Surely he was speaking tongue-in-cheek, but his comments were quite interesting. During an audience with German Catholics, Benedict XVI offered a bit of telling humor. "As the trend in the ballots slowly made me realize that — in a manner of speaking, the guillotine would fall on me — I started to feel quite dizzy," the 78-year-old Benedict told his countrymen, smiling and chuckling. "I thought that I had done my life's work and could now hope to live out my days in peace. "I told the Lord with deep conviction, 'Don't do this to me. You have younger and better (candidates) who could take up this great task with a totally different energy and with different strength.' Evidently, this time he didn't listen to me."
See the whole story here –
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=518&u=/ap/20050425/ap_on_re_eu/pope&printer=1
Again, in this immediate context, it is obvious that Benedict XVI was “working the crowd.” He was having some fun. But it is quite telling regarding his theological persuasion. Of course the Pope thinks he can not only give God advice, but actually add to or change the existing, authoritative and final Word of God. If you believe that theology evolves it must be interpreted by someone. The Catholic Church puts that onus on the Pope. He not only interprets the Scripture for the masses, he speaks authoritatively as the “vicar of Christ.” Thus, the development of Catholic Church traditions and writings are on even plain with the once delivered, final Word of God.
This is much like the so called progressive historians that believe the United States Constitution is an evolving document that must be interpreted and explain with each new generation. Thus, we have the oligarchy in black we call the Supreme Court that “interprets” (rather rewrites) the Constitution with each new case before them.
It is easy for us to take shots at the Catholic concept of giving God advice, however; we evangelicals as even worse. We claim to have a final authority in the Word and then live as though we can interpret that final authority based on our feelings or the relative circumstances of a given situation. How many times do we here comments like: “God has told me to…” “I feel God wants me to …” “God is leading me to …”
As Christians who claim to hold the view of the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, we must be careful to let the Word speak in its historical, grammatical, contextual reality first. Only then can we had an idea of what the Scripture calls us to do today. God only speaks through His Spirit revealing His Word to the minds of regenerate men and women.
I believe in the priesthood of every believer, but not the infallibility of every man’s feelings.
Some things to think about this morning!
Grace to You!
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Monday, April 25, 2005
The Burden of Leadership
My friend Steve Camp has once again sounded the alarm for the recognized leaders of the Evangelical community to stand up and be counted on the side of the Gospel. Read his compelling plea at his web ministry Audience One in an article titled The New Religious Common Ground. http://a1m.org/index.php
Allow me to muse here regarding the burden I feel as one who has accepted a certain level of leadership in the evangelical world, much lesser than the likes of Steve Camp or the men he calls out in his article. Even less than my own Senior Pastor, however, a certain level of influence I do have and thus the burden is upon me properly exercise that influence.
Three passages come to my mind, so allow me to briefly comment on each.
James 3.1-2 speaks of leadership in terms of ones role as a communicator. “1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” (ESV) Here we see the challenge of leadership to be one of controlling our tongue. The text goes on to emphasize the untamableness of the Herhuman tongue. The power and greatness of the spoken word ios referred to as a bit in horse’s mouth, a rudder on a ship, a small spark that ignites a devastating forest fire, and a wild beast. The context is clear, for in verse 13 James continues speaking of leadership and maturity in the area of wisdom. Therefore, one of the great challenges of leadership (i.e. “teaching”) is to be careful what you say and when and how you say it. As evangelical leaders, we must be unquestionably clear on, above all else, the heart of the gospel. Our tongues cannot spill forth words of praise for a man who teaches such heresies as papal infallibility and grace received from the Treasury of Merit dolled out in accordance to penance and yet speak of grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. As James 3.11-12 says “11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.” Clear, bold challenge for teachers/leaders to speak clearly the gospel.
2 Timothy 1.8-14 is Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to guard with great diligence the gospel that has been entrusted to him. “(8) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God… (14) By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” (ESV) There is in Scripture an overwhelming and oft repeated call for leaders to contend earnestly for the faith. This is the repeated theme throughout the pastoral epistles of Paul, as well as the overarching theme of Christian ministry in general. A leader can do a lot of things well, but if you fail to stand firmly for the doctrines of grace, you fail your role as a spiritual leader. As Steve Camp so aptly remarked, “it doesn’t matter if we work hard to get proper medical supplies, food and water to those who are starving to death in impoverished countries, but fail to provide them the nourishment needed for their starving souls—the Bread of Life—the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Matt 18.1-6 is perhaps the most grace and fearful of the challenges of leadership. In response to a question regarding greatness (i.e. leadership) in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus calls a little child to himself. He then uses this child to illustrate the humbleness needed to come to faith in Christ. After the question is answered, Christ uses the opportunity he created to emphasize the need for those who do humble come to faith in Christ like a child to be taught/lead. He gives this warning to those who would assume the role of leading these new humble Christians. “5Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” The onus of faithful leadership is weighty.
Indeed, every individual believer will give an account for his beliefs and actions, but those who stand in leadership will be given a stricter judgment and have a weightier task of carefully choosing where, when and what to speak. May God graciously give to me the wisdom necessary for such a huge task.
Grace to You!
Allow me to muse here regarding the burden I feel as one who has accepted a certain level of leadership in the evangelical world, much lesser than the likes of Steve Camp or the men he calls out in his article. Even less than my own Senior Pastor, however, a certain level of influence I do have and thus the burden is upon me properly exercise that influence.
Three passages come to my mind, so allow me to briefly comment on each.
James 3.1-2 speaks of leadership in terms of ones role as a communicator. “1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” (ESV) Here we see the challenge of leadership to be one of controlling our tongue. The text goes on to emphasize the untamableness of the Herhuman tongue. The power and greatness of the spoken word ios referred to as a bit in horse’s mouth, a rudder on a ship, a small spark that ignites a devastating forest fire, and a wild beast. The context is clear, for in verse 13 James continues speaking of leadership and maturity in the area of wisdom. Therefore, one of the great challenges of leadership (i.e. “teaching”) is to be careful what you say and when and how you say it. As evangelical leaders, we must be unquestionably clear on, above all else, the heart of the gospel. Our tongues cannot spill forth words of praise for a man who teaches such heresies as papal infallibility and grace received from the Treasury of Merit dolled out in accordance to penance and yet speak of grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. As James 3.11-12 says “11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.” Clear, bold challenge for teachers/leaders to speak clearly the gospel.
2 Timothy 1.8-14 is Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to guard with great diligence the gospel that has been entrusted to him. “(8) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God… (14) By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” (ESV) There is in Scripture an overwhelming and oft repeated call for leaders to contend earnestly for the faith. This is the repeated theme throughout the pastoral epistles of Paul, as well as the overarching theme of Christian ministry in general. A leader can do a lot of things well, but if you fail to stand firmly for the doctrines of grace, you fail your role as a spiritual leader. As Steve Camp so aptly remarked, “it doesn’t matter if we work hard to get proper medical supplies, food and water to those who are starving to death in impoverished countries, but fail to provide them the nourishment needed for their starving souls—the Bread of Life—the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Matt 18.1-6 is perhaps the most grace and fearful of the challenges of leadership. In response to a question regarding greatness (i.e. leadership) in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus calls a little child to himself. He then uses this child to illustrate the humbleness needed to come to faith in Christ. After the question is answered, Christ uses the opportunity he created to emphasize the need for those who do humble come to faith in Christ like a child to be taught/lead. He gives this warning to those who would assume the role of leading these new humble Christians. “5Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” The onus of faithful leadership is weighty.
Indeed, every individual believer will give an account for his beliefs and actions, but those who stand in leadership will be given a stricter judgment and have a weightier task of carefully choosing where, when and what to speak. May God graciously give to me the wisdom necessary for such a huge task.
Grace to You!
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Semi-pelagian Catechism
**********
EDITOR'S NOTE: The tongue-in-cheek catechism below was clearly written by a covenant minded Presbyterian, hence the jokes about Baptism. But it is still humorous. Don't take it too seriously, have some fun!
**********
WARNING! If you think you might be able to do something worthy of earning heaven, you might be a bit offended... but read on anyway!
The Semi-Pelagian Narrower CatechismThe Semi-Pelagian Narrower Catechism
1. Q: What is the chief end of each individual Christian?
A: Each individual Christian's chief end is to get saved. This is the first and great commandment.
2. Q: And what is the second great commandment?
A: The second, which is like unto it, is to get as many others saved as he can.
3. Q: What one work is required of thee for thy salvation?
A: It is required of me for my salvation that I make a Decision for Christ, which meaneth to accept Him into my heart to be my personal lord'n'saviour
4. Q: At what time must thou perform this work?
A: I must perform this work at such time as I have reached the Age of Accountability.
5. Q: At what time wilt thou have reached this Age?
A: That is a trick question. In order to determine this time, my mind must needs be sharper than any two-edged sword, able to pierce even to the division of bone and marrow; for, alas, the Age of Accountability is different for each individual, and is thus unknowable.
6. Q: By what means is a Decision for Christ made?
A: A Decision for Christ is made, not according to His own purpose and grace which was given to me in Christ Jesus before the world began, but according to the exercise of my own Free Will in saying the Sinner's Prayer in my own words.
7. Q: If it be true then that man is responsible for this Decision, how then can God be sovereign?
A: He cannot be. God sovereignly chose not to be sovereign, and is therefore dependent upon me to come to Him for salvation. He standeth outside the door of my heart, forlornly knocking, until such time as I Decide to let Him in.
8. Q: How then can we make such a Decision, seeing that the Scripture saith, we are dead in our trespasses and sins?
A: By this the Scripture meaneth, not that we are dead, but only that we are sick or injured in them.
9. Q: What is the assurance of thy salvation?
A: The assurance of thy salvation is, that I know the date on which I prayed the Sinner's Prayer, and have duly written this date on an official Decision card.
10. Q: What is thy story? What is thy song?
A: Praising my Savior all the day long.
11. Q: You ask me how I know he lives?
A: He lives within my heart.
12. Q: And what else hast thou got in thine heart?
A: I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.
13. Q: Where??
A: Down in my heart!
14. Q: Where???
A: Down in my heart!!
15. Q: What witness aid hath been given us as a technique by which we may win souls?
A: The tract known commonly as the Four Spiritual Laws, is the chief aid whereby we may win souls.
16. Q: What doth this tract principally teach?
A: The Four Spiritual Laws principally teach, that God's entire plan for history and the universe centereth on me, and that I am powerful enough to thwart His divine purpose if I refuse to let Him pursue His Wonderful Plan for my life.
17. Q: What supplementary technique is given by which we may win souls?
A: The technique of giving our own Personal Testimony, in the which we must always be ready to give an answer concerning the years we spent in vanity and pride, and the wretched vices in which we wallowed all our lives untilthe day we got saved.
18. Q: I'm so happy, what's the reason why?
A: Jesus took my burden all away!
19. Q: What are the means given whereby we may save large crowds of souls in a spectacular manner?
A: Such a spectacle is accomplished by means of well-publicized Crusades and Revivals which (in order that none may be loath to attend) are best conducted anywhere else but in a Church.
20. Q: Am I a soldier of the Cross?
A: I am a soldier of the Cross if I join Campus Crusade, Boys' Brigade, the Salvation Army, or the Wheaton Crusaders; of if I put on the helmet of Dispensationalism, the breastplate of Pietism, the shield of Tribulationism, and the sword of Zionism, having my feet shod with the gospel of Arminianism.
21. Q: Who is your boss?
A: My boss is a Jewish carpenter.
22. Q: Hath God predestined vessels of wrath to Hell?
A: God hath never performed such an omnipotent act, for any such thing would not reflect His primary attribute, which is Niceness.
23. Q: What is sanctification?
A: Sanctification is the work of my free Will, whereby I am renewed by having my Daily Quiet Time.
24. Q: What rule hath God for our direction in prayer?
A: The rule that we must bow our hands, close our heads, and fold our eyes.
25. Q: What doth the Lord's Prayer teach us?
A: The Lord's Prayer teacheth us that we must never memorize a prayer, or use one that hath been written down.
26. Q: What's the book for thee?
A: The B-I-B-L-E.
27. Q: Which are among the first books which a Christian should read to his soul's health?
A: Among the first books which a Christian should read are the books of Daniel and Revelation, and The Late Great Planet Earth.
28. Q: Who is on the Lord's side?
A: He who doth support whatsoever is done by the nation of Israel, and who doth renounce the world, the flesh, and the Catholic Church.
29. Q: What are the seven deadly sins?
A: The seven deadly sins are smoking, drinking, dancing, card-playing, movie-going, baptizing babies, and having any creed but Christ.
30. Q: What is a sacrament?
A: A sacrament is an insidious invention devised by the Catholic Church whereby men are drawn into idolatry.
31. Q: What is the Lord's Supper?
A: The Lord's Supper is a dispensing of saltines and grape juice, in the which we remember Christ's command to pretend that they are His body and blood.
32. Q: What is baptism?
A: Baptism is the act whereby, by the performance of something that seems quite silly in front of everyone, I prove that I really, really mean it.
33. Q: What is the Church?
A: The Church is the tiny minority of individuals living at this time who have Jesus in their hearts, and who come together once a week for a sermon, fellowship and donuts.
34. Q: What is the office of the keys?
A: The office of the keys is that office held by the custodian.
35. Q: What meaneth "The Priesthood Of All Believers"?
A: The Priesthood Of All Believers meaneth that there exists no authority in the Church, as that falsely thought to be held by elders, presbyters, deacons, and bishops, but that each individual Christian acts as his own authority in all matters pertaining to the faith.
36. Q: Who is the Holy Spirit?
A: The Holy Spirit is a gentleman Who would never barge in.
37. Q: How long hath the Holy Spirit been at work?
A: The Holy Spirit hath been at work for more than a century: expressly, since the nineteenth-century Revitalization brought about by traveling Evangelists carrying tents across America.
38. Q: When will be the "Last Days" of which the Bible speaketh?
A: The "Last Days" are these days in which we are now living, in which the Antichrist, the Beast, and the Thief in the Night shall most certainly appear.
39. Q: What is the name of the event by which Christians will escape these dreadful entities?
A: The event commonly known as the Rapture, in the which it is our Blessed Hope that all cars driven by Christians will suddenly have no drivers.
40. Q: When is Jesus coming again?
A: Maybe morning, maybe noon, maybe evening, and maybe soon.
41. Q: When the roll, roll, roll, is called up yonder, where will you be?
A: There.
42. Q: Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah!
A: Praise ye the Lord!
43. Q: Praise ye the Lord!
A: Hallelujah!
44. Q: Where will we meet again?
A: Here, there, or in the air.
45. Q: Can I hear an Ay-men?
A: Ay-men.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The tongue-in-cheek catechism below was clearly written by a covenant minded Presbyterian, hence the jokes about Baptism. But it is still humorous. Don't take it too seriously, have some fun!
**********
WARNING! If you think you might be able to do something worthy of earning heaven, you might be a bit offended... but read on anyway!
The Semi-Pelagian Narrower CatechismThe Semi-Pelagian Narrower Catechism
1. Q: What is the chief end of each individual Christian?
A: Each individual Christian's chief end is to get saved. This is the first and great commandment.
2. Q: And what is the second great commandment?
A: The second, which is like unto it, is to get as many others saved as he can.
3. Q: What one work is required of thee for thy salvation?
A: It is required of me for my salvation that I make a Decision for Christ, which meaneth to accept Him into my heart to be my personal lord'n'saviour
4. Q: At what time must thou perform this work?
A: I must perform this work at such time as I have reached the Age of Accountability.
5. Q: At what time wilt thou have reached this Age?
A: That is a trick question. In order to determine this time, my mind must needs be sharper than any two-edged sword, able to pierce even to the division of bone and marrow; for, alas, the Age of Accountability is different for each individual, and is thus unknowable.
6. Q: By what means is a Decision for Christ made?
A: A Decision for Christ is made, not according to His own purpose and grace which was given to me in Christ Jesus before the world began, but according to the exercise of my own Free Will in saying the Sinner's Prayer in my own words.
7. Q: If it be true then that man is responsible for this Decision, how then can God be sovereign?
A: He cannot be. God sovereignly chose not to be sovereign, and is therefore dependent upon me to come to Him for salvation. He standeth outside the door of my heart, forlornly knocking, until such time as I Decide to let Him in.
8. Q: How then can we make such a Decision, seeing that the Scripture saith, we are dead in our trespasses and sins?
A: By this the Scripture meaneth, not that we are dead, but only that we are sick or injured in them.
9. Q: What is the assurance of thy salvation?
A: The assurance of thy salvation is, that I know the date on which I prayed the Sinner's Prayer, and have duly written this date on an official Decision card.
10. Q: What is thy story? What is thy song?
A: Praising my Savior all the day long.
11. Q: You ask me how I know he lives?
A: He lives within my heart.
12. Q: And what else hast thou got in thine heart?
A: I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.
13. Q: Where??
A: Down in my heart!
14. Q: Where???
A: Down in my heart!!
15. Q: What witness aid hath been given us as a technique by which we may win souls?
A: The tract known commonly as the Four Spiritual Laws, is the chief aid whereby we may win souls.
16. Q: What doth this tract principally teach?
A: The Four Spiritual Laws principally teach, that God's entire plan for history and the universe centereth on me, and that I am powerful enough to thwart His divine purpose if I refuse to let Him pursue His Wonderful Plan for my life.
17. Q: What supplementary technique is given by which we may win souls?
A: The technique of giving our own Personal Testimony, in the which we must always be ready to give an answer concerning the years we spent in vanity and pride, and the wretched vices in which we wallowed all our lives untilthe day we got saved.
18. Q: I'm so happy, what's the reason why?
A: Jesus took my burden all away!
19. Q: What are the means given whereby we may save large crowds of souls in a spectacular manner?
A: Such a spectacle is accomplished by means of well-publicized Crusades and Revivals which (in order that none may be loath to attend) are best conducted anywhere else but in a Church.
20. Q: Am I a soldier of the Cross?
A: I am a soldier of the Cross if I join Campus Crusade, Boys' Brigade, the Salvation Army, or the Wheaton Crusaders; of if I put on the helmet of Dispensationalism, the breastplate of Pietism, the shield of Tribulationism, and the sword of Zionism, having my feet shod with the gospel of Arminianism.
21. Q: Who is your boss?
A: My boss is a Jewish carpenter.
22. Q: Hath God predestined vessels of wrath to Hell?
A: God hath never performed such an omnipotent act, for any such thing would not reflect His primary attribute, which is Niceness.
23. Q: What is sanctification?
A: Sanctification is the work of my free Will, whereby I am renewed by having my Daily Quiet Time.
24. Q: What rule hath God for our direction in prayer?
A: The rule that we must bow our hands, close our heads, and fold our eyes.
25. Q: What doth the Lord's Prayer teach us?
A: The Lord's Prayer teacheth us that we must never memorize a prayer, or use one that hath been written down.
26. Q: What's the book for thee?
A: The B-I-B-L-E.
27. Q: Which are among the first books which a Christian should read to his soul's health?
A: Among the first books which a Christian should read are the books of Daniel and Revelation, and The Late Great Planet Earth.
28. Q: Who is on the Lord's side?
A: He who doth support whatsoever is done by the nation of Israel, and who doth renounce the world, the flesh, and the Catholic Church.
29. Q: What are the seven deadly sins?
A: The seven deadly sins are smoking, drinking, dancing, card-playing, movie-going, baptizing babies, and having any creed but Christ.
30. Q: What is a sacrament?
A: A sacrament is an insidious invention devised by the Catholic Church whereby men are drawn into idolatry.
31. Q: What is the Lord's Supper?
A: The Lord's Supper is a dispensing of saltines and grape juice, in the which we remember Christ's command to pretend that they are His body and blood.
32. Q: What is baptism?
A: Baptism is the act whereby, by the performance of something that seems quite silly in front of everyone, I prove that I really, really mean it.
33. Q: What is the Church?
A: The Church is the tiny minority of individuals living at this time who have Jesus in their hearts, and who come together once a week for a sermon, fellowship and donuts.
34. Q: What is the office of the keys?
A: The office of the keys is that office held by the custodian.
35. Q: What meaneth "The Priesthood Of All Believers"?
A: The Priesthood Of All Believers meaneth that there exists no authority in the Church, as that falsely thought to be held by elders, presbyters, deacons, and bishops, but that each individual Christian acts as his own authority in all matters pertaining to the faith.
36. Q: Who is the Holy Spirit?
A: The Holy Spirit is a gentleman Who would never barge in.
37. Q: How long hath the Holy Spirit been at work?
A: The Holy Spirit hath been at work for more than a century: expressly, since the nineteenth-century Revitalization brought about by traveling Evangelists carrying tents across America.
38. Q: When will be the "Last Days" of which the Bible speaketh?
A: The "Last Days" are these days in which we are now living, in which the Antichrist, the Beast, and the Thief in the Night shall most certainly appear.
39. Q: What is the name of the event by which Christians will escape these dreadful entities?
A: The event commonly known as the Rapture, in the which it is our Blessed Hope that all cars driven by Christians will suddenly have no drivers.
40. Q: When is Jesus coming again?
A: Maybe morning, maybe noon, maybe evening, and maybe soon.
41. Q: When the roll, roll, roll, is called up yonder, where will you be?
A: There.
42. Q: Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah!
A: Praise ye the Lord!
43. Q: Praise ye the Lord!
A: Hallelujah!
44. Q: Where will we meet again?
A: Here, there, or in the air.
45. Q: Can I hear an Ay-men?
A: Ay-men.
WHY DO I FEEL THE NEED TO DEFEND POPE BENEDICT XVI
The pope is a heretic. Catholic theology is heretical. They deny the sufficiency of the perfect sacrifice of Christ. The Scriptures calls for this kind of heresy to be an anathema. Why do I feel the need to go to the defense of Pope Benedict XVI?
It is amazing, though not surprising, the extremely negative, though guarded, opinions set forth regarding the elevation of Cardinal Ratzinger to the papacy on the editorial pages of the elite American media. A survey of April 20 editorials alone was telling. The New York Times had five articles focused on Benedict XVI. Four had extremely negative headlines and bias. They called him “conservative” eighteen times. 18! The Los Angeles Times said of Ratzinger, “serving as the pope's doctrinal enforcer... he has been a largely polarizing force in the church, coming down hard on Catholic leaders who sought social justice in Latin America or dissented from the Vatican in their teachings.” How dare the man charged with defending Catholic orthodoxy actually defend Catholic orthodoxy! What a… a… CONSERVATIVE. As if they couldn’t come up with a worse term. The Washington Post said, “we hope he'll weigh the possible benefits of new medical technologies, and not dismiss them out of hand,” referring to Ratzinger's long held argument against reproductive technology, human cloning, and stem cell research. The Boston Globe lamented the fact the Benedict XVI would continue the hard line regarding priestly celibacy and ordination of women, hinting that these were the chief reasons for the decline of the faithful American Catholics. Maureen Dowd, the ever honest and fair columnist (Gag me!) made a concerted effort to point out Ratzinger’s involvement in the Hitler Youth organization as a young teenager in Bavaria, Germany. She conveniently failed, however, to mention that in Bavaria participation was compulsory and that Ratzinger deserted the Nazi Army after being drafted at age 16. But hey, don’t let the facts get in the way of your bias, Maureen, that has never stopped you before!
Again, why am I rushing to the defense of a Catholic heretic? The elite, mainstream media will continue to disparage anyone with conviction. Anyone who has the audacity to claim to know a certain absolute truth will be marginalized and categorized as an extremist. Pope Benedict XVI is the not the first and will certainly not be the last to be called an extremist, anti-intellectual, right-wing, conservative, simply because he holds to the existence of absolute truth. Look at Rev. Jerry Falwell. He is frequently demonized for his public stance on conservative, biblical morality. Admittedly, his methods are often unnecessarily acerbic, however, his conviction of the absolute authority of the Word of God is what brings him the bulk of his criticism.
Scripture reminds us to preach the word in season and out of season, warning that people will not put up with sound doctrine, but rather gather teachers that feed their passions. Today the passions of Americans include promiscuity, the elevated role of women to leadership positions, denominational and even religious ecumenism and many others. Passions are what drive us. People gather unto themselves teachers that will tell them what they want to hear and make them feel good. Anyone who place authority outside of the individual passions of the people will be marginalized and demonized.
Any evangelical preacher worth his salt will understand what I am saying. If people have never been offended by the preaching of the word under your ministry, you are not unashamedly preaching the gospel. The cross and the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ alone offends the unbeliever, and many so-called believers as well.
Pope Benedict XVI will continue to be categorized as a polarizing figure. He will be cast as an un-enlightened old-school conservative. But remember, the “orthodoxy” that makes Benedict XVI such a polarizing figure is heresy. He holds that Mary is the Co-Repemptrix, the Church (meaning the papacy) is absolutely authoritative and the Priest, as a papal representative, can absolve the sin of the faithful who do proper penance.
We must continue to stand against the heresy of Romanism and guard our people from the wolves that present themselves in the sheep’s wool. However, we must be reminded from the elite media attention that Benedict is getting, we will be challenged, even demonized, when we stand for the absolute truth of God’s Word.
Stand firm my friends, the days are evil.
Grace to You!
It is amazing, though not surprising, the extremely negative, though guarded, opinions set forth regarding the elevation of Cardinal Ratzinger to the papacy on the editorial pages of the elite American media. A survey of April 20 editorials alone was telling. The New York Times had five articles focused on Benedict XVI. Four had extremely negative headlines and bias. They called him “conservative” eighteen times. 18! The Los Angeles Times said of Ratzinger, “serving as the pope's doctrinal enforcer... he has been a largely polarizing force in the church, coming down hard on Catholic leaders who sought social justice in Latin America or dissented from the Vatican in their teachings.” How dare the man charged with defending Catholic orthodoxy actually defend Catholic orthodoxy! What a… a… CONSERVATIVE. As if they couldn’t come up with a worse term. The Washington Post said, “we hope he'll weigh the possible benefits of new medical technologies, and not dismiss them out of hand,” referring to Ratzinger's long held argument against reproductive technology, human cloning, and stem cell research. The Boston Globe lamented the fact the Benedict XVI would continue the hard line regarding priestly celibacy and ordination of women, hinting that these were the chief reasons for the decline of the faithful American Catholics. Maureen Dowd, the ever honest and fair columnist (Gag me!) made a concerted effort to point out Ratzinger’s involvement in the Hitler Youth organization as a young teenager in Bavaria, Germany. She conveniently failed, however, to mention that in Bavaria participation was compulsory and that Ratzinger deserted the Nazi Army after being drafted at age 16. But hey, don’t let the facts get in the way of your bias, Maureen, that has never stopped you before!
Again, why am I rushing to the defense of a Catholic heretic? The elite, mainstream media will continue to disparage anyone with conviction. Anyone who has the audacity to claim to know a certain absolute truth will be marginalized and categorized as an extremist. Pope Benedict XVI is the not the first and will certainly not be the last to be called an extremist, anti-intellectual, right-wing, conservative, simply because he holds to the existence of absolute truth. Look at Rev. Jerry Falwell. He is frequently demonized for his public stance on conservative, biblical morality. Admittedly, his methods are often unnecessarily acerbic, however, his conviction of the absolute authority of the Word of God is what brings him the bulk of his criticism.
Scripture reminds us to preach the word in season and out of season, warning that people will not put up with sound doctrine, but rather gather teachers that feed their passions. Today the passions of Americans include promiscuity, the elevated role of women to leadership positions, denominational and even religious ecumenism and many others. Passions are what drive us. People gather unto themselves teachers that will tell them what they want to hear and make them feel good. Anyone who place authority outside of the individual passions of the people will be marginalized and demonized.
Any evangelical preacher worth his salt will understand what I am saying. If people have never been offended by the preaching of the word under your ministry, you are not unashamedly preaching the gospel. The cross and the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ alone offends the unbeliever, and many so-called believers as well.
Pope Benedict XVI will continue to be categorized as a polarizing figure. He will be cast as an un-enlightened old-school conservative. But remember, the “orthodoxy” that makes Benedict XVI such a polarizing figure is heresy. He holds that Mary is the Co-Repemptrix, the Church (meaning the papacy) is absolutely authoritative and the Priest, as a papal representative, can absolve the sin of the faithful who do proper penance.
We must continue to stand against the heresy of Romanism and guard our people from the wolves that present themselves in the sheep’s wool. However, we must be reminded from the elite media attention that Benedict is getting, we will be challenged, even demonized, when we stand for the absolute truth of God’s Word.
Stand firm my friends, the days are evil.
Grace to You!
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Habemus Papum!
We have a Pope!
So went the cry of "the faithful" in The Vatican! With the selection of the German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as the new Pope, we can be fairly certain the Romanists will keep pace with the conservative cultural fight of the days. The Vatican will use its bully pulpit to argue against human cloning, abortion, birth control and ordination of women or homosexuals. For that we can be thankful.
We can, however, also be certain that Mary will continue to be worshipped, priests the world over will attempt to re-present the death of Christ at every mass and "the faithful" will continue to do penance for "the absolution of their sin."
I do not go on the record with predictions too often. However, let me offer my expectation that the Roman Catholic Church will see a quick and substantial influx of numbers attending mass. Then in short order the numbers will significantly decrease. The majority of Catholics, at least American Catholics, are far more cuturally liberal than John Paul II or Benedict XVI. They desire the ordination of women, if not homoselxuals. They do not practice the Catholic belief that birth control is wrong. They do not hold to a pro-life position. Just look at John Kerry or Ted Kennedy, or most any Catholic in your neighborhood. Catholics, much like most Americans, do not like the idea of someone having authority over them. As Ratzinger continues the tradition of the previous Pope of consolidating authority and control in Rome, the people in the pews will increasingly see the Church as irrelevant and outdated.
This bodes poorly for the Catholic Church. This same mentality, however, bodes poorly for evangelicals as well. I beleive the Bible teaches that the Church, as the pillar and ground of the Truth, has a certain authority in the lives of believers. People don't like that. When churches and pastors, preach authoritatively the doctrines of grace, people will flock away. Oh, some will come, as God continues to do the work of regeneration. But the statistics (usually) don't lie. More Americans are calling themselves religious, even "born-again." But less and less are actually darkening the doors of churchs (which gives at least one indicator of the genuinesness or lack thereof of their profession).
Anyway... there you go! Sorry to be negative today. But sometimes we must face reality. Preach the word in season and out of season... but do so with longsuffering. People will respond to God's word (He has promised that). They just might not do it as fast as we'd like!
Grace to you!
So went the cry of "the faithful" in The Vatican! With the selection of the German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as the new Pope, we can be fairly certain the Romanists will keep pace with the conservative cultural fight of the days. The Vatican will use its bully pulpit to argue against human cloning, abortion, birth control and ordination of women or homosexuals. For that we can be thankful.
We can, however, also be certain that Mary will continue to be worshipped, priests the world over will attempt to re-present the death of Christ at every mass and "the faithful" will continue to do penance for "the absolution of their sin."
I do not go on the record with predictions too often. However, let me offer my expectation that the Roman Catholic Church will see a quick and substantial influx of numbers attending mass. Then in short order the numbers will significantly decrease. The majority of Catholics, at least American Catholics, are far more cuturally liberal than John Paul II or Benedict XVI. They desire the ordination of women, if not homoselxuals. They do not practice the Catholic belief that birth control is wrong. They do not hold to a pro-life position. Just look at John Kerry or Ted Kennedy, or most any Catholic in your neighborhood. Catholics, much like most Americans, do not like the idea of someone having authority over them. As Ratzinger continues the tradition of the previous Pope of consolidating authority and control in Rome, the people in the pews will increasingly see the Church as irrelevant and outdated.
This bodes poorly for the Catholic Church. This same mentality, however, bodes poorly for evangelicals as well. I beleive the Bible teaches that the Church, as the pillar and ground of the Truth, has a certain authority in the lives of believers. People don't like that. When churches and pastors, preach authoritatively the doctrines of grace, people will flock away. Oh, some will come, as God continues to do the work of regeneration. But the statistics (usually) don't lie. More Americans are calling themselves religious, even "born-again." But less and less are actually darkening the doors of churchs (which gives at least one indicator of the genuinesness or lack thereof of their profession).
Anyway... there you go! Sorry to be negative today. But sometimes we must face reality. Preach the word in season and out of season... but do so with longsuffering. People will respond to God's word (He has promised that). They just might not do it as fast as we'd like!
Grace to you!
Friday, April 15, 2005
A Different Perspective on Evangelism
Among the theologians that I read and learn from, I would not rank conservative commentator and best selling auther Ann Coulter close to the top. However, her comments last week (which I just got around to reading this afternoon) on the Brian Nichols / Ashley Smith / Purpose Driven life events were enlightening. Read the article titled "The Purpose Driven Left". Coulter's sharp, biting humor is hard to take for some. I rather find it an amusing way to deal with the harshness of today's news.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=index&cid=108
Obviously, beginning a gospel presentation with "God has a purpose for you" is very man centered. But even after a wobbly start, one can get to the holiness of God, the depravity of man (especially when talking to a cold blooded killer), the substitutionary atonement of Christ and the need for faith and repentance. The reports indicate that Nichols heart softened as he reckoned his sad state (which he watch personally on the T.V. commenting "I can't believe I am that same man") and compared it to what he could be. The exact account of what was shared we'll certainly never know. The genuineness of Nichols converstion will come to light as time passes (as it does for all of us). But this we can learn: But for the grace of God I too would be running around with a gun and knocking people off who got in my way of chasing what I wanted. But in God's sovereign grace, I am redeemed, transformed, a new creation in Christ.
Please remember that Brian Nichols is no different than you and I. Neither is a man who claims infallibility as Head of the Church. Nor is an arrogant news reporter claiming to know all. A drunk, homeless man sitting in the park or the prostitute parading around the streets are neither any more or less depraved than you and I. They are no worse or better than you and I. We are all born with only the capacity for the worst of all sin. In my natural state of depravity, as an enemy of God, I might just as fast as anyone assume the be infallible. I might (and sometimes probably do) think I know everything. Yet God, who is rich in mercy, saved me.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I am found
Was blind, but now I see!
Grace to You!
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=index&cid=108
Obviously, beginning a gospel presentation with "God has a purpose for you" is very man centered. But even after a wobbly start, one can get to the holiness of God, the depravity of man (especially when talking to a cold blooded killer), the substitutionary atonement of Christ and the need for faith and repentance. The reports indicate that Nichols heart softened as he reckoned his sad state (which he watch personally on the T.V. commenting "I can't believe I am that same man") and compared it to what he could be. The exact account of what was shared we'll certainly never know. The genuineness of Nichols converstion will come to light as time passes (as it does for all of us). But this we can learn: But for the grace of God I too would be running around with a gun and knocking people off who got in my way of chasing what I wanted. But in God's sovereign grace, I am redeemed, transformed, a new creation in Christ.
Please remember that Brian Nichols is no different than you and I. Neither is a man who claims infallibility as Head of the Church. Nor is an arrogant news reporter claiming to know all. A drunk, homeless man sitting in the park or the prostitute parading around the streets are neither any more or less depraved than you and I. They are no worse or better than you and I. We are all born with only the capacity for the worst of all sin. In my natural state of depravity, as an enemy of God, I might just as fast as anyone assume the be infallible. I might (and sometimes probably do) think I know everything. Yet God, who is rich in mercy, saved me.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I am found
Was blind, but now I see!
Grace to You!
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Do Romanist really believe the Pope is Holy Trinity?
As 115 Bishops gather in a secret conclave in the Sistine Chapel under the historic work of Michelangelo, the world waits to see who will be the next man to claim holy inerrancy. I find it interesting that by the vote of 115 bishops a man is declared to be, from that point forward, inerrant and assumes holy names for himself that the Scripture ascribes to God alone. I want to examine three of those here.
“The Holy Father”
How often do we hear on the news or read in the paper someone referring to John Paul II as the “Holy Father?” This name more than the others gives attention to the hierarchical structure of the Roman Catholic Church. They believe this man elected by other men to be the head of the Roman Church to be worthy of a title that Jesus says belongs to God alone. In Matthew 23.9 Jesus tells his followers, “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” Jesus is in the midst of exposing the gig of the Pharisees, who “say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places” (v3-7) He warns of setting yourself up as one who claims to have superiority over others. Certainly we understand that within the structure of the Church, God has established order and structure; however, we must exercise such leadership with great care and in all humility. The name “Father” is reserved for God alone for it assumes not only positional headship but superiority of essence. Then to be so bold as to attach the descriptive “Holy!” I tremble when folks at our church call me “Pastor.” What a weight of responsibility! In assuming the adjective “Holy” the Pope is declaring a status the Scripture indicates we will not attain until we reach Glory.
"The Pontiff"
To pontificate means to “make a bridge” The etymology of the word is Latin, from pont-, “bridge” + facer “to make.” Therefore, assuming the title “Pontif” is to assume the right and responsibility to be one's bridge to God. The Pope claims to be the one who gives the faithful access to God. Thus the Pope, and the rest of the Holy Mafia, can offer forgiveness, absolution, etc in exchange for various indulgences. The Scripture teaches there is only one mediator between God and Man. That mediator is not Mary! It is the man Jesus Christ (1 Tim 2.5,6) In fact the writer of Hebrews also reminds us of the intercessory role of Christ. “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (4.14-16). Neither the Pope, nor anyone else, can take the mediatory role of Christ.
“The Vicar of Christ”
A “vicar” is one who serves as a substitute or agent. It comes from the Latin vicarius, also the root of the English word “vicarious,” as in the vicarious (substitutionary) atonement of Christ. By assuming this title, the pope actually claims to be the one who stands in the stead of Christ. This is how the pope, as well as other Roman Catholic clergy believe they have a right to delcare “Your sins are absolved!” to a faithful Catholic who observes the Sacrament of Penance. The Bible declares that it is Christ alone who stands as our Advocate before God. It is His privilege to deliver to us the absolution of our sins as a result of the once for all sacrifice He made on the cross. But the Pope claims to be standing in the stead of Christ. There is only one “vicar of Christ.” In John 16.5-15 Jesus promises, “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.” Christ declares that the Holy Spirit will be His vicar. The Holy Spirit will stand in the stead of Christ. No man, no pope is ever to blasphemously claim to be the vicar of Christ.
Thus in assuming the three blasphemous names of “Holy Father,” “Vicar of Christ,” and “Pontificate,” the Pope is taking the role and assuming the very identity of the Holy Trinity - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Thus the origin of the historical claims of Biblical Protestants that the Papacy is the seat of the Antichrist. Whether Pope John Paul II is in fact THE Antichrist prophesied in Scripture is yet to be determine. It is, however, certain that The Pope, all popes, are antichrists. Drawing attention away from the real Savior Jesus Christ and redirecting it to the Church, Mary or The Pope himself.
As Bible believing Christians, we must continue to warn of the wolves in sheep's clothing and faithful proclaim the once for all, finished, sufficient sacrifice of Christ alone.
Grace to You!
“The Holy Father”
How often do we hear on the news or read in the paper someone referring to John Paul II as the “Holy Father?” This name more than the others gives attention to the hierarchical structure of the Roman Catholic Church. They believe this man elected by other men to be the head of the Roman Church to be worthy of a title that Jesus says belongs to God alone. In Matthew 23.9 Jesus tells his followers, “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” Jesus is in the midst of exposing the gig of the Pharisees, who “say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places” (v3-7) He warns of setting yourself up as one who claims to have superiority over others. Certainly we understand that within the structure of the Church, God has established order and structure; however, we must exercise such leadership with great care and in all humility. The name “Father” is reserved for God alone for it assumes not only positional headship but superiority of essence. Then to be so bold as to attach the descriptive “Holy!” I tremble when folks at our church call me “Pastor.” What a weight of responsibility! In assuming the adjective “Holy” the Pope is declaring a status the Scripture indicates we will not attain until we reach Glory.
"The Pontiff"
To pontificate means to “make a bridge” The etymology of the word is Latin, from pont-, “bridge” + facer “to make.” Therefore, assuming the title “Pontif” is to assume the right and responsibility to be one's bridge to God. The Pope claims to be the one who gives the faithful access to God. Thus the Pope, and the rest of the Holy Mafia, can offer forgiveness, absolution, etc in exchange for various indulgences. The Scripture teaches there is only one mediator between God and Man. That mediator is not Mary! It is the man Jesus Christ (1 Tim 2.5,6) In fact the writer of Hebrews also reminds us of the intercessory role of Christ. “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (4.14-16). Neither the Pope, nor anyone else, can take the mediatory role of Christ.
“The Vicar of Christ”
A “vicar” is one who serves as a substitute or agent. It comes from the Latin vicarius, also the root of the English word “vicarious,” as in the vicarious (substitutionary) atonement of Christ. By assuming this title, the pope actually claims to be the one who stands in the stead of Christ. This is how the pope, as well as other Roman Catholic clergy believe they have a right to delcare “Your sins are absolved!” to a faithful Catholic who observes the Sacrament of Penance. The Bible declares that it is Christ alone who stands as our Advocate before God. It is His privilege to deliver to us the absolution of our sins as a result of the once for all sacrifice He made on the cross. But the Pope claims to be standing in the stead of Christ. There is only one “vicar of Christ.” In John 16.5-15 Jesus promises, “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.” Christ declares that the Holy Spirit will be His vicar. The Holy Spirit will stand in the stead of Christ. No man, no pope is ever to blasphemously claim to be the vicar of Christ.
Thus in assuming the three blasphemous names of “Holy Father,” “Vicar of Christ,” and “Pontificate,” the Pope is taking the role and assuming the very identity of the Holy Trinity - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Thus the origin of the historical claims of Biblical Protestants that the Papacy is the seat of the Antichrist. Whether Pope John Paul II is in fact THE Antichrist prophesied in Scripture is yet to be determine. It is, however, certain that The Pope, all popes, are antichrists. Drawing attention away from the real Savior Jesus Christ and redirecting it to the Church, Mary or The Pope himself.
As Bible believing Christians, we must continue to warn of the wolves in sheep's clothing and faithful proclaim the once for all, finished, sufficient sacrifice of Christ alone.
Grace to You!
Nightmare at Panera
I am sitting in a Panera eating an Asiago Roast Beef sandwich (which I love!). I typically find Panera to be a great place to get away from my office for a bit to read, study or write. Panera offers free wireless internet access and as much Hazelnut House Blend coffee as I can drink. Contrary to how this sounds, it is not a commercial for Panera. In fact, I am doing everything in my power not to get up and storm out of here this very moment. It must be the beautiful Spring day that brings them out. Today Panera is filled with mothers and preschool age children. It might have something to do with the fact the this particular café is located adjacent to the largest mall here in Toledo. But they are out in droves!
To my right is three mothers with a total of five children, the oldest can’t be more than four years old. They are very well behaved. Eating politely and (mostly) quietly. In fact the oldest of the kids is actually holding and bottle feeding a newborn. A beautiful picture. On my left, however, is a mother and presumably a grandmother (neither one deserving such esteemed titles) and two of the most disrespectful children I have ever seen. I was just coughed on – I mean directly coughed on! This brother and sister are yelling, pushing and playing tug-o-war with the high chair. Another couple of ladies just got up, gathered their meals and all the papers they were shuffling through and moved to a table as far away as possible, and threw back a few glares like only women can as they walked away. The mother of the monsters didn’t even notice. She is too busy drinking her pop to notice her own children let alone the glares of the customers whose lives and lunches she is ruining. It is like a scene from a movie. The monsters are now licking, yes that is what I said, licking the exit doors and blocking the way of the kindly old ladies trying to get out. Oh, mommy just notices the nightmare. “Sammy, come here!” That’s all we get, “Sammy, come here!” This will be one of those instances that require a mop and a bucket of disinfectant cleaner when the mob finally leaves.
Now, understand I have three children with a fourth on the way. I know children can be crazy at times, even monstrous. Elisabeth, Rebekah and Jonathan are not angels. They present their challenges in many a public place. Ask my wife about trying to get them from their classrooms, retrieve their coats and get them to the van after a Sunday morning service, all the while trying to be the friendly, caring Pastor’s wife that she is. It is often not a pretty scene – it is after all nap time and lunch time.
This whole mob situation to my left causes me to praise the Lord for my wife once again. Together we have worked diligently, though not always consistently, at raising our children to reflect the graces of Christ in their everyday lives. Our children are just that – children. They are not angels, but neither are they monsters. That is a direct result of discipline on the part of my wife and I! Left to themselves they would in fact be monsters. They would be much like the little demons that have finally left here (and by the way, the mop and bucket have arrived!) I am reminded that I must be ever faithful in the work of shepherding the hearts (and indeed the actions) of my children. Correcting them when they lick a door or cough on a nice gentleman typing on his computer is important, but that will not change behavior. Stern, immediate discipline coupled with the long term discipleship efforts will produce a heart of obedience and life that honors the Lord. It doesn’t happen immediately, but it must start in the immediate. A swift stern paddle across the buttocks will not alone change behavior. But coupled with an intentional teaching plan that involves planned moments of instruction and spontaneous life lessons will, over the long haul, produce the desired result of Christlikeness in them.
May we be ever faithful to the most important task we have been given as parents, nurturing Christian maturity in our children.
Grace to You!
To my right is three mothers with a total of five children, the oldest can’t be more than four years old. They are very well behaved. Eating politely and (mostly) quietly. In fact the oldest of the kids is actually holding and bottle feeding a newborn. A beautiful picture. On my left, however, is a mother and presumably a grandmother (neither one deserving such esteemed titles) and two of the most disrespectful children I have ever seen. I was just coughed on – I mean directly coughed on! This brother and sister are yelling, pushing and playing tug-o-war with the high chair. Another couple of ladies just got up, gathered their meals and all the papers they were shuffling through and moved to a table as far away as possible, and threw back a few glares like only women can as they walked away. The mother of the monsters didn’t even notice. She is too busy drinking her pop to notice her own children let alone the glares of the customers whose lives and lunches she is ruining. It is like a scene from a movie. The monsters are now licking, yes that is what I said, licking the exit doors and blocking the way of the kindly old ladies trying to get out. Oh, mommy just notices the nightmare. “Sammy, come here!” That’s all we get, “Sammy, come here!” This will be one of those instances that require a mop and a bucket of disinfectant cleaner when the mob finally leaves.
Now, understand I have three children with a fourth on the way. I know children can be crazy at times, even monstrous. Elisabeth, Rebekah and Jonathan are not angels. They present their challenges in many a public place. Ask my wife about trying to get them from their classrooms, retrieve their coats and get them to the van after a Sunday morning service, all the while trying to be the friendly, caring Pastor’s wife that she is. It is often not a pretty scene – it is after all nap time and lunch time.
This whole mob situation to my left causes me to praise the Lord for my wife once again. Together we have worked diligently, though not always consistently, at raising our children to reflect the graces of Christ in their everyday lives. Our children are just that – children. They are not angels, but neither are they monsters. That is a direct result of discipline on the part of my wife and I! Left to themselves they would in fact be monsters. They would be much like the little demons that have finally left here (and by the way, the mop and bucket have arrived!) I am reminded that I must be ever faithful in the work of shepherding the hearts (and indeed the actions) of my children. Correcting them when they lick a door or cough on a nice gentleman typing on his computer is important, but that will not change behavior. Stern, immediate discipline coupled with the long term discipleship efforts will produce a heart of obedience and life that honors the Lord. It doesn’t happen immediately, but it must start in the immediate. A swift stern paddle across the buttocks will not alone change behavior. But coupled with an intentional teaching plan that involves planned moments of instruction and spontaneous life lessons will, over the long haul, produce the desired result of Christlikeness in them.
May we be ever faithful to the most important task we have been given as parents, nurturing Christian maturity in our children.
Grace to You!
Some favorite links
It might be a bit like a local "Mom & Pop" ice cream shop encouraging you to visit Dairy Queen or a "Jim Bob's Used Car's" telling to go see the big new Ford dealership downthe street, but I am going to encourage you to visit a few of my favorite sites. Of course, they are far better in terms of style and substance than what I am posting. I trust you will find them helpful.
Here is a list of my favorite sites:
http://www.9marks.org/ - The ministry of Mark Dever and 9 Marks of a healthy church
http://www.crosswalk.com/news/weblogs/mohler/ - Dr. Al Mohler's Blog
http://www.alliancenet.org/ - The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals
http://aomin.org/ - The apologetic ministry of Dr. James White
http://a1m.org/index.php - The thoughtful ministry of Steve Camp
http://www.mlj.org.uk/ - Martin Llyod Jones Recording Trust - hear recorded sermons of the great expositor himself
http://www.monergism.com/ - Good website on church ministry and conservative theology
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/ - My other hobby, when I am not teaching or reading
http://www.johnnybronco.blogspot.com - the thoughts of a friend of mine who is just starting his seminary training at Southern.
These are some of my most frequently visited sites. So be encouraged! Read! Study to show yourself approved!
Here is a list of my favorite sites:
http://www.9marks.org/ - The ministry of Mark Dever and 9 Marks of a healthy church
http://www.crosswalk.com/news/weblogs/mohler/ - Dr. Al Mohler's Blog
http://www.alliancenet.org/ - The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals
http://aomin.org/ - The apologetic ministry of Dr. James White
http://a1m.org/index.php - The thoughtful ministry of Steve Camp
http://www.mlj.org.uk/ - Martin Llyod Jones Recording Trust - hear recorded sermons of the great expositor himself
http://www.monergism.com/ - Good website on church ministry and conservative theology
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/ - My other hobby, when I am not teaching or reading
http://www.johnnybronco.blogspot.com - the thoughts of a friend of mine who is just starting his seminary training at Southern.
These are some of my most frequently visited sites. So be encouraged! Read! Study to show yourself approved!
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Waking Up In Perdition
I wish I could be done writing about the passing of John Paul II, but the news will not let it go. There is coming soon the announcement of yet another man to assume the blasphemous titles of "Holy Father," "Vicar or Christ," and "Pontificate." In a soon coming post we will look at how the Bishop of Rome, in assuming these three names, presumptively takes upon himself the very names of the three persons of the Holy Trinity.
In th meantime, let me comment about a another evangelical leader that I greatly respect. In my role as Director of Operations at a Christian Camp and Retreat Center, I had the privilege of partnering in minstry with Steve Camp. Steve in a legend in Christian Music. I greatly appreciate thetheological depth and biblical commitment presented in his music. In the past few years I have come to appreciate Steve even more so as a bold, clear communicator of Truth. When many evangelical leaders are caving to ecumenism and blurring the truth of the gospel, Steve has been faithful in standing for the heart of the Gospel. He is truly a "no holds barred" proclaimer of Truth. See here his most recent posts of the final "resting place" of John Paul II. Warning! Reading this post will be dangerous to any inkling of ecumensim you might posses! Be challenged!
http://a1m.org/index.php
Grace to you!
In th meantime, let me comment about a another evangelical leader that I greatly respect. In my role as Director of Operations at a Christian Camp and Retreat Center, I had the privilege of partnering in minstry with Steve Camp. Steve in a legend in Christian Music. I greatly appreciate thetheological depth and biblical commitment presented in his music. In the past few years I have come to appreciate Steve even more so as a bold, clear communicator of Truth. When many evangelical leaders are caving to ecumenism and blurring the truth of the gospel, Steve has been faithful in standing for the heart of the Gospel. He is truly a "no holds barred" proclaimer of Truth. See here his most recent posts of the final "resting place" of John Paul II. Warning! Reading this post will be dangerous to any inkling of ecumensim you might posses! Be challenged!
http://a1m.org/index.php
Grace to you!
Friday, April 08, 2005
Standing in the Tradition of Luther
The attempt to undo the Reformation continues full speed ahead. This time however, one evangelical leader that I greatly respect threw the gospel under the runaway bus of ecumenism and political clout. Dr. Al Mohler appeared on Focus on the Family with Dr. James Dobson and two prominent Catholics yesterday (4/6) and failed to defend the gospel. To be fair, Dr. Mohler did not acquiesce to the ecumenical heritage of Dobson, but he didn’t stand firm to call the pope the heretic that he was either. John Paul II blatantly denied the sufficiency of the gospel of Jesus Christ time and again in his encyclical writings, as I have presented the last couple of days. But Mohler passed on the opportunity to stand in the tradition of Luther and defend the heart of the gospel. Very disappointing indeed! Hear the discussion here: http://www.family.org/fmedia/broadcast/a0036100.cfm
My Senior Pastor Philip DeCourcy took full advantage of the necessary opportunity to point out the wolf in sheep’s clothing that was Pope John II. He went through some key theological heresies that appear in the Pope’s encyclical writings. He also dealt with the various blasphemous titles that the Pope took unto himself. Our folks responded very well to the gracious, yet firm, manner in which the material was presented.
While ultimately, a biblical heritage is fundamental, we must also remember the men on whose shoulders we evangelicals stand. These men, in the tradition of Luther, stood often to their death, for the grace of God in Christ alone. The London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 in Section 26: Of the Church, line 4 states "The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, in whom, by the appointment of the Father, all power for the calling, institution, order or government of the church, is invested in a supreme and sovereign manner; neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof, but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God; whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." Read for yourself here:
http://www.vor.org/truth/1689/1689bc00.html
Now it seems apparent that John Paul II is not The Antichrist - otherwise, he will be rising from the dead soon and my pre-tribulational rapture position is wrong! But it is quite clear that John Paul II and the Roman Catholic Church are anti-christ in the sense that they completely deny, from the Council of Trent all the way through Vatican II, the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
Will evangelicals stand up for the gospel or melt into the mucky pool of theological compromise while grasping for political power? I will continue to stand with Luther to call the wolves within the fold of the church to repent. I will not stand with them to gain any political clout. Nor do I believe that we can best glorify God by joining hands for the purpose of promoting a "form of godliness while denying the power therof" with those who deny the sufficiency of the cross of Christ.
In Acts 20.29 Paul reminds the Ephesian elders that “fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” May we be ever vigilant to guard our flocks from the wolves that infiltrate the ranks of true believers.
Grace to you!
My Senior Pastor Philip DeCourcy took full advantage of the necessary opportunity to point out the wolf in sheep’s clothing that was Pope John II. He went through some key theological heresies that appear in the Pope’s encyclical writings. He also dealt with the various blasphemous titles that the Pope took unto himself. Our folks responded very well to the gracious, yet firm, manner in which the material was presented.
While ultimately, a biblical heritage is fundamental, we must also remember the men on whose shoulders we evangelicals stand. These men, in the tradition of Luther, stood often to their death, for the grace of God in Christ alone. The London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 in Section 26: Of the Church, line 4 states "The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, in whom, by the appointment of the Father, all power for the calling, institution, order or government of the church, is invested in a supreme and sovereign manner; neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof, but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God; whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." Read for yourself here:
http://www.vor.org/truth/1689/1689bc00.html
Now it seems apparent that John Paul II is not The Antichrist - otherwise, he will be rising from the dead soon and my pre-tribulational rapture position is wrong! But it is quite clear that John Paul II and the Roman Catholic Church are anti-christ in the sense that they completely deny, from the Council of Trent all the way through Vatican II, the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
Will evangelicals stand up for the gospel or melt into the mucky pool of theological compromise while grasping for political power? I will continue to stand with Luther to call the wolves within the fold of the church to repent. I will not stand with them to gain any political clout. Nor do I believe that we can best glorify God by joining hands for the purpose of promoting a "form of godliness while denying the power therof" with those who deny the sufficiency of the cross of Christ.
In Acts 20.29 Paul reminds the Ephesian elders that “fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” May we be ever vigilant to guard our flocks from the wolves that infiltrate the ranks of true believers.
Grace to you!
Evangelical Youth Ministry Leader Calls for “Protestants” to Be “Embracients”
More from the mushy, watered down, theologically-empty evangelical front! I just read this article with absolute disgust. It proves once again that most Protestants have no idea why they are Protestants. Maybe we don’t want to wear the tight collars or habits on our heads. Maybe we like a guitar at our worship services instead of candles (though that distinction in rapidly disappearing thanks to Brian MacClaren and the Emergent Church movement and the Charismatic inroads into the Catholic Church).
Did we forget the reason Martin Luther posted 95 disagreements with the Rome on the church door in Wittenberg in 1517? Is 500 years too long to remember? Apparently Mark Oestreigher of Youth Specialties either forgot, or found the Reformation unnecessary. Here are his comments on the division between Catholics and Protestants. “We protestants got our name because we're "protesters"—we were against some things in the Catholic church of that time. Unfortunately, that nexus has become part-and-parcel with who we have continued to be. If there's one thing that Protestants are really good at, it's not agreeing, it's reacting against (in protest) and starting something new.”
Actually, if the truth were to be told, “that nexus” of protesting “some things in the Catholic church of that time” has indeed not become “part and parcel with who we have continued to be.” That is the fundamental reason evangelicalism fails to have an eternal impact on our society. Evangelicalism as a whole has no theological distinction to speak of.
Anyway… read the whole mushy article from Mark Oestreicher, President of Youth Specialties here:
http://youthspecialties.com/about/news/2005/pope_john_paul_II.php
Did you catch his description of the false teachers of the Catholic parish in your neighborhood? “For all of us protestants (embracients!), this is a key point in history where we have the opportunity to embrace our Catholic brothers and sisters—our co-heirs in the church of Jesus Christ, fellow children of God.”
Let’s consider this thought being a “co-heir” and “fellow children of God.”
Romans 8.17 is where we discover the aspect of the grace of God that allows those who have be transformed by the sufficient, one-for-all sacrifice of Christ as “heirs of God and Joint heirs with Jesus Christ.” It is truly a profound thing that we sinners, both by nature and practice, will reign with Christ and be called “joint heirs” with Him. As those who have been regenerated by the faith alone in Christ alone we will be the heirs of the riches of the glory of God. This thought is closely connected to John 1.12-13, where we find that all those who receive the Him (that is Jesus), those who believe in His name (alone) have the right to called children of God. That means those who not trust in the name of Christ alone do not have the right to be called children of God.
These are very precious thought worthy of our mediation at some point. God allows us to be called his children, and as such, we are guaranteed the rights do children. We will be heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ! Amazing thought for a sinner such as I!
However, when we begin to ascribe those salvific blessings to those who deny the sufficiency of the cross of Christ, we deny the very impact of the grace of God. Mr. Oestriecher apparently believes that even those who teach that grace comes through Mary, the Church, the Papacy and the Sacraments should be embraced and called “fellow children of God.” Is Mr. Oestreicher deliberately denying the cross himself? Or is he simply acquiescing to the ecumenical spirit that now defines the so called Evangelical movement?
Either way, my the grace of God be boldly proclaimed today in the face of such rampant ecumenism that by its very nature denies the fundamental gospel of the grace of God in Christ!
Grace to you!
Did we forget the reason Martin Luther posted 95 disagreements with the Rome on the church door in Wittenberg in 1517? Is 500 years too long to remember? Apparently Mark Oestreigher of Youth Specialties either forgot, or found the Reformation unnecessary. Here are his comments on the division between Catholics and Protestants. “We protestants got our name because we're "protesters"—we were against some things in the Catholic church of that time. Unfortunately, that nexus has become part-and-parcel with who we have continued to be. If there's one thing that Protestants are really good at, it's not agreeing, it's reacting against (in protest) and starting something new.”
Actually, if the truth were to be told, “that nexus” of protesting “some things in the Catholic church of that time” has indeed not become “part and parcel with who we have continued to be.” That is the fundamental reason evangelicalism fails to have an eternal impact on our society. Evangelicalism as a whole has no theological distinction to speak of.
Anyway… read the whole mushy article from Mark Oestreicher, President of Youth Specialties here:
http://youthspecialties.com/about/news/2005/pope_john_paul_II.php
Did you catch his description of the false teachers of the Catholic parish in your neighborhood? “For all of us protestants (embracients!), this is a key point in history where we have the opportunity to embrace our Catholic brothers and sisters—our co-heirs in the church of Jesus Christ, fellow children of God.”
Let’s consider this thought being a “co-heir” and “fellow children of God.”
Romans 8.17 is where we discover the aspect of the grace of God that allows those who have be transformed by the sufficient, one-for-all sacrifice of Christ as “heirs of God and Joint heirs with Jesus Christ.” It is truly a profound thing that we sinners, both by nature and practice, will reign with Christ and be called “joint heirs” with Him. As those who have been regenerated by the faith alone in Christ alone we will be the heirs of the riches of the glory of God. This thought is closely connected to John 1.12-13, where we find that all those who receive the Him (that is Jesus), those who believe in His name (alone) have the right to called children of God. That means those who not trust in the name of Christ alone do not have the right to be called children of God.
These are very precious thought worthy of our mediation at some point. God allows us to be called his children, and as such, we are guaranteed the rights do children. We will be heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ! Amazing thought for a sinner such as I!
However, when we begin to ascribe those salvific blessings to those who deny the sufficiency of the cross of Christ, we deny the very impact of the grace of God. Mr. Oestriecher apparently believes that even those who teach that grace comes through Mary, the Church, the Papacy and the Sacraments should be embraced and called “fellow children of God.” Is Mr. Oestreicher deliberately denying the cross himself? Or is he simply acquiescing to the ecumenical spirit that now defines the so called Evangelical movement?
Either way, my the grace of God be boldly proclaimed today in the face of such rampant ecumenism that by its very nature denies the fundamental gospel of the grace of God in Christ!
Grace to you!
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
A link to a favorite Blog
Here is a link that I would encourage you to check out. Dr. James White is an apologist and Executive Director of Alpha and Omega Ministries. You will find his entire site very valuable, particulary his recent posts on Roman Catholocism. Enjoy your reading!
http://aomin.org/index.php?itemid=333
2 Tim 2.14-16 "14Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness" (ESV)
Our quarrel is not over words or irreverent babbling, but an effort to "rightly handle the word of Truth" which is being thrown out at the expense of ecumenism, false piety and a general lack of "good courage" to "contend for the faith the was once delivered to the saints" Jude 3.
Grace to you!
http://aomin.org/index.php?itemid=333
2 Tim 2.14-16 "14Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness" (ESV)
Our quarrel is not over words or irreverent babbling, but an effort to "rightly handle the word of Truth" which is being thrown out at the expense of ecumenism, false piety and a general lack of "good courage" to "contend for the faith the was once delivered to the saints" Jude 3.
Grace to you!
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
There is One Mediator between God and Man
As I continue to watch (and mostly read) the coverage of the death of John Paul II, I am amazed (though I shouldn’t be) at the extent of the Marian Theology. It is cult-like and very scary. Let me remind you of the comments I made yesterday regarding the Pope’s high view of Mary as the Co-Redemptrix and Mediatrix.
From the “Redeemer of Man” – an encyclical letter of His Holiness John Paul II: “if we feel a special need, in this difficult and responsible phase of the history of the Church and of mankind, to turn to Christ, who is Lord of the Church and Lord of man's history on account of the mystery of the Redemption, we believe that nobody else can bring us as Mary can into the divine and human dimension of this mystery. Nobody has been brought into it by God Himself as Mary has. It is in this that the exceptional character of the grace of the divine Motherhood consists. Not only is the dignity of this Motherhood unique and unrepeatable in the history of the human race, but Mary's participation, due to this maternity, is God's plan for man's salvation through the mystery.”
You can read the whole of his encyclical letter on redemption here: http://www.cin.org/jp2ency/redeem.html
Did you catch that last comment? God’s plan for man’s salvation is Mary’s participation in bringing Christ to the world and participating in His suffering. She therefore becomes the Mother Grace. I actually heard another Vatican official comment the John Paul II was going to lay down his rewards at the feet of Mary! Presumably he believes that Mary will in turn lay his worship at the feet of God on his behalf. Hence the bad theology that Mary is the Mediatrix, or the mediator between God and Man. Read 1 Timothy 2.5,6: “5For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” (ESV) Who has the Scripture declared to be the one mediator between God and man? There is only one! The “Man Jesus Christ.” The word here translated mediator is from Greek mesites. The idea is we have one who acts as the link between two parties for the purpose of peace. Jesus is the link between sinful man and Holy God. Jesus is the one who brings the peace. Romans 5.1,2 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” How do we have peace with God? “Through Jesus Christ,” and by means of justification. It is this justification that allows us (verse 2) to “obtain access by faith into this grace.”
Without justification, there is no redemption. Justification comes at a cost. 2 Cor 5.21 is the most succinct and profound verse on the heart of the gospel. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Justification comes at the cost of imputation. Christ Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin on our behalf. He actually became the embodiment of sin itself, without ever sinning or diminishing His divine character. He did this to bear the totality of the God’s wrath against sin. Jesus paid the debt that appeased the wrath of God. Our sin was imputed to Christ Himself. But that is not all. There is another side to the coin of imputation. As our sin was imputed to Christ, His righteousness was imputed to us. Just as Christ never sinned, never became a sinner, never diminished His divine character, rather; He undeservedly bore the wrath of God in our substitution, we too undeservedly receive the righteousness of God. You cannot earn it, just as Christ could not earn the wrath of God. This imputation is initiated at the moment of faith.
Do you see how the false teaching that Mary might in anyway play a role as a Mediator nullifies the finished and sufficient work of Christ on the cross? Faith plus anything is indeed insufficient to save us from the wrath of God. By attempting to add to the already sufficient death of Christ as our propitiation, we in essence are denying the very power of that death. Faith plus baptism is not saving faith. Faith plus the sacraments is not saving faith. Faith plus church membership is not saving faith. Faith plus the work of Mary is not saving faith.
The cry of the Reformers is biblical and relevant in today’s world of mushy, “let’s just all get along” Christianity. “By Grade alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone!”
Grace to you!
From the “Redeemer of Man” – an encyclical letter of His Holiness John Paul II: “if we feel a special need, in this difficult and responsible phase of the history of the Church and of mankind, to turn to Christ, who is Lord of the Church and Lord of man's history on account of the mystery of the Redemption, we believe that nobody else can bring us as Mary can into the divine and human dimension of this mystery. Nobody has been brought into it by God Himself as Mary has. It is in this that the exceptional character of the grace of the divine Motherhood consists. Not only is the dignity of this Motherhood unique and unrepeatable in the history of the human race, but Mary's participation, due to this maternity, is God's plan for man's salvation through the mystery.”
You can read the whole of his encyclical letter on redemption here: http://www.cin.org/jp2ency/redeem.html
Did you catch that last comment? God’s plan for man’s salvation is Mary’s participation in bringing Christ to the world and participating in His suffering. She therefore becomes the Mother Grace. I actually heard another Vatican official comment the John Paul II was going to lay down his rewards at the feet of Mary! Presumably he believes that Mary will in turn lay his worship at the feet of God on his behalf. Hence the bad theology that Mary is the Mediatrix, or the mediator between God and Man. Read 1 Timothy 2.5,6: “5For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” (ESV) Who has the Scripture declared to be the one mediator between God and man? There is only one! The “Man Jesus Christ.” The word here translated mediator is from Greek mesites. The idea is we have one who acts as the link between two parties for the purpose of peace. Jesus is the link between sinful man and Holy God. Jesus is the one who brings the peace. Romans 5.1,2 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” How do we have peace with God? “Through Jesus Christ,” and by means of justification. It is this justification that allows us (verse 2) to “obtain access by faith into this grace.”
Without justification, there is no redemption. Justification comes at a cost. 2 Cor 5.21 is the most succinct and profound verse on the heart of the gospel. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Justification comes at the cost of imputation. Christ Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin on our behalf. He actually became the embodiment of sin itself, without ever sinning or diminishing His divine character. He did this to bear the totality of the God’s wrath against sin. Jesus paid the debt that appeased the wrath of God. Our sin was imputed to Christ Himself. But that is not all. There is another side to the coin of imputation. As our sin was imputed to Christ, His righteousness was imputed to us. Just as Christ never sinned, never became a sinner, never diminished His divine character, rather; He undeservedly bore the wrath of God in our substitution, we too undeservedly receive the righteousness of God. You cannot earn it, just as Christ could not earn the wrath of God. This imputation is initiated at the moment of faith.
Do you see how the false teaching that Mary might in anyway play a role as a Mediator nullifies the finished and sufficient work of Christ on the cross? Faith plus anything is indeed insufficient to save us from the wrath of God. By attempting to add to the already sufficient death of Christ as our propitiation, we in essence are denying the very power of that death. Faith plus baptism is not saving faith. Faith plus the sacraments is not saving faith. Faith plus church membership is not saving faith. Faith plus the work of Mary is not saving faith.
The cry of the Reformers is biblical and relevant in today’s world of mushy, “let’s just all get along” Christianity. “By Grade alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone!”
Grace to you!
Monday, April 04, 2005
Did Mary Open the Door of Heaven for John Paul?
I heard on Fox News an official Vatican representative say that The Virgin Mary was holding open wide the doors of heaven for the Pope. At least we now know it isn’t St. Peter as all the jokes indicate! Shame on me, this is no laughing matter! Karol Wojtyla, from Wadowice, Poland died on Saturday afternoon EST. Mr. Woljtyla was popularly known as Pope John Paul II and was revered by the blasphemous name, “The Holy Father – vicar of Christ.” Don’t misunderstand me, please. There is good reason for us to respect and appreciate this good man. John Paul II was a key instrument, along with President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minsiter Margaret Thatcher, in bringing an end to Communism is the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. He was probably the bravest, boldest proponent of human dignity as any person in the 20th Century. He continued to voraciously argue against the ordination of women or homosexuals. He was a man who heralded peace. He sought to compensate for the failure of the Roman Catholic Church to fight against the slaughter of the Holocaust. By all accounts, John Paul II was a very good and influential man. If anyone could earn heaven, it was Karol Wojtyla.
However, we need to revisit the biblical doctrines of Justification, Imputation of Righteousness, Faith in Christ alone. Many evangelicals, such as Pat Robertson and Billy Graham, have continues to declare John Paul II a m"man of God" and assure us he is a "Christian." Even President Bush, who claims to be evangelical, said Saturday that the Pope had been ushered into his "well deserved eternal reward". Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said generally kind things regarding John Paul II, but they could not bring themselves to even hint that he might be in heaven. But we have the ever compassionate President Bush, who claims to be born again, sending John Paul straight to heaven, even though the Pope insisted that Mary was the “Mother of Grace” and the “Co Mediatrix” with Christ. Take a look at some of the beliefs of John Paul in his own words (emphasis mine):
1. September 8, 1982, Feast of the Birth of Mary, during a papal address to the sick: “Mary, though conceived and born without the taint of sin, participated in a marvelous way in the sufferings of her divine Son, in order to be Coredemptrix of humanity.”
2. From the “Redeemer of Man” – an encyclical letter of His Holiness John Paul II: “if we feel the feel a special need, in this difficult and responsible phase of the history of the Church and of mankind, to turn to Christ, who is Lord of the Church and Lord of man's history on account of the mystery of the Redemption, we believe that nobody else can bring us as Mary can into the divine and human dimension of this mystery. Nobody has been brought into it by God Himself as Mary has. It is in this that the exceptional character of the grace of the divine Motherhood consists. Not only is the dignity of this Motherhood unique and unrepeatable in the history of the human race, but Mary's participation, due to this maternity, in God's plan for man's salvation through the mystery.”
John Paul II had clearly declared his devotion to Mary “The Mother of God” and “Mother of the Church.” His own motto he chose for himself was "Totus tuus", "totally yours," addressed not to Jesus, but to Mary! For more from the very writing of John Paul II himself regarding his doctrine of redemption and the role of Mary see the following links:
http://www.cin.org/jp951213.html - Pope John Paul on Mary the Mediatrix
http://www.cin.org/JPIICoRedm.html - Pope on Mary Co Redemptrix
These thoughts ought to put great passion in your souls to share with your Catholic friends, neighbors and family members the true peace available from God in Christ alone. I will try to find time tomorrow to write regarding the doctrine of redemption and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, but for now, please think for yourselves. On what grounds does one enter heaven? Will Mary be holding the door for anyone? Who is the “One Mediator between God and man?” Plenty to ponder.
Do not be “ashamed of the gospel of God, for it is the power of God for salvation to those who believe.” Now is the time to boldly proclaim the grace of God made available by Christ alone appropriated by Faith alone!
Grace to you!
However, we need to revisit the biblical doctrines of Justification, Imputation of Righteousness, Faith in Christ alone. Many evangelicals, such as Pat Robertson and Billy Graham, have continues to declare John Paul II a m"man of God" and assure us he is a "Christian." Even President Bush, who claims to be evangelical, said Saturday that the Pope had been ushered into his "well deserved eternal reward". Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said generally kind things regarding John Paul II, but they could not bring themselves to even hint that he might be in heaven. But we have the ever compassionate President Bush, who claims to be born again, sending John Paul straight to heaven, even though the Pope insisted that Mary was the “Mother of Grace” and the “Co Mediatrix” with Christ. Take a look at some of the beliefs of John Paul in his own words (emphasis mine):
1. September 8, 1982, Feast of the Birth of Mary, during a papal address to the sick: “Mary, though conceived and born without the taint of sin, participated in a marvelous way in the sufferings of her divine Son, in order to be Coredemptrix of humanity.”
2. From the “Redeemer of Man” – an encyclical letter of His Holiness John Paul II: “if we feel the feel a special need, in this difficult and responsible phase of the history of the Church and of mankind, to turn to Christ, who is Lord of the Church and Lord of man's history on account of the mystery of the Redemption, we believe that nobody else can bring us as Mary can into the divine and human dimension of this mystery. Nobody has been brought into it by God Himself as Mary has. It is in this that the exceptional character of the grace of the divine Motherhood consists. Not only is the dignity of this Motherhood unique and unrepeatable in the history of the human race, but Mary's participation, due to this maternity, in God's plan for man's salvation through the mystery.”
John Paul II had clearly declared his devotion to Mary “The Mother of God” and “Mother of the Church.” His own motto he chose for himself was "Totus tuus", "totally yours," addressed not to Jesus, but to Mary! For more from the very writing of John Paul II himself regarding his doctrine of redemption and the role of Mary see the following links:
http://www.cin.org/jp951213.html - Pope John Paul on Mary the Mediatrix
http://www.cin.org/JPIICoRedm.html - Pope on Mary Co Redemptrix
These thoughts ought to put great passion in your souls to share with your Catholic friends, neighbors and family members the true peace available from God in Christ alone. I will try to find time tomorrow to write regarding the doctrine of redemption and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, but for now, please think for yourselves. On what grounds does one enter heaven? Will Mary be holding the door for anyone? Who is the “One Mediator between God and man?” Plenty to ponder.
Do not be “ashamed of the gospel of God, for it is the power of God for salvation to those who believe.” Now is the time to boldly proclaim the grace of God made available by Christ alone appropriated by Faith alone!
Grace to you!
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Worship in the Laundry Room
Last week was a great time of vacationing with my family. It was not rushed, packed or harried with a whole list of this to do, see, and experience. It was the kind of vacation where one gets to simply stay home and not go to work. Now for those of you who love your job as much as I do, you realize that being only 15 minutes from your office and yet not checking in is virtually impossible. I managed to only go in twice, just once to teach a class though.
The majority of my vacation time was spent playing with my kids, cleaning my garage and caring for my pregnant wife. That sounds good, doesn’t it? Believe me, she does a good job of taking care of herself and the rest of our family, she hardly needs my help. But, I was home for the week and wanted to give her some time to prop up her feet or lay down her head. I cleaned the kitchen. I picked up after the kids. I gathered the laundry. I swept the living room and dining room. Then… I cleaned the kitchen again. I picked up after the kids again. I gathered the laundry again. I swept the floor again. Every time I turned around there was something to pick up again, something to sweep again. It was getting depressingly repetitive. At one point, I walked to my wife and said to her, “There is no way I could do your job. It is depressing!”
Later that night as I sat on the couch, I thought about how my wife Crystal consistently, patiently serves her role as a wife, mother and homemaker. My wife clearly understands that what she is doing is not simply an act of service to me or to the children, though it is certainly that. It is much more. It is, for her, an act of worship to a beautiful God. Yes, she worships even in the laundry room.
Worship is not limited to what you experience in a large room with a group of people on Sunday morning. Worship is a lifestyle. See Hebrews 13.15,16 “5Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. 16And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Worship then involves a life that is lived in constant thanksgiving, recognizing that we can do nothing and have nothing of merit apart from God Himself. Even our worship itself is done “through Him” according to verse 15. We have nothing and can do nothing for God apart from God Himself. However, everything we do, must fit this pattern of thankful lips. A life of goodness and sharing is also an act of worship. As we go throughout our days, often routine, sometimes even a mundane, we must recognize we are worshipping something. The question is, what are we praising, who are we thanking, what drives us to do what we do? Are you driven by a desire to glorify yourself… to raise yourself up the corporate ladder? Perhaps you are worshipping your family and would give yourself wholly for the what you deem to be the good of your family. Or perhaps it is your boss. You want to impress and seek a smile from your boss.
We must remember, worship in its purest form occurs in the laundry room of the homemaker, the copy room of the office manager, and on the factory of the blue collar worker. What we do on Sunday morning is simply an overflow of a life of worship. If you approach a worship service anticipating the worship leader to provoke your spirit through song or testimony or in any other way, you are not even ready to think about worshipping, let alone actually worship. Worship is not a song, a sermon or cute sketch in a worship center. To be sure, these can be means of corporate worship, but they are the result of a life of worship… a life of praise, thanksgiving and goodness in our daily routines of life.
How many of us emotionally engage in “worship” on Sunday morning, but never even mention the Lordship and Jesus Christ and the Holiness of God in the daily routines of life. We sing with all our hearts, we even lift our hands in physical expression of what we feel. But those feelings do not translate into worship if they do not affect the lives we live.
Let this be a challenge to you as my wife has been to me. Worship should be the defining characteristic of a Christian life. Does your life point to the God from whom we gain our very life?
Grace to you!
The majority of my vacation time was spent playing with my kids, cleaning my garage and caring for my pregnant wife. That sounds good, doesn’t it? Believe me, she does a good job of taking care of herself and the rest of our family, she hardly needs my help. But, I was home for the week and wanted to give her some time to prop up her feet or lay down her head. I cleaned the kitchen. I picked up after the kids. I gathered the laundry. I swept the living room and dining room. Then… I cleaned the kitchen again. I picked up after the kids again. I gathered the laundry again. I swept the floor again. Every time I turned around there was something to pick up again, something to sweep again. It was getting depressingly repetitive. At one point, I walked to my wife and said to her, “There is no way I could do your job. It is depressing!”
Later that night as I sat on the couch, I thought about how my wife Crystal consistently, patiently serves her role as a wife, mother and homemaker. My wife clearly understands that what she is doing is not simply an act of service to me or to the children, though it is certainly that. It is much more. It is, for her, an act of worship to a beautiful God. Yes, she worships even in the laundry room.
Worship is not limited to what you experience in a large room with a group of people on Sunday morning. Worship is a lifestyle. See Hebrews 13.15,16 “5Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. 16And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Worship then involves a life that is lived in constant thanksgiving, recognizing that we can do nothing and have nothing of merit apart from God Himself. Even our worship itself is done “through Him” according to verse 15. We have nothing and can do nothing for God apart from God Himself. However, everything we do, must fit this pattern of thankful lips. A life of goodness and sharing is also an act of worship. As we go throughout our days, often routine, sometimes even a mundane, we must recognize we are worshipping something. The question is, what are we praising, who are we thanking, what drives us to do what we do? Are you driven by a desire to glorify yourself… to raise yourself up the corporate ladder? Perhaps you are worshipping your family and would give yourself wholly for the what you deem to be the good of your family. Or perhaps it is your boss. You want to impress and seek a smile from your boss.
We must remember, worship in its purest form occurs in the laundry room of the homemaker, the copy room of the office manager, and on the factory of the blue collar worker. What we do on Sunday morning is simply an overflow of a life of worship. If you approach a worship service anticipating the worship leader to provoke your spirit through song or testimony or in any other way, you are not even ready to think about worshipping, let alone actually worship. Worship is not a song, a sermon or cute sketch in a worship center. To be sure, these can be means of corporate worship, but they are the result of a life of worship… a life of praise, thanksgiving and goodness in our daily routines of life.
How many of us emotionally engage in “worship” on Sunday morning, but never even mention the Lordship and Jesus Christ and the Holiness of God in the daily routines of life. We sing with all our hearts, we even lift our hands in physical expression of what we feel. But those feelings do not translate into worship if they do not affect the lives we live.
Let this be a challenge to you as my wife has been to me. Worship should be the defining characteristic of a Christian life. Does your life point to the God from whom we gain our very life?
Grace to you!
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