Song of the Drunkards

JESUS FACED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF OPPOSITION FOR HIS HARD WORDS AND UNFLINCHING DEVOTION TO YAHWEH. NO SURPRISE THEN IF WE FIND OUR NAME FESTOONED IN BARROOM BALLADS (CF. PS 69:12).

Suspension from the Lord’s Supper

February 25, 2011 in Bible - NT - 2 Thessalonians, Discipline, Ecclesiology, Meditations

Several weeks ago we spoke of the necessity of discipline within the Christian community. Even as our fathers separated themselves from the mixed multitude in Nehemiah’s day, the church is commanded to publicly censure those professing the Name of Christ who refuse to obey the Word of God. Listen as Paul commands the Thessalonian church to implement the first stage of this public discipline, a stage we commonly refer to as Suspension from the Lord’s Supper:

2 Thessalonians 3:13-15 (NKJV)
13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Paul begins his words on discipline with an exhortation to the congregation at large, “brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.” Note that Paul’s command presumes that it is a temptation to grow weary in doing good – after all, we don’t warn about things that aren’t threats. In endeavoring to do good we face much opposition – both from within and from without – and so Paul commands us to never grow weary. The temptations of the Evil One, combined with the allurements of the world and the lusts of our own flesh, often make the task of doing good challenging. Add to this that other people frequently discourage us from doing good and we begin to understand that the temptation to grow weary is indeed great.

Because of the strength of this temptation, the temptation to give up doing good and simply start doing whatever, Paul exhorts the church to take seriously those who refuse to obey the Word of God. As Paul remarks elsewhere, a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. If a congregation permits sin to go unchecked, then that congregation cannot be surprised when such sin spreads. So notice that Paul urges the Thessalonians to act – “if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.” Paul’s command involves two parts – first, the Thessalonians are to “note” – mark – point out – publicly identify such a one. Second, they are to refuse to keep company – refuse to enjoy communion, including normal fellowship at the Lord’s Supper – with such a one. Why? What is the purpose of this marking? This suspending of normal fellowship? Note Paul’s words: “that he may be ashamed.” In other words, the purpose of this discipline is to awaken the sinner to the seriousness of his sin. As Solomon writes in Proverbs 20:30, “Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.”

It is with sober hearts that the elders inform you today – in accordance with Paul’s words that such things are to be announced in the public assembly (1 Cor 5:4) – that ———— have been suspended from fellowship in the Lord’s Supper. For the last eight years and more the elders of Christ Church in Spokane and the elders of Trinity Church have endeavored to help ———– overcome sinful habits of communication in their home. These sinful habits include anger, outbursts of wrath, malice, dissension, lies, false accusations, bitterness, resentment, and all manner of evil speech (cf. Eph 4:25-32; Col 3:8-11). Despite repeated warnings and numerous attempts at accountability these habits have remain unchanged. As a result, ———— are living separately for the second time in as many years. Because they have failed to give heed to our private exhortations, we are now announcing this to the church, praying that God will use this to convict and restore them to one another and to the fellowship.

In so announcing, we would remind you of Paul’s exhortation, “do not treat [them] as enemies but admonish them as our brother and sister.” Your duty is to pray for and admonish ————- as professing Christians to repent of their sinful conduct and be restored to one another and to the body. And remember that we are to do this in a spirit of gentleness, taking care lest we also be tempted (cf. Gal 6:1-5). How might you be tempted in the midst of correcting them?

• Pride – Imagining that you yourself are above such sins and superior to ————-. Such is not the case. But for the grace of God, we would all be in like circumstances. So please pray for ———–, asking God to show them mercy.
• Gossip – Using this as an opportunity to speak uncharitably about ———– with others rather than as an opportunity to pray for them and long for their restoration.
• Slander – Listening to false accusations that may be made against the elders, accusing us of heavy-handedness or insensitivity in disciplining them. Let us assure you that this action is the culmination of years of patient shepherding that has borne no fruit.
• Flattery – Listening to sob stories from either ———- in which they blame others for their plight. By listening you would be allowing them to say what they want to say rather than calling them to hear what they need to hear. Admonish them to deal with their own sin in a godly fashion – by confessing it to the Lord and forsaking it (2 Cor 7:8-12).

These warnings against sin serve as a reminder to all of us of our need to confess our sins to the Lord. So let us confess our sins – first privately and then corporately using the prayer found in your bulletin. Let us kneel as we confess our sins together.

The Necessity of Spiritual Growth

February 16, 2011 in Bible - NT - Hebrews, Holy Spirit, Meditations, Sanctification

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those are full of age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14

The passage before us today discusses the necessity of progression in our understanding and application of the Christian faith. This progression is both intellectual–an understanding of the oracles of God–and ethical–the ability to discern between good and evil. God expects His people to grow intellectually and ethically. We are not to be stagnant.

The applications of this text are numerous. Let us highlight four. First, note that there is such a thing as progression in the faith. Not all believers are to be at the exact same place–there are infants and there are aged in the body of Christ. This observation should serve to quell unteachableness, on the one hand, and haughtiness on the other. Babes in Christ need to recognize that they are babes and that they have a responsibility to be receptive to the wisdom and instruction of the aged. The aged in Christ must be conscious of their own growth in grace and extend grace to those who are now growing into adulthood. Rather than looking down on younger Christians and noticing every pimple that mars their appearance, they must lift them up and speak to them words of encouragement.

Second, notice that the possibility of regression also exists. Our passage remarks that the readers “have come to need milk and not solid food.” By virtue of their sin and doubt these saints had regressed in their knowledge of God. Though once growing and blossoming Christians, their leaves were withering. Hebrews warns us–beware of spiritual regression. Pray for the renewing grace of the Spirit; ask God to prune the dead branches.

Third, note that God expects progression from His people. The author of Hebrews rebukes his audience for though they ought to have been teachers they were still in need of milk. Christians, Hebrews says, are to grow in grace to such an extent that they can nurture new babes. Have you ever met someone who has been in the church for 10 or even 20 years and still describes himself as a babe? This is deplorable! For a babe to fail to develop over the course of 10 or 20 years is not something praiseworthy but a cause of genuine concern. Christians are not to remain stagnant so that they are in constant need of spoon feeding. The author of Hebrews expects growth, expects that those who have been in the faith some time will lead those who are just entering the fold. And one particular need in our congregation is additional elders and deacons. And so my question to the men in the congregation is–what are you doing to prepare yourself for these offices? God expects growth, he expects wisdom–are you striving for it? Or have you become complacent in your Christian walk?

Finally note that this requirement of God that we progress in grace would be particularly cruel did He not also provide a way for us to progress. But He does provide such a way. He has not left us ignorant. Progression in wisdom comes as we consistently resort to the Word of God in an effort to train ourselves to discern good and evil. Spiritual progression, Hebrews tells us, is a result of determined usage. Solid food is for those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. God does not bestow wisdom by osmosis. Just as physical training is necessary in order to fine tune one’s body, so spiritual training is necessary in order to train one’s soul. Couch potatoes do not form huge triceps–and neither do Christians who fail to seek wisdom in the Word of God.

Reminded of our failure to progress in the school of Christ as we ought, let us confess our sins to Him – we will have a time of private confession followed by the corporate confession found in your bulletin. Let us kneel together as we confess.

Baptizing Babies

February 9, 2011 in Covenantal Living, Ecclesiology, Sacraments

This is a meditation on some baptisms from this past summer:

Not ten years ago I would have recoiled from that which I rejoice to do in just a few minutes – baptize some babies. And I know that for many of you this practice will seem, at the least, questionable, if not positively absurd, or radically unbiblical. Since this is the first infant baptism we have had as a congregation in a while, I thought it fitting to explain briefly why we baptize babies.

In Ephesians 2 Paul writes to the Gentiles declaring that though at one time they were strangers and aliens from the covenants of promise, they have now been brought near by the blood of Christ. Jew and Gentile alike, in Christ, are heirs of the covenants that God has made throughout history. So, for instance, we who are members of the Church are called “sons of Abraham” because we are the heirs of the Abrahamic covenant; we are called a “royal priesthood, a holy nation” because we are the heirs of the Mosaic covenant; we are called “kings and priests to God” because we are the heirs of the Davidic covenant. We are no longer strangers and aliens but are the rightful heirs of all God’s covenantal promises throughout redemptive history.

So what does all this have to do with infant baptism? Exactly this – in every one of these covenants that God made with our fathers, He promised to be a God not only to our fathers – not only to Abraham, not only to the twelve tribes in Moses’ day, not only to David – but to their children and their children’s children. In every single instance the covenants included both believers and their children.

In the Abrahamic covenant, for example, God speaks of His calling of Abraham this way: “For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice.” God established his covenant with Abraham that Abraham might disciple his household, might bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and pass on to them the faith that had been entrusted to him. Consequently, the sign of the covenant with Abraham – the rite of circumcision – was applied not only to Abraham but to the members of his household, including infants. Circumcision declared to Abraham and to these children – I am the Lord and you are my people, so love Me, fear Me, serve Me, and worship Me all your days.

In the New Testament, this emphasis upon household identity continues with the children of believers being accepted, blessed, and brought into the community of God’s people along with adults. When Paul writes to the Ephesians and Colossians, for example, he addresses his exhortations to the households in the congregation – to husbands and wives, parents and children, masters and slaves. And in these exhortations he freely applies the promises of the covenant made with Moses to the children of believers – Honor your father and mother that it may go well with you and that you may live long on the earth. God continues to act not only with believers but with believers and their children.

Why does God act this way? Because it is a reflection of His own nature. God works from generation to generation among His covenant people. When God passed in front of Moses and revealed His Name to him, this is what the Lord declared:

And the Lord passed before [Moses] and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…” (Ex 34:6-7a)

God declares that it is His nature to keep mercy for thousands – and our question is this, “Thousands of what?” The answer is thousands of generations. As Moses declares later in Deuteronomy: “Therefore, know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Dt 7:9).

So why do we baptize infants? Because God has promised to be a God not only to us but to our children and our children’s children. So our calling is to believe Him, to trust His Word, and to bring our children before Him. For these are His children not ours, given to us in trust, to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. God has revealed Himself to us “in order that [we] may command [our] children and [our] household after [us], that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice.”