Church Matters

New Address!!

2007-11-26T13:23:00.000-05:00

I've changed the name and address of my blog. You can now find me at www.gospelfodder.wordpress.com. Thank you, and have a nice day.

I Love My Dad

2007-10-09T13:44:00.000-04:00

My father just had his gallbladder removed yesterday, and is kicking his legs up right now in a small South Georgia hospital, probably watching the news and calling family and friends to check up on them. He's reached the half-century mark and will be celebrating yet another birthday next month. He reads my blog regularly (at least, that's what he tells me) so I thought I would publicly say "I love you, Dad" not merely to cheer you up as you lie there in pain, but also because it's true and it needs to be said. You are a great man, and have a father's heart, and for that I am truly grateful. I consider myself blessed to be your son, and I know that in God's sovereignty, all things work together for good, which means I am my father's son for the holy and righteous and gracious purposes of my heavenly Father. My dad loves Jesus Christ and is very mindful of his constant need for God's grace in his life, which is what endears him so much to me. In that regard, more than any other, I want to be just like my dad.

Here is a link to my dad's online radio station: ttp://www.live365.com/stations/revdaneeidson. Listen and enjoy!

Hey Dad, get plenty of rest, watch your diet, and exercise a little more. I want your grandkids to know you and love you like I do.

Beulah Land: Southern Gospel Eschatology For Rock Stars, Rappers, and Everyone Else

2007-10-02T14:28:00.000-04:00

Growing up in South Georgia provided me a multitude of unique experiences that many people will never share. One such experience has been a part of the SGA funeral subculture for years, at least for as long as I've been attending funerals (and I'm 30 years old). There is a Southern Gospel song titled Buelah Land (a.k.a. "Buelar Land") which I have heard sung at many funerals, a favorite among older crowds, often provoking bitter-sweet tears from loved ones, as well as those who can't help but get emotional over Southern Gospel songs about death, heaven, golden shores, and eternal smorgasboards.

I wouldn't expect any younger people to have heard the song, much less like it, as it is a bit on the "twangy" side, and doesn't have much of a beat (though there may be a group of teens of which I'm unaware who have this song downloaded on their iPods). And I doubt any rock bands or rappers or pop stars will ever cover this song. But there is much to be said about the hope presented in the lyrics, the hope that a heavenly city is awaiting our arrival in the near future. For those of you who are not familiar with the song, here are the lyrics:

I'm kind of homesick for a country to which

I've never been before.

No sad goodbyes will there be spoken

and time won't matter anymore.

Beulah Land I'm longing for you,

and someday on thee I'll stand.

There my home shall be eternal.

In Beulah Land, Sweet Beulah land.

I'm looking now across that river,

to where my faith will end in sight.

There's just a few more days of labor,

then I will take my heavenly flight.

Beulah Land I'm longing for you,

and someday on thee I'll stand.

There my home shall be eternal.

In Beulah Land, Sweet Beulah land.

This song offers hope to citizens of Planet Earth: all who come to Christ may escape the wrath of God and dwell with him forever. They do not need to fear unemployment or natural disasters or physical threats or cancer or God; Christ is King over all the earth, and has brought an end to sin and death, and will soon put his feet down on the neck of his enemies. He has made it possible for God's enemies to be God's people, for those who are destined to hell to dwell in heaven with God. He will reign in righteousness, and will redeem us from the grave, and give life to our bodies again. For those who hope in Christ, it is not odd to be homesick for Buelah Land.

The author of Hebrews reminds us that in Christ we have come, not to Mt. Sinai (as did Moses and the exiles), but to Mt. Zion, "the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn (Christ) who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel" (12:22-24).

Though I'm not a fan of the song, I'm a big fan of Buelah Land. By the blood of Jesus Christ I have become a citizen of the New Jerusalem. This brings me hope when I'm behind my desk everyday, fighting doubt and discouragement, and warring against desires to be esteemed in the eyes of others. This is a city made for rock stars and rappers and whores and pimps and all those who confess their guilt before God and cry out for mercy and rejoice in his grace. That includes the honor student too, who knows he is not righteous apart from Christ. This is the city I long for, a place far better than Valdosta, GA (and many would agree with me about this).

Maybe a rock star or rapper or boy band will never cover this song, but the reality to which it speaks will be broadcast eternally before the eyes of all creatures. Many who hate Christ or are indifferent toward his sacrificial death will soon believe the words of this funeral favorite. And those who have hated their life on this earth for the sake of Jesus Christ and his gospel will be singing a new song in heaven in the presence of their Redeemer and King.

As Paul said, "For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself" (Philippians 3:18-21).

My treasure is not on this earth; he is in heaven. Therefore, I will live my life in Valdosta, GA with a view to the Last Day, when I will stand before Christ in "Beulah Land" and worship the one who ransomed me from the grave and gave me a home in the heavenly city. I hope former rock stars and rappers will be at my funeral, saying to themselves, "I'm right behind you Ben. Buelah Land, here I come."

Sexual Terrorism With Your Cell Phone

2007-09-21T10:37:00.000-04:00

Portable porn . . . it's never been easier Though it's been portable for a while with the coming of magazines and then laptops, now, with the coming of the new iPhone, it's gotten even easier. And what's worse, more inconspicuous. It's not so easy to hide a dirty magazine in public, and laptops are somewhat inconspicous since it's not unusual to carry one and work while on the go. But the iPhone has brought all the same advantages of a laptop to the palm of your hand, which means a smaller screen for more private viewing, even in the middle of a mall.

With increasing numbers of children and teenagers using cell phones, this demands the attention of parents. After all, many parents give their kids a phone for emergency's sake, at the very least. But their greatest concern until now was probably how many minutes their kids were using. This will change if parents begin to buy their kids phones with internet access. There may be parental control features on the phone plans, but even still, all of the dangers previously associated with the kitchen computer have now been transferred to a portable device in your teenager's pocket.

The real danger is that the internet has become a hunting ground for sexual predators, and now that internet access will be as easy as pulling a phone out of your pocket, the chances of sexual solicitation and other perversions have only increased. Kids don't have to be at home anymore to access the internet, which means that they don't have to be at home anymore to view porn or be solicited by a sexual predator. In a very real sense, you can now carry a predator in your pocket, and vice versa.

Maybe you're not so concerned with your teenage son being solicited by a sexual predator; maybe he's too smart to get cornered. But have you considered that he might become one some day down the road, after years of viewing pornography and engaging in sexually explicit messaging?

Be sure to gaurd yourselves from such dangers. Technology is not evil; we are, and we can use it for good or for harm. Unfortunately, despite all of our efforts to use it for good, there are many who do otherwise, and so we must be especially cautious, particularly when it comes to our children. Phones aren't used just for talking anymore. A world of good and evil can be stored in your pocket and accessed in the palm of your hand. The potential is great, and so is the danger.

Should You Fear Overpopulation?

2007-09-20T11:01:00.000-04:00

You've probably heard talk about overpopulation and other factors that may be putting future generations in a dangerous and unstable predicament. Check out this article to see how the city of Houston can put your fears to rest . . . http://www.henryinstitute.org/article_read.php?cid=2

More Precious Than Porn

2007-09-18T12:52:00.000-04:00

What would ever cause a pimp to forsake his money and women? And what would ever cause a young man to ignore an opportunity to sneak a peek at naked women? And what would ever change a young girl's mind about using her beautiful body to gain power over people and win the affections of guys? Something more precious than money. Something more beautiful than a naked body. Something more desireable than the affection of a thousand guys. And only one thing matches this description: the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Besides the fear of man, there really is no reason to forake our sin apart from knowing Jesus Christ. If Christ is not truly King, if he has not really risen from the grave and defeated our greatest enemy, death, and if he will not really return one day to judge the world, then he is not better than naked women, or power, or money. He is just another man, who would himself have loved all of these things. But the reality is that he is returning, and he will not turn away anyone who comes to him for mercy and grace. He gladly receives porn addicts, whores, pimps, thieves and liars, so long as they come to him hoping and trusting that he will deliver them from the evils they love so much.

What are you going to tell the teenage boy to convince him that he ought not look at porn? Unless you can humiliate him or cause him to consider his reputation, you probably won't have much of a chance to change his mind . . . unless you can show him something that is better than porn.

What are you going to tell the young single mother who strips to support her child that will ever convince her to stop what she's doing? Again, you might say her reputation is on the line, but these days, it's not really a big deal to be a stripper. Or you might scare her by reminding her of the stalkers who hang out at strip joints. But that won't cut it either, since it is scarier to have no bread for your child than to have perverts lurking outside your home. The alternative will have to surpass the value and security of her stripper's income, and even more, will have to convince her that her body is not meant to be put on display. Jesus Christ can do all of this for her.

Whether it's high school or college students, middle-aged executives, or pizza delivery guys, the key to convincing them that Jesus is Lord is showing them the surpassing value of knowing him. Paul said, "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ . . ." (Philippians 3:8). We must display the worth of Jesus to those who cling to garbage if we ever hope to see them give up their garbage for true treasure. Do you display the value of knowing Jesus? Or is it a big deal when your husband leaves toothpaste on the sink, or your wife forgets to run an errand, or your kids whine all the time, or your Mocha Latte doesn't have mocha? Do these things look like rubbish compared to Jesus? If not, you will be unable to convince people to forsake their sin for Christ. After all, it's much better to entertain lust if lust is the best offer available.

Jesus Christ is more precious than porn. His body was beaten and crucified for our sake. His body was raised from the earth for our sake. And one day he will return, in the flesh, to deliver those who have hoped in him and judge those who have not. He bore the shame of porn stars and porn addicts so that they could stand before him on the Last Day and hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master." They will look upon the One clothed in splendor and majesty, who is more desirable than any unclothed man or woman. And they will be glad to have such a treasure, the One who made their porn look like rubbish.

The Ring and Sting of Bling

2007-08-24T15:40:00.000-04:00

For most people, getting rich will be a "problem" they never have to deal with, despite what dreams of affluence they may have. It's easy for most of us to point the finger at others when we read verses like Hebrews 13:5, "Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have . . ." but in reality, this verse speaks to us "poor" folk in more ways than we might imagine.

Sure, many of us have probably never had to decide what kind of sports car we should purchase, or which beach we would like to build our summer getaway on. But does this mean that our lives are free from the love of money, just because we are free from the abundance of it?

The love of money manifests itself in many practical ways, perhaps more so than it does in the extravagant lifestyles of the rich and famous. From maximizing wardrobe options, to dressing up the home, to pimpin' up the automobile, the desire for money rules many a man and woman. And lest we be decieved that it does not seek to lay claim on our hearts, consider some more Scripture:

Jesus said in Luke 12:15, "Take care, and be on your gaurd against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

And he says in Matthew 6:21, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also," and so we are to lay up treasure in heaven, so that our hearts will follow.

But what about us who live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to make ends meet, who, all the while, believe we are obeying God's will for our lives? Surely we are not laying up treasures on earth, when our bank accounts never see 4-digits. Well perhaps we aren't car shopping or trying to move up in the neigborhood, but that doesn't mean we have obeyed Scripture. What about that new book you can't get off your mind, or that gray shirt that would look so good with your new pants? Or what about that new piece of furniture you've been wanting to spruce up your place? And even worse, what ought we to think about the husband who pressures his wife to work more hours so that he can sleep a little easier at night? Or the wife who gets angry with her husband for not taking the promotion that could afford them a little more comfort, yet sacrifice a lot more family time?

Money is appealing because it changes things. It has power. It can manipulate and control, and it can set free and liberate. The danger is when we do not think it controls us when in fact it does. And so we work a little harder, pressure a few more people, hold back a few more dollars, and give a little less, all in the name of wise money management. But it really isn't wise at all; it is deadly and it stems from the love of money, which is a root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). The man who works hard for a living is not to be condemned, only the one who lives to make money. Here is a man who believes his life consists of the abundance of books and clothes and furniture and vacations and investments, etc.

"Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" (Heb. 13:5-6). Money and possessions are fleeting; they will always leave us, if not in life, then in death. How then should we live, for Christ or for money? As for me, I will work hard to take care of my family, and God may choose to give me wealth, but I will hold loosely to it, for the Lord is my helper, not money. The Lord will never leave me nor forsake me, but earthly treasures can never boast of this. He is the treasure laid up for me in heaven, and no moth, or thief, or government agency, or financial crisis, or army of man can ever take him from me.

Bond, Bauer, and Bourne

2007-08-20T16:13:00.000-04:00

My wife and I went to see the latest of the Bourne movies, The Bourne Ultimatum. I'm not cinema savvy, so I'm not sure what the "pros" say about this movie, or if another sequal is on the horizon. But we were both on the edge of our seats for the entire movie. It was nonstop action, and we were nonstop excited.

So I have a dilema. Until this movie, Jack Bauer was the man in my life, theatrically speaking. I mean, there was none above him. I had seen the previous two Bourne movies, and liked them very much. But then my wife and I started renting the 24 series, and I quickly fell for Bauer. Such power. Such poise. Such precision. Sure, he's done a lot of terrible things, but he did it for his country, and for the ones he loved, not counting his heroin use and sexual immorality, which I would write out of the script if I had the choice. But he would sure make a better father than Raymond or Bill Engval.

But now there's Jason Bourne, a renegade vagabond with apocolyptic moves, who manages to elude the most high tech surveillance in the world, and escapes death in ways that I'm sure astonished even the film editors. I've never wanted to do sit ups more in my life than I did watching that movie. I despised every snickers bar and Rock Star that I had ever indulged in, and chastised myself for lacking the motivation to acquire deathly fighting skills. I recalled every instance when I had previously determined to lose 5 pounds of fat and gain 10 pounds of muscle, and hung my head in shame as I sat there holding a half-gallon coke, watching a young man free himself from the bonds of a small army with his bare hands. "Who is this Bourne? Why wasn't I chosen for some covert government operation, where I would be rigorously trained to handle any mental and physical obstacle that would dare cross my path?"

And what if Bourne and Bauer ever met? I shutter to even think of such an event.

And then there's James Bond, the pioneer super agent himself. I can't speak with any authority here because I've only seen a few Bond movies, and I'm not a huge fan. So why don't I just leave him out of the conversation. I only mention him because his initials are "J. B." as are the other two, he was a rebellious government agent, as are the other two, and he pulls off the impossible, as do Bourne and Bauer. But, to the chagrin of his loyal fans, I'd have to say that Bond would be no match for these two.

So what shall I do? Live with this great tension? Should I tell my son (Lord willing) to be like Bauer or to be like Bourne? Maybe both. I like them both. But for sure, I will tell my son to be like Jesus Christ, the Man who reigns over reality, who will really taken down an army one day by himself, with mere words. He's had me living on the edge of my seat ever since I met him, and I long for the day when he will cut down my enemy before my eyes and save me from all that has ever kept me from him.

Lies Women Believe And The Truth That Sets Them Free, Part 2

2007-08-17T11:13:00.000-04:00

My previous blog was in response to Nancy Leigh DeMoss' book, titled Lies Womem Believe And The Truth That Sets Them Free, in which she responds to current cultural views about childbearing and rearing.

Mrs. DeMoss quotes Mary Pride, from her book The Way Home:

"Family planning is the mother of abortion. A generation had to be indoctrinated in the ideal of planning children around personal convenience before abortion could become popular. We Christians raise an outcry against abortion today, and rightly so. But the reason we have to fight those battles today is because we lost them thirty years ago. Once couples began to look upon children as creatures of their own making, who they could plan into their lives as they chose or not, all reverence for human life was lost . . .

. . . . Abortion is first of all a heart attitude. 'Me first.' 'My career first.' 'My reputation first.' 'My convenience first.' 'My financial plans first.' And these exact same choices are what family planning, which the churches have endorsed for three decades, is all about."

Many teenage believers are given all kinds of biblical (and unbiblical) counsel about sex, relationships, drugs, money, and the like. Parents and youth ministries do much to direct teenagers to make wise, biblical choices. But perhaps many parents and preaching/teaching ministries fail to direct teenagers to consider what Scripture has to say about the the first five years of their lives after graduation. Is college the only option? Is it foolish to get married right out of high school, or to pursue local church ministry, or even international ministry, or to do all three? And would it be unwise to be parents by the age of twenty? Twenty-two? Twenty-five?

Mrs. DeMoss lists several questions that women (and men) use to justify childlessness and family planning:

"How will we ever provide for more children? We're barely making ends meet, as it is. What about college tuition?"
"I just don't have the patience to handle a lot of children."
"If we have more children, we won't have enough time for us as a couple."
"My friends [or parents] will think we're crazy if we have more kids. They already think we have too many."
"If we were to let the Lord decide how many children we should have, we'd have two dozen kids!"

I've heard these questions before, and have even asked them myself. At the core of these kind of objections is a lack of trust in God and an abundance of love for one's self. Not to be crass, but our reproductive organs were made to reproduce. When we think that they are for pleasure only, we misunderstand God's intention for us as his image-bearers, as life-givers.

Christian women (and men) must first of all read their Bibles! And after reading and studying the Scriptures, must ask themselves what God requires of them. An 18 year old graduating female ought to have the Scriptures opened as she fills out her application for college, seeking God's wisdom and direction on the matter. A young, entrepreneurial couple ought to be on their knees before God in prayer before they leave the house on a business adventure. And tired, busy parents of two toddlers ought to ask God if another child would bring glory to Jesus Christ. In all things, especially childbearing and parenting, we must ask, "Lord Jesus, by your Spirit and by the power of your gospel, bring glory to God by my life."

Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free (Part 1)

2007-08-15T07:52:00.000-04:00

My wife is reading a book by the name of the title listed above, written by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I wanted to share of few provocative thoughts from Chapter 7 of the book, titled "Lies Women Believe . . . About Children."

Lie: "It's Up To Us TO Determine The Size Of Our Family." God is the Creator, Author, and Giver of life. Not surprisingly, as the sworn enemy of God, Satan hates life. He has always sought to destroy it. He persuaded Adam and Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit, knowing that if they did, they would die, as God had promised. When Adam and Eve gave birth to two sons, Satan incited the elder of the two to murder his younger brother.

She continues, "As a destroyer of life, Satan is definitely not into encouraging childbearing. Every child that is born has the potential to thwart his purposes by receiving God's grace and becoming a subject of the kingdom of God. So anything that hinders or discourages women from fulfilling their God-given calling to be bearers and nurturers of life furthers Satan's efforts.

Abortion, infanticide, and homosexuality are examples of life-destroying practices that have become wildly tolerated throughout our culture. Bible-believing Christians are generally quick to refute such blatantly evil practices. However, the evangelical world--including many outspoken "pro-lifers"--has come to accept a number of philosophies and practices that are subtly "antichildren" and "antilife."

One of the fundamental tenets of feminist ideology has always been the right of women to dtermine for herself if and when she will have children and how many children she will have. Shulamith Firestone, a popular feminist thinker and writer in the 1960s and 1970s, spoke for the movement when she insisted: "The heart of woman's oppression is her childbearing and childrearing roles."

Really? Accoring to 1 Timothy 2:15, women will be "saved" through childbearing, particularly, the birth of a particular Son, the son of Mary, Son of God, Jesus Christ. Of course, this particular passage may be particularly offensive to many women today, who do not really care what Scripture declares about them as women, though it surely speaks about women in the greatest and most precious way.

She continues, "The Christian worldview has been unwittingly influenced by this way of thinking, leading to the legitimization and promotion of such practices as contraception, sterilization, and 'family planning.' As a result, unwittingly, millions of Christian women and couples have helped to further Satan's attempts to limit human reproduction and thereby destroy life."

This is not a new discussion happening here, so I'm not pretending to add new insight into this old "quandry," but I would like to say that I agree with Mrs. DeMoss, and would add that many single Christian women are planning their lives around wealth, recreation and reputation, rather than family and children. And if and when they do get married, many times this ideology governs their home. I know of many single and married Christian women who, at the moment, would rather not have children because they are pursuing other things that would be impossible to pursue if children came into the picture.

In fact, to some Christian women, the biblical teachings on childbearing and rearing are repulsive, and at best, odd and strange. I'm not sure why this is the case, unless they are unfamiliar with Scripture altogether, for lack of reading and study. But at any rate, when confronted with biblical views like these, most choose to either ignore them or explain them away.

Perhaps these women ought to consider what it means to be "pro-life" and life-bearers. I am not saying that ALL women MUST bear children to do the will of the Father. I am saying that perhaps not bearing children, for many women, is to disregard the will of the Father for the sake of convenience, pleasure, physical appearance, etc. Perhaps in the spirit of carefree fun, many Christ-loving women have given into the spirit of the age, the spirit of the Antichrist, which belongs to the Christ-hating one, Satan. God help us all to think clearly about the stewardship of life-bearing. In Jesus' name.

What To Do With Your Loins

2007-08-07T08:10:00.000-04:00

There are a lot of things you might do with your "loins" these days, especially if you follow the lead of pop culture, with its voluminous references to mid-section motions. However, Scripture would have us do something other than seduce with our loins . . . try "girding" them up for a change.

I know it's not often that you hear someone refer to their mid-section as "loins", and chances are even more rare that you would hear someone advise you to "gird" them up. We don't use this language anymore, at least, most people I know do not. But the point remains: our loins are to be girded, not gyrated.

Perhaps you're familiar with the King James version of Ephesians 6:14, "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth . . . " The ESV translates the same verse, "Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth . . . " The NIV says, "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist . . ." The point is obvious: our waist (loins) is a place for truth, not seduction.

Commentators have given much wisdom and insight into what it means to "gird up your loins" with the "belt of truth" and their words are sufficient. Whatever it might mean, it includes a command to gaurd ourselves from Satan, sin and the flesh by having the truth wrapped tightly around our minds and hearts.

But it is interesting that, quite literally, our "loins" today are not known for being a place to protect, but rather for being a place one ought to expose, in whatever way you can without getting into trouble. And so music, magazines, movies, television shows, etc., encourage men to view their mid-sections as sirens to alert women of their sexual lusts, and women to use their mid-sections as seductive lures to entice prowling men. Whatever the use may be, the loins are certainly not known for being holy weapons, metaphorically speaking, of course. They are anything but holy, though they are indeed weapons, but for unrighteousness.

In Luke 12:35-36, Jesus warns us, "Stay dressed for action (KJV reads: Let your loins be girded about) and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks" (ESV). 1 Peter 1:13 commands you to be "preparing your minds for action, (and) being sober-minded . . ." So "girding up our loins" means to prepare our minds for action. But why?

Peter tells us. "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct" (1 Peter 1:13-5). We ought to control our mid-sections, and even more specifically, our minds because Jesus Christ will be revealed to us one day in person when he comes again to judge the world, to judge us for how we have used our "loins."

Our hope is in the One who was born from a woman's loins, who was the King promised to come from Abraham's loins, the One who births us into God's family, by the "loins" of his Spirit. And he will return to judge the nations that have come from Adam and Eve's loins. Our master will return soon, and we ought to be waiting at the door to receive him, with our loins girded and our lamps burning. His loins will be resting on a white horse, and in righteousness he will judge and make war against those who have despised his coming.

In the meantime they may continue to use their loins for evil, but the day will come when they must bow before Jesus Christ, loins and all, and confess that he is Lord. I pray God would use me to change their minds before he comes, so that they too would be ready to receive the Master at the door, having their loins "girt about with truth."

Blessed are the Murdered?

2007-07-26T11:19:00.000-04:00

Is it a good thing to take your own life or to take the lives of others? No; death is part of the curse, and we look to the day when Jesus Christ will kill death and there will be no more suicide or murder. However, to have your life taken from you can possibly be a glorious thing, if it is taken because of your love for Jesus Christ.

Revelation 12 tells us about a war that happens in heaven, when the great dragon, Satan--the deciever of the whole world--is cast down to the earth with his angels. Then it says, "I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, 'Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death'" (vv. 10-12).

How have we, the brothers (and sisters), conquered our enemy? By death. We have conquered him by the death of Jesus Christ. And we have conquered him because we love not our lives, even unto death. Because we love the death of our Lord to the point that we lay down our lives in love for him, rather than keep our lives by despising him.

Would a rotting corpse in the dusty bush of Africa give you cause to rejoice? Probably not. But what if you knew why the corpse was lying there? What if this young lady was murdered because she loved Jesus Christ, even to the point of death? On earth we may mourn (and we should), but in heaven, a loud voice declares the power and authority of Christ because a young lady despised her life and not the treasure of heaven, Jesus Christ.

Murder is not good. But to be murdered because you hope in the resurrection of your dead body is another thing. This is good. Nobody wants to be murdered. But if a man gave me the choice to reject Christ and live or love him and die, I would gladly (by God's grace) give up my life to a murderer. What a blessing it would be to be murdered for loving Jesus Christ.

Empty Tables and Suicidal Cries: When Having No Children is a "Blessing"

2007-07-25T11:19:00.000-04:00

The other day I was eating with family and friends and the topic of conversation turned to children. My wife and I mentioned that we were hopeful we would have more children in the near future, to which someone responded, "Another kid?" as if one was already too many. He said this sitting around a dinner table full of people, enjoying the company of his wife and in-laws, two of which were siblings of his wife. I thought, "Aren't you glad your in-laws decided to have more than one child?" In his defense, I believe they do want to have children, one day, way on down the road. But the point is this: What's wrong with having children? Is it really that bad?

As Jesus was being led to the place of his crucifixion, Luke tells us that women were following him, weeping aloud and lamenting for him. Jesus turns to them and says, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" (Luke 23:26-31).

What could be so horrific that women without children would be considered blessed? Conditions so bad that death is an appealing alternative. A reality so terrible that you wouldn't wish it upon your worst enemy, especially upon little children. And so you would consider women "blessed" who did not have to endure the pain of seeing their children suffer.

But considering the comment I referred to earlier, you might expect to hear something like this today: "Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed . . . because they are free to be young and pursue beauty and wealth and entertainment, and do not have to worry about the responsibility of being a parent, and do not have to deal with the physical changes that motherhood brings that may make the body less Cosmopolitan . . . But for those who are not barren and have to nurse, well, it's almost as bad as being under a crumbling mountain."

The difference is in the reason Jesus says childless women will be called "blessed" and the reason many today would call childless women blessed: the people in Jesus' story wouldn't wish death upon children; others today are wishing that children never even live at all, that is, that they themselves wouldn't have to deal with children, at least until it's convenient.

We might expect unbelievers to hope for many childless years so that they could pursue their careers or hobbies, but for believers to hope that children don't interrupt their lives is unbiblical. Scripture is very clear that children are a gift from the Lord (Psalm 127:10), that barreness ought to be considered abnormal, and that fertility and child-bearing ought to be matters of prayer (as seen with Hannah and with Zechariah and Elizabeth).

Psalm 113 blesses the name of the Lord for raising up the poor and needy and for making the barren woman the joyous mother of children. He takes those who can't feed themselves and feeds them; he takes those who have no mouths to feed and gives them a table full of little hungry tummies.

I wouldn't wish death upon anyone, let alone little children. But then again, I would also wish life to many couples I know who long to have a child, and even to all of the couples who despise the idea of being responsible for children. I'm not saying it is a sin not to have a child, or to put off having children temporarily. What I am saying is that it is sin to consider childlessness a blessing for the wrong reasons.

I am glad the table was full that day. I would hate to sit down to an empty table and eat alone. And I am glad that we have a child. I would never wish death upon her, but even more, she will never be the cause of me wishing death upon myself. I will never cry out suicidal cries because of teething, disobedience, and dirty diapers. My daugther is a blessing, and I would rather the mountains fall on me and the hills cover me than ever come to the point where I wished she was never born.

"Preacher, Come Out From Behind That Cross": A Biblical Theology of Preaching

2007-07-12T08:20:00.000-04:00

I've heard many well meaning offeratory prayers go something like this: "Dear Lord, hide our preacher behind the cross. Hide him completely and only show Jesus." Though I understand why faithful believers pray like this, I still believe it misses the point of preaching altogether. Do we really want to hide our preacher so that we cannot see him? I think not.

Part of what makes the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ so powerful is the preacher himself, whose life has been transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. If the preacher were to ever preach in such a way that I was not even aware that he was there (which would actually be physically impossible, unless he hunkered down behind the pulpit--but even then I would hear him and think to myself, "Hey, where's the preacher?"), he would be leaving out the demonstration of the gospel in his own life.

When I look to the stage during worship and view my pastor, my thoughts should be, "Wow. Incredible. A Christ-hater has become a Christ-lover. One who hated the church now gives himself up for the life of the church."

Was not Moses himself changed by the revelation of God, and the consequential proclamation from his own mouth? Were not the people themselves afraid of the shinning of his face after he met with the Lord?

This is why Paul urged the Corinthian believers, whom he considered his children in the faith, to imitate him rather than "arrogant people" whose preaching was full of words but emptied of power (1 Cor. 4:14-21). The power of Christ was evident in Paul's life, and therefore, evident in his preaching. And so he could say, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ" (11:1).

Biblical preaching is the proclomation of the gospel of Jesus Christ by a man who demonstrates the gospel of Jesus Christ in his flesh. This is why we dare not "hide" him; no, but we ought to thrust him out in front of his people, so that they might see how the words he proclaims have actually changed him.

And so Paul says, "I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Cor. 12:9). What else can a man of flesh do but boast in the One who has redeemed him? Here is the point of preaching: boasting gladly in our weaknesses so that the power of Christ may be manifested in us and demonstrated to others.

Paul gladly put aside his physical and spiritual reasons to boast in himself (Philippians 3), so that his boasting would be in Christ. He desired to share in the sufferings of Christ, being conformed to his death, so that he might also be raised like him from the dead (3:10). His earthly body--his physical life--was a gospel-displaying vessel for others to handle and imitate.

When I look at my preacher, I see a man who has been changed by the message he proclaims. He doesn't hide behind the cross; rather, it protrudes from his heart. Proclomation is more than a message; it's a Christ-centered message delievered by a Christ-centered messenger. The messenger matters. So don't hide your preacher. Make sure everyone can see the man who has been changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

A Mother's Home and a Devil's Hell: How One Can Save You from the Other

2007-06-19T08:23:00.001-04:00

Motherhood is warfare. It is about saving lives. It is about fighting for your children's lives. And I don't mean fighting for a better education, or fighting for a drug-free teenager. For Christ-loving mothers, motherhoood is about saving people from God's wrath.

Most women are called to be mothers. This is how God has designed the world, and to avoid motherhood is to avoid one of the greatest opportunities to overcome the evil one and his evil schemes. Motherhood ought to be gladly embraced as a calling, not as a career, or even worse, something to do after you've finished you're career.

Motherhood is a ministry that saves people from hell, or at least, it should be, and it can be for those mothers who are hoping in Christ. A mother's home ought to be the one place, even if it is the only place, where her children and husband can see the gospel lived out before them. The home is the perfect place for the gospel because it is the perfect place for sin. The sinfulness of our flesh may manifest itself most in our homes, where there is the most potential for hating and fighting and dissension. Yet this is the perfect place for a mother to display the humility of Christ by humbling herself to do the dirty work of motherhood.

When a mother embraces her rebellious teenage son and forgives his recklessness time and again, for the sake of saving him from hell, the gospel is being lived out. When a weeping mother can barely stand to face her indifferent husband, but loves him in humility anyway, she is displaying the gospel of Jesus Christ. When a sorrowful mother confronts her teenage daughter about her dangerous behavior, knowing that she will face tremendous conflict, she is proving in a very real way that Jesus Christ is Lord and will give her grace in her time of need.

A mother's heart and behavior have a direct affect on the direction of her children and husband's lives. This is why Titus tells us that young women ought to "love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled" (2:4-5). Paul also instructs Timothy to tell the younger widows to "marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander" (1 Tim. 5:14). There is a connection between the mother's home and the Word of God: by keeping a Christ-centered home, the mother keeps the Word of God from being rejected and despised. This is spiritual warfare; this is the gospel overcoming the evil world.

So the next time your toddler screams at you, or the next time your adolescent son hides himself away in his room, or the next time your teenage daughter struggles with relating to boys, remember: motherhood is about saving lives. Your home is the perfect place for the gospel. Pray to God that he will use you to bring your family to faith in Christ. Pray to God that they will love Christ and his gospel, so that on Judgment Day, they will stand before Christ and escape a Devil's hell because of their mother's home.

How a Blind Man Subdues the Earth: Reflections on Genesis 1:28

2007-06-07T20:01:00.000-04:00

The other day I happened to be following a blind man through a building, and of course, I was interested to see how he would manage his way through the building. Well, he did just fine. He happened to have a dog that led the way, but I am sure that he could have done just as well without the dog, because I've seen it done before.

As I followed him, I couldn't help but think of how incredible it is that even people who don't have the blessing of eyesight are perfectly capable of mastering the terrain. And what's more, this man had even mastered a dog. I listened as he gave it gentle commands, and affirmation when the dog did well, especially as they ascended up the stairs without a single misstep. The dog was completely obedient to his master; it did exactly what it was told.

This reminded me of God's command to Adam and Eve: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth" (Genesis 1:28). Indeed, this man had dominion over his dog, and over every piece of ground on which he walked. Though he could not see where he was going, he knew exactly what he was doing. He was able to live a normal life because he had mastered an animal to assist him.

One day another Man will descend on an animal, a white horse. The one sitting on it is called "Faithful and True" (Rev. 19:11). He will come to subdue the earth, and every creature on it. Every animal will obey him. "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them" (Isaiah 11:6).

This man will be followed by those who were blind, but through him, gained their sight; those who were dead, but through him, came to life. Jesus Christ will lead the way for us who have hoped in him, and in his saving grace and resurrection power. And at his glorious appearing, all eyes will behold him; even the blind man, and even his dog.

What Would Jesus Bomb?

2007-06-06T18:20:00.000-04:00

I read a bumper sticker on the back of a very decorated vehicle this morning that read "What Would Jesus Bomb?" Well, I get the point: nothing. Or at least the driver thinks that Jesus would never bomb anything, or anyone for that matter. While that may be true to an extent, the main point is not true: Jesus is not a passivist, nor is he completely opposed to violence.

In fact, Scripture tells us that "God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you (the Thessalonian church), and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed . . ." (2 Thess. 1:6-10). Maybe there's no bomb in this passage, but you can't avoid the obvious reference to punishment and eternal destruction. Bombs or no bombs, Jesus will be declaring war.

But you need not fear if you love the Man of War, because this passage clearly states that he will not destroy those who have believed in him and who marvel at his presence. In fact, Jesus Christ, the Divine Warrior will be fighting for the very purpose of destroying those who are enemies of his and his lovers.

Another bumper sticker on the same car read "War kills. Love heals." In light of the above passage, I'd have to agree. War does kill, and love does heal. Thank God that through the love of Christ and his resurrection from the dead, we are healed, and need not fear when he comes to make war and kill.

Bad English and Great Theology: Double Negative Equals a Positive

2007-06-05T19:06:00.000-04:00

I was told when I was in elementary school to never use two negatives in a sentence; it wasn't proper English. I realize now that that is not necessarily true. There are times when it is appropriate. And may I suggest one such time?

Hebrews 4:14-15 reads, "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."

Why didn't the writer of Hebrews just say, "For we DO have a high priest who is ABLE to sympathize with our weaknesses"? I'm not sure, but it is overwhelming to dwell on the fact that we DO NOT have one who is UNABLE. He is absolutely able, because he was human, and he was tempted. He knows me, and he knows my weaknesses, and praise God, he is able to sympathize with me. My high priest, Jesus Christ, the Righteous, is definitely not unable to sympathize; he is able.

So "let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (v. 16). Why? Because Jesus is not unable to sympathize with me. I think these two negatives go together quite well. It may be sufficient for bad marks in elementary school, but it is surely sufficient for my moment of need, and there is nothing negative about that.

Nehemiah, Building Campaigns and the New Jerusalem

2007-06-04T19:52:00.000-04:00

Is a building campaign the most exciting thing that a church can experience? Hardly. But I've been in a few churches before that were going through capital fundraising campaigns to build a new building, and it seemed that many people were getting excited for the first time since they had attended. And inevitably, without fail, the pastor eventually found himself in Nehemiah, attempting to rally the congregation with a motivational sermon about erecting structures for God's glory, even in spite of tremendous opposition. This defensive tactic placed any opposers, ill-willed or not, within the category of God-haters and glory-stealers.

At any rate, Nehemiah is a book about rebuilding, and there is much to be said about God's glory and victory in spite of tremendous opposition. But really, my thoughts go immediately to 2 Peter 3 and Revelation 21, where we read that the Lord Jesus Christ will one day begin a new work, "rebuilding" what will have been laid to waste. And of course, Nehemiah is about the return of the Israelite exiles. But might we also see in this the hope of the resurrection, when what was in bondage will be set free (Romans 8:19), and what was old will be made new?

Perhaps we can preach Nehemiah when trying to rally the congregation to build the Family Life Center, but perhaps we can also use it to rally the troops for the Day of Judgment, the Day for which we now wait with eager anticipation, longing for the redemption of our broken down bodies. On that Day, we will rejoice along with Nehemiah, in the New Jerusalem, in the presence of Christ. Now that's a "rebuilding" campaign to get excited about.

Monday Morning Gospel

2007-05-07T15:57:00.000-04:00

When my alarm went off early this morning, I remember lying in bed thinking, "I am really forgiven. I am a new creation. In Christ, God is for me, not against me." This reality is better than any cup of coffee I could ever drink. I am forgiven; I am favored by the Favored One.

As real as my sinfulness is, and as real as my sin is, the grace and pardon of Christ are just as real. This is not fantasy salvation; this is the gospel. It has really happened. My peace with God and resurreciton to eternal life have been secured for me by Christ. I can worship in a building with hundreds of other sinners because we share the same Spirit. When I sin, I know I can find reconciliation; they will not turn me away. When they sin, they know I will forgive them. Even more, I will restore them by the Spirit of Christ and by His Word.

Romans 5:1-11 reads

"1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- 8but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."

I've got every reason to get out of bed on Monday mornings. It's a day like every other day. I am hoping in Christ, and I trust in the faithfulness of God, who acts on behalf of those who call on his name. Why would I stay in bed? The gospel is for Monday mornings. I will rise up out of my bed and praise the Lord, because one day he will cause me to rise out of my grave and praise him.

Chicken Casserole and The Golden Rule: Fulfilling the Law of Christ

2007-05-01T12:51:00.000-04:00

A few years ago, my wife's first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, and we were completely devastated. She was about 6 weeks into the pregnancy, and we had already dreamed a million dreams of what our little one would be like. We were so excited. In fact, we were on our way out of state to meet her parents half way to tell them the great news; we just knew they would be so shocked when they found out. But we weren't even half way down the road when we pulled over for a break and my wife came back to the car with tears in her eyes. "I think something is wrong," she cried. I just couldn't believe it. Surely she was overreacting; it had to be normal. Well, we stopped by the nearest emergency room, just to make sure everything was fine, and what do you know . . . they said everything was okay and there was no need to worry.

We went on to meet her parents and told them the news, and of course, they were excited. But my wife just couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Later that night, we crawled into our hotel bed and prayed that the Lord would let our little one make it to see the light of day. And we went to sleep holding on to each other and holding on to the hope that our little one was going to make it.

My wife got up a few times that night, and each time I listened to hear the sound of crying, but she never did. I was so relieved every time she came back to bed. But early the next morning, she got out of bed and went to the restroom, and I followed her. Somehow, our worst fears were realized, and right there in that cold hotel bathroom, in the early hour of the morning, our little one passed from my wife's shaking body. We cried together as it all sank in.

We went down the hallway and told her parents, and then I called my parents and told them. Everyone was so comforting. They cried with us. We never thought this would happen. We didn't know it was so common. But as common as it is, it was uniquely painful and real nonetheless.

When we returned home, I shared the news with several friends from our church, and they too shared in our pain and sorrow. Many of them had experienced the same thing and completely understood what we were going through.

But here's where things got really "biblical" if you will allow me to explain myself. Though they shared in our pain, and spoke comforting words to us, they did much more than that. Many of them sent letters and stopped by to visit. Some of them even made us meals for a few days. I'll never forget the chicken casserole that one couple made for us. It satisfied our bodies, and in a very real sense, our spirits too.

As I thought about their love and kindness, I realized, "This is the glory of Jesus Christ . . . this is what the cross has accomplished." Cain murdered his brother, but these people, my brothers and sisters in Christ, did not come to my door to mock me or hurt me; they came to comfort me. The resurrection of Christ has turned the hearts of sinful people toward each other. People need no longer be bound to their sin and hatred of others. They do not have to be enemies of God and one another. Through Christ, people can love each other as Christ loves them. Through Christ, people can make chicken casseroles for one another.

That chicken casserole was more than just meat and cheese and sauce. It was evidence of the Spirit's work in sinful people's lives. Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to love God completely, and the second commandment was like the first: love one another, completely (Matthew 22). It was obvious that these people loved us. And to think, without Christ, we might have been enemies.

The law of Christ is fulfilled when we love one another, through our sin and in spite of our sin. The fact that we are all sinners is not a reason to excuse our sin, but rather a reason to treat each other with gentleness. We must stick together in Christ, because one day we will stand alone before Christ, and what we have done together will determine what will be done to us when we stand alone.

The Golden Rule isn't just for kids. It's for teens and singles and parents and grandparents; it's for liars and murderers and adulterers and thieves and drug addicts. The glory of Jesus Christ is displayed when two people, who would otherwise be enemies, are the best of friends because of the Spirit of Christ dwelling in them. This is why our friends came to our rescue. This is why they made us a chicken casserole. And that is why I can say I saw the glory of Christ in that little glass dish.

War in the Graveyard (Part 2)

2007-04-30T07:40:00.000-04:00

Our battle against sin is not merely a battle against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places, or against demonic strongholds in our culture, or even against rapists and murderers. Our war with sin finds its greatest climax in our battle against our own flesh. The very hands we use to help our neighbors are the same hands we use to throw things in anger. The very tongues we use to encourage our grandparents are the same tongues we use to curse our enemies. We may conquer every external enemy that ever confronts us, but in the end, we will be left to ourselves, alone, fighting the battle in which our flesh has engaged us.

The war against ourselves is not some mystical, abstract battle that we fight in the corner of our bedroom. It is a very real and very serious battle that engages us wherever we go. We are flesh and blood creatures; we cannot escape our bodies. It is who we are. We are made of bone and muscle and tissue. We need air and food and water to sustain our bodies. We even eat the flesh of other animals for sustenance. Flesh is very much a part of who we are; it is not neutral. It is part of our identity. As fleshly creatures, we are image-bearers of God. But it is precisely for this reason that our flesh has become our greatest enemy. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and sin dwells in our bodies, and therefore, so does death. In our flesh, we bear the image of death.

This is what Paul meant when, struggling with sin, he said, "For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin" (Romans 7:14). He goes on to say, "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh" (v. 18). And then he says, "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (v. 24). Our bodies are like graves, full of death and disease. Though we may have experienced the resurrection power of Christ in our lives already as believers, somehow it seems that death seems to plague us still.

Why else would a believing woman bid her husband farewell with a kiss at the door, and then turn around and welcome her secret lover with a kiss at the very same door? Why else would a believing man lift his arms in praise to God by his bedside, and then keep his hands in his pockets while he passes by a person in need? Why else would a believing teenager share his faith with a friend at school, only to go home and drink his parent's alcohol when no one else is around?

The reason these things happen is because we have not yet finished the fight with sin. The battle against sin and the powers of darkness did not end at the cross, or even at the opening of an empty grave. The truth is, we are still headed to our graves (unless the Lord returns). Our bodies are getting older. The effects of sin are taking their toll, even if only in a passive sense. Actively speaking, our flesh is the source of temptation and sin, as James tell us: "Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death" (1:14-15). Even in his description of temptation, James uses "fleshy" terms, such as "conceived," "birth," and "fully grown."

Now, "we know that our old self was crucified with him (Christ) in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin" (Romans 6:6). But have our bodies yet been brought to nothing? It doesn't seem to be the case when we are frustrated on the freeway, or struggling with addictions of various kinds.

But be encouraged. If we are trusting in Christ, he has and will save us from sin and the wrath of God. He is Lord over all flesh, being both the Creator and a man himself. "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). He is very familiar with our humanity. He knows the war we fight with the flesh.

Scripture tells us to "put to death what is earthly ("fleshy") in you . . . for on account of these the wrath of Go is coming" (Colossians 3:5-6). Our fight against sin means that we must learn to put ourselves to death, to murder what is "fleshy" in us. Our physical bodies must be brought under the Lordship of Christ. He made all things good, and he will again restore us to that goodness, into the image of Christ, the perfect man of flesh. Paul said that he had to "disciplin (beat) his body and keep it under control" lest he be disqualified from entering into the presence of Christ on the Last Day (1 Corinthians 9:27).

There will come a day when our bodies will be redeemed from their corruption. "For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality" (1 Corinthians 15:52-53). Until that time, we continue to go to God in prayer when our thoughts turn to wickedness and violence, when we are tempted to betray our spouses, when we are tempted to steal what does not belong to us, when we are tempted to use our knowledge to our own advantage, when we are tempted to misuse the truth to spread gossip. "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live" (Romans 8:13). By the Spirit of Christ within us, we murder what is earthly and rebellious and sinful, so that on the Last Day, we may rejoice in the presence of Christ, rather than tremble in utter terror.

And remember, "When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' 'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:54-56).

On that day, we will look at the plot of ground on earth to which our bodies had been committed, and with eager voices, agree with Job: "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God" (19:25-26). And we will see his face, and his name will be on our foreheads (Revelation 22:4). This is why we fight to get out of our graves; this is why we fight against the natural desires of our flesh: to stand, in the flesh, with the Lord of all flesh, and with our flesh, rejoice in his physical presence, forever.

War in the Graveyard (Part 1)

2007-04-18T08:04:00.000-04:00

Dirt. Soil. Compost. Earth. It's what holds multi-story, multi-ton trees in the ground. It's what we use to grow food. It stains the clothes of our little ones when they play hard in the backyard. God commanded mankind to "fill the earth and subdue it" (Genesis 1:28), and we do. We use huge earth movers to prepare solid foundations for homes and shopping malls and sky scrapers. We grow huge outdoor nurseries for trees and plants and food. We spend hours dressing up our landscape. We make vehicles that can maneuver on any terrain; we even make vehicles that can leave this terrain, and go to the terrain of the moon and other planets. And every day we get out of our beds, which rest on a firm foundation, and tread the ground, walking and driving wherever we go, proving that we have subdued the earth. But in the end, someone will dig a hole in the earth and put our dead body in it. In the end, the ground on which we stand will stand on top of us, and cover us completely. The earth will subdue us. Death and the grave will swallow us, and we will be put under the feet of our friends and family, and even our enemies. We will be subdued by what we were commanded to subdue. The irony of it all.

Yet the very same Scripture which tells us to subdue the earth, and the very same Scripture which warns us of death, doom and destruction for every person. . . this very same Scripture tells us of one person, one Man who did what no other man has ever done. He lived and died, and was wrapped in death clothes, bound from head to toe, and placed in a grave, which was sealed by a very large, immoveable boulder. But this very same man, bound by cloth and earth, was resurrected from the dead, and removed the cloth which bound his resurrected body, and moved the boulder which had sealed his fate, and stood again on the earth, outside of the grave which moments before held him in. In a very real sense, Jesus had subdued the earth, refusing to be bound by it, moving the stone out of the way, and standing on top of the very ground to which he had been committed. And in an even greater sense, Jesus proved his lordship over the earth by appearing and disappearing before his disciples, passing through the doors they were using to lock themselves in from their enemies. Nothing could contain him. He had risen from the grave, the grave to which all of his disciples were heading. He had subdued the earth; he had conquered death and the grave. And now he sits on a throne not made by any human hands, and not created by any earthly substance. He is Lord of heaven and earth.

So the next time you are driving along some country road, or busy city street, and you pass a graveyard, remember the battle that is being waged over that plot of ground. Remember that a war is being fought between cosmic forces of righteousness and evil. Remember that Christ is striking down sin and death by his resurrection power. He is conquering satanic armies and tearing down demonic strongholds in cultures throughout the world, even throughout the universe. He has promised that His church would be victorious in its battle against the flesh and this evil world system. And one day he will return to judge the earth, which he has subdued. He will return to judge sin. He will return to judge the grave.

Remember that Jesus Christ will finally subdue this earth on the last day, when he makes all things new. He will create a new heaven and new earth, in which righteousness reigns (2 Pt. 3:13). Of this future reality, John writes, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:3-4). He will put his foot down on the earth, and with one stroke of judgment wipe away every tear by wiping away sin and death.

So when you drive by that cemetary, remember that you are destined to end up there. You will die (unless the Lord returns first) and you will be buried. But Christ will raise the dead from their graves, the righteous to eternal life and the unrighteous to eternal punishment. "Then comes the end, when he (Christ) delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death" (1 Cor. 15:24-26).

Death itself will be cast into the grave, and then the grave itself will be cast into hell. The resurrection doesn't just mean that we will come out of our graves. The resurrection means that there will be no more graves. We will come out of our graves, as Christ came out of his. We will no longer be under the feet of our enemies, but will put under our feet our greatest enemy, death. We will subdue the earth that had subdued us. Amazing. The irony of it all.

Pretending to be Alone: The Problem with Modern Worship

2007-04-10T12:34:00.000-04:00

For a moment, imagine you are on your way to a sporting event. You've got your tickets and some cash for snacks and sodas. You've been waiting for this day for quite some time. It's the biggest game of the year and everyone's going to be there. In fact, when you arrive, you can hear the hustle and bustle of the crowd from outside the stadium. There is a buzz in the air. Everyone is so excited.

After finding your seat, you soak up the scene: fathers talking with their sons, daughters on mothers' laps, friends taking pictures . . . you get the picture. Everyone is waiting for the game to start, and in the meantime, they are enjoying each other's company.

And when the game finally does start, the crowd goes wild. People are going crazy. Fathers are giving there sons high-fives. Mothers and daughters are screaming with excitement. The players are pumped because their fans are making so much noise. Wow. This is what you came for.

But imagine a different scene. Imagine that everyone was asked to pretend that they were alone, and to block out of their minds the knowledge that people were all around them. Imagine that everyone was asked to close their eyes while the coaches made important decisions, and while the players pulled off the impossible. Imagine that everyone pretended to be alone at the biggest game of the year. Is this what you came for?

This is exactly what happens in many evangelical worship services all over America each week. Attenders are asked to "bow their heads and close their eyes, and pretend no one else is around" so that they can really get serious about meeting with God. Small group leaders and pastors talk about personal discipleship as if it were disconnected from congregational discipleship. The culture of individualism has crept into our churches, and I believe many sincere Christ-followers are struggling because of it.

This is not to say that we should never be alone. Of course we should. Is there any way to avoid ever being alone? Hardly, unless you move to the desert. And our time in our homes is a great time to hide away and get alone with the Lord. But to leave our homes, where we are already alone, and come together with other believers, only to pretend we are alone, seems to miss the point of our gathering. We gather together as believers to celebrate our citizenship in heaven and to publicly acknowledge our need for each other. We gather together as believers to make a declaration to the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places: "This is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith" (1 John 5:4). "Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (5:5). We gather together because we cannot be overcome by the evil one. The gates of hell cannot prevail against us (Matthew 16:18). "We are more than conquerers through him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).

Beware of being alone. There is a time to be alone, but it is certainly not in corporate worship. This doesn't mean you can't bow your head and close your eyes, but it does mean that you should think long and hard about the people all around you. If they are also believers, they will be with you in the presence of Christ on the Day of Judgment, when you will be declared righteous before God because of Christ. These are the ones to whom you will turn and say, "I was worse than all of these, yet God had mercy on me." And forever you will be surrounded by the great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1) that was with you in church, even while your head was bowed and your eyes were closed, and you felt like you were all alone.

So the next time you are gathered together with your local fellowship, open your eyes and look around. These people are proof that Jesus is Lord. These people are evidence of God's grace. These people are how God will make you like Christ. This is awesome. This is what you have been waiting for. This is what you came for.

Loving Jesus and Hating Church: Mission Impossible

2007-04-03T15:52:00.000-04:00

A flyer taped to a local pizzeria-bar, advertising a Bible study, reads: "We're sorry that the church is a bunch of self-righteous bastards." Evidently, the leader of this Bible study has a real problem with people in churches, but what he may have failed to understand is that his problem is really with Jesus Christ.

The church is not disconnected from Christ, despite what people in churches may sometimes do or fail to do. Sure, people in churches are sinful and many times are guilty of terrible things, but the truth of the matter is that the church can only consist of these type of people. There is no room for "righteous" people in the church. Only sinners are allowed.

Lest I be accused of advocating sin, let me be clear that I am not. Sin has no place in the believer's life; nevertheless, we will sin. And the point is this: where sin abounds, grace abounds even more (Romans 5:20).

Scripture tells us, "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). Do we think that Christ came to save anyone but sinners? He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32).

Who does this man think will come to his Bible study? People who are not self-righteous? Does this man think that he is not self-righteous? The truth is that we are all guilty before God (Romans 3:20).

The problem with having a problem with the church is that Christ died for the church, and he loves the church, and he is the head of the church, and he has promised that the gates of hell could not advance against the church. The problem with having a problem with the church is that you have a problem with Christ, and that is not a position in which anyone would want to be.

The church is the bride of Christ. Ephesians tells us that "Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior" (5:22). Therefore, the church must submit to Christ. Husbands are commanded to love their wives "as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her" (vv 25-26). In fact, marriage itself is a profound mystery that refers to Christ and the church (v 32). In other words, when you have problems with the church, you have problems with her husband, Jesus Christ.

This is not to say that we can never be critical of the church, or people in the church, or that we can't oppose certain ideas coming out of the church, but we must always do so with the intent to "sanctify her." After all, if you're a believer, you're part of the same body that you have a problem with. So then, you're intent to correct the problem should be motivated by love and concern, not bitterness and hatred. After all, "no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church" (v 29).

Do you have a problem with the businessman in your church, who professes faith in Christ, but has done bad business with you? Yes? Well go to him and correct the matter, and regardless of his response, pray for him and seek to be reconciled to him, lest you be guilty of sin and bear the weight of unforgiveness.

Do you have a problem with the lady who seemed so sweet in the foyer of the church, but spread rumors about you in the basement of her friend's home? Well go to her and correct the problem, and seek to be reconciled to her.

Remember, Christ loves these sinful people because they have turned to him for forgiveness. And remember, you too are guilty of sin. We should not excuse sin, but that is not an excuse to excuse ourselves from church. It is impossible to love Christ and hate the one he loves. Any hatred you direct at the church is ultimately directed at Christ himself.

Perhaps the sign on the door should read: "The church is for sinners. Welcome."

Resurrection at the Breakfast Table

2007-04-03T11:09:00.000-04:00

What's a breakfast table good for? How about resurrection. Think about it. This is where your day begins, even if not at an actual table. This is where conversations happen. This is where people bump together. This is where life happens. And this is where the Spirit of Christ manifests his resurrection power in us.

In Ephesians 3, Paul prays that "according to the riches of his (the Father) glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (vv 16-19).

And this he prays to "him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us" (v 20).

This power at work within us is the resurrection power of Christ that overcomes sin and death, not only on the Day of Judgment, but in the early hours of the morning at the breakfast table, with your spouse and kids.

Do you allow the busyness of getting ready for the day to bring tension between you and your spouse and kids? Perhaps you spend time devoting yourself to fellowship with God before the sun rises, only to find yourself speaking harshly to your kids because they have "messed up" your schedule, or done something childish. Or perhaps you aren't speaking to your spouse because of a misunderstanding. As James would tell us, "these things ought not be so" (3:10).

The resurrection is not a spectator's event. All who are placing their hope in Christ are living now by the power of the resurrection; we are participants of this reality. This affects everything, from the way we worship on Sunday mornings, to the way we clean up our homes, to the way we leave the house, to the way we return home in the evenings. Moms, how do you cope with screaming children? Dads, how do you handle frustration in the workplace? The resurrection was not intended merely to get us out of our graves. It is intended to bring life wherever there is death: death in our thoughts, death in our words, death in our actions. The power of the resurrection goes "as far as the curse is found," to the corners of the universe, to the corners of our homes, and to the corners of our minds.

Remember Peter's words to us, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).

The resurrection has given us a living hope, guarding us until the "last time." In the meantime, we will continue to eat scrambled eggs and toast at the breakfast table, remembering that a Man walked out of a tomb 2,000 years ago so that we might walk out of our homes today without sinning against the ones we love so much.

Filthy Rich in Christ

2007-03-12T10:25:00.000-04:00

Should Christians expect God to bless them financially? If the Father of lights is the giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), and if God does not withold any good thing from those who ask of him (Psalm 84:11), and if, when we ask, we receive, then will God give us money because we ask for it?

From my own personal experience, I would have to say "No." But really, my personal experience doesn't mean much apart from Scripture, and Scripture as a whole tell us "No" as well.

"But God wants to bless us" someone might say, and to that, I would heartily agree. But does "blessing" refer to financial prosperity? Maybe, but it is much broader than financial prosperity and may not even include it, depending on God's will for individuals and families and nations.

So what exactly does "blessing" refer to? Well, Scripture tells us that children are a gift (blessing) from the Lord, and that the fruit of the womb is a reward (Psalm 127). The same psalm goes on to say that the man who has many children is "blessed"!

Scripture also tell us that suffering is a blessing. Jesus said "Bless are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:11-12). 1 Peter 3:13 asks, "Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?" and the next verse answers, "But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed."

Jesus said, "Therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33). This is what disturbed the rich ruler, who upon Jesus' statment "Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me" (18:22), became very sad because he was extremely rich.

Jesus also warned, "Take care, and be on your gaurd against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 12:15). He goes on to tell the story of a rich man who tore down his warehouses to build bigger warehouses in which to store his wealth. So why this stern warning against covetousness? Because covetousness is the root of rebellion against God and man. It is the pursuit of what you do not own at someone else's expense. It is putting into practice the selfishness of our wicked hearts. It is a grand declaration to God and to the world: "I am not satisfied in God alone; give me more, and give it to me now!"

Jesus commands us to lay up treasure in heaven, where moth and rust cannot destroy, and where thieves cannot break in and steal (Matthew 6:19-20). No matter what measures we take to protect our earthly assets, it is no secret that they will finally be destroyed, if not by earthly elements, then finally by death, the great consumer of human wealth.

So what then? Are we not allowed to be rich, or to have financial security? Of course we are. Proverbs 3:9 tells us to honor the Lord with our wealth, and Scripture teaches that money is not evil, but the lust for money/possessions is evil. Riches can be used strategically to advance against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavnly places.

But true wealth, according to Scripture, is not paper money, or gold bullion, but a Person, Jesus Christ. To believers, Scripture says that "God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasureable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7).

Ephesians 1:11 tells us that in Christ "we have obtained an inheritance, having been presdestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will . . ." Should Christians expect God to bless them financially? No. God will provide our daily sustenance, and if you ask, he may give you financial blessings, if he so chooses. But true wealth is in Christ, who has given us an inheritance in heaven, by whom God has shown the riches of his mercy and grace. Jesus is the "hidden treasure" in the field. When you find him, you sell everything you have to purchase the field in order to have him. Why? Well, who wouldn't want to be filthy rich? I do.

Teachers, Tongues and Terror: Wisdom and the Power of Words

2007-03-10T13:25:00.000-05:00

What does your tongue have to do with eternity? Everything, according to the letter of James. How's that? Well, to put it childishly, your tongue bone is connected to your brain bone and your brain bone is connected to your heart bone. James says to us, "We all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body" (3:2). In other words, if you can control your tongue, you have mastered yourself.

But here's the problem: no man can tame his tongue. This is what James tells us. He says, "Every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue" (3:7-8). In fact, for this reason James warns that many people should not become teachers, because teachers, by the very nature of their tasks, must use their tongues with authority. The tongue is a teacher's tool, and according to James, this is a dangerous reality because the tongue itself is dangerous.

James says, "the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness" (3:6). In fact, he says that the tongue has been set on fire by hell itself (v.6). He goes on to say that the tongue is restless with evil and full of deadly poison (v.8). And to prove his point James reminds us of how we bless God with our tongues and then turn right around and curse the ones who were made in God's image. "How can this be?" James asks. This is not the fulfillment of the royal law (2:8), which is to love our neighbors as ourselves. More than anything, the tongue proves that we are transgressors of God's perfect law, because we praise God for his perfect law, and then use our tongues to break this very law.

Was this not what Adam did to his own wife Eve? Was he not given authority over the entire earth, and did he not use his authority to name the animals, speaking their names with his tongue? And what did he do after this? He failed to use his tongue to protect Eve from the serpent, and then, to cover his shame and shift the blame, he accuses Eve of leading him into sin, cursing her with the very tongue he was to use for her protection. And remember Cain? Genesis 4:8 tells us that "Cain spoke to his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him." I don't suppose Cain's words were too kind as he considered his murderous plot.

And this is not all that different from what we do when we rise early to pray to our Father in heaven, and get off of our knees and walk into the kitchen and, out of frustration, use our tongues to wound our spouses and children. This is what teenagers do, who in their youth groups use their tongues to lead in prayer and singing and spiritual conversation, and then go home and curse their parents under their breath because of some disagreement.

Jesus tells us, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). The tongue is connected to the heart, and as the heart really is, so the tongue will be also. You see, our tongues can't be controlled because our hearts are evil. We are hypocrites in the worst kind of way when it comes to our tongues, because we use them to cover our sin and hatred, when we ought to use them to build up the Church, the body of Christ. It is no mystery why James begins his letter by telling us to ask God for wisdom (with our tongues, of course) and then ends his letter by telling us to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another (with our tongues), because this is how healing and restoration happen (5:16).

James speaks of the "wisdom from above" (3:17). The only hope we have in subduing our tongues is being subdued by One who is able to do so. In Christ, our tongues can be used for righteousness. Jesus is the "perfect man" who used his whole body, including his tongue, to do the will of his Father. Peter tells us that "He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return . . . but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:22-23). And as he was being crucified like a criminal, he interceded for his accusers, asking "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). "Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter . . . so he opened not his mouth" (Isaiah 53:7). Christ has power over death and the grave; does he not also have power over the tongue.

The power of God is the gospel (Romans 1:16), and the gospel is a verbal message which is proclaimed with our tongues. Our tongues ought not be a cause for terror, but a tool for righteousness. This is true wisdom. This is the fulfillment of the royal law. And that has everything to do with eternity.

Jack Bauer, Jesus Christ, and Judgment Day

2007-03-09T08:29:00.000-05:00

My wife and I have recently become fans of FOX's 24, a television drama about a government organization called CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit) that defends America against terrorism. The lead character, Jack Bauer, is a renegade federal agent who almost always breaks the rules to get the bad guy. Despite numerous threats by his superiors to remove him from his position, his expertise in "getting the job done" manages to keep him in the mix, indiscretions be what they may.

The thing that makes Jack Bauer so likeable as a character is his passionate patriotism and fearlessness, even at risk to his own life. He is what every American man wants to be (character flaws withstanding): brave, charismatic and respected. He keeps his cool when the heat is on, and he never backs down, even when you think he has no other option. And to top it all off, he's a good guy. He makes the hard decisions and he takes action. You root for him because he's fighting for you, the average person sitting on yor couch in the security of your home. You want him to win because if he doesn't, neither will you.

This reminds me of another man, Jesus Christ, who, of course, is not a fictional character. Unfortunately, many people wouldn't make the connection with Jack Bauer because their idea of Jesus is very domesticated. What picture comes to your mind when you think of Jesus? Perhaps a bearded man with a flowing white robe and blue eyes. Or perhaps you picture the preschool Jesus: a gentle man with a blue sash over his shoulders and birds nesting in his hair. Considering the overall passivity of our culture, particularly concerning masculinity, it isn't difficult to understand how we've come to have this picture of Jesus.

Yet the Bible gives us an entirely different picture of Jesus Christ. Contrary to the popular mild and meek image of Jesus, Scripture presents to us a fighting king, a conquerer. Jesus looks less like a person with whom you would want to cuddle and more like a warrior from whom you would want to run.

In Revelation 19:11-18, the Apostle John tells us:
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

What would people think if they heard this description of Jesus? Such violence! Such terror! Such gore! Yet this is Jesus Christ in all of his glory; the eternal King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Here is one who commands the angels of heaven, whose eyes are like fire, who judges and makes war against the kings of the nations. Yes, he is wearing a robe, but it is dipped in blood. Yes, there are birds around him, but they're eating the flesh of the dead he has judged.

Sure, Jesus is kind and tender-hearted. Yes he loves little children, and according to Scripture, they loved to be around him. And of course he forgives. But he is Faithful and True, and from his mouth comes a sword of judgment against the enemies of God. He's the true Jack Bauer, the true Counter Terrorist Unit, the one who protects us from our enemies and delivers us from evil.

The good news is that while we were God's enemies, Christ died for us (Romans 5). He has reconciled us to the one who was against us. Christ came to save us, not from low self-esteem, or even from Satan. Jesus came to save us from God, who was against us. In Christ, God is for us (Romans 8). So then, who is against us, and should it cause us to fear? Jack Bauer may be able to defend innocent people in TV land, but here is a Man who destroys real enemies, who defends those who put their hope in him. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. And even Jack Bauer would fear this day of judgment.