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For the sake of Church Discipline
If we have not availed ourselves to the hard privilege of church discipline (as necessary), can we truly say we have submitted to God's ruling in and through His church?
Of course, if your church does not practice church discipline, this point is moot. And, I might add, your church may not be a true church in the first place.
"church discipline is rarely done in the modern church, and because it is rarely done, when it is done, it is rarely done well. As with everything, we have to turn to the Scriptures for guidance and protection.
' I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 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. 'Purge the evil person from among you.'
A moment's reflection shows the need for discipline. In a fallen world, sin will seek to corrupt anything of value. When sin begins to work, the one in a position to discipline has a choice to make. Discipline is inescapable. At that point, we will either discipline the sin, or we will discipline the righteous. But as long as the antithesis between the two exists (which is to say, throughout history) we must choose one way or the other. (Jay E. Adams, Handbook of Church Discipline (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1986).
Scripture does not just command the discipline. We find in the Bible five basic reasons to practice church discipline. Not surprisingly, these biblical reasons for disciplining usually anticipate and answer some of the most common objections.
First, we are to discipline to glorify God--our obedience in this matter glorifies God. We know that God intends discipline for His church (Matt 18:15-19, Rom 16:17, 1 Cor 5, 1 Thes 5:14, 2 Thes 3:6-15, 1 Tim 5:20, 6:3, Tit 1:13, 2:15, 3:10, Rev 2:2, 14-15, 20). God tells us what to do, and because we are His people we are called to do it. This answers the objection, "Who do you think you are?" We do not discipline in our own name, or on our own authority. The Bible says that our good works (when defined by Scripture) glorify God (Matt 5:16).
Second, we are to discipline in order to maintain the purity of the church. If we measure the "success" of discipline by whether or not the offender is restored, we will be forced to conclude that sometimes it "doesn't work". But if we see other things accomplished by means of discipline, our perspective changes. Conducted biblically, church discipline always purifies the church (1 Cor 5:6-8). It also prevents the profanation of the Lord's Table (1 cor 11:27). This also answers the common objection against the faith--"too many hypocrites in church."
Third, we are to discipline to prevent God from setting Himself against the church. If we have a choice to distance ourselves from sin, and we choose rather to identify ourselves with it, then what will a holy God do? We see that God will come Himself and discipline a church which does not willingly follow Him in this (Rev 2:14-25).
Fourth, we are to discipline in an attempt to resotre the offender. We are not promised that the offender will be restored, but this end is nonetheless one of our goals. This rationale is clearly sset forth in Scripture (Matt 18:15, 1 Cor 5:5, Gal 6:1). This purpose answers the objection that "discipline is ahrsh and unloving." The goal is not to destroy the offender; the goal is a confrontation in which we formally proest the fact that the offender is destroying himself. Discipline is an act of love.
And fifth, we are to discipline to deter others from sin--the Bible teaches that consequences for sin detor others (Ecc 8:11, 1 Tim 5:20). The objection here is that "people sure wouldn't want to mention any of their spiritual problems around those elders!" But the issue is always impenitence, and if someone is intending to continue in sin impenitent, then he had better not mention it to any of the elders. But if he struggles against sin, as all of us do, then he will find nothing in church discipline except an aid in that struggle.
What does biblical discipline look like once it has been implemented? Many misunderstand what is actually being done in discipline. Discipline is not shunning or avoiding. It is rather avoiding company on the other's terms.
the most obvious result is that the one disciplined is refused access to the Lord's Supper, as well as the general communion which that Supper seals. But the offender is not being denied kindness, courtesy, opportunity to hear the word preached, the duties owed to him by others, or anything else due him according to the law of love. he is merely denied one thing: the right to define the Christian faith." ~ Douglas Wilson, Mother Kirk: Essays and Forays in Practical Ecclesiology, (Canon Press, 2001), 158-159.
If we have not availed ourselves to the hard privilege of church discipline (as necessary), can we truly say we have submitted to God's ruling in and through His church?
Of course, if your church does not practice church discipline, this point is moot. And, I might add, your church may not be a true church in the first place.
"church discipline is rarely done in the modern church, and because it is rarely done, when it is done, it is rarely done well. As with everything, we have to turn to the Scriptures for guidance and protection.
' I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 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. 'Purge the evil person from among you.'
A moment's reflection shows the need for discipline. In a fallen world, sin will seek to corrupt anything of value. When sin begins to work, the one in a position to discipline has a choice to make. Discipline is inescapable. At that point, we will either discipline the sin, or we will discipline the righteous. But as long as the antithesis between the two exists (which is to say, throughout history) we must choose one way or the other. (Jay E. Adams, Handbook of Church Discipline (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1986).
Scripture does not just command the discipline. We find in the Bible five basic reasons to practice church discipline. Not surprisingly, these biblical reasons for disciplining usually anticipate and answer some of the most common objections.
First, we are to discipline to glorify God--our obedience in this matter glorifies God. We know that God intends discipline for His church (Matt 18:15-19, Rom 16:17, 1 Cor 5, 1 Thes 5:14, 2 Thes 3:6-15, 1 Tim 5:20, 6:3, Tit 1:13, 2:15, 3:10, Rev 2:2, 14-15, 20). God tells us what to do, and because we are His people we are called to do it. This answers the objection, "Who do you think you are?" We do not discipline in our own name, or on our own authority. The Bible says that our good works (when defined by Scripture) glorify God (Matt 5:16).
Second, we are to discipline in order to maintain the purity of the church. If we measure the "success" of discipline by whether or not the offender is restored, we will be forced to conclude that sometimes it "doesn't work". But if we see other things accomplished by means of discipline, our perspective changes. Conducted biblically, church discipline always purifies the church (1 Cor 5:6-8). It also prevents the profanation of the Lord's Table (1 cor 11:27). This also answers the common objection against the faith--"too many hypocrites in church."
Third, we are to discipline to prevent God from setting Himself against the church. If we have a choice to distance ourselves from sin, and we choose rather to identify ourselves with it, then what will a holy God do? We see that God will come Himself and discipline a church which does not willingly follow Him in this (Rev 2:14-25).
Fourth, we are to discipline in an attempt to resotre the offender. We are not promised that the offender will be restored, but this end is nonetheless one of our goals. This rationale is clearly sset forth in Scripture (Matt 18:15, 1 Cor 5:5, Gal 6:1). This purpose answers the objection that "discipline is ahrsh and unloving." The goal is not to destroy the offender; the goal is a confrontation in which we formally proest the fact that the offender is destroying himself. Discipline is an act of love.
And fifth, we are to discipline to deter others from sin--the Bible teaches that consequences for sin detor others (Ecc 8:11, 1 Tim 5:20). The objection here is that "people sure wouldn't want to mention any of their spiritual problems around those elders!" But the issue is always impenitence, and if someone is intending to continue in sin impenitent, then he had better not mention it to any of the elders. But if he struggles against sin, as all of us do, then he will find nothing in church discipline except an aid in that struggle.
What does biblical discipline look like once it has been implemented? Many misunderstand what is actually being done in discipline. Discipline is not shunning or avoiding. It is rather avoiding company on the other's terms.
the most obvious result is that the one disciplined is refused access to the Lord's Supper, as well as the general communion which that Supper seals. But the offender is not being denied kindness, courtesy, opportunity to hear the word preached, the duties owed to him by others, or anything else due him according to the law of love. he is merely denied one thing: the right to define the Christian faith." ~ Douglas Wilson, Mother Kirk: Essays and Forays in Practical Ecclesiology, (Canon Press, 2001), 158-159.
The Sake of our Leaders
Hebrews 13:17 "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."
Submit in covenantal humility to let our leaders lead us with joy and not with groaning, for that would be no advantage to you.
Allow your leaders to know for whom they will give an account to God. Help make their leading be with joy and not groaning.
Hebrews 13:17 "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."
Submit in covenantal humility to let our leaders lead us with joy and not with groaning, for that would be no advantage to you.
Allow your leaders to know for whom they will give an account to God. Help make their leading be with joy and not groaning.
Philippians 2:8 - "And being found in human form, he, that is Christ, humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
Ephesians 1:3-14 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
What is one of the greatest expressions of humility we can make? How can we express our identity with Christ and His humility to its fullest extent? Christ's expression of humility is still evident because He rose bodily from the grave and He is seated (physically) at the right hand of the Father.
Ephesians 1:3-14 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
What is one of the greatest expressions of humility we can make? How can we express our identity with Christ and His humility to its fullest extent? Christ's expression of humility is still evident because He rose bodily from the grave and He is seated (physically) at the right hand of the Father.
Accountability is getting help in taking responsibility for our actions.
Accountability is comprised of listening (James 1:19), humility in relation to others sins and faults (Matthew 7:1-2) with the thought, "if not for the grace of God, there go I," demonstrating love because God loves us, and Whoever loves God must also love his brother. ( 1 John 4:21, 1 John 4:19)
What greater expression of true accountability than to purposefully covenant with others for the sanctification of each other?
True accountability allows people the freedom in sharing their circumstances and provides the feeling of total acceptance without fear of rejection. Why? Because God has completely and unashamedly accepted us in the beloved (Ephesians 1:3-10).
We are accountable to God (Romans 14:12, Hebrews 4:13)
We are one body in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12ff)
Galatians 6:1-2 gives a helpful principle, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." If your accountability friend has done something contrary to the Bible, you are called to confront him gently, forgive him, and comfort him. It also admonishes you to consider yourself because no one is above temptation.
Hebrews 10:24 says, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says to, "…encourage one another and build each other up…"
How do I know you truly are placing yourself under accountability if you have not demonstrated your covenantal commitment to such a serious endeavor? Specifically expressing this accountability within the bounds of church membership?
Accountability is comprised of listening (James 1:19), humility in relation to others sins and faults (Matthew 7:1-2) with the thought, "if not for the grace of God, there go I," demonstrating love because God loves us, and Whoever loves God must also love his brother. ( 1 John 4:21, 1 John 4:19)
What greater expression of true accountability than to purposefully covenant with others for the sanctification of each other?
True accountability allows people the freedom in sharing their circumstances and provides the feeling of total acceptance without fear of rejection. Why? Because God has completely and unashamedly accepted us in the beloved (Ephesians 1:3-10).
We are accountable to God (Romans 14:12, Hebrews 4:13)
We are one body in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12ff)
Galatians 6:1-2 gives a helpful principle, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." If your accountability friend has done something contrary to the Bible, you are called to confront him gently, forgive him, and comfort him. It also admonishes you to consider yourself because no one is above temptation.
Hebrews 10:24 says, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says to, "…encourage one another and build each other up…"
How do I know you truly are placing yourself under accountability if you have not demonstrated your covenantal commitment to such a serious endeavor? Specifically expressing this accountability within the bounds of church membership?
Note: In short, read the book Humility: True Greatness by CJ Mahaney for a popular yet fuller treatment of Humility.
This is a short treatment of why I believe church membership is a biblical practice. Yes, Scripture does not explicitly command membership. However, implications of the five reasons addressed leave no other conclusion but church membership. This is a rough draft and certainly not complete in thought, but the intent and conclusion should be evident. The overarching question to consider while reading is, "Am I truly living humbly before God as He desires me to live? Am I humiliating myself as Christ humiliated Himself even to the extent of becoming a member of humanity and ultimately dying for all who believe in Him- even the death on the cross?"
My simple aim is to demonstrate the biblical necessity for church membership. The details regarding church membership are beyond the scope of this tiny series. Once we have established the biblical necessity for church membership, we must then deal with the details- which is something I do not want to take the time to go through at this time.
Let me say right out, there is no perfect church. There can't be. Every local body of believers are FILLED only with fallen people- in need of a Savior, in need of fellowship and breaking of bread and the constant reminder we are not Lone Ranger Christians. We are a BODY of believers - not a group of individuals. Like the eye can not take the place of the rest of the body, neither can we being a part of the body substitute the whole.
Like you, I once (and still do at times) resent the idea of church membership. However, I began to realize, this hard grace of God is necessary for our edification and sanctification.
With this said, please read this in the spirit in which it is intended- to share the necessity of this grace in which we live.
"Contrary to popular and false belief, it's not 'those who help themselves' whom God helps; it's those who humble themselves." ~ C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness (Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2005), 21.
"It is evident that man never attains to a true self-knowledge until he has previously contemplated the face of God, and come down after such contemplation to look into himself." ~ John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1990), 38 via C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness (Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2005), 21.
"Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God's holiness and our sinfulness." ~ C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness (Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2005), 22.
"If you were to speak to any of my friends, they would confirm how I continually surprise them with fresh discoveries of my inadequacies. I even provide them a certain degree of entertainment, especially when it comes to the hands-on and the mechanical.
One day my daughter informed me that our car was making a strange noise, so I went out to investigate. She tired to prepare me, but in no way did I anticipate the violent shrieking that assaulted my ears upon starting the car. I immediately turned off the engine.
In such a moment, wisdom demands one course of action only: Get out of the car, walk back into the house, and call a trustworthy auto-repair service.
That would have been the appropriate and prudent response. Instead, I followed the arrogant male instinct, which requires at bare minimum that the male lift the hood and stare intently at the engine. After all, neighbors might be watching, and we want to at least give the appearance that we have some mechanical knowledge." C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness (Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2005), 25-26.
So often "church" is giving the appearance that we have some spiritual knowledge and awakening, yet we often do not want to humbly place ourselves under the Leadership and Lordship of Christ over our lives in and through the church as members.
"At every stage of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend." ~ John Stott, "Pride, Humility & God," Sovereign Grace Online, September/October 2000, http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/sgo/v18no5/prt_pride.html (accessed August 3, 2005) via C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness (Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2005), 29.
If we have not placed ourselves in covenantal membership in a local assembly, can we say we are truly living humbly before God?
"As I sat with my family at a local breakfast establishment, I noticed a finely dressed man at an adjacent table. His Armani suit and stiffly pressed shirt coordinated perfectly with a power tie. His wing-tip shoes sparkled from a recent shine, every hair was in place, including his perfectly groomed moustache.
The man sat alone eating a bagel as he prrepared for a meeting. As he reviewed the papers before him, he appeared nervous, glancing frequently at his Rolex watch. It was obvious he had an important meeting ahead.
The man stood up and I watched as he straightened his tie and prepared to leave.
Immediately I noticed a blob of cream cheese attached to his finely groomed moustache. He was about to go into the world, dressed in his finest, with cream cheese on his face.
I thought of the business meeting he was about to attend. Who would tell him? Should I? What if no one did?" ~ Attributed to Pastor James R. Needham in a 2004 illustration from www.preachingtoday.com via C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness (Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2005), 123-124.
"My Own Cream Cheese Moment
Let me tell you about a cream cheese moment in my life, one of many such experiences that have helped convince me that no sin is more deceptive than pride.
I'm in an accountability group with men who care for and watch over my soul. In a meeting with these brothers, I was telling them of a specific pattern of sin I had noticed in my life in the past week. I'd become aware of this sin and been convicted about it, and I'd confessed it to God and received His forgiveness. Now I wanted to inform these men about it as well--then move on, because there was another particular issue I was more concerned about and wanted to discuss with them.
But as I described in detail my sin from the previous week, my friends started to ask caring and insightful questions about the root issue behind the sin. I assured them the root issue was obvious: It was pride. I even transitioned into a brief teaching on pride, then let the guys know I wanted to move o n to something else I thought was more important and more serious. I'm sure there was mild irritation in my voice.
But the men had more questions. They had observations. And they began to challenge me to look deeper at the pattern of sin I had shown in the previous week.
Again I felt irritation. I assumed I understood that particular sin completely. Why were we spending so much time on something I'd already figured out?
In essence, there was cream cheese all over my face, and I didn't know it. My underlying sin had decieved me. I was blind. I didn't see it and couldn't see it. But they saw it clearly.
In my pride, I thought no one understood my heart as well as I did. But Scripture doesn't support such a conclusion. Actually, God's Word tells me, 'No, C. J., sin is subtle, sin is deceitful, and sin blinds you. And you need feedback from others in order to understand your heart.'
By God's grace, because the men seated around me in that room are true friends who care for me and aren't afraid of me, they persevered. Though I was arrogant--not only in assuming I fully understood my sin and its root issue, but also in my relunctance to explore it more deeply--those men persevered in kindness. And only by their kindness and perseverence, and only by God's grace, did I finally begin to perceive how much my sin had indeed deceived me. I saw that my confidence about fully knowing my soul in this situation, and in assuming I needed no one else's eyes upon it, was actuallyy the hieight of arrogance.
They were guarding my heart and helping me to see the true extent of my sin. I thought I'd already wiped the cream cheese from my face and it was gone, but they were faithfully telling me, 'It's not gone; we're staring at it! And were telling you this because we love you.'" ~ C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness (Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2005), 125-127.
Again, are we truly humiliating ourselves to such a degree that we truly demonstrate the humility of Christ to others?
This is a short treatment of why I believe church membership is a biblical practice. Yes, Scripture does not explicitly command membership. However, implications of the five reasons addressed leave no other conclusion but church membership. This is a rough draft and certainly not complete in thought, but the intent and conclusion should be evident. The overarching question to consider while reading is, "Am I truly living humbly before God as He desires me to live? Am I humiliating myself as Christ humiliated Himself even to the extent of becoming a member of humanity and ultimately dying for all who believe in Him- even the death on the cross?"
My simple aim is to demonstrate the biblical necessity for church membership. The details regarding church membership are beyond the scope of this tiny series. Once we have established the biblical necessity for church membership, we must then deal with the details- which is something I do not want to take the time to go through at this time.
Let me say right out, there is no perfect church. There can't be. Every local body of believers are FILLED only with fallen people- in need of a Savior, in need of fellowship and breaking of bread and the constant reminder we are not Lone Ranger Christians. We are a BODY of believers - not a group of individuals. Like the eye can not take the place of the rest of the body, neither can we being a part of the body substitute the whole.
Like you, I once (and still do at times) resent the idea of church membership. However, I began to realize, this hard grace of God is necessary for our edification and sanctification.
With this said, please read this in the spirit in which it is intended- to share the necessity of this grace in which we live.
"Contrary to popular and false belief, it's not 'those who help themselves' whom God helps; it's those who humble themselves." ~ C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness (Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2005), 21.
"It is evident that man never attains to a true self-knowledge until he has previously contemplated the face of God, and come down after such contemplation to look into himself." ~ John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1990), 38 via C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness (Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2005), 21.
"Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God's holiness and our sinfulness." ~ C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness (Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2005), 22.
"If you were to speak to any of my friends, they would confirm how I continually surprise them with fresh discoveries of my inadequacies. I even provide them a certain degree of entertainment, especially when it comes to the hands-on and the mechanical.
One day my daughter informed me that our car was making a strange noise, so I went out to investigate. She tired to prepare me, but in no way did I anticipate the violent shrieking that assaulted my ears upon starting the car. I immediately turned off the engine.
In such a moment, wisdom demands one course of action only: Get out of the car, walk back into the house, and call a trustworthy auto-repair service.
That would have been the appropriate and prudent response. Instead, I followed the arrogant male instinct, which requires at bare minimum that the male lift the hood and stare intently at the engine. After all, neighbors might be watching, and we want to at least give the appearance that we have some mechanical knowledge." C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness (Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2005), 25-26.
So often "church" is giving the appearance that we have some spiritual knowledge and awakening, yet we often do not want to humbly place ourselves under the Leadership and Lordship of Christ over our lives in and through the church as members.
"At every stage of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend." ~ John Stott, "Pride, Humility & God," Sovereign Grace Online, September/October 2000, http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/sgo/v18no5/prt_pride.html (accessed August 3, 2005) via C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness (Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2005), 29.
If we have not placed ourselves in covenantal membership in a local assembly, can we say we are truly living humbly before God?
"As I sat with my family at a local breakfast establishment, I noticed a finely dressed man at an adjacent table. His Armani suit and stiffly pressed shirt coordinated perfectly with a power tie. His wing-tip shoes sparkled from a recent shine, every hair was in place, including his perfectly groomed moustache.
The man sat alone eating a bagel as he prrepared for a meeting. As he reviewed the papers before him, he appeared nervous, glancing frequently at his Rolex watch. It was obvious he had an important meeting ahead.
The man stood up and I watched as he straightened his tie and prepared to leave.
Immediately I noticed a blob of cream cheese attached to his finely groomed moustache. He was about to go into the world, dressed in his finest, with cream cheese on his face.
I thought of the business meeting he was about to attend. Who would tell him? Should I? What if no one did?" ~ Attributed to Pastor James R. Needham in a 2004 illustration from www.preachingtoday.com via C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness (Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2005), 123-124.
"My Own Cream Cheese Moment
Let me tell you about a cream cheese moment in my life, one of many such experiences that have helped convince me that no sin is more deceptive than pride.
I'm in an accountability group with men who care for and watch over my soul. In a meeting with these brothers, I was telling them of a specific pattern of sin I had noticed in my life in the past week. I'd become aware of this sin and been convicted about it, and I'd confessed it to God and received His forgiveness. Now I wanted to inform these men about it as well--then move on, because there was another particular issue I was more concerned about and wanted to discuss with them.
But as I described in detail my sin from the previous week, my friends started to ask caring and insightful questions about the root issue behind the sin. I assured them the root issue was obvious: It was pride. I even transitioned into a brief teaching on pride, then let the guys know I wanted to move o n to something else I thought was more important and more serious. I'm sure there was mild irritation in my voice.
But the men had more questions. They had observations. And they began to challenge me to look deeper at the pattern of sin I had shown in the previous week.
Again I felt irritation. I assumed I understood that particular sin completely. Why were we spending so much time on something I'd already figured out?
In essence, there was cream cheese all over my face, and I didn't know it. My underlying sin had decieved me. I was blind. I didn't see it and couldn't see it. But they saw it clearly.
In my pride, I thought no one understood my heart as well as I did. But Scripture doesn't support such a conclusion. Actually, God's Word tells me, 'No, C. J., sin is subtle, sin is deceitful, and sin blinds you. And you need feedback from others in order to understand your heart.'
By God's grace, because the men seated around me in that room are true friends who care for me and aren't afraid of me, they persevered. Though I was arrogant--not only in assuming I fully understood my sin and its root issue, but also in my relunctance to explore it more deeply--those men persevered in kindness. And only by their kindness and perseverence, and only by God's grace, did I finally begin to perceive how much my sin had indeed deceived me. I saw that my confidence about fully knowing my soul in this situation, and in assuming I needed no one else's eyes upon it, was actuallyy the hieight of arrogance.
They were guarding my heart and helping me to see the true extent of my sin. I thought I'd already wiped the cream cheese from my face and it was gone, but they were faithfully telling me, 'It's not gone; we're staring at it! And were telling you this because we love you.'" ~ C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness (Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2005), 125-127.
Again, are we truly humiliating ourselves to such a degree that we truly demonstrate the humility of Christ to others?
I asked the question earlier, "How can God, Who is unchanging, in Jesus take on human form (permanently I might add) and still be unchanged?" I know what I think. What do YOU think?
This is just an aspect of what I have been pondering as of late. But before I continue, you need to read, "What is the Love of God?" As well as, "God's Glory" and "The Glory of God in the Gospel". Yes, quite a bit of reading, but what I am about to embark in writing is deeply connected to the foundation upon which I have already built.
I do not want to separate God's Glory, God's Love and His unchanging character. How can God, In Jesus, take on human flesh yet be unchanged? Seth Rone hits the nail on the head, at least in part- maybe more :) .
We must keep in mind before creation, OUTSIDE time, God’s creative plan included the cross: see Acts 2:23, Acts 4:27&28, 1 Peter 1:19&20, and Revelation 13:8. In eternity past, God planned (foreordained) the cross- meaning, it was meant to happen and there was no chance that it could not not happen. In other words, the cross was not optional. It was THE plan of the ages.
Further, since God is love, then it is God's nature to give up His life as a ransom. Jesus said in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." There is no possibility that God could have done otherwise. None. The cross was not plan B. It was the only plan.
This is why when God in Jesus took on human flesh, He did not change because there was never a time that God in Christ did not plan to die to save.
But at the same time, pardon the pun, WITHIN time, God did change.
Douglas Kelly says that the Incarnation is a greater miracle and mystery than God's creating everything out of nothing. The change WITHIN time from God to God/Man is ultimately what makes it a miracle and mystery at the same time. Amazing.
This is such a deep subject that it will take all of eternity to plumb its depths (and then we'll still need an infinite amount of eternities to continue the quest of plumbing those depths!). Wow.
It reminds me how absolutely insane it is to seek our satisfaction in idols that can neither see nor hear. When THIS God--the God that has come to us in Jesus like this--calls us to come to him....
So what do we do now? We place our faith in Jesus because He always planned to take on our sin, guilt, and shame- to be the Spotless Lamb slain from the foundation of the world for without faith, we can never please God (Hebrews 11:6).
If you've never placed your faith and trust in Jesus, now is always a good time to start. If you have placed your faith in Jesus in the past, continue to believe, look to the cross, and be saved.
There has never been another option for salvation.
This is the glory of the Gospel.
This is just an aspect of what I have been pondering as of late. But before I continue, you need to read, "What is the Love of God?" As well as, "God's Glory" and "The Glory of God in the Gospel". Yes, quite a bit of reading, but what I am about to embark in writing is deeply connected to the foundation upon which I have already built.
I do not want to separate God's Glory, God's Love and His unchanging character. How can God, In Jesus, take on human flesh yet be unchanged? Seth Rone hits the nail on the head, at least in part- maybe more :) .
We must keep in mind before creation, OUTSIDE time, God’s creative plan included the cross: see Acts 2:23, Acts 4:27&28, 1 Peter 1:19&20, and Revelation 13:8. In eternity past, God planned (foreordained) the cross- meaning, it was meant to happen and there was no chance that it could not not happen. In other words, the cross was not optional. It was THE plan of the ages.
Further, since God is love, then it is God's nature to give up His life as a ransom. Jesus said in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." There is no possibility that God could have done otherwise. None. The cross was not plan B. It was the only plan.
This is why when God in Jesus took on human flesh, He did not change because there was never a time that God in Christ did not plan to die to save.
But at the same time, pardon the pun, WITHIN time, God did change.
Douglas Kelly says that the Incarnation is a greater miracle and mystery than God's creating everything out of nothing. The change WITHIN time from God to God/Man is ultimately what makes it a miracle and mystery at the same time. Amazing.
This is such a deep subject that it will take all of eternity to plumb its depths (and then we'll still need an infinite amount of eternities to continue the quest of plumbing those depths!). Wow.
It reminds me how absolutely insane it is to seek our satisfaction in idols that can neither see nor hear. When THIS God--the God that has come to us in Jesus like this--calls us to come to him....
So what do we do now? We place our faith in Jesus because He always planned to take on our sin, guilt, and shame- to be the Spotless Lamb slain from the foundation of the world for without faith, we can never please God (Hebrews 11:6).
If you've never placed your faith and trust in Jesus, now is always a good time to start. If you have placed your faith in Jesus in the past, continue to believe, look to the cross, and be saved.
There has never been another option for salvation.
This is the glory of the Gospel.
Here is Genesis 2 of the New Literal English Translation
Comments and critique are welcome.
(click on image to open or right-click and "save as..." to download)
Here is my first attempt at translation. I decided to begin with Genesis 1. At the present time, I am calling this translation the New Literal English Translation.Comments and critique are welcome.
(click on image to open or right-click and "save as..." to download)
If there's one thing I've learned (and am still learning) over the years it's that the Gospel Changes Everything! This includes (but not limited to) my understanding of 'Scripture. The Gospel is so comprehensive in its power to change everything that it frees me from my previous understandings of Scripture to understanding passages anew and afresh. In other words, as my understanding of Scripture changes, I am free to embrace my new understanding instead of being fearful that "I am rejecting what I've been taught all these years!"
If we are hesitant in switching our view on (any) subject that Scripture addresses because we think "Scripture CAN'T teach that because I couldn't believe in a God who would say or express that in Scripture" then we definitely do not understand the Gospel nor Its power to change verything.
And we have a caricature of what Scripture teaches rather than what Scripture actually teaches.
The Gospel frees us to believe what we see Scripture teach. The Gospel, properly understood, frees us to say, "Wow, Scripture teaches THAT? That's a shocking revelation! If I see that in Scripture, I must believe it because Scripture teaches it."
I am not saying that the struggle to understand Scripture is wrong, but that the Gospel frees us to believe what we see in Scripture even WHEN it changes our paradigm of life and rocks our world.
For example, the Gospel frees us to switch from Dispensational Premil to Historic Premil or PostMil to Amil. And this is just eschatology! The Gospel frees us to change our views on subjects without fear that we are apostasizing (well, outside of the orthodox doctrines which establish the Christian faith).
The Gospel frees us to believe what Scripture teaches without fear. For fear is not of God and God has given a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Yes, what we see in Scripture may rock our world and change how we view and interpret Scripture, but the Gospel frees us to embrace what we see so that we may bind our consciences to Scripture alone and not to what we think we ought to believe.
Yes, the Gospel changes everything.
Sadly, many people (not just men any more) have become enslaved to their lust. Many lives and families have been destroyed because of this stranglehold of sin. Here are some good resources for anyone who struggles in this area of lust and purity. But the best advice I can provide you is to take the first step and talk to your Pastor. He is there to help you. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it. It's the hard things of life that truly make a difference.
Joshua Harris also has a few articles relating to love and lust taken from his book Sex is not the Problem (Lust is). Fighting Internet Porn (aka Purity Download - Tip 1). Purity Download - Tip 2. Purity Download - Tip 3. Purity Download - Tip 4. Too bad Joshua (and SGM) won't provide this great book as a free download.
David Powlison from Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation has provided a free resource for pornography addiction - Breaking Pornography Addiction.
And last but not least, Mark Driscoll has recently released a PDF book called Porn Again Christian. You can download it here. Be warned, Mark takes no hostages as he addresses the topic. It is a frank discussion.
