Living for the Glory of God ~ Vivir para la Gloria de Dios
Category: General Articles
Here you will find a variety of postings on a variety of topics that are hopefully beneficial to every person reading this blog. I pray that these postings cause people to develop critical thinking from a Christian worldview.
Over the course of eleven weeks I have journeyed through eleven chapters of R.C. Sproul’s most prominent book, “The Holiness of God.” It has reached into the depths of God’s Word to reveal much about our nature in light of God’s nature. Today, that journey comes to a close with final thoughts regarding what he calls ‘a threshold experience.’
It sounds almost mystical, but genuine reading reveals that is not what he is referencing. Instead a threshold experience occurs when one is overwhelmed by the presence of God. For many years and many people, it was the church sanctuary, hence the title ‘sanctuary.’ Crossing over from the foyer into the sanctuary, one is so overcome by God to the point of being struck voiceless.
Upon reading about a threshold experience, I found myself venturing into the concept more. Compelled to ask myself, “When did I last experience a threshold moment?” I found the answer revealing. That answer, or lack thereof, caused further meditation upon the concept about the lack of ‘threshold experiences’ of many people today. Reflection causes a conclusion to be reached: we so undervalue the holiness of God that threshold experiences are no longer part of the Christian life.
It is not out of line to suggest that our minimization of God’s holiness leads us to minimize His presence as well. We approach our Sunday morning worship with little regard because we have little regard for his holiness. We forget about God’s omnipresence, and so to cross over the threshold is to experience nothing at all. In just a few words, we have lost the awe of God.
In the course of 200 pages in eleven chapters, Sproul has taken readers through an elevation of God and depression of self. To do so the focus has been on one topic: the holiness of God.
If there is something to be learned from reading through The Holiness of God, it is the revelation that a right view of God’s holiness affects a right view of the Christian life. While there is much that one can learn from Sproul’s words, that is one of the biggest takeways I have gotten. Our view of God’s holiness will affect how we approach every aspect of life.
As some have noticed, and mentioned, Soli Deo Gloria is taking on a new look. To go with that new look is a revision in content. This site is not meant to challenge just you readers, but it is a tool for my own personal growth as well. Yet, the last few months (especially because of the busyness) I find myself becoming stagnant and that is reflected in my writing.
So I have had to ask myself, “What can I do better for the glory of God and the good of God’s people?” The result is a redesign of this blog that I hope will improve not just the site, but also our lives by challenging and encouraging every one of us in our progressive sanctification.
Over the course of the next two weeks I will be transitioning to the following format:
Monday Motivations: Let’s face it. Mondays are hard for most of us. Every Monday my goal is to encourage and help through devotionals or some quick tips for developing spiritual disciplines, productivity, and reading.
Tuesday Truth: Nothing extravagant on Tuesdays. A powerful quote of Scripture or an insightful remark from men and women of the faith to ponder through the day.
Wednesday Words: Whether it be a book review or an article meant to provoke though and consideration, Wednesdays are reserved for longer writings.
Thursday Thoughts: Some challenging questions, or thought provoking musings for self-examination.
Friday Truth Reformation: As I have been doing for awhile, I will continue with the truth reformation. A review of a major topic or two from newsworthy events in light of Scripture to encourage logical thinking from a Christian worldview.
With some things that I am finishing up through this month (devotions based on 3 John and reading through The Holiness of God) the full transition will take place by August 1.
I pray this transition will make for a better blog, again for God’s glory and our good.
In light of who we are there is but one course of power that God could possibly present for action against us. Yet with lofty thoughts of self, we are inclined to assume God’s is obligated to meet not just our needs, but our wants as well. As R.C. Sproul suggests, if God exists as God, how could He not be angry with us?
Wrath, in our assessment, is inconsistent with love. One of the sweeping cultural reforms to infiltrate the church is the concept that a natural segregation is formed between love and wrath (and discipline). The definition of love has been one that distorts love into something indiscernible from God and transforms it into something less fulfilling.
Society tells us that true love is displayed when your wants are fulfilled by another. Yet, when love is defined in terms of human conditions, fulfillment of it is never attained because people are sinful. Some will make demands that are too stringent to be fulfilled, while people often fail to meet even the most simplistic of requests.
Beyond leaving individuals without hope and contentment, the apprenticed definition we have on love undermines the holiness of God. Love tells us that the Lord will fulfill all that I want, and when he does not do as a person desires it is called unfair, unjust, unmerciful and contrary to real love. Yet, if God is holy, His love is also holy.
In God’s holiness, He has the right to demand justice. What an abomination sin is and how we have lessened its significance! If we were honest with ourselves, we would capture a vision of how abundant sin is in our lives and just how abhorrent it is. In light of that fact alone, the judgment must be death. Yet, God’s grace prevails and opportunity is given. God’s wrath is kindled and punishment is given in order to create Christlikeness, yet death is not meted out in the instance of our sin.
This is God’s love on display through the grace He has extended. Yet, we make light of God’s grace and demand more. We suggest to God that we are entitled to grace and that He must give it. How the cry would change if we recognized it is not grace that we deserve, but wrath.
Is it not true that when we are wronged we are quick to demand justice? However, when we have wronged others we are quick to demand grace. It is the same in our relationship with God.
We violate His holiness; we insult His justice; we make light of His grace. What a stark contrast our sinfulness is to God’s holiness. It is indicative even more of our need for God in our lives.
‘Good Read’ photo courtesy of george.bremer and Flickr.
This week Dr. Stephen Davey, pastor of Colonial Baptist Church and president of Shepherd’s Theological Seminary, is preaching to the men and women who comprise the IFCA. I have had the privilege of hearing him preach several times and most recently was able to read his book, In Pursuit of Prodigals. In conjunction with his speaking at the national convention, I wanted to elaborate on a simplistic, yet revealing point that came from that very book.
Over the life of this blog I have written much, whether directly or indirectly, about discipline as love. The world has adopted the mindset that discipline is not an act of love and therefore is to be avoided. We see it in churches, in schools, and in families. Admittedly I bought into this mindset as well. It was not until I saw discipline practiced in its biblical form that I learned discipline is an act of love.
I had the great privilege of attending the Shepherd’s Conference in March. Like many of those there, one of the highlights is the impressive bookstore. Church leaders become children in candy store, filling their basket with only those books that fill one’s mind a flavor that is powerful and worth savoring. I am one of those children. It was there that I was introduced to a book called In Pursuit of Prodigals by Dr. Stephen Davey. Because of it’s size (small) and topic (church love and discipline) I decided to pick it up for a quick read. Not only did it add overall value to my understanding of such a topic, but Davey included little tidbits of additional insights that struck me as profound. Previously I have done a review of the book (which you can read at the link above) and not wanting to revisit his major points, I would like to look at one statement he said that struck me. Not only is biblical discipline an act of love, but non-discipline is an act of arrogance.
No doubt for some of you this is not a momentous event. For others this is a strike against your core worldview. Yet to not discipline biblically, whether it be within your family, within your church, or any other circle of influence, is to set aside God’s directive and replace it with your own. It is a matter of pride that says, “My way is better.”
It is important to see that such a failure to follow God’s way for biblical discipline has three results:
It Supplants God’s Law: This should be the easiest point to see. God has given explained biblical discipline in various contexts within His Word, His law. To avoid obeying those directives is to avoid God’s own law.
It Supplants God’s Love: We often forget that discipline is an act of love. It’s not about merely getting people to conform our way, but about seeing people in a right relationship with God. Thus, when we exclude biblical discipline in our normal functions, we exclude God’s love and replace it with something of lesser value.
It Supplants God: Ultimately it is God who works in the process of discipline as we humans obey His directive. To lack follow through in such an area replaces the authority of God with the authority of self (although we of course know that God is always authoritative and His plans will not be thwarted).
In His Word, the Lord has outlined the process of Biblical discipline. We note this especially in Matthew 18 where there is a ‘process’ placed before us. However, the ‘process’ must take into account the whole counsel of God’s Word. So as we work our way through discipline, we do so in a way that displays the fruit of the spirit, the unity of the church, and of course love.
The Lord has also provided instructions for discipline within family. We see the responsibilities of parents outlined in Ephesians 5. The book of Proverbs often revisits the relationship between father and son, while Deuteronomy 6:6-7 discusses the need to instruct your children.
If the Lord’s Word is so clear, why do we find it difficult to practice it in this instance? Because we think we have a better way. I suspect that a piece of figures we are the one fighting the spiritual battle face to face, and with that first hand knowledge it is easy to assume we have a better, and perhaps easier, way to handle the situation. We forget that God is there as well, and ultimately it is His work on the heart of an individual. This combined with a skewed cultural teaching that discipline is unloving has resulted in our failure in obedience.
Instead, we must be humble enough to admit God’s way is better than ours, and strong enough to carry it out. The Lord never said that such a task would be easy. In fact, it is almost always difficult. Yet, it directs one towards repentance and restoration and depicts for us the Lord’s judgment and the Lord’s mercy.
Civilisation courtesy of Hannah Swithinbank and Flickr
Every year anticipation lingers heavily as summer draws nearer. With the prospect of ‘more’ time come plans for family vacations and relaxation. For many this relaxation includes opportunities to read. It is commonplace for many well-known Christian leaders and bloggers to release a summer reading list. Generally I have tried to avoid doing this myself for two reasons. Much of my reading includes a mixture of Christian ‘classics’ read by many others that I myself have not read, so they are of no great interest to many who are seeking to read newer books and books from other disciplines (since the rest of the year is focused on the heavier theological reading). Additionally, the lists by others are great resources and so there is no need for yet another voice (i.e. Al Mohler’s annual list). However, as I was planning my summer reading, I was excited about some of the prospects and thought it would be fun (and hopefully beneficial) to share with you.
As you look through the list, I am compelled to say that in my opinion, reading is one of the best habits for any person to develop. Leading a person into things yet unconsidered, reading books are a great gift of God that can be used to develop and inspire His children. In fact, books can impact us in the following ways:
To Aide in Learning: Reading books helps us to learn. Sometimes we learn about historical events. Other times we learn more about Scripture or God, among many other things.
To Aide in Maturing: Not only should books aide in learning, but much of that learning, especially when it is related to biblical studies, is meant to be put into action. Knowledge applied becomes wisdom in the Christian life.
To Aide in Understanding: Finally reading helps us to understand perspectives of people in various disciplines. It does not mean we have to agree, but it simply means we are informed as to their mindset. Ultimately this can help guide our defenses and offenses when necessary.
With that said then, I hope the my own reading list will be an encouragement to you.
Some Notes About My Own Reading:
For 2016, I have been utilizing Tim Challies’ 2016 Reading Challenge sheet (click here to view it). I don’t necessarily need to be challenged to read, however, I have found that this list compels me to spread my reading out more and read from a wider variety. So as I share the list, keep in mind that I am trying to gear many of my books towards the fulfillment of one of the incomplete recommendations in the challenge.
You will find that my reading lists tend to follow several primary areas: History, literature, theology, church life, biblical studies, cultural studies, and purely pleasure (these are reserved for my fun reading that I don’t necessarily spend much time reading through). I have noted the section of the Challies challenge that each book fulfills in parentheses after the book name. For your convenience, I have also included links for each book.
To Complete:
First off, there are three books I have been working through for quite some time that I am hoping to complete this summer.
Return of the King: Lord of the Rings ~by J.R.R. Tolkien: (A book by an author with an initials in their name): I am one of the few who have never read Tolkien’s well-known work so I have been working my way through the books this year.
The Story of Christian Theology ~ by Roger Olson: (a book used as a seminary textbook or winner of an ECPA Christian book award): Another book I have been working through. Originally used as a textbook, we weren’t required to read the whole 700 pages, so I started it over and plan to finish it all.
The following are books that I hope to complete throughout the month of July.
Operation Thunderbolt ~ Saul David: (a historical book): The book is about Israel’s daring assault in 1976 when an Air France from Tel Aviv to Paris had been hijacked by terrorists.
Argentina: A Modern History ~ Jill Hedges: (A book about a country or city): Having moved to Argentina I was curious more about its history (there is a lot of older history of the country I don’t know) so I searched for a book. Frankly, it was difficult to find one that covered a broad scope of their history without any bias. After much searching, this is the book I finally settled on.
Sue Barton: Visiting Nurse ~ Helen Boylston (A book recommended by a family member): My wife is a nurse and likes the Sue Barton series, so I wanted to to give it a try for her. She recommended this book, even though it’s not the first in the series.
Blessed. One word, used by believers and unbelievers, it describes one’s current status in life. Such indiscriminate usage suggests that either we are people who are truly grateful for the Lord’s work or we have no understanding of the word at all. A simple observation of its usage by people should reveal that a legitimate comprehension of the word is not grasped by most people.
Even as I write this article, I cannot claim a deep knowledge of not just the word, but of what it means to be blessed. The New Testament uses the word in a variety of ways to give us context for such a word. It is in the Old Testament’s usage of it that we find a deep theology of blessing exists. While I would love to spend time developing this more there is a specific aspect I find myself dwelling upon for consideration today. The over-usage of the word ‘blessing’ suggests the need for a reformation in our awareness and appreciation of the word.
A reformation in our awareness and appreciation of the word must begin with a right grasp of the word’s meaning in today’s culture. The phrase “I am blessed” is usually understood to mean God has shown favor on me by giving me material things. This is not to say that it is not used in other ways, nor does this imply that believers who use the phrase don’t have the right heart attitude towards God. However, it demonstrates our fixation on the physical, the temporal, and the material with less regard for the more important eternal.
I once had a professor say that a simplistic description of blessing is ‘to add value to” (1). While there is much more to blessing that can be added, I like this simplistic explanation because it provides a good foundation for the significance of the word. Our life is blessed when value is added to it.
With such a description, certainly material wealth and things are not excluded as blessings. However, we often neglect something important. If it comes from God, it is always a blessing. In fact, for a blessing to be legitimately defined as such, it must come from God.
That means the greatest triumphs and the greatest trials are significant blessings for Christians (see James 1:2-12). It means having life is a blessing. The list could continue forevermore. This type of focus though misses and added dimension.
Reading in The Valley of Vision, one Puritan prayer titled “The All-Good” says this:
“. . . blessedness does not lie so much in receiving good from and in thee, but in holding forth thy glory and virtue.”
Blessing comes not from what we are given, but in the fact that we are able to be part of and reflect God’s glory and virtue.
This is why it is said that blessing comes in giving more than receiving (see Acts 20:35) because it is an opportunity to reflect God. It is with this mindset that Paul can also write in Ephesians 1:3, that God has blessed us (believers) with every spiritual blessing through Jesus Christ.
Such an understanding transforms our comprehension of blessing. No longer is it focused merely on us, but it becomes focused on God. To look at blessing any other way undermines the true value of God and His provision of life.
Certainly we should continue to give thanks to God for what He provides for us. However, we should look at those material blessings as opportunities that can be used to reflect God’s glory. Then they are indeed true blessings. Blessings are not defined as such because of what it is, but because of who they are from and how they reflect Him.
(1) This definition came from Dr. Steven Boyd at The Master’s College in 2014.
Yesterday I was privileged to write an article for Glory Books Ministries on some tips to help your devotional time. You can read that article at the following link: 6 Methods to Stimulate Your Devotional Time. I trust that it will be an encouragement to you!
I Voted Today Photo courtesy of Robert Couse-Baker & Flickr
Donald Trump is not a man who is often at a loss for words. His exchanges with political leaders, religious leaders, and home leaders come charged with the heavily defined vocabulary of a second grader. In fact, his arguments mirror the mindset of our culture where the winner of an argument is not determined by logic and reason, but by name calling. Trump’s recent exchange with Russell Moore, something that has been months in the making, not only affirms Moore’s points, but also affirms two concerns that true evangelicals have.
First, I must offer a disclaimer. Generally, not always, I try to avoid political discussions that are not confined to the walls of my own house or those of my closest confidants. My focus is transformation of lives by the Word of God, not the transformation of ideologies by argument. Thus, I have found it more profitable to avoid discussions like this that have the propensity to divide at the mere mention of a few terms with little discussion.
So why address such a topic now, especially when it has been addressed by a number of conservative Christian leaders with profound points? Because God gifts people differently, one person’s explanation may resonate better with a certain group, while another person’s may reach a different group. My hope is to add value to the discussion by addressing two major points of concern.
An Evangelical Lifestyle
The first is a lament over the loss of the term evangelical. In the last century Christians have had to change descriptive terms several times (fundamental, conservative, evangelical) not because they are redefining themselves, but because society is trying to redefine Christians. Evangelical is only the latest in a string of terms that we have lost control of. There are some who would say, “Wait, give it some time and maybe we can recover it!” I hope they are right, but I am of the mindset the control of the term no longer belongs to true evangelical Christians, but to an ever-changing culture.
The constant need to find another term suggests a pattern, a pattern deserving of attention. An examination reveals our inability to set ourselves apart from the culture. Those claiming to be evangelicals have not lived in such a way that the term offers up a description backed up by a lifestyle. Instead, anyone and everyone can lay hold of it and claim to be part of a group because it comes with certain advantages, distinctness, or whatever it may be.
Evangelicals were not meant to be a label placed on a certain group of people to be won over for a political vote. Evangelicals are to be Christians. Even the term Christians is meant to convey something powerful. The word means ‘little Christs.’ The concept is that we life a Christlike lifestyle displayed for those around us so that they will desire to call upon the Lord as well. It conveys a lifestyle of commitment to God that is predicated upon the foundation of His truth.
A Discerning Lifestyle
An evangelical lifestyle brings with another noteworthy attribute that should play out in our lives: discernment. There is a great need in every aspect of our lives to be discerning, this includes our decisions within the political realm. The events of this year’s political cycle have proven not only the necessity for discernment, but demonstrates how little importance is placed upon it.
Discernment requires both knowledge and wisdom. From Proverbs, we learn that both are the product of fearing the Lord (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). The point being, in order to be truly wise (and thus accurately applying knowledge) one must be a Christian, with a fear (reverence) for the Lord.
Every action, every activity must be done from the standpoint of a Christian worldview. To be evangelical is to be discerning with Christ as our lens with which we view and analyze everything around us. Even our political choices must be defined by this notion, because it goes without saying, what is the point of believing something without acting upon those beliefs.
Therefore, if we are going to call ourselves evangelicals, we must then live that out by being discerning about the choices we make in this political process. Using the disagreement between Moore and Trump as an example we use discernment to look at their use of logic and reasoning, reputation, character trait, beliefs and lifestyle, etc. Measured against God’s Word, a look at each of these would speak volumes about both men that should lead to conclusions based on a truly evangelical worldview.
Evangelical is not a title, it is a lifestyle. It is a lifestyle that is dictated by God and thus that lifestyle maintains certain standards that will impact every part of our being. To claim belief in God is to then act in accordance with the character of God. Set yourselves apart from the culture by living out what you believe.
Yesterday I had an article published at glorybooks.org on the topic of distraction and Bible reading. Specifically, I address the issue of using e-readers when reading the Bible. You can read it by clicking the following link. Enjoy!
Thousands will descend upon Grace Community Church (the church of Dr. John MacArthur) today for the annual Shepherd’s Conference. Some for their very first time and others as part of their annual schedule. Whatever the case may be, all come with a sense of anticipation. Each has been drawn here for some purpose or another and this morning’s registration process affords one the opportunity to take it all in.
Overwhelmed with the teaching, overwhelmed with the number of people, overwhelmed with the books, and even overwhelmed with the food, there is much to be vigilant of at the Shepherd’s Conference. Shepherd’s Conference provides an opportunity for those who spend so much time shepherding their flock to be refreshed and renewed. I like to approach the conference like reading a book. With great excitement, I look forward to what I am going to learn and being able to share it with others. Therefore, much like reading a book, I begin with some questions or thoughts that I hope are answered in expectation of what I am going to get out of it.
Below is a list four things I expect (and hope) to get out of this year’s event:
1) I Expect Challenges: The men speaking are scholars of the Word and have a gift of being able to open the Scriptures up in both a deep, and yet understandable way. With such a wealth of knowledge, I expect that they will challenge me with something new. James rights in 1:21 for the need to receive, with meekness, the implanted Word. Christian growth is contingent upon the growth of the Word in our hearts. It requires a prominent place in our lives if we ever expect to grow in our grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). But further, there is a need to receive it with humility. Humility makes one teachable, thus allowing the Word to transform as it pierces.
2) I Expect Confrontation: The truth confronts. If it were not so, the world would so quickly accept it rather than reject it. As the speakers as Shepherd’s Conference unleash the truth, I expect it to confront my reality. With Christ proclaimed, the Word exalted, and God glorified the false notions I have about the world, about people, and about myself should fall in order that the truth from God will prevail.
3) I Expect Failure: As the truth confronts, it reveals. James tells us that the Word is to be used like a mirror (James 1:22-25), revealing a picture of who we are so that it may be addressed and changed into the image of Christ. Thus, while I am being challenged and confronted by the Word during this year’s Shepherd’s Conference, it should be revealing to me of who I am, failures and all. Yet, while many may see this as a bad thing, because none of us like confrontation, for the Christian a revelation of our failures should be monumental because it shows who we are without Christ, the great need that He filled, and provides an opportunity for us to be transformed (Romans 8:28-29).
3) I Expect Finality: This is definitely unique to my situation. My wife and I are missionaries to Argentina and we have been in the States now for three years raising support. In the next month or so we will be moving to Argentina. That makes this my last Shepherd’s Conference for quite some time. This has a greater impact because of the people involved. One of the greatest joys about Shepherd’s Conference is the fellowship that comes with it. Men come from around the world to be part of it and for me it is a great opportunity to gather with men that I would not otherwise get to see because we are indeed spread around the world. Instead of traveling from place to place, all the men convene in one area and thus I have an opportunity say goodbye, to share with them, be encouraged by them, and encourage them in person one final time.
It is my privilege to be able to attend this year’s conference and I hope to soak up as much of it as I can. It is the event that I have eagerly awaited every year for the last several years. It should be the same way we approach church every Sunday. With an eagerness unmatched by anything else, we should look forward to the opportunity to attend every week, with the excitement slowly building up until that moment is finally here. And then, upon entering through the doors and into the sanctuary, I would suggest that the first three expectations (challenges, confrontation, and failure) should be on our hearts every week during our worship service. As Martin Luther once said, “We should hear God’s Word with fear and study in it with humility.” He went further to say, “Scripture requires humble hearts, that hold God’s Word in honour, love, and worth . . .”
Shepherd’s Conference begins March 9th at 10:00am and the general sessions can be watched online at shepherdsconference.org, where you can also find a schedule of events. While geared towards men in ministry and leadership, there is much to be gained by everyone. Even if you are unable to watch the sessions live, all the messages will be available online at a later date. Additionally you can listen/watch past messages as well.
Soli Deo Gloria 