An Author for Women (and Men) to Read

I'm not thoroughly versed in books recently published for women, but just rediscovered Elizabeth Elliot.

Open to correction, but I think she's the best author for Christian women in the last 50 years.

She is straightforward, doesn't pander to sentimentality, and gives sound doctrine and exhortation for the anxious, distressed, or suffering soul.

This is an excellent introduction to her if you haven't read her before.  Short devotions that quickly give you the main message of her life to the world.

Her best known book recounts the missionary effort of a group of young couples, in which her husband and most of the men were martyred.

This led her to produce some excellent teaching on God's providence in suffering.

She also has some very good books on the particular virtues godly men and women.

She had a radio program for years, always opening with this Scripture: "You are loved with an everlasting love, that's what the Bible says, and underneath are the everlasting arms."

Let us not always be caught up with current controversies and social media food fights over the latest issue.  CS Lewis urged us to read old books as often as we read current ones.  We do far better to pick up Elliot from 20 or 40 years ago, instead of the latest Beth Moore offering.  Especially on the issue of men's and women's roles, it is extremely enlightening to read what the previous generation or two thought.

Paul, Provocation, and Persistent Persuasion - Acts 19

There's no doubt about it.  Paul was a provocative figure in the New Testament.  Wherever he went, arguments erupted in synagogues, riots started, and he occasionally got stoned for blasphemy.

None of this was wrong for Paul to do.  Many think that just by being provocative, one is against the Spirit of Christ, who was always gentle and kind.  Wrong.  He knew when to flip tables in the temple, and double down on criticism of religious leaders when they pushed back against Him.

But in Acts 19 we see a different and important side of Saul of Tarsus.  Two things stand out.

One, he wanted to go into a theater of rioting angry Artemis worshipers and persuade them of the Gospel.  But his friends convince him against it.  There are times to hold back, when the audience is so ragingly against you, that it would be no use.  Paul accepts this, and lets others speak for him.

Two, when the town clerk addresses the angry crowd, he says Paul and his group are not blasphemers against Artemis (19:38).  Now, he may have been partially ignorant.  I'm sure Paul asserted at some point that Artemis was not a real goddess.  But the point is that Paul was not KNOWN for blaspheming Artemis.  He provoked by declaring a new God, calling for allegiance to Him, and let people figure out that this meant they shouldn't buy Artemis statues anymore (19:26-27).

There is a time to punch holes in the inconsistent worldview of the ungodly, as Van Tilian apologists love to do.  But Paul doesn't seem to have been emphasizing that, in Ephesus.

Showing people how wrong they are isn't always the best way to provoke them to consider the Gospel.  Sometimes simply proclaiming the truth of Jesus, and letting them sort it out over time is better.

Now, I know I'm overdoing this a bit, given verses 26-27.  Demetrius accuses Paul of saying their idols are nothing, that gods made with hands are useless.  My point is, if Paul had been provoking like this in spades as the hallmark of his ministry, the town clerk would probably have known.

Does Paul make the same point against idols on Mars Hill (Acts 17)?  Yes, he does.  But he first credits them for being religious, and after says God will overlook this ignorance, before coming to the climax of the resurrection of Jesus.

People today in the West don't have idols of gold and silver, usually.  But they do idolize their body, identity, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.  It's right to critique these things, and point out they are worshiping the wrong thing.  But a Christian should keep his main rhetorical focus on Christ Jesus as risen Lord and true Savior.

Giving Sunday Rest

"Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant woman, and the alien, maybe refreshed" (Exodus 23:12).

Although I've done it several times in a pinch, the general rule should be that Christians do not go to restaurants or grocery stores on Sundays.  Most think it's a pharisaical and legalistic add-on to the fourth commandment, but there are plenty of Scriptures like Exodus 23:12 that make it clear: don't make others work for you on the Sabbath.  That includes grocery store clerks and waitresses at restaurants.

There are two basic arguments I've heard against this.  First, "God wants ME to rest, so why should I prepare my own meal when someone else can do it who is willing?"  This is just ignorance of our Exodus 23:12 text (also Deuteronomy 5:14).  Sure, your servant will do whatever you pay him to do, whenever.  But the point of the text is to command you not to ask it of him.  You must rest, and you must give others rest.

Second and more compelling, Colossians 2:16: "Let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath."  But I believe this refers to Judaizers insisting Christians obey the whole Old Testament ceremonial law.  If the seventh day of rest is abolished with the rest of the ceremonial law, why is it in the 10 commandments, and why do you go to church on Sundays?  Why was it established in the first few pages of the Bible (Genesis 2:2-3), way before Moses?  Sabbath rest is a sign of our ultimate rest in glory (Hebrews 4:8-10), and until we have that, we should observe a sabbath.

It's become something of a punchline in the evangelical world that the fourth commandment isn't about whether or not we go out to eat on Sundays.  But that's a cop out.  I beg to differ.  Of course the Sabbath is about more than this.  But it's included.

Saturdays are for house work and preparing for Sundays.  The old school pattern for Saturdays of mowing the lawn, washing the cars, getting groceries, vacuuming, extra cooking, and a Saturday night bath for the kids in preparation for Sunday was a very good one.  It parallels God telling Israel to gather twice as much manna on the sixth day, in preparation for the seventh (Exodus 16:22-30).  The goal should be to help yourself and others to rest the next day.

We shouldn't freak out if plans suddenly change, or someone's "ox is in a ditch," and we have to do some work or go to a store.  God understands (Matthew 12:1-8).  But we should plan for going to worship and fellowship with His people, not going to stores on Sundays.

Jesus Hears John Was Beheaded

 We read Matthew 14 as a family tonight, and it was very compelling.

Jesus hears His cousin John was beheaded, and He goes off to be alone for a while.  He had a foretaste of His own sacrifice that was coming.  He wasn't running away from it, but needed or wanted some time to think it through.  It was a prequel to Gethsemane.

But the people follow Him, and He has compassion on them.  He feeds them.

When we face trials and trauma, we need some time alone to reflect.  But we can't hole up and isolate.  We also need to serve and be with others.  When the sheep are hurting, they tend to wander off.  The shepherd notices, draws closer, and brings them back with tender feeding.  Even when we walk through the shadow of death, He is with us.  Jesus feeding us at His table, our cup running over, is more needed at those times than ever.

When horrible things happen to you, give yourself time to work through it.  But do so with others.  And find ways to give to others.  It feels like you don't have anything to give, and you don't want to.  Like breaking your leg, then doing physical therapy to walk again.  It hurts, and you don't want to.  You just want to crawl into a hole in the fetal position.  But giving is an essential part of working through the trauma.

I was awestruck to realize in Matthew 14 that Jesus went through this, just like we do.  He didn't respond sinfully.  He didn't isolate completely.  He saw the needs of others in His own pain, and reached out in service and compassion.  What a faithful high priest we have, who can sympathize with us in our own weakness!

Against Pro-life Abolitionism - part 1

In politics, the main goal is to propose policy that will pass, that is as close to your worldview as possible.

In theology, the goal is to articulate as biblical a worldview as possible.

Both of these are good stewardship of differing vocations.

But they sometimes don’t play well together.

 

Theonomists want there to be a single goal, same in politics and theology, but that’s absurd.  Do lawyers and doctors have the exact same calling, besides the generic, “to help people”?

 

I’m not advocating for a radical division between the two kingdoms (R2K).  It’s not theonomy or R2K.  There are different spheres of activity with differing specific aims (Kuyper).

 

Say no to pro-life abolitionism.  They are currently fighting against and defeating pro-life bills that would outlaw SOME abortions, just because they don’t outlaw ALL abortions.

Their zeal to call for repentance directly in political life is admirable, but then you have to do the work of making a law with many in the room who do not repent.  Do we just take our ball and go home and leave them to write their ungodly rules for us, or work to get our nation as close to godliness as we can?  Are we anabaptists, now, who drop out of society when they don’t meet God’s standards rigorously enough for us?

 

Should I not go to work tomorrow because I know I’m not going to do my job perfectly?

 

Perfectionism in theological sanctification wreaks all kinds of carnage on people.

Abolitionist perfectionism will do the same.

 

Working for the possible politically is not compromise, but courage.  It’s actual engagement with the culture, instead of demanding all or nothing like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

 

Abolitionists overly confuse the theological and political.  Of course we want to apply God’s truth to the public square.  But we don’t quit and work against people and legislators accepting SOME of it, if they refuse to accept ALL of it.

Things I Never Noticed in the Bible - Genesis 50

Joseph cares closely for the body of his dead father.  He embalms and buries him, which is more fitting with the hope of resurrection than cremation.

Unlike a few chapters later in the Bible, Pharaoh lets Israel go "to worship and come back."  Absent the slavery of Exodus, Israel is willing to leave their children and property in Egypt, and PLANS to come back.  Nothing in Egypt is preventing them from serving God there, at this point.

A highlight of Genesis is 50:15-21.  Joseph's brothers, still racked with guilt, fear him, and even tell a lie (probably) to get him to not prosecute and kill them, as Joseph now could.  Joseph's response is not to blame them for the lie, and hold their sin against him over them.  He truly forgives them.  He knows it is not his place to judge and condemn, even though he is prince of Egypt - that is God's place (vs 19).

Instead, he tells them twice not to fear.  He mentions their real sin against him briefly, but calls them to focus on God's providence and kindness, even in their sin.  They now have a place to survive.

Genesis ends with the death of the patriarch of the line of promise.  As the whole Old Testament, this propels us forward to ask, "What is God going to do about it, to keep His promises?"  Resurrection is coming...

Things I Never Noticed in the Bible - Genesis 49

I never noticed that Jacob at the end of his life overcame the favoritism he showed early on.  His blessing of his 12 sons is a just analysis of them, which is a true blessing from God.  When He shows us who we really are, it is a blessing.  He knows us better than ourselves.  Sometimes other people play God and condemn us wrongly.  But sometimes God speaks through their words to help us see ourselves.  Jacob does this for the 12 tribes of Israel, here in Genesis 49.

This is often overlooked as we hone in on the Messianic prophecy of Judah, which is certainly a highlight in redemptive history (vss 8-10). But Scripture is so rich, we should not ignore its other truths.

Things I Never Noticed in the Bible - Genesis 48

Verse 15: "the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day..."

Jacob did a lot of bad things in his life.  Tricking his brother out of the inheritance.  Favoring one son over the others.  At the end of his life, he acknowledged God was his shepherd through all his faults.

God did not reject Jacob.  He is a God of grace.  "Who is a pardoning God like Thee?" (Micah 7:18).

Can we learn from Jacob's faults?  Certainly.  Did God bring no consequences upon Jacob for his sins?  He certainly did.  But in the end, he was a child of the covenant whom I fully expect to talk with in glory, about his life.  And that will glorify the mercy and justice of God.

Things I Never Noticed in the Bible - Genesis 44 - Judah's Intercession

Joseph's brothers have learned their lesson.  Instead of selling a favored younger brother (Joseph) into slavery, they ALL go to Egypt to plead for Benjamin's freedom (vs 13).

I never noticed that in Judah's long speech, he offers himself in place of Benjamin.

This is what Jesus did for us.

In one way, He was the favored younger brother Joseph that Israel was supposed to defend and bow down to.  Instead, they hated and sought to kill Him.

In another way, He is our older brother Judah, and we are Benjamin.  He intercedes for us in our guilt, and spares our lives.

Things I Never Noticed in the Bible - Genesis 42-43 - Joseph with His Brothers

Unresolved guilt and conflict will really mess you up.

The brothers know their guilt against Joseph and that God is bringing consequences on them for it (Gen 42:21).  But they can't resolve it, thinking Joseph is dead.  They never refer to God, though Joseph does (Gen 42:18).  God-fearers can resolve their guilt.  Those who forsake Him cannot.  The brothers show this twice.  All they see is a reckoning of judgment (Gen 42:22) and death (Gen 43:37).

Joseph is very suspicious of his brothers' intent.  Whether he means to do it on purpose or not, he treats them harshly.  This is a common response to those who have treated us badly.
Time may not heal all wounds, but it can bring a more sober judgment.  Joseph seems to propose a poetic-justice-type plan after 3 days.

Jacob is the most tragic.  A major downside to unresolved guilt and conflict is the strong tendency to blame and despair, and Jacob does this in spades (Gen 42:36).  He thinks a wild animal mauled Joseph to death, but (wrongly in his intent) blames his sons for it, though it is the literal truth.

It takes Judah's intercession to resolve the situation.  He convinces Jacob to give up his only beloved son to go to wicked sinners to redeem them all.

In these situations we try to patch things up ourselves, instead of trusting God's grace.  Jacob sends as much money and wealth as he can, hoping that will earn Egypt's mercy, when Joseph won't be much interested in that at all (Gen 43:11-14).  When Joseph sets a table of fellowship for them, the brothers stay focused on making sure they've paid him what they owe, as if they ever could (Gen 43:16-25).  They are afraid of him, another result of unresolved guilt.
Joseph serves Benjamin 5 times what the others get.  He is testing them.  Often the best way to determine if one recognizes their guilt in the past, is to see if they act differently in a similar situation now.  The brothers seem to pass this test, so Joseph will next force them to protect Benjamin, interceding for him, instead of the opposite they did to him.

Will we sacrifice our own reputation, wealth, and lives to defend the honor of the favored Son?  Or will we seek to kill Him out of envy and for our own self-advancement, as happened at the cross of Jesus?  

Refusing to take your guilt to God will lead you to destructive and sinful thoughts and actions against Him.  Acknowledging the guilt brings peace and restored harmony between God and man (Psalm 32:1-7).

Things I Never Noticed before in the Bible - Genesis 37-38 - Joseph, Judah, and Jacob's Family

I never noticed that because Jacob gives Joseph a fancy robe, Reuben and Jacob wind up tearing their robes in grief at the bitter envy it causes among the brothers.

When siblings are set against each other, it deeply grieves their parents.  Sometimes the parents are partial causes of the rivalry for their own faults, but the siblings are mainly responsible to stay and get on good terms with their siblings again.

The 10 brothers show their wickedness, willing to kill Joseph in the pit.  Reuben tries to spare him, as the oldest brother.  Judah in chapter 38 is connected to this - I always read it as a separate interlude.  But we see that even the brother chosen to bring forth the Messiah was deeply immoral and hypocritical.  God will use this deeply sinful family to accomplish His purposes in the long run.

None of this justifies their sin, but God's grace is greater than our sin.

Things I Never Noticed in the Bible - Genesis 33 - Jacob Meets Esau

Jacob gives us a good example of how to relate to unbelieving family members.

When he meets Esau, he is polite.  Deferential, even.  He is generous, seeking Esau's favor.  But he settles apart from Esau.

God's people need to remember that (baptism) water is thicker than blood.  Jesus came to separate sister from brother, father from daughter.  It is a hard providence, but when a family member doesn't follow Jesus with you, a significant bond is lost.  Christians are often tempted to compromise God's truth to regain an unbelieving family member's favor.  We see this often with prominent leaders whose children go same-sex or trans, and they support them, instead of standing for God's truth.

Note, though, that Jacob doesn't refuse to have ANYTHING to do with Esau.  He patches things up as best he can.

Things I Never Noticed in the Bible - Genesis 32

Jacob does not wrestle with God as a morally pure man.

He deceived Esau, his older brother, decades ago, and still feels guilty about it.  He fears him (Gen 32:11), and leans into God's promise to bless him (Gen 32:12).  He has been in exile with Laban, tricking the trickster to stay afloat financially.

What I never noticed is that the blessing Jacob seeks as he wrestles with God is very specific.  He doesn't want some generic blessing from God (Gen 32:26) - he wants protection from Esau.  And he gets it.

Many of us have people who loom large in our life as a threat.  A harsh father.  A school bully.  A bad church experience.  A less than loving husband.  This was Esau, for Jacob.

Our calling is to wrestle with God, and seek His blessing to preserve us, even if we were guilty in the past.  To claim His promises for blessing, and not disengage from Him, dispirited from those threats He allowed in our lives.  We continue seeking His face (Psalm 27:4, 7-10).

Things I Never Noticed in the Bible - Genesis 31

Here, Jacob leaves Laban without telling him, with God's approval.

Laban has treated Jacob unfairly for 20 years.  Sometimes the best you can do when treated unfairly and they do not admit fault, is show them their fault (Matthew 18:15) and depart indefinitely and as amicably as possible.  Appealing to God as you do so.  Jacob does this, preserving his family and estate as best he can.

God gives us these times to test and grow our faith in Him (Hebrews 12:3-11).  We are tempted to grow bitter against God (Heb. 12:15), but should instead focus on God's promises to us, and remind our family of them (Gen 31:13).

Psalm 13 was an excellent supplemental reading this morning.

Things I Never Noticed in the Bible - Acts 7

 The point of Stephen's long speech to the Sanhedrin is clear:

God's promise to save and take Israel as His people doesn't rest on them occupying the land of Israel.  He justified Abraham before he was ever there or possessed it.  Our salvation rests on trusting in God's deliverer.  This was Moses at the time of Passover.  Israel rejected him, but God saved His people anyway.  Likewise, Israel rejected Jesus, but God saved His people through Jesus, anyway.

Don't trust in land, military, political power, or other earthly things.  Trust God alone to deliver you from your sins and from all our cultural problems.  He may use the former things, but do not trust in them.