Veritas et Lux

Reviving the Lost Art of Letter Writing

Once there was a day when the nib of a pen would intersect with a piece of paper, revealing the contemplations of a thoughtful person. The end result would yield a letter that would inspire a willing recipient and breathe fresh courage into a human soul.

Less than 200 years ago, letter-writing flourished in the American colonies. Yet, the convenience of technology has all but extinguished the power of the pen. The convenience of text messages and emails have replaced the personal touch of the letter. Indeed, the art of letter writing is nearly dead. For this reason, it is time to revive the lost art of letter writing.

A Rekindled Friendship

The strained friendship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson is well known and documented. Thankfully, Dr. Benjamin Rush intervened and convinced Adams to renew his friendship with Jefferson. The second president of the United States responded with a letter to Jefferson. Subsequently, the two men exchanged letters back and forth until their respective deaths, which occurred on the same day – July 4, 1826. The power of pen and ink combined with some thoughtful words supercharged a friendship on the brink of collapse.

A Rekindled Art

A handful of letters have arrived in my mailbox over the past several years that left a meaningful mark and provided much-needed fuel to propel me in a Godward direction:

An affirming letter from my father
A letter of personal counsel from Dr. John Piper
A letter of encouragement from my grandfather, Samuel Barger
A letter from Pastor Wayne Pickens, who mentored me in the defining years of pastoral ministry

One letter from my 89-year-old friend, Bruce who recently went to be with the Lord sits permanently in my study:

“Knowing you is to learn, as our Lord measures it, more than just the message of Scripture. You sow also of yourself in His name. More than His word you teach by example, tireless sacrificial giving for His glory and in furtherance of His love …”

Each of the letters above are safely preserved and serve as a permanent reminder of a special time in my life.

Opening a timely and encouraging letter is like receiving oxygen at the summit of Mt. Everest after a grueling climb. It is like salve on a wound in need of healing. A letter is a welcome guest that is never turned away.

It is not too late to revive letter writing in our generation. I suggest we revive the art of letter writing for at least five reasons.

1. Personal Touch

First, a letter is personal. Taking time to compose words on a page, sealing the letter in an envelope, and dropping it in the mail involve a series of additional steps and effort but the payoff is worth it. The personal touch of a letter deeply impacts the one who receives it.

2. Powerful Memories

Second, a letter helps enshrine memories that preserve friendships, provide a permanent record of significant thoughts, and instill hope for the future. When I read a memorable letter, it helps recall significant thoughts and feelings that may have otherwise been forgotten.

3. Permanent Keepsake

Third, a letter becomes a personal and powerful memento. An email can be cataloged in Evernote or saved in some other digital format. An email can even be printed and tucked away for future reference. But an email can never replace the special quality of the written letter.

4. Portrays Selflessness

Next, a letter is an act of selflessness. It takes a certain amount of discipline, time, and creativity to craft a meaningful letter. Such a pursuit, then, involves an intentional act of kindness or selflessness as the one composing the letter must think of others before herself. One might say that letter writing is a way of fulfilling the Golden Rule: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12, NLT).

5. Proclaims a Blessing

Finally, a letter is a way of proclaiming a blessing. At the heart of a blessing is the need for acceptance. “Genuine acceptance,” writes John Trent, “radiates from the concept of the blessing.”¹ A letter has a way of unleashing a person to become all that God intends them to be. It is a way of communicating the kind of support that is empowering and life-changing. A letter has a way of inscribing an indelible seal of blessing on the soul of one of God’s image-bearers.

A simple letter has the power to inspire hope, instill confidence, and initiate action. A letter communicates devoted love and lifts the human spirit. A letter unshackles the hands and feet, inspires hearts and minds, and communicates love and support to the people we care about.

Reviving the lost art of letter writing begins with you. Who will you influence or encourage today with a simple letter? Who will be the recipient of your timely wisdom or counsel? Who will be inspired to take a step into the great unknown because they received a letter from you? Who will be challenged by your courageous words? Whose life will be changed forever because you took the time to craft a well-thought-out letter? Let us, then, revive the lost art of letter writing – one letter at a time.

John Trent, The Blessing (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1986), 28. ↩

Encouragement for the Depressed – C.H. Spurgeon

Charles H. Spurgeon, Encouragement for the Depressed (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2020), 102 pp.

He was the greatest preacher of the nineteenth century. And he is only of the most important preachers in the history of the church. Heralded as the Prince of Preachers, this man was also afflicted with a host of physical ailments for most of his adult life. He was also a victim of depression. His name – Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Encouragement for the Depressed by C.H. Spurgeon is one of the recent titles in Crossway’s Short Classics series. Designed to preserve classic texts from some of the most well-known Christian writers, the series also aims to gain some new readers.

Spurgeon’s essay is an exposition of Zechariah 4:10a, which says, “For whoever has despised the day of small things …” The work is divided into two distinct parts.

Encouragement for the Depressed

The first part sets out to encourage Christians who battle depression. Spurgeon, as noted above, fought depression throughout his life. Yet, he is quick to remind his readers to refuse to be governed by feelings. “He that lives by feelings,” writes the preacher from London, “will be happy today and unhappy tomorrow; and if our salvation depended upon our feelings, we should be lost one day and saved another, for they are all as fickle as the weather, and go up and down like a barometer.”

Spurgeon assures the despondent that God is with them. “Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees, “ writes William Cowper. Indeed, the grace of God abounds when the people of God are drowning in sorrow. And Zechariah affirms, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD.”

The Minister’s Fainting Fits

Part two speaks candidly about the propensity for depression, even among God’s people. Spurgeon specifically notes that pastors fall prey to this vicious monster. Always the realist and biblicist, Spurgeon says, “Glory be to God for the furnace, the hammer and the file.”

Encouragement for the Depressed is a powerful antidote. This short book is a call to arms for Christians who battle despondency. There are no therapeutics here. Spurgeon only offers the cure which is nothing less than the Lord Jesus Christ and his gospel.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

A Tribute to R.C. Sproul

On December 14, 2017 Dr. R.C. Sproul entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Dr. Sproul was a graduate of Westminster College (B.A. in Philosophy), Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (B.D.), Free University of Amsterdam (Drs.) and received additional recognition from Geneva College (Litt. D) and Grove City College (L.H.D.) in 1993.

Dr. Sproul was ordained in 1965 by the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and taught at Westminster College (1965 – 1966), Gordon College (1966 – 1968), Conwell School of Theology (1968 – 1969), Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (1971 – 1981) and held the John Trimble, Sr. Chair of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary (1987 – 1995). He served on the Executive Committee for the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy (1977 – 1983). He held various leadership roles with the Coalition for Christian Outreach (1971 – 1976), Evangelism Explosion III, International (1980 – 1981), and Prison Fellowship (1979 – 1984).

In addition to several other teaching roles at theological Seminaries, including Knox Theological Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminary, Dr. Sproul served on the pastoral staff at Saint Andrews Chapel in Sanford, Florida.

Dr. Sproul was the founder and Chairman of Ligonier Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing theological education for the church. Ligonier provided and continues to provide a myriad of teaching resources by Dr. Sproul and others, which are primarily directed toward the laity.

Many tributes will be posted for several days and weeks to come which will celebrate Sproul’s life and legacy. My small contribution will be personal in nature as I recount the ways that my life was impacted by his ministry.

The Sovereignty of God in Salvation

R.C. Sproul was greatly used by God as he reintroduced Reformed theology to the evangelical church. He articulated the doctrines of grace with passion, courage, conviction, and authority. He spoke about the depth of our depravity and reminded us that the “flesh profits nothing” (John 6:63). Indeed, as Luther said, “Nothing is not a little something!” “Sin is cosmic treason,” writes Sproul. “Sin is treason against a perfectly pure Sovereign. It is an act of supreme ingratitude toward the One to whom we owe everything, to the One who has given us life itself. Have you ever considered the deeper implications of the slightest sin, of the most minute peccadillo? What are we saying to our Creator when we disobey Him at the slightest point? We are saying ‘no’ to the righteousness of God.” R.C. Sproul powerfully proclaimed the hideous effects of sin on a fallen race.

He not only spoke of the depth of depravity; he proclaimed the beauty of sovereign grace. He helped us understand the importance of election and predestination. Chosen by God served an especially important purpose in my life. This book was a theological battering ram. Chosen by God smashed my preconceived Arminian notions. It shattered my Semi-Pelagian understanding of free will and petty arguments against Calvinism.

Positively, Chosen by God elevated my understanding of God’s sovereignty. However, it would be more accurate to say that Sproul catapulted my view of God’s sovereignty into the stratosphere. “If there is any part of creation outside of God’s sovereignty,” writes Sproul, “then God is simply not sovereign. If God is not sovereign, then God is not God.”

Chosen by God helped shift my understanding of mercy into biblical categories. Previously, I held the view that God was obligated to offer mercy to sinners. But Sproul’s theological battering ram obliterated my presuppositions about mercy. I’ll never forget reading these words: “If God is not pleased to dispense his saving mercy to all men, then I must submit to his holy and righteous decision. God is never, never obligated to be merciful to sinners. That is the point we must stress if we are to grasp the full measure of God’s grace.”

R.C. Sproul captivated us with the wonder of effectual grace. And he spoke often of the perseverance of the saints, or better yet, as he was fond of saying, “the preservation of the saints.” Indeed, “the doctrine teaches that if you have saving faith you will never lose it, and if you lose it, you never had it.”

R.C. not only equipped a new generation of Reformed thinkers; he alerted the body of Christ to theological error. He lamented the rise of theological wolves and deceitful hucksters. And he warned us about the Pelagian Captivity of the Church. Sproul notes, “One thing is clear: that you can be purely Pelagian and be completely welcome in the evangelical movement today. It’s not simply that the camel sticks his nose into the tent; he doesn’t just come in the tent — he kicks the owner of the tent out.”

The first time I saw Dr. Sproul preach at a live event, I stood in line for at least an hour to say “hello” and get a signature in his latest book, Not a Chance. It was a typical scene where several hundred hungry theology students gathered for a chance to visit for a moment with one of the premier theological minds of the day. Sproul was signing books and carrying on in casual conversations. When my time came, I uttered these words: “Dr. Sproul, I want to thank you for your ministry. Before I began reading your books, I was a total Arminian.” Those words caught his attention. He lowered his reading glasses and looked me straight in the eye: “Weren’t we all Arminians at one time!” The crowd roared but R.C.’s infectious laugh overcame the whole room.

Dr. Sproul confronted the love affair with free will in the church: “The semi-Pelagian doctrine of free will prevalent in the evangelical world today is a pagan view that denies the captivity of the human heart to sin. It underestimates the stranglehold that sin has on us.”

Pursuing Church History

Dr. Sproul awakened in me a love for church history that was previously non-existent in my life. He had a special gift for storytelling that invited listeners to enter the world of Augustine, Calvin, Luther, and Edwards. His passion for uncovering the treasures of church history was something to behold. These giants of the faith came to life when R.C. spoke of their courage, tenacity, and faithfulness in proclaiming the unadulterated Word of God.

Passion for the Holiness of God

R.C. Sproul authored at least sixty books, most of which I digested over the past thirty years. Those books are filled with highlights, notes, and observations. But the book that impacted me above all was The Holiness of God. R.C. writes, “We fear God because He is holy. Our fear is not the healthy fear that the Bible encourages us to have. Our fear is servile fear, a fear born of dread. God is too great for us; He is too awesome. He makes difficult demands on us. He is the Mysterious Stranger who threatens our security. In His presence we quake and tremble. Meeting Him personally may be our greatest trauma.”

The Holiness of God caught me completely by surprise in my early twenties. My mind was transfixed. My heart was warmed. And my life was forever changed as I poured over the pages of this book which will no doubt be in print for many years to come.

Defender of the Gospel

Finally, R.C. Sproul was a teacher, preacher, and defender of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He articulated the deep realities of the gospel in simple terms and invited anyone with ears to hear to come along for the ride. R.C reminded us that we are “saved by faith alone but that faith is never alone.” He made sure that we memorized Luther’s famous line that, “justification is that article upon which the church stands or falls.”

It is difficult to summarize the life of a man who carried such a huge weight of influence for over thirty years. A few short paragraphs hardly seem fitting for a man who helped change the face of evangelicalism.

In a recent sermon, Steven Lawson admonished his audience, “Give us some men who know the truth.” R.C. Sproul was such a man. R.C. taught the truth, defended the truth, and worked tirelessly to proclaim the truth to the nations.

Dr. R.C. Sproul (1939 – 2017) fought the good fight. He finished the race. And he kept the faith. Enter into the joy of your Savior where you will reign with him unto all eternity.

The Indispensable Need for Unity: Part 5

grayscale photo of man and woman holding their hands

For several days now, we have been discussing unity. We have argued that there is an indispensable need for unity, especially in the local church. Thus far, we have seen:

The Definition of Unity
The Defining Marks of Unity
The Deterrents to Unity
The Devil’s Hatred of Unity

The previous discussion uncovered an important principle that Satan uses division in order to divert the people of God, which will, in the final analysis, distract them and lead them in a direction that will destroy the aim of unity. Notice, finally, the destructive nature of division.

The Destructive Nature of Division

The foundational observation is this. The first division that takes place after creation is the Fall of man in the garden. Simply put, our first parents experienced division when Eve usurped her husband’s leadership. There is not only horizontal division between Adam and Eve; there is the vertical division between people and God. God warned Adam that when he ate of the forbidden tree, he would surely die (Gen. 2:17). When Adam and Eve disobeyed Scripture tells us that “their eyes were opened” (Gen. 3:7). Consequently, they became enemies of God (Rom. 5:10), children of wrath (Eph. 2:1-3) and were enslaved to sin (John 8:34).

Second, the sin of division is listed among the deeds of the flesh. The destructive nature of division becomes readily apparent when it is viewed in the context of Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia. Paul the apostle writes, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19–21, ESV). The word “division” is translated from a Greek word, translated as “heresy” or “faction.” While division may appear petty to some, it is listed among the sins of the flesh. And note, the warning, “Those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (v. 21). Jude 18-19 also includes a serious warning for people who cause division: “They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit” (Jude 18–19, ESV). Division is a serious sin that must not be tolerated among the people of God!

Third, recognize that division destroys church families. Paul admonishes the church at Corinth, a church who became well-known for their carnal behavior: “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10, ESV). The present tense of the verb translated “appeal” demonstrates Paul’s urgency in putting this matter before the Corinthians. The word translated “divisions” comes from the Greek word that is commonly translated “schism.” The word implies a “tearing apart or splitting apart.” It also involves the opposition of sound doctrine. Suffice it to say, division will strike mercilessly against the very fiber of a local church. It will take on a life of its own. Division is a relentless enemy. Division is a vicious monster. It is a malignant cancer that will devastate and destroy. Division is a virus that must be confronted boldly and biblically. If divisive people are left unchallenged, they will annihilate a church from the inside out.

Finally, division is contrary to the purposes of God. The apostle Paul pleaded with the church at Rome to be on guard against anyone who might introduce the cancer of bitterness in the church family: “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them” (Romans 16:17, ESV). He uses a different Greek word, translated “division” here. The word means, “dissension or discord” and is virtually synonymous with the “schism” that we learned about in 1 Corinthians 1:10.

four people leaning on concrete rails

Summary

Here is the takeaway: God hates division. God does not approve of factions or schisms. God, however, places a premium on unity. So we confess there is an indispensable need for unity in the church. As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, may we stand in unity around the purposes of the church. May we stand in unity around sound doctrine. For we will not equivocate or compromise the doctrinal standards of the church. May the unity the emerges in the church begin with each faithful Christian and may it flow like “oil down Aaron’s beard” for the benefit of local congregations. And may the world take notice! May the world recognize that we are disciples of Jesus who stand together in unity which will be expressed in the kingly reign of Christ in a future day to come!

The Indispensable Need for Unity: Part 4

The Devil’s Hatred of Unity

Make no mistake – the devil despises unity. He will do whatever it takes to divide family and friends. He will pull out all the stops to divide a church or ministry. And he will work tirelessly in order to divide a country. One of the things that Satan hates the most is a unified church family. Note several reasons for the devil’s utter antipathy of unity.

First, when God’s people are united, the body of Christ works as God intends – harmoniously. Paul speaks of this unity in 1 Cor. 12. “But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that they may be no divisions in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (ESV). Here we see that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. God is honored and glorified when the body of Christ works in a harmonious fashion; when the people of God are mobilized and faithfully exercising their God-given spiritual gifts. Satan on the other hand, loathes the very notion of unity with a devilish passion.

Second, when God’s people are united, the gospel goes forward in great power. We see this demonstrated most vividly in the book of Acts. In Acts 1:8, the apostles receive a promise; a promise of the Holy Spirit’s power that will accompany their ministry as they faithfully proclaim the gospel to the nations. In Acts 2, the day of Pentecost arrives and Peter preaches a bold sermon that results in the conversion of 3,000 people (Acts 2:41). As the people of God devote themselves to the purposes of the church (Acts 2:42), God faithfully “added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). In Acts 4:4, we witness the conversion of 5,000 more people as they sit under the preaching ministry of Peter. This pattern occurs over and over in the book of Acts. When the people of God stand united, the gospel goes forward in great power – all the more reason for the devil to despise a united church.

Third, when God’s people are united, Christ’s agenda triumphs over people’s personal agendas. Here’s a principle to remember: Rejecting bickering results in rejoicing together. When personal agendas are set aside for kingdom purposes, Christ’s agenda prevails. So the devil will work strenuously to pit believer against believer. Woe to the church who passively sits by while the personal agendas of carnal people win the day. When personal agenda strike at the core of the local church, the devil has gained a major victory.

Fourth, when God’s people are united, God is greatly glorified. When forgiveness is at the center of a church family and grace marks the ministry, people are encouraged and God receives the glory. When selfish agendas are cast aside, God is glorified. When “pet projects” are shelved in order to defer to a higher purpose, God is glorified. Paul notes, “For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 4:15, ESV).

We have uncovered some reasons why the devil hates unity. But it does not end here. Satan not only hates unity; there is something he loves, namely, division. The devil relishes a people who are divided. He is eager to promote division, especially in the church. So notice several reasons for the devil’s love of division in the church.

grey metal knights figurines during daytime

The Devil’s Love of Division

First, when the church is divided, effectiveness fades. Nothing could be plainer. When people are at war, the troops lose strength and effectiveness wanes. Quite honestly, division takes work. And while the people who are engaged in division grow weak, it is the faithful efforts of shepherds that are ultimately affected. I often wonder if people who spark division really understand how pleased the devil is with their work.

Second, when the church is divided, ministry morale declines. This principle is related to the previous one. For whenever division takes root in a church, ministry morale by definition will be on the downgrade.

Third, when the church is divided, the flesh is stirred to action. I have learned from experience that when a group fosters division in a church, their sinful activity has a stunning effect. It actually brings out the worst in people. It serves, if you will, as a sin catalyst – igniting the flesh in people who moments before were faithfully serving God. It is no wonder that the devil has such a passion for division.

Fourth, when the church is divided, the gospel is tarnished. I was never much of a math student but here’s an equation I understand and have seen firsthand over the years. Gossip + division = a lack of love. And if we take John 13:35 seriously and affirm that people will recognize that we are disciples because of the love we show one another, it stands to reason that a divided church actively and aggressively tarnishes the gospel. Francis Schaeffer rightly notes that the “final apologetic” is our love for one another and the unity expressed in the context of relationships. I’m convinced that Satan is perfectly happy to see the gospel being proclaimed by a divided church – because the luster of the gospel is being adulterated which results in a weak, tepid, and ineffective message. May God help us!

Fifth, when the church is divided, the Holy Spirit is quenched and grieved. When Jesus prayed the High Priestly prayer in John 17, he said, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-21, ESV). In other words, the Trinity has from all eternity been in perfect fellowship and unity. So when disunity invades a church, it strikes at the core of who God is. Division militates against what is precious to God, namely, unity. The Holy Spirit, therefore, is quenched and grieved when division puts a stranglehold on unity.

Sixth, when the church is divided, God is not glorified. Of course, whenever a church is divided, God is not honored. And when God is not honored and glorified, we find the devil grinning ear to ear. I heard a pastor say a few days ago that he “does not believe in the devil.” Now the arch-enemy of our souls is really smiling. He’s not only managed to spark division in the church; he’s convinced one of the leaders in the church that he is only an imaginary enemy.

So we come back to the primary assertion, namely, there is an indispensable need for unity in the church of Jesus Christ. A church that fails to live up to the biblical ideal is a disobedient church; a church that is marginalized; a church that is weak and ineffective. May God give us strength to obey the mandate before us. May we stand side by side in unity all for the great namesake of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Indispensable Need For Unity: Part 1

The Indispensable Need for Unity : Part 2

The Indispensable Need for Unity: Part 3

man holding telephone screaming

Over the last few days, we have defined unity and discovered some critical marks of biblical unity. Today, let us mark out the deterrents to unity; roadblocks that prevent God’s best in the local church.

The Deterrents to Unity

1. Marriages that are Divided

The first division that occurred in marriage took place in the garden between our first parents, Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:1-7). Eve was deceived by the serpent. Her deception led her down a slippery slope which resulted in her usurping of Adam’s headship; headship that was granted by God. Adam relinquished his God-given role as the leader in his marriage and stood by passively. The division that took place in the garden led to what I call the post-fall propensity. Adam’s sin plunged humanity on a sinful path that leads to death (Rom. 5:12). The post-fall propensity affects both men and women in marriage to this day. Men struggle with one of two sins in this area. They struggle with being docile – the sin of passivity (Gen. 3:6-7) and they struggle with dominating their wives (Gen. 3:17). Both sins result in the ungodly abdication of the leadership role that is granted by God. Additionally, in this arena, women struggle with usurping their husbands’ authority (Gen. 3:17). This sin expresses itself in ungodly assertiveness. The combination of ungodly abdication and ungodly assertiveness leads to a sharp and contentious division in marriage.

2. Leadership Teams that are Divided

Nothing will marginalize a church quicker than a leadership team that is divided. There are two broad areas to consider. The first involves a person or group of people who make efforts to divide a leadership team. Often times, unexposed sin motivates such an effort and must be dealt with swiftly or sin will eat through an organization like a cancer. When Paul confronted the sexual sin at the church in Corinth, he warned, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened” (1 Cor.. 5:6-7). Sin that is allowed to fester is like unwanted mold or rust that continues to grow until it destroys everything in sight.

The second kind of division may involve two godly people who disagree on a theological matter or the direction of a given ministry. Paul and Barnabas disagreed on a matter that led them to go their separate ways (Acts 15:39, ESV). Barnabas sailed to Cyprus with Mark at his side and Paul traveled to Syria and Cilicia with Silas. The fascinating result is found in Acts 15:41 – “And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” These men understood the deadly danger of division and determined to maintain the unity of the church by separating and going in different directions.

3. Gossip

Gossip is a sin that appears to be tolerated in many churches. This should never be – for gossip is a serious sin in the eyes of God. Ezekiel 36:3 refers to gossip as an “evil” activity. Paul includes gossip along with a list of other sins including covetousness, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, and maliciousness (Rom. 1:29, ESV). Gossip is listed among other sins like quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, and conceit in 2 Corinthians 12:20. Proverbs 16:28 says, “A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.” And Proverbs 17:9 warns, “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” Indeed, gossip should not be found among the people of God. Gossip has the power to divide and even destroy a church.

4. Personal Agendas

Hang around a local church for any amount of time and one is bound to find people with personal agendas. Worship styles, philosophy of ministry, polity, and a whole laundry list of items contribute to this thorny matter. Yet Scripture calls us to put the needs of others before our own; we are called to humble ourselves and seek the good of others. Personal agendas left unchecked will fester and spark division in the church. Personal agendas can dismantle the unity of a church almost overnight.

5. People Who Oppose Leadership

Finally, people who politic and form splinter groups to oppose the leadership pose a grave threat to the unity of the church. We will examine this problem in the next post. But suffice it to say, these schisms not only hurt the unity of the church; they displease the Savior and cast a long shadow on the Bride of Christ; a shadow which extends into the world and communicates a message that does great harm to the church.

These deterrents to the unity of the church must be identified, confronted, and challenged with the full weight of biblical authority. We strive for unity in the church.

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Psalm 133:1, ESV)

The Indispensable Need For Unity: Part 1

The Indispensable Need for Unity : Part 2

The Indispensable Need for Unity: Part 2

women forming heart gestures during daytime

Yesterday, we looked at the indispensable need for unity by defining unity – “the state of being one or united.” Unity points to harmony. We noted three biblical examples of unity that surface in the New Testament. Today, notice the defining marks of unity.

The Defining Marks of Unity

1. Unity is a gift

Specifically, unity is a gift from God. Pay close attention to how the New International Version translates Psalm 133:1-3.

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”

James Boice observes, “The threefold repetition “running down,” “running down,” and “down” – the Hebrew uses the same verb each time – emphasizes that the blessing of Aaron’s anointing was from above himself, that is, from God.” So we surmise that unity is a precious gift from God. This gift must be cherished and cultivated. This gift must be guarded. But even children recognize an important principle, namely, good gifts should be shared with others. This leads us the second mark of unity.

2. Unity is a blessing that is meant to be shared with others

When Aaron received a blessing from God, his task was to share the gift. Boice adds, “There is even the hint, that since the oil was ‘precious oil’ – the best oil blended with myrrh, cinnamon, cane, and cassia (Exod. 30:22-24) – the anointing would have been wonderfully fragrant and would have filled the air wherever Aaron went.” Christians would do well to follow Aaron’s lead and share the blessing of unity with other people. Paul speaks of the “fragrance of the knowledge of Christ” and the “aroma of Christ” in 2 Cor. 2:14-15. Perhaps the good gift of unity that comes from God can be manifest in this culture for his glory. Perhaps the world will smell the aroma of unity when they interact with believers. And the unity that the world “smells” will be a powerful witness and confirmation of the truthfulness of the gospel.

3. Unity should by definition, be contagious

Here is a challenge. We are either uniters or dividers. The book of Nehemiah illustrates this principle in a powerful way as the people of God stand united around God’s Word. First, the people begin by asking Ezra to bring the book – they are united around their desire to sit under the teaching ministry of God’s Word (Nehemiah. 8:1).

Second, the people were attentive to God’s Word – they are unified around their desire to listen and pay attention to God’s Word. Nehemiah 8:3 says, “And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.” These godly people spent a good portion of their day listening to God’s Word and learning about God’s Word. Yet we find ourselves in a culture that can scarcely sit through a 20-minute sermon. People are begging pastors to shorten their sermons. And many pastors are listening! Some have dropped the Word of God altogether and replaced it with self-help tips, psychology, and man-centered techniques. May it never be! The people of God should stand unified in their ardent desire to listen and pay attention to the Word of God!

Third, the people responded reverently to God’s Word – they were unified in their posture before God’s Word:

“And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing because they had understood the words that were declared to them.” (Nehemiah 8:12, ESV). These people applied what they were learning and responded with great reverence.

Finally, the people responded in worship to God’s Word – they were unified in their adoration and worship. Several observations seem to be in order. Note that no one is complaining about the length of the service. No one is questioning the length of the sermon. A few years ago, a good friend took me to lunch. He leaned in close and said, “Last Sunday, you looked at your watch while you were preaching. I don’t ever want to see you look at your watch in the pulpit. God has given you a message. You need to deliver it! Quit worrying about the time. Let the roast burn!” In Nehemiah 8, the people of God are fixated on one thing, namely, submission to God and bowing before his transcendent majesty!

4. Unity is a glimpse of heaven

man holding book in the ricefield

In heaven, all the saints will be in perfect harmony. They will be united. Boice rightly says, “[Unity] can be rediscovered and reestablished in the church, but only as men and women get outside themselves and submit their own selfish individualism to a higher and more worthy cause than self-indulgence.” As we learn to set aside our selfish agendas, unity will begin to grow and offer a foretaste of heaven.

May the marks of unity define our lives. May we acknowledge that it is a gift from God. May we share it with others. And may the world see the church function in the way that God intends. Then and only then, will they know that we are Christians by our love because they will see God’s people united around the plans and purposes of God!

The Indispensable Need For Unity: Part 1

photo-1508985307703-52d13b2b06b3 I’ll never forget the time I bumped into a pastor at the store one day. We served together for some time in ministry and enjoyed a good friendship and working relationship. I asked, “How have you been?” He proceeded to tell me about the church he was serving at and how one of the members had leveled some horrible accusations against him; accusations that were not true in any way, shape, or form. These accusations began to swell and before long the pastor was driven out and the church eventually disintegrated.

There is an indispensable need for unity in the church of Jesus Christ. God places a premium on unity. The one God who has revealed himself in three persons has from all eternity been united; in perfect fellowship. And the Trinity will be unified unto all eternity. Indeed, this is his call to the church. King David unfolds the blessings of unity in Psalm 133:1-3. He begins, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” In verses 2-3, compares unity to the precious oil that ran on the head of Aaron which ran onto his beard and down the collar of his robes. He compares unity to the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion.

The Definition of Unity

Unity points to the community. It suggests the state of being one where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The essence of unity is harmony. This is the call of the church – to be unified. Yet a quick survey of local churches reveals a disturbing trend. Many of these churches may appear to be unified externally but are on the verge of collapse on the inside. Notice three New Testament examples of this call to unity.

Ephesians 4:1-3

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Paul uses a Greek word here, translated as “unity” which is a “oneness.” It is important to see that unity is tied to humility, gentleness, patience, and longsuffering. We can safely say that to the degree that these qualities are absent in the church – to that degree disunity will prevail.

Ephesians 4:13

“until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ …”

God places a premium on unity; so much so that it stands at the heart of God’s purposes for the church. And note its aim, namely, mature manhood, “to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” In order to be unified in the way that God intends, we must be growing deeply in the soil of God’s grace. So churches that marginalize theological pursuit are in danger of disobeying this important component of church life. Churches that get caught up in pragmatic approaches to ministry miss out on the blessing that unity brings!

1 Peter 3:8

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”

Peter uses a different Greek word here. It is a word that means, “the state of being united; a thing forming a complex whole; like-minded.” I serve at a church where the men gather on a regular basis to weigh-in on important decisions and shepherd the flock of God. From time to time, we have strong opinions on a given issue, yet something incredible always happens. We always leave the meeting united. My prayer is that the same spirit would permeate the local church. Sometimes we agree to disagree. This is part of life. But when a decision is made, we must make a conscious decision to be unified. May unity mark churches that embrace the biblical gospel of Jesus Christ. May we stand united around the purposes of our Savior for the glory of God!

Genesis in Space and Time – Francis Schaeffer (1972)

Great thinkers throughout the course of history have queried, “Where did it all come from? Who made the cosmos? What made the cosmos? What or who holds it all together? What is the meaning of life? What is the basis of knowledge? Where are we heading? And where do we go when we die? For those who reject a personal Creator – the questions posed above become totally unanswerable. For all those who reject a personal Creator, there is a hopelessness that lies under their dogmatic certitude.

Genesis in Space and Time by Francis Schaeffer examines the flow of Biblical history. The book of Genesis sets the parameters and helps articulate a Christian worldview that includes a personal God. “He is there and he is not silent” as Schaeffer remarks in another book. At the core of the book stands the belief in a personal Creator. Affirming macroevolution or denying a personal Creator stands behind the hopelessness among the unbelieving world. Schaeffer adds, “It is either not knowing or denying the createdness of things that is at the root of the blackness of modern man’s difficulties. Give up creation as space-time, historic reality, and all that is left what Simone Weil called ‘uncreatedness.’ It is not that something does not exist, but that it just stands there, autonomous to itself, without solutions and without answers.” The proliferation of the so-called new atheism is vivid proof that Schaeffer articulated almost forty years ago.

Schaeffer maintains that one must understand the book of Genesis in order to develop a workable approach to metaphysics, morality, and epistemology. Genesis in Space and Time continues to be relevant as many evangelicals back away from a literal interpretation of Scripture and a six-day creation week. Genesis in Space and Time is prophetic, bold and relevant. It is a powerful antidote for postmodern skeptics.

Why Francis Schaeffer Matters:The Role of the Church in Cultural Transformation – Part 9

Francis Schaeffer believes that the church has a heavy responsibility to promote community. He holds that the first step in comprehending Christian community is understanding the individuals who make up the community. The reason: The individual is important to God. He adds, “I am convinced that in the twentieth century people all over the world will not listen if we have the right doctrine, the right polity, but are not exhibiting community” (The Church At The End Of The Twentieth Century, 64).

He stresses “existential living in the community.” The horizontal relationships must all be rooted in the vertical, namely, a relationship with God. He holds that the primary responsibility is developing community within the church. He does not minimize the importance of reaching out to the lost but contends the community of the faithful must come first.

We Must Practice Purity

Schaeffer expresses his passion for maintaining purity in the church by appealing to the bride motif in Scripture. “As the bride of Christ, the church is to keep itself pure and faithful which involve two principles that seem to work against each other” (The Church Before The Watching World, 115). These principles include the practice of purity in regard to doctrine and life and the practice of an observable love and oneness among all true Christians regardless of who they happen to be.

Ultimately our task is to exhibit simultaneously the holiness and the love of God. Schaeffer explains this complex responsibility. “If we stress the love of God without the holiness of God, it turns out only to be compromise. But if we stress the holiness of God without the love of God, we practice something that is hard and lacks beauty” (The Church Before The Watching World, 152).

The method for practicing purity within the church is the consistent practice of church discipline (noted above as one of the norms of the New Testament church). Schaeffer unapologetically believes that anyone who rejects the teaching of Scripture in belief or practice should be placed under church discipline – the very purity of Christ’s church is at stake.

Drawing further on the bride motif, Schaeffer warns Christians from committing spiritual adultery: “The bride of Christ can be led away and can become less than the bride should be. As there can be physical adultery, so too there can be unfaithfulness to the divine Bridegroom – spiritual adultery” (The Church Before The Watching World, 139). Further, “To turn away from the divine Bridegroom is to turn to unfufillment. This is not only sin, it is destruction” (The Church Before The Watching World, 147).

The moment by moment experience with the Bridegroom is an extremely important issue in Schaeffer’s thinking. He believes that evangelicals, for the most part, have banked on the doctrine of justification by faith alone but they have failed to live in the light of this teaching: “As the bride puts herself in the bridegroom’s arms on the wedding day and then daily, and as therefore children are born, so the individual Christian is to put himself in the Bridegroom’s arms, not only once for all in justification, but existentially, moment by moment” (The Church Before The Watching World, 135). Moreover, “We are to act as that we are. We are not just going to heaven. We are even now the wife of God. We are at this moment the bride of Christ. And what does our divine Bridegroom want from us? He wants from us not only doctrinal faithfulness, but our love day by day” (The Church Before The Watching World, 148).

We Must Demonstrate the Reality of Christianity

Schaeffer does not stop with doctrinal and existential faithfulness to Christ. He contends that we must also demonstrate the reality of the Christian faith in tangible ways to the watching world. He holds that the essential quality of a believer is love for one another (John 13:35).

Despite Schaeffer’s vigorous attempts to provide a defense of the Christian faith, he contends that love for one another and a unified body provide the basis for the unbeliever to become interested in the Christian faith. He calls this love and unity “the final apologetic.” He offers this challenge to the evangelical church: Our love will not be perfect, but it must be substantial enough for the world to be able to observe or it does not fit into the structure or the verses in John 13 and John 17. And if the world does not observe this among true Christians, the world has a right to make two awful judgments which these verses indicate: that we are not Christians and that Christ was not sent by the Father (The Mark Of The Christian, 197).

We Must Engage in a Christian Revolution

Schaeffer contends that the evangelical church must return to the base of Scripture and embark on a Christian revolution. He maintains the church must be pitted against everyone who has turned away from God and the revelation of the Word of God. He believes the implications of revolution are threefold: First, Christians must realize that there is a difference between being a co-belligerent and an ally. Second, the church must take truth seriously (Here is the repeated emphasis on antithesis). Third, the church must be a real place of community (as noted above).

He provides two basic principles for being a revolutionary Christian. First, we need a Christianity that is strong, not a mere memory. He simply calls this “hot Christianity.” Second, our Christianity must become truly universal; relevant to all segments of society and all societies of the world. He refers to this as “compassionate Christianity.”

Schaeffer does not believe, however, that mere revolution is enough. He believes that the church in the modern generation also needs reformation and revival. Reformation refers to a restoration to pure doctrine and a return to the teachings of Scripture. Revival refers to a restoration in the Christian life and a proper relationship to the Holy Spirit.

Reformation and revival must occur simultaneously. Or as Schaeffer puts it, “The great moments of church history have come when these two restorations have simultaneously come into action so that the church has returned to pure doctrine and the lives of the Christians in the church have known the power of the Holy Spirit. There cannot be true revival unless there has been reformation; and reformation is not complete without revival” (Death In The City, 210).

We Must Reclaim the Culture for the Cause of Christ and His Kingdom

This final admonition for Dr. Schaeffer plays a central role in his thinking. He sums up his view in his little book, Back To Freedom and Dignity. “In short, Christians should prepare to take the lead in giving direction to cultural change.”

The primary issue at hand is a return to the Christian consensus; the Christian worldview. “I tell you in the name of God He will judge our culture unless there is a return to a Christian base for the culture – and that begins with true repentance and renewal in the church” (The Church Before The Watching World, 147).

The most definitive look at Schaeffer’s view in this area is his popular work, A Christian Manifesto. Inspired by Samuel Rutherford who wrote Lex Rex (law is king) in 1644, Schaeffer proceeds to describe the cultural responsibilities of the church. He quotes John Witherspoon approvingly who writes, “A republic once easily poised must either preserve its virtue or lose its liberty.”

He addresses the problem of pluralism and believes “it is up to Christians to show that Christianity is the Truth of total reality in the open marketplace of freedom” (A Christian Manifesto, 440).

He addresses the problem of humanism and writes, “If we are going to join the battle in a way that has any hope of effectiveness – with Christians truly being salt and the light in our culture and our society – then we must do battle on the entire front” (A Christian Manifesto, 445). He continues:

Most fundamentally, our culture, society, government, and law are in the conditions they are in, not because of a conspiracy, but because the church has forsaken its duty to be the salt of the culture. It is the church’s duty (as well as its privilege ) to do now what it should have been doing all the time – to use freedom we do have to be that salt of the culture (A Christian Manifesto, 447).

The answer Schaeffer gives for the enduring problems that America faces is most interesting. He endorses civil disobedience and goes so far to say that a given Christian is disobedient if she does not engage in necessary civil disobedience.

The foundation for Schaeffer’s adherence to civil disobedience may be found in the book, Lex Rex. It essentially proclaims that the law is king, and if the king and the government disobey the law they are to be disobeyed. The logic is defined as follows: All power is from God (Rom. 13) and government is ordained and instituted by God. However, the state is to be administered according to the principles of God’s Law. Acts of the state which contradict God’s Law are illegitimate and are considered acts of tyranny (defined as ruling without the sanction of God).

Therefore, the following principles apply to the Christian church: First, since tyranny is satanic, not to resist it is to resist God. Conversely, to resist tyranny is to honor God. Second, since the ruler is granted conditional power, it follows that the people have the power to withdraw their sanction if the proper conditions are not fulfilled. Third, Christians have a moral obligation to resist unjust and tyrannical government.

Rutherford further explains the steps for a private person engaging in civil disobedience. The first step is to defend oneself by protest (in our society this would most likely take place by exerting legal action). Second, one must flee if at all possible. Finally, one may use force if necessary to defend himself. Dr. Schaeffer mentions that potential protest or withholding of taxes may be used to protest immoral activity such as euthanasia.

Building on the principles set forth in Lex Rex, Dr. Schaeffer suggests a strategy for Christian force in an injustice such as abortion. First, one should aggressively support a human life bill or a constitutional amendment that protects the unborn. Second, one must enter the courts seeking to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision. Third, legal and political action should be taken against hospitals and abortion clinics that perform abortions. Fourth, the state must be made to feel the presence of the Christian community.

Schaeffer’s position is clear. He maintains that the early church engaged in civil disobedience. He uses Caesar as an example who commanded everyone to worship him. The Christians in Rome willingly disobeyed and paid the ultimate price for their act of courage.

Schaeffer, then, issues a challenge to the present day church. “And we must demonstrate to people that there is indeed a bottom line. To repeat: the bottom line is that at a certain point there is not only the right, but the duty to disobey the state (A Christian Manifesto, 485).

If there is no final place for civil disobedience, then the government has been made autonomous, and as such, it has been put in the place of the Living God. If there is no final place for civil disobedience, then the government has been put in the place of the Living God, because then you are to obey it even when it tells you in its own way at the time to worship Caesar (A Christian Manifesto, 491).

To sum up, Dr. Schaeffer challenges the church to stand up and act. The Christian church must respond to the cultural decay or find itself wanting. Francis Schaeffer’s warning in the late 60’s and early 70’s is even more relevant today!

Why Francis Schaeffer Matters: An Introduction – Part 1

Why Francis Schaeffer Matters: The Turning Point in Truth – Part 2

Why Francis Schaefer Matters: The Line of Despair – Part 3

Why Francis Schaeffer Matters: Consequences of Pitting Rationality Against Faith – Part 4

Why Francis Schaeffer Matters: Epistemology – Part 5

Why Francis Schaeffer Matters: His Approach to Apologetics – Part 6

Why Francis Schaeffer Matters: The Church in Culture – Part 7

Why Francis Schaeffer Matters: The Responsibility of the Church in Post-Modern Culture – Part 8