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).

Diversity of Glory

January 18, 2010 in Bible - OT - Proverbs, Children, Meditations

Proverbs 20:29 (NKJV)
29 The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head.

Well it’s basketball season. This week Gonzaga played Saint Mary’s and the highlight of the game was watching Gonzaga freshman Elias Harris. Harris had 31 points and 13 rebounds – and a good portion of those points appeared to be accomplished as Harris looked down on the basket rather than up at it. At one point Harris jumped so high the announcer remarked that he appeared to be climbing his opponent’s back.

Harris’ performance was another reminder – as we saw last week – that the glory of young men is their strength. And as we also remarked, Solomon recognizes and celebrates this strength. But the very strength of young men exposes them to a particularly nasty temptation – that of scorning those who no longer possess or who never possessed such strength. As a result of the Fall, those who are strong are prone to despise those who are not. And so the second section of Solomon’s proverb serves as an important reminder to young men that glory comes in various shapes and sizes: The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray head.

So young men learn the lesson today: not all glory comes in a shape you can immediately appreciate. Just because something does not strike you as “cool” doesn’t mean that it’s not glorious and wonderful in the eyes of God. An old man has lost the strength he once possessed but he has gained another which is splendid – his grey hair – which you are to esteem because God does. A woman is not typically as physically strong as a man but she has other strengths which are splendid and glorious in the eyes of God. A child is not as strong as a young man but he has other strengths which we have already considered, strengths which display the glory of God and which you are to acknowledge and embrace.

In other words, those whose glory is their strength have a hard time seeing the different type of glory that God has placed in others. God calls all of us to glory in the diversified strengths he has placed in the body. Rather than disparage the weak, we are to honor, respect, and protect them. And young men, you especially need to cultivate this grace of admiring different types of glory. This time in your life is the time when you need to appreciate the silliness of your younger brothers and sisters not scorn it as something you did when you were “young and immature.” This time in your life is the time when you need to learn to respect the strength that God has placed in a woman not dismiss your mother as irrational. This time in your life is the time when you need to honor the grey headed not mock them as holdovers of a by-gone age.

At no time in history have these lessons been more necessary and more challenging. Despite our language of diversity, multi-culturalism, and acceptance, we have become a people intoxicated with the strength of youth. And so young men you are going to have a very challenging time learning these lessons in your youth. But isn’t this what you want? Didn’t you ask for a challenge? Isn’t your glory your strength? Then show it by honoring the different types of glory that God has placed around you.

Reminded that we all are tempted to scorn the different types of glory that God has placed about us, let us kneel and confess our sin to our Father.

The Glory of Young Men

January 18, 2010 in Children, Ecclesiology, Meditations

1 John 2:13-14 (NKJV)
…I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one… I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.

We have now finished our consideration of the lessons which children teach us. And so we begin to consider young men and young women – no longer grouped together as young people but distinguished and differentiated because God in His Providence uses this time in a young man’s life to notify him that that child he’s been playing with next door is different.

John writes to the young men in his audience for a very specific reason and highlights the strengths which young men possess. You young men out there have definite strengths, lessons to teach us as the people of God. Unfortunately, these very strengths expose you to certain temptations and weaknesses as well. And so let us consider what you teach us – both positively and, at times, negatively.

One of the first lessons that young men teach us is the glory of strength. Something happens when boys become young men. They start comparing muscle mass, challenging dad to feats of strength, working out to develop six packs and biceps. They challenge themselves and their friends with new and unsual tests. And these types of tests are not wrong but good and right. Pushing one another further, challenging one another, not being content with 10 pull ups but pushing for 20 – these traits are good. Solomon himself tells us that the “glory of young men is their strength.” God has given this strength to you young men and so ask God to use it to stretch yourself, to challenge yourself and your friends.

But John also encourages you to put this strength to work not only physically but spiritually. The Church stands in dire need of young men who are not content with the muddle headed, mealy mouthed, limp wristed spirituality that is passed off as pious today. Too many young men think that spirituality means getting some feel good spiritual high, having warm fuzzies about Jesus, or sharing their personal struggles just like the girls do.

John highlights none of these things in his words to young men. Rather, John highlights the “strength” which is the glory of young men. “I write to you young men, because you have overcome the evil one…I write to you young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”

So young men – challenge one another. Push one another. Fred, let’s memorize Ephesians together – I bet I can memorize it faster than you. Let’s pray regularly for our parents – I bet I can be more consistent than you. Let us be sexually pure – if you go after some girl dishonorably or start looking at porn I’m going to let the elders know.

Young men our culture wants you to think that you are incapable of true greatness; that the extent of your ability is to be addicted to entertainment and “big boys toys.” God thinks different. God knows you are quite capable of excelling; He knows you are strong; and so He tells you – fight the good fight, overcome the evil one, let my word dwell in you. For that is what you have to teach the body of Christ.

Reminded that we have failed to appreciate the strength of young men and have instead striven to emasculate them, let us kneel and confess our sin to God.

Teaching us the Gospel

January 18, 2010 in Children, Meditations

1 John 2:12-13 (NKJV)
12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake… I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.

For the last several weeks we have considered the various lessons which children teach us. As members of the Kingdom of God, Christ has placed children here to teach all of us various lessons – lessons about trust, about sin, about authority, about obedience. We close our meditations on children with the words of John in his epistle:

I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake… I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.

Children, you are here in the Church to teach us about the Gospel. Here is the glorious good news. Through no merit of your own God has brought you into the covenant community, welcomed you in baptism, declared to you, “You are My child, You are one of My people.” Your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake – not because God is first and foremost concerned about your happiness, your joy, and your peace – but because first and foremost He is concerned about His Name. And precisely because He is concerned about His Name, He welcomes you, forgives you, loves you working for your greatest happiness, joy and peace. He chose, before the foundation of the world, that you would be here, that you would be born to Christian parents, that you would have the inestimable privilege of growing up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

So what is to be your response? To know the Father, to love Him, to trust Him. “I write to you, little children,” John says, “Because you have known the Father.” Children, you are here to teach us adults to know and love and trust the Lord. Relatively free from the cynicism that so early descends upon humanity, free from the despair which wraps its tendrils around our hearts and minds, free from the bitterness that clouds and destroys our judgment – you are here to teach us to trust the Father, to believe that He causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

So children – teach us. Exhibit for us what faith and trust look like. When you are facing trials, when your family is facing hardship, direct your mom and dad, your brothers and sisters, to the face of Christ. You know the Father; help them to remember the Father as well. And adults – learn. Learn from the younger saints that God will indeed care for us – so what need to fret? What need for anxiety? What need for worry? Will not He who cares for all the beasts of the field care for His own children? Of course he will.

Reminded that God is the One who calls us to Himself and invites us into the company of His people; reminded that He does so so that we might be a people who know Him and love Him as do the youngest members in our midst, let us kneel and confess that we have often strayed from our first love.