by Michiana Covenant | Dec 2, 2012 | Marriage, Pastoral Notes
I find it immensely useful to read feminist critiques of patriarchy as a means of reminding me of my own sinful tendencies. After all, too often the critique is accurate! Consider this quote from Allan Johnson’s “The Gender Knot”:
“When men’s reflection is obscured by the reality and demands of women’s own lives, men are vulnerable to feeling left out and neglected. Like cold-blooded animals that generate little heat of their own, this dynamic makes it hard for men to feel warm unless the light is shining on them at the moment, something well-known to women who spend inordinate amounts of time worrying about whether they’re paying enough attention to their male partners, about whether they should be sitting quietly and reading a book or spending time with women friends when they could be with the men in their lives. It is a worry few men wrestle with unless women complain.” (p12-13)
If our “patriarchy” is rooted in a heavenly Father’s love and concern for his children, then we should be far more “warm-blooded” than this! If our meaning and purpose is found in Christ, the one who humbled himself to bear our sin and guilt, then our presence should warm and encourage others.
Certainly the feminist critique of modern American patriarchy has a lot of accurate points. No Christian should endorse the sort of social system that encourages the sexual objectification of women and the cold-blooded male who exists for his own glory. When humility becomes the central focus of masculinity, then we will see a patriarchy worthy of the name.
by Michiana Covenant | Nov 4, 2012 | Baptism, Pastoral Notes
What is baptism? What do the scriptures say about what baptism is – and what baptism does?
At the day of Pentecost, when asked by the people, “what shall we do?” When they see that the promised Holy Spirit had been given to the followers of Jesus (and not them!) – they realize that unless they, too, receive the Holy Spirit, they are doomed! And so Peter said, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
So baptism is all about two things: the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. And the rest of the New Testament fleshes out what this means. Ananias will say to Saul of Tarsus, “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” (Acts 22:16) Paul will speak of baptism as “the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). In Romans 6:3-4, Paul asks, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” In Galatians 3, Paul will add, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ….And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Gal. 3:26, 27, 29)
When you think about how all these passages speak of baptism, it is not surprising that Peter will go so far as to say in 1 Peter 3:21, that baptism saves us. He starts by saying that baptism corresponds to the flood – that just as God brought Noah and his family safely through water, so now, “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Christ.”
Notice how Peter says this. Baptism now saves you. So we must also say that in some way, baptism saves us. But how does baptism save us? Notice that Peter says that it is not that getting wet saves us – but the “appeal to God for a good conscience” (or “pledge of a clear conscience toward God”).
In other words, baptism saves by faith – through the resurrection of Christ.
If we take the NT seriously, then we must say that baptism is the washing of regeneration, and also that baptism only regenerates by faith.
Think about Simon Magus – who was baptized, but did not have faith, and so Peter said to him, “You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right with God…For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” (Acts 8:21, 23) So obviously, just getting baptized does not result in a changed heart!
Think of it this way. What makes a car go? Gasoline. But gasoline can only make a car go, if you push on the accelerator. In the same way baptism saves. But baptism can only save, if you believe God’s promises. Like all the blessings of God, baptism must be received by faith.
As the Westminster Confession puts it:
“Baptism is a sacrament of the new testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church; but also, to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life. Which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in his church until the end of the world.” (Confession 28.1)
Calvin’s Genevan order of baptism adds:
“All these graces are conferred upon us when God is pleased to incorporate us into his Church by baptism. For in this sacrament he testifies to us the remission of our sins. And for this cause, he has ordained the sign of water, to signify that as by this natural element the body is washed of its bodily odors so he wishes to wash and purify our souls. Here we have a sure witness that God wishes to be a loving Father, not counting all our faults and offenses. Secondly, that he will assist us by his Holy Spirit so that we can battle against the devil, sin, and the desires of our flesh, until we have victory in this, to live in the liberty of his kingdom. Those two things are accomplished in us, through the grace of Jesus Christ: it follows that the truth and substance of baptism is comprised in him. For we have no other washing than in his blood, and we have no other renewal than in his death and resurrection. But as he communicates to us his riches and blessings by his word, so he distributes them to us by his sacraments.” (Geneva, 1542)
But if baptism does not benefit us apart from faith, why do we baptize our children? Remember that in Acts 2:38, Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” What does he say next? “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:39)
Which promise? The promise of repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. When Peter says “the promise is for you and your children” to a group of Jews and proselytes in Jerusalem he is using Abrahamic language. Everyone present would assume that “for you and your children” would mean that their children were included in the promise, just like Isaac was included in the promise to Abraham.
God had said to Abraham, “I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your seed after you.” (Genesis 17:7) You find the same idea in Paul’s call to the Philippian jailer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)
Or as the Heidelberg Catechism puts it:
“Infants as well as their parents, belong to the covenant and people of God, and through the blood of Christ both redemption from sin and the Holy Ghost, who works faith, are promised to them no less than to their parents. Therefore they are also by Baptism, as a sign of the covenant, to be ingrafted into the Christian Church, and distinguished from the children of unbelievers, as was done in the Old Testament by circumcision, in place of which in the New Testament Baptism is appointed.” (Heidelberg Catechism 74)
by Michiana Covenant | Oct 8, 2012 | Ginger Wallace, Marriage, Parenting, Pastoral Notes, Women, Women's Ministry
by Virginia Wallace
I said yes. Because it seemed like the right thing to do. I am not the leader-type – but I am also not the type that likes to be told how to raise my kids – or how I am not raising my kids – or respecting my husband, or whatever the thing is that everyone else thinks that I should do.
This is why I said ‘yes.’ Because I thought it was what I was supposed to do – even though my first thought was – NO – this is not what I do. In fact, going to China with my husband is not what I do, not when it means leaving my children behind. God made me a woman. This much is obvious. God also made me a wife – this too is quite clear. He also made me a mother. And here I want to stop. This seems like it should be enough for me to handle. And if I think about it and be realistic – this is all I can handle – though I can’t even handle this on my own.
So, why am I HERE? Because God created us to be more than this. He created us to need each other – to bear one another’s burdens, to build up one another towards faith and good works – to show forth his glory to all men. To show hospitality to the stranger, to care for those afflicted – to wash the feet of the saints.
1 Timothy 5:9-10 gives us good insight in this way, to show us what we should have been. It’s kind of a look backward:
“Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, having a reputation for good works, if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, has devoted herself to every good work.”
This is what we are called to be now:
a wife, known for good works
a mother, opening her home to strangers
a servant, caring for those in need.
What does this look like right now? Will it look different next year? When my youngest is five?
Yes. It will look differently at each stage or season of your life. If you have young children and are trying to just figure out how to get enough sleep much less show hospitality or do good works, or care for the less fortunate – this can look overwhelming!
But think about it in less grand terms:
Hospitality (which means ‘love of strangers’): you take your little ones to the playground – then meet someone and invite them to come in your home for a meal or snack – or tea!
Good works: I offer to babysit (which is actually like a playdate for my kids) while a friend runs to get groceries/run an errand. I make double the amount of supper to give a friend a meal on a rough day.
Washed the feet of the saints? This could mean a nice pedicure – or if you think about the principle behind this practice, it could mean something as simple as folding her clean laundry while you chat, or it could mean working to love her as she likes to be loved (speaking in a way that shows you care about her – not yourself [and giving a pedicure is not out of the question!!]).
Caring for the Afflicted: visiting those in the hospital, cleaning the bathroom for someone who has just had a baby. Sometimes this may mean letting your neighbor’s kids into your home and ministering to them – showing them what a family of God looks like.
Think of Proverbs 31. This woman was not just taking care of her own husband and kids. She had servants and they had kids (husbands), there were people that she looked after because it was her responsibility. She didn’t do everything herself – she managed everything! What did her children learn from this? Did they learn how to serve and love others? Did they practice this?
This woman is a glory to her husband – she is his GLORY!
She was his glory because of her heart attitude while she was his wife, while she mothered his children, while she gave hospitality, while she washed the feet of the saints, while she cared for the afflicted.
What is your heart attitude? Whose glory are you seeking?
We are Christ’s bride – and so must seek to be HIS Glory – He has washed and cleansed us – He has clothed us with His own beautiful Glory – and we shine!
Ezekiel 16 talks about God’s amazing mercy to His unfaithful bride – how she was an unwanted babe, left on the hillside to die – her cord was not even cut, she was not cleaned, nor loved.
But God said to her, Live! And he made her flourish and grow into a young woman – she became his bride. He clothed her in fine linen and jewels. She ate only the best food, she grew beautiful. Verse 14 says, “And your renown went among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the LORD.”
God’s glory – she was His Glory.
But she wanted her own glory, her own pleasure, her own renown. The rest of the chapter tells in great detail of her faithlessness – how she sought after any and all other men (idols) – how she was a princess – and now was a porn star.
We cannot read this chapter and not be utterly disgusted with how awful our sin is to God, and yet how merciful He is when we repent and seek His Glory – and not our own.
We are glory seekers. But we are flawed by the effects of sin and we seek our own glory instead of God’s.
We need to ask the question: Whose glory am I seeking?
One way I find helpful is: How am I loving God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength right now? How am I loving my neighbor as myself right now?
[This talk was given to a women’s gathering in East Asia in the fall of 2012]
by Michiana Covenant | Apr 15, 2012 | Catechesis, Pastoral Notes, Westminster Shorter Catechism
At 10:00 a.m. every Sunday morning we have a our weekly singing practice and catechism quiz. This week I would like to suggest some reasons why you should participate.
I should start by providing some background: around eight years ago, the elders decided to have a weekly catechism quiz, working through the Shorter Catechism together. We decided that if we were going to have the children memorize the catechism, then we should do it together with them. Since then we have worked through the Shorter Catechism four times (next fall we will start on our fifth time around!). In this last cycle, we have added a really helpful practice of memorizing a couple of scripture verses each week that show where the scriptures teach the doctrines of the catechism.
I would especially like to address fathers and mothers in the congregation (though others may take note as well). If you are like me, then you did not grow up with the catechism. I was a latecomer to Reformed theology and only started memorizing the catechism eight years ago with my children. Since I didn’t grow up with the catechism, I didn’t think of it as something that was very important — but there are a number of observations that I have noticed over the years:
- The catechism provides a vocabulary that overflows into other conversations as well. I cannot count the number of times that we have talked about “the estate of sin and misery”! When dealing with sin, the catechism’s exposition of the Ten Commandments encourages both the memorization of the Ten Commandments, and the application of the commandments in daily life. Likewise, I frequently use the language of the catechism now in talking with my children about repentance and faith. And because they have worked through it many times, they are beginning to understand what it means.
- Parents often wonder, “if they don’t understand the words, what’s the point?” Well, they probably don’t understand the words “hallowed,” “debtors,” “substance,” or “apostolic” — but we still teach them the Lord’s Prayer and the Nicene Creed. And over time, as we continue praying, confessing, and reciting, we learn more and more about them. If you wait until they understand the vocabulary before you use it, some other vocabulary will have already taken root in their hearts. Language plays a powerful role in shaping the way we think.
- Catechism memorization works best when it is connected with regular family worship. We have also included it in the children’s home-school work, but when Daddy is also working with the kids on their catechism, it makes a big difference. And when you show up for the catechism quiz on Sunday morning, you send a major signal to your children (and for those without children — you send perhaps an even louder signal!) that this is important.
- The discipline required to keep the practice going in our home for eight years has been useful in other areas of life as well. Family worship, catechism memorization, elder visits — all these things are part of an “older” way of doing things that our culture has rejected — a way of living that embodies the principles of the scriptures and seeks to exhibit them publicly in the life of the church.
And particularly as fathers we are often so busy with our careers — with “providing” for our families — that when we have time for our children, we just want to “have fun” with them. But what do we communicate to our children that way? That “fun” is the meaning of life? If we are to teach our children the great works of God — if we are to lead them in loving God with all our heart, all our soul, and and all our strength — then leading them in the study of the scriptures is our first priority. And the catechism provides a really useful summary of the biblical teaching on “what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.”
by Michiana Covenant | Apr 8, 2012 | Pastoral Notes, Pastoral Practice
“Do you know what your problem is? Your problem is that you don’t love God!”
Do you have any idea how much trouble you can get into with those words?!! At Pastor in the Pub yesterday, I had a fellow suggest that we “step outside” and he’d show me how much he loved God! Such is the deceiving power of sin, that we can convince ourselves that we love God — and that it is some outside force (or split personality) that “makes” us sin.
John Owen makes the useful distinction between the “dominion” of sin and the “indwelling” of sin in the believer. Sin shall not have dominion over the believer — but it still dwells in us. Okay, that’s not particularly original to Owen — Paul said it first!
But too often we don’t want to admit that sin has even taken up residence in us. “I’m a good person,” said my acquaintance, “I love God and I pray regularly.” But his actions make clear that sin has residence — at least!
So — what do you say? You may suspect that sin has dominion — that the person you are talking to is (in fact) unregenerate. But he insists that he believes in Jesus, that he loves God, that he is a believer. What do you say? I take comfort in knowing that whether sin has dominion over him — or whether sin merely has a very strong presence in him – the solution is the same! Repent and believe the gospel! Whether it would be the first time or not doesn’t really matter. If he has been living in bondage to sin, under the dominion of the devil, then he needs to repent and believe the gospel. If he is a “believer” who has been ensnared in sin for many years, then he needs to repent and believe the gospel. Either way, he has believed a lie and he has devoted himself to the service of something other than the Triune God, and he needs to repent and believe the gospel!
Of course, this will have a host of practical consequences as well. Repentance and faith must then work itself out in new obedience — your new identity in Christ must also be reflected in the new community, the “one new man” including both Jew and Gentile that God has established in Christ. This is why Jesus said to make disciples, “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit [new identity], and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you [new community].”
by Michiana Covenant | Feb 26, 2012 | Pastoral Notes, Worship
I often say, “Your biggest problem is that you don’t love God”? We had a good discussion about this in the Men’s Discipleship Study on Tuesday morning. I usually emphasize how we love the creature rather than the Creator — and some people have wondered, “what about selfishness? Isn’t our problem that we love ourselves?”
In one sense, I would agree that loving the creature is self-serving — namely, we think that we will get what we want — but in that sense you could also argue that loving God is self-serving, since we will certainly get the best thing by loving and serving him!
My overall point is that we were created to worship — and very few people actually worship themselves. You could look at this in terms of prophet, priest and king.
As prophets we are meaning makers. We were created to interpret and explain God’s world and word. But instead we listen to other voices and explain ourselves and our world in terms of other gods and their words [lies]. And so we wind up speaking lies to others as we speak on behalf of our gods. As prophets we trust the idol, and assign meaning or value to the idol. We think that it is capable of helping us achieve our goals. An athlete may believe that an Olympic gold medal will give him fame, importance, etc., and so he trusts in the gold medal–he sets his heart upon it.
As kings we use authority and power. We were created to use God’s authority to serve others. But instead we wield the authority of other powers to dominate and control others. Ironically, we end up enslaved to the very powers we sought to control and manipulate. And so we obey the idol’s demands. The worshipper is under the authority of the “god” he serves; he rules for the sake of the god. The athlete obeys the idol of the gold medal by strict training, and forsakes all other “gods” so that he might obtain the desired blessing. Power is exercised as trust becomes active.
As priests we mediate blessings. We were created to receive God’s blessing and give it to others. But instead we seek blessing and happiness from created things. Of course, the opposite of a blessing is a curse — and so we wind up under the curse of our gods, and mediate those curses to others. We receive the idol’s blessing or curse. The athlete wins the race, and receives the gold medal, with the supposed blessings and peace which he sought. But such blessings are illusory. It does not satisfy. If he fails, and loses the race, he receives the idol’s curse–he has no peace because he has failed his god.
As you begin to understand the idols in your own heart, you can begin to understand patterns in your life. Often, what we call “personal development” is actually the refining of our skills as idolaters! The athlete will someday learn that his body will not let him pursue the gold medal anymore. So then he turns to relationships, and tries to find meaning and purpose in his wife. He trusts her to provide a warm and caring home which gives him security and happiness (prophet); so he then obeys her demands and his whole life is consumed with attempting to make her happy (king); when he succeeds, he receives her blessings, but when he fails, he receives her curse! (priest) ESPN interviews him a few months after his retirement, and does a special feature on how the great athlete has become such a devoted family man. The sportscaster even makes a comment about how beautiful it is to see him exercising the same devotion to his family that he used to have for his athletics. What they could say is that he has simply refined his idolatry and has merely switched gods. The heart hasn’t changed.
Because honestly, is his wife capable of providing everything he wants from her? Of course not! She will fail him–just like his pursuit of the gold medal couldn’t satisfy, neither will she.
Only faith in Christ can break the death-grip of fear and bondage to idols. But how?
First we need to understand the nature of idolatry better:
Idolatry as Defiance–Gen. 3:5
We were created to imitate God for his glory–instead we imitate God to defy his glory (Rom. 1:21)
Imitation as son became perverted into imitation as rival (“you will be like God…”)
Why do people sin? Some people suggest that sin is a misguided attempt to find satisfaction, happiness, etc. Others suggest that sin is selfishness–putting self at the center, and trying to gratify the self. But if people were really seeking happiness, if people really wanted to find contentment, what would they do? Wouldn’t they turn to the truth?
Prov. 8:35-36–sin is folly. Sin is irrational. Sin is lawlessness. Sin is the love of death.
Only a covenantal perspective can make sense of this. Man is a priest who expects blessings from his covenant partner. He has a purpose for his sin. Hence there is an element of rationality involved. But this priest serves idols rather than the true God. His goal is unattainable, self-defeating, disordered, and inconsistent. Hence the irrationality of sin.
Idolatry is not merely something which arose from fearful people who were attempting to deal with the human dilemma (evolutionary portrayal of religion), idolatry is a deliberate, hateful, rebellious provocation of the Almighty God (Jer. 7:17-18)
The fear of punishment, fear of rejection, and fear of failure do not explain sin–rather, they describe the experience of those who are sinners.
The psychological confusion which so many people experience is not the unavoidable, pitiable lot of the weak and misguided–rather it is an expression of defiance against God. There is not a human being on the face of the planet who is innocent. Rather than respond to their situation with trust and obedience toward God, they prefer to follow their worthless idols–who inevitably lead them in a downward spiral.
And yet, if we are to be sons of God, imitating our Heavenly Father, then we must have compassion on these people–showering them with the peace of Christ, the Word of God, and Power of the Holy Spirit. But compassion may be expressed in numerous ways. These people think that they can have their lusts, and yet not be ruled by them. But the sinner is a slave of sin.
The solution is the gospel — Christ, the prophet who has spoken to us the Word of God and show us the way of salvation, the king who has subdued us to his will and rules and defends us from all our enemies, and the priest who has blessed us with every blessing in the heavenlies through his once-for-all sacrifice which has removed our sin!
A Religion for Everyone?
The following link is an intriguing proposal from an atheist as to how to create a “Religion for Everyone.” He suggests that the death of religion has resulted in the death of community. I especially appreciated his comment that “A church gives us rare permission to lean over and say hello to a stranger without any danger of being thought predatory or insane.”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204883304577221603720817864.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
All around us are people who are disconnected and alienated from one another (and from God). When we understand that the human problem is not merely ignorance (the prophetic symptom), nor merely rebellion (the kingly symptom), nor merely sin and misery (the priestly symptom), but that all of these things are the constituent parts of idolatry — loving and worshiping the creature instead of the Creator — then we can also see how the solution is not education (by itself), nor good order in society (by itself), nor simply the forgiveness of sins (by itself), but a return to worshiping the living and true God!
And where the living and true God is worshiped and glorified aright, you will find true knowledge, good order, and the forgiveness of sins, as the prophetic, kingly, and priestly ministry of Christ is exhibited in the life of the church, unto the salvation of the world!
