Your Life’s Story #3: The Tragedies that Lead to Triumph

 “Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory” (Rom. 8:17).

Recently, we celebrated Memorial Day, specifically remembering and honoring those who have served in our armed forces. Also, in a little over a month from now we will celebrate our independence day remembering the freedom that these men and women were able to ensure for us as a nation. During both of these holidays, our minds turn to the memories of those who died for our country. For some of us, these memories are clearly bitter sweet as we think of friends and family members who have paid the ultimate price. In these instances, most of us can rationalize why those individuals suffered.

On the other hand, sometimes, the suffering that happens in this life seems to be more than we can bear; and for some, they are never able to move past those painful memories. Sometimes our hurts or disappointments do only slight damage, while sometimes they inflict deep and devastating wounds. If disappointment were a thief, it would be no respecter of persons. In fact, the more a person had, the more there would be to plunder. So how could there be a Grand Weaver behind the scenes, weaving a dark pattern such as this?

It seems difficult to consider God as One who would use such dark, hopeless threads. But there arises a question, at the end of your life, what has happened to your heart through these disappointments and sufferings? One of three things will happen to your heart: it will grow hard, it will be broken, or it will be tender. Your heart will become coarse and desensitized, be crushed under the weight of disappointment, or be made tender by that which makes the heart of God tender.

God, the Grand Weaver, seeks those with tender hearts so that He can put His imprint on them. Your hurts and your disappointments are part of that design, to shape your heart and the way you feel about reality. The hurts you live through will always shape you. There is no other way (portions from Ravi Zacharias, The Grand Weaver). 

Unfortunately, most people are more moved by the tragedies than they are by the triumphs of this life. Most people who become Christians as adults come to Christ after a time of great hardships. Furthermore, even as Christians, we tend to be more shaped through the fires of affliction than anything else. C.S. Lewis explained it like this, “God whispers to us in our pleasure, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Even still our tragedies will ultimately lead to our greatest triumph as we seek the face of the One who suffered and died for our sins. Therefore, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

In His service,

                   Matt 

Theology 201 #3: Pick the Brighter Tulip (Part A)

 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Pro. 27:17).

Years ago I remember sitting with my wife visiting with another couple. In the middle of our conversation, the other couple began to have an argument with one another. I felt like we were in front row seats to the Jerry Springer show and started to wonder whether that was our cue to leave or dial 911.

Prior to this, a close family member of ours warned us that this was typical of them and apparently was how they showed love for one another. And the crazy thing was, the longer we were with them, the more I realized that this was true. In other words, this couple had a rather unusual way of showing love to one another. I mention this because the topic we are embarking on may feel similar.

The topic is the old Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate. I recognize that for many those words are completely foreign. So in short, as one writer explained, “Calvinism and Arminianism are two systems of theology that attempt to explain the relationship between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility in the matter of salvation. Both systems can be summarized with five points” known as TULIP. Below is a brief comparison between these two views.

	Calvinism Foundation laid by Augustine	Arminianism Foundation laid by Arminius
T	Total Depravity: mankind is so affected by the negative consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden that we are enslaved to sin to the point that we can only choose evil, and are completely incapable of doing anything to save ourselves. Taken to the extreme, mankind has no freewill.	Tremendous Value: people cannot be held accountable for others’ sins but for their own (Is. 59:2; Ezek. 18:20, etc.). Yes, the totality of mankind are sinners lacking the ability to rescue themselves. But no one is so depraved that they cannot freely say “Yes” to Jesus’ gracious offer (John 3:16).
U	Unconditional Election: since we are deprived, God by His eternal decree has chosen or elected who will be saved and who will be damned.	Unfathomable Love: mankind is so esteemed and loved by God that He willingly went to the cross to die for the sins that mankind freely chose to commit. Then He gave mankind freewill to be able to choose to receive God’s love or reject it, for love without choice is not love at all.
L	Limited Atonement: Jesus’s blood shed to forgive sinners is limited to those whom He chose, called the elect.	Limitless Opportunity: Jesus died for all people. Thus, whoever chooses to receive it by grace through faith can.
I	Irresistible Grace: those whom God chose are unable to resist His eternal decree and will eventually be saved.	Irrefutable Goodness: God desires all to be saved (2 Peter 3:9). But many refuse to accept His offer of salvation.
P	Perseverance of the Saints: since God has decreed who the elect will be, and they cannot resist His choosing of them, they are unconditionally and eternally secure. This is frequently known as “Once saved always saved.”	Promises to the Saints: everyone who remains in Christ has promises of eternal security. The evidence of one’s trust in Christ for their salvation can be observed in tangible ways, granting them assurance of their salvation.

I am going to let Jerry Walls explain the heart of this matter as he does so in simple terms. “The real issue between Calvinism and Arminianism is God’s character. It is not Biblical authority; both sides agree with that. It is not whether God is completely sovereign, because both views agree with that. The real issue is whether God truly loves all the world, and does what He can to promote the well-being of all the children He has created.  

Something else that must be understood is what both sides are talking about when they speak of freedom. The first concept is this, libertarian freedom. This means that a free action is one that is not determined by prior causes and conditions. Free actions are chosen for reasons, and reasons explain actions but they do not determine them. So the essence of who we are in our freedom is in our rationality: our ability to think, reflect, evaluate, and then freely decide. This is the Arminian view.

Now against the libertarian view is the compatibilist view. In this view a person is free so long as the action is not coerced, so long as the he does what he wants to do. Even if he is determined. Now, the point is this, you do what you want to do, but you are caused to have the desires that you have. You have been caused to want what you want. You can’t want anything else. You can’t desire anything else. You’ve been caused to have those wants and desires. But you still do what you want to do because you can’t do otherwise. If a Calvinist is consistent with their view, they must hold to a compatibilist view. And the reason that they must hold to a compatibilist view is because they believe that all things are determined. Thus, to a Calvinist, they believe that God is both the author of evil and that He created many people for the sole purpose of going to hell without any possibility of ever being saved.

John Piper, who is a consistent Calvinist described years ago how he would go into the bedroom of his two sons, pray for them, and hope that they would one day join him in Christian service. But after stating this, he concluded the article with these words, “But I am not ignorant that God may not have chosen my sons for His sons. And though I think I would give my life for their salvation, if they should be lost to me, I would not rail against the Almighty, He is God. I am but a man. The Potter has absolute rights over the clay. Mine is to bow before His unimpeachable character, and believe that the Judge of all the earth has always and will ever do right.” However, this represents a profound misunderstanding of God.

Is the God who is most clearly revealed in Jesus a God who would pass over some of His fallen children, and leave them in their sins even though He could save them with their freedom intact? Is the character of Jesus most glorified, shown forth in its most beautiful light by the claim that God withholds His grace from some of His children and chooses to glorify Himself in their eternal damnation? Does that match what Jesus says in Luke 15:7? He says that there is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents. Jesus is like a shepherd who has the 99 but is not content with only those. So He goes out searching high and low for that one lost sheep. He doesn’t say, “Pass over that one. Leave that one alone to wander in the wilderness lost.” No, He doesn’t leave the one, for He goes out searching for them.

Consider what Jesus says in Matthew 23:37. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” Now, can you imagine Jesus saying this if the only thing that prevented Him from gathering the chicks under His wings was His own choice to withhold from them the grace with which they would have gladly come under His wings? (Jerry Walls, "The Great Debate: Predestination vs. Free Will”)

The answer to these questions is absolutely not! The Bible clearly teaches that God does not desire for any to perish; yet many freely chose to reject God’s gracious and loving offer to save them. Therefore, over the next few months, I’d like to help us to see God’s greater sovereignty and His greater love for all mankind as we consider some of the mysteries of His Word.

In His service,

       Matt

Your Life’s Story #2: The DNA of Your Life

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

A building block in a Christian’s DNA is trials and hardships. However, as James explains, there is a purpose—maturity and perfection or completion.

One of my favorite Bible stories is Joseph. Joseph’s life started out well—he was his father’s favorite, and received dreams from God of his eleven brothers and even his parents bowing down to him. However, his dream life quickly turned into a nightmare.

Joseph’s brothers were jealous of their father’s favoritism and these dreams of superiority. So, one day, one day when Joseph went to check on them as they were working in the field, they beat him up, stole his coat, and sold him to be a slave in Egypt. His troubles continued in Egypt, there, he was enslaved, falsely accused and imprisoned. He was abandoned and forgotten by those he helped.

However, not everything that happened to him was bad. God’s hand was on Joseph while he served as a slave and in prison and “the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand” (Gen. 39:3). And eventually he was elevated to second in command of the most powerful nation in the world at that time, Egypt. And the dreams that he had had years ago came true.

Through ALL of these experiences, God was accomplishing maturity and perfection in Joseph’s life. And Joseph was able to come to terms with this fact (see Gen. 45:5-8). Even though Joseph’s brothers had intended on harming him, and he encountered numerous hardships by no fault of his own, God was able to accomplish the saving of Joseph’s family from famine (Gen. 50:20).

God is working the same in our lives as Christians; He takes the building blocks of our trials to accomplish His purpose of maturity in our walk with the Lord (Rom. 8:28).

Corrie ten Boom explained this process of maturity well: “My life is but a weaving between my God and me. I cannot choose the colors He weaveth steadily. Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow; and I in foolish pride forget He sees the upper, And I the underside. Not ’til the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly will God unroll the canvas, And reveal the reason why. The dark threads are as needful in the weaver’s skillful hand as the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned. He knows, He loves, He cares; nothing this truth can dim. He gives the very best to those, Who leave the choice to Him.”

Ravi Zachrias said, “Accepting and celebrating the thread of your own personality is the first grasp of the Grand Weaver’s design in your life. You are not a number. He knows you by name. Every stage of the process may not look picturesque, but every detail will come into focus and possess its share of beauty (The Grand Weaver). Thus, as you go through various trials, be encouraged that God is weaving maturity into your life and quite possibly the salvation of those around you.

In His service,

            Matt

Theology 201 #2: The Essential Non-Essentials

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15 NASB).

In spite of the crazy spring conditions that we are experiencing this year, there are still some pretty flowers popping out of the ground. While I may not be much of a plant guy, my wife loves them and my 4 year old son is fascinated by them. Therefore, since I love both my wife and son, I am slowing learning things about them, but please don’t test me on them because I am likely to fail. :) Lol. Of course there is a big difference in the level of understanding concerning plants in our household. My wife spent two years getting an associates in horticulture, and worked in that field for years. Thus, my wife took her love for plants very seriously.

As Christians, God calls us to take our study of His Word very seriously! God wants us to be students of His Word similar to my wife’s love for plants. She took the knowledge that she received and applied it in her occupation. So while you might not be called into paid occupational ministry as a result of becoming a student of God’s Word, you are still commanded to continually educate yourself about what the Bible teaches and apply it to your life.

As a student of God’s Word, it will not be long until you discover topics that can and have been highly debated. This brings us to the question: what are we supposed to do about such topics and passages? For some, they refuse to take a stance in an effort to avoid conflict. However, that is a very dangerous position. Yes, they might be able to avoid conflict with others, yet God never calls us to avoid conflict altogether. As the old saying goes, “If you don’t stand for anything, you’ll fall for everything.”

A careful examination of the Bible reveals three primary doctrines worth standing for, even to the point of being willing to die for: (1) the Trinity, (2) justification by faith alone, and (3) the Bible alone as our ultimate ruling authority (for more info see http://eugenechristianchurch.blogspot.com/2017/04/man-image-of-god-13-something-worth.html).

Anything beyond these three things is often times considered to be a non-essential since it does not necessarily affect a person’s salvation. This offers a lot of freedom within Christianity; for example, the frequency of communion, the use of musical instruments in worship services, jewelry, clothing, women in church leadership, a person’s view of Biblical prophecy, Christians serving in the military, voting and politics, Calvinism vs. Arminianism, etc. Therefore, while we can disagree about topics like these, they do not affect how we treat each other as Christians.

However, at the same time, it is still vitally important for us to understand why we believe what we believe with Scriptural support in these areas for several reasons:

First, taken to the extreme, many of the “non-essential doctrines” can lead to essential matters. For example, “once saved always saved” (one of the five pillars of Calvinism) can cause some to fall away because they believe that they will be saved regardless of what they do after accepting Christ.

Second, it can cause a believer to miss blessings associated with a proper Biblical understanding. For example, when Arminianism is taken to the extreme it can cause believers to doubt their salvation since it teaches that a person can forfeit their salvation. 

Third, the Bible is meant to be understood. Yet when we refuse to address areas that are not necessarily related to salvation, we begin to call to issue whether the Bible is inerrant as it claims (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

Fourth, it can cause people to think that they can just pick and choose what they want to accept, rather than considering God’s Word in its entirety. This is a very dangerous result of refusing to deal with what some might consider as non-essentials as it has and continues to lead people astray.

Therefore, last month when we began this new series (see http://eugenechristianchurch.blogspot.com/2018/04/theology-201-1-religion-politics.html), we began it with the purpose of seeking to help you to understand God’s Word better and to help prevent you from being led astray on account of false teaching. At the same time, the Bible does allow for liberty on certain subjects: “In essentials: unity. In non-essentials: liberty. And in all things love!”

In His service,

       Matt

Elder’s Corner: I Can Only Imagine

No, I’m not talking about the song by Mercy Me or the great movie it inspired, but it is a phrase I sometimes use when I try to describe what Heaven will be like. At the funeral of a dear friend recently, I shared some scriptures which give us a glimpse of what the future holds. 1 Corinthians 2:9 shares an Old Testament passage from Isaiah 64 when it states “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Jesus gives us some words of assurance about our future residence recorded in John 14:1-3, “Do not let your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you; I go to prepare a place for you. If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

John (the writer of the book of Revelation) tries to describe what Heaven will be like. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Rev. 21:3-4 NASB). 

John then tries to capture the magnitude and magnificence of the place God has for believers. It is a difficult task to do: trying to describe a heavenly realm in human terms. The great width, height, and length of the city all being equal. Large pearls form each of the 12 gates (3 on each side). The foundations are adorned with 12 kinds of precious stones. The streets are pure gold, like transparent glass. Verses 22-23, “I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.”

The bottom line is this: I want to be there—not because it is so beautiful, or even pain and sorrow free, but because the One who loves me most is there. He made you and me in His image and wants to have a friendship with us now (while we are still in this imperfect world), and He wants us to be forever together with Him.

—Alan