Doing Good
“Brothers, pray for us.”
1 Thessalonians 5:25

             
It’s right that we pray for each other’s needs. It’s right that we ask God to intervene for good in each other’s lives. This is part of how we care for each other. Maria and I thank you for your many prayers for Myla over the past weekend. It was a roller coaster ride of two hospital visits, family helping, flights, and another brain surgery, but our Myla is home now and recovering well. An answer to our prayers! We praise the Lord for His mercy and for the loving kindness of the church, family, and friends.
             
No one wants to go to a children’s specialty hospital, because it means something bad is wrong with your child. This is now the second time we have spent days at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC. We are always impressed with the level of medical care our child receives there, but we are also very impressed with the level of kindness, consideration, empathy, initiative, and hope that we find there. Each person – from the parking attendant to the neurosurgeon – clearly want to be there and is actively looking to serve and bless the patients of the hospital. It’s unmistakable and leaves an impression. For a place that marks so much tragedy of child disease and brokenness, the staff of this place does whatever they can to help – and they do help!
             
This very much set me to thinking about our lives everyday in the world, and our church in the community. Every week we encounter people that live broken lives, and every week people come through the doors of Redeemer that are struggling, weighed down with all manner of difficulty and brokenness. How do you interact with people every day? How do you interact with people at the church, especially people you don’t know? Are you intentionally working to carry out the rule of Christ to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Matthew 7:12). Are you actively living with kindness, courtesy, and thoughtfulness for Jesus’ sake? In this harsh and angry world, if you choose to live with intentional kindness and courtesy, you will stand out!
             
I challenge you to consider some of these basic Christian ways of living and prayerfully strive to live them out this week in public, in the home, at work, and at church:

• When you come to a narrow place, don’t press to be first. In deference, let the other person go first – and do it with a smile!
• When you have the chance to open a door, or hold the door, for another person do it – with a smile.
• Speak kindly to the people you encounter. Seldom is a harsh word truly necessary. Be one that deescalates tense situations.
• Greet people you pass with a sincere “Good morning!,” “Good evening!,” etc. …
• Drive with patience, not aggression – especially if you have a church sticker on your car!
• Truly listen when people are speaking to you. It’s better to have a few meaningful conversations, than more meaningless brief encounters.
• Show care and concern for the struggles of those you directly encounter. You don’t have to have the right words if your heart truly cares.
• Do small acts of kindness to show you care – meals, gift cards, phone calls, notes, etc. They all matter.
• Treat food service and retail workers with respect and kindness. Too often our impatience causes us to be harsh with people in these lines of work.
• In public spaces, show kindness and respect by picking up after yourself. If you make a big mess and leave it for others to clean up, that’s the opposite of kindness and respect.
• Give people the benefit of the doubt. Don’t start off assuming the worst about a person. Be filled with hope.

In a basic way, these things all flow from basic Christian character. They are basic outworking’s of the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self- control (Galatians 5). The world walks in some of these ways by the common grace of God, but Christians should LEAD in these ways by example. Common daily courtesy is surely a foundation for greater godliness. If we cannot walk in these ways, greater godliness will not come.
             
May we lay a strong foundation of care and love. May Redeemer be known by all who enter that we are a people who overflow with these things, because we are full of the graces of the Holy Spirit of God.
 
Praise the Lord for hearing our prayers,
Pastor Vic

Waiting on the Lord

“Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream …Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came to Pharaoh.” Genesis 40:23-41:1, 14

 
“But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.” Acts 24:27

 
The Lord does not work on our timetable. All of us have had periods in our lives where we wished the Lord would move faster to meet needs, resolve difficulties, or change hard circumstances. However, it is the way of the Lord to move slowly and cause us to wait on Him. “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him …” Psalm 37:7. It’s very important to note the passage of time in Bible narrative stories. I’ve cited two of my favorite examples above. The first  comes from falsely imprisoned Joseph. Though he has done nothing wrong, and has continued always to live in righteousness, he wastes away for two years in an Egyptian dungeon. Try to think about what you were doing two years ago. Now think about spending that entire time in a primitive dungeon, all the while holding fast to your godliness and hope in the Lord! This is Joseph. He has no real hope that he will ever escape this situation that came upon him for keeping his integrity. However, with zero notice he is summoned, shaves his dirty prison face, puts on fresh clothes, and is suddenly in front of the most powerful person on earth to represent the Lord God. Wait, wait, wait, GO!! But in his authentic godliness, Joseph is ready to speak wise truth and give glory to God no matter where he is – in a dungeon or before the Pharaoh.

We see this same pattern in the life of David. In 1 Samuel 16 David is anointed by Samuel as the next king of Israel. David is but a youth (1 Sam 17:33) somewhere in his mid-teens. David goes on to the glorious defeat of Goliath and then to become King Saul’s son-in-law, but quickly Saul’s jealousy grows until David is driven into the wilderness to live the life of a vagabond refugee. For approximately ten years David is fleeing for his life, living in caves and fields, poorly supplied and always in fear of his life. The situation eventually becomes so hostile he is forced to act like a crazy person and go live with the enemies of Israel to preserve his life. It’s a low point, where even those long loyal to him consider stoning David out of grief and frustration (1 Samuel 30:6). He is so very far away from the joyful day fifteen years ago where the now deceased Samuel, said he would one day be king of Israel. But according to the promise of the Lord, the winds of history changed, and David was soon taken from ashes to glory and crowned king after Saul’s death.

This same pattern was true in the Apostle Paul’s life. In the prime of his apostolic church planting mission – just at the time you would expect for the Lord to give Paul the widest audience through preaching and teaching – he was instead jailed for more than two years. Paul is left in a Roman prison for years as a political favor to powerfully connected Jews on the outside. The Lord’s ways are not our ways. His thoughts and purposes are higher than our thoughts. His purposes are greater than our purposes (Isaiah 55:8-9). Paul is powerfully used of the Lord to plant and build the early church, but in the end, Paul fades away that Jesus may get all the glory. It is Jesus who will build His church, not Paul.

In the end, the story is not about us. We are players in the tapestry of God’s history. A tapestry is a huge weaving that hangs on a wall and tells a story. The tapestry is made up of countless individual threads. Each thread bringing its own color and texture. Each thread placed in the tapestry where the weaver chooses to create a part of the grand overall picture. Sometimes the thread is visible, and sometimes it is hidden. Each thread overlaps with others. Each beginning and ending at different times. Our lives have many parallels to the threads of a tapestry.

God is working to glorify Himself in the world. He is working out one sovereign plan of salvation from creation to judgment. God has His good purposes, and those purposes will require us to wait on the Lord. I have had to wait on the Lord for many years and so will you. I encourage you to wait like the godly examples of old. Wait in faith and hope in the promises of the Lord. Know that the Lord has a beautiful purpose for your life. Wait in daily faithfulness that you may be prepared at a moment’s notice to step into what the Lord has for you.
 
The Lord is good, His mercies endure forever,
Pastor Vic

Bounds of Christian Liberty

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galatians 5:13-14

               
A few weeks ago I wrote to you concerning the significant problem of drunkenness and drug abuse in our day. This week I need to write to you about the bounds of Christian freedom. Does the reality of drunkenness and alcoholism mean that Christians should never drink alcohol? Should Christians refuse pain medication because abuse of such pain medication exists? Should Christians always forbid smoking because of cigarette addiction? These are important questions that need to be settled in the hearts of adult Christians so they can live their lives in accord with God’s command and in a state of Christian liberty.
             
There are two common responses in the Christian church. The first response is to ignore the issue. It’s assumed that drunkenness and addiction are sinful, and ministers naively act like the people in their church never consume alcohol. Most people do consume some alcohol. Ignoring the issue prevents Christian hospitality through people choosing to not host others in their home to prevent them from knowing they have wine on the rack or beer in the refrigerator. Rather than carefully addressing the issue, it is ignored.

Second, in many churches all forms of alcohol and smoking are forbidden as sinful. This second category is typical of Southern Baptist life. This category breaks down into two subcategories. The first is to say the church holds the conviction that no one should drink or smoke because it can appear sinful, cause the weak to stumble, and is a line drawn by the church. I respect this position because those who espouse it are clear that it is a position of the leadership of the church, not the position of God. The second category claims that it is God’s command that all people abstain from all alcohol and all smoking.

I disagree with this position because it is indefensible from scripture. We must never elevate our convictions to become God’s command. As was reviewed in the past, Scripture clearly and constantly condemns drunkenness, but it does not condemn alcohol in general. There are countless examples of Old Testament saints drinking some form of alcohol, most commonly wine. In the New Testament the first miracle of Jesus is the miraculous production of terrific wine for the continuation of a wedding feast (John 2). Wine was used at Passover and consumed by Jesus himself. Wine Is used by Jesus to symbolize His shed blood (1 Corinthians 11:25) at the last supper with His disciples. The parables of Jesus and the book of Revelation speak to feasting in heaven with Jesus, and feasting occasions in the Old and New Testament regularly include wine as a part of the occasion – not for drunkenness, but as a part of the feasting celebration and joy.

Churches forbid any consumption of alcohol for three basic reasons. First, by making strange arguments that somehow the wine of the Old and New Testaments did not actually contain alcohol – it was grape juice “called” wine. This is inconsistent with all the commands against drunkenness and the accusation of unbelievers in Acts 2:13 that the early church Christians were drunk “with new wine” instead of filled with the Holy Spirit. If wine does not contain alcohol, then how are people getting drunk? The Bible gives us a plain record of events that can be understood by those who read it. When it speaks of wine, it means wine. This word has meant the same thing since the dawn of humanity.

Second, that Paul’s commendation to not act in a way that causes the weak to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:7-13) should be universalized into a command that no one should ever consume alcohol. Paul is writing for Christians to be sensitive to the weak conscience of new believers. We should give deference to weak Christians in many matters and keep focus on the main issues of the gospel. We should not be arguing about food or drink when they are still struggling with the nature of Jesus and the forgiveness of sins. Paul could easily have condemned all alcohol consumption here, but he does not. He says it should depend on your context and audience.

Third, churches often forbid all alcohol consumption based on traumatic personal situations. People that fall into alcoholism cause much pain to those around them. Sin destroys. I’m most sympathetic to this position, but it does not give us permission to make scripture say something it does not say.

I believe this particular issue is of great importance due to the universal place of wine and beer at social gatherings. Every Christian will face the question over and over in their life, “Would you like a beer? Can I get you a glass of wine?” How we answer this question matters. If we say, in one way or another, that we cannot because it is forbidden by God, we have just said something that will dramatically undermine a person’s faith in the trustworthy nature of scripture. Any thoughtful person would ask you, “Where does the Bible forbid drinking alcohol?” You will not be able to show them, because it’s not there. Turning convictions into commands undermines the authority of the Bible. If you tell people, “Because the Bible says so…” when it doesn’t say so, you undermine biblical authority. If you choose to hold a no alcohol personal conviction, everyone can respect that, but don’t elevate your conviction to God’s will.

What the Bible does teach is Christian freedom. In Christ we are given a wide latitude of freedom to act as we choose in life. But this freedom is not meant to give opportunity to sin, but opportunity to serve one another in love. Let’s look at some basic important principles of Christian liberty.

First, as stated in 1 Corinthians 8:7-13 our behavior should not cause the weak in faith to stumble. This begins by being aware of your surroundings. This is most applicable at home with children. Our children begin weak in faith and our actions must always strengthen their faith in Jesus, never being a display of hypocrisy. If you become aware that some allowable action of freedom is causing a weak believer to stumble in sin, you should stop that action for the purpose of strengthening their faith.

Second, moderation in all aspects of freedom. Many things that fall into the area of Christian freedom can become sin apart from moderation. This is easily understood with food. We are allowed to consume foods of all types under the new covenant (Acts 10), but if we gorge ourselves leading to obesity, this is gluttonous and sinful. If we starve ourselves, this self-harm is also sinful. The self-control of the Holy Spirit helps us live moderated lives of a generally healthy diet. With alcohol, we must not ever cross the line of drunkenness, but exactly what this means will relate to each person specifically.

Third, we should give deference to other people and institutions in our lives. We choose to give up personal freedoms because of our love for them or because we are under their authority. Here are a few examples. If your spouse would rather you not drink or smoke at all, in deference of love to them, you should give up that freedom. Out of deference to parents, to honor them, we should be willing to give up freedoms. Youths must be subject to their parents’ convictions and the laws of the land concerning controlled substances. If you pledge for some reason that you will abstain from alcohol, you must keep your word and do so. We should pray for wisdom in all things.

In summary, my purpose in writing these two articles is to:

• Keep us away from all drunkenness, which is sin
• Help us to not confuse personal conviction with divine command
• Help us to walk in joyful, Spirit-filled freedom, not in man-made, legalistic law-keeping

 
As you have questions, please do come by after service and ask.
 
May the Lord direct our steps as we live with the self-control of the Holy Spirit,
Pastor Vic

A Sober Life

 “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” 1 Peter 4:1-5 
             

Getting drunk is nothing new. I write to you on this subject as reports and signs mount around us that America is increasingly drug addicted. Recent reports on alcoholism in America show that since the pandemic female alcoholism has risen sharply to match the already high rate of alcoholism in men. The mind-altering effects of psychedelic drugs and mushrooms have not only become common but are now recommended and openly spoken about among Silicon Valley business leaders to promote ‘mental creativity.’ Cocaine continues its prominence in the work hustle culture that presses people beyond human bounds of productivity. Drugs of every kind are more available, altered to be more powerful, and more accepted than ever before. Legal cannabis that is lab altered for far greater potency per unit is now widely available. Alcohol, vapes, CBD, and new products that appear regularly, are available on every corner to keep the buzz going around the clock. Pharmacies continue to leak prescription strength narcotics to the streets in quantities that make whatever is available in the pharmacy available on the street to anyone seeking. Drug use and addiction has consumed our culture.
             
It should be no surprise that there is a new epidemic of drug addiction among youths and young adults. These addictions fuel all types of ungodliness, societal breakdown, joblessness, homelessness, prison, and death. So many of the drugs consumed today are not naturally occurring in any way. They’re drugs that are carefully lab formulated to produce a high/buzz but also to maximize addiction.
             
I’m writing to you to remind you in no uncertain terms that as Christians we are commanded to live sober lives. When we become disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to leave behind drunkenness, drunken parties, and addiction to live a sober life marked by freedom in Jesus Christ. Here are some important verses related to this for you to read: Proverbs 20:1, 23:29-35, Luke 21:34-36, Romans 13:13, 1 Corinthians 15:34, Galatians 5:21, 1 Peter 4:1-5.
             
Let’s look at the basic problems related to getting high/drunk. First, getting drunk or high will result in sin. You can be sure of this because the Bible teaches us about fallen human nature. In the heart of every man, woman, youth, and child there is deceit and wickedness. You were born a sinner and will not be free of the effects of sin until heaven. In His grace, the Lord has put many barriers in place to keep your sin nature from running wild. Before salvation there is the common grace of conscience – a basic resident moral sense that brings a sense of guilt upon you when you sin. Structures in society and laws that set up guardrails keeping you from giving full vent to your passions. But, most importantly, is the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation, where we are born again and have the active shepherding of the Lord protecting us from sin and death.
             
When you get drunk or high it lowers your inhibitions and lessens your ability to think clearly. When you are drunk or high your actions tend toward sin and recklessness. It will result in broken marriages, wasted money, lies, law-breaking, anger, violence, and sometimes death (ex: drunk/high driving). Drunkenness never leads to godliness.
             
Second, addiction is the outcome of regular drinking and drug use. Habits and dependence develop that become very hard to break. If drunkenness/getting high results in sin, a lifestyle of this leads to destruction. Drug and alcohol addiction results in lost jobs, divorce, estrangement, homelessness, and prison every day in this country. If you think you can maintain addiction without these consequences touching you – you’re lying to yourself. Paul writes, “All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated (enslaved/addicted) by anything” (1 Cor 6:12). Addiction relates to a habit that dominates your life and enslaves you. It controls you. You don’t control it.
             
Third, in a drunken or high state we are not prepared for the sudden second coming of Jesus. In Luke 21:34-36, Jesus warns us that a life weighed down by drunkenness does not leave us prepared for the second coming of Jesus. That is a shocking thought – being caught drunk or high at the time of the return of Jesus. Standing before the glorious Jesus, who has come to judge the world – trying to sober up. This same concept is referred to by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. A part of our daily Christian virtue is the vigilance of hope that Jesus will return again. In a very real sense, we must live prepared to face Jesus without shame.
             
Drunkenness and addiction can arise from many different sources, but it always relates in some way to a love for the pleasures of the world. However, a sober and clear-minded life has always been a mark of godliness. We cannot live for Jesus while also enslaved to a love of the world. Escaping drug culture and addiction first involves a true-hearted turn toward Jesus in faith. A genuine belief that in Jesus there is hope and eternal life, and that this world is in-fact on a broad road to eternal destruction. If you struggle with drug or alcohol addiction, reach out for help. The humility to admit that you have a sin problem and asking for help, is the first step toward recovery.

Please remember that the gospel is not about sinners cleaning themselves up and then presenting themselves to God. The gospel is about us calling out to Jesus from the depth of our sin and hopelessness, that He might free us, forgive us, and raise us up to new life. If drug culture and addiction is a part of your life, see it for the sin that is. Call out to Jesus today for new life and begin to leave these old ways behind!
 
Next week I will continue this topic speaking to the wisdom and bounds of Christian freedom in these areas.
 
May the joy of the Lord be our strength,
Pastor Vic