The Shack

I cannot believe that I am doing a book report on a book that I haven't read. I don't know where I have been but I didn't hear about this book until this morning and suddenly I find myself having to make some comments about it. I have made it a habit to read books that have caused some controversy so that I can help others understand the strengths and weaknesses of those books. However, I have not read any of the Left Behind series. I suggest that you go to youtude.com and watch two videos. One is by the author himself, William Paul Young, and the other by Pastor Mark Discoll.
Some of the testimonies that I have heard bother me. Why do people go to novels to get their doctrine. Much of what people believe about end times comes from fiction, the Left Behind series and I am afraid that the understanding of the Trinity may come from this book. What has happened to the Word of God? Why do we get our theology from fiction or songs and not from the Scriptures themselves? Is it because we want to be entertained or are we too lazy to study ourselves?

What can the righteous do?

I was reading Psalm 11 and verse 3 says, "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Now I know that the foundations are being destroyed. Marriage is under attack, the family is under attack, the church and governments are under attack. Everything seems to have come under attack. Marriage and family are being redefined, the church to many has lost its relevance, the government has many scandals. Often we shake our heads and say as the Psalmist said, "What can the righteous do?" The answer is found in the next verse which reminds us that God is still in control. He has not abdicated His throne. The prophet Habakkuk told us that the righteous must live by faith. It is not hopeless, have faith, live by faith, remember God is in His holy temple.

Pierced for our Transgressions

I have just finished reading a book that was recommended by my son. The title is Pierced for our Transgressions with the subtitle Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution by Steve Jeffery, Michael Ovey, and Andrew Sach and published by Crossway books. Penal substitution states that God gave himself in the person of His Son to suffer instead of us the death, punishment and curse due to fallen humanity as the penalty for sin. It is a book that all evangelicals should read but it saddens me that such a book needed to be written. Sometimes I am embarrassed to call myself an evangelical because many of the traditional doctrines have come under attack. Many have put human reasoning above the Lordship of God.
This is a book that I would recommend.

The Accuser and the High Priest - Part 3

Here is the conclusion of this snapshot of grace.

God has called us to be ministers of grace and it is a tragedy of the Christian church that so often we do the work of Satan by bring accusations against the brethren. God help us to minister grace. Just as Joshua was guilty and unworthy so are we. Just as Joshua was unable to help himself neither can we. Just as Joshua needed grace so do we. That grace is available. The accuser can only whisper in our ear. He can accuse us but he cannot condemn us. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. He cannot separate us from God’s grace as nothing can separate us from Christ Jesus our Lord. We may come with our own righteousness which is nothing more than filthy clothes. Satan tells us that we cannot serve until we get our clothes cleaned up. However, cleaning filthy rags does not change the fact that we are still dressed in rags. We need new clothes and it is only by God’s grace that we can have clean clothes. We cannot clothe ourselves in righteousness but our God can. He can take away our filthy garments and give us the garments of the Kingdom. It is only by His grace that I stand.

The Accuser and the High Priest - Part 2

The following is a continuation of what I posted yesterday. I would suggest that you read yesterday's post before you read the following. Lord willing I will conclude this article tomorrow.

Satan does that to us all the time. He tells God in our hearing that we are not worthy to come before Him. We do not pray enough, we do not read our Bibles enough, we do not witness enough, and the list goes on. He does not tell God anything that is not true. We know our short comings and our sins. Satan tells God that pastors and missionaries should not “sponge” off other people. They should get real jobs and take care of their own needs. His accusations are to make us feel guilty and he is very successful. He always attacks us at our most vulnerable spot at the most vulnerable time.

However, God is a graceful God and he told those who were standing with Joshua to take off the filthy garment and put a clean festive garment upon him. They were to put a clean turban upon his head. Joshua could do nothing. He did not have to take off his dirty clothes, others did it for him. He did not have to supply the festive robe; God supplied the robe and the turban. The only thing he could do was stand before God to allow God’s grace to envelop him.

So it is with us. In the words of the hymn “Nothing in my hands I bring, only to the cross I cling.” It is not by might, nor by power but by the spirit of the Lord. The hymn writer expressed it well when he wrote:

Well may the accuser roar, of thing that I have done.
I know them all and thousands more. Jehovah knoweth none.

(To be concluded tomorrow LW.)

The Accuser and the High Priest - Zechariah 3

It has been said that the clothes make the person. People are told to dress for success. Clothes often are used to help us identify different people. We recognize the police or fire fighters by the clothes that they wear. Even in occupations that do not have a uniform there is usually an unofficial way that they dress. Teachers dress like teachers; insurance sales people dress like insurance people and so on. Even on days when people dress more casually there is usually a pattern in the way that they dress.

Joshua was the high priest of Israel during the time of Zerubbabel but he did not look like a high priest. The high priest was always dressed in spotless white linen with a spotless white turban on his head. However, Joshua was dressed in a dirty robe and there was no turban on his head. It was the role of the high priest to plead for mercy for the people before God however; he could not fulfill his calling because he was in need of mercy and grace, he was not dressed properly.

This day as he stood before the angel of the Lord there was one who was standing at his right side. It was Satan, the accuser of the brethren, and he stood there to accuse Joshua before God. You can almost hear the accuser saying to God in Joshua’s hearing. “How can this man serve as a high priest? Look at him, he has filthy clothes, he does not have a turban on his head. He is unworthy to be a high priest.” Satan knows that if he can make us feel guilty he has rendered us ineffective.

(Continued tomorrow - LW)

Thanks again Mike

Once again I would like to thank my friend and coworker for covering the class this past Sunday. We have now come to the end of this class year but we will continue in September with Joshua.
We have much ground left to cover. There is the battles and the Lord's wonderful provision; Caleb and the dividing of the land; cities of refuge and the two and one-half tribes on the eastern side of the Jordan; and finally Joshua's farewell address.
Over the summer months I will continue to blog but my direction will be slightly different as I read and study for the fall ministry. I still appreciate your comments and emails. Keep them coming.