Free to Serve

The Church Gathered

No one can accuse Christopher Ash, the author of The Priority of Preaching, of having a low view of the church. In this excellent little book he places the gathering of local churches in the context of all history. A people once scattered (Genesis 11) are in the process of being gathered (John 10) and, one day, our gathering will be complete (Revelation 7).

But in the meantime, until every Christian is together in the new heavens and earth, we gather as local bodies of believers throughout the world. And these gatherings are more important than most of us are willing to admit. As Ash put it:

We do not gather just in order to hear; we gather because gathering is important. Gathering is what Jesus does. The time when the whole local church gathers is a foretaste of the time when all redeemed humanity will gather. We could scrap Bible study groups and still be a church (an impoverished church, perhaps, but still a church); but if we fail to gather together in our main meetings under the preached word of God, we cease to be a church (92).

Are you looking for to Sunday morning? Christian, you should be! A foretaste of heaven is right around the corner.

A Christmas Poem

Clement Clark Moore is the author of the famous poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," which most of us know by its first line, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." These words, first published in 1823, did a lot to cement in the American mind the traditional view of Christmas that exists today: a jolly Santa Claus delivering gifts from house to house on Christmas Eve. I grew up loving this poem and this idea.

When I became a Christian 24 years ago I finally understood Christmas. Moore's poem is light and playful but it has nothing to do with the Savior who entered this world in order to identify with a sinful humanity that he might one day die for sinners like us. One day, everyone will know who this Jesus we sing about on Christmas really is (Phil 2:10-11). In the meantime, we wait with eager anticipation for his glorious return.

Moore's poem is about the eve of Christ's birth. The following poem is about the eve of Christ's return.

A Word for Singles

For a couple weeks I've devoted the Sunday morning sermon to giving counsel to parents. The past few years, the Lord has blessed MVBC with a significant number of new moms and dads. It seemed appropriate to devote a couple hours to some basic, biblical counsel on how to think through parenting. 

One of the things that struck me the most as I talked to folks after the messages, is how thankful so many singles were for the teaching on parenting. Some of them carefully listened, storing up counsel for the day they may be parents. Others are struggling to have kids, and are carefully rethinking whether they should adopt. Still others were amazed to see how the body of Christ needs every member to speak into the life of kids--and that includes singles.

Still, as I pull away from this series on parenting, there are few things that I'd like to say directly to the singles at MVBC. I pray that these bits of encouragement are helpful to you as you think about how the Lord might use your singleness for his glory.

First, learn to be content.

We all need to learn this valuable lesson. It's not easy. It seems whatever season of life we are in, we are all tempted for the next season or, perhaps, for the last season. Singleness may be a season God gives you for a few more months or a few more years. But however long you are here, trust that the Lord is in it. He knows exactly what it takes to make you holy, and in His sovereign goodness this is His perfect plan for your life. Remember how Paul said, "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content" (Phil 4:11). It's a hard lesson, but somehow it's when we don't have what we want the most, that we learn to want God the most.

Second, learn to be productive. 

These years of singleness may be some of the most productive years of your life for gospel ministry. Paul said the "unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord" (1 Cor 7:32). In other words, there is an unsual zeal with which a single person can live for Christ. It's not that the single life is holier than the married life, it's just that the single person is not preocuppied with meeting the needs of a spouse. In a very real sense he is free to devote himself single-mindedly to the Lord and his work.

A married person constantly factors in the desires, strength, gifts, and weaknesses of his or her spouse. Those factors must play into ministry decisions. The single person is unencumbered by such issues. The single person may set his hand to the plough of whatever ministry opportunity presents itself. Take advantage of this flexibility! Don't let your time be consumed with day-trips, video games, long work-nights, or endless workouts. Make the best use of the time God has given you. Disciple younger singles, mentor children, visit the homebound, and spend extra time in prayer.

Third, consider going overseas.

Just becasue you are single, doesn't mean you should devote your life to international missions. But if you are single, shouldn't you consider it? If you are a young professional, there may be skills you have that are unusually helpful for a missions team serving in a fairly-closed country. Have you explored the possiblity of going overseas?

A couple of years ago I met a single man who was starting his first week on the mission field. He spent his adult life working for state governments. He was a gifted administrator. He always had a passion for missions, and he decided to pursue a career overseas. He joined the International Mission Board and now is the executive director of a company that serves as a platform for missionaries reaching out to muslims.

This may not be the Lord's will for your life, but as a single person you are unusually free to consider whether you should use your skills where the gospel needs to be proclaimed in unreached parts of the world.

Fourth, pray that God would bring you a godly spouse.

Perhaps this seems at odds with the counsel about contentment. But I don't think it is. I've not met many singles who believe that they are called to be single. I know that many think they are so called, but most of the singles I meet would actually like to be married, they have simply not found the person they want to marry or, if they have, that person doesn't want to marry them! Either way, this is a hard position to be in.

My encouragement is to pray boldly for a godly spouse. God may answer that request with a resounding, "No." That's His business. If you are a man, your business is to pray for a godly woman: a woman adorned "in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control," a woman adorned "with good works" (1 Tim 2:9-11). You should care much less about her looks than you do about her heart. If you are a woman, pray for a godly man who loves Christ, loves the Word, loves the church, and will work hard to provide for a family. This is a man with whom you can serve the Lord.

Brothers and sisters, the Lord may decide not to give you a spouse. Again, that's His business. But you should feel free to pray that He would.

Fifth, adopt a family.

The year before I was married I adopted a couple families! Time with these husbands and fathers changed my life. These men taught me how to pray, taught me how to study the Bible, taught me how to speak to a wife, and taught me how to love kids. Their example left a life-long impression on my mind. You may not have come from a Christian home. If that's you, you may especially need the example of an older brother or sister in Christ. Pursue a family like this!

In a city like Atlanta, this can be hard. We live far apart, schedules are full, life is busy. But don't give up trying. Identify an older brother or sister in Christ and ask what it might look like to fold into that family for a season. Maybe it just means a meal every once in a while, or joining the family for game night, or raking leaves on a Saturday. This kind of time will be a blessing to you, and a blessing to that family as well.

***

My single friend, there is so much more I could say. But I want to leave you with one last word of encouragement: If God would have you be single for the rest of your life, don't lose heart and don't lose hope. Our Savior remained single. He devoted himself fully to his heavenly Father, and he lived a full and complete life without ever taking a romantic stroll through the park, kissing a woman, or enjoying sexual intimacy. Was he tempted in this way? Of course He was, but He didn't need a woman to be whole and you don't need a spouse to be whole. All you need is Christ.

The Death of a Church

Every day when I drive to the office, I pass 5855 Riverside Drive, NW, an address that was once the home of the Church of St. Andrew. That local church has been gone for months. This past week, even the name was scratched off the sign that sits near the road. A wooden cross is still perched in the yard, the last bit of evidence that a local church once called those grounds home.

The Church of St. Andrew was a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), a denomination founded in 1983 when two mainline Presbyterian churches merged, the PCUS and UPCUSA, into the PCUSA.

The PCUSA is part of a Presbyterian tradition that has slowly drifted away from its historic, orthodox standards. For example, in its statement of faith, The Confession of 1967, the PCUSA sees the cross not as the means by which a holy God reconciles specific, individual sinners to himself but rather, “God’s judgment on man’s inhumanity to man.” Erased from the doctrine of this denomination is the reality that all of us have sinned against God and we deserve his judgment. Furthermore, the PCUSA long ago abandoned the absolute necessity of Christ for salvation insisting instead that the church “must approach all religions with openness and respect.” It’s clear the PCUSA teaches that the gospel is the best way for man to know God. It’s unclear that the gospel, however, is the only way.

Numbers cannot finally testify to the success of a ministry, God has always worked through a remnant. Still, it is telling that the PCUSA claimed 2.9 million members in 2007 and that number has declined to 1.8 in 2013. A church that is open to all religions will find a hard time staying open.

I don’t drive by 5855 Riverside with a sense of glee or spiritual superiority. I pass that empty building with sadness. A tradition that once held so tightly to the gospel has loosened its grip only to see the biblical gospel fall into the grass, just below a neglected wooden cross, on land where a local church once stood.

The closing of that church should be a reminder to every church. We can praise God that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church (Matt 16:18). But let’s never forget that it is our responsibility to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3)--a faith that preaches we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. 

Correcting Christians

I wrote a short article for Christianity.com asking the question, "When should you correct another Christian?" You can read it here.

It's certainly a good question to think about. Correcting and receiving correction is a vital part of the Christian life. What good is a discipling relationship that doesn't include lovingly point out sin? After all, sin unchecked may be evidence of an unregenerate heart. 

But there are times to overlook the sins in others, too. So I address that as well. In a nutshell, I'm thankful for the brothers and sisters who point me to my sin and I'm thankful for the way they so often overlook my sin. Both actions are evidence of the gospel at work in their life and in mine.

Visitors & the Local Church

I once had a friend who was paid to go to the movie theater. Seriously! She bought a ticket, ordered snacks, and sat down for a screening of her favorite show—all on someone else’s nickel. How do you get a job like this? As it turns out, the theater hired people to rate a local cinema’s performance: Were the ticket agents friendly? Was the popcorn fresh? Did people’s shoes stick to the floor? She collected all this data and wrote it up into a report that could be used to help improve the viewer’s experience.

Did you know that some churches do the same thing? I just received a flyer in my box from a company that offers to hire “numerous, local, ‘unchurched’ people” to visit my church. They’ll attend anonymously, complete a survey, and then report on what I can do to make guests feel more welcome. The company even promises that after I implement their suggested changes, visitors will be “more likely to feel accepted, return, or even call the church ‘home.’” Maybe. 

It seems unwise to hire people to attend church. I appreciate leaders trying to pull down every stumbling block that might keep someone from attending or “sticking” at a church. But at the end of the day, we ought to be as faithful as we can be to the ministry of the Word and prayer, and leave the rest to God. 

But what does faithfulness to visitors look like? Certainly companies like the one I mentioned above exist for a reason. Churches can become lackadaisical, even lazy about welcoming newcomers. I don’t want to Mount Vernon to be apathetic. With that in mind, let me encourage you to give some careful attention to your approach to church visitors. 

By the way, what I’m about to say about visitors could apply to new members as well. If you have been a member of the church for a long time, consider ways you can fold some of the newer members into your life, too. Remember Paul’s words to the Thessalonians, “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thess 2:8). So, just as Paul shared his life with others, so should we. 

But let’s think for a moment, especially, about how you should reach out to visitors: 

1. Know who the visitors are. I’ve noticed over the years that some people are hesitant to welcome visitors for fear they actually welcome a member. The conversation goes something like this:

                 “So, how long have you been coming?”

                 “About five years. We joined four years ago.”

                 “Really? Oh, I’m so sorry we haven’t met.”

                 “Actually, we did meet. Don’t you remember, at the picnic?”  

                  “Oh, that’s right . . .”

So to spare ourselves from conversations like this, some of us simply avoid talking to new people altogether. That’s not helpful. By all means, make sure you have a church directory and pray through it regularly. There are pictures next to each name, and that way you’ll know who the members are. But even if you make a mistake and greet someone who’s already a member, it’s not the end of the world. And it may be the beginning of a wonderful, new friendship.

2. Be thankful there are visitors. Our disposition toward the fact that we even have newcomers should be one of gratitude to God. He is sovereign in all things. “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills, and all that moves in the field is mine” (Psa 50:10). This God is at work in our daily affairs and when, in God’s providence, visitors come to our church, this is no accident. They are there, even for that one Sunday, for a reason. So let’s be thankful.

3. Give them a warm welcome. Christians are to kindly greet one another. “Greet one another with a holy kiss,” Paul wrote (Rom 16:16). American customs don’t allow for this kind of kissing anymore, but the point still stands. There ought to be a sincere warmth and appreciation for visitors—even those believers who may be passing through our town for a short while. They are brothers or sisters in Christ and the gospel compels us to receive them warmly.

4. Be thoughtful that not all visitors are Christians. I attended a church for over a year before the Lord saved me. I went there first for the sake of a friend, but eventually because I wanted to hear the gospel. I didn’t have a sign over my head telling people that I wasn’t a Christian. But if anyone engaged me in serious conversation, it wouldn’t have taken them long to find out. We should be sensitive to the fact that non-Christians do come to our gatherings. It’s one of the reasons why, when I preach, I often try to address unbelievers. I want them to know that they are welcome and that this is a safe place to explore the Christian faith.

5. Engage visitors in conversation. In our culture, one of the ways we warmly welcome is by engaging others in conversation. Simple questions like, “Where are you from?” “How did you hear about the church?” “What did you appreciate about the service?” can go a long way to making someone feel like you care about them, who they are, and what they think. Of course, this may mean not engaging a good friend in conversation—at least not at the service. But that’s okay. You’ll have other opportunities to talk to your friend. God has brought this new person into your life for a reason—so take a moment to engage him or her.

6. Invite visitors to share a meal. Isn’t it amazing that God designed us to need food? He could have made us like plants who get energy simply from sitting in the sun. Instead, he requires us to eat. And we can’t just stick a whole potato in our mouth. We have to cook it to make it soft and use a fork and knife to cut it up into bits that will fit. All of this takes time. It’s as if God is saying, “You need to eat, slow down.” Take advantage of the time needed to eat by welcoming visitors into your life over a meal. And who knows who you are having over! “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Heb 13:2).

7. Appreciate how hard it can be to find a church. If you’ve been a member of a church for years, you may have forgotten how nerve-racking it can be to meet new people. For someone moving from out of town, or across town, getting plugged into a brand new place presents a host of challenges. Will you be accepted? Will you make friends? Will your absence be noticed? Simply being mindful that some visitors are struggling with questions like this may motivate you to serve by welcoming well.

Much more could be said, but above all, be thoughtful about the people God brings into your life at our weekly gatherings. Part of serving the Lord is loving the flock—even those folks who are wondering if they should be part of this flock, too.

Putting the Lord’s Day to Good Use

This past Sunday a member of the church came up to me with an honest question. He wanted to know how he could best absorb all the teaching he received on a Sunday. His comment was something like this: 

Aaron, do you have a method to figure out what to walk away with on a Sunday? In Sunday school I get a great lesson, the sermon is meaty, and the Sunday evening devotional is helpful. But sometimes I’m overwhelmed, and I’m not sure how to take what I’ve learned and put it to use the rest of the week. What should I do? 

I don’t remember what I told him in the church lobby, but after a few days to think and some conversations with others, here is how I would answer his concern.

When We are Mocked for Faith in God

This past week, CNN posted a video poking fun of creationists. For just under three minutes a young man dressed as a Mormon drives through universe in a white minivan with the words, “Creationist Baptist Church,” emblazoned on the side. Wheeling his way through the cosmos, he makes weighty theological points with a quirky smile: 

        o   Black holes don’t exist because they can’t be found in the Holy Bible.

        o   One shouldn’t ask why God made anything, since that would be irreverent.

        o   Fossils were put on earth by Satan to trick us.

You get the point. Mocking creationists is a good way to a quick laugh, and it looks like CNN thinks anti-creationist comedy will promote Internet traffic. The last thing Christians need to do is fret over the public lampooning of their faith. After all, faith in God has existed since creation, so it’s got a pretty good track record. 

When Sermons Don't End in Applause

It's been six years since I started to pastor at MVBC. My first day in the pulpit was June 7, 2008. What a ride! I'm convinced that there is nothing more challenging or satisfying than being a pastor. I'm thankful for doctors and lawyers, plumbers and electricians, writers and basketball players--but as for me, I want to preach. What a privilege the saints give me at Mount Vernon. If you are one of them, thank you!

I heard today, at the annual SBC meeting, that 9 out of 10 men who start in pastoral ministry don't finish. I'm not sure if that number is accurate or not, it seems hard to believe. But even if it's close to being true, I'm shocked. It makes me thankful for each and every day that I get to serve the local church. I'm especially thankful for each Lord's Day I get to preach.

Stephen was a great preacher. Luke records in Acts 7 how Stpehen spoke to a crowd of skeptics, tracing the storyline of the Bible. He started with God's call to Abraham. He recounted God's faithfulness to bless Abraham with Isaac and Isaac with Jacob and Jacob with the twelve. Stephen spoke of God's providence in taking Joseph to Egypt and of God's goodness in raising Moses to lead the people home. Stephen skillfully reminded his audience how the people rejected Moses and turned their hearts over to idols. Through all this, God perserved with his people; God dwelt in their midst.

Stephen basically expounded the whole Old Testament to drive home the point that the Israelites rejected their faithful God. And then, like a boxer going for the final punch, Stephen applied the text: "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you . . . they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered" (Acts 7:51-52). Stephen boldly proclaimed the truth. They should have been humbled and cut to the heart. They should have repented and believed.

What happened next? Do you know?

They stoned him to death (Acts 7:58). A sermon that should have ended with applause, ended with blood.

Lord willing, should Christ tarry, God will give me another six years at Mount Vernon and another six after that. Unlike Stephen, I preach to saints who are filled with the Holy Spirit, hungry for the Word of God, and eager for the Spirit to perform surgery on their hearts each week. When they see their sin they run to Christ. I don't take that for granted.

But regardless of the response of the congregation, please pray that I'd be like Stephen. Pray that I'd preach the whole counsel of God, that I'd apply the text faithfully even if it hurts, and that I'd be loving and resolute even when the sermons don't end in applause.

How Do I Rest in Christ?

One of the most incredible New Testament passages is the simple explanation of Jesus’ identity we find in Colossians 1:15-18: 

¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

The main point is clear: Jesus is preeminent, supreme, glorious and excellent. There is none like him. He is the Lord. But how do we apply such a text? What difference does it make in how we live our lives?

To answer that question, it might help to think of Colossians 1:15-18 as a sister text to Matthew 11:27-28:

 ²⁷All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ²⁸Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

In both passages, Jesus is presented as one with the Father. In Colossians 1:15 he is the image of the invisible God. In Matthew 11:27 he is the only one who can reveal the Father. We know from both texts that to know Christ is to know God himself! What do we do with such a tremendous truth? The answer is in Matthew 11:28. We turn to him for rest. We run to Jesus promises to give us rest for our souls. Because Jesus is excellent we can find rest in him.

Not far from where I live stands Stone Mountain. It’s a chunk of granite jutting nearly 1,700 feet out of the earth. The path to the top has just a few steep inclines, but on a hot day the burning sun can make the journey grueling. But Stone Mountain is a bit unusual in that on the top that is a concessions stand that sells refreshments. After a long hike, sitting on that rock, looking out over the edge of the mountain, sipping on a cool treat—one understands the value of rest.

Let me suggest five ways, today, you can rest in Christ.