This weekend we received the tragic reports of the slaughter of more than 300 Christians by Muslims in Nigeria. The reports are heart wrenching, and our prayers go out to those who suffer under such violence. Such violence seems so senseless, unnecessary, and brutal. It is even more disturbing when the violence is based on religious divisions and distinctions.
I have Muslim friends who assure me that faithful Muslims are not called to engage in such madness. Likewise, as a Christian, our Lord clearly teaches that our enemies are not to be the recipients of our violence or even hatred, but prayers and compassion. Therefore, I am left to ponder if we are not too quick in these case to sympathize with the “so-called” Christians against the “so-called” Muslims. While the killing was done by the Muslims this time, according to reports, there also have been attacks upon the Muslims by the Christians. According to some reports:
The fact of the matter is that I am not comfortable with the blanket statements of calling these killers Muslims, anymore than I am comfortable in calling those who kill Muslims, Christians. Obviously, the issues concerning these attacks are far more complex than just the titles each group takes. There is more to these conflicts than just which book they consider holy. Nevertheless, I would not want us as Christians to assume that “so-called” Muslims are persecuting Christians while the “so-called” Christians are idly sitting by praying for and loving the Muslims.
Here is a report that gives us a little more perspective and should cause us to pray for the salvation of all involved – including our own hearts.
The other day I heard a minister read an intriguing and challenging quote. He attributed the quote to Charles Spurgeon (if you are not sure who said it, Spurgeon is always a safe bet). However, after some research I discovered that the quote actually is from William Booth. Considering the tendency for Christians to believe that the work of the ministry is only for those formally called and dutifully ordained, Booth said:
“Not called, did you say? Not heard the call, I think you should say. He’s been calling loudly ever since He spoke your sins forgiven, if you’re forgiven at all, entreating you to be His Ambassador. Put your ear to the Bible and hear Him bid you go and pull lost sinners out of the mire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened agonized heart of humanity and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go and stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father’s house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come here. Then look the Christ in the face, whose mercy you’ve professed to have gotten and whose words you’ve promised to obey, and tell Him whether you’ll join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world. Get up, shake yourself. Do something. Do it at once. Go on doing it. Do it with your whole might. Spare no pains, and God will help you.”
I was recently watching an episode of the classic television show The Twilight Zone. I was reminded that there was a time when television really was a source of family entertainment. Alas, as the theme song from All in the Family would say, “those were the days.” Nevertheless, during the episode, one of the characters quoted the opening lines to a poem, rather a hymn, by Howard A. Walter entitled, I Would Be True. I had never heard the words to this hymn before, and now I hope I never forget them. The hymn begins:
“I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
Last year, over at Reformation 21, Carl Trueman wrote an an excellent article entitled, The Nameless One. The article was a provocative and insightful look at the nature of the resurgence of Reformed theology among young evangelicals. As one who acknowledges himself within this movement, I found Trueman’s words to be careful and thoughtful, even while they were indicting the movement for its inherent flaws. It would seem that most people dismissed Trueman’s words, or rationalized them away reminding me that self-critique is not the most popular virtue among us Reformed folk.
Nevertheless, as conference season is getting into full swing, and the megaconferences are promoted and attended with usual regularity, I thought it good to reconsider Trueman’s words and to be reminded of the dangers and pitfalls in my own heart and those of reformed brothers and sisters, whom I respect and love so dearly.
So, I commend to you Trueman’s words afresh. I believe this article should garner far more attention than it has. There needs to be more discussion around the issues he raises, particularly by the people entrusted with the most influence (Read it again for the first time).
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot (1Pet. 1:14-19).
A joyful obedience is the only right response to the gospel.
It is not out of fright that God desire us to follow Jesus. We are not called to this obedience because we are afraid of punishment. We are called to obey not first because of what God will do to us, but because of what God has done for us.
When I was a boy, I obeyed my parents because of what I thought they would do to me if I didn’t (like my kids most often do). As I matured my obedience has matured, and even today I obey my mother not because I am afraid of what she will do to me, but rather because I realize all that she has done for me.
The grounds of our obedience is not a fear of what God will do to us, but the fruit of what He has done for us in Christ Jesus. This is gospel obedience. This is the proper and faithful response to the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is the glory of God and the delight of His people.
A friend and I are reading A Better Freedom: Finding Life as Slaves of Christby Michael Card. I have always appreciated the song writing of Michael Card. There is a depth of thought and theology in his writing that is both refreshing and biblical. This is why I was immediately excited about the book. I am just beginning to read it and will no doubt have more comments in the future. In the book Card reminds us that we are called to be servants (lit. slaves) of Jesus Christ. This is powerful when you consider the horror and atrocity of human slavery, particularly that of Rome (the backdrop of the New Testament) and American slavery (the backdrop to our understanding). As horrible and sinful as the institution was, and in many parts of the world still is, we are called to be slaves of Christ. It is a humbling thought to consider, and yet one that needs our utmost consideration if we would faithfully call Jesus our Master.
Check out this short documentary on Alexander McLeod and his willingness to be a slave of Christ by seeking the end of American Slavery. His booklet Negro Slavery Unjustifiable is now available online.
In understanding what Jesus says in Matt. 5:16: “Let your light shine before men, then they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven,” John Stott wrote:
It is our human cowardice which made him say “Let your light shine before men,” and our human vanity which made him tell us to beware of practicing our piety before men. A.B. Bruce sums it up well when he writes that we are to “show when tempted to hide” and “hide when tempted to show.” Our good works must be public so that our light shines; our religious devotions must be secret lest we boast about them.
I am not one given to hyperbole, especially when it comes to books. When I say that The Pilgrim’s Progress is the best book I have read outside of the Word of God, I mean it. I have yet to find a book that comes close. Consequently, I don’t anticipate any book supplanting Bunyan’s masterpiece in my estimation (though it is possible).
Nevertheless, I am reading books all the time and am frequently impressed with what I am reading. In fact, from time to time I am more than impressed, I am actually pleased and challenged by it. Recently I came across such a book.
The leaders of East Point Church are beginning to read The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-Shift That Changes Everything by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne. Mark Dever says, “This is the best book I’ve read on the nature of church ministry.” While I have not thought about it long enough to do a comprehensive comparison to all the books I have read on the subject, I will say that it is my favorite book so far this year. When the authors subtitled the book, “the ministry mind-shift that changes everything” they were not kidding. Marshall and Payne seem to have put in book form what we are seeking to implement in our church planting. At East Point Church we talk about developing and promoting a Gospel-centered ministry and community. In this book, I am being encouraged and challenged with the fact that we still have a ways to go. And though I thought my mind was shifted in doing a church plant, this book is reminding me that there is still much shifting that needs to take place.
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat. He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 147:12-20)
