Thinx 120: Dressed casually to preach

“A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty.

“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.

“But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’

“By offering defiled food on my altar.

“But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’

“By saying that the Lord’s table is contemptible. When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty. -- Malachi 1:6-8 NIV

I think I've finally twigged to why it bugs me when the preacher stands up dressed casually: we wouldn't dress like that if we were to meet the Prime Minister or the Queen. We're supposedly meeting with God but we're happy to show more respect to the Prime Minister or the Queen that we are to him. 

And one might say, "well that's Australian culture" and I might say in response, "So is every culture of equal value in God's sight?" but in any case even in this culture we show deference to those in authority by dressing up to meet them. Why not demonstrate the state of our heart by the state of our body?

Thinx 119: Stay Safe

A friend of mine, in a WhatsApp message finished the conversation with, "Stay safe." 

I responded with: "Why stay safe? What if God's will is to do something that isn't safe (like tell a sinner to repent)? Sure, don't take irrational risks but consider Paul, whose life story demonstrated a stronger commitment to his Lord than to his own personal safety. 

Sorry, my friend, it's just that 'stay safe' is fine coming off the lips of the ungodly, but for a man of your maturity in Christ, words like 'keep the faith' or similar would be far more encouraging and strengthening."

Thinx 118: Conspiracy

Yes, there is a conspiracy. It is the conspiracy of the flesh against the Spirit which has existed since Genesis 3, some six thousand or so years ago. Perhaps this is what 2 Thessalonians 2:7 is talking about where is says that "the mystery of lawlessness is already at work."

Notice how bipartisan this conspiracy is: both the political left, the political right and everything in between can join in without compromising their own principles. Yes, the political left is often styled as the enemy of the gospel but the political right is not necessarily a friend. Each of the Ten Commandments, God's moral law, can be as readily broken by a Conservative as by a Communist.

Conflating a political stance with the gospel is dangerous. It is a form of syncretism. It is always the gospel that suffers. 

Thinx 117: Over breakfast

We have an idolatry going on here: scientism. The lab-coat is the new surplice, the new liturgical vestment. We "follow the science", largely uncritically, and wonder why we later fall in a heap. 

Thinx 116: Melanin

I was born with a mediocre amount of melanin in my skin. 

My ethnic ancestors invented the "black/white" distinction to differentiate between equals on the basis of the amount of melanin in one's skin. Now everyone uses it, even the folk being discriminated against. Can no one challenge the status quo? Must we, forever, differentiate between equals based on a false dichotomy?

The Bible says there's only one race, but we've got so used to talking in terms of a multiplicity of races that we find it next to impossible not to use those terms when talking about people from different ethnic groups. How would you introduce Dr Voddie Baucham? Do you draw attention to his melanin levels by saying that he's African American (a term he hates, by the way) or do you just say he's an American born preacher/teacher currently working in Zambia? 

Thinx 115: Luther on Salvation

Christ is full of grace, life, and salvation. The soul is full of sins, death, and damnation. Now let faith come between them and sins, death, and damnation will be Christ’s, while grace, life, and salvation will be the soul’s; for if Christ is a bridegroom, he must take upon himself the things which are his bride’s and bestow upon her the things that are his. If he gives her his body and very self, how shall he not give her all that is his? And if he takes the body of the bride, how shall he not take all that is hers? 

-- from Martin Luther's "Treatise on Christian Liberty" 

Thinx 114: Custom and Creed, Conventions and Commandments

 “This man's spiritual power has been precisely this, that he has distinguished between custom and creed. He has broken the conventions, but he has kept the commandments.”

― G.K. Chesterton, Manalive

Thinx 113: On Hearing a Christian Support Sexual Perversion But Not Saying Anything in Response

So here is the question: Am I upset because I feel personally threatened or am I upset because God's name and character are being smeared? Is my primary concern that God's name, character and reputation be hallowed and that his will be done on earth as it is in heaven, or am I worried about some future curtailment of my creature comforts and security? 

To say that God makes someone gay or trans misrepresents God. It breaks the third commandment which forbids not only misusing God's name but also forbids misrepresenting him to the world.  

Thinx 112: God's Gospel

Context: Romans 1:1. Paul introduces himself and his role. He is an apostle set apart for the gospel of God. 

So often we read that and think the "of" means "about". In that case it doesn't. The Greek says, "εὐαγγέλιον Θεοῦ." The ending on the word for God is a genitive. It means that the good news that Paul has been set apart for is owned by God.

It's God's gospel. Thus the power of gospel is in itself because God himself acts through it. God is interested in it being proclaimed in a way that glorifies him. He will take action in the short-term and in the long against those who act like it's their own gospel. 

There will be a performance review at the end of time where all believers will stand before God and give account for what they have said and done. If the gospel does indeed belong to God, it will be terrifying for those who attempted to steal it from him.

Thinx 111: On Atheism

Is this what it's all about: keeping God at arms length (or further)? Practical atheism -- seeing as absolute atheism is so hard to sustain -- denies some aspect of God's nature or character. 

Deny that he's the creator and then you can do all kinds of evil things and think you're okay. If he didn't create space, matter and time then who does he think he is barging into the cosmos, throwing his weight around, demanding people obey him and then damning to hell those who disagree. Totally unfair, right?

But consider Isaiah 6, Isaiah's vision of God. Judging himself correctly for the first time in his life in the presence of absolute holiness, he cries out, "Woe is me. I am undone." In my own words: I am demolished. Whatever righteousness I thought I possessed is worthless, futile, nothing! I can get by with comparing myself to other people because there's always someone more depraved than me. But here I am before God, the holy, fearsome, righteous God before whom my righteousness is like used bandages full of pus and clotted blood. And there's nowhere to hide. I see him seeing me, seeing all my imagined strength as the weakness it really is; seeing my righteousness as filthy; seeing my wisdom as the babbling of a baby. 

And yet, rather than words of condemnation or reproach, atonement is made for Isaiah's sins and rather than being tossed aside he is commissioned for service. As the Psalm 51 says, "A broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise."

Thinx 110: When asked if I trust the Lord

When asked, in the context of Covid-19, whether I trust the Lord, I wrote:

I do trust in the Lord.

 

There's a interesting saying from the US Civil War: praise the Lord and keep your powder dry. 

I'm sure you remember the Lord's Prayer. After the opening address the first three petitions are all about God: his name/reputation/character; his long term plans; and his will and decrees. After that come petitions declaring our dependence upon him for everything. But I don't see much there about him doing for me what he expects me to do. We ask for daily needs. He provides us with the means to acquire them; daily whatever doesn't just fall through a hole below the ceiling. He expects me to forgive. He expects me to flee temptation. He expects me to trust him for outcomes that aren't currently obvious. 

Believing in Jesus isn't a ticket to a problem free life full of glory, gold and girls. It can be a ticket to a life of suffering. But the suffering is never pointless. 

One may imagine no heaven and no hell. I'm persuaded that these places exist and I'm pursuing the one who owns the former. 

The Bible teaches that everyone goes to hell. One does not need to sell one's soul to the Devil as he already owns it. If a different destination is desired, God has provided a way: repentance of sins and faith in his son, Jesus.

Thinx 109: John MacArthur and Genesis

From the transcript of the recorded interview at <https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/GTY167/strange-fire-revisited>

I was talking to some people about The Master’s University and The Master’s Seminary, and they were asking me – this is the ninetieth year of The Master’s University, ninety years: “How is it that The Master’s University’s still so solidly committed to the Word of God and hasn’t wavered, while other schools have?” And I said, “Apart from our view of Scripture, the absolute inerrancy and authority of Scripture, there’s one doctrine that is most important to me.”

And I even asked a group of men on the board at the school. I said, “I want you to go to lunch.” We were having a board meeting. “There’s one doctrine that is critical to me. Apart from the authority of Scripture, we all affirm that. What one doctrine do you think is the most important? Go to lunch, talk about it, and come back.”

So they came back. I said, “What’s your answer?” Nobody knew. And I said, “Here’s the answer: creation, creation, because Genesis 1 and 2 says, ‘God created the universe in six days.’ It’s not ambiguous, it’s what it says. If you don’t believe that, then I can’t trust you with anything in the Bible.”

What has held this institution for ninety years is even when science has [made] its greatest assault on the Bible, even when science has written reams and reams and incalculable amounts of literature proclaiming evolution, even when the entire science world has held up evolution, we don’t budge. That’s the anchor. It’s that that holds us. We take the Word at face value.

And, you know, the lights went on for those guys. I said, “Look, if you’re a faculty member, and you’re coming here, and you’re going to say, ‘I believe the gospel,; I believe in Jesus Christ, I believe in the Trinity and all that; and I’m going to teach English, or chemistry, or, you know, business marking, so something,’ I’m going to ask you this question: ‘Do you believe in six-day creation as indicated in Genesis 1 and 2?’ If you say, ‘Well, you know, I don’t know if I’m sure about that,’ bye; next. I can’t trust you with anything else in Scripture.”

So I think it’s where the Scripture has been assaulted the most that you find out who the people are who stand true.

The audio of this extract starts at 42 minutes 48 seconds.

Thinx 108: The Just Man

 "One of the Just Men came to Sodom, determined to save its inhabitants from sin and punishment. Night and day he walked the streets and markets protesting against greed and theft, falsehood and indifference. In the beginning, people listened and smiled ironically. Then they stopped listening; he no longer even amused them. The killers went on killing, the wise kept silent, as if there were no Just Man in their midst.

One day a child, moved by compassion for the unfortunate teacher, approached him with these words:

"Poor stranger, you shout, you scream, don't you see that it is hopeless?"

"Yes, I see," answered the Just Man.

"Then why do you go on?"

"I'll tell you why. In the beginning, I thought I could change man. Today, I know I can not. If I still shout today, if I still scream, it is to prevent man from ultimately changing me."

-- Elie Wiesel <https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-just-man>

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Thinx 107: When singing in church is banned

It's Good Friday and I'm in Lismore, NSW for a family event. I had hoped to go to a Good Friday service at the local Anglican church, but ended up at a family get-together instead. Of many things that I had been looking forward to at the service, singing hymns was high on the list. But apparently the current COVID-19 restrictions forbid singing. 

Non-residential premises

These rules apply to a wide range of premises. Examples include cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs, nightclubs, shops, cinemas or places of worship.

Entry to non-residential premises is not permitted unless there is at least

• 4 square metres of space for each person in the indoor area and
• 2 square metres of space for each person in the outdoor area.

In the indoor areas of the premises:

• people must be seated to drink alcohol
• dancing is not allowed
• singing is not allowed.

-- Rules and restrictions that apply to the Tweed Shire, Ballina Shire, Byron Shire and City of Lismore local government areas to protect the community from COVID-19.

It got me wondering: How important is singing compared to all the other things one does in a gathering of Christians? Sure, singing worships and glorifies God. Singing encourages the singer and the hearer. Singing at the very least has significant health benefits. But it's not mandatory. 

If singing has to stop for a season, I think I can bear that. I certainly want to sing. It's a profoundly sad thing when a Christian is able to sing but lacks the desire to do so.

No, the absolute minimum for a church service, as far as I can see at the moment, is Acts 2:42

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

If I was going to risk a fine or gaol time, it'd be when the government starts making that impossible. The Chinese government is currently doing that to its Christians, even rewriting the Bible and demanding that the rewritten version be taught. Australians aren't there ... yet. 

Until then, being caught singing when the government says not to only feeds the narrative that Christians are not a blessing to society, but a blight: they can't deny themselves for the good of all. So I'll go to the 7:30am service on Resurrection Sunday, pay attention to the apostles' teaching, enjoy fellowship, break bread in Communion and pray. Oh, and make music in my heart to the Lord.

Thinx 106: A pre-service prayer

Grant Father that our services today communicate a sense of gravitas and dignity. We are here to meet with You, our transcendent, Holy God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Help us to treat you as holy, pouring out a sacrifice of reverent homage, praise and worship. Teach us to worship you with fear and respect. Though our church has the stage in the centre, help us nevertheless in our hearts to prioritise hearing, meditating on and applying your word to our hearts and minds.

Protect us from erroneous ideas about who you are: You're not a superhero who exists merely to affirm us and make us happy. Your a holy God who calls us to be holy. We're not the focus of what's going on here. You, Lord God, are the focus. We're here to glorify you. We're here to lift up your name. We're here playing and singing to work with the Holy Spirit in the preparation of people's hearts to hear the word of God preached.

Grant Father that the preacher today will open the Word of God and teach us from it. Through your Spirit apply the word to our hearts. Convict us of sin. Drive us to our knees in repentance. Lift us up through your Spirit to live again in newness of thought and newness of life.

In the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Thinx 105: To a pastor who preached

Romans 12:2 does NOT say this but you'd think sometimes that it does given how some people talk and act: "Be conformed to the pattern of this world; be transformed by the removal of your mind."

In Western culture at the moment we are suffering from what I shall call "ask-ism." For reasons unknown to me people are no longer able to talk in terms of "tell" and "command" -- everything is "ask." Preachers even recast Jesus words as requests: "Jesus asks us to ...", "God asks us to ..."

In John 14:15 it does NOT say, "If you love me you will respond positively to my requests" or "If you love me you will do what I ask." Jesus does not give us an exit regarding his word; we should not think that we can get away with politely declining his request. What he says to us is a command.

In the Greek, John 14:15 uses the word ἐντολὰς for "commandments". The Strong's number for that is 1785 and the write-up makes it clear that Christ's words are direct orders, or commands, and not requests.

Tell me, do you ask you children to go to bed? Or to tidy their rooms? Or do certain chores around the house? Do permit them to politely decline your request or do you instead expect them to obey within a reasonable period of time. And if they disobey, what then? How far are you willing to take "ask-ism" in the context of your family or are you going to have one standard in the home and another when preaching?

Jesus expects obedience. If we we choose not to obey, that is sin and there are consequences. If God is our father and we have been adopted into his family, then we can expect him to take whatever steps are necessary to teach us how to be his children. We don't arrive in his family knowing how to love him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength so he sets about teaching us. It is a perilous thing to disobey him, for that is sin. We will not lose our salvation but we will nevertheless face serious consequences -- God reserves the right to discipline us. I've been listening to Leviticus recently. God describes all of the benefits of obedience. Then he describes all the many outcomes of disobedience.

It is true that we are not expected to obey all the many injunctions of the the Old Testament ceremonial law, nevertheless the reality is that even in the New Testament commands are given and obedience is expected. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is poured out into our hearts so that we are able both to will and do what is pleasing to God. But we must not lose sight of the fact that what we have received are commands to be obeyed, not requests that may be politely declined or disregarded. Disobedience is sin. Pretending that things are otherwise is foolish. Remember Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."

So my challenge is this: if you disagree with what I am saying, refute it. Demonstrate to me from God's word that what Christ and the Apostles have commanded are not in fact commands but requests. Demonstrate that there is no danger is declining these request should I so choose. And tell me how you hope to maintain order in your own home, let alone the church, if you go whole-hog on the "ask" rather than the "tell." I would suggest to you that one reason why we now have Safe Church is because leadership in many churches gave up on "God's commands" and drifted off into cultural myths of "God's requests."