Author Archives: shepherdbryan

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About shepherdbryan

My passion is to disciple and see men discipled in every area of their life to see the multiplication principle actually work in a 100 year generational blessing. As go men in the church, so goes the church. As go men in the nation, so goes the nation. Fortunately, because men have often not taken their spiritual role to the limit, God has raised up many godly women to carry the torch where men have laid it aside. May God rapidly raise up men for the next generation of leaders to the Fourth Generation of spiritual leaders! As men lead in a godly way, women will follow in a godly way and that people will be blessed of the Lord.

Truth: Doctrine of the Divine Decree

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This doctrine was left in outline form for ease of discussion. 

The Doctrine of the Divine Decree

 

Introduction

     A.  The difficulties in understanding the Divine Decree relate to the finite understanding the infinite, the temporal understanding the eternal,  the sinful understanding the perfect.

     B.  Man has no need to be fearful of God, because God is holy and good.  Therefore if something is decreed, then it must be good.  It cannot be less than good from the divine perspective.  There is nothing more important than your view of God.

 

I.  Definition.

      The Decree of God is His eternal, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose according to His own pleasure, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be– in their causes, conditions, successions, and relations– and determining their certain futurition.

    

     A.  The decree is eternal in that it was established in eternity past and is certain forever.  It can never be changed by man.

     B.  It is holy–set apart by God, pure according to God’s righteousness, transcendent in character in relation to the cosmos.

     C.  It was fixed according to the wisdom of God, not whimsical or without thought.  It is perfect according to His sovereign will.

     D.  God`s sovereignty is infinite, eternal, according to His own self-determining will, totally independent of any other being.  The decree is purposeful.  That purpose is to bring honor and glory to Himself.

     E.  Everything is according to His pleasure.  Without it we rob God of His freedom. The phrase adds the fact that it is personal in relation to His plan.  The decree originates in freedom, and is not obligated to His purpose. God purposes without constraint.  The only necessity placed on God is what comes from His perfection.  The decree wasn’t made by external compulsion or internal caprice.  It was not whimsical; it is purposeful.  When God acts, He remains free.

     F. In the decree God comprehended at once all things that ever were or will be.  In God’s omniscience God knew the actual and the possible.  God knew when you would believe in Christ or if you would.  God knew what would happen if you married this person or that, and the happiness if you would have married a person for their integrity and character, rather than for their looks or lifestyle.  God comprehended in eternity past everything that would ever happen.  The past was as perspicuous as the present or future to God.  We forget about our childhood or instances in our life, but each one is as clear to God as another.

     G.  Their causes refer to what brought about the circumstances you face.  The causes refer to what preceded the event or thing.

     H.  The conditions refer to the surroundings, environment, and the set up in which the event or thing takes place.

     I. Successions relate what precedes and what follows.  It relates how each fits into the chronology of history.

     J. Relations state how each event or thing is related to those around it.

     K. Determining their certain futurition means that by comprehending all that ever was or will be, God made the sovereign choice concerning the events in history according to His direct, indirect or permissive will.  It means that God’s will is not intimidated by man.  God does not coerce man, but God knew how man would decide and God fixed the decree.  Man does not change history in time, man lives out the history as it is fixed in eternity past as God saw history from eternity past.

     L.  Everything God does is for His own glory.

 

II. The omniscience of God is the key to understanding the Decree.

 

     A. God has three types of knowledge.

           1.  Self-knowledge whereby God knows himself perfectly and completely.  He has never had to learn about Himself.

           2.  Omniscience whereby God knows the actual and the possible for all things in human history and beyond.  The possible could have happened had God programmed that into the decree, but only the actual was programmed.

           3.  Foreknowledge, which is the subcategory of God’s omniscience, related only to the decree.

 

     B.  God’s omniscience is a giant computer, which has the storage capability of every fact and possibility of divine history.

           1.  God never tampers with volition.  Human history is as you have thought it and acted.

           2.  God knows which way you will choose, even though you are confronted with 20 choices. The choice you make is in the decree.

           3.  God knew all that would have been involved had He adopted an infinite number of plans of action.

           4.  God knows all the consequences had you chosen a different course of action that you chose.

 

     C.  Out of the computer comes a printout, which is the foreknowledge of God.

           1.  The foreknowledge makes nothing certain, but acknowledges what is certain.

           2.  Foreknowledge was not known, until it was first decreed.  It first had to come out of the computer.  God had to choose what plan or system would be reality for the believer.  God knew in Eternity Past what decisions you would make and every decision is perspicuous, because He has the printout from the computer.

           3.  Foreknowledge is based on the sovereignty of God and His right to choose.

           4.  Foreknowledge does not determine nor affect any event.  The cause is your freewill.  It is what you decide.

           5.  Foreknowledge is the reality of life, what actually would happen.

 

     D.  The decree does not coerce the free will of man.  The following five points are from A.A. Hodge. God’s decree determines only the certain futurition of events, it directly effects or causes no event.  But the decree itself provides in every case that the event shall be affected by causes acting in a manner perfectly consistent with the nature of the event in question.  Thus in the case of every free act of a moral agent the decree itself provides at the same time–

           1. Every agent will be a free agent.  No coercion on the will of the creature.

           2. What precedes will be what it is.  Once something happens, nothing can change it.

           3. The conditions for the act will be what they are.  God will not change the physical laws spontaneously.  Therefore we can depend on the consistency with which all things happen.  Will they happen by chance?  No, all things happen by the grace and immutability of God.

           4. The act itself will be perfectly free on the part of the agent.

           5. The act will be certainly future.  It is recorded history before the event occurs. Therefore, it must take place as recorded according to the Foreknowledge of God.

                 a.  This means that Hyper-Calvinism is wrong because God does not predestine anyone to go to heaven or hell.  People go because of their choice. You go to heaven because you choose to go to heaven.  You were elected in eternity past and God knew you would go to heaven in eternity past and God chose you to go to heaven in eternity past, but God did not turn your decider to positive so you would go to heaven.

                 b. This means that Arminianism is wrong because man’s volition is not beyond the control of God.  Man cannot cause things that are not in the decree.  Man is not elected or chosen the moment he believes in Christ.

 

           6. Application: When you witness, every person is first of all an unbeliever, but has the potential to become a believer.  No one but God knows whether they will believe in Christ, or not.  Therefore, you witness to every person God brings your way.

                 a. What was known about the person who rejected God is that they were not elected in eternity past.  That person has lived out the pre-recorded printout of history.  But the person chose to reject salvation.

                 b. What was known about the believer is that he/she was elected in eternity past.  Their salvation was sure, that it would happen, but the manner or the time is completely unknown to us. Death bed conversions are a reality.

 

III. Evidence for the Divine Decree.

 

     A. All things are included in the decree.

           1. Is. 14:26,27, “This is the plan devised against the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out against all the nations. For the Lord of hosts has planned and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand. who can turn it back?”

           2. Is. 46:10,11, “Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done. Saying My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure; Calling a bird of prey from the east The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.

           3. Dan. 4:35, “And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing. But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth. And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, What hast Thou done?”

           4. Eph. 1:11, “Also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.”

 

     B. Special things and events are included.

           1. Stability of the physical universe Ps. 119:89-91, “Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.  Thy faithfulness continues throughout all generations. Thou didst establish the earth, and it stands.  They stand this day according to Thine ordinances.

           2. Length of human life Job 14:5, “Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with Thee, And his limits Thou hast set so that he cannot pass.

           3. Mode of our death Jn. 21:19, “Now He said this signifying what kind of death he would glorify God.”

           4. Circumstances of nations Acts 17:26, “And He made from one, every nations of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation.

           5. Free acts of man Eph. 2:10, “For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  Gen. 50:20, “And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result to preserve many people alive.”

 

     C. Salvation of believers Eph. 3:10,11, in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

     D. The nature of God.

           1. The sovereign, eternal and omniscient God implies complete order to history.

           2. God can be sovereign and still allow man to have freewill.

           3. Man cannot intimidate God with His decisions. 

                 If there is anybody or anything that is absolutely free, referring to will, you do not have a sovereign God.

                      (1) Divine foreknowledge implies fixity, which implies a decree.

                      (2) Divine wisdom operates according to a divine plan.

                      (3) Divine immutability indicates that there can be no increase in power or knowledge.

                      (4) Divine benevolence requires that both the course and end of history be determined by God`s will rather than by chance or the creature’s will.

                      (5) That fact that God is eternal means that His purpose is eternal.

 

IV. Characteristics of the Divine Decree.

 

     A. The ground of the decree is God’s grace, love, and good pleasure

           1. Matt. 11:25-26, “At that time Jesus answered  and said, I praise Thee, O Father. Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and intelligent and didst reveal them to babes.  Yes, Father, for thus it was well-pleasing in Thy sight.”

           2. Luke 12:32, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”

           3. Eph. 1:5,9,” He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ in Himself according to the kind intention of His will. . .He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him.

           4. Rom. 9:21, “Or does not the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use, and another for common use?”

           5. Application: It doesn’t arise from outside of His nature. For example in a puzzle, all the pieces are in the box, but only when all the pieces are put together can you get the full picture.  God knows all the pieces before the puzzle is assembled.

 

     B. It is eternal

           1. 1 Cor. 2:7, “but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory.”

           2. Eph. 1:4, “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.”

           3. 2 Tim. 1:9, “who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.”

           4. 1 Pet. 1:20, “for He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.”

           5. Application: every event is related to another, no event can be isolated from the whole.

                 a. lust–sin–death.

                 b. Death of Christ–personal faith–salvation.

 

     C. It is wise

           1. Rom. 11:33, “Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways.”

           2. Eph. 3:10,11, “in order that the manifold awisdom of God might now be bmade known through the church to the crulers and the authorities in dthe heavenly places. This was in aaccordance with the 1eternal purpose which He 2carried out in bChrist Jesus our Lord, “

           3. Ps. 104:24, “O Lord how many are Thy works! In wisdom Thou hast made them all: The earth is full of Thy possessions.”

           4. Application: nothing is irrational or arbitrary, although it may be beyond our comprehension at the moment.

 

     D. It is free.

           1. Is. 40;13-14, “Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord Or as His counselor has informed Him? With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge. and informed Him of the way of understanding?

           2. Rom. 11:36, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

           3. Application: His determinations are influenced by no other.  No one was present when He decreed the decree.

 

     E. It is unconditional.

           1. Is. 46:10, “Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure.”

           2. Acts. 2:23, “this man delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.”

           3. Eph. 1:11, “also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.

           4. Eph. 2:8, “for by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourself it is the gift of God.

           5. Application:There are no contingencies. Nothing is uncertain. Nothing in the decree is conditioned by anything not in the decree.  God is not waiting for anything to happen in order to know the outcome of the event.

 

     F. It is all-inclusive.

           1. Eph. 1:11, “ This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He 2carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, “.

           2. Acts 17:26, “And He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation.”

 

     G. It is immutable.

           1. Ps. 33:11, “the counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.”

           2. Is. 46:9,10, “Remember the former things long past. For I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is no one like me, Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying My purpose will be established and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.”

 

     H. It is efficacious.

           1. Is. 14:27, “For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?”

           2.  Application: the works of God always succeed in having their intended effect.

           3. Some things God has decreed to do Himself immediately–direct cause.

           4. Some things He has decreed to do through the agency of natural laws–indirect cause.

           5. Some things God decreed to do through the exercise of the will of moral creature moral agency.

           6. Shedd in his Dogmatic Theology, “If God does not first decide what shall come to pass, he cannot know what will come to pass.  An event must be made certain, before it can be known as a certain event.”

 

     I. It is permissive regarding sin.

           1. Ps. 78:29, “So they ate and were well filled; And their desire He gave to them.”   God did not cause them to sin.  God did not cause them to crave for the food.  God permitted them to sin.  God cannot cause something to happen contrary to His own character or He would be denying Himself.             

           2.  What about Pharaoh.  God did not cause the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart.  God hardened His heart by allowing Pharaoh to make the decision, which God foreknew would happen in eternity past.

           3. Ps. 106:15, “So He gave them their request, But sent a wasting disease among them.“  God did not cause them to have the desire. They had the desire by their own freewill.

           4. Acts 14:16, “And in the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways.”

           5. Application: The decree renders the future sinful act certain, but does not hinder the sinful self-determination of the finite will.

           6. Permissive does not mean passive (which would imply that something was beyond his control).

           7. It does not mean compulsion (which would negate free agency and place the responsibility with God.

 

     J. The decree to act is not the act itself.

           1. @@ The decree to create is not creation itself.

           2.  The decree to redeem is not redemption itself.

 

     K. The purpose of the decree is the glory of God.

           1. Eph. 1:6,12,14,” to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the beloved; v. 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory, v. 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession to the praise of His glory.”

           2. Rev. 4:11, “Worthy are You our Lord and our God to receive glory and honor and power, for Thou didst create all things, and because of They will They existed, and were created.”

 

     L. The decree is all comprehensive.

           1. Not the slightest confusion could exist as to one of even the smallest events without confusion to all events.

           2. The decree does not eliminate the need for prayer. God in His omniscience saw what believers would pray.  The effective prayer is what God can answer in the affirmative. Is. 65:24, “It will also come to pass that before they call. I will answer and while they are still speaking I will hear.”

 

V.  Application of the divine decree to us.

     A. The decree is the sum total of God’s plan and purpose in eternity past, and centers around the person of Christ.

           1. Eph. 1:4-6, “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him, In love he predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will to the praise of the glory of His grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”

           2. 1 Jn. 3:23,”And this is the commandment that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He commanded us.”

     B. Therefore the free will of man must face Jesus Christ before and after the cross.

     C. Without violating free will, God designed a perfect plan for every believer.

     D. There are primary, secondary, and tertiary functions within the plan of God.  All of which affect you in every decision you make.

     E. God is not unfair and He deals with reality.

 
Dedicated to many great teachers who have gone before.

SGL: How to Encourage Hosting

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SGL:  How to Encourage Hosting           

            Home groups (or small groups) are one of the best means of discipleship.  They gather a dozen people, or so, to connect, equip and multiply for the sake of the kingdom.  They help people risk venturing out of their comfort zone to answer questions, to lead discussion and eventually to prepare to lead their own group.  Leading their own group is the goal for 80% of the people.

            One of the steps in the goal of leading a home group is learning how to host.  Everyone, including leaders should take their turn at hosting.  Hosting is a necessary part of leadership and becoming other-centered.    

            There are several principles that every leader should remember in preparing host couples.  First, ask someone else to bring a treat to home group.  This is a first step to hosting a group.  They are not preparing their home; they are preparing a treat and bringing it to home group for people to enjoy together.  The treat should be simple, rather than elaborate.  If it is elaborate, then this aspect of hosting can become a competition issue.  Food is about bringing people together, so that they can talk, rather than be wowed by the treat.  Home group is about relationships, not food, yet food is an important ingredient to connecting people together.

            Secondly, visit with someone and help them see they could host a group. Your direct interest in the couple with the purpose to cast vision for them will lead them to understand what is involved in hosting.  When you take the time to meet with someone, you are showing your trust in their potential leadership.

Thirdly, explain to them what is involved in hosting a home group. Hosting a home group merely involves providing an environment where the group becomes the focus rather than the setting.  It’s best to have as few distractions as possible in the home so as to not detract from the discussion.  For example, the house should be de-cluttered and clean. It should have sufficient chairs or seating for the group. It should be maintained at a temperature that is conducive to discussion rather than a distraction of being too warm or cool.  And because people have food and pet allergies, the host couple will need to be sensitive and avoid certain foods, like peanut products, and to at least inform visitors of home pets.   At a minimum, water should be provided. The home group can be anyone’s home, small or big, because it is not about the home, but about the people who are gathering.

Fourthly, ask that couple to host the home group in their home rather than the leader’s. This preparation gives them more responsibility toward the goal of leading their own home group.  Remember the purpose is not to be wowed by the setting.  It’s all about connecting people together, so they can be equipped to learn how to multiply.

            Fifthly, affirm the couple in their hosting. Give the host couple feedback on their hosting.  If corrections need to be made, talk with the host couple when others are gone.  Affirm their willingness to host and the things they did well.  Ask them questions to understand how they established the environment.  Seek resolutions that are both possible for the host couple and helpful for those who attend.  And then evaluate in the coming weeks.

            Hosting can be fun for people and is a step in the process of becoming a leader of a home group.  Affirm your host couple in what they are doing well and seek others to be hosts to the group as well. Remember, your ultimate goal is multiplication so that 80 percent of the people become leaders or spiritual parents and leading in their own home group.

Question: What is speaking in tongues?

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What is speaking in tongues?

 

Speaking in tongues was a known language designed to gain attention and to warn of coming judgment. There are only two books of the Bible that address “speaking in tongues” with a third that references that tongues will occur.  This subject has created great confusion in the church and divided many believers, contrary to God’s desire.  The subject matter of speaking in tongues occurs in the book of Acts and 1 Corinthians.  Isaiah prophesied about speaking in tongues in Isaiah 28.

The first time speaking in tongues is mentioned in Scripture is Isaiah prophesies of that speaking in tongues is a warning that judgment is coming. It is prophesied in Isaiah 28:1-11 and records in the context of Israel’s downward spiral and judgment to come,

Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, Whose glorious beauty is a fading flower Which is at the head of the verdant valleys, To those who are overcome with wine!
 2 Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, Like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, Like a flood of mighty waters overflowing, Who will bring them down to the earth with His hand.
 3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, Will be trampled underfoot;
 4 And the glorious beauty is a fading flower Which is at the head of the verdant valley, Like the first fruit before the summer, Which an observer sees; He eats it up while it is still in his hand.
 5 In that day the LORD of hosts will be For a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty To the remnant of His people,
 6 For a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, And for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
 7 But they also have erred through wine, And through intoxicating drink are out of the way; The priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink, They are swallowed up by wine, They are out of the way through intoxicating drink; They err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
 8 For all tables are full of vomit and filth; No place is clean.
 9 “Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts?
 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.”
 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people,
12 To whom He said, “This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing”; Yet they would not hear. (Is. 28:1-12)

Isaiah rebuked Israel for their emotional revolt of the soul toward God and that the glory of Israel was fading – a fading flower (28:1). They once were greatly blessed, but because of their rebellion and lack of trust in the Lord, God would bring judgment of hail, storm and flooding disasters (28:2).  The drunkards of Ephraim refers to their occupation with this world rather than worshiping the Lord (28:3; cf. Eph. 5:18).  Justice was coming on Israel in judgment, but that was not what God wanted (28:6). But because of their wickedness God would drive them out of the land of Israel. Because of their drunken occupation with this world, their lives were a mess – tables full of vomit – and they no longer thought divine viewpoint (28:8).  Isaiah asked who he could teach, because everyone lacked the ability to comprehend (28:9).  They acted like children, so the prophet made a drunken like statement that God will only provide basic truth, because they were spiritual babes (28:10).  The point is in 28:11, “For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people.”  When you look at someone who purportedly speaks in tongue, it looks like they are stammering in syllables that do not make sense.  Actually, when you go to another country today and you hear a foreign language, it looks and sounds like – “stammering lips.”  At the judgment, Israel would be forced to rest (28:12), because she would be destroyed as a nation.  Unfortunately, Israel would reject the prophecy.

            God pronounced that prior to the judgment, there would be stammering lips.  That is, when Israel hears stammering lips, they better prepare for God’s judgment. There will be a rest that comes, but not the rest they would want.  When the stammering lips come, there will be nothing the Jews can do, because the judgment IS coming. 

            This passage of Scripture in Isaiah was quoted in 1 Corinthians 14:21. Paul writes,

20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
 21 In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord. (1 Cor. 14:20-21)

What is the subject Paul is discussing in 1 Corinthians 14?  Paul is discussing tongues and prophesying.  Tongues was a spiritual gift God used to warn Israel that judgment was coming (Is. 28), but God also used tongues as a means of communicating truth, until the Scripture, or the Canon, was complete.

            Let’s turn to the first occurrence of tongues in Scripture.  The passage is found in Acts 2.  Fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, the Day of First Fruits, the Day of Pentecost, God the Holy Spirit came down on the disciples and they spoke in tongues.  The context was Jewish men and families came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast. of First Fruits.  These were Jewish families who spoke a variety of languages, yet they came to worship together.  Luke records in Acts 2,

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?
 8“And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
 9“Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
 10“Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
 11 “Cretans and Arabs– we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.“ (Acts 2:2-11)

Tongues were known languages spoken by individuals who were not trained in those languages, but understandable by those who already understood that language.  It was a sign that caught the attention of people,

12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” (Acts 2:12)

They knew something special happened and they asked the right question, “Whatever could this mean?” but they did not go back to the prophet Isaiah to understand judgment was coming.  God had their attention specifically, so that they would listen to the gospel presentation by Peter,

21 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.‘ (Acts 2:21)

The two-fold purpose was to get their attention so they would listen to the gospel and secondly serve as a warning that judgment was coming.

            The secondtime speaking in tongues is mentioned is in Acts 10. Let’s look at that passage,

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (Acts 10:44-47)

Note that again, they spoke in known languages, because it follows the precedent of Acts 2, for the purpose of magnifying God. The tongues were in a Gentile language, so the Gentiles would be drawn to the message of hope, the message of the gospel.

            The third time speaking in tongues is mentioned is in Acts 19. Luke records in Acts 19:1-6,

And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples
 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:1-6)

Again, they spoke in known languages rather than stuttering gibberish.

            Paul’s discussion on tongues is found in 1 Corinthians 12-14.  This article was not designed to address more than “What is tongues?” so I’ll leave a discussion of that for another article.

            In conclusion, speaking in tongues refers to known languages used to gain attention to two things.  First, tongues was used to gain attention of people in order to listen to the gospel message.  Secondly, speaking in tongues was designed as a warning to Israel that they would soon be judged.  That judgment came 40 years after the speaking in tongues first occurred.  That 40 years is not a coincidence.  It is a number of judgment, but also of grace.  Israel had 40 years to respond and join the body of Christ before the judgment and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

Truth: Doctrine of Election

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Doctrine of Election

 

God has three types of knowledge. They are all a part of the knowledge of God and the distinctions help us understand election.

First, He has self-knowledge; He knows Himself. In His dialogue with Moses, “And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel,`I AM has sent me to you.’” (Ex. 3:14)

Secondly, God is omniscient, which means He is all-knowing.  God knows the actual and the possible, especially in relation to His creatures. The writer to the Hebrews wrote, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Heb. 4:13)

And thirdly, God has foreknowledge, which is His acknowledgement of what is in the Decree of God.  David recorded in his famous Psalm 139,

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.  O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
 2You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.
 3You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.
 4For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
 5You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.
 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. (Ps. 139:1-6)

This foreknowledge of God means every minute detail is completely known in eternity past. Every minute detail is in the mind of God, therefore the future is clear. God’s knowledge is not subject to change, development, or reasoning. God’s omniscience fed into the decree the actual facts. The decree is fixed, but does not fix. God’s foreknowledge is a printout of those elect ones. The elect ones experientially become elect at salvation. The elect ones are elect from eternity past.

Election depends on God’s sovereign application of the free will of man to God’s plan. John wrote, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Election becomes experientially real at the point of salvation. Election was made in eternity past as Paul writes, “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” (2 Thes. 2:13)  God chose, or elected, every believer through means of the Holy Spirit’s regenerating work that happens at the moment of salvation.  Paul also writes, “[God], who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, (2 Tim. 1:9)  There was nothing we could do for salvation.  That is why faith is non-meritorious, that is, there is no merit for man.  God does all the work through Jesus; we just accept that work on our behalf.  The choice is to humbly accept the work, rather than think we can do or become something of value on our own before God.  We cannot.  We can only accept what God has done on our behalf.

Scripture teaches Unlimited Atonement.  There are many passages that declare God’s unconditional sin payment for the human race by the blood of Jesus.  For example,

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)

John Calvin says of this verse: “He uses the word sin in the singular number for any kind of iniquity; as if he had said that every kind of unrighteousness which alienates men from God is taken away by Christ. And when he says the sin of the world, he extends this favor indiscriminately to the whole human race.” Additional verses in support of Unlimited Atonement are:

 

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
(Rom. 5:6)

 

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim. 2:3-4)

And,

5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, (1 Tim. 2:5-6)

 

For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. (1 Tim. 4:10)

 

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:9)

 

And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1 Jn. 2:2)

 

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. (1 Jn. 4:14)

 

It would seem these are very clear that Jesus’ death was a substitution for the entire world – all the ungodly – those who would believe and those who would not.

Therefore, all members of the human race are potentially elect by the Father under the concept of Unlimited Atonement.  Paul writes, “Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (2 Tim. 2:10) The Greek grammar is important here.  The phrase, “that they also may obtain” is a hina + subjunctive of tugchano- which means it is optional and dependent on man’s volition—man’s choice. Paul did not exclude anyone from this choice.  Just above, we saw from 2 Peter 3:9 that the Lord was “not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.” Some people will say that those whom God calls will be saved. So in this verse if God wishes for all to be saved, is God’s wish different from God’s call? If God wishes for something, would not that happen if He wanted it to happen?  Could God wish for something and it not happen?  It would not, if God allowed for His glory man’s choice to enter into the picture.

Election is the present and future possession of every believer. Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. (John 15:16) On his own, man would not choose God.  If it were not for the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit, every man would turn from God.  It is only those to whom God calls and convicts, which is everyone, do they have an opportunity to make a choice.  The saving is not of anything on man’s part.  He only makes a non-meritorious decision, selfish as it may be, to receive the gift of salvation.  He does this by faith.  His purpose then becomes bearing fruit.  Paul states our purpose after salvation, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; (Col. 3:12)  Once we are saved, our focus becomes bearing fruit for Jesus’ sake.  That becomes a life-long pursuit of sanctification, because of our position in Christ.

Every believer shares the election of Christ through positional sanctification. Even Jesus is elect, according to Isaiah, “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.” (Is. 42:1)  Jesus, however, is not elect as we are.  He was chosen to be the sin-Bearer and our Substitute. All those in the church of Corinth were believers as Paul writes, “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours… But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God– and righteousness and sanctification and redemption… (1 Cor. 1:2,30)  We are sanctified in Christ and as we grow in our relation with Jesus Christ we become experientially sanctified. 

We can trust God in everything that He takes us through for our sanctification. Paul writes, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose… He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”(Rom 8:28, 32)  Why can we trust Him?  He chose us, elected us, from the foundation of the world, “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” (Eph. 1:4)

This means that of the 1000 other decrees God could have chosen He chose one where you would believe in Christ (if you have). Give thanks to Him! It means that God is sovereignly in control of all history, not that He directly controls all history, because we cannot say God directs sin.  That would be contrary to the character of God.  However, He does allow sin in His permissive will and chose the decree in which there is sin.  That decree allows many wicked things to occur, which exposes the wicked evil that is in the world and ultimately reveals that only when God is in direct control, is there serenity and calm. What do you remember about the love of God?

           God gives and God corrects (1 John 4:9-10; Heb. 12:5-6). It means I share in the destiny of Christ, I share His election.  That is confident expectation of what lies ahead and is reason for us not to become frustrated about what we face now. It means every person may be elect, therefore we are under obligation to witness and give the gospel at every opportunity.  Are you taking advantage of the opportunity?

Question: Does God Elect or does man have Freewill in Salvation?

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This is the first of several articles that will be included in the coming days.  Be careful about presuming on the content before you listen to understand and dialogue with someone on this important doctrine.

 

Does God Elect or does man have Freewill in Salvation?

 

            The question of Election versus Freewill has stirred up theological thinking for hundreds of years.  It’s not been totally settled, but many people have come with more clear answers than others.  Does God elect people separate and apart from the free will of man?  Or, does the free will of man determine his destiny for eternity? The Bible seems to address both aspects. 

            This will be the first of several articles to address this important question.  There is so much Scripture on the topic that it will not be addressed in a few short articles.  The purpose of this is to answer the question posed to me and to provide discussion points, so that we might arrive at a clearer understanding of God’s plan without causing division, schism, or even separation.  Jesus said oneness was a major purpose for His people in His prayer to the Father (John 17:20-23).  My intention is to preserve peace and rightly divide Scripture by renewing truth in the mind.

            Scripture indicates God sovereignly makes choices apart from man. For example,

13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”
 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!
 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion1.”
 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth1.”
 18Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. (Rom. 9:13-18)

Is this black and white clear?  Remember this is only one text, which must be harmonized with 66 books of the Bible.  One text cannot be taken out of context, or it becomes a pretext.

            On the other hand, Scripture indicates that man has freewill.  For example,

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Josh. 24:15)

If man didn’t have a choice, why would Joshua tell them to choose? Additionally, John wrote,

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

If man didn’t have a part in salvation, then why does it say, “that whoever believes”?  Both God’s sovereignty and man’s freewill are indicated in Scripture, so how do we harmonize this to prevent any contradictions or pretexts in Scripture?

            This is best understood by the word “antinomy.” The word literally means “against the law” or the mutual incompatibility, real or apparent, of two laws.  The concept of antinomy holds that two subjects are both true, yet they contradict each other.  For example, the Trinity is an antinomy in that God is one and God is three. On the one extreme, God is one, which is modalism and states that God appears as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  On the other extreme, God is three and the extreme holds to three gods or tritheism.  If you go too far on either truth, you enter heresy. The same is true with sovereignty and free will.  Both are true and you end in heresy if you camp on one or the other.  Accept the antinomy by faith and you will be much closer to the truth.

             Does God elect? Yes.  Does man have freewill? Yes. Did God elect before the creation of the human race? Yes. Does man have to choose at the point of salvation to trust in Jesus Christ as Savior? Yes.

            Those who hold to extremes counter the other side’s argument. For example, those who camp on the sovereignty of God often say God regenerates man and then gives man faith to believe.  God does not give faith to those who do not believe.  Scripture does say, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy…” (Rom. 9:15).  Those who hold to the free will of man extreme often say that God knew who would believe and thus elected them. 

The key is to accept by faith that both are true and seek to understand Scripture so that no contradiction exists.  There can be no contradiction in Scripture, because it is inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16) and the Holy Spirit carried along the writers of Scripture (2 Pet. 1:21), so that it is true (John 17:17).

            I will include a few more articles on the subject in the following days to stir up your thinking and to grasp the awesome infinity of God’s wisdom.

SGL: How to help Faithfulness in Attendance

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Small Group Leadership: How to help Faithfulness in Attendance 

            We live in a culture that has a multitude of options.  People can watch hundreds of shows if they have cable, and they can call or text with another any time they want and very inexpensively.  There used to be party lines when I was a boy.  A party line is where several families in different homes used the same phone line and you had to wait until another family was off the line before you could make a call.  Of course, you also could listen in on conversations, if you were very quiet.  That is not an issue today as almost every person in every family has their own personalized cell phone number. We have developed a technological society in which we can do what we want almost when we want it. 

            We live in a time when people are not faithful in church attendance.  Church is important to many Christians, however, for many others, it is one of those things to add to the schedule and then when it is convenient, “You can count on me!” I was speaking to a pastor-friend who lives out west and he mentioned that if a person comes to church twice a month, they are considered committed – and that’s for an elder or deacon! 

            We live in a hedonistic society that can enjoy almost anything it wants and that’s just the acceptable opportunities.  A person can watch just about anything he wants on television, he can travel just about anywhere he wants to enjoy incredible beautiful scenery, he can attend a multitude of sporting events, or a whole host of other options. How do you suppose that affects attendance in a small group?  How does that affect things, especially, when there are very few who are starving or going without, because of all the government programs?  Who really needs God? 

            Everyone needs God, but only those who choose to seek first the kingdom will be faithful in attendance and use every opportunity to grow and encourage others to be faithful in connecting, becoming equipped and multiplying for the sake of the kingdom.  How can you encourage others to be faithful in attendance?  This is not an area that I have mastered.  I’d like to say I have the magic formula, but these are only a few suggestions.

            First, pray for your group (Jam. 5:16).  All the suggestions in the world will be fruitless unless God is working in their lives, unless people are responding to the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit, unless people are motivated by a love for Jesus Christ and love for others, and unless people make the choice themselves.  You can manipulate people to come, but if it is not by their own free will, they will become unfaithful in attendance again, once your prodding dissipates.

Secondly, tell people you are glad they came (Rom. 16:16).  People appreciate the connection and affirmation.  The technology boom is actually hurting real relationships and people thrive to know they belong and can have fellowship.  Texting, etc., is helpful to communicate data, but social relationships and the emotional sense of belonging lack satisfaction in our culture.  I encourage you to tell people you are glad they came rather than thanking them, because thanking them may make them think they have done something great, when they should be thanking you for having a home group.  If you thank someone for not doing anything, their pride can easily set in.

            Thirdly, call people who were missing (1 Cor. 12:25) .  This lets people know you care and are interested in them.  It also prevents time from passing and finding out several weeks after the fact that they had a major struggle in their life, like the death of a parent, trouble with a child, or a divorce. Don’t hesitate to call and just say, “We missed you last night, is everything going well for you? Is there anything we can do for you?”  That keeps the questions from being judgmental or critical and allows the person an easy choice not to return.

            Fourthly, spend time with them outside of the meeting (1 Jn. 1:7).  There are times when a strong relationship can be built outside of a meeting for connection.  The outside time shows the person that they matter and it is an opportunity to ask questions that you may not want to ask in the group.  People are becoming more and more “shy.”  That seems like an acceptable reason why people don’t get involved or become committed.  It is really just a form of self-centeredness, because the person is not concerned about others as Scripture commands.  The outside meeting with someone may be an opportunity to exhort and admonish what you wouldn’t do in front of others.

            Fifthly, give them opportunities to serve within the gathering (Gal. 5:13).  These are opportunities for ownership in the group and a reason for consistent attendance.  You must give opportunities to serve within the group any way, because that is part of discipleship.  People need to participate in the small group if they are going to be trained and prepared to multiply for the sake of other home groups. 

            Sixthly, exhort them to do the homework (Phil. 4:9).  Show them how much better the discussion goes when they prepare prior to the meeting by looking over the passage, their own sermon notes and preparing answers for the Message Based Discussion Questions (MBDQ).

            These are just a few tips and suggestions for how to develop greater commitment and faithfulness in attendance.  Ultimately, they have to make the choice.  If they are not pursuing the Lord Jesus Christ and the upward call of God in their lives (Phil. 3:12-14), they will spiritually wilt when the sun gets hot or their circumstances become difficult.  Your role is to be faithful and keep training your people and meeting them where they are.  Don’t let go.  Don’t give up.  Don’t get discouraged.  Your faithfulness will inspire faithfulness in them.

            You may have other suggestions. You can freely make them in response to this article.  May the Lord multiply our ministries!

 

SGL: How to Encourage People to Talk

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Small Group Leadership: How to Encourage People to Talk

 
 
            For people who are content just sitting and listening, how do you encourage them to talk in a small group? Permit me to over-generalize. There are some people who are extroverts and they often talk without thinking or without considering that there are other people in the room.  Then there are introverts, who would rather die than talk.  The purpose of the home group (small group) is to connect people to worship God, equip people in grace to become more like Jesus and multiply to reach the world with the gospel.  If people only sit and listen they will never spiritually advance into the aspects of equipping and multiplying.  Therefore, leaders must encourage people to talk and even take active roles of leading and facilitating.  How can a leader accomplish that?

            Why don’t people talk?  They have not been discipled regarding spiritual growth.  They had probably said something in the past that embarrassed them and they don’t want to look like a fool again.  Or maybe they gave a wrong answer and the leader or other participants made fun of their wrong answer.  They feel like they failed and no one wants to fail.  Or they want to be approved and if they give an answer that is off topic, a little “weird,” or not very spiritual, they might be found out as a spiritual fake. People are inhibited because they don’t want to look like a fool, to fail, or to be found out as a spiritual fake. It is because fearis a great inhibitor for speaking in public, even if there are only a dozen people.

            I know many people who are greatly inhibited.  They may be introverted or maybe hurt in some other situation that makes them willing to be a part of the group, but not wanting to risk saying something others will criticize or ridicule.  In any case, they will need encouragement to participate.  Here are a few suggestions to encourage quieter people to talk.

            First, get people talking with an ice breaker.  An ice breaker is a question, activity, prayer request time, or humorous illustration that requires each individual to participate and respond.  I normally use one of the above and then ask for a response from every person.  The activity or question must be easy enough that anyone can participate or answer the question.  It can be as easy as, “What kind of music did you listen to when you were growing up?”  That was from a recent Message Based Discussion Question from a sermon on “Music and Worship.”  I have also led playing the piano and getting everyone to sing a well-known song and then asking what their favorite song was.  Everyone can respond to that.

            Secondly, affirm what is said. When a person responds to an answer, verbally affirm the words, without adding to what they say.  Your affirmation can be words, a tone of “Hmhmm!” or pleasure with your face to the person.  Have good eye contact when someone is talking.  Don’t be concerned about what you are going to say next.  Show by your face and body language that you are interested in what they have to say.

            Thirdly, use simple questions to get the person talking.  Use follow up questions once they have spoken to give them immediate encouragement.  In the Message Based Discussion Questions, especially in the “Digging Deeper” section, I ask a simple question based on the message or a passage of Scripture with a fill in the blank line.  Then I ask one or more other questions as follow up questions.  The fill in the blank is something just about anyone could answer, and that gets the cogs going so they will risk answering the other “deeper” questions.

            Fourthly, when a quiet person speaks, affirm them without making an issue of them.  This is an advance on the second principle, because it means that you should not patronize the person.  People who don’t like to talk, do not want you to make an issue of them.  They want to be included with the group.  If you make an issue of their response, whether brilliant or not so brilliant, they will be less inclined to respond in the future.  Affirm, but do not go overboard in your words.  Treat the person like you appreciated what they said, but you non-verbally considered that they would know the answer like anyone else.

            Fifthly, laugh with people, not at people.  Laugh loudly to bring joy, happiness and even hilarity.  But never laugh at the person.  You can laugh at the response if it was funny, but never so that the person thinks you are laughing at him.  He will clam up and you will need weeks of assurance or affirmation to get him to talk again!

            It’s up the leadership team to help people talk.  If people don’t talk, they will never learn to disciple others.  If they do not learn to disciple others, they will never be equipped, nor will they multiply disciples for the sake of the kingdom.  It is not about the leader doing all the talking.  It is about encouraging people to talk, so they can learn to articulate (explain) biblical truth and become leaders themselves.

 

Words: Fail, Fool, Fake

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Fail, Fool, or Fake

           

            I have been very interested in ministry to men for several decades.  However, my passion rejuvenated five years ago.  I began with a group called “Hungry Hunters” on Wednesday nights at church.  I realized how important men are in the church.  In fact, I believe, “As go the men, so goes the church.” I now disciple two groups of men and one home group composed of couples. That does NOT mean women are not important.  It does not mean women do not greatly contribute to the spiritual vitality and growth of a church.  It does express that I believe if men do not lead, the blessing God intends for a church and community will not be all that God desires.  Men have a key role and they have been passive since the Garden of Eden.

            In the Garden of Eden, while the Serpent was wooing the woman, Adam was standing near passively listening to the discussion.  When the woman took the fruit and ate it, the text says, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Gen. 3:6)He should have been leading.  He should have been protecting the woman from being deceived.  He should have cried out to God if he didn’t know what to do.  Because Adam was passive and silent, we suffer today.  Because men are passive and silent today, we continue to suffer.  Why are men passive?

            Men are passive, because that is the alternative to doing the wrong thing.  What?  Yes, men want to do the right thing.  Men want to lead, but they have not been discipled.  Men want to make a difference in life, but it is easier to do nothing than risk doing the wrong action. 

            If men do the wrong action, what happens?  They will:

·         Know they did the wrong thing and people will let them know it.
·         Look like a fool in front of other people.
·         Be found out as a fake.  Men want others to respect them and they want others to think that they have their act together.  If they do the wrong thing, they will either be shown a fake or someone will accuse them of being a fake.

Obviously, most of that is perception.  But the reality is that is a man’s reality.  And he has a fear of those things.  Let me explain. There are three key things men do not want.

            Men do not want to fail.  Jesus prayed for the disciples before going to the cross, “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:32)  To fail is to fail God for most men. Somehow it is wired into most men that we want to succeed, to win, to overcome, to complete the task and hence, triumph.  You can see that in every aspect of life.  Men want to succeed up the corporate ladder, win the big game, overcome the adversity or challenge, complete the project at home or work and hence have satisfaction of the triumph. Men do not want to fail in their marriages, their families, or their church, let alone their work. But men have not been discipled.

            Men do not want to look like a fool.  Men know from Scripture that a fool is the opposite of the wise one, “the fool will be servant to the wise of heart. (Pro. 11:29)  Men like to joke around and banter back and forth among trusted friends.  However, make a man look like a fool and he is gone.  He will not come back unless he knows it might be safe.  Make fun of him around people he does not know, especially women and he will avoid you like certain politicians avoid answering the truth.  A man who looks foolish will remain quiet and uninvolved, until he can work up the courage to risk that last step again.  Even then, he’ll be very cautious.

            Men do not want to be found out as a fake.  Men want people to respect them. The Lord respected Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s (Gen. 4:4,5).  Jesus told the same parable in each of the three synoptic gospels regarding the expectation that the Son should be respected by the vinedressers (Matt. 21:37; Mark 12:6; Luke 20:13). Respect is a big deal to men. That’s why God tells women to “respect their husbands” (Eph. 5:33). When, or if, a man does not know or live in a way that he should be respected, he would rather retreat to his man-cave.  So rather than saying or doing the wrong thing, it is easier for him not to do anything, than risk being found out a spiritual or otherwise fake. 

            These three – fail, fool, fake – result from fear.  Men do NOT want to claim to struggle from fear, so it is easier to be passive, silent and uninvolved.  Even Scripture identifies this as a possible approach, “Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.” (Pro. 17:28) A man wants to look wise, so it is easier to be passive, silent and uninvolved than take the risk of revealing fear.  Fear is abominable to a man.  He is supposed to be a leader!  But when the flesh controls, he plays the fool and fear gets the best of him.  What is the solution?

            The solution is to disciple men.  That was the purpose of “Hungry Hunters.”  We took the Message Based Discussion Questions and went through them each week.  The purpose was to engender confidence in the men and restore true masculinity to lead in their marriages, homes and the church.  Men are hunters and providers.  Hungry men are those who seek after God’s righteousness.  The goal is to stay with a man, until he is ready to disciple other men.  The key is “as go the men, so goes the church (marriage, family).” 

Question: What is the Role of Women in Church?

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What is the Role of Women in Church?

The role of women has characteristically been a question since the Garden of Eden.  When the woman, later named Eve, took the leadership role, while Adam stood by, a problem developed.  It’s not that women are not good leaders.  They are incredible and often better leaders than many men.  However, the question is “What is the role of women?” And especially, “What is the role of women in the church?”

This question is like many questions; the question can only be answered if you start with the right source or view. For example, “Is beauty in the eye of the beholder?” Or, “What music should be used to worship God?”  Or even, “Is it right for women to work outside the home?”  If you begin with man’s view, you’ll develop one kind of answer.  If you begin with God’s view, you may get another answer.

The question must be answered from Scripture. There is no question that men and women are equal in essence.  Paul wrote, “…there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28) They are one in that they are equal in essence before God. When Peter wrote how a husband is to live with his wife, he wrote, “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Pet. 3:7)  Peter did not say that women were weaker than men.  He said that husbands are to live with their wives AS, or in a similar way, you would with a weaker vessel.  In other words, give her honor and treat her with respect and love.  Men and women are equal as people before God.

Yet, God gave them different roles.  Men are assigned specific leadership responsibilities.  For example, men are addressed as responsible for child training, “Fathers do not provoke your children to anger…” (Eph. 6:4).  But that doesn’t mean women won’t raise children as Timothy’s mother and grandmother raised him (2 Tim. 1:5). Women may do the bulk of child training, especially if the father travels for work or puts in exceptionally long hours. Yet, God holds fathers responsible. 

Another example is that men are addressed as those who might aspire to the position of overseer, which is the functional responsibility in the church of an elder or pastor.  Paul writes, “If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.” (1 Tim. 3:1)  The position of pastor is not open to women.  Paul makes that clear in 1 Timothy 2:12, where Paul says, “And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.” (1 Tim. 2:12)  The original Greek “to teach” and “to have authority” are grammatically both present infinitives, which means the woman is not to be in the position of regularly teaching men or maintaining authority over men.  If the verbs were aorist infinitives, it would mean they could not ever teach men or have any authority over men.  As Paul states it, women could teach men as an expert over a particular subject matter or report back as a missionary to a church, or serve as a chairperson of a committee, of which she is an expert, but not on an on-going basis. This does not mean women cannot teach or exercise authority.  Women are to teach younger women,

3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things–
 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.  (Titus 2:3-5)

Women also are excellent teachers of children.  At Grace, women teach boys and girls through high school and then women beyond high school. Women will speak to mixed audiences on special occasions.  Why are women restricted?  God wrote that guideline.  It is His model. 

I do not need to evade that question by providing a simplistic answer, although because “God said it” should be enough.  Paul wrote, “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” (1 Ti m.2:14) Can men be deceived?  Of course, but God holds men responsible to give the answer and justification for what happens, not the woman.  Will she have to give an account?  Of course, she’ll have to give an account for herself (2 Cor. 5:10), not as the final authority for her marriage.  Who does God hold responsible for divorce? The man! Malachi records, “Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant.” (Mal. 2:14)  Are wives responsible for their marriages?  Of course (Eph. 5:33), but the onus is on the man!

            An additional example is that men are tasked by God to fight and protect women and children.  God always numbered the number of male warriors in Israel, not women.  Women were not called to fight.  Can they fight?  Like cats and dogs.  But that is not their role.  Men are to lay down their life for women, even as Jesus laid down his life for the Church. God told Moses,

2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male individually,

 3 “from twenty years old and above– all who are able to go to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their armies.” (Num. 1:2-3)

Note two things.  First, Moses was to number the males, not the females.  Secondly, they were numbered and expected to be able to go to war.  Those males who were not, were not numbered.  Men are responsible for the role of protection, not women.  Are women to protect?  Of course, but it is not their responsibility.

            There are additional examples.  For example, God chose men as the writers of Scripture.  All of the priests in the Old Testament were men.  Women were not allowed to serve.  This doesn’t diminish the role of women any more than Jesus’ role of going to the cross diminishes who He is in the Trinity.

            So what is the role of men and women?  John Piper and Wayne Grudem edited an historical volume entitled, “Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism.”1  They give the following definitions for biblical manhood and womanhood.  For manhood they wrote,

At the heart of mature masculinity is a sense of benevolent responsibility to lead, provide for and protect women in ways appropriate to a man’s differing  relationships. (p. 35)

For womanhood, they wrote,

At the heart of mature femininity is a freeing disposition to affirm, receive and nurture strength and leadership from worthy men in ways appropriate to a woman’s differing relationships. (p. 36)

In this excellent 566 page tome, they, word-by-word, explain these definitions and relate the roles of men and women in the home and church.  This is the best volume on the market that examines the roles of men and women, including their roles in the church. I refer you to this excellent resource.

            This begs the question, “Why did God make distinctions between the roles of men and women?”  Did God decide to put women under the thumb of men to make women miserable?  Does God not like women as much as men?  Nothing could be further from the Truth!  God is a God of order (1 Cor. 14:40).  Everything has a purpose and ultimately that purpose is to glorify God.  Consider the following thoughts.

            First, the roles of men and women mirror the roles of the Trinity.  Just as God the Son was submissive to the Father (John 5:19, 30), so the woman is submissive to the man (Eph. 5:22).  The Son is not inferior to the Father (John 10:30), but they have different roles (Luke 22:42).  The Son executes the Father’s plan in obedience to the Father’s will (Luke 2:49).  The Son doesn’t look down on Himself and was obedient to the point of death (Phil. 2:8).

            Secondly, the roles of men and women provide for structure and order. Paul commands wives to be submissive, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” (Eph. 5:22)  The word for “submit” or “be subject” is a military term, which means “to serve under” or “under authority.” The Roman centurion understood this authority (Luke 7:8). The husband doesn’t become the big Kahuna, whereby he is free to do what he wants.  That would be sin.  The husband must die to himself, his own desires, so that he can lead his wife, in order to best serve the Lord as a couple (Eph. 5:25-26).

            Thirdly, the roles of men and women provide the best environment for raising and discipling children to the next generation. Women are tremendous nurturers with children all through life, and often much better than fathers, while fathers are called on to exhort their children to godliness. Paul explains that differentiation,

7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
 9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;
 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged1 every one of you, as a father does his own children, (1 Thes. 2:7-11)

            Fourthly, the roles of men and women in the church are designed to hold men responsible to the original command in the Garden “to tend and keep” and be responsible for ensuring that the church will be kept on track.  Can men lead the church off track?  Of course he can and does!  And he will be held responsible before God.  Can women lead a church to godliness, truth and growth?  Yes and there are many examples where they do.  But just because they do or it is expedient, because some women are better capable to lead and communicate, that does not make it right.  It is not any more right than numerous other roles in Scripture. For example, it was God’s choice for the Levites to serve in the tabernacle and temple, not another tribe (Ex. 38:21; Num. 1:50-53).  It was God’s choice that elders were to devote themselves to prayer and teaching the word (Acts 6:4), instead of the administrative and serving roles of the deacons.  It was God’s choice that Jesus die on the cross (Luke 22:42).  It was God’s choice that we remain on earth and be witnesses (Acts 1:8).  It is God’s choice that we suffer for doing good to exalt His name, because life is about Him, not us (1 Pet. 3:17).  It is God’s choice. 

            Women should pursue raising up women to be godly.  Paul explains what women ought to do,

3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things–
 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.” (Titus 2:3-5)

This is not being done today.  There are many wonderful examples of women who are discipling other women.  There are many wonderful examples of women who care deeply about the future generations of children.  However, there are too many women who are more focused on temporal and mundane goals, rather than eternal goals.

           Women are trying to catch up and surpass men in the unimportant roles of working in the world.  There are few higher callings than to train young women to be godly, so that the Word of God not be blasphemed, as it is today.  Additionally, women should be working with children to teach them holiness, respect and diligence to understand God’s will.  What would happen if the godly women spent most of their time working with their own children and other children that are a part of their church family?  There would be such blessing our current world has never seen! Instead they are pursuing their own careers.  Where is their spiritual fruit of disciples?

            Are women intelligent?  Of course women are intelligent.  They are often more intelligent than men.  Are they good communicators?  Women are often better than men.  Are they better administrators and leaders?  Many women are much better than some of the best of men.  That isn’t the point.  What is God’s view? What does God outline in His Word? What does God say is important?  What will bring honor to God?  Will a successful career honor God like raising up disciples?  Will an ability to do whatever she wants or travel wherever she wants to go really honor God like raising up disciples?  Will an ability to have her name on the wall among the men leaders honor God like raising up disciples?  The worldly measures are so unimportant compared to raising disciples for Jesus Christ.  As Jesus said, “Not my will, but Thine be done.”
 

1Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism, ed. John Piper and Wayne Grudem, Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL, 1991.

Book Review: Worship in Song: A Biblical Approach to Music and Worship by Scott Aniol

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Book Review: Worship in Song: A Biblical Approach to Music and Worship by Scott Aniol
 

Worship in Song, by Scott Aniol, is the best book I’ve read on music and worship.  I have read many volumes regarding music and worship, because I have been perplexed for many years regarding what kind of music is appropriate for worshiping God.  I have transitioned from the perspective of enjoying anything to being very restrictive in the kinds and styles of music.  I have also tried to develop a system of rhythms of music for what is appropriate.  I know I will continue to refine my perspective as I understand our infinite God and how to connect with people to worship God.  Unfortunately, the music debate has caused too many problems in churches and created too many walls between Christians.

Scott Aniol insightfully developed a balance in explaining music in biblical worship.  He puts the emphasis where it belongs: on God. His bottom line seems to be that God is most pleased with the process of people dependent on God to determine what honors Him, rather than merely choosing a particular style.

He begins by examining worship in its foundation.  Worship is about God, not man. Therefore, “A Christian’s number one concern in life should not be his rights or his preferences. It should be the glory of God,” writes Aniol (p. 40).  Offense is not whether my feelings are hurt or not, but whether my actions lead another into sin (p. 41).  Additionally, he writes,

If you are not actively pursuing sanctification; if you are not daily in God’s Word, striving to know His mind and think His thoughts; if you not willing to give up what might be legitimately your right, then you cannot expect to discern what music styles are pleasing to the Lord. (p. 42)

Aniol continues by describing “affections” as a missing link (p. 45f). Love for God is not a duty, but something we choose to do. He writes, “Love in the portrayal of pop media is something we “fall into,” something involuntary, even accidental. But biblical affection is not that way. Biblical affection intricately involves the mind, the will, and the emotions.” (p. 54) Affections are a choice to focus on God and worship Him, not a response of emotions that we don’t control.

Aniol records an excellent synopsis on history of music, culture and the church.  It was in the 18th century when the church was dethroned and secular culture and the Industrial Revolution became more influential to replace folk culture.  This pop culture began to govern church music (p. 77).

He makes an excellent analogy regarding  “beauty.”  Most people would say, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”  However, beauty is not subjective according to what man likes.  Some are so perverted, they think pornography is beautiful.  True beauty rests with God, not man (cf. Pro. 2:3-6).  The same is true with music.  Aniol writes,

If certain forms of music draw a listener into a sensuous experience of physical pleasure only without deflecting its finite representation of beauty to the divine, they are not worthy of Christian use.  In other words, music that merely stimulates the passions instead of uplifting the affections is dangerous. (p. 116)

There is clear distinction between what is beautiful and what is wicked.  The middle ground of acceptability is large.  So, where is the line?  The issue can be made for music also. Aniol writes,

Recognizing clearly immoral music is fairly easy—any Christian can do it.  Trying to determine where the line between good and bad music, is, however, remains difficult, if not impossible for finite man.  Therefore staying away from the middle may be prudent for the Christian. (p. 140, author’s emphasis).

            After an exceptional analysis of music and worship, Aniol summarizes with four statements:

  • God created all things.
  • God created all things for His own pleasure.
  • God is worthy of our worship because He created all things for His own pleasure.
  • God is worthy enough for us to consider carefully how we worship. (pp. 238-244)

This is a must read for every pastor, especially those leading with music.  Scott Aniol provides a fresh, solid approach to music and worship.  Aniol is a tremendous communicator and pastor, always thinking of how to bring glory and honor to the Lord.