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Redeemer Bible Church Blog

Growing in Christ

Growing in Christ

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Colossians 3:1-4

 
The Christian life is a journey of spiritual growth that begins with new birth from above, repentance of sins, and believing in the salvation of Jesus Christ. A permanent transformation takes place at the time of salvation. You are declared ‘not guilty’ before God. You are given a new living nature that desires the things of God. The dominating power of sin is broken in your life. You are adopted into the family of God and given the blessed presence of the Holy Spirit. This is not an end, but a beginning! It is the beginning of the Christian journey of learning about God, so that you might believe what you learn, be transformed by what you believe, then act on the internal change. The Bible calls this process ‘sanctification.’ It’s a lifelong, progressive, active process of learning to obey all the Lord has commanded (Matthew 28:20). By this process of active obedience, you are truly and dramatically changed from a person of the world seeking the things of the world, to a person of heavenly citizenship seeking the things above of eternal importance.
             

This process of sanctification can be summed up as a four-part process that is ever-repeating: Knowledge –>Faith –> Character –> Action

 
Knowledge: Your salvation, and then sanctification, begins with right knowledge about who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for you upon the cross. You cannot come to believe in Jesus and His work without knowledge of His person and work. This knowledge comes from the Bible, either directly (personal reading) or indirectly (someone preaching or teaching from the Bible). Our knowledge of God at salvation is sufficient, but elementary. Every growing Christian will continue to study the Bible to learn more about the character and nature God. This primarily comes through daily devotion to personally read the Bible and pray. By scripture and prayer, the Lord will reveal Himself to you.
 
Faith: The next step of spiritual growth is believing. It is absolutely possible to know much about God, but not believe what you have learned in your mind. Salvation is by faith (believing). Sanctification is also by faith. The more we learn about God the more we must believe about God.
 
Character: When you learn new truths about God Himself or His will, and you believe these truths, your character changes for the better to become a little more like Jesus. As your character changes your desires change. You will find that you deeply care about things and people that held little or no meaning to you before. As you learn and believe, your character will progressively leave behind the lies, deception, addiction, anger, lust, pride, and cares of this dying world. You will take up love, charity, worship, family, marriage, vocation, and peace.
 
Action: Change in character leads to change in actions. You will begin to treat others with kindness and respect. You will start telling the truth and stop using obscene and blasphemous language. You will control yourself sexually and in matters of money. You will begin to see the importance of the church gathered. You will want to sing and pray. You will want to help those in need and teach those who know nothing of God. By the power of the Holy Spirit, these new desires will become real life-transforming action.
             
These transformative steps will leave you a different and better person. The good change in your life will drive the process to start over again, but at a higher plane. You will want to learn more about God, so you will study and read and pray more, believing what is learned, such that your character is further refined. This is how you grow in character and your actions grow further in godliness. After decades of this successive growth, you will be a dramatically different from who you used to be (1 Timothy 4:15). We become more like Jesus!
 
There are impediments to progress. If you stop any part of this process, it will stagnate your spiritual growth. You can reach a place where you stop reading the Bible in an engaged way. When you stop reading the Bible, you stop being engaged by the word of God. Very quickly you will lose your wonder of God and awe of His grace and perfection. God will become like the world in your mind. You will soon convince yourself that God’s ways are basically like your ways. The importance of daily Bible reading and prayer cannot be overstated.
 
You can also fail to believe what you read. Countless Christians have stalled in their Christian life as they refuse to believe some passages of the Bible that are offensive to them. You should expect to find hard, mysterious, and even offensive knowledge of God along the way. I am referring to clearly taught and long recognized Christian teaching that runs counter to the spirit of the age. Teaching, that if believed, will set you at odds with culture or cause you to trust God in a complete way.
 
Willful sin by omission or commission will break fellowship with God. When we know what to do, and don’t do it, that is sin. Knowing what should be done, being convicted of right action, but still pressing on into disobedience will stop your spiritual progress in sanctification.
             
May we cast off every sin that so easily entangles us and pursue knowing, believing, and living for Jesus! To know God and have true fellowship with Him are the most important things in all of life.
 
Set your mind on Christ who is exalted in glory,
Pastor Vic

Under Grace

Under Grace

“For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” —Romans 6:14-15
 
I spoke Sunday to you regarding Acts 15 – the first Council of the early church. The Council officially recognized that keeping the law of Moses is not necessary for salvation. As part of this affirmation, it is acknowledged once again by the Apostles Peter and Paul, Barnabas, and James that salvation comes to us by grace alone through faith. No one has ever been able to keep the perfect standard of God’s law, apart from Jesus, He being divine. Trying to earn favor with God through law keeping is a fruitless and self-defeating effort. The law is a yoke that no one can bear.
             
However, the moral law is used by God to bring us to salvation. We come to salvation when the law reveals our sinful state, convicts us of our sin, and then subsequently we turn away from that sin in repentance. With a repentant heart, by faith we call out to Jesus for the forgiveness of our sin. We are saved from the wrath of God toward sin by the grace of God extended to us in Jesus Christ. Once we have entered into salvation by grace, the use of the law changes. In Christ the moral law is used to direct us toward righteous living. As Christians we can make real progress in godliness. When a person comes to salvation, grace must never be used as a license to sin further. The truly repentant are grieved by sin and want earnestly to make progress away from old ways and into the new life of Christ.
             
The entire chapter of Romans 6 revolves around this theme. The chapter can be summed up in that those who believe in Jesus as Savior, must also walk fervently in His ways. We cannot claim salvation and continue to walk in sin. This encompasses the genuine direction of the heart. What do you love or desire? As we grow to love Jesus, we also grow to love His ways. As we love the ways of Jesus, we leave behind the sinful ways of this world. There is always a struggle in our hearts, but real progress is made toward sanctification.  I encourage you to read and carefully consider the entire chapter of Romans 6. These considerations are not new to our age. The church has always struggled to sort out the relationship between law and grace. Paul spoke on this subject often because it was essential for a correct understanding of the Christian life.

Let’s walk briefly through Romans 6:

  • As disciples of Jesus, we are forgiven by His grace. In newness of life, we pursue the commands of Jesus.
  • We must obey the commands of Jesus and walk in His ways. We cannot claim to believe in the salvation of Jesus and ignore the ethic of Jesus.
  • We obey the commands of Jesus because we love Jesus. Our motivation is love, not duty or guilt.
  • By the salvation of Jesus:
    • We are set free from the penalty of sin. We are justified. We are declared not guilty before God.
    • We have new power over sin to live in the ways of Jesus, though not perfectly. This power comes to us by the work of the Holy Spirit.
    • We are not yet free from the presence of sin. Though all authentic Christians make progress in their faith and character over time, only in the glorification of heaven will the presence of sin be fully removed.
  • (v.11) We are to “consider ourselves” dead to sin and alive to God. This is a mindset for living; the way we ought to see ourselves before God.
  • (v.13-14) We are to commit ourselves (present ourselves) to God regularly as instruments of righteousness. This means exactly what it says. In our hearts we give ourselves to God. We consider that we are dead to sin, and we actively ask for God to use us for good in the world as we commit ourselves to living virtuously for Jesus.
  • (v.18-19) Paul tells us in an analogy that this goes as far as seeing ourselves as “slaves to righteousness.” This should not be understood through the lens of 19th century American slavery, but as slavery was known in Paul’s time. This essentially means that our lives are no longer our own. As disciples of Jesus, we are wholly given over to following God’s will for our lives. Mysteriously, as we die to ourselves, we find true life in a way we did not understand before. This is a walk of faith which leads to sanctification and ultimately eternal life (v.22).

I urge you to hear the law of God and be convicted of your sin. In conviction, do not despair, but call out to God to believe in Jesus and be forgiven of your sin! In new life, rejoice in the grace of God and learn day by day what it means to enter into the life of Jesus by obedience to His commands. All this resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Should we continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be.

-Pastor Vic

Do You Really Know God?

Do You Really Know God?
A Review of “Knowing God” by J.I. Packer
 

Do you really know God? Most reading this article will immediately answer “yes” without giving this question much thought. You might be thinking “of course I know God” and follow that with some thoughts about Him. For example, He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth. He spoke to Moses as a burning bush. He sent Jesus to die on the cross.

Certainly those are true statements about God, and they are also what I would call surface level statements. Imagine a group of friends reuniting for the first time a few years after high school. One says she has been dating a great guy, and they are getting pretty serious—in fact she thinks he may soon propose. Her friends are ecstatic and want to know all about him. The girl starts listing things about him: he’s from Michigan, he’s 26, he is a construction worker. But her friends want to know what he is really like. She responds with more of the same: he has a younger sister, brown hair, hazel eyes, and drives some kind of blue car.

At this point the girl has shown she knows information or facts about her suitor, but does she really know him? That is the issue J. I. Packer attacks in his book Knowing God. Packer says that “one can know a great deal about God without much knowledge of Him.” We can read about God, memorize scripture, even lead a Bible study. However, all those things may lead us to know a lot about God without really knowing Him.

Packer furthers this thought by stating “one can know a great deal about godliness without much knowledge of God.” Again, we can get insight into godliness from merely reading scripture and books, listening to sermons, attending small groups, etc. To Packer’s point, we can easily build our knowledge about God without truly knowing Him. What does it look like to really know God? Packer relies on the familiar characters in the book of Daniel—Daniel himself, along with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—to make four points that illustrate what knowing God looks like. These are actionable things we can do to help us know God.

Point One: Those who know God have great energy for God. In other words, our action for God and our reaction toward anti-God movements, can give clear indications of knowing God. Conversely, a lack of action or a lack of reaction in those same situations may give indications of not knowing Him. Daniel and his friends knew God and displayed this with great energy. For example, pause and read Daniel 1:8-16. In this passage we read that Daniel refused to risk eating food considered unclean. Read Dan 3:1-15. Here we read how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow and worship a golden image despite the threat of death for refusal. Finally, read Dan 6:6-10. Here we read how Daniel continued to pray despite strict forbiddance. In each of these situations we see people who definitely had great energy for God evidenced by their actions for God and their refusals to act against God. They were not being obstinate or argumentative just to bring attention to themselves or because they enjoyed causing disruption by going against the masses. They were called to do something—their great energy for God led them to a call for action.

Point Two: Those who know God have great thoughts of God. The Bible is filled with descriptions of God’s greatness displayed through examples of His sovereignty, love, grace, mercy, power, wrath, patience, and more. We use words like omniscient, omnipresent, all-knowing, and unchanging. But when we are hearing a sermon, in a small group, or simply reading His word, do we really see and reflect on His greatness?

The book of Daniel is certainly filled with multiple examples of His greatness on display. But when we read His word, do we really reflect on His greatness? Do we have great thoughts of His sovereignty, love, grace, mercy, power, wrath, and patience? Packer states the Book of Daniel “as a whole forms a dramatic reminder that the God of Israel is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords” and that “God’s hand is on history at every point, that history, indeed is no more than ‘His story,’ the unfolding of His eternal plan, and that the kingdom which will triumph in the end is God’s.”

For one example, read Daniel 9:1-19. Here we see Daniel praying for his people. In v3 Daniel describes how he turned his face to the Lord God and in v4, he exclaimed how great and awesome God is, remembering His covenant and steadfast love for us. 

Point Three: Those who know God have great boldness for God. Of the four points that Packer makes, this one may be the most outwardly visible. There are many secular and un-Godly pressures Christians face today. Pressures to approve of abortion, transgenderism, homosexuality, and other positions that go against God’s word. Society says to do what feels right to you and that truth is whatever you make it to be.

Taking a stance takes boldness. Peter and the Apostles stated in Acts 5: 29 that “We must obey God rather than men.” Daniel and his friends displayed this boldness for God several times, and one of the best-known examples of that is of the fiery furnace. Pause and read Daniel 3. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew the consequences of disobeying the order to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image—the fiery furnace. However, what did they do? Cower in fear? Beg for mercy? Capitulate their beliefs? No! They boldly stood their ground despite the consequences. They simply obeyed God’s word and washed their hands of the consequences. Those who truly know God stand with great boldness for Him.

Point Four: Those who know God have great contentment in God. Packer states “there is no peace like the peace of those whose minds are possessed with the full assurance that they have known God, and that God has known them.” This is the contented peace that the imprisoned Paul stated “surpasses all understanding” (4:7). Even from prison, Paul was content.

Again, let’s turn to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they faced the fiery furnace. They displayed great boldness as described earlier and were 100% content as they stood their ground. Their response in Dan 3:16-18 displays their contentment perfectly. “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.'”

This example summarizes the four points Packer makes. They easily stood their ground in faith (great energy), believed their God was great enough to deliver them from the furnace (great thoughts), obeyed and washed their hands of the consequences (great boldness), and were at peace with whatever the outcome (great contentment).

Packer challenges us to continuously increase this kind of knowledge of God. To increase our knowledge of God requires that we first admit we lack knowledge of God. If you ask any great theologian who truly knows God, they will likely say “I need to know Him better.” To increase our knowledge of God, we have to give ourselves completely to Him. Christ tells us that we “shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).

Knowing Him therefore becomes a personal matter. Throughout the Bible God is exclaiming he knows His people by name (Exodus 33:17, Jeremiah 1:5, and John 10:14-15). He definitely knows us … how well do you really know Him?
 
Your brother in Christ,
Joe Holmes

Corrie Ten Boom

Victorious Christians You Should Know: Corrie Ten Boom
A Book Review of The Hiding Place
           

The Hiding Place is a thrilling account of the lives of the Ten Booms and their perseverance through the horrors of World War II. Corrie Ten Boom and her siblings, Betsie, Willem, and Nollie were born into a faithful Christian family. Their father, Casper, forged the character of his children from the beginning of their lives.
           
Casper was a respected watchmaker in Holland, Netherlands. Although Casper was one of the best watchmakers in all the Netherlands, his inept business skills caused the Ten Booms to live in poverty for much of their lives. Despite the Ten Booms’ poverty, their home and business were always open to foster children and those in need. The watch shop was on the main floor of the Ten Boom’s home and was called the “Beje” (Bay-yay).
           
One day, Corrie’s mother had a terrible stroke and was unable to live life as she had before. Corrie’s mother’s infirmity caused her father to take on the role of caretaker and Corrie assumed more responsibility of the watch business. Corrie found that she enjoyed the business of watchmaking and helped the business flourish. Corrie eventually became the first woman certified in watchmaking in the Netherlands.
           
The account of what sounds like a mundane, ordinary life contains snippets of spiritual gold poured out from Corrie’s parents and siblings. Quotes from father Ten Boom such as “And our wise Father in heaven knows when we’re going to need things, too. Don’t run out ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find strength you need—just in time” played a key role in preparing Corrie and her siblings to face death in prison and a concentration camp.
           
Life in Holland continued as normal, despite the growing darkness of Nazi ideology capturing the minds of their German neighbors. Willem wrote his doctoral thesis on the dehumanizing philosophy of the Nazi Germans. Willem was described by his sister as a sober man, always ready to tell the harsh truth. His doctoral thesis would be the next thing that God used to prepare the quiet Holland family for what came next.
 
One ordinary evening after the Ten Booms’ Bible reading and prayer, “the voice of a demon,” as described by Betsie, came blaring through the family radio. This was the voice of Adolf Hitler. It wasn’t long until they were confronted with the evil of Nazism face to face in the new watchmaking apprentice, Otto. He was a true German National Socialist, declaring that he would go back to Germany and outshine the Dutch watchmakers. Not only did Otto believe that the Germans would be the supreme watchmakers, but also he, along with the rest of the Nazis, believed Germans to be the supreme race. It was the ideology of German supremacy that fueled the hatred and extermination of Jews and others whom the Nazis deemed as inferior.
           
Not long after this encounter with Otto, Germany invaded the Netherlands. The bustling streets of Harlem became overrun with German soldiers. Jews were forced to wear the yellow Star of David with the inscription “Jood” on the outside of their clothing. At first, the classification of Jews was simply a way to shame them and divide them from the rest of society. This persecution of the Jewish people quickly grew into unprovoked violence, harassment, and eventually the abduction and extermination of anyone who wore the Star of David.
           
The horrid treatment of God’s people inspired the Ten Booms to open their hearts to their Jewish neighbors, first by praying to God for them. They prayed that God would allow them to serve their Jewish neighbors and vowed to help anyone who came to their door. This prayer eventually caused God to open unimaginable doors. This simple Christian family and the Beje became the center of the underground network for aiding and hiding Jews from being abducted and shipped to concentration camps by the Nazi occupants.
           
As the Ten Booms grew in their faithfulness to this mission, the Nazi Gestapo eventually learned of what was happening at the Beje. One day, they were greeted by a Dutch man who begged for money to free his wife from prison. Fulfilling her vow to help anyone who came to her door, Corrie handed over the money.  This man would go on to betray the Ten Booms to the German soldiers. One dark night when Corrie was suffering from influenza, the Nazis raided the Beje. At the time, there were eight Jews harbored at the Beje. Although the soldiers did not find the Jews safe in the hiding place, the entire family was arrested and hauled off to a prison called Scheveningen. Corrie’s father only lasted ten days in this prison before he died.
           
After a lengthy time of solitary confinement in Scheveningen, Corrie was reunited with her sister, Betsie. Her two other siblings had already been released. The great test for the two single sisters was just about to begin. They were released from Scheveningen and shipped out to Ravensbrück, an extermination camp. When they first arrived, they were ordered to strip naked before male and female guards. Miraculously, the guards did not find the pocket-sized Bible that they had been carrying with them on their journey.
           
The time at Ravensbrück was filled with unspeakable horrors. Firing squads lined up husbands within earshot of their wives. Women were taken, at random, to the gas chambers not knowing if they were going to the showers or to their death. The women were burdened with back-breaking labor, and those who could not meet their quota were savagely beaten or exterminated. This sad providence became true of Betsie, who was singled out and beaten for being unable to meet her quota.  In her last days, during one of their weekly nude searches, Corrie whispered, “They took Jesus’ garments.”  Betsie responded, “Oh Corrie. And I never thanked him.”  Throughout their time at Ravensbrück, the two sisters unceasingly witnessed and gave thanks for the opportunity to suffer and bear witness for Christ. They attributed their joy to the cross of Christ.
 
Before Betsie succumbed to malnourishment and her wounds, she had a vision that they would be released before the New Year, that they would get a mansion that would serve the purpose of rehabilitating those traumatized by war and concentration camps, and that they would restore an old German concentration camp as a way to show the Germans their forgiveness and extend their hands to help rebuild the country that was responsible for their suffering!
           
Not long after Betsie shared this vision, she entered the arms of her Father in heaven. Although Betsie never saw the promise with her eyes, Corrie did. Corrie was released from Ravensbrück a week before all the women her age were exterminated in gas chambers. Corrie later discovered that she was released on a clerical error, but attributed this release to the providence of God so she could fulfill her life’s purpose. After forgiving her betrayer and the guard who beat her sister, Corrie would travel to 61 countries proclaiming the gospel and her family’s heroic story of faith and forgiveness to anyone who would listen.
           
May we continue to live our lives faithfully, be quick to forgive, and be confident that the Lord will sustain us through any suffering that may come into our lives.

Your brother in Christ,
Jacob Foster

Five Healthy Habits for Marriage

5 Healthy Habits for Marriage

This is my beloved and this is my friend …” —Song of Solomon 1:16b

Happy and enduring marriages do not come about by accident or the happenstance of two “perfect people” finding each other. Every marriage consists of two sinners taking a step of faith to obey God by pledging themselves to a lifelong relationship in obedience to God’s command and according to His design. We have discussed the fundamentals of love, service, forgiveness, and healthy communication.

In this section, we’ll examine healthy habits of marriage. Happy and enduring marriages have certain healthy habits engrained into the relationship. These habits are Christ-honoring and friendship oriented. Every happy marriage is at its base a growing Christ-centered friendship – two people that enjoy being together and sharing the experiences of life. These habits are basic, but they will cut through the daily craziness and produce life-giving, Christ-honoring friendship year after year.

Date Night: It’s essential to date your spouse. So much time, money, planning, and thoughtfulness is put into dating before marriage, and often this falls off soon after marriage. Dating your spouse is an essential part of building your friendship with them. Dating your spouse involves regular creative planning and investment in your friendship. Dating builds memories and happy shared experiences. Dating gives unhurried time to talk over good food, enjoy a concert, or explore a fun place. Couples that date each other enjoy each other. 

I encourage you to strive to date each other weekly. If your busy life is like mine, striving for a once-a-week date will result in twice a month. If you strive for twice a month, you’ll end up with once a month, which is not enough time together. These times don’t have to be expensive, but should be conversation-oriented and not part of your normal daily routine: dinner out, coffee shop, walk in the park, ice cream, etc. You can spend time getting busy calendars straightened out, getting on the same page about life goals, talking about the spiritual growth of your children, planning a future trip, working out disagreements that need substantial conversation. I encourage you to silence your phones and give your spouse your undivided attention.

Weekly Church: Attending church together each week with your spouse brings you together with them to worship and opens your heart to hear from the Lord. As you come to church together week after week, the Lord will bring spiritual formation to your lives together. You will learn together, worship together, pray together, be convicted together, make friends together, and grow together. Clearing the calendar for church each week also opens the door for other Sunday traditions and habits that are joyful, friendship building, and Christ-honoring. Keeping the sabbath holy involves intentionally choosing to rest and focus on Jesus one day in seven. This intentionally quiet day allows for family meals, naps, walks, reading, and memories. 

Extended Time Alone: It’s essential that at least once or twice per year every married couple carve out extended time alone for just the couple – no kids or other family. This can come in many different forms, but every form says, “I love you, want to spend time with you, and I’m willing to invest time and money in our marriage and friendship.” In varying degrees this can be just a night away together in a different town or a special trip away for a few days. I strongly suggest that every few years you go to a marriage conference. Marriage conferences are best to help tune-up your marriage, rather than waiting until there is a major problem looking for a quick fix. For special anniversaries, work to get away and make the time as special as possible. Life will always work against you but fight to celebrate the special relationship of your marriage. 

Self-care and personal growth: The above three healthy habits relate to the couple together. This last habit relates to the marriage partners as individuals. Marriages that happily endure through the years are made up of two individuals that never stop growing as individuals. Human beings have an incredible ability to continue growing in mental and spiritual capacity throughout their lives. A big part of the joy of friendship is discovering new things about another person and supporting another person as they work toward meaningful pursuits. When two people stop growing and stop pursing meaningful personal goals, the marriage will stagnate. This personal growth relates to self-care and personal growth goals. When people first meet, there is an emphasis on self-care and putting a good foot forward. Early in the relationship personal goals bring people together in joint life-pursuit. These ends must endure after decades of marriage. 

Both husband and wife must continue to care about their personal appearance and growing as individuals. Sometimes these personal healthy habits can get lost in caring for children, aging parents, or the pressure of work and providing for a family. If these things lose focus in your marriage, refer back to date night! Personal goals in these areas are an important subject to talk about in a mutually supportive and encouraging way. When it comes to the friendship of marriage you are each helping the other to grow as a healthy person and achieve the goals the other longs for. 

In my personal experience, I have never known a couple that practiced these habits that did not have a healthy marriage. Conversely, every couple I know that neglects these habits has a weak and struggling marriage. I urge you to pursue these habits. Pursue friendship with your spouse. Pursue intimacy with your spouse. Build healthy habits into your relationship that will build up a bank of good memories and strength in your marriage that can be drawn upon during darker days of hardship.

–Pastor Vic

Justice in War

Justice in War

“The Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, ‘Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the great sea toward the going down of the son shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land I swore to their fathers to give them.’” Joshua 1:1-6
 

Over the past few weeks pro-Palestinian and anti-Semitic demonstrations have grown to the point of violence and mass arrests on many major US college campuses. The counterassault of Israel against Hamas has remained front page news as it nears its final phase and the struggle causes significant hardship for the people of Gaza. I believe it’s important as Christians to review this situation and clarify our thinking.

Let’s begin by looking to the past and accurately understanding the formation of the modern state of Israel. In the far distant past, the current day land mass of Israel was given to the Jewish people as a “promised land” from God. The Lord God assisted the Jews to defeat the wicked people then occupying the land. Those living in the region of Israel were driven out and the land was divided among the twelve tribes of Israel as a perpetual inheritance. Very specific laws were given by God to preserve the inheritance of the land amongst the tribes of Israel.

Eventually, Israel was disciplined by God and taken into exile, but promised by God through the prophet Jeremiah that the nation would return after 70 years of captivity. The nation was restored under the governing leadership of Nehemiah and the spiritual leadership of Ezra. In the time of Jesus, Jews were still occupying the land of Israel, but lived under Roman occupied rule. This continued until the rebellion of the Jews against Rome and the resulting fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD under Emperor Titus. This fall dispersed many Jews abroad and the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, never to be built again. During the Middle Ages there was significant Muslim occupation of Jerusalem, resulting in the construction of the Muslim “Dome of the Rock” on the historic temple mount site.

Following the holocaust atrocities, wide Jewish refugee dispersion, and the desire of Great Britain to relinquish their colonial hold on the land of Palestine, on May 14, 1948, the United Nations recognized a new Jewish State of Israel with David Ben-Gurion as the first head of the State. Through President Truman’s leadership, the United States was the first major nation to recognize the modern statehood of Israel. Arabs were furious, resulting in the Six Days War almost immediately after the founding of modern Israel.

This history is vitally important to the present public debate because it roots Israel’s claim to the land as a divine right from ages past. A land given to Jews for perpetuity. A land spoken of in the biblical past and future. A land of significant theological importance. Jews are not an alien people given an inappropriate opportunity to live in this place by British colonial occupiers. The land is their land according to the promise of God, and this promise has been recognized by governments down through the ages.  

We would also do well to remember the present facts of the matter. Israel has recognized Islamist terrorist organizations at their southern and northern borders. Hamas is in the south and Hezbollah is in the north. Both Islamist terror groups exist for the purpose of terrorizing and destroying Israel, and they are openly backed by the nation of Iran. On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked southern Israel without provocation broadly killing, raping, and taking hostages for ransom. Hamas continues to hold many hostages of all ages, will not surrender, and openly claims that they will continue their terrorist ways when they are able again to re-group their strength. Nothing about this terrible incident should garner our sympathy or be morally confusing. The actions of Hamas were evil, unjustified, and have caused immense pain and suffering in the world. It is a marker of the deep ungodliness and lack of Christian moral sense that so many Americans are passionately sympathetic to recognized terrorists.
             
War is as ancient as humanity and for thousands of years Christians have been considering “Just War Theory.” What makes a war justified in the eyes of God? Saint Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theoligica gave four basic categories that are worth considering in light of this war and others on the horizon.  They are presented here, as well as my commentary, as it relates to the current situation.

  1. A just war can only be waged by a sovereign nation state. If an individual rises up in arms to settle a problem, this is vengeance not war. The individual should take his grievance to the court system of the land. However, nations have no higher authority of governance than sovereign national authority. The recourse of nations to gross harm is war. In this case Israel is a recognized sovereign nation.
  2. A just war must have a just cause, such as defense or avenging evil. A just war is never mainly about inflicting terror or gaining wealth. In this case, Israel is pursuing the just cause of taking back its imprisoned citizens and destroying those sworn to continue violence against is citizens.
  3. The combatants of the war must have morally right intentions. This boils down to the reality that soldiers should be at work toward a righteous end. Soldiers are not justified to act as thieves, rapists, and murders. War always carries with it death, suffering, and tragic civil disruption; this must not be the purpose of the war. Though the Israel counter-offensive against Hamas has brought civilian death, there is no moral equivalence between the initial attack of Hamas and the counter-attack of Israel. Israel has the right to self-defense.
  4. The fourth area of just war relates to the conditions of warfare. In the midst of war respect must be shown to not target non-combatants. There must be a desire for a peaceful outcome, not annihilation of the enemy.  There should be proportional / minimal use of force to achieve the justified end goal. Israel continues to meet these conditions as it drives toward its end.

 
Because Israel is justified before God and nations, the United States has rightly sent essential aid to Israel to assist in rooting out Hamas and holding Hezbollah at bay.  As Christians, we should give thanks for this. We should pray for the release of those still being held hostage by Hamas. We should pray for the salvation of Jews and the salvation of Arabs. We should pray for the peace of this region which has been forever plagued by generational cycles of hatred and vengeance. We should pray for the moral sense of our country to not exchange good for evil and evil for good.
 
May the Lord Jesus bring peace in our time,
Pastor Vic

Nigeria & Rwanda Updates

Nigeria and Rwanda Updates
 Hello Redeemer, 
I bring you greetings from the body of Christ in Africa.  Pastor Timothy Nwan from Mangu, Nigeria and Pastor Fidele from Gisenyi, Rwanda have each asked that I express their gratitude and give you a report of the things being done by the hand of our great God and King, through the means and generosity of His church.

Nigeria

As you know, Nigeria has suffered from rampant acts of violence for many years motivated by religion, tribalism, land disputes and government inaction.  Most recently, in 2023, villages in the Plateau State were attacked on multiple occasions killing hundreds and displacing thousands. 

Redeemer learned of these acts and the subsequent effects through many God ordained connections.  After traveling to Nigeria and meeting with Pastor Timothy, the elders of both Redeemer Stafford and Redeemer Spotsy agreed to partner with him and others to provide assistance to the fellow believers in the region.
 
Through your generosity, we have been able to coordinate and provide food to thousands of displaced people. There is enough food to last several months until they can return to their land.
Among the many items we gave to Timothy and his people, were t-shirts. We brought as many shirts as we could carry.  These shirts were donated by friends of Justin and Molly from Live 2540, a Christian organization that provides free health care to children in West Africa.
Upon returning to the US, we continued our conversation with Timothy and learned that the displaced people were sleeping on the ground and were exposed to a malevolent little worm which resulted in significant illness to the people. To combat this, funds were provided which allowed for the purchase of 670 mattresses and blankets. 

In the coming days we will be helping those who had their homes destroyed by the attacks rebuild.  
Most recently, after the immediate physical needs of the people had been met, we wanted to turn to their spiritual needs.  The vast majority of people in the area do not have a Bible or a worship songbook of their own. Last week, you helped Timothy and others purchase 800 of each for the believers in the area.  Once collected, he will distribute them.  
 
Rwanda

Additionally, our brothers and sisters in Rwanda, whom we have known and partnered with for several years, have experienced significant destruction due to flooding and damaging rains.  Some of your contributions to the benevolence fund will be utilized to assist in helping members of Pastor Fidele’s church rebuild.    
 
While the efforts to provide for the needs of our fellow believers and show love to those with whom we will spend eternity is of great importance, I want you to know that God has done what only God can do and has brought souls to Christ by empowering Timothy and Fidele to be out in their communities displaying the love of Christ.  We have heard stories of Muslim men, belonging to the same groups who committed the attacks on Christmas Day, hearing and responding to the gospel in repentance and faith.  
 
Most of the time you do not get the opportunity to see how your gifts to the benevolence fund are turned into expressions of love and grace.  I speak for the elders, deacons, and ministry leaders throughout the church when I say thank you for your generosity and desire to see the body of Christ cared for by its own.
 
However, as in all things, the glory goes to our mighty King who sits on His throne and yet loves His own enough to care for their every need.
 
Clay Hicks
Redeemer Spotsy Elder

Ten Habits of Healthy Communication

Part 4: Fundamentals of a Healthy Christian Marriage
10 Habits of Healthy Communication

Speak to your spouse with love, kindness, and self-control.

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Colossians 4:6

Healthy communication is absolutely foundational to every strong marriage. If you cannot communicate with your spouse in a healthy way, frustrations turn into anger and conflict is created instead of resolved. Communication is partly verbal and partly non-verbal. As a husband or wife, what your words say need to match with the non-verbal expression on your face and actions of your life. As Christians we are commanded to be gracious in our speech. This carries over from the fruits of the Holy Spirit of kindness and gentleness. When our communication leans toward harshness and anger something is wrong. 

Below are ten basic practical steps to maintaining healthy and gracious communication in your marriage:

  1. Respect your spouse and treat him/her with kindness: You speak in a careful and self-controlled way to people that you respect. You speak with kindness toward people that you love. You should both respect and love your spouse, resulting in the type of communication listed below.
  2. Really listen: When you really listen to someone you pay attention and want to hear what they have to say. Really listening considers the merit of what the other person has to say. This means not interrupting the other person because what you have to say is more important. This means you are not formulating a counter-response while he/she is talking. You can’t listen and jump to a conclusion before the other person has finished their thought. Listening is related to patience and friendship. Interruption and retaliation are related to competition and adversaries.
  3. Assume the best: Many occasions arise each week where something happens, and we only know part of the story. In every such situation with your spouse you must assume the best. You must begin by trusting your spouse and assuming that there is a good explanation for whatever you don’t know about the situation. Love is hopeful in all things (1 Cor 13:7). The opposite is to assume the worst of your spouse. This is the attitude of distrust we develop with our enemies.
  4. Don’t bring up past forgiven sins: If your spouse has asked for forgiveness and you have granted forgiveness, it should not be brought up against him/her again. You must ask God for the self-control to not drag your spouse back into the mud he/she just got free of. In an ungodly way, it can feel satisfying to strengthen your position by undercutting your spouse, but none of this is of Christ. We seek to reconcile with our spouse, not defeat him/her in a battle of words and accusations.
  5. Don’t undercut or barb: To undercut or barb is to make negative and hurtful comments that imply what you want without clear communication. These side comments are not made to be helpful, but to insult and “remind” a person of their problems. Instead, if you have a struggle or grievance with your spouse, speak and listen in a kind way that may lead to reconciliation and peace. 
  6. Do not raise your voice: “The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” James 1:20. When you raise your voice with your spouse, anger has come upon you. Yelling at your spouse may make you feel self-vindicated in the moment, but nothing of the Lord will come from it. You should never yell at your spouse. Raising your voice overwhelms anything true or helpful you may say. It’s literally lost in the noise. 
  7. Try to have good timing: Work to bring up difficult subjects at a time conducive to resolution. It’s not wise to bring up difficult subjects when your spouse is tired, holding a crying child, just in the door from work, late for an appointment, or for whatever reason is not in a place to have an unhurried conversation that could resolve an issue. 
  8. Avoid “always / never” in conflict resolution: Overstatements and absolutes do not help resolve conflict. Overstatements and absolutes work to categorize the entire person as a problem. Instead, work to isolate specific instances of struggle or sin, so the offending person can ask forgiveness and work to correct a specific problem. 
  9. Stop texting when the communication turns negative: It is impossible to resolve conflict by text. When communication turns negative, you must talk by phone or in person as soon as possible. Both spouses need to reach agreement on this before the angry texts start flying. One spouse or the other must identify that the communication has taken a negative turn, and state that they need to call or meet.
  10. Seek resolution: Never give up on each other. Seek resolution and reconciliation because of love and your marriage vows. Apathy and division are not acceptable in Christian marriage. Work the problems out with healthy communication and prayer.

 
May the Holy Spirit bear in us His fruit of love and kindness toward each other,
Pastor Vic

Gossip

Gossip
 
“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers …” Romans 1:28-29
 
“For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.” Proverbs 26:20
 
“The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.”
Proverbs 18:17
 

Gossip has been a common problem in every age, but the Bible classifies it as sin. In Romans 1 Paul traces out the descent of human beings into rebellion against God. As sinful people reject God, they are given over “to what ought not to be done.” Included in that long list is gossip.
             
Gossip is usually defined as unrestrained conversation about other people, typically involving unconfirmed statements presented as true, and the conversation is spoken in negative terms. Let’s break this down. Gossip begins with unconstrained conversation about other people. When our conversation begins to discuss people we know, but who are not present for the conversation (face to face or digital), our speech should be careful and limited. When others come up in our conversation we should strive to only speak well of them unless there is a good and truly necessary reason to speak against them. To speak against another person in conversation, when that person is not present to speak for themselves, should be a rare occurrence and for a necessary honorable reason.

Gossipers relish speaking badly of others when they are not present. Gossipers find great pleasure in tearing down the character of others by whispering side conversations and in private on-line spaces. Gossipers are not working to build up others but attempt to increase their own social standing by tearing down others and planting destructive narratives in the hearts of those who will listen. Gossip is a serious problem because it is meant to divide by intentionally maligning the character of others who are not present to speak for themselves. Gossipers are not interested in the truth or in resolving problems.

Gossipers work to create their own narrative that pits people against each other in strategic ways so they can get what they want. This process is accelerated and exacerbated by social media in our day. In days past, to speak poorly of another person by unconfirmed rumor, one literally had to whisper in the hall or corner. People would whisper so they undercut their enemy while not exposing their gossip to other people possibly speaking against the lie they may be telling. Today, private social media messages can be instantly sent to an entire social network of people to malign a person’s character, without ever seeking the full story from the person being spoken about and giving them a chance for rebuttal. Gossip that is repeated becomes truth to those without discernment or Godly character.

We all know people like this and the interpersonal damage and hurt they can cause. Gossipers are present in every social area of our lives, but as Christians we should not participate in gossip. Instead, we should use our words to move in the opposite direction.

How should Christians speak to each other? If we should have no part in gossip, what should we be saying? Christians should above all things love each other. Love seeks the truth in order to help and build up others. We must not speak poorly of them, tear them down, or repeat character defaming tales. This begins by desiring the good of those in your family, church, school, and workplace. Christians are working to bless those around them, not to use others for their own personal advancement. Christians should stay in their own lanes of personal activity. If a matter does not relate to you, you should not embroil yourself in it. Christians should work to hear the other side of a story in matters that do involve them. We should be wise enough to realize that there are two sides to every story. When we don’t understand a situation, we should ask genuine questions instead of drawing gossip-based conclusions. Christians encourage, turn away from sin, and do not say things that would not be justified to say if the person spoken of were physically present.
             
In Matthew 5:43-47 we are commanded by Jesus to do something unimaginable to the lost world, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This can be applied in many ways, but it certainly relates to being on the receiving end of gossip or slander. As Christians, we must recognize that people gossiped about Jesus constantly. Our response must be like that of Jesus! We must return blessing for cursing. We must love those who hate us. We must even pray for them! In a truly hurtful situation, this can only be done by the grace of God. Only the merciful Savior, Jesus, can strengthen us to pray for those who speak maliciously against us! By acting in this way, we become peacemakers and break the cycle of vengeance. We create an opportunity to speak about the gospel and the merciful love of Jesus.
             
I urge us as a church to be careful and diligent in these matters. May Redeemer be a place completely different from this world. May gossip have no place here. May the Lord teach us by His Spirit to be full of self-control, love, and encouragement. May out words bless and build up, strengthen and give hope.
 
Lord Jesus, help us to guard our mouths for your glory,
Pastor Vic

The Cross of Jesus Christ

The Cross of Jesus Christ
             

We are now approximately 2000 years removed from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Today is the day Christians worldwide set aside to remember that blessed event. Does the crucifixion of Jesus matter anymore? Does something that happened so long ago still have any direct relevance to our lives? As Christians, should we stop our daily routine to pause in thoughtful meditation to consider the cross of Jesus Christ. The answer to all these questions is – absolutely yes!
 
The death and resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the single most important event in the history of the world. It was the essential event necessary for the redemption and salvation of fallen humanity. This rebellious and sin-ruined world strove for thousands of generations to undo the effects of sin and separation from God, but to no avail. The history of this world is one of cyclical struggle, wars, disease, and death. There has been advancement in technology, but no advancement whatsoever in the essential struggles of the soul. We still live in a fallen world of intense uncertain struggle, selfishness, disease, addiction, violence, war, anxiety, depression, and death.
             
The purpose of God to save people out of this fallen world could only be accomplished by Jesus the Son. In His perfection and innocence, Jesus went to the cross as our sin-bearer. Jesus was our atoning sacrifice. He bore the just penalty of our sins in His own body, that we might receive His righteousness. By His eternal power, Jesus overcame the final enemy – death. On the third day after His crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead, never to die again. Only by His life can we receive spiritual life. This life begins now and extends into eternity.
 
No person can overcome death by their own power. People have been working to reverse the curse of sin and death since the dawn of humanity, but they will never succeed. Only by the resurrected life of Jesus will you be born again unto spiritual life that will have no end. Only by the resurrected life of Jesus, received by faith as a gift, will you pass out of this world and enter into the Kingdom of God.
             
The cross of Jesus Christ was not about making heaven on earth, but about saving lost sinners out of this dying world. This is exactly what the biblical term “being saved” means. It means that by grace alone, through faith alone, through the finished work of Jesus on the cross, we might escape the wrath of God toward sin. By the cross our debt of sin is paid. By the cross we can have peace with God, forever escaping the death and corruption of this world.
             
I put before you a few important Bible verses about the cross of Jesus Christ. Consider these verses today. Consider the love of Jesus Christ toward you and rejoice in the price that has been paid that you might live forever!

 
“And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  Philippians 2:8


Jesus was fully obedient to the will of God in all things. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus struggled deeply with the reality of submitting Himself to the hands of sinful men. But in agony Jesus prayed, “Not my will but yours be done!” In humility, Jesus submitted Himself, as the Lamb of God, to be crucified by sinful men. God did not kill Jesus but permitted that it be done by Satan and those under His influence. The crucifixion of Jesus was the greatest evil act of all time, but from it God brought the greatest good ever achieved. The enemies of Jesus were confident they had defeated Him, but the purposes of God shall not be thwarted!

 
“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross.”  Colossians 2:13-14
 

Our sin against God is not a matter of simple emotional offense. Our sin against God is rebellion against His law. Our wickedness transgresses His holiness and requires that we be removed from His presence. It is real guilt that breaks our relationship with God. It is real guilt that must be punished in judgment. We can only be declared ‘not guilty’ (justified) when the penalty of our rebellion has been paid. Jesus settled this debt and paid the price in His own body on the cross.

             
The apostle Paul: “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:17-18
 

Paul here speaks to the real power of the cross. Paul’s gospel preaching was not rooted or based upon cleaver public speaking. The gospel is not an idea; it’s a reality! Jesus really lived as the incarnate Son of God upon the earth. Jesus really preached and ministered, full of grace and truth. The cross was real. The suffering and bleeding death of Jesus was real. Jesus really did suffer for our sins. But, then and now, most people do not believe that Jesus was who He said He was – the Son of God. The ministry of Jesus is mocked by most people, but to those of us who believe it is the power of God unto salvation!

 
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1b-2
 

Jesus endured the suffering of the cross knowing it was not the end, but a means to an end. The end of the cross is the salvation of God’s people! Jesus endured the cross for the joy of heavenly glory. Jesus Christ is glorified in the salvation of sinners. He is glorified in His mercy, grace, humility, holiness, and power!
 
May we enter into the joy of the salvation of Jesus! May the Lord quiet our doubting souls and give us the faith to believe this resurrection Sunday,
Pastor Vic