Over at Reformation 21 Sean Lucas has written an interesting post concerning Joel Osteen's massive popularity. Along the way Lucas helps us reflect on what we truly value about the Gospel.
Here is a portion:
I think the driving reason that Osteen is hugely popular is that he sells hope. Books like Your Best Life Now and Become a Better You provide a message of hope that my life does not have to be the way it is right now; that God is powerful and able to change my life; that God is profoundly interested in my life and is near to me. And while that message of hope is packaged in the code language of the prosperity Gospel and positive psychology (like the phenomenally successful book by Tal Ben-Shahar, Happier), at the end of the day, people leave Lakewood feeling as though there is a greater meaning and purpose for their lives.
As I thought about all this, though, I couldn't help but think about John Piper's question from God is the Gospel (and other places): do you delight more in the fact that God makes much of you in the Gospel or that the Gospel frees you to make much of God? The fault in Osteen's message is that it overplays and wrongly prioritizes the fact that God makes much of us (and God does make much of us: as I read in my morning worship today, God cried out to a wayward Israel, "How can I give you up, O Ephraim?...My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender" Hosea 11:8).
Read the entire post HERE.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Our Unity in Christ
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
- John 17: 20-21a
Jesus makes it very clear that He is praying for all those who do and will believe in Him. This is important to remember because there is within evangelicalism a movement to downplay the importance of belief. What matters, we are told, is not doctrine or belief but ethics and action. I know of no one who disputes the importance of action. Faith without works, after all, is a dead faith. However, it is by grace through the means of faith (belief) that God saves His people. So belief is of supreme importance in the matter of our salvation. Jesus said in John 3, “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
So, Jesus is not praying for those who will merely find his ethics appealing or think highly of him as a teacher. He is praying for those who believe. Specifically, He is praying for those who will believe “their message” the message of the disciples – the Gospel. The ground of our unity, the only ground of true spiritual unity is faith in Christ; belief in Gospel.
I can and should be a friend and a good neighbor to a Buddhist or Muslim. I should work to be a blessing to them and make efforts to share with them to the Gospel of Christ. However, I cannot have spiritual fellowship with them in any way. We live in two different kingdoms. We have two entirely different allegiances. We follow different Lords.
Referring to the unity for which Jesus prayed, D.A. Carson writes, “It is a unity predicated on adherence to the revelation the Father mediated to the first disciples through His Son, the revelation they accepted and then passed on” (p. 568). The unity for which Jesus is praying is not achieved by our hunting around for the lowest common theological denominator. It comes about only after we have fully embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it is revealed in the Scriptures.
“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am…” (v. 24). Jesus prays to the Father specifically for those that “You have given me.” In verses 2, 6, and 9 Jesus refers to those who are saved as those whom the Father has given Him. Everyone who believes is a gift from the Father to the Son. Jesus makes reference to this reality in John 6 when he says, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me. And whoever comes to Me I will never cast out” (v. 37). In chapter 10 Jesus is referring to His own sheep when he says, “No one is able to snatch them from out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from out of My Father’s hand” (vv. 28-29).
Four times in John 17 Jesus makes it clear that he is praying only for those that His Father has given Him. He is not praying for the world. He is not praying for the mass of humanity. He is praying for His own which, incidentally are those who will come to believe through the instrumentality of the disciples. Some way or another we have all come to know Christ through the means of another believer in Christ. Salvation is entirely God’s doing but He uses the means of people just like you and me. What a humbling thought that the Father gives to the Son His precious people through the instrumentality of you and me. What a privilege. God will use our faithful witness as the primary means by which He brings the lost to faith in Christ.
- John 17: 20-21a
Jesus makes it very clear that He is praying for all those who do and will believe in Him. This is important to remember because there is within evangelicalism a movement to downplay the importance of belief. What matters, we are told, is not doctrine or belief but ethics and action. I know of no one who disputes the importance of action. Faith without works, after all, is a dead faith. However, it is by grace through the means of faith (belief) that God saves His people. So belief is of supreme importance in the matter of our salvation. Jesus said in John 3, “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
So, Jesus is not praying for those who will merely find his ethics appealing or think highly of him as a teacher. He is praying for those who believe. Specifically, He is praying for those who will believe “their message” the message of the disciples – the Gospel. The ground of our unity, the only ground of true spiritual unity is faith in Christ; belief in Gospel.
I can and should be a friend and a good neighbor to a Buddhist or Muslim. I should work to be a blessing to them and make efforts to share with them to the Gospel of Christ. However, I cannot have spiritual fellowship with them in any way. We live in two different kingdoms. We have two entirely different allegiances. We follow different Lords.
Referring to the unity for which Jesus prayed, D.A. Carson writes, “It is a unity predicated on adherence to the revelation the Father mediated to the first disciples through His Son, the revelation they accepted and then passed on” (p. 568). The unity for which Jesus is praying is not achieved by our hunting around for the lowest common theological denominator. It comes about only after we have fully embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it is revealed in the Scriptures.
“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am…” (v. 24). Jesus prays to the Father specifically for those that “You have given me.” In verses 2, 6, and 9 Jesus refers to those who are saved as those whom the Father has given Him. Everyone who believes is a gift from the Father to the Son. Jesus makes reference to this reality in John 6 when he says, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me. And whoever comes to Me I will never cast out” (v. 37). In chapter 10 Jesus is referring to His own sheep when he says, “No one is able to snatch them from out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from out of My Father’s hand” (vv. 28-29).
Four times in John 17 Jesus makes it clear that he is praying only for those that His Father has given Him. He is not praying for the world. He is not praying for the mass of humanity. He is praying for His own which, incidentally are those who will come to believe through the instrumentality of the disciples. Some way or another we have all come to know Christ through the means of another believer in Christ. Salvation is entirely God’s doing but He uses the means of people just like you and me. What a humbling thought that the Father gives to the Son His precious people through the instrumentality of you and me. What a privilege. God will use our faithful witness as the primary means by which He brings the lost to faith in Christ.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Books on Marriage
Check out this helfpul marriage book comparison chart produced by Nine Marks Ministries. It also includes reviews of the books. Good stuff.
The Echo and Insufficiency of Hell
The subject of Hell is often avoided in the church's pulpits. Evangelicals seem to be ashamed of the doctrine of Hell. Even those who profess to believe in the reality of Hell will often subvert or soften what the Bible actually teaches about the destiny of those outside of Christ. Take time to listen to this message by John Piper. It is an example of "preaching hell well."
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Packer & Nicole
Tullian Tchividjian has posted some moving thoughts on two of evangelicalism's most important theologians: J.I. Packer and Roger Nicole. Neither of these men are long for this world and so it is important for the church to recognize their impact and continue to be challenged by their lives. They have both fought the good fight. Tullian also links to his favorite Packer books as well as a classic essay that serves as the introduction to John Owen's "The Death of Death in the Death of Christ." Do yourself a favor and read the essay. It is one of the most compelling defenses of God's sovereign grace in salvation that I have ever read.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Struggling to understand the emerging church?
If the whole emerging/emergent church movement seems to escape you then check out this article by Doug Brown over at Sharper Iron.
J.I. Packer on same sex unions
This is a fitting follow-up to the previous post. J.I. Packer, the dean of evangelical theologians in our day is also a life-long Anglican. He speaks with grace and clarity to the issue of homosexuality.
Gay US bishop heckled in UK
Gene Robinson the openly homosexual Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire was publically denounced recently in London. The slow clapping you hear in the background is not support for the protestor but a way to drown out his calls for repentance.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Problems That Test Priorities (3)
Acts 6:1-7 (Cont.)
3. The Principles
a) Issues of unity must be dealt with immediately and sensitively.
I love the fact that the apostles did not try to cover up the problem. Neither did they try to solve it behind closed doors. When the unity of the body of Christ is threatened it ought to be dealt with immediately. Notice also that the apostles are sensitive. They don’t immediately try to assign blame. In THIS case there was plenty of blame to go around. We must not sit idly by while the unity of Christ’s body is threatened.
b) The church’s shepherds must give priority to the ministries of God’s Word and prayer.
Those charged with the task of shepherding the church must not be taken away from their primary calling. The shepherd is not the church’s CEO. He is not the top manager. His job is to feed God’s flock; to intercede for God’s flock. When Jesus re-instituted Peter into service He asked him three times, “Do you love me.” Jesus’ response to Peter’s thrice affirmation was not to say, “Manage my sheep” or “Make a name for yourself.” Jesus’ charge to Peter was “feed my sheep.” It is the same call that all pastor’s must follow.
c) The church must follow Scripture’s guidelines in selecting its leaders and servants.
The church needs godly leaders and servants. Scripture tells us what is expected in both life and character from the church’s leaders and servants.
d) The church must not divide along cultural lines.
The vast majority of churches in our day seem to be unable to transcend cultural differences. There are churches that are predominantly blue collar, while others are predominantly white collar. There are white churches and black churches and Asian churches and Latino churches. There are urban churches and suburban churches. These are not legitimate theological lines being drawn. These are divisions based upon the fact that we simply want to be around people who are just like us.
The Jewish Christians that were Hebrew in cultural outlook didn’t want to mix much with the Hebrew Christians that were more Greek in cultural outlook. Perhaps we need to think of our corporate gatherings as times when we are learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
Ephesians 2:11-16
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Christian brotherhood is not an ideal which we must realize; it is rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate.”
4. The Result
Because the threat against the church’s unity was addressed…
Because the shepherds did not allow themselves to be distracted from their calling to be men of the Word and prayer…
Because the entire congregation was engaged to work together toward a God-honoring solution…
“The word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”
Even Jewish priests were being converted to Christ. The unlikeliest of people were coming to Christ.
The church is a community formed around a message. That message is the Gospel. That is why the ministry of the Word of God is the primary responsibility for the church’s shepherds. It is through the proclamation of the Gospel that the church is formed and built up. We must continually preach the gospel to ourselves and each other because it is not only the message that saves but it is the message which continues to shape our lives a Christians.
Where there are divisions we must hear the Gospel – the message of how God, through Jesus has broken down the dividing wall between us.
Where there have been offense we must hear the Gospel – the message of how God, through Jesus has forgiven us of the offense of our sin and rebellion.
Where there is estrangement between brothers and sisters we must hear the Gospel – the message of how God, through Jesus has reconciled us to Himself.
3. The Principles
a) Issues of unity must be dealt with immediately and sensitively.
I love the fact that the apostles did not try to cover up the problem. Neither did they try to solve it behind closed doors. When the unity of the body of Christ is threatened it ought to be dealt with immediately. Notice also that the apostles are sensitive. They don’t immediately try to assign blame. In THIS case there was plenty of blame to go around. We must not sit idly by while the unity of Christ’s body is threatened.
b) The church’s shepherds must give priority to the ministries of God’s Word and prayer.
Those charged with the task of shepherding the church must not be taken away from their primary calling. The shepherd is not the church’s CEO. He is not the top manager. His job is to feed God’s flock; to intercede for God’s flock. When Jesus re-instituted Peter into service He asked him three times, “Do you love me.” Jesus’ response to Peter’s thrice affirmation was not to say, “Manage my sheep” or “Make a name for yourself.” Jesus’ charge to Peter was “feed my sheep.” It is the same call that all pastor’s must follow.
c) The church must follow Scripture’s guidelines in selecting its leaders and servants.
The church needs godly leaders and servants. Scripture tells us what is expected in both life and character from the church’s leaders and servants.
d) The church must not divide along cultural lines.
The vast majority of churches in our day seem to be unable to transcend cultural differences. There are churches that are predominantly blue collar, while others are predominantly white collar. There are white churches and black churches and Asian churches and Latino churches. There are urban churches and suburban churches. These are not legitimate theological lines being drawn. These are divisions based upon the fact that we simply want to be around people who are just like us.
The Jewish Christians that were Hebrew in cultural outlook didn’t want to mix much with the Hebrew Christians that were more Greek in cultural outlook. Perhaps we need to think of our corporate gatherings as times when we are learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
Ephesians 2:11-16
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Christian brotherhood is not an ideal which we must realize; it is rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate.”
4. The Result
Because the threat against the church’s unity was addressed…
Because the shepherds did not allow themselves to be distracted from their calling to be men of the Word and prayer…
Because the entire congregation was engaged to work together toward a God-honoring solution…
“The word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”
Even Jewish priests were being converted to Christ. The unlikeliest of people were coming to Christ.
The church is a community formed around a message. That message is the Gospel. That is why the ministry of the Word of God is the primary responsibility for the church’s shepherds. It is through the proclamation of the Gospel that the church is formed and built up. We must continually preach the gospel to ourselves and each other because it is not only the message that saves but it is the message which continues to shape our lives a Christians.
Where there are divisions we must hear the Gospel – the message of how God, through Jesus has broken down the dividing wall between us.
Where there have been offense we must hear the Gospel – the message of how God, through Jesus has forgiven us of the offense of our sin and rebellion.
Where there is estrangement between brothers and sisters we must hear the Gospel – the message of how God, through Jesus has reconciled us to Himself.
Problems That Test Priorities (2)
Acts 6:1-7 (cont.)
2. The Solution
a) The apostles maintained their committment to their primary calling.
The apostles were very clear about their calling: “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.” Later they add, “We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The apostles are not asking permission. They are instructing the congregation that their primary tasks are preaching and prayer.
Wisely, the church agreed that the apostles must give the bulk of their attention to the ministries of prayer and the Word of God. There is no hint here that the apostles regarded meeting the physical needs of the community as somehow beneath them. It was, rather, a question of calling and priorities. The apostles were not at liberty to quit the primary task that God had called them to.
Commenting on these verses the great Puritan Matthew Henry writes:
“The apostles engage to addict themselves wholly to their work as ministers…What is the great business of gospel ministers—to give themselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word; they must still be either fitting and furnishing themselves for those services, or employing themselves in them; either publicly or privately…They must be God’s mouth to the people in the ministry of the word, and the people’s mouth to God in prayer. In order to the conviction and conversion of sinners, and the edification and consolation of saints, we must not only offer up our prayers for them, but we must minister the word to them, seconding our prayers with our endeavours, in the use of appointed means. Nor must we only minister the word to them, but we must pray for them, that it may be effectual; for God’s grace can do all without our preaching, but our preaching can do nothing without God’s grace.”
b) The church entrusted responsibility to godly men.
I don’t necessarily see the birth of the office of deacon in this text. The word diakonoi is used but I think in the more generic sense of “ministry” rather than office. I think that something very practical is going on. Seven men are selected on the basis of their godly character to oversee the meeting of some very specific needs.This is not a popularity contest. Look at how Luke describes these men: “men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom.” It was not good business sense that made these men qualified. It was evident godliness.
These seven men are brought before the apostles who lay hands upon them and pray over them. This isn’t business. There is a weightiness and solemnity to the whole thing which bespeaks the seriousness of their ministry.
c) The church displayed cultural sensitivity.
The apostles did not select the men. The church did the choosing and they chose well. All seven of these men had Greek names. The church seemed to understand that there was an issue of trust. It is not only possible but likely that the Greek widows were being intentionally neglected. After all, these were saved sinners after all just like you and me. So by placing Greek men in this position of responsibility the church was demonstrating sensitivity to the “minority party” within the congregation.
2. The Solution
a) The apostles maintained their committment to their primary calling.
The apostles were very clear about their calling: “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.” Later they add, “We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The apostles are not asking permission. They are instructing the congregation that their primary tasks are preaching and prayer.
Wisely, the church agreed that the apostles must give the bulk of their attention to the ministries of prayer and the Word of God. There is no hint here that the apostles regarded meeting the physical needs of the community as somehow beneath them. It was, rather, a question of calling and priorities. The apostles were not at liberty to quit the primary task that God had called them to.
Commenting on these verses the great Puritan Matthew Henry writes:
“The apostles engage to addict themselves wholly to their work as ministers…What is the great business of gospel ministers—to give themselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word; they must still be either fitting and furnishing themselves for those services, or employing themselves in them; either publicly or privately…They must be God’s mouth to the people in the ministry of the word, and the people’s mouth to God in prayer. In order to the conviction and conversion of sinners, and the edification and consolation of saints, we must not only offer up our prayers for them, but we must minister the word to them, seconding our prayers with our endeavours, in the use of appointed means. Nor must we only minister the word to them, but we must pray for them, that it may be effectual; for God’s grace can do all without our preaching, but our preaching can do nothing without God’s grace.”
b) The church entrusted responsibility to godly men.
I don’t necessarily see the birth of the office of deacon in this text. The word diakonoi is used but I think in the more generic sense of “ministry” rather than office. I think that something very practical is going on. Seven men are selected on the basis of their godly character to oversee the meeting of some very specific needs.This is not a popularity contest. Look at how Luke describes these men: “men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom.” It was not good business sense that made these men qualified. It was evident godliness.
These seven men are brought before the apostles who lay hands upon them and pray over them. This isn’t business. There is a weightiness and solemnity to the whole thing which bespeaks the seriousness of their ministry.
c) The church displayed cultural sensitivity.
The apostles did not select the men. The church did the choosing and they chose well. All seven of these men had Greek names. The church seemed to understand that there was an issue of trust. It is not only possible but likely that the Greek widows were being intentionally neglected. After all, these were saved sinners after all just like you and me. So by placing Greek men in this position of responsibility the church was demonstrating sensitivity to the “minority party” within the congregation.
Problems That Test Priorities (1)
I have been preaching a series of messages on the nature of the church's identity and calling. The next three posts are portions of last Sunday's message from Acts 6:1-7...
In Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lysander says to his beloved Hermia, “The course of true love never did run smooth.” What is true of love in this case is also certainly true in the church. Life in the body of Christ never does run smooth. After the formation of the church at Pentecost we read those wonderful words at the end of Act 2 where the church’s commitment to God’s truth, their deep fellowship, and participation in corporate worship and prayer is so beautifully described. The text ends with that wonderful statement, “And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved” (2:47).
It isn’t long however before problems begin to arise. In chapter four, Peter and John, the church’s most important leaders at this time are hauled before the authorities and arrested for preaching Christ crucified and risen. In chapter five we are told the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Their lying and hypocrisy resulted in God striking them dead. Later in chapter five persecution increases and the apostles are arrested yet again.
Think about it. In a relatively short period of time the young church has had to deal with persecution from without and hypocrisy from within. These are the enemy’s incursions into the King’s territory. But through it all Luke continues to point out that the believers still held everything in common and the Word of God continued to spread. In fact, the way the first six chapters of Acts are written seem to indicate that there was a problem that posed a greater threat to the young church than persecution from the civil and religious authorities. And that’s where I want us to begin unpacking this text.
1. The Problem
V. 1
This particular text begins with what are certainly encouraging words – “In those days…the number of disciples was increasing.” Who among us is going to not be excited about such a thing? Wouldn’t it be great if when the history of our city is written that during our days “the number of disciples was increasing”? But we ought not to be naïve. Hand-in-hand with the increase of the church numerically was also the increase of problems. In any organization, as the number of people involved increases so too does the complexity and the number of problems. How much more true is this in the church where the powers of Satan are arrayed against us? Where the souls of men and women are at stake?
The problem is that a complaint arose between two groups within the church. Now, the fact that two separate groups are being mentioned here is a subtle but profound clue to the real problem.
This is the first mention of division and grumbling within the ranks. Prior to this moment we have been told that there was glad and sincere fellowship; that all the believers held everything in common. It was an extraordinary work of God’s Spirit acting through the Gospel to unite. So this verse is heartbreaking, really.
For the first time, this young and vibrant church is not “one.” The two groups were, literally, The Hellenistai and The Hebraioi. The Hellenistai were Jewish Christians steeped in Greek culture. Some of them were also Gentiles who converted to Judaism and were then converted to Christ. They came from outside Jerusalem. They spoke Greek and had been shaped by Greek culture. The Hebraioi, on the other hand, were Jewish Christians born and raised in Jerusalem. They spoke Aramaic and had been shaped by Jewish culture.
Although both groups were Jewish converts to Christ those born and immersed in Hebrew culture would have been seen as just a little more pure. Do you see how explosive this could be? The problem is that the Hellenistic converts were observing that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. Can you imagine how this would make you feel?
As one shaped by Greek culture you already feel like a second-class citizen in this church. You’re living in Jerusalem now which is a new place to you. The others in the church speak the predominant language in the city and understand the culture much better than you. What is more, you a pretty sure that the Hebrew group sees you as maybe just a little unclean – baggage from their former Judaism.
You now see that your widows are getting short-changed in the distribution of food and you can’t shake the feeling that it must be intentional neglect. The Roman army had a strategy that they called divide et impera – “divide and conquer.” And this is exactly what the enemy is doing to the church. And why not? It works doesn’t it?
The language is interesting. The complaint arose against the Hebrews. The complaint did not arise concerning the issue. The complaint arose against the other group. This was personal. The church has already begun to split. It’s becoming tribal. It’s becoming “us and them.” And to make it even more touchy is the fact that there is a racial / cultural dimension to it. There are long-held religious sentiments in operation: Which group is more pure? Which group is just a little unclean?
How are the apostles going to shepherd this church through these dangerous waters?
In Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lysander says to his beloved Hermia, “The course of true love never did run smooth.” What is true of love in this case is also certainly true in the church. Life in the body of Christ never does run smooth. After the formation of the church at Pentecost we read those wonderful words at the end of Act 2 where the church’s commitment to God’s truth, their deep fellowship, and participation in corporate worship and prayer is so beautifully described. The text ends with that wonderful statement, “And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved” (2:47).
It isn’t long however before problems begin to arise. In chapter four, Peter and John, the church’s most important leaders at this time are hauled before the authorities and arrested for preaching Christ crucified and risen. In chapter five we are told the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Their lying and hypocrisy resulted in God striking them dead. Later in chapter five persecution increases and the apostles are arrested yet again.
Think about it. In a relatively short period of time the young church has had to deal with persecution from without and hypocrisy from within. These are the enemy’s incursions into the King’s territory. But through it all Luke continues to point out that the believers still held everything in common and the Word of God continued to spread. In fact, the way the first six chapters of Acts are written seem to indicate that there was a problem that posed a greater threat to the young church than persecution from the civil and religious authorities. And that’s where I want us to begin unpacking this text.
1. The Problem
V. 1
This particular text begins with what are certainly encouraging words – “In those days…the number of disciples was increasing.” Who among us is going to not be excited about such a thing? Wouldn’t it be great if when the history of our city is written that during our days “the number of disciples was increasing”? But we ought not to be naïve. Hand-in-hand with the increase of the church numerically was also the increase of problems. In any organization, as the number of people involved increases so too does the complexity and the number of problems. How much more true is this in the church where the powers of Satan are arrayed against us? Where the souls of men and women are at stake?
The problem is that a complaint arose between two groups within the church. Now, the fact that two separate groups are being mentioned here is a subtle but profound clue to the real problem.
This is the first mention of division and grumbling within the ranks. Prior to this moment we have been told that there was glad and sincere fellowship; that all the believers held everything in common. It was an extraordinary work of God’s Spirit acting through the Gospel to unite. So this verse is heartbreaking, really.
For the first time, this young and vibrant church is not “one.” The two groups were, literally, The Hellenistai and The Hebraioi. The Hellenistai were Jewish Christians steeped in Greek culture. Some of them were also Gentiles who converted to Judaism and were then converted to Christ. They came from outside Jerusalem. They spoke Greek and had been shaped by Greek culture. The Hebraioi, on the other hand, were Jewish Christians born and raised in Jerusalem. They spoke Aramaic and had been shaped by Jewish culture.
Although both groups were Jewish converts to Christ those born and immersed in Hebrew culture would have been seen as just a little more pure. Do you see how explosive this could be? The problem is that the Hellenistic converts were observing that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. Can you imagine how this would make you feel?
As one shaped by Greek culture you already feel like a second-class citizen in this church. You’re living in Jerusalem now which is a new place to you. The others in the church speak the predominant language in the city and understand the culture much better than you. What is more, you a pretty sure that the Hebrew group sees you as maybe just a little unclean – baggage from their former Judaism.
You now see that your widows are getting short-changed in the distribution of food and you can’t shake the feeling that it must be intentional neglect. The Roman army had a strategy that they called divide et impera – “divide and conquer.” And this is exactly what the enemy is doing to the church. And why not? It works doesn’t it?
The language is interesting. The complaint arose against the Hebrews. The complaint did not arise concerning the issue. The complaint arose against the other group. This was personal. The church has already begun to split. It’s becoming tribal. It’s becoming “us and them.” And to make it even more touchy is the fact that there is a racial / cultural dimension to it. There are long-held religious sentiments in operation: Which group is more pure? Which group is just a little unclean?
How are the apostles going to shepherd this church through these dangerous waters?
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Charles Simeon
There is a great post from Scriptorium Daily by Fred Sanders on one of my heros - Charles Simeon.
Here is a portion:
Simeon’s main goal in all his preaching was to emphasize what God wanted emphasized, and he did this by putting the stress on what Scripture stresses. Every time he went to Scripture, his goal was to see what the author of that book was particularly insisting on, and then to insist on that in his exposition of it. Simeon’s own words for this: “I love the simplicity of the scriptures … I wish to receive and inculcate every truth precisely in the way and to the extent that it is set forth in the inspired volume … My endeavour is to bring out of Scripture what is there, and not to thrust in what I think might be there. I have a great jealousy on this head; never to speak more or less than I believe to be the mind of the Spirit in the passage I am expounding.”
Check out the entire essay HERE.
Here is a portion:
Simeon’s main goal in all his preaching was to emphasize what God wanted emphasized, and he did this by putting the stress on what Scripture stresses. Every time he went to Scripture, his goal was to see what the author of that book was particularly insisting on, and then to insist on that in his exposition of it. Simeon’s own words for this: “I love the simplicity of the scriptures … I wish to receive and inculcate every truth precisely in the way and to the extent that it is set forth in the inspired volume … My endeavour is to bring out of Scripture what is there, and not to thrust in what I think might be there. I have a great jealousy on this head; never to speak more or less than I believe to be the mind of the Spirit in the passage I am expounding.”
Check out the entire essay HERE.
From The Gospel Coalition
The Gospel Coalition will be hosting their national conference in April. Take a look at the speakers and topics. God willing, I will be there. Also, check out their new e-magazine. Great stuff!
NOT a Parody
From Harper's Magazine:
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
From the website of You've Been Left Behind, a service that for a $40 fee provides customers who expect to be raptured the chance to send messages to loved ones on earth.
We all have family and friends who have failed to receive the Good News of the Gospel. The unsaved will be left behind on earth to go through the tribulation period after the Rapture. You remember how, for a short time, after 9/11/01 people were open to spiritual things and answers. (We are still singing "God Bless America" at baseball's seventh-inning stretch.) Imagine how taken aback they will be by the millions of missing Christians and the devestation at the Rapture. They will know it was true and that they have blown it. There will be a small window of time where they might be saved for the Kingdom of God.
We have made it possible for you to send them a letter of love and one last plea to receive Christ. You will also be able to give them some help in living out their remaining time. Our system will allow you to send documents by email, to addresses you provide, six days after the Rapture. This occurs when three of our five team members scattered across the United States fail to log in over a three day period. Another three days failsafe any false triggering of the system. In the encrypted portion of your account, you can give them access to you banking, brokerage, hidden valuables, and powers of attorney (you won't be needing them anymore, and the gift will drive home the message of love). There won't be any bodies, so a probate court will take seven years to clear your assets to your next of kin. Seven years, of course, is all the time that will be left. So basically the Government of the Antichrist gets your stuff, unless you make it available in another way. You can also send information based on Scripture as to what will happen next. Each fulfilled prophecy will cause your plea to be remembered and a decision to be made. This is one last chance to bring the unsaved to Christ and snatch them from the flames!
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
From the website of You've Been Left Behind, a service that for a $40 fee provides customers who expect to be raptured the chance to send messages to loved ones on earth.
We all have family and friends who have failed to receive the Good News of the Gospel. The unsaved will be left behind on earth to go through the tribulation period after the Rapture. You remember how, for a short time, after 9/11/01 people were open to spiritual things and answers. (We are still singing "God Bless America" at baseball's seventh-inning stretch.) Imagine how taken aback they will be by the millions of missing Christians and the devestation at the Rapture. They will know it was true and that they have blown it. There will be a small window of time where they might be saved for the Kingdom of God.
We have made it possible for you to send them a letter of love and one last plea to receive Christ. You will also be able to give them some help in living out their remaining time. Our system will allow you to send documents by email, to addresses you provide, six days after the Rapture. This occurs when three of our five team members scattered across the United States fail to log in over a three day period. Another three days failsafe any false triggering of the system. In the encrypted portion of your account, you can give them access to you banking, brokerage, hidden valuables, and powers of attorney (you won't be needing them anymore, and the gift will drive home the message of love). There won't be any bodies, so a probate court will take seven years to clear your assets to your next of kin. Seven years, of course, is all the time that will be left. So basically the Government of the Antichrist gets your stuff, unless you make it available in another way. You can also send information based on Scripture as to what will happen next. Each fulfilled prophecy will cause your plea to be remembered and a decision to be made. This is one last chance to bring the unsaved to Christ and snatch them from the flames!
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