Free to Serve

Looking for the cool church?

The question on the minds of many (especially pastors) is where are all the young people in the church today?

I have to admit that in the past twenty years, I have been a part of churches that have seen significant growth from the young generation. Nothing about these churches have been "hip." By and large the sermons have been long, the songs old, and the doctrine deep. And yet, by God's grace, these churches have stumped popular opinion and they have grown. 

When I was in my twenties, I was attracted to the first church I joined for two simple reasons: First, I found life's hardest questions being tackled boldly and clearly from Scripture. Second, I found God's people loving one another sincerely. The church at the time was a sea of grey hair, but I didn't care. I wasn't looking for people who looked like me, talked like me, watched the television shows I watched, or wore cool clothes (though, I have to confess, I have never worn cool clothers). I couldn't have expressed it then, but I realize now that I was looking for truth and love. 

Not much has changed. Let's kick "cool" to the curb and try being the church of the living God. For similar thoughts: "Young Evangelicals Are Getting High." 

 

 

Fighting for Humility

Sunday morning we are back in 2 Samuel at MVBC. In chapter 22, we come across David's song of praise to God for delivering him. As I prepare to preach, one verse stands out: "You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down" (2 Sam. 22:28). 

I fear we talk about humility more than we actually practice it. Driving pride out of the human heart is not easy. These words from Valley of Vision, a Puritan prayer guide, may seem too intense. Perhaps you read these words and think that this person doesn't know the grace of God the way he should. Or, perhaps, he knows the power of pride even in his own, redeemed life, and he will stop at nothing to put it to death. And so he goes before the Lord with prayer like this:

Help me to humble myself before thee

    by seeing the vanity of honour as a conceit of men's minds,

        as standing between me and thee;

    by seeing that thy will must alone be done,

        as much in denying as in giving spiritual enjoyments;

    by seeing that my heart is nothing but evil,

        mind, mouth, life void of thee;

    by seeing that sin and Satan are allowed power in me

        that I might know my sin, be humbled,

        and gain strength thereby;

    by seeing that unbelief shuts thee from me,

        so that I sense not thy majesty, power, mercy, or love.

Then possess me, for thou only art good and worthy.

Love and the Cross

This Summer, on Wednesday nights, several of us at MVBC are walking verse by verse through 1 Corinthians 13. Next up, verses 4-6, "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth."

If words were paint, these verses wod be a picture of the cross of Christ.

Just how patient was Christ with us? He endured the cross. Just how kind was Christ toward us? He suffered in our place. Just how humble was Christ? He humbled himself and became obedient to death. Christ did not insist on his own way, but submitted himself to his Father in heaven. And Christ did it all willingly. He did not begrudge his death for the believer, but he embraced it. He did not rejoice at wrongdoing, he mourned the sin that nailed him to a tree. But when it was done, and he sat at the right hand of God the Father, he knew the joy of a job perfectly done, a Father wholly pleased, and a people completely saved. 

Thinking Theologically Together

There is a book that I'm trying to get every teacher at MVBC to read. It's Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church by Michael Lawrence. It is crucial for pastors in particular and Christians in general to approach their lives with a passion for thinking theologically about everything. Lawrence put it this way:

If we are to faithfully give witness to Christ, the Lord of life, in this age, then we must recover not simply the ability to think theologically, but the commitment to do so together in the life of the local church. Until we recover theological vision in the church, the nerve that gives rich and profound biblical life to our worship and mission will remain cut. Our public worship will remain shallow and entertainment-driven. Our mission will either be indistinguishable from the methods and goals of any sales organization, or it will be co-opted by the agenda of an untimely hostile culture. This culture will encourage us to do good things like caring for the poor, but it will only applaud us if we agree to leave Christ out of it.

It is not just that we must think theologically but the fact that we must do so together. So, instead of shying away from theology with the misguided notion that it divides, it is the calling of the church to come together with a biblical theology at the center of all we do. Instead of simply asking, "What do we want?" we need to ask one another, "What does God's Word say?"

Sermon Study Guide: A King Who Fails

David let God down, he let his nation down. Perhaps you know what this is like . . . failing to live up to the expectations of others and, not only that, failing to live up to the standards of the God who saved you. How should you think through the consequences of your sin? What hope is there for you in the gospel? 

These are some of themes found this week's sermon study guide.

Download 2Sam9.1-12.25 MVBC SSG

Ten Points About Same-Sex Marriage

As a pastor I have a responsibility to help the congregation I serve to think biblically about the Supreme Court’s recent decisions related to same-sex marriage. Some are wondering how this decision will affect our church, our witness, and our future. I am neither a politician, nor a lawyer, nor a prophet. I am simply a Christian who rests in the truth that God knows the end from the beginning. But as I have had the opportunity to reflect on what has happened, these ten points have been at the forefront of my thinking. I pray that they are of some use to you. 

For some helpful resources that go into greater depth than my brief points, look at:

• "Love and the Inhumanity of Same Sex Marriage" by Jonathan Leeman
• "'Waiting for the Other Shoe' -- The Supreme Court Rules on Same Sex Marriage," by Al Mohler
• "9 Things You Should Know About the Supreme Court's Same Sex Marriage Cases," by Joe Carter
• "Why Gay Marriage is Good (and Bad) For the Church," by Trevin Wax
• What is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense, edited by Sherif Girgis, Ryan T. Anderson, and Robert George

 Ten Points About Same-Sex Marriage 

1. Last week the United States Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional to deny federal benefits to same-sex couples who married in states where same-sex marriage is legal. The Supreme Court also paved the way for California to become the 14^th state to legalize same-sex marriage, over and against the will of California’s voters. 

2. It is important to understand that we are not discussing whether same-sex couples may get married. They have done that for years in ceremonies held in so-called faith communities that had no qualms with same-sex marriage. It has not, at least in recent history, been criminal in America for a same-sex couple to consider themselves married. At issue is whether the federal government will revise its definition of marriage beyond what some are calling “conjugal marriage”—the marriage of one man to one woman. 

3. But the Supreme Court decided that it is the duty of the federal government to promote same-sex marriage. Regardless of our understanding of the relationship between the church and the state, Christians are not allowed to promote sinful behavior. Thus we are called to observe the decision made by the Supreme Court and say, “That is wrong.” 

4. Those of us who struggle with the question, “But why is it wrong?” should keep two important points in mind. First, an individual may feel emotionally drawn toward and physically attracted to an individual of the same-sex, but that internal feeling does not make acting out appropriate, any more than it is appropriate for a married man to act on his feelings for another man’s wife. Second, not only did God design marriage as an institution between a man and a woman, but we understand that marriage is a picture of the gospel. We are called to preserve the conjugal marriage definition because we are to called to preserve the gospel. 

5. We will, of course, be tempted to discouragement at the thought of living in a nation that appears to have lost its moral compass. But let this discouragement drive you to be more prayerful for our country and our church. Pray that our leaders will leave room for our views on marriage. But even more importantly, pray that you will take comfort in a God who has saved you more than you take comfort in a nation that agrees with you. 

6. It is important to realize that the national attitude regarding same-sex marriage did not happen overnight. A people that tolerate abortion, pornography, and no-fault divorce would inevitably tolerate same-sex marriage. As we see in God raising Saul as the first king of Israel, sometimes God gives people the leaders they deserve.   

7. It is just as important to realize that the church bears some responsibility, but not the way you might think. We do not bear responsibility primarily because we failed to get out the vote, but because we failed to purify the church. In other words, too often our churches looked so much like the world in our attitude to or at least our practice of sexuality and marriage that we have no right to be surprised the entire culture is adrift. We have too often turned a blind eye to members in our churches who failed to take their own covenant commitment in marriage seriously. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 5:12 are telling, “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?” 

8. But even if we did everything right (which we have not) we still should not be surprised to find ourselves holding an opinion about marriage disdained by so many Americans around us. Peter described Christians as “sojourners and exiles” in 1 Peter 2:11. He did this to remind them that this world is not our home. Our neighbors think and live differently because Christ is not their Lord. Moreover, Peter predicted in the next verse that our neighbors will speak against us as evildoers. We need to be ready to be thought of as “evildoers” due to our support for the conjugal definition of marriage. 

9. The Supreme Court’s decision presents us with a fresh opportunity to model the gospel in a dark world. We should expect to stand out as distinct, even holy, because of our views on and practice of marriage. Now is the time to be celibate in singleness and sexually pure in marriage. Now is the time to be content if you don’t have a spouse and faithful if you do. Our views on chastity will increasingly lead to difficult but important evangelistic conversation. 

10. Finally, please take heart. The mission of the church has not changed. We are still here to know each other, equip each other, and send each other out to share the gospel for the worship and glory of God. Our success is not dependent upon anyone agreeing with us but our own faithfulness to stand fast even when he or she does not. Moreover, in the end, God wins. So, as Jesus taught in Matthew 5:16, let our “light shine before others, so that they may see [our] good works and give glory to [our] Father who is in heaven.”