Tag: Faith

Edification requires Intelligibility

January 7th, 2025

The title to this post is not my own. It is a near constant reminder from my internet friend, scholar and Bible teacher – Mark Ward.

When the Apostle Paul is giving corrective instructions to the Corinthian Church, he has to address the issue that even though the Holy Spirit may supernaturally enable someone to speak in a language unknown to them – nevertheless, unless that language is translated for the assembly. So he writes in 1 Cor. 14:7-12 “If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.”

Edification – building up – requires intelligibility.

Or consider the example in Nehemiah 8 with those returning to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity. Many, did not even know their native Hebrew anymore. So we read that Ezra enlisted a group of men in the endeavor to restore the Word of God to the people. We read: “They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.” The word “clearly” there implying they gave an interpretation, paragraph by paragraph – and gave the sense too, not just the words.

Edification requires intelligibility.

Because we know this, and because we also know that most of us know neither Biblical Hebrew nor Greek, God has gifted men and women throughout the ages to study and translate the original languages into those spoken by others around the world. How grateful we must be for this.

But even when that work is done, we recognize that languages themself change over time. Due to this reality, new and new Bible translations are needed, even in the very same language over time – to be sure the message of the Bible is not lost due to the way language morphs. A good example is the graphic above showing how The Lord’s Prayer would have looked to English readers around 100 A.D. And below, are several more examples.

Thirteenth Century – Manuscript in the Library of Cambridge University:
Fader oure that art in heve, i-halgeed be thi nome, i-cume thi kinereiche, y-worthe thi wylle also is in hevene so be an erthe, oure iche-dayes-bred gif us today, and forgif us our gultes, also we forgifet oure gultare, and ne led ows nowth into fondingge, auth ales ows of harme.

Fifteenth Century – Manuscript in the Library of Oxford University:
Fader oure that art in heuene, halewed be thy name: thy kyngedom come to thee: thy wille be do in erthe as in heuen: oure eche dayes brede geue us to daye: and forgeue us oure dettes as we forgeue to oure dettoures: and lede us nogte into temptacion: bot delyver us from yvel.

Seventeenth Century – The King James Version of 1611:
Our father which art in heauen, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdome come. Thy will be done, in earth, as it is in heauen. Giue vs this day our daily bread. And forgiue vs our debts, as we forgiue our debters. And lead vs not into temptation, but deliuer vs from euill: For thine is the kingdome, and the power, and the glory, for euer.

(The 3 examples above are from a post at: http://www.livingwithfaith.org/blog/the-lords-prayer-through-the-centuries)

Now a while back, a gal came to attend our congregation, with virtually no Bible background. She needed to be brought up to speed with Biblical language for sure, and especially the nomenclature which we – as Bible-believing Christians take for granted. We use a lot of unique words. We throw around words like regeneration, justification, sanctification and the like – but seldom take the time to define those terms for the uninitiated. Even a phrase as basic as “born again” needs to be unpacked for those who have had no previous exposure, or very limited familiarity.

Coming back to the gal I just referenced – this issue popped up in a way I hadn’t remotely thought about before – even while trying to explain terms in my preaching and using a newer translation of the Scriptures like the ESV.

The problem? My beloved hymns. Take for example vs. 2 of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”, and its “Here I raise my Ebeneezer.” What in the world does that mean? Even to many raised in the Church today.

Let me make it even more basic. For this gal, the simple “thees” and “thous” of Elizabethan English in the hymns proved to be a stumbling block to intelligibility. And this, from a college educated professional. Imagine what this might mean to those doing inner-city or far rural missions! The problem is compounded.

Now for me as both a hack poet, and a child of the manse (who even knows what that means any more?) I am truly loath to give up the music and cadence of the words of sacred hymnody, let alone the melodies. I love the amazing turns of phrase and linguistic beauty of so many of the hymns that have fed my soul for all of my life.

That said, if I want the truths which were meant to be communicated in those grand “songs of Zion” (does that phrase mean anything to anyone anymore?) to still serve the souls of those coming after – we may need to rethink, and re-work these sacred works of Gospel art.

I offer up a modest attempt below. I’d love to know what you think. I labored to keep the intent of the lyrics while trying to remove anything which might hinder anyone, and yet retain memorability as well as intelligibility. May God raise up a number in our day who can take on such a project – that what can be preserved, is, and what can be modified rightly, may be, for the edification of many others in days to come.

This, from “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”. The original appears at the bottom.

I. Joyful, joyful, we adore You,

God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts when warmed responding to you

Turn to see the Son above

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,

Drive our darkest doubts away;

You Who give eternal gladness,

Fill us with Christ’s light today

II. All your works with joy surround You,

Earth and Heaven reflect your rays,

Stars and angels sing around You,

Center of our highest praise.

Fields and forests, valleys and mountains,

Beautiful meadows, flashing seas,

Singing birds and river fountains

All sing of your majesty

III. You are giving and forgiving,

Always blessing, always blessed,

Source of all the joy of living,

Boundless sea of happy rest!

God our Father, Christ our brother,

All who abide in You are mine,

Teach us how to love each other,

Sharing in your joy divine

IV. Come and join the happy chorus

Angels long ago began;

God the Father loving, saving,

Sent in love the Son of Man.

Always singing, marching to Heaven

Spirit empowered to conquer strife,

Joyful music leads us homeward

By the power of Christ – our life.

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
All who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us,
Brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward
In the triumph song of life.
The Wisdom of William Jay

January 5th, 2025

Thanks to the largess of a friend, I am currently reading through the autobiography of William Jay. Jay (1769-1853) was a non-Conformist (Independent) preacher and pastor in Bath, England – where he pastored Argyle Chapel for over 50 years. He was a friend of John Newton.

The autobiography is unusual in that it consists in 4 parts.

Part one is comprised of 18 letters to his children, recounting his life, ministry and reflections on a whole host of associated issues.

Part 2 is a supplement to part 1 regarding events of interest, celebrations, various personages with whom he interacted and other miscellanies.

Part 3 contains 23 “Reminiscenses of Distinguished Contemporaries.” These range from the well-known John Newton, John Ryland, William Wilberforce and others of the like, to many whose names are wholly unfamiliar to me excepting in this volume.

Part 4 is a wide-ranging selection of his voluminous correspondence.

Of particular delight to me (so far) was letter 17 to his children. It contains some of his most useful reflections in my opinion. And of particular note are the few excepts I am about to give you. I hope they will whet your appetite to seek out and read this refreshing, informative and soul-useful volume. It really is quite a delight. Of particular interest will be his reflections on leaving churches for other churches, and why different denominations is not a negative. There is food for thought there both for pastors and congregants.

Let me give you a few excerpts from the closing section in particular.

Pg. 166 – “Divinity cannot be taught at the college without system, but, in preaching, it is better that many things should be assumed than technically discussed. It is better for the preacher to give way to his holy and fervent feelings, than to be chilled and checked by the apprehension of some supposed inconsistency. It is better to let the text speak its own language, naturally and glowingly, than to use coercive measures, and torture out the meaning, or bombard it into submission.”

Pg. 166 – “In my considerable acquaintance with the religious world, some of the most exemplary individuals I have met with have been Calvinists. Of this persuasion were the two most extraordinary Christian characters I ever knew — John Newton, and Cornelius Winter. They held its leading sentiments with firmness; but their Calvinism, like that of Bunyan, was rendered, by their temper, milder than that of some of their brethren ; and they were candid towards those who differed from them; and esteemed and loved them as fellow-heirs together of the grace of life.”

Pg. 167 – “Two grand truths have always seemed to me to pervade the whole Bible, and not to be confined to a few particular phrases, viz., that if we are saved, it is entirely of God’s grace ; and if we are lost, it will be entirely from ourselves. I know full well, a man may easily force me into a corner with things seemingly or really related to the truth of either of these affirmations ; but he will not shake my confidence in either, while I can read, ” O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself : but in me is thy help.” The connexion is like a chain across the river; I can see the two ends, but not the middle ; not because there is no real union, but because it is under water. Lower the water, or raise the links, and I shall see the centre as well as the extremes.”

Pg. 167 – “Paley observes that we should never suffer what we know to be disturbed by what we know not.”

This last quotation spans the bottom of Pg. 167 and the top of 168. With it, he ends this letter. He notes that he had written this in the fly-leaf of the Bible he most studied from. I find it a gold-mine in miniature.

“In reading this Book let me guard against four things —

1 – The mysticism of the Allegorizer :

2 – The contractedness of the Systematic:

3 – The Dogmatism of the Bigot :

4 – The presumption of the Rationalist.

Let me tremble at God’s word, and let me in reading it keep three purposes in view :

1 – To aid devotion rather than dispute.

2 – To collect facts rather than form opinions :

3 – To regulate practice rather than encourage speculation :”

To which I will add my own AMEN!
Tuning the Heart – Part 8

November 21st, 2024

“Give us this day, our daily bread.”

‌As we consider prayer from Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount, we now come to the place where most think we are to make our petitions for daily provision known. And while that is not wrong per se, I think it misses the main aspect of Jesus’ intent. Why so? Because just a few verses later, Jesus tells us that the Father is already attuned to these basic issues of life. He in fact says ““Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” And why are these not to be our concern? Because if we “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…all these things will be added to you.”

‌To pray in faith is to consciously say “I know you have my “daily bread” well in hand, so that I can focus instead on your kingdom and righteousness.” That is not to say we cannot or should not bring our immediate concerns to Him – but it is to say that we can exchange deep concerns over the regular needs of daily life for concerns about His priorities with complete safety and confidence that He already knows them and has made provision for them in advance. Yes, we bring them all, but not with anxiety – but trusting His love and care and concern even before we get there!

‌What then is He really after in this petition? I think it can be nothing more or less than the refreshing, renewing, delighting in and knowing more deeply and sweetly – the wonder of “The Bread of Life” – Jesus Himself. It is a plea for a new “taste” of Him if you will. To be satisfied in Him. To be filled with Him. To want that we desire nothing more than Him and consider knowing and partaking of Him our greatest and sweetest need. Our REAL need.

‌Give us as your people, as your children today, more insight into His person and work; more joy in His glory; more wonder at Him; more delight in Him – a deeply soul-satisfying partaking of Him that that spoils our appetite for the things of this world and the cravings of the flesh.

‌And why is this so important? Because “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.” (2 Pet. 1:3) Did you get that? All things that pertain to true life and godliness come through the knowledge of Him!

‌Here is where get full. Here is where we get what is most important to true life. Here alone is where our deepest needs are truly met in the fullest possible way.

‌Our Father, you who rule and reign over all – be glorified and hallowed in us above everything. Expand your kingdom in and through us. We commit all to your perfect wisdom and unfailing love. Now Father, fill us up with Christ. Reveal Him to us increasingly as the fullness of all you have to give. Satisfy us in Him. Let our souls feast on Him today afresh. Fill us with your Son till we can contain no more. Pour out the realities of His person and work until they eclipse anything and everything else. Give us THIS day, our Daily – Bread.
Thar’s gold in themthar hills!

November 20th, 2024

1 Chronicles is not a book in the Bible I hear a lot of people running to for counsel comfort and instruction. Other than the rather fanciful and misguided “The Prayer of Jabez” written around a character in 1 Chron. 4, this book gets precious little recognition. Its seemingly endless lists of names and duties – hundreds of people mentioned nowhere else in the Bible and with no biographical information about them but for an exceptional few – makes it a portion most of us gloss over rather quickly, if we spend any time in it at all.

‌Yet, 1 Chronicles is as much God’s Word as Romans is. True, they do not fill the very same role. Not all of Scripture is equally applicable to the Christian life in the same way. Some treasures yield up their riches on first sight. Others, must be painstakingly mined.

‌Should your reading schedule take you thought this book sometime soon, here’s a few things that might be worth keeping in mind while perusing the lists and the great unknowns.

‌1 – Recapitulating the history of 1st and 2nd Samuel in survey form, 1 Chron. sees a number of gaps filled in – and a broader view and reminder of how God’s rule can never be replaced by fallen man’s, no matter how good, noble and upright the man may be. Man’s rebellion against God’s rule is always at the root of the violence which plagues mankind. And yet, in every place, the types and shadows of the coming King Jesus promise the fulfillment of God’s perfect plan in Christ.

‌2 – Always important when encountering unknown name upon name upon unknown name – is the reminder that God knows every single one in His Church – by name. They need not be men and women of great exploits. It only matters that they are His, and known by Him. None are superfluous. Their names are as much written in the eternal Word as those of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Solomon etc. As are those of all who are in Christ by faith. Each are a vital part of His Kingdom. None dispensable to His design and purpose. Each in their place, with their purpose, with their individual personalities, talents, experiences and contributions.

‌In our day of celebrity pastors and ministries, when some are uniquely in the spotlight, and the culture lures each of us to make our mark – we forget the glory of the ordinary Christian. Made by God, for God, and set divinely in your place and time. God “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” (Acts 17:26). And that is as much true for you and me, as it was for the sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad, whose brothers were able men, Elihu and Semachiah.” (1 Chron. 26:7)

‌3 – As the NET renders it, “David gave to his son Solomon the blueprints for the temple porch, its buildings, its treasuries, its upper areas, its inner rooms, and the room for atonement. He gave him the blueprints of all he envisioned for the courts of the LORD’s temple, all the surrounding rooms, the storehouses of God’s temple, and the storehouses for the holy items. He gave him the regulations for the divisions of priests and Levites, for all the assigned responsibilities within the LORD’s temple, and for all the items used in the service of the LORD’s temple.” It goes on.

‌The Church was the Father’s idea, not Jesus’ alone. When Christ says that He is building His Church and that even the gates of Hell cannot overcome it, He is fulfilling His Father’s plan and purpose. “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” Eph. 2:22.

The Temple was a symbol, a type and shadow of what the Father was all about from the beginning. David and Solomon and the nation of Israel itself then come into focus as types and shadows and not the endgame. We do not look for some rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem to come – we look for the perfecting of the Temple of God’s people completed in the New Jerusalem. And we see all this as planned by the Eternal Father, committed into the hands of His Son, and brought about through the indwelling power of the Spirit.

‌4 – And so we read David’s prayer upon committing all of these things to his Son Solomon to be about – and he prays like this: “For we are resident foreigners and nomads in your presence, like all our ancestors; our days are like a shadow on the earth, without security…O LORD God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, maintain the motives of your people and keep them devoted to you.” (1 Chron. 29:15 & 18).

What David could only pray for, Jesus fulfills in rising from the dead, ascending to the Father, and sending to Holy Spirit to do those very things – to maintain the motives of His people – and keep us devoted to Him: “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

‌Next time you wander through this odd place called 1 Chronicles – remember that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (1 Tim. 3:16-17) And take a little time to ponder, and ask for the Spirit’s aid in seeing Christ there.

“Thar’s gold in themthar hills.”
The Wonder of the “Open Door”

November 19th, 2024

Occasionally, when one preaches, the substance of the sermon addresses the immediate experience of the preacher himself. In truth, the preacher should always be preaching to himself and striving to live within the fullness of the truths he is expounding every time he preaches. But sometimes, the two coincide in a far more acute way.

‌It was this way for me this past Lord’s Day.

‌By God’s grace and in His providence, I was filling the pulpit for a local Church where I’ve had a long-standing relationship with the congregation, and deep personal fellowship and friendship with the pastor. He was going to be away for 2 weeks and asked if I might cover both of those for him. I decided upon a two part series on Jesus’ letter to the Church in Philadelphia found in Rev. 3:7-13.

‌As you well know, this letter is written to a Church which was enduring much trial due to natural disasters, governmental overreach and mismanagement and direct persecution from the local Jewish community. The context paints a small church, with few resources and no real power to change their circumstances. Bereft of natural opportunity and ability, nevertheless Jesus says He has set before them “an open door which no one Is able to shut.”

‌What is that all about?

‌It is most typical to identify that “open door” as an opportunity for Gospel witness despite their straightened circumstances. And while that concept is certainly true, I’m not convinced by the context and the Old Testament allusion Jesus employs here that that is His main point. Rather, (and I will not exegete the passage here, you can hear the entire sermon at https://www.youtube.com/live/JqtaYBmlCm0?feature=shared) it appears the open door is more in reference to the saints unfettered access to the throne of God that Christ has opened for them, and for us, especially by the vehicle of – prayer.

‌What I wanted to press on my hearers was the wonder of this open door into the presence of God in prayer. And not pressing prayer in terms of set times and lengths – though that can be a useful tool, but more: A habitual frame of heart and mind which brings all things before the throne, informed by the Word and trusting His holiness, love and wisdom to answer as He deems best.

‌This requires no special words. No special posture. No special time of day or length. An air of the heart consistently turned to Him, believing He hears, knows, loves, sympathizes, and lovingly answers with infallible wisdom. In fact, it may not ever require words at all.

‌Let me explain.

‌Just before I preached the 1st sermon on this portion, I contracted a nasty cold. I struggled with congestion and a very sore throat the first week. In the meantime, the cold worsened and developed into a severe sinus infection with much pain and little ability to talk at all comfortably. The intervening week was miserable. Poor and very interrupted sleep. Difficulty breathing. Constant coughing. Not comfortable.

‌But it was during this time, waking up multiple times each night, that I experienced the joy and wonder of simply having my heart and mind turned toward the Lord, and opportunities to lift up the names and circumstances of any number of loved ones and situations before Him. Due this mostly being in the dead of night, and both with speech quite painful and considering my dear wife’s need for rest – these times of prayer were mostly silent. Like Hannah in1 Sam. 1, I was speaking in my heart, only my lips moved, but my voice was not heard. But my God did!

‌This! This was the reality and the joy of those physically distressing moments – that my God was attending, and His ear open to my silent but urgent pleas. At times, in exhaustion, even my lips failed to move. But every thought, ever care and concern that I inwardly brought before His throne, I know was heard. For you see in Christ, He has set before His saints, an open door which no one is able to shut. Which no circumstance is able to shut. A place of refuge which can be retreated to in the most straightened of times and places.

‌It was common to hear in my days growing up, that when schools stopped having public prayer – that prayer had been removed from the schools. Nonsense. There is no law, no circumstance, no prohibition by man, devil or demon which can shut the door to our Father’s throne. Jesus Himself has set it before us. O may we take continual advantage of it – knowing full well, that clothed in His righteousness and adopted into the Family, that we ever and always have access to our Father, God and Kind.

‌Praise Him!
Some Thoughts on Worship Music

November 11th, 2024

Three things occasion this brief post.

First, in an hour long drive to a recent wedding with some friends, the issue of worship music entered our discussion. It was both pleasant and insightful. And, it brought back the memory of something my fellow elders and I tried to think through more carefully a few years ago, as a way of getting the congregation to think about music in a Biblically informed way – and as a guide for our worship leaders.

The substance of our “Elder’s Perspective on Worship Music” will be found below, as a way to generate more thoughtful discussion.

Second, was an extended period of listening to a contemporary Christian worship channel on the radio in my recent visit to Texas. What struck me after listening for quite a while, was not that the music was poor. Sadly, it actually was in some cases and not in others. The tunes were, ho-hum. Not memorable. Not the kind of thing I would find myself reflecting on outside of a context where it was being played or I was invited to sing along. And most (not all) were not at all suited for group singing. They were more suited to solo voices performing. They would not lend themselves to a congregational application any more than say Sandi Patti’s Via Dolorosa. There is a place for that for sure. But no one would think of using it for a congregation to sing together.

But what stood out the most, were the lyrics. Not the words themselves considered in and of themselves. They we basically coherent and “Biblical” enough. It was that they seemed to be a mere collection of Christianese buzz-words and phrases, strung together rather haphazardly. Not memorable stanzas forming a cohesive whole. Like there was a list of words and phrases like: Blood, Wash, Holy, Delight, See, Desire, Hunger, Long, Jesus, God, I want to, please make me, make my heart, etc., and you just take them and paste them together in whatever order, and put them to a tune. There was no meat on the bones in terms of forming strong Biblical constructs for the heart and mind to really hang one’s hat on.

Third, is a discussion my wife and I just had this morning. Sky, having grown up for years in a super-liberal Methodist Church that would have none of the “bloody religion” stuff – nevertheless still finds the hymns of that Church resonating with and feeding her soul even today. And she opined that an entire generation will be bereft of the benefit such music continues to bring to her.

So, as I said above, in an effort to get our entire Church on the same page a number of years ago regarding music, we elders at ECF penned the following. And I pray it is useful to you in considering such matters for yourself, and for the Churches where you worship with your fellow saints.

“Worship is the activity of glorifying God in His presence with our voices and hearts.” In this definition we note that worship is an act of glorifying God. Yet all aspects of our lives are supposed to glorify God, so this definition specifies that worship is something we do especially when we come into God’s presence, when we are conscious of adoration of Him in our hearts, and when we praise Him with our voices and speak about Him so others may hear. Paul encourages the Christians in Colossae, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” ‘ ” (Col. 3:16)

“In fact, the primary reason that God called us into the assembly of the Church is that as a corporate assembly we might worship Him. As Edmund Clowney wisely says: “God had demanded of Pharaoh, “Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the desert” (Ex. 7.16b)….God brings them out that he might bring them in, into his assembly, to the great company of those who stand before his face….God’s assembly at Sinai is therefore the immediate goal of the exodus. God brings his people into His presence that they might hear his voice and worship him.” ‘ “ (From Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology – page 1003).

Fewer topics within the life of the Church generate more discussion, and often division, than Worship styles. This is true in our generation, as well as previous ones. It is a perennial hot spot.

Some Biblical Parameters & Non-Negotiables

Col. 3.16 – 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Eph. 5.18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Passages like this one help us form a picture of the things Worship must incorporate in order to be Biblical. We’ve isolated 11 principles in these two passages which serve as the framework for our view of Biblical Worship here at ECF.

a. “Let the Word” – Biblical Worship must be: Word or Scripture Based. Rooted in God’s revelation of Himself. Apart from that, we would worship in supposition, but not truth.

b. “of Christ” – Biblical Worship must be: Christ centered. Jesus said in John 5.22 -23 “The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” Here we see, God is not rightly honored, where Jesus is not rightly honored. Worship of God which omits a focus upon Jesus Christ and His saving work at Calvary fails to be genuine worship in God’s eyes.

c. “wisdom” – Biblical Worship must: Create and reinforce a Biblical world view.

d. “teaching” – Biblical Worship must be: Instructive in doctrine & life.

e. “admonishing” – Biblical worship ought to be: Challenging, encouraging us to a more Christ glorifying life.

f. “psalms, hymns, spiritual songs” – Biblical Worship must be: Broad in style and use (including prayer). Some music expresses right feelings of adoration, joy and thanksgiving. Other music admonishes. Some hymns or songs are prayerful. Still others are theologically instructive. Biblical Worship should embrace all of these – and possibly more.

g. “filled with the spirit” – Biblical Worship must be aimed at: Engaging the whole man under the influence of the Spirit. Moving the emotions with Biblical truth and beauty.

i. “making melody” – Biblical Worship must be: Joyful.

j. “giving thanks” – Biblical Worship must be: Appreciative.

k. “submitting” – Biblical Worship must be: Humble.

l. “reverence” – Biblical Worship must be: Reverent, befitting our God and our right relationships to Him. Making much of His glory.

I. The Chief goals we are after: We’ve identified five areas of special importance.

1. CONSISTENCY: We do not want to develop or foster different styles or traditions in different services, but one broad approach, the same in all services.

2. BREADTH: We would like to utilize a broad range of styles from all the ages of the Church.

a. New – Music of high quality both musically & doctrinally.

b. Traditional – (Trinity Hymnal et al) Maintaining the best of this genre.

c. Earlier Church – Pre 17th-20th century music.

d. Original – Music growing out of this assembly and its expressions.

There is nothing inherently right in being locked into any one or more of these genres. We are seeking to develop a much richer and broader worship environment both to expand the means we each use to glorify God, and to engage those in as many age groups and backgrounds as is reasonable.

3. EXPRESSIONS: There are no Biblically ordained instruments versus non-Biblically ordained instruments. We will endeavor to harness all instruments in service to the right worship of God.

a. More musicians of varying kinds (Strings, Vocals, Percussion, Bass, Wind, Brass, Electronic, etc.)

b. More styles.

4. FLEXIBILITY: There is no Biblically ordained worship format. The number of songs, where they are placed, and how they may be interwoven with prayer, Scripture reading, Preaching and other elements is a matter of taste and function. We do not believe we need to be bound to any particular format as long as the necessary elements are present.

a. We would like to see more and varying opportunity for participant response (Readings, Prayers, Recitations, Poems, Solos, Duets, etc).

b. More variation in when, where and how music is integrated. i.e. Not just front loading the music but sometimes more at the end, interspersing, etc.

5. ACCESSIBILITY: Music especially must be something which resonates with the worshipers. Though not all music will do so equally.

a. We DO exist within a culture. While we are never free to allow the culture to define us, we also have a responsibility to reach the culture where God has providentially placed us. it. We have a delicate and important balance to maintain here – guarding against compromise with the culture, while at the same time not erecting needless roadblocks to communication and interaction with the culture. In Japan, we would need to speak Japanese. In our culture, we need to be able to speak the language, without sacrificing one iota of the message. We are charged to reach the people around us, not 18th or 19th century Englishmen.

b. Worship is NOT only for us. 2 Chron. 6.32 “Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for the sake of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when he comes and prays toward this house, 33 hear from heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name.
The (not so) Great Exchange

November 5th, 2024

The phrase “The Great Exchange” is often attributed to Martin Luther. Whether or not the phrase originated with him, the concept is simply the Biblical teaching that salvation hinges upon the placing of our guilt for sin on Christ at the cross, and the imputation of His righteousness to Believers through faith. In R. C. Sproul’s “How Can I Be Right With God” he summarizes the Scripture teaching as: “We are blessed because our sin is not counted to us but imputed to Christ, and His righteousness is imputed to us by God’s forensic decree.” _{Sproul, R. C. 2017. How Can I Be Right with God?. First edition. Vol. 26. The Crucial Questions Series. Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust: A Division of Ligonier Ministries.}

Now that has been the core of Biblical theology on the subject from the very beginning. Praise God for it!

But in our day, in 21^st century America, the Great Exchange above has been supplanted by many for a different, and not-so-great-exchange. It is the exchange of lives consumed with spreading the Gospel of the saving grace of Jesus Christ and being transformed into His image by the power of the Spirit, to being consumed with preserving Western Culture and American Constitutionalism.

And it’s a raw deal.

The idea of praying “Your kingdom come” has been reshaped from seeking the fullness of Christ’s Kingship in our lives and His return to rule and reign on earth, to Christ helping us preserve the American way of life, and that, in material prosperity. We are no longer preoccupied with prosecuting the battle against the remnants of indwelling sin in ourselves and defending the faith once for all delivered to the saints, but battling the sin we perceive in others trying to encroach on an idealized and romantic notion of Americanism. It is Leave-it-to-Beaverism; as though the corruption of humankind hidden beneath the veneer of imagined external Pollyanna days was less deadly than the corruption we are increasingly seeing lived out in the culture. The dread disease was always there and just as fatal – it was just kept out of sight. Some.

When growing in Christ’s image no longer takes precedence, then other’s sins and other causes do.

The prayer closet has been exchanged for the voting booth.

Don’t get me wrong, Christians have civic responsibilities. We should carry them out as conscientiously as we can. But there is no policy, even legislated from the most godly body that can actually deal with sin, only certain of its manifestations. Is that good? Sure. But does it change anyone? Does it bring them into right standing with God? Does it produce actual righteousness? No. Only the Gospel can do that. It is not an ultimate answer. That doesn’t mean we ignore it, only that we do not see it as an end. We want to, we are commanded to – do good to our neighbors. But good that does not address the soul is only wallpapering a gaping hole in the wall.

Man’s problem is a sin problem, not a policy problem. Not a political system problem. Not a cultural problem. And we cannot win a spiritual war with earthly weapons or tactics “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12) To which Paul by The Spirit adds His “therefore”. Therefore what? Sue? Vote? Become activists? Campaign? Hold rallies? Finance pacs? Decry conspiracies? March? No – take up the whole armor of God.

Now hear me – I’m not saying we can’t do all those other things. I’m not saying they are not useful to some degree. If my basement is flooding, I need to be about the business of bailing. Such bailing is needed to stave off further damage. But if I do not attack the broken pipe, if I do not stem the source of the flood – no matter how heroically I bail – in the end, the flood will overtake me and all will be lost. When Jesus was asleep in the boat in Mark 4, the Disciples tried to rouse Him to help. Help them what? Help manage the boat in the storm. And if that is what He did, how tragic the result would have been. They needed supernatural aid to their very real, existential peril. They needed Him to stand up and rebuke the wind and the waves, even though they weren’t aware He could even do that.

The Church, the nation, doesn’t need a revival of Americanism and/or patriotism, it needs a revival of souls through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Until the people of God are more interested in God’s plans and purposes than our own, for His cosmic and eternal causes and not for our temporary and temporal ones, we will be distracted by an exchange that damns men’s souls while attempting to recover human institutions.
Tuning the Heart – Part 7

November 5th, 2024

Have you ever had someone burst into the room where you are and just start talking – without even saying hi, or asking if you are busy or without any kind of acknowledgment? I have. And its jarring. For me, a bit annoying. I’m not implying that God is that way in terms of being annoyed, but I wonder if we do not even extend the common courtesy we ought to extend to one another – to Him in prayer? Do we just dive in without any thought of relationship so that prayer never advances to true communion and not the equivalent of just dropping off our laundry list or visiting the “Complaint Desk”? Are we just hitting the cosmic panic button? Or are we conscious of coming into the presence of “Our Father who is in Heaven”?

‌Jesus’ pattern here helps us begin in a new starting place in prayer. In a place of both familiarity and intimacy.

‌Father, I want to stop for a moment and re-frame my own heart and mind before we get into the thick of things, by remembering that you are truly “our” Father; Jesus’ and mine and Father of all my brothers and sisters in The Faith. Father. Not just Lord or God or sovereign, but – Father.

‌Father, ruling and reigning over all as you are in Heaven, before anything else, help me remember that above everything else in all the world, what the world needs most, what I need most, what everyone I am about to discuss with you needs most – is for you to be seen, and known, and appreciated and relished for who and what you are.

‌And Father, by your Spirit I need my soul to be governed and supremely influenced by your indwelling Spirit above every external force, and to be consciously longing for Jesus’ manifest reign.

‌And so Father, knowing your love, mercy, grace, compassion, holiness and wisdom are perfect and infinite in every way – with that firmly in mind – grant me, grant US today, the wise supply for every need. For my every concern. And above all, satisfy my longing soul with a fresh portion of The Bread of Life. Make Him the sweetest most satisfying delight to me, and to my brothers and sisters. Open Him afresh to me by your Spirit. Make me to thirst only for Him. To hunger only for a greater and greater revelation of His glory and perfections. Fill me with Jesus. Remind my afresh how it is that your “divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.” (2 Pet. 1:3)

‌Lift my eyes up. Let me see Him, know Him, wonder at Him. Overwhelm me with contemplations of His glory. For then, and only then will all that I am about to seek you for will be seen in their right perspective. Give me, give us, this day, this day’s – daily Bread. I cast the whole of my needs, desires, wants and concerns upon you, because I know by your sending Christ, that you care for me beyond comprehension. (1 Pet. 5:7)

‌And now, Father, now with my heart and mind re-tuned, at least in part – let me pour out my heart to you in the full confidence of your love, understanding and power. Father…
Tuning the Heart – Part 6

November 4th, 2024

We are considering the nature of what is termed “The Lord’s Prayer” from the sermon on the mount in Matthew 6.

‌If you haven’t noticed it yet, the way Jesus teaches us to pray, takes the focus of the soul away from ourselves, and places it back upon our God. This is by design. For when we consider ourselves first and foremost, and do not lift our eyes up to our God and Redeemer and King first, so much of our prayer can devolve into a mere self-pity session.

‌It is not that we are in any way hindered from bringing our needs to Him. Indeed, this is one of the royal gifts Christ has bestowed upon us. He has opened the door so that we may bring all to the Father, in faith, knowing His love, power, mercy, grace, compassion and tenderness toward us. But this God-first-focus draws our hearts and minds up above ourselves. It refreshes our souls and foments faith within because faith must always have an object. And when that object is the God of the universe, our trials and tribulations, as real, critical and even bearing the marks of emergency, are placed against the backdrop of His glory, and robbed of their power to overwhelm us.

‌I’ve quoted it before, but especially as we come to this 3rd petition, “your will be done as it is in heaven” – hear Thomas Aquinas: “It is clear that he does not pray, who, far from uplifting himself to God, requires that God shall lower Himself to him, and who resorts to prayer not to stir up the man in us to will what God wills, but only to persuade God to will what the man in us wills.”

‌While at first blush praying that His will be done before we even make our desires known may seem counter-intuitive. It isn’t. Why? Because here, we begin to frame our personal desires in the most faith-filled way possible.

‌Here is the dynamic. I am bringing my pleas and petitions before Him, while at the same time recognizing that even my personal concerns are not isolated from His eternal plans and purposes. It makes me pause to consider how in salvation, He has intertwined the whole of my life with His cosmic redemptive work. So my aches, my sorrows, my confusions and my deepest felt needs, are not just about me. In prayer, I get to bring those things to Him, and ask Him to consider His answers to me in light of what He is doing in me personally, in those around me my life touches, in His Church of which I am a part, and in His fathomless plans.

‌So here is my need, now you know better than I what is wisest and best and of most use in the hallowing of your name and the advancing of your Kingdom in your answer to it. So Father, I bring it to you for the best possible disposal. Yes, I may prefer X be handled a certain way – but more – I know you love me more than I can love myself, I know you cannot sin against me, I know your wisdom is perfect and that you have only my absolute and eternal best at heart – so while I want X – YOUR will be done in this earth, in this circumstance, in this situation, the way it is done in heaven.

‌And how might we imagine His will is done in Heaven? With no opposition. With no hesitation. With the agency of the angelic hosts. With perfect wisdom. In all holiness. In all perfection and in harmony with what He has purposed for me – the greatest blessing of all – to wake in Christ’s likeness.

‌Here is the prayer of faith beloved – trusting Him to always answer better than I can ask. And with the absolute conviction, that He will!
Grace does the Impossible

November 1st, 2024

One of the more interesting passages in the life and ministry of Elisha the prophet, is the account of the floating ax head in 2 Kings 6:1-7.

It reads: “Some of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too cramped for us. Let’s go to the Jordan. Each of us will get a log from there, and we will build a meeting place for ourselves there.” He said, “Go.” One of them said, “Please come along with your servants.” He replied, “All right, I’ll come.” So he went with them. When they arrived at the Jordan, they started cutting down trees. As one of them was felling a log, the ax head dropped into the water. He shouted, “Oh no, my master! It was borrowed!” The prophet asked, “Where did it drop in?” When he showed him the spot, Elisha cut off a branch, threw it in at that spot, and made the ax head float. He said, “Lift it out.” So he reached out his hand and grabbed it.”

At first blush, it seems to have little to commend itself to the modern reader, but I think there is a wonderful reaffirmation of Gospel truth in it.

All of the graces we had in Adam, were granted to us – “borrowed” from God, and were not ours inherently. This is so because we did not create ourselves nor do we sustain ourselves.

1 Corinthians 4:7 “For who sees anything different in you? vWhat do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”

It was a weighty thing we lost in the Fall: Holiness.

Holiness is not light and not lightly recovered. Even as the word “glory” has the thought of weightiness in it – so the glory we were made to bear as God’s image bearers sunk into the dark and muddy waters.

All we had was from Him. And what little we have left is still from Him. But our righteousness, the image of His glory – this we lost. The holiness and uprightness we were created in is gone. The very image of God in us was marred beyond recognition. We were no longer able to glorify – to reveal Him as were created to do. Lost so as to be irrecoverable by human means. It would take a miracle of grace alone to do the impossible in saving us. The very transcendence of nature and its laws. That which could only be done by God Himself.

Oh, what a glorious salvation belongs to those who believe.

And in the words of John Newton, this truly is “Amazing Grace.”