The Kingdom Perspective

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.

The Bible tells us that true freedom is the ability to love God and obey His law. This only makes sense. If we were made by God and for God, then we are free only to the degree that we are in union with God and His will for us.

This is the reason why, even when we are controlled by our desires, if they are not godly desires, we experience bondage. Think for a moment.

When you are driven by your own fearful desires, are you free?
No, you are a prisoner of fear.

When you are driven by your own lustful desires, are you free?
No, you are a prisoner of lust.

When we are driven by your own envy and greed, are you free?
No, you are a prisoner of envy and greed.

When you are driven by your own vengeful desires, are you free?
No, you are a prisoner of your own angry bitterness.

Jesus put it this way: “Whoever sins is a slave of sin.” Sin (i.e. disobedience to God’s law) is the very opposite of what we were designed for. When the desires of our heart are contrary to God’s law, we are enslaved. To the degree that we are driven by the sinful desires of our heart, to that degree we are not free.

This is the irony of addiction. An addicted person is doing what they want. But anyone who has ever been addicted, or seen a loved one struggling with addiction, knows that addiction is anything but freedom. It’s the epitome of bondage.

And sin is our ultimate of addiction.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

” So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”

~ John 8:31-34 (ESV)

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to the Kingdom Perspective.

As Americans we love our freedom. However, ill-defined freedom can lead us to a very insidious form of slavery. What do I mean? As Americans, we tend to define freedom as the ability to do whatever we want. However, this pits God’s law against my liberty. This makes no sense! God, as our Creator, knows what’s best for us. The directives of His law are in accordance with our design. Thus, true freedom is not necessarily defined by the ability to fulfill my desires. Rather, it is defined by the ability to fulfill my design. Birds are free when they fly. Fish are free when they swim. Humans are free when they love God and His law. Anything less than God’s law is not liberty; it is slavery.

Listen to the great First century Jewish philosopher Philo describe true freedom:

“…Those in whom anger or any other passion, or insidious vice holds sway, are entirely enslaved, while all those whose life is regulated by law are free.” Philo in “Every Good Man is Free” 45-46

You see the point. Law is not necessarily contrary to liberty. Rather, God’s law, it is the very ground of liberty.

It is true that you are enslaved to the degree that your actions are bound by the dictates of a tyrannical government. However, it is likewise true that you are enslaved to the degree that you are bound by the dictatorial desires of your own heart.

Free people have the liberty to obey God’s law. They are not bound by tyrants—whether external or internal.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”

~ Romans 6:15-18 (ESV)

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to the Kingdom Perspective.

Science is God’s gift to humanity. It is a particular form of knowledge that is intuitive to us as those made in the image of God. That’s why, historically, modern science blossomed in a context suffused with a Christian imagination—a context where it was acknowledged that we live in an orderly universe created by an orderly God, that empowered rational creatures, human beings, to explore and care for that world.

This is why the true scientist is always curious. Science is always a learner. The Bible commands us to ponder and be curious about God and all that He has made.

Science is never content with the facts at hand. It wants to know more. Moreover, it doesn’t accept facts as conclusions. Rather, it wants to see all the data, all the angles. It asks questions of any conclusion, trying to see if there’s another way to see it.

Thus, the history of science is one of revolution—the overturning of former conclusions in the face of newer conclusions that take into account a bigger picture, more data points. And so, for example, we speak of the Copernican Revolution, overturning the longstanding Ancient Greco-Roman understanding of the solar system (the Ptolemaic model).

Thus, a posture of science that is too dogmatic, too entrenched in the given assumptions of the “scientific establishment”, is not the posture of true science. It ceases to be a learner; it ceases to be curious.

And so, science is skeptical not only of the skepticism of the “science deniers”, but also it is reasonably skeptical of the received scientific wisdom itself.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Dress for action like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

~ Job 38:1-7 (ESV)

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to the Kingdom Perspective.

Classical Christianity provides the foundational building blocks for scientific investigation. On the one hand it acknowledges that there is such a thing as truth. We live in an orderly universe created by an orderly God, and so can know certain things about our world. But on the other hand, it tells us that we are limited observers, always discovering new data. Therefore, it calls us to be humble in our interpretations and open to the wisdom of God and others.

But this is where we go wrong. St. Paul in his Letter to the Romans (Romans 1:18-25) describes the problem as two-fold. First of all, we do not acknowledge that this is God’s world; we fail to honor the Creator. And secondly, we then set ourselves up as the objective judge of all truth, thus failing to see ourselves and the world accurately. Our understanding becomes darkened. Professing to be wise, we become fools (Romans 1:22). To say it another way, we fail to acknowledge the two most obvious truths: 1) there is a God, and 2) we are not Him.

This insidious side of our humanity is the essence of sin. We are not objective truth seekers, but instead use “truth” for self-serving ends.

The gospel, however, checks us in our sin by reminding us that one day all our supposed “truth claims” will be examined by the One who is the Truth. Therefore, all that we do, even our scientific pursuits, are ultimately done before the face of the One who alone is objective. He sees it all. Thus, His perspective will have the final say.

This both elevates our scientific endeavors, while humbling us. However, cut off from this truth, science itself can become a tool for more nefarious purposes.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

” For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”

~ Hebrews 4:12-13 (NLT)

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome the Kingdom Perspective.

Science, by its very nature, is reasonably skeptical. It always considers any claim to knowledge with a “can-you-prove-it” attitude. It doesn’t just accept what we know; it wants to verify how we know what we know. It is driven by a posture of skepticism.

But it is a reasonable skepticism. It doesn’t refuse to believe without absolute proof—what is that anyways—but carefully weighs the evidence and settles on the most reasonable conclusion.

To say it another way, this means that good science always seeks understanding. It is for this reason that it works best in a context of relational reasonability—a context where it is able to persuade and is willing to be persuaded. Science operates best in the free exchange of ideas—a framework not of power plays but persuasion. And so, true science doesn’t use “scientific truths” to shut down the conversation but rather to open them—to reasonable dialogue about the best interpretation of all the data.

Classical Christianity gives us this framework. On the one hand it acknowledges that there is such a thing as truth. We live in an orderly universe created by an orderly God, therefore we can know—through observation and interpretation—certain things about our world. But on the other hand, it tells us that we are limited observers, always discovering new data. Therefore, we are humble in our interpretations and open to the observations of others.

Classical Christianity gives us those foundational building blocks—the proper worldview—for scientific pursuit.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place on your head a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

~ Proverbs 4:7-9 (ESV)

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome the Kingdom Perspective.

Increasingly, many from all different persuasions are tempted to become mere critics and complainers—trying to find fault and pin blame. However, this is not the roadmap the gospel gives. Jesus’s way is not that of finger pointing or trying to score cheap political points. Rather, Jesus calls us to put our faith to work, bringing not only a positive and hopeful attitude into the public square—blessing where there is cursing—but also bringing our own time, treasure and talents to help those in need.

How do we do this?

Biblically speaking, this means upping your game to the shared ministry of your local church, so that the collective ministry of the gospel can flourish in your particular community. Your local church is God’s embassy to your city or town. This means we must be careful to avoid bickering, whether in person or on social media. Rather, we must take up the burden of doing social good in the real world. For example, are there ways you can provide practical care to your fellow Christian or to your unbelieving neighbor? Are there ways, you can speak words of encouragement and reconciliation—that short-circuit the vitriol of the present moment? Are there ways you can increase your generosity?

What I am suggesting is not some add-on tactic to make the gospel look good. Rather, what I am suggesting is absolutely intrinsic to the gospel itself. God so loved the world that he did not sit back in judgment and critique. Rather, He gave Himself for us. As Jesus himself put it: He did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life away for others. This is true Christianity, and those “infected” by it will be true to the pattern portrayed in it.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, ‘You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’”

~ Mark 10:42-45 (NASB)

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to the Kingdom Perspective.

The Bible suggests to us that one of the practical ways we can fulfill the biblical command to love our neighbor is through the practice of good science.

Science comes from an old Latin term for knowledge. Biblically speaking, science is a good and true thing because we live in an orderly universe, created by an unchanging God who governs his world in an orderly way. Thus, we can gain understanding by applying ourselves to the basic task of data collection and interpretation. Through our collective application of this scientific method, generation after generations, we grow in knowledge.

Now, there are certainly limits to scientific knowledge. Science is not the only type of knowledge we need, in order to live well together.

Nonetheless, it is a gift of God for the well-being of society. Science is not only a social phenomenon (something that happens in community), but also a social good (something that benefits community). We can love our neighbor by not only doing good science (as many in our medical/college community do), but also by following good science. For example, we can know better how to avoid spreading disease by applying ourselves to such knowledge.

A desire to help your neighbor is a very good thing, but zeal without knowledge (without science) is at best incomplete, and at worst very dangerous.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to the Kingdom Perspective.

What exactly is the intersection between science and the Bible?

The word science comes from an old Latin term for knowledge. When we speak of “science” we speak of a particular method of obtaining knowledge and the collective/generational wisdom that comes from following that method. Biblically speaking, such knowledge is categorically a good thing. Science is essentially good and true because we live in an orderly universe, created by an unchanging God who governs his world in an orderly way. Thus, we can know things through observation and testing. We can gain understanding by applying ourselves to the task of data collection and interpretation.

For those of us who are Christians, this means we should always be looking for the best science available. We must think critically about the claims we hear. We must look to and listen to expert scientists who follow good methodology. We must make a habit of seeking out proven, reputable sources that avoid sensational claims—that drive us either to false hope or unnecessary fear.

On the flip side, we should avoid immersing ourselves in the 24/7 news cycle. Such sources, though entertaining, thrive on the sensational “breaking news” instead of what is tested and proven. They live on the sensational anxious edge of fear—a great tactic for attracting viewers, but not for promoting wisdom and knowledge.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to the Kingdom Perspective.

Death and disease are unavoidable in this fallen world. And whether we like it or not, they are a stark reminder of both our frailty and the frivolity of our way of life.

The world is not the way it’s supposed to be! We see the futility of life all around us, and this difficult reality can drive us to anxiety—for our health, our well-being, our loved ones, our way of life…the list goes on.

My friends, this is precisely where the hope of the gospel shines. Our whole gospel banks its hope not on a better, more comfortable, or freer life in the here-and-now. Rather, it banks its hope on the promise of a new life beyond the grave. It looks to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and the sure hope of eternal life in him. And far from making us ineffective in the midst of crisis, this hope anchors us in the storm—“a sure and steadfast anchor for the soul”, as the writer of Hebrews puts it.

That’s why the Apostle Peter speaks of us being “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Indeed, we have an “inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, reserved in heaven for us”—protected by the power of God—even in the midst of these very real, earthly trials.

Thus, the turmoil and tragedy of our lives becomes an opportunity for this hope to shine through us.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ…”

~ 1 Peter 1:3-7 (NASB)

Transcript:

Hello this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to “The Kingdom Perspective.”

What is our purpose as human beings? God designed us to glorify and enjoy Him.

We do this by faithfully obeying His commandments. God designed us for Himself and only to the degree we are obeying His commandments are we actually free. Therefore, when we obey the commands of God out of love, we are not only fulfilling our design, but we are also, maximizing our freedom.

However, because of sin, this is not the way our minds intuitively think. Rather, we tend to think of “freedom” as not being restrained by a law or a law giver. However, in the gospel nothing could be further from the truth.

So, for example, when I choose to obey the command not to commit adultery, I am not limiting my sexual freedom. Rather, I am fulfilling it. I am living into the freedom of the God-given design of my sexual nature.

When I obey the command not to covet my neighbor’s stuff, I am not limiting my freedom, but I am living into my freedom. I am living in the freedom of not being a slave of envy. I have the freedom to be thankful to God for all that He has given to me.

When I obey the command not to steal, I have the freedom to be in good relationship with my neighbor, as I nurture trust with him and so am able to enjoy unbroken community.

And when I obey the command not to lie/not to bear false witness, I am not limiting my freedom but rather living into the freedom of truth. Remember, it was Jesus who said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32).

And that’s something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

“Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.’”

~ John 9:31-38 (NASB)