But You Would Not
Oh how He loves us and longs to be with us.
That’s what God was saying to Israel through Isaiah’s words in today’s Manna. He is a “jealous God,” Who has said “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Ex. 20:3, 5b); however, He knew when He placed the two “trees of choices” in the middle of the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:9) that true love is never forced love.
It’s a willing love. A freely-given love.
And, consequently, a “grieving, agonizing love” when willfully refused or rejected.
That’s why the sight of the One hanging on the Tree should move us to absolute surrender—for, if it doesn’t, nothing else will (Rom. 2:4b).
On Returning and Resting
We will not look for that which we’ve lost unless it’s precious to us.
“Returning and rest.”
Pause for a minute and ponder these words. What do they mean to you—“Returning and rest”? Say them aloud again: “Returning and rest.” We know the word “return” means to “come back to a prior point” and “rest” means “to cease and desist.”
But, the question is, “What the connection between the two?”
The answer?
Everything.
Sermon About Taming the Tounge: A Small Piece of Tongue
Introduction
We are done discussing about faith accompanied by action. Today, it is still related to it but today, we will be focusing on the most powerful muscle of the body, the tongue. We will be learning today that even how small it is, it can be both helpful and destructive.
Our passage today was started by these words:
“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone who is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.” (v. 1-2)
This part puzzled me a little bit since these words are not very encouraging to hear. While we almost encourage everybody to become teachers, here is a passage that tells us or discourage us in becoming teachers. But to fully understand the passage, we have to take a closer look in its context so that we may comprehend what is being said by James.
The Bible always teaches us that we have to become mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1). And as we become mature and complete, it encourages us to become teachers of God’s word by telling others about Jesus. However, obviously there were Christians who seems to know lots of things, but when it comes to application to their own lives, living righteously has become so difficult to do.
On Setting and Seeking
“Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God. . .”
I Chronicles 22:19a
It’s a lifelong, passionate pursuit that always ends up at Jesus’ feet.
Seeking the Lord.
Someone once said “We’re born with a God-shaped hole in our heart.” So true, so true. And, nothing or no one can fill this void except the One for Whom we seek. This is no casual search—like that of someone out shopping on a carefree vacation, who’s asked “What are you looking for?” and the person replies, “I don’t know. . .but I’ll know it when I find it.”
While humorous, this response is so often the way so many do their “seeking.”
A “shot-in-the-dark.” Wishful thinking. Some nebulous, vague “notion” or “urge.”
But, there’s no intentionality. . .no purpose. . .no insatiable “hungering and thirsting” that springs from the depth of their soul.
No, only an “I sure hope I find what I’m looking for” casual quest.
But, that’s not what David meant in today’s Manna as he instructed Solomon on how to prepare himself for building the Temple. The Hebrew word “nathan” is used here for “set” and means “to add, ascribe, assign, ordain, etc.,” which shows “purposeful preparation.” And, when coupled with “seek” (Heb. “darash”—“to tread on, frequent, follow hard after, pursue, diligently inquire, search for, etc.”), it’s the picture of a wholehearted quest, not a halfhearted one.
The Evidence of Faith
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?”
This seems to be a little controversial because some people quoted this passage as one proof that works indeed can save and or at least essential to salvation. However, in order to see things in this passage clearly, we need to disect it one by one, point by point.
First, we need to see the first part of the argument. James used the word “if” which again signifies a condition. “If a man claims to have faith…” Which means that when a man says that he has faith “but has no deeds” then it is completely useless. This is the reason why James asked the second question, “Can such faith save him?”
Gentle, Not Quarrelsome
“And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves—if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth—and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
A Biblical Guide to Orthodoxy and Heresy Part Two:
How do we discern truth from error, sound doctrine from unsound doctrine, orthodoxy from heresy? How do we discern when a doctrine is fully heretical and when it is only aberrational?
In Part One of this two-part article I presented a case for doctrinal discernment as a necessary ongoing task of the church. In this concluding part I will suggest some guidelines for carrying out this task in a way that is faithful to Scripture.
A Biblical Guide to Orthodoxy and Heresy
A Biblical Guide to Orthodoxy and Heresy
Part One: The Case for Doctrinal Discernment
by Robert M. Bowman
from the Christian Research Journal, Summer 1990, page 28. The Editor-in-Chief of the Christian Research Journal is Elliot Miller.
For most Christians today, the challenge of learning how to discern orthodox from heretical doctrine has apparently not been faced. Either they treat doctrine as minimally important and so regard charges of “heresy” as rude and unloving, or they treat doctrine as all-important and so regard anyone who disagrees with them in the slightest as a heretic. In short, most believers seem to think either that there are almost no heretics or that almost everybody outside their own little group is a heretic.
The cause of doctrinal discernment, then, is in serious jeopardy. Although anticult and discernment ministries are mushrooming everywhere, many of them operate on the basis of an excessively narrow understanding of orthodoxy. Consequently, such groups are charged deservedly with “heresy hunting” and discredit the practice of doctrinal discernment. At the other extreme — and often overreacting to such heresy hunters — are those within the Christian community who reject any warnings of heresy among professing Christians.
In this two-part article I will attempt to set forth a balanced approach to the issue of doctrinal heresy. In this first part I will present a biblical case for the practice of discerning orthodox from heretical doctrines. In the second part I will offer guidelines for doctrinal discernment.
In order to make this article as useful as possible, I will avoid making references to specific heretical or suborthodox groups, doctrines, and practices. This is so it may be read without conflict by persons in religious groups which discourage reading literature that criticizes their beliefs. In addition, I will avoid quoting and citing sources other than the Bible so that what I say can stand as much as possible on its own. A bibliography of recommended reading will be provided at the end of Part Two.
My own theological convictions are those of Protestant evangelicalism. Most of what I have to say in this article, however, is compatible with other Christian traditions as well. ——————————————————————-
Glossary of Key Terms
aberrational: Off-center or in error in some important way, such that the doctrine or practice should be rejected and those who accept it held to be sinning, even though they may very well be Christian. Also called aberrant.
apostasy: A falling away or departure from a previously maintained orthodox position (as in certain denominations which once held to orthodoxy but have rejected it). Adj.: apostate.
biblical: Agreeing with or faithful to the teaching of the Bible. Whatever is contrary to its teaching is unbiblical, though this word is usually used only when the biblical teaching violated is clear and of vital importance.
cult: A religious group originating as a heretical sect and maintaining fervent commitment to heresy. Adj.: cultic (may be used with reference to tendencies as well as full cult status).
denomination: A religious body originating as a Christian movement or sect and generally classified as a Christian body regardless of its doctrinal orthodoxy.
Clean, Useful Vessels
“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth—and some to honor and some to dishonor. If a man, therefore, purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the master’s use and prepared unto every good work.”