(By: John Miller)


As children of God, we are those who have been given new eyes. In God’s sovereign love and mercy He has given us spiritual eyes to discern that which is beyond the merely temporal and tangible. We have been given eyes to see the unseen, that which is true and eternal. In other words, we have received the gift of faith. As the writer of Hebrews states, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).


Yet at times in our pilgrimage on this earth, our spiritual vision becomes clouded. Our present trials and circumstances fill our view, causing our view of the glorious eternal realities that are ours through Jesus Christ to become dim. The “stuff of earth” seems to overwhelm us. All that we can see is the difficulty of our circumstances and the pain of our trials, forgetting to see the God who is in all of our circumstances and trials. The temptation is to become discontent, dissatisfied, and discouraged. What should we do during these times? What will you do when these difficulties come?

First, remember that you are not alone. It is not as though you are some strange and unique case, the only child of God who has ever wrestled with maintaining a clear spiritual vision in the midst of this fallen world. The pages of Scripture are filled with countless examples of the children of God whose faith has been tried and tested. Men of God like Abraham (Genesis 17:17), Asaph (Psalm 73:2-3), and Paul (2 Corinthians 1:8) wrestled with seeing their present tangible circumstances in the light of eternal truth. But even more than these, you are not alone because you have a great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, who also had to walk this earth by faith and not by sight. He was despised and rejected by His own brethren, even though He was the King over All. Our Savior is one who “in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin,” and is therefore able to “sympathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15). And it is this Savior who has promised never to leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). You are not alone.

Second, learn from those who have gone before you and, like them, seek to be much in communion with God. It is as you come to Him, looking to Jesus and hearing His Word, that you regain a true spiritual perspective. This was the experience of Asaph, who was perplexed when he saw with his physical eyes the “prosperity of the wicked” (Psalm 73:3). Looking at the world around him became a “wearisome task” (Psalm 73:16). But this changed when he entered into “the sanctuary of God” (Psalm 73:17). It was there in God’s presence that Asaph regained a true view of reality. It was then that he remembered the end of the wicked, that the “heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly” (2 Peter 3:7). He came to see that the present form of this world, with all of its injustice, sin, and death, is passing away (1 Corinthians 7:31), and that the “things that are seen are transient” (2 Corinthians 4:18). It was in the presence of God that Asaph remembered that there is one thing that is lasting, one portion that is forever (Psalm 73:23-26): God Himself who is “making all things new” (Revelation 21:5). He has given to us “a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28).

May God grant to you and me this day and everyday, “a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe” (Ephesians 1:17-19).

By David Giarrizzo

Preface
This will be the first post, Lord-willing, in an ongoing discussion on the topic of “Christians and Culture.” Through this series I hope to explore how Christians can possess a biblical worldview, develop a biblical approach to popular culture, and ultimately cultivate a biblically-based understanding of the relationship between Christianity and the world.

We are all products of our cultures.

Before anyone gets the wrong idea about that statement and thinks that I am about to indulge in some sort of postmodern psychobabble, please allow me to explain.

I must begin by confessing that I have been directly affected by popular culture. The music, movies, and news events of the last two decades have impacted my life probably more than I would care to admit. Just as John-Paul-George-&-Ringo, color television, and the Cold War possessed great influence in my parents’ generation, Kurt Cobain, the internet, and an impeached President have in many ways helped define the entertainment-driven, quick-fix-seeking, morally relativistic, feel-good culture that I was immersed in as a young person.

It doesn’t take long to realize that culture is not something we can avoid even if we wanted to.

T.M. Moore writes in the opening lines of his book, Redeeming Pop Culture: A Kingdom Approach, “Culture is an inescapable feature of human life. Made in the image of the Creator God, people are designed to be makers and users of things, promulgators of laws, developers of languages, creators of institutions, and bearers of traditions.” We all hail from our own specific backgrounds, each with more specific customs, traditions, and philosophies. I think of culture like the air we breathe: we take it in without even thinking about it. Moore again says, “Culture is all around us. We live it, eat and drink it, wear it, share it, rely on it, and pass it on to others. To be human is to be a creature of culture.” In more practical terms, we whistle tunes, quote movie dialogue, repeat news stories, and laugh at political satire. We do these things because we have been influenced by the culture around us.

But popular culture—that diverse part of culture which entertains our senses in the here-and-now—can be a dangerous foe. Popular culture is simply worldliness dressed up in her brightest colors. While we cannot avoid being a part of culture, by the grace of God we can avoid the sins of worldliness and idolatry. When considering culture of any kind, the words of the Apostle John should ring in our ears: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15)

Popular culture deems itself to be good, even necessary. Sadly, some Christians have even bought into the notion that the Gospel needs to be relevant to the times in order to be effectively communicated to a lost and unbelieving culture. But a biblically-thinking Christian knows better. If a believer really wants to win the lost for Christ, a postmodern, back-and-forth dialogue with sinners through popular culture won’t do it. If someone truly wants to be “relevant,” let him know his Bible better than he knows his culture! Only when the message of faith in Christ alone is proclaimed from the very pages of the Bible will God-hating world-lovers hear the true Gospel and be saved (Rom. 10:17).

As Christians, we are called to be discerning (Rom .12:2, Phil. 1:9-10). We are called to think (Rom. 12:3; Phil 3:15; Phil. 4:8; 2 Tim 2:7), believe (Mark 1:15; John 3:16; John 14:1), and know (Hos. 14:9; Eph. 3:19; Col. 4:6; 2 Tim 1:12). We are called to be thoughtful and introspective (Acts 17:11; 2 Cor. 13:5). We are called to look at the world around us with sanctified vision, and as we take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the external realities of our society, we are called to “take captive” those things for Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

As Christians we cannot escape culture; it is indeed a part of our daily lives. But we must remain vigilant in our walks (Prov. 4:23; 1 Peter 5:8). We must keep careful watch on our lives and our doctrine (1 Tim. 4:16); this means putting God’s Word above all other influences and putting it into practice. Finally, as we evade the vanities of the world, may we always keep Christ, our greatest treasure, at the center of our lives.

(By Christopher Powell)
Part One

Part Two

Be Prepared! So goes the famous motto of the Boy Scouts. But I also think it is an apt summary of the mentality of a regular Christian desiring to honour and serve God through evangelism. A more pointed motto might be: “Be Biblically Prepared!” As we examined last week, the argument I began to make was that we must seek to avoid a “one-size-fits-all” scripted approach to evangelism and to seek to adapt to the situation as guided by biblical wisdom and prayer in reliance on the Holy Spirit. This is based on examples we find in the Scriptures themselves.

As we consider this mentality further today I’d like to start to examine one of Jesus’ key encounters with an unbeliever, the Rich Young Ruler (hereafter RYR) in . One of the first things that you will notice as you read the whole chapter is that Jesus uses different approaches to different subjects. His approach to the Rich Young Ruler is not the same that he takes with the children () or even that which he took with the disciples later in the chapter (). Jesus personally adapts to the hearer. But the substance and the goal of his message is the same – repent and believe. Jesus’ overall pattern when you examine the incidents in this chapter and others like the woman at the well in or Nicodemus in is similar: He probes and exposes the falsehoods that rule a person’s heart and then presents Himself as the one to turn to for salvation from falsehood.

What actually varies in His different encounters is based on his understanding where these individuals are at. For example, the children are at the very earliest stage. They were being prevented from hearing the Gospel. Jesus is gentlest with them knowing their tender age and their ignorance of the Gospel. As says: “how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard.” Understanding this, Jesus responds generously and graciously: “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” Contrast that with the direct way he deals with the RYR, immediately challenging him and putting him on the defensive. Verse 18: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone”"

The RYR has had a privileged upbringing and is well acquainted with the commands as Jesus presents them to him. So Jesus directly confronts him with his sin. We’ll examine this in more detail in a subsequent post, but, the point is that Jesus approaches the RYR quite differently than the children.

What I think is most interesting about the way that Jesus approaches the RYR is that it goes against the way you or I might be tempted to respond if a rich young man walked into our church. A young clean cut “religious” man of money and influence. Isn’t this the kind of fellow that would make our church look good? Aren’t you a bit disappointed that Jesus uses such a harsh approach with him? Doesn’t He know how hard it is to get people like this to come to Church? Remember, these are tough times – we’re barely making our budget as it is…

But Jesus’ primary concern is not about making the man feel welcome or comfortable but in confronting him with the truth of the Gospel. As summarizes, Jesus came to do His Father’s will. This meant that he was not there to stroke people’s egos or to make them feel at ease. He sought to confront them with their sin and its dire consequences and to point them to the only hope they have in Him. In other words, He sought to wisely determine their need and to press on them the urgency of the Gospel message of repent and believe. It is the first aid that they need. You don’t treat a man with a gaping chest wound by giving him a drink of water. You start by directly addressing the source of the bleeding. That is true first aid.

So as we consider our own evangelistic encounters this week with our family, friends, co-workers etc., we need to remember that our application of the Truth must “be prepared” to make the spiritual “first aid” of the Gospel our first priority. We apply this Gospel according to the wisdom of the Spirit as we discern where the person is at – not neglecting the principles of gentleness and respect outlined in . May the Lord strengthen us and enable us to have faith to carry His message faithfully to the lost for their salvation, our joy and the glory of His Name.

Note: I’ll be taking a brief break from posting on evangelism in the next couple of weeks, but we will return to our series in late August.

Further Reading: Today’s Gospel: Authentic or Synthetic by Walt Chantry is one of the best short books I have ever read on evangelism. I read it in Seminary and I refer to it frequently as I consider my own evangelistic ministry. Much of what you will read on the Rich Young Ruler in this series of posts has been informed by this book.

(By: Chad Bennett)

Calvin’s Institutes – Part 3
In my previous post on the Institutes I discussed the necessity of contemplating God’s perfections if we are to rightly understand ourselves. While this kind of contemplation is effectual in humbling man and bringing us to a more accurate view of nature there is yet a greater and more effectual revelation of God in the scripture. Calvin explains that Christians in the Bible were commonly “stricken and overcome” with “dread and wonder…whenever they felt the presence of God. Thus it comes about that we see men who in his absence normally remained firm and constant, but who, when he manifests his glory, are so shaken and struck dumb as to be laid low by the dread of death—are in fact overwhelmed by it and almost annihilated. As a consequence, we must infer that man is never sufficiently touched and affected by the awareness of his lowly state until he has compared himself with God’s majesty” (38-39).

A few examples should suffice to make this point adequately clear. In Isaiah 6:1-5 we read of Isaiah’s encounter with God:
1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory! 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 And I said: Woe is me! For I am undone; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!
Isaiah’s response to encountering the thrice holy God is to realize that he is undone, literally vaporized or unmade before God. In comparison to God’s holiness he realizes that he is a sinner who lives in the midst of sinners. Even the seraphim who are without sin must veil their faces before God, how much more so sinful man. We see yet another example in the life of Job who questions God in light of his experiences. In chapters 38-41 God answers Job with a series of questions concerning His glory in comparison to Job’s finiteness.
1 Then Job answered the Lord and said: 2 I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me. 5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Job seems pretty bold at first but when God appears in his majesty he quickly perceives that he is but dust and ashes before God. David Brainerd, while not seeing God, nonetheless beheld his majesty. For some extended time after that he feared the ground would open and swallow him because of his sin before such a holy God.

If this all sounds foreign to us I would speculate it is because we have yet to behold the majesty of God. One day all people will be brought to a proper understanding of humanity when we all behold the majesty of the Lord. May this drive us all the more to be men and women who strive to behold His majesty now.

(By: Chad Bennett)

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! 8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! 9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say among the nations, The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12 let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13 before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Worship can often be a struggle for the Christian. It is, however, what we were designed to do. The answer to the first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism is “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” We will worship because that is what we are designed to do. Our struggle is often not to worship but what to worship. Worship overflows from our delight in something and the earth is full of worship. I was reminded of this recently while watching a World Cup match. The stands were thunderous in their singing of praise. Sometimes for their country, at other times for their national team, and still others for a great player or goal scorer. Thousands breaking into spontaneous praise of a single man. How often have we joined in the Braves chant at a game? What can we say; it is how God designed us. Worship and praise pour out of us for those things which we love. Our problem is often that we do not meditate on who God is and therefore find other things more praiseworthy.

Psalm 96 is designed to be a cure for our misguided worship. The Psalm focuses on the “why” of worship. It tells us that God is greatly to be praised and due glory. The psalm does not stop at telling us we should worship, it give motivation by reminding us of God’s attributes that make him so praiseworthy. It reads almost as a list of the praiseworthiness of God. It tells us all the following about God, He is: our savior, a wonderworker, great, maker of the heavens, honorable, majestic, strong, beautiful, sustainer of the world, and righteous judge.

The psalmist believes these qualities of God will cause us to burst forth with praise. Any one attribute should be enough but we are given several. Meditate on who God is that you may:

“Declare His glory among the nations
His wonders among all the peoples”

(By: Eddie Goodwin)

This past Lord’s Day (7/19) witnessed the ordination of the first officers of Cornerstone Fellowship in Newburgh, Indiana.  Four of the pastors of Heritage Baptist Church (Sam Waldron, Ted Christman, Keith Maddy, Richard Barcellos) laid hands upon me for installation into the office of founding pastor-teacher.  In turn, my first act as newly installed pastor was to lay hands with prayer upon our two elected deacons (Kevin Roberts, Mike Fendrich).  It was a tremendously exciting day on so many different levels!

Pastor Lou Sloger of Grace Baptist Church in Papillion, Nebraska gave a biblical charge to both the officers and the church body.  Pastor Steve Hartland of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland taught the adult Sunday school class on the subject of adaption in gospel proclamation (1 Corinthians 9:19-22).

Our music leader, Mike Cunningham, helped prepare us for worship through a prelude entitled Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace – a re-working of an old Gadsby Hymnal selection by Red Mountain Music).  In the service itself we sang  O, for A Thousand Tongues; Lead On, O King Eternal; Christ, Our Righteousness; O, Church Arise (Getty) and How Sweet and Awesome is the Place as a final response in worship.  At the end of a fellowship meal and a time of sharing, Mike also lead us through Great is Thy Faithfulness and The Servant Song (to the tune of Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee).  Mike’s wife, Jenny, played piano and my oldest daughter, Krystin, provided vocal assistance with Mike to aid congregational singing. 

We would greatly appreciate your prayers as the Lord brings us to mind.  The greater Newburgh/Evansville area alone has nearly 200,000 souls.  To our knowledge, Cornerstone Fellowship is the only 1689 confessional church.  Cornerstone desires to plant another reformed Baptist church in southern Indiana within the next five years and currently possesses at least three to four families who travel from the west side of Evansville who could easily constitute a new work once proper biblical leadership has been supplied by the ascended Christ who gives gifts to His church. 

The next few years should be quite a gospel adventure!  My wife Donna and I, along with our six children, are greatly looking forward to relocating to Newburgh.  We cannot wait to get acquainted with our new neighbors by way of family outings and the opening of our home.  Please pray that Christ will transform our family and our entire congregation into an army of servant-warriors who wage war against the kingdom of darkness by sharing the precious good news of Jesus Christ through proclamation, relationships and hospitality.  “Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end” (Is. 9:7a)!