Belief about God, Christian Living, Gospel, Sanctification

The Christian and Spiritual Exhaustion

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“What is man’s chief end? Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”

So starts the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Christians who are part of a theologically reformed church, have probably heard that opening question and answer many times. They may have even memorized it. But it is not uncommon that these same people fail to abide by it, even if it is just for a short season. To know what should be does not necessarily translate to what is. There are several things that can hinder the transition from knowing we should enjoy the Lord to the practice of glorifying Him. One of those things is spiritual exhaustion.

When exhaustion takes over, it can be easy for the Christian life to be seen as a chore. Even the things God has given for the building up of His children can be treated as lifeless: reading Scripture, prayer, the worship of the saints. Man is but dust, and so it is not surprising that he experiences spiritual fatigue. However, explaining how a man might end up there is not the same as affirming that they should remain that way. Before change can set in, there must first be an honest assessment of how the exhaustion set in. Only then will there be a clear understanding of what God has given. When His grace is clearly seen, there a humility that forms the foundation of change grows and restores the belief that God’s glory is man’s most intense delight.

The Path to Spiritual Fatigue

First, then, there must be some self-examination about how this spiritual exhaustion came about. That process is complicated, because there are many ways to become spiritually exhausted.

One path is to replace love for God in Christ with spiritual activity. The ideal biblical picture of a healthy Christian walk is described in 1 John 5:3: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” There are three points of emphasis that can be drawn out from this verse. First, the heart behind all piety is love of God. Second, the way of holiness is keeping of God’s commandments. Third, the delight of obedience that flows from love keeps it from being burdensome. To avoid spiritual exhaustion all three principles must be lived out. If love for God is missing, the externals of the Christian life becomes a burden and causes the Christian to become exhausted.

A quick caution is in order. The fatigue that robs us of our spiritual joy should not be attributed to the tools God gives the Christian, but rather to man’s pursuit of that tool as his goal. There is a vast difference between reading the Bible so you can hear the voice of the Lord versus getting through your reading list for the day as a chore. Externally, the activity is the same: a Christian reading the Bible. But reading to hear God’s voice for faith and practice results in delight, while reading to finish a list will result in pressure. So when exhaustion arrives it is prudent and wise to examine motivations that sit underneath external Christian obedience. A Christless “Christian” will be a joyless one.

There is another, more passive path that hinders joy in the Lord. A person may loose his way in holiness because he becomes overwhelmed with life. His sight of God has become obstructed. Like a child who looses sight of his parents in a crowd, Christians who loose sight of God become exhausted and fearful because of their weakness. Peter exercised great faith in getting out of the boat and walking on the water to Jesus. And he did not sink because he intentionally left behind the things of the Lord. But he lost sight of Jesus, looked at his circumstances and became fearful. “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’” (Matt. 14:30). When Peter’s circumstances obstruct his view of Christ, he is overwhelmed and begins to sink. So it is with a Christian who looses sight of God because of the business of life.

Finally, a Christian may also be robbed of his spiritual joy because he is compromised by sin. That person is living in hypocrisy, professing faith on the one hand, but denying that profession on the other. That is not to say that Christians will not sin. But the very fact that they are living inconsistently will be a cause for sorrow. Surely there are other causes. I recommend Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression: its causes and curesas a tremendous resource to take a deeper dive into the causes of spiritual discouragement. But these three will serve the foundation for the thoughts presented in this article. The good news is that no cause of spiritual discouragement needs to be permanent. There is a remedy which can be applied to them all.

Theological Refreshment

To combat the wanderings of his heart, the Christian must first be refreshed in his joy in the gospel. It is through being refreshed in the great doctrines of the Bible that the Christian is reminded that God alone is the legitimate center of man’s affections. Consider the following components of the gospel.

First, know the unworthiness of the sinner. Before the greatness of God’s gift is understood, man must know the seriousness of his condition. The prodigal son did not realize the privilege of life in his father’s family until he was removed from his fathers house and saw the difference between himself and his father’s servants (Luke 15:11-32). A true sense of God’s generosity is obscured if the Christian does not see the depth of his fall. If suffering from spiritual exhaustion, the Christian should ask himself whether he has understood who he is. Growth in grace can be misunderstood as being the result of human activity. Constant comparison with the sins of others promotes a position of pride. Yet, Christian joy begins by knowing personal culpability before the Lord.

Once personal guilt is remembered, the Christian can move to the second truth, namely the greatness of the gift of eternal life. People can obscure the greatness of God’s gift by not looking at their own sin, but a failure to remember the character of the gift itself can do the same. A young child may receive a great present but think that the box is the gift. However, if he would open the box he would see how much greater the actual gift is. The Christian deserves death but is given life. His sin brings destruction and grief, but joy comes to him in the morning. The depth of sin and the despair it brings elevates the joy salvation delivers.

The third gospel reality that undergirds recovery from spiritual exhaustion is his future inheritance. The biblical picture of the Christian’s inheritance is the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21). The splendor of that place is such that the most precious jewels and metals known to man are basic construction materials: pavements, gates, etc. However at times discouragement occupies a more prominent place because of a failure to look past daily difficulties. Yet God’s promised future inheritance is far greater than an easy life today. His gift extends beyond relief from inconvenience and trouble today. There is a qualitative change between even the greatest pleasures of today and the perfect heavenly delights. Today’s comfort is temporary, but in heaven it will be eternal. Today’s best life are affected by sin, but life in heaven has none. Today’s relief is temporary, but in heaven there is no return to oppression and sorrow ever. The future promised gift is far greater than man’s imaginations for today.

These gospel truths form a solid foundation to recover from spiritual exhaustion. God is good, and has promised something far greater than today’s difficult experiences. The Christian can endurance and even be joyful in these hardships because God’s promises work tremendous delight. But there are also some practical things that can be done.

Practical Solutions

Remember Christ and His Sacrifice on the Cross

The theological foundation for joy laid out above must be transferred from the head to the heart. Meditation can be a great aid for such a move. Christian meditation is neither flaky nor mystical. It considers biblical definitions in the mind and convinces the heart of their value. Through prayer and considering the promises and arguments of Scripture, the Christian must embrace that his aim is not to have an easy life today. Rather it is the account of reconciliation. The hope of God’s people is not to follow the sinful desires of the flesh, but to pursue holiness. Satisfaction is ultimately not found in the few days given on this earth. Rather looking ahead to heaven, and resting on God’s eternal blessing and grace reminds the Christian of affection for God as the first delight and highest highest value.

Assess priorities and set aside things that hinder them

There is also a need to move from simply thinking correctly to taking some measures to adjust unhelpful choices. There are times to consider whether current time commitments are obstructing Christian joy. There are many good things that could be done, but not all of them should be done by one person. If business is causing enjoyment of the Lord to suffer something has to change. It may be helpful to make a list of what could be done and organize it according to priority. Make sure this list is realistic. For example, young moms should not schedule a prolonged time of personal study at 9am when children are waking up and need her care. A husband should not plan his work-out during the time when the kids need to be put to bed because his family needs him to be present. Starting from the bottom things should be eliminated to create the space and time so joy in the Lord is protected.

Order your day so exhaustion does not come

At times people invite exhaustion by failing to taking advantage of a very useful tool: structure. Certainly, there is variety in tolerance for spontaneity, but structure sets limits on the emotional energy to be spent. In families, structuring a child’s time is freeing for parents. There is a marked start and finish for the activity, which removes uncertainty. In individuals, structure restrains the impulse to do only what is preferred and directs a proportionate time to what is needed. Chaos breeds exhaustion, and structure helps contain the chaos. A little bit of planning and structure goes a long way.

Think of how temporary earthly goals are

Connected to setting priorities, people expend a tremendous amount of emotional energy in the pursuit of things that will not last. That does not mean that anything that is not directly “spiritual” is not worth pursuing. However, the things of this world can get in the way of the pursuit of a healthy devotional life. It is a matter of first loves, at times. Recreational activities can replace worship. Earthly riches replace heavenly treasure. If a person spends all his time in the pursuit of earthly things, the curtain is pulled back on what he values most.

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. And when it is missing in the Christian, something has gone wrong. To address the issue there must first be an understanding of where he has become derailed. Second, he must be refreshed and filled up with the joy that comes from knowing God’s promises are applied to him. And then steps must be taken to address places where he is not helping himself. All of this is done for the glory of God, by the power of God that is at work in the believer. And as the Christian rests in the true light of the gospel, refreshment will come.

“Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:30-31

Belief about God, Children, Christian Living, church

Death and Dying – Part 2

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Last installment looked at death in light of the things that could be learned from it. There we saw that not all experience in dealing with death is negative. The positive working of the Lord can be easily observed, if we watch and wait. For example, awareness of man’s need for God is often deepened in our trials. The sufferer is blessed as the Church cares for its members, often in ways that are deeply meaningful to those affected. The need for a future hope is impressed on those saying good-bye to a loved one. And yet we also remembered that experiencing the death of a loved-one certainly also has its grief and pain.

The trial of death in the family carries with it a finality and shock for which I was not prepared. The death of a loved-one is a uniquely difficult moment. It is easy to question whether enough was done for the one who is now passed. The familiar places the deceased loved-one used to enjoy remain painfully empty. However, by God’s grace and looking toward His promises, these difficult experiences can also be integrated and made beneficial in the process of adjusting to life without that loved-one present. However, in this article, I want to warn Christians against some pitfalls to be avoided in their sorrows and grief.

Pitfalls to Be Avoided

Amidst the positive and negative lessons, especially in the case of death, there can be many causes for stumbling. Emotions can cloud the mind and overwhelm the mourner to the point of obscuring God’s promises. Below are some examples of things Christians must work hard to avoid. It may perhaps even be necessary to pray that God would deliver you from such things if they have already taken hold of your heart.

Being Overwhelmed by Grief.

First, when grief paralyzes a person it is a sign that they have lost sight of hope. That is not to say such an experience is not understandable. Elijah was overwhelmed to the point of wanting to die (1 Kings 19:4). However, simply because we can be sympathetic to something that happens, does not mean we should be content to remain in such a condition. There is nothing the devil likes better than for God’s people to be blinded by grief. The weight of grief can be combatted by constant reminders of God’s promise that those who are in Christ the Son are united to God the Father in life and death. Certainly, Paul could have become blinded to the Lord because of the extent of his tribulations. His ministry included imprisonment, beatings, and near-death experiences (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). And yet he can write of the Christian:

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-11)

To avoid being overcome by grief requires preparation. Christians must study and know the ways of the Lord, have a firm understanding of His promises, and lay an expectation of hope to avoid being overwhelmed in the moment.

Reproaches against the Lord

Second, we may react to our circumstances by blaming God. The grief caused by death is intense, and it is understandable for a person to feel weighed down and discouraged under its weight. However, to charge God with wrong-doing is a sinful and unhealthy response to pain and grief. It is an error to lay blame at God’s feet. The Christian’s response cannot continue in this way.

Christian, I would urge you to remind yourself that God is good. Consider the following:

    • Remind yourself that He knows all things, also today’s circumstances. He created the heavens and the earth and governs them today. Certainly He is better able to discern all that is taking place in your trial, and all the good things that He will work in you through it.
    • Think about all the good things He has given in this life.
    • Remember the many joyful days He did give with your loved one.
    • If you are struggling with contentment before the Lord, lay down your pride. You do not know better than the Lord. The sliver of time that you can observe and interpreted with limited knowledge cannot always fathom what the Lord is doing in any particular moment.

Taking Job as an example, after he lost all 10 of his children he was able to say, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). We must train our hearts and affections by a diligent study of the ways God demonstrates His goodness in His word so that we can say the same as our brother Job.

Withdrawal and Isolation

The last pitfall to be avoided is the desire to remove yourself from contact with the saints. Perhaps you are afraid to answer the questions. Perhaps you just simply want to be by yourself to process through your thoughts. And yet, the body of Christ is there specifically so that we do not deal with these things alone. We need more comfort than we are willing to admit. The people who ask questions about your well-being, even if someone else has asked you the same thing five minutes ago, is loving you well. Answering these questions, even repeatedly, actually helped me tremendously to move past the intensity of the grief. Even if it is hard, do not forsake gathering together with the Church. They will help carry you through.

These last two articles are not meant to be a definitive or exhaustive treatment of the subject of death and dying. Much more could be said. Instead it is an attempt to briefly summarize lessons I’ve learned in my own recent experience. May the Lord bless His people as they seek to deal well with an enemy who, though defeated, yet causes much sorrow of soul in the Christian.

Children, Christian Living, Love for God

Death and Dying – Part 1

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When death casts its shadow over the brightness of life, it can shake you to the very foundations of your being. December 24, 2024 that shadow was cast over our home. After 26 years of life, our daughter Naya drew her last breath. Hers had been a difficult life. Only three days before she was placed on hospice care, genetic testing revealed she had a condition called Sanfilippo Syndrome. Her whole life she bore witness to the effects of sin through the deterioration of her body and mind. Physiologically she could not break down certain sugar molecules, which in turn accumulated in her body and gradually destroyed her central nervous system and brain function.

On July 2, 1998 my wife and I welcomed a precious daughter who became a vibrant, happy, and good-natured toddler who talked, laughed, joked, ran, played piano (a little), and wrote her name. By the time she turned four, though not knowing the name of her condition, we realized something was not right. By age 11 she began to have massive seizures. By age 14 her loss of skills was noticeable. By the time we laid her to rest she had long-since ceased to walk, talk, smile, feed herself, or interact with us in any noticeable way. In some sense, we said good-bye to Naya a little bit at a time. And yet at her death we realized just how unprepared we were for what was to come.

There was no doubt in our minds about God’s sovereign right to deal with us and our daughter according to His will and His ultimate goodness in all that He ordains. Because of our dependence on the truth of the gospel, there was no lack of hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 assured us with these words: “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” We were realistic about what the future held for Naya. She had suffered so much pain in the months before her passing and we were aware how death would free her from that hardship. We knew that for Naya to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). As a pastor I have encouraged people to grieve as those who have hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). And yet there was a definite weight and heaviness to the grief and it crashed over us with all the power of a tsunami wave.

I can testify to the saying that God refines us in the crucible of suffering. Not any one person could describe all the different forms that suffering may take, neither is that my intention here. However, I hope to give some of the lessons, which are still very fresh, that I have learned by facing death for the sake of comforting or preparing others who will certainly face the same trial.

Positive Lessons Learned

Not all the lessons learned through grief are corrective. God in His grace gave many instances where we were able to see, even in the moment, the good that He was doing through this painful circumstance. In Naya’s case, there was about a six week span were we slowly began to realize that the end was near for her. And in these six weeks we saw the Lord do wonderful things.

Dependence on God

There is no man who is not dependent on God for his life and breath. But suffering and hardship make that reality more apparent by increasing the awareness of the need of God. This need is often expressed through an increased desire for and practice of personal and family prayer. In our suffering we were more eager to go to Him in prayer in which we were encouraged by a constant awareness of the promises of God. Our powerlessness in the moment made us look to our Heavenly Father for strength and mercy. It is easy to become complacent in prayer, forget God’s promises, think there is always a human solution to any problem, or to divert your trust to doctors and nurses. Yet God alone governs, and the Christian should look to Him. Suffering reminded me of that truth.

Care from His People

God uses His people to care for His suffering children. A healthy Christian will spend more time ministering that receiving ministry. And it can make them slow to receive help. But the body of Christ, both local and extended, cared for us in our season of grief. They did so through expressions of sympathy, kind notes and cards, a mountain of casseroles that even our crew had trouble eating ourselves out of, and by being physically present at the funeral. To receive the ministry of the Lord’s people is a tremendous blessing.

Hope for the Future

People often live as if life will not always conclude with death. However, death is the inevitable consequence of sin. Naya’s short life bore out the fragility of what 2 Corinthians 5:1 calls “the tent that is our earthly home.” Modern medicine has made it possible to prolong life, and that can be a tremendous blessing. But there will be a moment when we all say good-bye to our earthly tent. It is impossible to hold on to this life forever. All must face the reality of the life to come. And the promises of the Bible remind the Christian that instead of agony over the end of life, there should be a hopeful expectation of eternal life for those who belong to Christ. The anticipation of that hope makes enduring death different for the Christian.

Painful Experiences Lived

And for all the wonderful lessons Christians learn through grief and pain, they are still…grief and pain. The Bible does not minimize sorrow in the face of death. Jesus Himself weeps at Lazarus’ tomb (John 11:35). Christians are exhorted not to “grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13), but that does not mean we are to deny grief and the pain of death altogether. Below are some of the more painful parts of death and dying.

The Shock of Death

However much end-of-life issues are discussed, I do not think anyone is actually prepared for the finality of it. My wife and I knew we would likely be the ones to release Naya into the Lord’s hands. And yet once the decision to put her on hospice care was made the finality of the decision pressed in on us. It set in motion a process where we were hurtling toward an inevitable conclusion. And even as you wait for death to come, nothing prepares you for that moment your loved ones takes that last breath. There is an agony that washes over you. It is a front-row seat into the awfulness of death. That pain and sorrow is incomparable to any other loss in this life.

Failures of the Past

Facing and experiencing the death of a loved-one also brings to mind failures in how you loved them. Moments of impatience otherwise long buried are resurrected in the mind with a vividness that makes it seem they were committed yesterday. Past failures to love as Christ loves His people become abundantly clear. And at times these remembrances can send shivers up your spine. All the excuses which might otherwise satisfy become obviously inadequate.

Sorrow over a Missing Companion

Death robs the living of the presence of those who have “fallen asleep.” This reality sinks in the days immediately following death as family routines are forever changed. In our case, the first mornings after Naya’s death we woke up prepared to bathe, feed, and care for her as we had for years before. And just as soon as the thought entered our minds we immediately were faced with the fact that we did not have that responsibility for her anymore. Places like empty bedrooms or favorite chairs can become monuments to a new and permanent absence.

These painful experiences, however sharp, are also used by the Lord to direct man to Himself. Though the Christian may feel great weakness in the moment, he should be comforted by the resurrection of Christ.

“‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’
‘O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?’”
(1 Corinthians 15:54b-55)

Comfort and tears can live side-by-side. The tears do not indicate a lack of trust in the Lord, but show a proper agony over the effects of sin and provide a proper framework for longing for heaven.

Next installment will look at how the intensity of grief over death can tempt us to stumble in certain ways.

Children, Christian Living, Love for God, Sanctification, Sin

The Christian and Conflict in the Extended Family – Part 2

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Last installment outlined the obligations of the Christian in his extended family. These are unique among all relationships a Christian may have in the world in that they are joined with the biblical directives to honor and provide for family. The complicating factor, as it is being considered, is that family, especially those who are not in Christ, can create significant disruptions in Christian homes. This second installment is looking beyond the biblical obligations and seeking to apply these things in the areas where it seems difficult.

Responding to Sin

It is possible to have many concerns about unbelieving family members, especially if relational tensions currently running high. The reality of a fallen world means that there are cautions that should be considered, even in light of the obligations to honor and provide as outlined in part 1. There are family members that are destructive and heinous sins that cannot be overlooked. These may rightly create the need for physical and/or emotional distance between family members.

Though not all complications that arise in families are of the same caliber; and though the principles of honor and provision always apply in some form, the fifth commandment is not to obeyed as an absolute command that can never considered with reference to  a particular circumstance. The Bible does not require the Christian to submit himself to public ridicule or physical danger caused by the unrepentant and repeated sin of an extended family member. It does not require parents to put their children in situations where they may be emotionally or physically hurt. In those instances the command to honor and provide is considered in tandem with the additional obligation to nurture and care for children. In those cases the biblical call to honor, love, act faithfully, submit, and be patient are still the default though the practice of these things may look different than in instances where the sin is not present.

Take, for example, a situation where a family member belittles others for their faith in Christ, constantly blasphemes the name of the Lord or whose temper is out of control, where physical or sexual abuse is a real danger. In these instances, it is right to obey the fifth commandment from afar. The sinful behavior of family members may require the Christian to remove themselves from their company (for a time, or maybe even permanently). In these few cases, the danger and damage of sin necessitates the removal, not some private desire for vengeance or getting even.

Responding to Annoyance

For most Christians, the answer to how to behave among unbelieving extended family members will not be found by considering the extraordinary circumstances described above. Again, these cases will be rare. The difficulty most Christians will have with extended family members is dealing with the minor hurts and annoyances that come with being a Christian among unbelievers. There may be a feeling of aloneness because no one in the family values the things important to the Christian. There may be exclusion from certain family events which are scheduled on the Lord’s Day and other things like these. How does the Christian navigate these annoying parts of life with unbelieving family members? Below are a few practical considerations.

Do not respond in like manner. People say hurtful things. Part of honoring unbelieving parents and family members in general is not to respond in like manner when they make small belittling comments. That does not mean the Christian could not respond in some way. More on that below. However, Christians are to bear with their enemies (Matthew 5:44). And if that is so for enemies, how much more for irritating family members.

When the Christian experiences minor hurt because of insensitivity or a sense of disapproval or disrespect, though there may be a natural distances that develops in those relationships, the Bible still calls the Christian to honor and provide. How can that be done?

  • By insisting that their children address unbelieving grand-parents, uncles and aunts with a proper respectful title.
  • By refraining from criticizing these extended family members in front of their children.
  • By making a point of sincerely thanking the unbelieving and difficult parent for the blessings they have bestowed on their family.

Other such verbal acknowledgements of respect or restraints of criticism are appropriate, even when there have been some minor emotional hurts that have been received.

Providing financially for family. Faithfulness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and can be seen in how the Christian member responds when unbelieving family members are in need. The Bible views financial assistance to family as an essential trait of Christian charity: “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”[i] It is not right to expect others, who are not related, to provide for parents, children, and siblings who are in need no matter how they have hurt or annoyed. Where help is needed, the Christian should be prepared to provide it, even if relationships are strained. That does not mean sharing a home, or even frequent visits. However, material care can and should be offered.

Providing clarity in the case of offenses. It can be difficult to speak or hurt and sin with those who hold a different understanding of how the world works. The risk of misunderstanding is great. But if an offense cannot be overlooked, Christians should communicate clearly the reasons and nature of the received offense also to unbelievers. That should be done with charity, not assuming guilt, seeking explanation, and with a desire to reconcile. Remember, “love covers a multitude of sins”[ii] and the Christian’s first impulse should be to cover in love. However, if covering is not possible, a honest, compassionate, but yet a direct explanation of the problem should be pursued. The outcome of this conversation may be distance in the relationship, either because the offender would not listen, or because the offender becomes angry because of the confrontation, no matter how gently it was done.

Be quick to forgive. The greatness of the forgiveness of the Lord for His people through Christ Jesus should make them the most eager to forgive others. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”[iii] It is easy to hold on to offenses. But because God does not hold on to the offense of the sins of repentant sinners, so also the Christian should be quick to forgive. That is especially the case with family members. Should they make an apology, the Christian should be quick to accept it, even if it is not framed in biblical terminology.

There is much more that could be said, but the summary of the fifth commandment by the Heidelberg Catechism gives a good starting point.

Q. What does God require in the fifth commandment?

A. That I show all honor, love, and faithfulness to my father and mother and to all those in authority over me, submit myself with due obedience to their good instruction and discipline, and also have patience with their weaknesses and shortcomings, since it is God’s will to govern us by their hand.[iv]

God is the One who establishes families, and also in His providence the specific members of families. They are not all easy to get along with, especially when they do not share a common faith. But in all instances, God is to be worshiped. And so the Christian should live among unbelieving family members with a desire to honor and love them, to help their family unit as needed, to show deference where possible, and to patiently bear with their weaknesses. It is not always an easy ministry, but it is a ministry that when done in obedience to the Lord gives Him great glory.

[i] 1 Timothy 5:8.

[ii] 1 Peter 4:8.

[iii] Ephesians 4:32.

[iv] Heidelberg Catechism #39, https://www.heidelberg-catechism.com/en/lords-days/39.html

Bible, Children, Christian Living

The Christian and Conflict in the Extended Family – Part I

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“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Parents exert a lot of energy nurturing their children, protecting them from evil, and pointing them to the right way to live. With few notorious exceptions, that all parents share those goals, whether Christian or not. In a nation as large as the United States, it is not surprising when there is tremendous variety in terms of how people think that should be done. When these world-views clash people naturally end up avoiding those who they think exercise poor influence over their children. And in most relationships that is a normal and acceptable response. But what is to be done when the bad influence arises from your own extended family?

Extended family can undermine the hard work Christian parents are doing to train up their children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). But the response to unbelieving extended family is more complicated because the Bible outlines some basic obligations for Christians in their larger families. These obligations are unique to the family relationship. The basic question is, “How does a Christian balance the call to honor parents and provide for them when parents, or perhaps extended family as a whole, do not honor the Lord and exercise a negative influence on your nuclear family unit of husband, wife, and children?” But answering this question is complicated and requires an examination first of the ethical obligation of the fifth commandment and second, of the practical steps that can be taken in this regard.

The Ethical Obligation

When relationships are in family bounds, there are unique obligations. These obligations complicate the decisions that are to be made. People enter almost all relationships voluntarily. Perhaps there is a common stage of life or interest; perhaps work or school brings people together. Whatever the case may be, people willingly enter these relationships and are free to leave them if relational obstacles become too great. However, family relationships have with them an aspect of obligation, at least biblically speaking. There are two broad categories that can be considered.

First, there is the obligation of honor. “Honor your father and your mother.”[i] There does not seem to be a limit attached to that biblical mandate. As part of the Ten Commandments there is an abiding nature for all people everywhere to live in obedience to this law. The question of how that is done may be various, but the biblical expectation is that it should be done.

Second, there is the obligation of provision. “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”[ii] To fail to provide materially for family is the expectation of Scripture.

In all but the most exceptional circumstances, some traces of these should be visible in how the extended family is treated. There should be a great hesitancy to cut off even difficult family members because the obligations above are not simply self-help principles, but divine directives. God is the author of families and the obligations attached to those relationships. And though there be variety in all the different relationships within that family, the Christian is to do all he can to live to the glory of God, by ordering his life according to God’s instruction.

In the case of relationships between people, the fifth commandment gives God’s direction. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”[iii] And though father and mother are specifically mentioned, the applications of this commandment extent to all human relationships.

“Q. What is required in the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to everyone in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.”[iv]

Whether the members of the extended family in question are parents or siblings there is a biblical obligation to preserve honor and perform duties. The trickier question is to wade through what that may look like in this world of sin and misery. The Heidelberg Catechism summarizes the requirements of the fifth commandment as follows:

Q. What does God require in the fifth commandment?
A. That I show all honor, love, and faithfulness to my father and mother and to all those in authority over me, submit myself with due obedience to their good instruction and discipline, and also have patience with their weaknesses and shortcomings, since it is God’s will to govern us by their hand.[v]

Before getting to the specifics of behavior, notice first that the Christian’s relationship to his parents is based on his relationship to God. Because God has placed these specific parents in their lives, any other behavior expressed in the horizontal way (between people) involves a vertical aspect (between God and man) as well. It is God’s will to have these imperfect families knit together. And with that perspective as a foundation, the Heidelberg Catechism encourages Christians to relate to father and mother with five characteristics. The complications of sin may necessitate different approaches to each, but the Christian should strive to manifest each:

Honor

At a very basic level, Christians should honor their parents. From young children to grown children that obligation is the same. To clarify, to honor is not the same thing as to obey. Obedience is carrying out instructions given by an authority. To honor someone is to give a recognizable expression of respect to those who occupy specific relational places. A cultural example will suffice to demonstrate what that may be.

In the south, many parents teach their children to honor the adults around them by using titles or salutations like “sir” or “ma’am.” They are not expecting their children to obey all the instructions that person gives them, but they are teaching them to show them honor. That call to honor is still present in the relationship of adult children to their parents, even if they be unbelieving.

Love

To love is more than to have a feeling. Love involves feelings, but it is more than simply emotion. To love often also involves exercises the will. The will chooses to look favorably or gently on those who are far from perfect. Loving successfully in the more intimate relationships (marriage, family, close friends) involves making choices that go against the emotion of the moment.

The Bible describes love as follows: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”[vi] Love is defined in this way not only for those who are easy to be around, or even for those who are believers. Corinthians provides the Christian definition of love as a reflection of how God loves His people first. Love is meant to compensate for the failures that all people will have in relationships and must be exercised toward our families.

Faithfulness

A right understanding of divine providence means recognizing that God can place even difficult or unbelieving people in a Christian’s family. Recognizing the divine will in these things encourages the exercise of faithfulness. Faithfulness is maintaining a commitment to a group or individual. The Lord Jesus is faithful to His people. “If we are faithless, he remains faithful.”[vii] In light of Jesus’ faithfulness in the face of man’s faithlessness, how much more should the Christian be faithful in his family? And in the context of family, to be faithful is to remain unmoved in terms of commitment to the family unity regardless of the behavior of others.

Submission

Adults are not required to submit to their parents as children are. The word the Heidelberg Catechism uses that provides the proper amount of flexibility is “due obedience.” Though grown children do not owe parents obedience as children living in under the parental roof do, there is still a healthy dose of deference that should accompany the adult child’s relationship with the parent.

Patience

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 (quoted above) includes patience as part of love. That inclusion proves the exercise of love requires overcoming feelings. Miriam Webster defines patience as “bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint.”[viii] Patience by definition involves situations of pain and trial. These are not pleasant circumstances for the person in or under them. But love includes overlooking pain and trial caused by another, or at least bearing with it. Even when family members are hard to love, the Bible calls for patience, whether they be believers or not.

It is easy to judge the faults of parents. They are often magnified in the eyes of their children because they have seen them at their worst. Stress in public verses the home, rightly or wrongly, is handled differently. Words are spoken with greater care when the world is watching. Issues are most often addressed with more charity outside the home. That is not to justify these discrepancies. It is a simple observation of fact.

This first article is meant to deal with the ideal. Especially in family relationships, the Bible gives certain parameters that must be observed as a matter of obligation. The Christian is to honor and provide. These things look acceptable and clear on paper, but trying to live them out is another matter. And so the next installment will look at living with family in a fallen world.

[i] Exodus 20:12.

[ii] 1 Timothy 5:18.

[iii] Exodus 20:12.

[iv] Westminster Shorter Catechism #64.

[v] Heidelberg Catechism #39, https://www.heidelberg-catechism.com/en/lords-days/39.html

[vi] 1 Corinthians 13:4-6.

[vii] 2 Timothy 2:13.

[viii] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patient.

Belief about God, Bible, Christian Living, church, Love for God

Responding to Hurricane Helene – Part 2

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Last installment the stage was set for a broader consideration of how the Christian should respond to God’s providence using Job 2:9-10. In the midst of tremendous loss, Job maintains his spiritual integrity, event worshiping God who he saw as taking things away from him. This topic is important especially for those who have just suffered the effects of hurricane Helene. And yet it is applicable to all because we are all subject to God’s providence.

The Providence of God

Westminster Shorter Catechism defines God’s providence in this way: “What are God’s works of providence? God’s works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.”[1] In the book of Job the reader is challenged to understand how God governs His creatures and their actions, and how to properly respond to that reality. Since God governs all His creatures and all their actions, that means good times and disaster come from Him. God does not remove Himself from this world after He makes it as the Deists would teach, but continually governs it. He cares for the creation, superintending all His creatures and all their actions.

What Job teaches the Christian is that he should respond with the same level of contentment in both kinds of circumstances. And that is challenging. In some sense easy times make us complacent and hard times make us grumble, but from Job’s lips the Christian is reminded that we should receive both by remembering that it is God’s providence, His governance of his days that has brought these circumstances into being.

God’s Good Providences

In the book of Job the tension is not that he has received too many blessings from the Lord. It is rather the opposite. Job has experienced a shattering of his life and his tragedy is real. Even for those who have experienced this most recent hurricane, it is still predominantly true that those in the United States can sing with the psalmist: “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”[2]The vast majority of westerners live under God’s good providences, which are experienced in different ways.

His provision. The Lord provides for His people in a variety of ways. He does so materially by giving food, clothing, housing, and other possessions. He does so emotionally by blessing Christians with friends, family, and most often a spouse with whom to share life. He does so through the technological advancements of our time with vastly improved medical technology, and other inventions that provide ease and comfort in life. There are many others that could be listed here. Most of the time people hardly give these any thought, and even assume that these are their right. And yet because all men participated in the sin of Adam and add to that guilt daily by sinful thoughts, words, and deeds, it is in the provisions that God gives that He demonstrated His kindness.

His protection. In God’s governance of His creation there is security because in it God protects His people. In Job, the only reason the devil has access to him is that God gives him permission. Often in prayer meetings, Christians will pray for a “hedge of protection” around someone. That phrase is derived from the devil’s conversation with God. When the devil responds to God’s praise of Job’s faithfulness he says, “Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side?”[3] The Christian lives with the knowledge that nothing happens to him apart from the permission of his loving Heavenly Father.

Most often, the Lord directs these protections through secondary means. Parents are used to protect their children both physically and spiritually. The elders of the church exercise their office for the protection of faith and practice among God’s people. Governing authorities protect their citizens from evil and promote what is good. These institutions do not exist apart from God’s appointment, but are instances of His tremendous kindness in his good providences.

His pardon. The greatest aspect of God’s work of providence is the way He redeems people from the guilt of sin. All people are by nature guilty before God because of their sin. And yet some are declared righteous and pardoned from the guilt of their sin. It is God’s providence that any turn. None would be reconciled to God on their own. The condition of man is dire. He is “dead in sin and trespass”[4] and even Christians are naturally “children of wrath like the rest of mankind.”[5] There is no possible way to escape the significance of this natural condition. God’s merciful pardoning of sin is His ultimate demonstration of kindness.

It is good to remember and express these acts of kindness which God in His good providence has given to His people. That is especially true while living in the shadow of hurricane Helene. In hard times, people are tempted to think only of the tragedy. But Christians must remember the goodness and kindness of God which is experienced (and perhaps taken for granted) from day to day. Certainly it is easier to praise God when His providence provides for and protects you. It is easy to praise Him for His work of salvation. But there is much to be learned in the book of Job in giving thanks in all circumstances.

God’s Hard Providences

The tension in Job 2:9-10 is found in the conversation between Job and his wife. This family has just experienced a heart-wrenching tragedy. Their 10 children have been killed in a natural disaster, all their wealth is lost. But after his wife urges him to cut ties with God Job says: “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”[6] What does Job mean when he says he receives “evil” from God?

From the rest of Scripture it is abundantly clear that God is not capable of doing evil. For example, James 1:13 says that “God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” That limits what Job might be saying. It cannot mean that he thinks God is behaving in an evil way toward him. The Bible says that interpretation is impossible. There is not any place for laying blame at God’s feet. The solution is not far away.

The Hebrew word translated “evil” in the ESV can also simply mean bad, or disaster. So it is not that God acts wickedly against Job in allowing this tragedy. Rather, the Bible is describing Job’s assessment of his circumstance. It does not seem far fetched at all that Job would describe his calamity as bad or a disaster. But the emphasis in Job is to teach the Christian how to respond properly when faced with a departure from the good times with which people are so familiar. It exhorts the reader to trust the Lord with all that happens in this life without judging the acceptability or fitness of His works. But that is not the only way that people respond to calamity. It is in Job’s exchange with his wife in Job 2:9-10 that the two basic responses to God’s hard providences are acted out.

Job’s wife acts in bitterness toward the Lord leading to what seems to be a rejection of Him. Many people are tempted to respond in this way. Job 2:9 records: “Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.’” Job’s wife concludes that her calamity, which is truly and in all ways to be considered a tragedy, is too hard. It pushes her to think, at least for a season, that God is not worth her time. At this time, Job’s spiritual integrity is a joke to her and his life is even worthless to her. She urges her husband to curse God and die. Perhaps these words are simply the cry of a broken heart. We are not told if she changes her tune. However, even in her devastating circumstances she charges God with evil and elevates herself to being wiser than He. She presumes to know the final result better than God does. This same sentiment is expressed when people express anger against God over a certain difficulty they have witnessed or experienced. Such a response is basically the same as the emotional state of Job’s wife, and Job calls it “foolish.”

By way of contrast, Job acts in contentment, bearing up under what God has assigned to him. Job’s acceptance of God’s hard providences is, in some sense, mind-boggling. Some of Job’s statements as he suffers his ruin are truly breathtaking. When he looses all his possessions, status, and children in a matter of minutes, he says: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”[7] I wonder how many Christians today would make such a statement. When the devil strikes covers him with festering blisters from head to toes, he says: “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”[8] In both of these sayings, Job demonstrates a stunning and complete contentment with God’s providential ordering of his circumstances. And it is his acceptance of God’s working in his life that marks the lesson of Job. It is a lesson I have found myself needing to learn better as I have walked through the fairly minor inconvenience of the temporary loss of power, water, and mobility.

Application

In response to the Bible’s teaching on trusting God also in hard providences, I want to challenge Christians in two ways.

First, trust in the omniscience, and goodness of God. Especially in times of crisis, it is crucial for us to have the contentment of Job. If this man who suffered far more than most Christians ever have can praise God, the rest of the Church should be able to do so as well. That begins with a right assessment of the One who orders His creation. Man’s understanding of any event is limited. His knowledge takes only a small slice of what he is taught and experiences over a span of eighty years. But God is omniscient, meaning that He knows all things. There is no mystery to Him, nothing where He does not know the outcome. That makes Him trustworthy. He is good, meaning that He does not deal with His people for their destruction, but only for their building up. Who is man to make a final assessment of what good things the Lord will bring to him even in his hardship. From personal hardship, the deprivations caused by the hurricane have helped me. They have shown me my great reliance on Him, helped me see my own weakness, caused me to recalibrate my priorities. And He may have other plans besides the ones I recognize. But whatever His reason for hurricane Helene, He is wiser than any man and good in all His dealings. Therefore the Christian’s default should be to trust Him, and be content.

Second, rehearse the many great gifts God has given. Christians should keep themselves from being overwhelmed with the troubles of today by looking to the many instances of God’s kindness. Rehearse together how He has given life and health. Consider how many things could have gone wrong but did not. Reflect on the fragility of life and how the Lord has yet preserved His people these many days.

The reason people who are minimally affected by the effects of this hurricane are prone to grumble is because they have had a very comfortable life up to this point. That is not to make light of the devastation faced by communities and families in the Southeast. Their grief is justified. However, for the vast majority of people, their temporary loss of power, gasoline, and drinking water does not compare to the many good gifts the Lord has given them.

Finally, consider the greatness God’s work of salvation. He sent His Son to be the propitiation of sin. That means His Son was sent to satisfy the wrath of God over sin committed against Him. On the cross the Lord Jesus Christ bore God’s wrath. Whatever is endured in this life cannot be compared to that agony. Christ bore the infinite wrath of God. His Father forsook Him, turning His face away so that His people would not taste the agony of hell. He has done that for the good of His people. It is the greatest gift anyone might ever receive. That gospel truth is to be believed and rejoiced in. It is that perspective that helps people endure the hard providences God brings their way.

Conclusion

I do not think I will ever forget hurricane Helene. I think it will change how I respond to reports of storms for the rest of my life. But Christian, be reminded that the Lord is good, and the Lord is sovereign. Because He rules and reigns, the Christian says with Job: “The Lord gives and takes away…” Because the world is subject to God’s providence, the Christian’s grumbling should be changed to Job’s good confession: “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” That does not mean that hardships are not hard anymore. It does not mean that loss does not bring about tears. But it does mean that whether facing easy or hard circumstances, Christians are to give thanks to God, praise His name, tell of His salvation, and rejoice for His steadfast love endures forever.

[1] Westminster Shorter Catechism #11.

[2] Psalm 16:6 (ESV).

[3] Job 1:10.

[4] Ephesians 2:1.

[5] Ephesians 2:3.

[6] Job 2:10.

[7] Job 1:21.

[8] Job 2:10.

Belief about God, Christian Living, Love for God

Responding to Hurricane Helene – Part 1

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I have never been one to pay particularly close attention to storms. I have always lived in places where the threat of them was more significant than the actual event. Sure, I have lived through major snow storms, tornado warnings and landings, ice storms that cut off power and conveniences for a day. But all of that changed on September 27, 2024. There had been some rain the day before. That is what I was used to in Augusta, GA. Hurricanes and Tropical Storms would vent their fury on places further south, and we would have to put up with a day of fairly heavy rain. So I had assumed that would be all: some rain on Thursday, but on Friday everything would continue as per normal. But I was mistaken.

At around 3 a.m. on the 27th I woke up aware that someone was moving around downstairs. Noticing my wife missing from the bed, I went to find out what she was doing. I could hear the rain and gusts of wind, but it did not seem too significant to me. I went and checked on her and finding everything ok, I returned to get some more sleep. One hour later I woke up to find a living room full of Gleasons, alarmed at the noise of the wind and rain pelting the house. I encouraged them to be productive with their time if they were going to be up (yes, I’m that kind of dad), and again returned to get some more sleep. One hour later I woke up because I could feel the house shifting as the gusts of wind whistled outside the windows. At this point, unwilling to die by myself on the second floor, I made it downstairs and sat in the dark (power was out and would not be restored for almost 5 days) with the rest of the family. By God’s grace the storm may have raged but the damage to our house was minimal. The same cannot be said for many others.

When the dawn broke and we were able to go and assess the damage, it was like a war zone. Trees were down everywhere around the city, in some instances having crushed houses and cars. Traffic lights did not work anywhere making every intersection dangerous and challenging. Almost no houses had electricity, and there was no prediction as to when it would be restored. Cell phone service was spotty making the ability to communicate with our church family tricky.

The following Sunday, September 29, little had changed. People had helped each other remove fallen trees and other debris, but the infrastructure was not restored. In fact, the situation became more challenging for many Augusta residents because the Utilities Department decided to shut off water to all houses. Food was beginning to rot in refrigerators, gasoline was beginning to run out, and people were beginning to become very concerned, and even tense. So how is the Christian to address such a situation. As the members of Cliffwood (who were able to get to the church) gathered, we considered together the lessons God’s word gives us from Job 2:9-10:

“Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.’ But he said to her, ‘You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

Context of Job 2:9-10

This snippet of a conversation between a husband and wife has a context. The reader is not just overhearing some terse words exchanged because of the strain and stress of an average day. Job and his wife have just been completely ruined.

From Job 1:1-5 it is clear that Job is a very wealthy man with a large family. The accounting of his possessions are foreign to a modern North American, but his 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and many servants establish Job as “the greatest of all the people of the east.” (Job 1:3). In addition, he is reported to have seven sons and three daughters (Job 1:2). Job is at the top of the pile, but in a very short space of time he is reduced to nothing through catastrophe and disaster.

In Job 1:13-19, four different reports come to him. The first report is that all his oxen and donkeys were stolen by the Sabeans (v. 14-15). The second report tells of fire burning up Job’s sheep and attending servants (v. 16). The third announces that the camels and attending servants have been stolen by the Chaldeans (v. 17). And the fourth, and most tragic, is that all 10 of Job’s children have been killed when the house in which they are visiting with each other collapses (v. 18-19). What is even more catastrophic is that these reports come to Job one after another. While the current report is given to Job, the next messenger arrives (see v. 16, 17, & 18), where the narrator records that while the messenger was still speaking the next messenger arrived. That means that Job loses his wealth, status, and all his children in a matter of minutes. And that would be tragic enough, and yet Job endures more.

Starting in Job 2:1-6, Job also loses his health. It says that Job was struck with “loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” (Job 2:7). This once-great man went from being the greatest man in the east to sitting in the ash heap, scraping himself with a piece of pottery to gain some relief from his festering blisters. And what is truly stunning in it all is the way in which these hardships came to Job and his family.

Job was thus afflicted as the result of two meetings between God and the devil. The first is recorded in Job 1:6-12, and the second in Job 2:1-6. In each meeting, God praises Job for his faithfulness, but the devil suggests that Job serves the Lord because he has privilege. Each time the devil asks God for permission to afflict His faithful servant. And perhaps astonishingly to us who have but a limited understanding of God’s good plans, He grants Satan’s request. In the first meeting Satan is permitted attack Job’s possessions and in the second his health. And yet, this account is not about how a man handles circumstances well. Job is the account of how a man is content when God brings what William Cowper calls a “frowning providence” in his hymn God Moves in a Mysterious Way.

Next it is left to determine just what forms God’s providence can take and how Christians should respond to it.

Belief about God, Bible, Christian Living, church

Christians in a Fallen World – Part 2

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Conflict

At 6.15 p.m. on Saturday, July 13, 2024, there was an attempt on former president Donald Trump’s life. He was shot in the ear, one bystander dead, two others wounded, the shooter himself killed, and the former President whisked away by secret service. How does the Christian respond to that kind of event? Last article looked at how they could respond and what they should not do. This second installment examines this question positively, in terms of what they should do.

What Should the Christian Do?

“My son,  fear the LORD and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?” (Proverbs 24:21-22)

Verse 21 calls the Christian to fear the Lord. That is the default Christian response to any circumstance, including unsettling circumstance, like experience on July 13, 2024. The Christian is not to fret or envy the evildoer. In some sense that would be to fear man. But rather than fearing man, he is to fear the Lord. But what does it mean to fear the Lord?

In this context it does not mean to cower before the Lord God in terror because of dread of His presence? It is not to be like Adam in the Garden immediately after the fall when he hides himself from God because he fears Him. What is the fear of the Lord then?

“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.” (Proverbs 8:13)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 9:10)
“The fear of the Lord prolongs life.” (Proverbs 10:27)
“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life.” (Proverbs 14:27)
“The fear of the Lord leads to life and whoever has it rests satisfied.” (Proverbs 19:23)

To summarize, the fear of the Lord can be used to simply describe the Christian life. It is living in relationship with a God who is pure and who has accomplished redemption. That is the fear of the Lord. It is the reverence and awe that the redeemed feel towards the God who is not there to condemn them, but the God who has promised and secured salvation. It is a phrase that shows the changed life of a man who is under God’s protection.

The man who fears the Lord turns away from evil. The fear of the Lord makes him wise and prolongs his life. It gives him rest. That is the life of the man who is in Christ because of the grace of God. He loves the Lord. He loves his law. He hates what is opposed to him. Rather than fearing man and his disapproval, he fears the Lord, also in the face of political unrest. Yet it is important to clarify, that though the Christian does not fear the evildoer, it does not mean he indifferent about him.

The Christian should not shrug at evil, but condemn it. He should seek biblical justice so far as he is able, because he hates evil and exactly because he fears the Lord. He should care about about who his ruler is. He should seek to gain a ruler who governs in that same fear of the Lord that he has because he wants the good of his nation. He understands Psalm 33:12 which says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” A righteous ruler behaves in the same way as the Lord does. In Proverbs 19:21 the wise man calls his son to fear God and the king. In verse 22, it shows how both respond to evil the same way. The Lord and the king together will bring disaster and ruin on the one who doesn’t fear the Lord. Now, God always renders pure biblical justice. At the same time any king/ruler should render that.

Days like July 13, 2024 should not make the Christian disheartened. The Christian, by God’s grace, will not endure the ruin to which that warning points. Not because he is by nature right, but because God, by his grace, has made him right. He has transferred his citizenship from the countries of this world to the heavenly kingdom. And so the Christian is called to fear the Lord and the king. Live in this nation in light of your heavenly citizenship. There are events in this life that make man fret. But the Christian should remember he has a heavenly King. He should remember his adoption (Romans 8:14), the promise from Almighty God that He will never leave or forsake His people (Hebrews 13:5), that there is nothing in all of creation that can separate him from His love in Christ (Romans 8:38-39).

Days before the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, He encouraged his disciples that he was going to prepare a place for them (John 14:2). In other words, this world is not their home. There is a heavenly inheritance that awaits them. And that same promise applies to His disciples today as well. The Christian is not living in his permanent home, but is simply passing through. He is to fear the Lord and to fear the Lord only.

The Lord is to be feared because He is sovereign over all moments, including the one that happened on July 13, 2024. Nothing has happened that has not been ordained by him. The evildoer may believe he is advancing his own agenda, but the Lord mocks him and laughs at him. The evildoer’s own sin is being used to accomplish God’s perfect will. Think about Pontius Pilate. He thought he was advancing his political career by hanging this innocent Jewish carpenter on a cross. That is a sinful act. And yet the Lord used exactly that sinful action to accomplish the redemption that He had promised.

Without a doubt, Christians do not understand all that God is orchestrating through the assassination attempt on July 13. They do not know why God allowed this evildoer to do evil. But should the Christian even ask that question? The point is not that Christians cannot ask questions of God. However, they should never do so in such a way as puts His competency to ordain all things in doubt. God is good, merciful and compassionate. He did ordain it and He has every right to do so. It is in trusting in Him when things seem uncertain that peace is found. No man can give another ultimate peace. But no man or event should be able to take away the Christian’s peace either.

Proverbs 19:23 (quoted above) says that in the fear of the Lord that man rests satisfied. The Christian looks to the Lord for his future. The evildoer has no future (Prov. 24:20) because the evildoer assuredly and certainly will be condemned. His sins will find him out. Books will be opened. If he is not found out in this life, he will stand before the judgment seat of God, and his heart and thoughts will be laid bare. His transgressions against God’s law will be declared, and he will be sentenced. That is dismal, and it is the default state of everyone in the world. The godless evildoer, the wicked who seems so powerful, has an appearance of invincibility that lasts only for a moment.

But if a man is in Christ, the squabbles of this earth are not to be compared to the glory that he will have in heaven. Jesus Christ is King on the throne, and He is judging the nations. He is ruling over the nations. And Christians will participate in these things because they are united to the Anointed One. Because he is purchased by Christ, he is protected by Him and never abandoned.

He has purchased a future for the Christian at the cost of his own blood. That is the only hope presented in the gospel. God’s people should seek a nation where the righteous prosper and the evildoer is punished. But what is to be done when God, in his providence, denies these things. That is the question this article is addressing. It is not dealing with what may be wanted ideally. Rather, how do God’s people live in the corruption of this world?

The Christian ought no fear the plotting and scheming of man, nor envy such an evildoer. He is not to be anxious about him. Rather he is to fear the Lord and live under the authorities He has set in place. That is to be done with integrity, serving God in this world.

An assassination attempt is unsettling because it is an evidence of the rotten natural state of man which pervades our own country too. And no part of the Church can control it. However that does not give permission for the Church to fret and worry over those who do evil. It does not mean the wicked should be envied. The gaze of man is to be away from those things, directed rather to the Lord which a proper, biblical fear.

Seek his glory. Hate evil. Love wisdom. Rest satisfied in him. Why? Not because life will be easy, or even because it will necessarily be safe. It is because the Lord gives eternal peace to all who look to him in Christ. It would be good to heed the wisdom of Psalm 146:

1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!
2 I will praise the LORD  as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is  no salvation.
4 When  his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose  hope is in the LORD his God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; 7 who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets the prisoners free; 8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.

9 The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but  the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

10 The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!

Bible, Christian Living

Christians in a Fallen World – Part 1

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Conflict

At 6.15 p.m. on Saturday, July 13, 2024, there was an attempt on former president Donald Trump’s life. He was shot in the ear, one bystander dead, two others wounded, the shooter himself killed, and the former President whisked away by secret service. How does the Christian respond to that kind of event? Of course, there are many ways that the Christian could respond.

How Could the Christian Respond?

For one, the Christian might make Donald Trump into a saint. However, nothing really changed about Donald Trump between July 12 and 13. The only difference about this man is that somebody tried to kill him and they failed. He is still just a man with his strengths and weaknesses. So the primary Christian response should not be to work through issues about a preferred or despised politician. Instead Christian should never exalt a man, but he should think carefully about what it means to live as a Christian in a world that is dominated by evil, a world where such an event is possible.

The Christian also could respond by demonizing Donald Trump’s political opponents. Social media is the wild west for this kind of thing, and the Christian must avoid using posts and comments as the guide rails for how to handle this situation. Trump’s political opponents have expressed their sympathies, and the response of his supporters includes a large number of profanity-laced tirades, accusing all Democrats personally of causing the environment where assassination may seem like a good option. However, the Christian preoccupation should be to govern his emotional biblically.

Lastly, the Christian could also become overwhelmed by fear. That fear is reflected in the many public pronouncements that have been made about what happened on July 13. Celebrities have weighed expressing their with horror and dismay. Foreign dignitaries have extended their sympathies. Our own president has taken to the television to condemn the violence, and the tenor of all of those messages is that our country is in deep trouble. How does the Christian respond to that sentiment, however true it might be?

Without a doubt any nation where God is not worshipped is by default in deep trouble. How does blessing come to a nation? Psalm 33:12 tells us, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” And that is not the United States of America. America may have “In God we trust” written on its currency, but it denies this slogan in its entertainment, political discourse, business practices, and cultural emphases. And yet in responding to a national travesty like an assassination attempt, for most Christians fixing the godlessness in the United States of America is above their pay grade.

Many people are presenting the assassination attempt on Donald Trump as the natural outcome of inflamed political discourse. The thinking goes that when you ratchet up political rhetoric it incites hatred. Political rhetoric in the United States has been inflamed as of late which may lead to the conclusion that this problem is unique to former President Trump and the way that he pushes people’s buttons. However, the assassination of political figures is not a novel political enterprise, whether internationally or in our own country.

In our own country, six other presidents have been shot. Four of them have died as a result of their wounds: Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, James Garfield, and William McKinley. Two of them survived: Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. From the 1860s to the 1980s, presidents and former presidents in the US have been at risk of assassination attempts. These are not unique to the United States.

There are plenty of examples in world history where political figures are assassinated. For example, in 44 BC, Julius Caesar is murdered in the Senate of Rome. In 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand is shot and killed in Sarajevo, launching the Great War. In 1981 Anwar Sadat, president of Egypt, is murdered while reviewing a parade of his troops. It is a mistake to think that July 13, 2024 is unique in world history, or the history of the United States. That should not be surprising to Christians. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” Human behavior is quite predictable, in a general sense, because man is sinful.

The natural man is consumed with all sorts of evil. God commands Adam, “You shall not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:17). But Adam in his arrogance rebels against God, and eats of the Tree. He died that day, as God had warned. His body begins to die, and his soul is immediately dead and corrupted. Man is no longer able to do what is good and is now only bent on evil all the time. From that sinful nature flow all of his sinful actions. One of the things that is included as a consequence of man’s corrupt nature is recorded in Romans 3:15, where it says man is “swift to shed blood.” On July 13, 2024 the world witnessed a man who was swift to shed blood acting on his corrupt nature. There will be men who hate their fellow man, whose lust for fame, notoriety, or power means they will stop at no evil deed to carry out their wicked plans.

So what can the Christian do? The Christian can and must look into the mirror of God’s word and consider how to live in a nation that is steeped in sin.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

The rest of this two- part series meditates on Proverbs 24:19-22 to answer the questions of how the Christian should respond. And this text gives its answer by presenting two things: 1. What God’s people should not do; 2. What God’s people should do.

What God’s People Should Not Do

“Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.” (Proverbs 24:19-20)

There are two things the Christian should not do in response to the assassination attempt: 1. Fret not; 2. Be not envious. First is the call not to fret. Another word for fretting is worrying. And worrying is an expression of a lack of trust or a fearfulness over something that cannot be controlled. For example, parents fret about the choices their children make because they do not trust the child will make the right choice. Or, people worry about the weather forecast because they are not able to control the storms. To the subject of this article, people fret about the power of wicked people. But in verse 19 it says, “Fret not yourself because of evildoers.” That has application for Christians as they consider the aftermath of an assassination attempt, congressional hearings, different theories of how this event was able to unfold. Christians should not worry because they confess God rules and reigns in the heavens.

The second thing this text tells us not to do is be envious. Envy is a form of covetousness and the Christian is called specifically away from envy of the wicked. The fact that the Bible mentions envy of the wicked means there is within God’s people a temptation to exactly do that. The wicked seem to be successful, wealthy, strong, and wanting all of those things the Christian is foolishly tempted to imitate wicked ways. But Romans 6:23 has taught the wages of sin is death. The final expectation for those who remain in sin is this spiritual death. So the Christian has two responses for those who remain in sin, or who are among the wicked. Spiritually speaking, the wicked should not be envied, but pitied. In society, the wicked should not be envied but receive justice.

Proverbs 19:20 says, “The lamp of the wicked will be put out.” The Christian must always bring these things to mind. Evil doers and wicked men will not always affect the people of God. There will be a time when there will be no more reports of assassinations or even murder. Why? Because the evil man has no future and the lamp of the wicked will be put out. The evil doer may be strong today, but his future is like any other man. The wicked may be successful in the way that man measures success, but his lamp will be put out. On the other hand the Christian has something the evildoer will never have.

He has a future resurrection of glory, the promise of an eternal inheritance in a city which is so glorious that the streets are paved with gold. The Christian is a co-heir with Christ. Instead of darkness, he is promised an eternity bathed in light. The book of Revelation describes the New Jerusalem. And in this New Jerusalem, the apostle John records the sun and moon are not necessary because God will be the light of that city. “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”[1]

So in light of the events of July 13, 2024, the Christian must not fret or respond with envy because “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”[2]. The Christian who frets and worries fails to rest in that truth. The Christian who envies denies that truth. The Christian must not forget who he worships. That’s essentially what the book of Proverbs is saying: Do not be anxious or envious because you worship the living God.

The next article will look at Proverbs 19:21-22 where the Christian is told what he should do in the midst of a fallen, sinful world.

[1] Revelation 21:23 (ESV).

[2] 1 John 4:4.

Bible, Children, Christian Living, Family Worship

Meditation on Proverbs 30:7-9

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Father & Son Fishing

I have not done many devotional studies as part of this blog but not too long ago I was reading through Proverbs. As often happens, in reading through a text that I had read many times before, I was struck by something new. Proverbs 30:7-9 says:

“7 Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 lest I be full and deny you  and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.”

This proverb is perhaps unique in that it is a prayer directed to the Lord, a request from a person who has a living faith to the God who sanctifies him. It is by no means intended to be the exclusive prayer of the saint, but it does show the importance of two qualities in the Christian life which are often neglected.

The Importance of Honesty

The proverb directs the believer to ask God to make him an honest, truth-telling person. Perhaps it is overly simplistic to note that this exhortation has to be made. However, the fact that the prayer is offered points out the Christian may still be tempted with, and fall into, dishonesty. As a result, the proverb makes an appeal to the Lord that He would work in the Christian what he is unable to accomplish on his own. The prayer of the proverb is that he be kept from “falsehood and lying.” But why is truthfulness so significant to the Christian?

The Bible teaches that Jesus is the embodiment of the truth (John 14:6), while the devil is the father of lies (John 8:44). Since the Bible calls believers to imitate the Lord (Ephesians 5:1) and since Jesus attributes the lies of the Pharisees to the fact that they are children of the devil (John 8:44), the issue of truth telling is very closely related to spiritual parentage. In fact, speaking the truth is so important that God includes it as part of the Moral Law, summarized in the Ten Commandments. The ninth commandment specifically deals with honesty.

In the Westminster Shorter Catechism’s explanation of the ninth commandment it summarizes its function as “maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man.” That means its intention goes beyond telling the truth in a court of law. Verses like Proverbs 30:7 bear that out as it is addresses removing falsehood and lying in a more general sense.

Falsehood can have an obvious meaning, but there is a sense in which we can actually use the truth to promote falsehood. An example would be gossip. Gossip is a truthful communication of facts for a false end. Of course, falsehood is also the communication of what is not true. An example would be slander. In slander false information, or maybe information that is only partially true is shared. Both gossip and slander show up in Christian circles. The proverb exhorts Christians to ask God to turn them away from those things. However, the more obvious meaning about falsehood deals with lying.

Lying is the willful and intentional distortion or withholding of the truth for the purpose of deceiving another person. So, if someone asks another how his day is going, and he answers with a non-chalant, “fine,” he has not lied even if he did stub his toe earlier in the morning. There is no intent to deceive. But if a person conceals or alters the truth in an attempt to deceive, then he has lied. That person is speaking the language of the devil; it is sinful. And sin requires a Christian response.

The Christian struggling with honesty must repent of his sin. Confession should be made to the Lord and to the person who has been deceived. Yet the Christian is not concerned merely with forgiveness. He delights in the putting on of Christ and His righteousness. That is not simply a forensic and legal condition. The Christian delights to “walk in His ways.” (Deut. 26:17). Prayer is a request for God’s strength to make that a reality, to be enabled to speak the truth in love and forsake the temptation of speaking falsehood and lies. But that is only the first request in the proverb. The second part deals with riches.

The Importance of Contentment

The second part of the prayer offered in the proverb is that of contentment. It asks God to provide for material needs without either deprivation or excess. It is not unlike the fourth petition of the Lord’s Prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11). Westminster Shorter Catechism #104 summarizes that petition as asking for a “competent portion of the good things of this life.” That same request is made in this proverb as well. It asks for neither riches nor poverty.

Agur asks the Lord to provide him with his needs so that two scenarios would be avoided. First, he does not wish to be tempted to steal through poverty. Second, he does not wish tempted to deny his need for God because of his riches. And the balance of the Christian life is to receive from God’s hand whatever shape his providential distribution of wealth may take. The riches of eternal life and reconciliation to God received in Christ are of far more worth than any material blessings of this life. Therefore, the heart of the Christian ought first to be delighted with the gift of salvation resulting in contentment in all other circumstances. This proverb is not the only place in the Bible where contentment is urged.

Contentment is the positive subject of the 10th commandment. Negatively, this commandment forbids covetousness, which is a desire for the things providentially given by God to others. But in studying the law of God, the intent in the negatives is not simply to curtail certain behaviors, but to encourage the Christian to pursue the opposite virtue.  The Westminster Shorter Catechism puts it this way:

80. What is required in the tenth commandment?
The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbor, and all that is his.

There is a tremendous emphasis on contentment in the Bible. That contentment is grounded in viewing Christ as the greatest treasure of all. When that treasure is graciously given to a person, all other things will fade into the background. Of course, people fail to live out their gratitude consistently.

1 Timothy 6:10a warns the Christian that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” Jesus Himself says it another way in Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” There is the danger of forming an affectionate attachment to riches, setting them ahead of the Lord, looking to them as what gives joy and purpose. That is to create an idol in life. On the other hand, what is seen in Jesus’ own words is not a rejection of all forms of wealth. That would be to deny that all good gifts come down from heaven (James 1:17). However, the concern for riches should always be a subservient concern. Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (Westminster Shorter Catechism #1).

But a love for God is a love for who He is. He is the truth and He is the Christian’s treasure. There is, of course, much more that can be said about God and how belonging to Him changes the Christian. But here in this proverb there are two “acceptable sins” and yet these are singled out for a special prayer by Agur. That makes this section of Scripture a good aid for self-examination and a good place to visit as part of family worship.