Why John Piper is weeping

And why we should be too!

He is crying over the new calamity and he writes about it here. Please read the whole article but here is an excerpt that deals with how our culture has moved from the explanation of homosexuality to the celebration of it and finally now to the institutionalization of it.  Clearly God’s judgment is on us when 400,000 people gather to celebrate such sin. Piper writes,

Christians, more clearly than others, can see the tidal wave of pain that is on the way. Sin carries in it its own misery: “Men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error” (Romans 1:27).

And on top of sin’s self-destructive power comes, eventually, the wrath of God: “sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming” (Colossians 3:5–6).

Christians know what is coming, not only because we see it in the Bible, but because we have tasted the sorrowful fruit of our own sins. We do not escape the truth that we reap what we sow. Our marriages, our children, our churches, our institutions—they are all troubled because of our sins.

The difference is: We weep over our sins. We don’t celebrate them. We turn to Jesus for forgiveness and help. We cry to Jesus, “who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

And in our best moments, we weep for the world. In the days of Ezekiel God put a mark of hope “on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in Jerusalem” (Ezekiel 9:4).

This is what I am writing for. Not political action, but love for the name of God and compassion for the city of destruction.

“My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.” (Psalm 119:136)

Read the first part of the article here.

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Considering marriage?

Are you considering marriage soon?  Here are three words of wisdom, somewhat adapted from J. C. Ryle.

1) Marry only in the Lord. To that I would simply add, marry someone who is just as godly or more godly than you are. You want to marry up in marriage in this respect. Don’t just settle for anyone!  Marry a godly, like-minded, fervent believer. I would also add if to follow this rule of “Marry only in the Lord” I would urge you to “Date or Court only in the Lord.”  2)  Remember marriage is a union of two sinners―not two angels.  Remember that both as you consider marriage and enter into it.  You need to set your standards high but in context hear this as well―don’t set your so high that you are only get settle for the perfect person.  Young people, the Messiah has already come and He is Jesus Christ.  He is the only perfect spouse!  Young people by and large are putting marriage off by and large much later these days and I am not sure that is a good thing overall.  I’m not sure that is healthy for a number of reasons. I am not suggesting marriage at 15 or 16 as in Jesus’ day but waiting till you are 27 or 30 doesn’t mean you are somehow more spiritual or godly.  I think God’s plan generally is for young people to get married.  Has been for 6000 years or so.  Marriage is a grace of God.  So seek it, seek it prayerfully and carefully but seek it.  Find a person who loves the Lord fully and is full of biblical wisdom and godly character and marry!  Have a family!  That’s a grace of God!  That’s how the nursery at church grows.  No secret there!  3) Third piece of counsel for young people:  strive first and foremost for your spouse’s sanctification.   And one of the best ways to do that is striving for yours’ now.  The holier you are, the happier you are. The holier you are, the more blessed you will be by God! Be holy now!  Cultivate yours and your spouse’s holiness in marriage.

I preached on “What Jesus Said about Marriage and Divorce” recently. Read or listen.

 

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Divorce, remarriage, and the church

Marriage for life is God’s ideal, but divorce is a reality.  What then should be the church’s response to divorce and remarriage?  First, we must stand squarely where the Bible stands.  Where God allows for divorce, we must allow for it.  Where God allows for remarriage we must too. If someone divorces and remarries within biblical guidelines, it is not sin though it is due to sin.  I think Jay Adams says it well, “Even though all divorces are the result of sin, not all divorces are sinful.”  Or again, “It is altogether true that God hates divorce. But He neither hates all divorces in the same way.  He hates what occasions every divorce―even the one that he gave to sinful Israel.  He hates the results of that often flow to children and injured parties of a divorce . . . . But He does not hate divorce when it is obtained according to the principles and regulations laid down in Scriptures.”

Nevertheless, God says he hates divorce as almost universally practiced. Therefore Christians should never be in the position of encouraging or promoting divorce. Instead we should be encouraging reconciliation.  I  I have always worked arduously with couples toward reconciliation.  But if after repeated attempts have been made, there was unrepentant immorality and the innocent spouse chose the divorce option, I supported them and our church ministered to them.  Some have remarried and are actively involved in the ministry of their local church to this day. This would also be my response to those whose unbelieving spouse has left them (1 Corinthians 7:10-15).

To those who have been divorced without biblical ground, I have this word.  God still loves you. You are not a second-class person.  You are not a second class Christian!   In many cases divorce occurred before salvation or when you were untaught.  Afterward you recognized it was not right, but you have repented of that.  God forgives you. Its under the blood.  He remembers it no more.  Neither should we.   Maybe today, you have realized for the first time that your action was unbiblical and not pleasing to God.  Ask God for forgiveness and he will.  Divorce is not the unforgivable sin. Neither is adultery.  In the case of an unbiblical divorce or sexual immorality, if you truly repent and realize the enormity of your sin and cast yourself on the boundless love and mercy and grace of God, you can be forgiven.  God pardons and forgives sins.   God’s grace is as much for them as it is for any sinner. God forgives all who come to him, including those whose lives have been impacted by divorce.

Further, we should reach out to those whose lives have been through divorce.  We must communicate God’s love to them in the midst of shattered lives.  They need our support and biblical counsel.  Many times they also need financial help and direction as they begin to put their lives back together.

I preached on “What Jesus Said about Marriage and Divorce” recently. Read or listen.

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One life. . . don’t waste it.

You probably won’t be going to Australia for this but you can still heed the message:

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Godly, fatherly counsel to young people

Greg Lucas’ son Aaron just turned 16 and part of Greg’s gift was “Ten Things I Wish Somene Had Told Me When I Was Young.”  They are written for his son but with a few simple substitutions they could be applied to daughters as well.

1. The most important thing you can do is love God and love people. Everything in life flows from this one commandment. (Matthew 22:37-40)

2. Choose your friends wisely, they will influence you more than you realize. (1 Corinthians 15:33) Be a unique leader, not an average follower. Don’t let your desire to impress people make you do stupid things. Be yourself and people will be drawn to you, and respect you.

3. Who you are when no one is looking is a true test of your character. (But Someone is always looking, Proverbs 15:3)

4. Take your time with girls. Set the standard high. Find a godly woman. Look for a woman who most resembles your mother’s heart. She is the best example I have ever seen in a woman. If you find her–or she finds you, she will be more valuable than all the treasure you could ever dream of. (And she will be worth the wait, Proverbs 31:10-31)

5. Live your life in such a way that when people say bad things about you (and they will) no one will ever believe them.

6. Every decision that you make has a reward or a consequence. Your reputation is built over a period of many years, but can be destroyed in one minute with one bad decision.

7. Don’t just settle for a “job”. Find a career where your gifts (of care and compassion) can be used to the fullest. Move towards a vocation where you can live your life helping people. Your reward will be more than a salary.

8. Don’t waste the life God has given to you. You will have less regrets in the end if you do what God has called you to do.

9. Always be slow to anger, quick to forgive and quick to show grace. (James 1:19-20) Remember that Jesus’ death on the cross for your sins was a complete act of undeserved grace. Think about that when you are wronged or when you are treated badly by people. (Hebrews 12:2)

10. Be humble. (Proverbs 11:2) The truest form of strength lies in humility. Here is a good definition of what it means to be humble, “Humility is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing done to us, to feel nothing against us. It is to be at rest when nobody praises us and when we are blamed and despised. It is to have a blessed place in the Lord where we can go in and shut the door and kneel to our Father in secret, and be at peace when all around is trouble.” (Andrew Murray)

If you would like to read the rest, go here.

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A legacy you don’t want to leave

 

 

 

 

He departed with no one’s regret… (v. 20b)

Kevin DeYoung with a great meditation on 2 Chronicles 21:4-20

What will it say on your tombstone? Groucho Marx’s says politely: “Excuse me, I can’t stand up.” Mel Blanc, the voice of Porky Pig, has “That’s all folks” on his grave. And then there’s Jeremiah Johnson whose tombstone says ruefully, “I told you I was sick.” These epitaph’s are playful. Jehoram’s is pathetic.

Jehoram was a terrible king, rebuked by the prophet in a letter (vv.12-15). To paraphrase: “Dear Jehoram. You are lousy king. You are a disobedient, prostituting, murderous villain. Too bad you killed your brothers, they were much better than you. Therefore, the Lord is going to punish you, your people, and your family, and everything you own. P.S. You will have dysentery for the rest of your life. Yours truly, Elijah.”

Jehoram’s life is a tragic example of the deceitfulness of sin. He went his own way and everything he touched turned to clay, unraveling the accomplishments of his fathers.

When he died there was no fire in his honor and no burial in the tomb of the kings, only this biting epitaph: “He passed away, to no one’s regret” (v. 20). Jehoram had position, privilege, power, and prestige and he squandered it all. He is the prodigal son that never came home. May his story never be your own.

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