David - Living and Loving As He Saw Fit

On October 30, 09', President Barak Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepherd and James Bird Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.  Commenting about the bill, the President said the following: "This is the culmination of a struggle that has lasted more than a decade.  Time and again we faced opposition.  Time and again, the measure was defeated or delayed.  Time and again we've been reminded of the difficulty of building a nation in which we're all free to live and love as we see fit."

Now if you're reading these words you might be asking yourself: Does President Obama really mean this?  Does he really envision a nation where we're all free to live and love as we see fit?  We might ask – what would this look like?

In our Wednesday evening Bible study, we have been working our way through the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel.  We recently arrived at chapter eleven where we have King David, a "man after God's own heart", committing adultery with another man's wife.  After being informed by Bathsheba that she is now pregnant, David begins to scheme, ultimately having Urriah placed on the front line of battle, insuring his death.  Bathsheba, after a brief period of mourning, moves in with David and becomes his wife. 

So what do we have here?  Some would say adultery and murder, which is correct.  However, David might say, "I'm just living and loving as I see fit!"  

Is this the nature of the freedom President Obama is talking about?  Is this the kind of society he envisions for America?  I hope not.  For this is not freedom – this is rebellion.  President Obama is echoing the battle cry that resounds in the heart of every fallen sinner – "…to live and love as we see fit."

The eleventh chapter of 2 Samuel closes with these words: "But the thing David had done displeased the LORD."  We may chose to live and love as we see fit, but what our President is not telling us is that one day we will stand before God and give an account, answering for where our freedom has taken us.

Pastor Van

Attention All Men! Watchmen Needed

If you knew the most likely place a thief might strike, how would you react?  Research shows that the front door and first-floor window are the most common places burglars enter homes.  However, I read recently that in spite of this information:

49% of people leave windows open; 37% leave their front door open.

The Bible warns believers of an adversary they must be on guard against:

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

When you consider that the Bible speaks of a Christian marriage as a picture of the relationship between Christ and His church, don't you think the devil will seek to deface that picture?  When you consider that the Bible says that children are a gift from God, and that they have been given to us to raise in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, don't you think that the devil will do all he can do to prevent us from succeeding?  The devil hopes we will not be sober-minded or watchful.

In ancient society, cities were surrounded by walls, and on these walls were watchmen.  Watchmen were assigned the task of standing guard and warning of impending danger.  These men were respected, trustworthy individuals.  To be sure this wasn't a job for a lazy, distracted man.  For if they failed the whole city would suffer destruction.

God used the imagery of the watchmen in Scripture:

On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. (Isa 62:6)

We understand this basic idea, don't we?  We have locks, alarms, security cameras, but when it comes to the souls of our loved ones - these things will never provide sufficient protection.  Men are needed, dependable watchmen who sacrifice for what they value - men who are sober-minded and watchful.

In the above text, Peter is giving a military picture: "Be sober-minded; be watchful..."  To be sober-minded is to not be intoxicated by the things of this world - even good things!  In other words, don't give yourself to too much.  When Peter says, "be watchful" it is be very watchful.  One must keep their eyes on the danger points, all the while battling spiritual sluggishness.

Why?  Because our adversary is on the prowl, seeking someone (your daughter, your son) to devour (literally; to drink down).

Men - take your place!

Pastor Van

 

 

Is The Bible a Reliable Document?

Unfortunately there are people who have been led to believe that the Bible is an unreliable document. The truth is, however, that of all ancient literature the New Testament is the most well-authenticated document, with an overwhelming amount of evidence supporting its reliability.  There are more New Testament manuscripts, copied with greater accuracy, at earlier dates than from any secular classic from secular classic from antiquity such as Herodotus, Plato, or Aristotle.

Some charge that there are grievous errors in the Bible.  Actually, Bible scholars who have examined the thousands of manuscript copies discovered 150,000 "textual variants."  These variants are slight, involving a missing letter in a word.  For example, note the variants in the following:  Youha*ejus#wonamilliondol^ars.  My guess is that you would not have any problem making out this message in spite of the variants.  In more than 99 percent of the cases of textual variants in the New Testament , the original text can be reconstructed to a practical certainty.

In October 2003, Odyssey Marine Exploration recovered a ship's bell off the coast of Georgia.  They believe it is from the ship called the TENNESSEE, which sank back in 1865 with a cargo of up to $180 million in gold.  They aren't absolutely certain this is the TENNESSEE because the bell's inscription is partially obscured.  Only the letters "SSEE"are visible.  The rest of the inscription won't be legible until it's cleaned.

With $180 million at stake, do you think they will allow this fragment of a word to hinder their search?  O, by the way, after the bell was cleaned it was determined that it was indeed from the TENNESSEE.

Pastor Van

Good, Thoughtful Questions

From time to time I receive interesting, thoughtful questions in response to a particular sermon I've preached.  This past Sunday I made reference to Romans 5:18-19, which speaks of Adam's disobedience which led to many being made sinners.  In contrast, by one man's obedience (Jesus Christ), many will be made righteous.  In response to these verses, a question was posed: (I will paraphrase it)  If our being made sinners is automatic, through Adam's disobedience, then why aren't we made righteous automatically through Jesus' obedience – irregardless of whether we believe or not?

I can see how one could easily come to the conclusion that this is what the text is teaching.  However, a closer look suggests otherwise. First, let's notice verses 15 & 16.  Paul states, "But the gift is not like the trespass…".  The "gift" refers to justification by God's grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.  Paul has already stated this in chapter 3:24.  So we can see that Paul is warning his readers not to draw a strict comparison between Adam's disobedience ("the trespass") and Christ's obedience ("the gift").

Paul gives the same warning in verse 16, "And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin."  The result of the one man's sin was that many were made sinners.  However, the free gift is  not like this – it is to be "received" (note verse 17).

We conclude that this is a consistent theme throughout Scripture:

 "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…" (John 1:12).

Pastor Van

A Book All Parents Must Have

Over the years I've been asked by parents, "Can you recommend a good book I can read to my children that will help explain biblical truths that are a bit difficult?"  I can now.

The book is entitled Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God.  The author is Dr. Bruce Ware, professor of Christian theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.   Dr. Ware is a gifted writer and has provided a tremendous resource for all parents.  I agree with the recommendation of Mark Driscoll:

"A theologically rich resource to aid parents in training their children.  Anyone who wants to help children grow in their love for Jesus and understanding of the Bible needs this book."

This book was born out of family discussions at dinner - those "daddy daughter dates"- with his two daughters.  Bruce was passionate about sharing truths that would give his daughters confidence in their Christian faith.  It was in large part through his daughters encouragement that this book came about.

Chapter titles include:

One God in Three Persons

Pain and Suffering in the World God Controls

How Sin Spread to All People

But Is Jesus really the Only Savior?

You will benefit from this book – and so will your children.

Pastor Van

Why Do You Do That?

I had a conversation recently with a fellow believer who attends a church in another city.  He said he had received Christ as his Savior and had been baptized, however, he was currently struggling over tithing (giving 10% of his income).  He said that he had been able to do so a few times, and that when he did he "felt good" and that "it made him proud". 

I asked the young man how he felt when he failed to give.  He replied, "I feel guilty."  I then asked, "Why do you give?"  He seemed puzzled at first that I would ask such a question.  I assured him that I was just curious, and that it was a good thing to know the true motivation behind our actions.  With that, he answered, "After our pastor preached on tithing, I told my wife, 'We've got to do this – I don't want to go to hell!'". 

I then asked, "Didn't you say earlier that Jesus was your Savior?"  He answered, "Yes."  I then asked if he felt that his giving would help his standing before God on judgment day, to which he answered "Yes."  So I asked, "Then who is saving who?"  He responded, "I'm saving myself."  Then, as if he suddenly realized what he had said, he remarked, "That didn't sound good."

Before the Apostle Paul ever became a follower of Christ, he had amassed quite a religious resume'.  He wrote about in his letter to the church at Philippi: "…circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law; blameless.  But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith…"

Paul was not going to stand before God, relying in any sense upon his own record (a righteousness of my own).  Why not Paul?  Why not bring that along?  Just in case of course!  Isn't it because that the truth of the gospel is that Christ's righteousness has saved us from God's wrath and hell already, and there's nothing we can or should attempt to add to that?

So what about our giving, what should our motivation to give be?  Our giving, our service, all that we do for the glory of God is not to be done to keep ourselves saved.  No, no, never!  We who are "found in Him" are to be motivated by joy and gratitude for the grace we have received – both past and future grace.

Pastor Van

C.C.C. is Shining In Mt. Washington

Kathryn and I had lunch today at one of the sandwich shops in Mt. Washington.  The lady who waited on us commented kindly about the church.  "Your church building is beautiful!  Even my little girl said, 'Wow mommy, look at that church, it's pretty.'"  We thanked her and moved on through the line. 

After a couple of minutes she mentioned that she had visited our recent yard sale at Fisher Lane.  She commented that she had bought some of the baked goods and that they were very good.  She then said something that thrilled my heart. 

"I just want you to know that I'm really impressed by the unity of your church."  At first I wasn't sure just what she meant by that, however, she went on to elaborate further.

"Your church seems to be a real family – nor just on Sunday – but every day."

I'm still not sure specifically what she meant by her gracious comments, but this one thing I do know: People are watching.  They are looking for something deeper than the physical structure of a building.  The question they are likely asking is: Are the people inside the building real?   Is church making any real difference in their life?   And when they find that it is, they take notice.  So shine on Calvary, shine on.

Pastor Van