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CDT #486: The Posture of the Christian

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Introduction: This coming Sunday as the saints gather at Christ Covenant Church (3cs-canton.org) I am going to teach from Ecclesiastes 5 on “The posture of the Christian.” The word posture has its roots in Latin and is rooted in the idea of “position” or “station.” We might think of it as the disposition or pose of the mind/soul towards God.

Why It Matters: Why should this matter to us? Well, in short, because all of us have to deal with the God question. How you and I respond to the reality of God has consequences. Do we respond in repentance and faith in Christ or do we harden ourselves and suppress the truth of God in our unrighteousness?

Text: “If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them” (Eccl. 5:8).

Context, Context, Context: Solomon is here writing a book of wisdom with the overarching theme of contrasting worldviews–namely, secularism (life under the sun) vs. theism (life under God). Solomon is a master teacher. How so? Well, he teaches by way of contrasts–this vs. that; light vs. dark; fulfillment vs. futility, etc.

Teaching: In Eccl. 5:8, what we have is wisdom regarding the reality of human fallenness. To use a military analogy, it’s having an accurate sight picture. It’s seeing things as they are, not how ​we might wish they are. It’s coherence. It’s using terms that accurately correspond to the way reality is. A is A, in other words. A is not non-A.

Solomon teaches here that we should “not be amazed at the matter” of human oppression or “the violation of justice and righteousness.” Why? Because this is a fallen world. The world is composed of sinners; therefore, expect them to act like sinners. To use a homely expression, “What’s down in the well comes up in the bucket.” That’s good country wisdom. How so? Well, it reminds us of what Solomon teaches–namely, that this world is fallen.

Since this world is so fallen, how will Christians position themselves? What is to be our posture? Are we to hide the light of truth under a basket? Jesus had some rather strong words about that posture. Should we try to force belief upon people as some worldviews do, i.e., convert or die? No. Christianity alone rests upon the loving, clear declaration of truth and leaving it up to the individual how he will respond.

We don’t force belief; we simply present the truth and back it up with evidence. Others will do as they will. Hell’s doors are locked from the inside, you see. The people who hate God choose their destiny. Heaven would be hell for the one who hates God, in other words. Hell’s “doors,” so to speak, are therefore locked from the inside. Why? Because the denizens hate God, refuse God, and reject God.

Encouragement: The posture of the Christian, therefore, is one of submission to the truth of God in the midst of a fallen world, wherein we labor to be salt and light in a world of moral rot and darkness. Why? To preserve, to be the light in the darkness, to call out corruption in prayerful hope that cleanness will be brought instead. But that cleanness is not something we manufacture; it is the gift of God. And God uses the posture of Christians to bear witness to that cleanness. 

No Other God: Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #485

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Introduction: What associations come to mind when you reflect upon the legacy of Nebuchadnezzar from the Book of Daniel? Below are some likely ones:

  • Hubris
  • Humiliation
  • Exaltation
  • Reduction

Context, Context, Context: No matter how many times I read Daniel, I discover new insights about human nature, about saving faith, about leadership, and about God’s sovereignty. Just think of the difficult tasks that Daniel was faced with–being an exiled believer under pagan rule, being tasked with interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, then seeing his three friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) cast into a seven-times-heated fiery furnace, etc. Daniel could’ve become puffed up like Nebuchadnezzar often was. But Daniel didn’t. He remained faithful. He remained a man of prayer. He kept his vows to God. He kept short accounts with the Lord.

After God preserved and rescued Daniel’s three friends, Nebuchadnezzar made this profound statement: “Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way” (Dan 3:29).

Encouragement: A purpose of miracles in Scripture is to teach us to reverence the miracle worker, not just the miracle. We’re to revere the Giver rather than the gift. Nebuchadnezzar was soon to learn this wisdom in even more dramatic fashions soon, but for now we will just leave it here. More to follow.

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #484: Desirable Qualities for Quality Leadership

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Question: What qualities are desirable for quality leadership? 

BLUF: Skillful in All Wisdom

Context, Context, Context: The Book of Daniel was written in the 600s B.C. by Daniel. This was the time of the Babylonian exile under wicked Nebuchadnezzar, whose armies had besieged Jerusalem and taken captives back to Babylon (present-day Iraq, approximately 50 miles south of current Baghdad). 

Can you guess what types of young men Nebuchadnezzar aimed to train in his ways and in his culture? They were “youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace” (Dan 1:4).  

Encouragement: Revisit the question: What qualities are desirable for quality leadership? Even the wicked Nebuchadnezzar recognized what was wise to desire in capable people–those skillful in wisdom and learning, and those who were competent. The irony, of course, is that Nebuchadnezzar’s ploys would backfire on him, because God is the sovereign One, not Nebuchadnezzar, as he was soon to learn. But insofar as picking the right people for leadership, in that sense, the king got it right. God was going to use these young men to show God’s wisdom and the utter humiliation of the haughty. 

The Power of Memory: Reflections Upon a Song

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What is it about a song to jog the memory?

While driving home from work today, my Spotify playlist decided I should hear A Flock of Seagulls’ “I Ran.” And, wow! An avalance of memories I had forgotten I harbored came crashing over me like waves.

Suddenly, so much washed over my memory. First, I remember summers at my dad’s place in Marietta and Sandy Springs, when I competed (poorly) as part of the neighborhood swim team. I was never a gifted swimmer, but I loved the pool.

Second, I remembered riding our Huffy and Schwinn bicycles up and down the hills in the neighborhood to get to the pool, where we spent our summers as boys.

Third, I remembered my friend Mark who lived a few houses down our street, and how we’d camp out in our little tent in the woods adjacent to our street, and call the Domino’s in town to deliver pepperoni pizzas to us on Friday nights. We’d leave our little camp area and go out to the street when the driver arrived with the delicious-smelling pizza we relished as boys.

Fourth, I remember the tunes. O, the music! In those years, it was A Flock of Seagulls, the J. Geils Band, The Tubes, and Van Halen, and so many more. Music, music, music, the pool, the smells of sun tan lotion the girls laved on themselves all day long, the swim meets, the camping in the woods adjacent to our little street.

I had not heard “I Ran” in years, I think–but in an instant, I was a kid again–pedalling our bikes, swimming laps, imbibing the tunes, wrestling with hormones, and just being a boy. Wow . . . just wow!

The High Call of Faithful Shepherding: CDT #483

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BLUF: The High Call of Shepherding Well

Context, Context, Context: The passage under discussion is Ezekiel 34. In it, God rebukes false shepherds. And He does it with severity. Why? Because souls matter. Profoundly. Therefore, the stewardship of souls by shepherds is scrutinized by God Himself. God will judge the shepherds.

Text: Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them. (Ez 34:7-10)

Questions for Reflection:

  • What does the above passage teach us about the high calling of shepherding souls well?
  • What does the above passage teach us about the standard to which God holds the shepherds of souls?
  • How will genuine shepherds be distinguished from false ones?

Encouragement: I love watching the next generations of chaplains and shepherds coming into our force. I see their alacrity, their enthusiasm, their heart for Soldiers and Families. It’s the same way I feel about men called into civilian ministry. I rejoice that God continues to call men to shepherd well. However, I’ve also seen more than a few men who are like those in the passage from Ezekiel, men who care not for the sheep but only for self. That is spiritual cancer; be not fooled. But God sees, and God will do what is right. Sometimes sad things just have to have time to play themselves out so that the charlatans are revealed. The tragedy is that souls are damaged in the interim. Lord, make us faithful shepherds.

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #482: The Watchman

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BLUF: The Lord appointed ‘watchmen’ to be both vigilant and to be a prophetic voice for the sake of the unit/people/nation.

Context, Context, Context: Ezekiel 33 is the passage under discussion. In it, God calls Ezekiel to be a watchman, a vigilant scout and prophetic voice.

Text: So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. (Ez 33:7-9)

Teaching: God has called individuals throughout redemptive history to be prophetic voices and spiritual scouts. With what aim? To warn. To speak truth to power. To reclaim. To educate. To encourage. The list could continue.

Questions for Reflection:

  • How do we distinguish between authentic truth-tellers and charlatans?
  • How might we train our tools of discernment?
  • How can we leverage the wisdom of the authentic truth-tellers in our midst?

Encouragement: There is no paucity of noisy voices competing for our attention. Therefore, it is wise to know what we should heed and what we should ignore. God has continually graced us with watchmen like Ezekiel throughout the historical plan of redemption. Will we listen to the wise watchmen in our day?

God Takes ‘No Pleasure’ in the Death of Anyone

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BLUF: God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone.

Context: I’ve been in Christian ministry for much of my adult life, both as a civilian and as a military chaplain. A recurring objection/question I’ve often been asked is along these lines: “How is God not mean and vindictive to damn people? How could a loving God send people to hell?” I could write at length on this issue but want to proffer here a pithy response to this understandable issue some people raise.

Texts: “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” (Ez 18:23) and “Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn and live” (Ez 18:31b-32).

Encouragement: First, Scripture speaks to this issue. That’s fundamental. Just read the text; that’s a good start. Second, it’s important to recognize that the question about divine justice and human justice. The questioner is asking for ‘justice’ but who defines perfect justice? Is it sinful men? If so, which men–you, me, Mao, Pontius Pilate, Hitler, your favorite neighbor, etc.? We long for justice, but if we all received justice, no one would ever be saved. We tend to want justice for ‘the other guy’ but not for ourselves. If we have wisdom, we’ll long for mercy and grace, not justice.

Justice is rooted in the character of God. It is in Christianity alone–distinct from all other worldviews–that God declares righteous all those who are in Christ (Rom 3). Scripture is clear on this issue: God does not delight in the death of anyone; nor does God delight in hell. Hell is for those who refuse God, who don’t want God, who continually reject the gospel of grace and redemption and restoration. Again, God longs for us rebels to repent and return to God, not be rebels forever east of Eden, or worse.