Bible Reading Plan 2015

There's a lot of chatter on social media and the blogisphere regarding New Year's resolutions including Bible Reading Plans. Here's a few links that I've noted:

1.  Tim Challies, one of my favorite Christian bloggers has a helpful article HERE. 

2.  Southern Seminary has some really good advice HERE. 

3.  Matt Chandler's Church, The Village Church has a good "why" article HERE.

4.  Desiring God challenges our application to Bible reading HERE.

My plan is to go back to an old favorite.  This past year I primarily blogged on some important books of the Bible such as Revelation, Galatians and Zechariah.  This formed part of my devotional life and my prayer life.   But this year I go back to a Bible that I've gone through at least 3 times.  It's called THE DAILY BIBLE, by F. LaGard Smith.  It is in the New International Version.  It is a chronological Bible.  The arrangement of the Bible text itself is unique:

• 365 convenient daily readings guide readers through all of God's Word in one year.
• Passages are arranged chronologically, enabling readers to understand and experience God's unfolding plan of creation, redemption, and restoration like never before.
• Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are displayed topically in order to highlight specific aspects of God's wisdom.

The only difference for me this year will be that I'm reading it in a digital format.  This enables me to make notes, journal and blog with greater ease.  I love the chronological Bible because it enables me to keep the Big Picture in mind.  I commend it to you. 

The point is that there is no shorter of resources. What better book to read, study, and obey than God's Word? “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13, NIV)

 

 

Just BECAUSE ..... Part 3

Another way of describing the thought process that I've been writing about in the last two blogs (HERE and HERE), is to think of this in terms of means to an end.  God, as the Uncaused Cause of the Universe, sovereign in every way, determines both the ends and the means.  God is the primary cause of all events by virtue of His fore-ordination of all events.   But God normally uses means or secondary causes.  We can fail on this score in several ways:

1. By dismissing one cause, or devaluing one cause for the sake of the other.
2. By considering secondary causes of greater influence than the Primary Cause.
3. By making secondary causes irrelevant because of the greater cause.

It is pagan at worst or sub-Christian at best to ever think that a secondary cause can move the Primary Cause.  I read such a quote yesterday.  A person wrote, "God elects the whole world to salvation but mankind can refuse or frustrate that choice."  That is pure idolatry.  At the same time God has chosen to use means such as the preaching of the Gospel, repentance and faith to save His elect.  These means are not negotiable.  

Understanding multiple causes in God's interaction with humans while maintaining His sovereign primacy is of great help us in understanding Scripture and giving due glory to the right cause.  For example consider this verse in Romans 9:18 (NIV),

¹⁸ Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

The Bible reader is immediately taken back to the story of the Exodus where God promised Moses “But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt,” (Exodus 7:3, NIV).  Sincere Christians will wonder about such a statement.  But when one considers that God is acting as the primary cause, but using secondary causes it brings perspective.  Initially “Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.”” (Exodus 5:2, NIV).  And it is obvious that God had decreed that the longer this king resists His will, the harder his heart would become, to the point that it was cemented into permanent indifference to God.  

A danger in reading your Bible is to embrace one evidence of causation and run with it, to the exclusion of all other evidences.  This impacts almost every dimension of Christianity that I can think of, from prayer to perseverance; from evangelism to edification.  I have learned to ask two questions when I study:

1. Is this a Primary or Secondary cause; and
2. Whatever it is, where is its corollary?

So in the case of Pharaoh I ask, "Is this a statement of Primary Causation?"  Yes!  Question 2: "What means did God use?"  Answer:  Pharaoh's stubborn, idolatrous will.  The New Living Bible captures the sense of this well: “Human defiance only enhances your glory, for you use it as a weapon.” (Psalm 76:10, NLT)

 

"God raises up men like Pharaoh and Pilate to accomplish his ends. Yet, their actions are free and morally accountable. Their sin does not thwart the eternal decree of God, but rather is encompassed in his divine plan so that he is without sin (Ps. 17.14). He is the potter and we are the clay (Rom. 9) . . . In this way, in accordance with the eternal decree of God, who alone is the first cause, all that comes to pass -- the unfolding of history, as it were -- is encompassed in the sovereign providential government of God, over all creation, rational agents and otherwise, which thereby, as the Confession says, establishes the nature of second causes." [1]

To God be the glory.

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1. http://www.puritanboard.com/f48/secondary-causes-15115/

Finding Your Soul-Mate. Or Not!

Do you believe the mantra that there is a perfect person out there somewhere for you to marry? Stephen Altrogge has same compelling thoughts here:

“My point is that the whole concept of finding the one, perfect soul mate, is completely absent from scripture. I suspect that the idea of a soul mate was invented by romance writers so that they would have something to write about. In fact, I would even go so far as to say that the idea of a soul mate is harmful. If you go into marriage expecting your spouse to satisfy your every need and complement you perfectly, you will be sorely disappointed. If you expect your spouse to satisfy the deepest longings of your soul, you are in for a massive let down. Marriage is a covenant between two, imperfect, very flawed, sinful people. You’re not perfect and your spouse isn’t perfect, so don’t expect your marriage to be perfect. If you’re single, don’t obsess over finding the perfect person. Don’t spend years and years waiting to find the perfect person who will be your everything. There is only one perfect person, and his name is Jesus. Unfortunately, you don’t get to marry Jesus (I realize that’s a weird analogy if you’re a guy). You can, however, marry someone who loves Jesus very much. That’s the kind of person you should be trying to find. Compatibility comes through Christ, not through some mathematical formula invented by the owner of a dating website. True love between two people only happens when those two people first love Jesus.”[1]

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[1] Altrogge, Stephen (2014-02-17). The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Thoughts On Following Jesus, Amish Romance, the Daniel Plan, the Tebow Effect, and the Odds of Finding Your Soul Mate (Kindle Locations 795-806). Blazing Center Books. Kindle Edition.

Just BECAUSE ..... Part 2

Understanding how things happen is critical to understanding your Bible. In a previous Blog I introduced the idea of causation (big word, mammoth idea!). Let me give you one example of why this is an important concept to grasp. Notice this Bible verse: “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13, ESV).   In this one verse we have a primary cause and at least two secondary causes.  The primary cause (God chose) does not render the secondary causes (sanctification and belief) unnecessary.  But the secondary causes do not supersede the primary cause.

Aristotle wrote that "we do not have knowledge of a thing until we have grasped its why, that is to say, its cause."  I believe he was right.  Thomas Aquinas formulated five ways of arguing for the existence of God. His fifth way proving the existence of God is that he observed that everything has a purpose; and end that must have been applied by an intelligent Being.  Thus God created causality!

Aquinas rightly concluded that final causality comes first and works in and through the efficient causes. The efficient causes are subordinate to the final causes inasmuch as they are means to ends. 

Probably one of the most beloved Bible verses for Christians is found in Paul's Letter to Rome: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:28–29, ESV).

In the next Blog, I will try to show the law of causation working strenuously through these precious verses.  As Aristotle concluded, until we screen this passage through the lens of causation we won't properly understand it.  Therefore we won't understand God's providence.  

Just BECAUSE ..... Part 1

Unless Christians understand and apply the phenomenon of multiple causes we will fail to grasp the magnitude and the wonder of God’s relationship with men and women. Embracing complex causation leads to worship in the true sense of the word: admiration for God and responsibility in life.

I think the concept of multiple causes is critical to proper Christian understanding of God’s interaction with men and women.  Let’s start with an easy illustration:

 A married couple has a beautiful baby girl.  We are absolutely aware that this event occurred because this couple engaged in the marriage act which produced a baby.   But this wasn’t the first time they tried to have a baby.  What was different this time?  Well in the most basic sense, there was unification between a sperm and an egg.  So conception occurs because of this union.  Later in life this little girl grows and she asks her mother where she came from.  As my daughter likes to mimic: “Daddy loved Mommy very much and that is why you are here.”   Well of course that is a means of keeping the details to a minimum, but there is truth there.  Behind every act there is a decision a decision that more than often occurs in the deep recesses of one’s subconscious.  That baby girl is here because of the choice of the mind.

Now wait a minute.  Paul affirms about God that “the God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,” (Acts 17:24, ESV).  Psalm 139 is a classic text that insists that this baby girl of our subject is here because God made her.

So you will notice that I used the word because four times in this make-believe story.  A baby girl is here BECAUSE a man and woman chose to engage in sexual intimacy.  She is here BECAUSE they did.  She is here BECAUSE of the union of a sperm and an egg.  She is here BECAUSE God formed and fashioned her in her mother’s womb. 

Theologians (and scientists) have sometimes framed this discussion in terms of primary and secondary causes. The drawer in the theological filing cabinet that contains this discussion is called providence. God is the primary cause of all things.  The uncaused Cause of the universe. But God relates to mankind through secondary causes. When Joseph reconciled with his brothers, Moses records the classic text that reflects this existence of multiple causes. “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20, ESV).

Correct biblical understanding will indeed show a pecking order in this arena of causation, but to deny compound causes will not only deny the reality of living, but will stunt one’s understanding of the relationship between God and man.  People who fail to embrace multifaceted causation also tend to become myopic – focusing on one aspect of reality rather than seeing the entire picture.

To be continued …

Is Christ Thy Desire?

Last night in our Christmas Eve Service we sang the familiar carol: Hark the Herald Angels sing[1].  In this beloved carol, in the fourth stanza we sang:  Come Desire of nations come, fix in us Thy humble home. Rise the woman's conqu’ring seed. Bruise in us the serpent's head. Adam’s likeness now efface. Stamp Thine image in its place . . ..”   Notice the title given to Jesus: Desire of Nations.  Other song writers in carols like O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Angels from the Realms of Glory, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, etc. all include this name of Christ, our Savior.

Desire of Nations!  What a name!  It comes from the prophet Haggai.  ““This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty” (Haggai 2:6–7, NIV).

Israel, while building the Second Temple needed the encouragement of the prophet to keep building. This Second Temple would not have the glory of the first.  The people were discouraged.  So the prophet tells them what God says.  “This phrase indicates a future period in which all nations will come to Jerusalem to worship the King (compare Zech 14:16) and bring silver and gold (see v. 8).” ^[2]   But then God says, “I will fill this house with glory.  In all honesty the prophet was likely speaking of things, not a person.  “Here Haggai probably echoes Isaiah’s promise of an Israel made rich by the wealth of the nations (Is. 60:5). In other words, he speaks of the Messianic age.”^[3] But the older songwriters interpreted the treasures of the nations to be Christ; for indeed He is. “He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.” (Psalm 145:19, NIV)

John Flavel, a 17^th Century English Puritan preacher wrote:

“To this great discouragement the prophet applies this relief: that whatsoever should be lacking in external pomp and glory, should be more than recompensed by the presence of Jesus Christ in this second temple. For Christ, "the desire of all nations," he says, shall come into it . . . In these words we have both the description of Christ, and an arrow pointing at the time of his incarnation: he is called "the desire of all nations," and the time of his coming in the flesh is clearly implied to be during the time of the second temple. “ [4]

Flavel goes on to ask and answer the question, “Why is He called the Desire of the Nations?”   Here’s an abbreviated summary of his points.  He is called the Desire of the Nations because:

1. Because He is appointed by the Father to be the remedy for sins and sorrow;
2. Because in Him is inherently the capacity to supply all the needs of all the nations;
3. Because He stands apart from all other religions and pursuits of treasure. He alone satisfies;
4. Because the Scriptures which to show the universal span of His kingdom; and
5. Because “when God opens the eyes of men to see their sin and danger by it, nothing but Christ can give them satisfaction.”

John records the coming of Christ “to His Temple” in these terms: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, NIV)

Spurgeon ends a sermon on the same topic in this manner: “Dear hearer, I would send thee away with this one query in thine ear—Is Christ thy desire?  Couldest thou say, with David, "He is all my salvation and all my desire"? Could you gather up your feet in the bed, with dying Jacob, and say, "I have waited for thy will, O God"? By your desire shall you be known. The desire of the righteous shall be granted. Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desire of thine heart.” [5]

Good questions to consider on the Christmas Day, 2014. 

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[1] Charles Wesley | Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, © Words: Public Domain

^[2] Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Hag 2:7). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

^[3] Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Hag 2:7). Nashville: T. Nelson.

[4] http://www.puritansermons.com/sermons/flavel2.htm

[5] http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/3442.htm

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:16–23, NIV)

I've Been Misquoted! You Have Misrepresented Me!

Politicians hate to be misquoted.  Couldn't we say that anyone in public life hates to be misquoted? You and I hate to be misquoted. To be misquoted is to misrepresent who we are and what we believe. It often brings into question so much about us that to be misquoted often feels like a demolishing of our being.  

If you have been misquoted, misrepresented you will know what I mean. You feel transparently impotent.  Most people are happy to accept secondary sources and run with them instead of going to the "horses mouth" (so to speak).   I honor those who do.

I have read again this week where Jesus was misquoted.  It's not the first time.  I won't be the last.  The scenario is pretty basic.  Two people are on two different sides of the fence.  One communicates that the other is wrong.  His or her opponent volleys with "Do not judge."  It is accepted by the majority as a slam dunk.  Unfortunately it not only misrepresents what Jesus said; it violates His very character. The fact that someone ripped the words from the context of who Jesus is and what He actually says seems to make no difference.  So where does this idea come from?

We read in Matthew 7:1–2 (NIV),  "¹ “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." [Emphasis mine]    

A close look at this verse, plus the rest of Scripture will show the diligent reader that you can not wield this one sentence to substantiate free choice to do whatever you want to do.  It is not a licence to unrestrained moral freedom. By the plethora of evidence throughout the whole Bible, Jesus never intended this verse to remove human accountability.  1Corinthians 5:12-13 is a clear command of Paul the Apostle to judge those within the Church who are sexually immoral by Biblical standards. 1John 4 is another chapter that calls us to judge the teaching and instruction of others.

But what about the Sermon on the Mount?  What is Jesus saying?  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is clearly teaching that to be His follower, your lives are exemplified by holiness to God.  Jesus is teaching here an amazingly high moral standard for people in His kingdom.  “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20, NIV).  Throughout this oft quoted and obviously oft-misquoted Sermon, Jesus is criticizing the Pharisees who were very quick to see the faults of others but were unwilling to hold themselves to the same standard.  That's the point!

As Eric Bargerfuff says, "Therefore, Jesus does not forbid all moral judgment or accountability. Rather, he forbids harsh, prideful, and hypocritical judgment that condemns others outright without first evaluating one’s own spiritual condition and commitment to forsake sin." [1]

So can you imagine how harshly I will be judged if I, in the midst of committing a moral atrocity condemn others for doing the same thing?

Before we through the "do not judge" volley into the court, let's make sure we are using it in the sense that Christ used it.  The point being made here is that we are not to judge the inner motives of another.  Saying things like, "I know why you're doing that," is a inappropriate judgment.  Only God can do that. We are not to render a verdict based upon prejudiced information.  Do you and I know all the facts before we draw a conclusion.  Nor are we to ignore our own sin.  But if those factors are considered well, the most loving thing anyone can do for another is speak to them truthfully and lovingly with the hope of bringing correction and restoration.  

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1–2, NIV)  

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1. Bargerhuff, Eric J. (2012-05-01). The Most Misused Verses in the Bible,Surprising Ways God's Word Is Misunderstood (p. 30). Baker Book Group. Kindle Edition. 

I Support the "Defection"!

There are all sorts of things that I don't know or understand about provincial politics.  I might be missing a lot here, but from the best information I can garner, I would suggest that the seemingly defection of the Alberta Wildrose Party to the Provincial Conservatives is, in the most part, a good thing.  From all that I have heard and read so far, I stand pretty much all alone.

The Wildrose Party was created to oppose a so-called Progressive Conservative party that was in the fast lane to become a liberal party, dressed in conservative clothing.  That PC government is now back on course to be a fiscally, economically and socially conservative.  It seems to me that the Wildrose have done their job - well!

Now this does leave a gaping hole for an effective opposition party and Premier Prentice should feel compelled to call an election as soon as possible.  The assessment that this move is a blow to democracy is over-stated.  We who voted Wildrose asked our MLA's to represent us in terms of a strong conservative position.  This move now has all the possibilities of doing that in a way we never expected. Mission accomplished!

It is a given that most media moguls and the like tend to be liberal and socialistic.  So it is no surprise to me that much of the rhetoric today and yesterday is negative.  Today I even read character assassinations on Ms. Smith.  When all the media gang up on her and others who have joined the PCs you can probably bet its a good thing they are doing.

I applaud Danielle Smith and others who made a courageous choice.  Their presence and the seeming good sense of Premier Jim Prentice may just strengthen the conservative ideals.  I am especially concerned that religious rights and parent's rights were very vulnerable to dissolution under the previous government.  The Redford conservatives were speedily leading this province to a 3-party liberal, socialistic enterprise.   This move has arrested that imbalance.

The most common and popular aspect to this "defection" is that it is believed that Ms. Smith has betrayed hundreds of volunteers and party members.  If there is any truth to this, then the process of "crossing the floor" may have been unwisely enacted. Secondly, it appears there may have been misleading statements by Ms. Smith prior to this.  I don't condone that.  It is never ethically right to believe that its "easier to ask for forgiveness than permission."  Having said that I presume that there will be issues that will need to be admitted.  My point is that the overall direction is correct, in my opinion.

I listened with interest to the press conference that Premier Prentice and Ms. Smith held yesterday. I found their responses reasonable and positive.  Their mutual respect ought to enhance great dialogue within the PCs. The fact that from the vantage of the Conservatives it was not unanimous speaks to healthy disagreement and upholds democracy.  Even the fact that some Wildrose members refused to "cross over" reflects democracy at its best.

I look forward to many years of a strong conservative government in the province; and may the traditional conservative values be upheld.  “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1–2, NIV)

Revival: When the Holy Spirit Moves in Power

Here's some great thoughts from Chapter 14 of J.D. Greear's book (a great book for your 2015 wish list):

Revival: When the Holy Spirit Moves in Power

Tim Keller says a revival is “the intensification of the normal operations of the Holy Spirit (conviction of sin, regeneration and sanctification, assurance of salvation) through the ordinary means of grace (preaching the Word, prayer, etc.).”  In an awakening, the Spirit of God does not typically do a “new” thing; he simply pours great power upon the “normal” things faithful Christians are already doing. Prayers become more intense ; worship becomes more joyous; repentance becomes more sorrowful; and the preached Word yields greater effect. The Spirit of God multiplies the effectiveness of our “normal” work of seed-planting, bringing a bountiful harvest. And he does more in a moment than we can accomplish in a lifetime.

The Lord’s Arm Is Not Shortened

Do you believe God is willing to send such an outpouring today? The prophet Isaiah said, The arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. (Isa. 59: 1) “The Lord’s arm is not too short.” That means God is no less powerful to save today than he was in the past. The same Spirit who moved in Nineveh and in the Great Awakening still fills the church today. The same power that brought Jesus back from the dead still animates our preaching. People are not “more spiritually dead” today than they were in the days of Jonah or the days of the Great Awakening . There are no degrees of deadness, or any such thing as “mostly dead” (apologies to The Princess Bride). Every conversion to Christ requires the same, glorious miracle of resurrection, and God has not lost his ability to raise the dead. We’ve simply lost confidence that he will do it on a large scale.

“Nor his ear too dull.” This means that God is not less compassionate today than he was when he turned the murderous, cruel, idol-worshiping Ninevites into humble God-seekers, or when his Spirit swept through Jerusalem, gathering the same people who had crucified him into his first church. God delights in showing great mercy — always has, always will. He is slow to anger, abounding in mercy. He still looks at the crowd and has “compassion for them because they are weary and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt. 9: 36).

Isaiah continues, Your iniquities have separated you from your God. (Isa. 59: 2) It is we, Isaiah says, who have changed, not God. Our sins keep us from God’s power, not God’s willingness. And might the primary sin of the church be refusing to believe that God really does not desire that any should perish, and that all should come to repentance? Is there any sin greater than unbelief? Have we blasphemed God by being unwilling to believe he is as merciful as the cross tells us that he is?

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1. Greear, J.D. (2014-11-04). Jesus, Continued…: Why the Spirit Inside You is Better than Jesus Beside You (pp. 196-197). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

unprecedented

[uhn-pres-i-den-tid] 

The word I have heard most often this year, in the news is "unprecedented."  Indeed it means: without previous instance or never before known.  As Canadians we have experienced unprecedented events in our nation including natural disasters and terror.  We now face another Christmas and we approach the end of another year.  We will move from 2014 to 2015.

How does Christmas relate to New Years?   The most widely used calendar is the Gregorian calendar. It's numbering system indicates the number of years since the conception or birth of Jesus of Nazareth.  We would normally add the designation A.D. meaning literally "in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ."   2014 indicates another unprecedented event: the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.  It is an epochal event such that every time we write the date we are reminded of its significance.

Never in the history of mankind has a woman conceived a baby through the power of the Holy Spirit such that this baby would be fully human and yet be fully divine.  This is the essence of the Christian faith: God took on human flesh (1 John 4:2).   It is incorporated in His Name: Emmanuel, God with us.  His birth was acclaimed by myriads of angels and affirmed by wise men from the East.  The most universal and basic Christian creed bears witness to this truth: "I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary."

The writing of the date on your cards or its imprint on your bank cheque is a quiet attestation to the

fact that nearly two thousand and fifteen years ago God entered time and space and was born of the Virgin Mary.  It is He who lived a perfect and sinless life – indeed, unprecedented; and it is He who took on His human body the punishment due to all mankind – again, unprecedented. And it is He who simply invites us to place our trust in Him, to which He guarantees eternal life. 

Unprecedented! 

Trying to Make Sense of Alberta Bill 10

On October 7th of this year, Liberal MLA Kent Hehr introduced a Motion (503) that Alberta essentially follow the practice of Manitoba and Ontario requiring school boards to show support to any student who wants to establish a gay-straight alliance (GSA) and activities that will show an inclusiveness with respect to students regardless of sexual orientation. Wikipedia defines a Gay-Straight Alliance as student-led organizations that are intended to provide a safe, supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth and their straight allies.

The Motion is voted down and then on the 15th of October, Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman announces plans to introduce a private member's bill in support of the GSA directive, which she did on November 15th through Bill 202.   A few weeks later, newly elected Premier Prentice announced that 202 wasn't needed since the government was intending to introduce Bill 10 that would render it redundant. Bill 10 passed second reading but has now been placed on "pause" for more study.

The Edmonton Sun reported on November 27th that "Prentice said Bill 10 will amend the Alberta Bill of Rights to “unambiguously” support equality for LGBTQ Albertans while prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. The bill will also move Section 11.1 of the Alberta Human Rights Act to either the School Act or the forthcoming Education Act. The section was controversial because it requires school boards to provide parents with notice where classes 'include subject matter that deals primarily and explicitly with religion, human sexuality or sexual orientation.'”

The Globe and Mail noted on December 4th that "Amendments to Bill 10 would empower Education Minister Gordon Dirks to create the clubs even if school boards said no. However, those clubs would presumably be off school grounds, leading to charges that Bill 10 would segregate gay children."  The article also added, "The situation was further muddled because Mr. Dirks has been a pastor for an evangelical church that says homosexuality is a sin and calls on gays to repent. Mr. Dirks preached there more than a dozen times and did not contradict his church’s view on sexual issues."

If Bill 10 were to be passed (according to the Association for Reformed Political Action) then Bill 10 would:

1.        Amend the Alberta Bill of Rights so that sexual orientation is added to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination and adds the right of parents to make informed decisions about the education of their child.

2.        Amend the Alberta Human Rights Act to remove section 11.1, which deals with the rights of parents to withdraw their children from instruction about sexuality and sexual orientation.

3.        Amend the School Act to add a section that parallels the removed section of the Alberta Human Rights Act, but without sexual orientation as a matter on which parents can withdraw children from instruction.

4.        Add a section to the School Act outlining that when requirements for notice to parents and/or withdrawal of children are not met, that can be appealed to the Board, using existing ways to appeal the decision. The Board's decision on appeal may be challenged in the Courts through judicial review. This will apply to School Boards and Charter Schools, as of Royal Assent. It will not apply to Private Schools until March 1, 2015.

5.        Effective March 1, 2015, the School Act is amended so that the new section about notice to parents, withdrawal of students, and appeals to Board will apply to Private Schools. It will also add a section that provides a right of appeal to the school board if a student's request for support in (amongst other things) establishing an anti-discrimination organization, such as a GSA or a diversity club, is denied. And it adds new provisions, and amends existing provisions, relating to the creation of a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment and the prevention of bullying.

6.        Effective September 2015, the Bill adds provisions to the yet unproclaimed Education Act to parallel changes to the School Act. These will come into force when the Education Act is proclaimed in September 2015.

In my opinion, the Government of Alberta was right to supersede Blakeman's Bill 202.  However Bill 10 appears to be convoluted and perhaps even dangerous.  So again it was good for Premier Prentice to have the courage to hit "pause" and take a second look at it.  Ultimately we as Christians need to be concerned that freedom of religion, expression and association, granted to us in Canada's Charter are not contravened.  If any amendment to Bill 10 ends up removing the rights of parents to embrace values, organizations or activities that they in good conscience oppose, then we should be concerned. If societies values are being taught in public schools Christian parents need to retain the right to permit their children to absent themselves from such instruction or activity.   Private schools and religious schools also need to be exempt from such government authority. 

As I understand the motive behind these motions and bills, it is to protect LGBTQ people from unfair or unkind mistreatment.  As much as Christians will refuse to excuse such behavior we would also not close our eyes to the ill-treatment of people who choose and/or live in such lifestyles. First of all let's clear the table.  We all, to some degree, live in contravention of the revealed will of God as contained in the Bible. The difference between me and practicing gay person is simply one thing: Jesus.  And the only help and hope that I have (as every other person in the world) is Jesus.  I should no more condone my sin or anyone else's sin.  But that doesn't mean that I fail to treat others in any way except in kindness and care.  We are all marred and tarnished but to some degree we all bear the imago Dei.  

We keep hearing from the LGBTQ movement that this is all about rights.  If that is true then the right for Christian parents to teach and nurture their children in their faith cannot be disregarded.  If that is contravened then the issue has been misrepresented.  At that point it becomes about ascendancy, not rights.  Bill 10 was an attempt at striking a balance but in retrospect I hope that the government will see that neither Bill 202 or 10 are necessary.  Surely between the Canadian Charter and the Alberta Human Rights legislation, plus the general view of tolerance and inclusivity that already exist in public schools both Bills should be viewed as irrelevant and unnecessary.  Surely the Government of Alberta has more important things to attend to then the parameters of a school club.

I welcome your comments.

The True Holy Land!

6. The Land of Holiness

We draw this massively important chapter to a close.  We have been studying the Minor Prophet, Zechariah and in particular of late, Zechariah 14.  Over the last few blogs we have attempted to see the contextual message and the implications for us.

1. The Day of the LORD;

2. He Will Make a Way;

3. The End For Which the World Was Created;

4. Since You Know the Wrath of God ..... ;

5. Come and Worship. Gentiles Invited Too!

This article closes the chapter as we read Zechariah 14:20–21 (NIV),

²⁰ On that day holy to the Lord will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the Lord’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. ²¹ Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the Lord Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord Almighty.  

Life in the New Heavens and the New Earth will bleed holiness.  Holiness will pervade every part of life.  Even the bells on horse harnesses will be engraved with the inscription: HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD.  All the vessels of the Lord's house will be holy.  Every utensil will be holy.  "Originally inscribed on the high priest’s turban (Ex. 28:36–38) to express dedication, the phrase is now applied to everything in Jerusalem, horses’ bells and cooking pots, because God’s presence sanctifies all around Him." [1]

There will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord.  Why?  Probably this is used metaphorically as the entire chapter represents in that there will be no unholy or ungodly people.

In Paul's letter to Ephesus he tells us very clearly: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love” (Ephesians 1:3–4, NIV)

Here we have the goal of sovereign, unconditional, irresistible predestination by the eternal God who, according to His own pleasure, chooses people to be saved -- saved from wrath and saved unto holiness.  As God has said, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’” (Isaiah 46:10, NIV). As the prophet Isaiah elsewhere writes, recorded in Isaiah 14:26–27 (NIV),

²⁶ This is the plan determined for the whole world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations. ²⁷ For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?

And Father, Your chosen people simply cry, Maranatha, Lord Jesus.  Come quickly. To God be the glory, great things He hath done.  As with the Apostle, the struggle and the battle with sin often causes us to cry out to Your, Lord Jesus, 'Who can deliver me from this body of sin.'  The answer rings from the Scriptures: Jesus!   And the day will come when we are thoroughly holy, through and through.  And the earth and all that's in it will be holy.  And a number to great to number, all the Elect of God will be holy.  Oh that will be glory for me.  And Christ Jesus will be glorified with His saints, forever and ever and ever.  Amen!

Now we envision the true Holy Land!

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1. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Zec 14:20). Nashville: T. Nelson. 

Come And Worship. Gentiles Invited Too!

We now reach the second last palette envisioning the hope of Israel.  Previous blogs will summarize what I believe to be the prophet's approach.  You can read them HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. Today we come to a section that describes the universal call to worship our God.  The passage is found in Zechariah 14:16–19 (NIV),

¹⁶ Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. ¹⁷ If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain. ¹⁸ If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The Lord will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. ¹⁹ This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.

Again we are faced with some chronological problems.  We have just witnessed a portrait of the New Heavens and New Earth and if we read Zechariah 14 with wooden literalism it becomes challenging to assume that nations will come and worship in Jerusalem, but some will not.  Keil and Delitzsch warn us to this when they write: "We must not infer from the way in which this is carried out in Zechariah 14:17-19, that at the time of the completion of the kingdom of God there will still be heathen, who will abstain from the worship of the true God."   McComiskey is helpful here as to providing the trajectory of this passage.  He categorizes this type of prophecy as a hypothetical allusion:

"The hypothetical allusion here envisions the end of all rebellion against God. No such nations will exist in this time, of course, but, by the way of example, should such rebellion arise it will not continue to exist in God's eternal kingdom . . .  again the prophet's allusion affirms the absolute rule of God. [1]

So why the Festival of Tabernacles or Booths?  "The reason Tabernacles (or Booths) will be selected as the festival for representatives of the various Gentile nations is that "it was the last and greatest festival of the Jewish year, gathering up into itself, as it were, the year's worship." [2]  This appears to represent symbolically the great universal call of the Gospel that sounded around the world following Pentecost that last and final Feast in Acts 2.  It is here that the Gospel invitation went out to the Gentiles.

The point is that this passage affirms that saved Gentiles will share in God's kingdom and worship Him in obedience.  This call to the Gentiles that started with the pagan, idol-worshiping Abram and was exemplified in the King of Jerusalem, Melchizedek, is also seen in the call of  Abimelech (Genesis 21:22), Rahab (Joshua 2:11), Ruth (1:16) or Naaman (2 Kings 5:15). Similarly, it is observed in the worship of the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12), centurions (Matt 8:5–13; Mark 15:39; Acts 10), or even the Syro-Phoenician woman (Mark 7:26–30), let alone the multitude of Gentile converts mentioned in Acts.  

Father, as a Gentile worshiper, I am amazed at Your grace from before time began, that You would seek to build the House of David through the inclusion of Gentiles.  Every tongue, every tribe, every nation in Your Kingdom, to the praise of Your glorious grace.  Thank you for Your mercy.  The fullness of Your Kingdom has not come because the fullness of the Gentiles is not in the Door. Continue to save Your elect.  Grant Your Church amazing opportunities to preach and invite others to Your Christ and our Savior.  Amen and amen!

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1. Zechariah, Thomas Edward McComiskey, The Minor Prophets, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, Mich., USA, 1998, Page 1233
2. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Zechariah/Exposition of Zechariah/V. Two Prophetic Oracles: The Great Messianic Future and the Full Realization of the Theocracy (9:1-14:21)/B. The Second Oracle: The Advent and Reception of the Messiah (12:1-14:21)/2. The Messiah's return and his kingdom (14:1-21)/e. The universal worship of the King (14:16-19), Book Version: 4.0.2

Since You Know the Wrath of God ....

The Destiny of Those Who Reject God

These are not easy verses to read.   They are found in Zechariah 14:12–15 (NIV),

¹² This is the plague with which the Lord will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. ¹³ On that day people will be stricken by the Lord with great panic. They will seize each other by the hand and attack one another. ¹⁴ Judah too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected—great quantities of gold and silver and clothing. ¹⁵ A similar plague will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps.

"The prophet next revealed how God will deal with the antikingdom forces of vv.1-3: First, he will strike them with a "plague" (v.12), just as he did the Assyrian army of King Sennacherib in 701 B.C. (Isa 37:36). Second, the Lord will strike the enemies of himself and his people with "great panic" (v.13), causing them to "attack each other" (cf. Judg 7:22; 1 Sam 14:15-20; 2 Chronicles 20:23). Third, the rest of the people of Judah will rally to defend the capital (v.14; cf. 12:2)." [1]

"Zechariah is emphasizing that the destruction of God’s enemies will be final and complete. Even now Christians enjoy victory in faith (1 John 5:4) and await the final subjugation of God’s enemies by Christ (1 Cor. 15:24–28)." [2]  Keil and Deit agree.  They write, "To express the idea of their utter destruction all the different kinds of plagues and strokes by which nations can be destroyed are grouped together." [3]

Again we insist as do McComiskey and Keil & Delitzsch that the author is rhetorically describing the awfulness of the end of those who are hostile to God not necessarily should be read literalistically. This is no way minimizes the terror and the horror.  In fact it enables the read to have increased awareness and fear.  Even as John described as he was given access to see the end: “From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.” (Revelation 16:21, NIV).

Father how does one pray having read the import of these words.  Is this not given to Your Church, “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others . . ..” (2 Corinthians 5:11, NIV). “Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.” (Psalm 76:10, NIV).  Your holiness demands justice; and Your holiness demands due penalty.  In this passage we are again given insight into the consequence of sin and rebellion.  O that men would  “. . . thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.” (Psalm 107:31, NIV).  Father, allow the weight and the terror of these words to drive us to Gospel-centered living; Gospel-centered evangelism; and a holy fear of You.  For Your glory and Your praise. 

 

 

 

 

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1.  Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Zechariah/Exposition of Zechariah/V. Two Prophetic Oracles: The Great Messianic Future and the Full Realization of the Theocracy (9:1-14:21)/B. The Second Oracle: The Advent and Reception of the Messiah (12:1-14:21)/2. The Messiah's return and his kingdom (14:1-21)/d. The punishment of Israel's enemies (14:12-15), Book Version: 4.0.2

2. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Zec 14:15). Nashville: T. Nelson.

3. Biblical commentary on the Old Testament, by C.F. Keil and F. Delitzsch. Trans. from the German by James Martin [et al.].Published 1878 by T. & T. Clark in Edinburgh ., Page 410