The Gospel According to Proverbs

Introduction

I’m reading through the book of Proverbs for the third time and noticed a series of themes: value and pursue godly wisdom, accept reproof when it comes, do not grow lazy, watch your tongue, and the list goes on. While these are all important things that need to be applied, I mostly enjoyed sifting through the proverbs to find Gospel-related gems. It’s exciting to see how truths in the New Testament are supported and reaffirmed by the wisest man to walk this earth. I actually began this post the first time I went through a few months ago, but I never got around to finishing. I’m sure there will be things found later that I would want to add to this post, but that’s part of the growing process, right?

Though Proverbs isn’t known to have a lot of Gospel-content, much of my previous understanding of Calvary has been derived from a verse in Proverbs that I will address later. As I continue to read, other things begin to stand out – things that I would have missed or passed over a year ago. It is exciting to see how more things come to light as one grows in their walk and the proverbs have testified to that in my own life. Though these are small pieces of wisdom, they reflect God’s perfect wisdom as stated in chapter 8, in the redemption and restoration of man.

I have attempted to organize some of the things I noted in my readings to strengthen my understanding through the Bible rather than an assortment of sermons to your benefit as well as mine. Here goes.

The Problem of Man

If one seeks to understand the Gospel, there is a central thing they must grasp. They must recognize the position of man before God. Paul begins the book of Romans by making a strong case against humanity, constructed by a combination of divine revelation and Old Testament proof texts. We are guilty beyond the shadow of a doubt. Proverbs reaffirms this; there is a comparison between the righteous and the wicked in nearly verse.

Proverbs reflects part of the conclusion of Jesus’ sermon on the mount by addressing the concept of there only being two paths. The righteous choose the narrow while the rest choose the route which leads unto destruction. Proverbs 14:18 and 16:25 both say,

There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

We are deceived by our wickedness. Jesus says that few will find the narrow path. That is a reflection of our own blindness and pride. Many are convinced they are on the ‘righteous’ path that leads to a future paradise, but it only leads to death. Proverbs 16:2 and 21:2 both reaffirm that we are not the standard of good and the judge will not be ourself but the Almighty.

All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the LORD weighs the motives.

Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.

It is so easy to rejoice in our sin and yet think ourselves to be righteous, to be pure. God weighs the man and his motives. He sees what men believe to be pure and comes to this conclusion.

²⁶He who ^(A)trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But he who walks wisely will be delivered. [Proverbs 28:26]

¹²There is a kind who is ^(A)pure in his own eyes,
Yet is not washed from his filthiness. [Proverbs 30:12]

The problem with man is his sin, and thus his total total depravity. Because most proverbs compare and contrast the righteous and the wicked, to go over every verse I found confirming this would take much too long. There is no middle ground between righteousness and wickedness, after all the book of Revelation condemns being lukewarm. However, when I read Romans 1, there is something else that disturbs me greatly because I see it ring true in my own life and the world around me. Romans 1:32 reads,

³²and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

No doubt many Christians believe that they are sinful and struggle in the battle of the flesh. We know to avoid sin at all costs, but what does Paul say? We not only practice sin but we encourage it. We reaffirm the wickedness of our peers as good, hence the term ‘hearty approval’. Though this verse is part of Paul’s case to present total depravity, undoubtedly we still struggle. We not only ensnare ourselves but are the stumbling block to others with our encouragement to sin. In our fight against sin we often find ourselves defending and supporting it. Proverbs has some things to say on the issue:

Doing wickedness is like a sport to a fool, and so is wisdom to a man of understanding. [Proverbs 10:23]

Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is good will. [Proverbs 14:9]

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive with them. [Proverbs 28:4]

In order to understand the Gospel, one needs to understand the heinous nature of sin before God. Once the doctrine of total depravity is understood, the rest of the Gospel, including the sovereignty of God in election. Even a careless word (Matthew 12:36) brings about the holy wrath of God. Looking over the proverbs I can pronounce my own legal standing before the Lord apart from Christ – physical and spiritual death. A rhetorical question is fitting to end this brief section, found in Proverbs 20:9 which says,

⁹Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin”?

The Problem of God

The title is a bit misleading. God clearly has no problem, but we have a problem if we are to enter in a relationship with Him. I remember listening to a pastor who gave an example from his life where he told a hostile audience, “Your greatest problem is that God is good.” His listeners were ready to pounce on him, expecting him to condemn their way of life, but hesitated, confused at his proclamation. They most likely thought, “What’s the problem of God being good?”. The biblical truth fell upon the people like a ton of bricks when the preacher said, “…because you are not”.

People who understand the attributes of God, even in their most broad and basic concept, understand that a holy god cannot enter into fellowship with sinners. The book of Proverbs has many things to say about different attributes of God.

¹¹My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD
Or loathe His reproof,
¹²For whom the LORD loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

¹⁹The LORD by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens.
²⁰By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the skies drip with dew. [Proverbs 3:19-20]

¹⁶There are six things which the LORD hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: [Proverbs 6:16]

³The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good. [Proverbs 15:3]

²The rich and the poor have a common bond,
The LORD is the maker of them all. [Proverbs 22:2]

Though these are not all of God’s attributes, we see a series of qualities that we know to be true. God has infinite knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. The Lord is the creator of all things and watches over all things. The Lord has a righteous hatred that is in accordance with His character while He loves those who strive for holiness. The Lord is completely sovereign; He directs the paths of men, even kings. Other attributes such as His  justice will be mentioned later on.

Another eternal truth is that God is immutable, and thus He never changes. Christians can have faith because God will keep his covenant and fulfill His promises and our confidence is a sure hope, likened to an anchor. The Lord is a worthy king because He does not change as stated here,

²¹My son, fear the LORD and the king;
Do not associate with those who are given to change,
²²For their calamity will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin that comes from both of them?
[Proverbs 24:21]

How can we possibly have a relationship with such a god?

God’s Solution

The proverbs do not explicitly talk about Christ, though one verse focuses on the important motif of the atonement. Proverbs 16:3 reads,

⁶By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.

This is the understanding of the Gospel that many people have. They recognize their faults before a perfect God and realize that they cannot save themselves. They see Christ, the God-man as a symbol of God’s desire to have a relationship with fallen people so they turn to Him. God’s lovingkindness was the reason for the cross.

Christ, the sinless man died on our behalf to turn away the wrath of God from sinners. It is at the atonement where the divine transaction takes place as described in II Corinthians 5:21,

²¹He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

It is true that the love of God was essential for our redemption because without it, He would not have taken steps to redeem us. However, if the view of Calvary is strictly limited to a romanticized view of God’s love for His people, then the Gospel is not understood. God is mighty to save and can forgive sin, but he cannot forgo His justice. Key verses in Proverbs will tell us why that is so.

The Divine Dilemma

Sorry to break it to some of you, but love is only half the story. A Gospel that is rooted solely in love does not describe the God of the Bible. What is the other half? It is the justice of God and Proverbs is littered with passages talking about how God must deal with the unrighteous. Some people may think, “What’s the big idea about justice? Why can’t God just forgive us of our sin?”

God is often referred to as a king in the Bible and in our songs. When one thinks of kings, there are ones that were good, like David, and ones that were bad, like nearly everyone who came after David. Even in the secular world, people expect their rulers to be fair and discerning when troubles or crime happen in the country. There is a certainty that justice will prevail in a righteous kingdom, and that is a theme in the book of Proverbs.

²The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;
He who provokes him to anger ^(A)forfeits his own life. [Proverbs 20:2]

⁸A king who sits on the throne of justice
Disperses all evil with his eyes.
⁹Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin”? [Proverbs 20:8-9]

²⁶A wise king winnows the wicked,
And drives the threshing wheel over them. [Proverbs 20:26]

¹⁵The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,
But is ^(A)terror to the workers of iniquity. [Proverbs 21:15]

⁵Take away the wicked before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness. [Proverbs 25:5]

²⁶Many seek the ruler’s favor,
But justice for man comes from the LORD.
²⁷An unjust man is abominable to the righteous,
And he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked. [Proverbs 29:26-27]

Do you see the problem? It seems to scream, “If God is just He cannot forgive you! You are an abomination before Him and shall be removed from His presence. Your transgression deserves an eternal punishment because you have offended an eternal being.” If God is truly who we say He is, He cannot simply will us into the kingdom with love. He must satisfy justice, though it is not as if He abides by a standard higher than Himself. His holy and perfect nature demands that we be punished because that is what is righteous. We already touched on the guilty verdict of mankind. “Will not the judge of the earth do right?” A more rhetorical question has never been asked.

I believe a proper understanding of the Gospel comes from a proper understanding of two verses in Proverbs. The first is Proverbs 16:12 which reads,

¹²It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
For a throne is established on righteousness.

This is the standard for the earthly king and the Almighty King. Righteous rulers are elected or appointed to enforce the law for the good of their people. The king must do his best to act in according with God’s statutes and commandments to be worthy of exercising divine justice. In this case, God’s standard for His people is the same as for Himself. Because of His nature, He cannot “commit wicked acts” because then He would cease to be God. God cannot act contrary to His attributes and His throne is established in righteousness, but another proverb presents a catastrophic problem.

I am a firm believer that one does not have a proper view of the Gospel until they can explain how God works to overcome this seeming contradiction. This is the verse mentioned earlier in the introduction, that has played a foundational role in my understanding of Calvary. We just reviewed that God cannot contradict His own nature and He must act in accordance with His holiness and justice. Many refer to the following verse as the divine dilemma, which is Proverbs 17:15 that reads,

¹⁵He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

What is the big deal? Can you see why this is such a problem for God? Let’s look at a verse mentioned earlier in II Corinthians 5:21,

21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Let’s break down these two verses. II Corinthians begins by saying, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf…” Now if we look at Proverbs 17:15, what part of the verse is essentially saying the same thing? If you were thinking, “He who condemns the righteous”, you are correct. God has essentially condemned the only man who ever walked in the center of His will to bear the sins of the elect in order to reconcile us to Himself. The other problem begins to be very apparent as well. II Corinthians continues stating, “…so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” while the Proverb says “He who justifies the wicked … is an abomination to the Lord”. God has condemned the innocent and justified the wicked. It is a seeming contradiction, the divine dilemma if you may. Proverbs 24:23-25 has something to say about justifying the wicked – it brings about a bad reputation and defamed name.

²³These also are ^(A)sayings of the wise
To ^(B)show partiality in judgment is not good.
²⁴He ^(C)who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”
^(D)Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him;
²⁵But ^(E)to those who rebuke the wicked will be delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them.

Is God doubly an abomination to Himself? Certainly not, yet this is the Gospel as we understand it and scripture cannot be broken; it is God-breathed yet God seems to act contrary to His nature. His allegiance to His name and His glory seems to lead God to part with His justice in order to have a relationship with us. Is God so desperate that He must bend His own standard so that we may glorify Him in our dependence and relationship with Himself?

There is a reason why many theologians consider Romans 3:21-26 to be the cornerstone and most clear description of the Gospel message. Verse 26 speaks of God as “just and the justifier”. How can God be just and the justifier of the wicked when Proverbs 17:15 clearly states that to justify the righteous is an abomination before the Lord? The atonement of Christ allows sinners to be adopted into His family.

Jesus Christ, the Appeasement of Justice

God does not simply hate the sin. He also detests the sinner who commits the sin which is clear in scripture. We are to be taken away before such holiness. There are two parties in this spectacle: God and man, and we can not place any hope in finite man so God must act. Jesus Christ, who is fully God yet through the incarnation, also came fully man, came to interpose in order to reconcile fallen man to God.

Though this post is mostly about the book of Proverbs, I still believe it is appropriate to look at Romans 3:21-26, for it is a powerful text and one that is relevant to our primary book of study.

²¹But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
²²even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
²⁴being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
²⁵whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation ⁱn His blood through faith This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
²⁶for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus

There are a couple of parts in the passage I’d like to address more specifically. The first is the idea of forbearance, that “in the forbearance of God, He passed over sins previously committed.” What exactly does that mean? Why does this pose a problem as seen in Proverbs 17:15?

First, what exactly does forbearance mean? According to dictionary.com, there are a variety of definitions, but the one I like most is this: tolerance and restraint in the face of provocation. How does this bear any relevance to the Gospel?

A simple way to look at this is to look at how justice was applied by God in two different situations: first to the heavenly rebellion and then to man’s defiance. Before the earth was created, we know that Lucifer and his angels rebelled against God, and were cast out of heaven and bound until the day of judgment. Though we probably don’t know nearly as much as we claim we do about this event, we know that  justice was served with little to no hesitation. Now let us look at OT history. Moving through the Old Testament time line, we see constant examples of God not punishing sin in accordance to His holy nature.

• Man sins. What happens? We see no fire, we see no death or instant condemnation. Yes, man and women must suffer and their roles are at odd with each other, but they get a promise! Where is the justice of God?
• God destroyed the entire world save Noah and his family, but the problem is that God saved Noah, who was not without the imputed sin of Adam.
• Abraham, the great example of faith in Romans 4, deceives pharaoh and lacks faith in God promises, yet He is given a covenant rather than death. His faith was credited to him as righteousness, but what about his sin?
• Moses was a murderer and one who lacked faith in God’s power before he went to confront. Hebrews says that Moses was a faithful servant in the house of God, but the weight of His sins should have found him guilty of instant death.
• Rarely do we read about the faithfulness of Israel, the sole nation of God’s affection and the nation He bound Himself to. So much of the people’s faith was based on past signs and wonders, yet when the next generation rose, they would forget and revert back to their sinful ways.
• We look to David, the man after God’s own heart, commit adultery and murder and yet Nathan declares, “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.” Where is the justice of God? I would imagine Satan would be ticked off at this forbearance.

It is not hard to see the provocation God endured on behalf of man kind. Now we must consider Christ’s work to bring us to Himself without violating the divine nature of God. God has provided a way that makes Him just and justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

We must first consider the purpose and nature of the law. The law is there to condemn us, whether written on paper or into our conscience, it is meant to indict humanity. All of us are guilty before the law because of our sin, as seen earlier in passages from Proverbs. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We also know that the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin and so a blameless man must represent men. There is no such thing apart from Christ, for our sin is imputed to us through our representative, Adam. Christ came through His divine birth and perfectly filled the law to qualify as the perfect sacrifice for men throughout all time.

The second thing to consider is how Christ has interposed on behalf of men and God to reconcile the two together. There are two parties, God and man, one which is holy and the other which is not. Because God cannot forbear for an eternity, men and God are naturally at war with the winner being clear. This salvation is not possible without Christ, for a perfect angel or a perfect man could not have pulled this off. The mediator had to be fully God and fully man. When we consider the imputation of sin and righteousness, we realize how Christ served as a perfect mediator, for through Him we become righteous and through Him He can bear our iniquity and yet take up His life again three days later.

The last thing to think about is the nature of propitiation. Because He served as our substitute, He expiated our guilt and covered it with His blood and washing us ‘white as snow’ by enduring the wrath of God for the elect, both present and future, for the one that places their hope in Christ Jesus. Faith is the key here, for it is only through a belief in God and His promises that one can have a part in Christ’s penal substitution and atonement.

Now we can rejoice in Proverbs 17:15 rather than be in dismay, that God would violate His character! God demanded the ransom, provided/paid the ransom, was the ransom, and received the ransom so that we may run the race and fight the good fight of faith, which leads to the final point.

The Language of Perseverance

The book of Proverbs has some important things regarding perseverance, a topic sorely neglected in the Church. Many proverbs deal with carefully watching and guarding people from straying off the course set before us. There is strong language to not be lazy and stern warnings that confront the lukewarm and the lackluster. We are encouraged to hold fast to the Word of God and keep it close to us at all times. I am glad and challenged that Berean has placed an emphasis on this doctrine.

Passages dealing with laziness and the opposite, bearing fruit.

⁶Go to the ^(A)ant, O ^(B)sluggard,
Observe her ways and be wise,
⁷Which, having ^(C)no chief,
Officer or ruler,
⁸Prepares her food ^(D)in the summer
And gathers her provision in the harvest.
⁹How long will you lie down, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
¹⁰“^(E)A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest”–
^11(F)Your poverty will come in like a vagabond
And your need like an armed man. [Proverbs 6:6-11]

⁵He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully. [Proverbs 10:5]

¹⁹He who is steadfast in ^(A)righteousness will attain to life,
And ^(B)he who pursues evil will bring about his own death. [Proverbs 11:19]

³⁰The fruit of the righteous is ^(A)a tree of life,
And ^(B)he who is wise wins souls. [Proverbs 11:30]

²⁷A lazy man does not roast his prey,
But the ^(A)precious possession of a man is diligence. [Proverbs 12:27]

¹⁸Poverty and shame will come to him who ^(A)neglects discipline, But he who regards reproof will be honored. [Proverbs 13:18]

Passages dealing with holding fast to the Word

³Do not let ^(A)kindness and truth leave you;
^(B)Bind them around your neck,
^(C)Write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴So you will ^(D)find favor and ^(E)good repute
In the sight of God and man.
^5(F)Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And ^(G)do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶In all your ways ^(H)acknowledge Him,
And He will ^(I)make your paths straight.
^7(J)Do not be wise in your own eyes;
^(K)Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. [Proverbs 3:3-7]

⁴Then he ^(A)taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart ^(B)hold fast my words;
^(C)Keep my commandments and live;
^5(D)Acquire wisdom! ^(E)Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
⁶“Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;
^(F)Love her, and she will watch over you.
⁷“^(G)The beginning of wisdom is: ^(H)Acquire wisdom;
And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
⁸“^(I)Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
⁹“She will place ^(J)on your head a garland of grace; [Proverbs 4:4-9]

She will present you with a crown of beauty.”
^20(A)My son, observe the commandment of your father
And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;
^21(B)Bind them continually on your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
²²When you ^(C)walk about, they will guide you;
When you sleep, they will watch over you;
And when you awake, they will talk to you.
²³For ^(D)the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light;
And reproofs for discipline are the way of life [Proverbs 6:21-23]

¹My son, ^(A)keep my words
And treasure my commandments within you.
^2(B)Keep my commandments and live,
And my teaching ^(C)as the apple of your eye.
^3(D)Bind them on your fingers;
^(E)Write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your intimate friend; [Proverbs 7:1-4]

Passages dealing with guarding one’s steps

¹²When you walk, your ^(A)steps will not be impeded;
And if you run, you ^(B)will not stumble.
^13(C)Take hold of instruction; do not let go
Guard her, for she is your ^(D)life.
^14(E)Do not enter the path of the wicked
And do not proceed in the way of evil men.
¹⁵Avoid it, do not pass by it;
Turn away from it and pass on. [Proverbs 4:12-17]

²⁵Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
^26(A)Watch the path of your feet
And all your ^(B)ways will be established.
^27(C)Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
^(D)Turn your foot from evil. [Proverbs 4:25-27]

¹⁴The teaching of the wise is a ^(A)fountain of life,
To turn aside from the ^(B)snares of death. [Proverbs 13:14]

^5(A)Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards himself will be far from them. [Proverbs 22:5]

Passages dealing with self examination

²³Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For ^(A)from it flow the springs of life.

Conclusion

I realize that this post is a bit disorganized, seeing how difficult it is to connect thoughts separated by a couple of months. Some points are emphasized more than others, but I hope that there is a sense that the meta-narrative of Christ extends even to the book of Proverbs.

I am glad my current reading plan has me going through the book of Proverbs 12 times this year. I have learned a lot from this book from only reading through it a few times. It’s been great to see how doctrines thought to be found in the New Testament are spread throughout the Bible, though they require a little more intuition to find. Thinking about the proverbs in this manner has made reading through this book much more enjoyable. Because February starts today, I’m already getting another opportunity to read through this again. I hope this has served you as well as it has served me.

MLK’s Stance on the Church

In my Politics and the Supreme Court class, we are learning about the courts seeming inability to enact social change. Can the courts truly affect change? According to the book being discussing The Hollow Hope, the courts ability is limited because it has neither money or sword to carry out what it desires. One needs to only turn to Brown vs. Board of Education to see that.

My professor began to ramble about the court’s inability by drawing comparisons to the Declaration of Independence and the letter Martin Luther King wrote to clergy while he was in jail. Because the legal process is often slow in itself and slow to bring about change, the founders decided to rebel and MLK decided to protest peacefully in Birmingham.

This is a long introduction to something completely irrelevant to the Supreme Court. My professor exhorted us to read the letter from Birmingham jail, written to clergy in the area who were condemning MLK’s peaceful protest. MLK presents a powerful legal and divine argument that Christian’s should rally to support equal rights.

It was odd that my teacher was impressed that MLK was able to write such a profound letter while sitting in jail with no staff or polling like many other politicians. Though MLK was not literally inspired by God, the whole situation reminded me of the apostle Paul – powerful preachers writing powerful letters.

Towards the end of MLK’s letter, he presents a strong case for the Church to adhere to the standard it declares, the Word of God. It is a splendid piece of writing, reminding me of the ‘Dream’ speech. I imagine that MLK was a powerful preacher. Here is what he says regarding the condition of the Southern church, which could be an indictment against general American Christianity as well.  You may read the entire letter here.

I have traveled the length and breadth of Alabama, Mississippi and all the other southern states. On sweltering summer days and crisp autumn mornings I have looked at the South’s beautiful churches with their lofty spires pointing heavenward. I have beheld the impressive outlines of her massive religious education buildings. Over and over I have found myself asking: “What kind of people worship here? Who is their God? Where were their voices when the lips of Governor Barnett dripped with words of interposition and nullification? Where were they when Governor Wallace gave a clarion call for defiance and hatred? Where were their voices of support when bruised and weary Negro men and women decided to rise from the dark dungeons of complacency to the bright hills of creative protest?”

Yes, these questions are still in my mind. In deep disappointment I have wept over the laxity of the church. But be assured that my tears have been tears of love. There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love. Yes, I love the church. How could I do otherwise? I am in the rather unique position of being the son, the grandson and the great grandson of preachers. Yes, I see the church as the body of Christ. But, oh! How we have blemished and scarred that body through social neglect and through fear of being nonconformists.

There was a time when the church was very powerful–in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being “disturbers of the peace” and “outside agitators.”‘ But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were “a colony of heaven,” called to obey God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be “astronomically intimidated.” By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests. Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church’s silent–and often even vocal–sanction of things as they are.

But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.

Perhaps I have once again been too optimistic. Is organized religion too inextricably bound to the status quo to save our nation and the world? Perhaps I must turn my faith to the inner spiritual church, the church within the church, as the true ekklesia and the hope of the world. But again I am thankful to God that some noble souls from the ranks of organized religion have broken loose from the paralyzing chains of conformity and joined us as active partners in the struggle for freedom. They have left their secure congregations and walked the streets of Albany, Georgia, with us. They have gone down the highways of the South on tortuous rides for freedom. Yes, they have gone to jail with us. Some have been dismissed from their churches, have lost the support of their bishops and fellow ministers. But they have acted in the faith that right defeated is stronger than evil triumphant. Their witness has been the spiritual salt that has preserved the true meaning of the gospel in these troubled times. They have carved a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of disappointment. I hope the church as a whole will meet the challenge of this decisive hour. But even if the church does not come to the aid of justice, I have no despair about the future. I have no fear about the outcome of our struggle in Birmingham, even if our motives are at present misunderstood. We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the nation, because the goal of America is freedom. Abused and scorned though we may be, our destiny is tied up with America’s destiny. Before the pilgrims landed at Plymouth, we were here. Before the pen of Jefferson etched the majestic words of the Declaration of Independence across the pages of history, we were here. For more than two centuries our forebears labored in this country without wages; they made cotton king; they built the homes of their masters while suffering gross injustice and shameful humiliation -and yet out of a bottomless vitality they continued to thrive and develop. If the inexpressible cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands. Before closing I feel impelled to mention one other point in your statement that has troubled me profoundly. You warmly commended the Birmingham police force for keeping “order” and “preventing violence.” I doubt that you would have so warmly commended the police force if you had seen its dogs sinking their teeth into unarmed, nonviolent Negroes. I doubt that you would so quickly commend the policemen if you were to observe their ugly and inhumane treatment of Negroes here in the city jail; if you were to watch them push and curse old Negro women and young Negro girls; if you were to see them slap and kick old Negro men and young boys; if you were to observe them, as they did on two occasions, refuse to give us food because we wanted to sing our grace together. I cannot join you in your praise of the Birmingham police department.

This Reminded me of Intentional Dudes

This past weekend, I attended an event called “Intentional Dudes”. The goal of the event was to help all the guys in the college ministry at Berean Community Church to interact on a casual level. It was a time to cultivate relationships through prayer and football, and I think it served its purpose well.

Well, this link for an article showed up randomly on my tumblr, so I thought I would share it. I think our football game might have exceeded the statistics stated in the piece solely because it takes what feels like an eternity to tackle John Tang.

Football Games have 11 Minutes of Action

I love watching football. I like playing football. Now I’m not sure whether it’s an utter waste of time. I would like to see the average statistics for a basketball game and tennis match. Because basketball stops the clock, I think they are actually playing 48 minutes of basketball unless I’m forgetting some obvious rule. I realize now that there are a lot of breaks in tennis, but surely there is more playing time than football.

I’m looking forward to the Saints vs. Vikings game next week.

Goals for 2010

2009 was a good year. God challenged me and exposed my short comings in a variety of ways by which I am grateful. I was given unique opportunities but experienced the greatest privilege of all in reading and understanding His Word. Here are a couple things I appreciate about 09′.

• I started blogging again in 2009. That has been tremendously helpful for me, to investigate particular issues and come to a greater understanding of who God is and what He stands for. I love to write and blogging helps keep the rust away.
• The Sacramento Kings went from being the worst team in the NBA to being a competitive and entertaining group to watch.
• I was extended numerous opportunities to speak. It was an incredible blessing to be able to carefully study a topic or passage and then share with my peers. Youth Sunday was a great learning experience for me and I pray that I was faithful to God and His Word.
• I learned that my parents were right. Everything they tried to place value on as a child/teen I neglected until this year. They wanted me to read and I wanted to play video games. They wanted me to play piano and I wanted to take a nap. They wanted me to get off the computer and I wanted to waste my life doing nothing of eternal value. It’s odd how I want to shape 2010 by getting off my computer to spend more time reading and with music.
• I learned not to procrastinate and cram in college, the hard way.
• I have a stronger sense of discipline in my spiritual life. This was the first year I had been faithful to the Word and prayer. I feel like a new Christian and in many senses, I am. Studying the incarnation reminded me of the privilege of reading and understanding. Also, one of the most humbling things I learned this year is that I know nearly nothing about everything, which should destroy any pride in the little I do know and bring me to the foot of the cross.
• I have a sister. She is cool.
• I love apartment life. It is quiet so I can get more things done and I appreciate the way it forces you to grow up a little faster (cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping).
• I have a brother. It’s great that he is serving and he’s lightyears ahead of me in spiritual maturity, well in just about everything except tennis. It often goes unspoken but I appreciate him a lot.
• Juan Del Potro won the U.S. Open. I am thankful for new faces in tennis and 100+ mph forehands. I still like Roger Federer, and he’s a lot cooler now because his counterpart, Tiger Woods, has gone down in flames making him the most successful athlete in the world in my humble opinion. Laker fans will argue for Kobe Bryant, but professional basketball has got nothing on professional tennis.
• I see the value in tennis in every sport I play. I am so glad I picked up a sport that places more value on technique, anticipation, and footwork than on pure strength because these traits are fundamental to all sports.

That is quite a list I have amassed. Reflecting on the things I had the opportunity to do and learn makes me look forward in great anticipation to 2010. Here are some goals for 2010.

Quit Wasting Time

Thanks to Tim Challies, I was made aware of Leech Block. I have installed it, at least for this quarter, in attempts to ween myself off certain parts of the internet that have no eternal value. Currently I have blocked sites like facebook, ESPN, and youtube for 19 hours a day, and for the remaining five hours, I limit myself to 10 minutes per hour.

I am confident that Leech Block will manifest itself in a number of positive ways.

1. If I am staying up late, I usually am wasting time doing nothing, whether it’s watching highlights, youtube covers, or idling on facebook. Hopefully I will sleep earlier or use that time in a more God-glorifying way, like studying His Word, reading helpful articles, or reading my textbooks. My self-imposed block of these things will make time spent much more effective (I could have never gotten through the link if I had ESPN and facebook available).
2. I will have more time to read and hone my pitiful piano improvisational skills. Though I will most likely never be as good as my brother, I still want to reach a level of proficiency. I realize that there is so little I know, whether about the world or about Christianity and I want to broaden my horizons for the sake of godliness.
3. It grosses me out how the first thing I do when I get home is to check facebook or basketball scores. It’s a poor reflection of my heart and what I value. I want to shift that focus to something more beneficial, like google reader or playing praise songs on the keyboard.

I made my own image to appear when I access the mentioned sites. You can check it out by clicking the link. I don’t completely agree with thief XI, as you’ll see later, but I understand the merit behind why Baxter says what he says.

³I will set no ^(A)worthless thing before my eyes;
I hate the work of those who ^(B)fall away;
It shall not fasten its grip on me.

Psalm 103:5

Read More

I don’t want to be a sophomore, at least in it’s most true definition. I want to be well read in all areas of life. In terms of Christian literature, I have a seemingly endless amount of books I have amassed, but I also want to read some other books like Freakonomics. I am convinced that we live in an illiterate generation, thus we have a small and selfish view of society. Christ did not call us to live ignorantly.

¹²But ^(AI)Tychicus I have sent to ^(AJ)Ephesus.¹³When you come bring the cloak which I left at ^(AK)Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.

2 Timothy 4:12-13

If Paul, the divinely inspired apostle calls for books should not I? I love this quote by Spurgeon in the ‘calls for books’ link and I want to ‘join the cry’; I also do not know why the font is so big…

How rebuked are they by the apostle! He is inspired, and yet he wants books! He has been preaching at least for thirty years, and yet he wants books! He had seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He had had a wider experience than most men, and yet he wants books! He had been caught up into the third heaven, and had heard things which it was unlawful for a men to utter, yet he wants books! He had written the major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books! The apostle says to Timothy and so he says to every preacher, “Give thyself unto reading.” The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains, proves that he has no brains of his own. Brethren, what is true of ministers is true of all our people. You need to read. Renounce as much as you will all light literature, but study as much as possible sound theological works, especially the Puritanic writers, and expositions of the Bible. We are quite persuaded that the very best way for you to be spending your leisure, is to be either reading or praying. You may get much instruction from books which afterwards you may use as a true weapon in your Lord and Master’s service. Paul cries, “Bring the books”—join in the cry.

Play More

Play more piano. My parents got me a weighted keyboard for Christmas so I could hone my skills. My parents always placed great value on the piano, but I never saw the value until I learned about improvisational piano. Suddenly seven years of grueling theory tests actually became useful and I now know I can play any song and shape it the way I want if I become skilled enough.

I suck at piano, I really do. I never practiced or played seriously. Piano was always the last thing on my priority list, but hopefully this will change. My mom would be smiling saying, “I told you so,” if she read this. Playing is a great way to relax and meditate, for which I am grateful.

^1(A)Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
^2(B)Serve the LORD with gladness;
^(C)Come before Him with joyful singing.
³Know that ^(D)the LORD Himself is God;
It is He who has ^(E)made us, and ^[a]not we ourselves;
We are ^(F)His people and the sheep of His pasture.
⁴Enter His gates ^(G)with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise
Give thanks to Him, ^(H)bless His name.
⁵For ^(I)the LORD is good;
^(J)His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His ^(K)faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100

Stick to the Plan

I made a Bible-reading plan for myself. It seems a bit much, for it combines elements of two plans into one. I took some ideas from Grant Horner\’s Bible reading program and combined it with what I am already doing under John MacArthur’s recommendation. It feels a little ambitious, but my ignorance to God’s Word will hopefully move me to greater discipline and a desire to fight for godliness. It’s about 15 chapters a day. If you’re interested in what my plan looks like, just shoot me an email or message on facebook.

⁶In pointing out these things to ^(M)the brethren, you will be a good ^(N)servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the ^(O)sound doctrine which you ^(P)have been following.⁷But have nothing to do with ^(Q)worldly ^(R)fables fit only for old women On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of ^(S)godliness;

1 Timothy 4:6-7

Get Married

Just kidding.

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less

This song was written by Edward Mote (1797-1874), a preacher in London and has always been one of my favorites. Sometimes I sing it when I’m vacuuming the church so I figured it is worth the study since I vacuumed floors today. There are some necessary passages to help us understand this song, for we know that there are two places upon which you can build upon and there are certain choices that lead one to the appropriate footing. To stand upon the rock you must act on the words of Jesus. Not just listen, but act! There is a righteousness that stems from obedience.

²⁴“Therefore ^(A)everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
²⁵“And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.
²⁶“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
²⁷“The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell–and great was its fall.”

Matthew 7:24-27

⁴⁶“^(A)Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
⁴⁷“^(B)Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like:
⁴⁸he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
⁴⁹“But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Luke 6:46-49

Reviewing this song has brought me to the realization that I have a poor knowledge of the actual words of Jesus. I spend so much more time in the epistles, seeking to understand theology and soteriology while the Gospel accounts are rarely reviewed. Much more of my memorization is feeding my theology rather than my application. I realize I would much rather study hard doctrines than do simple simple commands. Upon closer inspection, this is where my Pharisaical tendencies begin to manifest themselves; I often see a big head  and quick judgments but idle hands when I look in the mirror of God’s Word.

I know a study of the words of Christ would be most beneficial, for it was only a few days ago when Josh and I listened to a sermon on the parable of Lazarus (Luke 16:19-21) while taking down the church Christmas decorations. The sermon made it crystal clear that a heart for the poor and needy is a necessary fruit of the redeemed. The story illustrates that hell is frantically trying to warn real people of this reality, yet Abraham points us to the Word. God is not so much glorified when a miraculous resurrection occurs to move people to faith, but more so when people turn to the words of Christ and act upon them in faith. I was convicted of my selfish heart, but also of a hardened heart that sometimes wished a miracle would occur (like Gideon) so that I would have greater faith or a perfect repentance. The Word Jesus Christ has spoken and that should be enough to move this poor soul.

Of course it doesn’t do much good to just reflect on this and not do anything about it. Over the break I built my reading plan for 2010, which, though fairly ambitious (for this is a small part of the plan), take me through all four Gospel accounts four times, which is about a chapter a day. I hope some of you will keep me accountable on what I am learning through the accounts as I also actively seek that accountability.

Without further adieu, I listed some passages that reminded me of the verses of Edward Mote.

________________________________________________________

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

¹⁷If you ^(A)address as Father the One who ^(B)impartially ^(C)judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves ^(D)in fear during the time of your ^(E)stay on earth;
¹⁸knowing that you were not ^(F)redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your ^(G)futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
¹⁹but with precious ^(H)blood, as of a ^(I)lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

1 Peter 1:17-19

¹⁹So then you are no longer ^(A)strangers and aliens, but you are ^(B)fellow citizens with the saints, and are of ^(C)God’s household,
²⁰having been ^(D)built on ^(E)the foundation of ^(F)the apostles and prophets,^(G)Christ Jesus Himself being the ^(H)corner stone,
^21(I)in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into ^(J)a holy temple in the Lord,
²²in whom you also are being ^(K)built together into a ^(L)dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19-22

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

¹⁴Therefore, since we have a great ^(A)high priest who has ^(B)passed through the heavens, Jesus ^(C)the Son of God, let us hold fast our^(D)confession.
¹⁵For we do not have ^(E)a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been ^(F)tempted in all things as we are, yet^(G)without sin.
¹⁶Therefore let us ^(H)draw near with ^(I)confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

⁶For this is contained in Scripture:
“^(A)BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A ^(B)PRECIOUS CORNER stone,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”

1 Peter 2:6

His oath, His covenant, and blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

²¹But now apart from the Law ^(A)the righteousness of God has been manifested, being ^(B)witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
²²even the ^(C)righteousness of God through ^(D)faith ^(E)in Jesus Christ for^(F)all those who believe; for ^(G)there is no distinction;
²³for all ^(H)have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
²⁴being justified as a gift ^(I)by His grace through ^(J)the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
²⁵whom God displayed publicly as ^(K)a propitiation ^(L)in His blood through faith This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the^(M)forbearance of God He ^(N)passed over the sins previously committed;
²⁶for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:21-26

^31(A)What then shall we say to these things? ^(B)If God is for us, who is against us?
³²He who ^(C)did not spare His own Son, but ^(D)delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
³³Who will bring a charge against ^(E)God’s elect? ^(F)God is the one who justifies;
³⁴who is the one who ^(G)condemns? Christ Jesus is He who ^(H)died, yes, rather who was ^[a](I)raised, who is ^(J)at the right hand of God, who also^(K)intercedes for us.

Romans 8:31-36

¹¹For no man can lay a ^(A)foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11

What is the sweetest frame referring to? Here is a plausible answer.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

⁵¹Behold, I tell you a ^(A)mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be^(B)changed,
⁵²in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for ^(C)the trumpet will sound, and ^(D)the dead will be raised imperishable, and ^(E)we will be changed.
⁵³For this perishable must put on ^(F)the imperishable, and this ^(G)mortal must put on immortality.
⁵⁴But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “^(H)DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.
⁵⁵“^(I)O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?”
⁵⁶The sting of ^(J)death is sin, and ^(K)the power of sin is the law;
⁵⁷but ^(L)thanks be to God, who gives us the ^(M)victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57

²²The ^(AI)stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief corner stone.
²³This is ^[b]the LORD’S doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.

Psalm 118:22-23