Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Truly Happy

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

Beloved,

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most quoted and well-known sermons in the history of the world. The sermon is so popular because it is so profound.  Jesus addresses everything from giving, to anger, to marriage, and to salvation. Jesus begins His sermon with nine beatitudes or blessings which epitomize His entire message. To be blessed means to be happy, but the happiness that Jesus is advocating goes far beyond our temporal circumstances. Jesus pictures the blessed life as one that is in a right relationship with God.

True happiness is found in being rightly related to God. The first way to discover true happiness is to understand one’s need for God. Jesus starts this excellent sermon, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” It seems counter-intuitive to say that one is blessed when they are poor in spirit, but God’s ways are often unexpected. The “poor in spirit” are those who recognize their sinfulness in light of God’s holiness. Understanding one’s spiritual bankruptcy is the beginning of having one’s debts cancelled. Colossians 2:13-14,

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

We will only have our debts cancelled in the cross when see our need of the cross. And we cannot see our need of the cross unless we understand we are poor in spirit. But when we see our debts, and turn to Christ, Jesus says, yours “is the kingdom of heaven.” 


Are you poor in spirit or proud in spirit? How you answer that question will determine if you will be truly happy and blessed!! God wants us to be happy, but we will only be truly happy on His terms. We may experience moments of happiness without God, but those moments are fleeting and will never last. If you want to be eternally happy, you must listen to the words of Christ, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Be happy, trust in Christ.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Encouraging Last Words- Luke 22:21-38

If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what would be your last words to your family? Jesus had lived with his disciples for 3 years. They had become his family. Jesus knew he was going to be crucified tomorrow and had one last opportunity to speak to his disciples before his death.  Jesus took this opportunity to encourage his disciples with the truth. Let Jesus last words encourage our hearts and help us see what really matters.

Encouraging Last Words: Predetermined Betrayal

            After establishing the Lord’s Supper, Jesus shares with his disciples that he was going to be betrayed by someone present. We already knew from the beginning of the chapter that Judas had already searching for an opportunity to betray Jesus, but this would have been shocking to the disciples there. Luke 22:21-23,

But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.

How are these last words encouraging? Well, Jesus submitted himself to the Father’s will. The Son of Man goes as it has been determined. He knew He was going to be betrayed and crucified and He accepted his fate. 

            Jesus trusted God’s sovereign plan for him. How instructive is it for us to follow his example? We must trust God even in our trials.  There is a purpose in our trials. Jesus knew that and so should we.  There is also a warning in this passage. We can look at warnings as something that is negative, but we can also hold warnings as encouragements. It is encouraging for someone to warn you about potential dangers. It is encouraging when a friend warns us about potential dangers like a “D” rating from the Health department at your favorite restaurant. Jesus offers a clear warning, “woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” Judas had already consented with the chief priests to betray Jesus, but Jesus is still giving him one last chance to repent. We know that Judas served his purpose in denying and betraying Christ, but the warning was still given to him. Judas showed his true allegiance to self and himself as an imposter among the disciples. 

            The warning of betrayal went out to Judas as it does it us. Are you living secretly against the Lord? Are you within the community of faith, but simply an imposter?  Only you truly know your heart before God, but in his last words, Jesus exhorts his people of the danger of betraying the Son of Man. And truthfully, no one expected Judas. Verse 23 says, “And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.” This verse shows that it was not obvious to the disciples that it was Judas. Sin can bite anyone. We should never be surprised of the magnitude of sin. Judas was trusted with the money bag. He had walked with Jesus for three years. I do not even think Judas expecting it was going to be himself. Sin is deceptive and destructive. Do not underestimate the power of sin.

Encouraging Last Words: Pure Leadership

The disciples were debating which one of them was the worst in who would betray Christ, but also were disputing which one of them was the best. Luke 22:24-27,

A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
Jesus shifts the value of leadership. The leadership of the kingdom of God is drastically different than the leadership of the world.

            The Gentiles exercise lordship or demonstrated their authority through their display of power. They gave themselves the title benefactor, not because it was earned, but simply based on their position. Worldly leaders took pride in their position. It is natural for people to boast in their position of authority. The prideful exaltation in position is fine for the world, but not so with the kingdom of God. In verse 26 we see a sharp contrast, “But not so with you. Rather.” Jesus is showing a distinct contrast between the world and the kingdom. Jesus says that leadership in the kingdom is one of service.  He says, “Let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.” Jesus is not saying there shouldn’t be leaders, but that there should be certain kind of leader.

            Jesus stretches this example further by placing the world and the kingdom side by side in very clear example.  “For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table?” It is obvious that the one who is at reclining at the table is greater than the one who is serving…in the eyes of the world. The kingdom of God is not of this world. Our King has come to give another kingdom. Jesus says, “But I am among you as the one who serves.”  Jesus demonstrated true humility during this meal mentioned in John 13 when during the supper Jesus rose from his table and laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel and tying to waist and washing the disciples’ feet.  John 13:12-17,

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

King Jesus modeled for us how we are called to lead. The life of leadership is the life of service.

During my years in ministry, I have found many people who wanted to be served, but very few people who want to serve. By God’s grace I have met many men and women in this congregation who, like the Lord Jesus, wash one another’s feet. They do not crave the limelight, but serve behind the scenes. They give of their time and the money so that others can know Jesus. Sunday School teachers who labor hour after hour over their lessons so that they can instruct the hearts and minds of God’s people. Saints who go out of their way to pick people up for church and to bring people a meal when sick. Pure godly leaders are those who serve. If anyone aspires to leadership in the church, let him become a servant.

Encouraging Last Words: Promised Kingdom

One of my favorite proverbs is Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” It is amazing how friendship is tested under the crucible of suffering. My best friends are those who have walked with me and stood by in the midst of trials. Have you ever walked through the crucible of suffering only to discover who your friends truly are? Think about how people have stood next to you during trials as we hear Jesus words in Luke 22:28-30,

You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Hear that again, “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials.” 

Those are words written by the Savior King, but words written to beloved friends. Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. His family thought he was crazy. He was called Beelzebul. He was left after giving hard words of instruction. The crowd was fickle, but his friends remained steadfast. And think about how important the eleven were in light of the one who would betray him. It is easy to focus on the one, but Jesus turned his eyes to the eleven that stayed beside him. Beloved, you are going to have Judas in your life, but you will also have those who stay with you during trials. I pray your eyes will see the ones that are still there beside you rather than the ones who have left your side.

Jesus looked at the eleven and promised them a prominent place in his kingdom. God the Father gave Jesus a kingdom and now Jesus gives his disciples place in that kingdom. He rewarded them for their faithfulness to Him. God promised to reward his people for their faithfulness. We are going to go through trials, but there will be a sweet reward at the end of our struggles. I love the comparison that Paul makes in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” He is not minimizing our struggle, but telling us that the reward at the end of the struggle is worth it. So, Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Remember that you are serving the Lord Christ!!!

God has promised a special place for his disciples. First, Jesus will welcome them to his table in his kingdom. There will be intimate fellowship in the age to come. Second, Jesus will place his disciples on the thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. God’s plan for Israel will finally be complete as he brings all his people, Jew and Gentile, under one head, Christ, on the last day. This great promise was given to the disciples to encourage them as they were going to face the death of Christ and as they were going to face their eventual death. The remaining 11 disciples were all executed because of their faith in Jesus except the Apostle John who was exiled on the island of Patmos.

Encouraging Last Words: Promised Victory

After Jesus gives a word of encouragement to all the disciples, he speaks directly to Simon Peter. Jesus says,

Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.

We all are probably very familiar with Peter denying Christ, but we may not be as familiar with the spiritual backdrop of his denial. Let me make two observations. First, we have an adversary that is actively pursuing our destruction. Satan demanded to have Peter. Satan hates Jesus and hates his disciples. Peter experienced this first hand. The worst moments in a believer’s life are when they fall to temptation. Peter would deny his friend and master. And when he did, Peter wept bitterly (Luke 22:62). Peter knows the pain of failure so we should listen to him when he writes, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Peter wants us to learn from his mistakes. When he was warned of Satan, he trusted in his pride believing that he was above temptation, saying “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”

Friend, do not underestimate the Adversary. We see him take Judas out. And we see him want to take Peter out, but the Lord Jesus would not let his faith fail. Second observation, Jesus is praying for you. Our trust is ultimately not in our ability to resist temptation, but in our Savior who resisted temptation. We all have failed against temptation. We have sinned against God and deserve death and hell because of our sin. None of us has resisted temptation to the point of death, but when Jesus was tempted, he resisted the Adversary. He was tempted in every way and without sin. Jesus Christ has become our high priest, holy, innocent, unstained separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens (Heb. 7:26). He gave his perfect life as a ransom for sinners. And after he was dead and buried, God raised from the dead accepting his sacrificial death on behalf of sinners. Hebrews 7:25, “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

When we draw near to God in repentance and faith, God saves us. He prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail as He forever lives to pray for his people so that he will not lose one of his sheep. Peter did fail Jesus, but his failure was only temporary. There are some of you here who have recently or are currently failing Jesus Christ by falling to temptation.  Be encouraged that Jesus knows your failure and He is praying for you. And he says to his children, “your faith will not fail.” He said to Peter, “And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Friend, Jesus invites you to turn again to Him. Do not continue in your sin, but return to your Shepherd and the Overseer of your soul. Christian, know that when you sin, you have an advocate before the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1). As you should not underestimate the Adversary, do not underestimate the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. His grace restored Peter in his failure as His grace will restore you in your failure.  Turn again from your sin and draw near to God who saves to the uttermost since he lives to make intercession for his people.

Encouraging Last Words: Promised Rejection

The reason our salvation is possible is because our Savior was rejected. It is only by his wounds we are healed. It was time for his disciples to get ready for life without their master. The world had made its decision about Jesus and now it was time for his disciples to prepare for the same fate.[1] Luke 22:35-38,

And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”

Jesus had tried to prepare his disciples for his death. It was difficult for them to understand why Jesus had to die. Their expectations of the Messiah were different. Jesus wanted them to see how his death had been planned since the beginning. He had to be numbered with the transgressors. He had to be treated as a sinner so that sinners could be saved. Jesus is reminding his disciples in his last words that, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)

            Jesus invites his disciples to follow him, but remember he only asks us to go where he has already been. Let our hearts take courage as we read where our Lord went to bring us salvation. Isaiah 53,

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and   as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:3-12)

Beloved, Jesus Christ was numbered with the transgressors to make intercession for the transgressors. Be encouraged, Jesus is praying for you. Your faith will not fail. Your sins are paid for you. Your redemption is near. Turn to Him again in faith as we wait for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us. Be encouraged for our Savior saves to the uttermost all who draw near to Him.



[1] Bock, D. L. (1996). Luke: 9:51–24:53 (Vol. 2). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. Luke 22:36

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Seeing the God of Hope

The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. (Psalm 11:4)

Beloved,

Sue was in a difficult marriage. Her husband did not treat her very well and struggled with a pattern of destructive behavior. She battled to find joy in her marriage and to honor her husband. Her friends saw her struggle and told her to give up on her marriage. “What is the point? Why do you even try? Nothing is ever going to change.  Just give up and get out.” It is counsel that is all too commonly given to those struggling through difficulty.

King David received the same hopeless counsel from his friends. In Psalm 11, someone said to him, “Flee like a bird to your mountain, for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:1-3) His friends encouraged him to give up and flee for, in their minds, there was nothing he could do.  And yet, David didn’t run, but said, “The Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven.” God was in complete control.  He saw everything that was happening and was not surprised by his trials.  David took refuge in the Lord. He sought protection from God in the midst of his struggle. 

Do not listen to the hopeless counsel of “well-meaning” friends.  With man things are impossible, but with God all things are possible. Even though we may not feel like God is in control, let your heart take courage and trust in God’s sovereign power. David’s friends asked a rhetorical question, “What can the righteous do?” They expected that the only answer was to be nothing, but David gave the answer they were not expecting.  The Lord is sovereign and does all that He pleases (Psalm 115:3).

Sue can persevere in a difficult marriage because God is good and will use her trying marriage to sanctify her and give Him glory.  Beloved, do not listen to hopeless counsel, but trust in the God of hope to “fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Rom 15:13)
________________________
image credit (http://waf-quotes.s3.amazonaws.com/hope/5238-hope.jpg)


Sunday, February 15, 2015

The Plan and the Purposes of God


On March 4, 1933 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed a nation facing deep depression. Unemployment was just under 25%. The nation was steeped in uncertainty and confusion. People were starving and afraid. During his campaign for president, Roosevelt was known for optimism and a fatherly tone, but in his first address to the fearful nation as President of the United States, he spoke to their grief and to their pain.  He said,

This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days. [1]

FDR knew that the people were afraid of their future and he wanted his first address to bring them to trust him as their leader. During times of uncertainty and trials, it is vital for people to trust their leader and his plan for the future.

This was true for the United States during the Great Depression and it was true for the disciples of Jesus Christ during their great depression. This section is the beginning of what is commonly referred to as the Passion of the Christ. Jesus has told his disciples several times that he is going to be delivered over the Gentiles, mocked and killed (Luke 18:31-34). At the beginning of his betrayal and coming death, Jesus wants to reassure his disciples to trust him and his sovereign plan. 

Trust in God’s Sovereign Plan

Luke sets the scene showing how Jesus was a faithful Jew to the end in keeping the Passover. Luke 22:7-13,

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

The end of Jesus’s life was close at hand. Soon he was going to be arrested, tried and crucified. Although Jesus knew the end was coming, he still made plans to celebrate the Passover as a pious pilgrim in the capital city.[2]

Jesus takes control of the situation giving his disciples clear instructions on how to arrange the meal. It is unclear if Jesus had pre-arranged the meal or if in his divine foreknowledge, he knew of the man to whom he sent his disciples.  Regardless of how Jesus knew of the man and the room, it is clear that Jesus is in charge. He took the initiative to send Peter and John to get the upper room ready.  These details in the Passion narrative show how Jesus was not a rebel fighting against the establishment, but a faithful, pious Jew who keeps the law. As we are moving to the end of Luke’s gospel, it is important to remember again Luke’s audience. Luke 1:1-4,

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:1-4)

Luke was writing an orderly account to a Roman official detailing Jesus’ life. Luke had a plan in writing this gospel to show God’s plan in salvation. The passion is not a random event, but has been set before the foundation of time.

The readers’ sensors should have been peaked when Luke described the setting.  Verse 7, “Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.” This was the celebration of God’s deliverance from Egypt and their birth of a nation. Israel was in bondage for 400 years in Egypt. Their cries were heard by the Lord and he sent Moses to Pharaoh to deliver his people. God sent 9 plagues against Egypt to give them an opportunity to show mercy to Israel and each time they refused. God finally promised the 10th and final plague. God told the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb, without blemish, and spread the blood upon the doorposts of the house. God tells Moses that this,

is the LORD's Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:11-13)

The timing of the coming crucifixion with the Passover was not random, but was all part of the sovereign plan of God. Even Israel’s captivity was part of God’s plan, so that He could show that He was the Lord. 

It was very hard for the disciples to understand that Jesus had to die. They believed Jesus was the Messiah, but did not fully understand the ramifications of what that meant. Luke is showing that Jesus is the Passover lamb who had to be sacrificed. John the Baptist proclaimed as he saw Jesus approaching him for his baptism, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus takes away the sin of the world through his own blood. As in the Passover, the lamb had to be killed and spread over the doorpost covering the house so when the Lord saw the blood he would pass over them and would not destroy them. The blood was the sign of their salvation. Their salvation came at the expense of another. 

This is the gospel.  We all deserve to be destroyed for our sin, but God sent Jesus to be crushed in our place. Our salvation comes at the expense of another. If you are not a Christian, how do you think about salvation? Do you need salvation? How does salvation come? Through your good works? Or through avoiding really bad sins? The Bible says that salvation can only come through judgment. Our conscience bears witness that we are all sinners and have done wrong. God, being just and holy, cannot simply turn a blind eye to sin, but has to deal with it. In order for God to “pass over” your sins, someone else’s blood had to be shed. Romans 3 summarizes this message:

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:23-26)

The blood of Jesus, the Passover Lamb, was to be shed for the forgiveness of sin. And just as the Israelites had to wipe the blood on the doorposts of their houses to show their trust in this salvation, we have to wipe the blood on the doorposts of our hearts to show our trust in this message. We trust God’s sovereign plan of salvation by repenting, turning from our sins and placing our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Friend, if you are not a follower of Jesus, the promise of the blood is extended to you. You can have your life covered by placing your faith in Jesus Christ.

The backdrop of Jesus death was the predestined plan of God. Jesus wanted his disciples to trust him as he wants us to trust him. Even in our darkest moments, we can have faith that God is in control. Jesus had faith during his trial so we can have faith in ours.

A man just got married and was returning home with his wife. They were crossing a lake in a boat, when suddenly a great storm arose. The man was a warrior, but the woman became very much afraid because it seemed almost hopeless: The boat was small and the storm was really huge, and any moment they were going to be drowned. But the man sat silently, calm and quiet, as if nothing was happening.

The woman was trembling and she said, “Are you not afraid ?”. This may be our last moment of life! It doesn’t seem that we will be able to reach the other shore. Only some miracle can save us; otherwise death is certain. Are you not afraid? Are you mad or something? Are you a stone or something? The man laughed and took the sword out of its sheath. The woman was even more puzzled: What he was doing? Then he brought the naked sword close to the woman’s neck, so close that just a small gap was there, it was almost touching her neck. He said,” Are you afraid?”

She started to laugh and said,” Why should I be afraid? If the sword is in your hands, why I should be afraid? I know you love me. He put the sword back and said, This is my answer”. I know God loves me, and the storm is in His hands SO WHATSOEVER IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS GOING TO WORK FOR OUR GOOD. If we survive, good; if we don’t survive, good, because everything is in His hands and He cannot do anything wrong[3].

God’s sovereignty should not be left to the theological classroom, but should give us confidence in the midst of the storm. The disciples were entering a storm and Jesus wants to them to trust Him and the predestined plan of God.

Trust in God’s Sovereign Purposes

     We are not called only to trust in God’s sovereign plan, but to trust in his sovereign purposes. He has established certain rituals for our good and his glory. We cannot ignore them as mere suggestions, but trust God by following his ways. Luke continues,

And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.

Jesus begins the Passover with a reminder to his disciples that he is about to suffer, and then redefines how his people should observe the Passover.

            Jesus redefines the symbols of the bread and wine for his own body and his own blood.  As the bread is broken, so, too, will his body be broken.  As the wine is poured out, so, too, will his blood be poured out. Let me first make some comments on how the church has historically viewed the Lord’s Supper, then make some applications for how we should observe it today. First, there have been four views of what happens during the Lord’s Supper.

Transubstantiation- This view, held by Catholics, states that the bread and the wine actually becomes the body and blood of Jesus. They believe the elements maintain their appearance, but their substance changes when the priest consecrates the elements. Some Catholic opponents may view this is a re-sacrifice of Christ, but I think more accurately they view the Lord’s Supper as the perpetual sacrifice at Calvary. This means they view communion as the continued original sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

Consubstantiation- This view is taken by Lutheran and refers to the idea that the real body and the real blood of Christ is mixed with the bread and wine. It is a modification of the traditional catholic position of transubstantiation, attempting to make sense of the dual presence. It is very similar to the position above.

Memorial – This view is held by most Baptists. It says that the Lord’s Supper is to be done in remembrance of the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross.  The bread and the wine are symbolic of the body and blood of Christ.

Spiritual Presence – This view is similar to the memorial view, but adds the emphasis of Christ’s spiritual presence when the Lord’s Supper is administered. The bread and wine represents Christ’s body and blood, but when it is taken the presence of Christ is there.

The church has disagreed exactly what happens during the Lord’s Supper, but they have uniformly agreed that it should only be taken by baptized believers who are actively trusting in Christ.

            Before I administer the Lord’s Supper, I practice a historic tradition called “fencing the table.” I say something like, “If you are a baptized believer and if you are a member in good standing of a church of like faith and order, you are welcome at the table, but if you are not I would ask for you to allow the elements to pass by.” I have gotten a lot of questions about this in the past, so let me explain why we do this. First, Churches practice three general views of fencing the table: Closed, Close, or Open. Closed Communion is where communion is only offered to the church membership. Open Communion is offered to all Christians present. Close Communion is offered to all Christians present who understand communion like the practicing church. I hold to Close Communion, meaning I invite all baptized believers who are members in good standing of a local church of like faith and order to participate in the Lord’s Supper.

       I believe Jesus Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper so that his people could remember his death, burial and resurrection and to proclaim his coming again.  The Lord’s Supper is for Christians because participating in the Lord’s Supper is an act of faith.  We are feeding and drinking by faith. It is a physical act of trust in the Passover lamb that was slain. Just like the Israelites who physically spread the blood on the doorposts as an act of faith, we demonstrate that we are covered by the body and blood of Christ by taking the Lord’s Supper.

            Practically then, the Lord’s Supper is how we demonstrate our trust in God’s sovereign purpose. He has given us communion for a very specific reason. It is a sign that people are in the faith and continuing in the faith. People should be baptized before they take the Lord’s Supper because this is a sign of entrance into the Christian faith. People should be members in good standing of the church before they take the Lord’s Supper because this is a sign you are in faith. The Bible has no category for believers who are not baptized or not connected to a local church. Many churches do not rightly practice the Lord’s Supper because they do not rightly understand church membership. It has always been the job of the pastor to fence the Table and to protect people from taking communion in an unworthy manner bringing judgment on themselves. Paul writes to the Corinthians,

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. (1 Corinthians 11:27-31)

We have to trust the sovereign purpose of the Lord in how we practice the Lord’s Supper. 

            Jesus commanded his disciples to “Do this in remembrance.” The Lord’s Supper is not optional for the Christian and yet many “self-professing Christians” have no concern for the Lord’s Supper because they do not make it a practice to participate in the Lord’s Supper with a local church. Should they have confidence in their salvation? Should we have confidence in their salvation? No.  (I am not referring to people who are physically unable to attend due to sickness, deteriorating health or distance, but able-bodied people who choose not to attend church). By not attending the Lord’s Supper, people are directly disobeying Jesus’ command to do this in remembrance of him.  They are in sin and must be called to repentance. Avoiding the Lord’s Supper is disobeying Jesus Christ.

            Historically the Lord’s Supper has also been used to administer church discipline. Discipline is God’s way to legitimize us as his adopted children (Hebrews 12). If people are living in unrepentant sin, the church protects their souls by keeping them from the table showing that they are in spiritual danger.

            Remember that Jesus was sharing this meal with his disciples in the shadow of the cross. He was to be crucified the next day bearing the full weight of God’s wrath on the cross for sinners.  This Jesus, whose body was broken and whose blood was spilled for sinners, invites us to the table. When we diminish the importance of the Lord’s Supper, we diminish the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Beloved, Jesus bore our sins in his body on a tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. One way we live to righteousness is by trusting God’s sovereign purpose in the Lord Supper. Jesus wants to encourage our faith and to remind us of his sacrificial death and promised return.  It is such a precious gift. It was given for our good, the good of the church and for the glory of God. Let us rejoice in it and trust God’s sovereign purpose for it.
           



[2] Bock, D. L. (1996). Luke: 9:51–24:53 (Vol. 2). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
image credit (http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors1/franklin-d-roosevelt-quote-the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear.jpg)
image credit (https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608029956390588271&pid=15.1&P=0)
image credit (https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608046328807162761&pid=15.1&P=0)

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Growing in Patience


Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (James 5:7-8)

Beloved,

One day I was waiting on my oldest daughter to get out of the car and said to her, “Sweetie, come on. Let’s hurry up, we have to go.” She responded as only a winsome 4 year old can, “Daddy, you are really testing my patience.” It was clear to me then that those were words that she had heard before. Every parent has had their patience tested by their children. Truthfully, we all have our patience tested every day. Whether it is the cashier line at the grocery store, the car in front of us waiting too long to make a left turn or your spouse that has to do just “one more” thing before you can leave, we all will have our patience tested.

James encourages the church to be patient as a farmer. A farmer scatters seed and waits. He waits and watches. He waits until the early and late rains for his crops to grow. The life of the farmer is a life of patience. There is nothing he can do after the seed is sown, but to wait and watch. The life of the Christian is a life of patience. We wait and watch for the coming of the Lord. As the farmer waits for his crops to grow, we wait for Christ to return. In His return, He will make all things new and finish the good work He began in us (Phil.1:6, Rev.21:5).

And as we wait, our patience will be tested. We will be tested when we do not experience growth in our own lives or when we do not see growth in the lives of others. How can we grow in patience? One way is to look for evidences of grace in our life and in the lives of others. Evidences of graces are ways in which God is moving in a person’s life. Pastor CJ Mahaney notes,

 Most people are more aware of the absence of God than the presence of God. Most people are   more aware of the presence of sin than evidences of grace. And much of God’s work in our lives is quiet; it’s not “spectacular.” It’s rarely obvious to the individual, and normally it’s incremental and takes place over a lengthy period of time.

It is hard to see our growth. I have spoken to a number of Christians who are discouraged because they feel like they are not growing. They are impatient with their growth.

The truth is not that they are not growing, but they do not see how they are growing. The farmer’s crop is growing during the winter, but the fruit cannot be seen until the spring. Beloved, God is moving in your life and in the lives around you, the question is, “Can you see it?”

Study the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) and see how God is slowly growing those traits in your brothers and sisters. And when you see it, encourage the saints with what you see. If you are unaware of your growth, it is likely that others are unaware of theirs as well. Be patient in your growth like the farmer. You may not see it, but God is moving “for it is He who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

Monday, February 9, 2015

Framing the Discussion on Same-Sex Marriage


            On July 31, 2004 Ellen Severance Crozier became Ellen Crozier Kiehn. It was one of the best days of my life. Marriage is one of the most precious gifts that God has given our world. I am grateful for marriage. And if marriage is such a beautiful and precious gift, should it not be opened to all? What right does any man have to restrict marriage? Or to say that people do not have the right to be married?

            We have to first define what marriage is and who the arbiter of marriage is before we can answer these questions. As a culture, we are often are driven more by emotion than we are by truth. We should be driven by emotion, but only in accordance with truth. American Theologian Jonathan Edwards, a key figure in the First Great Awakening, said, "I should think myself in the way of my duty to raise the affections of my hearers as high as possibly I can, provided that they are affected with nothing but truth, and with affections that are not disagreeable to the nature of what they are affected with."[1] God is not against emotions. He made us emotional beings, but He wants our emotions to be governed by the truth.

There is no greater institution that causes more of an emotional reaction than marriage. There is extreme jubilation and delight that accompanies a happy marriage and extreme pain and sadness that comes when a marriage ends. I know marriage is an emotional issue, and I, like Edwards, desire to raise your affections as high as possibly, yet to govern those affections by the truth revealed in God’s Word. So before we can ask questions about the possibility of same-sex marriage, we have to first define what marriage is as revealed in the Bible.

God Defines Marriage in Creation

            It has been said by proponents of same-sex marriage that Jesus never prohibited same-sex marriage. Although it may be true that Jesus never explicitly condemned same-sex marriage, he did define marriage, and his definition of marriage would exclude same-sex unions. Jesus was approached by a group Pharisees to test him by asking a question about divorce.  “And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, ‘Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?’ According to Jewish records, there were certain Pharisees who believed it was permissible to divorce or send away one’s wife for just about anything even for something as small as burning his bread.  Jesus answered:

Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. (Matthew 19:4-6)

Jesus grounds his argument in the first two chapters of the Bible.

            The Pharisees would have been familiar with the Law so Jesus is giving them a little bit of a jab when he asks, “Have you not read?” They had probably read Genesis 1-2 thousands of time, but did not understand all its implications. I believe the same could be said for scholars today. Many have read Genesis 1-2, but do not understand all its implications for marriage. Jesus believes in the sexual complementarity or the male/femaleness of marriage. Jesus quotes two passages from Genesis: 1:27 and 2:24. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” The second chapter expands on how this male and female creation occurred. Genesis 2:18-25,

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:18-25)

Adam did not have a helper fit for him so God made someone who was similar and yet different. Eve’s sameness and differentness are the reason it was possible for Adam and Eve to become one flesh.

Jesus quotes this passage in defining marriage as a man and his wife becoming a one flesh union. Then Jesus adds in Matthew 19:6, “So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Jesus connects the permanency of marriage together with the gender complementarity of a marital couple. Therefore, by definition, marriage can only be entered into by a man and a woman in a committed life-long union. Jesus prohibits same-sex marriage by defining marriage between a man and a woman. Same-sex couples by definition cannot be married.

Our society is attempting to redefine marriage. The motivation may be compassion, but it also changes the very definition of an institution that has been defined in one way since the creation of the world. Sixth Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton was on a 3 person panel that voted in favor of defining marriage between a man and a woman 2-1. In the court’s decision, he wrote,

For better, for worse, or for more of the same, marriage has long been a social institution defined by relationships between men and women. So long defined, the tradition is measured in millennia, not centuries or decades. So widely shared, the tradition until recently had been adopted by all governments and major religions of the world. A dose of humility makes us hesitant to condemn as unconstitutionally irrational a view of marriage shared not long ago by every society in the world, shared by most, if not all, of our ancestors, and shared still today by a significant number of the States.[2]

Our culture is rapidly moving towards a redefinition of marriage, but we must at least pause with humility to ask if that is right. The traditional view of marriage between a man and a woman has been adopted by all governments and all major religions of the world until the last several decades. It takes an incredible amount of hubris and arrogance to redefine the institution of marriage.

God Displays Marriage as a Reflection

            There are some who say, “What is the big deal if we redefine marriage? Why can’t Christians just agree to disagree and hold on to the traditional view of marriage in our own private communities?” The reason we cannot ignore the push for same-sex marriage in the public square is because marriage was created by God for a purpose. One purpose is to be a reflection of His Gospel. If we redefine marriage, we are trying to thwart God’s design in marriage as a means of sharing the gospel. Ephesians 5:25-33,

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:25-33)

Marriage is picture of the gospel. The love a husband expresses towards his wife is a picture of the love that Christ has for his church, and the love a wife shows towards her husband is a picture of the love the church has for Christ.  A healthy marriage is a beautiful display of the gospel.  If we forfeit God’s design for marriage, we are diminishing the picture of the gospel.

God Designed Marriage as a Foundation



A society is only as strong as the families of that society. If the family breaks down, the society will also break down. One of the reasons same-sex has gained so much acceptance is the erosion of marriage over the last 50 years. Ryan Anderson of the Heritage Foundation writes,

America has experienced a slow erosion of marriage over the past 50 years that is now culminating in the view that marriage must be redefined to include same-sex relationships. Americans with same-sex attractions aren’t to blame for this, but redefining marriage will only further weaken our marriage culture.

In the 1960s, heterosexuals, acting on the destructive liberal ideology of the “Me Generation,” increasingly began to debase human sexuality and the marital relationship. As a result of the sexual revolution and the introduction of no-fault divorce laws, marriage became an institution more about the desires of adults than the needs of children—an institution that need not even aspire to permanency. In the eyes of marriage revisionists, marriage was about adult emotional union and sex became more casual—something conquerable, rather than embraced for what it could beget: children.

Laws and cultural practices shape belief; belief shapes behavior. So it is little surprise that when the law redefined marriage through no-fault divorce that Americans changed their behaviors, with divorce rates rising from single digits to nearly 50 percent. This culture focused on adult romance—that a marriage should last only so long as the love does—is what today’s Millennials have inherited. Same-sex marriage is, in a certain sense, a logical progression in the erosion of the meaning of marriage. The question facing Americans now is whether we will further abandon the norms of marriage—monogamy, sexual exclusivity and permanency—and promote the collapse of the institution by fundamentally redefining it.[3]

Marriage norms are shifting and society is suffering.

            Christians should continue to strive to create laws and structures that uphold the biblical definition of marriage. One of our highest callings is to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:39). Let me apply that general principle in two specific ways in regards to how we publicly address same-sex marriage. First, one way we love our neighbors is by working towards advocating God’s way. Psalm 33,

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. (Psalm 33:10-19)

A nation will experience more prosperity and peace when it follows God’s law. I am not advocating we push for a theocracy, but for laws that are consistent with God’s nature. In the end, this will make our lives better as a society. If the all-wise, all-good, God has given marriage as the foundation of society, then systems and structures that support a biblical definition of marriage are good for society.

            Secondly, we love our neighbors in how we advocate for this position. The reputation of Christians in the gay community is hateful and mean-spirited. Harmful language and aggressive tones are not helpful and do not honor God. We speak gospel truth in a gospel manner; full of grace and tenderness. God cares about what we say, but he also cares how we say it. If we do not speak with grace, we will never win a voice among the gay community. And if you do not care about the gay community, I question whether or not you truly know Jesus. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, full of grace AND truth.  Beloved, we should advocate for godly laws in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Christ.

God Delights in Marriage Sacrifice

            One of the most damaging underlying ideologies of same-sex marriage is the importance of sexual fulfilment. Our culture has raised sexual fulfilment to be its highest aim, but our highest aim should be glory of God. There are people who will have to sacrifice their desire for marriage for the cause of Jesus Christ. Singleness is a blessing in the Scripture. The most fulfilled and complete human being in the history of the world was a single man. Jesus never married. Paul said it was good to remain single as he was. When we raise romantic, sexual fulfillment above God, we diminish the beauty and glory of God. God delights in those who for the sake of the gospel lay down their desires. Some say it is unfair, but God simply says, “Follow me.”

            There are Christian brothers and sisters who struggle with same-sex attraction. Jesus is asking them to lay down their desires for the cause of Christ. Will it be hard? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely yes!! There is a cost to following to Jesus.  Jesus wants us to forsake all others and follow him. He calls us to pick up our cross daily and to follow him. He bids us come and die. Mark 10:28, Peter said to Jesus, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” We do not know the tone in which Peter said this. It could have been a prideful tone boasting in how much they gave up or in an exasperated, “what else do you want from me?” tone.  Regardless Jesus responded to Peter’s statement with tremendous compassion and hope. Jesus said:

Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:29-31)

Sacrificing for the gospel is always worth it. Do you believe that? Do you believe that when God calls people to lay down their lives (including the right to marry) for the gospel that they will be rewarded?

            It has been said of Christians that we do not understand the challenges facing those struggling with same-sex attraction. Our ideas are built are theories rather than experience. Let me close with some insights from Rosaria Butterfield, who understands personally what God is calling the gay community to lay down. Rosaria was a liberal, lesbian feminist English professor at Syracuse University. She started doing a project aimed at the Religious Right when she met a pastor who shattered all her preconceived notions about Christianity and started to slowly believe the gospel. Butterfield shares her conversion in The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert:

I learned that the Lord wants all our loyalties under submission to him. He wants us to identify ourselves by name, in his name for us. In my case, my feelings of lesbianism were familiar, comfortable, and recognizable, and I was reluctant to give them up. I clung to Matthew 16:24 (Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.), remembering that every believer had to at some point in life take the step that I was taking: giving up the right to myself, taking up his Cross, and following Jesus. The Lord made it clear to me that I had to make some serious changes…I learned that we must obey in faith before we feel better or different.  At this time, though, obeying in faith, to me, felt like throwing myself off a cliff.[4]

God asks us to give up our lives. He promises it will be worth, but he does not promise it will be easy.

            Even in the Mark passages above, Jesus says, you will receive hundredfold with persecutions. Listen to how Rosaria described her conversion,

Although grateful, I did not perceive conversion to be “a blessing.” It was a train wreck…When I became a Christian, I had to change everything—my life, my friends, my writing, my teaching, my advising, my clothes, my speech, my thoughts. I was tenured to a field that I could no longer work in. I was the faculty advisor to all of the gay and lesbian and feminist groups on campus…I was flooded with doubt about my new life in Christ. Was I willing to suffer like Christ? Was I willing to be considered stupid by those who didn’t know Jesus? The world’s eyes register what a life in Christ takes away, but how do I communicate all that it gives? Do I really believe, in Charles Bridges’ words, “The very chains of Christ are glorious” (p. 33)?1 Peter, after being beaten for preaching the gospel, rejoiced that he was “counted worthy to suffer shame for [Christ’s] name” (Acts 5:41). I pondered this. To the world, this is masochism. To the Christian, this is freedom. Did I really believe this? Do I really believe this today? I wondered: If my life was the only evidence that Christ was alive, would anyone be convinced?

Conversion wrecked Rosaria life. She had to sacrifice it all, but it was worth it. And the Lord delighted in her sacrifice.

            Let me close by saying this: Rosaria, a full blown liberal lesbian said this of her church family,
I’m grateful that when I heard the Lord’s call on my life, and I wanted to hedge my bets, keep my girlfriend and add a little God to my life, I had a pastor and friends in the Lord who asked nothing less of me than that I die to myself. 

God bids the gay man and woman to come and die as God bids the straight man and woman to come and die. The call of the gospel is a call to lay down one’s life.

We hurt our Christian brother and sister who struggle with same-sex attraction by not calling them to sacrifice. God is not withholding something good from them in the gospel, but rather He is offering them something better, Himself. Jesus Christ asks his followers to only follow his example: to lay down their lives. He promises he will reward you when you lay down your life for his name’s sake. Will you trust him?



[1] Jonathan Edwards, Some Thoughts Concerning the Revival, in The Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol. 4, ed. C. Goen (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1972), 387.
[4] Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert. Rosaria Butterfield.
image credit (http://www.truthdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/I-DO-Marriage-Series.jpg)
image credit (https://www.sgo.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/foundation-for-gynecologic-oncology.jpg)