God Is Still Faithful

A couple of weeks ago brought some highs and lows for our family.

First, a major high point.  Monday that week marked our son’s third birthday.  We continue to be blessed by the amazing gift that God has given us in Luke.  Like every child he has his rough moments, but overall he is the sweetest, funniest, cutest little guy I know—and shouldn’t every dad say that!  But I think it’s true.  We had both sets of grandparents in town as well as two of his aunts, and other dear friends from out of town as well. 

We were expecting to close on the sale of our house on his birthday.  We didn’t plan it that way, but that was how the timing fell out.  However, in the height of our joy with his birthday weekend celebration, we got word on Friday afternoon that there was a problem with the sale due to a fence encroachment issue that neither we nor our neighbors knew about.  So we didn’t close on Monday.  In fact, a lot of the weekend and Monday and Tuesday were filled with a flurry of emails and calls and legal agreements and rewritten agreements and on.  It was a little struggle, and a little stressful for a bit.

Then on that same Monday, we received an email that the 34-year-old husband of one of Amy’s oldest and dearest friends had gone into cardiac arrest, that they had revived his heart, but that he was in CCU without any real idea of what had gone wrong.  At first, their family thought that he would not make it—he had even said his goodbye to her.  Amy and I love this family dearly, so this whole episode struck us deeply, and she prepared plans to drive the five-plus hours to see them and help in any way she could.

Throughout these events and others like them, our trust in God’s goodness and providence doesn’t waver—but we sure don’t always understand it.  In the midst of back-to-back types of difficulties, sometimes people offer words of encouragement like: “God is faithful—He’s going to sell that house for you, I just know it.” Or, “God is faithful—I just know He’s going to pull your friend through.”  Although extremely well intentioned, ideas like these miss the mark on God’s faithfulness.

Even if God doesn’t sell your house, He is still faithful.  Even if God doesn’t heal your friend, He is still faithful.  Even if God doesn’t spare your life, He is still faithful.

God’s word is clear about who He is and what He does.  God makes promises, and then keeps His promises.  His faithfulness is often described in terms of promise and fulfillment.  In fact, the entire Bible has been aptly summarized as promises made (Old Testament) and promises kept (New Testament).  Here are four quick reminders about the faithfulness of God.

1. God’s faithfulness is shown as essential in His character.

The Bible teaches from cover to cover that He is faithful, both in spite of and because of our circumstances.  Simply put, it says God is not like us—He is faithful:

God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes His mind.  Does He speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?  (Exodus 23.19, HCSB)

2. God’s faithfulness is shown by example in His consistency.

Even when we waver through unbelief, God is proved to be true.  Our periodic unbelief marks us as “liars” contrasted against the backdrop of God’s faithfulness:

What then?  If some did not believe, will their unbelief cancel God’s faithfulness?  Absolutely not!  God must be true, but everyone is a liar…  (Romans 3.3-4, HCSB)

3. God’s faithfulness is shown by pattern to be constant.

Not only is He consistent in each instance, but He is described as constantly faithful.  He remains faithful:

This saying is trustworthy:
For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him;
if we endure, we will also reign with Him;
if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
if we are faithless, He remains faithful,
for He cannot deny Himself.  (2 Timothy 2.11-13, HCSB)

4. God’s faithfulness is shown as redemptive through His plan’s completion.

What we humans often lose sight of in our problems is that, for those who call upon the name of the Lord, we will ultimately have victory in Jesus.  God does care about our relationships, health, and provisions.  But regardless of our money or health or relationships, His faithfulness will complete His redemptive plan and will bring us into His presence—the greatest gift of all:

And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our forefathers.  God has fulfilled this to us their children by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.” …Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you…  (Acts 13.32-33, 38, HCSB)

In God’s great providence, our house sold two days later, and our friend was diagnosed three days later not with a heart problem, but with a nerve problem that has been treated with a pacemaker.  God is good, and He is faithful.  But He would still be faithful if these things hadn’t turned out the way we hoped.

It’s reassuring to know that, regardless of what we think about our circumstances, God is still faithful.

Sharing the Gospel and Our Lives

Recently at our Progress:Church event, I was able to share a little about my thinking regarding where the Lord might take us in coming days (and weeks and years).  Sort of preliminary vision casting.  I praise God that many among our church community are excited as well, as we partner together for the advancement of the faith of the gospel of Jesus.

I also shared my heart concerning some of my convictions about pastoral ministry.  One of the primary principles comes from 1 Thessalonians 2.8, where Paul says to the church there:

We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

As we progress together toward the future of our church, my family’s desire is that we would serve side by side with our people in such a way that we’re not only verbally proclaiming the gospel, but that we’re sharing life together in demonstrating the gospel to and with each other.  My prayer is that we would continually remind each other of the grace of God in Christ, so that we are ready to consistently worship Him, and intentionally share about Him to others.

This is partnership in the gospel.

Truth about Tough Times

In spite of the fact that many today still falsely teach that becoming a follower of Jesus makes everything in life easier, the truth about tough times has been in God’s Word for a long time.  I could point to several different Scriptures, but none are more concise than some of the first few words of the biblical letter written by James.

Consider it all joy, my brothers, whenever you encounter various trials… (James 1.2).

He has more to say about what the trials do, and what we can do during trials, but before we even look any further, we should note that these few words make some glaring considerations.

1. It is certain that we will face difficulties.

The text says “whenever” you encounter various trials.  It does not say “if.”  Again, while many today paint a rosy picture of the Christian life, James is very clear: you will face trials.

2. Our difficulties will come in a variety of forms.

He proceeds to refer to the difficulties as “various” trials.  This means that they will come in multiple forms.  There is no way to predict what might happen, because from our perspective they will appear random, and will come in a variety of types.

3. Our difficulties may come suddenly.

His word “encounter” could have at least a couple of implications.  First, it appears that he is saying that there will be times when we come upon difficulties without any warning.  They will seem sudden, without any prior indication.

4. At times we will be surrounded by difficulties.

Another implication from “encounter” is that we may feel surrounded by troubles.  The old adage is that “troubles come in threes.”  But we all know some people who have difficulties that seemingly come in tens or twenties.  Sometimes we are encircled in trials, as if we had fallen into a pit, surrounded on every side.

You’re probably thanking me right now for the reminder of this gloomy-sounding prediction.

Very encouraging, huh?  But the reality is that Christ does not call us to Himself to merely temporarily escape the difficulties of this life.  No, He has far loftier plans, and that should encourage us.  He often lets us go through tough times, or even purposely sends us through them, so that we learn to trust Him more.  It’s about perseverance, which builds maturity in us (see vv. 3-4).  It’s called faith.  And yet, He doesn’t leave us hanging.  He tells us to ask for wisdom in trials, and then He promises to give it (see v. 5).

And ultimately He will grant the crown of life to those who persevere under trials and love Him by faith (see v. 12).

I’m thankful that God tells us the truth about tough times.

New Series Underway

We have had a sweet time getting to know many among our new church family at Fellowship Church in Burlington, NC.  It has also been a blessing to meet some folks who have been away during parts of the church’s transitions.  This is a great time to engage or re-engage with the church as we have begun a new series at both our Sunday and Wednesday gatherings.

On Sundays, we are taking a tour of the letter to the Philippians that we are calling Unity for the Community.  This 7-part series will help us to see what we all have in common in order to be the church that God desires that we be: a community “contending together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1.27).  The worship gathering begins at 11am.

On Wednesdays, we are looking at the story of the Ezra-Nehemiah team as we see how God coordinates His own mission.  This series, called On a Mission, will help us to see how to get on board with God’s plans.  In Ezra and Nehemiah’s day, God’s people had been living as slaves in another land, and they were ready to rebuild a place of worship and an entire city: “I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me.  They replied, ‘Let’s start rebuilding.’  So they began this good work” (Nehemiah 2.18).  This prayer and Bible study gathering begins at 6.30pm.

Here is a map to our location.

Let’s join in God’s great mission together!

Purposeful, Ordered Design

How Men and Women Reflect Godly Character in the Church

A couple of months ago Newsweek ran a series of stories on the ‘new macho.’  I didn’t realize that the old macho was old.  Maybe that means I’m getting old, since I never caught up with old macho.  But the feature attempted to highlight the changing attitudes towards what is and is not culturally acceptable about being manly.  Regardless of where current culture is, there has always been a divine plan for masculinity and femininity.

Although it’s been quite a bit of time since I’ve been able to get back to 1 Timothy, today we continue with chapter 2.  After speaking about gospel-advancing prayer, Paul’s attention turns to God’s purposeful, ordered design for church gatherings, and particularly about men and women in the life of the church.  Verse 8 acts as the pivot point: it concludes the prior thought, and at the same time segues to the next point.

Many would agree that this specific text of Scripture is one of the more difficult passages of the Bible to interpret.  In light of that, we need to remember a few important presuppositions from a historical-grammatical perspective of the interpretation of Scripture.

1. The goal from this perspective is to understand the author’s original intent—what he meant by what he wrote, and what he intended the original audience to understand.
2. More difficult, obscure texts of Scripture should be interpreted in light of easier, clear texts of Scripture.
3. When a Scripture writer addresses a specific issue, or instructs a specific point, to a specific audience, he never says anything he wouldn’t more generally say to any other audience, nor violate other Scriptures in the process.
4. Scripture cannot mean (now) what it never meant.

There are of course other historical-grammatical principles for interpretation, but these are key to understanding this text.  Here is the next section, on purposeful, ordered design in the church:

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; (9) likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, (10) but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. (11) Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. (12) I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. (13) For Adam was formed first, then Eve; (14) and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. (15) Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control. (1 Timothy 2.8-15, ESV)

How can men and women particularly reflect God’s character through the church?

1. By design, Christ followers are to focus on the internal rather than the external. (1 Timothy 2.8-10)

Students of the Word know this is not a newly introduced concept.  After all, we know that “the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16.7, ESV).  We hear Jesus talking about not being like the Pharisees who are “like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23.27, ESV).  Paul hits on the same idea.

He starts with the guys.  Instead of being angry, contentious men, these men were encouraged to be known for their faithful prayers that flowed out of a pure heart (see v. 8).

Coming just after the section of primary importance concerning gospel-advancing prayer, Paul wraps up that idea by saying that men should not focus on what they can gain by exerting contentious authority.  Instead they must humble themselves in prayer.  Perhaps this confronted a local problem in these Ephesian churches, but ultimately it points to something basic in male human nature to be competitive.  But sinful nature can take it to being combative or obnoxiously macho.  Men want to prove themselves to other men, and women.  Against that notion, Paul submits the idea that it would be positively countercultural if men were more concerned with humbling themselves before men and women in prayer for their church, community, and society.

The comment about lifting holy hands refers less to any command about lifting them, I believe, than that hands that are lifted must be holy, which supports the idea that the larger point is in regard to humble prayers.

He then speaks to the ladies.  Instead of being vain, ostentatious women, these women were encouraged to be known for their good deeds that flowed out of a Godward pursuit (see vv. 9-10).

In much the same way as men, women can be concerned with appearance more than what’s going on inside.  This Scripture does not say that women shouldn’t care about appearance, nor that they should be homely at church (as some have wrongly argued that it does!).  That misses the point.  Perhaps Paul was confronting their need to look different from the world, but that’s ultimately not his central point.  When a woman is more concerned about her outward appearance than her internal character, she has missed the mark, just like the men in verse 8.  In fact, Peter says essentially the same thing in 1 Peter 3.3-4.

Ultimately, what he is promoting is that, by design, men and women are to focus on the internal, rather than the external.

2. By design, church leaders are to follow the pattern of creation rather than the culture. (vv. 11-14)

Perhaps it’s easier to begin by stating what this text does not mean.  It does not mean women at worship gatherings must be in complete silence—several examples in Scripture make that apparent.  It does not mean merely that men can speak as opposed to women.  I believe it directs ladies to participate at the worship gatherings in a quiet, respectful manner, reflecting the same design as in the home.

There are some things that God has set in order that we will learn from, even when we don’t realize we’re learning from them.  It’s been a mystery but revealed in Christ that ultimately women and men are equal in Christ and yet God calls us to differing roles of leadership and submission.  Marriage is intended to reflect that (see Ephesians 5.15-33, esp. v. 32).  Although many marriages fail to do this, when it works the way God has designed, the pattern changes from an authoritarian man who wants to assert authority into a beautiful servant leadership that desires to demonstrate love toward one’s wife, encouraging her to be more like Christ.  It’s a radically different outlook than most of the world seems to understand.

Paul appeals to the order of creation to explain a larger principle that God wants us to get.  When it’s done well, male leadership in the church is simply an extension of what’s taking place in the home.

I believe that the reasoning behind verses 13 and 14 is to show that when Adam abdicated his leadership for what looked nice, he failed to protect his bride and she sinned.  Eve focused on the external, and Adam failed to lead.

Cultural norms will shift.  Paul is saying that church leaders are to follow the pattern of creation rather than the culture.

3. By design, Christian homes are to become a place of honor rather than insignificance. (v. 15)

This is widely regarded as one of the more difficult verses in all of Scripture to interpret, but the context of purposeful, ordered design in the practices of the church sheds ample light on its meaning.

Our culture, then as now, minimizes the value of what takes place in the home.  The role God gives homemakers in raising their children to know God’s grace...is incalculable.

“Saved” in this verse cannot mean justification, for obvious reasons, since the Bible is clear that salvation is not from works.  It could have the meaning, to rescue, or to preserve.  The author says that the process of raising children (“childbearing”) is highly valued before God, and therefore a woman’s value is elevated, not diminished.  Culture feeds a lie that being in the home is not important.  However, the most important thing that a woman (or man) can do is to raise a child to know God.

In the context, and the larger point that Paul is making, it seems most appropriate to understand that in v. 15 he is specifically speaking to women who may feel the pressure of the culture to usurp a leadership role at church or home (as a means of gaining significance), and challenging them to see the exceptional value God places on the management of the home, in raising the next generation of godly leaders.  Christian homes are to be a place of honor rather than insignificance.

Regardless of whatever position one takes on this text of Scripture, it is clear that there is a purpose and design behind the home and the church, and God is revealing something beautiful about His character in the process.

[This is part of a larger series on 1 Timothy called The Community of Truth.]

Christmas All the Time

And Some Year-end Transitions

Somehow it never ceases to amaze me how early in the year businesses start to decorate with Christmas items.  I'm not opposed to starting to celebrate the season early—I love it!  But late October?  When it's still warm outside, at least in our climate, I have trouble getting into the mood.

The mood I'm talking about is of course those cozy, fuzzy feelings we like to have, or hope to have, during that special annual season from Thanksgiving to Christmas.  The problem is that we tend to forget we are to celebrate Christ's first advent, His first coming, every day.  My prayer for my immediate and extended family is that we all would appreciate and celebrate the sweet feeling of living in the gospel of Jesus every morning.

Speaking of extended family, my family is quite excited to soon call Fellowship Church in Burlington, North Carolina our "family."  As January approaches, we are working through all that it takes to transition our lives, so that we may plant them there.  We look forward to getting to know you, Fellowship!

But this week, it’s certainly cold enough.  Merry Christmas everyone!  Celebrate Jesus' first advent every day!  Every day may not be a holiday, but with Jesus, it is a holy day.

Gospel-Advancing Prayer

It is impossible to think about how to be the church and do church life without also considering our need to pray.  Just a quick glance at the letters of the Apostle Paul clearly indicates our need to rely on and express dependence on God for everything.  So we pray.  This idea is no less true in the letter of 1 Timothy.  In fact, he gives it even more prominence here.

As we have seen thus far in our 1 Timothy series, Paul has been clear that he is deeply concerned about the advance of the gospel, and he talks about protecting, promoting, proclaiming, and preserving the gospel.  So what is the first thing he urges Timothy and the church at Ephesus to do to keep the gospel progressing?  He urges them to pray.  Here:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, (2) for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  (3) This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, (4) who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  (5) For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (6) who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.  (7) For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.  (8) I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling. (1 Timothy 2.1-8, ESV)

We cannot gather together as Christians in a self-absorbed way without stopping the progress of the gospel dead in its tracks—and the way to avoid being self-absorbed is to humbly pray.  What are some specific ways we can advance the glory of God and His gospel in our worship gatherings?  It begins with gospel-advancing prayer.

1. We advance the gospel by valuing the priority of our prayer. (1 Timothy 2.1-4)

Immediately after challenging Timothy to fight the good fight of faith, he urges him and the Christian brothers and sisters there to pray.  He shows how the two ideas are connected by starting with “then” or “therefore,” which means that this urging towards prayer flows from the need to get the gospel out to everyone.  We see how he exhorts them to value prayer as a priority in a couple of ways.  First, among all the topics he could launch into, he starts with prayer, and even says, I urge you “first of all” (v. 1).  Even if he did not mean to specifically imply valuing prayer by that term, in which case it could be understood as, “of first priority,” the mere fact that he comes to that topic first shows that he is valuing prayer in making it a priority in the order of topics in his letter.

We also see the way he urges them to value prayer as a priority in the way he describes it.  He says that this kind of prayer is good and acceptable before God (v. 3), since it focuses the church on the mission before them: that of advancing the good news of Jesus.  As a result of making it a priority, they would see their own attitudes change and could see their cultural circumstances become potentially peaceable and more conducive to the gospel (v. 2), and many more might be saved (v. 4).  Clearly, we are to value the priority of prayer.

2. We advance the gospel by remembering the purpose of our prayer. (vv. 5-7)

Paul then reminds them why they are to pray, and in the process essentially lays out the gospel in one sentence: We needed a mediator between us and God, and only one Person could fill that role, the one who is fully God and fully man, Jesus (v. 5).  It is because of His sacrifice in our place that we can have life (v. 6).  And Paul was convinced that his role was to proclaim that gracious gospel to the nations (v. 7).

We know that Paul is still on the topic of prayer since he will again mention prayer specifically in verse 8.  So here in the middle (between verses 1 and 8) he clarifies for his first century readers, and us, that the reason we pray in this way is ultimately to be involved in the progress of the gospel.  That may not be the purpose behind every instance of prayer, but in this context it is exactly what Paul was saying.  We should remember the purpose of our prayer.

3. We advance the gospel by maintaining the purity of our prayer. (v. 8)

Some Bible translations group verse 8 with what follows after it, and some place it with what came before.  I think both are somewhat correct, since it concludes the prior thought, and then acts as a transition sentence into the next.  It seems obvious, however, that at the very least he is concluding these thoughts on prayer, since he explicitly mentions prayer in verses 1 and 8, like bookends around his thoughts.

That being the case, in verse 8 I think Paul is challenging specifically the men to step it up and lead in gospel-advancing prayer.  He will address women in a moment, but for now his attention is on the men, who he speaks to as if they were failing in their leadership in prayer.  Paul uses the term “in every place” elsewhere to refer to public worship, and that seems to be consistent here.  If so, he is calling out the men who were either failing to pray, or were failing to pray with purity in their motives.  He specifically mentions praying with “holy” hands.  The issue is holiness, not whether you lift your hands in prayer.  How do we know that?  Because he says as much in the next phrase: Pray with “holy hands without anger or quarreling.”  In other words, pray in a holy way.  We must maintain clean hands, so to speak, and pure hearts, in our prayer.

After introducing the gospel, of all of the specific topics Paul could have addressed in the church first, he begins with gospel-advancing prayer that is prioritized, purposeful, and pure.  Maybe we should too.

[This is part of a larger series on 1 Timothy called The Community of Truth.]