Father Time Remains Undefeated

Last night, a 58-year-old Mike Tyson, at one time dubbed the “baddest man on the planet” faced 27-year-old Jake Paul, who got famous posting videos on Vine and Youtube. Paul went pro in 2020, but as far as boxing is concerned, compared to Iron Mike, he seems like a cheap fabrication. A tattooed dilettante, more concerned with being seen than actually doing the work. But whatever you may think about these men and their contrasts, perhaps the most glaring one is that one of them is twice the other’s age. Tyson went pro in 1986. Jake Paul was born 1997. Tyson is old enough to be Paul’s father. Last night, the age gap seemed to make all the difference.

This bears reflection from a Christian worldview, particularly the intersection of age and glory. The Bible describes people as fading flowers. A mist, that appears for a little time and then vanishes. As the sand sinks into the lower half of the hour glass, we can’t deny that life is fleeting—we are fleeting. In response, the unbelieving are often desperate to cover up the signs of wear. Human growth hormone, botox, and lip fillers are all on the table. And yet, it’s all in vain. We are all headed to another world. And this really pokes holes in our plans to live forever in this world.

I’m not going to play psychologist, but perhaps the reason why so many men my age and older were giddy for Mike to win is because it would be a some kind of middle finger to aging and death. But last night demonstrated, in the words of Car Romero, “Father Time remains undefeated.” If there’s anything the Tyson/Paul fight displayed last night, it’s just that. But as Christians, we have a brighter hope than the blinding lights of AT&T Stadium. Despite the inevitable weakness of the body, for we who hope in Christ, we can rejoice in what looks like apparent defeat. Take it from the Apostle Paul, a minister of a superior glory.

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” —2 Corinthians 4:16

This is how you age well. You understand that even as the body wastes away, your soul is being renewed. More than that, prepared to be in the presence of God! Do you believe that?

What is God up to?

The Union Club breakfast is a weekly gathering of Christian men from all around Boston that meets every Thursday morning at 7:30a by invite over on Park Street. $15 bucks for a pretty fancy breakfast and a seat at round tables to make friends and hear a short talk, usually from God’s Word. I was put on to it years ago and have made a few appearances through the years, though no one could accuse me of being a regular. The man standing at the lectern this past Thursday informed us that he wouldn’t be giving a talk, but that in light of the election, he wanted the 100 or so men in the room to respond to two questions: What is God up to? And how do we respond?

I have to say, I take issue with the first question. I’ve never felt comfortable in the role of the prophet. For the most part, tracing the times—making predictions about what God is doing based on circumstances is a fools’ errand. You remember Harold Camping, predicting the end of the world with a date to show for it? Or Pat Robertson blaming hurricane Katrina on Mardis Gras. What a train wreck!

I nibbled on my egg and bacon quiche while men stood up, offering their own musings on God’s hand in the election. To be clear, the overwhelming majority of comments were positive. There was an optimism among the men, particularly regarding what they hope will be a restraining of the evils of abortion, the denial of God’s design of men and women, the transgender madness, and a number of other issues that will likely now be put in check for a time. But it was also clear that not everyone in the room was very happy about the outcome. One could gather this from the not so subtle suggestion that God is disciplining, or perhaps even judging our nation by giving us the leaders we deserve.

I suppose what I appreciated most was some of the answers to the second question. How are we to respond? John Ames stood up—yes, the John Ames that leads SEND Relief on our fifth floor. We came to the breakfast together. He expressed a concern for unity among churches and said something to the effect that whatever happens in politics, it doesn’t really change what God has called us as Christians to do every day. We are to pursue truth, make disciples, and love our neighbors. I appreciated that. There are doubtless those in churches who are utterly thrilled about how Tuesday night went down. And yet, there are others are discouraged and deeply concerned for the future. Wherever you may land on this spectrum, what John said is true. We’re to speak the truth to one another, even truths that might offend—but as the Apostle Paul commanded the church at Ephesus, we must “speak the truth in love.” A church divided by political strife isn’t anything like Jesus.

I don’t know what the Lord is going to do in the next four years. I have to admit, I’m quite optimistic because I know that God is in control. I want to believe that many of the evils that have seemed to get a foothold in our culture will be beaten back. However, as God’s people have always lusted after earthly security, I think those who find comfort in the red wave should be warned. There is only one Savior. His name is Jesus. May God give us all the grace in these times to gather around Him who has united us by His precious blood.

TGC Article About God’s Hand at Tremont Temple

Friends,

A writer from The Gospel Coalition reached out to three New England churches in the Boston area to chronicle what God has been doing in our midst. Sarah, the author, did quite a bit of research on our history, interviewed a number of our members, and wrote a beautiful piece about how God has provided for our church in recent years. I pray that you enjoy reading it, as you are very much a part of it! May the Lord continue to bless TTBC for decades to come!

Here is the link to the article:

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/rescue-beautiful-church

Boast in Jesus

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins” - Ephesians 2:1

I appreciated Bryant Wright’s sermon this past Sunday on John 3:1-16 highlighting the importance of the New Birth. But something worthy of reflecting on for an eternity is how does it happen? In this world, those in desperate need of a heart transplant put themselves on a list. Being sick, they initiate as an act of survival. But when it comes to regeneration—a theological word indicating the heart-transformation that takes place at conversion, the same cannot be said. The Apostle Paul tells the Ephesians that unbelievers are dead. Due to our sin and guilt, there’s no spiritual life in any of us. Not only are we lifeless—but like a dead man, we have no ability to seek life. There’s no waitlist for a spiritual heart. Unless the Holy Spirit gives us a new heart, ours remains hard and impenetrable as granite. When it comes to salvation in Jesus, God makes the first move.

There’s a lot of debate over what’s called the ordo salutis, Latin for “order of salvation.” But it seems undeniable in Scripture that regengeration precedes faith and repentance. The dead sinner must first be awakened by God and the Gospel before he or she can put faith in Jesus. But is it worth nitpicking over which of these comes first? After all, conversion happens in a moment. I would argue that this seemly fine distinction is of great import. Why? Because who makes the first move says a lot about who we are and who God is. The Apostle Paul did not say to the Ephesians, “And you were weak in your trespasses and sins.” This would allow for the idea of us seeking God first—albeit in frailty. But Paul says we are “dead.” It follows that our destiny hangs completely on God showing mercy. As Paul says in Romans 2:10-11: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.” Our culture tends towards an optimism about man, but the Bible teaches us that sin touches every part of us, and without God’s intervention, we’re without hope in the world.

This isn’t merely Pauline doctrine. It’s the doctrine of the Apostles, and of God, who is jealous for us to know that He came and sought us. The Apostle Peter opened his first letter with it: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” The Apostle John wrote, “We love because he first loved us.” Indeed, Jesus Himself couldn’t be clearer than this: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” Friends, there’s no room for boasting in ourselves when God is the initiator. If the Spirit of Christ didn’t arrest us on the highway to hell, we would be barreling towards an eternity under God’s just judgment. By grace alone, we were born again. We were made alive. Boast in Jesus, and no one else.

Sinwar and the Heart

“Keep your heart with all vigilance,
    for from it flow the springs of life.” - Proverbs 4:23

I was struck today when I came across a viral video of Yahya Sinwar, the de-facto leader of Hamas, in the last moments of his life. He is seen sitting in a chair in a bombed out room, covered in dust. Though alive, there were pieces of him missing and in a final act of defiance, he hurled a scrap of rubble at the drone that was videoing his final moments. I am an old Millennial, about to hit 41 this November. My first exposure to shocking media was as a senior in high school when I came across a video of the execution of journalist Daniel Pearl in Karachi, Pakistan, months after the Towers were hit. I am not a child of the internet age, but grew up into it. Maybe that’s why it’s often shocking to me the things we can see online.

There can be within us a macabre tug towards images of violence and death. A morbid curiosity that we know isn’t rooted in the same soil as the fruit of the Spirit. Indeed, I believe there are significant parallels between a desire to watch violence and death and the desire to watch pornography. From the same sinful nature comes a delight in the destruction of the body and its degradation through illicit sex. And so, the thesis of this very short reflection is that viewing violent media can be as sinful and voyeuristic as pornography and ought to be avoided with as much resolve.

There will be no easy escape, friends. Toxic media, whether real or fiction, has flooded the mainstream. Access seems only to be widening. But we must understand what’s at stake. The conscience, under constant assault, will eventually give way to a debased mind. Once the conscience is seared and calloused by violent images, we will grow numb to them. We will no longer draw back from them. We might even approve of them. Eventually delight in them. But it is the one who look away from what God hates, and who turns to Him who will persevere to the end.

I love what David wrote in Psalm 119:37: “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.” The Psalm is about God’s Word. It’s not enough to look away from the mind-numbing violence that’s on tap all around us. We must look to the Word of God to fill us with every good thing. Friend, is there any delight within you when scenes of violence or death come up on your screen or your feed? Turn your eyes away! We’re not made to absorb so much darkness. We are children of light. May God give us the grace of restraint, that we would turn our eyes away from violence and scenes of death, that our hearts may be kept. May we instead know God and His ways.

Wonder

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” - Psalm 19:1

A solar flare erupted earlier this week, causing the Northern Lights to be visible in Boston and throughout New England. With the naked eye, it was difficult to register. You could barely see the dark read, cloud-like shapes—almost indistinguishable against the black backdrop of space. But if you were to pull out your phone and take a few snaps, you gasped as stunning pinks and greens exploded on your screen. Cameras are better at collecting light than our eyes.

Adriana and I stepped out of the house after we put the kids down to sleep and we started snapping photos. It was so stunning that I jumped in the car and drove to the beach to see if I could capture something special there. The above shot was one of my favorites. People were gathered on the shore like busy bees, comparing their captures with glee. It was a surreal cosmic and social experience. But did you know that the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, is the inspiration for the scientific name of the Northern Lights, aurora borealis? The irony is rich. Has anyone ever passed off someone else’s art as their own? I suspect if there was an Aurora, she wouldn’t have the gall to claim the Northern Lights. That’s God’s handiwork. But people in their sin say very stupid things.

The people that I spoke to on the beach were giddy with excitement over seeing God’s fine art, though they didn’t know the Artist. Sometimes we say that we don’t know how to start a conversation about God, but do we not see in moments like these that simply responding with praise is the most natural thing in the world to do? To say to those who look up at the sky in wonder, or at the cascading falls, or up at those stunning peaks, “If these are so amazing, what would it be like to look upon the one who made them?” The most dazzling sights are paltry reflections of the greatness and beauty of God. Let’s start talking like we believe it. The heavens declare the glory of God.

Why don’t we?

Potent Faith

“And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” —Luke 17:6

Some deploy verses like these to suggest Christianity more fiction than fact. But bending metaphysics aren’t a problem for a people whose hope is entirely wrapped up in a Man who stood up in a grave. Yet, Jesus’ reference to a mulberry tree, uprooted by faith and cast into the sea—isn’t a laws of physics-breaking act, though there are many in Scripture. How do we know? Whenever Jesus talks about faith moving mountains or uprooting trees, the context is often the issues of everyday life. In Luke 17, right before Jesus mentions the mustard seed and Mulberry tree, he’s calling the disciples to do something that would seem at times, impossible. They were to pay close attention to their lives, confront others in their sin, and forgive repentant sinners over and over again—even those who had sinned against them. The metaphor of a tree being uprooted and thrown into the sea is way of saying that genuine faith is so potent that it enables us to obey the most challenging of God’s commands. By the way, this isn’t a one-off. Similarly, in Mark 11, Jesus talks about faith moving mountains into the sea before calling them to forgive one another.

Another example of this kind of faith talk is in Matthew 17:20, where Jesus says, “For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” What is the context, here? Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy, and the disciples are perplexed about why they weren’t able to cast it out. Maybe not the best example of an everyday event in the lives of Christians. But the point is that a trace of genuine faith is so potent that Satan and the demons cannot withstand those who possess it. It’s a call to confidence, not in ourselves, but in Jesus—the One in whom we believe, and who by His Spirit gives us the power to overcome.

As you work through the Gospels, be heartened by verses like these. By faith, we can forgive others, kill sin, reject the lies of Satan, rejoice in suffering, love our enemies, share the gospel boldly, and so much more. It’s not about how much faith you have. It’s that you have genuine faith! Like the tides, our faith rises and falls. But when it comes to faith, what matters is that we have it. And because we have it, we can do things that without Jesus are impossible.

Hold Fast

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” - Hebrews 10:23

Last Friday evening, I took this blog in a personal direction by sharing about a prominent preacher in Reformed Evangelicalism—a man who had influenced me to pursue the ministry—a man who recently made shipwreck of his own ministry, and in some respects, his life. That news came at a strange time, as my own mentor, Mark Dever, celebrates 30 years as the Senior Pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church this week. At moments, I have been struck by the contrast between these two men.

There is in my own preaching, and it can be said of our other pastors’, an emphasis on God’s sovereignty. This is no hobby horse, as the Scripture is clear that the Lord “works all things to the counsel of His will.” Jesus, the captain of our salvation is the author and finisher of our faith. Jonah, covered in slime in the belly of the fish, stuck his prayer like an Olympic gymnast, crying out, “Salvation belongs to the Lord” before being spit out of its mouth. We don’t save us, God does. But notice that the testimony of Scripture, as part of God’s sovereign grace, calls us, in the words of the mystery author of Hebrews, to “Hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.” Back in the early chapters, he warns us not to drift from so great a salvation. This human element and God’s sovereignty aren’t mutually exclusive. Because even beneath the holding fast that we’re being called to, is the everlasting arms. Only by grace do we hold fast. And yet, we must hold.

One of the things that’s clear to me from working and living closely with Mark when I served as his assistant at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, and having known him well over a decade, is that he has done the same, ordinary things throughout his entire ministry. Every day, he wakes up, opens his Bible and prays—he prays the passage, for himself, for his family, and for his church family. Every single day. Now, this seems like a boring detail—a footnote of a Christian life. But nothing could be further from the truth. This is the kind of thing that if you do it consistently, shapes your entire life. It’s the ordinary means of grace, the so-thought “boring stuff” that is the engine of the persevering life.

I don’t know what Steve Lawson’s prayer life looked like. I don’t know how he engaged the text of Scripture. I don’t care to guess. But I know a man who begins his day engaging with God. And his ministry is exceedingly fruitful and continues to be. I have to believe that, in part, its due to the thing he’ll do about 8 hours form now. He’ll wake up, open God’s Word, meditate on it deeply, and pray for himself and for those under his care. This isn’t just for big name pastors. It’s for each of us, for the Lord calls us all to be fruitful in His vineyard. This is a big part of what “hold fast” means. Of course, the Spirit of God is over, under, behind, and before all of it. Nonetheless, we must hold. Beloved, how are you doing with holding? Ask Him who is faithful to help you.

“For the Lord is good and faithful—He will keep us day and night…we can always run to Jesus, Jesus strong and kind.”

Keep Watch

“Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” — 1 Timothy 4:16

One of my heroes in the faith went public about an affair yesterday. A screenshot of a note on his church’s website went viral, the news ripping through social media like a California wildfire. I’m not usually one to name names, but it doesn’t seem like much of a tell at this point. Steven J. Lawson was a bright light in reformed circles from before the time I heard his preaching. In the aughts, when I first heard of him, he was pastoring Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, AL, and before that, he pastored in Arkansas. Lawson’s preaching reflected how Martyn-Lloyd Jones’ described preaching: logic on fire. Up until that point in my young Christian life, there were few, if any, more faithful to the text, and nobody I’d ever heard with a more passionate delivery.

I was introduced to him in 2008 at Grace Community Church in LA where he preached one of the keynote sermons at the Shepherd’s Conference. The sermon was titled, “The Preacher’s Invincible Weapon.” I had never heard preaching like that. After coming back home, I began listening to his recorded sermons on the Book of Hebrews. I binged half of the sermons on the Christ Fellowship website—at least a hundred sermons, each of which stoked my desires to pastor and preach God’s Word.

I suppose there’s no one whose preaching ministry, except maybe that of John MacArthur and after him, Mark Dever, who has influenced my own preaching more than Lawson. There was also that time when at the Expositor’s Conference at Christ Fellowship—a small, intimate gathering of aspiring pastors and preachers in Mobile, I asked him for advice at an important turning point in my life. While pondering the transition from policing to ministry, he strongly encouraged me to pursue holiness and press on in knowing my Bible. After I mentioned that I was engaged to a woman in my home church who preferred me not to pursue ministry with the passion and commitment that was driving me to consider seminary training out of state, he told me to pursue the training, and if she was the right one for me, it would work out. As it turns out, I ended up breaking off the engagement and heading to Louisville, KY to attend Southern Seminary in no small part because of Lawson’s advice. Needless to say, early on, he was a huge inspiration to me.

Yet, here we are, almost 20 years later—he’s 73, and in what should be the crowning years of his ministry, he confesses to a relationship with a woman outside of his 40 year marriage. It doesn’t seem real. Many are shell-shocked. For some, it will be an excuse to seethe with cynicism and harden their hearts against Christ and the church. Who knows what it means for Lawson? Only God knows.

This is something of what Paul had in view in writing to his own mentee in the ministry, Timothy. He urges him to keep a close watch over his life and teaching. Another way to put it—never lose sight of your devotion and doctrine. Because if you fail to prune them as one cultivates a vine—they will grow wild. Your life, unguarded by prayer, exposed by neglect of the Word, or the absence of Christian fellowship will easily give way to temptation. Likewise, teaching that’s untethered to orthodoxy yields not only false doctrine, but makes room for scandalous sin. And so, keep watch on your devotion and doctrine as though your life depends on it—because it does. But further, so do the lives of the people who listen to you. Because when Christian leaders fall, many are made to stumble. J.C. Ryle offers insight into how things like this happen:

“We may be very sure that men fall in private long before they fall in public. They are backsliders on their knees long before they backslide openly in the eyes of the world. Like Peter, they first disregard the Lord’s warning to watch and pray; and then, like Peter, their strength is gone, and in the hour of temptation, they deny their Lord. The world takes notice of their fall, and scoffs loudly. But the world knows nothing of the real reason.”

Pray for Lawson, his wife, his grown children, and their children. Pray for the woman and her family. Pray for the church who just lost a pastor and for the thousands of people he influenced, that their hearts will not grow cold on account of his sin. Pray for true repentance and restoration. Pray that somehow, some good fruit that comes from this. Perhaps the fruit of vigilance. May we not be shocked when mere men fall—may our hope always be in Christ. And may we keep watch, as Ryle suggests, when nobody but God is watching.

Lord Willing

On Zoom this morning with a dear friend and a member of our church, he asked me about my sabbatical. I outlined some of my day trips with the family, highlights from the time, and especially the blessing it was to spend extra time with Adriana and the kids. At one point, we talked about the next sabbatical, and I said, “If I’m still the pastor of Tremont in 7 years, I’ll be ancient. I’ll be 47 years old—all my hair grey.” He was taken aback, commenting that he never thought about me not being the pastor at TTBC. And then I made it clear that there’s no where else I ‘d rather serve Jesus, and that I fully intend on standing in the pulpit at the Temple till my legs don’t work. But I explained, quoting James, that we all need to hold onto our plans a bit more loosely. We need to be the kind of people who say, “Lord willing.”

‘Lord willing’ is what Peter should have said to Jesus before denying him. Later on, along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus in resurrection glory finds Peter and the boys suited up for fishing—he was dressed for his former vocation. But Jesus calls him again to be a fisher of men, and he ends up preaching so powerfully at Pentecost, that the foundation of the church is laid. What Peter seems to lack so often early on—perhaps the lesson he delivers to us most powerfully by his life and through his lessons shared in his letters, is the need for humility. To recognize that our lives are not our own. That we are not guaranteed a life of ease—that more likely than not, we walk through some valleys that are hard to mention without it getting caught in our throat. That at times we will fail to honor Jesus. We will just fail in general. But in the end, we will know that strange elixir of tears and joy, because God actually used it all to make us holy.

‘Lord willing’ is a declaration amid the sons of this world that cries out, “I am not my own. God will have his way with me. And though I’m often fearful about the future, God can be trusted.” As a pastor in New England for about 12 years, I know more than a handful of men who I met as pastors who no longer serve as pastors. It’s not the thing that pastors are eager to talk about when we get together. This past Thursday, I ran into a pastor from Medford in a Starbucks and I looked him in the eye and asked him how he was doing. He shared that things were well, and that he’s 14 years into the church that he had planted. He mentioned that it’s something, pastoring that long in New England, and that so many others who were there when he began have departed. I told him how encouraging it was to hear a pastor say that that things are going so well, and I relayed the same from my end. I walked away from that conversation deeply grateful for the work of God in my friend, in me, in our church, in my family, and in so many others. And you know something, like Peter, we continue to plough for the Lord not because we’re stronger, more gritty, more wise, or more patient. We get to serve the Lord in this special way because the Lord wills it. And that’s it. And that’s all.

And so, this is a meandering invitation to a life marked by “Lord willings.” If you say it enough, you will annoy your friends. Maybe your husband will look at your funny. Saying that out loud may not make you popular in your building in the Seaport. But knowing and living, “Lord willing” is really the best life there is. It’s at least a life of leaning towards trusting God with our future. And it’s a far better option than trusting ourselves.

Grace

I finished up Genesis in my daily devotions this week and was struck by how it ends. The Patriarch Jacob, on death’s door, offers his pronouncements about the future of his sons. Perhaps our guess is that as an old man—some older folks seem to soften up—he would go easy on them. But right out of the gate, we realize there won’t be any free passes. Dad tells the truth and there are consequences. He begins with Reuben, the firstborn, and the beginning is promising, until its not:

“Reuben, you are ymy firstborn,

my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,

preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.

Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,

because you went up to your father’s bed;

then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!”

What’s that bit about Jacob’s bed and couch, which is the ground for why Reuben loses stature? Back in chapter 35:22, we read the following: “While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine. And Israel heard of it.” That’s all we hear until it comes time for Jacob’s pronouncements in chapter 49. Maybe Reuben expected praise from Jacob, assuming that his father was unaware of his betrayal and his sexual sin.

Next up is Simeon and Levi, and they seem to fare no better:

“Simeon and Levi are brothers;

weapons cof violence are their swords.

Let my soul come not into their council;

O my glory, ebe not joined to their company.

For in their anger they killed men,

and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.

Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,

and their wrath, for it is cruel!

I will divide them in Jacob

and scatter them in Israel.”

We’re reminded of the injustice committed against Dinah, when Shechem the Hivite seized her and “lay with her, and humiliated her.” The response of her brothers Simeon and Levi was to slaughter all of the men of the city, plundering all of their goods, along with their women and children. For their cruelty, they are destined to be scattered. So far we’re 0-2.

But then we come Judah, we find that the pronouncement is quite different:

“Judah, your brothers shall praise you;

your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;

your father’s sons shall bow down before you.

Judah is a lion’s cub;

from the prey, my son, you have gone up.

He stooped down; he crouched as a lion

and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?

The mscepter shall not depart from Judah,

nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,

until tribute comes to him;

and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

Binding his foal to the vine

and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine,

he has washed his garments in wine

and his vesture in the blood of grapes.

His eyes are darker than wine,

and his teeth whiter than milk.”

Jacob’s pronouncement over Judah is markedly different from that of Reuben, Simeon, or Levi in that there’s no mention of sin and its consequences. That’s not because Judah was more virtuous than his brothers. In fact, we remember that whole episode in chapter 38 where we find out that Judah had a thing for prostitutes and through a series of unfortunate events, including Judah breaking God’s law by refusing to give his son in marriage to his widowed daughter-in-law Tamar, he impregnates her, thinking that she’s a prostitute. It’s hard to find a more twisted, sinful episode than this one in the Bible.

But when hear Jacob’s future pronouncement over him, it’s mind-blowing. All of his brothers will praise him and he will have the honor of being the one through whom a forever king will come. As Jacob notes, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah.” Knowing what we know about Judah, how is a sinful son rewarded so lavishly? One word. Grace. Grace alone explains why Judah, despite his wickedness, was chosen by the Lord for the honor of bearing through his own lineage, the Christ.

Each of us, sinners as we may be, can say much the same as Judah could. That if not for grace, a grace that comes to us through the sin-bearing death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our prospects for the future would be less than hopeful.

Contractors of Grace

With God’s help, I’ve been trying lately to offer specific, bold words of encouragement. This is something that I admire in others and want to grow in myself. Would you be surprised to know that for the Christian, being an encourager isn’t optional—it’s a command? The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thess. 5:11:

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

For me, it’s a bit of an experiment, as I’ve not been so direct with encouragement before. It’s been interesting to see the reaction when saying things like, “You are a great mom. I know it can be hard, but keep going.” In my observation, most people are not accustomed to hearing unprompted encouragement. The initial reaction is something like bewilderment blending into joy. To say to someone who in public prayer has just exposed themselves to the observations of others:“You don’t know how much that prayer blessed me.” Or better yet, being more specific: “In your prayer, that bit about courage in evangelism challenged me to share with my uncle” is a glorious display of building one another up.

Maybe for you, this kind of Thessalonian boldness is as natural as breathing. For most of us, progress will be steady, but incremental. Building something of value takes careful thought and intention—so much more, the building up of a child of God. What a wonderful part we have to play in each others’ lives! You and I are contractors of grace, building one another up for the sake of Jesus!

At TTBC, we want to create a Thessalonian culture of encouragement. I want to urge you to try it. To look someone in the eye, and offer them specific, lavish encouragement. Watch as the initial flush of embarrassment morphs into a warm smile. As a church, we may be a bit unpracticed in this discipline, but as we start to obey God’s command to build one another up, it will be no surprise when someone piles on reassuring words. The truth is, we leave too many good things unsaid.

There are some who feel listless among the local church, wondering, “What’s my part to play in all of this? One thing you can be for the building up of the body, is an encourager. You can be the reason why someone presses on. We’re called to “spur one another on to love and good deeds.” What better way than to say to someone, and you can say it in a hundred different ways, “You’re doing great. Keep going!”

Insulated Saints?

I wonder if you felt the buzz or heard the jarring tone of the public safety notification—a statewide 9-1-1 emergency services outage. Though we can dial up our local police and fire departments directly, the idea that the system we rely on in a crisis can be knocked out can be an unsettling reality. Suddenly, the cover has been torn off—the best of human help is limited, even fleeting. As I type this out, according to the latest report, the authorities still don’t know what happened. Safety is more fragile than we often assume. And yet, the Bible teaches us that in a crisis, there are safety services that can never fail.

Listen to God’s unfailing safety services in Psalm 34:4-7:

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are uradiant,

and their faces shall never be ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him

and wsaved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the LORD encamps

around those who fear him, and delivers them.”

 If one were to cross-examine the Psalmist, they might raise and objection: “Surely, he has not delivered you from all your fears and all your troubles!” Surely, God doesn’t insulate the saints. Consider Paul, who said on behalf of the apostles, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted by not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” Add to that a shipwreck, a stoning, and a litany of other hardships, and the evidence seems scant for a God who never fails to hear and answer prayer.

At times, God may seem like the 9-1-1 services that dipped out today. But here’s the difference. God is devoted to a more significant plan of salvation than the first responders in our cities and towns. The Lord is saving the souls of his people, which includes trials of every kind. That’s right—crises are part of His saving plan for us. While we suffer through hardship, prayers for strength to endure are answered. Pleas for patience and provision are met. Cries for renewed faith and hope are granted, and opportunities to testify to the grace of Jesus are plentiful. He may spare us from pain, but when immediate rescue is withheld, we can know from God’s certain Word that He’s working out a more significant rescue—the salvation of our souls. And so, next time we place a 9-1-1 call to the Lord in prayer, regardless of what we perceive the response to be, rescue is on the way.

A Good Father

Fathers’ Day is this Sunday. For many of us, we can’t help but have mixed feelings as we think about our own fathers and the influence they’ve had on us for good or for ill. Maybe we wonder if we’ve honored our fathers as we ought to, as the Scriptures teach us to do. For those of us who are fathers or who aspire to be, we wonder what our legacy will be. Fathers’ Day is that day each year that fathers feel most appreciated, but also, the most vulnerable—hyperaware of our flaws. If we could sum up how people feel on that day, we might begin with, “It’s complicated.”

But one thing that’s uncomplicated is that the Bible describes God as a good Father. In fact, He’s a perfect Father to His people. To sample God’s Word on His fatherhood, James 1:17 tells us that “Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of Lights…” He’s a father who knows what we need. And to boot, everything good we have comes from Him. Psalm 103:13 says of Him, “As a father shows compassion to His children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear Him.” We all bear the scars of compassion withheld. We fear being left alone, forsaken. But God is tender towards those whom He loves, and He leaves the 99 to pursue one lost sheep, that He might bring us home on His shoulders rejoicing.

The author of Hebrews highlights his loving discipline of us, though at times it’s painful. Earthly fathers may punish out of frustration or hold back because they fear being misunderstood. But God hazards us misreading Him and administers the discipline that we so desperately need. And the Apostle Paul opens the letter to the Ephesians highlighting that God the Father “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” He not only provides our daily bread, but has provided His people with the Bread of Life, Jesus, whose sin-bearing death and resurrection has brought us back to God.

Some of us don’t know how to approach a father so good and so tender because we have no earthly frame of reference. It almost seems too good to be true. He seems to be too good to be true. But here’s a wonderful thing to ponder, whether your dad was absent, whether he was exemplary, and everything in between. Our earthly fathers were given to us for a short time. The role they play in our lives, compared to forever, is a flash. But the Eternal Father, the one who will outlast this sinful, broken shell of a world—He’s our Father forever. And so, no matter how we feel about Fathers’ Day, no matter how complicated, we can rejoice that our Heavenly Father has no flaws. Nor has He ever failed us. He never will.

Are Christians Optimists?

 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” - Jeremiah 29:11

I once heard someone say, “As for man, I’m a pessimist. But as for God, I’m wildly optimistic.”That’s something to ponder isn’t it? The world seems to have a more optimistic view of man than the Bible does. The prevailing culture claims that within man is all the light we need—we just need to harness it. The Bible’s view of man is not that we are sinful as we could be, but that rather, sin touches every part of us. This is why the Puritans in particular, who I mentioned a few posts ago, are often accused of being too severe. Charles Spurgeon, commenting on John Bunyan said of him, “The man is a walking Bible—prick him and he bleeds bibline.” It seems that those who are most acquainted with Scripture come to understand that the heart of man is a heart of darkness. But God, whom the Apostle John refers to as light without darkness has lit us up and continues to crank the wattage.

The hope of Jeremiah 29:11, the kind of verse you might find on a bumper sticker in Mobile, Alabama isn’t a promise to Judah that everything was going to go swimmingly in the near term. Exile in Babylon would be their reality because of their idolatry and disobedience. It would do no good for Jeremiah to send God’s people in Exile a shipment of rose-colored Ray Bans. They needed to hear the truth about their sin. I think what we often call pessimism is really just a strong dose of realism. They needed to be pieced by the two-edged sword of God’s Spirit and His Word, that they might turn back to Him again. And that’s where the optimism comes in. For the contrite and lowly, wherever God is, so is hope. God has plans for His people.

While we wait for His return, we have hope that the future he’s promised to us will come to pass. The question is, are we willing to wait for it? And do we know that apart from God, we ought to be helplessly pessimistic. But because we have God, or rather, He has us, we can be wildly optimistic about our future with Him. As for man apart from God—there’s nothing to be hopeful about. But man with God? Even us? You should hear about His plans for you. They’re utterly breathtaking.

Eyes on God

There’s a video clip turned famous meme where a tuxedo-clad groom all but falls apart when his bride comes into view. We’re left wondering who the woman is that triggered such a volcano of emotion. I’ve often compared this modern trend, of capturing the groom’s reaction to the bride to what often passes for worship in the church today. Instead of all eyes being on the bride, our eyes shift away from her to the groom. With groom gazing, as with modern worship, we’re more interested in our emotional response to God than to God Himself. Of course, every analogy breaks down at some point. In the Bible, God is compared to a groom. But we get the point.

What we need most at Tremont Temple is to gaze at God. To behold his holiness. To eye the righteous judge who is full of wrath. To look upon our Merciful Father, who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Ex. 34:6) We need to feel small before the One who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and marked the heavens with a span.” (Isa. 40:12a) We need to stare at Him who is mighty to save (Zeph: 3:17). The One whose counsels will stand, and who will accomplish all His purposes (Isa. 46:10).

Sure, the Scriptures say a lot about us. But too much of our contemplation is about us. Only God will do. Only an unbroken vision of His character will sustain our faith when the winds and waves batter us. If we find ourselves wondering why there seems to be little power in our lives and ministries, it may be that we’ve taken traded in our theology for anthropology. More solid food is to feast on God’s character, His attributes, and His savings acts, which find their pinnacle in Jesus Christ, His sin-bearing death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and return.

Let us recommit ourselves to deep meditation on God, Himself! Let us pray for robust, Spirit-wrought revelation of God’s unchanging character. Let us clear away the wild brush and thorns that have obscured the old paths. Let us worship God, and not worship worship, which is ultimately the idolatry of the self. Let us be in awe of Him whose rescue plan is our hope in life and in death.

The Very Word of God

This past Sunday, I met again with those who sent me back to New England in 2013, after three fruitful years of pastoral training. Our family worshipped at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., and shortly after, I was interviewed before the church by Pastor Mark, my mentor in ministry. I shared with old (familiar!) faces and new about the stunning legacy of Tremont Temple Baptist Church. I shared that we are known as the first integrated church in America—that Frederick Douglass read aloud the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 at the abolition rally at Tremont Temple. I shared that the church has been a faithful steward of the gospel since 1839 and still is.

Mark asked me to share prayer requests, and among them was a praise for something that I testified to as a distinct mark of God’s grace among us at Tremont Temple. I quoted 1 Thessalonians 2:13:

“And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”

Some people are governed by emotions. Institutions are often governed by ideology or cultural prerogatives. But the church of Jesus Christ is governed by God’s Word. He speaks to His people by His Spirit, through His Word, and we hear the voice of a Father who has never failed us—not once! This is something I have appreciated and praised God for over nearly ten years as a pastor of this flock, that the Bible is received as the very Word of God.

As we continue to make progress as a church in making God’s Word the center of our life together, allowing it to govern us is challenging! At times, God’s Word is pure comfort. At others times, it convicts and corrects us. All of this is for the building up of the body of Christ into maturity. Dear brothers and sisters, may we continue to press into growth, for our good and for the glory of Jesus! Pray that we would hear God’s Word as the very Word of God!

The Puritans & Progress

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” - 2 Corinthians 3:18

I have often been amazed how quickly people write off the Puritans. Their reputation takes on a life of its own. Their works, shot through with the bright hope of glory, are commonly quoted to the effect of, “I’m more wretched than you can imagine.” Evidently, some believe this to be a faithful summary of the Puritan outlook on the Christian life—but they are mistaken. Take in the warmth of the English Puritan Richard Sibbes, who preached and pastored at Gray’s Inn in London the early 17th century, who wrote: “There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.” I can’t think of a more hopeful thing to ponder this morning.

These misunderstood servants of Christ from centuries past raise an important question for us today. How should the redeemed talk about ourselves with regard to sanctification? Taking the risk of generalizing a bit, I would argue that we ought to take a Puritan outlook. We ought to acknowledge our depravity, as all good Puritans do, but we ought to embrace hope. As the Apostle wrote to an imperfect church, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you, will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ.” We know that the work of Christ in us isn’t yet complete. But it will be.

The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians gives us a hopeful picture of sanctification, that as time passes, our transformation into the image and likeness of Jesus is incremental—from one degree of glory to the next. How does this change the way we talk about ourselves? It means that the goal for today isn’t perfection but progress. If perfection today is our aim, our joy will be sapped due to our inadequacy. But if the goal is a half-step towards holiness, there’ll be room for joy.

The wonderful thing about Paul’s description of sanctification is how the verse ends: “For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” As you seek to make progress—to take one more step forward in faithfulness, you do so by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. God is behind our progress, whether it’s a leap forward, or a half-step, which is what it is most days. Even if on a given day, we seem to take one step backwards, our outlook is comprehensive. We mourn our sin, repent, and rise in hope, because we wake up to new mercies every morning. (Lam. 3:22-24)

Would you ask yourself this morning, “What is one step I could take today to honor Jesus more?” My friend, pray and pursue progress in the Christian life. The Spirit and the Word are your helpers, and one step towards Jesus is cause for great joy. And always remember, “There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.”

Partnership in the Gospel

In many churches marked by a zeal for biblical truth there’s a lack of mutual affection and joy. Why the disconnect? Surely love and joy ought to flow from sound doctrine. Consider how Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi which opens:

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” - Philippians 1:3-5

The word “partnership” that Paul uses is the word ‘koinonia’ which is commonly translated “fellowship.” It has been famously used in the modern church to signify something like getting together to watch the game and gobble up buffalo wings. Or as our former Senior Pastor Denton Lotz often jested, “Fellowship isn’t just two fellows in a ship.” He had us cracking up with that one, but the point was made. Fellowship or partnership in the gospel isn’t casual. Though it may include some measure of buffalo wings, partnership in the gospel centers on life together on mission for Jesus.

Of all of Paul’s letters to the churches, Philippians strikes us more as a letter commending faith rather than correcting error. Galatians and 1 Corinthians stand as examples of Paul rebuking churches that were veering into shocking sin. Philippians seems filled with affirmation. But even the church at Philippi had its blindspots. Paul hints throughout the letter about a matter of disunity that he clearly states towards the end of the letter. He calls on two members of the church, women named Euodia and Syntche to “agree in the Lord.” (4:2) Thus, it’s no surprise that Paul calls the whole church in chapter 2 to walk in the pattern of humility that Jesus displayed. The one who “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Phil. 2:8)

When our life together centers on Jesus’ death and resurrection—in effect, when we are truly partnering in the gospel, a humility that produces unity, love, and joy will be stoked. When we’re eager to agree in the Lord—that is, to embrace His commands together, we will be “of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” (v. 2) We will “do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than ourselves.” (v. 3) We will “look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (v. 4). This goes for pastors and those in the pews alike. When our life together centers on Jesus and His gospel mission, we can pray for one another like Paul does at the opening of the letter. May this kind of unity, grounded in humility lead us into affection and joy as a congregation, so that we display Christ to all who cast eyes on us!

When Bad Stuff Happens

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

- 1 Corinthians 16:13

When the flames of affliction set fire to our best laid plans, theology look out. It’s not when things are going well that our doctrine of God is on the crucible, but when bad stuff happens. When the heat is turned up, it’s revealed that we’re not a special case in God’s kingdom. We will be tried and tested like everyone else. But how will we respond when we can’t see wisdom in His will for us?

The famous composer Beethoven lived in fear of losing his hearing. He felt that deafness would spell the end of his creative ability. His worst fears were realized, as he went on to lose his hearing completely. But unknown to him, while completely deaf he would write some of the most enduring and brilliant music the world has ever heard. With all distractions shut out, the notes and melodies flooded in, and perhaps it can be said that his deafness, a trial that would altar his life forever, turned out to be a catalyst for excellence.

Who are we howl against providence when we have trouble keeping a calendar? Who qualified us to critique the wise plans of God, who has purchased us for His own purposes and glory? Dear friends, when trials come that have your head spinning, it’s good to acknowledge that we don’t know exactly why, but whatever the reason—it’s bound to be good. You can’t see it yet, and nobody is asking you to. But our faith ought to change how we process pain.

We may not know why, but we do know whose hands our trials have passed through before reaching us. Look at those hands. Do you see the wounds from the nails? You can trust a God like that, even when the heat is turned up.