The Kingdom Perspective

Transcript:

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

The New Testament writer James defines “pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God” as caring for “orphans and widows in their distress.” “Orphans and widows” is a reference the most vulnerable in society; in the ancient world they were the “poster children” for the needy and marginalized. Thus, we as Christians are called to be most concerned for those that are most vulnerable—first, within the church, and then also outside the church. This may take some thought: who are the most physically/financially/socially vulnerable, and how can I care for them, practically?

One most basic ways you can do this is through financial giving to your local church. Many churches have a benevolence or mercy fund from which they help the needy. You should contribute to this generously—above and beyond your regular giving to the church’s gospel ministry.

Now, James seems to suggest that those that have this “pure and undefiled religion” (i.e. James’s term for true understanding of the gospel) are particularly drawn to care for the neediest. Why? Because a genuine experience of the gospel brings us to a deep and true recognition of our own neediness before a holy God. We are spiritual paupers (sinners) in need of His mercy—and it is precisely His mercy that He has so freely and generously lavished on us in Jesus. Thus, experiencing His kindness makes us kind.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem.”

~ 1 Corinthians 16:1-3 (ESV)

Transcript:

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

Emotions are unavoidable. What should do with them?

We should spend more time in the book of Psalms. The Psalms are the Bible’s song book, and as such, it is not surprising that they deal with the full gamut of our human emotional experience.

The great John Calvin put it this way:

“I have been accustomed to call this book ‘An Anatomy of all the Parts of the Soul’; for there is not an emotion…which is not here represented as in a mirror.”

Now, since these Psalms are divinely inspired, we can be assured that they show us the proper way to process our emotions before God. We are emotional creatures, and that is a good thing. Our emotions were meant to drive us to relationship with God and positive relationship with one another. However, because of sin our emotions can be out of whack. They can be misleading.

Therefore, like everything else in our human experience, our emotions need to be reoriented according to God’s design. We need to be led by the Word of God and not by the voice of our emotions. In some instances, this will mean that we are affirmed in our emotions (e.g. it is right for you to feel a sense of fear at your own frailty). However, in other instances we will need to be corrected in our emotions (e.g. just because you feel your frailty does not mean that you cannot walk in faith before God).

Our emotions were meant to drive us to God, not away from Him.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
and by night, but I find no rest.
Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In you our fathers trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
To you they cried and were rescued;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
‘He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him;
let him rescue him, for he delights in him!’
Yet you are he who took me from the womb;
you made me trust you at my mother's breasts.
On you was I cast from my birth,
and from my mother's womb you have been my God.
Be not far from me,
for trouble is near,
and there is none to help.”

~ Psalm 22:1-11 (ESV)

Transcript:

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

Happiness comes not from stopping the troubles of life, but only from strengthening yourself against them. This strengthening can only come by sinking our roots daily into the rich soil of God’s Word.

The Bible commands us to be steadfast. We should not be like a boat that is tossed to and fro by every wind of panic or every whim of pleasure. Rather, we should be a tree rooted in the Word of God—the shoots of our faith sinking our hopes and desire deep into the soil of our Savior’s promises.

This is where true happiness is found, and this is why the Psalmist calls such a man “blessed”. By “blessed”, he means one that is happy—someone that is fulfilled; one that has deep soul satisfaction. Listen to Psalm 1:

1 Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Ultimately, deep and steady happiness comes neither from wisdom within us nor from worldly advice somewhere out there. Rather, it comes from the blessing of God. And that blessing can only come through feasting on his Word.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Deal bountifully with your servant,

that I may live and keep your word.

Open my eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of your law.

I am a sojourner on the earth;

hide not your commandments from me!

My soul is consumed with longing

for your rules at all times.

You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,

who wander from your commandments.

Take away from me scorn and contempt,

for I have kept your testimonies.

Even though princes sit plotting against me,

your servant will meditate on your statutes.

Your testimonies are my delight;

they are my counselors.”

~ Psalm 119:17-24 (ESV)

Transcript:

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

It is said that the first casualty of war is truth. Whoever manages to get the upper hand in framing the conflict has a clear advantage over the one who does not. This is as true in our disagreements around the kitchen table, as it is in our cultural debates. It’s as true in the bedroom, as it is on the battlefield.

Now, the Bible tells us that we are in a spiritual battle, and the chief strategy of our enemy is to get the upper hand by getting us to believe lies. The devil loves to twist the truth and trick us into trusting him as opposed to God. As Jesus put it, “When [the devil] lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44 NIV). Therefore, in our fight, we are warned to be vigilant (1 Peter 4)—to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). We are told to be aware of the devil’s schemes, and so, not fall prey to His strategy (2 Corinthians 2:11). But how do we do that?

Enter C.S. Lewis’s masterful classic The Screwtape Letters. Like nothing I’ve ever read, it does an excellent job exposing many twisted, hellish, and insidious lies. I highly recommend it! Whether you read it or listen to it (why not do both!!!), you will find yourself awakened to the many ways our enemy trips us up. Go to our podcast to find links to free resources for this work.

I hope by seeing the way the devil tricks us, you might learn to walk in greater wisdom, and avoid many traps. But watch out! The devil doesn’t want his secrets exposed. Perhaps that’s why Lewis said that it was the most difficult piece he ever wrote.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.’”

~ Ephesians 6:10-20 (ESV)

Free Online Resources*:

Audio Book of The Screwtape Letters read by John Cleese:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L6lCeXF8D4

Digital Copy of The Screwtape Letters:

https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.86985/page/n69/mode/1up

*Originally, written during during WW2 in Britain, some material in The Screwtape Letters will be a bit dated, but let that not dissuade you. As a matter of fact, being written during the greatest war to ever engulf our planet, makes it even more viscerally compelling.

Transcript:

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

I don’t know about you, but I tend to have interesting conversations on airplanes. A few years ago, I sat next to a researcher who has traveled the world over detailing what people do when something goes wrong in their life. What are the universal patterns of response we all have regardless of culture, age or socio-economic circumstances?

He found that immediately after something goes wrong, we begin to tell ourselves a “justification story”. We try to find a cause, so that we can pin blame, often to exonerate ourselves and cast the guilt onto someone or something else.

This researcher’s “discovery” shouldn’t surprise us. If we just reflect on our everyday relationships with our closest family members and co-workers, we will see this pattern again and again. We always try to justify ourselves relative to others.

Now, why? Why are we so driven toward such justification narratives? Why is it that our knee-jerk response is to justify ourselves and our actions, as if we are on trial, living our lives in a courtroom before a judge?

Well, if you are familiar with the Bible the answer shouldn’t surprise you. It is because we are. The New Testament book of Romans tells us that we intuitively know our lives are being lived before the ultimate Judge of the universe before whom we will have to give an account. We will be judged by our Creator for our every thought, word, and deed, and on that final judgment day God will render to everyone exactly what they deserve. He alone will settle the score. Thus, deep in our hearts our consciences are constantly either accusing or defending our every action.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

~Romans 1:18-20 (ESV)

“He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.

For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.”

~ Romans 2:6-15 (ESV)

Transcript:

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

Do you worry about what others think of you? If yes, join the club. I saw an article recently on what one psychologist calls FOPO (fear of people’s opinions). We all suffer from this at least a bit, perhaps some more than others. We are incurably social creatures and so we’re all susceptible to this to a greater or lesser degree.

Peer pressure is not something that only teens and college students struggle with. Worrying about what others think does not magically dissipate once we graduate or become adults.

Now, this struggle is not good; living for the approval of others is a snare. It is what the book of Proverbs calls the “fear of man”. As Proverbs 29:25 puts it, “Fearing people is a dangerous trap…”.

Now, why is it a trap? Well, as writer and recording artist Shai Linne says:

“Craving human affirmation is a no-win proposition. Those who don’t receive it are miserable. Those who do receive it only want more.”

~Shai Linne, native Philadelphian, recording artist, and author

The only thing that can save us from the fear of man is the fear of God. It is not that we weren’t made for the approval of another. We were. But the approval we were made for is not that of our neighbor but of our Savior. We were made for God. This is why the Scriptures tell us: “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death” (Proverbs 14:27) and “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied…” (Proverbs 19:23).

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”

~ 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 (ESV)

Transcript:

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

At the heart of Christianity is the notion we call “the Great Exchange”. What is the Great Exchange? It is the sweet and gracious reality that at the cross, Jesus Christ took our sins and gave us His righteousness. The sin was ours alone, but He took it. And the righteousness was His alone, but He freely gave it.

Now, sadly, I have heard some contemporary theologians claim this notion is a late invention in the history of the church, only coming to prominence in the Reformation period and beyond. However, this is not historically accurate. The Great Exchange has always been the very heart and power of the church.

One the greatest Christian writings of the mid 2nd century was The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus (c. 150 A.D.). Listen to this statement of Christ exchanging our sin for His righteousness:

“He Himself took on Him the burden of our iniquities, He gave His own Son as a ransom for us, the holy One for the transgressors, the blameless One for the wicked, the righteous One for the unrighteous, the incorruptible One for the corruptible, the immortal One for them that are mortal. For what other thing was capable of covering our sins than His righteousness? By what other one was it possible that we, the wicked and ungodly, could be justified, than by the only Son of God? O sweet exchange! O unsearchable operation! O benefits surpassing all expectation! that the wickedness of many should be hid in a single righteous One, and that the righteousness of One should justify many transgressors!”

As the Apostle Peter summed it up:

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

Oh, sweet exchange!

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

~2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (ESV)

Transcript:

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

Several years ago, Dr. Gregg Henriques of James Madison University wrote an article in Psychology Today that caught my attention. It was called “The Justification Hypothesis”. Dr. Henriques is known for his Unified Theory of Knowledge, which is an attempt to have a more interconnected vision of how science, psychology and philosophy are related. His theory consists of eight key ideas, the second of which he entitles Justification Systems Theory. Now, far be it from me to detail the intricacies of his theory. Nonetheless, a statement from the Psychology Today article is worth consideration. He writes:

“Look around and you will see systems and processes of justification everywhere in human affairs…. Other animals communicate, struggle for dominance, and form alliances. But they don't justify why they do what they do. We are the justifying animal.”

~“The Justification Hypothesis” by Gregg Henriques Ph.D. in Psychology Today; James Madison University

To me, this forces the question: Why are human beings unique among all creatures in our propensity to give justification—to give reasons for why we do what we do to provide defense for our motives and actions?

I think the Bible gives us the answer. It tells us that human beings are uniquely made in the image of God and given a unique moral duty before Him. Having this innate sense of moral duty to God’s Law, we intuitively know we are accountable to Him—that we will have to give an account of every thought, word, and deed. We will be required to justify our lives before the courtroom of heaven.

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

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”

~Genesis 2:15-17 (ESV)

“Once God has spoken;

 twice have I heard this:

 that power belongs to God,

 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.

 For you will render to a man

 according to his work.”

~Psalm 62:11-12 (ESV)

Transcript:

Hello! This is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective!

The Bible tells us that human government is established by God and therefore is accountable to God and His Word (Romans 13).

This is why government power must be limited. It must not be used for the selfish gain of those in power but for the general freedom and flourishing of all. By God’s design the government exists to curtail the work of evil and encourage the work of good in our social interactions (1 Peter 2:14). In the words of the French thinker Montesquieu (1689-1755), “it is requisite that the government be so constituted as one man needs not be afraid of another.” (Charles, Baron De Montesquieu, the Spirit of the Laws (1748)).

Thus, wherever possible, we have an obligation to hold the government accountable to this role, especially in a democratic republic, where the government is, after all, “we the people.”

However, just as the will of the government is not unlimited, neither is that of the individual. We are all personally accountable to God, and are under obligation to obey His will. This is why the Bible also tells us that, though we are to “act as free men,” we must “not use [our] freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.” (1 Peter 2:16-17).

Especially for us as Christians, our behavior should be so exemplary that it leaves no room for bringing charges of wrongdoing. As Peter puts it: “For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:15).

How do you live? Do you live in a manner that points the way to a better society?

Something to think about The Kingdom Perspective.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
~ 1 Peter 2:9-12 (NASB95)

Transcript:

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

One of my favorite ancient creeds, the Athanasian Creed (c. 6th century), though not written by its namesake is nonetheless appropriately attributed to him. Athanasius (A.D. c. 296-373) was the great 4th century church leader who defended the Trinity against false views of God. These false views followed a general pattern of denying or twisting one biblical truth to make it more “rationally compatible” with another. So, for example, if the Bible says there is only one true God, then there cannot likewise be three divine persons. How is it “rational” for God to be both one and three at the same time? The problem of course is that this is precisely what the Bible does claim. 

And so, with precision and eloquence the Athanasian Creed* summarizes the divine mystery of the Triune God:

… we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;

Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the divine essence.

For there is one person of the Father,

another of the Son,

and another of the Holy Spirit. 

But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one,

the glory equal, the majesty coeternal….

The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated. 

The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible. 

The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. 

And yet they are not three eternal beings but one eternal being

As also there are not three uncreated beings nor three incomprehensible beings, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible being.

Well put! Beautiful and true!

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”

~ Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

*Athanasian Creed

1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith; 

2. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. 

3. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;

4. Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance.

5. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. 

6. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. 

7. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit. 

8. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated. 

9. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible. 

10. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. 

11. And yet they are not three eternals but one eternal. 

12. As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensible, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible. 

13. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty. 

14. And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty. 

15. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God; 

16. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. 

17. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord; 

18. And yet they are not three Lords but one Lord. 

19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; 

20. So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say; There are three Gods or three Lords. 

21. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten. 

22. The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten. 

23. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. 

24. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. 

25. And in this Trinity none is afore or after another; none is greater or less than another. 

26. But the whole three persons are coeternal, and coequal. 

27. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. 

28. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity. 

29. Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

30. For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man. 

31. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of substance of His mother, born in the world. 

32. Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. 

33. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood. 

34. Who, although He is God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ. 

35. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of that manhood into God. 

36. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person. 

37. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ;

38. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead; 

39. He ascended into heaven, He sits on the right hand of the Father, God, Almighty; 

40. From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. 

41. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies; 

42. and shall give account of their own works. 

43. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.

44. This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved.