Revelation 6:5-6 – 5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”
When we hurt, where can we find comfort? How do we manage to stand when it seems that the world around us is in utter chaos? Where do the people of God find strength in times of hardship and suffering? Answering such questions is a primary focus of the book of Revelation, and we should not miss such answers (even if so many cannot find these answers in their rush to define all the timeline of the future).
In Revelation 6, we see the Lord Jesus beginning to unroll the scroll of human history, bringing the future of our world to its proper and God-honoring conclusion. As we watch the four horsemen ride out, we see a world marked by a spirit of conquest, of war, of famine, and of death. These four, of course, mark our condition quite well. But take specific note of the words said when the third horseman rides.
The word of God tells us that there is a voice which speaks when the rider on the black horse is sent out. There is a measuring of the food, a clear lack being in evidence. But then there is another command, “and do not harm the oil and wine!” Somehow, in the midst of deep darkness, of a day’s wages barely containing the purchasing power to feed a person for a day, there is a limit placed on the destruction. There are parts of the world that are, at that time, off-limits from ruin.
Of course, there are many points to be made from this passage of the book of Revelation, but how about considering this one: God is in control, even over our suffering. The people in the passage are facing a hardship, that is without a doubt. Conquest, war, famine, and death are not fun things to face. But, right in the middle of the situation, we see evidence, solid evidence, that the Lord is still completely in control. While he may allow people to cause all sorts of hardships, the people are never the ones in ultimate control. God has the ability to protect and provide for his own, no matter how evil and chaotic the world gets.
We may have many questions that arise as we consider the sovereignty of God. We may wonder why it is that God chooses to do things the way that he does them. And, such questions are good in many ways. However, we also should not miss the fact of what God is telling us in his word. In this part of his word, the Lord tells us that, no matter how crazy the world gets, he is still there, still sovereign, and still able to protect and preserve.
What do you face that makes you believe that all is lost? What pain has taken you to the brink of despair? When have you wondered if God is actually able to help? Remember, even as you see the limits placed here with the horseman, that the Lord is present, he is able, he is preserving, and he will be glorified. God does not lose his own, even in the midst of a world gone mad. God will preserve his own, even when he judges all of humanity. There is hope, because the Lord is always still on his throne.
Some Thoughts on Worship
Some Thoughts on Worship
Revelation 4:8-11 – 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
I’m not sure that there is a more subjectively debated issue in all of Christendom than the issue of the practice of worship. If you’ve been in modern American Christianity for any time, you have probably heard of the “worship wars,” or you have experienced them. You have seen people go to the mat battling over musical styles in worship, over dressing up or dressing down, over bright lighting or theatre settings, over drums or no drums, over volume levels, over hymns or modern music, and over so much more. However, I wonder how much of this discussion includes biblical argumentation. How much of what we think about worship is informed by Scripture rather than by experience?
Consider, as one aspect of worship, the passage above. There we see a vision of worship happening in the throne room of God. God’s holiness is magnified by angelic beings. The human response is to bow down before the Lord and to declare him worthy. No person can argue that this is not worship.
What does the above contain that we might want to consider as we consider our own understanding of worship? First, let’s talk about holiness. How well do we do in remembering that our task is centered around the holiness of God? If you know me, you will know that I am not a slave to rigid formality and severity of mood—I enjoy, well, enjoying myself. I certainly do not think God is opposed to an attitude of celebration. However, worship at its clearest and deepest point is about the holiness of God. Thus, our actions of worship ought to reflect that holiness. There is a seriousness to what we should sing, say, and do as acts of formal worship of our Lord. Those actions should reflect the worth and value of the Holy One.
Then, look at the human response to God’s revelation of his holiness. The elders around the throne of God fell down and declared the truth of God’s worth. There was a humility about the people. The people responded to the truth of who God is. They responded to the accurate proclamation of God’s character and attributes. They did not respond to the emotional content of the art but to the rock solid truth of the words of truth. Perhaps we should consider this when we think about worship. Perhaps it would be better that we see to it that more truth is proclaimed and that this outweighs any emotional strings that are pulled by musical style, dramatic content, or nifty lighting.
I recall once being told by a pastor that he could tell whether the people were worshipping God by the looks on their faces. I suppose that would be true if worship was about mere emotional engagement. However, if worship is about truth of proclamation and submissive response, the looks on our faces are not the final measure of worship. Are we treating God as holy? Are we declaring truth about him? Are we yielding our lives to him? Those are far more proper measures of worship than any others.
Christians, may we stop the worship wars by returning to Scripture. Can a modern song focus us on the truth of the character of God and his holiness? If so, sing it. Can an ancient song focus us on the biblically presented perfections of God, than sing it. Does an old song focus us on shallow, emotional half-truths, then do not sing it no matter what hymnal it appears in. Does a modern song grab our emotions while ignoring the central focus on the Lord, then get rid of it.
What about more than music? The service of formal worship is about the declaration of the truth of God in Scripture. Yes, this should connect with our emotions because the truth of God grabs at our souls. However, we do not need to artificially shape things to bring about a response that is more a response to art than to truth. When art bows to truth, the two can blend in a wonderful moment. However, the focus of worship is and has always been the truth of God as expressed in the word of God.
This all only scratches the surface of the truth of what we must consider as we consider worship. However, it is important that we think about this topic and let it be directed by Scripture. Even the above paragraphs only scratch the surface of the passage above. Yet, they point us in the direction of the holiness of God and a proper human response of reverent awe and submission.
Knocking at Your Heart’s Door (Revelation 3:20)
Revelation 3:20 – Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Is Jesus knocking at the door of your heart? I’ve often heard that question asked, generally in the context of the end of a church meeting and generally aimed at those who are on the fence about whether or not to place their trust in Jesus. The passionate evangelist will tell the congregation that Jesus is knocking at the doors of the lost, and the sinner who opens their heart to the Savior will be saved—which is, of course, true. However, the problem with that being the way this verse is handled is this: It is intended for Christians.
What might it mean that the Lord is knocking at the heart doors of believers? Consider the context. Jesus is speaking to the church in Laodicea. It is a church that has become smug and self-confident. It is a church that thinks they can pull themselves up by their own bootstraps and strategize their way to success. They think they are really smart, personally successful, and quite appealing. But God says to them that they have no idea how poor, blind, and naked they really are in his sight. And it is to such people he says that he is knocking on the doors of their hearts, ready to restore and have fellowship with those who open to him.
Getting the context clear offers you and me a challenge if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus. Is your heart open to the fellowship and presence of the Savior? Are you humble? Do you realize that you cannot be strong on your own? Do you see that you cannot impress God with your goodness? Do you see that you have no good in you that the Lord has not granted you? Are you able to recognize that the source of joy that lasts is in the glory of God and not in the multiplying of possessions and comforts?
How about for your church as a whole? Do you see that you, as a body, do not impress God with your strengths? Can you recognize that the Scripture is not telling churches to cleverly strategize their success apart from the power of the Spirit of God working through them? Does your church recognize that we exist for the glory of God and not to be the best club on our block? Can your church see that worship is about declaring truth and humbling ourselves under God’s majesty more than it is about tweaking emotions or impressing the lost? Ultimately, are you and your church submitted to the word of God as your final authority on all things relating to life and godliness?
The Lord knocks on the hearts of Christians because, if we are not careful, we close our hearts to our Savior. We can impress ourselves. We can think we are great in our outreach programs or in our doctrinal superiority. We need to be reaching out. We need doctrinal fidelity. We need rich, Scriptural worship. But we cannot do any of that without being open to the Savior and submitted to his word. We must grasp that we need Jesus to be the church. We need Jesus to live our Christian lives. We are not as strong as we think we are. This is why the Savior knocks and offers the sweetness of his presence and fellowship.
Yes, if you do not know Jesus, the truth of the old evangelist is correct. Jesus says that if you will open your heart to him—trusting him and him alone for your salvation while turning away from all other sources of hope and authority—you will be saved. But the truth of the passage is for believers. We can grow cold and selfish if we are not careful. Our churches can become smug and self-reliant. To us the Savior declares that he knocks and is willing to return to his right position of supremacy in our hearts. And, when we yield to him, he also promises eternal rewards and joy.
Prepare to Meet Your God (Amos 4:11-13)
Amos 4:11-13
11 “I overthrew some of you,
as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,
and you were as a brand plucked out of the burning;
yet you did not return to me,”
declares the Lord.
12 “Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel;
because I will do this to you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”
13 For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind,
and declares to man what is his thought,
who makes the morning darkness,
and treads on the heights of the earth—
the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!
The book of Amos begins with the spiraling judgment of God on the nations around the land of Israel. God shows that he will not allow the rebellion of mankind to go on forever unpunished. One might imagine the people of Israel watching God declare the punishment to fall on Syria, Moab, or even Judah with joy. But then the focus of the book becomes Israel, and the people are in deep trouble.
From chapters 2-3, God shows that Israel has turned against him in myriad ways. And, if we are not careful, we will start looking at the book as a mere historical lesson about the rebellion of the northern kingdom. But, we must recognize that we live, as Israel lived, surrounded by spiritual lawlessness and corruption. No person who looks around in our world would consider the landscape to be becoming more godly.
As chapter 4 comes into view, God repeatedly shows Israel how he warned the nation time and time again. He allowed the people to face hardships to help them to see their need to return to him. But the rebellious nation refused to turn from their sin and return to the Lord.
Does that not make you wonder about your own culture and situation? How many things have happened around us that should be driving us to our knees before the Lord? How many pains, crimes, hardships, and disasters should have drawn us as a people to seek the mercy and favor of the Lord. Yet, in all things, as a people, it seems that our nation continues to flaunt our rebellion.
With all that said, it is the final passage of chapter 4 that should cause us to tremble. The nation has seen the call of God to return. The nation has refused to return. And, because they have refused and refused and refused to return to the Lord, God says this, “prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”
God says to a rebellious people who have refused all of his warnings that, at the end of the day, they had better be ready to meet their Maker. The Lord will stop sending warnings. Instead, he will come on his own. And the obvious intent here is to warn them that, without repentance, there will only be judgment to come.
Are we ready to meet our God? No, my country is not Israel. Yet, my country is made up of human beings, people created by God and under obligation to turn to him rather than oppose him. We should repent. We should put an end to our evils. We should seek the mercy of the Lord in Christ. And we are not doing so. Are we ready, then, when the Lord says to us, “Prepare to meet your God!”?
May passages like this one drive us to prayer and repentance. While I love to preach the mercy of the Lord, there is a wrath of God as well. In fact, the concept of the mercy of God makes no sense apart from the reality of his right and just wrath. I would not be faithful as a preacher did I not warn us that God must righteously judge. We must, as a people, turn to him and seek his mercy. We must learn from the pains of this life that our only hope is the love of the Lord. Because, without turning to his grace, we will find ourselves meeting him in judgment, and that will not go well for the rebels—it never has.
Even Now the Lord Will Restore (Joel 2:12-14)
Joel 2:12-14
12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the Lord your God?
There are many running themes in the Bible. We regularly see God show us his holiness and perfection. We regularly see the theme of sacrificial substitution in which one life is given for the sake of another. We see a running and building plan of the promised Messiah coming to rescue. We see the theme of the curse of sin and the power of God pushing back the darkness.
Here in Joel 2, we see a beautiful theme that shows up time and time again in Scripture—Old Testament and New Testament. We see the theme of the mercy of God offered to those who will come to him in faith and repentance. Yes, this passage is directly about the life of the people in Judah. But, it is a perfect depiction of the merciful character of God toward all who will turn to him.
In Joel’s prophecy, the people of God have faced tremendous hardships. Enemy armies and a locust plague have ruined the land. There appears to be no hope for any sort of a future for the people of Judah. And, the book lets us know that the people have faced this destruction because of their sin against the Lord. This is righteous judgment that they are suffering.
But God says, “Yet even now.” Even now, if you will see your sin and turn from it, there is hope. Even now, if you will let go of selfishness and self-determination and yield to the rule of the Lord, there is hope. Even now, after great damage has been done, damage caused by the hateful rebellion of the people, God offers restoration. If the people will turn from their sin and seek the mercy of God, he will rebuild them to such a place that they will again be able to worship him and see his favor.
Later, in verse 25 of Joel 2, the Lord promises, “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.” If the people will repent and return to the Lord, God tells them that he will restore to them the damage done by the judgment they earned.
The Lord is a restoring, forgiving, loving, merciful God. That is as common a theme in Scripture as any other. God will judge, there is no doubt about that. But God will forgive those who come to him and get under his rule, seeking his mercy. God is gracious and he makes the way for us to be forgiven. Whatever their losses, whatever their pain, the blessings of repentance will more than make up for the hardship.
What a joy it is to grasp that God restores. Repentance is not merely a doleful turning away from our failings to live with our sorrow. No, repentance is a move toward the Lord who tells us that he can give us back far more than we lost in our failings. He will give us back far more than we earned in his judgment. He will heal our wounds, salve our hearts, and grant to us a future under his care.
Have you ever thought that you have so ruined your life with your failings that you have no future? Hope in the concept of the kind mercies of God. He welcomes us back. He tells you and me, “even now…” He will forgive when we return. He will restore. He will rebuild our lives. No, we may not see all that restoration on this side of eternity, but the Lord will not leave his people hanging. He will be kind. He will do good. He will give comfort and joy. Return and find restoration in the grace of our wonderfully merciful Lord.
How do you do this? If you are outside of the grace of God, find his mercy by turning from sin and receiving Christ as Savior and Lord. If you are in Christ, find God’s healing by repenting of sin and trusting that he can fix your future.
The Tenderness of God in an Old Testament Text (Hosea 11:8-9)
Hosea 11:8-9
8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;
my compassion grows warm and tender.
9 I will not execute my burning anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and not a man,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath.
In the early lines of the book of Hosea, we see God compare the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) to an adulterous woman. In fact, the memorable tableau of Hosea and Gomer, a man married to a wife who willingly chooses a life of prostitution instead of faithfulness is intended to mirror the sadness of Israel’s faithlessness. God shows that those people willingly and repeatedly betrayed him, regardless of his kindness and faithfulness to them.
Of course, the Old Testament is full of the prophesies of the judgment of God that will fall on that people who turned away from the Lord. He promised them judgment for unfaithfulness before he ever entered into covenant relationship with them. The consequences of rebellion against God were part of the terms of the covenant between God and national Israel.
If we are not careful, we will read those Old Testament promises of judgment, and we will consider God to be harsh. After all, we like to think that we would be gentle and understanding if we were the ones in charge. Yet, a faithful look at the Old Testament shows us that God is truly a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love.
Notice in the verses above the sweet kindness of the Lord. His compassion is stirred toward his people. He willingly withholds the judgment that the people have more than earned. He does not enjoy doing to them what the terms of the covenant require.
Now, let us not read the words above as though God will not judge. We must not assume that the patience of the Lord and the compassion of our God somehow do away with his justice. He will be just. But, he is gloriously compassionate.
Let the words of Hosea 11:8-9 melt into your understanding of the kindness of God and the glory of the gospel. The conflict in Scripture is not one of God seeking more people to condemn and loving to crush people. Instead, the conflict in Scripture is the question of how can God exercise compassion while still fulfilling his justice. In the case of Israel and in the case of humanity, the answer is the same: the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our God has tender compassion toward those who have rebelled against him. He will judge us if we refuse him. However, God has chosen to show us his kindness by taking upon himself his right wrath for sin. Thus, we can be forgiven because of the justice of God poured out on his own Son. God’s love is incredible. His justice is perfect. His tenderness is overwhelming. And all this is present right here in the Old Testament words of God to Israel.
Why My Kids Do Not Believe in Santa
My children do not believe in Santa Claus. To some, this is an obvious move. To others, this is a shock. What’s the deal? Am I some sort of anti-holiday Scrooge? Am I some sort of overzealous fundamentalist? Why in the world would I not have my little ones believe in Santa?
I am probably asked every year about what our family has decided to do about Santa at Christmas time. And, every year, I share a version of this post to try to explain the process that my wife and I went through in deciding our answer to the big question: To Santa or not to Santa.
Since you know the answer already, let me very briefly tell you the reasoning that made the no Santa policy in my home. Then, I will share with you a bit of how we deal with Santa.
Christmas is a holiday that has been highly over-commercialized in the US for years. People focus on winter, on trees, on lights, on gifts, and not on Jesus. And you know what, none of those are the reasons why my family did not tell my children that Santa was real.
Here is my bottom line reasoning: If I tell my children to believe in a figure that they cannot see, that he watches them from afar, that he judges their motives and actions, that he has supernatural powers, and that he will visit them with gifts every Christmas, they will eventually find out that I have intentionally told them to believe in something that is not true. This fact will not do much for my credibility in telling them true things about God, who is invisible to them, who watches over them though they cannot sense it, who judges their thoughts and actions, and who will bless them with eternal blessings if they will follow Christ. So, simply put, my wife and I have determined that we will never tell our children that something is true when it is not, because it is far too important that they be able to believe us when we tell them some things are true that they cannot see.
How do we deal with Santa and Santa stuff? It’s quite simple. Ever since Abigail was tiny, we have worked to distinguish the difference between true stories and pretend ones. In our house, if a story begins with “A long time ago…,” it is a true story. If a story begins with, “Once upon a time…,” it is a pretend story. The kids have done surprisingly well making those distinctions. They can still enjoy the stories that they know are not real just as any children can.
Since my children have no trouble enjoying that which they know not to be real, my wife and I do not get all crabby when a family member wraps a Christmas gift and puts “From: Santa” on the label. We do not find ourselves upset when they want a musical Rudolph toy from Wal-Mart. We do not get bent out of shape when a Santa ornament makes its way onto a tree near us. We don’t even mind taking snapshots of them sitting on the knee of a portly, bearded guy in a red, fuzzy suit once a year.
I think that you can tell from what I’ve already written, but just in case it is not clear, Mitzi and I do not look at our decision about Santa as the only possible one. This is a matter of conscience and preference. There is not Scripture that states, “Thou shalt not ho, ho, ho.” I grew up believing in Santa, and it really didn’t harm my worldview that much (so far as I can tell). But, for me and my house, we have simply made a decision that we want our children to know that Mommy and Daddy will always tell them the truth, and that trumps our desires to have beaming little people listening for sleigh bells on Christmas Eve.
Oh, and in case you are wondering, we also try our best to keep our children from being the ones who spoil it for others. Abigail and Josiah have both been told in no uncertain terms that they are not to make it their mission to correct the Santaology of other children. They have answered truthfully when asked by other little ones, but they, to my knowledge, have never tried to be anti-Santa evangelists. So far, so good. We’ll have to see how Owen handles it when he is old enough to play the spoiler role.
Hear my heart as I wrap up this post. I am not here attempting to change any family’s plans for how to handle Christmas. Nor am I asking any person not to do Santa things with my little ones. Nor am I suggesting that, if you have just watched a Claymation special with your kids that you have ruined their spiritual chances for the future. So, please, no cranky comments defending your traditions. Santa stuff is a lot of fun. I love fun stories and the joy of imagination. (We even watch Harry Potter every year around the Christmas season simply because the music feels Christmassy to us; so obviously we are not the strict, non-fiction parents that you might be imagining.) But, since many ask, here is the answer: we have made a choice to be able to tell our children that, when mom and dad say something is real, we fully believe it to be real.
Is the Faith Complicated?
2 John 5-6 – 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
How complicated is Christianity? If you ask some people about the Scriptures or about going deep with God, you would think that our faith is such a great and abiding mystery that only the experts could understand it. Some would make it appear that the Bible is such a difficult thing to handle that, without a special type of gifting that elevates you beyond the reach of the average Christian, you will never get it.
Can I suggest to you that such has never been the intent of God. The Lord has never tried to make the faith inaccessible to any who are genuinely his. God wants you to be able to read the Bible, understand the Bible, and obey the Bible. And, if this is God’s will, it is clear that, though the Bible has some complicated parts, it is most certainly not inaccessible to the average Christian who is willing to give it a fair reading and obey its commands.
Take the text above. John is writing a letter to a church full of people he knows and cares about It is the second-shortest letter in the New Testament. John has little to say, but he wants to say it clearly. And what profound mysteries will the apostle open to the local church?
Look at the two verses above and ask yourself what they mean. Are they hard? No, they are not. There are two commands, two sides of the same coin. John calls the local church to love one another and to do so by obeying the commands of God.
Loving one another is nothing new to biblical teaching. The latter six of the Ten Commandments are about loving others. Honestly, the interpretation of the Sabbath command in Deuteronomy also places that command’s purpose in love for one’s household. So much of the civil law of the Old Testament is about loving others and treating them with fairness and kindness. And, of course, we know that Jesus and the apostles regularly called his followers to love one another.
Of course, we must separate the command to love from the sappy, anything goes, never judge, false foolishness of our modern society. Loving another person is to be committed to do them good. Thus, loving is not mere emotion. Loving is carrying out the commitment to another’s good.
How, then, do we love? We love by obeying God’s commands as verse 6 above tells us. When we love other people, we do what the word of God commands us to do. Thus, we treat people with kindness and charity. We correct our friends who are going astray. We pray for those who are hurting. We weep with those who weep. We share the gospel with the lost. We love by doing the very things that God repeatedly tells us to do.
Nothing about the commands above is hard to understand. I’ll grant you, they are hard to do. It is hard to love when our natures are to be selfish. It is hard to obey when battling down the flesh. But, make no mistake, this is not hard to grasp. The word of God is clear and simple.
Friends, so often, Christianity is summed up with the call to love God with all you’ve got and love your neighbor as yourself (cf. Matthew 22:37-40). If you grasp the truth of the gospel and the call to love God and others, you’ll pretty much have it figured out.
Don’t miss the gospel here. The Bible teaches that we are sinners who need their sin to be forgiven. We cannot do enough good, not even enough loving of others, to earn forgiveness. Instead, we must throw ourselves on the mercy of the court by receiving the gift of forgiveness in Christ. Jesus God who came to earth, lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death, and rose from the grave. If we trust in Jesus and turn from our sin and self-determination, we will be saved. As Jesus and his followers have said from the beginning, we must repent and believe to be saved.
But, once you’ve got the gospel, the rest must not be thought of as so hard as to turn any Christian away from Scripture. Love God. Love others. Obey the commands of God. Yes, there will be a few categories that require some thinking: election, end times, the problem of evil, painful sin issues, etc. However, for the most part, we must understand that God gave us a faith that is able to be received by a child and understood by non-scholars. Be confident, then, that God’s word is accessible to all of God’s children. And, when all else is hard, fall back on loving God, loving others, and obeying God’s commands for God’s glory.
My Ten Favorite Reads of 2016
Since we’ve made the end of another year, I thought I’d join the list of folks who are sharing their top reads from 2016. I’ll not include my favorite fiction, as fiction is just too hard to recommend. But here are ten of my favorite non-fiction books I read this year, and, no, they were not generally published in 2016.
Decision Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View
Friesen, Gary
Discerning the will of God is a vital topic. It is also a topic which I believe confuses many believers. Friesen’s work is the gold standard for discussions of this topic from a non-mystical point of view. This is the kind of book that is easy to read, but which would also make a fine group study.
Church History in Plain Language
Shelley, Bruce L.
It is simply good for believers to work through church history from time to time. It is vital for us to realize that the doctrines we hold dear do not arise from a vacuum. Instead, many of the things that distinguish who we are as believers have arisen out of some very significant events. This book is, as its title suggest, simple. However, it is helpful and digestible, and it was a fun casual read.
The Heart of Revelation
Duvall, J. Scott
I loved reading this book simply because it was a book on Revelation that was not trying to draw for me a timeline or argue about the same old topics. While I believe that end times discussions are important, I also understand that the Book of Revelation is intended by God to reveal to us his character and victory. This book does a wonderful job of helping us look at the book of Revelation in a fresh light without bogging us down in the arguments so often present. [my review]
Counseling the Hard Cases: True Stories Illustrating the Sufficiency of God’s Resources in Scripture
Scott, Stuart
I like to be sure that I read in the biblical counseling field from time to time. I do not believe that there is anyone better to read here than Stewart Scott. This author presents unwaveringly biblical counsel in real world situations with compassion and understanding. Scott’s work is also a great example of how real, biblical counsel can help people to walk through issues which many Christians might believe unsolvable.
The Doctrine of Repentance (Puritan Paperbacks)
Watson, Thomas
I’m not sure if I enjoy reading Puritan books more for the overall truth they present or the powerful quotes that pierce my heart. Either way, this was a powerful classic on a topic so often ignored in modern days.
Unparalleled: How Christianity’s Uniqueness Makes It Compelling
Wilson, Jared C.
I just happily read anything from Wilson. He writes with such reality and such grace. [my review]
Living in the Light: Money, Sex and Power
Piper, John
I think I enjoyed this book because it was written from a retired pastor who can now speak these truths to us with the wisdom and compassion of many years of faithful service. It is not a prudish or a salacious book, but a helpful one that I would recommend to anybody. [my review]
The Search for God and Guinness: A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World
Mansfield, Stephen
I never expected to read this one, but since it was on a nice sale on Kindle, I gave it a shot. This was a great example of how a Christian might order his family life and business to make a difference in the world around him. Yes, this book is about Guinness, the beer and the family. However, the picture in this book of a family that impacted their world for good in a way that many would never have expected makes this a very interesting historical read.
Can I Smoke Pot?: Marijuana in Light of Scripture
Breeden, Tom
Cruciform press puts out short, readable, and helpful books. I would not say that this book is the last word on the topic of marijuana in the life of the church. However, it is good that somebody had the courage to write the first word in such a short and accessible format. As the use of marijuana becomes more broadly legal in the United States, Christians need to think this issue through and not ignore the need for us to have responses to the hard questions.
Divorce
Murray, John
This was one of those books that I have had on my list of books to read for years. Whenever you read a book on Divorce or on remarriage in the Christian community, Murray’s book is always in the bibliography. Murray is thorough and compassionate while handling a very hard topic.
These were some of my favorites from this past year. What were some of yours?
Above All Else?
Psalm 138 (ESV)
I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
Whenever I find myself reading a book or watching a movie with my kids, I always catch myself pointing out to them moments of significance. I want them not to miss the clues in the mystery or the signs that a good guy is about to turn bad. I want them to see the moments that are supposed to be important.
From time to time, we come across a thought, a moment, or a verse in Scripture that we simply do not want to let pass without noticing it. And, if we are not careful, those moments will slide past us in our daily readings without us stopping to consider them.
Psalm 138:2 is one of those verses that, if we are not careful, will fly by. In the verse above, we see the statement, “for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.” Right there, we see what God has exalted, what he has raised up as most important. What is above all to the Lord? What does God value most?
In the verse, it is plain that God has set above all other things his name and his word. The name of the Lord is his reputation, his actual character. God has declared who he is to be more important than anything else. God’s glory, his person, his personal attributes, his nature is more important than any other thing that you or I can think of.
In tandem with God’s name, the Lord has exalted his word. His commands and the holy Scriptures are of highest importance. Other things in this life are less important. God’s communication of himself to mankind is of inestimable value.
It is likely that most of us know that God’s name and his word are valuable above all else. But, what is the significance of this truth. If God really meant what he inspired in Psalm 138:2, what does it change. How does it impact how you and I view the world? How does it shape our churches, our worship services, our priorities? How does it impact how we interact with the culture around us? How does it help us to grasp our responsibility in conflicts?
What would it look like in your life if the name and word of God were your top priorities? How would it impact your worship attendance? How would it impact what you value in the worship services? How would it impact how you use your time? How would it impact your career choices?
To those who are outside of the faith, this concept of God exalting his name and word above all is a completely foreign concept. This truth alone is why a truly secular state will never balance with Christianity. The state will not understand how genuine Christians will be required to turn away from what others consider to be the flow of history and cling to the Scriptures for our values.
Honestly, even among Christians, there will be issues. Many churches exalt other things above the name and word of God. Evangelism, social good, community service, programs, performances, activities, all are good and important things. However, if we are not careful, we can allow those activities to outshine the way that the church honors the Lord and holds fast to his word.
Consider how the exaltation of God’s name and word must impact a church’s response to sin in the lives of her members. Of course, we will be gracious and loving to our people, just as God has commanded in his word. However, the church cannot counsel a person to do what Scripture has forbidden. Nor can a church ignore it when her members refuse to follow the word. Thus, loving, restorative confrontation is part of the life of a church for the sake of the name and word of God.
On and on we could go, but the point is clear: God’s name and God’s word are number one. Thus, we exist for his glory. We obey his word. Our churches exist for that worship and word of God. We must not let this slide past us in our reading. We must genuinely consider what it will look like to live under God’s priority structure.
Pastor Travis Peterson 