Religion: Freedom versus Diversity

Evangelicals should be firmly for freedom of religion but should be deeply saddened by religious diversity. The former because belief in Jesus is an individual matter of freedom that cannot be dictated by the state. The latter because vast diversity necessarily means that many people are lost and destined for horrible judgement.

The Church Outside Our Denomination - Reasons to Give Thanks

I could have titled this blog entry "The whole counsel of God."


I had a good discussion with a colleague of mine.  We both teach at an Christian School that is inter-denominational, committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the inerrancy of the Scriptures.  Earlier in his career, he taught at a school within his denomination.  He told me that, although his convictions toward the particular doctrines of his denomination are rock-solid, he much prefers the current environment.  


That discussion led me to think about the diversity within true Evangelicalism and how important it is.  To be clear, "true" Evangelicalism includes the belief that God's Word is absolutely without error and that it holds all authority in all matters of life and death.  It also includes the truth that Jesus is Lord and only He is.  There is no other Lord and there is no other way to heaven, salvation, God the Father, sanctification and glorification - except through Jesus.


This post could also have been called "the whole counsel of God" for this reason.  Evangelical denominations are full of imperfect human beings who lack the ability to keep all the important things about God in view at the same time.  There are two reasons for this.  First of all, we are not God.  We are not omniscient.  We are not all-wise.  Our minds cannot know everything.  Further, our minds cannot consider each thing we do know in relation to all the other things we do know.  Secondly, sin has tainted our perspectives.  Sin turns even our pursuit of the things of God into an exercise in self-worship.  We wear what we've learned like badges of intellect or spiritual assent.


For this reason, all Evangelical denominations value their "distinctives" at the expense of the "whole counsel of God."  Further, Christians in each denomination tend to view themselves as intellectually and spiritually superior to others.  That is really too bad.


So, when my colleague trumpeted the value of being at a place that includes Bible-believing Christ followers from many denominations, I began to consider the benefits that some of the Evangelical denomination brings to our school and, in a universal sense, the Body of Christ.

• From Reformed & Presbyterian Christians we learn the sovereignty of God and our exclusive purpose in glorifying Him.
• From Baptist Christians we learn the need to preach the gospel and make disciples around the whole world.
• From Wesleyan & Methodist Christians we learn to about holy living for sanctification.
• From Pentecostal & Charismatic Christians we learn about "the forgotten God" and how we must be utterly dependent upon the Holy Spirit.
• From Lutheran & Episcopal Christians we learn about the need for discipline in the Christian life.
• Some things that have been reiterated to me from Christians within denominations other than my own:
• Beauty - In God's created order and in our expression of it through the arts.
• Apologetics - And the need to defend the Gospel from secular and pagan movements and world views. 
• Justice - And the need to practice our religion by presenting the Gospel AND to feed the poor.
• Sola Scriptura - That God's word tells us everything we need for salvation and sanctification.

It's not that true Evangelicals don't believe that all these things are true and worthy.  It's just that, without each other, we probably won't remember them all.  We should all strive to know "the whole counsel of God."  

I like what D.A. Carson says in his book Preach the Word.

When Paul attests that this is what he proclaimed to the believers in Ephesus, the Ephesian elders to whom he makes this bold asseveration know full well that he had managed this remarkable feat in only two and a half years. In other words, whatever else Paul did, he certainly did not manage to go through every verse of the Old Testament, line by line, with full-bore explanation. He simply did not have time.

What he must mean is that he taught the burden of the whole of God’s revelation, the balance of things, leaving nothing out that was of primary importance, never ducking the hard bits, helping believers to grasp the whole counsel of God that they themselves would become better equipped to read their Bibles intelligently, comprehensively. It embraced:  

• God’s purposes in the history of redemption (truths to be believed and a God to be worshiped) 
• an unpacking of human origin, fall, redemption, and destiny (aworldview that shapes all human understanding and a Savior without whom there is no hope), 
• the conduct expected of God’s people (commandments to be obeyed and wisdom to be pursued, both in our individual existence and in the community of the people of God), and 
• the pledges of transforming power both in this life and in the life to come (promises to be trusted and hope to be anticipated).

I am afraid that we cannot know what Paul intended unless we know each other. 

Unlimited Reparation

Propitiation means "satisfaction."  Jesus satisfies the debt of the whole world.  He died for everyone.

“and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

(1John 2:2 NAS95S)

God doesn't want anyone to die.  He wants everyone to repent.  Jesus died for everyone.

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

(2Pet 3:9 NAS95S)

God desires all to be saved.  Jesus died for everyone.

“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

(1Tim 2:3-4 NAS95S)

Jesus is the One.  One died for all.  Jesus died for everyone.

“or the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”

(2Cor 5:14-15 NAS95S)

Everyone is ungodly.  Jesus died for everyone.

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”

(Rom 5:6 NAS95S)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

(John 3:16 NAS95S)

God is love.  He is all-loving.  He loves all.  Jesus died for everyone.

“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

(1John 4:16 NAS95S)

His gift to everyone is a free one.  Receiving it is up to you.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(Rom 6:23 NAS95S)

Gay - Why Does It Matter?

I've noticed some Jesus followers who are confused about standing against homosexuality. The subject causes many of us to cringe because we fear the "intolerant" label. In particular, the pro-homosexuality argument based around civil rights has become a popular one that many Christians find it difficult to argue against.

It is vital for us to remember that God's commands to us are always connected to His love for us. In the case of homosexuality, this statement could not be more true. But, I rarely hear the anti-homosexuality argument put forth with this in mind.

Homosexuality is an extremely destructive lifestyle. God knows this. Because of His unfathomable love for us, He warns and commands us to forsake it and turn to Him. What God knows and His reasons for hating this sin are borne out by the facts. As Christ-followers, we must be diligent and consistent at presenting these facts to the lost world and to Christians engaged in this lifestyle.

Studies have repeatedly shown that the average life expectancy of men and women engaged in the homosexual lifestyle is more than 20-30 years less than heterosexuals. On top of dying at unbelievably early ages, homosexuals often suffer horribly in the time leading up to their death.

Sometimes it seems like the only ones who speak out against this sin proclaim their hatred for gays and lesbians. Hatred is not what is needed. The redeeming love of Jesus Christ is all that is needed. First, to ensure an everlasting peace for all who trust Him - homosexuals included. Second, to help the people caught in the darkness of this sin to move into the light.

Without Jesus, many will suffer. We must love by explaining the specific consequences of this sin (and all sin). We must present Jesus Christ as a way out. The risk of appearing intolerant is one we'll just have to take.

Thoughts on Eph 1:4-5 Part II

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, - Ephesians 1:4-5

STOP! If you haven't read Part I, please do so before you continue.

Now, let's get on with the matter at hand.

Ephesians 1:4-5 makes one thing very clear. There is such a thing as "predistination" in Christianity. We who are Christ-followers were predistined. The question that has created great division in the Body of Christ is "what are we predistined to?"

For most Calvinists, the verse supports the notion that God decided who would be saved. So, the Calvinist answers the question with the word "salvation". We are predestined to be saved.

But, is that really what Paul is saying to us? I don't think so. First of all, the text does not say that. It does not say "we were predestined to be saved" or "God decided who would be saved." Instead, I think Paul is talking about those who are already saved. In other words God predestined the believer (the one who accepted His free gift of salvation) to be holy and blameless before Him.

In John 16, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would come to convict the world of sin. Everyone will be convicted by the Holy Spirit. Each will respond to the conviction by making Jesus Lord of our lives or by rejecting Him.

God decided, before the foundations of the world, that whoever trusts in Jesus will be presented as holy and blameless. He predestined all believers to that.

Paul clarifies the order of things in Romans 8.

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:29-30

God has always known who, when the Holy Spirit convicted them, would trust Him and who would reject Him. Everyone He foreknew (knew beforehand) would trust Him, He predestined them to become like Jesus, to a calling, to be justified and to be glorified.

Here's an analogy. I can decide that everyone who reads this blog will get a $10 bill. In a sense, everyone who reads the blog is predestined to receive $10 because I decided beforehand this would happen to anyone who reads it.  I did not decide who would read it.  I did not predestine some to read it.  However, I did predestine those who do read it to a crisp $10 bill.  

Now, unlike God, I don't know who will read it. But, God, of course has always known every move we would make. Because of this, He can foreknow (know beforehand) who will choose Him rather than reject Him.  He decided that everyone who trusts Him, they're predestined to a bounty of blessings too extravagant to measure.

He's a good God. He's especially good to those who call Him Lord.

Your comments and questions are welcome.

Thoughts on Eph 1:4-5 Part !

Here we go.  Thanks to a guy named Adam (not the first or the second) I'm now delving into the divisive.  It's not an intentional thing on my part, but, I've found that whenever Christians share their thoughts on Bible verses that we use to shape our soteriology (theology of how we are saved), we often become judgmental of one another.  

Even worse, many times we become prideful and think that if the author's thoughts on the subject don't square with mine, then they have nothing good to contribute on any subject within Christianity.  The author, too, often becomes prideful and writes as though the subject is easy unless the reader isn't intellectually gifted enough to understand.  

The Words that God speaks are meant to unite Christians behind His truth - not to divide.  I'm going to talk about Ephesians 1:4-5.  I'll also be referring to other verses that are individually claimed by Calvinists of varying beliefs, adherents of various Mediate Theologies of Salvation and Arminians of varying beliefs to support their positions.  

What this means is that there are a lot of people who sincerely love God and call Jesus Christ their Lord who will disagree with me.  I just pray that I and everyone who reads will lean on His wisdom and love so that there is a clear revelation of truth without prideful division.

I'll leave you with the verses.  We'll discuss them in an upcoming post.

Eph. 1:4 (NAS95S) just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love

Eph. 1:5 (NAS95S) He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 

Does God Choose Us? Can we reject Him?

Question:  There seems to be a conflict in the Bible.  There are lots of verses that say God chooses us.  There are also many verses that say people can, and often do, reject Him.  Does God choose us?  Can we reject Him?  Isn't this a conflict?

Answer:  Yes & Yes & No.  

  

The Bible is clear that God chooses us. The Bible is also clear that we can reject Him.  So what gives?  Well, 

One cannot reject something until it is offered. 

None of us can respond to Him until He chooses us. But after He chooses us, we are all free to trust Him (believe in) or reject Him. 

When He chooses us, He offers His Son Jesus' works and life as a substitute for our own.  I trusted Him.  What about you?

God's Will

I like what this guy says about God's will.  He is Monte Wolverton and he writes for the Plain Truth Ministries (PTM) website.  Interestingly, PTM was once a cult-like group that repented and turned from its false teaching to embrace the real Truth.  I would add that the "third path" Wolverton talks about is walked with the understanding that God our Father is always walking with us - through all the good and through all the fires.  ALWAYS. 

Christians, like all human beings, have free will. Our lives are the cumulative result of our decisions, some good and some poor -- some wise, some unwise -- some where we have invited Jesus to be part of our decisions -- others where we have, sadly, asked him to stay out! Additionally, our lives are shaped by decisions that other people make, as well as time, chance and factors that are out of our control, such as the ups and downs of the economy, weather, etc. We can ask God to intervene, and often he does. Of course we thank God for our blessings and our friendships.We give him the credit and glory whenever good things happen to us, since he is the one who has given us our free will, resources and abilities. But we do not know specifically how he orchestrates events or how or whether he brings people into our lives. 

Walking quickly but aprehensively down one path are those Christians who believe that everything depends on what they do. They may think they are being obedient to God, yet it may well be what they call obedience is actually a compulsion to control and micromanage their own lives, a compulsion with often extends itself into the lives of others. They believe God's acceptance of them is based on their performance, and as a result they agonize over every decision, worry about whether they have made the right decisions, and live in either false confidence or guilt and fear because of what they have or have not done. You don't have to be a theologian to see that this is not at all compatible with the gospel of Jesus Christ -- which brings freedom from fear and anxiety.

Wandering blissfully down another path are those who think that all events in the word are continually being orchestrated by God -- for their ultimate personal benefit! So, when they reach a fork in the trail -- when it's time to make a difficult decision -- such people find themselves paralyzed, waiting for God to make the decision for them. In actuality, God is telling them -- "Look, I've given you a mind -- and I'm living in you through the Holy Spirit, and I've given you myriad other resources. Now be brave -- get busy and decide!" But, as the lyrics of the old Rush song "Freewill" go, "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice" -- a choice to abandon your God-given responsibility and to let circumstances make your decisions for you. This isn't the gospel either.

There's a third path -- the path of mature Christians. They know there may be obstacles ahead, but they still stride down their path with confidence. They do the best they can with what they have -- but they also realize there are things they cannot do. First of all, they know they can't save themselves spiritually through any of their own efforts -- they let God take care of that entirely. They also know that, even though they may diligently work, think and make choices (which they should) in planning and charting a course in matters of career, family, finance, health, education, relationships, etc., -- there will still be times when they come to the end of their rope and find themselves out of options -- when they must rely solely on God to offer solutions.