Buenas dias from Lima, Peru
January 23, 2007
I am writing this from Lima, Peru. I´m still non-tekkie enough to be amazed by this. Danny Temple (a ruling elder in our congregation) and I arrived in Lima last night. Later in the week I´ll be preaching for a missions conference held in conjunction with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church here. I´ll try to update you on what is going on there. Remember us in your prayers.
4 big ideas: #3-integrity
January 18, 2007
In preaching through Galatians last year I identified four big ideas that run through Paul’s letter. Those four big ideas should form and shape how ministry is carried out in the day-to-day life of the Church. I am trying to embody them in my own ministry and to impart them to our leaders at First, Kosciusko. This is the third of the four big ideas, which are truth, authority, integrity and love.
INTEGRITY: Walk in step with the gospel. In Galatians 1-2 Paul asks, Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. He is reminding these folk of the integrity of his doctrine and life. The two were one. In ch.2 when he describes his confrontation with Peter, he writes I say that their conduct was not in step with the gospel. Peter acted differently toward the Gentile converts when the brothers from Jerusalem came to town. Paul calls this breakdown of integrity conduct…not in step with gospel. The welcome and acceptance Christ has shown us was not reflected in Peter’s behavior. Peter did not announce a change in his views. I’m sure he could, at that moment, have preached a dead-solid-perfect gospel sermon, but his behavior was not in step with the gospel.
In the final chapter of Galatians, he writes that the distinction between circumcision/non-circumcision is irrelevant. What is relevant, what counts for everything is a new creation (6:15; cf. 4:26-29; 2:20). Therefore everything else that identifies us or gives us significance or status with each other doesn’t count for much at all. I might as well boast of the shape of my eyebrows. What matters is a new creation–the mindset of utter reliance upon Christ demonstrated by a faith working through love–a path of Christ-exaltation over self-exaltation. I think about Paul’s words in Philippians 2, Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit and am convicted by how much of my activity, even as a minister, springs from rivalry (‘Let me prove to you that I am better than ______…’) or conceit (‘Hey, watch me do this and be impressed!’). Instead, I must walk in step with the gospel that exalts the Savior and humbles the sinner–all the time.
Peace and mercy be upon all those who walk by this rule…
Edwards’ diary-12 January
January 11, 2007
I will likely be away from my computer on Friday, 12 January, so I’ll pass this along a day earlier–an 12 January entry in the diary of Jonathan Edwards:
“Saturday, Jan. 12. In the morning. I have this day, solemnly renewed my baptismal covenant and self-dedication, which I renewed, when I was taken into the communion of the church. I have been before God, and have given myself, all that I am and have, to God; so that I am not, in any respect, my own. I can challenge no right in this understanding, this will, these affections, which are in me. Neither have I any right to this body, or any of its members — no right to this tongue, these hands, these feet; no right to these senses, these eyes, these ears, this smell, or this taste. I have given myself clear away, and have not retained any thing, as my own. I gave myself to God, in my baptism, and I have been this morning to him, and told him, that I gave myself wholly to him….This, I have done; and I pray God, for the sake of Christ, to look upon it as a self-dedication, and to receive me now, as entirely his own, and to deal with me, in all respects, as such, whether he afflicts me, or prospers me, or whatever he pleases to do with me, who am his.
Momofuku Ando-Ave atque vale
January 11, 2007
Momofuku Ando died in a Japanese hospital last Friday. He was 96 years old. His death merits Sweet Dropper space because Ando made a major contribution to our lives, especially the lives of college students, grad students, seminary students and ministers (and their children): he invented ramen noodles and the instant noodle cup. In 1958 he unveiled Chicken Ramen, the world’s first instant noodle product. Ando was inspired to develop the instant noodle after coming upon a long line of people on a cold night shortly after World War II. They were waiting to buy freshly made ramen at a black market food stall. The experience convinced him that “peace will come to the world when the people have enough to eat.” He went on to found Nissin Food Products Co., the industry leader in Japan. In 1971, Nissin introduced the Cup Noodle featuring instant ramen in a waterproof plastic foam container…and the rest is culinary history.
Ando’s death caused me to reflect on some great moments of one-to-one ministry as an RUF intern at Mercer University and other moments with college students while an assistant pastor in Auburn, Alabama, over a couple of 15-cent packs of instant ramen (beef and shrimp are my favorites, by the way). There is a lesson here about hospitality. Hospitality, in the biblical sense, does not require Lagasse-like chef skills or Martha Stewart-esque decorating and presentation acumen. The welcome and openness of hospitality does not require food, but in the Scriptures and over history it nearly always includes eating meals together. I think about Luke’s description in Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-36 of the early believers’ fellowship: sharing all things in common and eating together–some of the language may well suggest the Lord’s Supper, but certainly it was not restricted to that, especially if they celebrated it like we do! And hospitality can take place over instant ramen, leftover chicken, or some chips and salsa. Opening our homes and lives to others will require of us an awareness of Jesus’ sacrificial welcome to all who come to him, a light hold on material possessions and a commitment to a simplified lifestyle–and instant ramen fits into that quite well.
So here’s to you, Momofuku Ando, unwitting accomplice to the subversive welcome of the gospel of the ever-blessed God. I’ll be raising a bowl of empty carbs swimming in an MSG-laced brine in your honor in, oh, about three hours.
4 big ideas: #2-authority
January 7, 2007
In preaching through Galatians last year I identified four big ideas that run through Paul’s letter. Those four big ideas should form and shape how ministry is carried out in the day-to-day life of the Church. I am trying to embody them in my own ministry and to impart them to our leaders at First, Kosciusko. This is the second of the four big ideas, which are truth, authority, integrity and love.
AUTHORITY: Some people speak, and we ought to listen. As believers we recognize, exercise, and submit to godly authority in Christ’s name. Most of the first two chapters of Paul’s letter to that Galatian churches is a reassertion of Paul’s apostolic authority. The revelation of the gospel of God through the ministry of men makes us attentive and submissive to those who serve us in the ministry of the gospel (1:1, 1:11-2:14; 5:11; 6:17). God has instituted the government and discipline of the Church. Pastors, elders, presbyteries, councils, and church courts can erred and have erred, but this does not negate their legitimate authority.
I have taken a vow in which I promised submission to my brethren in the Lord. They have a right to exercise that authority in conformity with word of God. My brethren in the Lord have a right to examine my theological views, to ask me if I’m sleeping with anyone other than my wife or if I’m dealing well with my children. Convened as a Session, Presbytery or General Assembly, they have a right to make decisions that I oppose. I have promised to submit. My friend Tim Starnes in Cleveland, Mississippi, was the first one I ever heard say, “I don’t mind submitting, just as long as it was something I was already inclined to do anyway.” Thankfully, Tim was being facetious, but I understand all too well that impulse.
I have also taken a vow in which I promised to exercise godly authority in the Church. Paul urges Titus, ‘Exhort and rebuke with all authority,’ and he speaks twice to the Corinthians about the authority the Lord has given him ‘for building up and not for tearing down’ (2 Corinthians 10:8; 13:10). My comfort or convenience cannot trump my duty to exercise my God-granted authority as a minister of the gospel.
We live in an age that chafes against authority, and thus our minds become so trivial and banal and petty and earthly that we find ourselves incapable of trembling under the Word of God. We do not shudder to think of the horror of rejecting Christ. We yawn at a word like anathema. The wrath of God is revealed to shake us out of our stupor and humble us, and God typically informs of us through human authorities.
Peace and mercy be upon all those who walk by this rule…
Hazards of dealing with trials
January 5, 2007
A believing friend who is being treated for rapidly advancing cancer wrote in his e-journal today about some scriptural examples of people who succeeded and failed in dealing with fiery trial:
“Let us not be
…Hezekiah and pray for long life
…Asa and only turn to physicians
…Job’s wife and have contempt
…Jonah and long to die.
Let us be like Paul, who chose contentment And most like Jesus, who suffered obediently”
The first four people illustrate some hazards of dealing with trial.
- Hezekiah’s hazard – Focus on loss instead of on gracious provision. Hezekiah focused on future years lost rather than past years provided in grace. “Am I to be robbed of the rest of my years?” (Isaiah 38:10).
- Asa’s hazard – Reliance on medical advice to the exclusion of God’s power. Asa, a good king of Judah, became so focused on medical advice for his disease that he forgot his total dependence on God. “Yet even with the severity of his disease, he did not seek the Lord’s help but turned only to his physicians. So he died in the forty-first year of his reign.” (2 Chronicles 16:12-13). John Piper writes in “Don’t Waste Your Cancer,” “Cancer does not win if you die. It wins if you fail to cherish Christ. God’s design is to wean you off the breast of the world and feast you on the sufficiency of Christ.”
- Job’s wife’s hazard – Bitterness toward God for fiery trial. She said “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” (Job 2:9) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us (Galatians 3:13). Our Savior became a curse for us. There is no curse, no condemnation for those who are in Christ.
- Jonah’s hazard – Giving up the fight. Jonah concluded that the fight was not worth it “Death is certainly better than living like this!” (Jonah 4:7) Satan will use trials to lead us into isolation and solitude instead of deepening and strengthening our relationships with others.
Listen again to my friend: “Asa’s example probably hits closest to home for me these days. Thank God for surgical therapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy – we are using them all. But God help me to remain focused on my need for Him, knowing Prayer Therapy is the best therapy of all!”
Muslims in Nazareth: ‘Islam will dominate the world.’
January 2, 2007
OK, then…
Here’s an article from WorldNet Daily about recent ‘Angry Arab Street’ incidents in Nazareth, where Jesus was raised. The Muslim propensity for bluster, anger and outrage is remarkable. It brings to mind a quote from last February from my favorite columnist, Mark Steyn, commenting on the crazy protests over the Danish cartoons satirizing Mohammed:
Say what you like about the Islamic world but they show tremendous initiative and energy and inventiveness, at least when it comes to threatening death to the infidels every 48 hours for one perceived offence or another. If only it could be channeled into, say, a small software company, what an economy they’d have.
The threat of Islamic advance from southern Europe and Turkey was a concern to the German princes of the 16th century. Prince Joachim of Brandenburg, about to lead a Saxon military expedition against the Muslim Turks, sought spiritual advice from Martin Luther before setting out. Luther’s letter of August 3, 1532, to Prince Joachim contains counsel that is extraordinarily relevant to us in the present crisis.
…I beg that those on our side may not place their reliance on the Turk’s being altogether wrong and God’s enemy while we are innocent and righteous in comparison with the Turk, for such presumption is also vain. Rather is it necessary to fight with fear of God and reliance on his grace alone. We too are unrighteous in God’s sight. Some on our side have shed much innocent blood, have despised and persecuted God’s Word, and have been disobedient, and so we cannot take our stand on our merits, no matter how righteous or unrighteous the Turks and we may be. For the cursed devil is also God’s enemy and does us great injustice and wrong. In comparison with the devil we are innocent, and yet we must not boast of our innocence and the superiority of our right, but must fight against him in fear and humility and with God’s help alone. This is what David did in his fight against Goliath. He did not boast of his rights, but with God’s help he fought and said, “Thou hast blasphemed against God, in whom I put my trust.” In like manner we must pray to God, not that he may avenge our innocence against the Turk, but rather that he may glorify his holy name against those great blasphemers and meanwhile graciously forget our sins.…I wish and pray that in such a war those on our side may not seek honor, glory, land, booty, etc., but only the glory of God and his name, together with the defense of poor Christians and subjects. For the glory should and will be God’s alone. As unworthy sinners we deserve nothing but shame, dishonor, and even death, and this Your Highness knows better than I can write. But since Your Highness has so earnestly requested spiritual counsel, I have wished to set down this brief opinion in Your Highness’s service. I have no doubt that if Your Highness inculcates such sentiments in others, with the result that the war is conducted on such a high plane, the devil and all his angels will be too weak for our soldiers, and the Turks will encounter men who are different from those whom they have fought before, when both sides were insolent and fought without God, which has always harmed God’s people more than their enemies…Our prayers shall go with you and follow after you.
4 big ideas: #1-Truth
January 2, 2007
In preaching through Galatians last year I identified four big ideas that run through Paul’s letter. Those four big ideas should form and shape how ministry is carried out in the day-to-day life of the Church. I am trying to embody them in my own ministry and to impart them to our leaders at First, Kosciusko. In this and the next three blog posts I’ll share some thoughts on each of them. The four big ideas are: truth, authority, integrity and love. (Editorial note: Yes, I realize that the form the acronym TAIL, but I am not fond of the use of acronyms, nor am I about to go around reminding people, ‘Hey, remember now, it’s all about TAIL.’)
TRUTH: This is simple: God always gets the last word. His agenda trumps all others. We must embrace tightly the truth of the gospel, especially at those points where the truth is most under assault. Paul does this in Galatians through his defense of justification by faith alone in Christ alone. I trust I don’t need to spend a lot of time writing about the importance of the truth of Scripture. We live in a time when the claims of materialism, naturalism, relativism, Islam and other religions ring loudly in the ears of many. Thus, the exclusivity of the gospel of Christ is an affront to many people. Ours is a time when we must contend for the truth once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
Moreover, on a personal level we all need to hear, speak and embrace the truth. The deceitfulness of sin, our tendency to let our emotions rage and rule over us, and our patterns of unbiblical thinking need to be confronted by biblical truth. And, as I noted in a recent post, that truth is not simply a theological system or philosophy, nor is it a set of principles and purposes. It is a person named Jesus. In Christ we hear the call to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness along with the comfort of free grace that paid for all our sins. Hear the truth, know the truth, speak the truth. Without the truth that God has revealed, I have nothing to offer, nothing to say.
Peace and mercy be upon all those who walk by this rule…
