Author: sweetpeacardco

The Done’s

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I recently met a “done.” It was actually a great initial opportunity to chat with and pray for someone. The “done’s” refer to those who are done with church but who still consider themselves spiritual, if not Christian. This post is dedicated to the “done’s”; to encourage, challenge and equip both you and those of us who are the “not-done’s.” While not exhaustive I hope it gets us all thinking in a [correct] Biblical direction.

Often when you speak with a done they have a variety of reasons for not going to church and generally positively affirm: their belief in God or the divine, angels, prayer, the support they feel they receive from their faith, being spiritual vs. being church (or Christian), etc, etc.

Why did these people become “done”? The reasons vary as to the individual stories but a number of general observations could be noted: 1) they had a bad experience with “church,” 2) the hypocrisy in the church, 3) they were hurt or felt they were not supported in some way, 4) post-modernism- the rejection of institutions, 5) individualism- I can be “spiritual” by myself with no need of public worship or corporate Christianity, 6) acedia (that is spiritual laziness)- I don’t feel like going (or I have other things I could be doing), and that leads to 7) priorities. We could probably think of some others. Many of these are real reasons for being disgruntled with church. Many, even the more valid ones, also find their legitimacy in faulty thinking (which I hope to kindly and rationally challenge).

Let’s address some of these.

What type of church were you done with? Was it a healthy Bible believing, Gospel centred, Holy Spirit led, love and truth filled type of church? Were the ways of the world or the Kingdom most evident? If it was the former than you were actually not reacting against church at all, but a lesser replica. Often people say “I don’t believe in God.” I reply, “Tell me about the God you don’t believe in, I probably don’t believe in Him either.” The same applies to church. Are you reacting against a true picture of the church? If not, ask for the Lord’s help to get back up again and find a church like the one above.

But, even in the best case scenario where the church was all those things albeit imperfectly, we need to remember that the Bible teaches us we are broken. The Church represents the redeemed people of God whom He is perfecting for His glory. If I found The Perfect Church, I wouldn’t join it, because then it would no longer be perfect. The Church is made up of redeemed broken people who continue to be transformed into who they have been called to be by the grace of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. While the true Church, in ever growing degrees, should be more like Christ, we are not like Him yet. Therefore sin and hurt will still happen in the life of the church, however, in a healthy church it will be repented of and forgiveness and restoration sought. Do you have a naive view of human nature that might need altering so you are not disenchanted?

Lastly, are those reasons that are not necessarily someone else’s fault. Sometimes people are “done” because it is convenient, because of the lazy pride of our society. Sometimes being a done is because you are done with God, but still want to feel good as “spiritual,” but really your priorities are somewhere else. Really God is not number one, otherwise many things, including church going, would be different in your life. Is the priority of your life truly God?

Clearly, and I could go on, the topic is much deeper than meets the eye. Likewise to respond to it Biblically would require bringing in multitudes of passages, principles, etc. Let us look simply at one verse that cuts to the chase. Hebrews 10:25 says:

Let us not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another, all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

The apostle John would have wholeheartedly agreed! In His old age, when he had a plausible excuse for not attending public worship, he did the opposite. Church tradition tells us that when he was around 90 years old and could not physically carry himself to worship he would have others carry him. John loved worshipping the Lord, His Lord, with His brothers and sisters in Christ. He loved Jesus, he loved to worship and he loved the Church. He knew it was his duty to worship and engage, but more than that it was his joy. What are you neglecting that is causing you to retreat from the life in the Church you should be living?

You can go to church your whole life and not be a Christian. Going to church does not make you a Christian any more than going to the Mall makes you a commercial product, or sitting in a garage makes you a car. But if you truly have become a Christian through faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, you should want to engage in the life of the local church (and that means going too). As a beekeeper I always say, “you cannot have the bee without the hive.”

What does going to/ participating in the life of the local church accomplish?

  1. It indicates your highest allegiance and life priority,
  2. Our lives are recalibrated towards God,
  3. We receive spiritual teaching and food, encouragement, prayer and fellowship,
  4. We grow in Christ
  5. We are prepared for good works of mission and service in the world
  6. The list of blessings could truly go on…

At the end of the day though, more important than fooling ourselves by either believing we are okay outside or inside the visible church, is whether we are truly a part of the Church (the invisible or universal Church of Christ made up of all true Christians). Do you know and follow Jesus? The answer to that question will determine everything else. When we know and seek Him everything else that should be in place begins to fall into place, as we become undone.

*For more on the gathered and scattered church see a coming BLOG post.

The Lord’s Sweetest Blessings,

Pastor Chris

Radically, Relevant, Reliable and Refreshing Reading

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Where can I find that you might ask in disbelief?

The Bible!

What?! Those adjectives do not appear to reflect how I view that old book.

Well, maybe your old view isn’t based on a full enough understanding (btw- have you ever seriously read that book you claim is old, irrelevant, less than trustworthy and dull?). I have based my life upon it, and never once has it failed or faltered. That is because God, in His Word, promises as much. He tells us in Proverbs 30:5a- Every word of God proves true!

I was listening in on a conversation recently between two individuals who were discussing Christian things and I presume (and hope) were Christians. The one was giving the other, who was seeking advice on subject X, wisdom. However, his wisdom amounted to nothing more than empty human thoughts that were interesting, but less than helpful for this man who really just needed the truth. I was in agony within myself as this man was told a load of nonsense. Now I am not against hearty and helpful knowledge if it is in accordance with God’s Word and builds upon the firm foundation of the truth. I am not against recommending Christian books that elaborate upon important topics, so long as they find their centre in Scripture. What this man was being encouraged to examine was not that kind of wisdom (compare Prov 3:1-8). Towards the end of their conversation I decided to politely intervene. It just so happened that the “advisor” was heading off at this point anyway. In response to his initial query I passed along, not a huge treatise for him to digest, but one simple Bible verse and explained in the context of his question how it applied. He was amazed! It was true wisdom, pure and very simple (or at least straightforward). He immediately recognized how much more sense that one Bible verse made and was (sadly) somewhat amazed that I had just pulled it out from my memory. You mean that is in the Bible, he seemed to insinuate. Yes, it is in the Bible, and there is plenty more practical and spiritual wisdom where that came from, a vast treasury. Our conversation continued, much as it had before, onto another point he had raised. Again, I responded with a simple Biblical truth. He was amazed, “I cannot believe the Bible says that, this makes so much sense!” Lesson? Read your Bible and become acquainted with its timeless truths. In fact, as you read other books you should always be reading the Bible, how else will you be able to evaluate them and discern fact from fiction?

Here are some implications from Prov 30:5:

  • The God of the Bible can be trusted.
  • Because He speaks through His Word we can always trust what it says.
  • Because the Bible is always trustworthy we do not have to waste time searching for answers elsewhere. It is sufficient for us.
  • We can be glad of this, build our life upon its truths, and see the fruit of that truth at work in our lives (and this in turn leads other people to marvel at the wisdom of God and of His generousity in providing it).

Thank be to God for His Word!

The Lord’s Sweetest Blessings,

Pastor Chris

What is compassion?

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Last Sunday, we had a presentation about a Christian organization called Compassion UK which works with children in poverty in some of the poorest countries of the world. The organization’s threefold purpose is to be child focused, Christ centred and church based. Click here to find out how you can invest in the life of a child in poverty through sponsorship.

In a world that tends to use and abuse the actual meaning of words, has the true force of the definition of compassion been lost on us? Today, we might hear the word and think, “oh, how lovely, what a nice idea, compassion,” but do we really know what it means and do we demonstrate it from our hearts?

What does it mean to have compassion or be compassionate as a Christian trait and virtue?

Jesus, in Matthew 9:35-38, helpfully illustrates true compassion for us.

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and village, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When He saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.”

In this portion of Matthew Jesus was on a healing streak. In chapters 8 and 9 alone He has healed a man with leprosy, the centurion’s servant, Peter’s mother in Law, many more demon possessed and those who were ill. He takes a break to calm the storm, heals two more demon possessed men, a paralytic, a dead girl, another sick woman, a blind man, a man who could not speak. He continues His relentless mission of proclamation, teaching, and healing, and His renown is ever growing and the people (the crowds) are drawn to Him.

He was likely physically exhausted. Jesus could have said: “Oh these people keep bringing me their problems, can’t they just leave me alone?” or “What a bunch of helpless failures, I’m out of here.” But it says that Jesus had compassion on them (Matt 9:36).

Today we might read that word as “oh Jesus had compassion, what a good guy.” We might think of other words like sympathy or empathy. However, the Greek word for compassion is splachnizomai. It might sound funny trying to say it, but it is a profound word. It actually means a feeling from deep within, from your guts, your innards. It means to love or have concern for someone with deep pain. And such pain wells up and leads to action.

Jesus had compassion on the crowds because they were harassed and helpless (and helpless here does not mean guiltless of sin). Here were a bunch of ordinary people. They were harassed and helpless for many economic, political and spiritual reasons: Roman rule, religious oppression and their own wayward living (Jesus called them a perverse and corrupt generation). There were so many reasons why Jesus had compassion on them. But He did not pass them by, for His compassion compelled Him into action to seek to bring the life changing truths of the Gospel to bear upon their lives and life situations. Jesus too, in countless instances, commands His followers to be a people of compassion because of the compassion He show to us, by dying to save us from our sins.

Colossians 3:12, as a type of fruit of the Spirit, instructs us:

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience…

Whether it is through supporting a child through an organization like Compassion, or something much closer to home, and perhaps very personal and messy, would we follow our Lord’s example and be a people of compassion?

The Lord’s Sweetest Blessings,

Pastor Chris

Devotion and Obedience

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Last night we touched on Christian obedience in our study on 1 John.

By this we know if we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. (1 Jn 2:3)

Christian obedience, far from a drudge, flows out of our love for God because of who He is and what He has done, most especially in lavishing His grace upon His people and the presence of His Spirit in our life; the mark that we are a true believer. So you might say that what undergirds Christian obedience is devotion. I am currently reading another Puritan classic written by William Law in 1729. It is called A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. In many ways it echoes the theme found in Wilberforce’s book Real Christianity that we studied this summer regarding nominalism and authentic Christianity. I cannot comment on the whole book because I have not finished it yet, but I was struck by the opening page in which Law unpacks the essence of true Christian devotion. I pray you’ll find it helpful. He wrote:

DEVOTION is neither private nor public prayer; but prayers, whether

private or public, are particular parts or instances of devotion.

Devotion signifies a life given, or devoted, to God.

He, therefore, is the devout man, who lives no longer to his own will,

or the way and spirit of the world, but to the sole will of God, who

considers God in everything, who serves God in everything, who makes

all the parts of his common life parts of piety, by doing everything in

the Name of God, and under such rules as are conformable to His glory.

We readily acknowledge, that God alone is to be the rule and measure of

our prayers; that in them we are to look wholly unto Him, and act

wholly for Him; that we are only to pray in such a manner, for such

things, and such ends, as are suitable to His glory.

The Lord’s Sweetest Blessings,

Pastor Chris

Suggested Readings

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Over the summer I spent a lot of time reading various Puritan authors that influenced the man that I am writing a biography on for my PhD. Two such works were influential in his conversion, and also the conversion of men like Charles Spurgeon and countless others. Each work is known as a spiritual classic from its age, and I had to stop counting the insightful comments that graced their pages, each jam-packed with spiritual power and Biblical truth. As we are looking at 1 John this autumn and the topic of assurance, particularly in chapter one about a persons relationship to Jesus Christ and their understanding of sin, I thought I would recommend these two short works for the profit of Christians and non-Christians alike. For Christians it will certainly help you in your understanding of sin and God’s amazing grace. For those who are non-Christians or of the nominal sort, it will challenge you to the core as to whether you indeed have any merit to stand before the Almighty. Irregardless, the authors do not mince words! For those who take the time to read them you will be sure to be blessed (aka- don’t be put off by their 17th Century writing style, be patient).

Richard Baxter: A Call to the Unconverted

Joseph Alleine: An Alarm to the Unconverted

Enjoy!

The Lord’s Sweetest Blessings,

Pastor Chris

Finally some good news.

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For the sake of truth and righteousness as a nation I praise God today that finally, at least on one matter, the UK—when many Western nations have not— has stood up with regards to an important area of modern debate.

In a 330-188 decision assisted dying [assisted suicide/ euthanasia] was defeated, upholding the 1961 Suicide Act which recognizes suicide as unhealthy tragedy in and for society (click here to read more). Today Christians can praise the Lord on this matter. But there is work to do. As we saw in our summer study, much of the blame for our current shift towards immorality and a non-Christian state has been our fault. Let today’s victory therefore, not simply be an opportunity to breed complacency but to recognize the fact that the “progressive” slide away from Christ towards godlessness can be averted, and the Lord desires to use you as a means.

This summer Wilberforce challenged us to be Christians that seek to use our influence for the exertion of the Gospel and the extension of Kingdom values. Today is not a day to celebrate and then cease our endeavours, but to take courage, regroup and engage yet again. May our prayers for revival only become more fervent! May we never cease to labour until “the earth is filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Hab 2:14).

The Lord’s Sweetest Blessings,

Pastor Chris

A disconcerting first…

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A 47 year old American woman was sentenced to prison five days ago. Here crime? It wasn’t a mass shooting, or failing to pay unpaid parking fees, or neglecting a child. She was put in prison for believing that marriage is between one man and one woman (read more here). No matter what side of that debate you find yourself, this news should cause you great concern (think freedom of conscience and religious liberties). If you are a Christian who affirms God’s designs for marriage and sexuality it should cause you even greater concern. Watch out, this move signals a new trend into uncharted waters in which the Christian minority in the West, living in an increasingly anti-Christian climate, will be called to account as to where their highest allegiance lies.

While at the outset this case signals woe and concern, it is more complicated than it appears (especially because it involves American culture and politics). Firstly, there is the dynamic of the case. Kim Davis, a clerk responsible for issuing marriage licences in her local county, has refused to issue licences to both homosexual and heterosexual applicants since the Supreme Court single-handedly legalized same sex unions, citing religious beliefs as her reason. She was jailed for contempt of court because she failed to heed the judge’s demands of complying with the law and beginning to reissue licences. Such a move appears to be a larger protest with wider aims than her local county is concerned. Had she simply refused to comply in issuing a licence to a same sex couple her religious argument may have held greater sway. Still, she may have faced prison time, or perhaps more appropriately, simply been dismissed from her position (which in itself would have been sad but more just). However, as an elected official she has to be defeated in an election or impeached to lose her position. This is why her case is such a challenge to the government, because she cannot simply be dismissed and has the opportunity to become a martyr for the numerous challenges to the recent US court decision.

Her apparent willingness to suffer a losing legal battle for the sake of Christ and Christians generally, is noble, it is standing for what she believes regardless of the consequences. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:10, ESV). At the time of her sentencing Davis said, “I promised to love Him [Jesus] with all my heart, mind and soul,” and she appears to have made good on that promise. Though she may lose much, including her job, she spoke of standing upon “God’s law” and not upon the ruling of the Supreme Court when it differed from Scripture. Here she is leaning upon what Jesus taught in Mark 12:17, “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are Gods,” and also “you cannot serve both God and money” (Mk 12:17).

In other words, you cannot serve both God and the US government, particularly when the government (on this point) is acting contrary to what you know Scripture teaches.

Thankfully today she was released from prison today, the judge hoping he had taught her a lesson. As she returns to work, which court will she be guilty of standing in contempt of, God’s or the US government?

To be sure there are many pressing issues I could have chosen to write on, one of which being the American same-sex debate. I could have also rightly highlighted the refugee crisis, the trafficking of women and children in the sex trade, or assisted dying [suicide]. All of these would be valid moral and social issues to comment upon. I suppose I chose to write upon this because when I read it I thought, given the trajectory the West has set itself upon, “this could very easily be myself [as a public Christian leader], or someone from my congregation [a Christian school teacher[1]].” This is a litmus test that could determine whether Christians in countries like the USA, Canada and England, which continue down a path of licentiousness, will simply be marginalized and ridiculed for following Christ or whether they will actually be persecuted. A jail sentence for following Jesus was a wake-up call for me.

May we pray for Kim Davis and all those Christians, especially public officials and employees, who face persecution and marginalization, that they may stand firm in their faith (1 Cor 16:13). Pray that as they stand firm they may do so in love (v.14) so that they may heap burning coals on their enemies heads (Ro 12:20). Let us pray for governments and engage with elected officials, that they may be respectful of Christian values. Let us know the facts and be biblically and intelligently informed for the battle.

For nearly 300 years Christianity has enjoyed a supremacy in the West in which persecution and marginalization was a foreign experience.

This has not always been the case, neither in English history, nor the history of the Church. May we learn from those who have gone before us and who likewise suffer for the faith around the world each day, and like the persecuted saints throughout the ages, may we be found faithful, to Christ’s honour and the Church’s witness. Amen.

Pastor Chris

[1] This will especially become the case as governments and school boards make it mandatory for teachers and staff to promote immoral curriculum which will be against a Christian’s belief.

Real Christianity

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Over the last three months we have been blessed at the chapel to have worked our RCway through a Christian classic, written over 200 years ago, and have discovered how timeless and pertinent its message is for us today. Beginning in June roughly 25 regulars along with those who read along at home, journeyed through Real Christianity by William Wilberforce. We began with two movie nights watching the 2006 film Amazing Grace so as to have a better idea of this man and his times. Pastor Chris then led us through the book with accompanying questions and related Bible passages to complement and aid our discussion. We had many profitable and meaningful gatherings and refreshing times of prayer as we were all challenged by this book. Wilberforce, an evangelical Christian, sought to end the slave trade and reform the morals and values of society but realized he could not accomplish this aim until the nations hearts had first been rendered by the Gospel. In this classic book he investigates the differences between authentic Christianity and cultural Christianity, challenging cultural Christians to not simply believe but have faith in and be transformed by the Gospel, and calling on true believers to new heights of devotion and service to their Lord. Last night we ended our series with elderberry pie, but more importantly a group time of sharing where we could all share some of the highlights of what we had learned. Here are some of them. This study helped…

  • Me see with clarity the difference between authentic and cultural Christianity;
  • That what he said was indeed timeless and applies as much today as when he wrote it;
  • Spur me on in my walk with Jesus;
  • To see that I have to ask for the Holy Spirit’s help to address my shortcomings as a Christian;
  • Me to re-evaluate my priorities, Jesus is not as high a priority in my life as I had thought and He must be not only my Savior but my Lord;
  • Challenge me to use our influence in society better for the sake of advancing the Kingdom of God;
  • Me to strive to be a greater light in my non-Christian workplace;
  • Me renew a heart to share the Gospel with nominal Christians so our/their joy may be complete;
  • Have a greater appreciation of the importance of Holy Scripture in the life of the believer;
  • Us see the necessity of prayer, both individual and corporate, to live the Christian life and change society;
  • Me have a greater hunger for God’s word;
  • Me appreciate and trust the power of God’s word to transform;
  • Me be reminded how much we really need the Lord in all things;
  • Remind me of the need to do good and to love as a Christian;
  • Emphasize that salvation is by grace and not works of any kind;
  • Me see the value in Christian fellowship, reflection and prayer;
  • Demonstrate that beliefs affect our behaviour. Faulty behaviour in society and politics arises because of false beliefs;
  • Us see that to be truly patriotic is to seek our nation’s welfare and its welfare comes from knowing God and walking in His ways. There is great national and political importance in the future of our nation whether we become Christian again or not;
  • Me very much see that Christianity is not about belief or simply going to Church but must be a personal relationship with Jesus;
  • Me see that, while we may disagree with other Christians on secondary matters, we must strive with those with whom we have primary Gospel agreement to effect change upon our country.
  • …many more to be sure.

If you were not able to or would like to study this book yourself, then please do not hesitate to ask me for the questions and order yourself a copy today. Next week we return to our study of the Gospel of John.

The Lord’s Sweetest Blessings,

Pastor Chris

Father Knows

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It is no secret that our Canadian residence has been for sale for 20 months, 14 of which we have lived in the U.K. This has frustrated our best laid plans and desire to be good stewards of what God has given to us and has increasingly become a great burden. We have patiently waited on the Lord. Indeed, of all the trials I have ever faced this has been perhaps the most unique and difficult to endure. Last week, it appeared that God had finally arranged the sale of our house. The offer had been accepted, the conditions in the conditional period had been met, and then on the day [Monday] the buyers were to sign the deal that would have seen us all move towards the closing date (and them suffer a penalty if they chose to back out)— you guessed it—they backed out. No sale, and no going back to visit family as we had hoped to be able to do from the finances of the sale. That happened the day after I preached a People’s Choice question on suffering. Suffering manifests itself in many different ways. For Rebekah and I, this news caused our hearts to sink, gravely. It was a hard moment to trust in providence when it seemed that providence continually seemed to be against us. In our daily reading of the Psalms we read a passage that summed up how we felt:

O Lord, all my longing is before you;

                               my sighing is not hidden from you.

               My heart throbs; my strength fails me,

                               and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.

(Psalm 38:9-10 ESV)

One of the reasons for sharing this is to demonstrate that pastors and their wives are human like the sheep they shepherd. They are not impervious to the trials, temptations and burdens that can and do beset us in our fallen world. What good would it be for me to proclaim James 1:2-4 from the pulpit if in my own walk I could not demonstrate that had been and was currently my experience?

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

(James 1:2-4 ESV)

And so even when such faith was difficult in the present, as with the Psalmist, by God’s grace, we read on in that same Psalm:

But for you, O LORD, do I wait;

                               it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.

(Psalm 38:15 ESV)

Who else but to the Lord could we turn, even when the Lord’s providence to us, in our limited wisdom, we could not even apprehend let alone comprehend. And so we waited. Then on Thursday the Lord sent us the most miraculous encouragement. He did not sell our house, but another bill, one of those administrative bills where you are over charged for something and cannot see how, despite your best attempts to appeal, you’ll get out of, was waived in a postal update we received upon returning from a three day camping trip. God was in control and was reminding us of it.

Our Father knows. We do not but He knows.

And so like the Psalmist we wait on the Lord for His deliverance out of the burdensome situation praying,

Do not forsake me, O LORD!

                               O my God, be not far from me!

               Make haste to help me,

                               O Lord, my salvation!

(Psalm 38:21-22 ESV)

The Lord’s Sweetest Blessings,

Pastor Chris

“because of the angels…”

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Introductory Complementarian Resourceshead coverings

Last night, as part of our summer People’s Choice sermon series a question was asked about the meaning of “because of the angels” in 1 Cor 11:2-16 (listen to that sermon here).

This passage is not overly popular a) because it is a challenging text to exegete and also b) because culture does not like to hear what it, and other passages have to say about gender relations. However, we were encouraged by Martin Luther’s words:

“If I preach the Holy Scriptures with all my might but remain silent on the one issue the world is attacking, I have not preached the Word.”

We saw that the Bible teaches what may be referred to as complementarianism. Complementarianism believes that God created man and woman in his image, completely equal in value and full humanity (and equal in salvation), and yet distinct in the way they relate and function (they have different roles which in themselves have equal worth). They are equal but different. This complementary relationship reflects the glory of God.

If you would like to deepen your understanding of the Biblical view of gender here are a number of introductory reference points:

FIEC Stance

An discussion between 3 leading evangelical pastors from The Gospel Coalition on complementarianism and what is at stake (*The FIEC has ties with TGC).

Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

If you are interested in exploring the complementarian stance that is specifically in favour of head coverings click here.