Joy in Christendom

A College Student's Righteous Struggle

I received the following question from a good friend of mine.  I was very grateful to receive it as it is a sign and reminder of the struggle that we should all have.  I wonder if our "sanctification" is all too easy and taken for granted, but then I am reminded that people really do wonder, struggle and wrestle with difficult things - a true sign that the Spirit is at work.

Here is his question:

Dearest brother David, how art thou! K so, Ima try my best to phrase the question I was trying to ask :)

So here is the conflict:
Whenever I bring my sins before the Lord, I recognize what sin is and that I am a sinner, and I remember that Christ has taken their weight and punishment from me already. I pray this, but inside my head there is this nagging thought that hits me every time, telling me that I don't fully believe this. I feel as if I am saying, "Thank you Christ for dying for my sins, but I only deserve to go to hell because you created me so."

How can I be born (essentially with no choice) deserving nothing but hell? I could accept understand better the concept of deserving eternal punishment if I feel like I had a choice to sin or not, but the problem lies with me feeling my only choice is to sin.

So therefore when I am given relief from eternal punishment, I am inclined not to feel the fullness of joy and thankfulness I should, as I am only dug out of the hole I was put in.

This sounds extremely greedy and unthankful of me, but its the reality of how I feel and these questions are stopping me from feeling grace how I should, and from giving God the praise he deserves. I don't want to feel this way when I ask for forgiveness, and I guess I just want a way to accept or understand that I am believing a lie. But this lie looks so true. Anyways, yeah so thats the nuts and bolts, I'm sure the issue will become less of one through sanctification, but for now its eating me up.

Thanks for reading :P

Yeah, Bob, this is a good thought.  I can see that you don't take Christ lightly and you don't see the Faith as something silly or trivial.  I've always been encouraged by your thoughtfulness.

When I read over this, I hear a lot, perhaps more than you are meaning to say.  I believe that you are struggling with two things.  First, you don't see how utterly Holy the Lord Almighty is, and secondly, you are struggling to see how utterly holy you are not.  Yes, on an academic level you get it; you know how to say the right things, you get TULIP and the other "isms", but when I read statements from you like "dug out of the hole I was placed in", and "how can I be born, with no choice, deserving hell", there appears to be a disconnect between what you know and what you know know.  You are being tempted here, and I pray that you flee it. All that said, I believe the following will be helpful to keep in mind.

First, we must understand that there is no "I" without the Lord.  You and man are his creation.  He has every right to do with it as he pleases.

14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, [2] but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. (Rom 9:14-18)

Secondly, you are being tempted to think, "this is not fair, I had nothing to do with this."  You're right, it isn't fair, but the object of fairness is backwards here.  Was it fair that man brought sin into creation?  Certainly not, is it fair that the Lord cursed man and his offspring? Yes, completely fair and just.  For if God does not punish, God becomes the harlot.  Because of His Holy Character and His Just Will, there must be payment.  Would 60 billion lost souls in hell be enough for this payment?  Would that we all died and eternally punished would certainly be fair.  But, because He is merciful, and in light of His dear son, he has sought his sheep and rescued them from what they deserve (2 Timothy 2:25-26).  How amazing is that?  How amazing was it that as soon as man sinned, the Lord provided a way. 

Thridly, having a choice to sin or not does not make us potentially Holy before God.  As I have established above, we are not born in a state of neutrality.  If we did have choice we would not choose God (Psalm 10:4, John 3:20, Romans 3:10-12), so in turn knowing this should spur us on in gratitude.

Finally, I believe that you are being honest with this, which is so encouraging to see.  This is not easy stuff, and I know that more people struggle with it but are not willing to take the time and effort to know their savior and search the scriptures, like you are.  You have been a big encouragement to me.  Let's continue the dialog.

 

 

The Law and Sabbath Keeping

In many of my discussions where I stress a belief that the Law is good and should be the basis for all of life, I once in awhile run into a question that concerns the "harsh" penal code that is found in the Old Testament.  I received one such question recently, and it went something like "ok, if we are to model Old and New Testament Laws in all areas of life, then should we require the magistrate to put to death Sabbath breakers  (Ex 31:14, Num 15:32)?".  Assuming that the question was a geniuine one, it is a good question.

I did a little research into this and here's what Calvin and Rushdoony have to say about the matter:

While the Christian sabbath is inescapably and closely lined to the sabbath of Israel, there is still a very important difference.  Paul's words in Col 2:116-17 make clear that the old ordinance has undergone a radical change.  Calvin commented on the Col passage: 

'to judge means here to hold one to be guilty of a crime, or to impose a scruple of conscience, so that we are no longer free.  He says, therefore, that it is not in the power of men to make us subject to the observance of rites which Christ has by his death abolished, and exempts us from their yoke, that we may not allow ourselves to be fettered by the laws which they have imposed.  He tacitly however, places Christ in contrast with all mankind, lest any one should extol himself so daringly as to attempt to take away what he has been given him.  The reason why he frees Christians from the observance of them is, that they were shadows at a time when Christ was still, in a manner, absent.  For the contrast shadows, act like on who should judge of a man's appearance from his shadow, while in the mean time he had himself personally before his eyes.  For Christ is now manifested to us, and hence we enjoy him as being present.  The body, says he, is of Christ, that is IN Christ'

To return to Calvin's point, a law which once called for death invovled something very important and unusually good.  Christ is that great good, and our rest is Him.  

it gets even more interesting...

The point of difference between Israel's sabbath and the Christian sabbath is not only in the day but in the end of the old restrictions.  The first day of the week was a work-day in Palestine and also through the Roman Empire.  The church normally met on the evening of the first day, because the members worked during the day (Acts 20:7-12).... Obviously, if work on the Lord's day was sill illegal, the NT would have had much to say concerning it.  The old law was clearly altered here.  The duty NOW, as stated by Paul, was "not forsaking the assembling of oursleves together, as the manner of some is (Heb 10:25)" - R.J. Rushdoony, Institutes of Biblical Law.

The Lord's Law is very freeing indeed. 

 

 

Rendering to the Lord All Things

Ever hear an argument for a particular understanding of the Scriptures that was so intertwined up into itself that it was nearly impossible to understand how the argument started?  I heard such an argument on the christian life recently.  Before I get into the argument itself though, here is a little background. 

There is a writhing, current controversy in the Church today that creates what is called a "common realm" in reality and in this realm, the Scriptures don't provide or require guidance for life and godliness.  Some suggest that this common realm is the "earthly kingdom", while the Church and the Scriptures are among the "heavenly kingdom".  That is the one side, so then on the other side of the debate we have folks saying that there is no such common realm and even if there were a common realm, Christ and His Word lord over it.

Now, there are many variations to this idea and there are variations as to what exactly is in this realm (most would place our role in Government, politics, and other such matters).  To sum up the "conversation" I believe it is relatively safe to say that on the one side we have a radical (departing from orthodoxy and history) 2-Kingdom approach, and then on the other, we have the side that maintains that the Scriptures alone speak and have authority on such things (sometimes, referred to as "Theonomy" by it's opponents and "confessional" by is proponents).  One only has to think for a few minutes on this dichotomy to start to realize that the implications of the debate are absolutely huge and very difficult. 

I recently heard an argument from the passage Mark 12:13-17:

13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances,1 but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.

 from that passage, I heard that:

1. The Gospel brings people together - either for it or against it.  Loving the Gospel makes some strange allies and Hating the Gospel likewise makes for some really strong, but otherwise, strange partnerships.
2. This passage lays a foundation, a Christian view of politics and religion
3. We should be good citizens, even if you think the government is bad.  There was some good about Rome and there was some bad.  Even though Rome was bad, Jesus says "pay your taxes".  Rom 13, makes the same point.  Even though your government is bad in some ways, we should pay our taxes.  You are ethically obligated to pay your taxes no matter what.
4. Human government has legitimate authority.  God has instituted it.  Having government is a gift.  Government is a good thing, as a general category.  It is instituted by God and therefore should be respected by Man.  Chaos is bad. (I Tim 2).  We need to pray that they will uphold the law, bring order, punish wrong-doing, and live our life relatively free from their interference.  Christians should lead the way to show respect and honor to those in authority.
5. Allegiance to God and allegiance to your country are not inherently incompatible.  It is possible to honor Caesar and to honor God.  (I Peter 2) It seems that the normal state is one of compatible loyalties.  Are there times where civil disobedience is required - yes.
6. It is acceptable that there be some separation between religion and government.  It is acceptable that there be some separation between Church and State.  God and Government have "overlapping" but distinct spheres.  Government is always accountable to God but if we render to Caesar and to God different things, they must be different and distinct.  On the one hand, we can't strip Government from moral influence.  On the other hand, it seems that Jesus is saying here that government should not be ruled by all the laws of God.  As one author states, "Jesus was not a Theonomist".  D.A. Carson says that "everywhere up to this point, religion and state were intertwined.  This was true of course in ancient Israel, at least in theory - Israel was a Theocracy.  Similarly in the Pagan world the gods of the people were the gods of the state.  When the Romans took over some territory, the Romans did a "god swap".... but no where was there a state where it was divorced from all gods. ... what we could a secular state... where religion and government occupy separate spheres. on the face of it, this is what Jesus was advocating."  After all, Jesus says "My Kingdom is not of this world", and it won't be until the end of the age. [he is confusing himself here between the difference of will, is and ought].  Here is what one theologian says about living today - we are more like the Israelites living in babylon, then we are the Israelites living in the Promised Land.  [still confusing is and ought].  We are continually called strangers, pilgrims, etc in the NT.  Our position is not the Jews, but of exiles.  It helps us to know what to expect.  "Both of these spheres are ordained by God and under His Law, but they have different functions and operate according to different rules.  In their capacity as citizens of the spiritual kingdom, Christians insist of peace and refuse to bare arms in the name of His Kingdom.  In there capacity of citizens of the civil kingdom, they participate in the coercive work of the State.  As citizens of the Spiritual Kingdom, they have no patriotic allegiance to earthly kingdoms.  But as citizens of the earthly kingdom, patriotism is certainly possible.  As citizens of the Spiritual Kingdom, they can make all sorts of critiques of everything not Christ-like [paraphrased]  but as citizens of the earthly kingdom, they can acknowledge the benefits of all the benefits the State brings... seek common cause with non-christians on a host of issues and social projects.  As citizens of the spiritual kingdom they submit to the Scriptures, but as of the civil kingdom they can engage in genuine moral conversations with those of other faiths, with the universally accessible law of nature without making adherence to scripture a test for participation of cultural affairs.  As citizens of the spiritual kingdom, they can view social institutions like the State as temporal, destined to pass away.  But as citizens of the civil kingdom, they can have a keen interest in society, here and now.  "  This is crucial, and it remains to be seen if Islam can work in a Western Country.  There is nothing in the NT that tells us how to rule as the majority (taken from a P. Yancy quote).  Islam grew up as state and religion intertwined - it was always one.  The muslim view had a hard time with distinct spheres.  This is why there is rarely if ever freedom of religion in these countries.  It's because of this passage in Mark that Christians can accept the First Amendment - freedom of religion, for instance.  We can accept people worshiping other gods and worship in ways we don't approve.  Islam, on the other hand, doesn't have such a thing.  
7. God's people are not tied to any one nation.  You can be a part of a nation that doesn't worship, formally, the one true God.  True religion is not bound up in one country.  The Church is trans-national.  A government's legitimacy is not bound is not determined on whether is supports the worship of the one true God or even allows for it.  Jesus unhitches the requirement for governments to follow Jesus and for those being governed by those governments to have dual loyalty (37:36).  Christianity is not a Western Religion.  Christianity was born in regions of the World where people are crying out for freedom now and were these people are forced underground.  The center of gravity of Christianity is shifting away from the West. [this is spoken as a good thing].  The Church is international - you don't have to be an American to follow Christ.  You can be from any country and worship Jesus.
8. The State is not God.  Jesus says in this passage that we need to give God God's things and Caesar's, Caesar's things. Human government is run by humans, so it is full of sin.  The State gravitates towards more power, that the State has all the answers.  Jesus says respect Government, but the State is not ultimate.  The State does not have ultimate authority. 
9. We owe our ultimate allegiance to God.  The power of the State is good but limited.  Our allegiance is never ultimate.  We see so many examples of civil disobedience in the OT.  Verse 16 - the likeness - what are the things that are due Caesar:  honor, taxes, respect.  But what belongs to God?  You.  Your whole self.  Caesar gets the coins, God gets you.  God says to you - who's image do you bear?  God.  God gets you.  You are made in God's image, you owe your life, existence to God.  His face is on you.  You belong to Him.  You must ask yourself, what am I holding back from God?  Have you been putting off complete submission to Him?  Come to Christ and surrender the fight - render to God his things.  Give God yourself.

While I dissect this argument, I am assuming the author of it has chosen his words very carefully, and in doing so, has reveled some troubling beliefs that he has about God, His Word and His Work.  This is why it makes this so incredibly important to work out.  I am treading very carefully here - I care very deeply for and respect the author of these words and I hope everyone sees that I am very much for him and am very much interested in his personal walk and holiness.  As we all live in community with one another, I believe that we are called to sharpen each other, in the Lord.  I pray that this is the intent of this post.

So, I will break my argument down as I respond to each of the 9 points above. 

1. First point is spot on.  Especially if we understand the Gospel as the full counsel of God from Genesis to Revelation.  One cannot be neutral on the Word of God in anyway.
2. It is a bit of a stretch, in my opinion, to pull SO much from this passage.  The point is, mainly, that the Jews were trying to snare and ultimately murder Christ.  This point should not be over-shadowed by a discussion on politics.  They were trying to trick the Lord as to hasten His demise.  The Lord in turn was showing their hypocrisy in the utmost (because it showed their WILLING submission to Caesar already) and confounding them in their stupidity.  And, this interaction certainly did not stop the Jews from accusing him of not giving tribute to Caesar anyway (see Luke 23:2).
3. In general, I agree with this sentiment as well, as long as it is properly qualified.  No such qualification was given though.  We are never, never to pay anything, including taxes "no matter what".  Doing so, is simply idolatry.  If the author of this comment truly believed this, they would also take issue, to remain consistent, with the American War for Independence against Britain (just an example), as it was, among other things a war about unjust taxes.  Furthermore, such an unqualified statement would also require the Christian to disobey the First Commandment.
4. Again, agreed.  I would offer a question to help hone in on the discussion.  On what basis, or standard should we punish "wrong doers"?  This isn't an easy question for those who claim the existence of a "common realm".
5. Yes, this is correct if taken in the best possible light.  Christians do not honor Caesar and God in the same way, at the same level.  It is because we FIRST honor God that we also, to a lesser degree honor Caesar.  When Caesar refuses to honor God, in a public-facing way, then Christians have a duty to react to that.
6. Here's where we come to a large departure from Orthodoxy.  Hear me loud and clear:  it is entirely impossible to separate religion from ANY thing, any piece of knowledge, any work, any action, any thought - anything period.  External realities are manifested by inward beliefs.  The beliefs are religious to the core.  Christians are called to be Holy ("religious") in ALL they do.  There is not one piece of life, where Christ does not say "mine".  Christians should NEVER, NEVER be "neutral" on anything, nor can they be as it is impossible to act but not believe. 
   
   It is therefore, just as impossible to separate religion and government.  The Scriptures DO call for a separation between Institutions or Spheres, and it is precisely beacause the Scriptures say this that Christians are to uphold the Separation.  Period.  Not because we like it or because it "seems to work", but because it is commanded by our King to do so. 
   
   In this quote, Carson is so blinded by the god his government serves that he cannot see that his own country (the USA or Canada) is indeed bowing the knee to a god.  Are we really to believe that secular humanism isn't really a god, or a religion?  That our ideals of "personal choice" no matter who is murdered, is really devoid of a god of some kind?  This slight-of-hand appeal to the "neutral" has blinded so many in our pulpits today.
   
   Again, we see a picture of dualism and some kind of monstrous christian split-personality disorder.  If this line of reasoning were taken to it's own conclusion, we cannot blame the gas chamber operators for their role in the atrocities of mid-century Germany.  Because these operators were acting in the common realm, or the "civil kingdom", they should not be held accountable for their actions.  The Scriptures, our only rule for godliness, does not allow for this duplicitous approach to life.
   
   Finally, we cannot engage and must not engage in "moral dialog" without invoking the Scriptures (at some level).  It is only a matter of convenience that "most" religions say "thou shalt not murder" and it is only a matter of practicality for most.  Is that why Christians do not murder?  Because it's not practical? No, we do not do such things because it is offensive to God, and because he said not to do it.  A neutral, unbiblically founded conversation with Pagans is never an option for the Christian.  Proclaiming such a neutrality speaks volumes on one's own belief about God, their Savior and His Word.
7. How are we to judge a government good or a government bad?  Those on the extreme side of "common realm" theology, would say, well, we certainly aren't to make a judgement call.  But these same folks certainly don't live this way practically.  The alternative view to this is that God Himself has ordained civil magistrates, gives them authority and regulates what they do by His Word.  Without this understanding, the State IS God (see WCF 23:  God, the Supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates to be under him over the people, for his own glory and the public good; and to this end, hath armed them with the power of the sword, for the defense and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evil-doers.)
8. Agreed.
9. Agreed.  God gets everything.  When we give what is Lawful to Caesar we honour God.  When we give what is unLawful to Caesar, we dishonour God.  There is no middle ground, no neutral territory.

There is so much more to say on this topic and the debate will likely not be resolved anytime soon - it is all unfolding before us in this generation.  We should  continue to keep our eyes focused on the only stanrdard for holiness that we have - the very word of God.

"May the Lord raise up a generation that seeks His Worship in every area of life.  May we be that generation that kneels before the almighty in every hard way.  May we worship the one true King."

A Pastor on "Preaching Politics"

"I preach politics all the time.  I proclaim that Jesus is Lord.  That's a political statement, isn't it? 

Beyond that, I frequently pray that He would wield the rod of iron that He has been given to shatter the nations -- and their rulers -- that oppose Him and that all the kings (and presidents and prime ministers and other elected officials) of earth would "kiss the Son lest He be angry," acknowledge Him as "King of kings" and "Lord of lords" and therefore as *their* king and lord, and obey Him.

In fact, I see the Lord's service on Sunday morning as far more important politically than anything else we might do all week long, including voting.  As a friend of mine wrote, we need bread-and-wine parties with Jesus in the heavenlies more than tea parties on earth.  Like Esther, when we are at the king's table, we have the ear of the Great King and He hears our requests and destroys Haman and all who are like Him.

And all of that is political."

Rev John Barach
Pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church (CREC)
via the CO-URC forum

The above quote was ripped off, without this pastor's permission, from a public forum that I follow.