), our lives increasingly reflect His glory. What a great incentive to study God’s Word! May we give ourselves to this worthy endeavor, knowing that God has exalted His Word above all His name!

Ministering to Children: A Lesson from the Life of Robert Murray M'Cheyne

This past Tuesday, we enjoyed yet another Christmas program put on by the students of First Baptist Christian School. How great it is to hear kids sing out with all their hearts to the Lord. Children are such a blessing! I wonder how many of us adults seek to bless them?

Some years back, I read Andrew Bonar's biographical work on Robert Murray M'Cheyne, a godly Scottish pastor who died at age 29, having been beset by various illnesses throughout his short life (1813-1843). Yet M'Cheyne's love for the Lord and for people was so intense, that he made more of an impact on his generation in his 29 years than most people do in a lifetime -- or even twenty-nine lifetimes!

In reflecting on some of M'Cheyne's most endearing qualities, Andrew Bonar recalled how his dear friend's "heart felt for the young." He found considerable joy in teaching children and had a knack for getting down on their level to communicate to them biblical truth. Citing one particular case that came to mind, Bonar wrote, "Ever watchful for opportunities, on the blank leaf of a book which he had sent to a little boy in his congregation, he wrote these simple lines:

Peace be to thee, gentle boy!
Many years of health and joy!
Love Your Bible more than play,
Grow in wisdom every day.
Like the lark on hovering wing,
Early rise, and mount and sing;
Like the dove that found no rest
Till it flew to Noah's breast,
Rest not in this world of sin,
Till the Savior take thee in.

Most of us can't write clever little rhymes such as this, but we can follow M'Cheyne's example in ministering to children -- first to our own and then other children as God gives us opportunity. This is especially important this Christmas season, as commercialism can so easily crowd out Christ from our affections. As we go about our busy lives this week, let's do what we can to be a blessing to children, remembering the love that God has for them.

"Take Heed How You Hear!"

In his devotional book, Taste and See, pastor-theologian John Piper lists what he calls "ten practical suggestions for hearing the Word of God on Sunday morning." This is based on his meditation of Luke 8:18: "Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away." With this verse in mind, Piper offers the following tips:

1. Pray that God would give you a good and honest heart.
The heart we need is a work of God. That’s why we pray for it. "I will give you a new heart" (Ezek. 36:26). "I will give them a heart to know Me" (Jer. 24:7). Let’s pray, "O Lord, give me a heart for you. Give me a good and honest heart. Give me a soft and receptive heart. Give me a humble and meek heart. Give me a fruitful heart."

2. Meditate on the Word of God.
"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good" (Psalm 34:8). On Saturday night, read some delicious portion of your Bible with a view to stirring up hunger for God. This is the appetizer for Sunday morning’s meal.

3. Purify your mind by turning away from worldly entertainment.
"Putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which I able to save your souls" (James 1:21, emphasis added). It astonishes me how many Christians watch the same banal, empty, silly, trivial, titillating, suggestive, immodest TV shows that most unbelievers watch. This makes us small and weak and worldly and inauthentic in worship. Instead, turn off the television on Saturday night and read something true and great and beautiful and pure and honorable and excellent and worthy of praise (Phil. 4:8). Your heart will unshrivel and be able to feel greatness again.

4. Trust in the truth you already have.
The hearing of the Word of God that fails during trial has no root (Luke 8:13). What is the root we need? It is trust. Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream" (emphasis added).

5. Rest long enough Saturday night to be alert and hopeful Sunday morning.
"All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything" (1 Cor. 6:12, RSV). I am not laying down any law here. I am saying there are Saturday night ways that ruin Sunday morning worship. Don’t be enslaved by them. Without sufficient sleep, our minds are dull, our emotions are flat, our proneness to depression is higher, and our fuses are short. My counsel: Decide when you must get up on Sunday in order to have time to eat, get dressed, pray and meditate on the Word, prepare the family, and travel to church; and then compute backward eight hours and be sure that you are in bed fifteen minutes before that. Read your Bible in bed and fall asleep with the Word of God in your mind. I especially exhort parents to teach teenagers that Saturday night is not the night to stay out late with friends. If there is a special late night, make it Friday. It is a terrible thing to teach children that worship is so optional that it doesn’t matter if you are exhausted when you come.

6. Forbear one another Sunday morning without grumbling and criticism.
"They grumbled in their tents; they did not listen to the voice of the LORD" (Psalm 106:25). Sunday morning grumbling and controversy and quarreling can ruin a worship service for a family. When there is something you are angry about or some conflict that you genuinely think needs to be talked about, forbear. Of course if you are clearly the problem and need to apologize, do it as quickly as you can (Matt. 5:23-24). But if you are fuming because of the children’s or spouse’s delinquency, forbear, that is, be slow to anger and quick to listen (James 1:19). In worship, open yourself to God’s exposing the log in your own eye. It may be that all of you will be humbled and chastened so that no serious conflict is necessary.

7. Be meek and teachable when you come.
"Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21, RSV). Meekness and teachability are not gullibility. You have your Bibles and you have your brain. Use them. But if we come with a chip on our shoulders and a suspicion of the preaching, week after week, we will not hear the Word of God. Meekness is a humble openness to God’s truth with a longing to be changed by it.

8. Be still and enter the room and focus your mind’s attention and heart’s affection on God.
"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10, NKJV). As we enter the sanctuary, let us come on the lookout for God, and leave on the lookout for people. Come with a quiet passion to seek God and his power. We will not be an unfriendly church if we are aggressive in our pursuit of God during the prelude and aggressive in our pursuit of visitors during the postlude.

9. Think earnestly about what is sung and prayed and preached.
"Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature" (1 Cor. 14:20, emphasis added). So Paul says to Timothy, "Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything" (2 Timothy 2:7, RSV, emphasis added). Anything worth hearing is worth thinking about. If you would heed how you hear, think about what you hear.

10. Desire the truth of God’s Word more than you desire riches or food.
"Like newborn babies, long for [desire] the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation" (1 Peter 2:2, author’s translation). As you sit quietly and pray and meditate on the text and the songs, remind yourself of what Psalm 19:10-11 says about the words of God: "More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb."

Autumn Reflections

New England is famous for its fall foliage. The colorful leaves are resplendent with the beauty of their Creator.

Do you ever wonder exactly why or how leaves change their color during the autumn season? Why does a maple leaf turn red? What about all the bright yellows and oranges we see?

Just recently I read up on the mystery of this metamorphosis. It all has to do with what leaves are and how they function. Simply put, leaves operate as miniature "food factories." Trees and other plants take water from the ground through their roots. The leaves absorb energy from sunlight that changes carbon dioxide and water to carbohydrates (specifically glucose, a kind of sugar). The process by which plants turn water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates is called photosynthesis ("putting together with light"). A chemical called chlorophyll helps to make photosynthesis happen. Chlorophyll s what gives plants their green color.

Yet hidden beneath all that green are pigments ranging from pale yellow to deep orange to bright red (depending on the type of plant or tree). As summer ends and the days get shorter and shorter, the chlorophyll breaks down. Thus the leaf’s green color gives way to the underlying yellow and orange pigments, thereby bringing about the change in appearance. The fact is, these colors have been there all along, but they aren’t visible in the summer because they’re covered up by the green chlorophyll. Moreover, while this metamorphosis in color is taking place, other changes are occurring simultaneously. A special layer of cells develops where the leaf stem is attached to the tree and gradually severs the tissues that hold the leaf onto the branch. Once the seal is cut, a gentle breeze is all it takes to make the leaf fall.

As I read of this fascinating process, I thought to myself: There are spiritual lessons to be learned here! Certainly one of them is the awesomeness of our Creator-God. The changing of the leaves are His handiwork and reveal to us God’s infinite wisdom, power, beauty, and creativity.

But beyond that I thought that there would be another lesson about the beauty that results from adversity. I thought of how the shorter days, longer nights, and dropping temperatures bring out an under-lying beauty that was there all along but couldn’t be seen until the more adverse weather conditions. Isn’t that how it is with trials in our lives? If we respond to them rightly, they bring out an inner beauty that we wouldn’t be seen otherwise. Great lesson!

Yet interestingly, as I searched the Scriptures to find a text that uses the analogy of leaves or trees in this way, I couldn’t find one! In fact, the analogies I did find in this regard were all negative! Here’s just a sampling of the Scripture verses I found:

Isaiah 1:30 - "For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water" (speaking in reference to God’s judgment on Judah on account of her sin).

Jeremiah 8:13 - "‘I will surely consume them,’ says the Lord. ‘No grapes shall be on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things I have given them shall pass from them.’" (Again, this speaks in reference to God’s judgment on Judah for their persistence in sin.)

Isaiah 34:4 - "All the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heaves shall be rolled up like a scroll; all their host shall fall down as the leaf falls from the vine, and as fruit falling from a fig tree" (speaking of God’s judgment on the nations).

Isaiah 64:6 - "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

In all these verses (and more could have been mentioned), the fading leaf symbolizes impending judgment, and even death, on account of sin. Contrast that with the analogy of the "green leaf" in reference to the godly man:

Psalm 1:3 - "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

Jeremiah 17:8 - "For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit."

Notice, too, how in both the first and last books of the Bible, the green leaf typifies the absence of divine judgment and the presence of divine blessing:

Genesis 2:8-9 (before mankind’s fall into sin) - "The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the eyes and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden. . . ."

Genesis 8:11 (after the Flood) - "Then this dove came to him [Noah] in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters [of God’s judgment] had receded from the earth."

Revelation 22:1-2 (a new heaven and a new earth) - "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."

What do all these verses teach us? That sin appears beautiful and brings pleasure for a season, but in the end it brings only death. On the other hand, those who by faith forsake their sin and follow Christ "have [their] fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life" (Romans 6:22). Green leaves may not be as flashy or impressive as the leaves of autumn, but the former will continue to flourish long after the latter ones fall.

Sometimes we, like Asaph in Psalm 73, envy the wicked and wish we had what they have. But when we, like Asaph, "understand their end" versus ours, we realize how foolish we are to want to switch places with them, even for a moment. May the colors of fall remind us of the fleeting pleasures of sin and especially the all-surpassing beauty of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Asaph put it perfectly:

... I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me with Your counsel,
and afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord God,
That I may declare all Your works.
-- Psalm 73:23-28

Is Studying Prophecy Profitable?

This is an odd question to be asking on a day when our church is beginning a weekend prophecy conference! Just to clarify, this conference is about prophecy pertaining to the future, not the spiritual gift of prophecy.

I raise this question because we are living in a time when many prominent Christians are saying that studying prophecy is a waste of time. For instance, Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life, writes:

"When the disciples wanted to talk about prophecy, Jesus quickly switched the conversation to evangelism. He wanted them to concentrate on their mission in the world. He said in essence, "The details of my return are none of your business. What is your business is the mission I have given you. Focus on that!"

I for one can appreciate where Rick Warren is coming from, in that Christians can develop an unhealthy fixation with Bible prophecy. They start trying to predict the exact time of Jesus’ return. They get so consumed with current affairs and how they play into the prophetic timeline, that they become lazy and irresponsible in reference to what God wants us to do in the here and now. Indeed, this was precisely the problem with some believers in the first-century church (see 2 Thess. 3:6-15).

But to paraphrase Jesus’ words to say, "The details of my return are none of your business," is to misrepresent Jesus’ point and to throw out the baby with the bath water. As Roger Oakland points out in his book Faith Undone,

"We find in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 two of the longest passages in Scripture quoting Jesus’ own words, and what’s more, where He details the signs of His coming. In essence, Jesus was saying, because you cannot know the day and hour of my return, you need to educate yourself in Bible prophecy and take heed of my words about the end times. Later on, one of those disciples, John, was given an entire book to write on the details of Jesus’ coming."

The apostle Peter, being moved by the Holy Spirit, wrote: "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another..." (1 Peter 1:7-8a). Peter goes on to talk about the importance of Christian hospitality, the exercising of our spiritual gifts, etc. In other words, biblical prophecy fortifies our faith and fuels our fervency! Christians are God’s watchmen and His witnesses!

Our Lord’s coming is near. The day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night (1 Thes. 5:2). May God help us to live this day in light of that Day! "He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20).

"Sanctify the Congregation": Part 3

We have been surveying "the evils that have provoked the Lord to bring His judgments on New England," according to the collective judgment of The Synod of 1679. This council, which consisted of church elders and messengers, convened at the request of the General Court of the Massachusetts Colony.

The Synod set out to answer two questions: (1) What are the evils that have provoked the Lord to bring His judgments on New England? (2) What is to be done so that these evils may be reformed? We’ve already looked at the answer to the first question (see my last two blog postings). Now here is a summary of the Synod’s answer in respect to the second question. The original document gave twelve answers. I have condensed them down to ten:

1. It would tend much to promote the interest of reformation, if all that are in places above others become, as to themselves and their families, exemplary in every way possible. Moses, purposing to reform others, began with what concerned himself and his own household. People are apt to follow the example of those that are above them (2 Chron. 12:1; Gal. 2:14).

2. Declare our adherence to the faith and order of the Gospel, according to what is from the Scripture. . . .

3. It is essential to reformation that the discipline of Christ, in the power of it, should be upheld in the churches. It is evident from Christ’s Epistles to the Churches in Asia Minor, that the evils and degeneracy then prevailing among Christians, proceeded chiefly from the neglect of discipline.

4. It is requisite that utmost endeavors should be made to assure a full supply of officers in the churches, according to Christ’s institution. The defect of many churches on this account is very lamentable. In many of our churches there is only one teaching officer to bear the burden of the whole congregation. The Lord Christ would not have instituted pastors, teachers and ruling elders, nor would the apostles have ordained elders in every church (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5), if He had not seen the need of them for the good of His people.

5. It is incumbent upon responsible persons to take care that officers of the church had adequate encouragement and maintenance. It is high injustice and oppression, yes, even a sin that cries in the Lord’s ears for judgment, when wages are withheld from faithful and diligent laborers (James 5:4). If this is true of those that labor about carnal things, how much more true is it of those that labor night and day over the spiritual and eternal welfare of souls (1 Cor. 9:11-14).

6. Due care and faithfulness with respect to the establishment and execution of wholesome laws would very much promote the interest of reformation.

7. It is needful that the sins of the times should be engaged against and reformation thereof, in the name and by the help of Christ. . . .

8. It seems to be most conducive to edification and reformation ... [that] all the churches ... promote the interest of holiness and close walking with God.

9. As an expedient for reformation, it is good that effectual care should be taken respecting schools of learning. The interest of religion and good literature have been accustomed to rise and fall together.

10. Inasmuch as a thorough and a heart-felt reformation is necessary in order to obtain peace with God (Jer. 3:10), and that all outward means will be ineffectual unto that end unless the Lord pour down His Spirit from on high, it therefore concerns us to cry mightily unto God, both in ordinary and extraordinary ways, that He will be pleased to rain down righteousness upon us (Isa. 32:5; Ezek. 39:29; Hosea 10:12; Luke 11:13). Amen!

In closing, I would press home the importance of answers 2, 7, and 10 in particular. As I said in my last posting, there can be no true reformation without regeneration. It all begins with the gospel. We must rest in Christ's work, not our work. Then, having been saved by grace through faith, and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, we are empowered by God Himself "both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13).

"Sanctify the Congregation": Part 2

In my last posting, I shared the findings of The Synod of 1679 concerning "the evils that have provoked the Lord to bring His judgments on New England." This council, composed of elders and other church representatives, convened at the request of the General Court of the Massachusetts Colony. Imagine!

As I shared in "part one" of this article, the Synod came up with fourteen reasons as to why God had removed the sense of His presence and had brought His judgments on New England. The first seven reasons were shared in my last posting. Here are the final seven reasons:

8. There is much intemperance.... Temptations thereunto have become too common especially those of immodest apparel (Proverbs 7:10)..., sinful company-keeping with light and vain persons ..., an abundance of idleness which brought ruinous judgments on Sodom and much more upon Jerusalem (Ezekiel 16:49) and doth sorely threaten New-England, unless effectual remedies are thoroughly and timely applied.

9. There is a great lack of truthfulness among men. Promise breaking is a common sin and for it New-England is spoken ill of in the world.

10. Inordinate affections to the world. Idolatry is a God-provoking judgment procuring sin. And covetousness is idolatry (Ephesians 5:5). There has been, in many professed Christians, an insatiable desire after land and worldly accommodations. This has even led to forsaking the church and its ordinances and to living like the heathen so that they might have enough elbowroom in the world. Farms and merchandising have been preferred before the things of God.

11. There has been opposition to the work of reformation. Although the Lord has been calling us ... that we should return to Him who has been smiting us, yet men will not return every one from his evil way.... Sin and sinners have many advocates. They that have been zealous in bearing witness against the sins of the times have been reproached and in other ways discouraged. This proves that there are hearts that are unwilling to reform.

12. A public spirit is greatly wanting in most men. There are few that are of Nehemiah’s spirit (Nehemiah 5:15). All seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s (Philippians 2:21). They serve themselves even while pretending to serve Christ.... Matters pertaining to the kingdom of God are either not regarded at all or not in the first place.... A private, self-seeking spirit is one of those evils that renders the last times perilous (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

13. There are sins against the Gospel, whereby the Lord has been provoked. Christ is not prized and embraced in all His offices and ordinances as He ought to be.... Although the Gospel and the Covenant of Grace call upon men to repent, yet there are multitudes that refuse to repent, even when the Lord grants them time and means. No sins provoke the Lord more than impenitence and unbelief (Jeremiah 8:6; Zechariah 7:11-14; Hebrews 3:17; Revelation 2:21,22).

14. [The following answer is not so much another reason for the Lord’s judgments so much as a summary of all the above considerations, to prove that the evils mentioned are the chief causes for the Lord’s displeasure and discipline]: 1. They are sins of which, for the most part, a great many are guilty. 2. They are sins which have already been acknowledged... and yet not reformed. 3. They are sins which have not been punished (and some of them are not punishable) by men, therefore the Lord Himself punishes for them.

Certainly these findings give us a lot to think about. Also, let us remember that there can be no true reformation without regeneration. This is why it’s so important for us to live out the truth of the gospel, that we "may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom [we] shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life..." (Philippians 2:15-16a).

“Sanctify the Congregation”: Part 1

On September 10, 1679, the General Court of the Massachusetts Colony "sitting at Boston in New-England" called on the churches throughout the region "to send their Elders and Messengers" for the purpose of answering two questions: "What are the evils that have provoked the Lord to bring His judgments on New-England?" and "What is to be done so that these evils may be reformed?"

Imagine the government calling for such a meeting in our day! Barring a miracle, it’s not likely to happen. Yet what’s so amazing about The Synod of 1679 is that the assembly’s answers to the above questions could serve as an adequate and accurate response in light of where we are right now, 318 years later!

For the next few blog postings, I want to share with you the findings of this council, which were recorded by John Foster in 1679 and published in Richard Owen Roberts’ book, Sanctify the Congregation (Wheaton, IL: International Awakening Press, 1994). In response to the first question, "What are the evils that have provoked the Lord to bring His judgments on New-England?", there were fourteen answers. Here is a summary of the first seven answers:

1. There is a great and visible decay of the power of godliness amongst many professors in these churches. It may be feared that there is in too many a spiritual and heart apostasy from God. For this reason communion with Him in the ways of worship, especially in secret, is much neglected and thus men cease to know and fear and love and trust in Him but take up their contentment and satisfaction in something else.

2. The pride that abounds in New-England testifies against us (Hosea 5:5; Ezekiel 7:10). There is spiritual pride (Zephaniah 3:11). . . .

3. Church fellowship and other divine institutions are greatly neglected. . . . There are too many that, with profane Esau, slight spiritual privileges.

4. There is also a great profaneness in respect to irreverent behavior in the solemn worship of God. It is a frequent thing for men [to] give way to their own sloth and sleepiness when they should be serving God with attention and intention. . . .

5. There are multitudes who profanely absent themselves from the public worship of God on His holy day, especially in the most populous places of the land.

6. There are many families that do not pray to God constantly, morning and evening, and many more where the Scriptures are not daily read so that the Word of Christ might dwell richly in them . . . . There are children that are not kept in due subjection, their parents especially being sinfully indulgent toward them. This is a sin which brings great judgments, as we see in Eli’s and David’s families. . . . Most of the sin that abound among us proceed from defects in family government.

7. Inordinate passions. There are sinful heats and hatreds and reproachful and reviling expressions among church members themselves, who abound with evil surmising, uncharitable and unrighteous censures, back-biting and hearing and telling tales. There are few that remember and duly observe the rule to drive away the tale bearer with an angry countenance. . . . In managing the discipline of Christ’s Church there are far too many who act by their passions and prejudices more than by a spirit of love and faithfulness to their brother’s soul. All these things are against the law of Christ and therefore dreadful violations of the Church Covenant made in the presence of God.

To be continued. . .

Our Two Cents' Worth

The above title is taken directly from a World magazine editorial by Joel Belz. He wrote this article in response to a statistic he read in his annual copy of The State of Church Giving. According to this report, only about two cents out of every dollar given to local churches in America gets used for denominational world missions. Just two cents!

Granted, this includes a very wide variety of churches, including extremely liberal ones. But even denominations that are in our evangelical ballpark were right at, or slightly above, the national average of two cents per dollar going to missions.

We also have to consider that some churches do not contribute all of their outreach funds to denominational missions. Indeed, some may not contribute any at all. But even if you allow for that by doubling, tripling, or quadrupling the two-cent statistic, churches are still falling woefully short of what their missions giving should be.

Every now and then I am asked by a pastoral colleague how much of our overall church budget is devoted to world missions. When I say "around 30 percent," they fall off their rocker! So I am thankful for the priority that our church places on supporting world missions.

I think the challenge for us, as I mentioned last Sunday evening, is remembering that missions is not a program but a way of life. In other words, putting dollars into the offering plate doesn't relieve us of our personal duty to "preach the gospel to all creation."

When it comes to missions, some churches -- perhaps most churches -- need to put their money where their mouth is. On the other hand, some churches like ours need to put our mouth where our money is. That is, in addition to supporting missionaries with our finances, we need to be sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with our neighbors, co-workers, classmates, family members and friends.

That's my two-cents' worth, anyway!

What’s Up with Willow Creek?

A few days ago I visited my favorite websites (monergism.com) and saw a link to an article entitled "Willow Creek Repents?", by the editors of Leadership Journal. Of course I went immediately to the article, very curious as to what was happening at Willow Creek. As most of you probably already know, Willow Creek Community Church is pastored by Bill Hybels and has been one of the most influential churches in America for the last three decades. They more or less spawned the modern "seeker-driven" movement. Their ministries have been generated in response to the question, "What are the un-churched looking for in a church?" Thus the church has created programs in accordance with people’s preferences. The idea is that as people get plugged into these programs, they grow spiritually.

Now Bill Hybels says, "We made a mistake."

This confession came in response to a multiple-year qualitative study of Willow Creek’s ministries, the findings of which have just been published in a book, Reveal: Where Are You?, co-authored by Greg Hawkins, executive pastor of Willow Creek. Speaking at the Leadership Summit, Hybels summarized the findings this way: "Some of the stuff that we have put millions of dollars into thinking it would really help our people grow and develop spiritually, when the data actually came back it wasn’t helping people that much. Other things that we didn’t put that much money into and didn’t put much staff against is stuff our people are crying out for." Hybels called this "the wake up call of his life" and went on to say:

We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibilities to become ‘self-feeders.’ We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their bible between service, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.

Do you hear what Hybels is saying? He’s making the point that "spiritual growth doesn’t happen best by becoming dependent on elaborate church programs but through the age old spiritual practices of prayer, bible reading, and relationships." (Leadership)

Where does Willow go from here? According to Hawkins, "Our dream is that we fundamentally change the way we do church. That we take out a clean sheet of paper and we rethink all of our old assumptions. Replace it with new insights. Insights that are informed by research and rooted in Scripture."

Of course time will tell what becomes of all this. But I am encouraged by this response. Hybels is to be commended for responding to these findings with such humility and authenticity. It is my hope that this really will be a fresh start and new direction for Willow Creek, that as they train their congregation to study the Bible and live what they learn, they will grow both deep and wide for God’s glory.

Spirit-Induced Emotions in Worship

My last couple of postings have highlighted the dangers of emotionalism. This has been done in a roundabout way by commenting on Brad Pitt’s religious experience and the Joel Osteen interview on 60 minutes.

Today I want to be a bit more direct by looking straight at what Scripture has to say regarding our emotions. Obviously this is not going to be a comprehensive study but more of a glimpse of what God’s Word teaches on this issue.

First, it needs to be stated that the evangelical church as a whole is experiencing a dire lack of true Spirit-induced emotion in worship. In fact, some churches – such as our own – struggle with showing any emotion and enthusiasm in worship. This is a cause for concern as well. After all, the answer to emotionalism is not lack of emotion but rather the right kind of emotion.

Jesus said in John 4:24, "But he hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." Whereas some churches worship God "in spirit" but not in "truth," other churches worship God in "truth" but not "in spirit." The fact of the matter is, trying to worship God with either one of these elements without the other is not true worship at all. Genuine worship is centered on God’s truth, which is celebrated in one’s spirit. (Read that again. It’s important!)

So the question is, how can we worship God in this way? It begins by recognizing that worship is initiated by God, not us. That is to say, God is not only the object of true worship; He is also the originator of true worship! "The Father is seeking such to worship him." R.C.H. Lenski writes, "He seeks them, not as though they have already become such by efforts of their own, but as longing to make them such by His Word and his Spirit."

Since the focus of this article is on the "spirit" of worship, let’s take a closer look at the role God’s Spirit plays in influencing our inner spirit and emotions. The apostle Paul talks about this in Ephesians 5:18-20, where he says, "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Paul says in essence: "Don’t get drunk with wine; instead, get intoxicated with the Spirit!" There is a definite parallel here. Just as a person filled with alchohol is "under the influence," so a person filled with the Spirit is under His influence! How many of us harp on the first part of that command without heeding the second part?

Note the effect that God’s Spirit has on the person whom He fills. He produces a song in his heart that fills him and flows out of him for the benefit of everybody around him! He shares the exhilarating experience of David, who exclaimed: "He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord" (Ps. 40:3).

In a day where people are constantly turning to external stimuli (e.g., motivational speakers, upbeat music, etc.) to get them into a spirit of celebration, true worshipers look to the indwelling Spirit to produce a spirit of exhilaration in their soul that no person or pop music can manufacture. That is to say, true worship begins on the inside and radiates to the outside, not vice-versa.

This means that instead of always cramming tunes into my head, or listening to speakers on the radio or watching them on television, I have to set aside time for silence and solitude. I must allow the Spirit of God to use the Word of God to produce in my heart songs to God. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Colossians 3:16).

Ah, this is true worship. Get a taste of this, and you’ll see it beats anything the world or superficial religion has to offer.