As this week nears its end and Sunday is here I find it hard to concentrate as I prepare to preach my Senior Seminar sermon for our class in preparation for the Jury in May. I've been talking to God about it and asking for His grace and help as I prepare. There's this constant feeling of inadequacy that's hard to tell how much is healthy humility and how much is senseless worrying. Either way it brings the dependence on the Spirit I know that I need. I preached in church this morning as part of internship. I preached on Romans 8:12-17 and spiritual adoption. I got only positive comments. One man even spoke of how he didn't have a good father and it was encouraging to be reminded of God as Father in such an intimate way. I'm glad the Lord blessed it. Yet now I sit at my desk in this dorm room and continue to struggle with this jury sermon that I must preach for class Tuesday morning without notes. I've done the exegesis. I know the main point. But how to apply it... I'm struggling. I need a miracle from God if I am to do this and do it well by Tuesday. I've ignored some homework assignments this week and some reading, but it's all been calculated. The question is... has it been worth it? This week has been a challenge. This half of the semester has been a challenge. I've reconnected with my old friend Personal Discipline as he relates to working out. He's been on vacation for some time... it's been a healthy reunion. I can happily say I've maintained at least a 1 hr. workout for 4-6 days per week since returning from Spring Break. At some point I saw all the snacks in my room then looked at my belly and realized something had to change. It's been nice to see results so soon. I'm actually losing weight and building muscle!
As I left the Solheim Center the other day having finished my workout I walked past the handful of yellow flowers (guys don't know flower varieties) behind the stone benches of the entrance and smelled them only for a second. I decided to sit down and think more about the things that have been on my mind for so long now. I wondered where I would be this time next year. I wondered what God has been teaching me and preparing me for specifically. I have no idea what could happen between now and my December graduation... maybe something great, maybe nothing new..? I know I'm called to pastor, but in what capacity and where I'm still not sure. I got to speak with a rep. from Master's Seminary that came to campus the other day. I was pleased with his perspective as I shared with him how I was uncomfortable with the emphasis on preaching aesthetics and delivery here at school. While a good case is made for using rhetorical devices (The Holy Spirit uses them in Scripture) and paying attention to preaching methodology and delivery (it seems to have been included equally with other elements in preaching history)... I wonder if the emphasis is more reactionary than balanced in its' product. The Master's rep said their philosophy is more that the excitement should come more from the exegesis and study of the text than the things we add to it. He said they don't teach a different way of preaching different genres of Scripture, but merely emphasize the study of the particular genres. I must say I have been influenced some by the attention to treating biblical genres in certain ways here. I see some validity in that. I have however noticed a certain forced performance in how a sermon manuscript is handled under the requirements we have. I wonder if our use of language would be better as it comes out naturally and not by our being over-intentional about it. Anyway, I'll have to work these issues out as I write my preaching philosophy paper. The Master's guy agreed it would be good for me to take the Spring semester off before going to seminary. I've been in school for so long. I'm tired. I'm also beginning to wonder if God may want me to go into life, family, and ministry sooner than seminary.
On the family note I believe God has taught me some interesting lessons in the past week or so. As the Lord continues to prepare me for my future as that relates to a wife and family I believe He's given me all kinds of little tests and reminders to essentially ask, "Are you sure this is what you want?" Recently I've been reminded in a very real-life way that marriage won't be easy. Things you may have missed beforehand and perhaps never expected can creep up. You can try your best to solve problems beforehand and it still not be enough. Conflict will happen. Problems will come. Arguments will work their way into the relationship. These things happen before marriage too of course. Perhaps my 3 years of single life has caused me to forget some of the challenges relationships bring. Maybe it's been in God's grace too that He has grown me in other areas before this reminder. He has the right timing though. This week I've had to ask myself the question of if this is really what I want... and I find my desire growing all the more to be willing to sacrifice my needs, preferences, schedule, efficiency, and life plans for my wife. I can almost feel a buried yearning to minister to her special needs (health, allergies, emotional struggles, temptations, fears) and do so knowing that I would be loving my wife as Christ loved the Church.
I begin climbing out of this week with an affirmative, "Yes, Lord. I want someone to love as your Son loved the Church. I want the pain and problems. I want the challenges I don't yet know about, because when they come I can look to You because they were already decreed before the foundation of the world. They didn't surprise You, God. And I know you'll provide the necessary strength and wisdom to persevere." I've also learned another lesson in sovereignty. It doesn't matter how godly you are or think you are. It doesn't matter how well others may speak of you. It doesn't matter how long you've waited or how strong a desire you have... if God isn't in it, it won't go anywhere. The same is true for the opposite. It doesn't matter how bad you think you are or how unprepared for marriage you think you are or how long you've been single and lonely... God can and does work despite us. God works despite our perceived abilities or lack there of. You may be asking, "Lord, what is so wrong with me that I am rejected so often? You know my heart for You! You know I would treat my spouse honorably!" Or you may declare with depressing finality, "Lord, no one will want me! I can't be the husband/wife that would be worth anything to anyone." Either way... the question is about what God is or isn't doing. He does all things to get all the glory and the timing is perfect.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
The Idol Has Fallen and it Can't Get Up
As usual when I write, the week is staring at me like Chicago's Hancock building tipping in to grace me with a flattening hug of concrete and glass as I find my feet magnetized to the pavement of its' shadow. Nonetheless I feel the need to write. Too much has happened for me to contain myself any longer. Before I get to that though, I really enjoyed Spring Break. It was... full. I worked about 36 hours the first week and 38 the second. By God's grace I was able to preach in Southlake Town Square with a few fellow laborers I hadn't seen in awhile and even once Friday night in Capp Smith Park near my house before flying back up here to Chicago. wrote 2 small papers, did some Greek reading, started on some Greek homework assignments for the early part of this week, and finished most of a textbook I'd hoped to read. If I weren't so goal-oriented and acheivement-driven I could easily sink into a LA-Z-BOY and with a glass of orange juice and a TV remote beginning to reflect the name of the chair in which I sat.
I tried to spend the first week focusing on homework and the second meeting with people. I pretty much stuck to that. My mom unexpectedly invited my dad and I to one of my sister's Tennis tournaments (which I didn't know about until the day of) and we got to go see her (got photos and youtube videos). It was great to be there for her first game wins and I'm glad I forsook homework to do that. I took her out to her eat afterward (her idea lol) just the two of us... that was nice too. I got to share a meal or have coffee with about 6 of the 8 people I wanted to meet with the second week. Had a good discussion with my pastor to update him on the things going on in my life lately. It was encouraging to hear how God had frustrated his "plan" for life and ministry in His own Sovereign way. It's good to plan, while always tentatively. That's not easy for me! I want to see A to Z and beyond neatly organized in a spiral notebook with every diversion to plan for. Thank God He is patient with our often humorous attempts at "control!"
I also got to meet with a friend I've been witnessing to for a few years. It's refreshing to have someone still be willing to talk with you and ask questions even after you've shared the reality and severity of sin and hell so clearly. See! I'm not entirely opposed to relational evangelism! But the message was shared up front and the relationship followed and has followed gracefully praise God. I got see my friend (known from elementary school) and his new motorcycle, while I sadly wasn't able to ride it. Got to spend tiem with a friend from community college and talk about the favorite topic of male/female conversation... LOVE...lol. I got to have dinner with a Produce manager I met over CHRISTmas break who is a believer. I need to keep his family in prayer. They aren't believers. I got to have dinner with my mom and sister at a burger place on the bad side of town that hold a history in our family. I got to go look at a house with my best friend and his wife as they consider new living and career options. So break was good altogether. I enjoyed working again too. It's hard work, but it's good for me.
Now to an example of God's redemptive sanctification to which the glory belongs to Him alone... 1 Samuel 1:1-5 tells the story of the false God Dagon and a time when God's ark of the covenant was placed in mere proximity to it. When the the representation of the presence of God (in the case of this story) is compared to a false God, there is no comparison. Here's the account...
1Now the Philistines took the ark of God and (A)brought it from Ebenezer to (B)Ashdod. 2Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to (C)the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. 3When the Ashdodites arose early the next morning, behold, (D)Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD So they took Dagon and (E)set him in his place again. 4But when they arose early the next morning, behold, (F)Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. And the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. 5Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor all who enter Dagon's house (G)tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
This story most reminded me of what has happened in my life as it especially pertains to the past year or two. God is in the business of opposing idolatry and dashing it to pieces in His own sarcastic ways. I was reminded in church today of how each of the plagues in Egypt was a smack in the face of a different god of the Egyptians. We remember when Elijah had his round with the prophets of Baal and the water was dumped on the wood of Yahweh's altar to add the extra spice of sarcastic clarity of who's God was the real one. We remember when Elijah asked the crazed prophets, "is your god sleeping?" God is in the business of opposing idolatry, but not merely opposing... but bringing restoration to the idol-worshipper who repents of His sin and places the Lord God back on the throne of their life.
I'm so thankful and even more appreciatiative of my God as of late. He has been patient with me and continually showered His mercy on me through the grace received in Christ as the only channel of my hope. I can now look back on my life and see a thread running through it. It's a thread of redemption surrounding the gradual death of my greatest sin... my greatest idol... romantic love.
I tell you I have grown in the Lord more than ever before in my Christian life this past year. I don't say that in some pre-packaged, well-marketed, highly-endorsed, 6 week Bible study DVD series kind of fashion that promises assembly line production of a sanctified Christian. This the growth that only the Holy Spirit of God can bring without manufactured promises. I write to all who may read that I hope you are encouraged... not so I will get the glory... please don't praise me. Please don't lift me up. Please don't feed my ego. If there is anything praiseworthy that you have learned or received from me, only imitate me in so far as I have imitated Christ. Praise Him because I am nothing without His sustaining hand.
As I consider this thread I travel way back to grade school. I can remember each and every face and name of whatever girl caught my eye and my immature heart. I remember the secret admirer notes I put in lockers, the introverted paralyzed attempts at hopeless conversation, and the inevitable rejection and reminder of my overweight predicament that kept depression looming over me. I remember how my understanding of "love" was only the fanned artificial flame of infatuation whether a girl liked me or not, whether she knew who I was or not. I remember how in my emotions I set myself up for failure each and every time. I had high hopes that were so high they crushed me. I was as Joshua Harris describes in his book, "Boy Meets Girl" a guy who was "in love with being in love."
When I found myself an Atheist at the age of 16 I met a girl on Yahoo Personals who went to church regularly. We got together and I eventually went to church for her, but for her only. There came a day as I attended this church that it hit me... I was to my confused dismay, still without Christ. I truly turned from my sin at that point and trusted in Christ. God used my idolatry of a human romantic relationship to draw me to Himself in salvation. He drew me to that church on that day to plant the seed of the gospel in my heart as it took root. The battle was not over however. I continued to struggle with this idol as we all continue to struggle with sin in the flesh. I found myself on and off with that young woman for 4 years. I didn't want to be without someone and tried every way I could to make it work, but I believe now that she never knew the Lord. I ended that relationship and it wasn't easy to do. It took a long time to face the guilt trip ramifications of what such a breakup would do to my emotions until God granted the grace and strength to end it. God did that and He alone. He used my greatest idol to save me and gave me strength to say no to it. This is milestone #1.
Flash forward to 2006... I begin my first Christian relationship in community college. I was then and still am now under the impression that traditional courtship is the most healthy context in which to do a relationship. I told myself I would do this. Not only does this approach treat the whole thing seriously with a direction and consideration of marriage in view, but it also involves a community of family and mutual friends to provide prayer and accountability objectively. We had the seriousness, we had the friends, yet I found myself still timid and afraid for some reason. I always felt I would somehow mess up royally with the family. The cost seemed so high with them... the implications of those relationships so heavy and rightly they were. So while I didn't actively avoid them... I didn't actively seek them out either. This caused confusion and speculation. Beyond this I hurt the young woman so badly emotionally that scars still remain on both sides. I learned a hard lesson about gentleness that I will never forget. I mention this because my fear of losing her and therefore losing love crippled any ability to see through the eyes of sovereignty and to love purely. I was too afraid I would mess up so I didn't rely on God for the necessary courage. I ignored the fact that if it was God's will He would work it out. I didn't spend enough time in prayer either.
Beyond this when the time came for Moody she said she would be cool if I went up to Chicago. Her security was in the right place. I couldn't even entertain the thought though. A long distance relationship would mean the possibility of a "Dear John Letter." It would be like one of those letter soldiers receive when their girlfriends back home say they've found someone new or don't think it will work out anymore... out of sight, out of mind. I didn't want to lose her... because she was my idol. Beyond this I even found myself questioning my own opinions and theological views (some of them needed to be questioned..lol) based merely on her opinions and views. As the relationship fell on hard times I would almost react to what she said and lean toward agreement simply for fear of losing her and thus losing love. I took online classes with Moody in anticipation of maintaining and sometime moving forward in that relationship. God wanted me at Moody and has provided for me and taught me much here. This is clear. He pulled the rug out from underneath that relationship and nothing then was stopping me from moving to Chicago. This is milestone #2. This one took God's direct intervention and discipline and it was not easy.
Next I come to about a year ago last Spring semester here at Moody. I began doing Greek homework with a friend in class. We met about 3 days a week for roughly 2 hours a time. I got to know her as we talked about guy-girl interactions and grew to be fairly good friends. Over tiem I got interested in her and retreated to almost daily prayer about the situation. I found myself praying for her, her ministry here on campus, and even her family and their itinerant ministry efforts. During this time something began to happen in my heart however. These past couple years I've grown tired and sick of the taboo, the drama, the assumptions, the needless scenerio-making in the analytical recesses of our minds, and the dating system that secular American culture had setup for us and especially how this system has been warmly welcomed into the Body of Christ as His children take their cues from TV sitcoms, movies, and their own fickle preferences. Proverbs 31 calls them "beauty and charm." I also grew so very sick of my own flesh and how my mind had bought into all this garbage. I got sick of trying whether passively or actively to make love work in my own pitiful efforts and clever horizontal earthly wasted moments of energy that I thought would bring tangible results. I got tired of human suggestions and human understanding.
This led me to pray as I'd never prayed before and sing to God in worship behind a closed door with music up so loud and voice raised so high that I'm sure my dorm neighbors lost some nap time more than once. I began to seek the Lord first about this woman. I was in so much prayer that attending classes felt like an intrusion. This was not obsession though mind you... it was a desire to spend time with the Lord and a constant expression of the fact that I just needed Him that much. After all the battle and heartache I wasn't about to waste my time and emotions once again. I wasn't about to keep going through the motions. I wanted God's will and God's direction and God first. In doing so, He granted me such a peace that it surpassed all understanding. I began to come back to the heart of worship and it was all about Him and not about my desire and certainly not about her. I sang, "Holy fire, burn away, my desire in anything that is not of You and is of me. I want more of You and less of me." I could sing those words and mean each and every one of them. This marked the beginning of God turning my heart back to Him. I began to seek the Lord first about whom He would have for me. This also marks the time when I could say I was entirely comfortable with rejection and I had to be because I was about to be given a solid "no".
She didn't give me any indication that she was interested in me. We talked often and got along well, but the fact remained that the guy had to be the one to put himself out there and initiate. So I decided I would do it. A decision is better than no decision. So I spend about 4 days in fasting and prayer. Water alone was my food. I wanted to make sure I was putting the Lord first. I wanted to make sure my perspective was right. The day came when homework was finished and she knew I had something...else to talk about. She knew what it was. I asked if she could see anything more than friendship and she kindly and graciously said she couldn't and that she'd been praying about a guy she'd known all her life. In fact they are now together. It wasn't the Lord's will for me. However I could even see then that my heart was somewhat divided. I refused to sing Chris Tomlin's "More Than Enough" because I didn't feel the song fully reflected my heart. "I want her," I reasoned. "Yes I want the Lord, but I'm seeking Him for her." My perspective was almost right, but not quite. I'd begun to put Him first but I still struggled with how much I wanted her and how much I wanted the Lord. From this I learned that God is in charge of even rejection and His sovereign hand opens and closes doors. I learned the value and importance of prayer and personal worship and my heart had begun to turn to the Lord on this matter. This is milestone #3.
In the past few months I find myself continuing to seek the Lord. My desire for who He would have for me has not left. I ask the same who, when, and how that many of us do. I began to shift even more though. My prayers have turned from, "Lord I want You AND her" or "I want You AS YOU PERTAIN TO her" to "I want You more than her." God impressed upon me the fact that I should love Him infinitely more than I love the woman who He has for me. I was asked to be the best man at a friend's wedding and I was to give a speech. Through a helpful resource book I came across 2 Corinthians 11:2-3, "For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." While betrothal is a bit pre-marriage, the idea here is that Paul committed the Corinthians to Christ first and yet their minds were being led astray from a pure devotion to Him. I think one of the ways we do this is by loving eachother more than we love Christ. I desire to stand as I believe singer Keith Green did in his wedding vow and said to his wife, "May I never love you more than I love my Savior." That's something however that I need to practice even before I know who she is. I shared this passage at the wedding.
As I seek the Lord today I can say with full confidence, with every corner of my heart and mind, eyes wide open, uncertainties surrendered, apprehensions ignored, leaps of faith exciting me, and fears on the altar... that I want the Lord and His will MORE than I want the woman He has for me. I want it regardless of my desire. I want it regardless of my timeframe. I want it forsaking my plans. I want it laughing at my preferences. I want it through any amount of testing. I want it through any level of pain. I want the Lord's will. I want the Lord Himself. There was a time when I prayed, "Lord increase her desire for me because I simply can't trust my own emotions." Now I pray, "Lord increase her desire for You that as I and she seek You we may find eachother." So I can sing with joy in my heart and I can walk with a song in my step knowing that God is sovereign... not simply in the affairs of the rest of the world, not simply in salvation and other theological debates, but in my own life and future. Now it's personal. He knows my desire for the woman He has for me and the details are His. Yet I desire Him more and trust Him to do as He wills. The idol has fallen because the presence of the Lord has entered the room and things will NEVER be the same. This is reality #1.
I tried to spend the first week focusing on homework and the second meeting with people. I pretty much stuck to that. My mom unexpectedly invited my dad and I to one of my sister's Tennis tournaments (which I didn't know about until the day of) and we got to go see her (got photos and youtube videos). It was great to be there for her first game wins and I'm glad I forsook homework to do that. I took her out to her eat afterward (her idea lol) just the two of us... that was nice too. I got to share a meal or have coffee with about 6 of the 8 people I wanted to meet with the second week. Had a good discussion with my pastor to update him on the things going on in my life lately. It was encouraging to hear how God had frustrated his "plan" for life and ministry in His own Sovereign way. It's good to plan, while always tentatively. That's not easy for me! I want to see A to Z and beyond neatly organized in a spiral notebook with every diversion to plan for. Thank God He is patient with our often humorous attempts at "control!"
I also got to meet with a friend I've been witnessing to for a few years. It's refreshing to have someone still be willing to talk with you and ask questions even after you've shared the reality and severity of sin and hell so clearly. See! I'm not entirely opposed to relational evangelism! But the message was shared up front and the relationship followed and has followed gracefully praise God. I got see my friend (known from elementary school) and his new motorcycle, while I sadly wasn't able to ride it. Got to spend tiem with a friend from community college and talk about the favorite topic of male/female conversation... LOVE...lol. I got to have dinner with a Produce manager I met over CHRISTmas break who is a believer. I need to keep his family in prayer. They aren't believers. I got to have dinner with my mom and sister at a burger place on the bad side of town that hold a history in our family. I got to go look at a house with my best friend and his wife as they consider new living and career options. So break was good altogether. I enjoyed working again too. It's hard work, but it's good for me.
Now to an example of God's redemptive sanctification to which the glory belongs to Him alone... 1 Samuel 1:1-5 tells the story of the false God Dagon and a time when God's ark of the covenant was placed in mere proximity to it. When the the representation of the presence of God (in the case of this story) is compared to a false God, there is no comparison. Here's the account...
1Now the Philistines took the ark of God and (A)brought it from Ebenezer to (B)Ashdod. 2Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to (C)the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. 3When the Ashdodites arose early the next morning, behold, (D)Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD So they took Dagon and (E)set him in his place again. 4But when they arose early the next morning, behold, (F)Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. And the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. 5Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor all who enter Dagon's house (G)tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
This story most reminded me of what has happened in my life as it especially pertains to the past year or two. God is in the business of opposing idolatry and dashing it to pieces in His own sarcastic ways. I was reminded in church today of how each of the plagues in Egypt was a smack in the face of a different god of the Egyptians. We remember when Elijah had his round with the prophets of Baal and the water was dumped on the wood of Yahweh's altar to add the extra spice of sarcastic clarity of who's God was the real one. We remember when Elijah asked the crazed prophets, "is your god sleeping?" God is in the business of opposing idolatry, but not merely opposing... but bringing restoration to the idol-worshipper who repents of His sin and places the Lord God back on the throne of their life.
I'm so thankful and even more appreciatiative of my God as of late. He has been patient with me and continually showered His mercy on me through the grace received in Christ as the only channel of my hope. I can now look back on my life and see a thread running through it. It's a thread of redemption surrounding the gradual death of my greatest sin... my greatest idol... romantic love.
I tell you I have grown in the Lord more than ever before in my Christian life this past year. I don't say that in some pre-packaged, well-marketed, highly-endorsed, 6 week Bible study DVD series kind of fashion that promises assembly line production of a sanctified Christian. This the growth that only the Holy Spirit of God can bring without manufactured promises. I write to all who may read that I hope you are encouraged... not so I will get the glory... please don't praise me. Please don't lift me up. Please don't feed my ego. If there is anything praiseworthy that you have learned or received from me, only imitate me in so far as I have imitated Christ. Praise Him because I am nothing without His sustaining hand.
As I consider this thread I travel way back to grade school. I can remember each and every face and name of whatever girl caught my eye and my immature heart. I remember the secret admirer notes I put in lockers, the introverted paralyzed attempts at hopeless conversation, and the inevitable rejection and reminder of my overweight predicament that kept depression looming over me. I remember how my understanding of "love" was only the fanned artificial flame of infatuation whether a girl liked me or not, whether she knew who I was or not. I remember how in my emotions I set myself up for failure each and every time. I had high hopes that were so high they crushed me. I was as Joshua Harris describes in his book, "Boy Meets Girl" a guy who was "in love with being in love."
When I found myself an Atheist at the age of 16 I met a girl on Yahoo Personals who went to church regularly. We got together and I eventually went to church for her, but for her only. There came a day as I attended this church that it hit me... I was to my confused dismay, still without Christ. I truly turned from my sin at that point and trusted in Christ. God used my idolatry of a human romantic relationship to draw me to Himself in salvation. He drew me to that church on that day to plant the seed of the gospel in my heart as it took root. The battle was not over however. I continued to struggle with this idol as we all continue to struggle with sin in the flesh. I found myself on and off with that young woman for 4 years. I didn't want to be without someone and tried every way I could to make it work, but I believe now that she never knew the Lord. I ended that relationship and it wasn't easy to do. It took a long time to face the guilt trip ramifications of what such a breakup would do to my emotions until God granted the grace and strength to end it. God did that and He alone. He used my greatest idol to save me and gave me strength to say no to it. This is milestone #1.
Flash forward to 2006... I begin my first Christian relationship in community college. I was then and still am now under the impression that traditional courtship is the most healthy context in which to do a relationship. I told myself I would do this. Not only does this approach treat the whole thing seriously with a direction and consideration of marriage in view, but it also involves a community of family and mutual friends to provide prayer and accountability objectively. We had the seriousness, we had the friends, yet I found myself still timid and afraid for some reason. I always felt I would somehow mess up royally with the family. The cost seemed so high with them... the implications of those relationships so heavy and rightly they were. So while I didn't actively avoid them... I didn't actively seek them out either. This caused confusion and speculation. Beyond this I hurt the young woman so badly emotionally that scars still remain on both sides. I learned a hard lesson about gentleness that I will never forget. I mention this because my fear of losing her and therefore losing love crippled any ability to see through the eyes of sovereignty and to love purely. I was too afraid I would mess up so I didn't rely on God for the necessary courage. I ignored the fact that if it was God's will He would work it out. I didn't spend enough time in prayer either.
Beyond this when the time came for Moody she said she would be cool if I went up to Chicago. Her security was in the right place. I couldn't even entertain the thought though. A long distance relationship would mean the possibility of a "Dear John Letter." It would be like one of those letter soldiers receive when their girlfriends back home say they've found someone new or don't think it will work out anymore... out of sight, out of mind. I didn't want to lose her... because she was my idol. Beyond this I even found myself questioning my own opinions and theological views (some of them needed to be questioned..lol) based merely on her opinions and views. As the relationship fell on hard times I would almost react to what she said and lean toward agreement simply for fear of losing her and thus losing love. I took online classes with Moody in anticipation of maintaining and sometime moving forward in that relationship. God wanted me at Moody and has provided for me and taught me much here. This is clear. He pulled the rug out from underneath that relationship and nothing then was stopping me from moving to Chicago. This is milestone #2. This one took God's direct intervention and discipline and it was not easy.
Next I come to about a year ago last Spring semester here at Moody. I began doing Greek homework with a friend in class. We met about 3 days a week for roughly 2 hours a time. I got to know her as we talked about guy-girl interactions and grew to be fairly good friends. Over tiem I got interested in her and retreated to almost daily prayer about the situation. I found myself praying for her, her ministry here on campus, and even her family and their itinerant ministry efforts. During this time something began to happen in my heart however. These past couple years I've grown tired and sick of the taboo, the drama, the assumptions, the needless scenerio-making in the analytical recesses of our minds, and the dating system that secular American culture had setup for us and especially how this system has been warmly welcomed into the Body of Christ as His children take their cues from TV sitcoms, movies, and their own fickle preferences. Proverbs 31 calls them "beauty and charm." I also grew so very sick of my own flesh and how my mind had bought into all this garbage. I got sick of trying whether passively or actively to make love work in my own pitiful efforts and clever horizontal earthly wasted moments of energy that I thought would bring tangible results. I got tired of human suggestions and human understanding.
This led me to pray as I'd never prayed before and sing to God in worship behind a closed door with music up so loud and voice raised so high that I'm sure my dorm neighbors lost some nap time more than once. I began to seek the Lord first about this woman. I was in so much prayer that attending classes felt like an intrusion. This was not obsession though mind you... it was a desire to spend time with the Lord and a constant expression of the fact that I just needed Him that much. After all the battle and heartache I wasn't about to waste my time and emotions once again. I wasn't about to keep going through the motions. I wanted God's will and God's direction and God first. In doing so, He granted me such a peace that it surpassed all understanding. I began to come back to the heart of worship and it was all about Him and not about my desire and certainly not about her. I sang, "Holy fire, burn away, my desire in anything that is not of You and is of me. I want more of You and less of me." I could sing those words and mean each and every one of them. This marked the beginning of God turning my heart back to Him. I began to seek the Lord first about whom He would have for me. This also marks the time when I could say I was entirely comfortable with rejection and I had to be because I was about to be given a solid "no".
She didn't give me any indication that she was interested in me. We talked often and got along well, but the fact remained that the guy had to be the one to put himself out there and initiate. So I decided I would do it. A decision is better than no decision. So I spend about 4 days in fasting and prayer. Water alone was my food. I wanted to make sure I was putting the Lord first. I wanted to make sure my perspective was right. The day came when homework was finished and she knew I had something...else to talk about. She knew what it was. I asked if she could see anything more than friendship and she kindly and graciously said she couldn't and that she'd been praying about a guy she'd known all her life. In fact they are now together. It wasn't the Lord's will for me. However I could even see then that my heart was somewhat divided. I refused to sing Chris Tomlin's "More Than Enough" because I didn't feel the song fully reflected my heart. "I want her," I reasoned. "Yes I want the Lord, but I'm seeking Him for her." My perspective was almost right, but not quite. I'd begun to put Him first but I still struggled with how much I wanted her and how much I wanted the Lord. From this I learned that God is in charge of even rejection and His sovereign hand opens and closes doors. I learned the value and importance of prayer and personal worship and my heart had begun to turn to the Lord on this matter. This is milestone #3.
In the past few months I find myself continuing to seek the Lord. My desire for who He would have for me has not left. I ask the same who, when, and how that many of us do. I began to shift even more though. My prayers have turned from, "Lord I want You AND her" or "I want You AS YOU PERTAIN TO her" to "I want You more than her." God impressed upon me the fact that I should love Him infinitely more than I love the woman who He has for me. I was asked to be the best man at a friend's wedding and I was to give a speech. Through a helpful resource book I came across 2 Corinthians 11:2-3, "For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." While betrothal is a bit pre-marriage, the idea here is that Paul committed the Corinthians to Christ first and yet their minds were being led astray from a pure devotion to Him. I think one of the ways we do this is by loving eachother more than we love Christ. I desire to stand as I believe singer Keith Green did in his wedding vow and said to his wife, "May I never love you more than I love my Savior." That's something however that I need to practice even before I know who she is. I shared this passage at the wedding.
As I seek the Lord today I can say with full confidence, with every corner of my heart and mind, eyes wide open, uncertainties surrendered, apprehensions ignored, leaps of faith exciting me, and fears on the altar... that I want the Lord and His will MORE than I want the woman He has for me. I want it regardless of my desire. I want it regardless of my timeframe. I want it forsaking my plans. I want it laughing at my preferences. I want it through any amount of testing. I want it through any level of pain. I want the Lord's will. I want the Lord Himself. There was a time when I prayed, "Lord increase her desire for me because I simply can't trust my own emotions." Now I pray, "Lord increase her desire for You that as I and she seek You we may find eachother." So I can sing with joy in my heart and I can walk with a song in my step knowing that God is sovereign... not simply in the affairs of the rest of the world, not simply in salvation and other theological debates, but in my own life and future. Now it's personal. He knows my desire for the woman He has for me and the details are His. Yet I desire Him more and trust Him to do as He wills. The idol has fallen because the presence of the Lord has entered the room and things will NEVER be the same. This is reality #1.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Numbers 13-14: Dramatic Monologue
Stance and Intro: Entering with back turned to congregation slowly stepping backward looking at the walls. A concealed plate of one cluster of red grapes is in hand as the other hand eats them and continues looking at the walls in front and either side (back still to congregation). Steps onto stage and eats another grape (totaling about 3-4 eaten). Slowly follows the walls looking around until facing the congregation and is startled...
Oh! Where are my manners? Would you like some? (pause) Well, maybe another time (sets grapes down where everyone can see them). You see I've traveled quite a distance from a far-away land and an era you've only read about. A long trip can make a guy hungry. My name... is Hoshea, son of Nun from the tribe of Ephraim. but you know me as Joshua. Brian has asked me here to share a story with you that I'm told can be found in your Bible in the book of Numbers chapters 13 and 14.
Story: We found ourselves camped at Kay-desh, in the desert of Pay-rahn. The cool season was being put to bed and the season of warmth was opening its' eyes once again. I understand some of you wish the same would happen here. It was the month of Tammuz when the grapes were just beginning to ripen. You call it June. The day came when Moses addressed the people. he had a special mission for us, (Switch to Moses) "I need all the leaders of the 12 tribes for an assignment. Go... spy out the land of Canaan, which the Lord had promised to give us, report on the strength of the military in the cities of the land, survey the land itself: its' fruit and trees and to bring some fruit of the land back with you."
(Back to Joshua) So we packed for our journey, kissed our children goodbye, and started North. The trip took us up past Shechem and the Jordan River, beyond Damascus, all the way to the border of Rehob near Lebo-Hamath. The land was good! It flowed with milk and honey! Everything was going according to schedule and we were on our way back. We decided to check out one last city only about 74 of your miles away from Kay-desh. It was the city of Hebron.
The city was situated between Gaza and the Salt Sea along a valley that ran North to South. It seemed like any other city we'd seen. So we began the procedure... one group took a look at the outer edges, another group spied out the walls, while Caleb and I joined a third group that slipped inside the city. As our feet met with the pebbles of dirt at the city gate and they crumbled beneath the weight of our bodies it didn't take us long to notice them... 3 men. They were known as the sons of Anak, the Nephilim. The townspeople looked up to them, not out of respect mind you, but necessity. Each one was a tower of a man, a fortress all on his own. They were giants. My comrades and I looked at eachother and couldn't help but feel smaller than the dirt beneath our feet. We were grasshoppers in their eyes. We decided to regroup about a mile outside the city. As the leaders discussed the situation an incredible fear filled their eyes. Had they forgotten the promise of God? Caleb and I looked at eachother and we knew the Lord would be faithful, but they wouldn't hear it. We continued down through the valley to gather some fruit as Moses commanded us and while it felt like a valley of doubt and disunity among our group it was later called the valley of Eschol, which means "cluster," because we brought back a cluster of grapes along with some figs and pomegranantes.
When we returned to Kay-desh our welcome was bittersweet, for WITH the fruit our mission we also brought a fear of man into the camp. We stood before Moses himself and the people and our 10 brothers gave their report: (Switch to the brothers) "Moses, Aaron, people of Israel, You've waited 40 long days for our report. We have surveyed the land of Canaan and have found it to be all that we hoped. It is indeed a land flowing with milk and honey.. and here's the fruit! but we can't go up against them. The cities are heavily guarded and their walls reach up to the heavens. We even saw the sons of Anak there. They would crush us like bugs with no room to hide! (switch to Joshua) The people began murmuring and worry raced through the crowds faster than fire moves through a dry field.
At just that moment Caleb stepped out in front of the people and our 10 brothers and with great faith, he stilled the confusion with these words, (switch to Caleb) "We should by all means go and take possession of this land for the Lord will give us victory!!!" Our 10 brothers turned on Caleb, "Caleb, you were there! Didn't you see them?! We can't go they are too strong for us!"
At this the people lifted their voices and whined in anguish as they grumbled against Moses and Aaron... "We could have just died back in Egypt or in this desert. Why is God bringing us into THIS land now, to be killed by the sword?! Our wives and our children will be the property of the Canaanites. I say we appoint a leader and head back to Egypt!" (Back to Joshua) The assembly began to roar in hearty approval. I stood with Caleb this time to make one last stand for the Lord.
"Brothers, the land is good just as the Lord said it would be! Don't turn your back on him now! Don't rebel against Him! Don't be afraid of the men, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them and the Lord is with us! Don't fear them! Their eyes burned red hot with anger and one bye one they began picking up stones to stone us...? These were our own people! What were they thinking?! Were they thinking at all?! God had been so kind to us. He brought us out of Egypt! He led us by a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire every step of the way! He provided food for us and our families! Now they were rejecting our words, but no... it was far worse than that. They were rejecting the very promise of God Himself. They had sealed their fate. What were we to do? It was time for God to speak and when God spoke... it was time to listen.
Suddenly the glory of Lord appeared in the tent of meeting and Moses met with God to have a quiet time that would be anything but quiet... as the rest of us stood waiting to see what God had to say. But we were quiet. We were so quiet I tell you that in that moment, the wind itself had something to say.
God said to Moses, "how long will this people despise and spurn me? How long will they keep walking by sight? After all the things I've done, all the signs and wonders I've done in their midst? I will bring judgment upon this people and smite them with pestilence for their lack of faith!
Moses did what any good leader would do for his people. He went to his knees in prayer. (Go to knees) God, please have mercy on your people! If you destroy them all at once the Egyptians will hear of it and think you had to slaughter them because you couldn't get the people to the land you promised them. Please Lord you are slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, but I know also you will by no means clear the guilty. I just ask Lord that you will merciful now. Forgive your people!
(Stand up) Our leader had a purpose in his prayer, but he knew that the Lord would act within the bounds of His holy character and according to His will. Moses didn't just say God you are so loving, please forgive your people. He acknowledged the power of God to do what He wills.
Moses left the tent with a sober message for the rest of the people of Israel. We weren't ready for what we were about to hear. God would forgive them, but for each one of the 40 days we were away they would wander in the wilderness for a year. The adults would never see the promised land they had just rejected, but their children would. My 10 fellow-countrymen had their lives taken from them by a plague that very night. They didn't have to die. If only they'd have listened to God and not their eyes. (PAUSE) This motivated the people to repent. They arose with the sun and approached Moses, "Moses we have sinned..." Can you imagine Moses' response? "Ya think? Yes you've sinned." They decided to go up and take possession of the land, but it was too late. God was not with them. Caleb, Aaron, Moses, myself, and the ark of the covenant stayed Kay-desh. The people tried but they lost. They had chosen to walk by sight and that's what God let them do.
Caleb and I learned something that day and it's the very thing I've come to share with you... that when we fear our circumstances we forget our God, but when we fear our God we forget our circumstances.
When you travel the land of this life... and look at the cities of your circumstances, those questions without answer in which you seem to live as they devour your mind and heart, you can stand on the truth that all things giant in our eyes are as grains of sand in God's hand and He'll use them as He pleases to His glory and your good. He is the God who holds the heart of the king in His hand like channels of water, He turns it wherever He wishes. He is the God whose throne is heaven and who's footstool is the earth. He is the God who has promised to never leave nor forsake you. He is the God who has carried you in His arms as a father carries his child whether you've seen it or not. Trust Him to keep doing that. ...Oh, and He also made the stars.
10 of my country-men returned with a cluster of grapes, but they also returned with a fear of man. So when harvest time comes may the fruit of your life be a fear of God and not a fear of anyone or anything else.
(Holds up one last grape, eats it, and exits)
Oh! Where are my manners? Would you like some? (pause) Well, maybe another time (sets grapes down where everyone can see them). You see I've traveled quite a distance from a far-away land and an era you've only read about. A long trip can make a guy hungry. My name... is Hoshea, son of Nun from the tribe of Ephraim. but you know me as Joshua. Brian has asked me here to share a story with you that I'm told can be found in your Bible in the book of Numbers chapters 13 and 14.
Story: We found ourselves camped at Kay-desh, in the desert of Pay-rahn. The cool season was being put to bed and the season of warmth was opening its' eyes once again. I understand some of you wish the same would happen here. It was the month of Tammuz when the grapes were just beginning to ripen. You call it June. The day came when Moses addressed the people. he had a special mission for us, (Switch to Moses) "I need all the leaders of the 12 tribes for an assignment. Go... spy out the land of Canaan, which the Lord had promised to give us, report on the strength of the military in the cities of the land, survey the land itself: its' fruit and trees and to bring some fruit of the land back with you."
(Back to Joshua) So we packed for our journey, kissed our children goodbye, and started North. The trip took us up past Shechem and the Jordan River, beyond Damascus, all the way to the border of Rehob near Lebo-Hamath. The land was good! It flowed with milk and honey! Everything was going according to schedule and we were on our way back. We decided to check out one last city only about 74 of your miles away from Kay-desh. It was the city of Hebron.
The city was situated between Gaza and the Salt Sea along a valley that ran North to South. It seemed like any other city we'd seen. So we began the procedure... one group took a look at the outer edges, another group spied out the walls, while Caleb and I joined a third group that slipped inside the city. As our feet met with the pebbles of dirt at the city gate and they crumbled beneath the weight of our bodies it didn't take us long to notice them... 3 men. They were known as the sons of Anak, the Nephilim. The townspeople looked up to them, not out of respect mind you, but necessity. Each one was a tower of a man, a fortress all on his own. They were giants. My comrades and I looked at eachother and couldn't help but feel smaller than the dirt beneath our feet. We were grasshoppers in their eyes. We decided to regroup about a mile outside the city. As the leaders discussed the situation an incredible fear filled their eyes. Had they forgotten the promise of God? Caleb and I looked at eachother and we knew the Lord would be faithful, but they wouldn't hear it. We continued down through the valley to gather some fruit as Moses commanded us and while it felt like a valley of doubt and disunity among our group it was later called the valley of Eschol, which means "cluster," because we brought back a cluster of grapes along with some figs and pomegranantes.
When we returned to Kay-desh our welcome was bittersweet, for WITH the fruit our mission we also brought a fear of man into the camp. We stood before Moses himself and the people and our 10 brothers gave their report: (Switch to the brothers) "Moses, Aaron, people of Israel, You've waited 40 long days for our report. We have surveyed the land of Canaan and have found it to be all that we hoped. It is indeed a land flowing with milk and honey.. and here's the fruit! but we can't go up against them. The cities are heavily guarded and their walls reach up to the heavens. We even saw the sons of Anak there. They would crush us like bugs with no room to hide! (switch to Joshua) The people began murmuring and worry raced through the crowds faster than fire moves through a dry field.
At just that moment Caleb stepped out in front of the people and our 10 brothers and with great faith, he stilled the confusion with these words, (switch to Caleb) "We should by all means go and take possession of this land for the Lord will give us victory!!!" Our 10 brothers turned on Caleb, "Caleb, you were there! Didn't you see them?! We can't go they are too strong for us!"
At this the people lifted their voices and whined in anguish as they grumbled against Moses and Aaron... "We could have just died back in Egypt or in this desert. Why is God bringing us into THIS land now, to be killed by the sword?! Our wives and our children will be the property of the Canaanites. I say we appoint a leader and head back to Egypt!" (Back to Joshua) The assembly began to roar in hearty approval. I stood with Caleb this time to make one last stand for the Lord.
"Brothers, the land is good just as the Lord said it would be! Don't turn your back on him now! Don't rebel against Him! Don't be afraid of the men, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them and the Lord is with us! Don't fear them! Their eyes burned red hot with anger and one bye one they began picking up stones to stone us...? These were our own people! What were they thinking?! Were they thinking at all?! God had been so kind to us. He brought us out of Egypt! He led us by a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire every step of the way! He provided food for us and our families! Now they were rejecting our words, but no... it was far worse than that. They were rejecting the very promise of God Himself. They had sealed their fate. What were we to do? It was time for God to speak and when God spoke... it was time to listen.
Suddenly the glory of Lord appeared in the tent of meeting and Moses met with God to have a quiet time that would be anything but quiet... as the rest of us stood waiting to see what God had to say. But we were quiet. We were so quiet I tell you that in that moment, the wind itself had something to say.
God said to Moses, "how long will this people despise and spurn me? How long will they keep walking by sight? After all the things I've done, all the signs and wonders I've done in their midst? I will bring judgment upon this people and smite them with pestilence for their lack of faith!
Moses did what any good leader would do for his people. He went to his knees in prayer. (Go to knees) God, please have mercy on your people! If you destroy them all at once the Egyptians will hear of it and think you had to slaughter them because you couldn't get the people to the land you promised them. Please Lord you are slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, but I know also you will by no means clear the guilty. I just ask Lord that you will merciful now. Forgive your people!
(Stand up) Our leader had a purpose in his prayer, but he knew that the Lord would act within the bounds of His holy character and according to His will. Moses didn't just say God you are so loving, please forgive your people. He acknowledged the power of God to do what He wills.
Moses left the tent with a sober message for the rest of the people of Israel. We weren't ready for what we were about to hear. God would forgive them, but for each one of the 40 days we were away they would wander in the wilderness for a year. The adults would never see the promised land they had just rejected, but their children would. My 10 fellow-countrymen had their lives taken from them by a plague that very night. They didn't have to die. If only they'd have listened to God and not their eyes. (PAUSE) This motivated the people to repent. They arose with the sun and approached Moses, "Moses we have sinned..." Can you imagine Moses' response? "Ya think? Yes you've sinned." They decided to go up and take possession of the land, but it was too late. God was not with them. Caleb, Aaron, Moses, myself, and the ark of the covenant stayed Kay-desh. The people tried but they lost. They had chosen to walk by sight and that's what God let them do.
Caleb and I learned something that day and it's the very thing I've come to share with you... that when we fear our circumstances we forget our God, but when we fear our God we forget our circumstances.
When you travel the land of this life... and look at the cities of your circumstances, those questions without answer in which you seem to live as they devour your mind and heart, you can stand on the truth that all things giant in our eyes are as grains of sand in God's hand and He'll use them as He pleases to His glory and your good. He is the God who holds the heart of the king in His hand like channels of water, He turns it wherever He wishes. He is the God whose throne is heaven and who's footstool is the earth. He is the God who has promised to never leave nor forsake you. He is the God who has carried you in His arms as a father carries his child whether you've seen it or not. Trust Him to keep doing that. ...Oh, and He also made the stars.
10 of my country-men returned with a cluster of grapes, but they also returned with a fear of man. So when harvest time comes may the fruit of your life be a fear of God and not a fear of anyone or anything else.
(Holds up one last grape, eats it, and exits)
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Doctrinal Statement
This was for a class... it doesn't cover all the major doctrines. These views are viewed from a standpoint of looking at the whole Bible on a given subject.
Systematic Theology seeks truth that begins with and is subject to a comprehensive study of the Bible; historically informed, communicated and defended in an accurate, precise, consistent, and relevant fashion that portrays the heart of God on any given issue to the end of effective evangelism and a growing Christ-likeness of His Church corporately and individually. ST can utilize a number of sources; reason, history/tradition, Scripture. While these and others have been suggested the Bible holds preeminence while the others can only aid in our understanding of how to communicate what God has already revealed. While the Bible is our only definitive source for theology, other elements naturally act as vehicles directing us to what we are to seek the heart of God about in the Bible.
ST is the product of the other branches of theology combined and it dives back into those branches to answer the question for which it is employed. I will do Theology with a comprehensive approach. I'm sure (seeking pastoral ministry) much of my theology will be initiated in response to questions, counseling, and sermon prep. I will approach theology with the desire to see what the Bible teaches in totality about a given subject. The question may not be about whether theology matters, but how much theology bears in on different situations. We are always doing theology in the way we live, think, make decisions, interact with people, and filter life experiences. These things are an overflow of internal theological roots that guide the lens through which we see the world and respond to it. The question becomes to what degree or what branch of theology is more or less relevant at a given time. This comes with an acknowledgment of the above reality and the wisdom.
General revelation is that which the world can know only know before salvation. People can see the intricate created order and see there is a creator (Romans 1:18-32, Psalm 19:1-6) and He has given us a conscience to know right from wrong (Romans 2:14-15). These things tell humanity there is a God but they are not enough for them to know Him personally. They need direct/special revelation. This is God's specific involvement through Christ, Scripture itself, Theophanies, angels, etc. It's the way God has specifically shown Himself and His will to man. It can be loosely described in the oft quoted apolgetical explanation that "religion is man working his way to God and Christianity is God working His way to man" through the above means.
I believe every and all words of Scripture are inspired by God (Verbal-Plenary) (Luke 24:25-27, Matthew 22:41-45). God "superintended" the writings of men to communicate His truth being in total control of the process but without the human authors' role being violated (2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible is completely without error (not just simply trustworthy) in the original autographs and in manuscripts and translations as it is interpreted correctly. The Bible affirms nothing false and only all that is true. Scripture holds absolute authority because it is the very Word of the only true God (Matthew 4:4,7,10; John 10:35).
Illumination is the supernatural internal revelation by the Holy Spirit in the heart of a person whom God has drawn to Himself to spiritually open their blind eyes unto salvation (Colossians 2:13, Eph. 2:4-5) and it's how believers "in right relation to God" (Barbieri) understand biblical truth. Canonicity begins with God's inspiration of the specific books first and their recognition by men second. The key thing to remember is that it begins with God. There were specific criteria in determining which books were inspired that reasonably eliminated the pseudepigrapha, apocrypha, and everything else (The Gospel of Thomas: Women become men to be saved? Not!). We also see the early church councils in the forming stages beginning to validate the canon we now have today.
God has revealed Himself logically and biblically (Psalm 105:4) as a Spirit, infinite (1 Kings 8:27), eternal (Psalm 90:2) and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. His attributes are not component parts of God. Each describes His total being. God's attributes are incommunicable and communicable. Some of them can be seen in us insofar as we are a mere reflection of His image. Others we cannot possess; omnipresence (Acts 17:24-28), omniscience (Psalm 147:4), omnipotence (Genesis 17:1).
The Trinity is the doctrine that there is one God who exists eternally as three persons; Father (John 6:27), Son (John 20:28), and Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4), yet of one substance, fully God (Deut. 6:4, Matt. 28:19). The person of Jesus Christ has existed before His earthly birth and will exist forever (John 8:58, Isaiah 9:6). The apostles testified to the deity of Christ (Hebrews 1:1-3). He has performed divine works of creation, preservation, revelation, forgiveness, raising of the dead, and sending the Holy Spirit. He also displays the divine attributes of immutability, omnipresence, and omnipotence. He is not only fully God, but fully man.
He had to be God in order to bear the world's sin upon Himself and He had to be man to be a sufficient sacrifice on behalf of the human race (Heb. 10:1-10). Christ was born of a virgin (Matt. 1:22-23). Christ came "in the flesh" (incarnation) and is one person yet with two natures; He has undiminished deity (100% God) and perfect humanity (100% man). The "kenosis" (to empty, emptying) is Christ's condescension in taking the likeness of sinful flesh (Phil 2:7). In doing so He voluntarily chose not to use some of His attributes on earth. The Holy Spirit is not an "it" but is revealed as a person in that He has intellect (Rom. 8:27), emotions (Eph. 4:30), and will (Acts 16:6-11). He is included with the other members of the Trinity (Matt. 28:19). He has titles reminiscent of deity (Heb. 9:14). He displays divine attributes (Job 33:4). He performs divine works (Gen. 1:2) and He is called God (Acts 5:3-5). The decree of God is His eternal purpose, according to His own will, where for His own glory, He has foreordained whatever comes to pass (Eph. 1:11). This may or may not be plan 297. The book of 2 Opinions implies it is plan 293. God is completely sovereign over His decree (Acts 4:27-28) for this world. He is owner and operator in a very tangible sense (Proverbs 21:1).
Angels were created in eternity before our existence (Job 38:4-7). They were originally created good (Col. 1:16). They are called "ministering spirits" (Heb. 1:14) and therefore are eternal spirit-beings (Luke 20:36). Sin entered the angelic realm when Lucifer said "I will" (Isaiah 14:14). I believe Satan is a real person (Job 1) who was once an angel that fell from heaven (Ezek. 28:16). He does not possess the divine attributes of omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. He can be resisted by believers (James 4:7). He has already been judged (Gen. 3:14-15, John 12:31) and will be barred from heaven completely and cast into the lake of fire that was prepared for him and his angels (Rev.12:10,20:10). Satan tempted Christ and does the same with believers. He blinds the minds of unbelievers to the gospel and uses them to his own ends of opposing God's work.
Demons are also fallen angels from heaven (Matt. 25:41) and that too means they are spirit beings (Eph. 6:12). Demons aim to thwart the purposes of God (Dan. 10:10-14 ;
Rev. 16:13-16). They extend Satan's authority (Col. 2:15) and influence. They can be used by God for His purposes (2 Cor. 12:7). They spread false doctrine (1 Tim. 4:1). They may foretell the future and are involved in spiritism and the occult (Gen. 44:5, Acts 8). They can also possess animals and people. Demonic possession is very specifically only able to occur in unbelievers (1 John 4:4). There are two aspects to this however. Demons are able to possess and to influence others. Demonic influence can take a number of forms; they can be manifested in physical illness (not always true), sometimes mental derangement, great psychic or occult powers, divine strength, uncontrolled cussing, fits of rage, depression, and even physio-emotive responses (the Mormon "burning in the bosom" is a physical experience that confirms Mormonism to people... this is obviously not from God).
The earth and all that is in it was created in six literal 24 hour days (Gen. 1). This view has also been called "the Literal Hermeneutic View" because it relies upon a plain reading of the text and interprets the six days by the words in the first chapter of Genesis that interpret for us; "morning and evening" after each day. This is also supported by the example of the sabbath in Exodus 20:11. It was easily understood as weekdays in the practical lives of the Jews of Jesus' day. The Pharisees knew the day of the sabbath (while they misapplied it) well enough to rebuke Jesus' disciples (Luke 6:2). While the heavily disputed word for "day" can mean "period," whenever it is used in the rest of the OT connected to a number (4th day, etc.) it always refers to a literal solar day.
Humanity's creation was a direct and personal act from God without any help from evolutionary processes. Man was made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27). This means man was made to be like God and to represent God on this earth. It seems most appropriate to conclude that the image of God in man can be understood in a combination of three ideas; mankind is given dominion over the world (this is something man does), man relates with God and other beings (this is a relationship man has), and the image is inner quality like reason or personality (this is something man is). There is some truth to each of these aspects. The fall of man did not erase the image of God in men. It was still partly retained, but it was marred after the fall (Gen. 5:1). The image can be partially restored through salvation through Jesus Christ (Eph. 3:10).
Humans are made up of essentially two parts; a material part and an immaterial part. This is a lot less complicated then people try to make it. Humans consist of "body and soul." These terms are used synonymously in some places of Scripture (compare Genesis 41:8 with Psalm 42:6; Hebrews 12:23 with Revelation 6:9). In Matthew 10:28 the whole person is described by "body and soul." Because God cannot create an imperfect sinful being that is not "good" the soul itself is not created, but rather is transmitted through the parents as the life-force of a child at conception (Psalm 51:5, Romans 5:12, Hebrews 7:10. This view is logical for the transmission of original sin through birth.
Sin is transgression of the moral law of God (1 John 3:4). It is however more than this because not everything God calls sin is specifically found in the law and it's certainly more than outward acts. Sin must be understood from the standpoint of God, whom it is against. "Sin is [fundamentally] any lack of conformity to the character of God" - Lewis Sperry Chafer. The remedy for personal sin is forgiveness (Eph. 1:7) and justification (Rom. 3:23-25a) through Christ alone by repentance and faith toward God (Eph. 2:8-9, Acts: 26:20). Sin originated with Adam's willful disobedience (Gen. 3, 1 Tim 2:13-14). Because of Adam's sin the sinful nature was passed on through all generations and to every individual at birth after him (Romans 5, Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:23). The imputation of sin brought spiritual and physical death.
Systematic Theology seeks truth that begins with and is subject to a comprehensive study of the Bible; historically informed, communicated and defended in an accurate, precise, consistent, and relevant fashion that portrays the heart of God on any given issue to the end of effective evangelism and a growing Christ-likeness of His Church corporately and individually. ST can utilize a number of sources; reason, history/tradition, Scripture. While these and others have been suggested the Bible holds preeminence while the others can only aid in our understanding of how to communicate what God has already revealed. While the Bible is our only definitive source for theology, other elements naturally act as vehicles directing us to what we are to seek the heart of God about in the Bible.
ST is the product of the other branches of theology combined and it dives back into those branches to answer the question for which it is employed. I will do Theology with a comprehensive approach. I'm sure (seeking pastoral ministry) much of my theology will be initiated in response to questions, counseling, and sermon prep. I will approach theology with the desire to see what the Bible teaches in totality about a given subject. The question may not be about whether theology matters, but how much theology bears in on different situations. We are always doing theology in the way we live, think, make decisions, interact with people, and filter life experiences. These things are an overflow of internal theological roots that guide the lens through which we see the world and respond to it. The question becomes to what degree or what branch of theology is more or less relevant at a given time. This comes with an acknowledgment of the above reality and the wisdom.
General revelation is that which the world can know only know before salvation. People can see the intricate created order and see there is a creator (Romans 1:18-32, Psalm 19:1-6) and He has given us a conscience to know right from wrong (Romans 2:14-15). These things tell humanity there is a God but they are not enough for them to know Him personally. They need direct/special revelation. This is God's specific involvement through Christ, Scripture itself, Theophanies, angels, etc. It's the way God has specifically shown Himself and His will to man. It can be loosely described in the oft quoted apolgetical explanation that "religion is man working his way to God and Christianity is God working His way to man" through the above means.
I believe every and all words of Scripture are inspired by God (Verbal-Plenary) (Luke 24:25-27, Matthew 22:41-45). God "superintended" the writings of men to communicate His truth being in total control of the process but without the human authors' role being violated (2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible is completely without error (not just simply trustworthy) in the original autographs and in manuscripts and translations as it is interpreted correctly. The Bible affirms nothing false and only all that is true. Scripture holds absolute authority because it is the very Word of the only true God (Matthew 4:4,7,10; John 10:35).
Illumination is the supernatural internal revelation by the Holy Spirit in the heart of a person whom God has drawn to Himself to spiritually open their blind eyes unto salvation (Colossians 2:13, Eph. 2:4-5) and it's how believers "in right relation to God" (Barbieri) understand biblical truth. Canonicity begins with God's inspiration of the specific books first and their recognition by men second. The key thing to remember is that it begins with God. There were specific criteria in determining which books were inspired that reasonably eliminated the pseudepigrapha, apocrypha, and everything else (The Gospel of Thomas: Women become men to be saved? Not!). We also see the early church councils in the forming stages beginning to validate the canon we now have today.
God has revealed Himself logically and biblically (Psalm 105:4) as a Spirit, infinite (1 Kings 8:27), eternal (Psalm 90:2) and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. His attributes are not component parts of God. Each describes His total being. God's attributes are incommunicable and communicable. Some of them can be seen in us insofar as we are a mere reflection of His image. Others we cannot possess; omnipresence (Acts 17:24-28), omniscience (Psalm 147:4), omnipotence (Genesis 17:1).
The Trinity is the doctrine that there is one God who exists eternally as three persons; Father (John 6:27), Son (John 20:28), and Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4), yet of one substance, fully God (Deut. 6:4, Matt. 28:19). The person of Jesus Christ has existed before His earthly birth and will exist forever (John 8:58, Isaiah 9:6). The apostles testified to the deity of Christ (Hebrews 1:1-3). He has performed divine works of creation, preservation, revelation, forgiveness, raising of the dead, and sending the Holy Spirit. He also displays the divine attributes of immutability, omnipresence, and omnipotence. He is not only fully God, but fully man.
He had to be God in order to bear the world's sin upon Himself and He had to be man to be a sufficient sacrifice on behalf of the human race (Heb. 10:1-10). Christ was born of a virgin (Matt. 1:22-23). Christ came "in the flesh" (incarnation) and is one person yet with two natures; He has undiminished deity (100% God) and perfect humanity (100% man). The "kenosis" (to empty, emptying) is Christ's condescension in taking the likeness of sinful flesh (Phil 2:7). In doing so He voluntarily chose not to use some of His attributes on earth. The Holy Spirit is not an "it" but is revealed as a person in that He has intellect (Rom. 8:27), emotions (Eph. 4:30), and will (Acts 16:6-11). He is included with the other members of the Trinity (Matt. 28:19). He has titles reminiscent of deity (Heb. 9:14). He displays divine attributes (Job 33:4). He performs divine works (Gen. 1:2) and He is called God (Acts 5:3-5). The decree of God is His eternal purpose, according to His own will, where for His own glory, He has foreordained whatever comes to pass (Eph. 1:11). This may or may not be plan 297. The book of 2 Opinions implies it is plan 293. God is completely sovereign over His decree (Acts 4:27-28) for this world. He is owner and operator in a very tangible sense (Proverbs 21:1).
Angels were created in eternity before our existence (Job 38:4-7). They were originally created good (Col. 1:16). They are called "ministering spirits" (Heb. 1:14) and therefore are eternal spirit-beings (Luke 20:36). Sin entered the angelic realm when Lucifer said "I will" (Isaiah 14:14). I believe Satan is a real person (Job 1) who was once an angel that fell from heaven (Ezek. 28:16). He does not possess the divine attributes of omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. He can be resisted by believers (James 4:7). He has already been judged (Gen. 3:14-15, John 12:31) and will be barred from heaven completely and cast into the lake of fire that was prepared for him and his angels (Rev.12:10,20:10). Satan tempted Christ and does the same with believers. He blinds the minds of unbelievers to the gospel and uses them to his own ends of opposing God's work.
Demons are also fallen angels from heaven (Matt. 25:41) and that too means they are spirit beings (Eph. 6:12). Demons aim to thwart the purposes of God (Dan. 10:10-14 ;
Rev. 16:13-16). They extend Satan's authority (Col. 2:15) and influence. They can be used by God for His purposes (2 Cor. 12:7). They spread false doctrine (1 Tim. 4:1). They may foretell the future and are involved in spiritism and the occult (Gen. 44:5, Acts 8). They can also possess animals and people. Demonic possession is very specifically only able to occur in unbelievers (1 John 4:4). There are two aspects to this however. Demons are able to possess and to influence others. Demonic influence can take a number of forms; they can be manifested in physical illness (not always true), sometimes mental derangement, great psychic or occult powers, divine strength, uncontrolled cussing, fits of rage, depression, and even physio-emotive responses (the Mormon "burning in the bosom" is a physical experience that confirms Mormonism to people... this is obviously not from God).
The earth and all that is in it was created in six literal 24 hour days (Gen. 1). This view has also been called "the Literal Hermeneutic View" because it relies upon a plain reading of the text and interprets the six days by the words in the first chapter of Genesis that interpret for us; "morning and evening" after each day. This is also supported by the example of the sabbath in Exodus 20:11. It was easily understood as weekdays in the practical lives of the Jews of Jesus' day. The Pharisees knew the day of the sabbath (while they misapplied it) well enough to rebuke Jesus' disciples (Luke 6:2). While the heavily disputed word for "day" can mean "period," whenever it is used in the rest of the OT connected to a number (4th day, etc.) it always refers to a literal solar day.
Humanity's creation was a direct and personal act from God without any help from evolutionary processes. Man was made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27). This means man was made to be like God and to represent God on this earth. It seems most appropriate to conclude that the image of God in man can be understood in a combination of three ideas; mankind is given dominion over the world (this is something man does), man relates with God and other beings (this is a relationship man has), and the image is inner quality like reason or personality (this is something man is). There is some truth to each of these aspects. The fall of man did not erase the image of God in men. It was still partly retained, but it was marred after the fall (Gen. 5:1). The image can be partially restored through salvation through Jesus Christ (Eph. 3:10).
Humans are made up of essentially two parts; a material part and an immaterial part. This is a lot less complicated then people try to make it. Humans consist of "body and soul." These terms are used synonymously in some places of Scripture (compare Genesis 41:8 with Psalm 42:6; Hebrews 12:23 with Revelation 6:9). In Matthew 10:28 the whole person is described by "body and soul." Because God cannot create an imperfect sinful being that is not "good" the soul itself is not created, but rather is transmitted through the parents as the life-force of a child at conception (Psalm 51:5, Romans 5:12, Hebrews 7:10. This view is logical for the transmission of original sin through birth.
Sin is transgression of the moral law of God (1 John 3:4). It is however more than this because not everything God calls sin is specifically found in the law and it's certainly more than outward acts. Sin must be understood from the standpoint of God, whom it is against. "Sin is [fundamentally] any lack of conformity to the character of God" - Lewis Sperry Chafer. The remedy for personal sin is forgiveness (Eph. 1:7) and justification (Rom. 3:23-25a) through Christ alone by repentance and faith toward God (Eph. 2:8-9, Acts: 26:20). Sin originated with Adam's willful disobedience (Gen. 3, 1 Tim 2:13-14). Because of Adam's sin the sinful nature was passed on through all generations and to every individual at birth after him (Romans 5, Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:23). The imputation of sin brought spiritual and physical death.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Genesis 19: 1st Person Dramatic Monologue Manuscript
(Reading of 2 Peter 2:1-9) The next person you'll hear is Lot himself...
(Sitting) Good morning. My presence has been requested here from a time long ago, from a place you haven't known, a place... you don't want to know... from a city in the land of the plain of the Jordan River near the valley of salt. As I'm sitting here I wanted to share with you about another time I was sitting... sitting at the gate of Sodom. But before I do that I must say something strange happened to me this morning. I was walking around this place you apparently call a... school? a campus? and a man approached me with authority in his eyes asking, "Do you have your ID?" I was puzzled. I asked, "What is an... ID?" He asked my name and I told him my name is Lot, son of Haran. He said, "Oh I know you and he opened a book turning to.. what was it... Genesis 19? It was amazing! It recorded the whole story I've come to share with you today. We talked briefly and he gave me this (visitor's pass). I guess I don't need it now.
Where was I? I was sitting at the gate of Sodom. People came and went at the gate. Business was as usual. There was much noise in the place... booths were setup lining the path through the gate; one sold meat for special occasions, another handled olive oil, and others (perhaps the busiest) dealt in the sale of beans and lentils to provide the affordable common family meal. I've had a lot of beans and lentil soup. The gate also brought its' share of beggars grasping for a few coins of pity amidst their despondency. The elders also sat there ready to handle the disputes of the people. I wonder how good a job they're doing considering the reputation of Sodom. The king sometimes visits this gate. The gate was the best choice for a prophet of Yahweh to come and draw a crowd to speak to the people. God's messengers were needed in a city like this. Oh! Oh look we had more visitors... two men. Something was different about them I tell you. That's strange. They have no belongings. A hush swept through the multitude of the gate at their arrival. Could it be? They were men of God! It wasn't hard to notice them in a city like Sodom. Oh I go to them. They're not safe here!
(Relocating and bowing face-down) Oh my lords! Please come to your servant's house. Stay the night. Wash your feet. You can go on your way in morning. (pause) Oh no! you can't spend the night in the square. Please! come! I am also a servant of Yahweh. Please... stay the night. They accepted my offer. I showed them my home. My wife and I prepared a feast to honor such men of God, some unleavened bread, and we ate. I shared with the men about my uncle Abraham. My uncle was kind enough to take custody of me when my father died. He watched over me for a time and we grew very close. He even permitted me herds, flocks, and tents of my own. There came a point however that our possessions were so great that my uncle suggested we part ways. It seemed a fair decision and he was wiser than I was. He told me to choose which way I would go and he would go the opposite. I looked out into the valley of the Jordan and saw that it was good for farming; well watered... in fact it was like the garden of the Lord. I would live there. So my uncle mounted his camel, took his entourage, and disappeared over the hill headed toward Canaan while I pitched my tent near Sodom. I eventually made my way here. I told the visitors of my uncle Abraham's kindness to me. He rescued me you know. Foreign kings had taken me captive in a raid on Sodom, but my uncle pursued me with a band of men and won my freedom. I respect my uncle. He is a man of courage.
Well (pause)... the hour grew late and I'd done enough talking for one night. I saw my daughters to bed and walked back into the common room to attend to my visitors and there arose a sound outside. There were voices... male voices.. lots of them. It was as if there was a large growing crowd, a riot even. They were shouting something. (loudly) "Lot! Where are those men we saw earlier today? Bring them out to us so we may have our way with them." Just as soon as the words left their mouths my mind flashed through all that I'd seen and heard through my days in this place. These men and their lusts! My mental journey then jolted to reality as the shouts outside my door grew louder. What am I going to do? These two innocent men haven't even been here a day and they want to have sex with them! Why did I ever move into this city? This has got to stop! (exits room via door and re-enters) As I stepped outside and stood at my doorway looking out into the road, to my left, to my right... we were surrounded. It had to be men from every corner of the city. I could see their faces in the flicker of light from their torches. It reminded me of the fires of Hell spitting forth evil... young and old, all thirsting for sin.
Brothers, please! Don't do this wicked thing! I have 2 daughters that have never been with a man. I'll bring them out to you... do whatever you want to them, but please! Don't touch these men. They've come under the shelter of my roof! I didn't know what to do. I didn't want them to have my daughters. What do I do?! But they didn't listen to me. (Change character to the mob) "Stand aside. This one came to live among us as a foreigner and now he's trying to be our judge. Now we'll treat you worse than those men." (Change character back to Lot) And they pressed me to the door. I was losing my footing. They were going to break the door down. Then suddenly my visitors pulled me into the house and STRUCK their eyes with blindness. They were so evil! They wearied themselves searching for the door... even in their blindness. They couldn't find it. The men in my house said to me, (Change character to the angels) "Who else do you have in this city? A son in law, children, take them from this place for the sin of this city has become so great the Lord has sent us to destroy it. (Change back to Lot) So I quickly ran through the mob of confusion and terror to find my sons-in-law and I pleaded with them. Come, we must go. They're going to destroy the city! But they laughed in my face. I made my way back up to the house. Then the crowd began to dissipate. I looked outside and noticed morning was beginning to dawn. It was clear to me now these men weren't just godly, they weren't prophets, they were more than that.
And when morning dawned they said to me, (Change character to angels) "Take your wife and your daughters and go or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city." (Change back to Lot) What do I do? What about my sons-in-law? What's going to happen to them? I don't know what to do... and time stood still. But God had compassion on me in this moment, because the men seized my hands and the hands of my family and put us outside the city. But this is where the real challenge came. The men spoke once again, (Change to the angels) "Escape for your life! Do not look back, do not stay in the valley, go to the mountains or you will be swept away." (Change back to Lot) Oh no my lords, thank you for your mercy and kindness, but the mountains are only a mile away. The disaster will overtake me. I'll die! Please! There's a town about 7 miles down here. It's near enough for me to flee to and it's small. Please let me go there. (pause) Thank you! We ran as fast as we could until our legs gre weary and then we ran again and again until... my wife began to lag behind. Then suddenly we heard a scream! I held my daughters close and I said, "Don't...look...back. Don't...look...back." We kept...on...moving. Fire and brimstone rained down as justice Himself touched Sodom that morning. The smoke chased the sky as the smoke of a furnace. We made it to the city. As the terror died down and we mourned the loss of wife and mother... my heart was grieved. What have I done? Those men were able to strike men with blindness, they destroyed an entire city, and they even had compassion on me in my time weakness and I didn't trust them to protect me in the mountains?! I couldn't take God's messengers at their word. What have I done? I've disobeyed my Lord. The fear of the Lord was the beginning of my wisdom. I took my two daughters and we stayed up in the mountains in the wet darkness of a cave. It was not a home of convenience by any means, but it was a home of obedience.
You may have a question. He was there for you Lot. Will He be there for me? I am a man, a simple servant of Yahweh... like yourself. Your book calls me a righteous man. If you also are righteous men and women before our God... then you know even the righteous can experience weakness. Even the righteous can be faithless. Even the righteous can fear their circumstances above their God. If He is MY God through faith, He is yours as well. He will never leave you nor forsake you.
What I've come to share with you today is not merely my story, but the truth that When you are faithless... He is faithful. When you are faithless, He is faithful. So remember His faithfulness to you in the past. Remember His compassion to you... and store it up here (the mind). So that when you face those times of crisis, those times of weakness, those times of fear... your fear will not be of your circumstances, but of your God... and you CAN RUN TO THOSE MOUNTAINS... the first time. Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
Well, my time is up. I must go...
(Sitting) Good morning. My presence has been requested here from a time long ago, from a place you haven't known, a place... you don't want to know... from a city in the land of the plain of the Jordan River near the valley of salt. As I'm sitting here I wanted to share with you about another time I was sitting... sitting at the gate of Sodom. But before I do that I must say something strange happened to me this morning. I was walking around this place you apparently call a... school? a campus? and a man approached me with authority in his eyes asking, "Do you have your ID?" I was puzzled. I asked, "What is an... ID?" He asked my name and I told him my name is Lot, son of Haran. He said, "Oh I know you and he opened a book turning to.. what was it... Genesis 19? It was amazing! It recorded the whole story I've come to share with you today. We talked briefly and he gave me this (visitor's pass). I guess I don't need it now.
Where was I? I was sitting at the gate of Sodom. People came and went at the gate. Business was as usual. There was much noise in the place... booths were setup lining the path through the gate; one sold meat for special occasions, another handled olive oil, and others (perhaps the busiest) dealt in the sale of beans and lentils to provide the affordable common family meal. I've had a lot of beans and lentil soup. The gate also brought its' share of beggars grasping for a few coins of pity amidst their despondency. The elders also sat there ready to handle the disputes of the people. I wonder how good a job they're doing considering the reputation of Sodom. The king sometimes visits this gate. The gate was the best choice for a prophet of Yahweh to come and draw a crowd to speak to the people. God's messengers were needed in a city like this. Oh! Oh look we had more visitors... two men. Something was different about them I tell you. That's strange. They have no belongings. A hush swept through the multitude of the gate at their arrival. Could it be? They were men of God! It wasn't hard to notice them in a city like Sodom. Oh I go to them. They're not safe here!
(Relocating and bowing face-down) Oh my lords! Please come to your servant's house. Stay the night. Wash your feet. You can go on your way in morning. (pause) Oh no! you can't spend the night in the square. Please! come! I am also a servant of Yahweh. Please... stay the night. They accepted my offer. I showed them my home. My wife and I prepared a feast to honor such men of God, some unleavened bread, and we ate. I shared with the men about my uncle Abraham. My uncle was kind enough to take custody of me when my father died. He watched over me for a time and we grew very close. He even permitted me herds, flocks, and tents of my own. There came a point however that our possessions were so great that my uncle suggested we part ways. It seemed a fair decision and he was wiser than I was. He told me to choose which way I would go and he would go the opposite. I looked out into the valley of the Jordan and saw that it was good for farming; well watered... in fact it was like the garden of the Lord. I would live there. So my uncle mounted his camel, took his entourage, and disappeared over the hill headed toward Canaan while I pitched my tent near Sodom. I eventually made my way here. I told the visitors of my uncle Abraham's kindness to me. He rescued me you know. Foreign kings had taken me captive in a raid on Sodom, but my uncle pursued me with a band of men and won my freedom. I respect my uncle. He is a man of courage.
Well (pause)... the hour grew late and I'd done enough talking for one night. I saw my daughters to bed and walked back into the common room to attend to my visitors and there arose a sound outside. There were voices... male voices.. lots of them. It was as if there was a large growing crowd, a riot even. They were shouting something. (loudly) "Lot! Where are those men we saw earlier today? Bring them out to us so we may have our way with them." Just as soon as the words left their mouths my mind flashed through all that I'd seen and heard through my days in this place. These men and their lusts! My mental journey then jolted to reality as the shouts outside my door grew louder. What am I going to do? These two innocent men haven't even been here a day and they want to have sex with them! Why did I ever move into this city? This has got to stop! (exits room via door and re-enters) As I stepped outside and stood at my doorway looking out into the road, to my left, to my right... we were surrounded. It had to be men from every corner of the city. I could see their faces in the flicker of light from their torches. It reminded me of the fires of Hell spitting forth evil... young and old, all thirsting for sin.
Brothers, please! Don't do this wicked thing! I have 2 daughters that have never been with a man. I'll bring them out to you... do whatever you want to them, but please! Don't touch these men. They've come under the shelter of my roof! I didn't know what to do. I didn't want them to have my daughters. What do I do?! But they didn't listen to me. (Change character to the mob) "Stand aside. This one came to live among us as a foreigner and now he's trying to be our judge. Now we'll treat you worse than those men." (Change character back to Lot) And they pressed me to the door. I was losing my footing. They were going to break the door down. Then suddenly my visitors pulled me into the house and STRUCK their eyes with blindness. They were so evil! They wearied themselves searching for the door... even in their blindness. They couldn't find it. The men in my house said to me, (Change character to the angels) "Who else do you have in this city? A son in law, children, take them from this place for the sin of this city has become so great the Lord has sent us to destroy it. (Change back to Lot) So I quickly ran through the mob of confusion and terror to find my sons-in-law and I pleaded with them. Come, we must go. They're going to destroy the city! But they laughed in my face. I made my way back up to the house. Then the crowd began to dissipate. I looked outside and noticed morning was beginning to dawn. It was clear to me now these men weren't just godly, they weren't prophets, they were more than that.
And when morning dawned they said to me, (Change character to angels) "Take your wife and your daughters and go or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city." (Change back to Lot) What do I do? What about my sons-in-law? What's going to happen to them? I don't know what to do... and time stood still. But God had compassion on me in this moment, because the men seized my hands and the hands of my family and put us outside the city. But this is where the real challenge came. The men spoke once again, (Change to the angels) "Escape for your life! Do not look back, do not stay in the valley, go to the mountains or you will be swept away." (Change back to Lot) Oh no my lords, thank you for your mercy and kindness, but the mountains are only a mile away. The disaster will overtake me. I'll die! Please! There's a town about 7 miles down here. It's near enough for me to flee to and it's small. Please let me go there. (pause) Thank you! We ran as fast as we could until our legs gre weary and then we ran again and again until... my wife began to lag behind. Then suddenly we heard a scream! I held my daughters close and I said, "Don't...look...back. Don't...look...back." We kept...on...moving. Fire and brimstone rained down as justice Himself touched Sodom that morning. The smoke chased the sky as the smoke of a furnace. We made it to the city. As the terror died down and we mourned the loss of wife and mother... my heart was grieved. What have I done? Those men were able to strike men with blindness, they destroyed an entire city, and they even had compassion on me in my time weakness and I didn't trust them to protect me in the mountains?! I couldn't take God's messengers at their word. What have I done? I've disobeyed my Lord. The fear of the Lord was the beginning of my wisdom. I took my two daughters and we stayed up in the mountains in the wet darkness of a cave. It was not a home of convenience by any means, but it was a home of obedience.
You may have a question. He was there for you Lot. Will He be there for me? I am a man, a simple servant of Yahweh... like yourself. Your book calls me a righteous man. If you also are righteous men and women before our God... then you know even the righteous can experience weakness. Even the righteous can be faithless. Even the righteous can fear their circumstances above their God. If He is MY God through faith, He is yours as well. He will never leave you nor forsake you.
What I've come to share with you today is not merely my story, but the truth that When you are faithless... He is faithful. When you are faithless, He is faithful. So remember His faithfulness to you in the past. Remember His compassion to you... and store it up here (the mind). So that when you face those times of crisis, those times of weakness, those times of fear... your fear will not be of your circumstances, but of your God... and you CAN RUN TO THOSE MOUNTAINS... the first time. Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
Well, my time is up. I must go...
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