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Belief about God, Gospel, Love for God, theology

The Doctrine of Adoption

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“14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:14-17)

The doctrine of adoption is often not given the attention it deserves. Prominence is given to other doctrines of grace, such as man’s justification or sanctification. And yet understanding the Christian’s adoption in Christ is crucial to a joyful and thankful life. I want to explore this doctrine, and use the text above as the starting point. Before getting into those specific verses it is imperative to come to terms with Romans more broadly speaking.

Paul has given his thesis in Romans 1:16, when he says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Paul spends the next several chapters examining this gospel message more broadly that the Church often does. In chapters 1-3 he gives a jarring description of the sinfulness of man and his guilt before God his Creator. In chapters 4-5 he counteracts that dismal message with the reminder of God’s promise that salvation comes not by man’s works, but through faith in Christ alone. In chapters 6-7 he emphasizes the call to Christian holiness, but with a realistic acknowledgement of the struggle that comes along with it. Thus, the movement in the big picture of Romans is from man’s sin to God’s mercy to man’s holiness. That same progression is seen on a smaller scale in chapter 8.

In verse 1 Paul begins by announcing that there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Condemnation is to be expected for sinful man, but those in Christ are spared. In verses 12-13 Paul follows that up by describing the changed life in Christ as putting “to death the deeds of the body.” So there is a contrast. On the one hand, the Christian is saved in Christ, but he is called to a changed life. The Christian cannot simply throw up his hands with a wry smile saying, “I cannot obey, but Christ has done so perfectly for me. I have His righteousness and therefore I am forgiven. There is nothing more to it.”

In Romans, the message is urgent. The first three chapters have pulled the fire alarm with its description of man’s sin. And despite the calls to holiness in light of Christ’s saving work, Paul’s cry in Romans 7:24 resonates with the Christian. “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” It is the grace of God that reconciles to man, but grace is not simply a phrase to be spoken. It is a deep, multifaceted gift from God.

Communion of Grace

Westminster Larger Catechism #69 introduces the notion of the “communion in grace” that believers have with the Lord which includes justification, adoption, and sanctification. These come to the Christian because they are united to the Lord through faith. And these facets of the Christian’s communion in grace with God must be held in balance to ensure the Christian experiences richness in their relationship with the Lord.

First, consider God’s grace in justification. Romans has described this doctrine in some detail in chaptes 4-5. Justification deals with man’s salvation in the legal sense. The guilty sinner stands before the judgment seat of Almighty God. That is the legal setting. Justification is the act in which the Righteous Judge pardons the sinner and declares him righteous. What a glorious truth. However, a person who lives before the Lord with an eye on justification only will relate to God strictly on legal terms, which is neither personal nor warm.

Second, consider God’s grace in sanctification. In chapters 6-7 of Romans the Christian has been called to turn away from sin unto obedience. That process is induced by grace but from man’s perspective certainly involves a sense of effort. That is true not only in Romans, but in other parts of the Bible as well. For example, in Hebrews 12:14 God exhorts His people to “Strive …for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” In Philippians 2:12 they are called to “work out,” their own salvation in fear and trembling. 2 Peter 1:5 adds “make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue.” Finally Colossians 3:5 tells them to “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you.” God in His grace equips the Christian for that spiritual battle, which is a wonderful truth. But if a Christian only relates to God in terms of his sanctification he will look at his life as a series of tasks and improvements to be done.

Justification held out of balance can be legal and impersonal. Sanctification held out of balance tends to make a man task oriented. But what if the Christian relates to God with these things put together? It may not improve things. The end result may be relating to God as a legally minded, impersonal taskmaster with a list of things to do. Adoption is the key missing ingredient.

Father, not Judge

Consider God’s grace in adoption. Adoption saves the Christian from relating to God in exclusively legal and/or performative terms. In Romans 8:14 it says, “All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” That marks a significant relational change for a man who before was guilty of sin. A person should relate to God as Judge only if he is outside of Christ. For those who have received their justification by faith, God is no longer judge, but Father.

Not everyone has the same experience in family, but people recognize what a family should be. In healthy homes children and parents do not relate to each other by citing contracts and ratifications of agreements. Instead, they relate to each other in love. Parents set boundaries for their children out of love, and children in turn obey their parents out of love. It would be absurd to see a family where the father is treated as a judge.

Of course, judges often do have families. And in their professional capacity it is normal for them to wear a long robe and to be addressed as “your honor.” However, if a judge were to behave that way at home, it should raise some eyebrows. Adoption is that Christian doctrine that shows the Christian’s relationship to God is altered from a legal one to a familial one.

Since adoption rightly frames the Christian’s relationship to God, Christians should know that they are adopted. Romans 8:16 explains that the Spirit’s testimony gives certainty in this regard: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” That verse may seem a little subjective, but 1 John provides clarity. The testimony of the Spirit comes in the following ways:

First, the response to the gospel. 1 John 2:3 says, “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep His commandments.” That means that a person who knows the gospel, will respond with a pursuit of holiness. Even if struggles remain, to pursue the commandments is a testimony of the Spirit about adoption. And God directs His children and calls them to walk this way and not that one.

Second, the confession of the gospel. 1 John 4:2 says, “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.” The testimony of the Spirit in not just one of understanding but also a desire to profess Christ.

Third, the understanding of the gospel. 1 John 5:20a says, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true…” And more than that, from John’s gospel it is clear that an understanding of the truth comes from God the Holy Spirit. John 16:13a says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” Anyone who understands the mysteries of the gospel and has a knowledge of Christ is displaying the work of the Holy Spirit.

In moments of doubt a Christian may say, “I don’t obey as I should.” And that most certainly will be true of anyone at times. But Romans 8:16 says, “we are children of God.” (emphasis mine). Yes, the Heavenly Father corrects sin. But He does so because He desires that His children would turn away from sin, and love the good instead. That truth should not lead to a spirit of slavery of fear, but cause the children of God to flee to Him for safety.

The Inheritance of Christian Sons

Christians are adopted sons and daughters, which means they have access to all the rights and privileges of a child of God. In fact, Romans 8:17 notes three things the Christian shares with Christ in adoption: First, a shared inheritance (they are “fellow-heirs”); 2. Second, a shared suffering (they will “suffer with Him”); and, 3. Finally, a shared glory (they are “glorified with Him”). Believers share all of these with Christ.

To share in Christ’s suffering means forsaking self and following the Lord. At a minimum, when the world says “yes”, but God’s word says “no” the Christian follows. That is the extent of suffering asked of the North American Christian. However, there are also brothers and sisters in other places who suffer far more acutely for belonging to Christ. They face persecutions of various degrees ranging from estrangement from family (which may happen in the United States too), to forfeiture of property or freedom, or even loss of life. To be glorified with Him is to be perfected in heaven with the Lord as is described in Revelation 21. But most significantly sharing in Christ’s inheritance is to receive eternal life.

Implications

The doctrine of adoption is a great benefit to Christians. Sins are forgiven, and holiness is pursued, but in the context of a loving Heavenly Father. Therefore think of your communion of grace with God in the following ways:

  1. Be assured of God’s grace in salvation. Romans gives a glorious picture of how God reconciles His people to Himself. Imagine the sinner standing in the defendant’s box. He is dead in sin and trespass. All the evidence is piled up and his face betrays his guilt. And instead of a guilty verdict God’s executes His just sentence on Christ instead. All the wrath of God over the sins of His people is poured out on Jesus on the cross, and so He welcomes His sons and daughters.
  2. Live as grateful children of God. For a young child, their parents are their whole world. When they learn a new skill they look for affirmation from their parents, exclaiming “Look mom, look dad!” Why do they want that attention? Because, more than anything, they want their parents’ approval. They do not need to motivate themselves to seek or express affection. They do not have an internal dialogue: “Oh man. I’ve got to make another card for mom today. Better get the production rolling.” They want to make cards for their parents. And that should be the heart of the Christian too when it comes to His heavenly Father. That is the lesson learned from  John 14:15 which says, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.”
  3. Remember, God is your Father. In my time as father I have received many cards and pictures from my children. The artwork is questionably, the grammar is almost non-existent, and the spelling is definitely not good. Sometimes it was not even clear to me what I was looking at. But never did it cross my mind to send the artwork back for revisions and edits. And God’s love is far more tender than any love a human father may have. God does not desire to judge you, Christian. He loves you with a perfect love.

    Pastor Geoff Gleason
    Cliffwood Presbyterian Church

 

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.

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!

Belief about God, Children, church, ordinary means of grace, Parenting

Experiencing Worship with Children

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Lately I’ve been preaching through the “kingdom psalms” (Psalms 93-100). These psalms include as their common theme a call to worship God. That theme got me thinking about Christian parents leading their families to worship. No one is exempt from challenges in leading their family in worship at church. So how can parents live faithfully before God in this area? How can parents responsibly lead their families to meet with God and His people in worship? Those questions could be addressed by sharing information, or it could examine the experience of worship in families.

In this article there will not simply be a consideration of knowledge. Knowledge is crucial to the Christian life. Normally in adults life is a progressive movement from knowledge in the head to belief in the heart to expression with the hands. However, in children parental example is integral to form assumptions in the minds of children. These can have a lasting impact on the way they will understand life as adults. So rather than considering what facts children should know about worship, this article looks at parental leadership and example and how it informs an understanding of worship in children before they may even understand all that is happening. I will begin with a parent’s negative example.

  1. The Impact of Neglecting Worship

There are many reasons why people for a season excuse themselves from worship. Some of them are legitimate, some are understandable but not helpful, and some are simply bad reasons. The latter two will have unwanted negative results in children.

First, there are legitimate reasons. These include suffering an illness, or caring for someone else who is, employment in areas of mercy and necessity. Nurses, doctors, nursing home staff performing necessary medical service to the sick and elderly does nothing to neglect the call to worship, but actually compliments it. There other such reasons, but these legitimate reasons will in no way be a negative example to children.

Second, there are understandable reasons that are not helpful. There are times when, as a pastor, I sympathetically understand why folks stay away from worship. But when I talk to them, I counsel them to be present at worship because it is actually more helpful to them. For example, a person who has suffered a trauma in his life such as the passing of a loved one, or an embarrassing confession of sin may be tempted to stay away. Perhaps the difficulty of repeatedly answering the same painful questions seems too much to handle. These struggling brothers and sisters should be encouraged by the spirit of gentleness displayed by the saints (Gal. 6:1) and welcomed in the church.

However, when worship is neglected in these circumstances, it teaches a lesson for watching children. They see parents worshiping God when things are going well, but when hardship comes worship is withdrawn. They see people looking for comfort and encouragement away from the people of God in their most pressing needs. And yet, the Bible teaches that all circumstances come from the Lord, and so His worship should not be neglected on account of hardship.

Third, there are bad reasons to neglect worship. These reasons include preferring time to visit with friends or family who are in-town for the week-end, catching up on needed work around the house, and so on. The unnecessary neglect of corporate worship is a significant disconnect with a Christian profession of faith. Psalm 122:1 presents the heart of the Christian when it comes to worship: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (English Standard Version). But for the watching eyes of children, parents who stay away from worship teach children a detrimental lesson with unpredictable consequences.

Using the example of neglecting worship for time with family and friends, parents in that moment teach the child, perhaps unintentionally, that family is more important than God. I do not know Christian parents who would say that, but their actions at time establish that. The choice has been presented and God has not been preferred. And once that choice has been presented as a legitimate option, the parent will have no grounds to object to the preference of personal choice in any other area. Children may apply the same choice to recreation, work, or other things. In that scenario, actions have spoken and the lesson is clearly taught.

  1. A Valuable Lesson to Be Taught by Being Present in Worship

But parents do come to worship. They do set a positive example by being present at church, which has positive practical consequences. Broadly speaking, participating in worship gives children a healthy understanding of their importance compared to God.  An important aspect of being a well-adjusted person is the correct understanding of personal importance. In today’s self-help secular parenting world, children are often raised to think they are uniquely special. Their needs are to be met, and their opinions are to be respected and maybe even followed. Of course, it is good to make sure children know they are precious to their parents. But that affirmation should have limits. No child is more precious that God. And so, it is good for children to learn there are moments where their personal preferences and desires must “take a back seat.” Worship is one of those moments. What parents allow and forbid as part of worship prepares a child to recognize that he and God are not peers, which has further implications for all of life. Parents can set prohibitions and requirements to aid in learning that lesson.

First, children should not be an unnecessary distraction in worship. The church has gathered to focus on the Lord, not to focus on children. Therefore, no child should be allowed to make himself the focus either by excessive noise, disobedience, or turning around in the seat and entertaining the people sitting behind. When a child is not able to be in church without becoming a distraction, he should not remain. Perhaps there is a quick fix that can happen in the foyer of the church. Perhaps more training is necessary in the home to prepare a child to sit still. If the church has a nursery, parents should take advantage. Parents themselves should then assess together what is missing that would enable their child to be part of corporate worship. It is not always easy to discern, however a constant parade in and out of a service to correct a wayward child, indicates that child may not be ready to sit in church. Not only will both parent and child not participate in worship, most likely the people around them will not either. And that is to miss the purpose for coming together. Do not misunderstand. As a pastor, I am glad to hear the noises of a child learning to adjust himself to worship. The loud, off-key singing is great. The out-loud answer to rhetorical questions in the sermon often puts the adults to shame. Even the restless wiggles being brought under control should not distract a person who has come to worship. But there is a point when a child becomes an unhealthy distraction.

Second, children should not be permitted to act on every impulse they have during worship. The two main culprits in this regard are probably requests from children for drinks of water and going to the bathroom. Dealing with requests for drinks of water is by far the easier of the two. From a practical standpoint, it is highly unlikely that your child will not survive the remaining 30 minutes of a service without a drink of water. Requests for a visit to the bathroom carry with them a greater sense of risk. However, just a little bit of thinking ahead can even alleviate the urgency of this question. Parents can require a visit to the facilities before the service starts. That requires attentiveness from the parents and perhaps a couple of calculated but risky refusals.

In reality, children asking about bathrooms and water fountains are probably looking for a reprieve from sitting still more than presenting an actual need. But whatever the case, here parents have an opportunity to practically demonstrate that the child is not as important as the worship of God. A parent may say, “No son. We are here to worship the Lord. You can wait for a drink until we are done.” That refusal demonstrates to the child that their impulse for a drink or simply to move around does not outweigh or supersede the call to glorify God in the context of the gathered worship of His people.

Third, children should be prepared to participate in worship. Some preparation will happen through the accumulation of experience in worship. The week-in, week-out participation in Sunday worship will make children relax and enable them to join in. However, there are also some proactive things that can be done at home. For churches which recite creeds or the Lord’s Prayer corporately, children can be helped in committing them to memory. Once memorized they will be able to participate. Parents can insist that older children participate in the songs of the church and give them a little pro-active “coaching.” Perhaps it is as simple as, “Remember, we are going to worship the Lord today, and I want to see you singing along with the rest of the people.” Parents can also provide ways to help children listen to preaching. Children can be encouraged to write down a few notes of things they heard the pastor say. However, be careful that this tool is not allowed to cause the child to tune out what is said as he develops his favorite cartoon characters. In all these ways, children can be shown the privilege of worshiping God. And the aim is not just quiet children, but those who respect worship and, more significantly, participate in it.

All parents have failed in leading their family in worship. Some have been too lacks, others too strict. But past failures should not excuse a renewed commitment around healthy expectations in our families regarding the worship God. Parental instruction or example should not undermine the supremacy of God, and where parents have allowed that to happen, adjustments should be made. That is no cause for shame or embarrassment. It is a necessary and on-going correction that all people must at times make. It is part of their own sanctification and their responsibility to present their children to the Lord for worship.

Belief about God, theology, Westminster Confession of Faith

Theological Thought » God’s Providence

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Divine providence. Even if it is difficult to define, all people interact with it every day. Chapter 5 of the confession defines some terms to help us understand. The first paragraph describes both the scope and category of the term “providence”. 

Firstly, the term “providence” is firmly in the category of governance. It indicates that God, as the Creator, governs His creation. Secondly, the scope of this governance is “over all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least.” This governance over all things is not dependent on anything, but only God’s will.

In the second paragraph the direct line between God and all events is firmly established.  Yet, though God is directly in control of all things, He makes them happen through “secondary causes”. That means God does not usually intervene in the world through miracles, but works through people and circumstances, though the third paragraph makes it clear He is not obliged to do so.

The fourth paragraph makes it clear that even the fall and man’s sins are subsumed under God’s providence. Without attempting to explain it, the Confession does clarify that God is not the author of sin.

The righteous are under this providence tested and sanctified by God, while the wicked have His grace withheld causing them to harden themselves. And finally God’s providence is over the church in a special way.

Not all of these things are easy to understand, but God’s providence shows His glory.

Belief about God, theology, Westminster Confession of Faith

Theological Thought » God’s Decree

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The third chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith addresses the doctrine of God’s decree. Some of these truths are difficult to accept for some Christians, but they make us to dwell on the glory and power of God.

The first thing asserted in chapter 3 is that God ordains “whatsoever comes to pass.” To understand this truth there must be a clear distinction drawn between God making something necessary on the one hand and compulsory on the other.

For something to be necessary means the outcome cannot be avoided. That is what the Confession is saying about God’s decrees. However, that does not make the choice of man compulsory, in the sense that man is forced to do anything against his will.

What follows from that is that God never is responding. He does not make decisions based on gaining new information even through seeing things before they happen. However, the main controversy around this subject comes in its discussion on salvation.

The Confession teaches that God choses the eternal condition of all men and angels, whether it be heaven or hell. This choice is not based on what God knows about people, but according to His own purpose. People have difficulty accepting this truth.

Rather than making anyone boastful about receiving salvation, this doctrine should only serve to exalt the God who chooses and humble the person who receives salvation, because none are worthy of it.

Belief about God, theology, Westminster Confession of Faith

Theological Thought » On God

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The second chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith addresses the doctrine of God. 

The first paragraph deals with God’s attributes, both those which can be seen reflected in man (communicable attributes) and those which are unique only to God (incommunicable). The latter include His unchangeableness, and various aspects of His infinity, such as regarding time and space. These establish God as far greater than His creation and keep man from assuming some kind of peer-relationship with God who is highly exalted.

At the same time, God shows that His own image is placed on man. Man reflects his Creator in many ways, though the attributes of God that we mirror are not held in the same degree. Man may be wise, but God’s wisdom is without limit. Man may be merciful, but not to the same extent that God shows mercy. 

The second paragraph treats God’s independency, also called His aseity. God does not stand in need of anything to complete Him, neither does He gain any knowledge from His creation.

The third paragraph describes the mysterious nature of the Trinity: “three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity.” These are distinguished from each other by their properties.

Much more could be said, however the summary above is sufficient to direct man to worship. God’s greatness demands that His creation yields to Him any worship, service, or obedience He may require of it.