Throwing the baby out with the bathwater: a new look at the ordinances of the church.

"Never mind the bread and wine, unless you can use them as folks often use their eyeglasses. What do they use them for? To look at? No, to look through them. So, use the bread and wine as a pair of glasses. Look through them, and do not be satisfied until you can say, “Yes, yes, I can see the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world….We believe that Jesus Christ spiritually comes to us and refreshes us, and in that sense, we eat his flesh and drink his blood.” ― Charles Spurgeon

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Dear Friends,

If you want my opinion, I think that theologically speaking we have thrown the baby out with the bathwater in many instances just to distance ourselves from tradition, or ritualism. Take Communion or the Lord’s Supper—whichever term you prefer. We have proudly clung to the ceremony as a symbol or sign of Christ sacrificial death, burial and resurrection in this sacred service; however, I am increasingly persuaded that we have fostered a culture that has a form of Godliness but denies the power thereof, and from such we must turn away (2Timothy 3:5).

Friends, the scripture plainly teaches that we are to celebrate the Lord’s Supper as often as we meet, yet we Pentecostals as well as other Evangelical and Protestants alike have decided that once a month is enough, or once a quarter or some even say once a year. What gives? Is Communion not more integral to faith and saving grace than that? I think so. We should not, I feel, be guilty of treating this sacred ceremony so cavalierly.

Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood (as gruesome as that may sound to an unbeliever) you have no life in you (John 6:53), he said. Oh, some would counter, he’s talking about spiritual things here. So? Is it not the Spirit that gives life? And, how in anyone's imagination would that exclude the visible symbol or sign of His Spirit?

The thing at issue here is the general understanding of what a sign or symbol's nature is—we tend to think of a symbol as separate from what it symbolizes. Not so, I would argue. A symbol in the Biblical sense is a sign that is intimately connected with what it symbolizes.

Allow me to use this analogy. Two lovers, say, for instance, have caught the twinkle in each other’s eyes—that’s love felt, but not consummated, there’s nothing concrete there. They then move closer, hold hands, smile at each other—that’s love felt again, also. Then suddenly they kiss. That is then unmistakably a visible, undeniable sign and symbol of their love for one another. (This is, of course, in an ideal world.) Once they kiss, the symbol is not external to the love which it symbolizes but is part of it.

At communion, Christ in some mysterious way presents himself to us as we eat the bread and drink the wine and is in no way external to the symbol. Christ actually meets us there. If He didn’t why bother? Just to say that this is simply a gentle reminder, a remembrance only of what He has done for us falls short in pronouncing the efficacy of Communion. If there is no efficacy, then why the caution not to take it unworthily (1 Cor. 11:27)?

In closing, may I say that Communion may well remind us, but friends, to my way of thinking the kiss is there, too.

 Like Jacob of old, let us meet Him at the altar (Gen. 35:1)!

JimR_/

What do you do when you run out of steam?

Dear Friends,

There’s not a preacher alive that has not gone through periods of dryness. Further, there is not one that does not dread such times. The heaven above seems to turn to brass. God seems nowhere around. Sunday is coming. It’s Saturday night. The urge to pull an old sermon out of the file is irresistible. So, come Sunday the congregation gets leftovers. No one enjoys tepid stale old leftovers. Yet, until the spiritual impulse returns the folks in the pew must put up with canned sermons, rituals are substituted for a real move of the Spirit, and, furthermore, the undernourished are left to famish. Need I remind you that this is a common occurrence? It’s human nature to go through periods of uncertainty. Spiritual doldrums are common to us all. It is at times like these, however, that we must remind ourselves that, as Paul reminds us, “we live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).”

What is this faith that we must live by? The quick answer is it is sound doctrine. True. But head knowledge that never reaches the heart is most often where the dryness comes in. Wesley faced such periods. He writes in his journal on Saturday, March 4. 1735—

I found my brother at Oxford, recovering from his pleurisy; and with him Peter Bohler; by whom, in the hand of the great God, I was, on Sunday, the fifth, clearly convinced of unbelief, of the want of that faith whereby alone we are saved.

Immediately it struck into my mind, “Leave off preaching. How can you preach to others, who have not faith yourself?” I asked Bohler whether he thought I should leave it off or not. He answered, “By no means.” I asked, “But what can I preach?” He said, “Preach faith till you have it; and then because you have it, you will preach faith.”

Perseverance was the answer then and it is now as well.

This goes for any relationship. Marriage is no exception. I don’t think the human body could tolerate or sustain the gushy feeling that one felt when they first fell head over heels in love with their spouse. That comes and goes. Further, it cannot be depended on to sustain any marriage, or for that matter any relationship. A resolute commitment can, however, get us through the tough spots in any relationship, even with God.

Keep in mind that faith is a fact, not a feeling.

Stay Safe, and remember God loves you and so do I,

Take care, and remember He cares for you!

 JimR_/

Coronavirus and the Baptism of Jesus

Normally, I am content with writing my own blog; however, I found this devotional written by Craig Denison 

In Matthew 3:16-17 we find one of the key stories of our Christian faith.  It reads: And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lightening upon him: (emphasis added).  There is such richness in these words!  For the purposes of this devotional, I would like to focus on the words, “…Spirit of God descending… and lightning upon him.”  Clearly, God was pleased with his Son.  In addition to blessing Jesus, it was at this time, according to Craig Denison, author of the First 15, the Spirit came to humanity.  A resource was made available to all.  It was this “resource”, this “Spirit”, that came upon you and me when we repented, accepted Jesus Christ as our savior and were baptized.  In Acts 2:38 Peter said: Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This “gift” is ours; it is a “resource” that is owned by each baptized Christian.  We do not want to leave it “untapped.”

We are living in “uncharted waters.”  The current Coronavirus-19 attack has been likened to the Great Depression of the 1930s or the Spanish Flu of 1917-18.  Few, if any, of our number at the Mansions have memories of either of these devasting times in our nation’s history.  This is a time that may call forth emotions such as fear, confusion, anxiety, and mistrust, to name only a few of a whole range of feelings.

As we search for ways to counter these troublesome emotions, it is time to remember the “gift”, the “resource” that God has given each of us.  We must remember to not leave the gift of the Holy Spirit untapped.   It is important to remember Paul’s message in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17: Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? (Emphasis added).  Yes indeed, no matter how dark the woods maybe, God is present, ready to be our guide, our support, our comforter.  Do not leave this valuable resource “untapped.”

Stay safe, and remember He cares for you!

 JimR_/

The Living word

Listen as Isaiah proclaims, that the Word of God stands forever

A voice says, “Cry!”

    And I said, “What shall I cry?”

All flesh is grass,

    and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.

The grass withers, the flower fades

    when the breath of the Lord blows on it;

    surely the people are grass.

The grass withers, the flower fades,

    but the word of our God will stand forever.

Now hear the words of Peter as he explains the meaning of Isaiah’s message,

[The] word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was proclaimed to you (Peter 1:25).

So, we ask ourselves, “What is that word?” Most certainly it is His Living Word Jesus Christ as evidenced in word and deed. “How can a dead sheet of paper with nothing but writing on it be alive,” you may ask? Well, the simple answer is, “It cannot.” That is, it cannot unless it is the voice of God. Then it has the weight of His power behind it, and we mustn’t forget that He is alive forevermore.

Just a little Faith will do you . . . really? Think again.

The difference between knowing and doing is the difference between belief and faith, and to believe without faith is sin (James 4:17). To believe, however, is never enough (James 2:19). Obedient faith, even the size of a mustard seed, will make us strong in the Lord; however, such faith will soon die if we do not nourish it (Mark 11:12-14, 20-25).

It is not enough to be religious; rather, we are called into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ (John 1:12; 3:16; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-10). In that respect, we are made by the Holy Spirit new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17) who called into a relationship that will bear fruit. Our faith must be proactive, one that is evident in the godly life we live.

James, the cousin-brother of Jesus, rhetorically expressed it this way,

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:14-17).

In a similar vein John also focuses on this principle when he quotes Jesus as saying:

 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful (John 15:1-2).”

So, have no doubt about it, if you are not producing Spiritual fruit, you will soon wither away. And, what is this fruit?  

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)."

Now, what about it, no matter what age you are, may I ask you, are you fruitful? Have you added to:

[Y]our faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election.

For, as Peter assures us,

[I]f we do these things, we will never stumble, and we will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:1-11).

Keep in mind, also, that indecision is your worst enemy because if you don’t decide to do better on a daily basis by default your lack of decision will only delay the best that God has for you. Even far worst, it may even cause irreparable damage to your soul and to that of others.

Now, don’t just think about these words, do something, if you have not already done so. On a practical level that may mean asking for forgiveness from someone you offended, or to repent of some secret sin that may be lurking in the closet of your heart. Each of us is different, so I don't know what your decision must be, but I do know the constant standard that all decisions rest on, and that is Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17). He is our example. Our perfect example. So, go to Him, and He will guide you along the way.

I remain, prayerfully yours,

JimR_/

Behold a vapor ...

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. ― William Shakespeare

Behold, a vapor …

Time passes and along with it each succeeding generation. What is life? It is even as a vapor, James the Apostle declares (James 4:14). This fact is indeed an article of faith.

In the midst this brevity, the truth is life is not fair. However, regarding that, injustice will not prevail. Every valley shall be filled, the high places brought low, and the crooked paths shall be made straight (Isaiah 40:4)

We can, however, rest assured that God will take all of that into consideration when we stand before Him in judgement. Excuses will be laid aside; our bare responsibilities will account for everything. Thus, we are left without an excuse and held responsible for not only our sins of commission but those of omission as well (Romans 2:6). We all will pass and give an account for what we have done in this transience we call life.

Every child of God who as taken the time to read His word and reflect on the meaning thereof knows this to be true (2 Corinthians 2:11). On that day we will not be handed a get out of jail free card. It’s crunch time. Justice demand a verdict. That verdict is already in—for the soul that sins, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:20-24). It is in this context that we truly know the meaning of “For to fear God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).”

Yet, despite ample Godly warnings and just the moral laws of commonsense man in general continues to blunder ahead like fools in each succeeding generation. Shall humanity ever come to their senses? Apparently not. Strife and bitterness are codified in the highest court of all, humanly speaking, the ever shifting contemporized social conscience. Truth is flexible, modified with each changing generation. Truly the blind for the most part are leading the blind (Matthew 15:14).

We, therefore, seek a more sure way, and that we have in the promises of God (Hebrews 6:17). What are these promises? For sure they can be found only in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20) because He is not only the beginning and the end  but also the only way to have an intimate and eternal relationship with God (Revelation 21:6).

Therefore, in the words of Scripture, we must not become weary in well doing for in due time we shall reap eternal life (Galatians 6:9). This is the promise of God and one that we can depend on.

JimR_/

We'er not alone ...

"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us." — Saint Augustine

God places a great deal of worth on the human soul. He gave His Son for each of us as if there was only one of us. His family is a family of equals. We are not just heirs with Christ, we are also joint-heirs (Romans 8:17). Think of that! Even the only begotten son of God will share the riches of the Kingdom's with us. "Ear has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for us (1 Corinthians 2:9)." Heaven is prepared with us in mind. What a wonderful thought. 

However, a thought is not enough. Such thoughts must be based on reality, so we must have a sense of belonging. Our hearts must cry, "Aba Father!"

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15)

"And because [we] are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Galatians 4:6) 

To put it simply, Heaven has been prepared for those that love Him. And, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments.” Thus, we are a community, a community of brothers and sisters. Yes, a loving family with each member functioning as with any family (Matthew 12:48-50), as when Jesus from the Cross said to John, concerning His mother,

“Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home (John 19:27)."

From this, we may deduct as a matter of fact that Christ was not speaking biologically, but rather spiritually, as is the case with each of us in spiritual relationship with one another. Thus, we have filial responsibilities, born and borne in love. Such love, therefore, does not end in the heart but is shown in an ongoing community of love. An eternal family, to put it precisely.

Is it not then reasonable that because of Christ, Mary, His biological mother has a very special place in the spiritual sense during this Advent and Christmas? Indeed, she is blessed, and because of this we, too, are blessed. No, God forbid, we must not worship her. That would be blasphemy. Nor do we pray to her as if she is or has been or ever will be Divine. She is a mother just like any mother, but beyond that she is especially blessed. What an honor to bear the very Son of God, God Himself. And, every mother does well to emulate her in as much as it is possible.

And, when Heaven's gates swing open and we have all gathered around as a family with our elder brother, I leave it to your imagination as to who the matriarch will be in that celestial city. That can never be taken from her, nor should it be. She is blessed beyond all mothers, and we, indeed, are blessed because of her blessedness. Again, I say, not to worship, but to admire for the strength of her faith and in her willing obedience to the Father of us all.

JimR_/

The Complicated Simplicity of the Gospel . . .

The Gospel is not complicated. Otherwise, it would make absolutely no sense for Jesus to have "called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:2-4 NIV).

Nor was Jesus a theologian—that may come as a shock to some; however, search the Scriptures and nowhere do we find him, as it were, theologizing. Jesus did not have to theologize or philosophize at all; he simply stated the truth in no uncertain terms. Take it or leave it. “I am the way, the truth and the life he said; and further, if you want to meet God, the Father, you must go through the Son ((John 14:6),”. No “ifs” or “ands” or “buts” about that either. His words are short, succinct, and to the point. Even children can understand these words if they wish.

This is really nothing unique, either. As far back as Moses, God had a simple answer when asked who he is. I am that I who I am, nothing more, nothing less. Now, that simple truth took theologians centuries to formulate into a doctrinal statement. This, they call in theological terms, the simplicity of God. Thus, we say God is without parts. The general idea can be stated in this way: the "attributes" of God are inseparable from the nature of God. In other words, He is what He is. With Him you get the full package, so to speak, not just in bits and pieces.

Thus, God can say, “I am the Lord, your God, and the is none other like me (Isaiah 45:5).” To accept this simple fact is to accept God in His fullness. Now, this doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have a history to which we can relate. That we must know and accept, also. But, nowhere in the process are we allowed to, or even expected to, make any changes. Changing who God is from our perspective and doesn’t affect Him in the least. He is as solid as a rock, so says the psalmist (Psalm 18:31).

Therefore, God is trustworthy. He is dependable. He will do what He says. He is the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17) says the Apostle. Now, friends, this is a simple truth. What’s complicated about that? The simple faith of a child can understand that.

So, why complicate matters?

Take care, and remember He cares for you!

 JimR_/

Worship, an audience of One . . .

  

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“Worship is designed to be entertaining to God to please and delight Him. God is the audience in worship. ―  Peter J. Leithart, Christian writer, and minister

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Worship in every aspect is always for an audience of one. God alone deserves such an honor. Not the angles, or the saints, or even Mary, the mother of our Lord, are worthy of such honor. Jubilant singing is not worshiping unless it is Godward. Christian concerts fall into the same category. The fact is evangelical congregations are drenched in entertainment. Services are planned to satisfy a media-saturated soul with a message full of psychological props, catchphrases, clichés, and comfy morals. Pabulum Christians feast Sunday after Sunday on such soulish trivia devoid of even a hint of spiritual growth, ever-learning, as it were, and never coming to the knowledge of the truth, that is, the full meaning of what it means to bow in awe and reverence before God in the fullness of His Holiness. Of course, there are exceptions to what I have just written; however, they are just that: exceptions.

Check out the average pulpit, hopefully not yours, but the average, and you will seldom if ever hear a word said against the 7 deadly sins of pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth. Not to mention the “lesser” sins of gossip or malicious criticism.

When is the last time you have heard a preacher address cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and courage (or fortitude) and the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity? Well, to answer that, probably last Sunday at least one of these was touched upon. The point is, those behind the pulpit today are more interested in promoting the positive that warning against the negative. Nothing wrong in promoting the good, if it is balanced against cautioning against the bad.

What, pray tell me, does this have to do with worship? Shall I answer by saying, “Everything!” I say this simply because only those with clean hands may enter His presence. Read what the Psalmist David has to say about that:

God claims the world as his.

Everything and everyone belong to him!

He’s the one who pushed back oceans

to let the dry ground appear,

planting firm foundations for the earth.

Who, then, ascends into the presence of the Lord?

And who has the privilege of entering into God’s Holy Place?

Those who are clean—whose works and ways are pure,

whose hearts are true and sealed by the truth,

those who never deceive, whose words are sure.

They will receive the Lord’s blessing

and righteousness is given by the Savior-God.

They will stand before God, for they seek the pleasure of God’s face… (Psalm 24:1-6)

In essence, what David is saying, as are many others in Scripture, is that the altar must precede worship. Somehow, the church has primarily reversed the order. Repentance is restricted to a written prayer of response at best and seldom do we witness an old-fashioned altar call that invites the sinner forward to the mourner’s bench. How could there be since the user-friendly crowd has taken that away?

So, no, worship is not all about me, it is all about Him.

Now, have a blessed day as you meditate on these words.

JimR /

For the willing heart—with God, to dream is to achieve.

For the willing heart—with God, to dream is to achieve. The problem with most of us is that our dreams are not big enough. We are satisfied with the mediocre, the mundane—willing to muddle our way through life choosing comfort rather than the cross. I am speaking about spiritual things here. In God's Kingdom, the cross trumps comfort on any and every occasion when a choice is given. 

To be Christlike is the ultimate sign of Kingdom success, and Christ was a man of the Cross for all seasons. Nothing cushy about His choices. He took the road less traveled—the one strewn with obstacles and battles to be fought all along the path; yet, He never faltered or gave up hope. Facing the cross, His prayer was: "Father, not my will, but thine be done." In doing so, He not only sealed His fate but that of ours also. Thus, we are compelled daily to take up our cross and follow Him. Not a cross that we have fashioned; mind you, but one that God the Father has constructed. That cross—both His and ours, was designed with us in mind. His for salvation, ours to work out His sanctification in us. Thus, we can say that,

Properly defined, sanctification is that process of being set apart for God's work to be conformed to the image of Christ.  This conforming to Christ involves the work of the person, but it is still God working in the believer to produce more of a godly character and life in the person who has already been justified (Phil. 2:13).  Sanctification is not instantaneous because it is not the work of God alone.  The justified person is actively involved in submitting to God's will, resisting sin, seeking holiness, and working to be more godly (Gal. 5:22-23). (Ref: CARM)

This is the work of the cross: His and ours. Therefore, we must not shun either; for both are ours to embrace. 

Pray, tell me, where is the lasting evidence of something you learned from pleasure? Now, ask yourself the same concerning the hard knocks of life, the crosses, the times of difficulty. Those are the seminal moment that mold and shape us in life for the better—is it not so? The good man, the wise man, realizes that and embraces those moments. This, bear in mind, is not spiritual masochism; it is spiritual realism—that is, it is the purpose of the cross; again, ours and His to be precise.

Thus, we read that— 

“When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered He uttered no threats” (1 Peter 2:23).”

And that, when— 

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth ( Is. 53:7).”

Why? The answer is simple yet loaded with spiritual insight. He embraced the Cross. He embraced his destiny. 

So, must we.

The problem, in my opinion, with much of Protestant and Evangelical theology, particularly that of the Charismatics is that they have not developed a sensible theology of the Cross. Theirs is a cushy cross; a cross cushioned with pads of comfort. Hard times are seen as Godly punishment, crosses to be avoided at all costs. They are a sign of the "lack of faith." Yet, biblical faith teaches just the opposite. That they fail to see; however, or embrace.

When difficult times come, they have shouted away in a torrent of fleshly exuberance which is passed off as worship. A shout here, and a shout there, with a few positive confessions, negates the purpose of the test— that is, the remedial effects of the cross . . . again both His and ours. Thereby, it strips life of its most valuable lessons. Romans 8:28-29 in which "all things work together for our good." Pray for healing? It does not come. Praise God anyway. Pray for financial acumen, it does not come. Praise God anyway. In any and all events He knows what is best for us. That which is temporary, keep in mind, is never in our best interest unless it serves His higher interest for us.

God's sovereignty reigns above all, including the Cross— both His and ours. God's will is supreme, cannot be altered, changed or modified. To oppose that Will is to invite ultimate shame and disaster. It is unalterable. Not because He is obstinate, but because He knows best.

Now, may God give us both the wisdom and the will to embrace these great truths.

Yours in the eternal bonds of Calvary,

JimR_/

Human Sacrifices: are they Biblical?

"No one should regard us as anything else than ministers of Christ and dispensers of the mysteries of God. (ref: 1 Corinthians 4:1)" — Martin Luther (Babylonian Captivity)

Dear Friends, prayer and financial partners,

As far back as Exodus 19:6 God declared that His elect were a universal priesthood—further in New Testament times Peter reconfirmed this with these words:

“[We] are a chosen people. [We] are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, [we] can show others the goodness of God, for he called [us] out of the darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).”

Of course, this priesthood has sacrifices to offer. As 1 Peter 2:5 states,

We also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

What are these spiritual sacrifices? Romans 12:1 says we offer our bodies. Philippians 4:18 says we offer our donations. And Hebrews 13:15-16 state that we offer our praise, our good deeds, and our sharing with others. Far too many Christians, in my opinion, are so turned off by the word sacrifice that they never bother to understand what a universal priesthood means. Priestly duties for them mean work for those ordained pastors or priests or otherwise so designated, not something that is obligatory for every true believer.

This, however, runs counterintuitive to Paul’s analogy of the functions of Body of Christ of which we are all members. Each part has its unique function, and, yet, each contributes to the overall good of the body and the purposes for which we are chosen.

I’m not an eye, perhaps, I am only a big toe. However, without the toe, the body will limp along its way to fulfill the purposes of God.

And, what are those purposes? Romans 8:28-29 answers that—we are all called into the perfection of Christ. This is line with: “Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect (Matt. 5:3)” — and, these are not just idle words, they have the force of Christ behind them.

Sometimes fulfilling the purposes of God, as a sacrificial offering, can be messy work, long, arduous, work. Sometimes, yes, even unpleasant work. None-the-less, it is no less priestly work as was the slaughtering of animals at Temple. True Christ was our sacrifice, but, none-the-less, He told us that we turn must bear a cross. Here are His words in black and white:

“And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:27).”

Such work is global work, too. No one is exempt, not even those in the most remote jungles of the world. Read it, it’s in the Bible:

For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts (Malachi 1:11). 

So, by this, we understand that the priestly duties of the Old Testament were brought into the new. But not just confined to the Temple in Jerusalem, but globally. Thus, at the very heart of who and what we are to become is missions.

Thanks be to God, we can proclaim:

"Through your blood you have made us into priests and kings (Revelation 5:10)."

Must of us revel in the kingship; few, however, delight in the priestly. Now, may these words sustain you unto full perfection in Christ (Colossians 2:10).

Now may you embrace the fullness of His Grace that you shall never be put to shame (Rom. 10:11),

JimR__/

Holiness: a little known virtue

Dryness, or as some say, writer’s block comes to all. Most, but not all, however, know that that is the time to lay the pen down until the juices start flowing again. Preaching is the same. Same old pastor, same old rehashed sermons, same old monotony, déjà vu all over again. And, the results? Boredom and a dwindling congregation.

Show me a pastor who doesn’t spend time in prayer, and reflecting on Scripture, and I’ll show you one that has a poorly nourished flock with just enough wherewithal to—if they are lucky, to fall off the nearest cliff.

Very few men or women have the capacity for sermonizing as Charles Spurgeon or the depth and writing skills of an A. W. Tozer. The sooner recognized, the better the lesson learned. God’s word is, first and foremost, a voice from on high (Roms. 10:17). That voice often seems evasive—so, some say, Why bother? I’ll just coast on my intellect; after all, I’m a seminary graduate, I’ve got the goods. May not come across the plate as a strike, but I’m going to take a swat at it, anyway.

Trouble is, unlike baseball, preaching or writing for the Christian is not a mundane matter. Neither should we treat it as such, either.

Thematic preaching may have its place, but it is most certainly not giving the congregants the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Same goes for writing.

The cure? Moses went to the mountain, the disciples to the Upper Room, Christ to the garden for rejuvenation, and so must we. Never truer words were spoken than those in the old hymn: “Take Time to Be Holy” by C. Michael Hawn which reads:

Take time to be holy,
speak oft with thy Lord;
abide in him always,
and feed on his word.
Make friends of God’s children,
help those who are weak,
forgetting in nothing
his blessing to seek.
(The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 395)

Yes, it takes time to be holy, to speak often with the Lord and feed on His Word and to be charitable in all things; but it is well worth the effort. Heaven pays the highest dividends that I know. So, spend time with the Lord, feed on His Word, and seek to do His will in all things in love.

Now, have a blessed day! 

JimR/—

P.S. Thanks for making our most recent mission trip a success. We now have a new batch of graduate students to work in God's Kingdom in Sri Lanka and beyond.

Trust: it's all part of growing up!

God’s intentions for us are our potential. He will never require more from us than we can deliver. His promises are that if we do our part, He will do His. And, with His promise always comes provision. Need something? It is yours, if you pray according to His will (1 John 5:14; Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4). That’s a pretty big deal, if you are in trouble.

Which brings up another aspect of our journey—that is, “How do we know when we are in trouble?” Don’t be silly, you say. No, really, “How do we know?” Is it when we don’t have 2 nickels to rub together? Apparently not, since He has promised to care for us just as He takes care of the lilies of the fields, and the sparrows in the air. Need scripture and verse?

Need I remind us that Jesus says,

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.… “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"Matthew 6:26-34 (NKJV) 

So, the next time you are prone to worry, just take a glance out the window and watch the little sparrow or walk in the meadow beyond to enjoy the beauty of the lilies —that’s promise enough.

So, how do we know when we are in trouble? We know we are in trouble when we do not trust and obey. For His promises and provisions are real. They shine as brightly as the noon day sun and are as obvious as the little sparrow fluttering past our window, or the lily growing in the valley below.

God is, after all is said and done, a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

JimR_/

Happiness: an elusive journey, or an achievable pursuit?

The psalmist cried,

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit (Psalm 51:12).

When is it you or I have said that prayer? So, often we grudgingly struggle through the monotony of life spiritually humming and hawing from one day to the next, dragging ourselves out of bed to go to church to listen to yet another “boring” sermon, hopeful beyond hope that the Holy Spirit will just swoop down and engulf us with another Pentecost, so we can get on with the joy of our salvation. Then when it doesn’t come, the pastor or the congregants are blamed for the frosty atmosphere we feel each Sunday.

To make matters even worst, in this day of personality cults that pretty much guide the average Christian’s church preference, we start church hopping. That works for a while, then boredom sets in, and away we go again. As a result the average church is more like a turnstile than a sanctuary of peace and comfort.

Well if this scenario fits you, and you really want to seek a remedy and get to the core of the problem my suggestion is that it is best to start from the beginning, and pledge with the of the psalmist who in another psalm affirmed,

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise… (Psalm 57:7-11).

Give praises for what? For our salvation as a starter. For His wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit for another. For His daily encouragement along the way to sanctify us, for yet another reason.

This is not a novel concept, either. Isaiah declared,

I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a groom wears a priestly headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels (Isaiah 61:10).

Notice Isaiah said,

“I will rejoice” … not just a little, but “greatly in the LORD!”

Why is that, we may ask? The answer is:

“For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a groom wears a priestly headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

Now, if that is not enough to make us shout, “Hallelujah! Praise the LORD, O my soul (Psalm 146:1)” then nothing ever will!

Happiness is a matter of the mind. An attitude. A positive and willful appreciation. An anticipation to be sought after. Something that we all must cultivate. A resolve of the soul. Happiness is not hocus pocus, it is willed in and through trust. Happiness is ours if we are determined to pursue it. And, believe me, happiness is more than a smile, or a friendly feel good nod to cheer someone else up. Happiness in the long run is nothing more or less than contentment in every situation, good or bad (Romans 8: 28). It is in short to accept whatever comes your way with confidence, not in yourself, but in God.

I trust that this will give you enough thought to carry you through the week and the days that follow.

Take care, and remember He cares for you!

 JimR_/

God’s intentions for us is our potential . . .

God’s intentions for us are our potential. He will never require more from us than we can deliver. His promises are that if we do our part, He will do His. And, with His promise always come provision. Need something? It is yours, if you pray according to His will (1 John 5:14; Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4). That’s a pretty big deal, if you are in trouble.

Which brings up another aspect of our journey—that is, “How do we know when we are in trouble?” Don’t be silly, you say. No, really, “How do we know?” Is it when we don’t have 2 nickels to rub together? Apparently not, since He has promised to care for us just as He takes care of the lilies of the fields, and the sparrows in the air. Need scripture and verse?

In Matthew 6:26-34 (NKJV) Jesus says,

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.… “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

So, the next time you are prone to worry, just take a glance out the window and watch the little sparrow or walk in the meadow beyond to enjoy the beauty of the lilies —that’s promise enough.

So, how do we know when we are in trouble? We know we are in trouble when we do not trust and obey. For His promises and provisions are real. They shine as brightly as the noon day sun and are as obvious as the little sparrow fluttering past our window, or the lily growing in the valley beyond.

God is, after all is said and done, a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

JimR_/

Meekness is most certainly not weakness . . .

It has been my experience down through the years to see some Christians walk around with an air of humility, cocksure that they are humble by the way they conduct themselves—the way they dress, beverages they do or don’t drink, the pious smiles on their faces, or in a thousand and one other ways. 

All in all, the point is, they are living miserably under a set of self-inflected sanctimony of do’s and don’ts that adds absolutely nothing spiritually to their standing before God; and, as a matter of fact, distracts from pure holiness. Self-imposed piety is, of course, the simplest form of self-delusion, as well as at times sheer hypocrisy. The Bible certainly speaks against such “voluntary humility” or “self-imposed piousness (Colossians 2:18)”—that’s for sure!

Regarding this, I am reminded of the story told of a young priest, who was considered as the first living candidate in history for sainthood. When the clerics came to interview him to affirm such a distinction, the first thing the chief interrogator said was: “Young man, we have come to affirm your sainthood.” “Yes,” the sanctimonious priest answered, “I’ve been waiting for you. What took you so long?” At that, the old priest in charge, replied: “Well, son, let me put it this way, it is obvious that we didn’t wait nearly as long as we should have.” And, with that the committee of clerics left the room. As they, of course, should have. 

Humility, which is an expression of true holiness comes naturally to a real saint. It is not something that is forced, voluntarily or otherwise. One is either humble, or one is not. However, neither humility, nor meekness—which is the outward form of humbleness, should never be confused with weakness. A humble and meek character is a strong character, settled in confidence, and solid thru and thru. Neither needs to force an issue, either. One that is meek and lowly always gets their way, for that is what meekness and humility are all about. 

During this post-reformation anniversary year, we would do well to remember that, as Luther discovered, we are saved not by our works of righteousness, but rather thru faith in God’s promises to effectively work that miracle in us (Galatians 2:16; Titus 3:5-7; Ephesians 2:8-6:24).

Now, friends, I have no particular group in mind—the principles apply to all. Mennonites, for example are no more or less holy than others. The same goes for tongue speaking Charismatics who rejoice in a façade of exuberant worship, either—since only God knows what true character of spirit lays beyond that. The facts are, we should not expect a godly pat on the back because of what we eat or drink, or on how often we attend church, or whether we go to church on Easter or Christmas, or any other Christian habit simply because it is the thing to do. True holiness does not work that way. Meekness and humility come from the inside out, not the other way around.

When it comes to holiness, as expressed in meekness and humility, we all could take a good lesson from grammar. Yes, grammar. We are to be holy—not simply act as if we are. Being is a matter of character, an essence, our true nature. So, when Peter reminds us that God has said that we are to be holy as He is holy, he is talking about holiness in the very core of our nature (1 Peter 1:16)—the very essence of who we are. Façades of holiness are never pleasing to God, now or ever.

Personally, I have never met, nor expect to meet, a man or woman who champions their holiness, that really is holy. Holiness, meekness, humility, and all the other attributes that spring out of the spiritual core of a true saint are what they are in both the sunshine and the rain, in dark times as well as the bright. Through it all, His loving kindness endures forever (Ps 136:1b), and when we are rooted and grounded in Him, so does ours.

May God give us the wisdom to see the difference,

 JimR_/

True Truth . . . take it or leave it.

I am a propositionalist—that is, I believe that theological truths can reasonably be proven to be true thru the eyes of faith. Reason, however, is never the final test. 

This I say, because as Chesterton once remarked:

“All that an insane man has left is his reason.”

This brings us logically, then, to the conclusion that one must start with the proposition that the foundation of truth is axiomatically true. Now, this is not a play on words, either. Give me time here, and I’ll show you.

First of all, all truths about truth is circular, that is, first the proposition, then the assertion, followed by other assertions that, when followed sequentially, always circle back to the original statement of truth. To put it in a slightly different form, we may say, that each step in any sequence of true statements must be absolutely in synch with the original statement of truth. This, Francis Schaeffer called: “true Truth.” Again, not a play on words, but an absolute necessity.

Problem is, some of our dear Evangelical friends limp along with half-truths, thinking that they have the full truth each step of the way. Nothing could be farther from the truth, either. For instance, some of these dear friends insist that we must live by faith, and insist that as a matter of fact faith in Christ is what saves us. Belief in Christ is thus treated as a kind of catalyst that sparks and maintains eternal life in us—unfortunately, they fail to understand the ingredients in faith. They think faith and belief are on the same level. Not so. With true biblical faith belief is only one ingredient, good works is also required to help round out the definition. As the New International Version puts it: 

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (Galatians 5:6 NIV)

James says much the same. For we read:

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. (James 2:18 NIV)

Again, this was not a play on words by James, he was dead serious. However, all James was saying is what Paul was saying, that is, the thing that counts is that faith must express itself through love, or it is not faith at all. Friends, there is no hollow faith, intellectual, or otherwise. You may never defend your faith without demonstrating it, either.

Recently, I was talking to a good friend of mine who happens to be the General Superintendent of one of the largest national bodies of Assemblies of God believers. He spoke of a certain visiting pastor who came to the Superintendent’s country, and in a public display on several occasions ridiculed some of the most beloved elders in the country. I wasn’t there, but apparently it really got vicious more than once. Finally, the pastor was asked either to apologize publicly or leave. He chose to leave. However, following that, every time my friend met the pastor outside the country, the pastor would throw his arms around him and in a deep sonorous voice say, “Brother, I love you, and your wonderful people!”

My national friend remarked to me, “Boy, it would have really been nice, had he shown it before.”  Truth is, the pastor probably liked most of the people, but it is doubtful that he really loved all of them. At least, he hadn’t shown it.

Faith doesn’t work like that. For one to have faith, one must love; and, to love, means to show it. That’s faith. The full circle of faith.

So, for one to insist reasonably that they have faith, without showing it, is impossible, and only a half-truth. Unfortunately, there are no half-truths with God. For something to be true, it must be true in every arch of the circle.

Now, may God give us the wisdom, and the courage to understand truth and act upon it as necessary.

Faithfully yours, in truth, 

 JimR_/