Introduction: I was discussing land with a peer from work recently. He was telling me about the family farm he grew up on, and of the possibility that some of his relatives may continue selling off the property that he was reared upon, and of his deep desire to retain the property. His memories are tied to that land. He drove his grandpa’s tractor on that land. He tended cattle on that land. He hunted that land and grew crops on that land, etc. He loves it.

I think many of us can relate to his feelings. He values the land and hates to think that some new guy will come in and make a financial offer the family can’t refuse. Or can they? It can get muddy and quite involved rather quickly because values come into conflict. Should temporary financial gain be the overriding factor? Should nostalgia and family memories get involved? If so, to what degree? The questions could, of course, continue.

Context, Context, Context:  In Proverbs 2, Solomon is imparting wisdom to his son. Wisdom is not just information; it is deeper than that. Folks can often get lots of information, but knowing how to sift, sort, and mine wisdom from information is a skill that must be cultivated.

Text: “if you seek it [wisdom] like silver and search for it [wisdom] as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God” (Pr 2:4-5).

Encouragement: In Mt 13:44, Jesus is teaching, and he says, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” He’s teaching of the supreme value of this hidden treasure, the kingdom of heaven. In other words, it’s recognizing the distinction between the temporal and the eternal. So often our appetites are for junk when treasure is available. It’d be like settling for plastic-wrapped donuts from the QuikTrip when a fine cut of beef is available. Wisdom is called for, in order to know how to discern kitsch from jewels. (And yes, I hope my peer’s family keeps their property. We don’t need another strip mall.)

Question: What is a wise criterion by which to evaluate leadership?

Possible responses:

• Mission accomplishment
• Retention of quality workforce
• Job satisfaction
• Growth
• Pride in the organization
• Sense of self-worth/value experienced by team members
• Truth
• Transparency

Context, Context, Context: In the prophetic Book of Hosea, we have the words of Hosea speaking a parable of warning to his culture in the 700s B.C. when the culture has largely fallen into false religion, shepherds for sale, and morally rotten leadership.

Text: “My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore” (Hosea 4:12).

One thing I love about Scripture is that it tells it like it is. The Bible does not sugarcoat things. It uses imagery, metaphors, and analogies, in addition to narratives, poetry, gospels, and apocalyptic literary genres to reveal the truth about God, about us, and about the only means of salvation: Christ.

The context in verse 12 above concerns how idolatrous people fall under false shepherds, shepherds for sale, and lies. Hosea illustrates ways that the people use a “walking staff” that gives them oracles. And what do those oracles do? They lead the people astray. And the people “play the whore.” They allow themselves to be pimped. That’s strong language, you say? Yes, it is. And it comes straight from Scripture. So, don’t shoot the messenger.

Teaching/encouragement: The point from Hosea as God’s prophet is straightforward: a wise criterion by which leadership is to be evaluated is tied to the quality of transparency and truth of its leadership. This is why Jesus is called the Good Shepherd in Scripture. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). He leads His sheep to green pastures. He guards against the wolves. He exposes the darkness. He equips His sheep. He exposes the false. He invites investigation. He is transparent. His work is done in the light.

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. 

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.

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.

Introduction: It’s one of those verses that drives me crazy when it’s ripped from its context. It comes from the Gospel of John. It’s John 15:13 (ESV): “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

Context, context, context: It’s often referenced at military funerals (of which I’ve officiated hundreds, if not more), so I know the text. But what drives me mad–bonkers, in fact–is that there’s seldom given any context, at least when I’ve heard it. What was happening when it was said by Jesus? Who was present? What was the environment? Why was it said? To whom? For what purpose? And perhaps most of all, how does it fit within the metanarrative of the entire history of redemption? How does it fit within the whole of salvation history, per Scripture?

Answers:

What Was Happening: Jesus, God the Son incarnate, was speaking with his students, the disciples, in the upper room. He spoke metaphorically of a vine and branches. Some branches are pruned and discarded. Why? Because they didn’t bear fruit. They were false; they were pretenders, fake Christians (Jn 15:2). Others remain and bear fruit. Those are the Christians, those who bear godly fruit (Jn 15:5).

Who Was Present? Jesus’ disciples.

What Was the Environment? Upper room. This is Jesus’ final discourse (7/7). Last words are often replete with signficance.

Why Was It Said? Because Jesus was teaching those who would believe about discerning the true from false, the genuine from posers.

To Whom? Jesus’ disciples, 11 of whom were Christians.

For What Purpose? To equip the saints–them and us.

Big Picture: How does it fit within the entire narrative? Well, in short, Jesus (God the Son incarnate) is teaching that, until the end, we will always battle imperfection. Let me illustrate: Jesus had 12, right? But even there, a devil (Judas) was in the midst. This world is fallen. (We are unwise to dismiss the reality that the camel often has his nose inside the tent.) Judas Iscariot was the treasurer, and greed was one of his sins. His heart wasn’t in it (i.e., in Christ as Lord). Therefore, his ‘fruit’ was what one should expect: betrayal, lip service, posturing, etc.

Encouragement: There is a wisdom inextricable from realism. We need to have the honesty to admit the fallenness of human nature. We fail; I fail; we all fail. Let’s call it what it is: sin. That won’t win friends and influence people, but it’s nonetheless true. There are many posers. Many. But those whom God loves, He disciplines. He prunes us. Why? So that we’ll bear more fruit. So that we’ll learn. So that we’ll be faithful. Jesus is sacrifice incarnate.

Bottom line up front: In what patterns does the Lord delight? How should those attributes shape Christians?

Text: Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” (Jer 9:23-24, ESV)

Context: Jeremiah was prophesying about the fall of Judah. He had indicted the corruption of the religious leaders and priests. He had indicted the recalcitrance and hardheartedness and moral rebellion of the people. Jeremiah was a truth-teller. But being a prophet entailed the prophet’s reward: persecution. And yet, Jeremiah remained faithful. And what did Jeremiah say here that the Lord delights in? Three things:

• Steadfast love
• Justice
• Righteousness

Encouragement: Lots of folks talk a big game about commitment, about love, about doing the right things. But where’s the evidence? We all make our theology visible. That is unavoidable. When people say that it’s difficult to know a person’s theology, I disagree. It’s clear to know: watch their life. Do they submit to the authority of Scripture? Is there humility in their lives? Is there a pattern of spiritual disciplines? Is there depth of biblical maturity? Do they serve a local church faithfully? Do they seek to edify and encourage the saints? Are they steadfast, just, and righteous? We’re not looking for perfection; we’re looking for direction. Is their pattern one of steadfast commitment or is it just talk, talk, talk? I have a few select people in my circle that I look up to—those worthy of imitation. They’re not talkers; they’re doers.