Pulpit, Pence, and Pale Praise for Preachers

On the Indiana religious freedom mob indignation:

"We need to stand up and speak clearly about the biblical teaching on sex, marriage, and family. It’s the leaders of the Church who should be attacked in public as “homophobic,” not politicians like Mike Pence who are trying to do the right thing."  Edward Feser

The pulpit is ever this earth’s foremost part; all the rest comes in its rear; the pulpit leads the world. From thence it is the storm of God’s quick wrath is first descried, and the bow must bear the earliest brunt. From thence it is the God of breezes fair or foul is first invoked for favorable winds. Yes, the world’s a ship on its passage out, and not a voyage complete; and the pulpit is its prow. ― Herman Melville, Moby Dick

People have an idea that the preacher is an actor on a stage and they are the critics, blaming or praising him. What they don't know is that they are the actors on the stage; he (the preacher) is merely the prompter standing in the wings, reminding them of their lost lines. ― Søren Kierkegaard

Joshua 13-15

Boundaries of the tribes described.
2.5 tribes east of the Jordan are roughly across the Sea of Galilee.
Levites received no land inheritance, except for cities and small pastures.
Caleb asks for Hebron, to drive out the rest of the giants.  He is 85.
Judah's land is described, and they take many well known cities, but not Jerusalem.

How this is about Jesus

• He heals the demon possessed man across the Sea of Galilee, beginning to retake that land for God.
• Christian Levites sold the land they had after Pentecost, since Jesus promised that the meek shall inherit the earth.  The land promise is extended to all the world; the nation or land of Israel is no longer a unique promised blessing from God for His people, anymore than all the nations.
• Jesus comes from the tribe of Judah and the lineage of Caleb.  He defeats THE giant that remains in the land and in our hearts...

Application

• Receiving blessings from God leads to work.  Surveying, fighting, stewardship, etc.
• Don't think you are too old to be of service to the Lord - look to Caleb's example.
• There will always be things you don't get accomplished, that have to wait for future generations, like Jerusalem in this text.

Luke 10

Jesus sends out 72 disciples to preach, heal and exorcise demons on their own, with His authority.  If they reject the apostles, they are rejecting Jesus.  When they come back excited, Jesus reminds them that it's more important to be in the kingdom themselves than to do great things.  The kingdom is revealed and accepted by the unexpected.  Many have longed for it to come, and now it is here.

A scribe knows the two greatest commandments, but wants to make sure he's on the way to heaven, so he asks who his neighbor is.  Jesus tells the good Samaritan parable.  Help whoever needs it that comes across your path, no matter their race, gender, etc.

Martha is harried and frustrated that Mary would sit and listen to Jesus instead of get the supper ready with her.  Jesus says Mary has chosen well.

Application

• Give more thought to your own kingdom membership than excitement to "power encounters" with demons.
• Obedience to God involves compassion to anyone in need.
• There is a time to do what needs doing (practical stuff like housework, cooking, going to work), and a time to stop all that and listen to Jesus.

Luke 9

Jesus sends the twelve out to preach and heal and cast out demons on their own.  Herod hears about it and is haunted by John.  The twelve come back, and Jesus feeds 5000 miraculously.  Jesus clarifies His identity (the Christ) and His mission (crucifixion) with His disciples.  He is then transfigured, as if God Himself confirms this clarification.  After this, and a sensational exorcism, the disciples cannot hear that He will die.  They argue about who is the greatest, instead, and get condescending to those not with Jesus.

Jesus claims to surpass Elijah's ministry: 

• greater commitment from disciples (not burying father first or looking back from the plow), 
• more gracious or gentle ministry (not calling down fire), 
• less comforts than Elijah had (a place to lay his head at the brook)

Application

To be a disciple of Jesus we must know his mission, buy into it, and be committed to following Him.

Luke 8

Jesus' regular entourage is the twelve apostles, and some women of means who fund their living.  Jesus tells the parable of the sower, and explains that the Word is received differently, but bears fruit abundantly in some.  Jesus rejects His family's claim on Him above His ministry.  He calms a storm, heals a demon possessed man in Gentile country (which wrecks the local economy and scares the locals!) and heals a woman back in Israel.  This last healing causes a delay which results in the death of Jairus' daughter, but Jesus is not subject to the march of time and death anymore than He is to the wind, waves, or demons - He raises her from death, too.

Application

We need not fear, for Jesus our Lord commands the fruitfulness of His Word, just as He commands nature, time, diseases, demons and death.

Joshua 10-12

"For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that He might utterly destroy them, and that they might receive no mercy, but that He might destroy them, as the LORD had commanded Moses" - Joshua 11:20.

Canaanites attack the Gibeonites, for surrendering to Israel.  Gibeon appeals to Israel for help and Israel defeats 5 kings at once (Jerusalem is one). Joshua asks God to make the sun and moon stand still, so he has more time to defeat them all, and God does it. Joshua makes a public example of the 5 kings, to encourage Israel in their mission. Israel also conquers all of Canaan, except some Anakim in Gaza and Gath (Goliath's town).  They came out to fight Israel.  Chapter 12 lists kings and peoples conquered.

How this is about Jesus
He commands nature to defeat evil forces, too (Mark 4:35-41).

He conquers kings that fight against Him (Psalm 2:8-12).

Application

• It is interesting how similar to ISIS beheading videos Joshua 10:22-26 is.  God did approve Joshua doing it, but it is a brutal atrocity without God's warrant.
• Today we conquer the land by conversion, not killing.

Joshua 7-9

Israel goes on to attack the next city, Ai, but Achan sinned by keeping some of Jericho's first fruit for himself, so God stymies Israel.  He also enables Israel to discover the sin, and Joshua deals with it faithfully.  Then they defeat Ai, and Joshua does what God said to do in Deuteronomy 27: write the law on Mt. Ebal, and hold a ceremony of blessing and cursing based on the law.  A Canaanite tribe, the Gibeonites, trick Israel into letting them live.  Joshua forgets to seek Gods will in this, and the people complain.

How this is about Jesus

• Tempted to take for Himself as He began to conquer the land (fulfill His three year ministry), Jesus does not give in, when Achan did.
• He gives blessings in the beatitudes and curses upon the Pharisees in Matthew 23.
• He stays one with His Father's will, especially in Gethsemane, instead of doing what He wants.

Application

• Secret sins will stifle spirituality.  God will see to it that the secret is discovered, but it's up to you to respond faithfully in repentance and/or discipline.
• Don't deceive others for self interest.  Don't forget to ask God and consult His Word before making major decisions.

Joshua 4-6

Israel and Joshua set up stones as two altars, one in the riverbed, another on the west side, to remember and tell their children what God did.  Joshua circumcised the whole nation (they hadn't been circumcised for 40 years!), and they keep the Passover.  God's Commander Jesus appears to Joshua, and claims a higher role than Joshua.  God has Jericho's walls crumble just by Israel marching around it.  They destroy everything except Rahab and her family.  As the first fruits of the land all the plunder and people of Jericho belongs to God, not the people.

How this is about Jesus

• He also gives His people signs as they are about to be commissioned to disciple nations.  Instead of circumcision and Passover, we now have baptism and the Lord's Supper.
• He is merciful to Gentiles with faith.

Application

• We must remember Gods mighty acts for us, through the signs He has given us.
• We are under authority, no matter how high a leadership role we are given.
• We must fight God's way, even if it seems strange (2 Cor. 10:3-6).

Joshua 1-3

God speaks encouragement to Joshua.  He prepares to invade, and Israel agrees to follow him.  He sends two spies to the first city of Jericho.  A prostitute helps and hides them (and tells a blatant but justified lie in the process), believing their God to be real, and reporting that all Jericho is quaking in their boots over Israel.  They promise to save her.  Joshua has Israel cross the Jordan, the ark going before them and dividing the waters.

How this is about Jesus

Joshua is a preview of Christ.  God speaks to Jesus, too, at the Jordan river at His baptism.  He then invades Israel and gathers an army of disciples who help Him (including some unexpected sinners).

Application

When we interact with Canaanites (unbelievers) we should not be discouraged and expect unexpected help.  Our task is to be faithful to our leaders and our God.

Deuteronomy 32-34

Moses composes a song telling Israel's story so far.  God saved Israel but they went after other gods.  God was jealous and takes vengeance... on Israel's adversaries (not on Israel!).  The same day Moses delivers this song to Israel, God sends him up Mt. Nebo to die.

Moses blesses each tribe of Israel, and the nation, as a whole.  God has saved them and will avenge them.  God shows Moses the land of Canaan, and he dies.  Joshua succeeds him but no prophet has come like Moses, since then.

How this is about Jesus

• He tells parables that tell Israel's story, too.
• He will take vengeance on the enemies of His people (2 Thess 1:8-10).
• He blesses the apostles as He ascends to heaven, as Moses blessed the tribes before ascending the mountain (Luke 24:50-51).
• He is the prophet greater than Moses, of whom Moses spoke - Deut 18:15; Heb 3:3)

Application

Accept God's story of your life: you are a rebel He is saving.

You will die before you attain all you seek here on earth.  Live by faith.

A Time for Silence?

Is it time for the church to mute its message on sexual issues?

No way.

"Winsomeness is a good servant and a terrible master."

Deuteronomy 30-31

When you repent of going astray I will restore you.
You can keep this law, so choose life.

How this is about Jesus
He saves the lost.  Zacchaeus, Matthew, woman at well.
He is the life.
He commissions apostles to go take the land and disciple the nations.
He read and kept the law.

Application
Repentance is always possible, even after great sin.
Pass on the faith to the next generation.

Disposable People?

Pretty good explanation of why abortion is not okay.

Deuteronomy 28-29

If you obey God, He will bless you in every way you can think of.

If you disobey Him, you will be cursed in every way, so that you'll be driven mad and want to die.  (53 verses describing this!)  You'll be sold as slaves back to Egypt.

God covenants with all Israel standing before Moses, through Moses, and with their future descendants.  Disobedience will bring curses, future generations will wonder what awful thing happened, and they'll be uprooted from the land.

How this is about Jesus

Jesus took this curse on Himself at the cross.  While forgiven Christians may still face consequences for their sins (often to sanctify us), there is no condemnation or punishment for its own sake.

At Jesus' trial, the Jews historically echo this, as they willingly take responsibility for the blood of Jesus onto their heads and their children's heads.

Application

Living in God's ways generally brings prosperity and blessing, though not always.

This chapter applies only to Israel then, as it speaks of uprooting them from the land.  God exiled them according to His promise.  This is not a curse He holds over every nation's head for disobeying Him.  However, disobedience will naturally bring bondage to others: lenders, tyrants, etc.

Let us love obedience to God (the root) more than freedom (the fruit).

Let us obey from gratitude that we have been freed from guilt before God, not from desperation to stay politically or financially free.

Robert Schuller, RIP

So, Dave Ramsey is a pretty good finance advisor, but a lousy theologian.

He gave a glowing eulogy of Schuller, who died recently, on his show yesterday.  He says there's a difference between prosperity theology and positive thinking.  This is true, but both need some correction.  Dave calls critics of positive thinking Pharisees.  But it is not Pharisaical to criticize a preacher who commits to never mention sin in the pulpit - such criticism is biblical.  Dave defends Joel Osteen, which is a real problem in my book.  Of course we can overdo it to worm theology and get stuck there, without living the freedom of forgiveness.  But positive thinking doesn't prosper you automatically.

Al Mohler's review of Schuller was great (starts at about 13:55).  He even quotes from my seminary president, Dennis Voskuil, who wrote a book critiquing Schuller.  To call Voskuil, who I interacted with personally plenty, a Pharisee is laughable.  For ministers of the Gospel to dilute and downplay our sinfulness before a holy God for popularity's sake is tragic.