Many people have "demonic faith" in God. No, I don't mean theithy worship demons. I mean they have the same kind of faith in God that the demons do. They believe in the existence of God, and maybe they even believe that there's only one God, but that's as far as their faith goes. It doesn't make any difference in their lives.
In James 2:19, we're told that the demons believe in one God. I think that Satan and the demons are entirely orthodox in their beliefs about God. In fact, it's more than faith to them-they know the reality of who God is and what He's like. I;m sure they are consistent Trinitarians, knowing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If you gave them a theology test on the existence and being of God, they'd ace it.
Despite their "orthodoxy," however, Satan and the demons are condemned to eternal judgment. Their correct belief in God didn't stop them from pursuing their own way, with Satan wanting to be like God and the demons following him in rebellion. As a result, they fell, and their knowledge of God only gives them reason to tremble at the thought of what's coming.
Having the facts about God straight is important, but those facts alone aren't enough. We have to take what we know about God and act on it. The first thing we must do is acknowledge who God is, and who we are in relation to Him. We need to accept Jesus as our Lord by faith. We need to have a faith that really makes a difference in our lives as well. Our knowledge should be matched by our commitment.
James is the NT book that stresses having a living faith. James is often criticized for putting an emphasis on works; in fact, some people accuse him of teaching salvation by works. That's not what his message is when you look at it closely. James sees works as evidence of a real faith, and the absence of any good works as evidence of a dead faith. He follows the advice of his older brother, who said, "By their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:20) If our faith is alive, it should be visible in the way we live our lives.
We do need to know the truth about God accurately. We need to have a strong grasp of the teaching of the Bible. But we also need to take what we know and put it into practice. If our faith is no better than that of a demon, we've missed the whole point about Jesus. So let's hold on to the truth, but let's also let that truth work itself out so the world can see the difference that faith in Christ makes in our lives.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Doing the Word
Awkward title, isn't it? Yet that's what we should be doing according to James 1:22: "But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (HCSB) The Greek words are nouns, so it's an accurate rendition of what James wrote. So what does it mean to "do the Word"? That's pretty much what James spends most of his epistle describing.
It must have been tough to be James. Maybe if you're a younger sibling you understand the issues he might have faced. Can't you see Mary saying, "James, why can't you be more like your older brother? Jesus always listens. He never gets into. You should be more like him." Maybe that's one of the reasons his brothers weren't immediate followers of Jesus; perhaps there was a little sibling-rivalry resentment to overcome. (That, of course, is just my speculation, not Scripture, so take it for wht it's worth.)
Yet James did ultimately believe in Jesus, and became not only a follower of His but a leader in the early church. He was called "James the Just' for his outstanding character. According to early accounts, he was respected not only by Christians but by many Jews. His advice at the Council of Jerusalem shows a man who seeks to be both just and fair in his dealings. James really did become a "doer of the Word," so his encouragement to his readers and to us is significant.
I believe one of the reasons so many churches have little impact on their communities and on the world at large is that they become so focused on being right in their beliefs that they forget to live out those truths before the world. I would be the last one to argue that having correct theology and a strong understanding of Scripture is unimportant. However, even if our theology is perfect and our grasp of the Bible deep, that knowledge and understanding is useless if not put into practice. If the truth of God doesn't make a difference in the way we live, then we are living by another truth and only going through the motions of being a Christian.
James certainly believed in the importance of reading and meditating on the Word. Just two verses later, after his illustration of looking into a mirror, he writes, "But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works—this person will be blessed in what he does." (1:25, HCSB) Our time and meditation on the Word is what gives us the motivation to do what is good. We cannot do what the Lord wants us to do if we don't know what that is, and we can't know what that is if we don't read, study, and understand what He tells us in His Word.
I'm a bit of an academic, and perhaps if you are reading this you are, too. I have to be careful that I don't get so caught up in an academic pursuit of Christianity that I forget to have a living, breathing, and active faith.
So by all means study the Bible, understand your theology, and listen to the Word preached and taught. Just don't leave it in the classroom. Make sure you take what you know and live it, and show your world what faith in Jesus looks like in action. Do the Word!
It must have been tough to be James. Maybe if you're a younger sibling you understand the issues he might have faced. Can't you see Mary saying, "James, why can't you be more like your older brother? Jesus always listens. He never gets into. You should be more like him." Maybe that's one of the reasons his brothers weren't immediate followers of Jesus; perhaps there was a little sibling-rivalry resentment to overcome. (That, of course, is just my speculation, not Scripture, so take it for wht it's worth.)
Yet James did ultimately believe in Jesus, and became not only a follower of His but a leader in the early church. He was called "James the Just' for his outstanding character. According to early accounts, he was respected not only by Christians but by many Jews. His advice at the Council of Jerusalem shows a man who seeks to be both just and fair in his dealings. James really did become a "doer of the Word," so his encouragement to his readers and to us is significant.
I believe one of the reasons so many churches have little impact on their communities and on the world at large is that they become so focused on being right in their beliefs that they forget to live out those truths before the world. I would be the last one to argue that having correct theology and a strong understanding of Scripture is unimportant. However, even if our theology is perfect and our grasp of the Bible deep, that knowledge and understanding is useless if not put into practice. If the truth of God doesn't make a difference in the way we live, then we are living by another truth and only going through the motions of being a Christian.
James certainly believed in the importance of reading and meditating on the Word. Just two verses later, after his illustration of looking into a mirror, he writes, "But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works—this person will be blessed in what he does." (1:25, HCSB) Our time and meditation on the Word is what gives us the motivation to do what is good. We cannot do what the Lord wants us to do if we don't know what that is, and we can't know what that is if we don't read, study, and understand what He tells us in His Word.
I'm a bit of an academic, and perhaps if you are reading this you are, too. I have to be careful that I don't get so caught up in an academic pursuit of Christianity that I forget to have a living, breathing, and active faith.
So by all means study the Bible, understand your theology, and listen to the Word preached and taught. Just don't leave it in the classroom. Make sure you take what you know and live it, and show your world what faith in Jesus looks like in action. Do the Word!
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Tenebrae
As I stated in a previous post, my favorite service of the year is the Good Friday Tenebrae service. It's a solemn service, and very visual, but I find it the most striking and memorable service I participate in each year. I was introduced to Tenebrae at a Baptist seminary, attended for several years at a Reformed Episcopal church, and have organized or led the service at several Baptist churches since. It's not the kind of service most Baptists are familiar with, so I'd like to explain what happens so you can understand why the service is done the way it is.
"Tenebrae" is the Latin word for "darkness." As a separate service, Tenebrae arose from some medieval traditions of darkening the church during Good Friday services, but in the form we use it comes more from a liturgical Protestant tradition. It is a highly structured service, with a set form even of most of the words of the service; this is popularly called a "liturgical" service, from the word "liturgy" which means the form or order of worship. (In truth, all churches are "liturgical," but some are more structured than others!) There are times for the pastor to speak, and for the congregation to respond. The Tenebrae service anticipates active participation by the congregation.
The major focus of Tenebrae is the Bible. There are many Scripture readings related to the events of Good Friday. Many are from Psalms, and have verses that describe the experiences of Jesus during His sufferings and death. Others are of Old Testament prophecy relating to the suffering of the Messiah. There are also readings from the Gospels (Luke, in our case) and the Epistles (Hebrews). The words of the Bible tell us the story of Christ, and we immerse ourselves in God's Word during this service.
There is a highly symbolic aspect to this service, which is unusual in Baptist churches. The candles that are lit are extinguished and the lights dimmed to symbolize the encroaching darkness of Jesus' suffering and death. We recite the Lord's Prayer, but in a whisper to reflect our own awe at remembering the work of our Lord. The Christ candle (often from the Advent wreath) is extinguished and hidden to symbolize the death and burial of Jesus. Bells toll to drive home the finality of the death of Christ-at least, the finality the disciples experienced on that first Friday. We leave the church in darkness and silence, meditating on the fact that it was only through the suffering and death of Jesus that we are able to be made right with God.
The symbolism of Tenebrae is sometimes criticized as an effort to bring in "traditions" from other denominations into the evangelical church. (Seriously. You wouldn't believe what I read last night on some blog attacking Tenebrae.) Any symbol can be misused, so we do need to be careful that we are giving the proper meaning to those symbols. That's why I try to be very specific as to what we are doing in Tenebrae, and what all the symbols mean.
Ultimately, Tenebrae is a service that seeks to remind us, through Word and symbol, of the terrible price Christ paid for our sins. It is meant to draw our attention not to candles or symbols, but to the One whose sufferings they represent. If you leave on Good Friday thinking only of the "theatrics" of the service, you have missed the point. You should leave thinking of the grace of Jesus, and thanking Him for bearing the judgment for you.
The symbolism actually continues on Sunday morning. The church is brightly lit, there is joyous sound, and the Christ candle is there at the front of the church, lit again, symbolizing the Resurrection. We then celebrate the triumph of Jesus over sin and death. I just want to encourage you this week to take time to reflect on Jesus' suffering and death, and not skip too quickly to Sunday. We should recall what Peter wrote: "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1 Peter 3:18a, NIV) As the "unrighteous" who have been brought to God through Christ, we should respond with honor and gratitude for what He has done for us.
"Tenebrae" is the Latin word for "darkness." As a separate service, Tenebrae arose from some medieval traditions of darkening the church during Good Friday services, but in the form we use it comes more from a liturgical Protestant tradition. It is a highly structured service, with a set form even of most of the words of the service; this is popularly called a "liturgical" service, from the word "liturgy" which means the form or order of worship. (In truth, all churches are "liturgical," but some are more structured than others!) There are times for the pastor to speak, and for the congregation to respond. The Tenebrae service anticipates active participation by the congregation.
The major focus of Tenebrae is the Bible. There are many Scripture readings related to the events of Good Friday. Many are from Psalms, and have verses that describe the experiences of Jesus during His sufferings and death. Others are of Old Testament prophecy relating to the suffering of the Messiah. There are also readings from the Gospels (Luke, in our case) and the Epistles (Hebrews). The words of the Bible tell us the story of Christ, and we immerse ourselves in God's Word during this service.
There is a highly symbolic aspect to this service, which is unusual in Baptist churches. The candles that are lit are extinguished and the lights dimmed to symbolize the encroaching darkness of Jesus' suffering and death. We recite the Lord's Prayer, but in a whisper to reflect our own awe at remembering the work of our Lord. The Christ candle (often from the Advent wreath) is extinguished and hidden to symbolize the death and burial of Jesus. Bells toll to drive home the finality of the death of Christ-at least, the finality the disciples experienced on that first Friday. We leave the church in darkness and silence, meditating on the fact that it was only through the suffering and death of Jesus that we are able to be made right with God.
The symbolism of Tenebrae is sometimes criticized as an effort to bring in "traditions" from other denominations into the evangelical church. (Seriously. You wouldn't believe what I read last night on some blog attacking Tenebrae.) Any symbol can be misused, so we do need to be careful that we are giving the proper meaning to those symbols. That's why I try to be very specific as to what we are doing in Tenebrae, and what all the symbols mean.
Ultimately, Tenebrae is a service that seeks to remind us, through Word and symbol, of the terrible price Christ paid for our sins. It is meant to draw our attention not to candles or symbols, but to the One whose sufferings they represent. If you leave on Good Friday thinking only of the "theatrics" of the service, you have missed the point. You should leave thinking of the grace of Jesus, and thanking Him for bearing the judgment for you.
The symbolism actually continues on Sunday morning. The church is brightly lit, there is joyous sound, and the Christ candle is there at the front of the church, lit again, symbolizing the Resurrection. We then celebrate the triumph of Jesus over sin and death. I just want to encourage you this week to take time to reflect on Jesus' suffering and death, and not skip too quickly to Sunday. We should recall what Peter wrote: "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1 Peter 3:18a, NIV) As the "unrighteous" who have been brought to God through Christ, we should respond with honor and gratitude for what He has done for us.
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