Redeemer Bible Church Blog

“And now I will show you the truth …” Daniel 11:2a

Daniel chapter 11 is a prophetic revelation giving – as I have said before – enough information for us to clearly know that its telling reveals to us that God knows and is causing the future to come to pass according to His determined will. But the prophecy has an intentional lack of clarity to keep the hearer walking by faith. This chapter deals with the time in which Daniel receives the vision (approximately 527 BC) up to at least 164 BC. From our period of history looking into the past, the revelation is so specific that scholars have been forced to conclude one of two ends. First, Daniel was written nearly at the time of Christ by some unknown author because the prophesied events were concluded by that point. This view is problematic from both a biblical and archaeological point of view. Daniel is referred to and known in Jewish heritage from a much earlier time than Christ. Also, Jesus Himself spoke of Daniel in the context of the setting given in Daniel – affirming his historicity.

The second option is to believe the revelation was written by Daniel as stated, and God really does know and cause the future. This belief requires faith but is deeply encouraging and instructive to the soul. This view faces the reality that God is shaping the future for His glory and gives hope to all who believe in Jesus.

I will here briefly review the connection between chapter 11 and historical events. I believe you will find the parallels amazing.

(Verse 2) The text refers to three more kings of Persia after Cyrus. These were Cambyses (530-522 BC), Gaumata (522 BC), and Darius I Hystaspes (522-486 BC). Then rose a fourth king richer and more powerful than the previous three. This king was Xerxes I (486-465 BC), known as Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther. Xerxes I, in his establishment and wealth, warred against Greece seeking to conquer it, but was repelled by the efforts of Philip the Macedon.

(Verses 3-4) A “mighty king” shall arise “with great domain and do as he wills.” Alexander the Great was the son of Philip the Macedon. Xerxes I does not succeed in conquering Greece, but Alexander defeats Medo-Persia by 331 BC (Daniel 8:7, 20-21). Alexander rose to great imperial power but died at age 32. His Kingdom was divided into four parts ruled by four generals not of his “posterity.” These generals were Ptolemy, Seleucus, Lysimachus, and Cassander. Seleucus I ruled in the “north” covering Syria and Mesopotamia. Ptolemy I ruled the “south” covering Egypt and Palestine.

(Verse 6) The next generation of rulers, (north) Antiochus II and (south) Ptolemy II, made “an alliance” in 250 BC promising the daughter of Ptolemy II (Bernice) to marry Antiochus II. Antiochus II instead chose to abandon the agreement and return to his previous wife who allegedly eventually poisoned him. This drama is outlined in verse 6.

(verses 7-18) These verses are full of drama that make the stuff of history. There are back and forth wars working through the generations of Ptolemy III, IV, and V of the southern kingdom and Seleucus II and III / Antiochus III of the northern kingdom. It is Antiochus III who would eventually enter and conquer Israel (verse 16). It is this Antiochus III who “turned his face to the coastlands” (verse 18) in 196 BC in an effort to conquer Turkey and Greece. In response to this aggression, Rome sent warnings for Antiochus III to stay his advance, but he did not. So, Rome sent “a commander” to “put an end to his insolence.” This commander was Lucius Cornelius Scipio. Scipio defeated Antiochus III in 191 BC, forcing him to pay tribute to Rome and send his oldest son as a slave to Rome.

(Verse 19) During passage back to the “fortress of his own land” he “stumbled and fell” attempting to sack a temple of Zeus in modern day Iraq to gain revenue. The local people defended the temple with passion and killed Antiochus III. The remains of his kingdom were ruled by his next son Seleucus IV (187-175 BC). Seleucus IV was “broken in neither anger nor battle” as he was poisoned to death by his finance minister, Heliodorus.

(Verse 21) This verse speaks to the rise of “a contemptable person to whom royal majesty has not been given.” This king is Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 BC). He did not ascend to the throne through normal channels, but by drama and murder.

(Verse 25-28) “He shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south.” Antiochus IV set his heart on attacking Egypt and conquering Ptolemy VI. Antiochus IV had a vast army, but was defeated as a result of his war plans being leaked – (verse 25) “plots shall be devised against him.”

(Verse 29) Antiochus IV attacked Egypt a second time in 168 BC. “He shall return and come into the south, but it shall not be this time as it was before.” Aided by Rome, Ptolemy VII defeated and humiliated Antiochus IV sending him back to Palestine empty handed. Angered by his defeat, Antiochus worked vengeance on the Jews in Jerusalem under his rule. From 167 to 164 BC he implemented a severe campaign of forced Hellenization on the Jews. This involved profaning the temple, ending daily sacrifices at the temple, forbidding the reading or use of Scripture, forbidding circumcision, and forbidding Jewish festivals. The penalty for violating these laws was death. It was during this period that the prophecy from Daniel 8:13 was fulfilled concerning “the abomination that makes desolate.” On December 6, 167 BC, Antiochus IV Epiphanes set up an idol of Zeus in the temple. On December 16 of the same year, he had pigs offered as sacrifices on the temple altar as blasphemy. It is my understanding that this desolation of the temple fulfilled this prophecy given to Daniel and was a type of the prophecy spoken by Jesus in Matthew 24. Jesus also spoke of the “abomination of desolation” which was the complete desecration and destruction of the temple in 70.

(Verses 32-33) “The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.” Apostate Jews sided with Antiochus IV for political power, but the faithful resisted and formed up into armed rebellion. This rebellion was led by the five sons of the priest Mattathias. One of those sons was Judas Maccabeus – Maccabeus meaning ‘Hammer.’ The Maccabean Rebellion (166-164 BC) succeeded in recapturing Jerusalem and the temple. The temple, and its grounds, were rededicated on December 14, 164 BC. This reconsecration is remembered in Jewish custom by Hanukkah.

(Verses 36-45) These verses are more unclear and do not clearly align with historic events after Antiochus IV, but do lead in the text up to the final events of the judgment. It is my understanding that the text transitions here to refer to future events. This would explain their lack of clarity.

I have significantly abbreviated all that could be said here but hope that enough was given to significantly encourage your faith that the Lord our God revealed the future before it came to pass. He who is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, is able to make known what He intends to accomplish before He accomplishes it.

“Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done …” Isaiah 46:9-10

Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor Vic

“… They continued to preach the gospel.” Acts 14:7

Over the next few months, in the newsletter, I will be commenting on and leading us through an excellent book on evangelism – “Evangelism; How the Whole Church Speaks of Jesus” by J. Mack Stiles. This outstanding concise book will help you to better understand both how to share the gospel and how evangelism works best in the context of the local church.

This book opens with the basic question of, “What is evangelism?” Christians have many different ideas of what evangelism is, but for most Christians evangelism is something reserved for a professional. People often associate evangelism with large, focused events led by famous people featuring a big show and an emotional invitation at the end. Some people associate evangelism with pressured and choreographed calls at the end of a church service.

Stiles, correctly, gives a much simpler definition of evangelism: Evangelism is teaching the gospel with the aim to persuade. Teaching the gospel can come in many forms – preaching, digital communication, one-on-one personal communication, family interactions, and more. The gospel is the good news message that leads us to salvation and is not shared in a neutral or disinterested way. When we teach the gospel to others it’s always with the desire to see that person be convicted of these truths and believe. Often teaching is not associated with evangelism, but right knowledge about God and our own sinful situation is the ground of true belief. No one can believe in a Jesus they do not understand.

It is necessary that every Christian be able to concisely explain the gospel. If you can’t express the gospel in clear concise terms, you may not really understand it. An accurate and concise explanation of the gospel is not too little or too much. An explanation that is too small leaves out essential aspects of the gospel. An explanation that is too big adds more than is necessary to pass from death to life, and can be very confusing to a person that knows little or nothing about Jesus.

The basic gospel message answers these four basic questions:

God  —  Who is God?
Humanity  —  Why are we broken sinners?
Christ  —  What did Jesus Christ do?
Response  —  How can we get back to God?

God: God is the Creator of the world and all life in it. He is holy, loving, just, and merciful. God will one day judge the sin of the world according to His perfect justice.

Humanity: People are made in the image of God. Human beings are valuable and amazing creatures created, male and female, with inherent worth, dignity, and value. But through willful, sinful rebellion against the will of God humanity has turned from innocence and belonging with God, to being separated from God as His enemies. All people are under the condemnation and guilt of their sin but possess the capacity to be restored to a loving relationship with the Lord God.

Christ: Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Being fully divine, Jesus also lived a fully human life. He lived a perfectly righteous life and being without guilt could serve as a substitutionary sacrifice. Through His death on the cross Jesus Christ ransomed sinful people. Christ’s death paid for the sins of all who come to him in faith. Christ’s resurrection from the dead is the ultimate vindication of the truth of these claims.

Response: God requires that we acknowledge our sinfulness, repent (or turn away) from our sins, and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior. We turn from sin, especially the sin of unbelief, and turn to God in faith. Authentic faith purposes to follow God for the rest of life. Authentic faith is not an outward show for others.

This is the gospel as a concise teaching. We teach this to others not as a curiosity, but as the hope of that person’s salvation before God. We teach, preach, or personally speak to others to persuade them of God’s truth. We sometimes start this process by ourselves talking with another person, but it always results in the new Christian believer coming into the local church. In the church the new believer should find truly converted and born-again people. A truly converted church loves the Lord with a passion and wants others to know Jesus as well. A truly converted church has a natural culture of evangelism.

May Jesus move us to be evangelists together for the sake of the lost and the glory of God,
Pastor Vic

The elders would briefly like to keep you up to date on our building process.

Land: We have fully raised the purchase price of the 3.5+ acre lot located in the Spotsy Village community next to the Planters Bank and facing Courthouse Road. We have a firm agreement with Vakos Properties to purchase the land. However, no money will change hands, and the land will not close, until we have a fully approved site plan.

Site Planning: Our new church sanctuary and educational buildings will be right in the center of the Spotsylvania Courthouse Village high-density development. This means two things. First, we’ll be surrounded by people and residential housing. Praise the Lord! We will never have to cast far as fishers of men. Second, site planning must be exact and meticulous. All our site plan must physically be designed to fit in a tight space and have a look that matches the community. As a church, and with Vakos Properties, we have talked through the basics, but now it’s time to get an architect involved. Elder Michael Shively, who is a commercial architect, will be working with the main site planning architect that has overseen the design and build of the entire community so far. This will be a back-and-forth process and we’ll keep the church informed at each member meeting.

Once a site plan, building elevation, and building architectural plan are complete, those plans will go the Spotsylvania County permitting board for approval. Once we get approval of all these plans, then we will be clear to close on the land and build on the land. Vakos Properties estimates that the total architectural development and final plan approval process will take nine months at least.

Building and Budget: The period of time that it will take to design the buildings and permit the buildings gives us time to raise money to build the new church. We remain committed to our core principles of committing our needs to the Lord by prayer and to the church in a basic unpressured way. We also remain committed to never getting into debt that would compromise the spiritual priorities of the church. At a minimum, we will not build until the mortgage payment is at least the same, or less, than what we currently pay in rent. In this way we know that the change will not affect the ministry priorities of the church – which is why the church gathers and exists.

We have a designated building fund, and all contributions to that fund will be used exclusively for the church building. Please prayerfully consider making regular contributions toward achieving this major goal in the life of the church.

Prayer: Please pray for this process! Anyone that has ever entered into a major building project knows that a million things can go wrong. Pray that above all the Lord Jesus will be glorified by having a Christian church raised in the center of this community. This is how communities used to be in America. Redeemer will truly continue to be a community church! Pray that adequate funding will come in and will come in a way that glorifies the Lord. Pray that the process would not be unnecessarily prolonged. Pray for the salvation of souls and the discipleship of Christians throughout this process. Pray that in all things Jesus would be glorified!

The Elders of Redeemer Bible Church,

Nick Bultinck

Victor Carpenter

Clay Hicks

Mike Patterson

Michael Shively

Rodney Swann

Eric Wright

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12

This passage is classically known as the ‘Golden Rule.’ It’s a command laid down by Jesus in His great sermon on the mount and is called the ‘Golden Rule’ partly because its truth is self-evident. Even a child can understand the idea of projecting your self-interest onto others in order help you understand how you should act toward them. This command becomes a rule of thumb generally guiding us to die to ourselves and look to the best interests of others. Paul expands on this concept in his letter to the Philippian church, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (2:3-4)

Understanding what Jesus is getting at is not difficult but living this out is impossible apart from the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Each of our lives will trend one direction or the other. Either by faith, through the grace of Jesus Christ, you will come to salvation becoming a new person with a new heart toward God and your neighbors. Or, you will increase in indulging your own self-interest believing fully that you are justified in looking to your own self-interest before the interests of others. One is the result of salvation, the other is the way of damnation. One is the way of Christ, the other is the way of the world. One looks to our neighbor, the other looks to self.  

I felt the need to write about this today because of what I feel is an alarming increase of public anger and selfishness. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” is not what we normally encounter in daily American life. The more godless a country becomes, the more selfish it becomes. Society cannot thrive around selfishness. Everyone pushing, and pulling, and shoving, and abusing, and stealing to take advantage of the people around them is part of the moral chaos displayed in the godless book of Judges in the Old Testament. A serious part of us living for Jesus in society is living out this basic golden rule guiding us to show everyday love for our neighbors.

I challenge you this coming week to truly evaluate your actions according to this command of Jesus. Are you acting out of self-interest or looking to the interest of others. Are you counting others more significant than yourself or counting yourself interest as most important. When you follow the command of Christ it will dramatically reshape the words and daily actions of your life. Following this rule will dramatically impact on your home, neighborhood, workplace, and church for good. Consider such everyday situations:

• Would I want someone to greet me as I pass by?
• Would I want someone to let me in, or cut me off, in traffic?
• Would I want someone to treat me with disrespect acting like I’m a fool?
• Would I want someone to gossip about me?
• Would I want someone to make a mess and leave it for me to clean up?
• Would I want my family members to come into the house angry and yell at me?
• Would I want someone to visit me when I’m sick or grieving?
• Would I want a friend or family member to constantly criticize me?
• Would I want someone to tailgate me in traffic?
• Would I want someone to yell at me when they’re angry?
• Would I want someone to cheat or steal from me?
• Would I want someone to step in and help me when I need it?
• Would I want someone to remember me with a call when I’m gone for a while?
• Would I want to receive a note of encouragement from a friend?
• Would I want someone to manipulate me for their own self-interest?
• Would I want someone to do half a job and leave the unfinished part for me to finish?

You get the point. In each of these cases turn the table. Do to others the things you would want them to do for you. For Jesus’ sake, because of the endless grace and mercy He has shown to us, look to the interests of others. This begins by simply being observant. No one can do this perfectly, but if you love others like Jesus did, it will become the dominant and increasing pattern of your life. When we press hard to do this in the church toward each other, it will spread from there outward to affect society. A big part of pushing back the darkness around us starts with obeying this basic command and treating even everyday strangers with Christian respect.

May Jesus change our hearts and help us to treat others with Christ-like honor,
Pastor Vic

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” —Matthew 6:33-34

This week I have had many conversations with friends that are feeling the pressure of anxiety. Anxiety over young children, adult children, personal finances, situations of physical sickness, mental struggle, positions at work, the state of the country, the state of their marriage, and the list goes on. The struggles of everyday life are very real. It’s part of the human condition to realize that no matter how hard you strive, so many elements of everyday life are completely out of your control. This sense of not being able to ensure the outcome that you want, concerning people and issues that matter very much to you, can cause serious anxiety. In the end anxiety is fear. It is fear of an unknown future.

But in these verses Jesus commands us to not be anxious. Jesus commands us to not fear the future. These are stern words. Often when the disciples found themselves caught up in fear or disillusionment, Jesus did not just comfort them, he would rebuke them. “Oh, you of little faith,” He would say. Why do you not believe that the Lord is sovereign over the affairs of the world? Why do you not trust in the goodness, love, omniscience, and omnipotence of Jesus our Lord? If we are honest with ourselves, when we let anxiety get the better of us we are failing to believe in at least one of these attributes of the Lord. Perhaps the Lord is not really good, or He no longer loves me. Perhaps Jesus is not really aware of my situation, or if He is, He’s powerless to act.

In this passage Jesus calls for the disciples to rise out of the common situation of humanity and stop fretting by seeking first after the Kingdom of God. Before you focus on the struggles of the day you should begin by fixing your mind’s eye on who the Lord is and what He is doing in the world through the cross of Jesus Christ. This is a walk of faith. Believing in the work of Jesus Christ in the world will cause you to take your eyes off the anxieties of your own life and put them in perspective in relationship to God’s work in the world around you. So many of our anxieties are self-inflicted through seeking after the things of this world. Anxieties that arise from wanting the approval of a fickle world. Anxieties over wanting to compete with others over worldly possessions, or compete over the accomplishments of children, or compete over positions of status. All of these things are immediately put to death with godly contentment which comes through seeking first the kingdom of God.

However, even in seeking Christ first there are many troubles and struggles in life. The promise of this passage is that those who seek Christ first will have added to their lives what is needed. Jesus Christ is faithful and will meet the needs of His people. Our call is to live for today. This is not hedonism because we aren’t living for our own personal pleasure. It’s “in the moment” Christianity. We are striving to obey the greatest commandment of loving the Lord our God with all our heart. Doing anything with all your heart requires that your focus be in the moment. Here Jesus is admonishing us to not try and spin out future events that we cannot control. By faith we trust the Lord for the future and live with godliness, hope, and joy today.

If you find yourself struggling deeply with anxiety, recognize it for the lack of faith that it is. Confess your anxieties to the Lord as unbelief and ask for the Holy Spirit to strengthen your faith for today. Abide near Jesus Christ (John 15) through Bible reading, prayer, being with other Christians in church, singing songs of worship, and partaking of the Lord’s Supper. As you abide with Christ, pray for the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24), and live for Jesus with hope in the day. In this, you will find that the peace of Christ Jesus will guard your heart and mind.

Tomorrow will be full of trouble. Trust the Lord and His provision for tomorrow. Live for the Lord today and lay your head on the pillow tonight resting in His perfect peace.

The peace of Christ be upon you dear friends,
Pastor Vic

“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” 1 Peter 2:13-17

This has been another week of upheaval in America. Another week of Christians questioning their role in civic life. I believe it’s important for me to speak to the nature of Christian civic involvement.

We are all feeling the significant civic division and tension of our time. People are parceling off into factions that are hardening their positions and pulling at our societal fabric to the point that communities can no longer function. Each year these tensions spill over more and more often into angry marches, violent and destructive riots, and open hostile disagreement. We must ask ourselves squarely, “What is the role of a Christian in society?” How should we as individuals that collectively make up the local church react to the increasing turmoil and ungodliness of our time? This is the time that God has appointed that we live. We must live well for His glory.

              I propose that there are three basic approaches to how we can choose to live in the face of a sinful world: Amish withdrawal, daily engagement, or on a militant counter-offensive. The first position of withdrawal is most clearly and fully lived out by the Amish in various communities from Pennsylvania to Indiana. They are a people that have decided living for the Lord means separating from society. They live in a parallel world, touching modern America as little as possible. If members of their community engage in any meaningful way with the modern world, they are excommunicated. Many Christians react in degrees of this same attitude toward the struggles and turmoil of our day. Christians in this camp, shut off news sources, move to the country, work to only build friendships with people like them, and often form small churches of people just like them. The goal is to withdraw from the world and only allow in people that are like-minded enough to not corrupt the small new environment you have carved out. I ask you, does this sound like the life Jesus lived in the world? How does a life like this relate to the great commission to go into the world making disciples of Jesus Christ?

              The second common position is the other end of the spectrum – militant counter-offensive. In this mindset Christians become passionately angry about ungodly things happening in the world. Much of their conversation and life passion revolves around plotting and planning political counter-offenses against those they disagree with. Rhetoric is inflammatory, descriptions are one sided, and there is talk of warring against and defeating an enemy, often various governing authorities – not honoring them. People on this side of the spectrum open themselves to moving from angry words to militant actions. Like the withdrawal camp, they also form like-minded groups and tend to not welcome those that don’t share their anger and frustration toward the sinful world. This anger toward the world drives out any meaningful love for the lost souls around them. Again, I ask you, does this sound like the life Jesus lived in the world? How does a life like this relate to the great commission to go into the world making disciples of Jesus Christ?

              I feel strongly that we are called and commanded by God to a middle position of neither withdrawal nor militancy, but daily engagement. We are called to live like Jesus, in the midst of the world, but set apart from the world by how we live. A prayer of Jesus is recorded in John 17. In verses 17-18 Jesus prays that His disciples will be set apart from the world by the truth of God’s word. But in the next verse Jesus re-affirms sending His disciples to live in and among the lost people of the world. We are intentionally sent into the world to bear witness about the cross and resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20). We are sent into the world to live virtuous transformed lives that affect our communities like salt and light. We are sent into the ungodly world to be peacemakers, those who show authentic and enduring love – even to those who persecute us. We are commanded by Scripture to be subject to human governing institutions and to honor and pray for governing leaders. These commands were not given during Cromwell’s protectorate or following the American revolution. They were given during the occupying rule of the Roman Empire.

              As we remain engaged in the non-Christian world – while also living out an authentic, virtuous, and humble faith in Jesus – we bear witness to the real salvation of Jesus Christ. As we love and study God’s word it will change us, and we will become sanctified (set apart) in how we speak, act, serve, and lead. However, these good effects will be nullified by withdrawal or corrupted by militant anger.

              In practical terms this means getting a job in the business world, in the trades, in teaching, in government, in law-enforcement – somewhere in the non-Christian world – then sticking with that job so that your Christian life influences your workplace. It should be obvious that if you withdraw (quit), you will no longer have an influence in that place and with those people. It must also be clear that if you come into that same workplace each day full of frustration and anger, you are having a bad influence on the workplace. You’re actually pushing people away from Jesus, not drawing them closer. The correct role of the Christian is to come into the secular workplace with virtue, hope, wisdom, truth, peace, and contentment.

We live as Christians, associating ourselves with Jesus as we work in the world. We entrust our lives to Jesus, asking Him to make a way for us. Americans are deeply blessed to live under a form of government devised to function according to a Christian worldview. It recognizes our God-given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. One of the central freedoms guaranteed to us by the bill of rights is the free practice of our religion. We should rejoice over the many recent supreme court rulings continuing to uphold our rights to religious liberty. These liberties make way for us to live engaged Christian lives, largely free from direct persecution.

              Our government was founded upon a strong constitutional basis. A basis that requires an inner moral compass to function. No outward governmental set of laws can make up for a lack of inner moral law. The first line of restraint must be our own moral restraint. This was widely recognized in early America. Benjamin Franklin stated, “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.” Or to the contrary from Patrick Henry, “Bad men cannot make good citizens … No free government, or the blessing of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, and frugality.” The idea is that a people who are not largely governed by their own inner sense of virtue and restraint must be restrained by government and civil law. Personal lawlessness leads to an increase of civil government and law enforcement action in an attempt to control an out of control populace. Eventually, freedom devolves to totalitarian government of complete control.

              My point here is that trying to withdraw from the struggle won’t work. There is no unexplored place to run to. Militant revolution of a non-virtuous people will only repeat the horrors of the ineffective French revolution. The answer is the way of Christ Jesus our Lord – direct abiding engagement in the world with the Gospel and virtue. We must be determined to hold our positions and hold our ground, not to fight but to influence. We must not run away, or return evil for evil, but return blessing for cursing. We must turn the other cheek, be long-suffering, content, and courageous for good.

              I would remind you of the four classic virtues that this country was founded on. Virtues that arise directly from Christianity and virtues that cannot continue without the preaching of God’s word and the continuation of the local church. As defined by Charles Murray, these founding virtues are industry, honesty, marriage, and religion.

              Industry is hard continuous work. From the Bible we know that God created people to work, not sit by the pool. People that have no meaningful work know their lives are being wasted. Christians call this the doctrine of vocation. It is Christian truth that God created you with certain gifts and talents that make you good at certain work. When you apply yourself with discipline and diligence your God-given talent will flourish, your work will be rewarding, and society around you will be a better place because of your contribution. America was built on the Christian virtue of vocational industry.

              Honesty is the Christian virtue of not bearing false witness against your neighbor. No society that is full of liars will last long. No business contract law can function, if most people don’t keep their word. No system of justice can endure, if most people are willing to lie to manipulate outcomes. Honesty produces trust. Leaders must be trustworthy. When local, church, state, and federal leaders are no longer seen as trustworthy, all society breaks down into a power struggle. Sometimes political or direct physical force is used to take what you want before someone else does. No free or peaceful society can exist amongst a society of selfish liars. America was built on the Christian virtue of general honesty.

              Marriage is the cornerstone of civil society. By marriage I mean one biological man and one biological woman in Christian marriage. Marriage is the chosen life-long bond where a man and woman strengthen and encourage each other through the struggles of life. One is strong when the other is weak. Complementing talents making one whole unit, the family. Into this stability and hope children are born. Here they grow up with a sense of belonging and heritage. Here children are loved, nurtured, educated, and disciplined. Marriage is self-sacrificing. One person lays down their life for another, and together sacrificing for their children. This whole arrangement morally honors the Lord and is an engine for virtue instead of selfishness. America was built on the Christian virtue of marriage.

              Religion is most basically the recognition that there is a God. It is the opposite of secular humanism. The Bible reveals to us who God is that we might believe in Jesus as our Savior. All religions are not equal or the same, but a virtuous society understands that a person cannot, and should not, be coerced into a particular religion. From the heart we must learn who God is and that it is right to love Him for His goodness and mercy. Every person is created in the image of God, with the possibility of having a relationship with God. Virtue can never come from our own corrupt and selfish hearts. A virtuous, free, prosperous, and peaceful society can only come from a nation that is largely made up of people that believe in the God of the Bible and by His grace learn to live by divine virtue. Virtue comes from the Lord, not from the academy or from government. America was built on the Christian religion.

              Our daily Christian engagement with society should actively work to instill these virtues back into society. We must not withdraw or quit. We must not be characterized by anger, hate, or violence. We must live out these virtues ourselves and teach them to our children. As Christians we must lead in the workplace, the trades, the military, the academy, in law-enforcement, and in government. Apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ these things cannot be accomplished. Virtue comes from a changed heart, and a changed heart can only come from the Lord.

              In closing, I would especially note that many people in our church are involved at various levels of government service and law enforcement (local and federal). These are necessary, God-ordained roles. In these roles we must especially press in with engagement and not withdraw or build up anger. Good Christian people should remain in their positions of service. Young people should continue to enter into these positions with hope, but being prepared to stand their ground of virtue. Only by engagement of virtuous people will virtuous ground be gained.

Pray for your governing leaders. See where God is working and join him. You don’t have to look far! God is working in the lives all over our church!

May the Lord restore the peace of our land through revival,

Pastor Vic

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” —Ephesians 6:4   We are so blessed at both Redeemer churches to be overrun with children. Kids everywhere! What a blessing from the Lord, but also a tremendous responsibility. I felt led this week to remind you of some Christian parenting fundamentals. Parenting is a daunting task, for which none of us are adequate. Every Christian parent sees their own sinfulness while trying to raise kids to love and follow Jesus. Parenting is an act of faith, believing that God will honor your very imperfect efforts in the life of your child. However, God is able to take a crooked stick and strike a straight blow. God will honor the truth of His word and give you wisdom to raise children that love Jesus in the midst of this dark world. Below are 10 basic fundamentals:   1. Authentic Godly Love: Every Christian parent must begin with the master virtue of love. You must ask God to help you love your children in the same unconditional, selfless, and life-giving way that God loves us. Parenting without love only leads to temporary change in behavior, not permanent change of the heart. Our children must know that regardless of their behavior or performance, we love them. This is the ground upon which effective discipline is applied. Love in the Christian parent is an ordered love. Our love must first be toward Christ our Savior, which will flow into a healthy love for one’s husband or wife. When two parents love the Lord and each other, only then are they prepared to rightly love their children. If love has dried up toward God and one’s spouse, the children will know and be seriously affected by this family dysfunction. “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). When you love your child for Jesus’s sake, you will see the best in them, hope in them, and more readily forgive their sins. 2. Discipline and Authority: It is absolutely imperative that a Christian parent strive to bring their child under their God-given parental authority as early as possible in the child’s life. A child is not a blank slate of wonderful self-expression waiting to be enjoyed by those in the family. Children are born in sin and grow into rebellious adults if they do not learn to come under authority. Long before a child can learn about the grace of God in Jesus, a child must learn about the authority of their father and mother. A Christian household must be a parent-directed household, not a child-directed household. The parent is directing, guiding, educating, and disciplining the child to shape their mind, body, character, and soul. The Christian parent does not allow the child to do whatever they want. There are many forms of effective Christian discipline, but I firmly believe appropriate spanking should be the baseline for small children in normal Christian homes. Proverbs is a book of divinely inspired wisdom – Scripture that we should not ignore. Proverbs speaks of the wisdom of a measured amount of pain in “the rod” effectively shaping the character of a small child when correctly applied in love and self-control (Prov 13:24, 22:15, 23:13-14, 29:15). I understand the need to depart from this baseline when disciplining abused and traumatized children, but don’t make the mistake of turning the exception into the rule. Lastly, strive to discern with wisdom the difference between childishness and rebellion. A child should only be disciplined for intentional willful rebellion. 3. Evangelism: From the earliest days of our children’s lives we should be seeking the salvation of their soul. It must be the abiding number one goal for the life of your child. You must pray and drive toward the salvation of the soul of your child before all things. This is an act of prayer and faith. You cannot make your child believe, but you can train them up in the ways of the Lord and actively seek for them to confess their sins and believe in Jesus. Most parents have other primary goals for their children, but the Christian parent must understand that if their child gains the whole world but loses their own soul, all has been lost. Evangelizing the souls of our children must come first. 4. Spiritual Training and Discipleship: Children will come to salvation by “means of grace.” This means they will come to understand who Jesus is, His love for them, how their sins can be forgiven, and what heaven is by the means of learning from the Bible and worshiping the Lord with other Christians in church. Children love stories. Read them good Bible story books; there is no better age for your children to become familiar with Bible characters. Make church a priority. Have them in “big church” church worship services every week and in children’s teaching where it may be available. Pray as a family, read the Bible together as a family, have everyday conversations about the character and moral commands of God. Lastly, genuinely model by living what you preach in front of your kids. 5. Time: Both parents must spend time with their children. However, the time a mother spends with her young children is designed by God. The primary (not only, but primary) role of a wife and mother is the nurturing of children and the making of a home. If God has given you children, then He has given you the duty to care for that child. If it is financially impossible for mom to be the primary caregiver to the children and to oversee a safe, nurturing, and loving home, then this should become a goal both parents strive toward. No paid worker can love, discipline, and nurture your child like mom can. No extra money or career goal is worth giving up the precious early years of shaping the hearts and minds of your small kids. We live in a crazy busy world, a world where we must make time to be with our kids. We must say no to other less important things, so we can say yes to investing directly in their lives. This involves the investment of time and money. Yes, we invest in our kids, and it will pay a wonderful dividend. One important thing to not overlook is investing in good memories together as a family. 6. Words of Blessing and Affirmation: We must constantly speak words of blessing to our children. Each child must know you are their biggest fan, not their biggest critic. For every word of correction, let there be ten words of affirmation and praise. It takes intentionality to speak this way. It means you are actively looking each day for how to fill up your child’s heart with words and actions of love. Part of these words are words of prayer. You should pray for and with your child. This should not just be cute formulaic prayers of repetition, but your children hearing you speak to God in prayer. By hearing you, they will also learn how to pray. 7. Food and Nutrition: Food is fuel for the body. Diets made up of high sugar, starch, fat, and processed food are not healthy for anyone. It’s not fair to fill a child with sugar and caffeine and expect good behavior. Please set your child up for success by feeding them healthy low sugar and low/no caffeine diets. It’s common knowledge that homemade meals are cheaper and better for you than standard restaurant fare. Healthy home-cooked meals take a significant investment of time but produce powerful results of physical health in children. Home-cooked meals also play a role in creating healthy rhythms of daily family conversation and prayer around the dinner table. Consider investing more heavily in this area. 8. Drugs: In our day, drugs are often given to small and elementary aged kids as a substitute for discipline and parenting. Many modern non-Christian worldviews don’t have a place for discipline but also will not allow unruly behavior. This often results in children being drugged. Drugs can never shape the character or soul of a young child, they only dull the senses and keep them “calm.” However, the high-energy, stubbornness, endless pretending, and flighty creativity of young children is the foundation of greatness in later adults. These God-given qualities, which may not show well in crowded standardized classes, must be molded, channeled, nurtured, and shaped through appropriate discipline – not stamped out and dulled. 9. Asking for forgiveness and receiving forgiveness: It is vital that as a parent when you wrong your child that you ask for their forgiveness. You and your children know you are a sinner. If you model asking for and receiving forgiveness you will be modeling the Gospel for them. If you wrong them, but never ask forgiveness, you will model pride to them. 10. Perseverance: Never, ever, ever give up on your children. When things get rough, go back to these fundamentals and keep applying them. Aim first at the heart, love them deeply, pray for them and over them, tell them the truth, and hold them accountable for their sins. The older they get, spend more time asking questions and engaging them in meaningful conversation. Give them to God in faith.   May the Lord save all our children. May not one be lost to this world! Pastor Vic