Avoiding Cultish Tactics

It struck me today during a morning walk that cults remain as popular as ever, and this reveals their tactics can be powerful and effective.  The Merriam-Webster dictionary explains the history of the word "cult" like this:  "Cult, which shares an origin with culture and cultivate, comes from the Latin cultus, a noun with meanings ranging from "tilling, cultivation" to "training or education" to "adoration."...The earliest known uses of the word, recorded in the 17th century, broadly denoted "worship." From here cult came to refer to a specific branch of a religion or the rites and practices of that branch, as in "the cult of Dionysus."... Finally, by the 19th century, the word came to be used of "a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious."  Though cults can be diverse, they employ many of the same tactics because they are effective to help manipulate people and retain control.

One thing I have generally observed among various cults is to place godlike status upon a person or an organisation that is not God.  This person or group is not to be questioned, for their authority puts them above reproach, to be reverenced and honoured.  It is the leader who is revered--not Jesus Christ--and assumes His role as leader, teacher and master.  When a group rallies around this leader who is divinely inspired, claims to be a prophet, and reveals truths that resonate in people, they choose to follow.  Usually some holy text like the Bible is used to reinforce the messages, lifestyle, actions, terminology and discipline that is meted out.  Taken out of context, these unorthodox and heretical doctrines work to cultivate fear in people pressure to give, serve, to conform or face expulsion from a group that has become a lifeline, purpose and their hope for unrealised dreams.

While the church, the Body of Jesus Christ, is not a cult, I have seen churches that employ similar tactics that have been quite popular and successful.  For instance, I skimmed through a discipleship manual recently which bore a resemblance to cultic tactics through major points of emphasis that had nothing to do with Jesus, being born again by faith in Him, being transformed within by a relationship with God, or loving one another.  The message conveyed was disciples are revealed by what they do in the church and for the church--rather than disciples are born again by grace through faith in Jesus, and their good works are evidence of who they are in Christ.  The manual drew heavily from the "shepherding movement" which seems to have maintained popularity among people who prefer to be told what to do and how to live.  Some long for a spiritual mentor because they want to look to a person (other than Christ) who will assist them in some way, hoping to leech wisdom, belonging and security through rules and authoritarian accountability.  Weary people end up being loaded with heavy burdens and growing disillusioned because they do not comprehend they can have a relationship with the living God themselves through faith in Jesus Christ--whose yoke is easy and burden is light.

People want to be part of a group or church they believe does things right, and some present themselves as the only real church.  This claim of being exclusively right can cross the line into cultish tactics.  It is possible for genuine believers to have misplaced loyalty (cultivated in cults), like when Eldad and Medad prophesied in the camp and young Joshua asked for Moses to forbid them.  Moses meekly put a swift end to such nonsense in Numbers 11:29:  "Then Moses said to him, "Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD'S people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!"  Luke 9:49 shows this tendency to control others was in Christ's apostles as well:  "Now John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us."  While I do not know John's heart, he viewed this man as out of line because he was not in their group--he was a competitor!  Perhaps in John's mind if the man submitted to following Jesus with John and the other apostles, then perhaps permission could be granted.  Jesus corrected John in Luke 9:50:  "But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side."  We ought to be careful we are zealous for Jesus Christ more than a particular group or preacher.  Oh, that all God's people put their spiritual gifts to good use to glorify Him, and that we would not view ourselves as in competition with other people or churches!

Discipleship is not another word for a "church member in good standing."  Jesus Himself provided hallmarks of being a disciple we ought to take to heart as those born again by faith in Him.  John 8:31-32 says, "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  Jesus said in John 15:7-9, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. ⁹ "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love."  Jesus told the multitudes there was a personal cost to follow Him in Luke 14:26-27 & 33:  "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple... ³³ So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."

True disciples of Christ are not revealed by their role in a church or serving in some capacity but those who hear Christ's words and heed, abide in His word, pray according to His will, and abide in His love.  Having been filled with the Holy Spirit, washed from sin and empowered to do God's will, we are enabled and equipped by God to do what we could never do in our own strength:  put our love of Christ above the love of family or ourselves, take up our cross to follow Jesus, willing to give up everything for His sake.  Being a disciple is a matter of the heart, and we shouldn't employ cultish tactics to force conformity when spiritual transformation is necessary by the Gospel.

Speaking Divine Truth

I am blessed and encouraged by Christians who are intelligent, gracious apologists who take an unapologetic stand on the truth of God's word.  Exploring perspectives and beliefs personally can be beneficial, and God can use these interactions to draw people to Himself.  As we are led by the Holy Spirit, we are Christ's ambassadors to bring the message of reconciliation of sinners to God through the Gospel.  It is important we emphasise the Gospel is not our opinion or view in a sea of options, but Jesus Christ is the exclusive way to eternal life, the Truth in a world of error.  Spurgeon made this point very well in a sermon titled "Gospel Missions," that the divine revelation aspect of our Christian faith can be neglected:

"...I conceive that a great mistake has been made in not affirming the divinity of our mission, and standing fast by the truth, as being a revelation, not to be proved by men, but to be believed; always holding out this:  "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned."  I am often grieved when I read of our missionaries holding disputes with the Brahmins; and it is somethings said that the missionary has beaten the Brahmin because he kept his temper, and so the gospel had gained great honour by the dispute.  I take it, that the gospel was lowered by the controversy.  I think the missionary should say:  "I am come to tell you something which the one God of heaven and earth hath said, and I tell you, before I announce it, that if you believe it you shall be saved, and if not you shall be damned.  I am come to tell you that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became flesh to die for poor unworthy man, that through his mediation, and death, and suffering the people of God might be delivered.  Now, if you will listen to me, you shall hear the word of God: if you do not, I shake the dust off my feet against you, and go somewhere else.

Look at the history of every imposture; it shows that the claim of authority insures a great degree of progress.  How did Mahommed come to have so strong a religion in his time?  He was all alone, and he went into the market-place and said, "I have received a revelation from heaven."  It was a lie, but he persuaded men to believe it.  He said, "I have a revelation from heaven."  People looked at his face; they saw that he looked upon them earnestly as believing what he said, and some five or six of them joined him.  Did he prove what he said?  Not he.  "You must," he said, "believe what I say, or there is no Paradise for you."  There is a power in that kind of thing; and wherever he went his statement was believed, not on the ground of his reasoning, but on his authority, which he declared to be from Allah; and, in a century after he first proclaimed his imposture, a thousand sabres had flashed from a thousand sheathes, and his word had been proclaimed through Africa, Turkey, Asia, and even in Spain.  The man proclaimed authority,--he claimed divinity; therefore he had power.  Take, again, the increase of Mormonism.  What has been its strength?  Simply this,--the assertion of power from heaven.  That claim is made, and the people believe it, and now they have missionaries in almost every country of the habitable globe, and the book of Mormon is translated into many languages.  Though there never could be a delusion more transparent, or a counterfeit less skilful and more lying upon the very surface, yet this simple pretension to power has been the means of carrying power with it.

Now, my brethren, we have power; we are God's ministers; we preach God's truth; the great judge of heaven and earth has told us the truth, and what have we to do to dispute with worms of the dust?  Why should we tremble and fear them?  Let us stand out and say:  "We are the servants of the living God; we tell unto you what God has told us, and we warn you, if you reject our testimony, it shall be better for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you."  If the people cast that away, we have done our work.  We have nothing to do with making them believe; ours is to testify of Christ everywhere, to preach and proclaim the gospel to all men." (Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. Spurgeon’s Sermons: V. 1-2. Baker Books, 2004. pages 333-335)

Reason and Faith

I am blessed there are countless people in this world that are more intelligent and learned than I am.  My life and perspective has been greatly enriched by their contributions--even when I was not in agreement with those with different biblical interpretations and conclusions.  This has goaded me to dive into the Scripture to ensure I am convinced in my own mind concerning doctrines as well as I can and worked to sharpen my own views with greater precision.  Like a sharp blade requires maintenance to operate at peak performance, so a biblical worldview is improved by sound doctrine put into practice.  Carbon steel knives rust simply by exposure to the air, and unless we are grounded in God's word inhabiting this sin-steeped world tends to dull us.

Recently I read an abridged letter sent by Galileo Galilei (yes, THE Galileo) to the Grand Duchess Christina to defend his position from those who criticised his scientific discoveries as incorrect and heretical when they had little to no knowledge of mathematics or astronomy.  At some points I feel he articulated skillfully what I have felt at times concerning those who dismiss wholesale physically demonstratable evidence because of their own interpretation of a verse or word of the Bible.  Galileo held God and the Bible in very high esteem, yet some in the church branded him a heretic because the hard evidence he presented ran contrary to their assumptions--that he ought to abandon reason and evidence for spurious interpretations of Scripture.  He quoted an "...ecclesiastic of the most eminent degree: "That the intention of the Holy Ghost is to teach us how one goes to heaven, not how heaven goes."  Rather than being hemmed in, Galileo was free to delve into mathematics and all the sciences, giving God the glory for the order and meticulous details he came to comprehend.  He went on to write:

"It is the function of expositors to seek out the true senses of scriptural texts. These will unquestionably accord with the physical conclusions which manifest sense and necessary demonstrations have previously made certain to us. Now the Bible, as has been remarked, admits in many places expositions that are remote from the signification of the words for reasons we have already given. Moreover, we are unable to affirm that all interpreters of the Bible speak by Divine inspiration for if that were so there would exist no differences among them about the sense of a given passage. Hence I should think it would be the part of prudence not to permit anyone to usurp scriptural texts and force them in some way to maintain any physical conclusion to be true, when at some future time the senses and demonstrative or necessary reasons may show the contrary. Who indeed will set bounds to human ingenuity? Who will assert that everything in the universe capable of being perceived is already discovered and known? Let us rather confess quite truly that "Those truths which we know are very few in comparison with those which we do not know."

 We have it from the very mouth of the Holy Ghost that God delivered up the world to disputations, so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end. In my opinion no one, in contradiction to that dictum, should close the road to free philosophizing about mundane and physical things, as if everything had already been discovered and revealed with certainty. Nor should it be considered rash not to be satisfied with those opinions which have become common. No one should be scorned in physical disputes for not holding to the opinions which happen to please other people best, especially concerning problems which have been debated among the greatest philosophers for thousands of years. One of these is the stability of the sun mobility of the earth, a doctrine believed by Pythagoras and all his followers, by Heracleides of Pontus (who was one of them), by Philolaus, the teacher of Plato, and by Plato himself according to Aristotle..." (Internet Modern History Sourcebook, Public Domain, © Paul Halsall Aug 1997)

It is evident by this letter Galileo was troubled by coming to a conclusion concerning the physical world based on factual evidence by careful observation (the movement of the earth around the sun), only to have his discoveries dismissed entirely without consideration or rebuttal by other physical evidence contrary to his theories.  As Galileo intonated, mathematics is not a matter of faith:  in a sense he said if his sums were wrong, he would be pleased to humbly receive correction.  Those who castigated him could at least confirm his errors by showing their work with the correct solution.  To dismiss his sound arithmetic with unsound Bible interpretation was problematic--and being accused of heresy for utilising his God-given skill and understanding was repugnant.  God has provided the heavens which declare the glory of God, and the natural sciences do this incredibly well with a God-honouring lens.  Our Creator has also provided the Bible to reveal Himself to us personally, and thus in matters of faith and the observable world the LORD has supplied all the evidence required to know the truth.  Reason and faith are not contrary to one another but pair perfectly in the Christian faith.  Ours is not a blind faith, for we are those whose eyes have been opened and born again into a relationship with God--who sees and knows all.

Look to Jesus!

Jesus had a man run up to Him and ask, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"  Jesus responded with a question in Mark 10:18:  "So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God."  Jesus did not deny He was good, but if He truly was good (as the man suggested but did not yet believe) He was indeed God.  It is no surprise the Jewish man thought he needed to do something to inherit eternal life, for he had been raised keeping the Law of Moses that gave no certainty of eternal life whatsoever.  Surely something needed to be done, for though he was a son of Abraham the enthusiastic man had no assurance of salvation.  This sounds a bit like the testimony of C.H. Spurgeon who was raised to read the Bible and taught of God, yet needed to wrestle awhile until he submitted his will to God by faith in Christ Jesus.  Spurgeon wrote:

"I can remember the time when my sins first stared me in the face.  I thought myself the most accursed of all men.  I had not committed any very great open transgressions against God; but I recollected that I had been well trained and tutored, and I thought my sins were thus greater than other people's.  I cried to God to have mercy; and I feared that he would not pardon me.  Month after month, I cried to God, and he did not hear me, and I knew not what it was to be saved.  Sometimes I was so weary of the world that I desired to die; but then I recollected that there was a worse world after this, and that it would be an ill matter to rush before my Maker unprepared.  At times I wickedly thought God a most heartless tyrant, because he did not answer my prayer; and then, at others, I thought, "I deserve his displeasure; if he sends me to hell, he will be just."  But I remember the hour when I stepped into a little place of worship, and saw a tall, thin man step into the pulpit:  I have never seen him from that day, and probably never shall, till we meet in heaven.  He opened the Bible and read, with a feeble voice, "Look unto me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and beside me there is none else."  Ah! thought I, I am one of the ends of the earth; and then turning round, and fixing his gaze on me, as if he knew me, the minister said, "Look, look, look!  Why, I thought I had a great deal to do, but I found it was only to look.  I thought I had a garment to spin out for myself; but I found that if I looked, Christ would give me a garment.  Look, sinner, that is to be saved.  Look unto him, all ye ends of the earth, and be saved.  That is what the Jews did, when Moses held up the brazen serpent.  He said, "Look!" and they looked.  The serpent might be twisting round them, and they might be nearly dead; but they simply locked, and the moment they looked, the serpent dropped off, and they were healed.  Look to Jesus, sinner.  "None but Jesus can do helpless sinners good." (Spurgeon, C.H. (2004) Spurgeon’s sermons: V. 1-2. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. pages 318-319)

There is something every sinner must do to inherit eternal life, and it is to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  A Philippian jailor asked a similar question to Paul and Silas in Acts 16:30-31:  "And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" ³¹ So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."  We cannot do anything to save ourselves; we can do nothing to inherit eternal life.  It is impossible for us to cleanse ourselves of sin.  But Jesus has done everything for sinners to be redeemed--saved from hell and granted entrance into eternal glory--purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ by the Gospel.  God's word that ministered salvation to Spurgeon by God's grace is extended to every sinner today:  look unto Jesus with faith in Him and be saved.  He has fixed His loving gaze on us sinners, not willing any should perish.  Will you look to Him today for salvation?

The Strength of Sin

Blessed be the LORD God who has provided the remedy for our sin by atoning for it with the blood of Jesus.  In a sermon preached concerning the sting of sin and how the strength of it is the law (1 Corinthians 15:56-57), C.H. Spurgeon did well in building a strong case that every person has a deadly problem with sin we cannot shake by anything we do.  Sin goes deeper than our words and actions but our very thoughts teem with sin we have been steeped in from birth.  Justice can do nothing to help us, because the Law makes no allowance for mercy in judgment.  Spurgeon wrote:

"Before thou canst destroy sin thou must in some way satisfy the law.  Sin cannot be removed by thy tears or by thy deeds, for the law is its strength; and until thou has satisfied the vengeance of the law, until thou hast paid the uttermost farthing of its demands, my sting cannot be taken away, for the very strength of sin is in the law."  Now, I must try and explain this doctrine that the strength of sin is the law.  Most men think that sin has no strength at all.  "Oh," say many, "we may have sinned very much, but we will repent, and we will be better for the rest of our lives; no doubt God is merciful, and he will forgive us."  And we hear many divines often speak of sin as if it were a very venial thing.  Inquire of them what is a man to do?  There is no deep repentance required, no real inward workings of divine grace, no casting himself upon the blood of Christ.  They never tell us about a complete atonement having been made.  They have, indeed, some shadowy idea of an atonement, that Christ died just as a matter of form to satisfy justice; but as to any literal taking away of our sins, and suffering the actual penalty for us, they do not consider that God's law requires any such thing.  I suppose they do not, for I never hear them assert the positive satisfaction and substitution of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But without that, how can we take away the strength of sin?"

The strength of sin is in the law, first, in this respect, that the law being spiritual, it is quite impossible for us to live without sin.  If the law were merely carnal, and referred to the flesh; it if simply related to open and overt actions, I question, even then, whether we could live without sin; but when I turn over the ten commandments and read, "Thou shalt not covet," I know it refers even to the wish of my heart.  It is said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery;" but it is said, also, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath already committed that sin.  So that it is not merely the act, it is the thought; it is not the deed simply, it is the very imagination, that is a sin.  Oh now, sinner, how canst thou get rid of sin?  Thy very thoughts, the inward workings of thy mind, these are crimes--this is guilt and desperate wickedness.  Is there not, now, strength in sin?  Hath not the law put a potency in it?  Has it not nerved sin with such a power that all thy strength cannot hope to wipe away the black enormity of thy transgression?"

Then, again, the law puts strength into sin in this respect--that it will not abate one tittle of its stern demands.  It says to every man who breaks it, "I will not forgive you."  You hear persons talk about God's mercy.  Now, if they do not believe in the gospel, they must be under the law; but where in the law do we read of mercy?  If you will read the commandments through, there is a curse after them, but there is not provision made for pardon.  The law itself speaks not of that; it thunders out without the slightest mitigation, "The soul that sinneth it shall die."  If any of you desire to be saved by works, remember one sin will spoil your righteousness; one dust of this earth's dross will spoil the beauty of that perfect righteousness which God requires at your hands.  If ye would be saved by works, men and brethren, ye must be as holy as the angels, ye must be as pure and immaculate as Jesus; for the law requires perfection, and nothing short of it; and God, with unflinching vengeance, will smite every man low who cannot bring him a perfect obedience..." (Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. Spurgeon’s Sermons: V. 1-2. Baker Books, 2004. pages 285-287)

Spurgeon masterfully cut off all excuses and exits people utilise to deny culpability before God and demonstrated by additional points mankind's utter powerlessness to purify self from sin.  We do not realise how profoundly deep our malady is, how bent our minds and desires naturally are, and we are incapable of delivering ourselves from sin's corrupting influence.  God's mercy has been revealed in the Gospel, that God has sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to provide atonement for our sin.  When we were sinners and without hope, God sent a Saviour as it is written in Titus 3:4-7, "But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, ⁵ not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."  Accepting the sharpness of God's law prepares our hearts to repent and receive God's grace, forgiveness and salvation.

Growth in Grace

After being born again by faith in Jesus, Paul desired to know Jesus, the power of Christ's resurrection, and the fellowship of Christ's sufferings by being conformed to His death.  This was God's will for Paul and all believers, and Paul also acknowledged this sanctifying pursuit remained a work in progress in his life as he wrote in Philippians 3:12:  "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me."  As Paul pursued Christ by faith and obedience, the finish line remained ahead of him.  Paul did not speak as someone who had crossed the line and now had advice for fellow disciples:  he continued to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus by grace.

As a Pharisee, Paul had arrived:  he had achieved in obtaining a rare position of honour and influence among the most respected elders in Jewish society.  Legalism can offer this superficial status, yet a relationship with God leads us by His grace.  Grace is what makes Christianity distinct from religions and authoritarian cultures in the world.  I like Philip Yancy's comments concerning Leo Tolstoy in his book What's So Amazing About Grace?:

"Tolstoy drew a contrast between Jesus' approach and that of all other religions:

The test of observance of external religious teachings is whether or not our conduct conforms with their decrees [Observe the Sabbath.  Get circumcised.  Tithe.]  Such conformity is indeed possible.

 The test of observance of Christ's teachings is our consciousness of our failure to attain an ideal perfection.  The degree to which we draw near this perfection cannot be seen; all we can see is the extent of our deviation.

A man who professes an external law is like someone standing in the light of a lantern fixed to a post.  It is light all round him, but there is nowhere further for him to walk.  A man who professes the teaching of Christ is like a man carrying a lantern before him on a long, or not so long, pole:  the light is in front of him, always lighting up fresh ground and always encouraging him to walk further.

In other words, the proof of spiritual maturity is not how "pure" you are but awareness of your impurity.  That very awareness opens the door to grace." (Yancey, Philip. What’s so Amazing about Grace? Zondervan, 1997. pages 197-198)

The Light of the World Jesus Christ, coupled with the illumination of the Holy Spirit and God's word, continually guides us in our pursuit of Jesus in a relationship governed by His love and grace.  Because Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life we receive definite guidance for our lives and personal convictions we should hold to--without setting up an arbitrary standard before which others must submit to be acceptable.  Legalism leads to bondage, self-righteousness and condemnation of others, while Jesus provides a whole new way of living that makes us free indeed.  It is a harder way (because it requires faith in God), but an infinitely better and fulfilling way where genuine spiritual growth is possible by God's grace we all desperately need.

God Said So

There is no book like the Bible, a book read, studied and discussed more than any other.  The profound revelations of God's word provokes deep thoughts, careful consideration and personal introspection.  Over the storied history of thousands of years, I can hardly appreciate the immeasurable, positive impact the Scriptures have had on the lives of people and nations.  Because God's thoughts are not our thoughts nor His ways our ways, there are difficult passages which are hard to understand.  By faith in God who has revealed Himself, when faced with verses beyond our understanding, our thirst for knowledge is satiated by returning to what we can know about God beyond doubt.

In Yancey's What's So Amazing about Grace?, he mentioned a persistent question many people have had over the years and ways people tried to answer it:  how God decided which foods were clean and unclean under Mosaic Law.

"God's brief explanation allows much room for interpretation, and scholars have long debated the reasons behind the reason.  Some have pointed out the health benefits of the Levitical laws.  The ban against pork removed the threat of trichinosis, and a ban against shellfish kept the Israelites safe from the viruses sometimes found in oysters and mussels.  Others note that many of the forbidden animals are scavengers, feeding on carrion.  Still others observe that specific laws seem directed against the customs of the Israelites' pagan neighbors...Anthropologist Mary Douglas goes further, noting that in each case God forbids animals that show an anomaly." (Yancey, Philip. What’s so Amazing about Grace? Zondervan, 1997. page 149)

While these interpretations may have their merits, it is important to acknowledge what other Bible passages have to say on the subject.  Paul, a man raised observing the dietary requirements of the Law of Moses, after coming to Christ in faith said in 1 Timothy 4:4-5:  "For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; ⁵ for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."  Paul says on God's authority every creature of God is good, having been created by Him.  Even food offered to idols did not physically contaminate the eater who ate by thanksgiving to God.  The uncleanness exposed by the Law was not particular animals, but took aim to expose the uncleanness of the human heart, our tendency to lean on our own understanding rather than walking by faith and obedience to God.  God did not provide the reasons He deemed some animals clean and others unclean--which can seem arbitrary to us.

Yet we know God does not do anything arbitrarily; He has purposes and plans in what He chooses to do and not do.  If we as parents are justified to tell our children right from wrong because we say so, shouldn't we allow God this latitude without us questioning Him or making our submission contingent on our agreement with His reasons given for why?  If God wanted to tell us why He certainly could have, and perhaps the distinction of clean and unclean animals was merely His means to reveal the uncleanness in humans who question, doubt and disobey Him rather than simply believing and obeying Him!  The New Testament shows this is the primary purpose of Law, for by the Law is the knowledge of sin.  It was never the pork or shellfish that were the problems in themselves:  the problem God's Law exposed was the unbelief, pride and selfishness in the human heart.

When I consider the Law of Moses and any passage that seems arbitrary, Proverbs 3:5-6 holds forth a principle that was relevant for Jews under Law and relevant for all today who are in Christ by faith:  "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."  In God's wisdom He did not explain everything or the reasons behind all His commands, and in doing so mankind was given a choice to trust God or lean on our own understanding.  Those who know and trust God are blessed beyond measure, for He is with us and shall direct our paths.

Faith and Feelings

I leafed through an old book yesterday titled Arrows and Anecdotes, a compilation of stories and sayings from the life and ministry of D.L. Moody.  I came upon one anecdote I especially liked titled "Faith and Feelings," and hopefully it will be useful for all who read it.

"One night, when preaching in Philadelphia, right down by the side of the pulpit there was a young lady, whose eyes were riveted on me, as if she were drinking in every word.  It is precious to preach to people like that; they generally get good, even if the sermon be poor.  I got interested in her, and after I had done talking I went and spoke to her.  "Are you a Christian?"  "No; I wish I was; I have been seeking Jesus for three years."  I said, "There must be some mistake."  She looked strangely at me, and said, "Don't you believe me?"  "Well, no doubt you thought you were seeking Jesus; but it don't take an anxious sinner three years to meet a willing Saviour."  "What am I to do, then?"  "The matter is, you are trying to do something; you must just believe on the Lord Jesus Christ."  "Oh, I am sick and tired of the word 'Believe, believe, believe!'  I don't know what it is."  "Well," I said, "we'll change the word; take 'trust.'"  "If I say, 'I'll trust him,' will he save me?"  "No; I don't say that; you may say a thousand things, but he will if you do trust him."  "Well," she said, "I do trust him; but," she added in the same breath, "I don't feel any better."  "Ah, I've got it now!  You've been looking for feelings for three years instead of for Jesus.  Faith is up above, not down here."  People are always looking for feelings.  They are getting up a new translation of the Bible here, and if the men who are translating it would only put in feelings, instead of faith, what a rush there would be for that Bible.  But if you look from Genesis to Revelation you cannot find feelings attached to salvation.  We must rise above feelings.  So I said to this lady, "You cannot control your feelings; if you could what a time you'd have!  I know I would never have the toothache or the headache." (Lobb, John, and D. L. Moody. Arrows and Anecdotes. Henry Gurley, 1877. pages 149-150)

From my observations, as this seeker was frustrated for seeking an arbitrary feeling, Christians can seek particular experiences--especially ones other Christians have spoken about.  I cannot tell you how many believers have been sidetracked and cast down over the lack of an experience.  Such can be like a diner in a restaurant who is overwhelmed by the menu and sees a plate of food set down before a fellow diner and exclaims, "I want what they are having."  We can also be like people who make their menu choice based on a picture, and when the food is plated and served it looks nothing like the picture and we lament not going with our usual order.  If we make the spiritual experiences of others or the satisfaction of our expectations our pursuit, God is gracious to prevent us from the satisfaction only possible by faith in Jesus and submission to Him.  This profound joy and rest is more than a feeling or experience--though our relationship with Christ involves both on the basis of God's word.  Let us be those who trust Christ and exercise faith by obedience in Him, and He will help sort out our feelings as well.

Sovereign God's Will

I started reading through a book recently titled Christ and Human Suffering by E. Stanley Jones, and there was an interesting chapter that compared various worldviews along with Christianity on the view of suffering.  I was particularly intrigued when the views described concerning other religions converged with the outlook of some Christians I have observed.  It is possible, despite our understanding or best efforts, for genuine believers to lean towards secular, humanistic or religious approaches to suffering rather than a biblical one that walks in step with Jesus by faith in Him.

For instance, Stanley wrote concerning the "Moslem" approach:

"The Moslem attitude toward suffering is perhaps simpler than any other attitude.  The Moslem is impressed with the sovereignty of God.  All that happens is his will.  He has predetermined and predestined all that happens.  The good and the evil that come upon us are alike his will.  The attitude of the faithful is to submit to that will.  Islam literally means submission to the will of God.  The Moslem view of suffering, therefore, is to the accept it as the will of God and submit to it...Islam, great and noble in many ways, has nevertheless sterilized the life of vast portions of the East, because its acceptance of inequalities and sufferings as the will of God lays a paralyzing hand on any civilization that adopts it.  It is an opiate." (Jones, E. Stanley. Christ and Human Suffering. 1933. New York, The Abingdon Press, pp. 60–61. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.‌)

I have observed Christians who, when awed by the omniscience and sovereignty of God, can adopt a fatalistic view of God's will that credits (or blames!) Him without consideration of human agency or God's redemptive power.  One can mistakenly assume everything that happens must be God's will when God allows human beings to act contrary to His will continually by sin (2 Peter 3:9).  The Bible says clearly it is not God's will any should perish, yet He sent His own Son Jesus to enter humanity and taste death for every sinner.  By paying the price atonement requires with a righteous sacrifice, by death God could swallow death forever and offer eternal life for all who trust in Him.

Christians ought to be impressed with the sovereignty of God, but we should never use His sovereignty as a cloak for our sin of doing what we please and assuming God approves of it, or to shirk our responsibilities when God has chosen us to do His will revealed to us in His word.  Because God is a Saviour and sovereign He is able to redeem what was intended by man or Satan for evil and use it to do great good.  God's sovereignty ought to move us to submission under His loving and gentle hand even when circumstances feel harsh and painful, for faith in our good God enables us to stand according to His will.  God is sovereign, and has also given people the freedom to choose how we will respond to the circumstances of life.  God has provided something infinitely greater than an opiate for our pains by His presence and promises, and He empowers us to be fruitful and spiritually prosperous by His grace with all He allows.

We are not made noble by suffering alone, but it is noble to suffer and continue to praise God with gratitude and thanksgiving of which He alone is worthy.  Pain can cloud our outlook and negatively colour our attitude, yet the love, grace and goodness of God provides comfort and peace beyond words for those who choose to entrust their lives into His hands.  By faith in Christ we know God, and knowing we are known and loved by Him shifts our perspective to seek Him and to do His will He helps us to do as 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says:  "Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Power of the Holy Spirit

 I was blessed to read a sermon by C.H. Spurgeon which exhorted believers to rely upon the Holy Spirit to do the impossible, to perfectly accomplish what we could never do by our own efforts.  May you be encouraged in knowing God and experiencing the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus.  Here is an excerpt in the conclusion of the sermon preached long ago but remains as relevant as ever:

"The power of the Holy Spirit is your bulwark, and all his omnipotence defends you.  Can your enemies overcome omnipotence? then they can conquer you.  Can they wrestle with Deity, and hurl him to the ground? then they might conquer you.  For the power of the Spirit is our power; the power of the Spirit is our might.

Once again, Christians, if this is the power of the Spirit, why should you doubt anything?  There is your son.  There is that wife of yours, for whom you have supplicated so frequently; do not doubt the Spirit's power.  "Though he tarry, wait for him."  There is thy husband, O holy woman! and thou hast wrestled for his soul.  And though he is ever so hardened and desperate a wretch, and treats thee ill, there is power in the Spirit.  And, O ye who have come from barren churches, with scarcely a leaf upon the tree, do not doubt the power of the Spirit to raise you up.  For it shall be a "pasture for flocks, a den of wild asses," open but deserted, until the Spirit is poured out from on high.  And then the parched ground shall be made a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water; and in the habitations of dragons, where each lay shall be grass with reeds and rushes.  And, O ye members of Park Street! ye who remember what your God has done for you especially, never distrust the power of the Spirit.  Ye have seen the wilderness blossom like Carmel, ye have seen the desert blossom like the rose, trust him for the future.  Then go out and labour with this conviction, that the power of the Holy Ghost is able to do anything.  Go to your Sunday School; go to your tract distribution; go to your missionary enterprise; go your preaching in your rooms, with the conviction that the power of the Spirit is our great help.

And now, lastly, to you sinners.  What is there to be said to you about this power of the Spirit?  Why, to me, there is some hope for some of you.  I cannot save you; I cannot get at you.  I make you cry sometimes--you wipe your eyes, and it is all over.  But I know my Master can.  That is my consolation.  Chief of sinners, there is hope for thee!  This power can save you as well as anybody else.  It is able to break your heart, though it is an iron one; to make your eyes run with tears, though they have been like rocks before.  His power is able this morning, if he will, to change your heart, to turn the current of all your ideas; to make you at once a child of God, to justify you in Christ.  There is power enough in the Holy Spirit.  ye are not straightened in him, but in your own bowels.  He is able to bring sinners to Jesus; he is able to make you willing in the day of his power.  Are you willing this morning? has he gone so far as to make you desire his name; to make you wish for Jesus?  Then, O sinner! whilst he draws you, say, "Draw me, I am wretched without thee."  Follow him, follow him; and, while he leads, tread you in his footsteps, and rejoice that he has begun a good work in you, for there is an evidence that he will continue it even unto the end.  And, O desponding one! put thy trust in the power of the Spirit.  Rest on the blood of Jesus, and thy soul is safe, not only now, but throughout eternity.  God bless you, my hearers.  Amen." (Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. Spurgeon’s Sermons: V. 1-2. Baker Books, 2004. pages 131-133)

Read God's Word

I read a couple of C.H. Spurgeon sermons today, and as usual, they were a rich spiritual feast.  What I found compelling and challenging was how he strongly called out professing believers who attended his church who did not regularly read the Bible.  Spurgeon had no quarrel with supposed freethinkers or those of a different perspective, but as a preacher of the Book he knew to be God's word said, "...There is never any necessity for Christian ministers to make a point of bringing forward infidel arguments in order to answer them.  It is the greatest folly in the world...Let men of the world learn error of themselves; do not let us be propagators of their falsehoods." (Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. Spurgeon’s Sermons: V. 1-2. Baker Books, 2004. page 27)

Spurgeon reserved his strongest rebukes in his sermon for professing, churchgoing Christians who were not in the regular practice of reading the Bible when it is God's word written to us.  He took aim at those who watered down the Word by trying to make it more palatable when it was intended to be unpalatable to our natural flesh.  Better than laying guilt on people to goad them to do what they ought to do, Spurgeon minced no words and at the same time shared how attractive, inspiring and remarkable God's word really is.  Toward the end of the message I enjoyed an especially delightful paragraph, and I hope it will work up an appetite in you to read God's word like a hungry man who finally sits down to dinner.

"My friend, the philosopher, says it may be very well for me to urge people to read the Bible; but he thinks there are a great many sciences far more interesting and useful than theology.  Extremely obliged to you for your opinion, sir.  What science do you mean?  The science of dissecting beetles and arranging butterflies?  "No," you say, "certainly not."  The science, then, of arranging stones, and telling us of the strata of the earth?"  "No, not exactly that."  Which science, then?  "Oh, all the sciences," say you, "are better than the science of the Bible."  Ah! sir, that is your opinion; and it is because you are far from God, that you say so.  But the science of Jesus Christ is the most excellent of sciences.  Let no one turn away from the Bible because it is not a book of learning and wisdom.  It is.  Would you know astronomy?  It is here:  it tells you of the Sun of Righteousness and the Star of Bethlehem.  Would you know botany?  It is here:  it tells you of the plant of renown--the Lily of the Valley, and the Rose of Sharon.  Would you know geology and mineralogy?  You shall learn it here:  for you may read of the Rock of Ages, and the White Stone with the name engraven thereon, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.  Would ye study history?  Here is the most ancient of all the records of the history of the human race.  Whate'er your science is, come and bend o'er this book; your science is here.  Come and drink out of this fair fount of knowledge and wisdom, and ye shall find yourselves made wise unto salvation.  Wise and foolish, babes and men, gray-headed sires, youths and maidens--I speak to you, I plead with you, I beg of you respect your Bibles, and search them out, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and these are they which testify of Christ." (Ibid, pages 42-43)

Freethought and True Freedom

Those who read the Bible without faith in God--that He is and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him--will find themselves hopelessly hamstrung, blind and ignorant of the spiritual riches presented to them in God's word.  Those who read Scripture to find fault with God, His Laws or His people will have no problem doing so because mankind's spiritual perceptions are naturally distorted, and there is nothing easier than projecting our faults onto others and justifying ourselves.  Those who willfully deny the truth made evident by God erect endless obstacles for themselves which faith according to God as revealed in His word easily clear away.  I was reminded of this when I thumbed through a book written by an atheist who penned multiple volumes to espouse his hatred of God and defiance of Him.  A learned and intelligent man, no doubt, but lost in a morass of willful unbelief only humility before God can deliver from.

My first tip this book was not exposition of the Ten Commandments but a scathing critique of God and any who trust in Him came from the name of the publisher:  "Freethought Press Association."  My hypothesis was "freethought" was in opposition of what some term being "brainwashed," those who have latched onto religious traditions and beliefs who are assumed incapable of thinking for themselves at all.  Apparently all hope is not lost, for secularists are willing to go to great lengths in the hope of eroding faith of the simple.  It is no wonder such people banded together to form an association, really an antichurch and antichrist organisation to espouse numerous critiques of God and express their disdain for the suggestion of His existence.  It was very easy to affirm my hypothesis in minutes, and a smile formed on my lips as I observed the author predictably hold forth straw man arguments, false equivalence, out of context quotations and the blasphemy of lowering the God of Israel to nothing idols of heathen nations to justify misguided claims.

While the author of this tome felt a level of indignance necessary to goad him to attempt to refute and deconstruct 10 commandments one by one, I feel no such need to refute his work at all because God has already spoken for Himself.  I have no problem with such people:  it is clear such have a problem with God, and any argument I bring forth will do no good.  If someone will not see, I cannot make them see even when I try.  Jesus is the One who opens the eyes of the blind, and praise the LORD He still does so to this day.  Jesus frees us from the bondage to sin and unbelief the "Freethought Press Association" is deceived to think is freedom.  Though secular, it appeared the author laboured under proud illusion the self-righteous Pharisees did when confronted by Jesus Christ, for they believed themselves illuminated and branded Jesus as a deceiver of the people when the opposite was true.  They were deceived to think they knew the way to eternal life when Jesus revealed Himself with countless signs to be the Way, the Truth and the Life--the Way by faith they would not go.

John 8:31-36 says, "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." ³³ They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" ³⁴ Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. ³⁵ And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. ³⁶ Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."  Unbelieving Jews took umbrage with the suggestion the disciples of Jesus who were free (thus insinuating they were not free) for according to their reckoning they had never been in bondage to anyone.  Going back through history, it is amusing they could say this when Hebrews had been in bondage in Egypt for over 400 years and in Babylon for 70 years.  But Jesus knew and perceived the true bondage they suffered throughout their history and currently suffered:  bondage to sin.  Jesus revealed Himself to be God in the flesh, as He proved He was able to forgive sins.  Unbelief is sin, and the Pharisees were in complete bondage to it, though they saw themselves as free.

Jesus taught when a person repents of sin and trusts in Him, He forgives sinners whom He makes born again.  We are all born slaves to sin and as a result face eternal death as sins's wages, and those who are born again by faith in Jesus are made sons of God and receive eternal life as a free gift.  God frees those who trust in Him from sin and makes us free indeed--free to know God and do His will, free to have fellowship with God, to be spiritually fruitful, free to serve God however He leads us by His grace, free to receive correction and repent sincerely, free to forgive and give grace to others, free to enjoy fullness of peace and joy, free to think with divine insight worldly wisdom cannot supply.  The LORD God and His word grant discernment to recognise bondage from true freedom and avoid the woes of Isaiah 5:20-21:  "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! ²¹ Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"  Blessed is the one who sees as God sees, seek to do as God pleases, who affirm the wisdom of God and admit their own folly.  Those who realise they are lost in the dark and come to Jesus as the Light of the World in faith will be made free indeed, but those who are wise in their eyes and lead people from faith in Christ as Saviour (who makes free indeed!) will remain in darkness and bondage.

Water Carriers and Wood Hewers

Often God puts people  in places of leadership or in the spotlight who would rather avoid it.  Dr. Robert E. Speer was one of those people, who for 46 years served as secretary on the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions.  Based on the testimony of his biography, his faithfulness was an inspiration to many who sought to honour him upon his retirement, as the Presbyterian board had an age limit of 70.  As his retirement drew new, he wrote to the editor of a missionary magazine who planned to write an article about him, "In whatever you write, will you not make it just as impersonal as possible?  Let the cause fill the whole picture, and let us water-carriers and wood hewers who have sought to serve it be in our proper place out of sight." (Wheeler, W. Reginald. A Man Sent from God: A Biography of Robert E. Speer. Fleming H. Revell Co, 1956. page 253)

This reticence to public honour is evidence Dr. Speer continued to be small in his own eyes even when others considered him a spiritual giant.  The reference to the work of the ministry being as "water-carriers and wood hewers" takes me back to the Gibeonites, people of Canaan who deceived Joshua to make a league or covenant with them.  Having heard of the greatness of the God of Israel and knowing they were helpless before Him, they sent messengers wearing tattered clothes, with rations of mouldy bread and torn wineskins--as evidence they had been on a long journey--when they were neighbours.  When their ruse became apparent, Joshua and the elders confronted them for their deceit yet were bound by their oath before God to spare their lives.

Joshua gave his sentence upon the Gibeonites in Joshua 9:23-27:  "Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves--woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God." ²⁴ So they answered Joshua and said, "Because your servants were clearly told that the LORD your God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing. ²⁵ And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us." ²⁶ So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them. ²⁷ And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, in the place which He would choose, even to this day."

What Joshua framed as a curse turned out to be an incredible blessing, for the lives of the Gibeonites were spared and were given a position of service for the congregation and the altar of the LORD wherever God led His people.  The Gibeonites were given a role to support the Levites and priesthood who served in the tabernacle, providing wood for sacrifices and water for ceremonial cleansing.  People who were once under the sentence of death were given life and the privilege of serving the great God of Israel they feared all their days.  Their lives were not their own but to be poured out as living sacrifices unto the LORD who accepted them by grace.  Doesn't this closely resemble our standing as Christians by faith in Jesus Christ, having been purchased by His shed blood to serve and glorify Him forever?

The woodcutters and water carriers worked to provide the supplies required for the service of God's tabernacle, and unlike the high priest who wore special vestments they wore the clothing of common men.  Rather than standing above and blessing the people, their blessed God and His people with every swing of the axe, pull of the saw and the endless repetition of drawing and lugging water.  Their toil may have been unnoticed and unappreciated by man, but God knew their sacrifices and pains well.  He saw the splinters and blisters; God valued those who continued to toil even when priests their age had long since retired from public service.  The Gibeonites who were once outsiders and foreigners God brought near by His grace, and He allowed them to serve Him as His chosen inheritance.  Let us be as the Gibeonites in our service to Jesus Christ our great High Priest regardless of our role in ministry, content to faithfully serve the LORD out of sight so Christ may have the preeminence.

The Speer Prayer

After the murder of his son Elliot, Robert Speer and his wife wrote letters in response to condolences offered by friends and family that are recorded in his biography.  I was especially blessed by a prayer in a letter that was a combination of the Collect for All Saint's Day and from the hearts of Robert and Mrs. Speer.  The prayer is as follows:

"O Almighty God, who has knit together Thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of Thy Son Christ our Lord; grant us grace so to follow Thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which Thou has prepared for those who unfeignedly love Thee; through the same Thy son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen." (Collect for all Saints Day)

We seem to give him back to Thee, dear God, who gavest him to us.  Yet as Thou didst not lose him in giving, so we have not lost him by his return.  Not as the world gives, givest Thou, O Lover of Souls!  What Thou givest, Thou takest not away, for what is Thine is ours always, if we are Thine.  And life is eternal and Love is immortal; and Death is only an horizon; and an horizon is nothing save the limit of one's sight.

Lift us up, strong Son of God, that we may see farther.  Cleanse our eyes that we may see more clearly; draw us closer to thyself, that so we may know ourselves nearer to our beloved who are with Thee, and while Thou dost prepare a place for us, prepare us for that happy place, that where they are and Thou art we too may be.  Amen." (Wheeler, W. Reginald. A Man Sent from God: A Biography of Robert E. Speer. Fleming H. Revell Co, 1956. page 239)

God, who is able to give sight to the blind and raises the dead to life, is the source of life and love we can steadfastly look towards in all seasons of life--even with eyes blurred with tears.  I had never thought of death as "only a horizon" which is nothing but evidence of limitation of sight.  There is a limit to our vision and perspective, but God suffers no such limitations.  Mr. and Mrs. Speer prayed to be lifted up to see farther, for God to cleanse their vision so they could see more clearly.  With eyes of faith on Jesus they believed mourning was part of their preparation for heavenly joy in the presence of God and their beloved son.  While God was preparing a place for them in His presence, they too were being prepared.  Is this not the victory of faith in Jesus who overcomes the world and death as well?  Even in grief we are made more than conquerors by God's grace--weak and troubled though we may be.

Bad Old Screwtape

The C.S. Lewis classic titled The Screwtape Letters is an insightful and thought-provoking book that features a more experienced demon named Screwtape who provides guidance for his nephew in guiding his "patient"--the person for whom he is responsible to tempt and influence for evil.  When the "patient" becomes a Christian, Screwtape expresses his displeasure and suggests means to distract and prevent him from spiritual growth and fruitfulness.  In this allegory everything is turned around, where "The Enemy" is God and the correspondence reveals pitfalls Christians have stumbled into from the beginning.

One of the strengths of this book is the truth of God's word, God's goodness and the devil's tireless habit of lying and deceiving were constant long before Jesus Christ walked in Galilee.  The timeless observations remain relevant concerning Christians in society today and touches on many subtle ways Christians can be distracted or deterred from Christ by the world and things in it--including church, wars and politics.  Screwtape wrote, "Surely you know that if a man can't be cured of churchgoing, the next best thing is to send him all over the neighbourhood looking for the church that 'suits' him until he becomes a taster or connoisseur of churches...the search for a 'suitable' church makes the man a critic where the Enemy wants him to be a pupil." (Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity & the Screwtape Letters: Complete in One Volume. Harper San Francisco, 2003. pages 321-322)

Screwtape weighed in on mankind's tendency to lean into viewing Christianity as a means to our end:

"Certainly we do not want men to allow their Christianity to flow over into their political life, for the establishment of anything like a really just society would be a major disaster.  On the other hand we do want, and want very much, to make men treat Christianity as a means; preferably, of course, as a means to their own advancement, but, failing that, as a means to anything--even to social justice.  The thing to do is to get a man at first to value social justice as a thing which the Enemy demands, and then work him on to the stage at which he values Christianity because it may produce social justice.  For the Enemy will not be used as a convenience.  Men or nations who think they can revive the Faith in order to make a good society might just as well think they can use the stairs of Heaven as a short cut to the nearest chemist's shop.  Fortunately it is quite easy to coax humans round this little corner." (Ibid. pages 366-367)

The Screwtape letters is a clever and insightful book where scriptural truths are affirmed by an unlikely source--an infernal spirit who has spent countless lifetimes simply observing humanity with an aim to tempt and trip them up.  It illustrates well the understanding the devil has about the Bible and God and remains blind to the truth, deceived and doomed by his own pride.  Thankfully our God has given us the Holy Spirit and His word so we can follow Jesus Christ obediently and truly "...lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices." (2 Corinthians 2:11)

The Pride Test

I came across a good warning against pride coupled with relevant questions for personal examination.  Due to our human condition, all people experience problems with sinful pride, and if we do not believe we have a problem our condition is even more dire.  Even those who acknowledge their tendency towards pride do not realise how naturally entrenched pride is in our perceptions, thinking, speech and actions.  Based on the principle held forth in Romans 2:1, our disdainful perceptions of others as proud, boastful and arrogant reveals these are our personal practices as well.

J. Oswald Sanders wrote this in Spiritual Leadership concerning pride and the danger it poses--especially for Christians in leadership:

"The very fact that a man has risen to a position of leadership with it attendant prominence tends to engender a secret self congratulation and pride which, if not checked, will unfit him for further advancement in the service of the kingdom, for "everything that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD" (Prov. 16:5).  Strong and searching words, these!  Nothing is more distasteful to God than self-conceit.  This first and fundamental sin in essence aims at enthroning self at the expense of God.  This was the sin that changed the anointed cherub, guardian of the throne of God into the foul field of hell, and caused his expulsion from heaven.

Of the myriad forms which this sin assumes, none is more abhorrent that spiritual pride.  To be proud of spiritual gifts which God has bestowed, or of the position to which His love and grace have elevated us, is to forget that grace is a gift, and that all we have has been received.

Pride is a sin of whose presence its victim is least conscious.  There are, however, three tests by means of which it can soon be discovered whether or not we have succumbed to its blandishments.

The test of precedence.  How do we react when another is selected for the assignment we expected, or for the office we coveted?  When another is promoted and we are overlooked?  When another outshines us in gifts and accomplishments?

The test of sincerity.  In our moments of honest self-criticism we will say many things about ourselves, and really mean them.  But how do we feel when others, especially our rivals, say exactly the same things about us?

The test of criticism.  Does criticism arouse hostility and resentment in our hearts, and cause us to fly to immediate self-justification?  Do we hasten to criticize the critic?" (Sanders, J. Oswald. Spiritual Leadership. Marshall Pickering, 1986. Pages 142-143)

David sang in Psalm 139:23-24 concerning his need for God's insight and perspective into his heart:  "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; ²⁴ and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  It is one thing to know we are proud or anxious, and it is another thing entirely to be divinely empowered to forsake these sins and walk in God's wisdom.  God is gracious to test us so we might see our need for His gracious help to identify sin, repent and walk in the way worthy of God's redeemed forever.

Rejoicing in Christ

I enjoy reading good books that provoke reflection and provide insight into living like Jesus Christ.  I especially like concrete examples that aid personal application of points being made.  In Spiritual Leadership, a list from the Life of Robert E Speer was provided for leaders to measure their maturity in practical and timeless ways.  Most of those listed were things to avoid because it is our natural, fleshly inclination we all suffer from in various degrees.  Here are some I found most useful:

• Not to murmur at the multitude of business or the shortness of time but to buy up the time all around.
• Not to groan when letters are brought in; not even a murmur.
• Not to magnify undertaken duties by seeming to suffer under them, but to treat all as liberties and gladness...
• Before censuring anyone, obtain from God a real love for him.  Be sure that you know and that you allow all allowances that can be made.  Otherwise, how ineffective, how unintelligible or perhaps provocative your best-meant censure may be.
• Oh, how well it doth make for peace to be silent about others, not to believe everything without discernment, and not to go on easily telling things.
• Not to seek praise, gratitude, respect or regard from superiors or equals of age or past service.
• Not to feel uneasiness when your advice or opinion is not asked or is set aside.
• Never to let yourself be placed in favorable contrast with another.
• Not to hunger for conversation to  turn of yourself.
• To seek no favor, no compassion; to deserve, not to ask for, tenderness.
• To bear blame rather than share or transmit it.
• When credit for your own design or execution is given to another, not to be disturbed, but to give thanks. (Sanders, J. Oswald. Spiritual Leadership. Marshall Pickering, 1986. pages 118-119)

There is much in the world, in the church and in ourselves that can be disheartening when we focus on faults and failures.  But when we learn to trust God, continue to cast our cares on Jesus, and expect to see the goodness of God in the land of the living, we will experience comfort from the LORD as we rejoice in our Saviour.  Examining the motivations of our hearts and walking in integrity before God and man is our calling and a blessing afforded us as God's beloved children.  By God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit we can implement Philippians 4:4 in all seasons of life because Jesus is our Life:  "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"

The Christian's Witness

Under the Law of Moses, a minimum of eyewitnesses were required to sentence a guilty murderer to death.  This shows the weight God puts upon the words people spoke in testifying of a person's guilt or innocence.  The Law contained safeguards against false testimony in Deuteronomy 19:16-19:  "If a false witness rises against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, ¹⁷ then both men in the controversy shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who serve in those days. ¹⁸ And the judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the witness is a false witness, who has testified falsely against his brother, ¹⁹ then you shall do to him as he thought to have done to his brother; so you shall put away the evil from among you."  The result of carrying out justice against false witnesses was powerful motivation to only speak the truth.

In conversation, when someone tells me the outcome of a rugby match, how many years he has been married, or how many children he has, I am inclined to believe him until I see evidence that suggests otherwise.  I do not demand a birth certificate be produced to believe today is someone's birthdate or to confirm what his or her middle name is.  The ironic thing is, the one who demands to see a birth certificate to verify the date or place of birth could subsequently deny the authenticity of the document!  Such a one may never be convinced of the truth because they are unwilling to believe--not because of the lack of evidence.  The Law of Moses identifies liars as false witnesses, and thus there are witnesses that speak the honest truth.  The Bible reveals God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit to be the epitome of a true witness.

The apostle John testified of the reality of the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ, being an eyewitness of His glory.  He testified in 1 John 1:1-3:  "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--² the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--³ that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ."  John observed, heard and touched Jesus Christ before and after His death and resurrection.  John said the spirit of antichrist was already in the world who denied Jesus came in the flesh, yet the Holy Spirit bore witness Jesus indeed came in the flesh in 1 John 5:6:  "This is He who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth."

Jesus was identified by water and the Holy Spirit when baptised by John the Baptist, for the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove and alighted upon Him.  John the Baptist testified in John 1:34, "And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."  Jesus was shown to be human in His crucifixion on Calvary and was confirmed dead by a Roman soldier.  John 19:33-37 reads, "But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. ³⁴ But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. ³⁵ And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. ³⁶ For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken." ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."  By water, blood and the Holy Spirit testimony of Jesus Christ being the Son of God has been given.

Verses we discussed last night at Bible study I found very encouraging in 1 John 5:9-10:  "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. ¹⁰ He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son."  Since we receive the testimony of a man without requiring an oath to believe, the witness of God is far greater and always true.  Having been born again by faith in Jesus, every Christian has the witness of God--the Holy Spirit--in himself!  Based on His true testimony we are assured of many glorious truths mentioned in 1 John 5:20:  "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life."  How awesome it is to know the Son of God has come and given us wisdom to know God who is true and that we are in Christ.  He is the true God and eternal life, and we are His witnesses!

Moved by Prayer

After some meetings I have attended I later thought to myself, "Now that was a waste of time."  A prayer meeting has never been one of those meetings.  Even when it was a struggle to arrive at the meeting on time or there were other pressing matters, meeting to pray with others or alone before the LORD is always a productive and encouraging blessing.  The Bible teaches us when we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us--and God never disappoints (James 4:8).  We are easily disappointed and frustrated, but faith in God exercised by prayer brings sure expectation of good now and in the future.

I was edified to read a couple chapters in Spiritual Leadership yesterday, and here is a highlight of what was included on the subject of prayer:

"One of the most frequently quoted of Hudson Taylor's statements is his expression of conviction that "it is possible  to move men, through God, by prayer alone."  In the course of his missionary career he demonstrated its truth a thousand times.  However, it is one thing to give mental assent to his motto, but quite another thing consistently to put it into practice.  Men are difficult objects to move, and it is much easier to pray for temporal needs than for situations which involve the intricacies and stubbornness of the human heart.  But it is in just such situations that the leader must prove his power to move human hearts in the direction in which he believes the will of God lies...

To move men, the leader must be able to move God, for He has made it clear that He moves them through the prayers of the intercessor.  If a scheming Jacob could be given "power with God and with men," then is it not possible for any leader who is willing to comply with the conditions to enjoy the same power? (Gen. 32:8)

Prevailing prayer of this kind is the outcome of a correct relationship with God.  Reasons for unanswered prayer are stated with great clarity in Scripture, and they all center around the believer's relationship with God.  He will not be party to petitions of mere self-interest, nor will He countenance impurity of motive.  Sin clung to and cherished will effectively close His ear.  Least of all will He tolerate unbelief, the mother of sins.  "He that cometh to God must believe."  Everywhere in prayer there is the condition, either expressed or implied, that the paramount motive in praying is the glory of God." (Sanders, J. Oswald. Spiritual Leadership. Marshall Pickering, 1986. pages 82 & 84)

God cannot be moved by force, but He delights to move by childlike faith of those who seek Him and make their requests known to God, believing He is able to do everything.  It is not possible for anyone or anything to move God by an act of the will or power of man, but God grants us faith to pray that He move and work according to His will.  Psalm 55:22 says, "Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."  Because our God is immoveable and eternal, we are always upheld by His grace.  At the same time He gladly moves in response to our praying, and this should encourage us to be casting our cares upon the LORD who cares for us.

Paying the Price

Today I read a great illustration of knowing and embracing our duty as followers of Jesus in Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders:

"A young man who was beginning his work with the coast guard was early called to take part in a desperate assignment.  A great storm had arisen and a ship was signaling its distress.  As the men began to move the big boat to the rescue, the young man , frightened at the fierceness of the gale, cried out to the captain, "We will never get back!"   Above the storm the captain replied, "We don't have to come back, but we do have to go out."  In most decisions the difficult part is not in knowing what we ought to do; it is in being willing to pay the price involved." (Sanders, J. Oswald. Spiritual Leadership. Marshall Pickering, 1986. page 54)

If the Coast Guard only answered distress calls in good weather, they would not be fulfilling the purpose they are especially trained and outfitted for.  Soldiers, firemen, policemen, and medical personnel are among the many professions where men and women put their lives on the line to do their duty to help others.  In the course of their job there are many difficult decisions to be made, but the great leaders among them are those who are willing to pay the personal price to see their duty done well.  In the illustration with the captain and new recruit, the captain did not wrestle over whether they should embark on the assignment:  the need to go was crystal clear.

Having chosen to search for those who sent the distress call, however, questions remained over how they were to best tackle the developing emergency.  Drawing upon his training, experience and knowledge--with the counsel and aid of the officers and crew--clear decisions could be made and communicated to work together for a successful outcome.  It is likely the captain would have rather been doing something else that day, but he had been prepared for such an occasion and had the means to do what others could not.  One need not be the captain of a Coast Guard vessel to rise to the occasion of administering an encouraging word, asking a question, or lending a hand.  As believers we are called to love one another as Jesus loves us, and this will always come at a personal cost.

There is no confusion over our Christian duty to love one another, yet we can still question what is the best way to do so.  Like the young man was afraid to leave port because his safe return was not guaranteed, we also can shrink from loving as Jesus does because of fear:  how will others take it?  What will they say?  How could this negatively impact our relationship?  What unwanted demands will this person or situation impose upon my time?  Why is this happening to me?  Can't there be an easier way?  What if loving others results in being disappointed or having my heart broken again?  Because Jesus was willing to answer His Father's call to be crucified to atone for our sins out of love for us, He is the One to whom we look for comfort, help and rest in trying circumstances.  Our risen Saviour Jesus is the LORD who heals us, and He strengthens us to follow Him day by day.

It is good for us to consider:  how much does fear factor into our decision making?  It may be we are being more guided, hemmed in, or paralysed by all manner of fear rather than walking in the fear of God!  Fear for ourselves and unwillingness to pay the price involved can keep us from doing the thing we have been called, equipped and enabled to do by God's grace.  Let us be as the captain who saw his need to go even if returning was not guaranteed, willing to pay the price God requires of us.  Our eternal salvation and destination by faith in Jesus is assured, and thus with boldness we can venture forth because He has already paid the price.