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Advent: Why did Jesus come to Earth?

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Galatians 1:3-5) 

Why in fact did Jesus come to earth?  Let’s examine what the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatian churches in order to find the answer to this question.

To begin with, the Epistle to the Galatians was not written to one church, but rather to several churches in what is now present day Turkey. Paul wrote this epistle to the churches he established during his First Missionary Journey. He did so in order to oppose false teachers (Judaizers) who were undermining the doctrine of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. In other words, these false teachers were undermining the gospel, and therefore they were undermining Jesus Christ and the purpose for His coming to earth.

Therefore, Paul immediately addressed the person of Christ in his introductory greeting. He briefly explored the rich themes of why Jesus Christ came. This at once thrusts the purpose of the letter to the fore: the issue between the Galatians and Paul was the significance of Christ.

First, Jesus Christ came to earth as the incarnation of God the Father’s grace and peace. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father…” (Galatians 1:3a). Grace (χάρις; charis) is defined as “unmerited favor.” It is the bestowing of pleasure, delight, or favorable regard from one to another. It is God’s loving-kindness to sinners who deserve judgment. Peace (εἰρήνη; eirene) is the resulting harmony, on the basis of grace, between God and sinful man. Peace is accomplished through the gospel and is also the rest and contentment consequentially as the result of God’s grace.

Notice that whenever grace and peace are mentioned by the apostle in his New Testament epistles, the word grace always precedes the word peace. That is because peace is always the result of grace. We have peace with God (Romans 5:1) because of the grace of God. We never make our own peace with God. Rather, He makes peace with sinners solely on the basis of His grace.

Romans 5:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

 Romans 5:6-8 says, “6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

 Ephesians 1:3-9 says, “3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ.”

Dr. John MacArthur writes that, “Paul’s typical greeting attacked the Judaizers’ legalistic system. If salvation is by works as they claimed, it is not of “grace” and cannot result in “peace,” since no one can be sure he has enough good works to be eternally secure.”

Are you secure in the amazing grace of God who sought to save your soul by sending His Son to this fallen world to die in your place on the cross? Salvation by grace, and its resulting peace, is not a mere possibility when a sinner is in Christ, but rather it is a certainty.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

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Advent: It’s the Most Wonderful Doctrine of all Time.

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law.” (Galatians 4:4)

Don’t you just love Christmas? Say what! You may be thinking that just like retailers who begin promoting the Christmas season in October, I may be rushing things just a bit. I mean, we still have Thanksgiving to observe. However, there are several reasons that I am beginning a series concerning the church season known as Advent.

First, anyone who truly knows me knows that I annually begin listening to Christmas music in July. You’ve heard of Christmas in July haven’t you? I have tailored several of my Internet music stations to feature either Classical or Jazz arrangements of familiar carols and contemporary Christmas favorites. I revel in the familiar sounds along with new and exciting arrangements.

Second, my church’s worship director begins preparing practices for the annual Christmas presentation by the adult choir in late August. Works for me. Therefore, I have also been listening to this year’s cantata.

Third, even though the Advent season is normally the four Sunday’s immediately prior to Christmas, I have discovered that there is so much revelation from God’s Word concerning the incarnation of Jesus Christ that it becomes impossible to properly treat all it with the attention it deserves.

I sensed the Lord leading me to examine the Incarnation, or the birth, of Christ in greater detail than could be accomplished in four Sundays, or four blogs. I sensed He wanted me to lead us in revisiting familiar characters, scenes, and situations of which we have grown, if not a least overly familiar, than perhaps a little too casual.

There are so many Old Testament prophecies, biblical characters, symbols and types. There also are the circumstances which occurred immediately prior, and at, Christ’s birth that often are misunderstood.

What exactly does Advent mean? Advent, from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming”, is the Christian ecclesiastical calendar season observed in preparation for Christmas. The earliest authentic record of Advent (ad 581) states that the season starts on the feast of St. Martin, November 11; this period is still observed in the Orthodox Church. About AD 600, Pope Gregory I decreed that the season should start on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, but the longer period was observed in England for some years. The shorter period is now observed in the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and Episcopal churches. The first Sunday of Advent is regarded as the commencement of the Christian ecclesiastical year. The season is also a preparation for the second coming of Christ at the end of the world.

I suspect for some of you this will be a journey into familiar portions of Scripture which you have known and loved for years. For others of you, it may prove to be the first time you have ever studied God’s incarnation in great detail. For still others, our study will dispel various myths and inaccuracies which often occur in our understanding and perceptions of the Birth of Christ.

For example, how many Magi actually visited the Christ child? Did their visit occur at the manger scene or somewhere else? How may they be connected to the Prophet Daniel?

This excursion is not simply for an intellectual understanding of the facts, but also to savor God’s revelation of Himself to us and this revelation to save us.

As one pastor has written, “Everyone can read the stories of Jesus and ‘see’ the portraits painted by the words of those who knew Him. But not everyone sees truth and beauty and infinite value. Some see only myth. Some see foolishness. Some see offense. ‘Seeing they do not see.’ It is though a child could look at a Michelangelo and prefer a comic strip.”

“Savoring Jesus Christ is the response to this second kind of seeing. When you see something as true and beautiful and valuable, you savor it. That is, you treasure it. You cherish and admire and prize it. Spiritual seeing and spiritual savoring are so closely connected that it would be fair to say that if you don’t savor Christ, you haven’t seen Christ for who he is. If you don’t prize him above all things, you haven’t apprehended His true worth.”

So let us begin. Let us begin to savor the Savior Jesus Christ.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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LORD’S DAY 39, 2019.

On each Lord’s Day this year, we will display the 52 devotionals taken from the Heidelberg Catechism which are structured in the form of questions posed and answers given.

The Heidelberg Catechism was originally written in 1563. It originated in one of the few pockets of Calvinistic faith in the Lutheran and Catholic territories of Germany. Conceived originally as a teaching instrument to promote religious unity, the catechism soon became a guide for preaching as well.

Along with the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dordt, it forms what is collectively referred to as the Three Forms of Unity.

The devotional for LORD’S DAY 39 is as follows. Please take note of the biblical references given in each answer. This morning’s devotional addresses The Ten Commandments.

Q. What is God’s will for you in the fifth commandment?

A. That I honor, love, and be loyal to my father and mother and all those in authority over me; that I submit myself with proper obedience to all their good teaching and discipline;1 and also that I be patient with their failings—2 for through them God chooses to rule us.3

1 Ex. 21:17; Prov. 1:8; 4:1; Rom. 13:1-2; Eph. 5:21-22; 6:1-9; Col. 3:18-4:1.
2 Prov. 20:20; 23:22; 1 Pet. 2:18.
3 Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:1-8; Eph. 6:1-9; Col. 3:18-21.

May God’s truth and grace reside here.

Soli deo  Gloria!

 

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Miscellaneous Thoughts: Anxiety.

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)

Remember the popular song by artist Bobby McFerrin from his album Simple Pleasures entitled “Don’t Worry, Be Happy. Released in 1988, it won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year. The Bible many times communicates a similar message to believers which could be summarized this way: “Don’t Worry, Trust God.”

What causes individuals, even Christians, to worry or be anxious? The word anxious, from today’s text, comes from the Greek word μεριμνήσητε (merimnesete) meaning to worry or to be in care about something or someone. It also means to have an apprehension about possible danger or misfortune.

Possible reasons for anxiety or worry could be a new job, the loss of one’s current job, a broken relationship, finances, and the condition of one’s community, county or country. In fact, people can, and do, worry about anything and everything.

Why do people worry? Why do you? Why do I? Some respond by saying “It’s just the way I am” or “It’s just the way God made me” in order to justify this paralyzing behavior. Let’s understand that worry can disable a person so much that they cannot sleep, work, or even engage in basic day to day activities. Some may be so crippled by worry that they sit on their couch, or bed, during the middle of the day and just stare off into space.

Jesus spent a significance amount of time during His so-called Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) addressing the behavior of worry. He spoke about the concern for the basic necessities of life such as food, clothing and shelter. He compared how God takes care of the little flowers and birds. The analogy being that as God provides for these, He will additionally provide for His people.

One commentator explains that, “Most people in antiquity had little beyond basic necessities—food, clothing and shelter. Because their acquisition of these necessities often depended—especially in rural areas—on seasonal rains or (in Egypt) the flooding of the Nile, they had plenty of cause for stress even about food and clothing. The pagan world did indeed seek after such necessities, but Jesus reminds his hearers that they could trust their Father (v. 32) and should seek the kingdom (v. 33).”

The solution to worry is not about just being happy, but rather trusting God by seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness. In other words, Jesus stressed to His disciples that submitting to God’s authority and receiving, and emulating, His righteousness should be our first priority. God will ultimately take care of the rest.

The Apostle Paul wrote a similar command in Philippians 4:6-7 which says, “6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The word for anxious in Philippians 4:6 is the same word which we find in Matthew 6:31. In other words, Scripture interprets Scripture.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” The psalmist is saying that instead of panicking when things go wrong, we are to trust in the sovereignty and providence of God.

I recently read Matthew 6:25-33 during a worship service. The Scripture reading was followed by our worship team leading the congregation in the classic hymn His Eye is on the Sparrow. I leave you with these familiar lyrics today.

Why should I feel discouraged?
And why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heavenly home?

When Jesus is my portion?
And my constant friend is He
His eye is on the little sparrow
And I know he cares for me
His eye is on the little sparrow
And I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy
I sing because I’m free
For His eye, is on the sparrow
And I know He’s watching me.

 Thank you Lord for your watchful eye.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

 

 

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Biblical Heroes. Moses.

“Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.” (Exodus 3:1)

I’m sure we are all familiar with the story of Moses and the Exodus by Israel from their bondage in Egypt under the providential guidance of the LORD. The story is the stuff of legends and a host of Hollywood movies and Broadway like productions at Christian theaters like Sight and Sound in Lancaster, PA.

Moses was a man of privilege who for his forty years of life grew up in the royal court of Egypt and was known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:8-10; Acts 7:23). The final forty years of his 120 years was spent leading the Nation of Israel through the Arabian wilderness to the brink of entering the land the LORD promised to Abraham (Acts 7:30-50; Hebrews 11:23-29).

But what about the forty years Moses spent in the wilderness of Midian. The biblical text doesn’t tell much about those years aside from recording that he was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, a priest of Midian, that he married Zipporah, Jethro’s daughter, and became a father of a son named Gershom (Exodus 2:21-22).

When today’s text says that Moses was keeping the flock, it means that he was driving the flock out to pasture in order to graze. In other words, Moses became a shepherd. His focus was one of providing grazing pasture for the flock and moving the flocks around to the grazing grounds (Genesis 30:29-31). It should be noted that a shepherd not only cares and tends for the sheep, but also has authority or rules a flock as a superior.

Dr. John MacArthur comments that, “Moses worked as a shepherd while living with his father-in-law, a life and occupation quite different from the privilege and prestige associated with his life in Pharaoh’s court.”

I wonder what Moses must have thought during those 40 silent years. I wonder if he thought about what he had been and what he had become. I wonder if he thought about God’s plans for his life and if this was all there was in the mind of God for this divinely protected Hebrew son. Did Moses become bitter or angry at times at his relative obscurity, or did he find happiness with his wife and son. I wonder how long it took for him to become a proficient shepherd.

There are often times in our lives when God leads us, like a shepherd, into pastures in which we never thought we would graze. David referred to one such pasture as the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4). However, it is even in those times of darkness that we need not fear for our Good Shepherd is with us and His rod and staff will comfort us.

How fitting is it that as Moses learned to be shepherd of sheep, God would soon use him to be a shepherd of a nation. In many ways, the Israelites Moses would lead from bondage into freedom tended to be very much like the lambs from Jethro’s flock. They were unruly, complaining, disobedient and often rebellious. What a training ground God provided Moses during the middle forty years of his life to prepare him for the final forty.

Training in the courts of Pharaoh and in the wilderness of Midian as a shepherd prepared Moses for the ultimate task God had prepared for him. Such may be the case with the Lord’s work in your own life. You never know, but He certainly does.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

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Biblical Heroes. Daniel.

When the subject of integrity is addressed, the Prophet Daniel is often cited as an example of moral and biblical integrity. There is nothing negative said about Daniel in the Scriptures. True, he wasn’t perfect. No sinner this side of heaven is. However, he was consistent.

Daniel 1:1-7 provides the reader with the historical of the Book of Daniel. “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. 3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.”

Daniel’s life wonderfully balances the providence of God with the responsibility of His children. While God is certainly in control of everything that happened in Daniel’s life, the prophet was not exempt from exercising his biblical responsibility in obeying the Lord when faced with potential compromising situations (Daniel 1; 3; 6). Through everything that happened to Daniel, he remained faithful because God is faithful.

As one commentator explains, “God is the sovereign Lord of history who causes kingdoms to rise and fall according to His decree. Nothing happens apart from His having ordained it in eternity past, and this is a comforting truth. It tells us that everything in history has a purpose even if we cannot now discern what that purpose happens to be. All events great and small are being used of the Lord to advance His glory and our good, and His control over all things is the only way we can be confident of that precious truth.”

May each of us dare to be like Daniel in our trust and reliance upon God and our determination to serve and obey the Lord in all that we do.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

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Biblical Heroes. Job.

“There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” (Job 1:1)

Who are some of your biblical heroes? They may be found in the Old Testament or the New Testament. They are those who have made a profound impact upon your life and testimony for Jesus Christ. One of my heroes is Job.

We should recognize that the Book of Job is not an autobiography. Several authors have been suggested. These include Moses, Solomon along with other Old Testament characters including Elihu, Isaiah, Hezekiah, Jeremiah and Ezra.

The historical setting of the book takes place in the patriarchal period. Job refers to Adam (31:33) and the Noahic Flood (12:15). This gives us a likely historical context for the life of Job occurring after the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) but prior to the life and odyssey of Abraham (Genesis 11:27).

The Bible sets forth Job as a real person, and not a fictional character. The Apostle Paul referred to Job twice (Romans 11:35; I Corinthians 3:19). He is also mentioned in the Book of James (5:11) and by the Prophet Ezekiel (14:14-20).

What we also know about Job, aside from the profound suffering he experienced, is the testimony about him at the beginning of the Old Testament book which bears his name. This testimony is contained in today’s text.

Job lived in the land of Uz. The word land is synonymous with country, territory and people. The country in question is called Uz. Uz’s exact location geographically is uncertain. Once commentator explains that, “Though often identified with Edom, southeast of the Dead Sea, Uz was distinguished from it in Jeremiah’s time, if not before (Jer. 25:20–21). Uz was then a “daughter” of Edom, that is, a possession or neighbor of Edom (Lam. 4:21). Some scholars suggest that Uz was in Bashan, south of Damascus; others say Uz lay east of Edom, in northern Arabia. The customs, vocabulary, and references to geography and natural history relate to northern Arabia. Whatever Uz’s location, it was near a desert (Job 1:19), it was fertile for agriculture and livestock-raising (1:3, 14; 42:12), and it was probably outside Palestine.”

It was in this territory that there lived a man named Job. There are those who suggest that Job’s name means persecution, persecuted one, or one who repents. This probable and suggested meanings would certainly be appropriate for this individual.

Job is characterized by four distinct qualities. These characteristics remain timeless for all of God’s children at all times.

First, Job was blameless. This means that Job was well-behaved or a man of integrity. In other words, he possessed no moral blemish or flaw and was morally whole. He was consistently godly.

Second, Job was upright. He was a “straight as an arrow” kind of guy. To put it another way, he wasn’t crooked in his dealings with other people. He did not deviate from God’s standards.

Third, Job was an individual who feared God. He reverenced and worshiped God with a reverential fear. He submitted to God’s holiness and majesty. He knew that he was responsible to God and responsible before people to consistently live for God.

Fourth, Job turned away from evil. He shunned evil. He turned away from it at every opportunity. He rejected anything which was contrary to God’s character.

Dr. John MacArthur writes, “Job was not perfect or without sin (cf. 6:24; 7:21; 9:20) However, it appears from the language that he had put his trust in God for redemption and faithfully lived a God-honoring, sincere life of integrity and consistency: personally, maritally (2:10), and parentally (1:4–5).”

Isn’t it amazing how much we can learn from just one verse from God’s Word. Let me ask you a question that I have often asked myself. Would the people who know you at home, work, school, or in the community have the same thing to say about you as the author said about Job? Think about it.

What does your life, and mine, communicate to the people with whom we most often come into contact? Do you and I reflect the character of God as reflected in the man named Job? Remember, it was not the perfection of his life but rather the direction of his life that mattered. The same is true for you and me.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!   

 

 

 

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Christian Idols. Idols vs. Heroes.

What must the church do to guard itself from idolatrous worship of its leaders? Please understand that it is idolatry to worship the musicians, authors, pastors, evangelists or conference speakers instead of the One, True God these evangelical leaders represent. It is wrong to idolize men and women of God who humbly seek to serve the Lord with their God given gifts and want no part of the slippery slope of hero worship.

Additionally, what must church leaders do to guard themselves from becoming objects of idolatrous worship? How do leaders protect themselves the intoxicating attraction of popularity?

While it is wrong to worship church leaders, it is not wrong to have heroes who happen to be church leaders. The difference between idols and heroes is that we tend to not worship our heroes, but rather respect them and appreciate them for their gifts and talents. At least that is what we should do regarding the men and women, both past and present, who we recognized have been uniquely gifted by God.

My heroes from the past include the Apostle Paul, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards and the Puritans. I have also appreciated such recent leaders such as J. Gresham Machen, Jerry Bridges, William Hendrickson, R.C. Sproul and John MacArthur. However, I believe that I have never worshiped them, nor would they seek such adulation from me or anyone else for that matter. As you can probably tell, there exists a fine line between idolatry and heroism.

What must church leaders do to guard themselves from becoming objects of idolatrous worship? How do leaders protect themselves the intoxicating attraction of popularity?  I Peter 5:1-5 is a good place to begin.

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Peter, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, commands church leaders and elders to figuratively dress themselves with the character of humility. This means to have a lack of arrogance and to esteem others as better than themselves (Philippians 2:1-4).

The Prophet Micah expressed it this way, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?”

Deuteronomy 17:14-20 says, “14 When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ 15 you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 16 Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ 17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.

18 “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by] the Levitical priests.19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.”

Have many within the evangelical community exalted men to the same level, if not above, God? Rather than cast criticisms, l encourage each of us to examine our own hearts to see if there is this tendency to worship the leader rather than the One, True God who leads. At the same time, leaders need to make sure they are seeking to not only walk humbly before the Lord, but also before the congregations of which they are God’s stewards.

Only as the church achieves this delicate balance will fame and honor be directed to where it truly belongs and upon whom it truly belongs: the Lord.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

                                                                                    

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Christian Idols: The Cult of Personalities.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (I John 5:21)

You may be wondering why I’ve cited I John 5:21 for today’s biblical text? Didn’t we just finish our study of I John?

I couldn’t help but be reminded as to the many self-imposed idols the church adopts from time to time, from season to season. I’m not referring to stone statues or totem poles made of wood. I am referring to Christian personalities that we often tend to elevate to a stature they should never occupy. It’s bad enough when these so-called leaders and rock-star pastors personally seek the limelight, but it is another thing when believers place these individuals on pedestals as objects of praise.

As I am writing this article, a popular Christian author has recently announced that he has left his wife, refuted what he has previously written in his bestselling book on Christian non-dating while at the same time renouncing his faith in Jesus Christ. I could not help but remember how many in the church sang this man’s praises regarding his written thoughts. It seemed to me and others that he began to replace the Scriptures as the primary, if not the sole, authority on biblical relationships.

This evangelical hero-worship is not new. Well over twenty years ago, R. C. Sproul Jr. wrote an article about evangelical fame. He said, “There is nothing wrong with appreciating God’s gifts. We are to be thankful for those He (God) has gifted for His church. He has graced us with some outstanding men and women. Too often, though, it goes too far. We want not teachers and artists, but superstars. Our appreciation for the gift causes us to overlook the Giver.”

I have been a believer in Jesus Christ for over 40 years. During that time I have witnessed many evangelical superstars come and go. Some were musicians, authors, pastors, evangelists or conference speakers. They resembled modern day Diotrephes, who loved to put himself first (3 John 9). And for those who didn’t seek such significance, there were many of their followers who were willing to seek it for them.

Like July 4th fireworks, they lit up the Christian culture with dazzling pyrotechnics: real and spiritual. However, just like fireworks, which are brilliant and blazing for the moment, they soon disappeared and faded into the darkness of obscurity. Some became involved in moral failures, while others simply drifted away because they no longer were relevant. Their fame, and perhaps fortune, lasted only for the moment. Most, if not all, denied fundamental truths of the Scriptures.

Christian author and Pastor Gordon MacDonald once commented that, “The loyalty of a leader’s constituency is a heady thing. If effective, the leader receives the praise of people, the fellowship of generous donors, and introductions and invitations to privileges and opportunities not usually available to the common person. And leaders tend to know the minute that loyalty starts ‘going south,’ as they say. Reread the narrative (I Samuel 18:5-16) that describes Saul’s reaction when the person on the street began to notice David. The loss of loyalty can be devastating.”

What must the church do to guard from such idolatrous worship? Make no mistake, it is idolatry to worship the musicians, authors, pastors, evangelists or conference speakers instead of the One, True God these evangelical superstars presumably represent. It is also wrong to idolize men and women of God who humbly seek to serve the Lord with their God given gifts and want no part of the slippery slope of hero worship.

Additionally, what must church leaders do to guard themselves from becoming objects of idolatrous worship? How do leaders protect themselves from the intoxicating attraction of popularity?

We will seek to answer these questions when next we meet.

Until then, may the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!   

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LORD’S DAY 38, 2019.

On each Lord’s Day this year, we will display the 52 devotionals taken from the Heidelberg Catechism which are structured in the form of questions posed and answers given.

The Heidelberg Catechism was originally written in 1563. It originated in one of the few pockets of Calvinistic faith in the Lutheran and Catholic territories of Germany. Conceived originally as a teaching instrument to promote religious unity, the catechism soon became a guide for preaching as well.

Along with the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dordt, it forms what is collectively referred to as the Three Forms of Unity.

The devotional for LORD’S DAY 38 is as follows. Please take note of the biblical references given in each answer. This morning’s devotional addresses The Ten Commandments.

Q. What is God’s will for you in the fourth commandment?

A. First, that the gospel ministry and education for it be maintained,1 and that, especially on the festive day of rest, I diligently attend the assembly of God’s people2 to learn what God’s Word teaches,3 to participate in the sacraments,4 to pray to God publicly,5 and to bring Christian offerings for the poor.6 Second, that every day of my life I rest from my evil ways, let the Lord work in me through his Spirit, and so begin in this life the eternal Sabbath.7

1 Deut. 6:4-9, 20-25; 1 Cor. 9:13-14; 2 Tim. 2:2; 3:13-17; Tit. 1:5.
2 Deut. 12:5-12; Ps. 40:9-10; 68:26; Acts 2:42-47; Heb. 10:23-25.
3 Rom. 10:14-17; 1 Cor. 14:31-32; 1 Tim. 4:13.
4 1 Cor. 11:23-25.
5 Col. 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:1.
6 Ps. 50:14; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8 & 9.
7 Isa. 66:23; Heb. 4:9-11.

May God’s truth and grace reside here.

Soli deo  Gloria!