A whole year without working! What would that be like?

The Other Side of Penance

The pursuit of holiness is a struggle - a mighty struggle.

Violence, it turns out, is not a European import to the New World.

But you don't fight sin with good intentions, wishful thinking, or a blind eye.

10/27/10

Paul likened pastors to the Levites of ancient Israel (1 Cor. 9), who were guardians of the tent and testimony of the Lord (Num. 1.53). In what sense are pastors "guardians" in the household of faith today? Are we not called to guard the Gospel and the ministry of the Word against those who would minimize or distort it? And what about the worship of God? Paul's lengthy instructions to the Corinthians concerning worship indicate that this, too, must be carefully guarded. The work of disciple-making, by which the saints are equipped to do the work of ministry (Eph. 4.11, 12); the work of shepherding God's flock (1 Pt. 5.1-3); the ministry itself, against those unfit for such a calling (Acts 8.9-24); and our own souls and teaching (1 Tim. 4.16).

In all these areas the Scriptures and the heritage of the Church present a rich trove of holy things that ministers must daily labor to guard.

If we fail to guard the household of God in each of these areas, the influences of contemporary culture, the winds of false doctrine, and the self-serving designs of false teachers will corrupt and consume the flock, and the glory of the Lord will depart His Church as surely as it departed Israel in the days of Ezekiel.

Pastors, are we faithful guardians of the tent and testimony of the Lord?

T. M. Moore

...all prescriptions of penance are to be accompanied with prayers and tears...

Do we really think American artists are the best good will ambassadors for the nation?

I think Columbanus reflects the very best aspect of the whole penitential component.

How shall the people we love realize the promises of God?

The Christian faith orients us toward God and others. From God we seek blessings and glory; to others, we extend blessings, so that they might live for God and His glory. Central to this life of blessing and blessedness are the precious and very great promises God held out to our forebears and, through them, to us (2 Pet. 1.5).

Jesus confirmed the promises to Jews and Gentiles alike by serving according to the truth of God (Rom. 15.8, 9). He embodied the promises of God (2 Cor. 1.20) and, thus, through His words and works, drew people into the orbit of God's blessings and glory and empowered them to show that glory and be a blessing to others.

What was true for the Lord Jesus must be true for us as well. The more we embody the promises of God - "I will be your God and you will be My people" - the more, through service in love and truth, we will enable others to know them as well.

Service in love and truth: This is the way others can know the precious and very great promises of God.

Celtic Christians took sin seriously because they took holiness seriously.

A recent event at the White House sends a strong signal about the nation's priorities.

According to the Associated Press (10/18/10) the President hosted a science fair at the White House in which he positively "reveled."

Mr. Obama inspected all 11 projects on display in the State Dining Room and commented positively on the work of the young people who participated. He called them "impressive" and said that their work is "a testament to the potential that awaits" when we educate young people to take part in the scientific enterprise.

He went on to say that "in many ways, our future depends on what happens" in such science fairs as the President hosted, and he expressed hope that American students might make progress against other nations in science and math over the next decade.

That's all well and good; young people should be encouraged to learn math and science and to innovate new products and services for the public weal.

The President uses the White House to showcase aspects of American life that he regards as the best part of the American character and the brightest hope for our future. He has hosted pop singers, broadway acts, and a science fair, among others. Pop culture, education, science and technology, and politics - these, apparently, are the priorities the nation should pursue.

But to date, as far as I know, the President has not hosted an event encouraging young people or the nation as whole to take religion and morality more seriously and to explore ways, through the traditions of faith, of ensuring a safer, more decent, and more prosperous future for the nation. Is he afraid of being chastised for bursting the "wall of separation"? I doubt it. More likely, while the President accepts religion as a significant component of American life, he has little hope in it being able to help make us a better nation.

Is that his fault? No. It's not the President's fault that he doesn't think religion - particularly, his own Christian religion - can offer any hope for a better future. It's our fault, who profess Chrstianity yet who have not managed to demonstrate convincingly the power of the faith of Christ to renew, restore, and bring wholeness to our society.

This is a function of our too-small view of the Gospel and our failure to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness in all things. And it's also another good reason why Christians need to seek the Lord for revival - of their own lives and their churches. The history of Christianity shows that nothing has been a more potent force for good in the world than sincere Christians following Jesus in every area of life. If we have not kept up that legacy in a convincing manner - and we have not - then the fault and need for repentance are ours, not Mr. Obama's.

The Fourth Commandment 

Deuteronomy 15.1-6

“At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release. And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the LORD’s release has been proclaimed. Of a foreigner you may exact it, but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand shall release. But there will be no poor among you; for the LORD will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess – if only you will strictly obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today. For the LORD your God will bless you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.”

Can we conclude from this text that the blessing of God does not rest on that nation which is deeply in debt to other nations? God promised to enrich His people, but He did not want them to become dependent on other nations. That way lies oppression. America’s national debt, trade deficits, and debt to nations such as China should suffice to show us the wisdom of God’s warning here.

In this series of In the Gates we present a detailed explanation of the Law of God, beginning with the Ten Commandments, and working through the statutes and rules that accompany each commandment. For a practical guide to the role of God’s Law in the practice of ethics, get The Ground for Christian Ethics from our bookstore.