Though the bird's in the net,
It may get away yet;
Though I'm down in the dust,
In my God I will trust,
I will hope in Him still,
And leave all to His will;
For He'll surely appear,
And will banish my fear.
--Charles H. Spurgeon
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
The Peculiarity of Partiality Toward Particular Sins
In an effort to fight off jet lag, I've found myself having more time to read (though I should be reading more than I have been lately, given the amount of time I have). It's amazing how reading (that is, actually reading substantive material) can create a paradigm shift within the confines of the human mind, which perhaps will make its way to the heart. Well, little did I know that I would have that experience just a few minutes ago; and I'd like to share it with you.
I'm currently reading Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers by John Owen, and these are the words I read:
"You set yourself with all diligence and earnestness to mortify such a lust or sin; what is the reason of it? It disquiets you, it has taken away your peace, it fills your heart with sorrow and trouble and fear; you have no rest because of it. Yea, but friend, you have neglected prayer or reading; you have been vain and loose in your conversation in other things, that have not been of the same nature with that lust wherewith you are perplexed. These are no less sins and evils than those under which you groan. Jesus Christ bled for them also. Why do you not set yourself against them also? If you hate sin as sin, every evil way, you would be no less watchful against everything that grieves and disquiets the Spirit of God, than against that which grieves and disquiets your own soul. It is evident that you contend against sin merely because of your own trouble by it."
Yes, the quote is long. Like really long. Your English teacher probably taught you to never cite a quote this long, when writing a dissertation. But I had to include it all to exhaust the full meaning behind this set of convicting prose.
For every genuine believer, there seems to be one or two particular sins that really convict our souls. Our response to this is we often try to fight these particular sins (mostly by our own will, which will never work). Yet the revealing of this motivation is what pierces me: we fight this sin because it makes us feel uncomfortable. There is a partiality involved. It is a selfish motivation. The reality of the situation is, we would not attempt to mortify this sin if it did not convict us. Perhaps this is an accurate illustration of a sinner trying to mortify sin: we are so sinful that we don't weigh sins the same (i.e., we don't look at sin as sin). Without realizing it, we have become the judge of what holiness looks like. We say to ourselves, "Gee, if I could get rid of this sin, I would be more holy," or "I am not as holy as I ought to be because of this sin." Isn't that what we say in discipleship settings or accountability meetings? We're quick to mention the sins that keep us up at night, yet neglect to mention the sins we could sleep with; and I'm not talking about sins that aren't revealed to us.
"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." - 2 Cor. 7:1
The admonition is to cleanse from all sin, not just the ones that eat at our well-being. In this section of his book, John Owen proposed that, "Without sincerity and diligence in a universality of obedience, there is no mortification of any one perplexing lust to be obtained." That's it: obedience is universal, not particular. It's hypocrisy to magnify certain sins and not others. It doesn't live up to our statement regarding how God is just to punish any one sin, and thus punish the individual.
My hope in at least my own life, is not to be negligent in being watchful of the "other" sins in my life. My convictions in certain sins will always be there, but I cannot expect even those to be relieved if the others aren't. God's standard was, is, and always will be holiness. I have and will profess that my desire is to be holy. Yet, tonight I have realized that all this time, my desire was to be "comfortable" in my relationship with God, not holy. As difficult as it may be to define holiness, this is what holiness is not: Holiness is not the eradication of sins that make us feel uncomfortable.
I'm currently reading Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers by John Owen, and these are the words I read:
"You set yourself with all diligence and earnestness to mortify such a lust or sin; what is the reason of it? It disquiets you, it has taken away your peace, it fills your heart with sorrow and trouble and fear; you have no rest because of it. Yea, but friend, you have neglected prayer or reading; you have been vain and loose in your conversation in other things, that have not been of the same nature with that lust wherewith you are perplexed. These are no less sins and evils than those under which you groan. Jesus Christ bled for them also. Why do you not set yourself against them also? If you hate sin as sin, every evil way, you would be no less watchful against everything that grieves and disquiets the Spirit of God, than against that which grieves and disquiets your own soul. It is evident that you contend against sin merely because of your own trouble by it."
Yes, the quote is long. Like really long. Your English teacher probably taught you to never cite a quote this long, when writing a dissertation. But I had to include it all to exhaust the full meaning behind this set of convicting prose.
For every genuine believer, there seems to be one or two particular sins that really convict our souls. Our response to this is we often try to fight these particular sins (mostly by our own will, which will never work). Yet the revealing of this motivation is what pierces me: we fight this sin because it makes us feel uncomfortable. There is a partiality involved. It is a selfish motivation. The reality of the situation is, we would not attempt to mortify this sin if it did not convict us. Perhaps this is an accurate illustration of a sinner trying to mortify sin: we are so sinful that we don't weigh sins the same (i.e., we don't look at sin as sin). Without realizing it, we have become the judge of what holiness looks like. We say to ourselves, "Gee, if I could get rid of this sin, I would be more holy," or "I am not as holy as I ought to be because of this sin." Isn't that what we say in discipleship settings or accountability meetings? We're quick to mention the sins that keep us up at night, yet neglect to mention the sins we could sleep with; and I'm not talking about sins that aren't revealed to us.
"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." - 2 Cor. 7:1
The admonition is to cleanse from all sin, not just the ones that eat at our well-being. In this section of his book, John Owen proposed that, "Without sincerity and diligence in a universality of obedience, there is no mortification of any one perplexing lust to be obtained." That's it: obedience is universal, not particular. It's hypocrisy to magnify certain sins and not others. It doesn't live up to our statement regarding how God is just to punish any one sin, and thus punish the individual.
My hope in at least my own life, is not to be negligent in being watchful of the "other" sins in my life. My convictions in certain sins will always be there, but I cannot expect even those to be relieved if the others aren't. God's standard was, is, and always will be holiness. I have and will profess that my desire is to be holy. Yet, tonight I have realized that all this time, my desire was to be "comfortable" in my relationship with God, not holy. As difficult as it may be to define holiness, this is what holiness is not: Holiness is not the eradication of sins that make us feel uncomfortable.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The Sovereignty of God and the Human Will
"The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you" (Romans 8:7-9a).
________________________________________________
What is interesting is that you will never find anyone who is trying to receive the Holy Spirit. The volitional choice made by the individual not to follow God is subject to the divinely sovereign work of God, seen in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Notice that the initiative lies with God. As Romans 9:16 states, "So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy." Yet we know that the choice made by the unredeemed is just what it is - a choice. The nature of it is free from compulsion, and it is indeed volitional. However, it is a choice that leads to eternal consequences, namely the unceasing torment in the fiery furnace, separated from the eternal glory and joys of heaven.
The heart of this reality is mysterious for one glaring reason, stated in the form of a question: how does human responsibility play into the sovereign plan of God? Can the idea of human responsibility even co-exist with the sovereignty of God?
In commenting on this topic, C.H. Spurgeon probably said it best:
"If...I find taught in one part of the Bible that everything is foreordained, that is true; and if I find, in another Scripture, that man is responsible for all his actions, that is true; and it is only my folly that leads me to imagine that these two truths can ever contradict each other. I do not believe they can ever be welded into one upon any earthly anvil, but they certainly shall be one in eternity. They are two lines that are so nearly parallel, that the human mind which pursues them farthest will never discover that they converge, but they do converge, and they will meet somewhere in eternity, close to the throne of God, whence all truth doth spring."
We can learn a lot from this quote. It urges us to let the scriptures speak for itself. I have the tendency to struggle with not allowing my fallen logic to impose itself on biblical truth. We are, but mere men; He is the pre-eminent God. Here is the simple irony: if we could completely understand His mind, given our own sinfulness, then perhaps God is not the God of the Bible...and thank God that's not the case.
________________________________________________
What is interesting is that you will never find anyone who is trying to receive the Holy Spirit. The volitional choice made by the individual not to follow God is subject to the divinely sovereign work of God, seen in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Notice that the initiative lies with God. As Romans 9:16 states, "So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy." Yet we know that the choice made by the unredeemed is just what it is - a choice. The nature of it is free from compulsion, and it is indeed volitional. However, it is a choice that leads to eternal consequences, namely the unceasing torment in the fiery furnace, separated from the eternal glory and joys of heaven.
The heart of this reality is mysterious for one glaring reason, stated in the form of a question: how does human responsibility play into the sovereign plan of God? Can the idea of human responsibility even co-exist with the sovereignty of God?
In commenting on this topic, C.H. Spurgeon probably said it best:
"If...I find taught in one part of the Bible that everything is foreordained, that is true; and if I find, in another Scripture, that man is responsible for all his actions, that is true; and it is only my folly that leads me to imagine that these two truths can ever contradict each other. I do not believe they can ever be welded into one upon any earthly anvil, but they certainly shall be one in eternity. They are two lines that are so nearly parallel, that the human mind which pursues them farthest will never discover that they converge, but they do converge, and they will meet somewhere in eternity, close to the throne of God, whence all truth doth spring."
We can learn a lot from this quote. It urges us to let the scriptures speak for itself. I have the tendency to struggle with not allowing my fallen logic to impose itself on biblical truth. We are, but mere men; He is the pre-eminent God. Here is the simple irony: if we could completely understand His mind, given our own sinfulness, then perhaps God is not the God of the Bible...and thank God that's not the case.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Early Christian Love
Note: Preparing for a devotion from Minister of Mercy: The New Testament Deacon, by Alexander Strauch, has inspired me to write this blog.
______________________________________
"And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need." - Acts 4:32-35 (emphasis added)
I once heard that 3% of the world's population owns 97% of its wealth. This is hard to imagine, living in America. After all, I see that nearly everyone has a car, a house, and an education. Credit has made it hard to know who has debt and who doesn't; all I see is material possession, after material possession. The desire to "look great and feel great" because we "deserve more" has usurped all other concerns. We are bombarded with advertisements conveying the necessity of wants, not the necessity of needs. These lusts have triggered us to forget what the true reality is - poverty-stricken nations living off $2/day.
I would be dishonest in neglecting to mention the affect this has had in Christian America, both at a microscopic, individual basis, and a macroscopic, congregational basis. Maybe being a Christian in America is hard, because it is more difficult to be content than it is to be lush. Could it be argued that the standard of living surpasses the standard of being content?
Acts 4:32-35 causes us to take a step back from the constant struggle to "get more." It describes the early church as having "one heart and soul." There is thus a natural overflow of giving everything one had. The result, being, not one in need. Verse 33 shows how the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of Christ, which is evidenced by how "there was not a needy person among them" in verse 34. What was the cost of not having a needy person in the church? All owners of housing and land sold their property for the sake of the church! Perhaps, it could be inferred that being a testimony of the resurrection and extreme sacrificial-giving are so closely linked. We see Christ, Himself, echo these very sentiments in Luke 12:32-34, during His discourse about genuinely seeking the Father's kingdom, and the promise of having needs met.
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Luke 12:32-34
Fully recognizing the blessing of the Father's kingdom increases the willingness to give sacrificially. Yet, there is such a discrepancy between those who have and those who need, even in the church. Upon reading Acts 4:32-35, John Calvin commented:
"Now we must have hearts that are harder than iron if we are not moved by the reading of this narrative. In those days the believers gave abundantly of what was their own; we in our day are content not just jealously to retain what we possess, but callously to rob others. They sold their own possession in those days; in our day it is the lust to purchase that reigns supreme. At that time love made each man's own possessions common property for those in need; in our day such is the inhumanity of many, that they begrudge to the poor a common dwelling upon the earth."
Christ gives the serious warnings of the dangers of greed in Luke 12:15 - "Beware, and be on guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones writes:
"These earthly treasures are so powerful that they grip the entire personality. They grip a man's heart, his mind and his will; they tend to affect his spirit, his soul and his whole being. Whatever realm of life we may be looking at, or thinking about, we shall find these things are there. Everyone is affected by them; they are a terrible danger."
If greed and love for earthly possessions cause us to neglect the love and concern for others, let us be reminded of the full-extent of love seen in the work of Christ. Paul, reminds us of this in one of his epistles.
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." - Philippians 2:5-8 (emphasis added)
There is nothing we can do on this earth, sacrificially, that amounts to the extent of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf. The King of kings, Himself, willingly gave the glories He had possessed since eternity past, so He might redeem a sinful people. As redeemed people, let us show the faithfulness and grace of God, not in that we continue to lust and covet possessions because they are sins forgiven, but in that we give sacrificially to cease the need among our brothers and sisters, because "the love of Christ controls us" (2 Cor. 5:14). We can expect the world to have the 3/97 wealth discrepancy; let us pray that the church does not follow suit.
______________________________________
"And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need." - Acts 4:32-35 (emphasis added)
I once heard that 3% of the world's population owns 97% of its wealth. This is hard to imagine, living in America. After all, I see that nearly everyone has a car, a house, and an education. Credit has made it hard to know who has debt and who doesn't; all I see is material possession, after material possession. The desire to "look great and feel great" because we "deserve more" has usurped all other concerns. We are bombarded with advertisements conveying the necessity of wants, not the necessity of needs. These lusts have triggered us to forget what the true reality is - poverty-stricken nations living off $2/day.
I would be dishonest in neglecting to mention the affect this has had in Christian America, both at a microscopic, individual basis, and a macroscopic, congregational basis. Maybe being a Christian in America is hard, because it is more difficult to be content than it is to be lush. Could it be argued that the standard of living surpasses the standard of being content?
Acts 4:32-35 causes us to take a step back from the constant struggle to "get more." It describes the early church as having "one heart and soul." There is thus a natural overflow of giving everything one had. The result, being, not one in need. Verse 33 shows how the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of Christ, which is evidenced by how "there was not a needy person among them" in verse 34. What was the cost of not having a needy person in the church? All owners of housing and land sold their property for the sake of the church! Perhaps, it could be inferred that being a testimony of the resurrection and extreme sacrificial-giving are so closely linked. We see Christ, Himself, echo these very sentiments in Luke 12:32-34, during His discourse about genuinely seeking the Father's kingdom, and the promise of having needs met.
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Luke 12:32-34
Fully recognizing the blessing of the Father's kingdom increases the willingness to give sacrificially. Yet, there is such a discrepancy between those who have and those who need, even in the church. Upon reading Acts 4:32-35, John Calvin commented:
"Now we must have hearts that are harder than iron if we are not moved by the reading of this narrative. In those days the believers gave abundantly of what was their own; we in our day are content not just jealously to retain what we possess, but callously to rob others. They sold their own possession in those days; in our day it is the lust to purchase that reigns supreme. At that time love made each man's own possessions common property for those in need; in our day such is the inhumanity of many, that they begrudge to the poor a common dwelling upon the earth."
Christ gives the serious warnings of the dangers of greed in Luke 12:15 - "Beware, and be on guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones writes:
"These earthly treasures are so powerful that they grip the entire personality. They grip a man's heart, his mind and his will; they tend to affect his spirit, his soul and his whole being. Whatever realm of life we may be looking at, or thinking about, we shall find these things are there. Everyone is affected by them; they are a terrible danger."
If greed and love for earthly possessions cause us to neglect the love and concern for others, let us be reminded of the full-extent of love seen in the work of Christ. Paul, reminds us of this in one of his epistles.
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." - Philippians 2:5-8 (emphasis added)
There is nothing we can do on this earth, sacrificially, that amounts to the extent of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf. The King of kings, Himself, willingly gave the glories He had possessed since eternity past, so He might redeem a sinful people. As redeemed people, let us show the faithfulness and grace of God, not in that we continue to lust and covet possessions because they are sins forgiven, but in that we give sacrificially to cease the need among our brothers and sisters, because "the love of Christ controls us" (2 Cor. 5:14). We can expect the world to have the 3/97 wealth discrepancy; let us pray that the church does not follow suit.
#1
Like most of the (unimportant) decisions in my life, I decided to create a blog on a whim. I figured my life was not important enough to constantly twitter about it, yet was not bland enough to contain my thoughts on an occasional Facebook status update. This would probably be the best way to "speak my mind" because, quite frankly, I don't speak very well. Fleeting time moves too fast for my mouth, and my mind too slow for my lips.
Perhaps I am following the essence of Proverbs 17:27; after all, restraint comes in the form of the "delete" key. Hopefully my mind can filter out my insalubrious thoughts. Like the dirty filter in a humidifier, my mind doesn't work too well when its filter is dirty. Discernment is of the utmost necessity in all situations, and the Lord may graciously grant through the means of prayer. Hopefully this may be a blessing, and not a burden. We'll see how this goes...
Perhaps I am following the essence of Proverbs 17:27; after all, restraint comes in the form of the "delete" key. Hopefully my mind can filter out my insalubrious thoughts. Like the dirty filter in a humidifier, my mind doesn't work too well when its filter is dirty. Discernment is of the utmost necessity in all situations, and the Lord may graciously grant through the means of prayer. Hopefully this may be a blessing, and not a burden. We'll see how this goes...
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