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Redeemer Bible Church Blog

Samaritan’s Purse

Samaritan’s Purse
 

“… But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” – Acts 1:8 ESV


On December 10, 2021, Jessica (not her real name), a single mom in her late 30’s, with 3 boys, was in Paducah, KY, 27 miles north of Mayfield, for job training. She had left two of her sons at home, one staying in her house in Mayfield and the other down the street at his best friend’s home. Her oldest son was out of town that night. She was struggling about whether or not to return home early because weather forecasters had been warning of potential dangerous tornadic conditions which would be present in the area that evening. Forecasters at the National Weather Service became increasingly concerned as the day wore on due to the worsening conditions.

Early that evening, as tornado warnings began being issued for the region, Jessica decided to drive the 27 miles back home to be with her sons, praying for their protection all the way. As she left, a warning had just been issued for all people in the Mayfield area to seek shelter immediately, a massive tornado was on the ground and headed directly for the town. She called her son at home who said that everything was fine, currently. A few minutes later he called her back and was scared, saying he could see the tornado coming and it was really bad, moments later the phone went dead; Jessica was still miles from home.

Later, as Jessica got closer to Mayfield, she was passed by scores of emergency response vehicles headed to Mayfield. As she pulled into Mayfield, she was shocked and terrified at what she saw. The once thriving town was no more. The tornado had completely demolished or damaged every structure in the downtown area. Debris, downed electrical lines and emergency vehicles blocked her path to her home which was in the path of destruction. Jessica then received a call from her son that he was ok and that his brother was ok as well. The family her other son was staying with lost their entire house and their pets; the only room remaining was the room they were sheltering in.

That tornado was one of the most destructive in U.S. history. It was on the ground for 165 miles, with a death toll of 90, including 24 in Mayfield, hundreds injured, thousands left homeless and over 1.5 billion USD in damage. Jessica’s story is not unique, thousands more like her lost everything – houses, cars, belongings, jobs and loved ones. In a matter of minutes, everything was gone. Within hours Samaritan’s Purse was on the scene providing disaster relief and temporary shelter for those displaced. Once the disaster relief phase was over, Samaritan’s Purse began a rebuild operation to begin rebuilding scores of homes lost in the storm. Their purpose is not just to bring physical relief but to provide spiritual relief as well. During the rebuilding process, numerous victims of the tornado came to salvation through the spreading of the Gospel by Samaritan’s Purse staff and volunteers.

In January of this year, we began planning a mission trip for our youth, and we wanted to instill in them that Jesus gives a definite order of focus for our missionary efforts in Acts 1:8. First, we must be missionaries in our own homes, then our communities and nation, yet, not neglecting other nations. We were able to partner with Samaritan’s Purse for the Mayfield, KY rebuild project, and in July we sent 14 students and adult chaperones to Kentucky to help rebuild the town of Mayfield.

The experience made a tremendous impact on all who went. The work was hard and most days the heat index was well over 100 degrees, but none of the students or adult leaders ever complained. In fact, our group left a profound impression on the Samaritan’s Purse staff on site. Our kids were constantly engaged, respectful and always going above and beyond what was asked of them. The work also provided a tangible sense of accomplishment whether it was building steps to the house, painting, doing trim work, installing railing or moving dirt from one area to another, we got to see and experience what it takes to actually build a house.

It was always a blessing when the future homeowners would show up to see the progress on their new house. All work would cease and we were encouraged to fellowship with the visitors for as long as they were there. You see, Samaritan’s Purse’s main mission is relational. They don’t want the work, while very important, to take precedence over the souls for whom they are serving. We were encouraged to share the Gospel with them or just listen to them while they were on site.

The locals would frequently express their gratitude to us for being there when out and about. At one construction site in town, a local man rode up on a bike and commented to a Samaritan’s Purse foreman that “these people don’t deserve these brand new houses you are giving them.” The foreman replied, “I agree with you, I didn’t deserve the grace that God gave me either,” and that was the end of the conversation.

Our group wanted for nothing the minute we showed up on site. Samaritan’s Purse covered everything except the expense to get us there. Their logistical operation was impressive and their staff, even more so. From the minute we arrived we were treated as family and not as just another group of people here this week and gone the next. The staff took time to get to know us and made us feel welcomed and a part of their “family” while there. It did not matter that none of us really had any construction skills, their foremen were very skilled in their craft and, also, very good teachers full of grace and patience. Every morning before starting work, we would pray for each other and during lunch, we would all share our testimonies with the foremen and staff, so by the end of the week, we really got to know each other well.

I know that Kimberly and I will be returning to another rebuild trip or disaster relief trip with Samaritan’s Purse, and I would encourage you to look into it also. You don’t need to be a part of a group or church to go on missions with them, you can go as an individual, if you’d like. If you are interested in participating, want more information on what Samaritan’s Purse does or just want to donate, please visit them online at samaritanspurse.org.

I will leave you with the rest of Jessica’s story. She was renting to own the “house” she was living in. I put the term “house” in quotations because her landlord led her to believe that it was a house she was buying. The tornado had picked up her house and rotated it on its foundation, breaking apart most of the floors inside. When a crew came out to assess the damage, they told her that she wasn’t, in fact, living in a house, but that it was a double wide trailer which had siding and underpinning put on to make it look like a house and that it was a total loss. The landlord refused to repair the damage or provide her with another place to live.

She still lives in that damaged trailer and the week before we arrived that area experienced the biggest flood in history, 11 inches of rain in a day and a half. Her whole street flooded and all the houses around her experienced flooding on the ground floor. Jessica, who loves the Lord, as she saw the waters approaching her ground floor, called Marsha, a Samaritan’s Purse staff member whom she was friends with and asked her to pray for her. Marsha got the other staff members to immediately pray that the waters would not flood her house. Jessica showed me pictures and video of the water that night and as the houses around her flooded, the water at her house never rose above the threshold of the top step. Her place was spared but her only car was washed away, a complete loss.

As Jessica recounts this story to me, she is full of joy, with no bitterness or sadness apparent. In just a short time, she will be receiving a brand new home, in a new neighborhood and handed a bill for the house which includes the total construction cost for the home. Stamped across this bill in large letters will be the phrase, “Paid In Full.”

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” Rom 8:28 ESV


In Christ,
Mark

The Need for Meaning in Life

The Need for Meaning in Life


The ever present search for meaning in life is something that scholars and philosophers have debated and searched for seemingly as long as written communication has existed.  Philosophers of old like Socrates and Plato believed that the pursuit of knowledge was the meaning of life while Aristotle held to a belief that simply being a good person was sufficient. He believed that virtue was the goal but there was no list of virtues because that knowledge should be instinctual. 

Modern philosophers have grouped the varying ways of defining meaning into three main views:  Supernaturalism, Naturalism (3 forms), and Nihilism.  Supernaturalism is the view that god (small “g”) exists in some form and we derive meaning from knowing and relating well to him/her/it.  Naturalism is the belief that meaning can be derived from seeking and obtaining various goals in life without the need for a god to define what meaning is or is not.  The final view, Nihilism, is a form of Naturalism. It states there is no god, but is distinct in that it holds there is no meaning to life.  Life simply is … and then you die.  We see the influence of each of these views in our lives today though usually not identified in a proper philosophical fashion. 

The Supernaturalist view makes its way into our world by holding to a vague acknowledgement of a god and to the principles laid out by the religion that is associated with that god.  These would include Eastern Mysticism (all roads lead to god), various forms of New Age thought (speak positivity into the world and it will return to you), Islam (earn your way to god), as well as the vaguely Christianized yet undefined moralism that has plagued our western society for centuries, referred to by Vic as “Country Music Jesus.”  Philosophers include biblical Christianity in this viewpoint, however, I will argue that it is entirely different.  The problem with the viewpoints outside of biblical Christianity is they are seeking after a “higher power” who is impotent and powerless to affect this life or the next.  This generally results from following a god of their own making who, while cloaked in divine descriptions, more closely resembles the golden calf created by the Israelites while Moses was on Mt Sinai than it does an omnipotent, sovereign Lord. 
   
The Naturalist views have been prevalent for about a century and usually take the form of statements like: “The meaning of life is different for each person.” “Do what makes you happy.” And the too often used, “You do you.”  The slightly more objective viewpoint may sound like “loving and caring for others provides meaning,” “contributing to the betterment of the world,” or possibly, “we have a duty to help others and that gives meaning to life.”  The problem that the Naturalist has is the word “meaning” has no meaning.  If there is no god, then anything goes. Morality and meaning are defined in a thousand different ways leading to utter confusion and the breakdown of a common understanding of concepts like marriage, family, right, wrong, or even what a man or a woman is with specificity. 
  
The Nihilist is the easiest, and to me most intellectually honest (albeit wrong), viewpoint.  There is no god, there is no meaning.  Life simply happens for some reason or no reason.  There is no morality.  You live it however you wish.  When you die that’s it.  While intellectually honest, the Nihilist has one glaring problem. With nothing governing the thought processes or actions, life becomes entirely about self.  This results in vile, wretched, miserable humans devoid of anything that looks like hope, love, peace, or goodness. 
We see this progression in our own country.  What started out as a strong influence of biblical Christianity in the early years of the US, evolved into a “man upstairs,” higher power,” “the big guy” view of God.  Little meaning or foundation could be gleaned from this fake god, so people began seeking meaning in viewpoints not associated with God.  Since the Naturalist view has no power and is based solely on what the individual deems most important to them, the societal norms eventually break down.  What is left is chaos and Nihilism.     

Each of these viewpoints promises to provide meaning in this life, or at least show that it doesn’t exist.  None of them, however, answer the basic question: “Why do I search for meaning in the first place?”  Why do all humans desire to live a life that rises above that lived by the animals?  To answer that question we need to go to Genesis.

As God formed the universe and everything in it, He made Adam and Eve as his crowning achievement in creation. They, and only they, were created in the image of God. 

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness …’”  -Gen 1:26


It is in our nature, as image bearers of God, to desire to live a life that means something.  Everything in creation has a purpose for its existence but it cannot provide meaning to something or someone else.  Since God is the creator and life giver, then, as the only sovereign, it is from Him that we derive meaning.  That comes from the one true God alone. 

If this is true, then what is mankind’s purpose or meaning?  God reveals to Isaiah speaking of the faithful remnant in Israel:

“Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”   -Is 43:7

“There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, Nor are there any works like Yours. All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And they shall glorify Your name.  For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.”     -Ps 86:8-10

 “Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”   -1 Cor 10:1

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”  -1 Cor 6:19-20


We see in these verses, and throughout scripture, that our main purpose in this life is to submit to the lordship of God and seek His glory in all things.  Paul stresses that our very bodies are His temple.  A temple has but one purpose and that is to house and facilitate the worship of the one to whom it is dedicated.  The Westminster Shorter Catechism states it plainly, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”              

As we continually seek meaning in our lives, and those of our family, we must believe and be committed to understanding that our very existence has one purpose, and that is to glorify the One to whom all glory belongs.  As we struggle with sin (ours and others’) we must remember that we battle against our flesh because it does not bring glory to God.  We fight and work for every ounce of obedience and maturity we gain, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to live a life that at its end renders the most desired response of all, “Well done good and faithful servant.”  That is our purpose. That is the true meaning of life.  There can be none higher.
 
-Clay

Book Review

Book Review
 
Men and Women in the Church: A Short, Biblical, Practical Introduction
By Kevin DeYoung 

             
I expect that, for at least the next generation, issues of gender and gender definition will continue to be the most significant point of struggle between biblical Christianity and the world. All the struggle on these issues out in the world are now fully bleeding into the church. This past year at the Southern Baptist Convention, issues of complementarian gender definition and gender roles in the church was the most significant topic of the convention. The Bible speaks regularly of gender, sexual ethics, and gender roles in the church. Some of these passages are difficult to interpret, and some of these passages are outrageously offensive to our non-Christian culture. The offense of these passages relates to how far we have drifted from what God designed and intended within Christian marriage and then leadership in the church.
             
To help define, clarify, and explain most of the key issues facing gender roles in the local church, I strongly recommend this book by pastor Kevin DeYoung. As with all of DeYoung’s books, his writing is very clear, but also serious and careful. He begins with basic interpretation of scripture, beginning with Genesis and the creation purposes of God. He then surveys the Old Testament, bringing us to the time of Jesus. He helps the reader understand what Jesus changed in the New Covenant and what remains the same from creation. I believe chapters four through seven are the most valuable of the book. Here DeYoung dives right into interpreting and explaining some of the most thorny passages in the New Testament concerning the roles of men and women in the church: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, 14:33-35, Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Timothy 2:8-15, and 1 Timothy 3:1-13.
             
Based on these helpful interpretations and theology, DeYoung moves into the second half of the book addressing particular, practical outworkings of these teachings in the local church today. His insight comes from a pastor that has been in the trenches for a long time and understands what it means to first honor the Lord, but also to have a passion for people. There is a necessity to explain truth, convince people of that truth, and then lead them to walk in that truth. This type of leadership results in clarity and harmony in the church on difficult issues.
             
I recommend that you read this book and wrestle with what is being said here. You may agree already, or these things may be highly offensive to you. If this book offends you, I suggest you spend the most time reading the first half related to biblical foundations – then let’s get together and talk some. The further our world slides toward the complete perversion of transgenderism, the more counter-cultural a biblical church will be. However, our goal is not to be controversial, but to be faithful. As we live faithful Christian lives there will be harmony in our homes that will carry over into harmony in the church. May the Lord Jesus be with us in this time, strengthening the marriages and families at Redeemer and strengthening our love for each other. May we learn and grow in what it means to be Christian men and women, and how we should live out our gender in the local church.
 
Encouraging you to read this book,
Pastor Vic

Mayfield Mission

Mayfield Mission
“As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”
John 17:18 

             
This verse is from Jesus’ prayer for His disciples just before He goes to the cross. Jesus was sent into the midst of this sinful world by God the Father for the salvation of sinners. Jesus was Immanuel, which means ‘God with us.’ In a similar way, Jesus commands His disciples to go out into the world bearing His gospel. We are expressly taught by Jesus not to only love those who love us, but to go to the weak, the poor, our enemies, and those who can offer us nothing in return. Going to such people to teach, pray, and serve in Jesus’ name is the basis of Christian mission. All of us should live each day with a mindset of missions, and in various ways strive to go out on mission in more sacrificial ways.
             
This week we have a group going out from Redeemer Spotsy Village to join with a Samaritans Purse larger effort to help rebuild homes and minister in Jesus’ name to the people of Mayfield, KY. This area was hit some months ago by a massive and devastating tornado. Through death and destruction, the area was ravaged. Those without full insurance lost everything they had. Samaritans Purse took up the effort to rebuild houses for those in need and we are responding to their call for volunteers to help. Our team leaves early this Sunday morning. Many thanks to Mark and Kimberly Alexander for pursuing and putting together this mission opportunity.
 
Our team:

  • Mark Alexander
  • Sherry Morgan
  • Amy Quann
  • Paul Jany
  • Luke Jany
  • Ethan Jany
  • Nathan Quann
  • Caleb Morgan
  • James Carpenter
  • Viktor Potter
  • Bekah Nichols
  • Avery Jenkins
  • Grace North
  • Hayleigh Vickerman

Please keep this team and those in need in Mayfield, KY in your prayers this week. Please pray for:

  • Harmony and joyful team spirit between all who are on the trip.
  • Opportunity for gospel conversations and prayer with those in KY.
  • The ability to accomplish productive and safe work.
  • Personal spiritual growth and transformation for each team member through missional work.

 
May the Lord bless the work of their hands,
Pastor Vic

At the Feet of Jesus

At the Feet of Jesus

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”
Isaiah 26:3-4
             

Last Sunday I referred to the above verse and its relation to Isaiah 30:15, “In returning and rest you will be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” I would like to connect these verses to a scene and teaching in the ministry of Jesus to help us better understand what is being taught and how we can apply these teachings to our lives.
             
In Luke 10:38 Jesus enters a village and is welcomed into the home of two sisters – Mary and Martha. These two sisters were opposites. When Jesus came into their home the audience of disciples came in as well, and Jesus began to teach. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus listening to and considering the precious words of the Son of God. However, Martha saw many people in her home and a need to serve them all. As Jesus taught, Martha was hustling to make sure the “needs” of the people were met. It was her perception that the priority of the moment was to physically serve the people. The crowd of people created a significant amount of work. As she hustled back and forth doing what she felt was important, with each pass she saw her sister sitting there doing “nothing.”
             
At some point in her frustration, Martha actually goes up to Jesus, interrupts His teaching, rebukes Jesus, and works to publicly shame her sister. Martha starts with Jesus. She’s so exasperated that everyone is listening to Jesus, and no one is helping her – especially not her sister – that she accuses Jesus of being hard-hearted. She then appeals to Jesus to make Mary help her with her work of hospitality. Martha expects Jesus to back her and to be vindicated in front of the crowd as the righteous and industrious sister.
             
Jesus in His perfect love and patience turns the situation around completely. With compassion Jesus overlooks Martha’s rudeness and pride, and He directly points out that her value system is all out of order. Jesus points out that she is anxious and troubled in her soul about many things. This lack of rest in her soul drives her to “work more for Jesus,” but Jesus doesn’t want or need her to work for Him. Martha is not really doing her work for Jesus – she is doing the work to satisfy her own felt needs and her own contrived ideas of what is best in this situation. Her wrong mindset creates a busyness that shuts out the voice of Jesus and creates a sinful frustrated attitude.
             
Jesus tells Martha that all her hustling around is not necessary and that her sister Mary has chosen the better option. In fact, Mary has chosen the necessary course of action. Whatever service Martha was rendering was not necessary. Mary intently listening to and hearing Jesus was necessary. Mary chose wisely and Jesus would not send her away to do lesser things, and so robbing her of the privilege of hearing Him teach. It’s a shocking turn around and a passage of major importance to modern America.
             
Isaiah is teaching us that our salvation will be found in trust, rest, quietness, and staying our mind on the Lord. This has everything to do with Mary’s example to us. Mary’s example is choosing to take advantage of an opportunity to quiet her heart and “sit at the feet of Jesus.” She is choosing to set her mind on Jesus, that she might trust Him more. This quietness before Jesus, listening to and hearing His word is absolutely necessary to godliness. Today we come into the teaching presence of Jesus by prayerfully and quietly reading God’s word, the Bible. It is by personally studying the Bible and being under the preaching of God’s word that we “sit at the feet of Jesus.”
             
We must make time and actual life choices to put ourselves in this quiet place before Jesus. There have always been endless possible distractions to prevent us from making time to listen to Jesus. For Judah in the time of Isaiah, the people were rebellious – intentionally turning away from the Lord. But we must realize that choosing to turn away from the Lord can have many forms. Martha is one of those forms. She chooses “good” service over necessary personal devotion to Jesus. Americans love to pride themselves in busy service, but often neglect necessary personal devotion to Jesus.
             
I urge you to hear the words of Isaiah and of Jesus. Quiet your heart, make time by cutting out lesser things. Pray and ask God to speak to your heart. Open the Bible and begin to carefully read for understanding what is before you in Scripture. In this, your mind will be stayed on the love of Jesus and peace will guard your heart.
 
Trust in the Lord forever,
Pastor Vic

Book Review

Book Review

“Christ-Centered Conflict Resolution: A Guide for Turbulent Times”
By Tony Merida
 

I highly recommend reading this short and practical book on conflict resolution. Because we are sinners conflict enters every relationship, but this is especially true for our nearest family and work relationships. Why is that? As sinners, the more time we spend with someone the more opportunity there is to disagree and come into conflict with them. Most books on conflict resolution deal only with behavior modification, not with true heart change. In raising children, it is never enough to only modify their behavior without truly reaching their heart. To see true life change in a child there must be heart change toward loving Jesus. Conflict resolution between adults is the same. Behavior modification will only take you so far and is a dead-end road. To break out from conflict there must be true heart change through the salvation of Jesus Christ.

Chapter one addresses cravings and conflict. This chapter walks through aspects of James 3:13-18 and the way that our own selfish desires and ambition lead to disorder and conflict in our relationships. This chapter begins the tone of the entire book that each person must recognize the biggest problem in relationship conflict is within your own heart. This recognizes that you cannot force change on another person and should not blame-shift the cause of struggle always away from yourself. The situation that you can fully address in any conflict relates to your own heart and situation. In each conflict we should be looking to be a peacemaker by laying down our rights, rather than stoking the fires of conflict through selfishness and demanding our rights.

Chapter two speaks to true peace in conflict coming from the cross of Jesus Christ. Merida writes, “You will not pursue Christ-centered conflict resolution if your heart is not captivated by Christ. If Christ doesn’t reign supreme in your life, then your peacemaking efforts will fall short. We cannot make peace with others horizontally without rightly worshipping the Prince of Peace vertically.” This chapter is all about the necessity of giving Jesus the first place in the affections of our heart. Loving Jesus with joy and authenticity leads to chapter five, “Love One Another.”

Chapter three focuses on what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit and so bear the beautiful fruits of the Spirit. The Christian life must be a Spirit-filled life where we seek the work of the Lord to change us from what we once were, to who we ought to be in Christ. Merida writes, “The first way God helps you manage conflict in your life is not to change the circumstances or the other person, but to change you from the inside out by the power of the Spirit. Conflicts only change as the people involved in them change.” The chapter then goes into exploring and applying the fruits of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control with helpful and practical applications.

Chapter four addresses the necessity of overcoming evil with good. So often we lament evil or major problems and give up in the face of these things. Based on an exposition of Romans 12 Merida presses us to understand the call of Jesus to overcome evil with good. We go forward by our salvation and in the power of the Holy Spirit to actively bless and do good to our enemies in conflict. This begins with putting to death selfishness, “We overcome evil by setting our hearts and minds on Jesus. Our love for Jesus must be greater than our love for self.” By moving past selfishness, we can truly see the needs of others and think of them in light of what they may need or how we can be a blessing to them.

Chapter five circles back to chapter two. Through the cross of Jesus Christ sinful people are reconciled to a Holy God. Through the cross of Jesus the love of God is poured out on those who believe in His salvation. We are then to go out and minister that love to a lost and dying world. As Christians we cannot remain at odds with those around us – especially not with our closest relations. We must instead be actively filled with the love of Christ and minister that love to others. Our lives should actively demonstrate gentleness, kindness, hopefulness, and practical acts of compassion to those we know. Our love should be sacrificial and thoughtful, the opposite of selfishness, impatience, and demanding our rights. These acts of love are a tangible demonstration of our true conversion.

Chapter six is filled with practical applications of the concepts contained in chapters one through five. This chapter speaks to practical introspection, over-looking minor issues, forgiveness and restoration for major conflicts, restitution for damages, necessary mediation in some cases, and church discipline in others.

In conclusion, to make progress in degraded relationships you must grow as a person and in your soul. Growth requires effort and application on your part. I encourage you to read this little book and be challenged to grow. Reading is a thoughtful and active process that engages the mind and the heart. Reading this book will cause you to actively think about your own situation and allow the Holy Spirit to convict and shape your heart.
 
I hope you find this helpful. May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts,
Pastor Vic

 ________________________

Further connections from the sermon this past week:

  • Isaiah 25:6 speaks of a coming heavenly feast of rich food and well-aged wine but is unclear what this means. It is a scene of hope, plenty, and rejoicing.
  • Luke 14:7-24 & Matthew 22:1-22 are two different, but similar parables spoken by Jesus about the nature of the Kingdom of God. Both of these parables relate to the coming kingdom being like a great wedding feast. Many are invited to the bountiful and freely offered feast, but the rich and the busy make excuses and are not interested in coming. In response the host sends his servants out into the streets to invite the poor, the weak, and the diseased to come to this feast, and they rejoice over such an occasion. These parables give more clarity to the feasting concept spoken by Isaiah.
  • Revelation 19:6-10 speaks to the final image of these things – the “marriage supper of the Lamb.” In this glorious heavenly scene of rejoicing the feast spoken of in Isaiah is refined down to the redeemed church of Jesus Christ (the poor and weak brought in by grace) presented as a bride at a wedding feast. Jesus our Redeemer is presented as the groom at the wedding feast and also as the Lamb of God (speaking to how he gave His life in sacrifice to redeem His bride, the church). In the scene, worship, rejoicing, and eternal hope overflow in heavenly feasting and eternal joy. The redemption of God finally complete!

Religious Liberty

Religious Liberty

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” I John 5:3
 
The Declaration of Independence; July 4, 1776:
“… We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness …”
 
The US Bill of Rights – Amendment 1 to the US Constitution; 1791:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
             

As we approach Independence Day, I believe it’s important to revisit what this meant to our forefathers, and what it should still mean to us today. We are deeply blessed to live in America and should not take this blessing for granted. In 1776 brave men signed the Declaration of Independence, committing themselves to the “protection of divine Providence” and pledging themselves to struggle for liberty – or die trying. These signers believed passionately that they had been created by God, and as such were given certain rights by God. These rights:

  • to live (and not be unjustly killed or imprisoned)
  • to be free (and not be arbitrarily controlled as the subject of a king or tyrannical government acting in the place of God)
  • to pursue a good life (and not be oppressed by the taxation of government to the point that their lives existed to forcibly enrich others – the work of their hands should first enrich their own lives as the fruit of their personal property)

These rights were not granted by a king and could not be taken away by a king. They are basic rights given to every person and we should not forget this. These rights translate into the basic Christian tenets of limited government. Limited government means that civil government was never meant to rule all our lives and fix all our problems. Civil government is one sphere of distinct authority in the world. The other two distinct spheres of authority are the Christian church and the family. All three of these spheres of authority must continue in their own distinct ways, playing the role God has designed for them in human existence.

Our forefathers declared their independence when the monarchy of civil government had grown up to oppress the family and the church. It’s of tremendous importance to note that when the war was won and the constitution signed into authority, the first amendment of the Bill of Rights speaks to religious liberty. Religious liberty is the first and most important liberty. The language of this amendment is particular and must be remembered. It states that civil government does not have the authority to pass any law to restrict the practice of religion. This speaks to the separation of authorities. Civil government does not have the authority to regulate God’s church. Instead, the church informs our conscience so that we might be good and peaceable citizens. The church does not serve the authority of government, but limited government is subject to the moral will of God.

The declaration also speaks to how no law should prohibit the free exercise of religion. This means that each citizen of these United States has the right to act on what they believe. Many today want to say a person has the right to believe what they choose but cannot act on that belief in the public square. If a person is forced to speak and act like a liberal secular humanist in the public square, then religious liberty has been lost. We must keep struggling for the liberty to act and speak openly as Christians. Jesus is clear that if we say we love Him, we must obey His commands. If we say we are followers of Jesus Christ, we must live according to His ways. This living according to the ways of Jesus is what has always brought Christians into conflict with non-Christian culture. We are not living under a strange or new conflict. We should not be seeking conflict, but never flinching to live a full and authentic biblical Christian life.

With the recent appointment of three distinctly constitutional Supreme Court justices, we are enjoying a re-birth of religious liberty in America. Let’s celebrate this renewed liberty this July 4, and re-double our efforts to see this first liberty never erode in our lifetimes. Let’s realize that without the first liberty of the free practice of church gathering and worship, government will grow without limit. If you want to see proper limits on government, begin with going to church this Sunday and setting your eyes on the King of Kings, giving your first allegiance to Jesus the Savior.

Let’s joyfully live in full obedience to Jesus, for His glory and our blessing,
Pastor Vic

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Notes from the sermon this past Sunday: “Fallen From Heaven – Isaiah 14:12-15”

Who is Satan?

  • god of this world – 2 Corinthians 4:4
  • ruler of this world – John 14:30, 16:11
  • prince of this world – John 12:31
  • has the power of death – Hebrews 2:14
  • like a strong armed man – Luke 11:21
  • given power over the air (this world) – Ephesians 2:2
  • like a prowling lion – 1 Peter 5:8
  • a sinner from the beginning – 1 John 3:8
  • a liar and the father of lies – John 8:39-47

What should we expect from Him?

  • Genesis 3 pattern of temptation:
    • Doubt of God’s word
    • Denial of God’s word
    • Direct lies about God’s word

How should we react to this?

  • expect spiritual struggle – 1 Peter 5:8
  • submit yourself to God and resist the Devil – 1 Peter 5:9, James 4:7
  • give no opportunity to evil in your life – Ephesians 4:7
  • do not be careless or fearful or negligent in the things of God – 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
  • be strong in the Lord, protected by His power – Ephesians 6:10-18
  • pray for deliverance from evil and temptation as a part of your regular prayers – Matthew 6:13

What will be his end?

  • Hell has been prepared for Satan’s sure punishment – Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:7-10
  • For now must receive permission to act in a limited way – Job 1:6, 2:1
  • In the end, soon enough, the Lord will crush Satan – Romans 16:20

SBC Annual Meeting

SBC Annual Meeting
 

Last week I attended my first Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. Redeemer Bible Church is a Southern Baptist affiliated church. Six percent of every dollar given to Redeemer goes to the SBC cooperative program. The SBC is in the news often for many reasons, mainly because it’s the largest Protestant Christian denomination in America, at 47,000 cooperating churches. I have been troubled by some of the news I read about the convention and its leadership, and felt it was important to attend this year. I appreciate Kelvy Donovan and Karen Robinson joining me.
             
In the past I served with a tactical team. Every time there was an emergency of some sort the first thing leadership did was send out an advance team to get the ground truth of what was actually happening. Without fail, the report the advance team would send was different than the news scuttle or the hearsay gossip. We always took action on what was actually happening, not on the news and gossip. This was certainly the case with this year’s convention.
             
For starters, if you’re new to the SBC, or know very little about SBC history, I urge you to look up a podcast to get a good history lesson. The podcast is “B21” (for Baptists in the 21st Century) Episode 133: A Conversation About the SBC with Nathan Finn. Nathan was a classmate of mine at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) and a central denominational leader in our time. It will help you get up to speed. Listen to the end. I very much agree with his closing statements.
             
Next, it’s imperative to understand that the SBC is a massive organization. Huge organizations have pros and cons – good and bad. We’re a part of the SBC for the good, and push back against and monitor the bad. The two major good things about a very large cooperating ministry group (denomination) is: (1) it presents to the unbelieving world a large unified group that demonstrates something of the universal church of Jesus Christ. This is in contrast to countless small, fragmented, disagreeing, non-cooperating smaller groups of churches. (2) The very large pooling of funds and personnel allows for major things to be accomplished. For instance, Southern Baptist Churches will support thousands of foreign gospel preaching missionaries in countries all over the world next year through funding to the International Mission Board to the tune of nearly $100,000,000. That’s amazing! The IMB is the largest foreign missionary sending organization in the world. Next, let me speak to the seminaries.  Our six seminaries are known for solid Bible teaching, missionary gospel zeal, and sound scholarship at an affordable price. You should visit a campus sometime. As a minister, I am a product of Southern and Southeastern. This would not be possible without the SBC contributing $43,000,000 to these seminaries this year. Ministers and missionaries from every conservative branch of Christianity in the world benefit from these seminaries.
             
Now to the convention this year. It’s a 48 hour massive business meeting (12,500 messengers from SBC churches all over the country) where we hash out business as a group and decide what kind of a group we are going to be. In short, I was very encouraged by this year’s meeting. A group this large will make small steps each year in the right direction or the wrong direction – moving toward God’s word or away from it toward cultural accommodation. This year we made moves to clarify (1) that we are firmly gender complementarian, (2) that we understand the role of all Christians, men or women, participating in the great commission of Jesus, but affirm only spiritually qualified men can fill the role of pastor in a local church, (3) that we must continue to protect our vulnerable children from sexual predators, but that we needed to redirect some of our efforts that got off track last year.

I will speak directly to these things after our member meeting Sunday afternoon, and take your questions, but here’s my quick round up:

  • Pastor Bart Barber was re-elected SBC President for a second year. You can only hold the office twice, so this will be his last year. He did an excellent job leading the meeting and under his leadership every thing I’m about to outline happened last year. He is a calm, unifying, Bible-believing, mission-oriented leader that is doing a good job at our helm.
  • We passed nine resolutions. These are statements made by the SBC that declare who we are and what we stand for. See the resolutions here: https://www.sbc.net/resource-library/resolutions/  These resolutions squarely identify us as a people that are holding the line on biblical gender and sexual ethics. This is THE biggest issue of our time and I’m proud to say these resolutions were passed with majorities in the 90% range. They all point toward complementarianism. This means that men and women are created equal in personhood, worth, and dignity before God, but are different from each other in essential ways that work to create one whole in the bond of marriage. Husband and wife / father and mother together make one in marriage, creating a healthy God-designed home, and those families join together building healthy churches. There is much to be said here. If you would like to learn more, I suggest Kevin DeYoung’s book “Men and Women in the Church” or visit the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. The opposite of this is egalitarianism, which promotes the concept that men and women are essentially the same with no substantial or God-ordained role differences. This is the first step toward transgenderism, which is the idea that one’s gender can be changed because it is self-determined, rather than determined by God.
  • We appointed 78 NEW foreign missionaries to go to foreign lands all over the globe. It took nearly an hour for them to all introduce themselves and say something about their work! Many were introduced behind screens and without last names because they will go to lands hostile to the gospel. We must be faithful to pray for these faithful and courageous brothers and sisters. The Walkers are with the IMB on the field now. Pick up a prayer card at the welcome table and participate in their ministry through prayer.
  • We acted on our statement of faith that only spiritually qualified men can fill the office of pastor by rejecting the appeal, and disfellowshipping Saddleback Community Church (Pastor Rick Warren). This was one of the largest SBC churches and came on the heels of Warren retiring and handpicking a husband and wife team to fill his senior pastoral role. The wife, and other women, often fill the pulpit to preach at Saddleback. Warren had passionately hoped to use his influence to set a new precedent in SBC life, but was voted out by 88% of messengers.
  • The sexual abuse task force was continued for another year, but has terminated it’s relationship with Guidepost legal (the firm that conducted the original inquiry) and the official “Caring Well” curriculum (that became compromised through various political agendas). The purpose of the group remains very important (to protect our children from sexual predators, and to minister with effective compassion to those who have been harmed by sexual abuse). The group issued some very concise and helpful structures for accomplishing these important ends. They will be helpful in implementing these goals at Redeemer. I still have concerns over one aspect of their “listing system” and intend to write the chair with my concerns.
  • We met with representatives of The Pillar Network (thepillarnetwork.com). Inside the big tent of the SBC there are smaller cooperating groups that exert influence on the whole. Pillar is one of those groups consisting of approximately 300 SBC churches. These churches are like Redeemer in basically every way. They are marked by gospel proclamation, in person Bible expositional preaching, elder leadership, Biblical authority in all things, theologically baptistic, and focused on planting new churches along these lines. July 30 one of the board members – Ryan Hutchinson, Senior Vice-President of SEBTS – will be at Redeemer to preach and tell us more about joining with the Pillar Network of SBC churches. Exciting times.

Praise the Lord for His work in the SBC during a time of radical church decay and decline in America. May we be faithful and ever press to see our partnership be true to the word, ethic, and mission of Jesus,
Pastor Vic

Fathers

Fathers

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4

              
This Sunday is Father’s Day, an important time to reflect on the role of dad in the home. Children need a mother and a father. Both bring vital, but different, dynamics into the life of a child. Fathers, I believe the most important thing I can point out to you on Father’s Day is that you learn what is means to be a father by following after the example of our Heavenly Father. It’s not a coincidence that God instructs us to address Him as Father. God could have instructed us to address Him by many other honorific titles, but He chose “Father.” This title is one of honor and respect, but also of relationship and love. Every Christian father will learn what it truly means to be a father by looking to and learning from our Heavenly Father. No matter how good or how bad of a father you may have, we each look to the Heavenly Father for the ideal and example of how we ought to be a father to our children.
             
This all begins with salvation. Have you turned away from your sins and believed in the salvation of Jesus? Those who love the Son (Jesus), also love God the Father. “No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also” 1 John 2:23. When we come into the salvation of God the Father, this is also described as being adopted into the family of God (John 1:12, Galatians 4:4-7). We move from being enslaved to our sinful passions and under the dominion of Satan in this world, to be adopted children of God. We are called His friends and given an inheritance in His kingdom. As children of God, we experience and learn about His fatherly love. We ourselves grow up under His care and go out to follow His example to love our children by His power.
             
There are at least five aspects of being a Father we learn from the Heavenly Father and should work out in our lives.
             
First, be present in the lives of your children. Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit because it is a fundamental part of the character of God. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” Hebrews 13:5b (also Joshua 1:5, Psalm 37:25, 2 Corinthians 4:9). God the Father does not come and go from our lives based on our performance or by changes of purpose in His own heart. His love for us is purposeful, unconditional, and unchanging. He is always present in our lives. In the same way, we must be ever-present in the lives of our sons and daughters. This doesn’t mean we all work from home, but in its most basic form it does mean that we will never abandon them through the selfishness of divorce. The fear of being left by you should never enter the mind of your child. As we are secure in the love the Heavenly Father, so your children should rest secure in your love. However, beyond that, you are pressing day by day, and week by week to be involved in their lives in every way you possibly can. You are present with them.
             
Second, God the Father is full of love toward His children. “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love…” 1 John 4:16. The actions of God toward us are motivated by His passion of love for us. God is not dispassionate. He is not just keeping score. God the Father loves His children and is actively shaping their lives. He is providing for their needs, guiding them to good places, teaching and disciplining – but all in love. God the Father is for His children – not against them. He shapes their lives in a serious way, but He does not act in anger toward them. He is drawing His children close to Him in love, not pushing them away in coldness, pride, or frustration.
             
Third, God the Father disciplines those who are truly His children. “The Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives” Hebrews 12:6. God the Father does not allow us to do whatever we want. He does not sit back idle as we run into sin and destroy ourselves. In love, God the Father brings corrective discipline into our lives. Purposeful pain to get our attention, correct our course, and get our relationship with Him back into a healthy place. As fathers we must also discipline our children in love. We cannot sit back and let our children do whatever they choose. To do so is to neglect our role as a father. But we must also not allow anger to shape our discipline and so wound the hearts of our children. Loving discipline brings order to the lives of our children and is a foundation for them understanding God’s ultimate authority in their lives. By wisely disciplining our children we are helping their spiritual formation.
             
Fourth, God the Father provides for our needs, and we should provide for the needs of our children. “Give us this day our daily bread…” Matthew 6:11. We are instructed to pray and call upon God the Father to meet our daily needs. We live in trusting dependance upon God the Father. In a similar way, your children live in trusting dependance upon you – dad. This is why the IRS calls them ‘dependents!’ This does not mean you give them whatever they want, but through hard work and self-sacrifice you provide for them what they need. God the Father does not supply our needs grudgingly but is glad to give us good gifts (Matthew 7:7-11). In the same way, we should die to ourselves and find joy in supplying the needs of our children. A significant part of the security and love your children feel comes from knowing that they can come to you with need and know you will lovingly work to meet that need.
             
Fifth, God the Father discloses Himself to us so we might know who He is and how we might come to salvation in Jesus. As father’s it is commanded by God that we train our children in the instruction of the Lord. It is primarily our responsibility to make the salvation of God known to our children. We must make believing in and serving the Lord the highest priority in our own lives, so we lead by example. We must model godliness to our children all along the road of life – at family meals, in the car, in times of stress, in good times, in hard times, and on Sunday morning. There are countless activities that never stop competing for the hearts of our kids and youths. As fathers, we must set the tone in our families that the things of God always come first – before sports, before career, before secular education. There must be no doubt in the mind of your children that you agree with Jesus, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?” Mark 8:36-37. We must lead in spiritual things, so they can follow.
             
Happy Father’s Day dads! Count fatherhood for the blessing it is, and ask the Heavenly Father to make you more like Himself one day at a time!
 
May we follow in the example of God the Father,
Pastor Vic

Pride Month

Pride Month

“If by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes He condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if He rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked…then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passions and despise authority.”
2 Peter 2:6-10

             
Over recent years June has become a designated time in the United States to give the public spotlight and microphone to the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender communities. During this month-long focus people from these groups advocate with passion for their understanding of sexual morality. They are working to radically reshape the moral landscape of America and are succeeding in their advocacy. It’s vitally important that we not remain silent during this month. What is of greatest importance is that we not lose sight of what the Bible teaches us about sexuality and gender. It’s become impossible to chase all the various forms of sexual perversion developing in our time. We must instead clearly know, live by, and defend a Christian worldview.
             
As Christians, we must always be more defined by what we are for, than what we are against. We must be about the gospel not culture war. We must be about evangelism over boycotts. Only by seeking the lost that they might come to salvation will we ever see dramatic change in America. This is praying for and laboring after spiritual awakening. However, the gospel requires that we point out sin. There is no need for a Savior if I’m ok and you’re ok. Pointing out sin in a person’s life is offensive. This is especially true when you declare that according to God’s will the way a person is living – openly, passionately, and defiantly – is causing them to be under the active condemnation of God. However, by speaking to sin and calling for repentance, some will be convicted of their sin, repent of their sin (turn away from it), and call out in faith to Jesus for forgiveness of their sins. By this a person will be forgiven their sins. Their guilt before God will be removed. They will receive eternal life and begin to go forward making incremental, but constant, steps toward following Jesus and living a different life of godliness.
             
Biblical sexual morality is rather simple and straight forward. God created two genders, male and female. God has purpose in creating two genders, and that purpose relates to complementing genders forming one whole in marriage leading to the birth and raising of children. No person is born with the wrong gender. No person is born as a blank slate with no gender. God has an induvial purpose for each person’s life. The purpose and plan for each life begins with being a man or a woman. God has designed the bodies and the souls of one man and one woman to relate together sexually in a life-long bond of marriage. This deep physical, emotional, and trust-based bond works to build the deepest of all human relationships. This stable relationship works to provide a stable home for children, then stable generations of family, and stable community relationships.
             
This month a radically different worldview is being is being advocated. The LGBTQ worldview believes that each human being comes into the world a blank slate. Each blank child grows and will determine their own gender and morality according to their own feelings. We are told that parents have no authority or place to direct, guide, or discipline their child. We are told that God has no say, because there is no God. Each adult is supposed to simple affirm and support the choices of the child along the way, and present to them a view of God that also affirms their choices. The outcome of this type of living will be chaos as each person literally does whatever is right in their own eyes without restraint.
             
God’s plan for human sexuality only works in connection to the gospel. Only when sinners turn from their sin and believe in Jesus will they strive after the sexual ethics of Jesus. In Christ we learn to die to ourselves, live with self-control, and love other people unconditionally. As Christians we learn the virtues of self-control, modesty, and faithfulness. In obedience to Jesus, we reject the ways of the world and live in the ways of Jesus. The darker and more perverse our culture becomes, the more that following in the ways of Jesus will make us an offense to the world. Let us remember the words of Jesus, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (Matthew 11:6, Luke 7:23).
             
We live in a pluralistic culture. This means that our culture views all religion as the creation of human culture, and all are equally relevant or good. No one religion inherently has authority over another. No one religion is true or right in any objective way. Any religion that claims moral authority over another is labeled intolerant and bigoted – especially in the area of sexual ethics. This is often rolled into arguments related to diversity. The world is filled with wonderful God-ordained diversity. Diversity of races, national customs, foods, music, artistic expressions, and natural beauty, but the Bible makes no room for diversity of moral expression. Being a follower of Christ does not relate to a person’s race, gender, or national origin. One of the beautiful aspects of biblical Christianity is that being a follower of Christ allows for diverse cultural and racial expression. To be a follower of Jesus does not mean becoming a middle eastern Jew in culture expression. This was well adjudicated and settled in the book of Acts. However, it does mean that you live according the to revealed moral will of God no matter who you are or where you come from.  
             
Our culture is pushing so hard to change language and normalize things that are clearly non-Christian in their expression. One of many examples relates to the cultural pervasiveness of ‘drag queens.’ A drag queen is a homosexual cross-dressing male that dresses up specifically to act in a female sexually enticing way. No Christian should have to consider long that this life choice would not be declared righteous and godly by Jesus. Therefore, as Christians we cannot approve of this lifestyle or giving someone in it a public platform. This goes for any person that intentionally pursues sexual expression that is condemned and forbidden by God.
             
In closing, it’s very important to recognize that this is not a small part of the Bible. From Gensis all the way through 2 Peter, the event of God warning then destroying Sodom and Gomorrah is mentioned almost thirty times. Each time it is referred to, the reference serves as a warning to hard-hearted ungodly, especially the homosexual, that they are doomed to the same end of destruction if they do not repent of their sins. We must not act like these many verses and many warnings do not exist. God knows and cares about how we conduct ourselves morally. Sexual actions are moral actions – no matter how many times people in modern American culture say they are not. Moral actions affect your relationship with God. You cannot go on living in sin and also live under the blessing of God.
             
Let me finish where I began. It must be our earnest hope and prayer to see people come to salvation in Jesus. Our goal must be Jesus’ goal, to seek and save the lost. In appealing to the lost and naming their sin, it will bring us into direct moral conflict with the world. But in living for Jesus, let us be known foremost as those filled with love, sacrificial service, hope, and truth. Let us walk in the boldness but also the winsome grace of our Lord Jesus. Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus, abide always in His word, and live lives of constant holiness in a lost and dying world.
 
Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor Vic