Da’ Purple Soapbox
Form and Definition: Necessities of the Christian Faith - Sat, 06 Mar 2010
Vital to the life of the Christian is the need to know, understand and articulate the truths they believe. In this Postmodern age in which we live, the growing lawlessness of society has infiltrated the Church, either through Antinomianism or Heterodoxy, seemingly clothed in the garbs of Orthodoxy.
Of a truth, not all that is written in the Bible is doctrine; but in the same fashion, not all that is outside of the Bible is a danger to faith. It is important that modern day believers think critically about their faith and the underlying foundations upon which it is built. The Digital Age in which we live has become one of the darkest hours in Church History (and by extension the World History) with more biblical illiteracy and (resurrected) false doctrine than ever before.
Commonly overlooked is the fact that our worship is a reflection of our beliefs. If we listen to religious music with doctrinally shallow or unbiblical lyrics, it reflects our shallow or unbiblical understanding of God (and reinforces it). One cannot worship what one does not know and one’s worship is only limited by the knowledge of the object of one’s worship. Not just for ourselves - but for the generation ahead of us, Scripture calls us to mature in faith and grow in grace. We can learn such from the memorable rebuke given by the author of the book of Hebrews to his dispirited audience:
“About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil”. – Hebrews 5:11-14
There is no way to escape the fact that Christianity has always had a distinguishable and consistent form and definition. The Church is called the Pillar and Buttress of truth (1 Timothy 3:15) and whenever professing Christians take lightly or disregard the form and definition of the historic Christian, faith they are casting aside their birthright as being the salt and light of the earth as well. It is imperative that we do not move the ancient landmarks set by our forefathers (Proverbs 22:28), but that we look back at them so that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past and continue to avoid the pitfalls that they eluded by God’s grace.
Tradition, Liturgy and Religion have been words frowned upon by many modern Protestants, however Tradition, Liturgy and Religion have all been clearly defined words used by the saints that have gone before us. The Bible does not condemn all forms of tradition; however our traditions should not overthrow the authority of Scripture but should be firmly rooted in what the Bible clearly teaches and point us back to Scripture. Innovation and spontaneity are not biblical yardsticks for godliness or evidences of true spirituality. Furthermore it is beneficial for us to examine how past tradition has benefited the saints that have gone before us and why we should or should not abandon it.
In the attempt to seem separate from the varying belief systems in the world, many professing Christians have claimed that Christianity is not a religion, however by proper definition it is.; however if religion can be defined as a strong belief in a deity and a defined institution in which one expresses devotion to that deity, then Christianity can be accurately defined as a religion. Biblical Christianity operates by a system, a divine order by which its inherent nature consists. Oh how sad it is when a church operates on a theologically shallow statements of faith! They leave the door wide open for all kinds of imaginable errors!
Some argue that Christianity is about relationship, one with the triune God of the Scriptures. However, any relationship that is vertical in nature, with special reference to a deity makes it more than just a relationship. In attempts to escape the banner of “religion” or “tradition” often times people make traditions of their untraditional approaches to spirituality and religions of their non-religious activities.
Without such order, Christianity would have no form or definition. Regardless of the popular opinion that “God moves in spite of” – we cannot elude the fact that God has a distinguishable personality, particular preferences and clear means by which he operates. It is naive for us to think that God is only concerned about the transmission of His message and not the people who proclaim or hear the message. We cannot use God’s sovereignty and providence to allow us to be lax or negligent in our approach to matters of faith. It has been said:
“The type of religion which rejoices in the pious sound of traditional phrases, regardless of their meanings, or shrinks from “controversial” matters, will never stand amid the shocks of life. In the sphere of religion, as in other spheres, the things about which men are agreed are apt to be the things that are least worth holding; the really important things are the things about which men will fight”. - (J. Gresham Machen, Christianity & Liberalism, 1923)
Christians of today must be mindful not to misrepresent Christianity as a subjective, self-serving, existential journey into epistemological oblivion. There is order, structure and from to the tenets of the Christian faith. Attitudes that cast shadows of doubt upon or made light of the objective tenets of the Christian faith were rejected by the saints of the past; observe the following quote from the 6th article of the second section (of Negative Theses) on Free Will in the Epitome of the Formula of Concord:
"Also, we reject and condemn the error of the Enthusiasts, who imagine that God without means, without the hearing of God's Word, also without the use of the holy Sacraments, draws men to Himself, and enlightens, justifies, and saves them. (Enthusiasts we call those who expect the heavenly illumination of the Spirit [celestial revelations] without the preaching of God's Word.)”
Even today, there are many who go to Church, concerts or special conventions and expect a “move of God” without sound biblical preaching or teaching. In fact, a “move of God” in many churches today is defined by a seemingly hyper-spiritual, emotional ordeal with high-energy music, in which they expect to see people to be rolling on the floor, shivering, talking in “tongues”, engaged in holy laughter, ecstatic dance, spontaneous prophecy and all the other unbiblical phenomena associated with the Pentecostal/Charismatic Movement. The Church should not practice or preach things that are not biblically defined, anti-intellectual and detract from the sober-mindedness believers must possess to operate in a godly fashion.
We must use Christian doctrine in accordance with the purpose in which it was created – to be adhered to, for our edification and benefit; to reprove us and instruct us in the ways of righteousness; to tell us more about the creator of the universe is. As the scripture tells us in Psalm 11:3 “…if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” - truly indeed what can we do if we do away with the foundations of our faith and the history in which it is so deeply intertwined?
When a glass is broken, it no longer holds the volume of liquid it was intended to and it becomes a danger due to its change in form. It would be careless to put oneself at the risk of physical harm by drinking from a severely broken glass. Even if the glass has been cracked, it would only be matter of time before it eventually falls apart. In the same fashion, deconstructing, arbitrarily fragmenting and breaking the unity of the precious doctrines of the Christian faith is also a grave danger to those to take away and add to the holy faith once delivered unto the saints for all time. Just as a glass is delicate and defined, so we must handle eternal truths with great care.
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. – Proverbs 30:5-6
Creeds, Catechisms and Confessions: Landmarks of the Christian Faith - Sat, 06 Mar 2010
The importance of Catchecisms, Creeds and Confessions in the Christian Church lies in its rich historic background and the original intent of its inspired authors.
Catchecisms, Creeds and Confessions often came about when precious doctrines of the Christian faith were under attack from both within and without, being an (inward) affirmation to the body of believers, a systematic articulation of timeless truths and bold declaration of the Church’s beliefs in the midst of their surrounding culture and the world at large.
These precious items were also used and developed as didactic systems to either summarize or exposit the fundamental teachings of the Holy Scriptures. Historic documents such as the Nicene Creed (325), Augsburg Confession (1530), London Baptist Confession (1689) and Heidelberg Catechism (1563), continue to herald the eternal precepts of the Christian faith. Though written centuries ago, through them we hear the voice of the triune God of the Scriptures and the affirmation of our forefathers of the faith, though they be dead.
Because of the attacks on the Church both within and without, we cannot afford to disregard or deconstruct the essential tenets of the Christian Faith thinking that they set us apart from those who abuse and wrongfully use them - neither should we abandon them for the sake of cultural relevance. Rather, we must understand that without them, we have no distinction in the world.
These tenets are best expounded by the historic Creeds, Confessions and Catechisms of the Church. Oh how sad it is when a church operates on a theologically shallow statements of faith! They leave the door wide open for all kinds of imaginable errors! That which is said or not said in a church's Statement of Faith may give great insight into what they believe about God.
The distinction and clarity expressed in these wonderful literary works assist in teaching believers about Church History and show the spiritual depth and integrity of its original composers and confessors. For the saints of old, doctrine was no light matter, for whatever one is taught (or not taught) helps form one’s beliefs and ultimately guides their actions. They were firmly convinced that God’s word was to be the foundation and center of the Christian life. Biblical scholars have even pointed towards a creed used by the Early Church as recorded in Scripture:
“Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory”. – 1 Timothy 3:16
It is important, that the literary material that Christians use, (those that purport to be true to the Faith) must point them back to Scripture and not take on an autonomous authority of its own. When a book, church constitution or any other religious literature take on a form of autonomy by asserting inherent authority that is binding on Christians without (being substantiated by or) pointing back to the word of God - by default it attacks the authority and sufficiency of the Scriptures.
As Christians esteem and hold fast the Creeds, Confessions & Catechisms of the faith, they not only affirm the truth of the Scriptures but show our agreement with the saints of the past and the legacy of faith that has gone before us. Let us not forget our past, for they have helped shape our present faith.
Racism In The Church: Shallow and Skin Deep - Tue, 16 Feb 2010
One reason why Racism is bunked - NONE of us had the opportunity to go shopping for our ethnicity; we basically had to play with the cards we were dealt.
To the shame of many, Racism is still an issue within the Church. Some professing believers tend to see themselves by their ethnic background, placing their allegiance to their ethnicity before their faithfulness to Christ and His word. They frequently tend to put their racial background and cultural distinctives at the fore and use it as the lens through which they see the world.
By no means does this say that there aren't differences among various races and cultures or that we should not be appreciative to our own race and culture or sensitive to those who may be different from us. However it is ungodly for us to think that one race has superiority over another because of particular sins found prevalent in certain ethnic groups.
When Christians find other reasons to boast other than in the grace of God and the finished work of Christ, we are essentially devaluing the cost of sin and the value of our salvation. It is a form of pride to find security in our ethnicity and culture and pride is something the Lord hates (Proverbs 6:16-19). No of us told our parents what we wanted to look like, but by God's design we are what we are (even though some wish otherwise). We must be content with who God made us and see ourselves and others as expressions of God's creative power, with the privilege of being made in His image and likeness.
We need to be reminded that just like God - Satan, sin and death is no respecter of race. It doesn't matter who you are, you've got sin and you're going to die one day, either to meet Christ as Savior or the executor of your eternal punishment. Regardless of the good or bad that our forefathers did and the impact it has on us today, God is at the center of it all:
"...And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring..." - Acts 17:26-28
Though statistics may tell us one race may be more prone to certain types of behaviors than others, it is foolish and proud to think that just because one doesn't belong to such a cross-section that they are somehow experiencing some special favor from God. At the time of Jesus' baptism, many Jews thought themselves to have a special favor with God because they were from a particular lineage, but John the Baptist made them to know the folly of trusting in one's own ethnicity and culture:
"Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire". - Matthew 3:5-10
In similar fashion Jesus also rebuked them for the same (John 8:37-47). Even Paul who had reason to boast because he was of the chosen people of Israel, counted boasting in his ethnicity as foolishness in comparison to knowing and being known of the Lord (Philippians 3:3-11). Even us who are non-Jewish must realize that God made his covenant first to Israel and that we as Gentiles are only grafted in because of the grace of adoption. Even among the Jews, they were not all Israel that were of Israel (Romans 9:6-9).
So, when you look at someone of another race, don't just think about them in light of their differences, but see the similarities you both possess - made in God's image, born in sin with a heart full of wickedness, a worthy recipient of God's damnation, helpless to save yourself, in need of God's grace, an object of God's love, someone in need of the Gospel.
"What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” - Romans 9:30-32
Hermeneutics, Exegesis and Spiritualizing Physical Sins - Fri, 12 Feb 2010
I believe that critical thinking is a vital tool to ensure that things taught in the Church are truly Biblical. For years I've been hearing people making claims of how they "got drunk in the Spirit" and claim this phenomenon to be one of the ways in which God "moves".
From Kenneth Hagin to Rodney Howard-Browne to John Scotland to Todd Bentley, getting "drunk in the Spirit" seems to be one of the best ways to know if a "revival" is going on in your church. The passage of Scripture often used to justify this bizarre and unbiblical behavior comes from a misinterpretation of Ephesians 5:18 (in many instances from the KJV) which people often quote which says: "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit"
However, since sound hermeneutics and accurate exegesis is the frequent enemy of many within the modern church, people often resort to arbitrarily interpreting Scripture, to justify what I call Psuedo-Biblical Charismatic Existentialism, which places great emphasis on mysticism and subjective experience. They'll always go back and say "but it's in the Bible!" - but if we read a few verses before and after verse 18 in Ephesians 5 we will get a clearer picture of what the Scripture is instructing us to do:
"...Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..." - Ephesians 5:14-20
Now, we see from this passage that the scripture says to be FILLED with the Spirit in contrast to being DRUNK with wine; it does not teach to get DRUNK with or in the Spirit.
Now, the Bible clearly condemns drunkeness as a sin, furthermore the Bible constantly exhorts us to be sober. If it is wrong to get drunk "naturally" why on earth would it be any better to get drunk "spiritually"? If "natural" sins are trespasses against God, why would spiritualizing it make it more acceptable? Really now, would it be OK to commit "spiritual" incest? Or "spiritual" theft? Or "spiritual" murder? Delving a bit deeper into the content of the passage we can also ask:
1. Can we really walk circumspectly and not as fools if we are drunk?
2. Can we redeem the time if we are nor operating with our full faculties?
3. Can we offer up an acceptable sacrifice of worship to God if we aren't in our right minds?
4. Do we give thanks to God for contradicting His word by making it OK for us to enjoy sin spiritually since its wrong to do it in a physical sense?
If God is all-wise, I don't think there's any way that we can divorce logic and sound reasoning from the Bible. Let's spend some more time thinking about the stuff we believe; we should use our heads to discern - and not our presuppositions and goosebumps.
Verily, Verily, Dead Men Tell No Tales - Thu, 11 Feb 2010
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ —by grace you have been saved…” – Ephesians 2:4-5
One way to test if someone is really saved is to either ask them what it means to be saved or what they were saved from or how they even got saved in the first place. If they cannot give a clear and Biblical answer, chances are that they are not born again of the Spirit and they are still dead in their sins. Spiritually dead people do not struggle with sin, neither do they lament for it. They are unable to see how much they have offended an infinitely holy God because they are not alive to righteousness.
Contrary to popular thought, it is impossible for men to come to God, much less to obey him unless God by some miracle of His grace grants them the ability to do so. Decisional Regeneration (i.e. the sinner's prayer) is a variant of the 5th century heresy of Pelagianism, which tells men that they have the inherent freewill to fulfill the perfect commands of God’s law and to freely choose between good and evil, without having an inherent inclination towards the wrong. This is contrary to Scripture, since it teaches that men cannot manifest the fruits of faith before actually having it.
We cannot choose God unless God grants repentance (John 3:27-29, 2 Timothy 2:24-26). The repeated, fundamental error made by many in the modern church is that they do not understand how much freedom they actually possess. Human beings are not as free as they think. This is yet another reason why the sinner’s prayer is unbiblical and deceptive.
And if one is dead in sin and trespasses, it is therefore impossible for a spiritually dead person to bring themselves to life by their own strength being spiritually dead. This would imply no need for the Holy Spirit’s regeneration and that man is not helplessly lost in his sin. Following this to a logical conclusion, it would also be reasonable to infer from such a fundamental error, that man’s works have some part to play in salvation and in a sense share a part in God’s sovereignty.
Given the initial passage of Scripture and many others (Jeremiah 17:9, John 8:34-38; 42-46, Romans 5:12-15, 7:13-20, 8:7-8, Galatians 5:16-17, Titus 3:3-7) man is incapable of pleasing God by his own efforts. In effect, if one has not heard the one, true and only Biblical Gospel, they are not born again, but dead in their sin and trespasses; because the preaching of the Law and Gospel is the ONLY means by which people can be born again. This does not include personal testimonies, inspirational words or positive advice; God has given a means by which He draws men to Himself and saves them.
Being dead in sin and trespasses means that one cannot love God keep his commandments or appreciate the things of God, even to the minutest level. Therefore if there happens to be people sitting in your church that show little to no proof that they are Christians, sleeping through church service, not participating in church activities, complaining about everything they see in the church, showing no reverence for holy things or finding more pleasure in worldly things than the things of God; you just may have a spiritual corpse among the living assembly of saints. The remedy for that you may ask? The preaching of the Law and Gospel - peradventure God will grant them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.
“Those who are living a carefree and struggle-free life are generally living a repentance-free and God-free lie.” – Burk Parsons
