What is today? On first response you would likely say Halloween. I suppose you would be right. However, a better and more important answer would be “Reformation Day.” On October 31, 1517 a little known monk named Martin Luther decided it was time to debate the unbiblical practices of the church. Thus he inconspicuously nailed 95 Theses (or items for discussion) to the local church door in Wittenberg, Germany. Little did he know that this seemingly innocent act would bring Reformation, not only to the church but to the world. Today we gladly and thankfully stand in the tradition of the Reformation and contend for the salvation that is by Grace Alone, through Faith Alone, in Christ Alone.

If you have not done so before, I commend to you the watching of the movie Luther (2003). It is an entertaining portrayal of Martin Luther and the events surrounding his life, conversion, and ministry. For most the importance of today is that Halloween affords an opportunity for candy and fun – trick or treats. But let us remember that this day is the day that God’s Grace was reclaimed and his people were no longer tricked by the human-centered works of the church but have once again been treated to the undeserved grace of God.

Are you a redeemer of your time? As we are continue to develop our leadership team for East Point Church, one of the issues we have been challenged with is understanding and using our time rightly. Wasting time is habit spiritual leaders can ill afford if they are going to discharge their calling faithfully. Therefore, it is important that as leaders we understand the nature of our calendars and set the priorities in place. While we are fond of complaining about the lack of time, J. Oswald Sanders reminds us, “Our problem is not too little time but making better use of the time we have…We are not responsible for our endowments or natural abilities, but we are responsible for the strategic use of time.”

The brothers over at the Sovereign Grace Blog have had a brief conversation on The Pastor’s Calendar that is quite instructive in this regard. The post begins:

Whether you’re the pastor of a large church like Covenant Life or the only pastor of a new church plant, determining priorities is crucial to shaping a schedule that is faithful to God’s expectations for you. In this second excerpt from the forthcoming Leadership Interview podcast, “The Pastor and His Time,” Josh, Jeff, and C.J. discuss these biblically defined priorities; the common, albeit well-meant, interruptions; and the importance of educating your church on your priorities. All this in order, C.J. says, “to most effectively, uniquely, specifically, and broadly serve those who have been entrusted to your care.” (Read the entire post).

Election Day is only a week away. Most of you have probably already decided for whom you are going to vote. In fact, if you are like so many in Georgia, you have probably voted already. Nevertheless, whether you have cast your vote for Obama or McCain; or even if you yet remain undecided I want to invite you to listen to a helpful and informative conversation on “Christianity and Politics” conducted by Michael Horton and the brothers at White Horse Inn.

In this edition of the White Horse Inn, Michael Horton conducts a round table discussion on Christianity & Politics, with special guests D.G. Hart (author of A Secular Faith: Why Christianity Favors the Separation of Church & State), Dan Bryant (former Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice) and Neil McBride (a strategist for the Democratic Party).

(Part 1 and Part 2)

This weekend I was reminded again of the importance of gathering together with other believers in the context of a local Church.  There is great encouragement that comes when believers meet to worship our Lord, pray and listen to the Word of God proclaimed.  There are many joys in church planting but one joy that has filled my heart is gathering together week after week with men and women who are challenged by the Gospel and you see the impact modeled out in worship, service and prayer.  We are a body that is growing and changing and I am so thankful that the catalyst for that change and growth is coming from exploring the depths of the Cross.

Hebrews 10:24-25 says; And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

When we are obedient to the Word of God, it brings joy to our soul.

As you know from this blog, the leaders of our church are currently doing a study on Leadership. In my reading I came across this quote from A.W. Tozer. It calls us as Christians to be diligent in our pursuit of truth, particularly in our reading. I am particularly struck by his insistence that a lack of reading is not a sign of an intellectual deficiency but a spiritual one.

Why does today’s Christian find the reading of great books always beyond him? Certainly intellectual powers do not wane from one generation to another. We are as smart as our fathers, and any thought they could entertain we can entertain if we are sufficiently interested to make the effort. The major cause of the decline in the quality of current Christian literature is not intellectual but spiritual. To enjoy a great religious book requires a degree of consecration to God and detachment from the world that few modern Christians have. The early Christian Fathers, the Mystics, the Puritans, are not hard to understand, but they inhabit the highlands where the air is crisp and rarefied, and none but the God-enamored can come.

Crossway Books has published the Summer/Fall edition of the The Book Report. In it is an interview I did on our book, Experiencing the Truth.  Check it out.

“The fate of the country does not depend on how you vote at the polls — the worst man is as strong as the best at that game; it does not depend on what kind of paper you drop into the ballot-box once a year, but on what kind of man you drop from your chamber into the street every morning.” – Henry David Thoreau

One of the joys I have been experiencing of late is the time we are spending in Leadership Development. We meet once a week and discuss issues in the assigned readings, and the implication of the gospel for our lives and the church. It has truly been a convicting and yet edifying time. One of the discussions recently centered around Moses and his pastoral leadership of the Nation of Israel in the wilderness. As we looked at the way God called Moses to handle difficult situations, it challenged us to know that godly leadership comes with a cost and we must be willing to pay. It is both rewarding and challenging, and yet it is not for the faint-hearted. As we finished our discussion that evening, we just sat there and each of us considered once again the awesome weight of leading God’s people. We stood and held hands and prayed for each other. I was moved and deeply appreciative of the men God has placed around me. I do believe they should prove to be faithful, loving leaders of God’s people.

I mention this because yesterday I listened to a message by Bryan Chapell on The Godly Leader. Bryan is the president of Covenant Theological Seminary and one of my favorite preachers. His message for yesterday and today (Being and Obeying) deals with some of the very same issues we discussed in our leadership class. I want to commend these messages to you. Having Bryan preach on this right after we discussed it is just another reminder to me of how good God is and how much he cares for us. He cares that we get it right. I do love Him so much for that. Don’t you?

The Holiness of God is the primus inter pares of God’s attributes.

God really has only one attribute. We do talk about the various characteristics and attributes of God (i.e. the love of God, mercy of God, power of God, justice of God, etc.) Yet, if we are rightly thinking, God has only one attribute. It is the attribute of “Godness.” In this God is unique. Only God has the divine attribute and perfection of Godness. Godness is God being God. All that is it for God to be God can be called Godness. And thus, when we speak of God’s attributes of love, power, justice, etc., we are actually speaking in the subcategories of Godness. These subcategories or attributes help us to understand and grasp what ultimately is incomparable and incomprehensible – namely Godness.

Subsequently, in seeking to understand God, we rightly spend our time in the subcategories, seeking to understand the individual attributes which together reveal the God of heaven. One such attribute is holiness.

It could be argued that among the attributes of God, holiness is the primus inter pares or the first among equals. The perfection of God is that he has all of his attributes in perfect fullness, balance, and proportion. Unlike you and me, God is not more loving one day and more righteous the next. God is all of his attributes all the time. And he is fully all of his attributes all of the time. You may know me to be a kind and righteous brother. But my wife may tell you that I am a patient and compassion dude (not). And yet I can honestly say that if I am kind, I am not kind all the time. If I am patient I am not as patient as I could be or as I should be. Yet, we talk about the patience of God, we mean that God is always patient and is as patient as He could be and as He should. The same could be said of all His attributes.

Yet, when we come to the holiness of God we could make the qualification that when it comes to the attributes and perfections of God, holiness is the primus inter pares (first among equals) among the attributes. While the Scriptures make much of God in the various and multifaceted ways in which He is revealed, it would seem that no other attribute has more import for the revelation of God in the world than does his holiness.

No attribute is spoken of more frequently or discussed with more potency, or sounded with more emphasis than is the holiness of God. For the angels are said to sing and proclaim in antiphonal splendor as the gather around the throne of God, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isa. 6:3). In Rev. 4:8 we are told that the four living creatures around the throne of God do never cease day and night from saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.”

Recently, I had the pleasure of expanding on the Holiness of God in a sermon delivered at Anthem 2008 Retreat. You can listen to it by going to our Special Audio Page.