tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74516869663286590192024-03-21T14:46:03.004-07:00Valley of Dry ChurchesFighting for a vibrant, Biblical, cross-focused church.khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-35122851959077092202017-01-06T13:13:00.000-08:002017-01-06T13:13:02.833-08:00Emotions in the Life of the Christian<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Introduction</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> Every person is familiar with the feeling of a knot rising in their stomach, cold tears threatening to leak out of their face, and perhaps equally familiar with the thrill and delight of friendship, of reunion or of success. Emotions are an intrinsic part of being human, but as such, a few very important questions must be asked. What role does God play in the emotions of man? Similarly, what role does sin play in the in the emotions of man? And after these questions have been answered, a third, equally important query is raised; how should Christians understand their emotions?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines emotions as”a conscious mental reaction (as anger or fear) subjectively experienced as strong feeling usually directed toward a specific object and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioral changes in the body.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote1sym" name="sdfootnote1anc"><sup>1</sup></a>” With this broad definition in mind, this paper will began to answer the questions cited above. First it will examine the origin of emotions, namely where they come from, both in the world and in a person. Secondly, it will examine emotions in the Biblical narrative, when used in both a positive and negative light. Finally this paper will seek to provide an outline for the role emotions ought to play in the life of a Christian.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>1: Where do Emotions Come From?</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> A: In Creation</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> The first question that must be answered is the origin of emotions. To answer this, an astute researcher must begin at the creation of all things as outlined in Genesis and ascertain if emotions had their beginning before, after or during these events. First it shall be asked if emotions originated in God's creation. Of course, emotions as a concept are not named in the created order, but this does not mean they did not originate here. It is assumed by many that Adam and Eve contained the capacity for a wide degree of emotive responses. Some writers would go so far as to say that eliciting emotive responses was part of Adam's created purpose. “Through his intellect, free will, and emotions, man was to be the showcase for God's glorious character. Adam was, therefore, a very important creation to God.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote2sym" name="sdfootnote2anc"><sup>2</sup></a>” This sentiment seems to be standard among scholars and is founded upon a twofold assumption. Because emotions are not mentioned in the cursing of man (Genesis 3), and because mankind is made in the image of an emotive God, mankind must have been created as emotional. This assumption has legitimacy because most psychological sin problems are based on “conscious and unconscious conflict.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote3sym" name="sdfootnote3anc"><sup>3</sup></a>” This brings about the second are of inquiry, namely, whether emotions originated during the fall of man. Since sin is primarily a twisting of what already had been created (such as sexual desire into lust), and not a creation of anything new, the introduction of this invisible conflict would indicate that mankind had at least the capability for emotional experience prior to the introduction of sin into the world. More than this, the observation has been made that “our Lord and Savior was neither fallen in His nature or sinful in His living, yet He wept. In His humanity, God has given Him a capacity for tearfulness.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote4sym" name="sdfootnote4anc"><sup>4</sup></a>” It is probable then, that Adam contained emotional capacity before the Fall. Finally, the question of emotions having existed before Creation must be asked. The question of God's emotional nature will be examined in a moment, but this paper will focus primarily on human emotions. With that in mind, having no conclusive statement from Scripture, it would be logically concluded that emotions have been a part of humanity since humanity's creation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>B: In God</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> This, of course, raises another issue, and that is the emotional nature of God. It is commonly seen that as God made man in His image He placed emotional capability similar to His own in the heart of man. Examining the character of Jesus is of little help on this issue, because while He was sinless, His emotional responses could easily be written off as having been part of His human nature. God is seen to be angry (Deuteronomy 9:22), He is described as laughing (Psalms 37:13), He has compassion (Judges 2:18), and shares grief (Genesis 6:6). This is not to mention the host of other emotions attributed to God. It is conclusive that throughout the recorded history we have seen interactions with God, He has shown Himself to be an emotional being.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>C: In Man</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> Though emotion has always been a part of humanity's existence, the origin of emotions in a person's daily routine is another question entirely. Would it be possible that a person's feelings spring from their mind, which is known to be in need of renewal (Romans 12:2)? Or would it be preferable to state that emotions come from a person's heart, which is described as “deceitful above all things and desperately sick” (Jeremiah 17:9)? This of course, raises a deeper theological issue on the nature of humanity, and specifically how many different functional aspects there are to a man. Many have concluded that mankind is made of three parts, the spirit, soul and body.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote5sym" name="sdfootnote5anc"><sup>5</sup></a> Others argue that this, being a Greek concept, is not Biblical. Regardless, Paul wrote that “the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body” (1 Corinthians 12:12). Regardless, many experts distinguish between natural (or physical) and spiritual emotions, presumably coming from the various parts of a person. On crying, Olford has written,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> “In our consideration of the capacity for tearfulness...first of all, there is the shedding of <i>natural tears. </i>For example, there is the sorrow of parting...but with natural tears, there are also spiritual tears...there are some salutary things that need special attention in this superficial age in which we live.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote6sym" name="sdfootnote6anc"><sup>6</sup></a>”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Although this does not address the motivation for emotion, it can be safely concluded that the source of motivations could be from any part of the human psyche. Whether man is a trinity, a singular unit or something else, it is still safe to conclude that emotions come in various forms in a person's life. They are not limited to a singular aspect of humanity's inner workings, but are a response of the person as a whole. Whether a person is affected by something cognitively or spiritually, they will elicit emotions accordingly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2: Emotions in the Biblical Narrative</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> Before examining the role emotions should play in the life of a Christian, it will be important to examine the role of emotions in the Biblical narrative. To do this will give insight into their presence throughout the scope of Scripture. It would be impossible to contain every reference to strong feelings, so the following will specifically examine positive and negative emotions within contexts that make it clear whether this is an act of righteousness or unrighteousness. This section will examine the context of each stated emotion to say how they were used in a righteous or unrighteous way throughout the Bible.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> To begin, it is worth noting that there is no use of emotions explicitly stated in the Garden of Eden. However, as was discussed earlier, it is logical to assume that there were emotions prior to the fall. Although no explicit statement tells the reader that Adam experienced love or affection for his wife, Christ is said to love the church, typifying perfect marriage (Ephesians 5:25). Thus, logically, Adam's pre-sin marriage must also have contained love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A1: Righteous Weeping</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> There are many mentions in the Bible to crying weeping in a contect that is clearly not nrgative or sinful. In fact, several verses portray crying in an extremely positive light, showing it to be an emotion that can be used righteously. It is shown throughout the Old Testament as a means by which certain people entreatied and made requests of God. “And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?" (1Samuel 1:8) Hannah's tear-filled prayer would ultimately be answered, and used as a means by which the whole nation of Israel would experience salvation. The prophet Zechariah understood this means of making requests known to God. “Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men to entreat the favor of the LORD, saying to the priests of the house of the LORD of hosts and the prophets, "Should I weep and abstain in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?"” (Zechariah 7:2-3). It is clear that Zechariah made weeping, along with abstinence, a habitual part of his holy prayer life. Prayer is not only referred as a part of prayer, but something that God seeks to rectify when He hears. “For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you” (Isaiah 30:19). Weeping is also seen as an element of godly contrition or sorrow. Jeremiah, known as 'the weeping prophet' wrote this, “But if you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock has been taken captive” (Jeremiah 13:17). In the New Testament, Jesus makes mention of prayer as part of a righteous person's life in His sermon on the mount. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh” (Luke 6:21b). As was previously stated, of the Son of God Himself spends time crying at the death of His friend, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). As the elders of the church in Acts send Paul off, they are seen elciting the emotion. “And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him” (Acts 20:37). Paul later writes to Timothy, “As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy” (2Timothy 1:4). Throughout these Biblical examples, weeping is seen in a positive light when used in a holy or righteous manner.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A2: Unrighteous Weeping</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Weeping is said to accompany the grumbling and complaining of the Isralites in the desert, an act that would be marked as disobedience, and bar them from the Promised Land. Moses asks, “Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, 'Give us meat, that we may eat'” (Numbers 11:13). When God curses Saul and his descendants, he lists weeping, along with death, as one of the punishments. “The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep his eyes out to grieve his heart, and all the descendants of your house shall die by the sword of men” (1Samuel 2:33). Nehemiah and Ezra command the people not to weep, for he indicates that it violates a holy day. “And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, 'This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.' For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law” (Nehemiah 8:9). Finally, at the end of all time, part of God's established peace will be a world without weeping. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). In these verses, crying is seen to be something distinctly negative, or with an unrighteous connotation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>B1: Righteous Frustration</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> Frustration, or vexation is seen throughout the Scripture. It is described in one case by Ezra as being the work of God Himself. When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work” (Nehemiah 4:15). It is seen that God can not only cause frustration, but He Himself cares for it. “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” (Psalms 56:8). In fact, it is specifically stated that “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalms 34:18). Frustartion and vexation are also seen in the work of Paul as the necessary response when waiting for the work of Christ to be completed. “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now” (Romans 8:22). “For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling” (2 Corinthians 5:2).</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>B2: Unrighteous Frustration</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> There several instances where frustration, or dismay, is associated with fear. God intends to remove both the frustration along with the fear. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). In these two instances, God specifically commands people not to be dismayed, having associated this with fear.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>C1: Righteous Happiness</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> There has been a longstanding debate in the Christian community over the difference between joy and happiness. Without further allusion to that discussion, it will simply be noted that historically and grammatically there has never been a significant difference, and the two will be referenced synonymously.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote7sym" name="sdfootnote7anc"><sup>7</sup></a> There are many references in the Scripture to rejoicing, joy, happiness, being joyful and laughter. Happiness is seen in the Biblical narrative as a blessing from God. “So Israel lived in safety, Jacob lived alone, in a land of grain and wine, whose heavens drop down dew. Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! Your enemies shall come fawning to you, and you shall tread upon their backs” (Deuteronomy 33:28-29). This sentiment of joy as a blessing from God is repeated throughout the Bible. “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalms 16:11). The author of Ecclesiastes writes of joy as something useful to fill one's life with. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live” (Ecclesiastes 3:12). The author of Proverbs wrote of it in a similarly positive light. “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22). It is seen as an emotion that accompanies salvation. “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). In the New Testament, joy is seen as a work of the Holy Spirit. “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13). Jesus Himself made promises of giving joy. “Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24). The apostles noted joy as something that was to be accompany avariety of circumstances. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds” (James 1:2). “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>C2: Unrighteous Happiness</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="en-US"> Happiness is portrayed in a negative light, albeit very briefly throughout the Bible. It is shown to sometimes be temporary, “Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief” </span><span lang="en-US">(Proverbs 14:13).</span><span lang="en-US"> Pleasure is described as something that may accompany sin, “</span>choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25).</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>D: Conclusion Regarding Emotions in the Biblical Narrative</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> This insight into the Bibles references to emotions is far from complete. For the sake of space, only a handful of references to each emotion have been used. This is not to mention that a host of emotions have gone altogether unnamed. This list is neither comprehensive nor complete, but simply scratches the surface of the narrative in an attempt to prove a simple point. Emotions on their own are amoral. No single emotion can be seen to be used solely for good or evil. All emotions contain the possibility of being used for both righteousness and unrighteousness.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>3: The Response of the Believer</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> Thus far, this paper has sought to examine the nature of emotions. Namely, it has addressed where they come from, and consequentially that they are a natural part of the human life, created by God. It has also examined the presence of emotions throughout the Biblical texts. This has shown that emotions of themselves are neither good nor evil. With all of this in mind, the final topic for examination is the role of emotions in the life of the believer. What should Christians do with their emotions? The answer to this is as vague as it is practical. They must use them as a means to fulfill the commandment “Be holy for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45). Mankind, when told to image an emotional God, is being asked to use every capacity of their humanity, emotions included, to reflect God's character. In Christ, there is a divine model for the reflection of humanity and divinity. One writer put it this way,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> “[Jesus] brought divinity into our humanity. But just as significant is what Jesus did in the other direction. He brought humanity into the heart of God. When we say that Christians are the body of Christ, we're not just saying there's a divine dimension to everything Christians do together. We're also saying that the joy, the struggle, the sin, and the pain of human striving on earth are taken up into the life of God.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote8sym" name="sdfootnote8anc"><sup>8</sup></a>”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">For the Christian, emotions are neither to be feared nor ignored. Rather, they are a part of the human life, placed their by God and empathized with by Christ. All human struggle should be seen as an opportunity to worship God. A conscious mental action or strong feeling is natural way to reflect the holiness of God in a situation. It is no wonder that Paul wrote, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds” (James 1:2). The question then, for the believer, should always be, 'in the situation I am in, what emotion would God elicit, and how?' Their response should reflect a desire to bear the image of God on the earth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> Emotions are an intrinsic part of being human, but totally different from a sinful nature. Emotional responses do not rise from depravity, but are part of the character of God and have been a part of humanity since Creation. They appear in various forms as the cognitive and emotional parts of man respond to various situations. Throughout the Biblical narrative, emotions are seen as amoral. That is, they can be used for both righteousness or unrighteousness. The believer then, is tasked with utilizing emotions as a means to become more holy. As part of God's character, the believer should practice each emotion in the same manner to which God uses it. In this is found a Biblical and theological understanding of emotions.</span></span></div>
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<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote1anc" name="sdfootnote1sym">1</a>Merriam-Webster (Accessed 2016), web source.</div>
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<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote2anc" name="sdfootnote2sym">2</a>McGee (1998), p. 16.</div>
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<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote3anc" name="sdfootnote3sym">3</a>Backus (1991), p. 93.</div>
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<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote4anc" name="sdfootnote4sym">4</a>Olford (1999), p. 52.</div>
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<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote5anc" name="sdfootnote5sym">5</a>Von Buseck (Accessed 2016), web source.</div>
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<div id="sdfootnote6">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote6anc" name="sdfootnote6sym">6</a>Olford (1999), p. 53.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote7">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote7anc" name="sdfootnote7sym">7</a>Reinke (Accessed 2016), web source.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div id="sdfootnote8">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote8anc" name="sdfootnote8sym">8</a>Wells (2011), p. 139.</div>
</div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-91374718300467645242016-08-24T15:22:00.000-07:002016-08-24T15:22:00.844-07:00What Every Person Needs<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Be
appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate,
declares the LORD, </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">for
my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the
fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no water. (Jer 2:12-13)</span></span><span style="color: black;">Our
lives are meant to be reflectors of God. Being made in His image, we
are to mimic His character. This is holiness. He is love, therefore
we love in the same way. We reflect His character not by mimicking
His nature but by absorbing from His provision. When we entrust our
hearts to God's provision, we find not only holiness, but
satisfaction in living holy lives.</span><span style="color: black;">At
the same time, the mind is wired to protect itself, the same way the
body is designed to protect itself.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;">The
mind naturally feels that it has needs;</span>-To
be heard and understood<br />-To
be affirmed<br />-To
be blessed<br />-To
be safe<br />-To
be touched<br />-To
be chosen<br /><span style="color: black;">-To
be included</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When
your mind believes your 'self' lacks value it either<br />-Creates
a model of living that provides value for itself or<br />-Justifies
it's lack of value.<br /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">These
are the 'cisterns' our mind drinks from rather than returning to our
life-giving Lord. To put that in a practical example, if a young boy
sees his drunk father stumble in the door, and hears his mother
screaming about what an out of work failure that man is, and how he
is tearing apart their family. If this is a defining moment for the
boy, he will most likely grow up believing that security is found in
keeping a job and being successful, while his significance will be
rooted in keeping a family together.</span><span style="color: black;">The
conscious mind sees and interprets circumstances and the subconscious
feels the pain of having unmet needs.</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">When
we don't get what we need, we are designed to subconsciously alter
its behaviour in an effort to survive. For example, if you stop
eating, your body will digest much slower, holding onto whatever food
it has. The mind, intrinsically connected to the body, functions in
the same way. Whether the mind feels threatened by external
circumstances (i.e. what others expect from us) or from inner turmoil
(i.e. damaged emotions), it will respond much like your body does
when you stop eating; the mind will grab onto what it can and try to
defend itself from further damage.</span><span style="color: black;">The
truth is that all of our needs can be met in Christ. The solution is
to find and understand what our mind identifies as an unmet need, and
why it feels the need to fill that cistern via a spring other than
Christ. Ultimately what we believe is that Christ is a sufficient
lifesource for all our desires</span></span></div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-54321915995107237282016-06-12T14:23:00.001-07:002016-06-13T09:48:12.988-07:00A Letter To Fundamentalist (Literal Bible) Christians<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Today I woke up to tragedy. Sometimes the only thing that sickens me more than tragedy, is people's response to it. After seeing a few 'I don't mind, they were gay,' tweets, I wrote this letter. It is addressed to people who believe the Bible to be literal and innerant (that's what a Fundamentalist is). It is specifically written to those who think this might be 'less tragic' because of sexual orientation.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hY4PbPNRtnFyYEBolfAbhAX0yW5rf3_lzrML00MxQc3glBwRKyCWakSQ6EgDAb_-O_HC418Ld3_Rwocp10eSvNmbgPxiAiVnSnD0XXFvC3DtvF0JkfzICrPfqn7gjwhpcPNQ9krwrE0/s1600/Orlando+nightclub+shooting_1454849196498_815592_ver1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hY4PbPNRtnFyYEBolfAbhAX0yW5rf3_lzrML00MxQc3glBwRKyCWakSQ6EgDAb_-O_HC418Ld3_Rwocp10eSvNmbgPxiAiVnSnD0XXFvC3DtvF0JkfzICrPfqn7gjwhpcPNQ9krwrE0/s400/Orlando+nightclub+shooting_1454849196498_815592_ver1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear
Fundamentalist Christian,</span></span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You
believe the Bible to be true. Literal. Relevant. I respect that. In a
postmodern world, those devoted to their core beliefs are often few
and far between. In the past year, you have become the center of much
attention. Maybe not you personally, but people who think like you.
America's worst shooting ever was recorded today (June 12, 2016), and
now eyes will swing to you again. This shooting appears to have been
the result of an anti-gay agenda.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(If you aren't familiar with what happened, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/orlando-nightclub-shooting/" target="_blank">catch up on CNN</a>)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Perhaps
you are not convinced this is a bad thing. Since you believe the
Bible to be literal, you believe homosexuality is wrong. You know
that 'the wages of sin is death.' Perhaps you've compared America to
Sodom and Gomorrah. After all, they were struck down.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
want to explain to you why this tragedy is heart-breaking. Why you, a
Fundamentalist, should empathize and identify with the LGBT
community. Why you should love them. And I want to do that while
taking the Bible literally.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Homosexuality
as Sin</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes
being gay is singled out as a great offense. Does the Bible call
homosexuality sin? Yes. Twice by name (1 Cor 6:9, 1 Tim 1:10). But
bear in mind that both those verses come in a broader context. In
Corinthians, Paul is speaking about sexual immorality in general,
regardless of gender. In Timothy he is speaking about being 'lawless'
as a whole.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When
the Bible speaks of sexual sin, it refers to something that defaces
an image God gave us. Ephesians 5 describes sex, and marriage as a
whole, as something that represents the relationship </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.atacrossroads.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/a-pair-of-wedding-rings-sit-on-an-open-bible-marriage-wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.atacrossroads.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/a-pair-of-wedding-rings-sit-on-an-open-bible-marriage-wedding.jpg" height="76" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">between Christ
and the church. This union is something so sacred it is not even to
be joked about(Eph 5:4). He details that any sexual relationship that
does not represent the Christ-church union is immoral. This includes
homosexuality, but it puts it on a level playing field with all other
sexual sin.</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some
argue that homosexuality is unique because it is described as
unnatural (Rom 1:26). But you'll be hard pressed to see it separated
as 'different than other sexual sin' in Old Testament law. You'll see
that homosexuality (Lev 20:13) is treated the same as all other
sexual immorality (Lev 20:10-23).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
broader message of Scripture is 'all have sinned.' And this is far
more essential to the gospel than teaching 'homosexuality is sin.'</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God
As Judge</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God
created humans and gave us dominion (Gen 1:26). This made us rulers
of the world, but according to His conditions. When sin entered the
world, we made our own rules. Mankind acted as though they were in
charge. Essentially told God that the dominion He gave them was
theirs and not His. This resulted in Cain killing Able. God, as giver
of life, determines the length of the life of His creation. But Cain
took this into his own hands.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When
God chooses to judge humanity, whether by flood (Gen 6), by fire (Gen
19) or opening the Earth to swallow people (Num 26), He does so
Himself. We don't get to be judges. We didn't give life. We aren't
qualified to take it away.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Judge-gavel-640x294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Judge-gavel-640x294.jpg" height="91" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Murder
is always tragedy. It is an act of rebellion against God's dominion.
It is always sin. It is never to be celebrated. Someone has named
themself (like Cain) as a better judge than God.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
the case of the non-Christian it means the end of their opportunity
to repent. As sign waving street-corner preachers keep reminding us,
the Bible says sinners go to hell. In fact, the only death the Bible
sees as worth celebrating is the death of the Christian (Phi 1:21).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is
Love the Answer?</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
word love is being misused. And not just by the #Loveislove people (See my post on that <a href="http://valleyofdrychurches.blogspot.ca/2015/06/christians-dont-need-more-blogs-about.html" target="_blank">here</a>).
So please understand me as I say this.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We
are to love all people equally.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://teachthem.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/woman-at-the-well.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://teachthem.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/woman-at-the-well.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Consider
Jesus and the adulterous woman (John 4). Or the other adulterous
woman (John 8). Or the other one (Luke 7). Consider the accusation
against Jesus, “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and
you say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax
collectors and sinners!'” (Luk 7:34).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He's
accused of this many times. Many, many times. He hung out with
sinners. A sinless friend of sinners. If you were the same way,
people wouldn't call you intolerant so quickly after this shooting.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do
you see Paul express disdain or hatred toward Corinth? They were
sexually immoral in many ways (1 Cor 5-7). What we see is careful
instruction. 'Be pure.' 'Glorify God in your body.' Never, 'don't
worry so much if those temple prostitutes you stay away from get
killed.' In fact, he never even goes so far as to say 'stay away from
temple prostitutes.' And Paul says A LOT about sexual immorality.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
Closing</span></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ask
yourself some questions about the Orlando shooting. Would you be more
heart-broken if straight people had been targeted? Consider other
great tragedies in the U.S. Could there have been anyone in the twin
towers who had sex before marriage? Anyone in Columbine addicted to
pornography?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are
you less saddened because the targets of today were at a gay bar? Are
you qualified to judge the length of someone's life? Do you have as
much love for these victims as Jesus did? Do you love their families?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If
the Bible is right, people are in hell today. Mourn. Weep. From today
onward make it a priority to love unconditionally. To teach about
grace to all people. You are responsible to tell them the gospel,
which includes telling them they have sinned. You are not responsible
for their condemnation.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Sincerely,</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>A
Fundamentalist Christian</b></span></span></div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-86057316606228815782016-03-01T18:15:00.000-08:002016-03-01T19:42:27.968-08:00Why Joseph?<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">When
you only get one shot at something, you want to make it count. The
Christian drama team I help to run is as short-term as ministries
come. In many places, we are in and out in a day. We get one chance,
sometimes only an hour, to communicate truth through the telling of a
Bible story. Now, after </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QEkU7wX3EMT5cUnlyrcITMdtKsxiUNihsyFVoLBsin1EeEJJtnQ-fzoUcM5ZB6q8aw0fCBYoyr1MQtaiybAL4l6BG9OKb0MjwYUg-8hstC0hzGWYLa6XGiEv6CLLPUNaEKrK-9qiTJY/s1600/Out+of+The+Pit+Poster+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QEkU7wX3EMT5cUnlyrcITMdtKsxiUNihsyFVoLBsin1EeEJJtnQ-fzoUcM5ZB6q8aw0fCBYoyr1MQtaiybAL4l6BG9OKb0MjwYUg-8hstC0hzGWYLa6XGiEv6CLLPUNaEKrK-9qiTJY/s320/Out+of+The+Pit+Poster+copy.jpg" width="247" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">four
months and nearly 100 shows, I want to answer a very common question.</span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Why
Joseph?”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">With
only an hour to hit people with the gospel, why not the life of
Christ? Why not the crucifix? Why write a play about Joseph?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For
those of you haven't seen <i>Out of The Pit,</i> it follows the story of
Joseph, as accounted in Genesis, and highlights some comparisons
between this Old Testament figure and the person of Christ. I chose
Joseph because I see him as unique in the Biblical narrative; unique
in that he is described as a sinless man. While he certainly sinned
at times in his life, it is interesting to note that in the Joseph
narrative there is no Bathsheba, he kills no Egyptian, and he doesn't
come from a past of persecuting the church. The author of Genesis
describes him in such a way as to make him stand out among his
Biblical buddies.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Most
major Old Testament characters have traits or life experiences that
are repeated in the person of Jesus. Moses stands between God and man
and asks that his life be taken in place of the people (Exodus
32:32). Joshua saw victory given and sin defeated (Joshua 2:24).
Jeremiah tells the people that if they carry a yoke (much like a
cross is carried) they will live, but if they do not, they will die
(Jeremiah 27, Matthew 16:24).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
event we focus on in <i>Out of The Pit </i>is the fact that Joseph is
placed into the ground, and then rises out to become a ruler. The
first time, he is placed into a well by his mocking brothers, and the
second time into a prison by Potiphar. It's an imperfect picture of
exactly what happened to our Saviour. Jesus is placed into His grave
after being rejected by his Jewish brothers. Like Joseph, he was
condemned and punished though he had done nothing wrong.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">While
the gospel may centre around the event of the crucifixion and
resurrection, it's divine message of redemption had been echoing
through history hundreds of years before Jesus was born. And this was
no mistake on God's part – He chose to unveil salvation slowly. To
use people as His divine object lesson. When we see the Old Testament
characters as imperfect images of who our Saviour would someday be,
we have taken the first step into unlocking the message behind a
gospel that has been unfolding since time began. In the theological
world we call tools like this 'hermenutics.' Little keys that unlock
the meaning of big passages.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes
people need to be equipped to find truth on their own, rather than
having it spoonfed to them. I grew up reading the Bible, but I never
knew what it meant. No one ever showed me all the great Old Testament
'study tips' the writer of Hebrews seems to use so well. So I read up
to Malachai like every good pastor's kid. And when I hit the gospels,
I found the same well-combed, loving, gracious and one dimensional
Jesus most people in North-American churches have cheapened him to
be. You need the backstory – the wrath and redemption, the blood
and the sacrifices, to understand Jesus.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw27P2MQBn7WWKSY7mGaYqsxNLaPsecTNt6eC0JvUnv8M593QY1whF7CuGSLHfOyk-il7t8B4iLH4lIhw-bCtwgI1btuBKR7z6XPLDP_RxLLWHrDQXFbwOdyxGY4TMNdfmUf7U-PrmV8U/s1600/DSC_0046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw27P2MQBn7WWKSY7mGaYqsxNLaPsecTNt6eC0JvUnv8M593QY1whF7CuGSLHfOyk-il7t8B4iLH4lIhw-bCtwgI1btuBKR7z6XPLDP_RxLLWHrDQXFbwOdyxGY4TMNdfmUf7U-PrmV8U/s320/DSC_0046.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Joseph isn't just a godly man...he is an image of who Jesus</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">would be.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And
you can't be taught that. As great as Sunday School is, people need
to discover Jesus for themselves. To read his story and say, 'Wow!
Look at this guy!' So the best teachers will always be ones who let
students discover things for themselves. And that's what we try to do
with Out of The Pit. Give people the tools to discover Jesus for
themselves. He's hidden inside the Old Testament, and when you can
find Him on your own, you're headed somewhere great.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When
you've found the Bible to be more than just a book, you've found the
beginning of the true gospel. After all, Jesus Himself is the Word
(John 1:1), and this truth is prominently stated as a prelude to His
life. John's introduction to Jesus as a man is, “And the Word
became flesh and dwelt among us,” (John 1:14). You can not have
Jesus the man without taking Him as Jesus the Word. Those Old
Testament truths were His. Those stories, about Him. And His gospel
is reflecting off of every single letter from Genesis to Revelation</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So
we tell the story of Joseph. And we teach one,very basic hermenutic.
We hand a little 'key' to adults and children alike and invite them
to discover the Biblical narrative for themselves. One hour to teach
truth. And the simple message of Scripture is all this dying world
needs.</span></div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-28723908689290875112015-07-20T18:02:00.003-07:002016-03-01T19:45:33.179-08:00The Advance of the Gospel (Sermon)<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This sermons was preached by Kevin Deane on June 14, 2015 at Fairmont Baptist Church in Saskatoon. You can listen to the sermon online <a href="https://ia601501.us.archive.org/34/items/2015.06.14KevinDeanTheAdvanceOfTheGospel/2015.06.14%20Kevin%20Dean%20-%20The%20Advance%20of%20the%20Gospel.mp3">here.</a></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">WWI
was filled with heroics, battles and bloodshed. One of the most
significant battles and pivotal moments in Canadian history was the
battle of Vimy ridge. There were </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">4
Canadian divisions against 3 German divisions. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Vimy
Ridge is a ridge in France that overlooks a very crucial pass. Take
it, and the armies can advance. The battle b</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">egan
at 5:30 am on April 9. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">It
was during a heavy and cold snowstorm. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">By
6:30 am they had captured the first line of defense. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">By
7:30 am, three of the four divisions had captured the second line. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">The
4</span><sup style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"> division was almost entirely wiped out. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">After
4 days, Canada had captured the ridge. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">You
can well imagine the commander behind this attack. His orders would have been very simple, "keep on advancing." There was no adequate excuse for the troops to stop. Their conversations, had there been any, would have been something like, "It's snowing." "Advance!" "The fourth battalion has been wiped out." "Advance!"</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I
thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of
mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your
partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">(Php
1:3-5)</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Paul is thankful for this church. He is
filled with joy every time he remembers them. Why? Because of their
participation in seeing the gospel go forth.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The gospel is like an advancing army,
and they have supported that army.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Stop and think of all the reasons Paul
could have been filled with joy for these people. He is not filled
with joy because they were once saved – although I'm sure when they
were converted He was jubilant. He's not filled with joy when he
remembers them because of their hospitality or great memories he has
of them. He's not filled with joy because they are particularly
knowledgable, or have something new and exciting going on in the
church, or even because they are growing. <b>Paul is filled with
excitement, filled with joy, because when he thinks of these people,
he is reminded of the fact that the gospel is going forth.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It is the advance of the gospel that is
of the primary importance to Paul.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
If you think of being far from home,
it's not hard to relate to the concept of being filled with joy. Your
letters home might say something like,</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
'I'm excited to know you are safe and
healthy,' or, 'I was excited to hear about the marriage of so-and-so'
or that someone got a new job.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Even when we are absent from the people
we love, we still celebrate with them and for them. <b>Paul is filled
with joy every time he remembers them, but not because of their
well-being or because of any accomplishment, he is filled with joy
because of the role they play in seeing the gospel go forth.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">And
I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it
to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel
this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are
all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the
defense and confirmation of the gospel. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">(Php
1:6-7)</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So here Paul is expressing the same
thing. He says he is confident that God will bring them to completion
at the day of Christ Jesus. Why is it ok for him to think that?
Because he holds them in his heart. In the greek, that is his inward
being, the center of all emotion. So there's this deep yearning that
is going on in Paul. He loves them deeply – why does he hold them
in his heart? Read verse 7 – because they are partkaers in grace,
in his imprisonment and in his defense and confirmation of the
gospel.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">For
God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of
Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and
more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve
what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of
Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through
Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">(Php
1:8-11)</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The love he has for the Phillipians is
not his own. This deep love, this passion, it is because Christ is
loving through him. <b>He deeply loves them and gives them a model
for how they ought to live.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And now here is Paul's desire for them
– he desires them to grow and grow and be more holy. <b>More love.
More knowledge. More discernement. Approve what is excellent. Be
pure. Be blameless. This is what Paul wants for them.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And it's an absolutely incredible call
for us to examine our own affections. To examine what brings us joy.
Because what we are going to see in the rest of this book is that
there is absolutely nothing Paul is not willing to go through,
nothing Paul is not willing to give up in order to see the gospel
advanced. Knowing that Jesus' message is advancing is so high on
Paul's priority list that it should put all our selfishness to shame.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>So while we live our lives in our
comfortable homes with our nice leather bound Bibles. What the book
of Phillipians is asking us today, is how much of a role do we play
in seeing the gospel advance. And how well do we on Paul's model of
living? Do you love more? Know more? Than yesterday?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"I see so few of our churches risking
everything for the mission. We have retreated into our nice big
buildings, where we sit in our nice, cushioned pews and chairs, where
we are insulated and isolated from the inter-cities and spiritual
lostness of the world. We have given a tip of our hats to world
missions and evangelism as an optional program for the faithful few
while we go on designing endless programs that revolve around us; and
when we should be on the firing lines for God...most of our people
are still in the nurseries of our churches drinking spiritual milk." -
David Platt</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Is a ticket at a parking metre what
makes or breaks your day? Or is it the advance of the gospel that
gives you joy?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>What gives you joy? God is the giver
of joy. And in the cross we see every attribute of God represented.
In looking at the cross we see God. Knowing God and seeing others
given the opportunity to know God should be the greatest thrill we
can encounter.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Think about the
fact that in the last week, dozens of funerals have taken place in
this city. About 4 thousand people died worldwide because of Aids.
Thousands worlwide have been sold into the sex trade. And what really
grabbed hold of your attention this week was if the Blackhwaks would
beat the Lightning. Shouldn't our focus be riveted on a message that
can counteract all the darkness?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>See we're like, 'what an awful day I
got stuck dealing with people all day long,' and Paul's like, 'I just
got thrown in prison and am now chained to a guard. This is awesome,
the guard can't go anywhere.</b> I'm going to preach all night long.
Even if I sing he can't leave.'</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Read these verses:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I
want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really
served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout
the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is
for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the
Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without
fear. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">(Php
1:12-14)</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Do you hear that? He's happy, or even
pleased with what has happened because it serves as an opportunity to
advance the gospel. <b>I think the modern parallel would be to write
something like, “I want you to know, brothers, that I have cancer.
But this has really served to advance the gospel, for I now have
opportunity to preach it to a variety of hospital staff.”</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We as a culture are so self-absorbed.
Our first priority is our own well-being, and the well-being of our
children. Just think how many children have been discouraged from
going to the mission field, or from bible college, because their
parents didn't want them to encounter a life of poverty and hardship.
But here's Paul, 'I am excited to see the gospel is advancing.'</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I was at a youth conference a few weeks
ago with about 400 young kids and several youth leaders. I was
working with this one youth group and staying with the leaders. And
from these two ladies that helped organize it, every morning we got
up we heard new complaints. “These matresses are thin, my back
hurts. Oh, I'm so tired from that late night. I'm having to runa
round with these kids. I'm too old to do these weekends more than
once a year.” And I remember sitting in a session and hearing the
gospel proclaimed so clearly and we brought 8 youth. I think 5 of
them went forward to receive Christ. And I could see visible,
tangible changes in these kids lives. Maybe you should sleep on thin
mattresses more often. Maybe tiredness is really just selfishness.
Paul would have been thrilled to sleep on thin matts – he's
thrilled to sit in prison! and run around all night with those kids
if they got to hear the Word of God.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But here's Paul, 'I am excited to see
the gospel is advancing.'</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Paul isn't excited about seeing
different giftings used (and he wrote Corinthians). He's not excited
about new or different programs going in churches. He's excited about
the advance of the gospel.<b> I think our priorities are wrong, when
we get excited that the awesome games we play has helped our youth
group grow to 40 kids. </b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When the reality is, we should be more
excited that 5 kids were taught, grown, mentored, sanctified, and
made into evangelists. The Christian has a very different view of
success than the world does.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Some
indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good
will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for
the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry,
not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What
then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ
is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I
know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus
Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager
expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with
full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether
by life or by death. </span></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">For
to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the
flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I
cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to
depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in
the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I
know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress
and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory
in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
(Php 1:15-26)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Our understanding of success, and
our understanding of endurance changes dramatically.</b> See the
average person when faced with difficulty clings to the hope that the
sun will come up tomorrow. That they will make it though the
darkness. But for the Christian, every roadblock, every barrier, is
an opportunity to proclaim the gospel, whether we make it through or
not.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We are a faith built on upon a history
of men and women who have endured unto death.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The priority of the Christian faith is
seeing the gospel advance.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Think of Stephen, proclaiming the
gospel to the Jews. And they begin to hate him and become angry. He
is not looking for a light at the end of the tunnel. If you think a
happy ending means peace and prosperity, and good prevailing, then
Stephen's story does not have a happy ending. As they pick up stones
and kill him, the happy ending is seeing the gospel travel from
Jeruslaen to the ends of the earth.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As the apostles are murdered, one by
one, they are not looking for silver lining in those dark days, but
they are singing hymns as they go to be publicly murdered because
they know the gospel is advancing.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In more recent times, Jim Elliot
marches into Ecuador and is murdered. If you read his diary, he was
ready to pay that price. And his wife knew what was important – not
the memory of her husband, but the advancement of the gospel, and she
marched into the tribe and preached herself.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Regardless of
what we face, our priority is always the gospel. It's the only thing
that ought to stir the affections of our hearts. Seeing it advanced
is our first priority. And if we will spend our lives advancing the
gospel, it must mean the death of our self-centred love of our own
comfort.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Only
let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that
whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you
are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side
for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your
opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of
your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you
that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but
also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I
had and now hear that I still have. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">(Php
1:27-30)</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I can't help but think of the story of
George Whitefield. A man who preached daily until he died of
exhaustion.</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He started preaching at 24</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On average, preached about 1,000
times every year, or three times a day</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He preached for 30 years</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This included 18,000 different
sermons and 12,000 different talks and lectures.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Most weeks he was speaking more
than he was sleeping</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He preached on average for 60
hours a week</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He never took time off (there was
no private life or family life)</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
No one has ever really preached as
much or as widely</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He preached until the age of 54,
when he was on his way from town to town and was intercepted on the
way. He was asked to preach and could barely finish he was so tired.
He continued on to the town he was headed to and had to be carried
from the boat because he was so tired. The house didn't hold all the
people, so he preached outside. Despite being almost two weak to
finish, he completed his sermon. He went to bed, got up in the
morning, prayed on his knees, lay down on his bed and died of
exhaustion.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Let us be the same way. Let us not be
concerned for ourselves. Not concerned for our safety, or our
well-being or our reputation. Let us see that te gospel advances
through Saskatoon. Whether they martyr us or we see revival. Let us
make it our priority.</div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-79572135786056759742015-07-16T12:22:00.000-07:002015-07-16T12:22:22.728-07:00The Need for Wisdom (Sermon)<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This sermon was preached by Kevin Deane at Fairmont Baptist Church in Saskatoon on</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
July 12, 2015.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When Adam and Eve ate that fruit they lost their relationship with God, but there were many things they gained (or gained the knowledge of). Justice, for example had never been known, because God had never previously had anyone to judge. No one in the garden had ever preached a sermon on righteous living. They gained the knowledge of both good, and also of evil. The problem was their natural tendency to choose evil. So just as an example, Cain knew that God
was not pleased with his sacrifice of vegetables. He knew that was
wrong according to God. But he did not discern that God would be even
less pleased with him killing his brother. Cain could have asked God
what he should do. He could have sought out wisdom. But instead he
ended up being a wicked man. It was not that God was not willing to
show what justice and righteousness looked like, but Cain was not
willing to listen.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And the rest of human history has been
the story of men and women continuing to do evil, <b>because although
God has revealed the path of righteousness, we are bent and wired to
do otherwise.</b> So I believe the Bible is one large story and one
large cry for mankind to rely on something outside of ourselves. That
to be righteous we need something that we do not naturally posses. <b>To
be made righteous once and for all we need to be justified through
Christ's blood, but more than that in, order to live a righteous life
we need a wisdom that only God can provide.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The book of Proverbs, is no exception,
and highlights the value of wisdom. <b>And I think the first three
chapters are one big dissertation, or one big poem on the importance
and necessity of gaining wisdom.</b> In order to live righteously,
we're going to need a God-given wisdom. <b>Now Solomon writes about
gaining wisdom with the assumption that it isn't something we
naturally have.</b> But he does write about it as something we need.
In fact, he says several times that it is the start of the fear of
the Lord. That is to say that in order to understand righteousness or
justice or equity, we will need wisdom. So lets' read Chapter 2.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i>"My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways. So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life. So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it."</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i>(Pro 2:1-22)</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So if we gain wisdom we will understand
the fear of the Lord. <b>These are the promises for the one who gains
wisdom</b>: We will understand righteousness and justice and equity
and every good path. Knowledge will be pleasant to our souls. We will
be delivered from the way of evil. Delivered from men of perverted
speech. Be delivered from the forbidden woman. We will walk in the
way of good and keep to the paths of righteousness. Godliness is in
the hand of the wise.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
See all of us naturally know the
difference between good and evil (more or less). We know that
perverted speech and adulterous women are wrong. But what we lack is
the perspective of eternity. We lack a sufficient knowledge of God
and His rewards to continually make the right choices. We knowingly
choose wrong, not because of a lack of self-control, but a lack of
wisdom. We need something that we do not naturally possess. So we are
going to look at three tendencies or three common foolish choices
that you and I make. They are outlined in the book of proverbs so we
can really see and understand how much we need wisdom and where we
can get it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>The
sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in
the streets!" As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard
on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him
out to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own
eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">(Pro
26:13-16)</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I believe every one of us contains at
least some tendencies to be the sluggard. The sluggard is the kind of
person who makes excuses for not doing the work given to him. There
are no lions in Israel. He invents imaginary foes so he may continue
to hide comfortably inside.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The sluggard is the kind of person who
doesn't give to the church because of an impending financial crisis</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The sluggard is the kind of person who
can't help with youth because they don't want to be overworked, and
goes home to watch TV.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The sluggard is the kind of person who
refuses to volunteer at a soup kitchen for the sake of their own
safety.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The sluggard is the kind of person who
won't lead a Bible study because they don't know enough, but hasn't
bothered to try studying or preparing.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The sluggard is the kind of person who wants to cancel church because there is an inch of snow on the ground.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>They take a problem that could be a
problem, something with very small potential to be real, it grows
into a certainty in their minds and they end up staying in their
house doing nothing because they believe 'there is a lion in the
streets.</b>' And this could be a very genuine belief. It isn't
always a conscious excuse. Sometimes it's birthed out of insecurity.
Sometimes it comes from a bad experience in the past</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The other thing a sluggard does is
turns on his bed like a door on a hinge. And buries his hand in a
dish but can't find the strength to bring it back to his mouth. <b>Now
when eating or sleeping is used to rejuvenate you for working it is a
good thing.</b> A God-given thing. But when resting becomes
unproductive it is simply a waste of time. I think we are all prone
to this. Many people, after a long day of work want to come home,
turn the TV on and turn their brain off. We want to do something that
doesn't engage, doesn't require effort or a response. One of the most
common trends among my age bracket is to take a day off as a day to
spend watching through a whole season of a TV show or just watching
netflix. We fill our heads with media. When even our resting is
unproductive, we are the sluggard he describes.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I think we all contain at least some
'sluggard' tendencies. So what is wisdom? <b>What we lack is the
perspective of eternity.</b> Knowing how long eternity is and how
short life is changes our work ethic. The wise man knows and
understands righteousness. <b>Which means he no longer lives for
Himself,</b> but says with Paul, “Whether I eat or drink or
whatever I do, I do all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians
10:31)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The second tendency we all have is to
desire things that appear good. Let's read 5:1-6:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>My
son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding,
that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. For
the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother
than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a
two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path
to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and
she does not know it. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>(Pro
5:1-6)</i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is like a man who is extremely
hungry and he walks to a restaurant. But as he gets closer to the
restaurant he is so hungry he can not contain himself, and he dives
into the garbage can and starts chewing on the rubbish. Is his hunger
satisfied? Yes. But is he given the strength and nutrition he needs?
No. <b>See the temptation has all the appearance of being good</b> –
this adulterous woman drips with honey and is smoother than oil, but
in the end she is as bitter as wormwood.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I want to borrow an illustration from
John Piper. He was speaking on the subject of pornography, but I
think it is more widely applicable.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
If you were sitting at your computer
screen, caught fully in the sway of sexual desire, more powerfully
than you ever felt before, with every intention to look at something
innapropriate online, and suddenly an ISIS member with a black mask
burst into your room with a knife to the throat of your best friend.
And they said they would kill your best friend, perhaps its your
wife, if you clicked on that site, you would suddenly find you have
all the self control you need. Likewise, if someone burst into your
room and offered you one million legitimate tax-free dollars if you
did not click on that site, you would have all the self control you
need. There is no one who has a true sexual addiction, there are only
people who make poor sexual choices.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He's speaking of pornography but I
think the lesson is far more broad. Sin costs us intimacy with God.
Purity offers us a chance to experience the riches of Jesus. <b>If we
actually knew and believed that losing intimacy with God was more
costly than losing our best friend, we would have self-control. If we
actually believed the riches of Jesus Christ were more valuable than
a million dollars, we would have the self-control we needed.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The Holy Spirit's job is to constantly
reveal to us the cost of sin and the riches of Jesus. What is wisdom?
Knowing and believing how much sin cost us.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Over the last few weeks, with the
legalization of homosexual marriage in the States and the rise of gay
pride worldwide, I believe the church is headed into a new and bigger
battlefield than ever before. The early church faced martyrdom, the
Reformation era saw political and social rejection, but I think our
era will be remembered for a different fight. I believe we will be
remembered for our sexual purity. <b>I think the church is entering a
new age where a pastor having an affair will no longer be a
'scandal,' it will be a permanent stain on the ministry. </b>Now,
more than ever, the purity of the believer is of utmost importance.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
third tendency Solomon talks about in Proverbs is having a loose
tongue.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>Whoever
keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
"Scoffer" is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts
with arrogant pride. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: teal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>(Pro
21:23-24)</i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">If
you can keep control over your tongue you can stay out of trouble.
How you use your tongue is a huge key to righteous living.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How
and when we speak can have a huge effect on our life.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Think
about what words can do in the context of:</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Church
life – gossip can rift quicker than murder</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Evangelism
– We can have the right words but lack compassion. We can offend
with our presentation rather than message.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Work
– The break room can easily become the complain room</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Proverbs
talks a a lot about quarrels. It takes wisdom to know when and which
fights to become a part of. Jesus knew when to rebuke pharisees and
when to stand silent before Pilate. We need His wisdom.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Proverbs
also talks a lot about speaking when it isn't necessary. A common
image in the book is of the nagging wife – a favourite image for
some. Words can put unnecessary tension in a family. Too many words
can tear apart a marriage.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So
here we are – the sluggard, the one who is tempted by what appears
good, and the one with a loose tongue. Maybe you identify with one of
those images, maybe you identify with all of them. The point is that
we all have tendencies to make foolish decisions. Tendencies to live
unrighteous. What we need in order to live Godly daily lives is a
perspective of eternity. To know the length of eternity and the value
of knowing Jesus Christ.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Proverbs
2 told us very clearly that when we look for wisdom we will find it.
The Fear of the Lord and wisdom are two things that inspire and cause
each other.</b> God has given the eye, and given light to meet the
eye's need, and in the same way, God has not only given the heart,
but given wisdom to help meet the heart's need. <b>Wisdom is offered
as freely to man as folly is.</b> God 'stores it up' for the upright.
Meaning it is free, but it is hidden away for those who seek it
according to his conditions. As gold is found by those who dig deep
in the ground, wisdom is found by those who dig deep into the Word.
Searching for wisdom is a process of refining and purification. As it
comes into your heart, knowledge will become pleasant to your soul.
When we are given wisdom, it can be put into practical use.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">When
we are given wisdom, we will understand the Fear of the Lord. And
when we understand the fear of the Lord, we will begin to see the
value of the time on Earth we have been given, and we will not waste
it. As we are given the fear of the Lord, we will see the cost of sin
and the riches of Jesus and we will remain pure. As we are given the
fear of the Lord we will learn to guard our tongues and use them for
building others up. This is the heart of the gospel; we need God's
help. And that He is willing to give it. Wisdom calls from the
streets. Seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden
treasures.</span></div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-22732100768345512692015-06-29T21:03:00.000-07:002015-06-29T21:13:57.896-07:00Christians Don't Need More Blogs About Homosexuality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQJL91W2bK-varGjKWGC44SyXdUPuMVBRx57YjbEN5aMSpHOPoKqCmO5T2nVDn2FTO-ZSSDwJ4V9tVufEA0nURV3bT0Hd9qLrSwawYO9ebqX91a_An5PQU0V-KQPI56tWjEUEMO9Ui7Q/s1600/046769-gay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQJL91W2bK-varGjKWGC44SyXdUPuMVBRx57YjbEN5aMSpHOPoKqCmO5T2nVDn2FTO-ZSSDwJ4V9tVufEA0nURV3bT0Hd9qLrSwawYO9ebqX91a_An5PQU0V-KQPI56tWjEUEMO9Ui7Q/s400/046769-gay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What we need is another Christian blog
post about homosexuality. Said no one, at all, in the last few days.
Instead, as Facebook feeds slowly fill up with rainbow themed decor,
what we have heard again and again is, “If you don't want their
beliefs forced on you, don't force yours on them.” We've heard it
from the Pride and the homophobic community alike. The fact is, this
'freedom' that Christians have been celebrating, thanking God for and
taking for granted for years has finally come back to bite them. And
we are left in a world where, as a rule, everyone has settled on an
opinion and doesn't want to hear yours. And while rainbows are flying
higher than ever, Christians are responding with innumerable posts
stating that 'we can love you but still disagree,' which will
continue to be misunderstood, but needs to keep being repeated.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In truth, 99% of people on both sides
just want peace. In fact that's what most of the hashtags #lovewins
on Twitter are about – from those both for and against legal gay
marriage. You have freedom, they have freedom, and everyone values
that freedom. We get it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So what exactly are Christians doing in
this quickly developing culture? For the most part, awkwardly trying
to remind people that they value traditional marriage, because they
feel overwhelmed by a rainbow coloured Facebook newsfeed, and feel
the need to raise their own banner and remind the world we are still
here.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRJnFxdXERNzZKSoT9K8yluAakgt_X-rk8cbXN-e96xFxcLrIIuKUjuF9RDNb_RHzXiRrROrf9k59i2LxadzwI253kDQcmI0KoEI3_8htVvFia0IWPkj5yB6QAxa-dt3ubUBNVfR9u6k/s1600/A-lone-protestor-against--001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRJnFxdXERNzZKSoT9K8yluAakgt_X-rk8cbXN-e96xFxcLrIIuKUjuF9RDNb_RHzXiRrROrf9k59i2LxadzwI253kDQcmI0KoEI3_8htVvFia0IWPkj5yB6QAxa-dt3ubUBNVfR9u6k/s200/A-lone-protestor-against--001.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The world is already clear on what the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">church believes about traditional</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">marriage. What they're still missing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">is what we believe about Christ.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But, for the record, I haven't seen any
pictures recently of a famous preacher's face bearing a quote about
honesty. Or about covetousness. In fact, even with the rise of
#lovewins I haven't seen anyone talking about the great sin of hate.
Nope. Just homosexuality. Despite the fact that the Bible takes a
stance on a multitude of common issues, we don't proudly wave our
flags on <i>every</i> issue. Why? Because our actions have always
said more than our anti-sin declarations. The apostles were accused
of turning the world for publicly declaring that Jesus was the
Christ, not not for taking firm and public stances on sin (Acts
17:1-8). So do we remain silent on the issue of marriage? No. But we
make holiness, and not clarity of opinion our priority.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The church is headed into a new and
bigger battlefield than ever before. The early church faced
generations of martyrdom, the Reformation era saw political and
social rejection, but our era will be remembered for a different
fight. I believe we will be remembered for our sexual purity. I think
the church is entering a new age where a pastor having an affair will
no longer be a 'scandal,' it will be a permanent stain on the
ministry. I think the church's purity, and not her opinions, will be
what is mocked and paraded in the streets.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In
the last few weeks, we received the resignation of a very famous
conservative preacher in the States because of 'an inappropriate
relationship.' I a convinced that if this becomes a common occurrence
it will be the new 'Crusades' – the foolishness of men paraded for
generations as the foolishness of Christ.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Be
careful, Christian. For we are being judged by our conduct. Because
guess what? The world already knows the church's stance on
homosexuality. You don't need to put up another post. But what you do
need to do is very seriously consider the following verses for
yourself. Not for anyone outside the church (for this was written
specifically to a church), but consider this for yourself.:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“<span style="font-size: small;">And
walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a
fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all
impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is
proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor
crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be
thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is
sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an
idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
<span style="color: teal;">(Eph 5:2-5)</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now,
more than ever, our sexual purity matters. It will rise to be the
icon of this generation. Before you worry about reminding the world
of your marriage stance, let your conduct reflect Christ. Let purity
be our defining mark, and may it blaze as a bright witness.</span></div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-27761116017273763812015-04-19T14:20:00.000-07:002015-04-19T14:21:54.819-07:00How to Stay Relevant with an Irrelevant Message<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ucg.org/files/images/articleimages/is-the-bible-still-relevant-in-the-21st-century.jpg.crop_display.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.ucg.org/files/images/articleimages/is-the-bible-still-relevant-in-the-21st-century.jpg.crop_display.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting deeper, farther, and yes, into more complex theology will<br />
be more helpful than diving to the bottom of all the troubles of<br />
the average high schooler.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
quest for relevance consumes us all. Nobody wants to be the one out
of the loop on what everyone's talking about. At a party
sports-haters learn enough about the playoffs so they can name drop
like they just checked TSN, the IMDB reminds of that actress who was
just in that movie, and in the church we love to analyze the 'issues
of today' before we address our listeners. Sit down with a youth
pastor and talk about the New Reformed movement or dispensationalism,
and you've lost him, but starting talking about dealing with
depressions, and he's right with you, remembering that phrase he's
been repeating to his youth over the last year, 'breathe deep, smile and keep
dancing.' If you were to make a list of everything you thought teens
were struggling with today – pornography, cutting,
depression...you'll have just made the sermon topic list for the last
month at the average city church youth meeting. And who can blame them? No one wants to put their audience to sleep.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This
is a far-cry difference from the fiery baptist preachers we remember
from fifty years ago who strode into the pulpit with a big Bible,
booming voice and an opinionated stance on deep theological issues
that caused arguments, church divisions and a host of bitter
feelings. But perhaps it is this 'deeper theology' and not the work
to be relevant that is going to help us address our issues. All the
psychologists and counselors in the world might have great advice
but for all their years of experience, they have nothing to compare
to Scripture, which is, “breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This
means that even the most well targeted talks to the most relevant of
issues will never be as profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, or for training in righteousness as some old-fashioned
Biblical theology. You want to give your young people something that
meets them right where they're at? Give them something real. Give
them something living. Give them something sharper than a two edged
sword that pierces to the division of joint and marrow. Getting
deeper, farther, and, yes, into more complex theology will be more
helpful than diving to the bottom of all that troubles the average
high schooler. Discipleship means bringing them further in, not coming
out to where they are.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8oVpWKWUxlwMbbfNWoexuw9nFIt-yRLOCco_dy2u0thxCJ8e_LqJlJnpnQlOXS5fzBZPbNPIPPBsfQbqu6LdeFmrQFEyQm_EVLPZp44kdt8huUgcQ5LcVxxWXPmllDLR6E6pXvtjIvU/s1600/th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8oVpWKWUxlwMbbfNWoexuw9nFIt-yRLOCco_dy2u0thxCJ8e_LqJlJnpnQlOXS5fzBZPbNPIPPBsfQbqu6LdeFmrQFEyQm_EVLPZp44kdt8huUgcQ5LcVxxWXPmllDLR6E6pXvtjIvU/s1600/th.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
think of the words of Charles Spurgeon,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
am quite certain that, if God had not chosen me, I should never have
chosen Him; and I am sure He chose me before I was born, or else He
never would have chosen me afterwards; and He must have elected me
for reasons unknown to me, for I never could find any reason in
myself why He should have looked upon me with special love.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">It's
a weighty encouragement written in layman's terms, but rooted in
theology. Working with someone trapped in depression, self-loathing
or looking for love? Here's a Calvinistic exegesis of Ephesians 1
that answers their questions. He's writing on the doctrine of
election with an
understanding of human depravity. It's all those
daunting subjects you looked at in seminary but never thought of
teaching your teens. It's the kind of Biblical theology they need.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So
the next time someone starts talking Hollywood and you have to google
that actor, don't worry, we're all irrelevant on some subject. But
when your young people wander up to you with scars three feet deep,
wrapped in baggage and shame. Don't start talking about scars,
baggage or shame. Reach for your Bible. Talk about what God says
about God. Talk about what God says about us. Talk about how exactly
the cross works and why. When depression hits, 'He predestined us for
adoption' (Eph 1:5) will be a far better rock to stand on than
'breathe deep, smile and keep dancing.'</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Interested in more?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Several months ago on this blog we wrote about the correct way to deal with self-esteem issues.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">You can check that out <a href="http://valleyofdrychurches.blogspot.ca/2014/01/why-you-shouldnt-bother-telling-me-im.html">here</a>.</span></div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-54162257750967579882015-04-08T13:31:00.001-07:002015-04-08T13:36:58.706-07:00How to Live In Peace With Others<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://chantalsouaid.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/arguing-people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://chantalsouaid.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/arguing-people.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">For
most people 'turning the other cheek' would be easier for a physical
attack than an emotional or verbal one. It is a natural human
instinct to retaliate, to defend ourselves, to justify our decisions.
Unity is a necessity - we are to be “eager to maintain the unity of
the Spirit” (Eph 4:3). Yet when someone brings an accusation
against us that strikes too close to home – they accuse our
personal work, our ministry, our families – we leap to arms to
defend our decisions.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We
just celebrated Easter, and I see something fascinating in Jesus'
actions before he went to the cross. As He is accused He is 'silent'
(Mark 14:61). As He is beaten, He says not a word. As He is mocked,
He gives no response. I think there is something for us to learn in
all of this.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm
sure you can well picture the tense and awkward moment in the church
service as an elder carefully explains to the congregation why they
chose to excommunicate a member. Someone in the third row leaps to
their feet, shouting about grace and love and wanting anyone who
wanders in off the street to feel accepted. The elder turns red and
begins to stammer an explanation and thumb quickly for Corinthians to
defend his position. In the same spot, we would doubtless all do the
same – try to explain, to reason, to justify to correct – most
quickly when we know the accuser is incorrect.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But
this isn't what Jesus did. He bowed his head, He listened, and “he
gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor
was greatly amazed” (Mat 27:14). Why? Because Jesus is the 'Prince
of Peace' (Isa 9:6) and conflict requires two sides. If we were to
open His mouth, He would have started a war. Now, Jesus was no
stranger to conflict (overturning tables), and I certainly don't
stand for ministers allowing their doctrine to be trampled. There's a
time to fight, but here's the bottom line – <i>the easiest way to
avoid conflict is usually to shut your mouth</i>. To give no response. To
listen.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And
sometimes, and this is the hardest part – you'll have to issue an
apology for something that you weren't in the wrong for. And why is
that so hard? Because humility is hard. But every good leader will
find at some point or another that being a good leader means taking
the flack and backlash not only for their own decisions, but for
those that they are leading. Which means shutting our mouths, biting
our tongues, listening and humbly accepting blame that shouldn't be
ours. <i>And isn't that exactly what Jesus did?</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608025073077650405&pid=15.1&P=0" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608025073077650405&pid=15.1&P=0" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shutting our mouths, biting our tongues<br />
listening and humbly accepting blame...<br />
Isn't that exactly what Jesus did?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We
look to our </span>Savior<span style="font-family: inherit;"> the one of whom it was written, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a
lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its
shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth” (Isa 53:7). The
accusations against Jesus were false, unjustified and from men whose
wicked hearts He could clearly see.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So
often a pastor must look to the Prince of Peace as he hears a list of
unjustified criticisms towards his church. The worship leader must
follow the Lamb's example as he hears all the problems with his music
style. The congregation member must mimic to the Son of God before
Pilate in order to maintain unity among brothers. The Christian in
the work force must remember Jesus stripped and beaten as he listens
to the mocking laugh of his coworkers.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Silent,
cheek turned, the Christian experiences perhaps the most practical
example of having a crucified self as He looks to His </span>Savior's<span style="font-family: inherit;"> model
of humility.</span></div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-70430532969491781772015-04-02T08:44:00.000-07:002015-04-02T08:44:59.082-07:00The Cross is All that Matters<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">Twisted and
mangled corpses hung, lining the road on either side as Paul entered
the city, pen in hand. Crosses stretched in every direction along
Rome's famous roadways, reminding people not to lie, steal or murder lest they suffer the same.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuMD0WjpmUkfKyH7YsbPuerHOh_dLEQj4hwxrr5lW6-EXMfob0Omzxz5QsPA57Di02bUZc32peHGKPUYM7WtiQhUVA_5UbrVAEHYAVCCQRxDCsAGfWZ5uZn3o-K-z-LVCg5bIw-1_e18/s1600/the-cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuMD0WjpmUkfKyH7YsbPuerHOh_dLEQj4hwxrr5lW6-EXMfob0Omzxz5QsPA57Di02bUZc32peHGKPUYM7WtiQhUVA_5UbrVAEHYAVCCQRxDCsAGfWZ5uZn3o-K-z-LVCg5bIw-1_e18/s1600/the-cross.jpg" height="278" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">Paul sat down and
began to pen the words of his letter, “For the word of the cross is
folly to those who are perishing,” (1 Cor 1:18) we must remember
how familiar (and disgusted) his readers were with crucifixion.
Historical accounts suggest many roads were lined with thousands of
crucifixions. Men were beaten beyond recognition, often with tongues
cut out, hanging above piles of their own waste as they took days to
die. For all the crucifixions that took place, very little is actually
written about crosses – it seems to be too vulgar, too repulsive a
subject for good citizens to pay any regard to. No one wanted to hear
about it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">It's no surprise
then, that Paul says, “we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling
block to Jews and folly to Gentiles” (1 Cor 1:23). I don't
understand much about literature, but I know that this is not how you
want to present your hero – identified with criminals, ridiculed by
the masses and then hung naked to die. Yet Paul sees no other message
of equal importance but “decided to know nothing among you except
Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2). He was “not
ashamed” (Rom 1:16), but “the gospel I preached to you” which
was “of first importance” was that “Christ died for our sins in
accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:1-3) and “we have now
been justified by his blood” (Rom 5:9). Paul had no issue with
talking about the offence of the cross, but he came to preach it
simply (1 Cor 1:17), without removing its offence (Gal 5:11) and
boasted only in the cross (Gal 6:14). </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">Why then, would
we have the right to preach on anything else? There is no gospel without
a cross. There is no salvation without the propitiating penal
substitution of the man on the tree. I do not know how many times I
have heard a message in a church that did not include a description
of the cross and seen people invited to 'accept the gospel of Jesus.'
Dear friends, a gospel without a cross is no gospel at all.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">The cross is at
the centre of our message, regardless of what people want to hear.
You can preach on love, forgiveness, self-esteem, freedom from
cutting, pornography, depression, anxiety, God's work in cultural
transformation, social justice, or the end times, but if the cross is
not at the centre of your message, you have presented no gospel at
all. As Greg Gilbert once put it,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"> “If you preach
a sermon, or write a chapter on the good news of the kingdom, but
neglect to talk about the cross, you've not preached good news at
all. You've just shown people a wonderful thing that they have no
right to be a part of because they are sinners.”<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote1sym" name="sdfootnote1anc"><sup>1</sup></a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608010019212168980&pid=15.1&P=0" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608010019212168980&pid=15.1&P=0" width="200" /></a><span style="color: black;">It's like this –
you see a man step into a church for the first time harbouring a lot
of resentment, so much so that his life is being consumed, his health
wavers, his hair is falling out. So you stand up and Sunday and
preach about the freedom of forgiving others - about letting go of bitterness. Just stop and consider
– why do we forgive others? “Forgiving one another, as Christ in
God forgave you” (Eph 4:32). What enables us to forgive? “But the
fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience...those who belong
to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh” (Gal 5:24). Why do we
forgive? Because he forgave us. How do we forgive? By identifying
with his death. You see? You preach to an unsaved man about
forgiveness but do not mention the cross, you have invited him to be
a part of something he has no part in.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">The cross is the
only way into the kingdom. We happen to live in a day when people do
not want to hear about a wrath-absorbing substitution on a tree. That
doesn't mean we look for other ways to entice <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">people
further into church culture or Christian living. The cross remains as
the only way into the kingdom. Preach it proudly – it offended
Paul's listeners too.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But
far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the
world.” (Gal 6:12)</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="sdfootnote">
1. <i>Don't Call it a Comeback. </i>DeYoung, Kevin p. 78</div>
<div id="sdfootnote1">
</div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-78891078266683218202015-03-23T12:38:00.001-07:002015-03-31T11:36:53.962-07:00Why Your Church Should Keep its Name<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJoBqqGIn_c3ya3h1ILkzo8kGi6RnjppVEN6SHeCzMrTfMWZVMNI-s3KKLgm9CT9sPv532rznfwkkG1JBkeP28PEmbop9JC4R5SO2Uv12GkDHdY-EMmFR9fKs8fU0AP47qaJStAut_go/s1600/th+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJoBqqGIn_c3ya3h1ILkzo8kGi6RnjppVEN6SHeCzMrTfMWZVMNI-s3KKLgm9CT9sPv532rznfwkkG1JBkeP28PEmbop9JC4R5SO2Uv12GkDHdY-EMmFR9fKs8fU0AP47qaJStAut_go/s1600/th+(1).jpg" height="200" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When an evangelism minded Arminian</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">can't see 'Wesleyan' on the sign, why</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">should he stop in?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The worst part
about being a younger sibling is inheriting someone else' reputation.
Other youngest children will relate to this – walking into high
school and the teacher saying, “Oh you're a Deane? I expect you to
get an A in this class.” It's the shadow-drowning shoe-filling
everyone dreads – being compared, for better or worse, to <span style="font-family: inherit;">someone
</span>else. Churches are no different, and there has been an upswing in
recent years of churches removing 'Baptist,' 'Methodist,' or other
affiliations from their name. It's the same simple logic - 'don't
want to ride the bad reputation of Bible-thumpers in days gone by.'
For better or for worse, no one wants to be judged by their name.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 100%;"> Here we will
examine the three most common reasons for becoming non-denominational
– reputation in the community, a history of fighting over doctrinal differences, and disunity
between churches - and defend </span><span style="line-height: 16px;">denominationalism</span><span style="line-height: 100%;">.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">'The denominational name affects our reputation.'</span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“My neighbour doesn't want to come to church with me, he says he was badly treated once at a Baptist church.” We can all appreciate the logic of this thought, but does removing 'Baptist' from your name solve the problem? As long as you have 'church' in your name you'll encounter the same problem. Remove 'church' from your name and you'll lose all the people who love church and are searching for a home.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And what about people with theological convictions? Men and women who know their Bibles and know exactly where they stand – these are the kind of people you <i>want </i>in your church. When an evangelism minded Arminian can't see 'Wesleyan' on the sign, why should he stop in?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you want to have a church that's worth attending, you're going to offend people. And if you don't do it with the sign on your front lawn, you'll certainly do it with all the things the sign stands for.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">'Holding to a
denomination means owning a history of petty doctrinal fights.'</span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a common
reason for a name switch, and with good reason. No one wants to be
labelled as Bible thumpers just because their grandparents were. But
just because theological issues cause debate and heated feelings
doesn't mean they aren't important. Being 'one body' (1 Cor 12:12)
that is to 'all be one' (John 17:21) means to 'work out salvation'
(Php 2:12) together. Since working out salvation means discussing
(for example) what role God plays in the process, and the last 500
years hasn't found consensus on the issue, disagreement among God's
people should be expected.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you see the
value of the Luther's Reformation? Do you see the value of the
fundamentalist fight in the 1900s to reestablish the Bible as God's
inspired word? Then you see the value of holding convictions. All it
means to have a denominational name on your front lawn is to tell the
world what your churches convictions are. Saying 'we are the
Neighbourhood Christian and Missionary Alliance' is like saying, 'we
are evangelical and value sanctification and the work of the Spirit,
world missions and servanthood.' While saying 'Neighbourhood Church'
is like saying 'we might still be Catholic, you never know.' To be denominationless is to be (in appearance) convictionless.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2unOjfi6796bqYTJYNESUFZKRyVWEhWWaOlIFbosqt6DSaFWmTM4Ard8rlO_ST9cU04TPUh699br_4n2zofvUQ5ynLru-bydWkO75dL82GVZ0xjzVU62gcQjLJDchLB9M1qBmkndOC8o/s1600/th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2unOjfi6796bqYTJYNESUFZKRyVWEhWWaOlIFbosqt6DSaFWmTM4Ard8rlO_ST9cU04TPUh699br_4n2zofvUQ5ynLru-bydWkO75dL82GVZ0xjzVU62gcQjLJDchLB9M1qBmkndOC8o/s1600/th.jpg" height="165" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Depending on your
church, it's likely that men and women died to hold a belief you now
see as petty. Read your church history and unless your Pentecostal or
Lutheran, you'll probably find Anabaptist roots. The Anabaptists were
slaughtered in droves. Why? They baptized adults. They aren't the
only martyrs and it's not the only issue. Historical disunity among
denominations has almost never been over something petty – it's
usually an issue someone gave their life for. Throwing away a
denomination means throwing away the blood-stained work of
God-fearing intelligent and convicted men before you.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">'Being of a
certain school of thought affects the unity of our church.'</span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Individuals need to
explore theology at a deeper lever, form opinions, and present their
opinions – not to tear down other thought but to edify the church.
If you are so grace driven you don't see the value of repentance, and
I am so works driven I don't see the value of faith, then in the
proper format, we would do well learning from each other. If
individuals need it, why not churches? Arguing is of no benefit, but
neither is entrenching behind walls of opinion. Open discussion is
very valuable among evangelicals who agree on the fundamental issues
(authority of Scripture, grace through faith, etc.).</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As Jeremiah
Burroughs once taught, it is unrealistic to expect that issues that
have been debated for two thousand years will be able to be sorted
out now. Furthermore, it is unwise to dismiss these 'secondary
issues' as unimportant. People must continue to hold opinions on
matters that do not pertain to salvation (politics, eschatology,
etc.) because to be forced to believe otherwise on these issues would
be to violate one's conscience. No single church structure can
represent the true body of Christ, but rather, independent churches
ought to be striving together to fully live out the Word of God. This
means denominations working together toward a common goal, while
being open to one another's critiques of their means. When there is
open dialogue about the means a church uses to pursue the common
goal, there is the greatest opportunity for unity among diverse
people.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A better solution
is not to remove from the churches the name which offends, but use
the differing opinions as a starting point for edifying theological
insight. If the left-wing churches could create compromising debate
with the right-wing churches we would be less likely to become
extremists. I'm not talking about universalism, I'm talking about
profitable clergy meetings among evangelical leaders.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Conclusion</b> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If no one had
convictions, no one could debate. If we weren't allowed to take sides
on issues that have been the centre of hot discussion for thousands
of years, we wouldn't be able to explore the character of God, the
meaning of the cross, the process of salvation – everything
important would be unoffensive, convictionless and bland. Theological
issues need to have sides – and open conversations between those
sides. Hiding which side you're on only makes your church attractive
until someone walks through your door.</span></div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-79464774656872245422014-12-21T11:36:00.000-08:002014-12-21T11:36:11.302-08:00The Problem of Pro-Life (pt. 3 - The Solution)<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;">After yesterday's post we were left with the conclusion that provocative pro-life </span><span style="line-height: 32px;">propaganda</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> promotes much anger but little change. But does making people mad and </span><span style="line-height: 200%;">producing few results mean that something is wrong? The Bible
speaks of many men whose preaching never produced many results –
Isaiah, Jeremiah, and even Christ Himself. Paul speaks in many places
about offending </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjByER9eSHoPmUxzUUG8gNjPmhpHGujNb6lfZKwGC9fBlOAiFMZzGDW1aGgVR2BFupiXQ7lehbNGBiLDHN4HwKQQKhZsFzdGD7qjT70zGbGZyOUDENbyICVcsgaP-luJ1Yt5VwTEQPNNg/s1600/th+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjByER9eSHoPmUxzUUG8gNjPmhpHGujNb6lfZKwGC9fBlOAiFMZzGDW1aGgVR2BFupiXQ7lehbNGBiLDHN4HwKQQKhZsFzdGD7qjT70zGbGZyOUDENbyICVcsgaP-luJ1Yt5VwTEQPNNg/s1600/th+(2).jpg" height="308" width="320" /></a></div>
people by preaching the truth (Galatians 4:16). It is
not ethically wrong to offend people with the truth. The issue with
the pro-life movement is that people are not being offended by the
truth,<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 200%;"> but by the
style of presentation. Fro</span><span style="line-height: 200%;">m a Biblical ethical
standpoint, it should be the mandate of pro-lifers to conduct
themselves in such a manner that the truth of their preaching is the
only offence of </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 200%;">their ministry.
When non-believers look at pro-life Christians they should see
Christ, and His love for the unborn – not hypocritical, unloving
slogans.</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I.
</span>The Hypocrisy of pro-lifers</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Why is pro-life
propaganda received with such anger and disgust? Primarily because
pro-lifers are not known for practicing what they preach, and this is
noticed by unbelievers. The church must be consistent on all levels
of its doctrine. Sister Joan Chittister, a nun, once said,</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “I
do not believe that just because you're opposed to abortion that that
makes you pro-life. In fact, I think in many cases, your morality
is deeply lacking. If all you want is a child born but not a child
fed, not a child educated, not a child housed, and why would I think
that you don't? Because you don't want any tax money to go there.
That's not pro-life. That's pro-birth.”<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote1sym" name="sdfootnote1anc"><sup>1</sup></a></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">It
is true that many Christians are simply seeking the birth of the baby
and not its health and care. A p</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">opular
pro-life slogan is 'adoption, not abortion,' yet many Christians who
preach this message have never adopted. “</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Religion
that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit
orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained
from the world” (James 1:27). The Canadian equivalent of an orphan
is a foster child or child in need of adoption. If believers are not
adopting, fostering, or supporting those that do, it is hypocritical
for them to be proclaiming to women that adoption is a viable option.
The average pregnant mother actually feels as though adoption is
worse than abortion because they have fears of many things such as
child abuse.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote2sym" name="sdfootnote2anc"><sup>2</sup></a>
Pro-lifers must first prove to the world that adoption is the best
option for both the mother and child. And this must be done in
practice, not in speech. Preaching 'adoption not abortion' is of
little value when it comes from the mouth of those who have done
nothing to make sure adoption a worthwhile option.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>II. Love and
truth – the mandates of the New Testament</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Pro-lifers speak
about the importance of 'shocking visuals' <a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote3sym" name="sdfootnote3anc"><sup>3</sup></a>
and their ads are often described as 'offensive' and 'upsetting.'<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote4sym" name="sdfootnote4anc"><sup>4</sup></a>
However, the Bible never speaks about shocking people into a right
way of living. The Bible talks about “speaking the truth in love”
(Ephesians 4:15). Shocking pro-life ads are often not preaching the
truth in love, but simply throwing grisly facts about unborn
children, rather than addressing the woman with a difficult decision
to make.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote5sym" name="sdfootnote5anc"><sup>5</sup></a>
The New Testament model of spreading 'good news' – whether the good
ne<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">ws
of the gospel or the good news of the value of life – is to speak
the truth in love. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">John
Piper once wrote, “</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">instruction
is not the goal, love is. Instruction is the means. It is
subordinate. Truth serves love...Love aims at truth...There is an
unloving way to speak the truth. That kind of truth-speaking we
should repudiate. But there is a way to speak the truth in love, and
that we should seek.”<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote6sym" name="sdfootnote6anc"><sup>6</sup></a>
The goal of Christian pro-lifer is not to shock people or to
fruitlessly throw facts in their face. It is not enough to merely
educate people on pro-life values. The goal of the Christian is to
speak the truth – that abortion is wrong – in love.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>III. Love</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It must be first of
all within the heart of a pro-lifer to love those they are
ministering to. It is not right to merely hate abortion, but one must
also love those whose minds they desire to change. “If I have not
love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1).
It has often been the mindset of pro-lifers that if they can prove
that the fetus is a baby, the public's natural conclusion will be
that killing babies is wrong. However, one of the national leaders in research, an organization
that has worked for companies such as General Motors and Coca-Cola,
has conducted studies that disagree. The study suggests that
unplanned motherhood represents a threat so great, it is almost
perceived as a death of self. Most young women's identity is so
wrapped around getting a degree or having a good job that they feel a
baby would end their life. An average pregnant mother does not,
therefore, look at abortion as 'endure an embarrassing pregnancy'
versus 'getting an abortion.' Rather they view it at as the 'death of
the baby' versus 'the death of me.'<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote7sym" name="sdfootnote7anc"><sup>7</sup></a>
Loving these women, therefore, does not begin with preaching to them
about the death of fetuses. It begins with teaching that their is
more to life than having a degree and getting a job. Loving a
pregnant mother means showing them how they can live life with a
child. Randy Alcorn feels one of the most important roles a pro-lifer
can play is to open their home to a pregnant mother, or for foster
care and adoption.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote8sym" name="sdfootnote8anc"><sup>8</sup></a>
It is imperative that we love the mothers we are ministering to more
than the <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">truth we
are preaching. Pro-lifers must understand who their audience is, how
they think, what is most beneficial to them, and communicate the
pro-life cause with a love that speaks to people where they are at.
“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good
conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5). </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">It
is th</span>e moral imperative of the church to love those to
whom they preach.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>IV. Offense By
Truth Alone</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">L</span>oving people is not the end of
ministry, nor does loving people mean hesitating to preach a message
that people don't want to hear. Piper writes<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">“[Love]</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
is not always a soft way to speak, or Jesus would have to be accused
of a lack of love in dealing with some folks in the Gospels. But it
does ask about what is the most helpful thing to say when everything
is considered.”<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote9sym" name="sdfootnote9anc"><sup>9</sup></a>
Love does not mean holding back the truth, but rejoices when truth is
given (1 Corinthians 13:6). The Biblical mandate is to present
truth. In the pro-life case, it is the Biblical mandate to stand up
for the oppressed and those without a voice. “</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Open
your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Open
your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and
needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9). The truth about abortion must be made
known among the public. However, it is the truth, and not the style
of presentation that must be what offends people.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Paul understood
this. “Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and
circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for
they all knew that his father was a Greek” (Acts 16:3). Paul has
made it clear throughout his other epistles that he is very opposed
to circumcision. But for the sake of Timothy's reputation among the
Greeks, he had him circumcised. Paul is already in danger of being
thrown out of synagogues. If he is going to be thrown out, he wants
to be thrown out because of the gospel, and not because of an easily
resolved issue. Circumcision will not be what offends people about
Timothy – the cross will be. This is Paul's approach to presenting
truth, and this should be the approach of the pro-lifers as well.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If
people are turned away from pro-life material by the picture on the
front of the pamphlet or the style of presentation, they will never
hear the truth. They are like Jews offended by Timothy's Greek father
before they even hear his message. We can not be ashamed of the
truth, even though we know truth will cause people to stumble (1
Corinthians 1:23). However, it must be the truth, and not our
presentation of the truth that offends people. When Paul and Timothy
came to the Jews, all that angered them was the gospel, and this must
be how the pro-life position is.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>V.
Is it the Church's Job to Preach Pro-Life?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Many
Christians do not want to mention abortion, for fear it will distract
them from the Great Commission.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote10sym" name="sdfootnote10anc"><sup>10</sup></a>
Christians are meant to be going and making disciples – is the
pro-life cause part of the Great Commission or a distraction from it?
First of all it must be understood that looking after the
marginalized is not the chief mission of the church – the chief
mission of the church is to go into the world and make disciples by
declaring the gospel. As was previously mentioned, it is Biblically
commanded to “<span style="color: black;">defend the rights of the poor
and needy”</span> (Proverbs 38:9). We can not either undersell or
oversell the Biblical importance of looking after the marginalized. A
church must not ignore the pro-life issue, but neither must it have
social justice as its only focus. One example often looked to is
William Carey. “Carey went to India to win people to Christ and to
disciple them, not just by sharing the gospel, but by living it –
which included intervening to save lives and labouring to change
public opinion and evil laws.”<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote11sym" name="sdfootnote11anc"><sup>11</sup></a>
Carey fought to end the burning of widows in India, and the church of
Canada ought to be working towards the end of the injustices within
its own proximity. That being said, if the pro-life efforts of a
church is calling its members to will require fifty hours in a day
and more money than one man can earn, they are calling their members
to more than the Bible does.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote12sym" name="sdfootnote12anc"><sup>12</sup></a>
Does the pro-life cause distract from the Great Commission? No, it is
a part of it. But only a part – not an all consuming task. Great
men of God in the past have always been concerned about the welfare
of those that are not able to protect themselves.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “John
Wesley actively opposed slavery. Charles Finney had a major role in
the illegal Underground Railroad, saving the lives of many slaves,
while being criticized by fellow Christians because of his civil
disobedience. D.L. Moody opened homes for underprivileged girls,
rescuing them from exploitation. Charles Spurgeon built homes to
care for elderly women and to rescue orphans from the streets of
London. Amy Carmichael intervened for the sexually exploited girls
of India, rescuing them from temple prostitution. She built homes, a
school and a hospital.”<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote13sym" name="sdfootnote13anc"><sup>13</sup></a></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Yet
for each of these people, no one would argue that their main goal was
the gospel, and their chief role was as a disciple-maker. This is to
be the position of the church. The church's chief aim is to spread
the gospel. Speaking for aborted babies, loving pregnant women and
seeking healing for those who have gone through with abortions should
all fall into line with this chief aim. The great commission will be
fulfilled as people are loved.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="sdfootnote1">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote1anc" name="sdfootnote1sym">1</a>Ellsworth
(2012), on-line document.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote2">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote2anc" name="sdfootnote2sym">2</a>Swope
(1998), on-line document.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote3">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote3anc" name="sdfootnote3sym">3</a>O'Connor,
on-line document.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote4">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote4anc" name="sdfootnote4sym">4</a>Hounsel
(2013), on-line document.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote5">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote5anc" name="sdfootnote5sym">5</a>Swope
(1998), on-line document.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote6">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote6anc" name="sdfootnote6sym">6</a>Piper
(2000), on-line document.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote7">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote7anc" name="sdfootnote7sym">7</a>Swope
(1998), on-line document.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote8">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote8anc" name="sdfootnote8sym">8</a>Alcorn
(2004), p. 116.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote9">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote9anc" name="sdfootnote9sym">9</a>Piper
(2000), on-line document.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote10">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote10anc" name="sdfootnote10sym">10</a>Alcorn
(2004), p. 108.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote11">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote11anc" name="sdfootnote11sym">11</a>Alcorn
(2004), p. 110.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote12">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote12anc" name="sdfootnote12sym">12</a>DeYoung/Gilbert
(2011), p. 192.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div id="sdfootnote13">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote13anc" name="sdfootnote13sym">13</a>Alcorn
(2004), p. 110 - 111.</div>
</div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-57828027197324979842014-12-20T07:12:00.001-08:002014-12-21T11:36:57.082-08:00The Problem of Pro-Life (pt. 2 - Does It Work?)<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Violent, graphic
images are considered the norm of pro-life material. Very little is
said in news articles or on social media sites about any other form
of pro-life literature. It seems that the graphic images leave the
most lasting impression on the public. But are they ethically right?
Is this the loving and Biblical way to promote the pro-life agenda?
Many would argue that it does not matter that these images offend, as
long as they save lives. Randy Alcorn writes,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjByER9eSHoPmUxzUUG8gNjPmhpHGujNb6lfZKwGC9fBlOAiFMZzGDW1aGgVR2BFupiXQ7lehbNGBiLDHN4HwKQQKhZsFzdGD7qjT70zGbGZyOUDENbyICVcsgaP-luJ1Yt5VwTEQPNNg/s1600/th+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjByER9eSHoPmUxzUUG8gNjPmhpHGujNb6lfZKwGC9fBlOAiFMZzGDW1aGgVR2BFupiXQ7lehbNGBiLDHN4HwKQQKhZsFzdGD7qjT70zGbGZyOUDENbyICVcsgaP-luJ1Yt5VwTEQPNNg/s1600/th+(2).jpg" height="308" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Animal rights
advocates argue that in order to make their case they must show
terrible photographs, such as baby seals being clubbed to death. If
there's a place to look at such pictures, isn't there a place to
look at pictures of abortions? And if abortion isn't killing
babies...then why are these images so disturbing? Was the solution
to the Holocaust to ban the disgusting pictures? Or was the
solution to end the killing? Is the solution to abortion getting rid
of pictures of dead babies? Or is it getting rid of what's making the
babies dead?”<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote1sym" name="sdfootnote1anc"><sup>1</sup></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This statement
expresses the feelings of most who would distribute similar violent
pro-life material. If this is the fact of abortion, why not
distribute it? As one author writes, <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">To
many pro-choice advocates, the imagery is revolting
propaganda...While images of violent fetal death work magnificently
for pro-lifers as political polemic, the pictures are not polemical
in themselves: they are biological facts.”<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote2sym" name="sdfootnote2anc"><sup>2</sup></a>
Their argument is built on the assumption that presenting pictures of
biological facts will change the minds or open the eyes of people who
would otherwise get an abortion.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> If,
in fact graphic posters brought an end, or even a significant change
to the number of abortions in the area they were distributed, then
one would be forced to conclude that this is is an effective way to
promote the pro-life agenda. But if, in fact, it is found that
shocking and offensive pro-life ads do not alter the number of
abortions performed in an area, then one must conclude that they are
needlessly angering individuals.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>II. Does
propaganda work?</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
How effective is
propaganda? Will eye-catching pro-life ads actually serve to change
the mind of the public? Propaganda posters played a huge role in
World War II, affecting people's emotions and how they viewed the
war. Posters in the countries of both the axis and the allies made
war look glamourous, and hard work necessary.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote3sym" name="sdfootnote3anc"><sup>3</sup></a>
Pictures were used, because pictures are known to be more effective
than words. People might forget a newspaper article they read, but
most will remember a picture.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote4sym" name="sdfootnote4anc"><sup>4</sup></a>
The catholic church spends millions each year on printed material
with a pro-life message, because they believe it is a way of assuring
that the pro-life position is not buried in the middle of a
newspaper.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote5sym" name="sdfootnote5anc"><sup>5</sup></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But research
suggests that graphic pro-life posters, unlike WWII propaganda, are
not being effective. This is primarily because American women of
child-bearing age do not typically view the abortion issue within the
same moral framework as pro-life activists.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our
message is not being well-received by this audience because we have
made the error of assuming that women, especially those facing the
trauma of an unplanned pregnancy, will respond to principles we see
as self-evident within our own moral framework, and we have
presented our arguments accordingly. This is a miscalculation that
has fatally handicapped the pro-life cause.”<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote6sym" name="sdfootnote6anc"><sup>6</sup></a></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Gallup
polls indicate that since 1994, the public's opinion on abortion has
hardly changed at all, despite the increase in pro-life advertising.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote7sym" name="sdfootnote7anc"><sup>7</sup></a>
Pro-life protesters are operating on the assumption that people prone
to get abortions will see and feel what they see and feel when they
look at a certain picture. Randy Alcorn feels that all that is needed
to defeat the pro-choice argument is a picture of what inside the
womb – even an ultrasound will do. “All arguments vaporize in the
face of the unborn child.”<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote8sym" name="sdfootnote8anc"><sup>8</sup></a>
Yet even he acknowledges that “denial remains surprisingly strong,”
and writes of how many refuse to believe they are looking at real
photographs.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote9sym" name="sdfootnote9anc"><sup>9</sup></a>
As was noted in my last post, many news articles from across
the country report shock and outrage from families receiving pro-life
material. It is clear that the most prominent ways of communicating
the pro-life cause have angered and not converted the public, because
they appeal to the moral framework of the wrong people. In
conclusion, pro-life propaganda at first seems like an effective way
to spread the word, but in practice proves to be almost entirely
fruitless.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Therefore, most
pro-life material is unethical. It is fruitless, and only serves to
anger those it reaches. It does not love the pregnant mother who it
speaks to or protect the child in her womb, but gives a needlessly
foul reputation to all pro-lifers. Much like the preacher on the
corner of a street with a 'repent or go to hell' sign, pro-life
material blinds the eyes of the masses in an attempt to catch the eye
of one or two in a million. It is unethical for pro-lifers to attempt
to shock an incredibly small percentage of women out of an abortion
when they could have used their time and effort to show a true love to
a larger percentage of the masses.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div id="sdfootnote1">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote1anc" name="sdfootnote1sym">1</a>Alcorn
(2004), p. 47.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote2">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote2anc" name="sdfootnote2sym">2</a>Wolf
(1995), on-line document.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote3">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote3anc" name="sdfootnote3sym">3</a>Hoyt
(2008), on-line document.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote4">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote4anc" name="sdfootnote4sym">4</a>Helfland
(2012), on-line document.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote5">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote5anc" name="sdfootnote5sym">5</a>O'Connor,
on-line document.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote6">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote6anc" name="sdfootnote6sym">6</a>Swope
(1998), on-line document.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote7">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote7anc" name="sdfootnote7sym">7</a>Saad
(2002), on-line document.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote8">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote8anc" name="sdfootnote8sym">8</a>Alcorn
(2004), p. 42.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div id="sdfootnote9">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote9anc" name="sdfootnote9sym">9</a>Alcorn
(2004), p. 43.</div>
</div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-92209547327400943322014-12-19T13:42:00.005-08:002014-12-21T11:36:31.858-08:00The Problem of Pro-Life (The Perception)<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;">There is almost no topic in North America that stirs up more controversy than
abortion. The pro-life movement has gathered supporters and enemies
both in the church and outside of the church. Gallup polls indicate %55 of Americans hold a very strong opinion, one way or the
other, on the issue.</span><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote1sym" name="sdfootnote1anc" style="line-height: 200%;"><sup>1</sup></a><span style="line-height: 200%;">
It is the responsibility of the church to preach truth and to be a
voice for the oppressed. Many pro-life organizations have distributed
and displayed graphic and offensive propaganda in an attempt to raise
awareness on the issue. This pro-life promotion has received angry
and negative responses from the public.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZc1AMvOdYgHXL4ZwaDTKyfHsPQW1oyc9hyT76VGqZBIKUhO1tV3ZjuQSWKuHQiujP-OFfXeLo62KBECxy-qsOQCCQUp7UQE3oLhX4gWzTajJVyNBKY07zfSajg38oPC8Cqq656LWQXVU/s1600/th+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZc1AMvOdYgHXL4ZwaDTKyfHsPQW1oyc9hyT76VGqZBIKUhO1tV3ZjuQSWKuHQiujP-OFfXeLo62KBECxy-qsOQCCQUp7UQE3oLhX4gWzTajJVyNBKY07zfSajg38oPC8Cqq656LWQXVU/s1600/th+(2).jpg" height="307" width="320" /></a><span style="line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;">Over the next few days, I will be releasing a series of posts </span>examining the ethical way to promote the pro-life movement. This series <span style="line-height: 200%;">is
written on the assumption that abortion is ethically wrong and
contrary to God's Will – it will not address the abortion debate. We will examine why there is such anger towards pro-lifers, whether
scare tactics and shocking pictures are the ethical way to promote a
cause, how the church can ethically promote the
pro-life cause, and if this is a distraction from the Great
Commission.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>To Start Off - How the
Pro-Life movement is being perceived</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCji0Fgu_IRVoFcMDYrCK-9hTarZ6tzYNSI1JgtNrOvBo7s5keCKnel2qLeFLGUYjaEOqOkDbo47B4LLHlM7viparllGyz4lF9YHPPQv0rWAqJDSzCQmkrAJL3egARf3fMMlkVH2chJhI/s1600/th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCji0Fgu_IRVoFcMDYrCK-9hTarZ6tzYNSI1JgtNrOvBo7s5keCKnel2qLeFLGUYjaEOqOkDbo47B4LLHlM7viparllGyz4lF9YHPPQv0rWAqJDSzCQmkrAJL3egARf3fMMlkVH2chJhI/s1600/th.jpg" height="60" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sampling of Pro-Choice propoganda</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A quick search of
social media sites reveals the hatred and anger felt towards those
pushing pro-life beliefs. A simple search of terms such as
'abortion' or 'pro-life' on popular social media sites reveals a host
of pictures, slogans and advertisements filled with hateful backlash
being directed towards pro-<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote3sym" name="sdfootnote3anc"><sup>3</sup></a>
Many others are directed right at pastors and churches, portraying
them as ignorant, uneducated and obnoxious. For example, a picture of
Noah's ark has the caption “God killed every pregnant woman and
baby on earth. Abortion is bad though.”<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote4sym" name="sdfootnote4anc"><sup>4</sup></a>
In fact, it would seem that pro-choice backlash against pro-lifers is
aimed predominantly at Christians. Many include quotes from pastors
or Bible verses. One cartoon sports a man who can not find a verse in
the Bible against killing babies, but has another man quoting “their
infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with children
shall be ripped up” (Hosea 13:16).<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote5sym" name="sdfootnote5anc"><sup>5</sup></a>
One does not have to search far to discover that there is much hatred
and anger against those who promote the pro-life case. Most of this
hatred is directed specifically at politicians and Christians.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLjMgPaTKgzw9AAkV6rAnLMlDrfLcicXCdndBrNSrzO70Fs5YkYMJPtKIzA5lZHrkRLpLxXMewZ_y_CRV48kR97ANv4iuqlTlXw7FZQrgkjJT5d5cpWR7q5RZ1HLDRyY-Lo5fuTzV8QQ/s1600/th+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLjMgPaTKgzw9AAkV6rAnLMlDrfLcicXCdndBrNSrzO70Fs5YkYMJPtKIzA5lZHrkRLpLxXMewZ_y_CRV48kR97ANv4iuqlTlXw7FZQrgkjJT5d5cpWR7q5RZ1HLDRyY-Lo5fuTzV8QQ/s1600/th+(1).jpg" height="191" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Responses to anti-abortion protests range<br />
cynical to offensive. He is a sample of the<br />
tamer backlash directed at the church.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
lifers. Responses to anti-abortion
protests range from cynical to downright offensive. Many contain
language that reveals the deep hatred felt towards pro-lifers. In
fact, very few comments directed at pro-lifers contain language that
is entirely 'tasteful.' A large number of people express hatred towards the government,
particularly the Republican Party, and its attempts to be involved in
the debate. Many social media users have posted cynical or parodied
quotes such as, “Don't use birth control. Don't have an abortion.
But if you have a baby you can't afford, don't expect any help from
us, you sl**. XOXO, - The GOP.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The pro-life
campaign has upset even some who <i>are </i>against abortion. In September
2013, CBC ran a news article about a woman in Hamilton, Ontario, who
was left fuming after a citywide distribution of anti-abortion
pamphlets. Pamphlets were delivered to her door containing pictures
of mutilated fetuses, and these graphic images were only a part of
the citywide <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">campaign.
Banners hung on highways, and trucks drove around sporting similar
images. The article reads:</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “'A
child shouldn’t have to see pictures like that,' Cabral told CBC
Hamilton. 'If I want to discuss that with my daughter I will –
when it’s time.' Cabral says that she thinks many of the group’s
methods – like demonstrating outside Hamilton schools – are just
wrong.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> 'And
I don’t believe in abortion,' she said. 'But I don’t think that
has anything to do with it.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I
know that a gun kills people, but you don’t have to fire a bullet
at me for me to know that.'”<sup><a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote6sym" name="sdfootnote6anc">6</a></sup></span></span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And
this woman isn't the only one – news articles from all over the
country detail the shock and outrage of people receiving pro-life
propaganda at their doorstep.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote7sym" name="sdfootnote7anc"><sup>7</sup></a>
Many people are offended by the pro-life campaigns, and specifically
the graphic images they spread. The comments on these online news
article reveal the a response from the public filled with the same
hatred and anger towards pro-lifers that the social media websites
revealed.<a class="sdfootnoteanc" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote8sym" name="sdfootnote8anc"><sup>8</sup></a>
People everywhere are outraged by the public display of pro-life
propaganda. Whether in anger against intolerance, or anger against
receiving pictures of dead babies at their door, many people, both
pro-choice and pro-life feel that pro-life propaganda is wrong. This
casts a dark light on the pro-life cause.</span></span></div>
<div id="sdfootnote1">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote1anc" name="sdfootnote1sym">1</a>Alcorn
(2004), p. 16. <i>Why
Pro-Life? Caring for the Unborn and Their Mothers.</i>USA,
EPM Publishing, 2004.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote2">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote2anc" name="sdfootnote2sym">2</a>Randy
Prine (2013), Tweet.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote3">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote3anc" name="sdfootnote3sym">3</a>The
Daily Edge (2013), Tweet.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote4">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote4anc" name="sdfootnote4sym">4</a>Mrs.
V. (2013), Tweet.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote5">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote5anc" name="sdfootnote5sym">5</a>Fuzzy
Atheist (2013), Tweet.</div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote6">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote6anc" name="sdfootnote6sym">6</a>Carter
(2013), on-line document. <span style="color: black;"><i>Anti-Abortion
campaign has Hamilton mother fuming. </i></span><span style="color: black;">September
27, 2013. Available from:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/anti-abortion-campaign- has-hamilton-mother-fuming-1.1870622
(accessed November 18, 2013).</span></div>
</div>
<div id="sdfootnote7">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote7anc" name="sdfootnote7sym">7</a>Woodward
(2013), on-line document. <span style="color: black;">“CTV
British Columbia.” </span><span style="color: black;"><i>Anti-abortion
postcard campaign over the edge? N</i></span><span style="color: black;">ovember
16, 2013. Available from:
http://bc.ctvnews.ca/anti-abortion-postcard-campaign-over-the-edge- 1.1546766
(accessed November 19, 2013).</span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div id="sdfootnote8">
<div class="sdfootnote">
<a class="sdfootnotesym" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7451686966328659019#sdfootnote8anc" name="sdfootnote8sym">8</a>Carter
(2013), on-line document. (see 6)</div>
</div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-86058130273456434862014-09-02T19:00:00.005-07:002014-09-02T19:00:58.667-07:00Why we Should Talk More About the Wrath of God<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
distinct linguistics of a carefully worded gospel presentation hit my
ears and leave comforting thoughts of love, acceptance and hope for a
better life. 'Jesus loves you and died for sins,' rings the ever
familiar call as the crowd is warmly invited to put their faith in
the Saviour.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircJ6qwfiE3hvUkqRnILFNGcfg9g8x6_qVchgLrBvgU4HaQFLl4gQ2Dq3MB5zgK_KjAemISSIUBuY_HjJg_JomtxNKp8hkmwakAesueNQ2FhW008lgXGmlF5_qOSusMOcEB6zcl2ZFcZM/s1600/blood+and+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircJ6qwfiE3hvUkqRnILFNGcfg9g8x6_qVchgLrBvgU4HaQFLl4gQ2Dq3MB5zgK_KjAemISSIUBuY_HjJg_JomtxNKp8hkmwakAesueNQ2FhW008lgXGmlF5_qOSusMOcEB6zcl2ZFcZM/s1600/blood+and+water.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The greatest demonstration of the love of God - as<br />He willfully crushes His Son (Isaiah 53:10)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">It
strikes me that the gospel we so often present is based more on
familiarities than on the Bible. We recite the words of men before
us, making John 3:16 the most important verse in the book and love
its central theme. I think that is we present the gospel how the
Bible presents it, we would spend less time talking about things we
are comfortable and familiar with. In Scripture the the promise of
being able to “approach the throne of grace with confidence”
(Hebrews 4:16) is built upon the threat of “how shall we escape if
we ignore such a great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It
really isn't all the impressive to be loved, because, though at times
you may feel differently, you experience all kinds of love from
friends, colleagues and family members. To say that 'God loves you,'
for most people puts Him on par with their mother. As humans we love
easily, so apart from the particularly downtrodden, speaking of the
love of God presents nothing particularly extraordinary. If we want
our hearers to understand the extraordinary love<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
and grace of God, they must first understand God's wrath against
human depravity.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">The
reason God's love is extraordinary is because “</span>None is
righteous, no, not one;<span style="color: black;"> no one understands; no
one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become
worthless; no one does good, not even one" (Romans 3:11-12).
Because of our extraordinary sin, and the fact that the wrath of God
is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men (Romans 1:18), it is most extraordinary that “while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
cross has to be viewed against this backdrop of depravity and
judgement. If there is any good thing in you, the gospel isn't really
all of grace – some part of you is worth saving! If you want the
gospel of love to be understood, you must present the gospel of
wrath. God's love and grace can only be seen against the backdrop of
who we are and what we actually deserve.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The hellfire preacher of the street corner neglects the goodness of news we present. Wrath without grace is not good news. It is not an accurate representation of the message of the Bible any more than a flowery grace-filled gospel with an uncrushed Jesus is.</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thegospelblog.com/wp-content/uploads/streetpreacher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://thegospelblog.com/wp-content/uploads/streetpreacher.jpg" height="200" width="140" /></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">When
you call men to repentance, you can't leave them in fear of judgement
or they've missed the </span>cross. </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">When
you call men to, remember that you can't understand love until you've
understood God's wrath against sinners.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Present
the gospel as the Bible does – with this two pronged pincer of
judgement and promise. So in the future, rather than tickling ears
with a flowery reading of John 3:16, unleash the whole message of the
whole passage. The Bible never needed our help, our cliches or our
poise. Read as it is – the message of God's love for those He will
judge!</span></span></div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-70481601016253964072014-08-01T07:29:00.002-07:002014-08-01T07:29:34.790-07:00Thoughts from Camp - Day 19 - Joseph<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Seek God until He breaks your heart, and then preach from the bottom of your broken heart." This </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4k38bjcBxnAKw5drjHD58MKCK8D9bFuiS47mQcAcwiKLDFjym9Fay1LBCmUQ6pfCdoSszxzEvRuNb6bEK2ox5M9eeRe5DPrHWsY9r3I_wLXVypMw_Q4gKJHzqN2kBnKVMuCos-u18m8/s1600/10295549_10152060657495997_2432722204408729297_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #7d7d7d; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4k38bjcBxnAKw5drjHD58MKCK8D9bFuiS47mQcAcwiKLDFjym9Fay1LBCmUQ6pfCdoSszxzEvRuNb6bEK2ox5M9eeRe5DPrHWsY9r3I_wLXVypMw_Q4gKJHzqN2kBnKVMuCos-u18m8/s1600/10295549_10152060657495997_2432722204408729297_o.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(234, 234, 234); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">is what I often say to those I mentor. So with seven weeks of speaking, writing devotions and heading up ministry at a summer camp, I anticipate being challenged, stretched and broken as the weeks roll on. Each day I will post some lessons to be learned from the devotions and messages we have studied as a camp.</span></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Where is Jesus in the Old Testament? What relevance do these stories have? These are the questions I hope to be addressing and answering this week on the blog. Today we tackle Joseph and his not-so-secret Jesus-like qualities!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joseph is born loved by his father, who demonstrates this buying him an ornamented coat. His brothers see this, and are jealous of him. Loved by his fathers and hated by his brothers, Joseph has a dream about being greater than
his brothers. They hate him all the more.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why are details about this man's life relevant? Because one day a man named Jesus would come, sent by His loving Father. He too would be hated by His brothers. He would be despised and rejected by the Israelites - all 12 tribes - each descended from the brothers of Joseph.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joseph goes to join his brothers in a field, and when
they see him coming, they agree to kill him. Reuben, being a merciful brother stands up for
him. They grab him and throw him into a pit. Judah sees some passing Ishmaelites sells him to them. The brothers then take his coat, cover it in animal blood and lie to their father, saying he is dead. Their father, believing them, mourns the death of his son.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joseph, for all intents and purposes is dead. His brothers have all decided to kill him. He is as good as dead, and thrown down into the ground. In his father's eyes, he really is dead. Joseph's symbolic death is foreshadow to the actual death of Jesus. Both men are taken and thrown down into the ground. Both will rise up out again.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joseph is sold to a man named Potiphar and does a
great job as a servant. Potiphar's wife sees Joseph one day and asks him to sleep with her. Joseph refuses, fleeing the house, but she lies about him and has him thrown into prison.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joseph is a pure man. He overcomes temptation. This is an obvious Christ-parallel since almost no other Old Testament character is portrayed with so few flaws. But this pure, innocent man is wrongly condemned, and through deception is sentenced to something he didn't deserve. 2000 years later, another man would do the same.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the prison, Joseph interprets two dreams for two men who work in Pharaoh's household. He sees the future for both of them - for one, deliverance from prison. For the other - death.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus too, was a prophet. He didn't interpret dreams, but he certainly knew the future. And not just the death of others, but frequently spoke of His own coming death.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pharaoh had a dream while Joseph was still in prison, and Joseph's former cellmate recommends him to Pharaoh. Joseph is pulled from prison and asked to interpret Pharaoh's dream. His response is, “I can not do it, but God will give
Pharaoh the answer he desires.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In many ways, this is the heart of Jesus' message. 'You can't do it, but God will give....' We can't bring salvation on our own, but God gives freely.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joseph interprets the dream and predicts a famine. Pharaoh, seeing Joseph is wise, places
him in charge of managing his household. Before long, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt to buy
grain, and after sending them back for Benjamin, reveals himself to them.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Interesting, isn't it? The men who condemned and 'killed' him are now coming to him for salvation. Joseph provides physical salvation from starvation and Jesus provides spiritual salvation. Jesus died for the very men who crucified Him, and Joseph provides for the very men who sold him to Egypt.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jacob his father comes to Egypt and begins to live there. Joseph continues to sell grain to Egypt until he has all of Egypt's money. So then he asks for livestock, and trades grain until he owns all of Egypt's livestock. Then land is the price for grain, and he becomes the owner of all of Egypt's land.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some day, Christ will return and the Father will hand over all things to Him, making Him the all in all. What Joseph became on a national scale, Jesus will some day be on a global scale.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And then the story of Joseph ends off with this classic quote, "You intended to harm me, but God
intended it for good"</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">See Jesus? He's here. The Bible only has one story. The book of Genesis, inspired by God, tells the life story of our Saviour through the analogy of a historical figure.</span></div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-45368876043545571022014-07-26T08:16:00.000-07:002014-07-26T08:16:01.883-07:00Thoughts from Camp - Day 17 - Peter's Vision<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Seek God until He breaks your heart, and then preach from the bottom of your broken heart." This </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4k38bjcBxnAKw5drjHD58MKCK8D9bFuiS47mQcAcwiKLDFjym9Fay1LBCmUQ6pfCdoSszxzEvRuNb6bEK2ox5M9eeRe5DPrHWsY9r3I_wLXVypMw_Q4gKJHzqN2kBnKVMuCos-u18m8/s1600/10295549_10152060657495997_2432722204408729297_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #7d7d7d; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4k38bjcBxnAKw5drjHD58MKCK8D9bFuiS47mQcAcwiKLDFjym9Fay1LBCmUQ6pfCdoSszxzEvRuNb6bEK2ox5M9eeRe5DPrHWsY9r3I_wLXVypMw_Q4gKJHzqN2kBnKVMuCos-u18m8/s1600/10295549_10152060657495997_2432722204408729297_o.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(234, 234, 234); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></i></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">is what I often say to those I mentor. So with seven weeks of speaking, writing devotions and heading up ministry at a summer camp, I anticipate being challenged, stretched and broken as the weeks roll on. Each day I will post some lessons to be learned from the devotions and messages we have studied as a camp.</i></span><br />
<i style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So we talked about Peter's vision today, and how Jesus fulfilled the law, and that the gospel went out to the nations. Heavy theological stuff for ten year olds. But guess what? They have brains, and they know how to use them, and they comprehended and could articulate the purpose of the Old Testament and the superiority of Jesus' covenant.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But that's not what I'm learning today, so that's not what I'll write. Here's what I'm thinking for today - why do we think discussion time is a useful teaching method? Here's the thing - we are all born without a knowledge of God. We don't gain a knowledge of God naturally, it has to be taught (or better yet, absorbed from Scripture reading). And then we sit down a roomful of teenagers and ask them what they think about God. Or better yet, we throw out Biblical questions - 'why do you think Jesus had to be man?' And these young teens who will some day be young men and women start throwing out their opinions from the limited Bible knowledge they have. Useful? Only to draw out the little knowledge that has already been placed in their heads.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Why not teach? Why not show? A person with both knowledge and passion is an unstoppable force in the church. An </span><span style="line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">opinionated</span><span style="line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"> person just fits in with the rest. So why develop these? We need Bible study and proper teaching. Not question time so we can hear opinions. This is a topic I will be fleshing out more extensively over the next few weeks, and I'm sure you can look forward to a more comprehensive blog post about it in the fall.</span></span></span>khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-45450170016967056642014-07-25T16:55:00.000-07:002014-07-25T17:00:19.944-07:00Thoughts from Camp - Day 16 - Beatitudes<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Seek God until He breaks your heart, and then preach from the bottom of your broken heart." This </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4k38bjcBxnAKw5drjHD58MKCK8D9bFuiS47mQcAcwiKLDFjym9Fay1LBCmUQ6pfCdoSszxzEvRuNb6bEK2ox5M9eeRe5DPrHWsY9r3I_wLXVypMw_Q4gKJHzqN2kBnKVMuCos-u18m8/s1600/10295549_10152060657495997_2432722204408729297_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #7d7d7d; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4k38bjcBxnAKw5drjHD58MKCK8D9bFuiS47mQcAcwiKLDFjym9Fay1LBCmUQ6pfCdoSszxzEvRuNb6bEK2ox5M9eeRe5DPrHWsY9r3I_wLXVypMw_Q4gKJHzqN2kBnKVMuCos-u18m8/s1600/10295549_10152060657495997_2432722204408729297_o.jpg" height="213" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(234, 234, 234); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></i></div>
<i style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">is what I often say to those I mentor. So with seven weeks of speaking, writing devotions and heading up ministry at a summer camp, I anticipate being challenged, stretched and broken as the weeks roll on. Each day I will post some lessons to be learned from the devotions and messages we have studied as a camp.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></i>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">There is no hierarchy in the Christian faith. We often think of pastors and preachers as slightly above us normal folk on the Christian scale, and a man like Spurgeon far above them. There are different roles in the church, and different treasures can be stored up, but as far as being a Christian goes, you either are, or you are not.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives the beatitudes - the characteristics of a Christian. This is what every Christian looks like. These are the things that make us different than everyone else.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><b>Poor in Spirit</b> - That is, that we recognize our own spiritual condition. A poor person goes to a store and can not buy what they want. Why? They do not posess the money they are asked for. What God demands and what we have are not the same thing, and the Christian knows this, and lives with this reality. We are poor in Spirit - Spiritually bankrupt, and coming to God knowing there is nothing in our hands.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><b>Mourning</b> - This is mourning over sin, so if we all stopped reading this at funerals, that'd be great. We not only are aware of our Spiritual condition, but we are broken over it. We are upset over what we are. We feel remorse for our own depravity.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><b>Meek</b> - Again, this our condition, our mindset, towards God. Every Christian is meek. That is, they are humble enough to admit their poverty, and humble enough to mourn. Jesus told us that the healthy do not need doctors, but only the sick. If you believe yourself to be righteous, Jesus can not help you, for He came exclusively for sinners. So by this condition, all Christians are meek, for they have approached Him in much need. If you call yourself a Christian but do not believe in the poorness of your spirit, do not mourn for sin and are not meek, I challenge to see if you could ever have flung yourself upon the mercies of the Savior whose blood was shed for us.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><b>Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness</b> - Again, this is the mark of every Christian. As sons of Adam we are born spiritually dead - that is, dead in relation to God. We are born with no desire, no hunger, and no true knowledge regarding God. So when Christ makes us alive with Him, our hunger for Him is for the first time ignited. The Christian is alive in relation to God, and desires Him more. I asked a wise mentor once what it meant to hunger and thirst for righteousness, and he told me that it means fighting hard for the time spent doing things that satisfy your soul. That is, being diligent to exchange time spent doing things of temporary value for time spent in prayer and Bible study. Hours a day praying means losing hours a day doing something else.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><b>Merciful</b> - We now switch from conditions of the heart to actions. Christians give to others the mercy they received from god. Why? God has changed our hearts.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><b>Pure in heart</b> - not that the Christian is perfect in purity, but we strive for it. The goal of purity is what unites Christians together in fellowship, and what sets us apart from every other person in the world.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><b>Peacemakers</b> - Peace makers make peace. Its a really simple definition. This is what the Christian is.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><b>Persecuted for righteousness sake</b> - The prophets and apostles were all killed for their faith, and humanity has not become less depraved since then. Depraved men still hate God as they always have. If Jesus preached like most preachers today, they never would have crucified Him. The truth-proclaiming believer will only ever face opposition and disagreement. Such is the lot of the believer.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">These are the marks of a Christian. Not a super Christian, just a Christian. This is what every true Believer looks like - these are our characteristics. True belief and desire to follow the Lord will result in life change, and this is what that life change will look like.</span></span>khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-5039806334715688702014-07-25T16:23:00.001-07:002014-07-25T16:26:00.635-07:00Thoughts from Camp - Day 15 - Zerubbabel<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Seek God until He breaks your heart, and then preach from the bottom of your broken heart." This </span></i></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4k38bjcBxnAKw5drjHD58MKCK8D9bFuiS47mQcAcwiKLDFjym9Fay1LBCmUQ6pfCdoSszxzEvRuNb6bEK2ox5M9eeRe5DPrHWsY9r3I_wLXVypMw_Q4gKJHzqN2kBnKVMuCos-u18m8/s1600/10295549_10152060657495997_2432722204408729297_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #7d7d7d; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4k38bjcBxnAKw5drjHD58MKCK8D9bFuiS47mQcAcwiKLDFjym9Fay1LBCmUQ6pfCdoSszxzEvRuNb6bEK2ox5M9eeRe5DPrHWsY9r3I_wLXVypMw_Q4gKJHzqN2kBnKVMuCos-u18m8/s1600/10295549_10152060657495997_2432722204408729297_o.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(234, 234, 234); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></i></div>
<i style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">is what I often say to those I mentor. So with seven weeks of speaking, writing devotions and heading up ministry at a summer camp, I anticipate being challenged, stretched and broken as the weeks roll on. Each day I will post some lessons to be learned from the devotions and messages we have studied as a camp.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dragged into exile. It had been foretold by Jeremiah, Isaiah and others. Israel had been sinful and wicked - they didn't care about the temple sacrifices. They oppressed the widow and the orphan. God promised to humble them and restore unto them a knowledge of Him. So after some time chilling outside of the Promised Land, the day came for the remnant to return</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A decree went throughout the land - King Cyrus of Persia said that anyone who
wanted to rebuild Jerusalem could go. So who else would head up but one of those unknown, unrecognizable but dreadfully important Bible characters. Zerubbabel was his name, and the first thing he did when he arrived was to rebuildd the altar. Why? Because God is holy, and sacrifice needed to be made for sin. That was a priority. Shortly after, they re-poured the foundation of the
temple. The old men who remembered the old one wept. The young men shouted with joy, until no one could distinguish between the cheering and the crying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few bitter men write a letter to the
king complaining about the Jews and the work halts for a bit. But isn't too long until they pick up where they left off and
carry on. God's work carries on. Although it stopped for a bit God
is sovereign (and good) and the work continued. The temple is eventually finished, funded by king Darius, and the stolen temple articles are returned from Babylon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What do we learn from all of this? That God's prophesied plan in Isaiah and Jeremiah to humble His people worked. The men who had misused the temple had been invaded and the remnant that survived was now, after years, returning to try a second time at what they had blown the first time. Could they be stopped by a grouchy neigbour? Of course not. <b>God is sovereign – his work will
be done.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ezra shows up shortly after, he comes to teach people the law. He reinstates the Levitical priesthood so that the physical building Zerubbabel built has something going on inside. Shorlty after, he finds out everyone is being immoral in their marriages (interracial mingling - a Torah no-no). He tears his garments. He prays. And here's something cool - when he prays, he counts himself in with all the sinners. He, an innocent man, confesses the sin of a country he's a part of. A true leader with integrity counts themselves with those under them. Then, Ezra confronts the people about their sin, and they admit they have a problem. They do their investigating to figure out who is married to a person of what nationality. Then they deal with sin. Marriages are broken (not ideal, but better than the sin they were in). Families are flipped upside down. The nation had been dragged into exile for immorality, and this time they were literally willing to have their worlds turned upside down to avoid having sinful hearts before God. <b>God is holy – we need to deal with
sin.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nehemiah, who gets his own book of the Bible but never his own Sunday School teaching slot, leads the third group of exiles back. He helps
to rebuild the wall and put nation back on feet. And once they are a real nation living behind a wall, he works to stop the oppression of the poor and
makes sure everyone is fed, and living in a real house. If you read the prophets, a lot of why Israel was judged is because they mistreated the widow and the orphan. And here, Godly Nehemiah knows what's up. <b>God is loving – He cares for the
oppressed.</b></span></div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-5425995952173856062014-07-24T21:20:00.002-07:002014-07-24T21:21:15.085-07:00Thoughts from Camp - Day 14 - Jonah<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Seek God until He breaks your heart, and then preach from the bottom of your broken heart." This </span></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">is what I often say to those I mentor. So with seven weeks of speaking, writing devotions and heading up ministry at a summer camp, I anticipate being challenged, stretched and broken as the weeks roll on. Each day I will post some lessons to be learned from the devotions and messages we have studied as a camp.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></i>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">I stared down at my Bible and blinked again. Nope. That was it. Four verses. Half the story of Jonah, as it had been told to me, was contained within the first four measly verses. Now, to be fair, Jonah isn't a very big book. But I still feel like I have spent more time in my life than necessary hearing that flimsy narrative retold. But here's the part that gets me is that the rest of the book is hardly touched. I don't think I've ever heard someone tell me any of the details in chapter 2.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">So when I told the story today, I told the whole story. The whole book. Not just the narrative parts. And more than that, I encouraged them to go back to their cabins and read it for themselves in case I missed something. But here's what I'm wondering and learning today - why do we reduce the Bible down to historical narrative. The Bible contains much history, true, but as a book, the Bible tells only one story. If the details you are highlighting to your Sunday School class aren't helping to grow them in their understanding of the redemption narrative, why are you teaching them? Leave cute children stories for Kindergarten - let the church be for the sanctification of the saints.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Read your Bibles, teachers. Don't repeat the words of teachers before you who haven't read their Bibles. Because we are so often missing so many fantastic, Messianic, gospel-centred messages. The story of Jonah only matters because it is a shadow of another prophet who would one day descend to a grave for three days and emerge preaching repentance. So maybe spend less time worrying about the excitement of a ship caught in a storm and spend more time noting the fact that Jonah's disobedience and desire to condemn the world is a perfect antitype of his repentance-preaching counterpart, who loved the Gentiles Jonah didn't want to go to.</span></span></span>khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-43701947743997940542014-07-24T21:17:00.001-07:002014-07-24T21:17:28.980-07:00Thoughts from Camp - Day 13 - Elijah Fire<div>
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<i>"Seek God until He breaks your heart, and then preach from the bottom of your broken heart." This </i></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4k38bjcBxnAKw5drjHD58MKCK8D9bFuiS47mQcAcwiKLDFjym9Fay1LBCmUQ6pfCdoSszxzEvRuNb6bEK2ox5M9eeRe5DPrHWsY9r3I_wLXVypMw_Q4gKJHzqN2kBnKVMuCos-u18m8/s1600/10295549_10152060657495997_2432722204408729297_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #7d7d7d; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4k38bjcBxnAKw5drjHD58MKCK8D9bFuiS47mQcAcwiKLDFjym9Fay1LBCmUQ6pfCdoSszxzEvRuNb6bEK2ox5M9eeRe5DPrHWsY9r3I_wLXVypMw_Q4gKJHzqN2kBnKVMuCos-u18m8/s1600/10295549_10152060657495997_2432722204408729297_o.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(234, 234, 234); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></i></div>
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">is what I often say to those I mentor. So with seven weeks of speaking, writing devotions and heading up ministry at a summer camp, I anticipate being challenged, stretched and broken as the weeks roll on. Each day I will post some lessons to be learned from the devotions and messages we have studied as a camp.</span></i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Elijah prayed that God would turn back the hearts of Israel. That they would recognize that He was the true God. Elijah had challenged the prophets of Baal to a competition - whichever God sent fire was the true victor. Why? Because the Israelites were wavering between opinions. They knew of God, had a Tabernacle and remembered what He did in the days of Joshua. But they also had a wicked king and seemed to prefer worshiping Baal. So Elijah really just wanted them to pick a side.</div>
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And here's the climax we all missed hearing about in Sunday School - after fire falls on his sacrifice, he gathers all the prophets of Baal together, and kills them all. Personally hacks them to pieces. Some people would suggest, 'what you believe is right for you, what I believe is right for me.' I'm not sure Elijah was sold on this concept.</div>
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<div>
And there's a reason for this. A reason why he had to kill them. When Adam broke the law of God, He deserved death. When anyone breaks the law of God, they still deserve death. This hasn't changed since Adam. The prophets had not only denied God, they had turned all of Israel against God. So Elijah, commissioned by God, was giving them what they deserved - giving them justice. Now we don't get to decided who gets to live and who gets to die, that's God's job, but in this case God had given Elijah permission to take some of God's authority.</div>
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There's a message in all of this. And that is simply this - as Elijah said, 'If the Lord is God, follow Him.' And if He is not, follow Baal. That is God's call to us. If God is God, follow Him. If He's not, don't waste your time. God's not interested in half-hearted service. He's not interested in people who come to church on Sunday but don't care about Him the rest of the week. He's not interested in people who ask Him into their heart but whose lives aren't changed.</div>
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What God is looking for is people who's lives are totally and utterly committed to Him. People who spend their lives in service to Him. Who spend their entire lives seeking to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, strength and mind. This is the kind of service He demands. He's not interested in people who waver between opinions like Israel did.</div>
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If God is God, follow Him. If Baal is God, follow Him.</div>
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Kevin Deane</div>
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Camp Mini-Yo-We</div>
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Muskoka, ON</div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-27412388595874659992014-07-19T20:56:00.003-07:002014-07-19T21:01:49.511-07:00Thoughts from Camp - Day 11 - The Holy Spirit<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Seek God until He breaks your heart, and then preach from the bottom of your broken heart." This </span></i></div>
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<i style="line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">is what I often say to those I mentor. So with seven weeks of speaking, writing devotions and heading up ministry at a summer camp, I anticipate being challenged, stretched and broken as the weeks roll on. Each day I will post some lessons to be learned from the devotions and messages we have studied as a camp.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Peter's knees were no doubt knocking when he stammered out that he
did not know Jesus. He denied his master three times in one night,
and no one could have guessed that this coward would go on to become
one of the figureheads of the early church. But it wasn't long after
Jesus' ascension that Peter was hanging out in the upper room getting
ready to celebrate Passover.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“<span lang="en-CA"><b>When the day
of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. And
suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind,
and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided
tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-CA">Peter
cracked open his Bible, and he started preaching. And people
listened. That day thousands were save, and the church only expanded
from there. Peter – cowardly, denying Peter – was now a bold
preacher, and where he went, people listened. When he preached,
people came under conviction. Why? What changed in Peter? The Holy
Spirit had come.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-CA">The Spirit is the third part of
the Trinity. God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy
Spirit are each individual persons, but are only One God. No analogy,
no logic, no human intellect has ever been able to comprehend this
concept. But there is no division, no dissension and no separation
between the three parts of the Godhead.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Peter and the other apostles were bold for the gospel. The Spirit
had given them the courage they needed to take the gospel to ancient
Rome. B<span lang="en-CA">y every bit of
human logic and reasoning, Christianity was foolish to join. Jesus,
our leader was known to have been publicly rejected and killed. Who
would want to follow a man who couldn't save Himself? By 54 AD, Nero,
the emperor of Rome, was martyring Christians in droves. He would
dress them in furs to have dogs tear them apart, or crucify them, or
cover them in tar and then burn them to light up his dinner parties.
By human logic, no one in their right mind would walk the streets of
Rome, look up at the torched body of a crucified man and say 'I want
to be what he was.' No rational person could witness the bloody death
of Christians, and say 'I want to become one of them.'</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div lang="en-CA">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But the Holy Spirit was
at work, calling men unto God. Yet for every Christian that was torn
apart by lions in the Colosseum it was as though ten men would stand
up and say 'I want to be one of them!' Eventually, even Peter would
be one of those martrys. The man who denied Jesus would end up
professing His name until he hung upside down on his cross.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div lang="en-CA">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Christians were like
seed – one would fall to the ground and die, and a whole crop would
rise from that ground. Christianity exploded across the Roman empire,
and over the course of only a few decades, thousands were converted.
Why? Why would any logical, rational, sane human being want to join
that number? Why would anyone even consider becoming a believer?
Proclaiming faith in Christ, was, at times, like willingly joining
death row. What rational human being would give up their life for
such a cause? Why couldn't Christianity be stopped? Because the Holy
Spirit had come. Jesus had promised the apostles power, and their
words had such power that men were persuaded to believe.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The work of the Spirit hasn't changed. He still gives men the
courage needed to profess Jesus' name in difficult places. And more
than that, He points out sin to the believer and non-believer.
Because we are depraved, we are not able to see the sin in our own
lives without His help. The Spirit must come and bring conviction
before there will ever be an understanding of sin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span lang="en-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To give a more
recent example of the Spirit's work, let's look at the year 1741
(which might not be so recent). Jonathan Edwards stood in Enfield,
Connecticut and preached a sermon titled 'Sinners in the Hands of an
Angry God.' He was not a great public speaker – by the light of a
candle he held his notes a few inches from his face, and read in
monotone. People literally fell out of their chairs with conviction.
He was interrupted several times by people crying out 'What must I do
to be saved?' Stories are told of men clinging to the pillars of the
church, fearing that they would fall straight into hell as the Holy
Spirit penetrated their hearts and revealed their sin to them. What
happened in that church spread like wildfire down the Eastern
seaboard in what became known as 'The Great Awakening.' People came
to Christ in droves. Why? The Holy Spirit was at work.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span lang="en-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Spirit that
grabbed hearts in Connecticut can fill your heart too. He gives
courage, and convicts of sin. When the Spirit fills your heart, your
very life is a testimony that pricks the consciences of others and
convicts people of their sin. Your words have power. The same power
that persuaded Romans to join death row for the sake of Christ. Jesus
had said. When a Spirit-filled Christian loves, it is with the very
love of God, for the Spirit is God, and the Spirit loves through us.
And when the Spirit-filled Christian speaks, it as though God were
speaking through a man. And whatever the Spirit-filled Christian
does, it is done in a way that those around him will see his love,
his light, and his testimony.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span lang="en-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We must seek the
work of the Spirit in our own lives. Perhaps if we sought the Spirit
the way we were supposed to, we would experience the kind of ministry
Jesus described and not the kind of ministry we so often see.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span lang="en-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kevin Deane</span></span><br />
<span lang="en-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Camp Mini-Yo-We</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Muskoka, Ontario</span>khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-76238989350388156812014-07-19T20:55:00.003-07:002014-07-19T20:57:12.941-07:00Thoughts from Camp - Day 10 - By Grace, through Faith<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Seek God until He breaks your heart, and then preach from the bottom of your broken heart." This </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4k38bjcBxnAKw5drjHD58MKCK8D9bFuiS47mQcAcwiKLDFjym9Fay1LBCmUQ6pfCdoSszxzEvRuNb6bEK2ox5M9eeRe5DPrHWsY9r3I_wLXVypMw_Q4gKJHzqN2kBnKVMuCos-u18m8/s1600/10295549_10152060657495997_2432722204408729297_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #7d7d7d; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4k38bjcBxnAKw5drjHD58MKCK8D9bFuiS47mQcAcwiKLDFjym9Fay1LBCmUQ6pfCdoSszxzEvRuNb6bEK2ox5M9eeRe5DPrHWsY9r3I_wLXVypMw_Q4gKJHzqN2kBnKVMuCos-u18m8/s1600/10295549_10152060657495997_2432722204408729297_o.jpg" height="213" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(234, 234, 234); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">is what I often say to those I mentor. So with seven weeks of speaking, writing devotions and heading up ministry at a summer camp, I anticipate being challenged, stretched and broken as the weeks roll on. Each day I will post some lessons to be learned from the devotions and messages we have studied as a camp.</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today we will be studying the first 9 verses of Ephesians 2. The
passage will begin with a description of man's depravity, but it will
shift suddenly to highlight God's grace.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“And you were
dead”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This
ultimately, sums up our position before God. What was God's threat to
Adam if he ate the fruit? He would surely die. And although Adam did
not die physically, his relationship with God became as dead as it
possibly could be. Adam was dead spiritually, and so his children for
all remaining generations would be. How much can dead men move? Can
thy speak? Can they come when they are called? Dead men can do
nothing, and so we are born spiritually. Unable to talk to God, or to
come to Him. We are dead.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“in the trespasses
and sins in which you once walked,”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We
are rule-breakers, is all he means. Adam broke a law, and we've been
doing the same thing ever since.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“ following the
course of this world,”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Humanity
– all of humanity – was born as a descendant of Adam. So all of
humanity is naturally inclined to disobey and disregard God. Not that
people are as wicked as they could be, but even when they try to be
good they still disregard God as Adam did. People may naturally
believe in a deity, but the god they describe tends to be very much
like them only a little bigger and a little more loving. People
naturally believe in a god created in their image, not that they were
created in the image of God. This is how the whole world is, and so
to follow the course of the world, is to simply have the same level
of regard to wards God as is common to man.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“ following the
prince of the power of the air,”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This speaks of
Satan. Again, humanity's distance from God is emphasized.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“the spirit that
is now at work in the sons of disobedience”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
sons of disobedience are us. Somebody taught you to say 'please' and
'thank you.' Someone taught you to obey. But no one taught you how to
lie. Or how to disobey. This comes naturally to us, for we are 'sons
of disobedience.'</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“among
whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the
desires of the body and the mind,”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And
here we are in our sinful state, trapped – enslaved. A slave may
not work day in and day out, but works only when his master calls.
And yet he is a slave 24/7 though he may not be working 24/7. So it
is with sin. We are slaves 24/7, although our passions may only
beckon to us from time to time. And when they beckon, we come
crawling, desperate for the sinful desire our passionate flesh
demands.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“and were by
nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And
what else would we deserve? We certainly don't deserve God's love or
kindness. Our fallen, sinful, disobedient state has left us deserving
nothing less than the wrath of God.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“But God,”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And
in this prase lies all our hope. For we, being dead, can do nothing
but wait for His judgement. 'But' tells us there is hope, 'God' shows
us that it does not lie in ourselves.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“being rich in
mercy,”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That
is, He is willing to hold back what we deserve – to hold back the
death, judgement and wrath we have earned.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“because
of the great love with which he loved us,”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For
it was God that loved us, before we could ever love Him. While we
were still sinners, God showed love towards us, before we would ever
have a desire to love Him back.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“even
when we were dead in our trespasses,”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Again,
our hopeless state.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“made
us alive together with Christ”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That
is, now revived those dead bodies. Dead men – who can neither speak
nor come when called, are now awakened. Sinful men, who were once
dead in their relationship with God have now been enabled to respond
to Him.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“by
grace you have been saved”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
salvation he offers is free of charge and absolutely undeserved.
God's overwhelming goodness allows Him to extend to us this offer
which should rightfully not be ours.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“and
raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places
in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the
immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ
Jesus.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
sin of mankind was laid on Christ, and He died the punishment that
that sin deserved. But more than that, the perfection of Christ was
put on man. So a transaction was made – He took our sin, and we
took on His perfection. So the Father views us as perfect in Christ
and He punished Christ for our wrongdoing. So in this verse, we
celebrate the riches we now inherit. For we will enter heaven clothed
in the perfection of Jesus, and enjoy a spot in the heavenly places
only Jesus should be allowed to enter.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“For
by grace you have been saved through faith.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What
is faith? To trust is the undeserved gift of God to undo the sin that
Adam brought in the world. The Christian is the one that believes in
the finished work of what Jesus did on the cross.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“And
this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of
works, so that no one may boast.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So
what is left for you to do? Absolutely nothing at all. No prayer, no
church, no good work will make you any more perfect than Jesus can
make you. Simply trust in Him. And when you trust Him, and He changes
your heart – prayer, church and good deeds will flow out of you.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
free gift of God to undo man's depraved condition. What a marvellous
message!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-indent: -0.64cm;">
<br /></div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-42656954220292232782014-07-17T13:41:00.000-07:002014-07-17T13:41:20.982-07:00Thoughts from camp - Day 9 - David and Saul<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i>"Seek God until He breaks your heart, and then preach from the bottom of your broken heart." This </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4k38bjcBxnAKw5drjHD58MKCK8D9bFuiS47mQcAcwiKLDFjym9Fay1LBCmUQ6pfCdoSszxzEvRuNb6bEK2ox5M9eeRe5DPrHWsY9r3I_wLXVypMw_Q4gKJHzqN2kBnKVMuCos-u18m8/s1600/10295549_10152060657495997_2432722204408729297_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #7d7d7d; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4k38bjcBxnAKw5drjHD58MKCK8D9bFuiS47mQcAcwiKLDFjym9Fay1LBCmUQ6pfCdoSszxzEvRuNb6bEK2ox5M9eeRe5DPrHWsY9r3I_wLXVypMw_Q4gKJHzqN2kBnKVMuCos-u18m8/s1600/10295549_10152060657495997_2432722204408729297_o.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(234, 234, 234); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i>is what I often say to those I mentor. So with seven weeks of speaking, writing devotions and heading up ministry at a summer camp, I anticipate being challenged, stretched and broken as the weeks roll on. Each day I will post some lessons to be learned from the devotions and messages we have studied as a camp.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
Chaos and wickedness were the norm in Israel, because they had no king. God should have been their king, but they had rejected Him, so they demanded a human king. God gave them Saul. Saul started off fine but ended poorly and was replaced by a man after God's heart - David. What made David greater than Saul? The Lord was with him. He inquired, God assured him of victory and went before him. Unlike Saul, he wasn't willing to kill the Lord's anointed. Unlike Saul, he protected the priests rather than slaughtering them.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
David was the king Israel needed. Sort of. He brought salvation and righteousness to God's people. But he wasn't the ultimate king. There was a greater king coming. David was greater than Saul, but some day Jesus would be greater than David - a more perfect ruler.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">David
was a good king because he was generous. He gave where Saul took. But </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jesus
is the ultimate giver of mercy and forgiveness. David shared wealth,
but Jesus shares eternal joy.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">David
was a good king because he sought the Lord's direction and the Lord
gave him victory. David won many battles over sinful nations, but Jesus won the battle over sin itself. David conquered the Phillistines, but Jesus conquered the grave.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">David
was a good king because he was humble – even when he sinned with Bathsheba, he
was willing to repent. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">David
repented when he had done wrong – he recognized his sin and was
willing to take the punishment. Jesus never did anything wrong, and yet he was still willing to take the punishment for sin. David was humble, but Jesus is more humble.</span></div>
</div>
khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7451686966328659019.post-83619681520632286382014-07-15T20:26:00.002-07:002014-07-15T20:27:36.567-07:00Thoughts from Camp - Day 8 - Ruth<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i>"Seek God until He breaks your heart, and then preach from the bottom of your broken heart." This </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: center;">
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i>is what I often say to those I mentor. So with seven weeks of speaking, writing devotions and heading up ministry at a summer camp, I anticipate being challenged, stretched and broken as the weeks roll on. Each day I will post some lessons to be learned from the devotions and messages we have studied as a camp.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<br />
The message of Ruth is so simple it hardly deserves a blog post. And yet its so marvelous. God brings life from death. Poor, Gentile Ruth was married to Sickly (or maybe Weakly) but after her husband died in the middle of a famine, she wandered back to Israel with her mother-in-law. As a widow, she has no chance to take care of herself and is left gleaning in the fields.<br />
<br />
But Boaz starts looking after her. He has extra grain dropped for her. He lets her eat from his table. Eventually he marries her. He is kind beyond reason. He is extraordinarily generous.<br />
<br />
Would Ruth have starved without Boaz? Maybe, maybe not. But the widow (can't provide) of Sickly (who is dead) was a Gentile (not God's people) and would certainly have not fared well.<br />
<br />
Its a simple story with a simple message. There was a redeemer (in this case literally), who brought life where there should have been death. He lavished love and generosity on the lowest of the low and provided restoration where there should have been starvation.<br />
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It's what Christ did for us. Us - the poor, weak Gentiles that could never provide for ourselves. He redeemed us, was generous beyond reason, and even promised to marry us. It's not just a cheesy love story - its a message of grace that says God brings life where there should be death.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Kevin Deane</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Posting from Camp Mini-Yo-We</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Muskoka, Ontario</span>khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459332608407082628noreply@blogger.com0