merittmusings

Justice to the Nations

www.bible.com/1713/mat.12.18.csb

With all the talk about social justice these days, you would think that this verse fits right in. But who do you think the Scripture is talking about here? The original passage is from Isaiah 42:1, and the passage is employed here as a prophecy of Jesus’ ministry. That is to say, Jesus’ ministry included proclaiming justice to the nations. So the natural questions we ask at this point is how Jesus did this? What aspect of His ministry fulfilled this prophecy?

When you dig a little bit, you find that the word translated “justice” is more often translated “judgment.” This puts a little different spin on the text. For the first, justice sounds like social justice, Jesus will right the wrongs of an unfair society. But that is reading much into the text, more than is there. The only wrongs Jesus came to right was the wrong of sin.

On the other hand, if Jesus is proclaiming judgment, that makes more sense, as Jesus often condemned the hypocrisy of the Temple and the practice of the religious elite. He also proclaimed that judgment would fall upon that Temple and those who put their trust in it and not in Him.

Jesus Himself also became the standard by which others are judged, for by His perfect life are we all condemned, but by his atoning death are we all set free.

In a sense, Jesus did proclaim justice, but it was a new definition of what true justice is. Justice is God’s punishment laid upon sinners who reject the perfect Savior.

Well, I guess that means we have some work to do. Happy All Saints Day to all you saints out there!

From Faith to Faith

www.bible.com/1713/rom.1.17.csb

What? I don’t even comprehend what that is supposed to mean. God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith. Somehow, this is supported by the OT quotation, ”the righteous will love by faith.” Wow. Ok. Let’s go back and take another look.

The NIV attempts to clarify this by saying ”by faith from first to last”. So what is ”it” in this context? If you go back to vs 16, you find that ”it” is the gospel. God’s righteousness is revealed in the gospel, namely by sending His own Son. Though we were sinners, and could not save ourselves, God doesn’t destroy us as our sins deserve. Because He is righteous, and see us suffering in our sins, He sends he only one who could save us, the incarnation of His Son in human flesh to minister to us and ultimately atone for our sin by His perfect sacrifice. So I get that part. What does ”faith to faith” mean?

For the first faith, we discover that this righteousness is revealed from faith. That is you don’t immediately know why Jesus does what He does, or why He had to suffer. You don’t understand it until you see it with the eyes of faith, seeing past the event itself into God’s work being done just under the surface. To anyone else, it is a tragic loss. To those who have faith, it becomes an act of atonement for all who believe.

So the truth of what’s actually going on is revealed from faith. So what is ”to faith”? This is where the quotation comes in. If the righteous live by faith, then it is to be active, caused by seeing the crucifixion as more than tragedy. This is passive faith, in understanding the facts of the gospel, to an active faith, becoming and living as a Christian. That’s when you claim that righteousness of God for yourself, Christ’s sacrifice for your own. The righteous love by faith, because it is that active faith that appropriates Jesus’ righteousness for yourself, for your salvation from sin. It is faith in the truth of the gospel story to saving faith.

Some folks get to the first and think they are saved. If they just believe in God and believe in Jesus, that’s all they need. They just ask Jesus into their heart or say a sinner’s prayer. But that isn’t active faith, because active faith is faith that acts, first by submitting to baptism, but then by exercising that faith in your daily life, your decisions, in obedience to Christ’s commands, going and fellowshipping with other Christians. It’s a lot. But it’s worth it.

From faith to faith. I knew we could figure it out if we tried. God bless you today.

With One Another

www.bible.com/1713/rom.15.5.csb

Have you tried living as a Christian all on your own? Actually, I’ve heard many try this, saying that they can worship God anywhere. Some prefer especially during deer season, to take their New Testament up into the deer stand with them. There they have solitude and quiet in their peaceful worship of God. Sounds great, doesn’t it? I don’t know why more people don’t do that?

Others prefer to stay home, watching church on TV. For some, I’ll agree this is a necessity, as they are physically unable to go anymore. Many are unable to leave home for health reasons. But many of these same people will find a way to the doctor’s office, the Walmart and whatever else. I have waited in the doctor’s office longer than I’ve been in church.

But what’s so wrong about people wanting to experience God on their own terms or in the comfort of their home? I would hope that people are seeking God in their own home. But that isn’t Christianity. It’s a part of their work as Christians, their personal work in seeking His face and in prayer. That is a private work, but it not the whole.

The main work of Christianity is body life. We exist as part of a body of Christians. None of us exists to himself. Going to the deer stand on Sunday morning or sitting in your living room watching TV church does not qualify as going to church. Why is going to church so important? Because that is where the body is. You encourage others and are encouraged in return. You support others and are supported in return. The primary intent of attending church is being the church to one another. It is finding our connections in flesh and blood people who believe and serve the same God. We need social interaction and support. (And we need to be mindful of that for our elderly population).

We not only need it, but we are commanded to it, even by the verse quoted above. It isn’t just our own voice lifted up in praise to the King of Heaven that He wants to wants to hear. He wants a concert of voices. He wants to hear our song combined into one multi-layered sound. If it is not good for “man to be alone” it is certainly not good for a Christian to worship alone, to be alone, to be faithful alone.

I know this will hit some of you in the wrong place, because you’ve tried it. You’ve tried to be that encouraging voice in the church. You’ve tried to be a peacemaker, and you’ve received the sharp stick of Christian discouragement. You’ve tried going to church, and you’ve only received pain. That is not a church God wants you to attend. Find another one. As Hebrews 10:25 says, “don’t give up meeting together.” Don’t give up. Part of your Christian walk and faith is the harmony and synchronicity you find with other believers. You can’t do that on your own. Going to a church is not a suggestion. Staying home and watching it online or on TV is not a solution. You need interaction with real people. You need others to fellowship with, to study with, to share ideas with and struggles with. Is it a sin not to go to church? Is disobedience to a clear and direct command from God a sin? Then yes, and heaping sin upon yourself in wilful refusal with not help your walk or your prayer life. GO TO CHURCH!

God bless you today.

Brick Wall

www.bible.com/1713/isa.64.8.csb

Yeah, I’ve been before the audience gathered to hear the word of God, only to respond to my heart-felt pleas for action and repentance like, well, a brick wall. But, that’s not so bad. Like the text today suggests, we are all made out of clay, fashioned by His hands, for His purposes. I believe one of those purposes to be a brick wall. Let me explain.

When we build with brick, we expect every brick to be identical, otherwise, in our limited abilities, we will have trouble fitting all the pieces together. With all the pieces identical, they all fit together to make the solid pattern we need to create a stable and sturdy wall. We then expect this wall to do many things for us, namely to protect us from the elements, the heat and cold, the wind and the rain. Only a well-fitted brick wall will do this. If one of the bricks were loose or fell out, suddenly our barrier is no longer solid. That single break in the wall will only expand, causing more trouble until the brick void is refilled. In a Church where everyone is expected to maintain their moral integrity, even one person who backslides becomes a threat to the whole. Because we are also bound together in love. When one person backslides, the rest of us work to restore and maintain that person (theoretically) or (more realistically) the rest shame and ostracize that person so that there is a gap in the wall. Unless that gap is refilled, the wall itself begins to lose integrity.

God puts every person in the wall of the Church’s strength intentionally. Everyone has their place. If one person decides that this Church is not for them, or that sin sounds sweeter, that person’s role in the Church suffers and will do so until it is filled again. This is why you have so many small churches suffering, flailing with a patchwork of brick, of people who are filling not only their own roles but covering for someone else who left or who died. Because they can’t cover roles they are not gifted for, those roles fail, that person get discouraged, and they too leave for a church “wall” that is more filled. Many of these small churches were once big (believe me, they will tell you of the days when they were big, and had so many bricks that they were standing in the aisles), but now only the handful that’s left hang on to the memories. They are a brick wall about to topple because they’ve tried to cover too much area with too few bricks. Because there are gaping holes they let through a host of false teaching and acceptance of immorality because “That’s how we’re going to get people back”, or more likely, “We don’t want to offend that new couple who are living together because that they might leave.” They lose the ability to rebuke sin because they can’t afford to lose anyone. They think that building with straw and wood will be just as good as brick. We’ll look the other way so they’ll at least keep coming.

Do you see it? I’ve seen it. I’ve wrung my hands in frustration at folks admitted into leadership whose morality is questionable, and seen the ugly side of church politics when that happens. Small churches get smaller. Resources get squandered. And small churches die.

We are clay. God fashions us into exactly the people that He wants for each fellowship. If you are unhappy with your place in the church, you can’t complain to the church. They didn’t mold you. However, if you feel like you are being stretched to cover too much space in the wall, maybe you need to stop trying so hard so that someone else God is molding to fill that space can. I don’t have the all answers here, and I may even be stretching the analogy a bit (you think?). But one thing I have noticed across several ministries: I see the same people in every church. They have different names and faces, but the same people exist, filling the same kinds of roles in the church’s structure. I believe that is God’s providence and giftedness at work, gifting people in the church to fulfill their part in the body.

Something to think about today. Remember your gifts. To use your gifts is to build up the body of Christ. God bless you today!

Your True Worship

www.bible.com/1713/rom.12.1.csb

On this beautiful Monday morning, may I remind you of our obligations? Having gone and performed worship in public yesterday, today we engage in our joyous task of private worship, daily, as our acceptable form of service to our King. This is good and pleasing to Him who saved us, redeemed us, and exalts us to be His children.

Nothing more than this today. I wish you a happy Monday.

Shrewd but Innocent

www.bible.com/1713/mat.10.16.csb

One of my friends is fond of referring to himself and anyone in law enforcement and military as “sheepdogs.” They are the ones who are vigilant among the sheep to watch out for the wolves. Some refer to this as “cop instincts” and anyone who has been in law enforcement knows what I’m talking about. Funny how Jesus predicted this centuries ago.

It seems what Jesus is warning against here is naïveté. Don’t be gullible. The gullible believe everything they hear and are not cautious. This seems odd since Christians are to believe in the Lord’s protection and walk even where “angels fear to tread.”

But the apostle John hints at this kind of caution when he tells us to “test the spirits” in 1 John. Test the teaching. Test the situation. I would add “remember the Gibeonites.” They fooled Joshua into taking them in (instead of being destroyed) by putting on old clothes and taking moldy bread, claiming they came from a far country, instead of being neighbors. They feared Israel and her God and were afraid for their lives. Israel was fooled because, and the text says this explicitly, they did not inquire of God.

I’ve taken in several times. I should have known better, but I was young once, and believed the stories before I had more experience. Jesus warns us that people will try to take you in their deception, people will try to manipulate in the name of Christian charity. We must have cop instincts when it comes to those who “need something” from us or want to teach us something new. Always test the spirits, the intentions, the doctrines they want to tell against the finished doctrine of Christ, the Scripture.

God bless you today

Act Like a Man

www.bible.com/1713/1co.16.13-14.csb

Be alert, stand firm in the faith, act like a man, be strong. Your every action must be done with love.
(1Co 16:13-14)

Ok, so I wouldn’t have caught this if I hadn’t looked into some other translations. In 1 Corinthians 16:13, Paul uses a single word, andrizomai, which is translated in the HCSB as “act like a man”. In the verse in the image, it is translated, “be courageous.” I can attest that those aren’t always the same thing. I suppose in this context, that is it’s intent, for men are supposed the stronger sex, the more courageous sex, and so this verse assumes those qualities. I find it interesting in the text of the verse image, that instead of using “act like a man” it gets to the point of what “act like a man” is intended to mean, to be courageous, lest anyone mistake “act like a man” to be anything else.

But what else could it mean? These days, that is open to interpretation. To act like a man may be an incentive for women to cross gender barriers and act like a man in every way. I had a conversation with a mother a few weeks ago who lamented her daughter’s transition to manhood. She said her daughter had taken up chewing tobacco and considered it a mark of manhood to spit wherever she/ he chose. I doubt Paul had in mind, “spit your tobacco like a man” in this context. I have no doubt some would consider “act like a man” could mean to take on the “macho” persona, much like the above, but to include not caring for others, being fiercely independent (“I don’t need to read the instructions!”) or being a lecherous jerk. In the case of those transitioning to the opposite gender, it is not uncommon to take in the extreme stereotypes (extremely macho or extremely femme) as the standard to shoot for, so that men who are transsexual will put on beautiful dresses and thick makeup, neither of which most normal women do.

Rather, Paul employs this word, used alone here in the New Testament, to describe something else. If you are familiar with the Greek translation of the Old Testament, it is also used in an area around Joshua 1 (Dt 31:6-7; Jos 1:6, 9; 10:25) and is translated “be strong and courageous.” In context, this is what God tells Joshua as he is preparing to take the people of Israel into the Promised Land, despite the dangers that he faces. God is telling Joshua to “Act Like a Man” as he prepares for this role of leadership. Besides that use, only Paul uses the word here. The Complete Word Study (AMG International) also supplies this definition on this word here: “to behave oneself with the wisdom and courage of a man, as opposed to a babe or child in Christ.” In other words, behave yourself as a mature adult and not as a child.

I don’t believe that men have the corner on courage necessarily. We apply this virtue to men historically because the dangers of past centuries required men who stood up to evil and fought for good. We still need men like that. And men still need to aspire to this because this is a man’s role in society. He is to defend the home while the woman’s role is to care for the home. But even as I say that, I know that there are always exceptions. And today’s society had blurred the lines between the classical roles. But that really isn’t what Paul is after here.

This command isn’t given to the men in the church, but to the church as a whole. The church includes women. To be alert is something all must do. Likewise to stand firm in the faith and to be strong. To act like men is to be mature and to be courageous in defending the faith, especially against false teachers and in persecution. But he also says that every action must be done in love. This qualifies everything he just said. We must stand firm, but in love. We must be alert to dangers, but in love. We must be courageous but in love. Does this apply to the men in the church? At the very least! Does this mean the women are off the hook? By no means. All are responsible to carry out these instructions because the Christian faith is everyone’s responsibility.

So church, it’s time to man up. It’s time to put on the armor and stand for the faith. If we don’t, who will? God bless you today!

Unstable Leadership

The king gives stability to the land by justice, But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.

https://my.bible.com/bible/100/PRO.29.4.NASB

I noticed as I was looking up today’s “verse of the day” from Youversion that the Christian Standard Bible has an unusual rendering for this passage. Instead of bribes as you see the NASB has here, which seemed a clearer translation, the CSB has “contributions” with quotes. I thought that was an odd choice since that sounded more idiomatic than translation. But then again, I’m not a professional translator, and I don’t know about such things.

What is more clear here is how money affects good governance. Have you ever allowed money to dictate an ethical decision for you? For example, you might continue to work at a job that you don’t like and causes you undue stress and hardship because it pays well. Or you might send your kids to public school instead of private school because private school costs too much. Or you might vote for one politician over another because you were promised free healthcare. As it happens, we allow money to dictate choices to us that we might make differently if money were no object. We do it so often that I doubt we give it another thought anymore.

As you might guess, this becomes problematic when the one making the decisions is in leadership, whether in the home, the church, or the nation. Leaders who allow themselves to be bought become slaves to whoever has the money to buy their favor. Pauk wrote in 1 Cor 7:21 the strongest stance he takes against slavery, “Were you called while a slave? It should not be a concern to you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity.” Also, he writes in Romans 13:8, “Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another …” Paul opposes the idea that a Christian should be entangled or constrained by economic slavery, including debts. While we may not be indebted to our stressful job or politicians with fake promises, we are indebted to mortgages, car loans, student loans, and credit cards. We are slaves to a bank, and we must keep that job, or make political decisions that allow us to keep more of our money, because we owe. We make these questionable decisions because of debt. We want to be out of it as soon as possible, but we also like the things money can buy, and we accumulate more debt. Paul schools us by saying we need to pay off our debts, and if an opportunity presents itself, to get out of slavery, to which I would include debt slavery.

Several years ago, I was pastoring a church in Illinois as was doing pretty well at it. My wife was starting out as a midwife and having some success at it. But then an opportunity presented itself, requiring us to move to another state, that would enable her to pay off her student loans by moving to a rural area. So with some thought and prayer, we pulled up stakes where we were doing just fine, and moved our household to pay off debt. It was a drastic choice, but I feel a necessary one. Today those student loans are paid off. We have found this new home to be even better than the last one in some ways. But in paying those student loans off, we now have a mortgage, since we moved out of a parsonage. On the bright side, we will have a home when we retire.

But something I want you to take away from this today is this: what role does money play in the decisions you make? Are you making decision based on your Christian values and beliefs, or in how much it costs? Are you allowing economic slavery to dictate to you your decisions, and does this compromise your faith and witness? Does your giving to God reflect your economic slavery or your trust in His ability to provide?

With this thought to keep you up tonight, I leave you with a “God bless” and may you live your life circumspect as you travel today.

Freedom of Speech

In the first amendment of the constitution, the government is specifically forbidden to abridge the freedom to speak your mind. Curiously, it was not the government who the first to discover this freedom. It is also found in the Bible.

In Hebrews 10:35, the idea of confidence, or boldness in some translations also translates to freedom to speak. This freedom is not merely guaranteed by a government, but by the Lord God, who expects us to speak on His behalf to this lost and fallen world. We have the freedom, nay, the authority to speak to this world about the grace given to us as Christians and extended to everyone because of the shed blood of God’s most perfect gift, His Son Jesus Christ. Would that we would express this freedom.

But it is not merely evangelism, but a whole life changed and encouraged by this fact. Jesus Christ died for me. He took my penalty upon Himself so that I might live. What does that mean for you? What does that look like to you? Does it mean the same glum and unhappy face from day to day, or do we “count it all joy my brothers when you encounter various trials”? I will agree that life is not always roses, but it is always God’s Into each life, a little rain must fall. But this life isn’t what we’re all about, is it?

Thus we have the freedom and the joy to share our praise, our worship, our exultation of the Lord God. If we don’t, who will? Who on earth has more reason to be glad than we do? We have the answer to life’s question, “Is this all there is? Is there nothing more?” Is life only about stuff? Is life only for the here and now? What happens when I die? We have glorious and amazing answers to all of this and more. But who wants to hear about from the joyless, graceless people we are painted to be?

I have seen a problem among the small churches, both which I have pastored and attended. It is an utter sense of helplessness but ironically pride which many pontificate over, saying that if the lost only knew better, they would come to my church. Many small churches feel helpless because “we just don’t attract new people.” “Nobody comes to church anymore. Aren’t we really friendly?” Blame often shifts to leadership and especially to the Preacher. “If only our preacher were better, or younger, or had a more engaging family, then people would flock to our church.” And so many small churches look for the younger, prettier, less experienced preachers who tend to be black and white in their preaching, passionate for lost souls but poor communicators, and in a few short years, frustrated because the church doesn’t share their vision for the lost. Don’t get me wrong. Preaching ought to be express morality and ethics in stark terms. But there are ways to do that without alienating people, especially people who are hurting. Young preachers just don’t have enough life experience to do that yet, especially when they have been brought up in this small church setting.

Small churches don’t fail because they are small. They fail because they stop participating. The attitude of “let the young people do it because they have the energy” causes the old to simply be, rather than sharing their knowledge and wisdom. As a result, the older people, who have the financial assets and the leadership roles, find the younger people’s direction distasteful, too loud, too expensive, and it is letting in the riff-raff. Because the older members have the purse strings, they disdain and look down their nose at the younger and their ilk. Younger people, including that young pastor with the pretty wife, move on. Some manage to keep their faith and attend another church. Others, finding themselves unwelcome at Church, stop going anywhere.

The lost don’t understand denominations. When the lost are rejected from one church, one single congregation, they feel rejected by all of them. Their defense before God? “We tried, but they rejected us.” You cannot hold that evangelism is all about bringing people to church to hear your preacher (oh, and then they’ll find Jesus when they hear his profound arguments and amazing preaching) and simultaneously reject visitors who come to your church because they’re not like you.

The biggest example of this in my recent memory was a community dinner that a church held, offering free food and activities to any who would come. They decried often how they are friendly church, and people would know this if they would only visit. This after an effort to invite people by going door to door and making personal invitations. Many invitations and visits were made. On the day of the dinner, one couple came. They had heard about it through a friend. That single couple was welcomed, but everyone else who were regular attendees sat on the opposite side of the dining room. They didn’t interact, and the whole thing actually came across as awkward. Only a handful of outgoing members went and sat with the new people. Tell me. What aspect of this story tells you that this is a friendly church that is excited to see new people?

Ok. Enough of my soapbox. We have the freedom and the responsibility to exercise our freedom of speech, not guaranteed by a government, but by God. every aspect of our speech ought to reflect our status as saved people.

Get Rich Scheme

What would you do to get rich? You’ve probably heard about various schemes, saving and investing, starting businesses or real estate. Many people I know have gotten into many of these means and found success, but strangely that’s not what Solomon recommends. I would be curious to know what Solomon would say about the others.

But Solomom does recommend starting with is both humility and the fear of the Lord. The rewards he mentions are riches, honor, and then long life. That is quite a promise. All three speak to the quality of life in this world. Or so we think. For a life given to humility and fear of the Lord is a life following Christ in our dispensation. It is a life that recognizes it’s own sinfulness before a holy God and is humble, giving fear, honor and respect the Lord of the Universe.

Such a one will receive glorious riches, family and friends that he never knew when he participates in fellowship. His riches will not be measured in dollars, but in spiritual wealth. He will find contentment. He will find family that he loves and love him in return.

He will fins honor as a true child of God, regaining his former honor as God’s image and now as redeemed and justified in His sight.

He will experience long life, even eternal life in the presence of God, no matter how long his days on earth are. Eternity is presented to each one bat accepts Jesus Christ today, humbling themselves in the fear of the Lord.

There is only one part to lasting riches in this world. This world is passing away with it’s wealth, but the word of the Lord stands forever. Long will he stand is one who stands with God.

Make today count. God bless you today!