This is sort of backwards but I still have hope it may someday be true.

HT: Tim.

First, a call for prayer.

As another conflict unfolds, pray for peace in Israel and Gaza. Jesus Christ is the only lasting hope for peace between God and man and between man and man but that does not mean we do not work for peace on earth. Pray, first, that people in Israel and Gaza will turn to Christ and instead of facing each other as enemies would be able to look at each other as brothers. Pray, second, for the fighting to stop, for the anger and hate and terrorism and bombings and retaliations to end. Pray, third, for the safety of people caught in the middle when conflict does break out.

Second, cautious political commentary.

I support Israel’s right to exist and I believe they have the right to defend themselves against attack. But too often Israel’s response is far too severe and accomplishes the opposite of what is intended. Rocket attacks from Hamas against Israel needed to stop but these kinds of responses by Israel do far too much damage and only stir the hate up even more. There are no true military objectives in the aggressive acts carried out by either side. There is only hatred and revenge. This is not about security or governance. It isn’t even really about ideology. It is about pride and wicked human hearts and wills trying to force their dominance over others – be it Gaza over Israel or Israel over Gaza.

I am not a pacifist. But war should never, ever be taken lightly. No human life should be casually regarded. It is far too easy for us in the west to read of (at this time) two hundred twenty-five dead, including children, and shrug it off by saying they deserved the response they received. Pray for peace. And if you have some way of doing so, work for peace. Seek to bring and end to bloodshed. Never regard it casually or lightly or push it to the back of your mind. Thank God for the safety and security you are blessed with and pray that he would extend that blessing to others.

Just letting you guys know that Immanuel Baptist Church now has a website. Announcements, brief weekly devotionals, and new sermons can be found on there.

Imnmanuel Baptist Church

The NY Times has a piece examining Evangelical growth during times of economic distress. I really wish they had chosen some different church leaders to interview. Give it a read and see if some of the marketspeak doesn’t make you cringe. An example:

But why the evangelical churches seem to thrive especially in hard times is a Rorschach test of perspective.

For some evangelicals, the answer is obvious. ”We have the greatest product on earth,” said the Rev. Steve Tomlinson, senior pastor of the Shelter Rock Church.

Truth is, in hard times people’s distractions and illusions begin to fail. We are so good at ignoring what lies in front of us. But when hard times hit it becomes harder to ignore truth and people begin to realize the only thing they can turn to is what they should have turned to all along. I pray, though, that churches would be bold enough and faithful enough to offer the full gospel and not watered down marketspeak. Jesus is not a product to give a try for 60 days. He is Creator and Lord who demands faithfulness.

I see the moon
And the moon sees me!
God bless the moon
And God bless me!

The full moon on its brightest night in 15 years.

Like many, I’ve been digging through material from the John 3:16 conference as well as reading Lemke’s article and the various responses in the Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry. In each of these one thing has continually surprised and perplexed me: the notion that Calvinists believe eternal security is dependent on human works. 

In brief, what is eternal security, or perseverance of the saints? It is the belief that those who truly belong to Christ will not fall away from the faith. One cannot be a Christian one day and no longer a Christian the next. The Scriptural basis for this belief comes from several places. In Philippians 1:6 Paul expresses confidence that God will complete the work begun in believers; Romans 8:29-30 presents several aspects of the Christian life as a definite, continuous chain: those foreknown are predestined then called then justified then glorified; John 6:39 tells us that the will of the Father is that the Son would lose none of those given to him. Security of the believer is a definite notion in Scripture.

Up to this point there is no real disagreement among those who believe in eternal security. The argument seems to be with the idea that those who are secure will persevere in the faith – continue living faithful lives in faith to God. Somehow we are accused of believing in salvation by works. Here is a broader look at eternal security as I – and many other Calvinists and, perhaps, some non-Calvinists – understand it.

Being born again, regenerated, has to mean something. When a person is born again an actual change has taken place in that person’s life. God has done something to that person so that he is no longer dead in his sins but is made alive with Christ. He is no longer a slave to sin. He will sin but he will not “go on sinning” – his life will no longer be a life characterized by sinfulness. Biblical support for this can be found throughout but nowhere is it clearer than in 1 John.

James and Paul also tell us that those who are born again will have the things of God coming from their lives. There will be fruits of the Spirit. Saving faith will produce good works. The Christian life is not just one that avoids doing bad things, it also does good things. A born again person resists sin and is active in obedience to Christ. Not perfectly so, this is why we must be sanctified. Becoming more like Christ is an ongoing process that is never complete this side of Heaven.

If a person is active in his rebellion against God while claiming to be a Christian, where is the evidence for his claim? If his life is characterized by his sin, where is he meeting the expectation of 1 John?

If a person is saved it will be evident in his life and he will persevere in obedience. If he does not persevere, he will not experience the “salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5). This does not mean he has lost his salvation, this means he was never saved. He had no true change. He was not born again.

A person does not remain born again on the basis of their works, but their works demonstrate that they have been born again. Many can claim to be saved and might live moral lives for a time. If they turn from that claim or turn away from obedience they show their claim was false.

What is the basis of a person’s ability to persevere? A transformed heart and life, filled with strength by the Spirit of God. This is all God’s work. No one can persevere, no one can obey, unless God is at work through him. Without God a man’s every act is sin. Only with God can a person do anything good. Any resisting of sin, any obedience, comes from the grace of God. Any perseverance comes only as a gift of God’s grace.

How can someone claim Calvinists really believe persevering salvation is by human works when Calvinists believe even good works come only by the grace and power of God? If I persevere in obedience and faith it is only because God has transformed me, has regenerated me, has made me be born again (1 Peter 1:3: According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again…).

Thanks be to God who has accomplished everything needed for our salvation.

There are many questions a pastor should ask himself about his ministry. Here are two:

1. Am I preparing my people to die well?
2. Am I preparing my people to suffer well if they should face persecution?

These questions are related. Are our people prepared to die? Not are they eager to die, but are they comfortable with the idea of death? Young or old, are they trusting enough in their Savior that death is not something that stands as a Great Unknown or Mighty Enemy against them? If death is still an enemy, are they ready to face persecution for their faith?

I am no prophet but I believe hard times are coming for America and the world, and I believe hard times are coming for Christians. Will we stand in the face of persecution? Can I suffer for what I believe? Am I training my children to suffer? Am I preparing my people to give their lives in brutal ways in order to glorify their Savior? If I do not make this part of my work, I am failing. What in our lives is so great it is worth betraying the Savior for? What are we putting before him so that we would cast him off in order to hold on to it? Money? Comfort? Family? Our lives? Am I ready to trust God with all of that? To cast it all off and sit under the executioner’s blade? Am I willing to suffer that He might be exalted?

And, pastor, are you helping your people be ready for the same?