A Soul Searching Disconnectedness

Hi. My name is John and I struggle. I think some can read that and think, “Ha! Yeah right. You are a pastor, you have everything under control. You have a wife, a child and a ministry you love.” Or if nothing else they see as some corny throwback to an AA meeting I have never been to. Regardless. I am looking back and reflecting on the past year. I have had some high highs, and some low lows; there have been many changes, and yet some things have remained the same. There are things that I have learned and some that I am just beginning to learn. Through writing, I am seeking to wonder and wander through my thoughts. This, then leads me back to pride.

My pride gets the better of me many times. There are a few certain people that I wish would listen to my sermons. During my woe-is-me selfish times, I wonder aloud why they do not listen to them. And if they do, why is there not any feedback? And then, to top it off, I get to a point where I think that they think that what I am doing as a pastor is basically a hobby. You know those kind of thoughts: “Oh look at John…he’ll make something of himself one day.” And then there are those times when all I need is that approving smile, or “Good job, I am proud of you.” Yeah. Those scream through my head during those woe-is-me times too. These times provide a sampling of thoughts and emotions felt, and seek to demonstrate as an example of what’s running around up there. After all, I am certainly prideful and selfish in other ways.

At some point along the way however, thankfully, God reigns me back in. I realize that my pride has indeed gotten the better of me. I then come to realize the only thing I am interested in is my success. Will people like me? Do I bore them when I preach? Am I any good? When will I be popular and will people want to hear me preach? As I peel back the layers and take a long hard look, I come face to face with a severe reality: I am human. There is nothing that I can do to deserve God. By His grace, I must humbly receive the implanted word (James 1:21). Yet, I must also take into account what James says right before that: Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil excess, humbly receive… You see, I just preached on this passage this past Sunday, and I think I am just now getting the full effect of the sting. Because, as I look back and reflect on those questions and ponderings, I realize I have much longer to go. Let’s face it, pride is a moral filth and evil excess. In fact, Paul would tell me that pride (or greed) is really just idolatry (Colossians 3:5). The bottom line is, receiving the word is not just for salvation. The word needs to be received and applied by every believer everyday. Psalm 119:1-2, and 8 says: How happy are those whose way is blameless, who live according to the Lord’s instruction! Happy are those who keep His decrees and seek Him with all their heart… I will keep Your statutes; never abandon me. 

So. As I look back at 2011, I am ready to shut the door on that year. It was a good year, a painful year, a growing year, a stressful year, a learning year, and a new beginnings year. I am in decent shape, I need to eat better, lose a little more weight. From the ups and downs to the downs and ups, and sometimes not knowing which way was up. Overall, it was a year never to be repeated. Thankfully. Onward to 2012.

But, where do these thoughts lead? Psalm 46:10 comes to mind. “Cease striving and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted among the earth.” Eugene Peterson in his paraphrase, The Message, says it this way: “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.” This is where I need to start in 2012. Sometimes the traffic of life with its schedules, deadlines, meetings, and all the stuff get the best of me. Sometimes I forget to take a step out of the traffic and look longingly at the face of God. With His help, may I know afresh and anew what it means to savor Jesus.

As I look ahead to the year, the challenge of Psalm and James still rings in my head. But again, reading just a couple of verses more, James goes on to say: But be doers of the word and hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in the mirror; for he looks at himself, goes away, and right away forgets  what kind of man he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts, this person will be blessed in what he does (James 1:22-25). As 2012 begins, I think this is also where I start: being a doer of the word by being a leader for my family. That seems random. Yet, this has been a progressive thought process in a journey of self discovery. I noted some thoughts on servanthood in a recent post. Then I preached through this James passage. I have also read a thought provoking post on another blog which also grabbed my attention.  At least in my train of thought, that leap from the James passage to being a leader in my family was more of a side step.

There are two points of interest for me. One, when I say my family, I mean beyond my wife and child. I am talking about my parents, my siblings, and extended family. Point two, through this brief-thus-far journey of discovery to one more piece of my puzzle, I am realizing that true leaders, God led, God called leaders are servants. Combining these two together, I think  I have a New Year’s Resolution so to speak: to be a servant leader to my family.

In reference to my wife and child, please note that I have not perfected being a servant leader for my wife or my child. Far from it. I fail everyday in that department. When put in context of Ephesians 5 and 6, I know beyond any doubt that I have long way to go. God is gracious and merciful and has continued to teach me, and I pray one day I will be proven a godly leader of my family. They, above anyone on earth, are my priority. With the Spirit’s help I pray I grow in being a leader, a shepherd to them…even it is just a little bit.

However, I have come to realize just how disconnected I am from my family (beyond my wife and child). This of course can be attributed to a bunch of selfish, man-made excuses of time and energy. But I do realize that I do not want to be disconnected. I want to be a godly leader and example to them as well. It’s not a matter of saying, “look at me,” but rather, showing them through my actions that I want to be there for them. What will that look like this year? Unknown. Perhaps, it means me helping my mother in law with an attitude of gratefulness rather than an attitude of obligation. Perhaps, it means being more of a participant in cleaning up the kitchen at my family’s house after dinner. Perhaps, it means just keeping in more constant contact with my family through texts, email, phone calls, etc. Whatever it means, and whatever it looks like, I know it involves being a servant.

These things are a good start. But I know it will not end there. I pray God would continue to show me ways to grow in my personal life and show me ways to be a better servant to my family(and church family), so that in turn, I can be a better leader for them. Thus, I pray I will savor Jesus, that I will wait on the Lord, that I will lead my wife and child on a godly path: the path they should go, and I pray that He would grow me into being the kind of servant leader that my family deserves.

In general, I reflect on Psalm 25:1-15. Thank you Pastor Al for showing me this passage at the beginning of this New Year. Lord, I turn to You. My God, I trust in You. Do not let me be disgraced; do not let my enemies gloat over me. No one who waits for You will be disgraced; those who act treacherously without cause will be disgraced. Make Your ways known to me, Lord; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I wait for You all day long. Remember, Lord, Your compassion and Your faithful love, for they ⌊have existed⌋ from antiquity. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my acts of rebellion; in keeping with Your faithful love, remember me because of Your goodness, Lord. The Lord is good and upright; therefore He shows sinners the way. He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. All the Lord’s ways ⌊show⌋ faithful love and truth to those who keep His covenant and decrees. Because of Your name, Yahweh, forgive my sin, for it is great. Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will show him the way he should choose. He will live a good life, and his descendants will inherit the land. The secret counsel of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He reveals His covenant to them. My eyes are always on the Lord, for He will pull my feet out of the net. 

Colssians 3:18-21, Godly Families in an Ungodly World

Please click the play button below  for Sermon Audio from Sunday, October 2, 2011.

 1. The Wife (v. 18)

a. Submission (Ephesians 5:22; 1 Peter 3:1, 5-6, 7)

       b.Misconceptions about Submission (Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 7:33-34)

       c. Submission to the Lord (Ephesians 5:22-24; Proverbs 31)

3. The Husband (v. 19)

a. Love your wife (1 Peter 3:7; Ephesians 5:25)

b. Our love for her comes from Christ (Ephesians 5:25-31)

c. Love as Christ, Love First (1 John 4:19; John 3:16; Romans 5:8)

3. Children (v. 20, 21)

a. Children Obey (Ephesians 6:1-3; Proverbs 1:8; 6:20)

b. Father to child: do not make them resentful (Ephesians 6:4)

“God created us for this: to live our lives in a way that makes him look more like the greatness and the beauty and the infinite worth that he really is. This is what it means to be created in the image of God.”

― John Piper

Why We Believe Children Who Die Go To Heaven

This is an article written by Dr. Mohler (President, Southern Baptist  Theological Seminary) and Dr. Akin (President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary). This is a  great and uplifting article for those Christian parents, and hope for the unsaved parent, who may have lost a small child.

WHY WE BELIEVE CHILDREN WHO DIE GO TO HEAVEN

By R. Albert Mohler, Jr. and Daniel L. Akin

Few things in life are more tragic and heartbreaking than the death of a baby or small child. For parents, the grief can be overwhelming. For the minister, to stand over a small, white casket and provide comfort and support seems to ask for more than he can deliver.

Many console themselves with the thought that at least the child is now in a better place. Some believe small children who die become angels. They are certain these precious little ones are in heaven with God.

However, it is important for us both to ask and answer some important questions if we can. Do those who die in infancy go to heaven? How do we know? What evidence is there to support such a conclusion? Sentimentalism and emotional hopes and wants are not sufficient for those who live under the authority of the Word of God. We must, if possible, find out what God has said.

It is interesting to discover that the Church has not been of one mind on this issue. In fact, the early and medieval Church was anything but united. Some Church Fathers remained silent on the issue. Ambrose said unbaptized infants were not admitted to heaven, but have immunity from the pains of hell. Augustine basically affirmed the damnation of all unbaptized infants, but taught they would receive the mildest punishment of all. Gregory of Nyssa offered that infants who die immediately mature and are given the opportunity to trust Christ. Calvin affirmed the certain election of some infants to salvation and was open to the possibility that all infants who die are saved. He said, “Christ receives not only those who, moved by holy desire and faith, freely approach unto Him, but those who are not yet of age to know how much they need His grace.” Zwingli, B.B. Warfield and Charles Hodge all taught that God saves all who die in infancy. This perspective has basically become the dominant view of the Church in the 20th century.

Yet, a popular evangelical theologian chided Billy Graham when at the Oklahoma City memorial service he said, “Someday there will be a glorious reunion with those who have died and gone to heaven before us, and that includes all those innocent children that are lost. They’re not lost from God because any child that young is automatically in heaven and in God’s arms.” The theologian scolded Dr. Graham for offering what he called “. . . a new gospel: justification by youth alone.”

It is our conviction that there are good reasons biblically and theologically for believing that God saves all who die who do not reach a stage of moral understanding and accountability. It is readily admitted that Scripture does not speak to this issue directly, yet there is evidence that can be gleaned that would lead us to affirm on biblical grounds that God receives into heaven all who have died in infancy. Some evidence is stronger than others, but cumulatively they marshall strong support for infant salvation. We will note six of them.

First, the grace, goodness and mercy of God would support the position that God saves all infants who die. This is the strongest argument and perhaps the decisive one. God is love (1 John 4:8) and desires that all be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). God is love and His concern for children is evident in Matthew 18:14 where Jesus says, “Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.” People go to hell because they choose in willful rebellion and unbelief to reject God and His grace. Children are incapable of this kind of conscious rejection of God. Where such rebellion and willful disobedience is absent, God is gracious to receive.

Second, when the baby boy who was born to David and Bathsheba died (2 Samuel 12:15-18), David did two significant things: 1) He confessed his confidence that he would see the child again and, 2) he comforted his wife Bathsheba (vs. 23-24). David could have done those two things only if he was confident that his little son was with God. Any other explanation does not do justice to the text.

Third, in James 4:17, the Bible says, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” The Bible is clear that we are all born with a sin nature as a result of being in Adam (Roman 5:12). This is what is called the doctrine of original sin. However, the Scriptures make a distinction between original sin and actual sins. While all are guilty of original sin, moral responsibility and understanding is necessary for our being accountable for actual sins (Deuteronomy 1:30; Isaiah 7:16). It is to the one who knows to do right and does not do it that sin is reckoned. Infants are incapable of such decisions.

Fourth, Jesus affirmed that the kingdom of God belonged to little children (Luke 18:15-17). In the passage he is stating that saving faith is a childlike faith, but He also seems to be affirming the reality of children populating heaven.

Fifth, Scripture affirms that the number of saved souls is very great (Revelation 7:9). Since most of the world has been and is still non-Christian, might it be the untold multitude who have died prematurely or in infancy comprise a majority of those in heaven? Such a possibility ought not to be dismissed too quickly. In this context Charles Spurgeon said, “I rejoice to know that the souls of all infants, as soon as they die, speed their way to paradise. Think what a multitude there is of them.”

Sixth, some in Scripture are said to be chosen or sanctified from the womb (1 Samuel 1:8-2:21; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:15). This certainly affirms the salvation of some infants and repudiates the view that only baptized babies are assured of heaven. Neither Samuel, Jeremiah or John the Baptist was baptized.

After surveying these arguments, it is important for us to remember that anyone who is saved is saved because of the grace of God, the saving work of Jesus Christ and the undeserved and unmerited regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Like all who have ever lived, except for Jesus, infants need to be saved. Only Jesus can take away their sin, and if they are saved it is because of His sovereign grace and abounding mercy. Abraham said, “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). We can confidently say, “Yes, He will.” When it comes to those incapable of volitional, willful acts of sin, we can rest assured God will, indeed, do right. Precious little ones are the objects of His saving mercy and grace.

CONCLUSION

On September 29, 1861, the great Baptist pastor, Charles Spurgeon, preached a message entitled “Infant Salvation.” In that message he chastened some critics who had “. . . wickedly, lyingly, and slanderously said of Calvinists that we believe that some little children perish.” Similar rumblings have been heard in some Baptist circles of late. Spurgeon affirmed that God saved little ones without limitation and without exception. He, then, as was his manner, turned to conclude the message with an evangelistic appeal to parents who might be lost. Listen to his plea:

“Many of you are parents who have children in heaven. Is it not a desirable thing that you should go there too? And yet, have I not in these galleries and in this area some, perhaps many, who have no hope hereafter? . . . . Mother, unconverted mother, from the battlements of heaven your child beckons you to Paradise. Father, ungodly, impenitent father, the little eyes that once looked joyously on you, look down upon you now and the lips which had scarcely learned to call you “Father” ere they were sealed by the silence of death, may be heard as with a still, small voice, saying to you this morning, “Father, must we be forever divided by the great gulf which no man can pass?” If you wilt, think of these matters, perhaps the heart will begin to move, and the eyes may begin to flow and then may the Holy Spirit put before thine eyes the cross of the Savior . . . if thou wilt turn thine eye to Him, thou shalt live . . .”

Little ones are precious in God’s sight. If they die, they go to heaven. Parents, who have trusted Jesus, who have lost a little one, if they have trusted Jesus, can be confident of a wonderful reunion someday. Are you hopeful of seeing again that little treasure God entrusted to you for such a short time? Jesus has made a way. Come to Him now and someday you will see them again.

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