Interesting Thoughts - February 2013

It is no longer enough to accept a person and his right to believe as he wishes; the "new tolerance" requires that we accept his viewpoint as well. - Starr Meade on review of book, "The Intolerance of Tolerance" by D.A. Carson. 

Also on the book

• Carson surveys the history of tolerance (tolerance in the old sense) through the centuries, admitting that Christians themselves have sometimes practiced harsh intolerance. He demonstrates, however, that, when that has happened, it has been contrary to what Scripture actually teaches.
• Only biblical Christianity, with its insistence upon right and wrong and truth and falsehood, is not to be tolerated under the new tolerance. 
• The new tolerance increasingly denies those holding Bible-based opinions the right to say, "I believe that is wrong."

Tabletalk (November 2012) – 8th Commandment – Thou Shalt Not Steal – There are several ways that a seller can alter measurements to fool buyers into thinking they are getting more than they are actually receiving. This is equivalent to theft because it takes more from a buyer than he should be paying. Christians must never use false measurements or lie about what they are buying and selling.

Tabletalk (November 2012) – Wise Sayings – RC Sproul - Proverbs aren’t for every situation in life. They are not universal laws. Consider them wisely for the situations that they apply themselves to.

Tabletalk (November 2012) – Scripture Alone - Michael J. Kruger - At its core, the fall was about God’s people rejecting God’s Word as the ultimate standard for all of life.

Reading EM Bounds, Power through Prayer, Chapter 5, “Prayer, the Great Essential”

I want my wife to be more spiritual and yet I don’t pray for her. I want this of my kids and yet I don’t pray for them, thinking somehow that my desire is what affects change or an apt word from someone. It is prayer. God is the one that changes hearts. I must believe this and live it and do it. “Praying is spiritual work; and human nature does not like taxing, spiritual work.” My prayer is quick. It’s like I’m just throwing something up because it’s a duty and I want to comply. I’m into check-off prayer where I have this list and I pray for something and I’m done. I think praying once for something is enough.

What's In A Name? - Derek W. H. Thomas (Tabletalk July 2013)

I really enjoyed this article on the 3rd Commandment. I love breaking down the commandments and really thinking about the sins that they are speaking about. Personally, I believe, in this day and age of our church, we just don't spend enough time examining our sins. We spend so much time on behavior improvement, but if we are committed about looking at our lives and seeing the sin in them the only direction to go is God working through us -- His workmanship. What it seems we are doing is focusing on good behavior and then we need to rest and our rest is often entertainment that lends itself to sin, but we don't think about it that way because we have been engaged in so much so-called good behavior that we think we deserve the entertainment. We work hard at our jobs and deserve time off. Don't get me wrong. We need rest. Thus, the Sabbath. We need to have a day of rest in our lives. But, it needs to be more scheduled, as God scheduled it, once a week.

Okay, enough soup box, here are some quotes and thoughts from this article in Tabletalk magazine, which I continue to just love and pour through.

Television and movies are so littered with expletives that we have almost become immune to their destructive power.

I don't know why we don't see this. Part of me thinks it is because of the above. But, why do we go to movies when we know God's name will be taken in vain 5+, 10+, or 30+ times? 

Jeremiah 36

Message: To Jeremiah, from the Lord, write all the words I've spoken to you to-date against Israel, Judah and all nations. Hopefully people will hear these words and turn from their disobedient ways.

Time: 4th year of Jehoiakim (before Jeremiah 32-33).

What the Lord is saying: Baruch has to write it down for Jeremiah on a scroll. Jeremiah dictates. Jeremiah is banned from the house of the Lord, so Baruch is to go and voice these words from the scroll. The scroll was read in sync with a fasting. And then read to the king after it was determined worthy to be read to the king. The king, Jehoiakim, did not like what he heard and as he heard the words he threw the words (one column at a time) into the fire, burning them. The sin of the people in the past had been idolatry, but this was out and out ignorance of God's commands and God's words (i.e. blasphemy).

Problem: Jehoiakim will have none to sit on the throne of David. His dead body shall be cast out, heat by day, frost by night. The Lord will punish him and his offspring and his servants for their sin. Disaster awaits him and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah.

Jeremiah 35

Message: From the Lord to Jeremiah, contrasting two people, one the Rechabites who listened to their earthly father and then the people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem who did not listen to their Heavenly Father.

Time: House of the Rechabites (the descendants of Rechab through Jonadab) in the days of Jehoiakim (the son of Josiah, king of Judah). The Rechabites belonged to the Kenites who accompanied the children of Israel into the holy land.

What the Lord is saying: The Lord asks Jeremiah to bring the Rechabites (Jaazaniah and his brothers) to the temple (house of the Lord) and offer them wine to drink. But, the Rechabites refused citing obedience to the command from their father, Jonadab who told them:

• Do not drink wine, neither you or your sons -- forever. 
• Do not build a house
• Do not sow seed
• Do not plant or have a vineyard
• Live in tents where you will sojourn in the land

There were a people able to flee and move places when Nebuchadnezzar came.

The Lord used them as an example of people that listened to their father. In contrast, the Lord gave the people of Judah commands to obey and they didn't listen.

Promise: Because of their obedience to their father, the Lord gave the Rechabites a promise: Jonadab, the son of Rechab will never lack a man to stand before me (they will always have descendants that serve Me).

Jeremiah 34

Message: From the Lord to Jeremiah, declaring a consequence for not listening to the Lord and heeding the covenant He set up.

Time: Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon), his army, kingdoms under his dominion, and peoples -- fighting against Jerusalem and its cities (only Lachish and Azekah left).

What the Lord is saying: Jeremiah, go speak to Zedekiah (king of Judah) and let him know that I am giving this city (Jerusalem??) into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. He will burn it. Zedekiah, you will not escape. You will be captured. You will see Nebuchadnezzar in person, face to face, in Babylon.

But, Zedekiah, you will not die by the sword, but rather in peace. People will burn spices for you and lament for you.

Problem: Zedekiah had made a covenant of liberty with his people, having them not enslave people (Jews) after 7 years. The male and female citizens, however, listened momentarily but then took the slaves back.

The Lord issues a consequence:

• Liberty to the sword
• Pestilence
• Famine
• I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth
• I will make men like the calf that they cut in tow and passed between its parts
• I will give you into the hand of your enemies
• Your dead bodies shall be food for birds and beasts of the earth.
• Zedekiah will be given into the hand of their enemies.

An Instrument of Evil

Tabletalk reading for today was Revelation 13:1-10 regarding what I think is the Antichrist (the beast) and his reign on the earth for 42 months or 3 1/2 years.

What stood out to me was the fact that the beast would speak blasphemies against God and everyone would accept it and follow him.

That doesn't seem real odd with blasphemy being so common today.

Lord, grant us patience as we live in a world that often does not honor You. Thank You for sealing us for all eternity with You. You have chosen us. Out of Your sovereignty we remain. While we reside on this earth, help us to be your ambassadors and to encourage those around us. We want to live in a way that honor's You and praises Your name. Keep me Lord focused on Your work in our lives. And praying for those that need You daily. Remove our pride and our confidence in our work. May we only have confidence in You and satisfaction living for You. 

The Tabletalk passage focused on how the separation of church and state has been misapplied. It's true meaning is that the federal government may not establish a state church. But, it has come to mean that God and state must be separated.

Expressing our faith is not the same as separated church and state.

Changing churches - why would we?

I've often wondered the reasons for why someone should change churches. It feels like people choose churches the way they select which movies to watch or where to live or where to send their kids to school. It feels like it's so focused on personal style and personal wants and desires. But, what does the scripture say about why we should leave a church.

I was reading Tabletalk for today "The Shepherd Gathers the Flock" and as is my custom, I read the entire scripture it references. Today was on Jeremiah 23:1-8, but these first four verses of Jeremiah 23 really caught my eye.

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:1-4, ESV)

This text speaks of a responsibility the shepherd has over their flock. Granted, Jeremiah was speaking more to the Kings over Judah (calling them the shepherds), but I think we can apply this as well to Pastors or those over our churches since the King of the day was the leader for the people and the pastor often is our leader.

Those leaders are to:

1. Not destroy them or not lose them
2. Not scatter the sheep; not produce divisions in the Body
3. Care for God's people
4. Attend to them so they don't get scattered or driven away

There is great responsibility for the leaders. Many people leave the church altogether and never return again, because of the leader of the flock. The shepherd has responsibility for this.

But, ultimately, what is clear from these verses is God is in control. He will gather the flock and then he will bring them back to their fold. He's watching. God is there. He's aware and if necessary, he will move his flock to a different shepherd who will care for them so the flock will no longer (1) fear, (2) be dismayed, or (3) feel lost.

The church has responsibility over the masses, but they also have responsibility over the individual. We need to make sure we don't neglect the individual.

People don't change churches. God moves people though, sometimes, to a church that better cares for them as individuals.