Wasting Away Again in MatthewFletcher-ville

Sorry, I couldn't think of a better title.  This is what comes to mind as I sit here stiff and sore from last night's scrimmage.  Tonight my son Elijah is trying out for the Weymouth Junior Basketball Traveling League, so last night after dinner we went over to the church gymnasium to shoot hoops for awhile.  

What started off as a casual shoot-around turned into an intense scrimmage, first one-on-one with between my son and me, then two-on-two as my others sons joined us.  As the game wore on, I found myself asking questions like: How did he get so fast?  How did I get so slow?  Why do I hurt so much?  

Admittedly, it had been awhile since I had handled a ball.  And it showed.  Though I was able to recover a few impressive moves from my glorious past, these were few and insufficient to convince me that I was anywhere near being "king of the court."

After we were done, my joints got sore and stiffened up pretty quickly.  My "bum" knee (the right one) got swollen as it always does after any sort of athletic activity.  The discomfort in my lower back caused me to toss and turn during the night.

All that to say:  I'M GETTING OLDER AND THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT.  Here I am saying this at age 40, and I can't help but wonder how I'll feel at 80 (if the Lord allows me to live that long)!  My heart goes out to all our octogenarian readers!

The aging of my body could cause me to get discouraged (and frankly, sometimes it does), but it doesn't need to.  There is a spiritual antidote to the emotional ailment that physical aging brings.  The apostle Paul testifies to this in 2 Corinthians 4:16:  

Therefore we do not lose heart.   Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Paul goes on to expound this principle in the verses that follow (4:17 - 5:8), explaining that the culmination of our earthly pilgrimage is to be absent from the body and to be present (at home) with the Lord.  

I feel sorry for those who bank all of their enjoyment and sense of self-worth in the here and now, particularly as it relates to their physique or athletic prowess.  I go to Planet Fitness to work out a few days a week.  But there are people who practically live there.  That's their life.  Others make a god out of sports, and their happiness is derived from their athletic achievements.  Even when they're beyond their prime, they relive the glory days.  That's their life.  It revolves around their body, their looks, their image before others.

But the fact is, we're all growing older.  Our bodies are getting worn out like a weathered tent.  That's why Matthew Henry said, "Even the best of men have need of further renewing of the inward man, even day by day."  Only as we nourish the inner [spiritual] man, can we be kept from discouragement as we see the decay of the outer [physical] man.

So as much as I'll try to take care of my body and win a few basketball games here and there, my over-arching goal will be to keep my soul healthy and fed on the things of God.  

And if you're wondering who won the scrimmage, well, thankfully, we didn't keep score!

Beatitudes or Bad-Attitudes?

Just yesterday, one of our elders at First Baptist Church forwarded me this message.  It's a little blunt, but take it for what it's worth:

You've heard the Beatitudes?  Well, below are some of Satan's Bad-Attitudes:

Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend
an hour once a week with their fellow Christians.
They are my best workers.

Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked.
I can use them.

Blessed are those easily annoyed.  With a bit of luck, they may stop going to church.
They are my missionaries.

Blessed are the troublemakers.
They shall be called my children.

Blessed are the complainers.
I'm all ears to them.

Blessed are they who are bored with the preacher's mannerisms and mistakes,
for they get nothing out of the sermon.

Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church,
for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.

Blessed are they who gossip,
for they shall cause strife and divisions, which please me.

Blessed are they who are easily offended,
for they will soon get angry and quit.

Blessed are they who do not give their offering to carry on Gods work,
for they are my helpers.

Blessed is he who professes to love God, but hates his brother and sister,
for he shall be with me forever.

Blessed are you when you read this and think it applies to other people and not yourself.
I've got you.

Blessings!
    Lucifer

I remember years ago when an elderly saint told me, "Sometimes when I'm not sure what God would have me to do, I think of what the devil would have me to do - and then I run in the opposite direction!"  Thankfully, we do not have to guess as to what God would have us to do when it comes to our attitudes and actions toward others.  Let us hear the real Beatitudes, that come from the very lips of our Lord:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, 

      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are those who mourn, 
      for they will be comforted. 

Blessed are the meek, 
      for they will inherit the earth. 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 
      for they will be filled. 

Blessed are the merciful, 
      for they will be shown mercy. 

Blessed are the pure in heart, 
      for they will see God. 

Blessed are the peacemakers, 
      for they will be called sons of God. 

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, 
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

In case you didn't know, the word beatitude comes from the Latin word beatus, which means "happy."  The pathway to true joy and blessedness is Christ.  He Himself is the way (John 14:6), and as we walk in His Spirit in accordance with His Word, we will take on His character.

God save us from the Bad-Attitudes and produce in us these Beatitudes, so that - as Jesus would go on to say - others will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

Christian Communication

This morning while at the breakfast table with my son Timothy, I asked him, "So, Timothy, what is your favorite subject in school? - And it can't be lunch, recess, or gym!  It has to be an academic subject."  After a few seconds, Timothy responded, "I can't think of any."

"Okay," I said, changing gears.  "Then what is your least favorite subject in school?  What do you like the least?"  Timothy's answer?  "Language."  And as he said it, he backed up his answer with an affirming nod.

Yet I can't think of a more relevant subject, can you?  Language is something that we use on a daily basis for the rest of our lives.  I'm wondering if that's why language is at the heart of this year's Desiring God National Conference, which begins a week from today.  

Right now there's a lot of controversy in Christian circles regarding the right use of language.  So yesterday I forwarded to my fellow elders an article by Nathan Busenitz that appeared in Pulpit Magazine.  You can check it out here.

The elders responded with some very helpful feedback.  Since this correspondence was initially private, I'll leave it to them as to whether they want to copy and paste their remarks in the Comments section.  Certainly I would love to hear from you, too.  So after you read Busenitz' write-up on Harsh Language, be sure to come back to TruthWalk and leave a comment.  No doubt we can get a good discussion going on this vital topic!

Christ and the Economy

Today's headlines include:

Dow Plummets 504 Points

Lehman Files for $639B Bankruptcy

AIG Keeps Silent on Restructuring as Stock Plummets

Bank of America to Pay $50B for Merrill Lynch

Then here's a headline and photo from The Boston Globe that sums it up well:

Bottom to Crisis Nowhere in Sight

"A picture is worth a thousand words."  No doubt, we are in the midst of tough economic times.  One Christian brother who has worked on Wall Street for decades, wrote this to me just yesterday:  

[I] have seen many ups and downs, even a market crash in 1987, yet I'm seeing people more concerned than ever before....  Life savings in many cases have dwindled and people don't know what to do....  I believe the saints are getting caught up in worry about their finances, fear of tomorrow, concern about job losses and the like.  It's time for those who call Jesus Lord to trust His Word, possibly like never before."

I couldn't agree more.  The fact is, Christians are giving way to worry, and the statistics show it.  Earlier this summer, the Dallas Business Journal reported, "Nearly half of Christian adults in the United States have reduced their charitable giving because of the economic downturn, according to a recent survey commissioned by Dunham & Co."  The two main factors were the sharp rise in fuel and food costs, according to the survey.  Forty-six percent of Christian adults surveyed indicated that they have reduced their giving to charity.

Contrast that strategy with the one employed by the impoverished Macedonian churches in Paul's day:

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonia churches.  Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.  For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.  Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.  And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

- 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

If I'm reading this correctly, it seems that the the poorer these people got, the more generous they became!  How was this possible?  Paul says it was "the grace that God" gave them.  That was His part.  And they, on their part, "gave themselves first to the Lord ... in keeping with God's will."

Now, keeping those two things in mind (God's part and their part), let's jump over to Jesus' words in Matthew 6:

No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.  That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

And why worry about your clothing?  Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow.  They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Jesus' words require no amplification.  They are crystal clear.  The core issue is what matters most to us:  God or money.  If money matters most to us, we will live to make more of it ... we will worry when we don't have it ... we will derive our sense of security from it.

But if we value God more than money, we will adopt the mindset of the Macedonians.  Having given ourselves first to the Lord, we will trust Him to provide for all our needs.  This frees us to give above and beyond our own ability.  Why?  Because God gives His grace to those who give themselves to Him.  People of faith trust God with their finances.  They trust God with their future.  And they prove this by their generous giving to the Lord's work.

Look again at what my Christian brother wrote:  "It's time for those who call Jesus Lord to trust His Word, possibly like never before."  Could it be that this economic crisis is a gift of God to His church?  Could it be that this is a God-given opportunity to step out in faith and trust His Word like never before?

The natural tendency in all of us is to put giving off until we feel able to give.  Such thinking keeps many from ever giving ... and from ever experiencing the power and provision of God.  I encourage you to step out in faith by going before God and asking Him what He would have you to give on a consistent basis and with a joyful heart.  I guarantee you that it will be more than you think you can afford.  But that's where our faith meets God's grace.  The result?  An abundance of joy and liberality (2 Cor. 8:1).

I write this as the pastor of your church - Christ's church, really - "not because I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account" (Phil. 4:17).

Radiating God's Glory

Have you ever used or heard a word quite often that you don't tend to think about a whole lot?  Probably one such word in Christian circles would be the word glory.  As believers we say that we exist for God's glory.  We talk about doing everything for the glory of God.  We sing songs about God's glory.  We pray that God would be glorified in our lives, our home, our church.

But what does all this mean?  What exactly is the glory of God?  In what I would call his magnum opus, Wayne Grudem offers a very helpful and well-thought-through explanation:

In one sense, the word glory simply means "honor" or "excellent reputation."  This is the meaning of the term in Isaiah 43:7, where God speaks of His children, "whom I created for My glory," or Romans 3:23, which says that all "have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." ... In this sense, the glory of God is not exactly an attribute of his being but rather describes the superlative honor that should be given to God by everything in the universe...." (Systematic Theology, p. 220)

But in another sense (and this is the main topic I want to touch on), God's glory is the bright light that surrounds His presence.  Using Scripture as his base, Grudem explains what this means in a little more precise detail:

Since God is spirit, and not energy or matter, this visible light is not part of God's being but is something that was created.  We may define it as follows:  God's glory is the created brightness that surrounds God's revelation of himself.

This "attribute" of God is really not an attribute of God in the sense that the others [are], for here we are speaking not of God's own character but of the created light or brilliance that surrounds God as he manifests himself in his creation.  Thus, God's glory in this sense is not actually an attribute of God in himself.  Nevertheless, God's glory is something that belongs to him alone and the appropriate outward expression of his own excellence.

This is an interesting concept and one I believe is consistent with Scripture.  For instance, the psalmist exclaimed, "O LORD my God, you are very great!  You are clothed with honor and majesty, you who cover yourself with light as with a garment" (Psalm 104:1-2).  This sense of God's glory is also spoken of in the New Testament, when news of Jesus' birth was heralded to the shepherds on the hillside:  "And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear" (Luke 2:9).  In Revelation we are told that the heavenly city will have "no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb" (Rev. 21:23).

When we consider the indescribable magnificence of God's attributes, it makes sense that they would be manifested by such brilliance.  God's glory - the visible manifestation of the excellence of His character - is so great, we can never fully gaze upon it or comprehend it.  But it is our privilege as God's people to stand in awe of it and worship Him in light of it.

The subject of God's glory is astounding enough, but here's another aspect of it that completely boggles my mind, and that is that we who know and love Jesus Christ will share in His glory "when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe" (2 Thess. 1:10). 

Imagine that!  Yet here's something still more amazing:  Even now in our Christian lives we all are being "changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another" (2 Cor. 3:18).  I know exactly what Grudem means when he writes, "Though we do not now find ourselves surrounded by a visible light, there is a brightness, a splendor, or a beauty about the manner of life of a person who deeply loves God, and it is often evident to those around such a person."  Certainly, this "glow" will be intensified to the nth degree when Christ returns, for all our imperfections will be done away.  "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2).  Yet how amazing to think that, even now, as we yield ourselves to God's Spirit, allowing Him to do His work in our hearts and through our lives, there is a "glow of God" about us.  I've seen this myself as I have beheld the Lord's joy, His compassion, His love, His truth, His zeal - in committed believers.

On Sunday mornings, we've been studying the New Testament principle of "putting on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 13:14; cf. Col. 3:12-17).  The more we allow the Lord to have His way in our lives, the more we reflect His glory in the here and now.  No wonder Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).

I don't know about you, but meditating on God's glory fuels my desire to radiate that glory in the here and now.  This brings to mind an old Steve Green song, with which I'll close.  It is entitled We Have Seen God's Glory.  May these lyrics challenge your heart:

There they are again,
The witness of Jesus take their stand -
Twelve amazing men,
Their testimony spreads across their land.
Such a story told -
How can they believe
That God has walked upon the earth?
Could they be deceived?

But how their words persuade!
The truth is in their eyes!
And many hearts are won to faith
As they testify:

"We have seen God's glory!
We have lived and walked with Christ the King!
We have seen Him heal the wounded,
We have heard the brokenhearted sing.
We have seen God's glory!
We have seen Him dead and raised to life!
We will worship Him forever -
We have seen God's glory, Jesus Christ!"

Here we are again
The witnesses of Jesus take their stand
May it never end
Through us let God keep stretching out His hand
Reaching those who doubt
Touching those who cry
Lifting up the word of God
As we testify

Walking with our God
In such a living way
That when we share our faith in Him
We can truly say: 

"We have seen God's glory!
We have lived and walked with Christ the King!
We have seen Him heal the wounded,
We have heard the brokenhearted sing.
We have seen God's glory!
We have seen Him dead and raised to life!
We will worship Him forever -
We have seen God's glory, Jesus Christ!"

This Little Piggy Went ... Sideways

Yesterday morning I got a call from my wife Ruthie, who calmly said, "I hurt myself, and I think I might need to go to the hospital."  She proceeded to explain that she had been in a hurry, and while rushing to get into the shower, she slammed her littlest toe into my dresser.  (We had just rearranged the furniture in our bedroom last week, putting my dresser right next to the door to the bathroom.)  Well, I got home as soon as I could, and as soon as I looked at her piggy, I knew it had to be broken.  It was bent to the side and swollen, and it also had what looked like a "divot" in the middle of it.

We called a nurse in our church, who advised us to go get it treated.  So we made our way to the Urgent Care center in Bridgewater.  Praise the Lord, no other patients were in the waiting room, so Ruthie got right in.  The X-rays showed that she had suffered an evulsion fracture, which occurs when the ligament gets so badly strained, it pulls away from the bone, taking some bone chips with it.  This "forcible extraction,"or evulsion, is what causes the fracture.

Ruthie is now at home and in a fair amount of pain.  The doctor has instructed her to rest her foot and keep it elevated as much as possible for the next couple of days.  My wife is no wimp (her pain threshold is much higher than mine!), yet she is amazed at just how much her little toe hurts!  She is severely hampered by this injury!  Again, she's trying to rest her toe as much as possible, but when she does need to get up for whatever reason, she hobbles around like crazy!  Yesterday she said something to the effect of, "I never knew how much I depended on my little toe!"

This reminds me of what 1 Corinthians 12 says about the body of Christ, using the human body as a word picture:

But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.  And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."  No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

- vv. 20-22 (emphasis mine)

Some church members have ministries that are less prominent and visible than other ministries.  Because this is the case, we may be inclined to think that they aren't all that significant or important.  But they are!  To lose them would have a crippling effect on the church.  Our ministry as a whole would be severely hampered were it not for these less-prominent members of our church body!  Indeed, the church is blessed and built up only as "every part does its share" (Eph. 4:16).  That's why the apostle Paul goes on to say, "And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor" (1 Cor. 12:23).  May we be characterized by the same attitude!

How can we do this?  How about writing a note of encouragement to someone who ministers "behind the scenes."  Or next time you pass such a person, simply say, "Thanks for all you do for the Lord and His church.  You're a great blessing to our church body."  And certainly we should thank God for all who serve faithfully in whatever capacity.  Finally, each of us should ask himself or herself, "What am I doing to build up and bless the body of Christ?"   Be thankful for the gift(s) that God has given you, and exercise them faithfully to bring Him glory in His church!

Turn Your Radio On

Yesterday my father-in-law sent me a video clip that has been making its way all over the Internet.  It has to do with a thirteen year-old boy (cowboy, actually!) from Nebraska who has a very tender heart.  Watch the following video, then I'll share my thoughts below:

Lots of people tune into Christian radio, but few listeners are "tuned in" to God like Logan.  Now I don't know this boy or his family, but they strike me as people who understand the essence of the gospel, love the Lord, and lead "simple" lives.  That is to say, life on a ranch, or a farm, or some other rural setting gives one plenty of time for reflection.  We think of Isaac in the Old Testament who "went out to meditate in the field in the evening" (Gen. 24:63).  Then there was the shepherd-boy David who wrote, most likely while gazing at the night-sky, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and stars that You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?" (Psalm 8:3-4).  Life out in the country has its advantages!

That's not to say that rural living is essential to spirituality.  Certainly the majority of the population in Isaac's day and David's day, despite their exposure to the beauty and wonder of God's creation, "did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Rom. 1:21).  Their thoughts were futile instead of fruitful.  So the real key to knowing God is not a matter of your residence but your receptivity. 

Still, we who live in the city or the suburbs live at a much faster pace and are surrounded by things that can easily crowd God out of our thoughts, if we let them.  So how can we simplify our spiritual lives?  Well, one thing we can do is purposely build in a little more silence and solitude.  Go for a drive - without turning on the radio.  Take a walk without your 'walkman' or iPod.  Sit outside after dinner and talk or read - instead of turning on the TV.  As Don Whitney says, "Recover the physically and spiritually re-creative power of silence" (Simplify Your Spiritual Life, p. 110).

Finally, let's not forget that this is not only something we should practice as adults; it's something we should instill in our kids.  My guess is that one reason 13-year-old Logan is so spiritually sensitive and receptive is because he has a loving mom and dad who are tuned in to the Lord as well and are rearing their son in the ways of righteousness.  May we do the same!

The Baptist Boys

I don't know that the pastors in our Conservative Baptist Association would appreciate being labeled "the Baptist Boys," but it seemed to be a fun heading for today's posting.  The group I'm referring to are all those men who pastor churches belonging to the Conservative Baptist Association in southeastern Massachusetts and the northern tip of Rhode Island.  Each regional group is called a "cluster," so we are by designation "the southeastern Massachusetts cluster."

Our cluster meets the first Tuesday of every month, except for a two-month break we take over summer.  So yesterday, September 2, was our first cluster meeting of the new year.  I think our cluster has around twenty churches on its roster, but only half of those attend our monthly meetings with any regularity.  Each church takes a turn at hosting the meeting (all of our churches are within an hour's drive of each other).  One of the pastors serves as a moderator for a one-year term and directs the course of the meeting.  Here is a typical meeting schedule:

9:00 Refreshments and informal fellowship

9:30 The moderator opens with prayer

9:35 The moderator shares any pertinent updates from the CBA

9:45 We share prayer requests and spend time in prayer

10:15 We have a devotional and/or discuss some aspect of pastoral/church ministry

11:30 The meeting closes in prayer (some go out for lunch afterwards)

We as a pastoral staff at FBC tend to make about seven or eight out of ten meetings per year.  Though this takes up an entire morning one day a month, I think that it is a worthy investment of our time as pastors.  Let me share just a few reasons why I believe attending these meetings are important:

1. They strengthen the unity of us pastors and that of our congregations.  Ephesians 4:3 tells us that we are to be "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."  This is not a superficial unity but a true spiritual unity.  Paul goes on to say in the above passage that there is "one body and one Spirit ... one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."  The pastors in our cluster all preach the same gospel, embrace the same Scripture, and love the same Lord.  Coming together regularly for the sake of fellowship, prayer, and mutual instruction is a conscientious effort on our part to promote and preserve our unity in Christ.  And, as I mentioned, it strengthens not only our unity but that of our congregations.  In fact, our churches get together once or twice a year for an evening of celebration unto the Lord.  Furthermore, it's inevitable that some folks might leave one of our churches, only to go to another church in our cluster.  It's good for them to know that we pastors love one another and support one another in the work of the ministry.  
2. They strengthen the corporate witness of the church.  Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35).  This is true not only of believers in a single church but also of a cluster of churches such as ours.  By loving one another, we are being a greater witness to the world of our oneness in Christ.
3. They serve as opportunities to sharpen one another.  Though we are all unified in the fundamental doctrines of the faith, we don't all cross our t's and dot our i's the same way.  Sometimes it's a matter of preference; other times it's a matter of principle.  When we talk about any given issue in the church (e.g., evangelism, church membership, qualifications for leadership, etc.), there are different perspectives and philosophies of ministry among us.  Gracious interaction helps us to keep one another's "feet to the fire" in a wholesome and helpful way.  Also, we can offer one another practical tips on how to minister more effectively to our congregations in any given area.  We can recommend helpful resources to each other.  There are many practical benefits that we receive by coming together in this way.

Certainly more reasons could be shared.  But my point in sharing the above reasons, and letting you know about these meetings in general, is to stress the importance of our interdependence on the Lord as believers.  Fellowship with other Christians is a critical means of spiritual growth - a means that God Himself has provided for our mutual encouragement as believers.  Pastors are no exceptions!  Furthermore, we lead by example!  So I hope that by making you aware of steps we take to promote and preserve Christian fellowship, you yourself will be motivated to do the same - first with your own church family and then with other believers outside our local community, as God gives you opportunity.