Opposing homosexuality is the ultimate social taboo. You will be branded irrational, intolerant and out-of-touch. Homophobia is compared to racism, sexism or sectarianism. The language of civil rights, a movement once inspired by Christianity, is now utilised to promote greater acceptance of homosexual relationships. Sexual orientation is presented as an inalienable freedom whilst the public acceptance of the openly homosexual is lauded as proof of progress. As Christians and churches compromise under the weight of public pressure, our allies grow thin. Ahead of the Winter Olympics, much ink has already been spilt over Russia’s attitude to homosexuals. Mainstream media has been relentless in its criticism of President Putin and the British government has pledged to increase its support for gay rights groups within Russia. Christians can find themselves perplexed over how they should respond. In our cover article Philip Moffett argues that Putin is not an ally, but approaches this issue from a fundamentally different worldview. ‘The enemy of Christ’s enemy, if they are not with Christ, is also against him.’ Philip’s argument could be extended to help us respond to the Catholic Church’s pronouncements on homosexuality. Even when the Pope reiterates a biblical position, he is still the Antichrist. If homosexuality is the one of the biggest pressure churches are facing, most have long capitulated on the Sabbath day. In a challenging article Robert McCollum outlines the importance of the Sabbath as a “spiritual barometer” and points us to the only one who perfectly kept the 4th commandment. Elsewhere in this wide-ranging issue we look at stem cell research, Saving Mr. Banks and sexual purity. Jonny McCollum’s article on the book of Esther is a personal highlight as he cautions us not to turn her into a Disney princess. She suffered greatly and yet delivered her people, pointing us to a Saviour who was yet to come. I hope you enjoy this issue,
Abigail Nelson Alistair Rolleston Andrew Morrison Emma Dunwoody James McCullough Philip Aicken Robert McCollum Stephen Steele
The Messenger is the bi-monthly magazine of the Covenanter Youth, the young people’s association of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland. The subscription cost is £8/€10 per year (6 issues). Cheques made payable to the Messenger Magazine and sent to: Alistair Rolleston, 3 Hawthorn Close, Newtownards, BT23 8EU. Please visit our website for other payment and subscription options. You can contact the Messenger by email via messenger@rpc.org. All news items and articles must be with the committee by the first of the month prior to publication and be in accordance to the requested word count. Any reports of events, camps or go teams should be no longer than 350 words. The Editorial team reserve the right to alter the content and adjust the layout of all work submitted. S.D.G. -
Photo: Alan Turkus
THE WORD ‘WHATEVER’ was once considered one of the most annoying slang words. It was extremely popular and used by everyone for a period of time before being replaced by other words. It had various meanings; ‘Whatever you say’, ‘I don’t care what you say’, ‘Who cares?’ It was commonly used in an argument to admit that you are wrong without admitting it and end the discussion. In reality, the word was rude, dismissive and offensive. I’m sure we can all think of times when we said or thought ‘whatever’. Maybe your parents have been encouraging you to do some revision or coursework over Christmas for looming exams. These conversations often emphasise the importance of revising in order to do well and you respond with a ‘Whatever you say’ attitude. Or a friend has been trying to tell you something that is important to them and their lives and you are thinking “Whatever, who cares?” Maybe you’re arguing over doing the dishes on Sabbath; you are trying to prove that you did them last week and the week before that and the week before that. At this point one of your parents intervenes and you reply with the ‘whatever’ attitude, knowing that you are wrong but not admitting it. At the time ‘whatever’ seems to give you a sense of power and authority but often, when we reflect on it later, the guilt of our attitude and our
conversation can cause us to despair. Over the next year we are going to be considering some of the challenges hidden in the ‘whatever’ verses in the Bible. And when it comes to the Bible, God doesn’t appreciate the world’s ‘whatever’ attitude. I Corinthians 10 v 31 and Colossians 3 v 17 both give a similar message, ‘So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.’ ‘And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.’ The Bible doesn’t say that ‘whatever’ is the right answer when it comes to living the Christian life; rather no matter whether we are eating, drinking, speaking or working, we have to do it to bring glory to God. Jesus is the ultimate example of doing all for God’s glory and it is only because of his perfect obedience we are saved. At the start of every year people often make resolutions. Personally, I like to set spiritual goals for myself but let me encourage you in this year ahead to strive by God’s grace to change your ‘whatever’ attitude to a ‘whatever God wants’ attitude, in which no matter what you do, you will bring glory to God.
From Russia With Love
Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, has used the hosting of the Olympics to announce to the world that the Russian laws banning "propaganda of non-traditional relations" show Russia as a defender of conservative values. Some however have found Putin's stand offensive, and have declared that the Sochi Games should be boycotted. You can read about this whole issue on the internet. As you read you will come across a wide variety of opinions on Putin, Russia, the boycotting of the Games, human rights, tolerance and homosexuality. All of this raises a question that we must consider. Do we stand with or against Russia? Or to put it another way, “Is the enemy of my enemy my friend?” This has become a frequently used and common quote. The meaning is that two parties who have a common enemy can use this as an advantage and work with one another to achieve a similar goal. So can we work with people or -
groups who agree with us on ethical/moral issues, but differ with us on spiritual issues? Is the enemy of my enemy my friend?
Common or uncommon ground? At times we will find ourselves on the same side of a discussion with people with whom we wouldn’t always see eye to eye. We have reached some sort of common ground, and we find that their view of a certain moral issue agrees with ours. Let’s take homosexuality as our example, because this is the issue
“
surrounding the Winter Olympics in Sochi. We find ourselves agreeing with Russia that it is wrong for two people of the same gender to have a relationship. This is the supposed common ground. However, as we discuss the issue we find that our reasons for disagreeing with same sex relationships are different. As Christians, we approach the issue with a Biblical framework. We understand that all human beings are created in the image of God, and God has made us male and female; two distinct and separate genders with distinct and separate roles. In his word God commands us not to have same gender relations. Therefore it is wrong for a man to be with a man or a woman with a woman. Our ‘new friend’ however, comes from a different perspective. They say it is wrong to have same sex relations because it is “a sickness or a psychological trauma”. They also cite homosexuality to blame for
decreasing Russia's already low birth rates. It’s just not natural. Did you notice that nowhere does Russia mention that homosexuality, like all sexual sins, is against God? Do you see that there is no reference to God’s creative work, nor to the disobedience of mankind to God’s revealed will? Although we can agree on the practical outworking there are many ways in which we cannot agree. There may be some merit in Russia’s reasons for disagreeing with homosexuality, but it is lacking what is most important. We stand on different ground. We stand on the authority of God’s Word. Using common ground, or a common “enemy” for the basis for an allegiance is problematic. There is a
“ If you are not someone who gathers, then you are someone who scatters. The enemy of Christ’s enemy, if they are not with Christ, is also against him. There is no middle ground. We are either involved in building up Christ’s Kingdom in gathering, or we are actively against Christ’s Kingdom, scattering. Where does this leave us with our standing alongside those who agree with us concerning certain moral issues, yet differ on the more important matter of spiritual issues? The answer is we must view them as Christ does - opposed to the truth, and therefore not on our side. How they treat and view other people is very different to how we are to treat and view other people.
Love or Hatred?
fundamental difference in our world views. That is, there is a difference in how we reach our conclusions. And this in turn impacts upon how we treat and view other people.
Gathering or Scattering? Because we claim Scripture as our final authority let’s turn to Scripture to see what it says about the enemy of my enemy being my friend. Christ Jesus says in Matthew 12.30, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” This is very different to what our quote is saying. Jesus is not looking for common ground. He is not starting with the point where he can agree with others. Instead he makes it clear that if you are not with him then you are against him.
We disagree with our antihomosexual “friend” in many ways. We know that we are all guilty before God, and so we all deserve eternal judgment. Christ challenges us concerning our thought life, and says that, even if we look lustfully at someone else, we have already committed sin in our heart. We are guilty in our heart. Homosexuality is a sin, like all other sexual sins. Yet God the Father graciously sent God the Son to die on the cross, taking the punishment we deserve.
We approach every issue with the understanding that we are to be gatherers. We are declaring that we are all guilty and there is only forgiveness and grace available in Christ. And so we treat those with whom we disagree with respect and love. We present to them the seriousness of their sin but also show that through Christ there is
forgiveness. Where there is no grace or love there is hatred and fear. We can see this in Russia over the sin of homosexuality. There have been attacks on those who have fallen into sexual sins, and yet other sins are happily passed by, and even seen as good and normal. There is no love shown to the sinner, and no desire to see the sinner brought into new life in Christ. We deal with people in love, that same love that has been shown to us through Christ. When we are asked if we agree with Russia, or we are accused of standing with Russia, our response must be: yes, we agree that certain relationships are sinful, but we approach the issue from two very different positions. The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend. But I am ready to pray for both, that they may know the love and forgiveness that are through Christ alone. “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12.30
EACH YEAR IN the McCullough family home there’s an unusual Christmas day tradition. About 4 o’clock Dad exclaims “We missed it!” as yet another year passes without tuning into Her Majesty’s Christmas message. If you failed to catch her address at the close of 2013 rest I can assure you that you didn’t miss much. The spiritual emptiness of the broadcast was a potent reminder that we ought to pray for those in positions of power. Queen Elizabeth began by suggesting that taking time “to pause and take stock” can help us “discover greater spiritual depth to our lives.” As her message continued it became apparent that she was not intending to prescribe a clear subject for reflection. She touched on the value of family and praised both the caring professions and the armed forces. After she had seamlessly linked the controversial Commonwealth meeting in Sri Lanka with the birth of Prince George, it seemed momentarily that we might have been given something of worth to reflect on. Her conclusion began with the promising phrase “For Christians,” however Christians were immediately equated with “all -
people of faith.” She was to correct to advocate that the news of Christ’s birth shows us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s love. However this carefully worded message shied away from causing any offence to unbelievers. After all, we can all agree that life is really about the attempt to “strive daily to become better people.” Can’t we? Here’s the danger in this message. By failing to declare Christ as the glorious King of Kings, as the angels told the shepherds, Her Majesty left us to think of Jesus as just an infant to be admired in a manager. It is also true that as Christians we ought to strive towards increased sanctification; however the watching world was left with the damning message that we all just ought to try harder to be good. In reality without repentance and bowing the knee to King Jesus there is no access to God’s love. I do not believe that the most dangerous message for the world to hear is the one which openly opposes Christianity. Rather it is the subtle twisting of the faith into a try-harder, love-everyone, just-be -
-nice religion that is taking millions to hell. The Queen’s speech was laced with Christian tradition but devoid of the Gospel. Her words ought to make us reflect on the danger of us presenting too an empty shell of religion to the world. They also should help us reevaluate the evangelical perspective of Queen Elizabeth which lauds her as a last bastion of conservative morality and public Christianity. I do not know where she stands before the King of Kings. Her vague Christianity is accompanied by her continued claim to be both head of the church and defender of the faith, titles belonging only to Christ. We ought to pray that God would be at work in her life. Pray that she would cast off her claim to be head of the church and lead her covenantbreaking kingdom in national repentance for rejecting King Jesus. What a joy it would be to hear a Christmas day message bringing the full force of the gospel into millions of homes and to have leaders determined to set the commands of King Jesus as the national agenda.
Acts 27 is like something from a children’s storybook. In my mind, shipwrecks are fantasy. They’re stories made up for hit TV shows, award-winning films or bestselling books. But Acts 27 is not fantasy; it describes one of the most engaging, exciting and dangerous historical accounts of a shipwreck ever recorded. For 14 nights, the ship was battered by the winds; neither sun nor stars appeared for days; and the crew hadn’t eaten for the whole voyage. All hope of surviving seemed completely lost. But amongst them was a man of God, a shackled prisoner who awaited trial and death before Caesar in Rome. Paul, along with the other 275 people on board, was shipwrecked on the island of Malta for three months. In God’s providence, neither he nor any of the sailors had been badly harmed in any way during the hurricane. We too can feel at times that all hope is lost, that our situation is like great waves crashing down on us.
The psalmist often spoke of mighty waters rising up over his head. Yet we can take courage that our Lord is with us through every hardship. Paul was stranded on an island, yet God graciously saved him from starvation and from the bite of a poisonous snake. At times Paul, I’m sure, wondered why God allowed such an event to happen, to be tossed for days at sea until death seemed the only option. But undoubtedly, God’s Word brought him comfort and God’s control brought him hope. God’s way may seem strange and difficult for us to comply with but ultimately his sovereign plan is for our good and benefit. A verse I would recall if I found myself stranded on an island is, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34 v 1718
IN JULY OF last year Dr Richard Holdeman, (Pastor of Bloomington RP Church, Indiana, USA and also Doctor and Lecturer in Biology), gave a thought-provoking presentation in Ballyclabber RPC on the controversial subject of stem cell research. It was encouraging for me as a cell biologist to hear another Christian scientist explaining this subject which is so often frowned upon, simply because the media and government focus all the attention on the use of embryonic stem cells. They make us think that stem cell research equals the destruction of innocent embryos. This is not the case. The main controversy surrounding stem cell research is due to the source of stem cells and to date there are three sources being explored. What are Stem Cells? The human body, which is made up of trillions of diverse cells, originates from one single cell: the fertilised egg or embryo. As the embryo grows, the cell multiplies into many more cells which specialise into cells of different organs and tissues. Once specialised, they cannot transform into other types of cell (e.g. a liver cell cannot become a brain cell). However, a group of cells in the body called stem cells remain -
unspecialised; they have the potential to become any cell. In the world of regenerative medicine, it is hoped that these cells can be used to repair damaged tissue following injury in diseases such as Diabetes, Leukaemia, Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease. The three sources of stem cells can be understood as follows: (i) Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) When an egg cell becomes fertilised by a sperm cell, the product is a single-cell embryo containing a mix of genes from both parents. In 4 or 5 days, the embryo will have reached the blastocyst stage, containing a cluster of cells. It is this cluster which is used in this type of research. ES cells have the potential to differentiate into any cell within the body and they can replicate indefinitely in an undifferentiated state. Because of this, they can be used in medicine to repair damaged Š Toni Barros
tissue. However, this potential to grow and multiply can be difficult to harness and there is potential for rejection of donor cells with these cells. In May this year, a group in Portland claims to have overcome this problem using a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). This process is essentially the cloning of human embryos disguised under the title of SCNT, the same method used to clone Dolly the sheep in 1996. SCNT can be carried out legally on human cells in a lab even though the cloning of humans remains illegal. The major ethical implication is that it involves the creation of embryos to be destroyed, with 100% death rate of the clone produced. (ii) Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS cells) In 2007, two research groups published that they could reprogram human skin cells into cells which have very similar properties to embryonic stem cells. These cells are called induced pluripotent stem cells. Like ES cells, they can become any cell type in the body and can divide indefinitely in an undifferentiated state. However, since they come from the patient, the problem of rejection is greatly reduced. Much work still needs to
be done in this area of stem cell research, and, although production of the cells themselves does not involve ES cells, a lot of research involves the comparison between the two cell types, so there are perhaps some ethical issues surrounding iPS cells. (iii) Adult Stem Cells Adult stem cells can be found in all organs of the body, they can only become a cell specific for that organ system. They are more difficult to
harvest and grow as there is a limited supply in the body. There are no ethical issues holding research back, and the process is much less expensive. As a result the last number of years have shown huge advances in this area with several success stories, for example: a paralysed 18 year old woman following a car accident has shown improvements walking after treatment with adult stem cells taken from her nose and a 30 year old woman with tuberculosis had her windpipe replaced using stem cells from her bone marrow. But how are Christians to make sense of such scientific language, processes and possibilities? Christian Perspective Human beings are made in God's image (Genesis 1). Human beings should be treated equally no matter their age, stage of development, abilities or disabilities, “God knew me in my mother's womb” (Psalm 139 v
13-14), and “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you and before you were born I consecrated you” (Jeremiah 1:5). When does life begin? There are those who suggest at 24 weeks of pregnancy, when the foetus has reached a crucial level of development. Others argue that life begins when we are born, when we can survive independently outside the mother’s womb. Yet others believe it is not until human beings can reason for themselves.
However, an embryo is not just a cluster of cells. We should think of it as what it will become, and indeed, as Rich Holdeman made clear, what the embryo already is, because God has made it. Some research used in SCNT can create embryos that have defects so that they will not survive to become a baby; supposedly eliminating the argument that embryos should not be destroyed based on the potential of what they could become. As Christians we are completely against any research that involves the creation and destruction of human embryos. We dare not be convinced by the arguments made that the end justifies the means. Science can tell us what can be done, not what should be done. It is our responsibility to stay educated on these issues in stem cell research and to apply the moral, ethical and spiritual wisdom directed from the Word of God. In thinking through where we
stand on this issue, we must be realistic in understanding that there is a vast number of ‘grey’ areas. Many couples today have IVF treatment to enable them to conceive children. Christians might have various views on whether people should accept the will of God or whether they should use every means given to the disposal of man with his God-given talents to overcome such difficulties. Children conceived following such treatment are precious gifts in the same way as children conceived naturally, for nothing happens outside God’s control. Yet what becomes of the left -over embryos from IVF treatment? While many can be frozen for future use, in reality many are discarded– not least following careful examination for viability and selection for implantation. While some would argue that this reflects the natural processes involved in conception and pregnancy, there are surely dangers for us in being drawn into such thinking. As a scientist, I am fascinated by the possibilities of my research. I work with a vibrant team of highly intelligent forward-thinking individuals who often astound me with their capacity to think ethically as well as their ability to push the boundaries of medical research and treatment. As a Christian, I am overawed at the wonder of God’s creation, at the capacity he has given mankind and the potential in each of us for growth. We are not alone in facing these ethical dilemmas: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach and it will be given him” (James 1:5), “Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are his judgements and his inscrutable ways” (Romans 11:33) and “See to it that no-one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).
-
It's that time again! Every four years the RP International Conference is held here in the British Isles and in the summer of 2014, as in 2010, the Conference will be held in Gartmore House, Scotland. Reformed Presbyterians and others from all over the world will gather for a week of fellowship in this beautiful part of the Scottish countryside. The conference centre itself is about an hour from both Glasgow and Edinburgh and half an hour from the historic city of Stirling. What this means is that it's not a hard place to get to! You can come to Scotland either by ferry or by air, both of which, if booked early, are reasonably priced. Depending on demand there may be a bus from the centre of Glasgow to get people from there to Gartmore House. Once there, there will be accommodation in Gartmore House itself, in a number of cottages and dormitories and in a campsite (if you bring your own tent or caravan!). Prices for the Conference depend on where you're staying; we will do our very best to have you staying in your preferred accommodation. Anyone is welcome to come, although, if you're under 18 years old, you'll need someone to act as a responsible adult for you at the Conference. Full details of the accommodation and -
prices are available on the website. During the week Rev. Kenneth Stewart will be our keynote speaker. His topic will be “Forty Days: Resurrection to Ascension” and his dynamic preaching will certainly be challenging. There will be a wide variety of seminars to choose from, as well as age-specific discussion groups for young people and teenagers. We will also be joined by Carine McKenzie, a renowned Scottish author who writes Christian books for children. All of this superb teaching is combined with plenty of opportunity to relax and meet new people at meal times, in activities to suit all interests and on trips away. However, I know that your summers are busy and there are lots of activities vying for your attention and commitment. Why should you come to the RP International Conference at Gartmore?? There are many reasons. The faithful Biblical teaching and practical wisdom shared throughout the week will be a blessing to you and the time of refreshment will equip you for service when you return home. People of all ages will attend the Conference and so it provides an unequalled opportunity to meet and learn from other Christians. Not only that, but there will be Christians from all over the world present; what better way to
become more aware of what God is doing through his church in other places? You may also have the opportunity to serve God during the week as you encourage and challenge other believers or help in practical ways. There will be lots of opportunities to meet and get to know other young people your own age, and as you spend time together you can share insights about issues that you are facing. You can have fun in an environment where everyone is valued and looked after. You will also have the opportunity , if you choose to take it, to learn more about the history of our denomination, because this is the part of the world from which we came. So often we do not appreciate the faithful witness of those who have gone before and the lessons we can learn from them. Will you consider coming to Gartmore 2014? We would love to see you there because we trust that God, our heavenly Father, will bless all who attend. We want you to share this blessing with us. Search for “Gartmore 2014” on Facebook and keep an eye on the website to stay up to date. We hope to see you at Gartmore this summer!
SAVING MR BANKS, a film telling the tale of Mary Poppins’ creator PL Travers and her lengthy rights battle with Walt Disney, is no disappointment. The film boasts a stellar cast: Tom Hanks bringing the right levels of steel nerve and cuddly bear as Walt Disney; Emma Thompson stunning as PL Travers herself, reserved, stubborn and yet with a great heart; Colin Farrell as the father who haunts her. Shot beautifully and interspersed with flashbacks to Travers’ childhood in Australia we slowly build the full picture of just why she was so reluctant to let Disney work his magic on her classic Poppins novels. Saving Mr Banks is really a journey, the physical journey of Travers from London to Los Angeles, but also the emotional journey to let go of her prejudice against Disney. The focus of the film leaves out much of Travers’ personal life as an adult, but highlights the importance of her childhood in inspiring the books: “Mary Poppins and the Banks, they’re family to me.” Although heartbreaking at times, Saving Mr Banks is a delight and brings to life
the real story behind the family favourite. Throughout the flashbacks, and indeed, into Travers’ adulthood and her discussions with Disney himself, we can see the importance of her
One of the most topical issues for the church today is homosexuality. And yet there is much confusion outside the church and inside the church. The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America has published a paper titled The Gospel and Sexual Orientation edited by Michael Lefebvre. It is a short book – 67 pages - so, although it is not detailed, it does give the reader an excellent foundation to help understand this issue. It looks into what science has to say about same sex desires and relationships and how culture is influencing the science. It also deals with recent interpretation of biblical texts on same sex issues, noting the presuppositions that affect the
understanding of the text. The book also addresses the issue of personality traits which belong to each gender where even the Christian church can be guilty of encouraging stereotyping in casual conversation, causing men or women to think that they are homosexual because they don’t fit the personality trait of their particular gender. The book’s final chapter is on pastoral implications, encouraging Christians to walk alongside someone who is struggling and to ‘avoid the stereotype of homosexuality as worse than all other sins and beyond the reach of God’s grace’. So the whole book is written in a sensitive and moderate tone, albeit somewhat clinical, as it is a confessional statement which was
father. She idolises him, and they have a very close relationship, despite many difficulties at home, and the fact her father is an alcoholic. We see very clearly that Travers is still very much haunted
by the memory of her father. In one particularly touching scene, a young Travers says to her mortally ill father: “Never leave me.” Shortly afterwards, he passes away, an untimely and tragic death. Earthly fathers are a gift, and we should be so thankful for the blessings that our fathers can be – the wisdom and love that they give so freely, the stability and support provided within the family. Like Travers we can think very highly of our fathers (and mothers), perhaps even idolize them; but they are human, with human weaknesses and may let us down and will even one day leave us. But as the Psalmist discovers in Psalm 27:10: “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.” Although parents may let us down, we through Christ have a Heavenly Father, who will never let us down, disappoint or forsake us. "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:8
passed by the RPCNA Synod of 2011. This book redirects the Christian from getting his/her information about same sex temptation from the media to instead the Bible. It can be surprising how much we takes for granted as being scientific fact which is no more than subjective pressure from politically motivated groups. The church is being influenced and even attacked because of same sex temptations and so it crucial the church knows and understands the truth of God’s Word to be able to take a firm but gentle stance on this issue.
Or at least that’s often how the story gets taught. But the reality is very different. This book is the stuff of nightmares. Esther’s background is tragic enough. She’s an orphan living far from her homeland. But worse is to come - she is effectively kidnapped, forced to debase herself in a perverted “beauty contest” and eventually doomed to spend the rest of her life as a sexual trophy - valued about as much as a slab of meat. That’s not the only way the story is difficult. For one thing, Esther and Mordecai were probably not the saints they’re sometimes made out to be; they could scarcely have fitted in quite so well without a little moral compromise. Far from a typical Disney production, the book of Esther describes a serious mess. It’s a story of sinners, living in enemy territory who no doubt felt used and defiled (Esther) or worthless and unvalued (Mordecai). And that’s before the villain raises his ugly head. Haman, a vile, conniving man with vast influence and an even vaster ego schemes to wipe out every Jewish man, woman and child on the planet. With all of his skill he convinces King Ahasuerus to agree to a holocaust that was Nazi-esque in its scale. We can’t even begin to imagine the terror that must have gripped God’s people, as they prepared for the horrifying knock at the door. They had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Everyone they loved was doomed. The story really couldn’t be more distressing. And yet, remarkably, there’s a happy ending. The wicked Haman gets his just deserts, Mordecai gets the job of his dreams, Esther and the Jews are saved. Partly this was because of Esther’s courage and guile. But much more importantly this was the doing of the Lord. Surprisingly for a book of the Bible, God is never once mentioned. Yet he is obviously there. Why not read the book for yourself and note the many “coincidences” that led -
to deliverance for the Jews? Here’s a small sample: - Wasn’t it lucky that Mordecai uncovered a plot against the king AND that the king forgot to reward him? - Wasn’t it lucky how Haman built a giant gallows on the very night the king couldn’t sleep? - How instead of demanding food/music/women, the king asked for a history book? - And how he was reminded of Mordecai’s good deed? - Wasn’t it lucky how Haman so spectacularly got the wrong end of the stick? - And luckier still, how it just so happens that, as Haman crosses the king, there is a gallows ready for use? Very little in Esther is spectacular. There are no plagues from Heaven and there is no voice from above. But God still works. Even something as mundane as an unbeliever’s sleep is in the hand of the unseen God. God works constantly behind the scenes in Esther. Why not read the book and see that for yourself? Why not try to view events in your own life, determined to see the wisdom and work of the God who does not change? The book isn’t the story of a brave queen standing up for her people. It’s the story of God himself delivering his people when all hope was lost. Esther points us to Jesus. When exam results go badly and your plans for the future fall to pieces, when every day is a struggle and there seems to be no hope, believers can take comfort from this wonderful care. If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
How many times have you been on the verge of skipping your Quiet Time so that you don’t have to miss a TV show? Or how about leaving a few pounds out of your church offering so you know you can afford an extra treat for yourself this week? But just before you do, the conscience kicks in, maybe words from the Bible float to the forefront of your mind and you end up doing the ‘right thing’. You don’t particularly enjoy doing it and, although you may never say it out loud, you may think that sometimes trying to be Christian is just too difficult. In “I Wish Jesus Hadn’t Said That… But I’m Really Glad He Did!” Steve Timmis very honestly admits that you’re far from the only one who has had that thought cross their mind. If we’re being honest how many of us have thought of Christianity as being inconvenient at times. How, yes, there are times we can do the Christian thing outwardly, but it doesn’t bring us any happiness
-
and perhaps our motivations are all wrong. In his book Timmis takes ten commands of Jesus, what he calls ‘hard sayings of Jesus’ and turns them around from being something difficult or onerous, maybe even something you approach with reluctance, into a loving instruction from Jesus. Jesus didn’t demand the impossible from us; he gives us tasks that are the best for us and, more importantly, bring glory to God. Timmis explains not just why we should obey Jesus, but why we should joy in obeying Jesus. The ten topics range in everything from anger to temptation to persecution. Different people will be challenged by different things but I found something in nearly every section of the book that I hadn’t really thought of before. It is challenging not just for the call to obey Jesus’ words but because it's really useful to ask yourself, “Am I truly glad that Jesus gave me that instruction?” It’s a very practical book and I don’t think there would be anyone who wouldn’t find it relevant. It is also concise and very readable in a Sabbath afternoon, but also one which you could easily read a chapter of every night. This book won’t blow anyone’s mind with theological concepts or massively
-
deep insights. But it is based around the teachings of Jesus, and as such it is simple to understand, practical and very challenging. Each of the statements made by Jesus which Timmis bases a chapter around, along with so much of Jesus’ teaching, goes against every natural fibre of our being. The world teaches us to fulfil ourselves, our desires, our ‘rights’. Jesus teaches “Not my will, but yours be done”. It is only by obeying God that we live the lives we were designed to live, and only then do we find true fulfilment through glorifying him. As Timmis says of the statements the book looks at, “Each one turns my world upside down, but that only means it is then the right way up.” For people who have been Christians for a long time the Christian life can become stale. There can be obedience out of a sense of duty and tradition; all the while there may be resentment growing deep down. However, having a deeper understanding of why the instructions from Jesus are good for us is key to joying in the obedience of them and, when we find that joy, how much more glory will be given to God!
GROWING UP, I became accustomed to my father occasionally tapping a strange looking thing hanging in our hall. I later found out it was a barometer – an instrument that measures the atmosphere or air pressure outside and it would have a dial on it telling you more or less what the weather is or what it’s likely to be. In a way, the Sabbath day is a little bit like a spiritual barometer. You can tell the sort of atmosphere which is prevailing in a person’s spiritual life by looking at their life and what they do with the 4th Commandment. Exodus 20:8-11: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Today this commandment is under immense attack, not just by the unbelieving world - we would expect that, but it’s also being -
attacked from within the heart of the Christian church itself - by Christians, Bible believers, people born again who love the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we need more than ever, if we’re Christians at all, to be reinforced in our minds and hearts of the blessedness and usefulness of the Lord’s Day. We need to ask what does the Bible say about the Sabbath day? What does God say about this day? And what does this day say about me? What is the barometer of my Christian life saying? There is so much to say about the Lord’s Day, but, for now, 4 things will suffice. THE LORD’S DAY IS FOR REMEMBERING The opening word in Exodus 20:8 is profoundly significant: "Remember the Sabbath day.” In other words, the Sabbath day isn’t being invented here in Exodus 20. It was inaugurated and established in Genesis 2, after God had completed his creation of the heavens and the earth. What we have in the 4th Commandment is God giving a concrete written status to the Sabbath. In other words, it’s not something new that he’s giving his people. They are to keep remembering it.
There was one thing in particular they were to remember. In Deuteronomy 5, Moses is speaking to Israel and he reminds them of the 10 Commandments. It’s interesting that he adds to the 4th Commandment by saying: “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. “ (Deuteronomy 5:15) In other words, every Sabbath day was to be a reminder of how God stepped in, saving them from bondage and slavery and delivering them from their tears and bringing them into the Promised Land. Every Sabbath day they were to remember it. Likewise, every Lord’s Day we are to remember what God has done for us in redemption. Blood was spilled that we might be free. A Saviour rose from the dead on a Sunday. A Saviour appeared to his disciples on a Sunday. The Spirit of God came down on the church on a Sunday. Each Lord’s Day we are to stop and think of Christ and his greatness and his grace and what he’s done for us. The Lord’s Day is for remembering all those things. But let’s be careful – because
God is speaking here of much more than just using our memories. If a wife asks her husband at the close of a day, “Did you remember it was our anniversary today?”, it’s not good enough for him to say, “Oh yes, I remembered it”, and yet not to have done anything about it. No, it takes flowers and a card and maybe a gift or dinner to truly remember an anniversary. In a similar way, remembering the Lord’s Day is much more than just a mental activity. THE LORD’S DAY IS FOR KEEPING HOLY Exodus 20:8 reads, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” The word holy is an essential word for your Christian vocabulary. It means set apart; separate; distinct from the others. Therefore, the Lord’s Day is different from all the other days. It’s for keeping holy. But how? Let me suggest 3 practical ways to help keep the Lord’s Day holy: Go to church on the Lord’s Day Luke 4:16 tells us that it was Christ’s custom to go to the synagogue. He was in the habit of being at public worship. Surely one of the chief ways of us keeping the Lord’s Day holy is doing likewise and worshipping with other believers. We should endeavour that apart from genuine works of necessity and mercy, the only thing that keeps us from church on the Lord’s Day is illness. Not tiredness. Not business. Not pleasure. Not leisure. Not holidays. Meeting with our church family should be our utmost priority on the Lord’s Day. And remember, God doesn’t say – keep half the Sabbath day holy. He didn’t say keep the morning of the Lord’s Day holy. But, keep the day . That’s one of the reasons why many of our congregations have morning and evening worship. After all, what greater thing could a Christian do or want to do than praise the God of their salvation morning and evening on the Lord’s Day? Prepare for the Lord’s Day A wedding day involves weeks and months of preparation. You prepare for your first day at a new job. Marathon runners prepare for
the big day. It follows then that, since the Lord’s Day is a holy day, we should prepare. We should prepare so that we are not so exhausted on the Sabbath day that we cannot be fed. Do you come to the Lord’s Day suffering from lack of sleep? Do you come to worship with the intention of having a little nap? The battle for blessing on the Sabbath is won or lost on the Saturday night. As one of the Puritans, Richard Baxter said, “Go seasonably to bed that you may not be sleepy on the Lord’s Day.” Enjoy the Lord’s Day Although there is an obligation to keep the Lord’s Day holy (it is a command after all), we’re certainly not to keep it holy out of a sense of dry unfeeling duty. Consider the words of Isaiah 58:13: “Call the Sabbath a delight.” It’s a day to delight in. So it’s a not a day to dig the garden, but it is a day to enjoy the garden. It’s not a day to earn money for the family, but it is a day to enjoy the family. It’s not a day to paint the house, but it is a day to enjoy the painted house. 3 things that help us to keep the day holy - going to church, preparing for and enjoying the Lord’s Day. THE LORD’S DAY IS FOR RESTING It’s obvious from the commandment that rest is a clear purpose of the Lord’s Day. We are not to work on the Lord’s Day. Now this isn’t an easy thing today. We live in a society where Sunday is just like any other day, but we are not called to live according to the beat of the society of the day. We are called to live according to the imperishable words of grace of the God of our salvation. There are some occupations and professions that are works of necessity, or works of mercy. But there are lots of jobs that aren’t necessary on the Lord’s Day. This applies as well to homeworks and university studies – we are, plainly and simply, to rest from that work. Let us remember that honouring God and worshipping him is more important than anything else in all of life - more important than profit, than promotional advancement,
more important than anything. And, if he says we should rest on this day from our work of the week, that is what we must do. Never think that this is God being stingy. This is a blessing -one whole day when we don’t have to even think about homeworks or assignments or projects! THE LORD’S DAY IS FOR ANTICIPATING The writer to the Hebrews makes it plain that the Lord’s Day points forward to the eternal Sabbath of Heaven. Hebrews 4:9 “There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.” When we die, if we are God’s people, then we will enter our eternal rest. Our work is complete. Our work here on earth is accomplished, and we go to our great Sabbath rest. And so every Lord’s Day, every Sabbath day, every Sunday should be a picture of Heaven. Every Lord’s day in our congregations we get a little picture of Heaven. When we worship and we meet with other brothers and sisters in the Lord, that’s a faint shadow of what Heaven will be like. It follows, therefore, that, if you find this day to be a drudge, you would find Heaven a nightmare. We will never find the Sabbath a delight if we are not believers. On the other hand, a heart that loves the Lord will surely leap for joy at the prospect of a whole day with him - a day of Heaven on earth. How thankful we should be for this day! How we ought to confess our Sabbath-breaking. None of us have kept it and hallowed it as we ought. We must confess and repent of our sin. How we ought also to give thanks for Jesus Christ. Breaking this commandment in Old Testament deserved the death penalty. The only reason we are still breathing today is because the Lord of the Sabbath suffered that death penalty for us. He was treated as a Sabbath- breaker that we might not be.
Š Christophe Verdier
When you are enticed sexually, do you fight with your mind to say no to the image and then mightily labor to fill your mind with counterimages that kill off the seductive image? "If you put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit, you will live" (Romans 8:13). Too many people think they have struggled with temptation when they have prayed for deliverance, and hoped the desire would go away. That is too passive. Yes, God works in us to will and to do his good pleasure! But the effect is that we "work out our salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12-13). Gouging out your eye may be a metaphor, but it means something very violent. The brain is a "muscle" to be flexed for purity, and in the Christian it is supercharged with the Spirit of Christ. What this means is that we must not give a sexual image or impulse more than five seconds before we mount a violent counterattack with the mind. I mean that! Five seconds. In the first two seconds we shout, "NO! Get out of my head!" In the
-
next two seconds we cry out: "O God, in the name of Jesus, help me. Save me now. I am yours." Good beginning. But then the real battle begins. This is a mind war. The absolute necessity is to get the image and the impulse out of our mind. How? Get a counter-image into the mind. Fight. Push. Strike. Don't ease up. It must be an image that is so powerful that the other
“ image cannot survive. There are lust -destroying images and thoughts. For example, have you ever, in the first five seconds of temptation, demanded of your mind that it look steadfastly at the crucified form of Jesus Christ? Picture this. You have just seen a peek-a-boo blouse inviting further fantasy. You have
five seconds. "No! Get out of my mind! God help me!" Now, immediately, demand of your mind you can do this by the Spirit (Romans 8:13). Demand of your mind to fix its gaze on Christ on the cross. Use all your fantasizing power to see his lacerated back. Thirty-nine lashes left little flesh intact. He heaves with his breath up and down against the rough vertical beam of the cross. Each breath puts splinters into the lacerations. The Lord gasps. From time to time he screams out with intolerable pain. He tries to pull away from the wood and the massive spokes through his wrist rip into the nerve endings and he screams again with agony and pushes up with his feet to give some relief to his wrists. But the bones and nerves in his pierced feet crush against each other with anguish and he screams again. There is no relief. His throat is raw from screaming and thirst. He loses his breath and thinks he is suffocating, and suddenly his body involuntarily gasps for air and all the injuries
unite in pain. In torment, he forgets about the crown of two-inch thorns and throws his head back in desperation, only to hit one of the thorns perpendicular against the cross beam and drive it half an inch into his skull. His voice reaches a soprano pitch of pain and sobs break over his pain-wracked body as every cry brings more and more pain. Now, I am not thinking about the blouse any more. I am at Calvary. These two images are not compatible. If you will use the muscle of your brain to pursue -
violently pursue with the muscle of your mind - images of Christ crucified with the same creative energy that you use to pursue sexual fantasies, you will kill them. But it must start in the first five seconds – and we do not give up. So my question is: Do you fight, rather than only praying and waiting and trying to avoid? It is image against image. It is ruthless, vicious mental warfare, not just prayer and waiting. Join me in this bloody warfare to keep my mind and body pure for my Lord and my wife and
my church. Jesus suffered beyond imagination to "purify for Himself a people for His own possession" (Titus 2:14). Every scream and spasm was to kill my lust - "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24). Pursuing purity of heart at any cost, ©2014 Desiring God Foundation. desiringGod.org
©kavehkhkh
The politician seeking reelection is not the only master of empty broken promises, hollow words and downright lies. We are in the midst of an epidemic. He said he was working late but he was having an affair. She promised to complete her work but left it for you. They said they’d visit but never showed up. David’s got it spot on, ‘Everyone utters lies to his neighbour, with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.’ When you read Psalm 12 you realise that there is nothing new under the sun. Our godless age is like David’s, characterised by ‘flattering lips’ and ‘the tongue that makes great boasts’ whilst lying lips are ‘exalted among the children of man’.
Don’t be surprised when lying lips hurt you. Remember Jesus Christ. About him and to him they spoke with a ‘double heart’. They called him teacher whilst trying to trick him with their cunning questions. Many promised to follow him and soon abandoned him. Judas betrayed him with a kiss. Like him you will experience pain because of the deceitful words of man. You can take heart because God’s words are very different. They are ‘pure words like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times’. There is no chance of anything false in them. There is no hint of harm and not a drop of deceit. His ‘pure words’ are life-giving, sure and dependable. God’s perfect Word tells us that he hears every word of
man and one day he will arise. If you are not a Christian and do not find the thought of God arising utterly terrifying then you’ve obviously listened too long to the boastful who claim, ‘… with our tongue we will prevail’ In case you missed it, ‘Everyone utters lies’ and even one lie would bar us from the holy place of Heaven. Praise God there is a true sure word that says that even liars can be washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ. So flee to him, repent and follow on, asking for grace to speak only words that are true. Followers don’t unduly fret about the lies spoken of you and to you for you have one in Heaven who hears and will ‘arise and guard us from this generation forever’.
-