Honestly, it’s hard for me to imagine (and not just because they lived long before the proliferation of gunpowder)… especially when I am reading what they have to say to me, in the bible. However, it is becoming more and more common for people to “pack heat” in church. It seems that there is more than one issue at play in churches deciding to “arm themselves” with weapons of a warfare that certainly appeared alien to the earliest church. Some churches are doing it to make a statement about gun rights, trying to defend the meaning of the founding documents of our country (news article #1, news article #2, Question: Is it the role of the church to protect the founding identity of any nation? Shouldn’t our concern be the founding documents of our faith?) Other Churches are putting in place armed security guards, because church shootings are becoming all too common (news article #3). While it is in one sense a great tragedy when a brother or sister is harmed, I have a hard time thinking of Jesus and the apostles warning of persecution and saying… “There are going to be some people coming in to bring harm to you because you love Jesus, so set up security guards, and defend yourselves to the death! Shoot someone who tries to shoot at you!”
Especially after reading Matthew.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed 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… You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth forr a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also… You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your niehbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:10-12, 38-44)
And John.
“My Kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36)
And 1 Corinthians.
“When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.” (1 Corinthians 4:12)
And 2 Corinthians.
“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every though captive to obey Christ… Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from revers, dangers from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers…” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5; 11:24-25)
And Hebrews.
“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on earth… some where tortured refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated- of whom the world was not worthy…” (Hebrews 11:13, 35-38)
And 1 Peter.
“For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this a gracious thing in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 2:20)
It seems like even though persecution is painful and undesired, in another sense it is a blessing from God. The hero according to Hebrews, is not the person who gets shot at, and in the end kills the bad guy. The hero is the one who loves his enemy and preaches the gospel to him while he is getting shot at. It seems that in times of persecution we have a chance to say, “You can take my life, but you can’t take my soul! I live for a kingdom that is not of this world!” It seems that when Paul says not to be “frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of you salvation, and that from God” (Philippians 1:28), that he is trying to tell us… “When someone puts a gun to your head, and you aren’t afraid, they wonder: ‘why isn’t she afraid? … I would be afraid. It is because when I die I will be destroyed, and when they die, they will be with God in everlasting joy!’”
Feel free to comment.
Filed under: bible, on current events | 4 Comments
Tags: 1 corinthians 4, 1 peter 1, 2 corinthians, 2 corinthians 10, 2 corinthians 11, church, God, guns, hebrews 11, jesus, john 18, matthew 5, paul, persecution, peter, philippians 1:28, security
I was in my car, listening to the news on the radio when I first heard about Michael Jackson’s death. There were multiple entertainment industry gurus who were interviewed as types of “Michael Jackson experts”. Most of them said the same thing. “He is forever the king of pop, had a difficult life, and his legacy of amazing music will not be eclipsed by scandal.” Except for one man who was hung up on this idea of the celebrity and his “toxic spotlight”. This man has seen a pattern that is difficult for him to shake. He has seen the extreme praise, glory, and fame that celebrities absorb leads to their own destruction.
The spotlight is indeed toxic to frail men and women, sinners. We were not intended to absorb glory, honor, majesty, or fame. We were not intended to draw attention to ourselves. We are malfunctioning when we do so, and it is extremely detrimental to our health. We were intended to draw attention to another, to point to Him as the object of our affections, to deflect glory in His direction as the author of anything good or honorable in us. As John the baptist recognized that he “was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light” (John 1:7).
The spotlight is not only toxic to super-celebrities who have fans who faint and hyperventilate in their presence. The spotlight is toxic to any of us, who at any moment, absorb rather than deflect fame or praise. It is not what we were intended for. It will put us in an unhealthy frame of mind and attack our soul. The story of existence is not about the greatness of sinners, but about the greatest of the one who saves them. We need to draw our attention and the attention of others to the Savior, not sinners.
Filed under: on current events, theology | 2 Comments
Tags: God, jesus, honor, michael jackson, fame, majesty, toxic spotlight, health, spiritual, John 1:7, destruction, john the baptist, celebrity
what my father has taught me
“Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight.” (Proverbs 4:1, ESV)
My dad has taught me…
patience.
what it looks like to be broken over your own sin.
true repentance.
what it looks like to have a heart of service.
how to love the poor and the needy.
how to love your wife as Christ loved the Church.
how to live in the present, giving whoever you are with your full attention.
what it looks like to have your identity in Christ, not in your vocation.
how to live with integrity.
what endurance and perseverance looks like.
what it is like to experience the approval of your father.
My Dad is clearly one of the most influential people in my life, and thankfully so. It has been a frequent source of thanksgiving for me, as I ruminate on how wonderful it is to have a dad like him. He is a father in whom it is natural to confide in and seek advice from. He is the person who I enjoy hanging out with more than anyone else (aside from Chelsi). But probably the most significant thing to me (especially as of late), is my Dad’s ability to give affirmation and express approval… of me. There are times in the midst of growing up, especially in the midst of extreme transition… times when it is easy to grow self-conscious and when I am given to wonder; am I doing this right? Am I going to be o.k.?
Every son so desires his father’s approval… and it is a sad truth that for many, no matter what they do, they will never sense their father’s approval and acceptance. This is not a simple scenario to parse. It is true that there are situations in which it is not appropriate to give approval of a person, when their life has fallen into such unrepentant disrepute. The nature of Church discipline paints this quite clearly. However, I believe that for many sons that do not experience fatherly approval, but long to, it would be appropriate for a father to express approval and affirmation… despite the shortcomings in his son’s life.
God gives us his unreserved acceptance, based not on our merits, but based on the perfection of his Son and the sufficiency of his sacrifice on our behalf. Christ’s righteousness is so amazingly imputed to us, that God has taken pleasure in us. He delights in us! It is hard for many to wrap their minds and hearts around this truth, not knowing the approval of an earthly father, however, my Dad has made it easier for me to understand God’s acceptance of me. Not because he thinks of sin as a small deal, but rather because he has experienced the immeasurable grace of God towards his own sin.
No father can give the type of affirmation that a son needs outside of a vital relationship with God… because no son is worthy of the affirmation that is truly necessary. We are sinners. There are always things that a dad sees, which need tweaking in his son’s life. How can a father give affirmation, acceptance and approval to a son that needs considerable change?
This ministry of approval towards a son can only be accomplished by a dad who is in touch with his own brokenness through a personal experience at the foot of the cross of Christ. He must experience Calvary first hand. A dad who knows that he is deeply accepted by God, apart from his merit, can grow in this same heart towards his son.
There are certainly many times, in every fatherly relationship, when it is right for a father to be disapproving of what a son does, giving appropriate warnings and consequences. In fact, in certain cases it would be wrong to do otherwise. However, it is also true that on a macro scale, a father should receive his son because he is his son.
God, thank you for rescuing my Dad, and in so doing, giving me a deeper understanding of who you are. Dad, thank you for knowing God, so that I too can know the approval of my father. I love you. Oh, that I might shower a fraction of the love upon my daughters that you have showered upon me!
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Tags: acceptance, affirmation, approval, father's day, God, proverbs 4:1
the dangers ahead
I am headed off to a Seminary which is intended to prepare men for vocational pastoral ministry. Committing to this program for the next four years has many implications for me and my family, many of which cause me to tremble.
In the book A Severe Mercy, C.S. Lewis warns a man who was considering changing his course study to Theology in hopes of pursuing vocational ministry as a career:
I think there is a great deal to be said for having one’s deepest spiritual interest distinct from one’s ordinary duty as a student or professional man. St. Paul’s job was tent-making. When the two coincide I should have thought there was a danger lest the natural interest in one’s job and the pleasures of gratified ambition might be mistaken for spiritual progress and spiritual consolation; and I think clergymen sometimes fall into this trap. Contrawise, there is the danger that what is boring and repelent in the job may alienate one from the spiritual life. And finally, someone has said ‘None are so unholy as those whose hands are cauterised with holy things’; sacred things may become profane by becoming matters of the job. You now want spiritual truth for her own sake; how will it be when the same truth is also needed for an effective footnote in your thesis? In fact, the change might do good or harm. I’ve always been glad myself that Theology is not the thing I earn my living by. On the whole, I’d advise you to get on with your tent-making. The performance of a duty will probably teach you quite as much about God as academic Theology would do. Mind, I’m not certain: but that is the view I incline to.
In a later letter Lewis clarifies:
Look: the question is not whether we should bring God into our work or not. We certainly should and must: as MacDonald says ‘All that is not God is death.’ The question is whether we should simply (a.) Bring Him in in the dedication of our work to Him, in the integrity, diligence, and humility with which we do it or also (b.) Make His professed and explicit service our job. The A vocation rests on all men whether they know it or not; the B vocation only on those who are specially called to it. Each vocation has its peculiar dangers and peculiar rewards. Naturally, I can’t say which is yours…
God protect me from the dangers involved with pursuing eldership as my life’s vocation. Keep your Word alive and real to me, and make me to love it for the joy that it brings me, before I love it for the joy that it brings others. Help me to pursue you as my reward. Help me only to serve the church in my service to you, and to truly be a servant of Christ and not a people pleaser. Save me from ever thinking of ministry as a job, rather than a calling and a privilege. Keep me from hypocrisy, but make my life worthy of the gospel I preach. Make me to be humble and continually aware of my need for Christ and the redemption he provides through his work on the cross, for me. Help me, please, help me!
Filed under: seminary | 1 Comment
Tags: c.s. lewis, pastorate, seminary, vocational ministry
what my mother has taught me
do not forsake your mother’s teaching; indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head, and ornaments about your neck. (Proverbs 1:8-9)
My mother has taught me…
that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
how to give joyfully and sacrificially.
that God is a God of beauty.
how to enjoy God’s beauty.
what it truly means to be “given to hospitality”.
how to make people feel special.
how to use your gifts for the glory of God.
to never settle for mediocrity.
to dream big dreams.
not to be stingy.
what real forgiveness looks like.
how to love others when love might not be returned.
My life would be unimaginably more deficient if I had not been taught these most valuable things.
Mom, what you have taught me truly serves as a graceful wreath around my head and ornaments around my neck. May God give me grace to never forsake what you have taught me. Thank you so much for being my mother.
· inspired by Desiring God Blog post entitled “Do Not Forsake Your Mother’s Teaching” ·
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Tags: mother has taught me, mother's day, proverbs 1:8-9
Family Newsletter Update
The latest (and the first) Lacine Family Newsletter can be read here.
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Tags: Lacine, Newsletter
New Sermon
My most recent sermon is posted on the sermons page. Or you can download it here.
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new “papers” page
You might notice a new tab selection above, titled papers. I’m going to begin editing old papers, as well as writing new ones, and posting them on this new page. Feel free to post any constructive criticism or comments about these writings on the papers page. I thought it would be most appropriate to start with My Testimony to the Grace and Glory of God through Christ, which is a brief compendium of my testimony as it stands.
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Tags: papers, testimony, writing
I received a letter a few weeks ago requesting my appearance in court… as a juror. Yesterday was the big day. I agonized in my conscience over scriptures like 1 Corinthians 5:12-13:
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside.
Filed under: on personal events | 3 Comments
Tags: 1 Corinthians 5:12-13, 1 Corinthians 6:1-4, Christ, christian, court, God, jesus, John 7:24, judge, jury, jury duty, litigation, Luke 6:37, pain and suffering
when you know you ought to feel
In ruminating over the topic of the unsaved in the community of faith, a dialogue from the movie Country Remedy caught my ear.
“Evan, look around you, what do you see?”
“An empty parking lot… trees… stars…”“The trees, do you see how they move? The stars and the trees… how does that make you feel?”“I don’t know…um…calm… I guess?”“That’s it right there. You think they ought to make you feel calm but you don’t actually feel it.”
It may be before, while the man was under legal convictions and much afraid of hell, he earnestly longed that he might obtain spiritual light in his understanding, and faith in Christ, and love to God: but now, when these false affections are risen that deceive him, and make him confident that he is converted and his state good, there are no more earnest longings after light and grace; for his end is answered; he is confident that his sins are forgiven him, and that he shall go to heaven, and so he is satisfied. (Jonathan Edwards, The Religous Affections, page 306)
Filed under: on current events, theology | 1 Comment
Tags: country remedy, john piper, jonathan edwards, religious affections, when i don't desire god
Recent Entries
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- michael jackson and his toxic spotlight
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- pain and suffering & the glory of God
- when you know you ought to feel
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