New Blog!!!

For anyone who reads this blog, we have now moved to: http://faithfamily.wordpress.com/blog/

Feel free to check out other Faith Church stuff on the website: www.faithfamily.ca

Hey, hey, I'm finally on!!!

Sean D has finally made it into the blogging world! (Not sure why I'm using the third person.)

Never thought I'd see the day; my technological savvy is limited to say the least - I tried like a hundred times to log in yesterday, but I kept getting an "error" code... Anyway, I'm on, and by God's grace I hope that my posts will be at least a fraction of the encouragement as that which I've received from the postings of others.

In later posts I'll give more info about my life here in Korea. For now, I want to share this personal reflection: the Word of God is so precious and its truth ever new, but the flesh is so wicked that a man easily takes that precious Word for granted such that its beauty becomes dull in his sight. And it is only by a mighty working of the Spirit that a man's heart can again be enthralled by the majestic splendour of Jesus and his eyes once more see the glory of the Good News as if for the first time. Only then can he cast down his idols and return to the Living God.

Thus, my prayer these days is that of the song, "Magnificent Obsession" by Steven Curtis Chapman:

So capture my heart again,
Take me to depths I've never been
Into the riches of Your grace and Your mercy
Return me to the cross,
And let me be completely lost
In the wonder of the love
That You've shown me

Cut through these chains that tie me down
To so many lesser things,
Let all my dreams fall to the ground
Until this one remains
...

Jesus be my one magnificent obsession!

God's Providence Follow-up

(THE FOLLOWING IS A "BIT" THAT WAS NOT SHARED ON SUNDAY - a lot of quotes from Wayne Grudem)

The word “providence” does not occur in the Bible, but the doctrine is stated and illustrated as a major theme throughout Scripture. As many of you probably know, it is the theme of the Book of Esther, which never mentions God directly. And yet His providential hand is behind the twists and turns of the story, preserving His chosen people from destruction.

Deists deny God’s providence by asserting that He created the world, but He is no longer actively involved in it. Others say that God is active in the events of the world, but that He is not sovereign over evil. Rather, evil is the result of free will.

But the Bible teaches that God is actively controlling or directing even evil events and evil people in such a way as to accomplish His sovereign will, and yet He is not the author of evil and is not responsible for it (as Eph. 1:11 states). No evil person or act changes or thwarts God’s sovereign will (see the discussion in Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology [Zondervan], p. 322-331).

Here is how theologian Wayne Grudem defines God’s providence:

God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he (1) keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them; (2) cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and (3) directs them to fulfill his purposes.

John Calvin puts it (The Institutes of the Christian Religion, ed. by John McNeill [Westminster Press], 1:16:4), “providence means not that by which God idly observes from heaven what takes place on earth, but that by which, as keeper of the keys, he governs all events.”

As Grudem’s definition outlines, there are three aspects of God’s providence in the Bible (I’m following his treatment and quoting him, pp. 315-354, here).

1. First, God’s providence means preservation.

That “God keeps all created things existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them” (p. 316).

Hebrews 1:3 tells us that Christ “upholds all things by the word of His power.” The Greek word translated “uphold” means to carry or bear. Grudem says, “It does not mean simply ‘sustain,’ but has the sense of active, purposeful control over the thing being carried from one place to another” Colossians 1:17 also asserts that “all things hold together” in Christ. If Jesus were to “let go,” the entire universe would instantly disintegrate! Thus God did not just design the laws of science and nature and step away from them. Rather, He actively maintains such laws.

2. God’s providence means concurrence.

That “God cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do” (p. 317).

This includes God’s causing things to happen that we would think of as merely “natural” occurrences. For example, the Bible says that God causes the rain and snow to fall on earth, along with the wind to blow and the lightning to flash (Job 37:6-13; Ps. 135:7). God also gives food to the wild animals and birds (Ps. 104:27-29; Matt. 6:26).

God governs what we might call random chance events, such as the casting of lots (Prov. 16:33). Also, God causes things to happen where His creatures also play a role. For example, I may water and fertilize my grass or a farmer his crops, but God causes them to grow. I can put water into the freezer, but God makes it freeze (Job 38:27, 29-30).

God also governs human affairs. He determines the time, existence, and boundaries of the nations (Acts 17:26). He sets up rulers and takes them down again (Dan. 4:34-35; Ps. 22:28).

He governs every aspect of our lives (Jer. 10:23; Prov. 16:9; 20:24), including the number of days that we will live (Ps. 139:16). He is even sovereign over evil, although He is not tainted in any way by it nor is He responsible for it (Gen. 50:20; Acts 2:23; 4:27-28; 1 John 1:5). But He uses evil men and events to carry out His sovereign plan, even as He is doing in our story with this evil plot to kill Paul.

3. God’s providence means government.

That “God has a purpose in all that he does in the world and he providentially governs or directs all things in order that they accomplish his purposes” (p. 331).

“He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” (Dan. 4:35). God “works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11).

The doctrine of God’s providence is very practical and comforting on a daily basis. If we live in a world of random chance, it is a most scary place to be! You never know what bad things might happen to you or your loved ones, and so all you can do is hope for “good luck.” Or, if as some Christians believe, God is not sovereign over evil, then when terrorists fly airplanes into the World Trade Center and kill thousands of people, or a crazy gunman kills your loved one, that’s tragic, but there was nothing that God could have done about it, since He gave them “free will.”

But if even that evil event was under God’s providence, then we know that He can work it together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). Those who lost loved ones can know that those wicked men did not in any way thwart God’s sovereign plan. Rather, those evil men were inadvertently carrying out His sovereign plan for history and they will face God’s eternal judgment!

Thus, God has a sovereign plan for each of us. Evil men cannot thwart God’s purpose. God carries out His sovereign plan through His often behind-the-scenes providence.

Newest blogger on the Faith church blog

With my first-ever entry I thought i would share the passage I've been reflecting on lately:

Galatians Chapter 3

Verse 3
Are you foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
...

Verse 11
Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "the righteous shall live by faith."


Personally, I find it easier to understand the concept of being SAVED by grace. But what about the rest of our life on this earth? the years that follow accepting Christ as our Savior?

It seems like the resounding answer to Paul's rhetorical question, 'Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?'....is OF COURSE NOT.

Saved by grace...now able to live every day by grace...

Realizing this fact...along with knowing how short I fall of God's holiness...has filled me with a lot of hope lately...hope to grow, hope to change and hope to be used.

My prayer today, reflecting on this, is that our community at Faith can have just that...hope.

Thank you Jesus.

Apparently this blog is on the level of genius!

I just tried an online tool that supposedly analyzes blogs and rates its readability. Tim Challies got a junior high score. Faith Church's blog got a genius score!

You can try it out at http://www.criticsrant.com/bb/reading_level.aspx

Theologically, I would say that it would be dangerous for me or anyone else who contributes to this blog that we deserve any praise for this. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6,

"we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others"

In the same way, I hope none of us seeks the praises of men for our worldly accomplishments or successes. Jeremy once asked me, "How do you think ministry successes should be weighed?" In response, I would say that one way successes or accomplishes can be determined is by reflecting on how closely we imitate Christ in them. 1 Peter 2:21 says,

"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."

So please keep us accountable. If you feel that at any time we are being proud of ourselves more than God, or in serious theological error, tell us by commenting. And may God be with you.

Would you give?

I found this article very encouraging: link. It's on the efforts of Christians in Cambodia, who are bringing the bible to the people there through technology. It's really interesting that millions are being spent on spreading God's word.

Economically, this is the worst investment. There is no return on your investment. All that money that goes into making audio and visual bibles will not result in more money. It is a capital black hole.

Spiritually, this is the best investment. This is God's words afterall!

I remember when Timothy Keller explained that the word "righteousness" was used by the Israelites for people that were blessed abundantly and gave abundantly. In other words, a righteous man or woman is one that gives as much as they receive.

There are rich people that are good stewards of their wealth. This is not a knock on rich people. Rather, rich or poor, what do you do with your money that makes you righteous? If are saving up to get that nice car or house, are you doing it for yourself or for the glory of God. Are you planning to use that nice car to evangelize and help those in need (i.e. give rides), or do you think that you would be swallowed up in pride for that which you possess? These are good questions to ask yourself when considering righteousness and being a good steward of your money.