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Haven't had the motivation to write in a while.

I've been reading a lot lately, so maybe something will come of that.

This is basically writing to say I'm not writing.

c.

SMALLISH WESTERN TOWNS

As Christians and non-Christians alike we have many assumptions of how we think God operates. Most of these assumptions are birthed under the presumption that God exists to serve us. Never before this point in history have we as Christians been so insistent that we can somehow tip God’s hand in our favor. There seems to be this ideology plaguing the minds of modern evangelicals that we in fact are more important than we really are. That we as humans could replace or supplement or complement or even add anything to the perfect love and community that exists within the Trinitarian God is arrogant and foolish. We are fallen and apart from Christ have no redeeming value whatsoever.

It is a harsh statement to be sure. But be that as it may, does its brevity make it any less true? Even apart from Christianity and apart from Holy Scripture can any one honestly say that they believe man is intrinsically good?
 

We can say that people do good and are generally “good people” and arguments could be made to this end. (It is important to note that people can perform social good, but there is a recognition that even these works are insufficient to God).  However, the conclusion can be drawn that even though those individuals might be doing good and are “good” that ultimately their actions are for selfish gain. They perform these acts of goodness as a means to an end, specifically to fill a void within themselves. This void groans and begs to be filled with acts of contrition so that somehow the realization that we need a Savior will disappear. So we don’t have to admit that by ourselves we can’t obtain lasting peace and joy.

We are a spiritually corrupt race. Because of the sin of one man, our father Adam, our whole race fell (Romans 5:19). The heart, emotions, will, mind, and body are all affected by sin. We are completely inundated with sin. It says in Genesis that the wickedness of man is great, and that the intentions of his heart are wicked continually (Gen 6:5).

The Bible does not paint a favorable picture of the whole of humanity. We are seen in a light cast by the first sin, dimming the quality of a man’s character to that of filthy menstrual rags (Isaiah 64:6).

But it wasn’t always this way. It is described in the Westminster Confession of Faith: ‘Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom, and power to do that which is good and well pleasing to God; but yet, mutably, so that he might fall from it. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, has wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good…’

In the beginning man was created good (Genesis 1:31). As such, Adam and Eve were, and remain, the only individuals in the history of the world with the ability to act in a true state of free will. Given only one command by Creator God in their free will they acted in rebellion and partook of the fruit. They squandered unity and communion with God for a lie of eternal life and the attaining the knowledge of God. Even in free will man choose to be separate from God, abdicating his gift of eternity. Because of this we are instead born into a life of literal slavery to self, sin, and Satan, altogether unable to respond positively to God.

This all-encompassing depravity separates us from God in all facets of our being.

We have darkened minds (Romans 8:7, 1 Corinthians 2:14) and darkened hearts (Romans 1:21, Ephesians 4:18-19). We are enslaved to sin (John 8:34, Titus 3:3) and abide under futility (Ecclesiastes, 1 Peter 1:18). We are declared dead (Ephesians 2: 1 & 5, Colossians 2:13).

Finally in Romans 3 we are told ‘no one seeks for God (v. 11).

So how to we reconcile this to scripture that seemingly contradicts the conclusion Paul reached in Romans 3? After all, in Joshua 24 we are told to ‘choose for yourselves today whom you will serve’ and in Matthew 6 to ‘seek first His kingdom.’ It is only reasonable to conclude that there are several other passages that say the same thing.

I think it’s important to understand that just because God issues a command doesn’t mean that we will have the ability to meet the conditions of that command. Jesus commanded Lazarus to come out of his grave, but this did not suggest that Lazarus had the ability to do so. He was dead and as such had no means to do anything but continue to lie in his grave. Similarly, we are dead in our trespasses (Ephesians 2:1 & 5) until God speaks life into us and gives us the ability to hear and obey his command.

We also need to understand the difference between descriptive and prescriptive language. God’s commands are prescriptive as He is presenting law and decree which He expects us to fulfill. Descriptive language is, as it suggests, a narrative which outlines what did, is or will happen. Those passages which tell us to seek God and repent are prescriptive, demarcating a way of submission. Passages which outline man’s failure to comply and act upon God’s commands are descriptive.

As a result, both descriptive and prescriptive scripture are maintained. We are clearly told to seek the Lord, but as fallen creatures we are unable to do so unless God so works that obedience into our hearts.

God is just.

‘For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.’ (Romans 9: 15 & 16)

CRAFTED

What if I were to say that God, in his infinite wisdom and might, punishes the believer by and through the sin of others?

Groundwork:

Hebrews 12: 3 says: ‘Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted’.

The book of Hebrews was written to believers who were under grievous cultural attack. In that time Christians were living among a culture that was very antagonistic and violent towards Christ and His teachings. Because of this believers were being put in prison, having their possessions stolen from them, and having the right to buy and sell taken away. It was undeniably a very difficult time. But the writer of Hebrews implores Christians to not lose heart because the very strife they are enduring is the same Christ himself endured.

Verse 4 continues: ‘In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood’.

The writer sympathizes with the believer, but to a point. He says that even though they have indeed suffered, they have yet to suffer as Christ has suffered. Christ had to shed his blood in his struggle against sin and the author’s audience had yet to bear that burden.

As blatant as the statement is, there is more depth to it than it seems. Whose sin are they struggling against?

They are not striving against their own sin, but the sins of others!

It gets heavier.

In verse 5 it says: ‘And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.”’

Discipline here is not meant to be translated punishment but training.

It gets even heavier.

Verse 6 says: ‘For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. ‘

Quite literally the writer just said that the sinful acts of others put upon believers were ultimately the action and decision of God. Some translations use the word scourge instead of chastise, which makes this word even weightier. In other words, God trains the one he loves, and scourges those whom He receives.

But why?

Hebrews 12:7-11: ‘It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.’

God disciplines us because we are his children and he is our Father.

As a father I know it is necessary to discipline my son. For all his acting out and disobedience I constantly need to remind myself that it is because he is begging me for boundaries. He needs to be given a framework of right and wrong and it is my responsibility as a parent to provide those examples and show him how to properly use them. If I don’t discipline him how will he ever know that I love him?

In the same way, God disciplines us because he loves us. And who are we to question how he chooses to do so? If it is in the will of God for us to suffer because of the sins of others we should accept it as good for our sake so that we might grow in Him. It may be painful for a time, but it will yield peaceful fruit of righteousness. 

c.

AND THEN THERE WAS ONE

As modern evangelicals we are arrogant.

There is a contingency amongst believers, a large contingency, that is of the opinion that God needs us to be a part of redemption. That Christ's atoning work on the cross is somehow empty without action from us. Is by grace alone through faith alone really too much to understand?

I don't think it would be reaching to suggest this ideology stems from a certain level of ignorance, though I would admit much of the responsibility rests on the shoulders of the teachers they sit under. For too long pastors have catered to a congregation, avoiding hard truths and sticking to a style of preaching which affirms congregants egos rather than their soul. Because of this a body of believers is left with a theological foundation that can hardly withstand the least of tests and leaves many feeling the need to act of their own accord.

Not surprisingly, this has Biblical roots tracing back to the sacrificial system of the Old Testament and Tabernacle. The sacrificial system was instituted by God as a prefigure to Christ. Though not atoning for sin specifically, it acted as a transfer of guilt to an innocent animal who was then "punished" for the sins of the people through slaughter or being driven out of the land. There were hundreds of priests in the Tabernacle, chosen by God through the line of Levi. Priests would work in the Tabernacle performing sacrifice for the sins of the individual who came with an offering. Because of this constant performance of sacrifice there was no place to be seated within the Tabernacle, symbolizing the priestly duty never being finished.

Of these hundreds of priests there was one High Priest who on the Day of Atonement would make a sacrifice for the sins of all of Israel (in some sense, I may clarify in a future blog). Under the cover of blood the High Priest would enter into the Holy of Holies and offer sacrifice for his sins and for Israel. This ceremony would be performed once a year and would be followed by great celebration and feast.

This system was flawed.

Hebrews 10: 1-4 says:

'For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.'

Further down in verse 10 it says:

'by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.'

The writer of Hebrews makes clear argument that there is nothing we can offer to cleanse ourselves of unrighteousness. The old sacrificial system is useless! Through the propitiating work of Christ alone are we saved.

Why then do we continuously try and offer "sacrifices" to God in exchange for sin? It's undeniable. We attempt to barter with God on an almost daily basis, trying to exchange good works for forgiveness of sin. Do we really think that much of ourselves? 

Now, this is key.

Earlier I mentioned that there were no seats within the Tabernacle for any priest to sit, symbolic of the work of a priest never being finished. In Hebrews 4:14 we are told that 'we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God' and 'when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God (Heb. 10:12)'.

He. 

Sat. 

Down.

Christ has done what no High Priest before him could do. He finished his work. We should rejoice in His redemptive work, and instead we proudly proclaim we can do better.

We are indeed an arrogant Bride.


c.

BARTON BRIDGE

I haven't had the time to write in here in a couple of days. Which is frustrating. I felt as if I were in a good rhythm. I was going to write tonight, but I didn't.

Tomorrow I'll write something I hope turns out well.

c.

SMALL TOWNS

How self-serving are we?

It is impossible to deny the abundant and glaringly innate nature of man to be inward focused, disregarding and forsaking all others. We were selflessly created by a loving God only to arrogantly insist that we are without need apart from ourselves. What good have we done ourselves by scorning God? What good have we done for God?

...every intention of the thoughts of his (mankind's) heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. (Gen 6: 5-6)

How great is God's affection for us and desire for relationship with us that our actions would grieve Him to the  point of being sorry He ever created us.

Apart from Christ we are simply idolaters. Every man and woman since creation has willfully- knowingly or ignorantly- worshiped someone or something other than Creator God. Those who deny this are self-deceived and perhaps the most idolatrous of all. 

There is also the reality that this behavior lives and thrives within the Church. There is a popular 'theology' floating around in many evangelical circles today that teaches impressionable believers that God's sole purpose in our lives is to make example of His love by making us healthy and wealthy. If this is God's will for our lives it would be completely antithetical to His nature. Instead of pointing us towards Him we would be literally forced into an inwardly focused life. This is completely contradictory to everything Scripture teaches us about the character of God and His will for us.  

Christ saved us so that no one could boast (Eph 2:8-9). We were chosen despite our depravity and loved without any merit of our own. What is there to boast in when without Christ we are spiritually dead? (Eph 2:1-3) 

It was by His grace (2 Tim 1:9) and mercy we were called to faith and salvation. 

If this is true how gracious and loving is our God! How can we not only serve and worship Him? How can we continue to follow after the selfishness of our hearts when He holds so much promise? 

Our idolatrous hearts benefit only ourselves. Are we that selfish?

c.

THE STACKS

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgement, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?

Hebrews 10: 26-29


This was heavy on my heart today.

This leaves me fearful for the those whose 'pastor' puffs up and never shares the gravity of unrepentant sin.

Hell is real and forever is a long time.

So few preach this anymore.

I'll try and write happier things tomorrow.

c.