Come Down, Lord!

Over the course of the last year, I have had plenty of time to privately reflect on what transpired through 2020 and 2021, and I have concluded that on some points I was in the wrong.  I have decided to address those things here.  Some may disagree with what I have concluded, but I write here first and last for Him. First, I believe I was sometimes overly harsh and severe in my writing.  I have since removed several blog posts, which I now believe lacked grace and char ity.  I still believe the churches should have remained open through the lockdowns, but I wish I had written with a better understanding of my own heart and a more charitable view of my brothers in Christ.  I was appalled by what I saw in those days, but in my zeal to speak the truth I sometimes lacked compassion and grace.  Second, when I was wronged by colleagues in the ministry I had a choice.  I could have covered what I believed to be sin, but I chose instead to expose it to the pub...

"The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines have fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage (Psalm 16:5-6)." What does He mean by lines?  Charles Spurgeon wrote, " Lines refers to division of the land by lot and the measuring of it by ropes and lines." So Jesus - the speaker in this Psalm - is speaking of His portion.  He is talking about the lot that God is maintaining. He is talking about what God has assigned to Him as the God-man. This is the One who said He had no place to lay His head.  This is the Christ who suffered horrendously; and yet here He is saying that the lines have fallen unto Him in pleasant places! How can He say this?   A healthy rich man with his family surrounding him could surely say this. But how can Jesus - in the midst of this fallen world, enduring what He endured, living as He lived and facing the cross - say, "the lines have fallen unto me in pleasant pl...

[Edited May 2024] For 12 years I enthusiastically subscribed to the Westminster standards.  I signed my copy of the Solemn League and Covenant , I taught my children the catechisms, and I prayed earnestly that they would grow up to subscribe in full to the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF).  For much of that time I was convinced that given enough time I could persuade any Baptist of the error of his ways.  I even went so far as to tell some Baptists brothers that withholding baptism from their children was sinful.  I grieved when Presbyterians became Baptist; and if you had told me of a man who had gone from being a Baptist to a Presbyterian only to become Baptist again I would have felt embarrassment for him.  Sounds more like a ship “tossed to and fro” (Ephesians 4:14) than a man.  But here I am writing to say that I am that man.  Even four months ago I was certain I would always be Presbyterian.  But after a period of prayer and intense s...

 "Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners." There is a promise in this text that is often missed. Jesus was grieved by the failure of the disciples, but He was also at perfect peace.  He knew what He was about.  He knew what was in men.  No one had to tell Him. This - of course - was why He had come.  So He grieved at their faithlessness, but He was not anxious.  He was saddened by their failure to watch and pray, but He was not angry.  They had proven to be what they were: unstable, doubting and weak; but Jesus meant to show them again who He is: merciful, faithful, steadfast and strong.   Klaas Schilder wrote, "He knows they have left Him quite alone, and that they can never enrich Him because they are mere fragments of misery.  And now fully aware of that, He goes to take up the cross for them.  K...

  Paul said that if there is no resurrection then Christ is not risen, and if Christ is not risen then our preaching is vain, "and your faith is also vain (1 Corinthians 15:14)." But then he added these words: " If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable (1 Corinthians 15:19)." Can you say that?  I don’t believe many people in the Church can actually - truthfully - say those words.   They live, after all, a great deal like non-Christians. If Christ isn’t risen that would be something of a disappointment to them because they are banking on getting to heaven. But upon examination I doubt that you could say that, if in this life only they have hope in Christ, they are more miserable than other men.  They live the same pleasant lives, enjoy the same good things, have the same enjoyable hobbies, play the same sports, and lead the same ordinary, safe and healthy life. If Christ is not risen how are they worse off? Here's why ...

  The Bible teaches us that before the return of Christ there is a bliss that our souls will enjoy in the presence of Jesus, but that bliss is not the full glory to come when God makes a new heaven and a new earth. What will it be like?  I want to name 5 things that will characterize the heaven to come.   First, there will be an end to everything that is evil. No more aches and pains, no more weakness and tiredness, no more disease, no more brokenness or disability, no more confusion or memory loss, no more wicked perversions, no more haters of God, no more idol worship, no more heresy, no more blaspheming the precious name of Jesus, no more weariness in worship, no more hard heartedness in praying, no more rebellion, no more dishonesty and stealing, no more anger or disappointment or misunderstandings or broken relationships. no more covetousness, but only contentment. no more sadness and tears, but only joy.   Second, perfection .  What I have alr...