If you don't know what dispensationalism is - and don't care how it affects how you interpret the Bible, this post will be quite boring to you.
That said, I was pointed to an article by Dan Phillips, one of the authors of the Pyromaniacs blog (here), called Twenty-Five Stupid Reasons for Dissing Dispensationalism (here).
Now, I admit, I do like to make fun of dispensationalism. Not out of spite or anything. I have great respect and love for Team Pyro. They love Jesus. And we agree on a heck of a lot.
But I thought I'd take a few moments and write a brief response to Phillips' exposition of these 25 Stupid Reasons.
That said, I took these 'reasons' as actual arguments, rather than merely 'disses.' I'm not sure technically what 'dissing' entails to be honest. So that said, I'm considering these arguments legitimately made against dispensationalism.
Here we go.
My response to ’25 Stupid reasons for dissing dispensationalism’
My responses are in italics.
1) All of the coolest guys are covenantal.
That’s just true. Granted, it’s a stupid argument. Not even an argument, really. But it’s true. It’s more like a kind hearted jab. Well, hopefully kind-hearted. Us Reformed can be jerks at times.
2) It’s new.
Well, it is. Though the solas and five points weren’t systematized before the Reformation, they were certainly around. Dispensationalism was not. Premillenialism was. They are not the same.
3) It’s not Reformed
This is true. Semantic issue, though, really. And agreed – bad argument.
4) So many dispies are goofs.
This is also true. I think there are more crazy dispies than crazy Reformed people, though.
But yeah – bad argument.
5) Dispy writers have made false predictions.
Again, true – but agreed, bad argument.
6) The best scholars hate dispensationalism.
I mean, yeah, this is, again, true. Even the good ‘dispensational’ scholars aren’t true dispies – they’re progressives.
But point conceded – scholarship doesn’t prove something. Arguments must be analyzed.
7) But someone wrote a book destroying dispensationalism.
I’ve never heard that one. I’ve never read a book that attempts to do so. But…. That’s okay. No response needed or given.
8) You can’t prove all those dispensational distinctives and prophetic features from the NT alone.
Never heard this argument. I agree, not a good one. But I also believe that we should base doctrine out of the many clear passages which interpret the few harder ones.
9) It isn’t a spiritual hermeneutic.
I don’t know what this even means.
10) Dispensationalists are antinomian.
Depends on what you mean by antinomian. If by it you’re referring to the OT moral law, then yes you are antinomian. That doesn’t mean you don’t care about morality, though.
11) We should interpret the OT by the NT.
And we should. We should look at how the NT interprets OT prophecy. Sometimes it is indeed difficult. Jesus held people accountable. They didn’t see because they were stupid. They didn’t see because of sin. Same is true of us.
12) You can’t take everything literally.
Again, I’ve never heard nor would I ever use this argument. What I would say is that you can’t take stuff in isolation.
13) Dispies are overliteral.
I’d never use this. Nor have I ever heard it.
14) I think Hal Lindsey is stupid. I like making fun of him.
I admit, I like making fun of Hal Lindsey. Granted, not an argument. But it’s so very much fun. I’d also probably do more than make fun of Harold Camping. I’d probably excommunicate him.
The only problem is that he wouldn’t mind.
15) People have converted from being dispy to other things
Agreed. Stupid argument.
16-19) Disp. Is divisive, defeateist, fatalistic, and escapist.
Eh, people who hold it can be. But agreed. Stupid argument.
20) Dispensationalism teaches a false offer by Christ.
Now, okay, I’ve never heard this. I’m not sure what’s meant, exactly. If it means that Jesus was offering them the physical fullness of the Kingdom then – then… that’s just silly.
21) ‘All the promises of God find their yes in him.’ – 2 Cor. 1:20.
Dan’s argument here is interesting. I think the difference is that he’d take it to mean that Jesus mediates God’s promises, and we’d take it to mean that the promises are sure to those in him.
This requires much more serious discussion than Dan gives it.
22) Dispensationalism teaches two ways of salvation.
Some hypers did. Qutoing Berkhof there isn’t really relevant . Not sure Dan understands what Berkhof was saying.
23) I’m CT and use a grammatical-historical approach…
We do. We just don’t do it in isolation from the rest of Scripture, using our best guesses as assumptions for what we think God meant.
24) Dispensationalism divides the people of God.
Never heard this as an argument. It’s just kinda defining what dispensationalism is.
25) Dispensationalism fails to see Jesus in every verse of the Bible.
I think this is more of a charge of what practically happens in dispensational preaching. Often, it tends to be moralistic, rather than gospel centered.
That’s not an argument. Just an observation.
But yeah, I think Dan does reveal the problem with dispensationalism in this critique. He fails to understand covenants. The promises were not made to everyone in the visible community, dude. And we are in covenant relationship with Christ. And engrafted into Israel.
This isn’t decoder ring. This is just taking seriously what the Bible has to say about covenants, our position in Christ, and its own interpretation of OT texts.
We don't believe that the Church merely replaces Israel. We believe that those promises are made to elect Israel, ultimately through union with Christ, with whom the Church is united and engrafted into the covenant promises.
There is no replacement of Israel. Just an expansion of its borders.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
You Need to Love the Law
You realize if you don't love God's Law - his commandments - his rules - you're in rebellion, right? (Read Psalm 119.)
You've probably heard that you need to preach the gospel to yourself daily. This is true.
But there is no Good News without the Law showing us what we're saved from. And to, for that matter (obedience to the Law - Romans 8:1-4; Hebrews 8, etc).
So, preach the Law to yourself daily. Tear yourself to shreds with it. Feel the pain of your rebellion against your Maker.
Then run to Jesus.
You've probably heard that you need to preach the gospel to yourself daily. This is true.
But there is no Good News without the Law showing us what we're saved from. And to, for that matter (obedience to the Law - Romans 8:1-4; Hebrews 8, etc).
So, preach the Law to yourself daily. Tear yourself to shreds with it. Feel the pain of your rebellion against your Maker.
Then run to Jesus.
Do You Want to Know God Personally?
A personal relationship with God without an understanding of why Jesus died,
how he reigns as King,
faith alone apart from works,
and repentance from sins,
is naught but a personal relationship of hostility from both sides.
O God, reconcile your elect people to yourself!
how he reigns as King,
faith alone apart from works,
and repentance from sins,
is naught but a personal relationship of hostility from both sides.
O God, reconcile your elect people to yourself!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
John Owen on the idea that Jesus died for everyone
...in itself the whole is in expression so barbarous and remote from common sense, in substance such a wild, unchristian madness, as contempt would far better suit it than a reply.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Homosexuality in the news...
First, eHarmony has been forced to open a site for homosexuals. eHarmony was founded by a Christian, who, as such, believes homosexuality to be a breach of God's Law.
You can read the story here.
Is this the beginning of the government interfering with the Church exercising it's right - yea even duty - to act according to the gospel of Jesus Christ? I admit I'm surprised. Didn't expect this kind of stupidity this soon.
In a related story, Tony Jones, one of the heavy hitters in the emergent (we like to think happy thoughts, just not about Scripture) circles, decided that homosexuality is a-okay.
That story is here.
He says in the story that now his detractors have more ammo to say that he's continued his leftward slide.
Yes, you let go of Scriptural authority, and you will start calling evil 'good.' And you will let people go to hell feeling just a tad bit better about themselves.
You can read the story here.
Is this the beginning of the government interfering with the Church exercising it's right - yea even duty - to act according to the gospel of Jesus Christ? I admit I'm surprised. Didn't expect this kind of stupidity this soon.
In a related story, Tony Jones, one of the heavy hitters in the emergent (we like to think happy thoughts, just not about Scripture) circles, decided that homosexuality is a-okay.
That story is here.
He says in the story that now his detractors have more ammo to say that he's continued his leftward slide.
Yes, you let go of Scriptural authority, and you will start calling evil 'good.' And you will let people go to hell feeling just a tad bit better about themselves.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
CLT III - Discipleship - Notes
CLT III – Discipleship
Intro
-So one day an old friend called me… (Pat story)
-An important question (answers not only ‘how do I disciple’ – but also – what am I as a disciple)
-Where we’re going: 4 texts of Scripture – then ‘how to disciple someone’ steps
-Pray
-Get out your notes ‘n’ bibles, folks!
Matt 28:18-20 (remind, read)
-Authority!
-(Illustration: list: planets, molecules, cells – your soul, your heart, your mind – and everyone else’s!)
-Commands – go AND disciple the nations
-(he owns it – letting all nations know and inviting them to act accordingly)
-discipleship = baptism and teaching people to obey
(grammar lesson!)
-baptism –
represents what? (Matt. 3; Mark 10:38, 39);
-illustration: noah’s flood
act of worship (obedience, repentance towards God) (1 Peter 3)
-illustration: (as opposed to me coming out of the water and having people cheer for me)
-Baptism = important! (gospel; gift, worship towards God, command!)
-Also, teaching them to obey all I’ve commanded!
-So what does that say about you?
-About evangelism?
-illustration – (two circles)
-About the source of content in discipleship?
-‘I think’ and mere advice should never come from a teacher’s mouth!
-teach includes doctrine
-Think about the hearers of this: original recipients of the apostles.
Christ – exercising authority over all creation. He has sent out 12 dudes to invite people into that reign – that Kingdom. And we enter and are learning to obey what he said – all by his grace. We join him in his death and life through grace.
-Summarize!
2 Tim. 4:1-4 (remind, read)
-vv. 1-2
-To preachers – not necessarily directly to you –but shows what content should be
-Command: to preach!
-Content? (1 Cor. 2 and rest of 2 Tim 4:2 – AND Titus 2!)
-Cross is everything – all Scripture – character
-Why’s this command important? (vv. 3-4)
-False doctrines that feel good
-examples: accept Jesus and life will be better; answers to ‘why’s there suffering’ – what about people who haven’t heard – believing one can go to heaven if he’s prayed a prayer – even if there’s no life change – believing that people are the center of God’s universe…
-So what’s this mean for you?
-what teachers do you run to?
-if you’re discipling – what are you teaching???
-Summarize
Ephesians 4:11-16 (remind, read)
-Jesus gave certain people!
-response – worship!
-goal – for us all to be equipped to serve (see 1 Peter 4)
-none of us are to be an audience
-END goal – that the Church would be doing the works of Jesus on earth
-framework emerges!
Now – discipleship for Christian leadership…
2 Tim. 2:2 (remind, read)
-The things from Paul!
-Not thought or ‘practical help’– from God – his word – his face
-Entrust to faithful dudes
-faithful! (character! Elder lists!)
-able to teach
-growth is possible – the content is Scripture – nothing else!
-about elders – but applicable to leadership
-So first – 1 Tim. 3:1 – desiring leadership is desiring something noble
-THEREFORE – character!
-so should one lead? Character? Go thru 1 Tim. 3:1-7
-talk about accountability. Confession. Common sins. (Titus 2:13)
-So are you ready to be trained for leadership? Maybe, maybe not. Strive for the character necessary to take on the noble task!
A framework for discipleship falls out of all this:
Doctrine (Gospel, God – the Trinity, Scripture, man, sin, etc.)
Character (Spirit-filled life; moral law; means of grace – Scripture, fellowship, prayer, sacraments, discipline)
Min Skill – (Evangelism, Discipleship, oversight-strategic planning, problem solving, decision making; teaching; hospitality)
The how to:
-Relationship! (1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2)
-Modeling (2 Tim. 2:2 and Jesus)
(planning, evangelism, bible study, life stuff)
-Delegating (Mark 6 and sending the disciples to preach – but honestly just getting the body to serve! Everyone should be! Examples of what to delegate to?)
-Teaching the content (incl. accountability)
Tools of the trade:
-BIBLE.
-www.centerfieldproductions.com – Indianacru, pass – Indiana
-Westminster Confession of Faith on the 10 Commandments
-google
-Q. 137. Which is the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.[766]
Q. 138. What are the duties required in the seventh commandment?
A. The duties required in the seventh commandment are, chastity in body, mind, affections,[767] words,[768] and behavior;[769] and the preservation of it in ourselves and others;[770] watchfulness over the eyes and all the senses;[771] temperance,[772] keeping of chaste company,[773] modesty in apparel;[774] marriage by those that have not the gift of continency,[775] conjugal love,[776] and cohabitation;[777] diligent labor in our callings;[778] shunning all occasions of uncleanness, and resisting temptations thereunto.[779]
Q. 139. What are the sins forbidden in the seventh commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the seventh commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required,[780] are, adultery, fornication,[781] rape, incest,[782] sodomy, and all unnatural lusts;[783] all unclean imaginations, thoughts, purposes, and affections;[784] all corrupt or filthy communications, or listening thereunto;[785] wanton looks,[786] impudent or light behaviour, immodest apparel;[787] prohibiting of lawful,[788] and dispensing with unlawful marriages;[789] allowing, tolerating, keeping of stews, and resorting to them;[790] entangling vows of single life,[791] undue delay of marriage,[792] having more wives or husbands than one at the same time;[793] unjust divorce,[794] or desertion;[795] idleness, gluttony, drunkenness,[796] unchaste company;[797] lascivious songs, books, pictures, dancings, stage plays;[798] and all other provocations to, or acts of uncleanness, either in ourselves or others.[799]
-What Jesus demands from the world – Piper
-your leaders – you want more? – tell us!
Summarize the whole thing! YOU are a disciple – doctrine, character, ministry.
Jesus has met this need
-Scripture
-leadership
-your giftings!
-End of all this? Eph 4 – the building up of Jesus’ body. His glory here. A mature spotless bride, his whole church, received unto him when he returns. Praise be to God!
Framework for the last three - most important subjects – The Gospel; The Holy Spirit; Means of Grace (Perseverance)
Intro
-So one day an old friend called me… (Pat story)
-An important question (answers not only ‘how do I disciple’ – but also – what am I as a disciple)
-Where we’re going: 4 texts of Scripture – then ‘how to disciple someone’ steps
-Pray
-Get out your notes ‘n’ bibles, folks!
Matt 28:18-20 (remind, read)
-Authority!
-(Illustration: list: planets, molecules, cells – your soul, your heart, your mind – and everyone else’s!)
-Commands – go AND disciple the nations
-(he owns it – letting all nations know and inviting them to act accordingly)
-discipleship = baptism and teaching people to obey
(grammar lesson!)
-baptism –
represents what? (Matt. 3; Mark 10:38, 39);
-illustration: noah’s flood
act of worship (obedience, repentance towards God) (1 Peter 3)
-illustration: (as opposed to me coming out of the water and having people cheer for me)
-Baptism = important! (gospel; gift, worship towards God, command!)
-Also, teaching them to obey all I’ve commanded!
-So what does that say about you?
-About evangelism?
-illustration – (two circles)
-About the source of content in discipleship?
-‘I think’ and mere advice should never come from a teacher’s mouth!
-teach includes doctrine
-Think about the hearers of this: original recipients of the apostles.
Christ – exercising authority over all creation. He has sent out 12 dudes to invite people into that reign – that Kingdom. And we enter and are learning to obey what he said – all by his grace. We join him in his death and life through grace.
-Summarize!
2 Tim. 4:1-4 (remind, read)
-vv. 1-2
-To preachers – not necessarily directly to you –but shows what content should be
-Command: to preach!
-Content? (1 Cor. 2 and rest of 2 Tim 4:2 – AND Titus 2!)
-Cross is everything – all Scripture – character
-Why’s this command important? (vv. 3-4)
-False doctrines that feel good
-examples: accept Jesus and life will be better; answers to ‘why’s there suffering’ – what about people who haven’t heard – believing one can go to heaven if he’s prayed a prayer – even if there’s no life change – believing that people are the center of God’s universe…
-So what’s this mean for you?
-what teachers do you run to?
-if you’re discipling – what are you teaching???
-Summarize
Ephesians 4:11-16 (remind, read)
-Jesus gave certain people!
-response – worship!
-goal – for us all to be equipped to serve (see 1 Peter 4)
-none of us are to be an audience
-END goal – that the Church would be doing the works of Jesus on earth
-framework emerges!
Now – discipleship for Christian leadership…
2 Tim. 2:2 (remind, read)
-The things from Paul!
-Not thought or ‘practical help’– from God – his word – his face
-Entrust to faithful dudes
-faithful! (character! Elder lists!)
-able to teach
-growth is possible – the content is Scripture – nothing else!
-about elders – but applicable to leadership
-So first – 1 Tim. 3:1 – desiring leadership is desiring something noble
-THEREFORE – character!
-so should one lead? Character? Go thru 1 Tim. 3:1-7
-talk about accountability. Confession. Common sins. (Titus 2:13)
-So are you ready to be trained for leadership? Maybe, maybe not. Strive for the character necessary to take on the noble task!
A framework for discipleship falls out of all this:
Doctrine (Gospel, God – the Trinity, Scripture, man, sin, etc.)
Character (Spirit-filled life; moral law; means of grace – Scripture, fellowship, prayer, sacraments, discipline)
Min Skill – (Evangelism, Discipleship, oversight-strategic planning, problem solving, decision making; teaching; hospitality)
The how to:
-Relationship! (1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2)
-Modeling (2 Tim. 2:2 and Jesus)
(planning, evangelism, bible study, life stuff)
-Delegating (Mark 6 and sending the disciples to preach – but honestly just getting the body to serve! Everyone should be! Examples of what to delegate to?)
-Teaching the content (incl. accountability)
Tools of the trade:
-BIBLE.
-www.centerfieldproductions.com – Indianacru, pass – Indiana
-Westminster Confession of Faith on the 10 Commandments
-Q. 137. Which is the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.[766]
Q. 138. What are the duties required in the seventh commandment?
A. The duties required in the seventh commandment are, chastity in body, mind, affections,[767] words,[768] and behavior;[769] and the preservation of it in ourselves and others;[770] watchfulness over the eyes and all the senses;[771] temperance,[772] keeping of chaste company,[773] modesty in apparel;[774] marriage by those that have not the gift of continency,[775] conjugal love,[776] and cohabitation;[777] diligent labor in our callings;[778] shunning all occasions of uncleanness, and resisting temptations thereunto.[779]
Q. 139. What are the sins forbidden in the seventh commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the seventh commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required,[780] are, adultery, fornication,[781] rape, incest,[782] sodomy, and all unnatural lusts;[783] all unclean imaginations, thoughts, purposes, and affections;[784] all corrupt or filthy communications, or listening thereunto;[785] wanton looks,[786] impudent or light behaviour, immodest apparel;[787] prohibiting of lawful,[788] and dispensing with unlawful marriages;[789] allowing, tolerating, keeping of stews, and resorting to them;[790] entangling vows of single life,[791] undue delay of marriage,[792] having more wives or husbands than one at the same time;[793] unjust divorce,[794] or desertion;[795] idleness, gluttony, drunkenness,[796] unchaste company;[797] lascivious songs, books, pictures, dancings, stage plays;[798] and all other provocations to, or acts of uncleanness, either in ourselves or others.[799]
-What Jesus demands from the world – Piper
-your leaders – you want more? – tell us!
Summarize the whole thing! YOU are a disciple – doctrine, character, ministry.
Jesus has met this need
-Scripture
-leadership
-your giftings!
-End of all this? Eph 4 – the building up of Jesus’ body. His glory here. A mature spotless bride, his whole church, received unto him when he returns. Praise be to God!
Framework for the last three - most important subjects – The Gospel; The Holy Spirit; Means of Grace (Perseverance)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Stop Being Ethnocentric!
Dr. RC Sproul has a wonderful little article about how we western Christians tend to think of Christianity as a western religion: a religion ruled by the west and a religion primarily captured in, by, and for the west.
And how stupid that is. Check it out here.
And how stupid that is. Check it out here.
How to Study the Bible - CLT I - Notes
The Scriptures
Intro
-Intro CLT (purpose, dates…)
-Felt Needs (direction, skill, boring, motivation)
-Real needs (salvation – rom 1:18ff, growth in obedience – 1 John 2:3, 4)
-Sufficient solution (2 tim 3:14-17)
-outline – 4 facts – w/ skills that go along with each; q/a follows
-pray
Spiritual
From the Spirit – from another world (2 tim. 3:16)
-transformers analogy
-someone telling a sweet story about biophysics (language, caring)
We’re in the flesh world (1 Cor. 2:12ff; rom 3:10-12)
-good news – 1 Cor. 3:6ff
-HS like decoder in transformers; transforming power that makes you care about/understand biophysics
Skill – confess dependence/pray
Skill – discipline (study, under teaching, meditation) – discipline comes from care/need (why you date)
Authoritative
God breathed – true – binding – highest standard of knowledge (Rom 3:4; 2 Sam 22:31; Matt 5:19, 20; binding on mind, emotions, actions; compare to science- 2 Peter 1:16-21)
-personal application (if something rubs you the wrong way…)
-evangelism application
Skill – observation (bend the knee!) Rom. 1:8-17 (grammar note!) (questions too)
Human
Human product – specific people, places, situations – not written directly to YOU. (Gal. 5:12);
Skill – q and a (context – literary (2 are gathered!); analogy of Scripture- theological … essential truths of the Christian faith - sproul)
Skill 2: Big Idea of passage (Rom. 1:8-17) – (have ‘em do it)
Skill 2 ½: BI -> eternal big idea; theology book (Essentials – Sproul) – Rom. 1:8- 17…
Skill 3 – READING – forest/trees (what to look for when reading… THIS… segue)
Gospel Centered
What’s the gospel?
Give holistic definition
Luke 24:27; 44-47; Heb 1:1-3; John 1:12-18
Why is the Bible about the gospel?
-saves (Rom. 10; rom. 1)
-results in obedience – Galatians 3:1-3 (vs. commands -> death!)
-1 Corinthians 2:1ff; heb. 6; 2 cor 3:18
Skill 1 – Finding the sin condition(s)/need(s) that sin creates. How? Big idea
Do in Rom. 1
Skill 2 – Feel it. (Heb. 4:12 – ask how you break God’s commands – confess!)
-Decision Making (cuts, sufficient)
-Ferguson quote: (see below)
Skill 3 – Discover the gospel in the text – what’s Jesus’ cross done?
-this text?
-Matt 5:27-30 – (reading! Point of the gospel: Matt 27:46, 51-54)
-OT stuff is about Jesus! (Rom. 5:16; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Matthew 12:39-41; John 2:19ff)
-learn to search on biblegateway!
Skill 4 – Thank God for the gospel in the passage
Summary, Q and A following, prayer
Worship
Ann’c
Dismiss
Ferguson: "Christians in an earlier generation rarely thought of writing books on guidance. There is a reason for that (just as there is a reason why so many of us today are drawn to books that will tell us how to find God's will). Our forefathers in the faith were catechised, and they taught catechisms to their children. Often as much as half of the catechism would be devoted to an exposition of the answers to questions like the following: Question: Where do we find God's will? Answer: In the Scriptures. Question: Where in particular in the Scriptures? Answer: In the Commandments that God has given to us.
Why were these questions and answers so important? Because these Christians understood that God's law provides basic guidelines that cover the whole of life. Indeed, in the vast majority of instances, the answer to the question 'What does God want me to do?' will be found by answering the question: 'How does the law of God apply to this situation? What does the Lord require of me here in his word?'"
Intro
-Intro CLT (purpose, dates…)
-Felt Needs (direction, skill, boring, motivation)
-Real needs (salvation – rom 1:18ff, growth in obedience – 1 John 2:3, 4)
-Sufficient solution (2 tim 3:14-17)
-outline – 4 facts – w/ skills that go along with each; q/a follows
-pray
Spiritual
From the Spirit – from another world (2 tim. 3:16)
-transformers analogy
-someone telling a sweet story about biophysics (language, caring)
We’re in the flesh world (1 Cor. 2:12ff; rom 3:10-12)
-good news – 1 Cor. 3:6ff
-HS like decoder in transformers; transforming power that makes you care about/understand biophysics
Skill – confess dependence/pray
Skill – discipline (study, under teaching, meditation) – discipline comes from care/need (why you date)
Authoritative
God breathed – true – binding – highest standard of knowledge (Rom 3:4; 2 Sam 22:31; Matt 5:19, 20; binding on mind, emotions, actions; compare to science- 2 Peter 1:16-21)
-personal application (if something rubs you the wrong way…)
-evangelism application
Skill – observation (bend the knee!) Rom. 1:8-17 (grammar note!) (questions too)
Human
Human product – specific people, places, situations – not written directly to YOU. (Gal. 5:12);
Skill – q and a (context – literary (2 are gathered!); analogy of Scripture- theological … essential truths of the Christian faith - sproul)
Skill 2: Big Idea of passage (Rom. 1:8-17) – (have ‘em do it)
Skill 2 ½: BI -> eternal big idea; theology book (Essentials – Sproul) – Rom. 1:8- 17…
Skill 3 – READING – forest/trees (what to look for when reading… THIS… segue)
Gospel Centered
What’s the gospel?
Give holistic definition
Luke 24:27; 44-47; Heb 1:1-3; John 1:12-18
Why is the Bible about the gospel?
-saves (Rom. 10; rom. 1)
-results in obedience – Galatians 3:1-3 (vs. commands -> death!)
-1 Corinthians 2:1ff; heb. 6; 2 cor 3:18
Skill 1 – Finding the sin condition(s)/need(s) that sin creates. How? Big idea
Do in Rom. 1
Skill 2 – Feel it. (Heb. 4:12 – ask how you break God’s commands – confess!)
-Decision Making (cuts, sufficient)
-Ferguson quote: (see below)
Skill 3 – Discover the gospel in the text – what’s Jesus’ cross done?
-this text?
-Matt 5:27-30 – (reading! Point of the gospel: Matt 27:46, 51-54)
-OT stuff is about Jesus! (Rom. 5:16; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Matthew 12:39-41; John 2:19ff)
-learn to search on biblegateway!
Skill 4 – Thank God for the gospel in the passage
Summary, Q and A following, prayer
Worship
Ann’c
Dismiss
Ferguson: "Christians in an earlier generation rarely thought of writing books on guidance. There is a reason for that (just as there is a reason why so many of us today are drawn to books that will tell us how to find God's will). Our forefathers in the faith were catechised, and they taught catechisms to their children. Often as much as half of the catechism would be devoted to an exposition of the answers to questions like the following: Question: Where do we find God's will? Answer: In the Scriptures. Question: Where in particular in the Scriptures? Answer: In the Commandments that God has given to us.
Why were these questions and answers so important? Because these Christians understood that God's law provides basic guidelines that cover the whole of life. Indeed, in the vast majority of instances, the answer to the question 'What does God want me to do?' will be found by answering the question: 'How does the law of God apply to this situation? What does the Lord require of me here in his word?'"
Monday, November 10, 2008
President-Bashing: The Biggest Problem in the Church?
I recently was pointed to an editorial which pointed out how our treatment of President Bush must make us look in the eyes of other nations. Here.
I wonder how many of us who call Jesus 'King' are also guilty of President-bashing? The root of the problem runs deeper than mere dislike of our current President, however.
It's a problem of authority. And it runs deep...
Who has authority?
Parents or children?
Pastors or church-members?
Governmental officials or citizens?
Men or their wives?
The Scriptures or my thoughts?
The Scriptures or my feelings?
The Scriptures or my experiences?
And ultimately... God... or me?
I wonder how many of us who call Jesus 'King' are also guilty of President-bashing? The root of the problem runs deeper than mere dislike of our current President, however.
It's a problem of authority. And it runs deep...
Who has authority?
Parents or children?
Pastors or church-members?
Governmental officials or citizens?
Men or their wives?
The Scriptures or my thoughts?
The Scriptures or my feelings?
The Scriptures or my experiences?
And ultimately... God... or me?
You Don't Have to Read the Bible... unless...
Modern Christians have the tendency of making principles from the Scriptures into binding Law for all Christians.
For instance, we are corporately commanded to make disciples of all nations. But if you haven't gone on a missions trip of some sort, you're sinning.
Or - we're commanded to meditate on the Scriptures. Let the doctrines dwell richly in us. Speak to others in doctrinal language. Sit under the right preaching of the Scriptures in a Bible-loving church.
But nowhere are we commanded to read the Bible (unless you're a pastor!) On the other hand - if you choose to read good Christians books written by good teachers (Piper, Sproul, Bridges, Bunyan, Packer, etc.) instead of the Bible, you're looked down upon.
Why? The command - the law - doesn't exist!
Surely the Scriptures are wonderful, and in them we see God revealed in Jesus - but lay Christians are not necessarily sinning if they don't study them. True - there may be a heart condition that is sinful and the reason they aren't.
But folks - let's not be legalistic. Let's hold people accountable to God's laws - not to 'spiritual disciplines' we made up.
For instance, we are corporately commanded to make disciples of all nations. But if you haven't gone on a missions trip of some sort, you're sinning.
Or - we're commanded to meditate on the Scriptures. Let the doctrines dwell richly in us. Speak to others in doctrinal language. Sit under the right preaching of the Scriptures in a Bible-loving church.
But nowhere are we commanded to read the Bible (unless you're a pastor!) On the other hand - if you choose to read good Christians books written by good teachers (Piper, Sproul, Bridges, Bunyan, Packer, etc.) instead of the Bible, you're looked down upon.
Why? The command - the law - doesn't exist!
Surely the Scriptures are wonderful, and in them we see God revealed in Jesus - but lay Christians are not necessarily sinning if they don't study them. True - there may be a heart condition that is sinful and the reason they aren't.
But folks - let's not be legalistic. Let's hold people accountable to God's laws - not to 'spiritual disciplines' we made up.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Election Day Re-Post: How You Should Vote
A quick addendum to this before the repost.
God cares about social justice.
He cares about social justice because humans are in his image - and so a lack of compassion for hurting people is a lack of compassion for beings who exist to represent God.
So you are required to love social justice. So why don't you go and move to be with people who need you - and give freely of your own money? I mean, you could vote so the government gives handouts from mostly other peoples' money. But, I think you should probably just take responsibility before God for such things.
Also - what do you think God cares more about - making sure poor western people (who by the world's standards are NOT poor) have slightly more - or making sure his image is not destroyed while in the womb?
One more note: God doesn't really care about your portfolio. He cares about your holiness.
So stop and think. God loves justice - but that's because he loves himself. So vote to the glory of God.
So here are some principles from the Bible about God and government:
1) God created governments
2) God created governments to execute righteousness on earth
3) God’s righteousness is evinced in the Law – the OT Law
4) Other nations are held responsible for disobedience to God’s Law in the prophets
5) There is no normative ‘moral Law’ outside the OT Law – every time conscience/natural law is mentioned it’s negative and subjective
6) So the purpose of government is to uphold God’s Law
7) That includes everything in it – including just war, capital punishment, wisely taking care of the poor to an extent, and even the worship of God. – some things more important than others.
8) That will never actually happen until Jesus returns
9) But we have some authority in our government – and thus responsibility to make sure our government conforms to God’s Laws.
10) We also have the responsibility to be honest with our presuppositions – we don’t start from the position of pragmatism – we start with a belief that God owns us, and that his Law is an expression of love to bring us to Jesus.
11) We also have to start with the presupposition that international or national law (Geneva convention; Constitution) aren’t ultimate. We have to submit to law given, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t seek to change them.
God cares about social justice.
He cares about social justice because humans are in his image - and so a lack of compassion for hurting people is a lack of compassion for beings who exist to represent God.
So you are required to love social justice. So why don't you go and move to be with people who need you - and give freely of your own money? I mean, you could vote so the government gives handouts from mostly other peoples' money. But, I think you should probably just take responsibility before God for such things.
Also - what do you think God cares more about - making sure poor western people (who by the world's standards are NOT poor) have slightly more - or making sure his image is not destroyed while in the womb?
One more note: God doesn't really care about your portfolio. He cares about your holiness.
So stop and think. God loves justice - but that's because he loves himself. So vote to the glory of God.
So here are some principles from the Bible about God and government:
1) God created governments
2) God created governments to execute righteousness on earth
3) God’s righteousness is evinced in the Law – the OT Law
4) Other nations are held responsible for disobedience to God’s Law in the prophets
5) There is no normative ‘moral Law’ outside the OT Law – every time conscience/natural law is mentioned it’s negative and subjective
6) So the purpose of government is to uphold God’s Law
7) That includes everything in it – including just war, capital punishment, wisely taking care of the poor to an extent, and even the worship of God. – some things more important than others.
8) That will never actually happen until Jesus returns
9) But we have some authority in our government – and thus responsibility to make sure our government conforms to God’s Laws.
10) We also have the responsibility to be honest with our presuppositions – we don’t start from the position of pragmatism – we start with a belief that God owns us, and that his Law is an expression of love to bring us to Jesus.
11) We also have to start with the presupposition that international or national law (Geneva convention; Constitution) aren’t ultimate. We have to submit to law given, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t seek to change them.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Richie D, are you serious?
Richard Dawkins, infamous atheist and author of "The God Delusion," has decided that after his failed attempt at dethroning his creator and judge, perhaps he should set his sights lower.
On Harry Potter.
Richie, like many Christian critics of the series, has not read it. (He has read the Golden Compass and liked it. Surprising, I know - a radical atheist liking atheistic propoganda written for children.)
But, he thinks that raising children with stories that are 'non-scientific' may be negative.
He goes on to talk about how raising children in a religion is 'abuse' and 'evil.'
So, Dick, do you understand that...
1) you have no basis for belief in what may can be considered 'negative'?
2) you have no basis for belief in what may be considered 'good' nor 'evil'?
and 3) you have no basis for belief in conclusions from scientific data, the scientific data itself, nor truth in general...?
That is, you have no basis for belief in those things unless you make yourself the independent standard for declaring what is true. That isn't atheism, though. It's just declaring that, well, YOU'RE God.
Whoops.
I should note, that God has said that you do know him, by the way. You're just rebelling against said knowledge.
Click here for the article.
On Harry Potter.
Richie, like many Christian critics of the series, has not read it. (He has read the Golden Compass and liked it. Surprising, I know - a radical atheist liking atheistic propoganda written for children.)
But, he thinks that raising children with stories that are 'non-scientific' may be negative.
He goes on to talk about how raising children in a religion is 'abuse' and 'evil.'
So, Dick, do you understand that...
1) you have no basis for belief in what may can be considered 'negative'?
2) you have no basis for belief in what may be considered 'good' nor 'evil'?
and 3) you have no basis for belief in conclusions from scientific data, the scientific data itself, nor truth in general...?
That is, you have no basis for belief in those things unless you make yourself the independent standard for declaring what is true. That isn't atheism, though. It's just declaring that, well, YOU'RE God.
Whoops.
I should note, that God has said that you do know him, by the way. You're just rebelling against said knowledge.
Click here for the article.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Manliness, manliness is what I long for...
I was having a conversation with a few guys about manhood a few days ago, and we got into a disagreement about what it means to be manly. So I figured, hey, let’s look at what the Bible has to say about manhood.
1) God expects us to just know what it means to be manly. In 1 Corinthians 16:13, Paul says, ‘Act like men.’ And in 1 Corinthians 11:14-15, Paul says, “Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair, it is a disgrace for him…?”
We’ll get to that ‘long hair’ issue in a second – but note this: God expects us to just know what manliness is.
2) Some of what manliness is is culturally relative. 1 Corinthians 11 is about head coverings. In the verse I just cited, Paul says, essentially, don’t you know that a head covering (long hair) on a man is effeminate?
Now, we don’t ‘know’ that per se. It was something unique to the Corinthian culture. But the fact is – they would’ve known that wearing a head cover in their culture was effeminate.
Application? There are things in our culture that are girly. So I can say you listen to girly music. Or like girly movies. Or talk in a girly way. Knock it off and toughen up, guys.
3) Only men are called to exercise authority in their families and in the Church of God. Of course that authority should be gentle (1 Peter 3), not domineering (1 Peter 5), and for the love of the saints/one’s wife (1 Peter 5; Ephesians 5:22ff).
But it’s still authority. That means a dude has to be decisive, responsible, and a leader. He has to own the direction for his family – and before he can do that, he needs to be decisive and responsible about his position as a Christian.
4) Godly men are to be willing to suffer. Ephesians 5:22 and following tells us a godly husband should suffer for the holiness of his wife because he loves her. So our love should compel us to suffer for the holiness of Christ’s bride and his people, in general.
Real men embrace suffering.
There’s a strength about that. You can look back to 1 Corinthians 16:13 about it.
5) Godly men protect God’s people against attacks against the glory of God.
Adam, as recorded in Genesis 2, was responsible for the commands God gave. Eve wasn’t even around when God gave them. And Adam did jack when Satan showed up.
He was supposed to speak up, act as his wife’s authority, and kill the serpent. Likewise, in the Church, the elders are commanded (Titus 1) to teach sound doctrine and silence those who contradict it.
Oh but that sounds so… harsh.
6) Men have a natural tendency towards violence – and that’s not a bad thing. Adam was supposed to kill the serpent. The priests (Numbers 3) were supposed to kill anyone who dared desecrate the temple. Only men were called to be soldiers.
Sometimes protection means we rebuke people. Sometimes protection means we use force. And that’s what men are called to.
Of course that can be abused. But those abuses aren’t what we’re talking about right now. Some things require violent action, and men are put in those positions for violent action. No man gets an exception.
7) Men are to lead courageously. In Judges 4, Barak failed to courageously lead God’s people into battle. Deborah, a judge in Israel, calls him out and mocks him – because he wanted to be protected by a woman.
8) Men are to determine the actions of their churches. In Isaiah 3 God mocks Israel – saying that women are leading them. He does that to mock the men. They should’ve been sticking up and leading Israel. They failed.
So there’s just a little bit. I’m not talking about stuff like love and gentleness here- those things that every Christian is commanded to obey. It’s clear from these Scriptures (and more) that men are to be uniquely men.
They are to lead. Take authority. Take responsibility for the Church of God. Silence those who would lead the sheep astray. Take responsibility for their families.
So men – you know this stuff. A few things to do:
A) Own your own spiritual growth. Stop being a spiritual coward, start following Jesus your King. That means submitting to his word and taking your own sin seriously.
B) Own your family’s spiritual growth if you have one.
C) Step up in the Church. Think of ministries to do. Do them. Step up when they ask for volunteers. Stop looking to be entertained and start taking risks to serve God.
D) Know the Bible. Speak the Bible. Rebuke those who contradict the Bible.
Guys – any more you can think of?
1) God expects us to just know what it means to be manly. In 1 Corinthians 16:13, Paul says, ‘Act like men.’ And in 1 Corinthians 11:14-15, Paul says, “Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair, it is a disgrace for him…?”
We’ll get to that ‘long hair’ issue in a second – but note this: God expects us to just know what manliness is.
2) Some of what manliness is is culturally relative. 1 Corinthians 11 is about head coverings. In the verse I just cited, Paul says, essentially, don’t you know that a head covering (long hair) on a man is effeminate?
Now, we don’t ‘know’ that per se. It was something unique to the Corinthian culture. But the fact is – they would’ve known that wearing a head cover in their culture was effeminate.
Application? There are things in our culture that are girly. So I can say you listen to girly music. Or like girly movies. Or talk in a girly way. Knock it off and toughen up, guys.
3) Only men are called to exercise authority in their families and in the Church of God. Of course that authority should be gentle (1 Peter 3), not domineering (1 Peter 5), and for the love of the saints/one’s wife (1 Peter 5; Ephesians 5:22ff).
But it’s still authority. That means a dude has to be decisive, responsible, and a leader. He has to own the direction for his family – and before he can do that, he needs to be decisive and responsible about his position as a Christian.
4) Godly men are to be willing to suffer. Ephesians 5:22 and following tells us a godly husband should suffer for the holiness of his wife because he loves her. So our love should compel us to suffer for the holiness of Christ’s bride and his people, in general.
Real men embrace suffering.
There’s a strength about that. You can look back to 1 Corinthians 16:13 about it.
5) Godly men protect God’s people against attacks against the glory of God.
Adam, as recorded in Genesis 2, was responsible for the commands God gave. Eve wasn’t even around when God gave them. And Adam did jack when Satan showed up.
He was supposed to speak up, act as his wife’s authority, and kill the serpent. Likewise, in the Church, the elders are commanded (Titus 1) to teach sound doctrine and silence those who contradict it.
Oh but that sounds so… harsh.
6) Men have a natural tendency towards violence – and that’s not a bad thing. Adam was supposed to kill the serpent. The priests (Numbers 3) were supposed to kill anyone who dared desecrate the temple. Only men were called to be soldiers.
Sometimes protection means we rebuke people. Sometimes protection means we use force. And that’s what men are called to.
Of course that can be abused. But those abuses aren’t what we’re talking about right now. Some things require violent action, and men are put in those positions for violent action. No man gets an exception.
7) Men are to lead courageously. In Judges 4, Barak failed to courageously lead God’s people into battle. Deborah, a judge in Israel, calls him out and mocks him – because he wanted to be protected by a woman.
8) Men are to determine the actions of their churches. In Isaiah 3 God mocks Israel – saying that women are leading them. He does that to mock the men. They should’ve been sticking up and leading Israel. They failed.
So there’s just a little bit. I’m not talking about stuff like love and gentleness here- those things that every Christian is commanded to obey. It’s clear from these Scriptures (and more) that men are to be uniquely men.
They are to lead. Take authority. Take responsibility for the Church of God. Silence those who would lead the sheep astray. Take responsibility for their families.
So men – you know this stuff. A few things to do:
A) Own your own spiritual growth. Stop being a spiritual coward, start following Jesus your King. That means submitting to his word and taking your own sin seriously.
B) Own your family’s spiritual growth if you have one.
C) Step up in the Church. Think of ministries to do. Do them. Step up when they ask for volunteers. Stop looking to be entertained and start taking risks to serve God.
D) Know the Bible. Speak the Bible. Rebuke those who contradict the Bible.
Guys – any more you can think of?
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Free Will
I hear a lot of people saying that the Bible teaches the idea of free will.
Really? Can you show that?
And what exactly does free will mean? Do you have a workable definition?
And do you really believe God has a free will? Think about that.
Really? Can you show that?
And what exactly does free will mean? Do you have a workable definition?
And do you really believe God has a free will? Think about that.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
The Betrayal of Jesus was the Will of God
I was recently asked if Judas freely chose to betray Jesus, or if it was God's will.
Now, biblically, the answer is both.
Let me give you some Scriptures on the subject:
Acts 1:16 and John 6:64 show that Judas' betrayal was fulfillment was prophecy.
Acts 1:25 shows that Judas belonged to destruction.
John 17:12 - Jesus calls Judas the son of destruction - and says that what Judas did was intended to fulfill prophecy. By the way - catch that 'intent.' Who intended it? God.
Acts 2:23 says that Jesus was delivered up in agreement with the definite plan and foreknowledge of God
As far as God's rule over all things goes, look at Ephesians 1:11, Amos 3:6, Job 1:21, and Psalm 115:3. Isaiah 45:7-13. God has decreed whatsoever comes to pass.
The following verses show God works in the hearts of people. See Isaiah 44:28-45:6; Romans 9; Genesis 50:15-20.
Now, biblically, the answer is both.
Let me give you some Scriptures on the subject:
Acts 1:16 and John 6:64 show that Judas' betrayal was fulfillment was prophecy.
Acts 1:25 shows that Judas belonged to destruction.
John 17:12 - Jesus calls Judas the son of destruction - and says that what Judas did was intended to fulfill prophecy. By the way - catch that 'intent.' Who intended it? God.
Acts 2:23 says that Jesus was delivered up in agreement with the definite plan and foreknowledge of God
As far as God's rule over all things goes, look at Ephesians 1:11, Amos 3:6, Job 1:21, and Psalm 115:3. Isaiah 45:7-13. God has decreed whatsoever comes to pass.
The following verses show God works in the hearts of people. See Isaiah 44:28-45:6; Romans 9; Genesis 50:15-20.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Bad Worship Songs and Coming Soon...
Bob Kauflin of Sovereign Grace Ministries wrote an article called 'Top Ten Ways to Write Bad Worship Songs.' I commend it to you. Check it out here.
Also, coming soon - Christian Manliness, and Modern Evangelicalism and Drinking (Booze!)
Also, coming soon - Christian Manliness, and Modern Evangelicalism and Drinking (Booze!)
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Christians and Vulgarity - a Summary - Part V
So we’ve looked at Ephesians 4:29, Ephesians 5:4, and Colossians 3:8. I think it’s time for a summary. I’m just going to make three sections here: don’t – and do – and - how to obey God with your tongue.
Don’t
1) Do not speak as truth about God what Scripture does not teach.
2) Do not say things that will result in bad doctrine or bad behavior.
3) Do not say anything that doesn’t come from love of God and his people.
4) Do not say anything that will cause someone to lust sexually.
5) Do not say anything that will cause someone to desire things of this world – things that aren’t Jesus.
6) Don’t say things that you know will offend people unnecessarily. (Obviously, rebuking sin will offend people – we need to do that.)
7) Don’t say things to hurt people.
Do
1) Do seek to know sound doctrine so you can speak it.
2) Do live speaking to people about the cross of Christ.
3) Do consider what the people you’re talking to need from Jesus.
4) Do guard yourself against lust and greed.
5) Do publicly give thanks to God for the gospel.
6) Do love people from the heart – especially brothers and sisters in Christ.
How to Obey God with Your Tongue
1) Be quick to listen, and be slow to speak. Think before you speak! (James 1:19)
2) Control your tongue - but know you can't because your heart is indwelt with evil. (James 3:1-12)
3) Ask yourself what sort of heart/soul/self your speech reveals. (Matthew 15:18)
4) Admit how grave your soul’s sin is against God – to God and to people (1 John 1:9; James 5:16)
5) Tell yourself about the gospel! The passages we’ve examined occur in sections about how God has given us his Holy Spirit; about how we in Christ no longer are guilty because of Christ’s cross; about how Jesus’ death took away our old rebellious nature and guaranteed our heavenly future.
6) Pray for the strength to love Jesus – and to talk like you love Jesus.
7) Repeat steps 1-6 every day, and as often as your sin requires.
Don’t
1) Do not speak as truth about God what Scripture does not teach.
2) Do not say things that will result in bad doctrine or bad behavior.
3) Do not say anything that doesn’t come from love of God and his people.
4) Do not say anything that will cause someone to lust sexually.
5) Do not say anything that will cause someone to desire things of this world – things that aren’t Jesus.
6) Don’t say things that you know will offend people unnecessarily. (Obviously, rebuking sin will offend people – we need to do that.)
7) Don’t say things to hurt people.
Do
1) Do seek to know sound doctrine so you can speak it.
2) Do live speaking to people about the cross of Christ.
3) Do consider what the people you’re talking to need from Jesus.
4) Do guard yourself against lust and greed.
5) Do publicly give thanks to God for the gospel.
6) Do love people from the heart – especially brothers and sisters in Christ.
How to Obey God with Your Tongue
1) Be quick to listen, and be slow to speak. Think before you speak! (James 1:19)
2) Control your tongue - but know you can't because your heart is indwelt with evil. (James 3:1-12)
3) Ask yourself what sort of heart/soul/self your speech reveals. (Matthew 15:18)
4) Admit how grave your soul’s sin is against God – to God and to people (1 John 1:9; James 5:16)
5) Tell yourself about the gospel! The passages we’ve examined occur in sections about how God has given us his Holy Spirit; about how we in Christ no longer are guilty because of Christ’s cross; about how Jesus’ death took away our old rebellious nature and guaranteed our heavenly future.
6) Pray for the strength to love Jesus – and to talk like you love Jesus.
7) Repeat steps 1-6 every day, and as often as your sin requires.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Campus Ministries and the Local Church
There's a wonderful article on the subject of the relationships of campus ministries to the local church here.
Christians and Vulgarity, Part IV
This will be the last Scripture I talk about on this subject. After that, God willing, I’ll post a summary of what we’ve seen from his book. Some of you are just waiting for this long winded stuff to be over so you can read the summary. I know this, because as I re-read what I’ve written, I just want the quick summary too.
That said, that last verse is Colossians 3:8. In the ESV, God says, “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” Yes, kids, no obscene talk! Question is this: what’s obscene talk?
Well, what’s the Greek mean? It’s a compound word. The second is that classic word ‘logos’ – which refers here not to a particular word you’d use, but to entire speech content – which is made up of individual words. The first part of the compound word means something like ‘ugly’ or ‘unacceptable.’ BDAG, the standard New Testament Greek lexicon, says that it’s speech that is ‘generally considered in poor taste.’ It goes on to talk about the idea that this may include two different things – story-telling involving ‘unseemly deeds’ like adultery; or derogatory remarks.
So BDAG says this verse means either don’t tell stories about shameful, sinful, ugly things – and don’t rip on people.
That sounds good enough, really. How about some context real quick? Colossians 3 is a series of commands where Paul’s just saying – look, Jesus rose from the dead. That means, you Christian, have a different kind of life. Act like Jesus is your King, how about.
And he says that our old person has died. That is to say, that when Jesus died, the part of us that lived in the old, rebellious world, died. So act like that rebellious person is dead.
The rebellious you died. Act like it.
Then, starting in verse 8, Paul tells us what to get rid of. Those things are ‘anger, wrath, malice, slander,’ and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another…”
Notice anything in common here? All of those things are against people. They’re not nice. Ever heard a parent say to a kid, ‘talk nice!’ Yeah, that’s what’s going on here.
Let’s go a little further in the text. God says we have a new life because we’re connected to Jesus – and Jesus rose from the dead. So Jesus’ new life gives us a new life. Here’s a few verses of what God says that we need to do:
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony”(Colossians 3:12-14).
In other words, love people. Do it from the heart. The opposite of all those bad things, including ‘obscene speech,’ is love.
Well, where’s this leave us? Paul doesn’t give us a guide for determining what naughty words are in English. And he never says that certain words are ‘bad.’ What he says, is love people with your language. That love starts in the heart – and love doesn’t want to hurt people. Love wants to push them towards Jesus.
So is the S-word wrong? No! The question is – am I loving the person in saying it? It does grate, doesn’t it? The F-word definitely makes people flinch, doesn’t it? The question is, am I using that language to point people away from this rebellious world to Jesus. Am I pointing out how horrible the good things in this world are – compared to Jesus – or am I just mad?
If I’m on the road by myself, and people aren’t driving like I want them to, and I yell ‘shit!’ – do I sin? Yes. I’m not trusting the sovereign God who works everything as he wants it to be (Ephesians 1:11, Romans 8:28, Amos 3:6, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Job 1:21). No one else is hurt by that exclamation if I’m by myself – except my holy God, whose Son died for me – who I apparently don’t trust enough to love me and to control the traffic for my good in knowing him!
Or maybe I’m just saying that knowing him isn’t good enough.
So I don’t love or trust God in those situations. The exclamation is merely the result – and the word is not sin. But my heart has blasphemed my Lord.
And are you more shocked and appalled by the word I just typed out - or by the fact that my anxious, controlling heart worships and serves itself and not its Creator, who is to be praised forever? Oh God, let our hearts be pained by how we fail you!
And this I say with full confidence – and with a good conscience – that everything on this earth is SHIT compared to knowing, loving, and serving Jesus. Everything.
Does that grate on you? It should. And so should everything in this world that distracts you from his service.
Coming next time – a summary of the commands of our Lord in these three verses regarding our speech, if God permits.
That said, that last verse is Colossians 3:8. In the ESV, God says, “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” Yes, kids, no obscene talk! Question is this: what’s obscene talk?
Well, what’s the Greek mean? It’s a compound word. The second is that classic word ‘logos’ – which refers here not to a particular word you’d use, but to entire speech content – which is made up of individual words. The first part of the compound word means something like ‘ugly’ or ‘unacceptable.’ BDAG, the standard New Testament Greek lexicon, says that it’s speech that is ‘generally considered in poor taste.’ It goes on to talk about the idea that this may include two different things – story-telling involving ‘unseemly deeds’ like adultery; or derogatory remarks.
So BDAG says this verse means either don’t tell stories about shameful, sinful, ugly things – and don’t rip on people.
That sounds good enough, really. How about some context real quick? Colossians 3 is a series of commands where Paul’s just saying – look, Jesus rose from the dead. That means, you Christian, have a different kind of life. Act like Jesus is your King, how about.
And he says that our old person has died. That is to say, that when Jesus died, the part of us that lived in the old, rebellious world, died. So act like that rebellious person is dead.
The rebellious you died. Act like it.
Then, starting in verse 8, Paul tells us what to get rid of. Those things are ‘anger, wrath, malice, slander,’ and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another…”
Notice anything in common here? All of those things are against people. They’re not nice. Ever heard a parent say to a kid, ‘talk nice!’ Yeah, that’s what’s going on here.
Let’s go a little further in the text. God says we have a new life because we’re connected to Jesus – and Jesus rose from the dead. So Jesus’ new life gives us a new life. Here’s a few verses of what God says that we need to do:
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony”(Colossians 3:12-14).
In other words, love people. Do it from the heart. The opposite of all those bad things, including ‘obscene speech,’ is love.
Well, where’s this leave us? Paul doesn’t give us a guide for determining what naughty words are in English. And he never says that certain words are ‘bad.’ What he says, is love people with your language. That love starts in the heart – and love doesn’t want to hurt people. Love wants to push them towards Jesus.
So is the S-word wrong? No! The question is – am I loving the person in saying it? It does grate, doesn’t it? The F-word definitely makes people flinch, doesn’t it? The question is, am I using that language to point people away from this rebellious world to Jesus. Am I pointing out how horrible the good things in this world are – compared to Jesus – or am I just mad?
If I’m on the road by myself, and people aren’t driving like I want them to, and I yell ‘shit!’ – do I sin? Yes. I’m not trusting the sovereign God who works everything as he wants it to be (Ephesians 1:11, Romans 8:28, Amos 3:6, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Job 1:21). No one else is hurt by that exclamation if I’m by myself – except my holy God, whose Son died for me – who I apparently don’t trust enough to love me and to control the traffic for my good in knowing him!
Or maybe I’m just saying that knowing him isn’t good enough.
So I don’t love or trust God in those situations. The exclamation is merely the result – and the word is not sin. But my heart has blasphemed my Lord.
And are you more shocked and appalled by the word I just typed out - or by the fact that my anxious, controlling heart worships and serves itself and not its Creator, who is to be praised forever? Oh God, let our hearts be pained by how we fail you!
And this I say with full confidence – and with a good conscience – that everything on this earth is SHIT compared to knowing, loving, and serving Jesus. Everything.
Does that grate on you? It should. And so should everything in this world that distracts you from his service.
Coming next time – a summary of the commands of our Lord in these three verses regarding our speech, if God permits.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
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