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A New OPC/URCNA Psalter Hymnal!   :)    6/11/11

The report by Rev. Alan Strange from the floor of this year's Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) General Assembly is that the OPC will work with the United Reformed Churches of North America (URCNA) on the publication of a new joint Psalter/Hymnal. This is great news!--even for those of us outside of those two churches. It's great to see two confessionally Reformed churches with a different heritage working together so closely. (The decision was ratified this week at the OPC GA, and will come before the URCNA synod next year.) It's also a relief for those of us who have longed to see more churches singing all 150 psalms in worship. (This will be the first time that the OPC has officially worked on publishing a song book to include versions for all 150 Psalms.) According to the report, the OPC committee working on the metrical Psalm-translations has already completed 130 out of 150 Psalms, which means that the joint result is likely to have the OPC's fingerprints on the psalter. (This should be much to the rejoicing of those in the URCNA who feared some gender-neutral tendencies would pop up in the language of the new Psalter/Hymnal.) One advantage of the joint cooperation will be that the OPC and URCNA may combine their efforts in checking the Hebrew translation. They will have the benefit of Hebrew scholars from both churches. (And both the OPC and URCNA are known for a high level of biblical scholarship.) Hopefully the translations will be faithful to the Hebrew text, understandable, and the music will be reverent, timeless, and accessible, with due consideration given to the sacred music passed down in the church through history. Oh, ya, and there's going to be a lot of hymns in it too. It also would not be a bad thing if some of those historic Reformed liturgical prayer forms traditionally included in the Psalter/Hymnal used by most URCs made it into the final volume.

Your Favorite Subject--YOU!     6/10/11

‎"YOU - A Magazine about your Favorite Subject" I received this advertisement in my email Inbox. No joke. This is what a mortgage broker thinks of as compelling advertising. This is a sign of the culture today. It's not intended as a joke. The advertiser assumes that the reader's favorite subject is his or herself, states it bluntly, and doesn't expect anyone to be offended. People in our society think that everything revolves around themselves, and they are not ashamed to say it. Even advertisers are not afraid to imply that their target consumers are self-absorbed. After all, isn't everyone? What's wrong with being self-centered? The contemporary American culture has become so narcissistic, people act like it's normal to be fully and unashamedly concerned with themselves. Dr. David Wells has covered this them extensively in his writings on contemporary culture. He writes that the "self" is the overwhelming obsession of our culture. Yet the Lord Jesus taught a different message. He said, "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:37) Jesus was speaking in a communal, group-oriented culture, so he makes reference to fathers, mothers, sons and daughters as being less important than he. In our contemporary individualistic and self-absorbed western cultures, we could just as truthfully say: The person who loves himself more than Christ is not worthy of him.

Matthew 10:38-39 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

The real reason why Muslims are bulding mosques in the US, Canada, and Europe     5/13/11

As more Muslims have migrated to the US and Europe in search of employment and economic stability, Islamic institutions and organizations have increasingly begun to build new schools and mosques (places of Muslim worship.) This phenomenon has provoked widespread concerns about the motives of Muslims to build mosques, particularly in prominent locations such as New York City and downtown Munich. (Witness the intense dialogue over the Islamic center which was planned to be built near ground zero.) Americans are told that Islam wants to conquer the world, that it has since its beginnings in the seventh century AD. And in fact this is correct. What then are we to think of all the mosque-building? Christians believe in a God who works all things according to the counsel of his will, as God's word teaches in Ephesians 1:11. When we witness the misuse of God's name and disbelief in Jesus Christ, when Muslim immigrant communities are springing up, and establishing mosques, one thing Christians are not permitted to do is to fear. Jesus says, "fear not..." (Matthew 10:28ff). But what is the real reason? In other words, why is God allowing this to happen? I am convinced that the real reason why the Muslims are building mosques in the US and Europe is in order to provide houses of worship for their own grandchildren and great-grandchildren to worship the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. After all, this is all occuring under the direction of God's watchful hand. And his word is unchained, unbound, and going forth in power among every tribe and nation of the earth, not the least of which is occuring among Muslims right now. They are throwing off the shackles of man-made religion and converting to the Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of his Spirit whose work no one can impede in the slightest. Islam has nothing to withstand the onslaught of the pure good news of Jesus Christ going out through the word by the power of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, instead of fearing the mosque-building, I welcome it. Let them build lots of nice buildings. They will be abandoned sooner or later due to the emptiness of the doctrines they are teaching, and Islam's lack of relevancy to solve the need of sinful humans. Reports from those familiar with the Islamic world say that there is already widespread disenchantment and disbelief in Islam among supposed Muslims. And then, when the descendants of these immigrants from the Muslim world are converting to the Lord Jesus Christ, responding in faith to the word proclaimed, through the Word of God by the power of the Spirit, these beautiful, expensive buildings will fall into disuse due to lack of interest. When that happens, why not use the mosques as places of worship for the new Christian churches which will be springing up around them? After all, the architecture of the mosque was derived directly from that of the Christian churches of the East. And these buildings would not make good outlet stores. Cheap worship space is hard to come by. I think it's an idea worth considering.

Pray for Christians in the Muslim World     5/6/11

Reports from Pakistan indicate that there is widespread anger among Muslims over the killing of Usama Bin Laden in a US military operation. Many Muslims in this part of the world have idolized Bin Laden as a folk hero. Since these angry Muslims are largely unable to harm the United States, they find local Christians to be an easy target. The Muslim misperception is that the US and Europe are Christian nations. So they attempt to strike back at the US by harming local Christians. Yet the United States will not offer any defense or protection to these Christians overseas. Their only defense, their fortress and shield, is the living God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Please join me in prayer for their safety, protection, and their faith. Can you pray along the lines of the following Psalm, joining with the prayers of persecuted Christians in Pakistan and elsewhere?:

Psalm 3

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

Who is more dangerous to Christians, Muslims or Secular America?     10/6/10

There have been recent reports that group of angry Muslims in Malawi and other countries have demonstrated by burning Bibles. Although the actual damage inflicted on the Gideons organization (who donated the Bibles) was relatively small, the sentiment expressed in the act is undoubtedly something to be taken seriously. It is unusual for Muslims to blatantly disrespect the Bible. These Muslims were expressing their hatred of Christianity in reaction to the burning of the Qur'an which had previously been scheduled (and then cancelled) at a church in Gainesville, Florida. Although the threat of militant Islam is real, and stretches back to its very beginning in the seventh century, it's important to keep things in perspective by remembering that the secular culture in which we live is no less hostile to Christianity (in principle) than is Islam. In fact, on a superficial level we have much more in common with the Muslims. Muslims believe in a sovereign god who created the universe by his mere word, and who has decreed whatsoever comes to pass. They believe in Jesus' virgin birth, and that he was the Messiah (without understanding what that means, sadly.) They believe in many of the precepts of Christian morality, (their founder having adapted much of Muslim practice from Christian or Jewish sources.) They are against abortion, homosexuality, feminism, and moral relativism. Secularists, on the other hand, hate Christianity because it stands in the way of the realization of their utopian dream. How can they establish happiness on earth for humanity through science and mutual understanding when Christians are so preoccupied with looking forward to their future with Christ in heaven? Christians do not go along with their redefining of society. To secular America, we seem to be a bunch of bigoted crumugeons who want to spoil humanity's chance at happiness.

Secularism will increasingly become our greatest threat, the greatest persecutor of the church of Jesus Christ. Its toleration of us is only begrudging, and is shrinking by the hour. Although most secularists are against the death penalty today, I can foresee a time when this too will change, (does anyone remember the guillotine of the French Revolution?) when they find that the Christian opposition to their most cherished humanist values is so evil that Christians are no longer worthy of life on earth. And if some Muslims have been burning Bibles, so has the U. S. Military.

This complicates things when we try to fend off political threats to our physical safety by banding together with others with whom we share a common enemy. Who is a greater threat to us as Christians, Islam or the secular state? If the former, then we should support the suppression of Islam in tandem with the secularists in national and global politics. But the danger in this approach is that the secularists will next turn against us to suppress us for our "intolerance" and antithesis to their core values. But if we stand shoulder to shoulder with Islam against secularism, then we face the threat of our children coming under the yoke of Sharia at some point in the future. May God give us wisdom as we walk here on earth, yearning for the final victory to come, when King Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead, establishing eternal justice on the earth.

This is the dillemma of Christians being involved in politics. It's a worthwhile effort, but oh, the complications!


Update: Calvin's insights on Pentecost and the restoration of the Kingdom of Israel in Acts 1:6-8     9/8/10

In his commentary on Acts 1:8, Calvin makes a insightful point about what is going on in the passage. He notes that the apostles, in asking whether the Kingdom of Israel would be restored at that time, were putting the cart before the horse. Or more specifically, by asking about the restoration of the Kingdom, they were putting the reward before the work.

Calvin says,

"'You shall be my witnesses'
He correcteth two errors of theirs in this one sentence. For, first, he showeth that they must fight before they can triumph; and, secondly, that the nature of Christ’s kingdom was of another sort than they judged it to have been. Therefore, saith he, You shall be my witnesses; that is, the husbandman must first work before he can reap his fruits. Hence, nay we learn that we must first study how we may come unto the kingdom of God, before we begin to dispute we subtlely philosophize. about the state of the life to come. Many there be which do curiously inquire what manner [of] blessedness that shall be which they shall enjoy after they shall be received into the everlasting kingdom of heaven, not having any care how they may come to enjoy the same. but they ought, in the first instance, to renounce the world, omitted. They reason concerning the quality of the life to come, which they shall have with Christ; but they never think that they must be partakers of his death, that they may live together with him, (2 Timothy 2:11.) Let every man, therefore, apply himself in his work which he hath in hand; let us fight stoutly under Christ's banner; let us go forward manfully and courageously with unwearied minds, indefatigably. in our vocation, and God will give fruit in due time (and tide.)"

In other words, while Pentecost was the inaugeration of the restored Kingdom of Israel, it still remained to the church to conquer the territory of God's kingdom. God established his kingdom on earth at Pentecost, the Kingdom of Israel, in the form of the Church of Jesus Christ. Just as the Israelites were commanded to go in and possess the promised land, taking it from the nations which abode there (Deuteronomy 9:1) at the end of their journey in the wilderness, so the Church of Jesus Christ, the restored Kingdom of Israel, was sent throughout the globe to conquer God's domain by his word and Spirit, preaching and evangelizing all nations. The Kingdom was indeed restored at Pentecost, but it still remains for us as the people of God to work toward the consummation of that Kingdom territory, until every tribe tongue and nation sings the praises of the Messiah, Jesus Christ our King. God is even now powerfully expanding his Kingdom, using the means of us, his people. This will continue until the work is finished and the entire Kingdom is consummated, when King Jesus will return to bring this earthly age to an end. And though the Kingdom has been restored in the Church of Jesus Christ, we can't lie down and relax as if the work of restoring the Kingdom is all done. The work of Kingdom-expansion must continue until all of God's elect of every nation are brought into the Kingdom. Thanks to Calvin for this helpful insight.

The Restoration of the Kingdom of Israel and Acts 1:6-8     9/2/10

In Acts 1:6, Jesus disciples ask him when the Kingdom of Israel will be restored. They are anticipating the fulfillment of the OT prophets like David, Isaiah and Jeremiah who prophesied of the future restoration of the Kingdom in the last days (from their perspective.) Jesus' answer points them to look forward to Pentecost. He tells them, "ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (v. 8) This is in direct answer to their question. Jesus is telling that when the Holy Ghost comes upon them, that will be the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. This is what happened at Pentecost a few weeks later (Acts 2:1ff.) The kingdom of Israel was restored in the form of the Church of Jesus Christ, which was inaugurated at the event of Pentecost, when the Spirit of God descended on the church and empowered her to go to all the world and preach the message of the kingdom of God. This church of Jesus Christ is the restoration of the Kingdom of Israel as prophesied by the Old Testament Prophets. We, the church of Jesus Christ, are the restored Kingdom of Israel, commissioned by God to go forth and conquer the nations through the preaching of the gospel, by the power of his Spirit. Jesus' disciples were not wrong to expect the restoration of the Kingdom of Israel soon after Christ's resurrection, though the way in which Israel's restoration came at Pentecost may have surprised them. Acts 1:6-8 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Pray for the Church of Jesus Christ in North Korea     5/26/10

Kim Jong Il, Tyrant of North Korea. Blasphemer, murderer, and persecutor of the Church of Jesus Christ.

I am praying Psalm 79 on behalf of God's afflicted north of the 38th parallel. At one time in the early twentieth century, the northern parts of Korea emanated the refulgent rays of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire penninsula. The north was the center of Korean Christianity. Now North Korea is suffering under the government of Kim Jong Il, who may be the most murderous, cruel, and zealous persecutor of Christians in history. He is enforcing a policy of public execution for anyone suspected of being a Christian. His henchmen search through the homes of his people, and if any Bible pages or verses on scraps of paper are found, the poor occupants are subjected to the most cruel and terrifying deaths imaginable to make a public example of them. These dear brothers and sisters have departed this earth even while singing God's praises with their last breath, flying to the bosom of Christ where they will receive heavenly crowns of glory. Kim has defied God by propagating the worship of himself and his deceased father. They are using an edited version of the Apostle's creed, replacing God Father and God the Son with father Kim Il Sung and his son, Kim Jong Il. Won't you pray this prayer with me for the Church in North Korea?:

Psalm 79 O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps. 2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. 3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them. 4 We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us. 5 How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? 6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. 7 For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place. 8 O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake. 10 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed. 11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die; 12 And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord. 13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.

God is the spice of life     4/10/10

In this great green world of ours, there are many good and worthy pleasures that we enjoy every day. We enjoy family, friends, the marriage union with all its benefits and delights, the sunshine, trees, birds and fishes, food and drink, art, music, natural aromas, the unique expression of cultures and languages of human civilizations.

All of the good things in this world are provided by the wise and loving hand of God our Father, who gave to humankind all these gifts for our own benefit, and to remind us of him. God told us in his word that in him "all things consist" and that we are to do and enjoy "all things to the glory of God." God is the goodness, the savor and spice, the enjoyable part of all of the good things which we enjoy in life. All of these things point to him and find their goodness in reflecting the Creator: his wisdom, his provision, his love and care for all his creatures.

When God-loving and fearing people go through life they are surrounded by many temptations every day to disobey God and use these gifts of God contrary to the way he intended them to be for our good and for his glory. But we need to always remember that since God is the glorious Creator, the only one in whom there is true happiness and joy, the source of all good things, there is no enjoyment apart from him. In God and by the fellowship of his Spirit, all things are lovely and full of blessing, joy, peace, and eternal prosperity. Without God any of the good things of life are foul and rotten. The enjoyment of God enables Christians to enjoy all things. Nothing can be ultimately enjoyable if it is used in rebellious disregard for the one who is Joy itself. Christians should remember to glorify God in all things in order to enjoy all things. Those people who are sadly in a state of disobedience with rebellious hearts, who hate the Creator, cannot truly enjoy anything. For them, even the good things of this life ultimately will bring only pain and sorrow. For God is the spice of life.

Therefore, let no Christian ever think to get enjoyment by using something contrary to the way God has commanded. It will not be possible for you to enjoy anything this way. Use this truth as a guard against temptation.

St. Patrick's Day 3/17/10 DISCLAIMER:     THE FOLLOWING IS IN NO WAY AN ENDORSEMENT OF THAT SECRET SOCIETY KNOWN AS THE ORANGE ORDER OR OF ANY OTHER SECRET SOCIETY

Today on St. Patrick's Day I will celebrate by drinking an Irish red ale and reading sound Irish theology, "A Body of Divinity" by James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh. In honor of Irish Protestantism, I am also wearing Orange today.

Why Orange?

Orange has become a symbol of Protestantism, especially in Ireland. (Reference the orange section of the Irish Flag, which representes Irish Protestantism.) The origin of this color-symbol is William III of Orange, a Dutch Prince who became King of England, Scotland, and Ireland in 1688 by invitation of the English Parliament. James II, the king who had reigned prior to William's accession, was a convert to Roman Catholicism who sought to reestablish popery in England. He mercilessly persecuted (murdered) Presbyterians in England, Scotland, and Ireland. He was a rank tyrant who disregarded the representative English Parliament, and thereby the will of the people. When Parliament invited William III of Orange to take the throne, James II fled to Europe, thus abdicating the English monarchy.

This is known as the "Glorious Revolution" since power changed hands without bloodshed. As a result of the accession of King William (with Queen Mary his wife, sister of James II) and the abdication of King James II, liberty of conscience was established and protected for Protestants (whether Anglican or dissenting Presbyterians, congregationalists, etc.) This was a victory for civil liberty in the British Isles. With William and Mary on the throne, Parliament retained its authority as a governing body representing the people. Parliament ruled together with King William and Queen Mary by consent of the people.

A few years later, Parliament passed a Bill of Rights which established several of the cherished principles (for example the right to keep and bear arms, and the separation of powers between branches of government) which later became a basis for the American conception of a free government (as reflected in the U. S. Constitution.) Although some of the Scottish Presbyterian Covenanters thought that William interfered too much with church affairs by retaining the title of head of the Church of Scotland, nevertheless persecution of Presbyterians ceased regardless of whether they assented or dissented from William's rule.

In 1689 James II attempted to return to power by leading an army to Ireland. At the battle of Boyne, the forces of William and Mary defeated James II's ragtag army, securing English liberty and the right of Protestants to worship God and preach the gospel according to God's commandments in England, Scotland, and Ireland. If James II had been victorious, there is little doubt but that persecution of truly believing Christians, that is, Protestants, would have continued and increased, and the type of representative government which later became a basis for the U. S. Constitution would have been only a memory.

No doubt, that godly missionary St. Patrick would approve of me wearing Orange and reading Bishop Ussher. St. Patrick is now in glory, but if he were on earth, as a true trinitarian Christian he would be a Protestant.

Calvinism vs. Fatalism 2/27/10

Early this morning as I was riding a ski lift up Crotched Mountain, and cutting through fresh powder on my over-sized snowboard, I was thinking about the contrast between Calvinism and Fatalism. Calvinists are often misunderstood by the rest of the world as fatalists. This is serious misunderstanding. It probably comes from the precise points on which Calvinism contrasts with the contemporary world.

The philosophies of our contemporary world are by and large humanistic and libertarian. They see each individual as an end unto himself and one who may determine his own identity. In our contemporary context, Calvinists must emphasize God's sovereignty against the prevalent notions of human freedom that would make man the ultimate determiner of his own destiny independently of any determination of God. However in the grand scheme of things Calvinism stands in contrast with the two polar opposites of a notion of libertarian freedom (as just described) on one hand, and fatalism on the other hand. Fatalism is an ancient pagan idea that impersonal forces determine whatever happens in this world without any particular overarching plan, and largely without regard to any means toward the ends which fate has determined.

In fatalistic philosophy, you and I are simply pawns to be played by the will of fate, who has neither good intentions nor a systemic plan for anything that takes place. Everything occurs haphazardly with no rhyme or reason and nothing that you or I do can change what will happen. There is really no hope that anything will come out right, that good will prevail, or that if I make the right choices I will be rewarded. This philosophy stands in stark contrast to Calvinistic Christianity, which sets forth a good God who takes personal interest in all of his creation, and who is working all things out for a good plan that ultimately has as its end his own glory.

In Calvinism, God does not work against means, but he works through means to accomplish his purpose. It does indeed very much matter what you or I do, whether we believe on Jesus, whether we obey God’s commandments, whether we love one and take care of one another in very practical ways. The choices that we make have eternal consequences precisely because God has ordained them to be some of the means by which he works to the culmination of his plan.

Hence in the writings of the Greek Church father John Chrysostom (whom Calvin very highly revered) the theme of human responsibility is prominent, for he was arguing against pagan Greek fatalism that persisted in his day. Greek fatalism has its modern counterpart in Islam, which is similarly fatalistic. The Muslim believes in a God who is sovereign but whimsically unpredictable, and he neglects the use of means. Against such fatalism, then, Calvinistic Christianity argues for man's responsibility to do right and make choices which bear eternal consequences. Against the libertarian humanistic philosopher, the Calvinist argues that man is but a creature of God and dependent on him for everything, even for the choices that he must make. The Calvinist does not sit and wait for God to work, however, neglecting the use of means, like the fatalist or the Muslim. He rather asks himself, “What should I be doing right now to please my sovereign God and bring about his purpose?"

On human suffering 1/23/10

The whole world is witnessing in real time the immense suffering which now afflicts the residents of Haiti. This island country, which I have visited more than once, has a long history of tragedy. Recent earthquakes and the ensuing death, injury, dearth and lack of food have recently been broadcast around the globe. Expressions of shock, horror, and sympathy characterize much of the media commentary. As human beings we indeed must show compassion and help in the most contructive ways we can think of. My comments today are not so much about the suffering or on how to aid to the sufferers, but on the world's immediate reaction.

Why is it that this suffering seems so surprising or unusual to most modern people? There was a time when human life was understood to be a valley of tears. One can look back in history to the words of authors like John Calvin, who in his Institutes of the Christian Religion made casual reference to "the human tragedy", meaning that all humans at the time commonly understood and even expected that life for all people was predominantly characterized by pain and suffering.

Due to the tremendous blessings of modern technology a large amount of that suffering which had previously been commonplace now is usually avoidable. There are exceptions, but most people today live lives which must be characterized as lives of ease and luxury compared to our anscestors just a few generations ago. Amid all this creature comfort and the predictability it brings to human life, there is a temptation for people to forget the suffering that normally accompanies human life, at least to forget it for a while until old age and pending death bring new perspective. There is a temptation to forget the "human tragedy." Then, in times like these when cataclysmic events, either on a grand scale such as what we are witnessing in Haiti, or on a personal scale, come to pass, we are shocked into remembering that extreme suffering accompanies human life. The reason why we must suffer in this life is because we have rebelled against our Creator. This truth is universal, not confined to one particular nation or people. And so suffering is a universal human condition, as is the death which follows. Human suffering is universally a form of God's judgment on all humanity for our universal sinfulness, and it's something none of us can escape. The only hope for us miserable humans in our suffering condition is to rest our hope on the Savior, Jesus Christ, the Mediator between God and humans. For those who trust in Him, though suffering remains in this life, and sometimes even increases for Jesus' followers due to persecution, yet all of these sufferings do not serve for them as a sign of judgment, but as a sign of God's mercy to them, since God uses the suffering of believers in Christ to build their character, to make them more holy on the inside, and to make them love the world less and to love Him more. In this way Christ is the only answer, and the only consolation for suffering humanity.

On the decline of public discourse 1/23/10

We are witnessing a disturbing trend in public discourse, that is, the inability of people in a divers society to have debates and express disagreement in a civil manner. Two cases in point are trials going on in the Netherlands and in California. In the Netherlands, a conservative politician named Geert Wilders is on trial for allegedly expressing an opinion that the tenets of Islam are a threat to society in the Netherlands because Islam advocates violent agression against Non-muslims. Now, whether one agrees or disagrees with Mr. Wilders, any observer could see that his comments express things that he believes to be true about Islam. But rather than allow that he is expressing a disagreement about a topic, and use logic or evidence to attempt to refute his claims, his opponents would rather question his motives, label him a muslim-hating extremist, and prosecute him in court. In California, there is a case being heard against Proposition 8, which was a referendum defining marriage in the state of California as a union between one man and one woman. Obviously, there is a stark disagreement at the root of this case between those who believe that homosexuals should be allowed to marry a person of the same sex, and those who believe that marriage is only a union between one man and one woman. But instead of debating the issue based on logic and reason, and speaking courteously to one another in the realm of public discourse, allowing that there are people on both sides of the issue in our society, the opponents of Proposition 8 are attempting to attribute hateful motives to the leaders of the ballot initiative toward homosexuals. The evidence presented to prove that these leaders have hateful motives are statements allegedly made by the proposition's leaders to the effect that same-sex marriages are detrimental to society, or that their legality will lead to this or that consequence in society. These alledged statements, if true, would do nothing to support the case of the opponents of Proposition 8. It would only show that the proponents and opponents of the Proposition have a fundamental disagreement about the health and propriety of the homosexual lifestyle, something which has no necessary connection to hateful motives on either side of the issue. It is a disagreement, not a motive or hateful emotion. There is such a thing as disagreeing without malice or hatred. It used to be in America and in other western societies with divers populations that we could live together in peace and civil harmony by mutually respecting one another and allowing for disagreement and varying opinions to be expressed, debated, proven, disproven, or voted-upon without resorting to name-calling or suggesting that we ought to simply disregard a dissenting opinion by claiming that it is mean-spirited or hateful. It seems that how an opinion makes people feel has become more important than whether or not it is objectively true. This characteristic of modern society has the danger of severely squelching public discourse and limiting the rights of those who hold minority views to express their opinions. For my part, I intend to fight this trend by continuing to insist that debates and disagreements are discussed respectfully and rationally on the basis of evidence, and not on emotion or name-calling.

On our changing societies 6/22/09

Christians in western societies have long been blessed to grow up and live in countries whose moral, cultural, and legal institutions and conventions had been shaped remarkably by Christianity. There were prevalent sins and injustices, mind you, but compared to the rest of the world the historically Protestant nations were oases and havens of order and liberty. Christians, notably American Christians, were rightfully thankful for the many blessings God had given us here. We lived in a society whose basic presuppositions, whose standard for right and wrong, and "normalcy" or perversion (whether in the state, in families, in commerce, in education, or in churches) was defined more or less in Christian terms, even by non-Christians. Without a doubt we are still enjoying many of the blessings due to this foundation. Americans still as a whole admire honesty and hard work, and shun dishonest conduct or selfish quest for personal gain at the expense of others. Although the moral principles which undergird these preferences, long past mere questioning, are now considered to be strange, anachronistic, or even evil. The worst sorts of perversions are hailed, praised, and welcomed in the highest of forums, while true morality is at best silenced and at worst, suppressed. And the trend will only continue. Barring a deep and lasting reformation of the churches and revival of the masses, this nation and other formerly Protestant nations will continue their retrograde course back toward pagan ways of thinking, judging, and interacting, practicing perverse behaviors common to pre-Christian Europe. These cultural behaviors are characterized by a devaluation of human life and a love of death and the misuse of selves and others. History shows that societies characterized by such wickedness persecute true Christians, until large numbers of them are converted to Christ.

What are Christians living in these nations to do? "If the foundations be destroyed, what shall the righteous try?" Psalm 11:3 Well, what have Christians always done in similar situations? What did Joseph do in Egypt, or the Christians in Ephesus? The answer is not to become hopeless, but to put our hope in him who loves us, who rules all things by the counsel of his will. Faithful churches and faithful Christian living are more important than ever in a society which is quickly casting off all boundaries. The Bible offers ample instruction to believers living in the midst of a culture of death. We are to be salt and light in this world, living peaceably with all men, giving honor to whom honor is due (whether to the President, other government leaders, supervisors at work, etc.) while not approving of their wicked deeds, and always looking for an opportunity to give a reason for the hope that we have within us. We must accept God's sovereign and providential hand in such things as election results, decisions of judges, town councils, corporate policies etc., not as if they were right and true, but as things which God has ordained for a good purpose.

In other words, don't get hung up on these things, keep your eyes on the prize, and your mind and heart in heaven, where Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, reigning as King over all nations. Stay faithful: faithful in our inward lives, faithful in our families, faithful in our churches, faithful witnesses in all our contact with the world. Nations will pass away, but there is one kingdom which shall never pass away. And God turns evil things to serve his good purposes all the time, as he always has. What we see is just the latest facet of his eternal plan, unfolding before our eyes.

So be it, according to his will. Even so, Lord Jesus, come.

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