Zach’s Theological Musings

  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “Zach, I appreciate your heart on this matter, I appreciate your desire to do something about this issue, I’m just not sure that your approach is the best approach.” The issue in question, and the “approach” in question, could be any one of a number of different things I have done over the years, although inevitably this conversation arises when the issue is a highly “sensitive” topic like Muslim evangelization or action on abortion.

  My response:

  AWESOME! If you have a better approach, then truly that is awesome. Go for it. I want to encourage you to go whole hog after your idea and your approach. As long as it isn’t sinful, that is.

  And as long as my idea and my approach aren’t sinful, I’ll probably keep pursuing it. Because I want to use the gifts and talents that God has given me. My way not be best for others, but it may be best according to the way that God made me. And who knows, when I see your way I may even be drawn to it and switch over.

  If your or my approach is sinful, let’s be sure to try to correct each other. If we don’t judge each other’s method to be sinful, then let us encourage rather than discourage each other (1 Thes 5:11-14).

  2 Timothy 3:12:

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

So then the natural question is why are we in America (for example), not experiencing any persecution?

  Now, to be sure, there is such a thing in Biblical language as a “time of peace” (Acts 9:31). The verse above doesn’t say that the godly ones will necessarily constantly face persecution. If I am not facing persecution right now, we cannot conclude from the Bible that I am not living a godly life right now. I could be enjoying a time of peace for which it is right to give thanks.

  But… on the other hand, if almost our entire Christian sub-culture (in America, for example) goes week after week, month after month, year after year, and decade after decade without facing any real persecution arising from a godly life in Christ Jesus, then hmmmm, it does make you stop and wonder. Is it a really llllooonnnggg period of peace that God has granted us, or it is perhaps that I am not actually living a godly life in Christ Jesus?

Two years ago in Ermelo, Holland, Brother Andrew told the story of sitting in Budapest, Hungary, with a dozen pastors of that city teaching them from the Bible. In walked an old friend, a pastor from Romania who had recently been released from prison. Brother Andrew said that he stopped teaching and knew that it was time to listen.

After a long pause the Romanian pastor said, “Andrew, are there any pastors in prison in Holland?” “No,” he replied. “Why not?” the pastor asked. Brother Andrew thought for a moment and said, “I think it must be because we do not take advantage of all the opportunities God gives us.”

Then came the most difficult question. “Andrew, what do you do with 2 Timothy 3:12?” Brother Andrew opened his Bible and turned to the text and read aloud, “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” He closed the Bible slowly and said, “Brother, please forgive me. We do nothing with that verse.”

 [Taken from the foreword to Herbert Schlossberg, Called to Suffer, Called to Triumph, (Portland: Multnomah Press, 1990), pp. 9-10., as quoted in John Piper’s sermon “Called to Suffer and Rejoice: For Holiness and Hope“]

    You see, at any given time, in any given culture of this world, it is generally possible to obey large portions of the Scripture without offending or angering the fallen pagan world around us. But then there is always that one little point. That one command of God, which when obeyed wholeheartedly ignites the wrath of the Christ-hating world. So the Devil makes a deal with the professing church of Christ, “Tell you what. You just hold back in this one little area, just cut these few portions out of your Bible here and there, and I’ll leave you alone. You can have your churches, live your Christian life, etc., etc., just stay off this one piece of ground that belongs to me.” (Here is an example.) This is how Martin Luther put it:

If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the Word of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Him. Where the battle rages there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battle front besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point. (Luther’s Works. Weimar Edition. Briefwechsel [Correspondence], vol. 3, pp. 81f.)

  And this is how Jesus put it:

I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations-

He will rule them with an iron scepter;
he will dash them to pieces like pottery’-

just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

  In Thyatira the stumbling point was sexual immorality and idolatry. Satan came to the church of Thyatira with some so-called “deep secrets”. We don’t know what those deep secrets were, but apparently in one form or another they basically amounted to this, “Look! You can be a fornicating, adulterous, idol-worshipping Christian! It is the best of both worlds! You get heaven, you get forgiveness with Jesus, and you get a lot of romping orgy fun in the meantime! This is the real deal! Don’t settle for anything less! You deserve the best!”

  The church did indeed have genuine love, faith, service, perseverance, and good deeds (as do we). Jesus saw those things and commended them. But He was also very, very angry, and promised certain punishment upon those who did not repent of that one thing that He had against them.

  The church in America (to use one example) is no doubt doing many things that are Biblically right, and rightfully refraining from many things that are Biblically wrong. But are there one or two points where we have made a deal with the devil? Could it be that we have fallen into, “profess[ing] with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the Word of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at [this] moment attacking”? Could it be that the reason we don’t face persecution is because our definition of “a godly life is Christ Jesus” follows the Bible only so far, and then stops right where Satan has drawn a line in the sand? Yes, it very well could.

  In my first post on this topic, I described why some of the theological claims made in the Declaration of Independence are sharply at odds with the theological truth God has revealed in the Bible. Here we will continue to trace back to the roots of America’s poisonous obsession with ENTITLEMENT and RIGHTS.

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation….

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

  America’s founding document begins with a declaration that “Nature’s God” has ENTITLED mankind to live under one form of government as opposed to another. Indeed, it is “their RIGHT, it is their DUTY, to THROW OFF such Government [emphasis added].” Really? This statement certainly resonates with much of contemporary American foreign policy, it certainly resonates with the general anti-authority sentiments that burn strong in American culture, it certainly resonates with man’s tendency to attempt to throw off the yoke of The Almightly under claims that His absolute sovereignty is despotic, … but does it resonate with the Bible? No.

Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. - Romans 13:1-7

  The “governing authorities” that Paul was talking about here were the type that cut Christians down with the sword (Romans 8:35), fed them to lions, and burned them at the stake. For fun. My impression, though I acknowledge that my historical vision could be distorted, is that the governing authorities to whom Paul commanded subjection would make King George of England look like Mr. Rogers. In any case, I can say with certainty that the Declaration of Independence leaves no room for the kind of humble submission under authority, even bad authority, that the Son of God Himself demonstrated and thereby called us to:

Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. - I Peter 2:18-25
  I don’t mean to paint too negative a picture of the American Declaration of Independence. Its theology is not any worse than the typical words of man. But it is not any better either. Indeed, it is simply that: the typical words of man — “I deserve something better than this, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to ensure that I get it.”

  The real tyrant in this world is not King George, Emperor Nero, Saddam Hussein, or George Bush. The real tyrant is the sin that takes every human captive and turns each one of us into rapists, pillagers, and murderers. Of the Dark Lord of this fallen world it can truly be said, “He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.” And the way he has done it is through the power of sin in my heart and yours.

  The gospel of the Kingdom is not a gospel of democracy. On the contrary, a kingdom is ruled by a king with absolute sway, a king who does as he pleases. And the Lord God is no wishy-washy King in that regard. He makes His authority known:

But our God is in the heavens;
He does whatever He pleases.
- Ps 115:3

“You shall have no other gods before Me… You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” - Ex 20:3-6

The gospel of the Kingdom in Jesus Christ is not at all about freedom from authority. Rather, it is about an exchange of authority. From living under the dominion of sin to living eterally under the absolute authority of a good and loving King.

  When we are brought, by grace, into the Kingdom of God we are no longer desperate to see one corrupt form of human government replaced by another corrupt form of human government. Yes, we do long for, pray for, seek, and work for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. But we know that it doesn’t come by guns or bombs. God’s Kingdom comes through the weakness of a bleeding man hanging on a cross, and through the foolishness of lambs preaching a message of forgiveness to fierce, hungry wolves.

  I am ENTITLED to death. My only RIGHT is to reap the fruit of my selfish, sinful thoughts and actions. Oh Lord, have mercy; don’t give me my rights. Thank You for wicked dictatorships and wicked democracies that keep me looking for hope and peace and security and justice and righteousness in the only place that these things will ever be established — in You.

  You and I are rich. By virtue of the fact that you are reading this blog, I can say with a very high degree of confidence that you are financially wealthy. You might not think you are rich. Almost nobody thinks they are rich. We compare ourselves to the next rung above us on the ladder of excessive wealth and bemoan our “poverty”. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bill Gates thinks about all of the countries and planets he can’t afford to buy and mopes about how poor he is. You may think, “Oh but I’m just barely getting by each month with the little that I make, and with the high cost of living who knows how I’m going to even be able to get by in the future.” But most people reading this come from America or other first-world countries. And an American who is “just getting by” is rich.

This is poor:

In contrast, you and I, my dear internet surfing friend, are rich.

Now that it is settled that you and I are rich, the question, for those of us who name Christ as Lord, is what instruction God has for us specifically as rich Christians. The word that is impressed upon me as I read about riches in the New Testament is this: tremble. As we survey the following passages on riches, it sticks out to me is that you and I, O rich friend, are in a very spiritually dangerous position.

Matt 19:23-24 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Mark 4:19 [B]ut the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Mark 10:25 “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Luke 6:21-25 And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied…. But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.”

Luke 12:20-21 “But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Luke 16:25 “But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.”

Luke 18:22-25 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

James 1:11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

James 5:1-3 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!

Rev 18:3 “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.”

It is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Here is one illustration. I used to belong to a church that was made up of mostly well-to-do university graduates. There came a point where I was distributing Bibles to Muslims and wanted to encourage others in the church to do the same. Well, in that country the church would risk losing their million dollar property if they became known as a church that was evangelizing Muslims. And some church members might risk losing their high-paying jobs. So in the end the elders of the church actually forbade me from distributing Bibles in the Muslim people’s language to my churchmates. Can you believe it? A church with a prohibition against Bibles!?! Of course, the elders tried to come up with excuses to justify such heresy, but in the end I believe that it ultimately came down to $$MONEY$$, and their unwillingness to risk losing it all.

Those elders still have time to repent, and I pray they do. But if a person reaches the end of their life and ultimately stands before God as one stubbornly guilty of prohibiting the distribution of the word of God and blocking the advance of the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to protect their pocketbook, then they have no grounds to expect to see God’s favor rather than His wrath.

Ephesians 5:5 No… greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

I’m not saying that it is impossible to be rich and still live as a disciple of Christ. God can bring camels through the eye of a needle. It is not necessarily the case that Jesus commands all of us, as He did the rich young ruler (Lk 18:22-25), to sell all that we possess and give to the poor, although that option should certainly be given serious consideration rather than being dismissed out of hand. Perhaps we would do well to start off by giving just half of all we possess to the poor, as Zacchaeus did and received commendation from our Lord (Lk 19:8-9).

In any case, it is Biblically clear that we absolutely, positively need to be ready to part with this earthly wealth at the drop of a hat for obedience to God and love for His glory. Most certainly, no doubt about it, 100% guaranteed, Jesus does demand that we at least be ready to part with all of our earthly possessions and property at His bidding (e.g. Luke 14:33, Matt 6:24). Will testifying to the truth cost us our high-paying job? Bye-bye job. Will standing in solidarity with a brother facing persecution result in the plundering of our own property? Bye-bye property, no questions asked. Will defending justice for the oppressed completely drain our bank account? Bye-bye bank account…. Bye-bye house, bye-bye church property, etc. “From now on… those who buy something, [should live] as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away” (1 Cor 7:29-31).

There may be wisdom in managing our wealth for the glory of God rather than giving it all away immediately (see e.g. 1 Cor 9, 1 Tim 6:17-19, and even Acts 5:4). There are issues here worth considering. But this blog post needs to wrap up and come to an end while leaving many issues of money unaddressed. At present I wish to stress only one point: a Biblically aware Christian recognizes the danger that attachment to money and the desires of this world will at the very least make him unfruitful (Mk 4:19), if not possibly even send him on a path for hell if his lust for the things of this world remain so strong as to prove that he never actually embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ to begin with (I Tim 6:10).

Luke 14:25-33 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: … “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”

  Trust your feelings as a reliable source of “guidance” from God. From the LDS website:

Feelings from the Holy Ghost are personal revelation to you that confirm the truth of the Book of Mormon and the gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith.

  Mormon missionaries will quote James 1:5 in support this “Moroni test” for receiving guidance. Don’t fall for it. Yes, the verse does instruct us regarding knowing God’s will and decision making. But it does not instruct us to listen to our feelings as the voice of truth. Indeed, it doesn’t even speak of “guidance” at all, but rather of “wisdom”:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

  WISDOM. God-fearing, mind-transforming Biblical WISDOM (Prov 1:7, Rom 12:2), not feelings. Rejecting the true gospel of Jesus Christ in favor of a new substitute is not wise; rejecting the picture of God and Christ as clearly revealed in the Bible in favor of a new picture painted by demons masquerading as angels is not wise (Gal 1, II Cor 11:14). That is where Joseph Smith went wrong, and so do we whenever we follow in his footsteps.

  See also my post on Knowing God’s Will.