Alpha & Omega Ministries Apologetics Blog
|
Think on What Is Pure
12/26/2006 - James White
"Whatever is pure." Here we enter into a portion of the secret to Christian contentment that could profitably be addressed by a book-length treatise. We live in a day where we literally wallow in impurity. You cannot drive down a street without seeing billboards that are filthy and impure. You check the distance to the car in front of you and it has a profane and disgusting bumper sticker. You turn on the radio to get news and you are assaulted by impure words and concepts. We are surrounded by that which is unholy and impure.And yet we are called to purity ourselves. John told us, "And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:3). Purity speaks to us of remaining unspotted by the world, holiness helps us to consider the separation, the "differentness" that should be ours. Even the objects of our love should be different, for to love the world is to be the enemy of the Father. "But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior" 1 Peter 1:15). Holiness and purity are extensive, speaking to the broad range of our lives, behavior, thoughts, and speech.
We wish to be like Christ, and as He is pure, we too desire purity. Or...do we? Truly this is one of the most convicting portions of this text, for to be able to focus upon what is pure, what is holy, and to think upon these things, we must know experientially purity and holiness. And yet, in a day when the church is trying to look as much as possible like the world, where we dress like the world, talk like the world, are entertained by the world, how can we even begin to fulfill this command? For many in church-ianity today, the very idea of being holy, separate, and pure, is counter to the real goal of "reaching the world." But where do you get the idea from Scripture that you reach the world by capitulating to it and becoming its mirror image? When Paul said he became all things to all people he was not even contemplating the idea of becoming worldly in thought or behavior, speech or dress.
To think upon that which is pure requires us to have a passion for purity, a desire for holiness. And that desire, that passion, has to come from the Holy Spirit Himself. We must pray that He will enlighten our minds to see how the Word defines holiness, and how vital it is to our contentment and peace. We cannot expect the Holy Spirit to not be grieved by our lifestyle when we purposefully choose to revel in that which is unholy.
So as we approach a new year, will it be a year where we will strive to be holy, as He is holy, and seek to think upon those things that are pure, to the benefit of our sanctification? Will be we able to look back a year from now and see progress here? Let us put forth serious effort to focus our minds upon what is true, honest, just, holy and pure. Will we be in danger of looking very unlike the world around us? Yes, and what a blessed danger it is!
07:37:47 - Category: Pastoral Theology - Link to this article -
Think on...What is Righteous
12/20/2006 - James White
o[sa di,kaia. Think on what is true, what is honorable, what is...just, righteous. What could be more natural, it might seem, than for the redeemed man or woman to think upon that which is righteous, that which is just, given that our entire peace with God is based upon having been declared righteous, justified, in God's sight by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1)? Is it not the natural bent of the soul of the redeemed sinner to reflect often upon our standing with God, our being debtors to grace, forgiven, and declared right in God's sight because of the atoning sacrifice of our Lord in our place? Should it not be our daily practice to thank God for what He has done for us in redeeming us? Then dwelling upon what is just and righteous is surely most natural.This is not so much, however, a command to think upon righteousness, considered as the forensic declaration of the Father based upon the work of the Son. It is descriptive, "that which is just," "that which is righteous." It speaks to that which is in right relationship to God, and hence that which is right and just amongst godly men as well.
I have noted as I have grown older that I find myself concerned about what is right and just more and more as time passes. I am so thankful that I believe that there will be a day in which perfect justice and righteousness will be vindicated, where wrongs will be righted. Our God never works unrighteousness. Justice will be done in the punishment of sin, either in the finished work of Christ in behalf of His people, or in the perfect application of God's law to those who remain rebels and who love their sin.
Do we revel in considering what is right and just, or do we join in the world in congratulating the unjust man who "gets away with it"? Do we in our own lives seek to reflect true righteousness in our personal dealings and in our views of the world, law, ethics? Or is there an inconsistency here as well?
00:01:00 - Category: Pastoral Theology - Link to this article -
Thinking on What is Honorable
12/16/2006 - James White
"Whatever is honorable...dwell on these things" (Phil. 4:8). Honorable, worthy of respect, dignified, serious, above reproach, even holy. These are terms used to translate the single Greek term Paul uses here. We see here the value of interpretation in context, because the use of this term in conjunction with others helps us to identify Paul's intention (to use technical terminology, which area of the term's semantic domain is identified by the flow of the text). True...honorable...right/just/righteous...pure/holy. This is not what is respected by the world, it is that which is respectable, honorable, and worthy, in God's eyes. It will be in accord with truth and justice, and its honor will be unfading.How completely unlike the objects of adoration in our world. Let's be honest. How often do we slip into the crowd in admiring the arrogant athlete with the super-sized mouth, the starlet with her perfect body (but utter lack of common sense and decency), the movie star whose world-view and ethics should make us cry out in righteous indignation? Do we admire them, even imitate them? We surely should not.
Finding that which is honorable, worthy of respect, dignified, and serious, may be a task these days. Our world revels in the debauched, the trivial, the undignified. Think about it. Amusement comes from a + muse (to think). Amuse = to stop thinking! Consider the films produced by Hollywood. If they make you think, they are almost always ungodly in their promotion of an anti-Christian worldview. If they don't, they engage in every kind of debased humor, profanity, and basic human degradation. So, the Christian mind, seeking what is honorable, will have to look first and foremost into history, both Scriptural and ecclesiastical, as well as within the body of Christ today. We have great examples of men and women who lived godly, dignified, honorable lives in the Bible and in sacred history. And we have many examples of things that are honorable as well, such as marriage, the church and her offices, the preaching of the Word, etc.
But once again, the point of the text brings us to the need to exercise discipline in our thinking, focusing upon what is true, what is honorable, and resisting dwelling upon falsehood, and upon that which, from the eternal perspective, is without honor.
00:01:00 - Category: Pastoral Theology - Link to this article -
Dwell on These Things
12/14/2006 - James White
tau/ta logi,zesqe. Dwell on these things. Think about these things. Meditate on these things. This is the apostolic command in Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." We would be completely missing his point if we took this to mean "once in a while, maybe on Sunday morning, consider these things." "Think on something nice and godly once in a while. You'll feel warm and fuzzy, but otherwise, think like the world." No, clearly, the Christian who desires the peace of God (notice the appearance of the phrase before, and after, this text) is to be (here's a bad word, make sure children are not present!), disciplined in regularly seeking to control his or her thought life. This isn't once in a while. It is descriptive of the Christian life as a whole. And for the person pursuing peace, it is the only God-ordained path.Whatever is true. God values truth. He has revealed truth, and promised that the Spirit of truth would be with us. Can you imagine how important truth must be to God when He applies the term as a description of His Spirit? We are to think on truth, ponder it, focus our attention upon it, value it as the precious gift it is. How many walk about each day in utter darkness and deception, while we walk in the light of the truth? Should this not cause us to rejoice in it, to never take it for granted, to desire to know it better every day? Look at how the world hates the clarity of God's truth and does all it can to mock it, deride it, and obscure it. What the world hates we should love and honor and consider most precious. Yet is this the attitude we see in the church in general today? Do we see a concern for truth, a concern that we handle it aright, proclaim it clearly, without mixture or confusion, and pass it on as the precious heritage that it is? Think on the truth. Consider today some element of God's truth and let its light shine upon your life. Think of the cross, the resurrection, the eternal nature of God. Pray that God will help you to fully appreciate its glory and its worth. And enjoy the peace of God that comes from realizing that there is nothing the world can do to take away from you His glorious truth.
00:01:00 - Category: Pastoral Theology - Link to this article -
The Secret to Christian Contentment
12/13/2006 - James White
Philippians 4:6-9 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Colossians 3:12-17 12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Colossians 3:12-17 12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Ask yourself a question...no comparing yourself to others, no hiding behind the "well, I'm doing better than Bill at church" or "I know I am ahead of Sandra in my sanctification" excuse...is your life substantively, clearly, fundamentally, different than those of the world? Can you honestly say you know a peace they do not know? Does the question bother you greatly?
It is an honest question, and it is one I ask myself. I read these texts and I am reminded over and over again of how easy it is to slip into a worldly mindset, a worldly pattern of behavior. Oh, surely, from an external perspective I look different than most, but I know my mind, I know my heart. Do I worry? Am I truly content? Do I experience a supernatural, "this can't be explained by natural causes" kind of peace, deep, soul-grounding, spirit-lifting, impervious to the world's sharpest attacks? These questions force me to the every-day question, "To what do I expose my mind, willingly? Am I dwelling upon God's Word, abiding in Christ, taking delight in His law?" Do I experience conviction when I read Psalm 119? Do I walk as the Psalmist here?
Psalm 1:1-2I want the peace of God that passes all understanding. But how much do I want it? Do I want it enough to be disciplined, to pursue it? I pursue many things in life. I am putting out a tremendous amount of physical energy pursuing an exercise challenge right now. Soon I will do my annual triple-trek up South Mountain, riding 44 miles and climbing 4400 feet in "celebration" of turning 44. Talk about pursuing something with all your capacity, the final push up the steepest portion of the climb at the top the third time up will require every ounce of my bodily power. But, can I look at myself and say, "I expend that kind of energy in the pursuit of godliness, the pursuit of holiness, the pursuit of the peace of God"?
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
For most of us, this is a season of giving to others and experiencing the truth of Jesus' words, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Yet we will be receiving as well, and we may well have answered the question, "What do you wish this year?" Where does the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension stand on your wish list? I would like to invest some portion of our considerations here on this vital topic, for it has wide ramifications, positively and negatively. Positively, so many of us are missing out on the truly spiritual life, settling for the crumbs of the world. Negatively, these texts contain commands, and woe be to us when we choose to neglect God's commandments for our lives.
My brother or sister in Christ, to what will you expose your mind this day? Will you purposefully dwell upon that which is not good, honest, just, pure, or lovely? Will you take the heart which was redeemed with such a great price and place it firmly in the control of the world, thinking upon that which is sexually immoral, violent, gruesome, ungodly, impure, ugly, or hateful? Will your tongue and your thoughts reflect this inner reality? Do you laugh when someone reminds you of the need of purity? The believer who is at home with the world in these areas simply cannot possess the peace of God in Christ, for these things are at war with what it means to be in this world, but not of it. Let's consider these texts and make sure our lives are in line with our profession of faith. A person who can dot all the i's and cross all the t's in theology but is not living in light of those truths is, of course, a hypocrite, and God has given us clear evidence of what He thinks about that (Matthew 23).
11:00:48 - Category: Pastoral Theology - Link to this article -
|
