Friday, February 21, 2014

Divine Classes; Prayer and Thought

LESSONS OF THE GOOD AND GENTLE SPIRIT

If I had to name two lessons that God is teaching me in this season of my life, they would be "discipline" and "loving Christ".

I've mentioned in several of my previous regarding my need to settle down and control my youthful impulses. This is still ongoing. Being homeschooled makes schedules alien to me. I honestly let quite a lot of my time slip away, about a quarter or a fifth of my waking hours, I would presume. What I do during my wasted time will be discussed in the next topic of this post.

Well, I gotta deal with my laziness. I've taken the courage to impose a set of goals on myself again. I hope I can complete them, because my progress seems pretty grim. And I've always had some sort of confidence that I could rush everything if I wanted to, even at the last minute.

A lack of discipline is an unfitting characteristic for a believer. I put Christ to shame. Sorry, guys. I will try harder. Encourage me.

Christ is the one who holds all things together. He is the goal and the final resting point of all things. I've sort of taken this as a mere idea, but only lately did I suddenly have an increased realization that this was about His person. Christ is a person. Christ is a person. Christ is a person. He's real. He's tangible. He rejoices. He thunders. He rules. He judges. He's there. He is my Savior.

He is a person, the most important person there is (referring to Him as a representative of the Triune God, not apart from them, of course).

For some reason, in the midst of the theological bombardment I've received this week, the question arose again: "What is the main point?" I've accepted many different answers to the question in the past, and all of them have been correct from some perspective. But at last, all of them find their manifestation in Christ. It's amazing how much I have to learn for the different dimensions to stack up and reveal to me what was so basic to the early church: the Word became flesh.

You see, you treat a rock differently from how you treat a person. You treat a book differently from a person. You treat a meal differently from a person. A person has passion. And sometimes I can't stand that, because of my sin.

Christ loves me. And I hate that I've been hearing that phrase everywhere since I was born, because it makes it ordinary. It doesn't make me gasp in surprise. That's why I love to sing good hymns, because the lyricists deliver the truth in ways I've not been numbed to.

The person of Christ is what everything is leading up to. When we talk about the glory of God, He is it. He is that manifestation of glory, prophet, priest, and king, powerful and gentle, just and merciful, royal and humble, man and God. If I lose sight of Him, the waves will swallow me. He is everything.

And He loves me. I say that it is something I'm learning, because at this point, I can't take it in yet. I think I'm too fragile for that, such that if too much is revealed to me now about that, I will die.


* * * * *

PRAYER AND THOUGHT

I've always somewhat prided myself on being a thinker.

This has to stop. Not that thinking has to stop, but independent, autonomous thought. I have plenty of examples shown to me in real life about what can happen if you are too confident and inventive with your thinking. You start trying to lead God in the advancement of His church.

No, no, no. I must submit myself to God's thinking. Be a true prophet.

I have no idea why I have to separate praying and thinking. I mean, it's so convenient, at the very least, to integrate the two. What do I have to think about that I have to think independently of God?

Yes, this is what's eating up much of my time. I devote myself to my exciting journey of thought whenever things pop up into my head. It makes you feel intelligent, but it really is stupid.

There isn't too much to say here. I bet permeating my thoughts with prayer will be an antidote to the above two problems I've mentioned. I will start having sweeter, deeper, communion with Christ, and know how to spend my time wisely.

Okay, I'm tired. Good night.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Working Together

THE GROWING BODY OF CHRIST

Five of us had a gathering during Sunday evening.

I don't know about them, but I was just happy to be around them again. Really happy. It felt like a long time ago since we've come together for a talk. And it's very different when you're together with people with whom you've been divinely put together with. It's a very deep conviction that we were meant to be, because none of us try, we just come together by divine calling, in spite of our vast differences in personality.

Beautiful.

I wanted to make sure we keep this up. Too often we lose heart when we fail, and we don't even want to try anymore, don't want to gather with the people of God. But we hope this won't happen again. We set a regular time of meeting, about twice a week.

We really do need some time apart from Agape and Renewed to meet together. God intended for fellowship to be held together by persons. That's why He gave gifts to the church, in the form of apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers (Ephesians 4:11). And it doesn't end with those people either; in the next verse, it continues, "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ". It is to mobilize everyone to work, not to merely maintain an audience.

The point is, in my limited observation, at this point those fellowships seem mostly held together by schedule and programs, which is good, but lacking the person-driven mutual service that those orders and systems are meant to support. Of course, if memory does not fail me, the original intention was indeed to motivate all who are in the fellowships to do what their hands find to do, but it seems that we need more grace than those previous disciplines have given us. We need to work with fewer people and build a team.

I will put out what I have in mind regarding our little group.

Firstly, most importantly, we have to be disciplined. We must study and equip ourselves with the Word of God, to root ourselves in the Gospel, so that we are assured of God's promises and full of motivation to godly works. I would propose that we do something basic first, like memorizing the Shorter Catechism entirely. Perhaps after that, some Biblical theology would be nice.

Next, our time of gathering is quite limited, and it would be good that we become able to hold regular personal studies. Mutual accountability would give us a boost. We should let each other know each of our Bible study plans, and help each other keep up with it. And we come together and share about what we've learned.

Then, we make known the problems we are aware of, find the root cause, and discuss the topic. This is to keep us healthy in being transparent toward one another, so that we do not harbor hidden problems that may cripple the group. We strategize in order to meet those problems, and thus mobilize the group to work.

Finally, we pray. A song before that would be nice, too.

It is important that we find our respective roles so that we can serve each other effectively, perhaps beginning in the group and extending our reach to include the two fellowships.

My father pointed something out. It is that the system we're striving for is actually a church structure of its own. But none of us are elders, none of us confirmed by God's people to take up the job. But it's the best we could do in an immensely flawed context, and the only way I could aid them from another church.

Those who remain in that church, sadly, will have to endure suffering for quite long. The place is ripe for conflict because of us. I don't know how this will turn out. I only know God will be glorified ultimately.

One of my current convictions is to help those who are under the authority of their parents, difficult to leave as we do. This is why I wish to continue to meet together with them, even as I join the assembly of another church. Over time, it will be revealed to me whether splitting my time like this is wise or not. As for Chun Chung, I haven't any idea his own convictions about staying; my father wishes to inquire him about it.

Until next time. May God lead us.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

God's Wrath

PREPARATION FOR BOOK READING PRESENTATION 


1) What is God's wrath?

Two Hebrew words are translated "wrath" or "anger", one of which (charah) is closely related to another word which means "burning". One Greek word (orgé) comes from another which means "to swell", and the other Greek word (thumos) means a personal venting of anger, with its word origin having to do with immolation and sacrifice.

The implication is that God's punishment is unpleasant as fire, and His anger is as a passionate flame within Him. His anger, however, is not an uncontrolled outburst like that of sinful men, but a settled indignation which is based upon His internal disposition; in short, it is justified, even patient (like fruits swelling with juice, not bursting). His wrath is driven by an absolute passion for righteousness, and will punish in order to satisfy justice ("Vengeance is mine; I will repay").

God's wrath is God's righteous response toward sin.

Just as those who do good reap their reward, those who do evil reap their punishment. Rewards are called as such because they are pleasurable. Punishments are deemed so because they are not.

God's wrath is to cause us displeasure, or withdraw His blessings from us, in response to our sinful response to Him. This may be manifest either as suffering in this life, or in eternal death.



2) Explain that God's wrath is justified against each one of us.

All mankind is fallen; that is a fact, whether we believe it or not. The only reason we would fail to recognize that God is fair in punishing us is because we are so deep in our sin that we don't recognize our sin, and think we are good, or at least not bad. How do you tell a drunk man that he is drunk?

The premise, of course, is that God is just in the first place. To reject that is to reject the Bible. And to reject that God's wrath is against all of mankind is also to reject the Bible. Accepting both means coming to the conclusion that I, personally, deserve eternity in hell.

But is my sin really so bad that it would earn me endless pain? Is that fair? Let us examine this issue from God's perspective.

We understand justice in the sense of "an eye for an eye", and rightly so (Exodus 21:24). It is only fair that what we deal to others is done to us in return. But how does our sin incur eternal wrath? Jonathan Edwards explains this reasonably:

But God is a being infinitely lovely, because he hath infinite excellency and beauty. To have infinite excellency and beauty, is the same thing as to have infinite loveliness. He is a being of infinite greatness, majesty, and glory; and therefore he is infinitely honourable. He is infinitely exalted above the greatest potentates of the earth, and highest angels in heaven; and therefore he is infinitely more honourable than they. His authority over us is infinite; and the ground of his right to our obedience is infinitely strong; for he is infinitely worthy to be obeyed himself, and we have an absolute, universal, and infinite dependence upon him.

So that sin against God, being a violation of infinite obligations, must be a crime infinitely heinous, and so deserving of infinite punishment.- Nothing is more agreeable to the common sense of mankind, than that sins committed against any one, must be proportionably heinous to the dignity of the being offended and abused; as it is also agreeable to the word of God, I Samuel 2:25. "If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him;" (i.e. shall judge him, and inflict a finite punishment, such as finite judges can inflict;) "but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him?" This was the aggravation of sin that made Joseph afraid of it. Genesis 39:9. "How shall I commit this great wickedness, and sin against God?" This was the aggravation of David's sin, in comparison of which he esteemed all others as nothing, because they were infinitely exceeded by it. Psalm 51:4. "Against thee, thee only have I sinned."-The eternity of the punishment of ungodly men renders it infinite: and it renders it no more than infinite; and therefore renders no more than proportionable to the heinousness of what they are guilty of.

There you have it. In simple terms, we must remember it is God we have sinned against. Those three letters should not be taken lightly. God is morally innocent, pure, and holy. He has done nothing wrong. He does not deserve the tiniest bit of wrong done against Him.

His honor is absolutely worth defending above all things. If not, what is? Is the pleasure of mankind to be considered the greatest treasure? God forbid! I'm not made to worship my own limited experience! I was made to chase infinite glory, and that glory must stand firm!

The Law given in the Bible gives us an idea of how righteous God is and how terrible our sin is, so that we shut our mouths (if the Law doesn't shut us up, Judgement Day will) in acknowledgement of our just punishment. But to write more specifically on God's holiness and the nature of sin would take another article, or even several.

To conclude, it is but fair and just and necessary that God avenge the dishonor done against His name with everlasting fire, to demonstrate the enduring and immense nature of His priceless beauty forevermore.



3) Explain that God's wrath is worthy of worship.

Again, the premise is that God Himself is worthy of worship in all His attributes. The Bible even specifically praises God for His wrath:

“Rejoice with him, O heavens;
    bow down to him, all gods,

for he avenges the blood of his children
    and takes vengeance on his adversaries.
He repays those who hate him

    and cleanses his people's land."
(Deuteronomy 32:43)

A common obstacle to worshiping God for His vengeance is a faulty emphasis on God's love and grace. In this case, both love and justice are misunderstood, for they are integrated in God.

The misunderstanding with God's love is that it has to be man-centered. But man-centered love is, in fact, not truly love. All good things finds its source in God, and God's faithful upholding of His own character is the reason good things are good. He is the definition of what is good, and to destroy that is to destroy love altogether, because to love is to give what is good. 

Also, man's being is totally dependent upon God, thus God has to be perfectly independent, needing no man to exist before He could love.

The misunderstanding with God's wrath is that it is like the selfish anger of sinful men. If God is truly selfless, wouldn't He do everything in His power to ensure man does not suffer, rather than avenge His "ego"? But God's selflessness cannot possibly depend on man to function, because only He existed in eternity. Was He selfless then? Yes; within the Trinity, the persons of God loved each other selflessly, glorifying each other.

We cannot equate God's love for His own glory with narcissism. The Father's love is for the Son, and His vengeance is on the Son's behalf. Yes, God will also judge the world for harming the church, but that's only because we're in Christ, and Christ matters. If that undying, passionate love is worth worshiping, then the result of that love, wrath, is reasonably worth worshiping as well.

Therefore, God's love is a furious love, which does not fail to repay anyone who wrongs His object of love. God's wrath is a selfless wrath, eager to defend those who are worthy and glorious and beautiful. They do not contradict, and instead go hand in hand.

This is fearful; it provokes a reverent fear. It is so much frightening to be up against a man with a family to defend than a man who doesn't; the man who has a family would rather die fighting than let anyone harm his beloved. Animals are so much vicious when defending their young.

We are rightly fearful that the Father loves the Son so much He would put us to death for offending Him. We have sinned; we are on the wrong side. We are doomed. We lament, heaven cheers.

And then there's common grace. Like, wow. However passionate God is for His glory, He sure shows great patience and grace. It's incomprehensible, even. We often think it's weird for God to hate sinners, but it's actually His kindness that should surprise us. We are sinners. Why would He treat sinners kindly, even if for but a moment before their doom?

Then there's salvation of the elect. I don't even feel like talking about it, because I fear I will understate its immensity, again. It's just too wonderful, too unbearable, especially in this context.

God's wrath is not only glorious in itself, but provides the background for the salvation of God's people to shine brightly. We were children of wrath, and now we are new. And when we consider that it was Christ who received what we deserved, what a motivation to cut off our sin! What fear! What gratefulness! Do we dare oppose our Savior for whom God has slain many people in the first place, even after receiving such grace from Him? Do we really have the heart to go on sinning after the immense price paid for us to save us from doing so?

God forbid!

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Patience

PATIENCE

Solving a problem takes time.

I probably discussed this before. But, again, it takes time for me to grasp it more and more in measure.

It is only natural that the sin I've spent my whole life building up would take some time to overcome. I have to reap what I sow. If I've developed an ugly temper problem over the course of fifty years, I would likely have a much harder time dealing with it than would a person who only let it grow for five.

I'm appalled at how kiddish I am. Still the "I want it now!" kind of mentality, even when it comes to asking God for things. Oh gosh.

Sure, I'm not man enough. Sure, I'm not observant enough. Sure, I'm not vulnerable enough in relationships. I don't love God's Word enough. I'm not prayerful. Not humble. Not honest. Not brave.

But Rome wasn't built in a day.

Sometimes I speak about my past proudly. I tell people I've played games late into the night, and that I could've been in university by now if I didn't laze about with my work. Although partly my intention is to tell them I regret it, I also say it in a way that contrasts my past with my current condition, making it seem like those nights didn't really have very far-reaching consequences.

They did. I have to face that. It's simply a fact.

I have to believe in Christ rather than the waves. I messed up. But Christ didn't. I keep messing up. But Christ, at the right hand of the Father, does not.

Patience, my dear. Try to read the Bible, and don't lose hope in it. Try to pray, and don't lose hope in it. Don't lose hope the next time you mess up. Try harder. Sit down, and write down to yourself what you can do about it, and what to thank God for taking care of on your behalf.

Yes, you are really imperfect. You're terrible. Your continuous failures prove that. Which is why it's important for you to try harder to surrender to God, to soften your stiff neck. Your depravity is why you need grace. Lots and lots of it. No, I'm not opening the gateway to antinomianism, just a powerful motivation for a godly life.

And you. You don't want to wait upon the Lord because you hope for too little. The reason it takes so much time is because it is so precious. Doesn't that make sense? Isn't God's glory worth it? What God intends to give you is greater than what you expect. Don't you know that from experience already?

Sit down. Write. Solve problems. Rationalize. Strategize. Try again. Be a warrior. A warrior has no time to be weepy and wimpy over lost battles. There is more at stake. The glory of God is a worthy thing to fight for. Fighting for it is a reward in itself.

I'm called to be a man. There is power in the calling.

Trust Him. Patience.