Thank You President Obama

If there's one thing I can say thank you for to our illustrious Commander in Chief, it's this... I am now talking about politics again. Not because I want to, but because I feel I have to. I generally dislike politics of all sorts. Working over 6 years on Capitol Hill convinced me of that, and 13 years later, I'm still there.

Now those of you who know me know I am politically quirky (I like to think of myself as biblical in this regard though). I don't usually vote and haven't been given a good enough reason to vote, thus far. Presidents come and go, administrations pass laws and laws get changed and go away. I think of the verse in Isaiah 40: The grass whithers and the flowers fade, but the Word of the Lord endures forever. Now this is not to say we don't have any responsibility in the political sphere of life. What rubs me the wrong way is (and yes, this is directed, by and large, at my fellow Christians of the Evangelical and Reformed persuasion) that I have to have a certain view of politics. That there are things I have to do as opposed to things "they FEEL I should do". Now that may not seem like a big deal, bit the distinction is an important one.

Firstly, I love America. I fought in the 1st Gulf War and can prove it. For all of you telling me how I should vote (or not vote), you are welcome for the freedom I and a few hundred thousand of my brothers have bought for you. You are welcome to your opinion as long as you understand it is just that-- an opinion. I love my country, but that doesn't mean I love the Republican anymore than I love the Democrats, or even the egalitarian, post-enlightenment Tea-Party-ers...

Secondly, as presbyterians, or anyone who understands that form of government, there are mainly, three valid ways to deal with a voting proposition. 1. I can vote for something, 2. I can vote against something, of 3. I can abstain from casting a vote. Abstaining does not imply lack of care. In fact it can imply a whole host of things. It could mean that I am equally *for* both parties, it could mean that I am equally against both parties, or it could mean that the issues are far more complex that immature America's choice between Bush, the god-man, or Obama the anti-christ. Of course this begs my presuppositional belief that American evangelicals practically worship their chosen political leaders. Surely we must be in the end times, ready to be whisked away from all this political silliness. Sometimes problems are simply much more complex than we like to give them credit for, and personally, I have yet to see one candidate since Gee-dubbahyah's first term who seems to be exercising common sense.

Thirdly, do we really feel that the right man will usher us back into some kind of golden age that we once had here in America? I can't tell you how many people I have heard say "I wish we were like we were in the 50's." I am guessing this is the 1950's... An age where McCarthyism ran rampant, Asians and Germans were discriminated against as much as black America was, greasers were giving way to hippies and life really wasn't all that "Leave it to Beaver" that some might like to think. Ladies and gents, what are you hoping in? I think of Paul's own words in Romans:

"Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

(Rom 3:13-18)

Does this apply only in regards to the right political party (or the left)? I don't think anyone would argue that it doesn't, but the problem is that it is all relative to who you are talking about... Palin may not be so great, but she's not as bad as Obama. Right? But what about those three verses before? You know them right? There is none righteous, there are none who seek God,There are none who do good... Yeah those. People act according to their natures.... Obama is not surprising to me at all. Not in the least. He is acting in perfect accord with his nature... Ducks duck and bees be. He is what he is. And so is Bush, and Palin, and (insert name here). Now you may argue-- "Bush or Palin (or whoever) claims they are a Christian, what about that?" My response is this: That's great! Are they aware they are fallen creatures that still carry their sin nature with them? Are you? It's a real fact we can't overlook. It means that they are not the be-all, end-all of American politics. They cannot save us. They can't even push us closer to God. They *might* be able to push a *form* of godliness on us, but it is only an outward conformity. It won't change people's hearts. Pass a law about stealing and the thief will only be more careful how he steals. Pass a law on lying and the slanderer will simply choose his words more carefully. They don't change the inward man. And hey, let's face it, American politics isn't about the good of the people, it is about business. You know what the Christian's REAL duty is in politics? It's to pray for their leaders. First that their hearts will be captured by Jesus, second that they will live God-honoring lives. I didn't want Mormon Mitt Romney in the Oval Office any more than Obama. Which brings me to my last point:

The separation of Church and State. Everyone says they are for it, but are they really? We want "in God we trust" to stay on the dollar bill, the pledge of allegiance to say "one nation under God", the Ten Commandments to be posted in courtrooms, but want to be free to be Christians. Only so long as that means the government will keep "Christian" things though. You know what I mean, right? Keep the pledge a "Christian" thing, keep all those little "in God", "under God" phrases and clauses in our schools, courts and paper currency... But I ask: Which God? The god of Islam? The god of Mormonism or Jehovah's Witnesses?

"No silly, the Christian God... The one of the Bible." Oh, you mean the triune God... Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Silly me, you mean the one who was left intentionally vague in our constitution, right? The god in the constitution whose son is never referenced? The one's our Masonic, deist forefathers worshiped. Oh, I understand. Actually, no. I don't. Because if we allow our idiosyncratic tendencies to get the best of us, then we have to say we want a measure of religion in politics. But whose religion is the question. Now, I am for all men giving honor to God. That's not what I am saying. I think all men have the obligation to bow before King Jesus. But the state is not the Church and it has no business legislating as such. Let them interpret secular things, protect the weak, be a terror to evil, and let the Church interpret God's Law. That's their sphere of responsibility. The state has no business dealing in issues such as morality and religion. The Church on the other hand, has no business in politics. Otherwise, let's get a church-state.

Now on that note... Which church? Personally I think the OPC would be a good church-state. The URC too (Sorry my PCA brothers, you are waaay too political for me), but that's my presupposition. It is a real concern though. If the religious right wants their nose in politics, then who interprets Scripture for the government in order to tell them how they should rule? It would seem that having one man do it would be best, but then again, I am not Catholic.

This is why I don't like politics. We as Christians put our hope in earthly things. We view the next regime in power as our "saviors", when our hope should be in a better country. We are after all pilgrims just passing through. Let's take advantage of the privilege in man's city while we are here and tell them about a better place. Health care is not a biblical mandate. I can be for government healthcare and still be a Christian... Even better yet--- I can be for *socialized* healthcare and not be for Obama care... Fancy that. And you know what? I don't even have to vote if I don't want to. It is my right as a citizen to exercise my right as *I* see fit. It is a privilege, NOT a duty. There is no law requiring me to, either in Scripture, or in America. If I lived in Cuba, that might be a different story... So... Thank you Mr. Obama.. you have brought me out of my political closet.

A Christmas Sermonette

Where do the Law and Grace meet? Grace Upon Grace in the Person of Jesus The Messiah.

John 1:15-17

15 John bore witness of Him, and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'" 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. (NASB)

Introduction:

Exodus 16 is the great giving of the manna to God’s people in the wilderness. The giving of the manna was God’s great provision for his people, it was fresh every morning. The new manna provided them strength for the day, energy for the task at hand; it was a shadow typifying the grace of God realized through Jesus Christ. As the manna rained down from heaven to provide sustenance for the Israelites, so too does the grace of God flow to believers in and through the person of Jesus Christ, the God-man, to sustain us, to prepare us, to nourish us and encourage us in our walk as pilgrims through this foreign land. The picture of manna is a great illustration of the grace poured out to us in Jesus Christ. John opens this first chapter of the Gospel talking about the divine Logos. That is, the one who existed eternally before all things were made. This Logos came down from heaven and assumed human flesh for sinful men, that they may experience the continuing grace of God in our life.

As John begins this section of the passage, he speaks of two things: before and after. John tells us: “15 John *bore witness of Him, and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'" That is, the one who came after existed before him. Chronologically speaking, this would have appeared nonsense. John was about six months older than Jesus; he began his ministry before Christ, and was better known at the time of Christ’s baptism. How could Jesus have come before? John the Baptist is referring back to Micah 5:2 where Micah states “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”

This play on the different senses of the words "before" and "after" was used by John the Baptist to get our attention, and drive home the meaning of what and who Christ is. John is pointing to the pre-existent, personal, divine Logos who in His Divine Office as the anointed one, the messiah, ranks higher than John…in position and dignity.

"The one who ranks higher than I” shows us the superior standing, the divinely high rank of the Messiah, the Christ. The one come to save us from our sins and establish his kingdom. The ancient of days has taken on flesh for us, weak men. This is John’s testimony. Μαρτυρει (Martyrey), “bears witness of him”, is in the present tense, testifying to the abiding testimony of John. Vincent notes in his word Studies, that it is John’s testimony that set the abiding nature of his testimony. That is, by bearing witness of him, John his establishing the authenticity of who Christ is[1]. The focus of John’s word’s are seen in the bold proclamation of the Apostle’s when they tell us “Behold! Our redemption is at hand!” It is seen in the proclamation of the angel in Luke 2:

“9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.10 and the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 "And this [will be] a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger."13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased. (Emphasis added)"

John is telling us that God the Father is well pleased with those who are well pleased with Christ. That as the Logos became incarnate for us in the Birth of the God-man; the fullness of grace is given to those with whom the Father is pleased.

As we move into Verse 16 we see the fullness of the grace given in the God-man and approach the central point of the passage. John records for us “16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” John is referring back to verse fourteen, showing us that in the incarnation of Christ, we received the greatest of gifts. What did we receive? Grace and truth, the remission of sins, salvation, reconciliation, union, adoption, communion, sanctification by the promise of the Spirit, are all part of the grace communicated to us as a result of the Divine logos tabernacling with His people. Interestingly, it’s is not just grace that is conveyed, but John tells us that it is grace upon grace.

In Christ the incarnate Son, grace flows to us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Christ in His incarnation brings grace upon grace: It is in Christ that grace is given, it flows from him in his mediatorial work, His life and death and resurrection.

Grace upon grace John tells us. It is given in successive communications and larger measures, as each believer was able to take it in[2]. Notice that the word "truth" is here dropped. The reason for that, it that "Grace" is the chosen New Testament word for the whole fullness of the new covenant, all that dwells in Christ for men. In the Old Testament, the preferred word was “law”, this has been fulfilled in the New Covenant, and Christ, the one who has fulfilled the law on our behalf by taking on sinful flesh and not sinning, now replaces it with grace[3]. The picture is "grace" taking the place of "grace" like the manna fresh each morning, new grace for the new day and the new service. The successive “grace” bestowed upon us enables us to endure, to show mercy and love and compassion, for it is exactly that which is poured out for us, in us and through us.

Like manna that the Israelites received in the wilderness, believers partake of God’s grace upon grace and are sustained for the day[4]. Believers are renewed and strengthened. The author of Lamentations said it this way in chapter three verses 22-23 “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” In other words, it is like an inheritance given in measures. As the inheritor receives portions of his inheritance and uses it, they find that there is more to follow. In successive measures, the inheritance is given so the one receiving the inheritance is never in want, lacking anything.

The marvelous gift of grace upon grace poured out upon the believer enables us to glorify God and enjoy Him. Now as Christians, thanks to the inheritance of grace upon grace, we are able to enjoy God, and when Christ returns, we will be able to do it fully, because the fullness of that grace is found in none other than Jesus Christ Himself. This marvelous, amazing gift is a grace that upholds all things working in the believer.

It is the basis for mercy, kindness, and love, because it is in Christ that grace is bestowed upon us. Our Love, our compassion our mercy is rooted in God’s Grace. It upholds us; it flows in us and pours out of us as we become conformed to the image of the Firstborn son, by the power of His Spirit. The incarnation of the Messiah is tied directly to the work of the Messiah. The keeping of the law, the salvation procured for us on the cross, the mediatorial work of Christ for us in his priestly office by providing sacrifice and through His intercession is all bound to John’s words in verses 16 and 17. It is in the one, divine Logos, taking on flesh, living under the law and accomplishing what the first Adam could not, keeping the law, and providing sacrifice perfectly, spotlessly that the believer’s redemption is not only accomplished, but applied. In other words, this grace was bought for those who believe by His blood, ransomed by the incarnate Logos, the God-man. No longer slaves to sin and death we see that it is in the person of Jesus Christ that a divine meeting takes place.

John speaks of this divine meeting in verse 17, where he states: “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” Under the law Moses was the intermediary agent of God. Moses typified the mediatorial position that Christ would come to fulfill. The law in its perfect requirements elicits the consciousness of sin and the need of redemption; it only typifies the reality. The giving of the law to Moses demonstrated the righteous standard which God calls all men to live by, the impossibility of keeping the law, and the coming grace poured out by the Father through Christ which would fulfill that impossible standard. Moses’ standard drives us to a need for a redeemer, for Jesus Christ! The law is a shadow of the reality of Christ. The Gospel, in contrast to the law only, actually communicates reality and power of the believer’s salvation in Christ. As Moses was the intermediary agent of God in the Old Covenant, we see a new and better intermediary in the New[5]. Paul in Col. 2:17 shows this when he says: “These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” Christ is the fulfillment of the law, and this, rather than setting the law and the Gospel in antithesis to each other, harmonizes them. It is this divine meeting in the person of Jesus Christ where law (truth) and grace meet, where truth is seen in the person of the incarnate Logos, and because He’s met our requirement for the law and satisfied the Father’s anger towards us and our sin, grace is now poured out to those who believe. Not just grace, but grace upon grace is given unto the believer.

The divine keeping of the law was in the one who is full of grace and truth: Christ. Grace and truth, these two words, aptly describe two benefits of the Logos. Christ gives Grace, Christ gives truth. The law in Christ is freedom. Grace is given in Christ. They spring from Him because of who He is as the Messiah. They flow from Him because he is the incarnate God, the one who while in the womb of Mary was fashioning others in the womb.

The divine kiss of Psalm 85 pictures these two gifts given to believers in Christ. Verse 10 of Psalm 85 tells us that “Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.” The grace of God and His righteous law is given to believers in the person of Jesus. This is the generosity of God given to believers: His Son… From a full and loving heart He gave Him to those who believe. It wasn’t just any son; Like God had 20 to give…. It was His only son. In this divine meeting, Christ becomes our propitiation. No longer are we at enmity with the Father, but now we are reconciled, brought near, restored[6]. Our record is expunged. No longer does the law condemn, now believers rejoice because Christ kept the law for us.

Conclusion:

It is for this reason that Christ was born, that through his life, death, resurrection and ascension, we can have eternal life, Because Christ is the way the truth and the life. All our sustenance, like the manna given to the Israelites in the wilderness, comes from Christ. When we feed on him, we will not lack for spiritual food[7]. We experience real Grace when we feed upon Christ, and the fullness of the grace upon grace that is given to us.

---

[1] Robert Vincent, Vincent’s Word Studies., E-Sword Electronic edition, 2008 Rick Meyers

[2] Robert Vincent, Vincent’s Word Studies., E-Sword Electronic edition, 2008 Rick Meyers

[3] Jamieson, Faucett, and Brown, Jamieson, Faucett, and Brown Commentary on the Whole Bible, E-Sword Electronic edition, 2008 Rick Meyers

[4] Robertson, Robertson’s Word Pictures, E-Sword Electronic edition, 2008 Rick Meyers

[5] Adam Clarke, Clarke’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, E-Sword Electronic Edition, 2008 Rick Meyers

[6] Ephesians chapter 2 focuses on the reconciliation and restoration of the work of Christ between both man and man, and man and the Father.

[7] Gerrit Scott Dawson, Jesus Ascended: The Meaning of Christ's Continuing Incarnation, Continuum International Publishing Group, 2004, ISBN 0567082210, pg 85

Ecclesiastical Limbo

Well, many of you have asked what my status is in regards to me being licensed, so I thought I'd share a little of the latest goings-on...

Presbytery was this past Saturday and it was a very long and complicated to-do... I admire our candidates and credentials committee for many things. 1. They desired the input of their brothers in the larger presbytery and sought their advice. They could have pursued other courses, but sought council from their brothers. 2. They showed great perseverance in what ended up being a very long discussion on education and the merits of it. 3. They were able to maintain pastoral care and concern for my family.

Kudos to the Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic as well. It was a deep and serious discussion as to howto proceed with men who have been called alter in life. What do you do with men that show the requisite gifts for ministry, feel called later in their lives and have not met the educational standards of the denomination? It is a serious question that i sincerely hope they will continue (once everything with me is over with).

All that said, I am in limbo. The Presbytery has not made a decision as of yet. I cannot be licensed until *after* General Assembly makes a recommendation. Basically what happened is this:

The presbytery decided they needed advice from G.A. and when that happens in June, then we will proceed to see if i can be licensed as i currently am now. With a Master's of Christian ministry and impending MDiv degree. The hang up is that I do not have a lower degree...

In essence i may have to get a lower degree to compliment my two higher degrees in order to take more tests... well... Not quite.

Candidates and Credentials was gracious enough to let me do all but my final "in committee" exams... So as I proceed, it is in anticipation of being recommended by G.A. and then sitting my final in house exams. Where does that put me practically speaking? Purgatory... I wonder of the OPC has a retirement fund for men under care? If so, how do I get in on it?

In the meantime I will continue my duties as God has called me to... I am after all still a ruling elder. That in and of itself is a great privilege and honor I am thankful for every day. It allows me to minister closer to my calling... I still have 6 months on my internship too... That will allow me to continue to preach and teach as well... So as frustrating as it is, God has still been gracious enough to let me continue.

No news is good news? Maybe... Just maybe....