Proclaiming The Excellencies of God

Are You More Loving?

2009-06-28T07:16:00.001-05:00

In our Wednesday evening Bible study for this summer we are using Don Whitney’s book, “Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health.” It is the occasion for a probing look at the state of our spiritual health. The writer of Hebrews calls Christians to “press on to maturity.” Whitney’s book is a very helpful tool toward achieving this goal.

Our study this past Wednesday focused on the question, “Are you more loving?” Love is the clearest mark of the Christian. Jesus said “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13:34, 35). If we are growing Christian, we will be growing in our love for others. “Love is the badge and character of Christianity.”

What does the decline of love in the Christian’s life look like? It is possible to regress in our Christian walk and look more unlike Jesus. It is not supposed to be this way, but it happens. Jesus rebuked the church in Ephesus for having left its first love. Losing patience more easily, increasing unkindness, becoming less courteous (especially to those closest to us), becoming more easily angered, unconcern for the lost, and not giving ourselves to hospitality are some of the ways a decline in love would manifest itself. When a diagnosis reveals a spiritual problem, we must take action. At the same time it is to be remembered, in the words of author Maurice Roberts, “The best believers find their progress slow and their attainments meager.” The direction of our growth is what is most important, not the speed.

What are some of the counterfeit loves that exist? It is possible to think we are growing in love when the truth is we have bought into some deceptive substitutes. Many congratulate themselves for what amounts to what it means to be merely human. It is generally true that human beings will have special feelings for family members (Rom. 1:31; 2 Tim. 3:3). Christian love is more than this. “I’ll love you if you love me.” As Whitney says, “this is the epitome of worldly love.” A relationship that works on the principle of “I will scratch your back, if you will scratch mine” is not what Jesus had in mind when He commanded us to love one another.

In which areas will growing love demonstrate itself? Love for other Christians will be strengthened (1 Jn. 3:14 “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.”). How are your relationships? Are the needs of fellow believers on your radar screen? A growing love means love for the lost. Jesus loved the young man who had made material things his god (Mk. 10:21). The unsaved do not need us as their judge (that’s God’s business). They need those who genuinely care for their eternal well-being. Within one’s family is also a place where growing love will be seen; more gratitude shown, less anger, more physical affection, more patience, responsibility, generosity, frugality, or simply having more time for them.

How can genuine, Christlike love be cultivated? Whitney suggests six ways. Meditate on love as the most important distinguishing mark of a Christian (Love is truth in action). Let your heart be often warmed by the fire of God’s love. Daily communion with God in His Word and prayer will stoke the fires of growing love. Discover assurance that God is your Father by loving as He loves (“Everyone who loves is born of God.” 1 Jn. 4:7). Delight in loving God. Whitney reminds us that “love, in it essence, is likeness to God.” Is this what you want more than anything else in life? Identify those relationships where you most need to grow in love. Is it your family, a rusty relationship, a neighbor, a person at church? And finally, take the initiative in showing love, especially where you have little or no expectation of love in return.

What then can we do? Use the following questions to provoke and probe your mind to grow more in love: What crisis, however small, is taking place in your life? What is the condition of your closest relationship? Have you been hostile lately to someone who has been good to you?

We have seven more studies in “Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health.” Join us on Wednesday evenings as we “interrogate our hearts” in order to press on to spiritual maturity.

Dr. Howard E. Dial

Berachah Bible Church

Father the Leader

2009-06-21T07:30:00.004-05:00

Have you ever played follow-the-leader? It was a favorite game in our youth. It is not very complicated. One person leads the way by doing various physical maneuvers such walking on a wall, jumping a creek, leap-frogging over a parking meter, running backwards without falling, eating an unripe persimmon without wincing, those sorts of things. The others were to mimic the action. The intent was for the leader to try to get everyone to drop out. He would then be the winner.

Leadership, however, is not simply being able to do difficult things which others cannot. There is no shortage of books written on what leadership is and how to lead. This is especially true within the evangelical Christian community. Most of these books are written by Christians who have had some measure of success in pastoring a church, starting a Christian organization, or having written other books that have sold well. Valuable instruction can be found in such writings. Father’s Day is a good time to revisit the matter of leadership. Fathers are to be leaders. But what does leadership look like in a family?

Some fathers lead by not leading. They are in the home physically but are passive regarding biblical priorities. This kind of leadership is primarily occupied with the desire for peace and quiet in the home. Other fathers think leadership is something like the military. It is command and control. Do what father says. Any deviance from this standard and wife and children will have to answer to the captain of the ship, i.e. Dad. These methods of leadership have been stated in the extreme, but they do represent too many “Christian” homes. Fathers will have different leadership styles. However, there are fundamental biblical truths that must be believed and acted upon if the family is to be led in the right direction.

Family leadership begins with the father’s submission to the sovereign Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the relinquishing of all rights to the One who has provided redemption and makes freedom to serve Him possible. This truth is developed in Scriptural texts such as 1 Corinthians 11:2-7 and Ephesians 5:23-33. Fathers do not possess authority independent of what has been delegated to them by God. Fathers, are you taking your orders from Jesus Christ and following His lead?

Family leadership demands that a father adopt the attitude of a servant. The Head of every Christian man, Jesus Christ, said that “whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your servant” (Matt. 20:26). Christ-exalting leadership is the possession of a servant’s heart (Eph. 4:2). Fathers, is that you? Are you focused on God and others rather than self?

Family leadership necessitates a sense of direction. A father must know where he is going and how to get there. Like Abraham of old, Christian fathers are pilgrims who are “looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11: 10). Fathers, Christ’s coming kingdom and God’s eternal presence is our destination. Are we living and leading like this is true? What do our children think of us when all they know about us is that the love of money and material things dominates our lives?

Family leadership requires a love of the kind which Jesus Christ has for His Church (Eph. 5:25). If we fathers are one with Christ, then others will know this is true by the way we love. We need more fathers who lead by sacrificial, self-denying, cross-bearing, other-serving love. There is no greater gift from a father to his children than for them to see him dying daily for their mother.

Family leadership calls for a desire for unity in the home. Fathers, how important are unity, acceptance of diversity, harmony, and companionship to us in our homes? Conformity is not unity. We can demand that everyone fit into our plans but that is not unity. Unity is the experience of the bond we have in Christ in an atmosphere of truth and love. No two children are alike. We need to know our children. Love their differences. Discipline and train them accordingly. Are arguments, criticism, and name-calling methods of communication in your home? In our disagreements let us replace harshness with the law of kindness. May the flag of biblical unity fly over our homes (Eph. 4:3).

Family leadership bears the trademark of forgiveness. A father who belongs to Jesus Christ will show the way by delighting in the enormity of the forgiveness he has received from God in Christ. This sense of the magnitude of God’s forgiveness will be lived out in a father’s forgiveness of others (Matt. 18:21-35). Grudges, resentment, bitterness, and a pay-back attitude betray the freedom of forgiveness that should characterize a home environment. Fathers, are you a repenting and forgiving leader?

Family leadership means being sensitive to the hurts and problems of one’s family. Fathers who lead God’s way work at staying alert to the dangers that go with living in a world in rebellion against God and hostile to the Christian faith. Fathers, every member of our families has to do battle with the world, the flesh, and the devil. Do you know some of the struggles taking place around you? Why has your teenage son suddenly grown sullen and withdrawn? Have you noticed that your teenage daughter is eating very little and doesn’t think she is thin enough? Leaders must be observant and discerning as they keep a wary eye on the enemy, our adversary, who “prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).

Family leadership means assuming the responsibility of praying for every family member every day. All believers are admonished to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). Fathers, prayer is an expression of our dependence on God. Do you wonder how your children are going to turn out? Do you think about some of the “what-ifs” of various family members? Worry and anxiety are to be replaced with fervent prayer for our wives, sons, and daughters (Phil. 4:6). A father who leads is one who takes the time to intercede for those placed in his charge. It is a form of protection, a base-line duty of a husband and father, to go before God daily as a spiritual warrior mindful of Satan’s schemes (Eph. 6:11, 18). Fathers, did you rise early this morning to seek the face of God for your family?

Fathers, God’s leaders are made, not born. Actually, the truth is that leadership begins with being born again. It is then that leadership is to develop. A God-pleasing leader is one who is in hot pursuit of God, yearns for His blessing, reads his Bible, is meaningfully involved in his church, and by his example demonstrates what it means to be Christ’s man. That is a leader worth following.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

Memorial Day 2009

2009-05-24T07:47:00.000-05:00

The United States is a peculiar nation in the history of the world. It has been blessed with freedom and opportunity in a way that no other nation has ever been. Citizens of the U.S. are politically, religiously and economically liberated. These reasons provide incentive for many who choose to emigrate here. As a member of the U.S. military, I had the opportunity to spend time in the Republic of South Korea. While that country is free in all the same respects as the U.S., there are still many Korean residents who dream of leaving their home and settling here in this land of unique prospects. Koreans are not alone in this dream. To become an American is, even today, the desire of many foreign citizens.

God has chosen to bless this nation uniquely. He has chosen to keep it uniquely blessed, at least in part, with a strong military. In a fallen world, war is a fact of life. Peace is maintained through strength. The armed forces of this nation first made a name for themselves by defeating the greatest military power in the world at the time in its successful efforts to separate from Mother England. No other nation has subdued this nation since. It remains as independent as it ever was following Lord Cornwallis’ surrender. God, using armed conflict, technology and various other means, has seen fit to allow such freedom.

One of the names by which Israel knew God was “Lord of Hosts.” The word translated “hosts” means “armies” or “divisions,” carrying with it more than a hint of militarism. The phrase “Lord of Hosts” is not limited in scope to the battlefield, as it also points to God’s sovereignty over all forces and entities in the universe which he formed and maintains. It does, however, remind us that though war is chaotic and hazy for its participants, God sees clearly through the fog of battle and determines who will stand and who will fall. David, even as a young man, knew of God’s rule in the midst of skirmishes, declaring to Goliath just before he launched the smooth stone that would fell him,

“45 You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47)

The warrior that fights and wins fights and wins because God has decreed victory. The combatant that falls falls at God’s discretion. Goliath was undoubtedly the more skilled and seasoned soldier that day in the Valley of Elah, but God favored the Israeli shepherd boy. The colonial army in 1783 was, in the minds of many, no match for King George III’s Redcoats. The British went down to defeat nonetheless.

God presides over hostilities on the battlefield, but his supervision and intervention don’t make war a neat and tidy affair. Even decisive and glorious victories produce death and dismemberment for the victors, much more the vanquished. The ventures of the United States into armed conflict are no exceptions. Since 1776, the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps of the U.S. have engaged in 15 major conflicts producing more than 650,000 casualties, including casualties in the ongoing War on Terror.

Tomorrow, our nation will officially recognize Memorial Day, a day of remembrance of those who have given their lives in defense of this nation. As we pause to recall the sacrifices made on our behalf by our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, let us be thankful to God and to those who died for what they have done for us. Let us also remember that God was no detached observer in those moments of death. He guided bullets and blocked bayonets, shielding some and exposing others. Even sacrifice of one’s life can only occur because God has granted that life in the first place. This fact does not diminish the sacrifice made by those who died in defense of our nation. It only serves as a reminder that man, even in his noblest and most selfless moments, still owes his very being to his Creator.

God is the Lord of Armies. Life and death, victory and failure, war and peace are governed by his sovereign hand. As David declared, the battle, indeed, is the Lord’s.

Steve Pizzini
Berachah Bible Church

The Making of A Mother

2009-05-10T07:23:00.000-05:00

Are mothers born or made? In some sense mothers are born. God has created women to bear children with the included necessary psychological and emotional “wiring” to nurture and rear children. This of course does not mean that all women will be mothers or that all mothers will be good mothers. Nature alone is not enough to endow a female who bears children with the qualities needed for effective motherhood. Other things must be in place to ensure godly mothering. No greater privilege is bestowed upon a human being than the opportunity to give birth to an immortal soul and influence that child with biblical truth. More specifically, to be able to teach one’s child about God, impart divine wisdom, and exemplify Christ-exalting living is quintessential mothering.

How then can a mother be made to fulfill such a noble task as godly mothering? A godly mother must be conceived in the womb of the new birth. The one who is to conceive life within her must be born of the Spirit of God. This new birth that comes from God is not the result of human effort but is the product of the Holy Spirit. Motherhood without God is possible but is not good. There is too much at stake. The brush with death in giving birth, time and energy given on behalf of others, and mothering a future generation is without eternal value if Christ is shunned.

A godly mother is made by a mother who is godly. The best start in life is one that grows and develops under the watchful loving eyes of a mother who knows God and passes on His truth in the Bible to her children. Were you brought up by a mother who loved Christ and who taught you the Scriptures from infancy? If so, rejoice and aspire to do the same for your children. This kind of intergenerational spiritual linkage bears consequences for thousands of generations (Ex. 20:6). A godly mother is also made by having a father who knows his heavenly Father. Fathers, do you have a daughter? Meg Meeker in her book Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters has said that “daughters who spend more time with their fathers are less likely to drink, take drugs, have sex as teenagers or have out-of-wedlock babies.” Yes fathers, your time with your daughter matters greatly both in its quantity and quality. Daughters need dads who live for Christ.

A godly mother is made by being around older women who are devoting their remaining years to the display of inner beauty (1 Pet. 3:4; Tit. 2:3). Older women in the church who embrace life as an opportunity for sacred service to God, who use their tongues for encouragement rather than injuring others, who do not allow chemical dependencies to become a substitute for dependence on God, and who are committed to passing on the truth of God as it has been woven into the years of their experience are a rich treasure for mothers to be and mothers in the making. The work of a mother is not finished when the nest is empty. There are younger women who desperately need older women to whom they can look and see how to live God’s way.

A godly mother is made by knowing older men who are blazing a trail that is worth following (Tit. 2:2). Older men who are clear and discerning in their thinking, worthy of respect, self-controlled, rock-solid in their faith, who know how to love and to live with their hope set on heaven can make an incalculable contribution to the way mothers-to-be think about manhood. A mother in training needs an example of what true masculinity is like for it may be part of her task to rear a son for God.

A godly mother is made by learning early in life the value of displaying the precious jewelry of Christian truth (Tit. 2:4-5). The church working in concert with the family has a great work to do. Young women have to be taught how to express love to their husbands and children. As has already been pointed out, older women in the congregation must rise to the occasion and offer guidance in how to be committed to the spiritual welfare of one’s husband, in showing interest in what he does, and how to be his helper. Infants and small children are cute. But with that established there is a lot of love-work that has to be done. Children are self-centered and if left to themselves will bring heartache to their parents. They have to be taught what love is, how to get along with others, the importance of self-control, respect for authority, knowledge of the Scriptures, and how to make decisions. The mother who wants to be a God-pleaser needs guidance in how to lay out life’s priorities, in not being ruled by emotions, and how to develop a theological mind. It is this kind of jewelry that is to adorn the mother after God’s own heart.

A godly mother is made by understanding that outer beauty without inner beauty is a monstrosity (Prov. 11:22 “As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.”). The world brings great pressure to bear on young girls. It would have them believe that facial cream, make-up, clothes, a model-like figure, and beauty to die for are what define femininity. Let the man beware who wants a godly mother for his children. The man is caught by looking at the gold ring and failing to see the pig. What is the pig? It is that women who is morally flawed and relationally defective. The young girl who wants to grow up and have children of her own would do well to live by the truth that beauty is only skin deep. What really matters is having a heart that radiates love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Now that would be a mother that would make any son or daughter proud.

A godly mother is made by being savvy as to the degree of moral corruption that exists in society. To be spiritually ditsy is no laughing matter. The mothers of tomorrow need a Christian world and life view that makes them able to see through the smoke and mirrors of modern thinking. Multi-culturalism, the internet, the theory of evolution, and a host of other concepts and issues require a biblically razor sharp mind. A godly mother is made by refusing to be a self-satisfied woman, but instead has an insatiable appetite for God and His Word. In an age where the god narcissism rules (having a love-affair with oneself), a mother who is running hard after God will not preen herself on the latest fashions, hair-styles, or linger long in front of the mirror. She does not neglect her appearance and health, but her primary concern is to know the Scriptures and how they apply to her life.

A godly mother is made as she prays for, respects, and is devoted to her husband. She will not grow weary in the well-doing of submitting to her husband in the Lord and delights in the opportunity to exemplify the way Christ’s church submits to Him. By doing this she lives out gospel truth and gives her children an everlasting portrait of God’s redemption in Christ. A godly mother is made by valuing her children as gifts from God. She views them as made in the image of God, but because of sin are in need of God’s forgiveness. The early morning finds her in faithful intercession before God for those for whom she is responsible.

A godly mother is made by becoming an authentic worshiper of God. Her children must see her standing along side other believers in Christ singing the songs that extol God and the wonders of His salvation. A confusing message is sent to sons and daughters when their mother would rather stay at home and watch television than giving herself in ministry and encouragement to others on the Lord’s Day. But her worship doesn’t begin and end on Sunday. The whole of her life is a praise response to God’s mercy and grace to her. Her worship of God on the first day of the week is matched by her kindness on Tuesday.

Is it your desire young women to be a mother one day? Do you know what it takes to be a godly mother? Now is the time to set out on that journey. It will not be easy, but it will yield heavenly rewards that will echo throughout eternity. This would be a good time for all mothers in the making to renew their heart’s desire to exalt Christ. “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” (Prov 31:30).

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

The Swine Flu and Other Plagues

2009-05-03T07:38:00.000-05:00

“Swine flu outbreak in 11 states; 1 dead.” The headlines of this week’s AJC placed everyone on alert. Some may even be in a mild state of panic. The World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control have been communicating with the public in terms of the possibility of an epidemic or a pandemic. Either way, it is a serious matter in this day of rapid international travel. A flu carrier can be in Mexico in the morning and at his home in America or elsewhere by the afternoon. Many remember the SARS scare of 2003 (severe acute respiratory syndrome) when the world community scrambled to contain what seemed to be a deadly viral threat to millions of people. In the 1300’s the “black death” (the bubonic plague) swept through Europe destroying a fourth of its population. If you visit cemeteries in our own locale, you will notice how many died in the winter of 1918, at the height of World War I, from a lethal influenza virus that raced around the world. It is estimated that as many as 100 million people died worldwide from that great influenza outbreak.

The Bible gives us brief pictures of epidemics of sickness and death that have played a role in the story of redemption. The ten plagues of Egypt come to mind (Ex. 7-10). The tenth and final plague was the death of the first-born in every family that was not protected by the blood of a slain lamb on the doorposts and lintel of every house. We are not told how God’s death angel administered such a sorrowful epidemic of death. But it was enough to dislodge Pharaoh from his refusal to let Israel go from his land. Whatever the disease was that killed so many, it was God’s judgment on a truth-resistant Pharaoh and deliverance for Israel.

In a case of passing a hot potato, the ark of God inflicted a fatal disease on every Philistine who welcomed it into their community (1 Sam. 4-5). After about seven months of this the Philistines had had enough and worked out an arrangement to send the ark back to its rightful owners, God’s covenant people. The idol worshiping Philistines even tried some “sympathetic magic” as a means of alleviating their misery (1 Sam. 6:4-5). They thought that they could remove the disaster that plagued them by using models (five golden rats and five golden swollen lymph nodes). To show that God does not play favorites, over 50,000 Beth-shemesh citizens succumbed to the same disease that had afflicted the Philistines when some Israelites disrespectfully looked into the ark of the Lord (1 Sam . 6:19).

In what was one of the low points in King David’s life, he brought a plague upon Israel through his disobedience to God (2 Sam. 24:10-25). David violated one of God’s commands to Israel’s kings by pridefully having Israel’s number of fighting men counted. This ego trip resulted in God sending a deadly epidemic that took the lives of seventy thousand men. The attempt to organize his kingdom more perfectly like the self-promoting monarchs of surrounding nations brought about thousands of grieving widows. David, as God’s surrogate in Israel, learned the hard way that glorying in numbers was contrary to trusting in God for defensive power against all enemies.

The present world population of over six billion makes the prophecy of the pale horse in Revelation 6:7-8 absolutely staggering. A pandemic will contribute to the death of a fourth of the earth’s inhabitants in the Great Tribulation. Mankind’s hopes for creating lasting peace, plenty, and longevity of life through global politics, environmentalism, and scientific advances will meet with great disappointment. The great day of the wrath of the Lamb will make use of viral and bacterial diseases that will defy human invention and take, at present calculations, over two billion lives.

The swine flu along with every germ and disease known and unknown to man is part of the curse of death. Sin is the mother of death. Microorganisms that cause disease stand as a witness to a creation that groans under the curse of sin. It is sin that fallen human beings refuse to acknowledge as the real villain of human existence. It is sin that has corrupted every one of us and alienates us from our holy Creator. It is sin that ruins our relationships, breaks up our homes, deceives us, and hurls us into eternal judgment. Men and women may deny they are sinners but they can’t play like death isn’t there. That is what is so terrifying about the possibility of a mutated flu virus that could kill people by the millions. The grim reaper cannot be denied. The fear of death creates as many explanations for death as there are spiritually dead people. Sin’s grip must be broken if Satan’s (the father of death) grip is to be broken (Heb. 2:14; Eph. 2:1-5). Where is this liberation that we so desperately need? Freedom from the fear of death comes in liberation from the guilt of sin. Our liability to God’s wrath because of our rebellion against Him must be brought to the foot of the cross and the empty tomb of Jesus. Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation from God’s condemnation are the only ones who can be free from the fear of death.

Those who have experienced the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ should not be people who are infected with the fear of death. Those who belong to Christ know that death belongs to them (1 Cor. 3:22). It takes every believer to their everlasting rest in heaven. Christians are, therefore, able to show mercy to those who are afflicted with the diseases of our mortality. It is a ministry of witness to the hope that is in Christ. The swine flu and every germ on our planet tell us that death is the penalty of sin. The mother of all plagues is the plague of sin. But the greater news is that the Gospel proclaims the death of death in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

Myths about Marriage and Family

2009-04-26T07:12:00.000-05:00

A myth is an invented story in an attempt to explain something in life or nature. Romulus and Remus were mythical founders of Rome. It was said that a wolf nursed the twins after they had been abandoned as babies. We are amused by such myths. But myths are no laughing matter when they are accepted as truth. There are myths about marriage and family. The tragedy is that these myths are believed and acted upon by many to their own harm and loss. The following are some of myths that rule the thoughts of men and women regarding marriage and family.

Myth # 1 – Marriage is a 50/50 proposition. This myth says that in order for a marriage to work right a husband and wife must meet half way. As each fulfills his or her own responsibilities marriage will be what it ought to be. What’s wrong here? The truth is that marriage is a 100/100 effort. Each spouse is to give a 100 % commitment to the other. There is no meeting at the middle and waiting for the other to do their part. God holds the husband accountable to love Him with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love his wife as he loves himself. The same is true for the wife. Are you fully committed to your marriage? Or are you standing there tapping your feet thinking you have done your part waiting on your spouse to give equal effort?

Myth # 2 – The basis of marriage is love. This myth has an element of truth in it, namely, that love is a vital component in a good marriage. But the fact is that the basis of marriage is the covenant that binds a man and a woman together. Vows were taken in the marriage ceremony. Promises were exchanged. A commitment was forged. If one doesn’t love his or her spouse any longer, then they must learn to love. A lack of love is no excuse for running away from marital promises. Love can and should be learned. On the surface of it that may sound cold and hard. But it isn’t when it becomes understood that love is not merely an emotion. It is a way of thinking and acting. When love comes up out of the heart and makes sacrifices for the good of the other person, emotion will follow. Romance reenters a marriage when two people give themselves to love God’s way (1 Cor. 13:4-7).

Myth # 3 – The goal of marriage is happiness. This is not true. The goal of marriage is to glorify the Lord (1 Cor. 10:31). A man may say that his wife is difficult to live with (and it may be true). He says, “She makes me unhappy.” So he concludes there is no hope for the marriage, which further confuses matters. If a husband or wife just wants to be happy, then they will try to use God and talk in terms of having one’s needs met (another myth). An entirely different outlook is necessary to counteract the myth of “God wants me to be happy and you are not meeting my needs.” God is not against our personal happiness. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. The joy of the Lord is to be the Christian’s strength. A self-serving person thinks only about his own happiness. The one who serves God obeys Him and experiences a delight that overflows its banks. The driving passion of one’s heart ought to be to display the perfections of God no matter what the circumstances, yes, even if one’s spouse is making life hard.

Myth # 4 – Having children will draw a husband and wife closer together. If a couple is living life God’s way children can bring added blessing and unity. But having children is no guarantee that a marital relationship will get better. Sometimes a wife will think that she will be happier if she could have a baby. Mixed in with this desire may also be the thinking that a child will create some longed for happiness. The reality is that children bring added pressure. A new addition to the family cannot remove bitterness. Actually, children will tend to magnify the problems that already exist in a marriage. Children are a gift from God and should be enjoyed (Psa. 127), but they will not make pre-existing attitudes and behavior suddenly vanish. It is the empowering work of the Holy Spirit in one’s life that changes a relationship, not the multiplication of children.

Myth # 5 – It is better to be married than single. Self-deception is a tricky thing. We can convince ourselves that something will be true if only our circumstances would change. The single person who is lonely and unhappy can believe that being married will make life “all better.” It is an easy trap to fall into. Looking around in a church filled with married couples the single may surmise that they are all happy. Churches can be guilty of exacerbating the problem of single discontent through preaching and body-life that holds up marriage as a goal to be pursued by all, looking with suspicion upon those who are choosing to remain single, and by creating a social culture that marginalizes single people. Nevertheless, singles must think biblically about their circumstances. Read what the apostle Paul says about the advantages of serving God as a single (1 Cor. 7:25-40). Happiness is not created by circumstances. It comes to those who are walking by the Spirit.

Myth # 6 – Our children will grow up to be fine Christians and upstanding citizens, if we do the right things. We must be careful in dismantling this myth. On the one hand it is important that one’s children be brought up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:1). But at the same time biblical wisdom tells us that godly diligence in child-rearing does not guarantee the moral and spiritual outcome of one’s children. The examples of godly fathers who produced ungodly sons are abundant in the Old Testament. The supreme case of a “wounded parent” is found in God’s relationship with Israel (Hos. 11:1-4). Israel’s rejection of God’s love is notorious in the annals of redemptive history. The proper response to the myths that surround child training is not to be one of cynicism and fear. Instead parents are to be faithful in instructing their child in the whole counsel of God, providing abundant opportunities for learning how to live life God’s way, and giving an example of what it means to be a God-pleaser. All this is to be seasoned with prayer and dependence on God.

These are not all of the myths attached to marriage and the family. But they are enough to alert us to the dangers that beset us in living in a world that treats the Bible carelessly. Living in the fast lane with brief or no encounters with what the Bible teaches is the soil in which myths germinate. Myths are best identified and rejected “by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2).

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ: Some Questions

2009-04-12T07:32:00.000-05:00

Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ so important to Christianity? The resurrection is one of the foundational truths of the gospel message upon which Christianity rests (1 Cor. 15:1-11, 17-18). It is the foundation stone of orthodox Christianity and without it there is no Christian faith. According to the apostle Paul, if there is no resurrection the apostles were liars, the Christian’s faith is worthless, there is no hope for the future, and the world is right and we (Christians) are wrong (1 Cor. 15:15-19).

Can a person be saved and not believe in the resurrection of Christ from the dead? No! The resurrection of Jesus is essential to salvation (Rom. 10:9-10). There is no good news without a resurrected Savior (1 Cor. 15:12-14). The object of the gospel would be a dead man. The good news would be bad news. We are left with theological fiction.

Was the resurrection of Jesus Christ important in the church of the first century? Absolutely. It was necessary to have seen the resurrected Christ if one was to be an apostle (Acts 1:21-22). The resurrection was the main topic of the sermons preached in the early church (Acts 2:24, 32; 3:15, 26; 4:10; 10:40; 13:30-37; 17:31). Actually, the theme of the first messages recorded in the Book of Acts runs something like this: “This Jesus that you crucified and put to death was raised up by God.” The truth was clearly and boldly presented; the crucifixion was no accident. God planned it. Sinful men executed it. The resurrection of Jesus confirmed that He was the Messiah and Lord (Acts 2:22-32).

Was the resurrection of Jesus Christ prophesied in the Old Testament? It most certainly was. Peter used Psalm 16:8-11 and Psalm 110:1 to demonstrate that David could not be speaking of himself. He was speaking of the resurrection and ascension of the Messiah (Acts 2:25-31). In Psalm 2:7 it is prophesied that the identity of Jesus would be demonstrated in His resurrection. The prophet Isaiah said that the coming Messiah would have His days “prolonged” (Isa. 53:10). Having made an offering of Himself for sin and then to have His days prolonged necessitates bodily resurrection.

Did Jesus say anything about His resurrection from the dead? He did. He predicted it (Jn. 2:18-22; 10:18; 11:25; Matt. 12:38-40; 20:19; Mk. 8:31; Lk. 18:33, 34). At the very beginning of His public ministry Jesus told the Jews that He would raise Himself from the dead. Almost three years later in the fall before the spring of His resurrection, Jesus said, “because I lay down My life that I may take it again” (Jn. 10:17). Jesus was not surprised by His own resurrection from the grave. He knew He would come back from the dead to live forevermore. If He was not raised, then He lied. He then would not be the Savior from sin, but a deceiver.

Was the resurrection of Jesus an actual bodily resurrection? Some claim that Jesus’ resurrection body was an immaterial and invisible body. This represents a failure to understand the word “spiritual” in reference to Christ’s post-resurrection body (1 Cor. 15:44). The word “spiritual” means a supernatural body. Jesus actually died. He did not swoon away and revive in the cool tomb. Blood and water flowed from His side (Jn. 19:34, 35). A Roman centurion and other soldiers confirmed His death (M. 15:45; Jn. 19:33). When Jesus came out of the tomb, He came out physically. The tomb was examined. His body was not in it (Jn. 20:5, 7). The resurrected Jesus ate with His disciples (Lk. 24:41-45). The angels said, “He is not here, but He has risen” (Lk. 24:6-8). Christ’s resurrection body could be seen, touched, smelled, and heard. He was no ghost. The material body of Jesus was manifested to His disciples and many others in its glory.

Were there witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection? Yes. There were many (1 Cor. 15:5-11). The threefold criteria for evaluating the trustworthiness of a testimony is: (a) The witness must be competent (“eye-witnesses”), (b) Sufficient in number, and (c) Of a good reputation. The witnesses to the bodily resurrection qualified on all three counts. Some of these were Mark, Matthew, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James, Jude, Mary Magdalene, and the two disciples on the way to Emmaus (Mk. 16:12, 13). Were they all mistaken? Did they lie? Did they really see a resurrected Jesus? They were all trustworthy witnesses.

What is the relationship between Christ’s resurrection from the dead and the hope for the Christian’s resurrection? The apostle said that Christ is “the first fruits” of those who belong to Him (1 Cor. 15:20-23). This means that because Jesus was resurrected from the dead, so will all believers be raised. Jesus’ defeat of death is the first installment of a harvest of resurrected saints. This is why Paul taught that the denial of a resurrected body is a denial of the reality of Christ’s own bodily resurrection. We who are His will live forever in bodies suited for all eternity, because He lives.

Will there be any similarity between Christ’s resurrected body and the Christian’s resurrected body? Christ’s was recognized by His disciples in His appearances after His resurrection. We will recognize one another. His body could be touched. We will not be mere spirits but touchable, glorious physical bodies. Christ’s resurrection body had the ability to eat, but did not have to. There will be a luscious fruit-bearing tree of life in the heavenly city (Rev. 22:2). It will not be a mere decoration. The resurrected body of Jesus had the same voice resonance (i.e. same system of vocal cords). We will hear and recognize one another’s voices in heaven but without the imperfections that mortality has placed upon us.

What is the relationship between believers being able to stand before God as forgiven and accepted and the resurrection of Christ? Christ was raised in order to accomplish our justification. Justification is that legal act of God in which He declares us to be righteous in His sight. The justified believer can be accepted by God because His sins are forgiven and Christ’s righteousness belongs to him. No one could be justified before God if Jesus had not been raised from the dead (Rom. 4:25). None of us can earn the right to be with God in heaven. Such a privilege is because Jesus earned our justification. The open tomb of Jesus is God’s stamp of approval on the value of Jesus’ death on the cross.

How is the resurrection of Jesus to make a difference in the life of the Christian? It is to make all the difference in the world. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead demonstrates the power of God to save us and make us like Jesus Christ. The resurrection is proof of the power for change. It is a power that the believer already possesses in Christ (Eph. 1:20; 2:1, 6). Loving one another is possible. Freedom from the power of sin is possible (Rom. 6:4). Life dominating sins can be cut off at their roots. New desires, new motives, new aspirations, new thought patterns, and zeal for God are all possible because of resurrection power.

Dear friend, do you know the power of the resurrection? Have you experienced the life transforming power of God’s Holy Spirit? You ask, “How can this come about?” The resurrected Christ died to pay the penalty of sin. He was wounded for our transgressions. Because He lives you can enjoy the freedom of forgiveness and eternal life. Call upon the name of the Lord and you will be saved. Let the celebration of Christ’s resurrection be the day when you abandon your futile effort to earn God’s favor and accept the gift of salvation which the resurrected Christ offers so full and free.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

Let’s Take a Trip

2009-03-29T07:53:00.000-05:00

Jim Stout was an encourager, a faithful witness for Christ, the life of the party, and could tell stories that were unexcelled. One of my favorites was his account of family vacations taken with his parents and six siblings. Their annual drive from Pennsylvania to Florida was the stuff from which legends are made. We may all have our traveling stories. Good planning, poor planning, break downs, dead batteries, wrong turns, lost luggage, food poisoning, keys locked in the car, songs on the radio, arguments, laughter, and a whole lot more. But did you know that there is a psalm in the Old Testament that was written especially for travelers? It is even known as “The Traveler’s Psalm.” Saints of times gone by have drawn encouragement from it as they set out on journeys filled with the unknown.

Psalm 121 is the second of a group of psalms known as the songs of ascent. These songs were sung by pilgrims in ancient Israel as they journeyed to Jerusalem to celebrate the great feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles (Lev. 23). It has been said that it breathes a marvelous spirit of tranquil trust in God from beginning to end. It offers us the divine perspective that ought to serve as guiding truth for any of our travels.

The first stanza of this song for our trips reminds that the source of our protection is the Lord of creation (vv. 1-2). That would certainly be our initial concern would it not? The truth of looking to God as our true help must inform all of our travel plans. In the mind of the psalmist the hills did not represent his travel insurance. The pagan neighbors of Israel thought of the hills as places close to their gods. But the psalmist rejects the hills and seeks the God of creation Himself. Who is our helper when traveling at sixty-five mph or at 35,000 feet? It is the “Maker of heaven and earth.” James Boise said it best; “What we need is not the gods of nature, but nature’s God.” The ancient traveler was overwhelmed by the thought of God as he caught his first glimpse of Jerusalem’s city walls and the temple. My fellow traveler, let’s remember that trips should be preceded by right thoughts about God and divine providence. Worries and fears will not stand a chance in the presence of the God who rules over all the circumstances of life.

The protection of God has another quality to it. It is certain and ceaseless (vv. 3-4). How much better should we sleep knowing that God does not sleep. Overnight stays along the paths and trails that led to Jerusalem were filled with dangers; robbers and wild animals could be in the shadows ready to pounce on the unsuspecting. Confidence in God is a soft pillow upon which to lay one’s anxious thoughts. My Christian friend, you know that all traveling is subject to the dangers of living in a fallen world. But do not let fretful, complaining grumpiness rule you when that “flight delayed” or “flight cancelled” light flashes on the screen at the gate. Put your mind on the God who “causes all things to work together for good to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

With further rhetorical flourish the weary pilgrim reminds himself that “the Lord is your keeper.” The Keeper of Israel is always on duty. Yes, even on the midnight shift. In this final stanza we are assured that the protection of the Lord means that we are kept from all evil (vv. 5-8). Does this mean that the Christian is exempt from problems in travel? If that were the plan, there would be a long line waiting to buy this kind of traveler’s insurance. The British commentator puts us on the right track when he says, “to be kept from all evil does not imply a cushioned life, but a well-trained one.” Savor that thought for a minute. It carries some essential theological freight. We are not promised that we will not have automobile accidents, water pipes that won’t burst while we are away, or traveler’s intestinal issues. The truth is that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God. As Cornelius Plantinga has said, “We can come to know that it’s all right, even when everything is all wrong.” We are kept by our omnipotent Lord as we go through our problems. That makes a great deal of difference when you discover that your luggage is on its way to some unknown place or when you get to the airport and discover you have left your passport at home.

Fellow travelers, are you prepared for your next adventure? It should make a great deal of difference in the way we make our trips, if our GPS is filled with the counsel and comfort that comes from knowing that Jesus has said “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33).

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

Why I Love Ministering to Students

2009-03-22T07:35:00.001-05:00

I recently set out to write the many reasons Why I Love Ministering to Students. Below is the simple fruit of this reflection. While they are my reflections, my ambition is that they would be an encouragement to all—parents, grandparents, Sunday school teachers alike. If you are a part of Christ’s church, well, then you have a responsibility to those around you—whether they be 5 or 85—or even somewhere in between (teenagers)! Ministering to one another is a biblical imperative and, therefore, weighty responsibility that just happens to give tremendous joy.

I Love Evangelism – Students pose a tremendous opportunity as a mission field right in our own churches. If we neglect to minister to students, we lose an opportunity to preach the gospel. This reality motivates me to fulfill the Great Commission, specifically at a youth level.
Leadership is Influence – It gives me joy to take part in the same ministry as Paul as I seek to influence teenagers to follow Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). This joy is found in the fruit of watching students begin to imitate Christ and, in turn, influence their own peers. Youth leaders must remember that their lives and words are being watched and followed, and this is a significant responsibility before God.
I Love the Church – Teenagers are not just the church of tomorrow—they are part of the church right now. Like any pastor, youth ministers are to preach the Word (2 Tim 4:2), confront hearts with the truth, plead the gospel, and disciple those whom God has regenerated.
Youthfulness is an Asset – Teenagers are single, and singleness is a gift from the Lord to be used for service to the body (1 Cor. 7). If teenagers can own this truth now, they will be able to use their time, talents, and resources for the good of God’s people in a way that expresses single-minded devotion to God.
I Love the Family – Youth ministry that isolates itself from the family cuts itself off from God’s appointed primary means of discipleship. Youth ministers should strive to be partners with Christian parents, complementing their years of parenting and reinforcing biblical wisdom.
I Love the Hope of Their Maturity – Colossians 1:28-29 encourages me to minister to students in such a way that spiritual progress will take place in their lives. I love seeing Christ’s maturing, sanctifying work in teenagers whose lives are devoted to Him. There is great joy in seeing God’s people grow in their likeness to our Lord.
I Love the Hope of Their Potential – It gladdens my heart to minister to those who are the future members, ministers, deacons, and elders of our churches. It is these pivotal years that they have the opportunity to learn spiritual disciplines they will benefit from for the rest of their lives.

The content within these thoughts is obviously not confined to ministering to teenagers. These things apply to those of the youngest of age to those with longstanding church involvement. Whether you be a parent, deacon, or nursery volunteer, may our commitment to minister to one another be as robust and strong as ever—to the glory of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Grubbs
Berachah Bible Church

Simplifying Your Life

2009-03-15T06:36:00.001-05:00

Just what I need. Another appeal for me to live my life more serenely and simply. Don’t run away, if that was your first thought. Go to the words of Jesus. He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). To be pure in heart is to be singly focused on Jesus Christ. It is giving the Lord of lords our undivided attention. In so doing the eye of faith becomes increasingly clear and sharply focused on who God is and what He wants from me. To put it another way, seeing God is experiencing Him in the fullness of all that He is as God. Do you want that? If you do, you will be able to soar to incredible heights in love for God and usefulness in His kingdom. One way to think this through and live accordingly is to resolve day to day to live out the spiritual realities of God’s kingdom.

It has been said that, “the ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary, so the necessary can speak.” The “necessary” is to become “pure in heart.” How can purity of heart with its increasingly clear-eyed view of God be attained? Jesus told Martha that Mary, her sister, had chosen “the good part” (Lk. 10:42). What did He mean? Martha was in a lather about getting meal preparation just right for Jesus and the other guests. Mary was sitting and listening to Jesus teach. Jesus did not correct Martha because of her work ethic. It was because her work ethic dominated her. She let it keep her from doing what was the most important thing at that moment. Mary made the right choice. Martha didn’t. She needed to simply her life, namely hearing God’s Word and obeying it.

Martha’s was an unsimplified life. What are the signs of an unsimplified life? Here are some possible symptoms: no private time of communion with God in His Word and prayer, shallow relationships (many acquaintances but no close friends), failure to have read a good book in the last two months, chronic fatigue, worry, impatience, fear. We will need wisdom to make the necessary corrections. There is a danger in simplifying. Don Whitney in his book, Simplify Your Spiritual Life, has a chapter entitled “Beware of Simplifying.” In it he warns of the “cult of simplicity.” When simplifying becomes an end in itself, “materialistic, earthbound, and self-centered” living takes over. That is not where you want to go with simplifying your life. Where do you go? The following counsel is not a formula but some proposed points of wisdom to keep you on the right path in the pursuit of purity of heart.

Simplifying one’s life is living according to our God-given responsibilities. Fundamentally, these are love for God and for one’s neighbor (Mk. 12:29-31). Is this what you really want in life?
Simplifying one’s life is a journey guided by the compass of God’s eternal, infallible, and inerrant Word (Matt. 4:4). The Christian pilgrimage is one of redeeming the time (Eph. 5:16). Are material things draining you of spiritual energy?
Life’s demands must not be dictated by our energy, the demands of others, or the values of the culture (1 Jn. 2:15-17). How has God gifted you? Are you a good manager of your natural and spiritual gifts?
Put things in their proper place that are getting in the way of the pursuit of priorities; such as television, movies, excessive internet time, etc. Are you in control of the entertainment and information you desire? What do you want to know and why do you want to know it?
Self-discipline must become a way of life, not an elective. Pray for it. It is a grace of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23). Self-mastery is one of the prime achievements in life. Don’t be satisfied without it. But don’t get the cart before the horse. Love for God will shape my schedule. A well-oiled routine may be just that, a well-oiled routine. Do you have control over your phone? Computer? Stream of thought?
Declare war on the habit of procrastination. It is the thief of time. Make a list of the things you have been ignoring. Arrange them in order of importance. Get to work and then enjoy the God-given sense of relief.
Plan your schedule before others plan it for you. Beware of the self-help and success books which tell you how to get more out of your time. Packing more into your time in order to produce more is not the way to pursue a simplified life. Is more what we want?
Insist upon the preparation for and the experience of worship with God’s people. There is no better reminder of what is essential in life than worship that is Bible-based, God-exalting, Christ-centered, and Spirit-driven.
Break away from your routine periodically to rest, reflect, renew, and reevaluate your life. A life unexamined is a life unfulfilled. The kind of life for which God has made us is one that seeks His glory above all else. Take your Bible, some Christ-exalting music, and a soul-stirring book (e.g. “To the Golden Shore” – the life of Adoniram Judson).
Establish and guard time with God each day. Do this somewhere, sometime, somehow. If you want to hear what God is saying to you, make sure that you are listening to what He has said in the Scriptures. A conversation with oneself is not the same as listening to God.

Well then, what are we to do? Down-size our houses, become a one-car family, stay home more, get rid of our computers? As has already been noted, simplifying one’s life can become a very self-centered and materialistic venture. The first step toward genuine simplification is to become God’s child through faith in Jesus Christ. It is as Don Whitney says, “The place to start simplifying the spiritual life (and derivatively all of life) is to make sure you have one.” Dear reader, do you have life in Jesus Christ? Jesus said that “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly” (Jn. 10:10). Simplifying one’s life begins by passing from death to life (Jn. 5:24). We were born separated from fellowship with God. God cannot accept us because of our sin. There is no way to remedy this condition other than to receive God’s forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus Christ. God says, “I give to you eternal life.” We are to answer; I accept. That is faith. The simplicity is not in what it cost God, the death of His Son, but in the way to accept the gift of salvation. Faith, it’s just that simple.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

Growing up in Christ – No Shortcuts, Part II

2009-03-01T07:42:00.001-05:00

How do we get there from here? The Christian from the instant he is born again is to press on to maturity in Christ. There will be temptations to take the wrong roads to this destination. We may hear some teaching on the Christian life that has elements of truth in it but laced with erroneous theology. Our progress in the faith can be impeded by misdirected thinking and living. Another of these “shortcuts” to holiness is claiming a promise and moving out. The Christian pilgrim will hear the appeal to complete surrender, confessing all known sin, seek the filling of the Spirit, claiming a promise from the Bible, and move out under the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit. There are some biblical truths in this system. But the proposed formula breaks down in failing to focus on faith in one’s position in Christ. The growing Christian must stay tethered to Romans 6 and those things that are true about every believer (e.g. cocrucifixion and coresurrection). Claiming a promise (quite often taken out of context) doesn’t necessarily put one on the fast track to holiness. Acts of dedication and surrender, however well-intentioned, are no replacement for the day to day disciplining oneself for godliness (1 Tim. 4:7).

Perhaps the most appealing shortcut to holiness of life is performance based living. On the surface it appears simple and attainable. “Just obey the laws of the Bible.” As one of its adherents has put it, “entire sanctification consists in perfect obedience to the law of God.” Many Christians get caught-up in this kind of system. Legalism is the attempt to make oneself worthy enough to deserve God’s blessing. The problem is that it can’t be done. The fundamental failure is that post-conversion legalism is essentially abandonment of the grace of God in the gospel. How could we ever be good enough to earn God’s approval? In his monumental letter to the Galatians the apostle Paul rebukes his readers for capitulating to the error that God can be put in a position of being a debtor to us (“God owes me because of my good.”). The pride that sits in the middle of this kind of thinking is titanic. The truth is, God is the source of blessing. Works that glorify God flow out of the spring of God’s grace. Jerry Bridges has captured the issues that are at stake; “Regardless of our performance, we are always dependent on God’s grace. . .Even our best works are shot through with sin – with varying degrees of impure motives and lots of imperfect performance.” The legalism lane is the wrong lane in the race of the Christian life. If you want to be disqualified from receiving any rewards, just run in this lane. Stay in the grace lane to the finish line.

Another aspect of the legalism shortcut is the taboo route. Taboos are things that are forbidden or prohibited. Lists of things that are prohibited are part of the legalism subculture. Thoughtless and poorly taught believers can start adopting a series of things to avoid as the means to holiness of life. The thinking is that by not participating in “worldly” activities one can insure his devotion to Christ. Giving up certain amusements, adopting a certain type of approved clothing, listening only to Christian music, and staying away from certain kinds of entertainment can be intoxicating to the believer who is trying to not love the world and draw nearer to God. This is not to say that there are not things that Christians would be wise to avoid in order to keep their minds and time sharply focused on Christ. But mere acts of austerity and self-denial can stunt rigorous biblical thinking and keep us from what it means to “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2).

Shortcuts are attractive because they have the immediate appearance of “workability.” Self-discipline is admirable and even necessary in the journey of faith. However, the well-intentioned Christian may look at prayer, Bible reading, financial giving, witnessing for Christ and other duties as the key to Christian living. What could be wrong with setting up a routine and doing the right things? The problem is that a routine in and of itself doesn’t force one to go beneath the surface of behavior and deal with the heart. Solomon said, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov.4:23). A wisely planned schedule can be a very good thing. We need to pray regularly, read our Bible, give to God’s work, and tell others about Christ. But true Christianity is not just about changing habits and routines. It is about changing hearts. Our motives, interests, desires, aspirations, and value judgments need a thorough going-over by the searching power of God’s Word as an instrument of the Holy Spirit. Going on to maturity travels by way of love for Christ which orders one’s life for godliness. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, not a system of holiness.

“What would Jesus do?” has from time to time come forward to be the guiding principle for holy living. The statement by Peter, “leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps. . .” (1 Pet. 2:21), is used to support the WWJD slogan. The problem is that transformation into the image of Christ does not come by imitation. It comes by renewing of the mind and the re-ordering of the inner life by God’s Spirit. Trying to copy a mental image of what Jesus was like tends to get confused with personal subjective ideas about what genuine Christianity is. Only by rightly dividing the Word of truth and the resultant mind of Christ being formed in the believer can one correctly discern how to obey Christ. Conjuring up a mental picture of Jesus and/or trying to copy someone else’s personality (deemed to be a holy person) is fraught with dangers. There are no shortcuts to serious Bible study and steeping one’s mind in God’s holy, infallible, inerrant Word.

“What will you give up for Lent?” This question is posed each Easter season. Will giving up chocolate for lent, participation in holy communion, being baptized, singing in the church choir, or observing “holy-days” make us stronger Christians? We must be very careful here. It may be wise to alter one’s eating habits and sing in the Easter cantata. But unless one is walking in the Spirit, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and savoring Jesus Christ, ritualism will not suffice. A good dose of Colossians 2:20-23 is a good remedy for seasonal “holiness.”

What has been said about these so-called shortcuts to growing up in Christ does not mean that there are not some biblical truths sprinkled among them. Nor is this critique a judgment on earnest, God-seeking Christians who stray into spiritual cul-de-sacs. If you have found yourself chasing some erroneous idea about the pursuit of holiness, repent of it and return to the Scriptures for the necessary corrections. And above all let us be kind to those caught in the web of deceitful devices in their longing for a closer walk with God. We must judge ourselves before we set out to reprove others. Then proceed with mercy, speaking the truth in love, and “grow up in all aspects unto Him, who is the head, even Christ” (Eph. 4:15).

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

Growing up in Christ – No Shortcuts

2009-02-22T07:37:00.000-05:00

Growing up from infancy to adulthood is not easy. It takes time, proper nutrition, adequate sleep, exercise, personal hygiene, some sickness (the immune system has to be developed), and other intangibles. For that matter, sustaining a reasonable modicum of health in adult life requires attention to the same basics as early childhood development. The writer of Hebrews urges his readers to go on to maturity by means of a diet of solid food (Heb. 5:14). Peter admonishes believers to long for the pure milk of the Word (2 Pet. 2:2). But there can be problems. Poor nutrition, lack of God-enabled self-discipline (1 Tim. 4:8), and the temptation to look for shortcuts to maturity in the faith can yield spiritual malnourishment and limited growth.

There are certain basics for spiritual development that every Christian must know. J. I. Packer gives an excellent summary of these basics about holiness (the goal of the Christian life) in his book, Keep in Step with the Spirit. They are: (1) The nature of holiness is transformation through consecration. (2) The context of holiness is justification through Jesus Christ. (3) The root of holiness is cocrucifixion and coresurrection with Jesus Christ. (4) The agent of holiness is the Holy Spirit. (5) The experience of holiness is one of conflict. (6) The rule of holiness is God’s revealed law. (7) The heart of holiness is the Spirit of love.

The God-pursuing, righteousness-hungry Christian can adopt some injurious nutritional habits which will hinder growth in Christ. In the quest for holiness (becoming like Christ) the believer must be on guard against the following erroneous views of the Christian life. Holiness is not attainted by perfectionism. There is a teaching that would have us believe that at some point through some special kind of spiritual experience eradication of the sinful nature is possible. This is patently foolish, but nevertheless a naïve Christian may buy into this deception. The truth is, “If we say we have no sin (the indwelling sin principle), we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 Jn. 1:8). Nor can holiness be attained by emotionalism. Non-doctrinal sharing of experiences, public confession of sins, self-discovery, total openness and freedom to be oneself can become a substitute for biblical sanctification. These ideas were especially popular in the 1970s, but they still travel in certain groups. So-called honesty sessions can be a very harmful diversion. The danger involved is thinking that an encounter with biblical truth on a feeling level is the same as encountering biblical truth in the heart. Emotions are a wonderful gift from God. They are a part of being made in the image of God, but emotions must be tethered to truth and expressed through the Christian’s relationship to Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:8). Getting in touch with oneself is not the same as knowing Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:10).

The pathway to holiness is not found in self-renunciation. The teaching here is that denying oneself or “crucifying self” is the road to spirituality. The appeal of this idea is that it claims to be what Paul means when he says, “consider yourselves to be dead to sin” (Rom. 6:11). But it misinterprets the text. The Christian’s identification with Christ is what it means to be “dead to sin.” Bondage to the sin nature has been broken. There is no way we can crucify ourselves. The danger of self-renunciation as a supposed key to Christian growth is that it can’t be done. Self never cancels out self. Paul is referring to the threat of physical death daily in his life when he speaks about dying daily, not crucifying self.

The attainment of spiritual maturity by “letting go and letting God” is another path to be avoided. This is an attempt to guide Christians into spiritual growth by an interpretation of Romans 6 which turns it into steps for living the Christian life. It is alleged that Paul is answering the question, “How may a justified believer live a holy life?” The result is a teaching which turns Romans 6 into a method for Christian living, that makes Romans 7:14-25 a description of a Christian trying to fight sin “in the energy of the flesh,” and encourages a kind of passivity. You will hear such things as “Stop trying and start trusting,” “Let go and let God.” But as J.I. Packer has so accurately replied, “The Christian’s motto should (rather) be, “Trust God and get going!” Be wary of teachings on the Christian life that want to reduce the fight with sin to bland and lazy appeals that say, “Don’t struggle with it yourself, just hand it over to the Lord.” This will not be the road to Christian maturity.

To be continued...

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

A God-given Mind

2009-02-15T07:04:00.000-05:00

The human mind is a beautiful thing. When God made man out of dirt He fashioned a brain that worked rather well. Adam was immediately able to comprehend what God told him to do (“Be fruitful and multiply….”). Categories of thought, perceptive abilities, memory, self-awareness, other-awareness (Adam recognized Eve as a fellow human being), communication skills, God consciousness, reasoning powers, and an incredible vocabulary (name-giving to all the animals). But a tragedy of titanic proportions took place in paradise. Adam and Eve took it upon themselves to second-guess God, listened to the arch-enemy of God, and plunged themselves and creation into the dark abyss of the curse of sin and death. Did they lose their minds? No. But they no longer worked right. Instead of seeing God as their friend they became hostile to God and afraid of him. Adam and Eve’s minds became debased (Rom. 1:28), occupied with futility (Eph. 4:17), defiled (Tit. 1:15), blinded to spiritual realities (2 Cor. 4:4), and darkened (Eph. 4:18). Their minds became desperately in need of the light of revelation. Their reasoning powers were not to be trusted apart from God’s revealed wisdom.

On February 12 the AJC made its contribution to the celebration of Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday by running an editorial by the Rev. Patricia Templeton, rector of St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in northwest Atlanta. The title of the article was “Study Creation with God-given Mind.” My fifty-plus years of reading editorials, especially in liberal newspapers, prompted a suspicious impulse. Was I about to read something that would have us revel in the wonders of God’s creation? It didn’t take Rev. Templeton long to inform her readers that though the Bible “contains the words of the living God,” it is not a source of authority when it comes to understanding how God’s creation is what it is. To her way of thinking, science is an independent authority and must take precedence over the Bible when it comes to knowing how the world began and how human beings came to inhabit our planet. We are assured that science has the answers to any questions we may have about these matters. Not to worry though. The Bible, we are told, starts out giving us “stories of creation.” Rector Templeton stumbles badly here. She thinks Genesis 1 and 2 contains two conflicting stories. There is a failure here to appreciate the literary device used by Moses (and many others) of giving the order of events (Genesis 1) followed by additional content about those events (Genesis 2). It is not a matter of “which story is true?” There is only one story harmoniously written and providing a complete picture of creation events. Is the Bible merely a story book designed to tell us about the “relationship between God and human beings, between the Creator and creation?” The biblically uninformed will be thrown off balance by this kind of language. After all, wasn’t the Bible written to tell us the story of God’s provision of a redeemer for human beings? The question is, can the Creator be trusted to tell us what we need to know about origins, about ourselves, about Him, and about our responsibility to Him?

What is being served-up in this verbal birthday cake for Charles Darwin is a not so subtle attack upon the sufficiency of God’s Word, the Bible. The Bible tells us what we need to know about God, His creation, and how it came about. Once science is made the gate-keeper for knowledge about human origins, the Bible becomes, in effect, a religious book to inspire good feelings about God and oneself. That, of course, is strikingly similar to Satan’s first words to Eve’s mind, “Has God said?” If we want to talk about a wasted mind, those three words opened the door to the greatest displacement that has ever occurred. The human mind chose to replace God with the autonomous self. The mind became darkened and prejudiced against God. The creation was given supremacy over the Creator and the rest is history. Listen to the Spirit of God through the apostle Paul; “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools” (Rom. 1:21-22).

Don’t fall for the high-sounding double talk that gives lip service to the Bible as a useful book while at the same time holding up fallible human beings as the final arbiters as to what is truth about human origins. The truly God-given mind submits itself to the authority of the Scriptures in all matters pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). If the Bible has it wrong about human origins, then it is wrong about human sin, our need for a Redeemer, and the outcome of human history. Beware of those who condescendingly assure us that the Bible can guide us in spiritual matters but is not our final authority in matters of history and science. If that is so, what are we to do with the Bible’s assertion that “Christ died for our sins.” There is a massive amount of history, science, and theology bound up in those five words.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

The Beatitudes for Marriage

2009-02-08T07:41:00.000-05:00

“Love and marriage, love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage. This I tell you brother. You can’t have one without the other.” These words for an old song are, sadly, not necessarily true. We can probably think of marriages where love doesn’t seem to be a part of the relationship. But I think we would agree that any marriage could use more love between a husband and a wife. Valentine’s Day is almost on us and thoughts go to candy, flowers, a special card (get to the card shop before the better cards are gone), and a romantic meal together. All that is well and good, but what is the real condition of your marriage? Is your love for one another growing? Has your relationship become a mere business partnership, a brother-sister relationship, or an I-will-go-my-way- you-go-your-way arrangement? This need not be, nor should it be. Marriage is to be a live drama of Christ’s love for His church and the church’s love for Christ. Children in Christian homes should not be deprived of daily visuals of the gospel story.

In order for love to exist and mature, the spiritual well-being of a husband and wife must be a life-encompassing experience. What is the kind of marriage that meets with God’s approval? The word that expresses His approval is “blessed.” The word “happy” is frequently used as a synonym for blessed, but it is too limited. Happy is most often thought of as an emotional moment of pleasure which is like a giant wave that eventually comes crashing down on the beach and disappears. The state of blessedness is much more than mere circumstantial exuberance. It is a condition of the soul that is secure and hopeful. It is a life that is enriched by God. It is soul prosperity in the best sense. But how does one get there? Husbands and wives are invited to a Valentine’s meal of truth. Savor the beatitudes for marriage. Resolve to have a marriage that meets with God’s approval.

The poor in spirit are those who recognize their helplessness and total dependence upon God. I cannot be the kind of husband or wife God wants me to be without Him. Have you come to that moment of truth in your marriage where you realize that loving someone else as God wants us to love requires supernatural help? Have you cried out to God for grace to change the way you think about and relate to your spouse?

Those who mourn are those who weep over their sin and the violence it does against God, oneself, and others. When I am broken over my sin and repent, God will give me comfort. He is a merciful God to those who seek mercy. I am able then to be merciful toward that one closest to me. When was the last time you asked God for forgiveness for having failed to love your spouse as you ought to? Unhappiness in a marriage is often directly attributed to stubbornness and a refusal to admit a wrong. God loves to comfort those who come to Him in contrition and repentance.

The meek are those who do not use what they have, what they know, or what they are to hurt others. They instead bring everything God has given them to help others. The husband or wife who uses his or her abilities, graces, and gifts for the sake of the other will rule with Christ in the kingdom. Do you tend to ride roughshod over the feelings and desires of your spouse? Meek people are not weak people. They are the truly strong. They place everything at God’s disposal for the spiritual well-being of others. Have you attempted to make your spouse feel stupid for not knowing something you know (or think you know)? That’s not meekness.

Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness have an appetite for God. The husband or wife must first and foremost pursue God. As you seek after God, fulfillment will be given by God. Your spouse cannot give meaning to your life. Only your experience with God can do that. An insatiable appetite for God takes a marriage to heights previously unknown. The spiritual heights of intimacy, friendship, mutual sacrifice, shared goals, and a life for the glory of God will never be scaled by those whose appetite is for self-fulfillment.

Merciful husbands and wives look upon their spouses with compassion. Tender regard for a fellow sinner will be reciprocated. When you see your spouse hurting seek to ease the hurt. Don’t exploit it. A husband is never more masculine than when he comes to the aid of his wife in pain. “Sometimes the manliest thing to do is doing the ‘unmanly’ thing” (a quote from my eight-year old granddaughter Meredith). Notice how often the compassion of Jesus is mentioned in the Gospels. A home becomes a soft place to land when merciful people live there.

The pure in heart do not allow their thoughts to stray beyond the sexual bonds of marriage. Protect and ensure intimacy with your spouse by watching over your heart with all diligence. Intimacy with God will drive me to purity of mind. It has been said that “the heart is never neutral toward Jesus Christ. It is either moving closer toward Him or away from Him.” The pure in heart are on a journey to becoming totally occupied with the person of Jesus Christ. A husband is pure in heart when he resolves day by day to live out the values of God’s kingdom. A wife is pure in heart when she values what is real, important, eternal, and is unsatisfied with sham, deceit, or any hint of hypocrisy. Nothing is more beautiful than a husband and wife walking hand in hand towards heaven’s gates with the clear vision of loving and living God’s truth.

The peacemakers are those who refuse to live in disharmony with those around them. The husband or wife who wants to be called a son of God does not provoke strife and will not allow it to rule their home. Is it not painful to hear a woman criticize her husband to other women? Is it not an ugly thing to see a marriage break up on the shoals of anger, strife, and bitterness? What’s going on behind the doors of your home, husbands and wives? Are you tolerating a lack of reconciliation with your spouse over that difference you had last week (month, year)? Sweet is that relationship that does not let the sun go down on anger.

The persecuted are those suffering hurt because of their allegiance to Jesus Christ. If the husband or wife endures pain in marriage, let it be because it is a blow against Christ, not because it is a result of sin. This is kingdom living. There are married couples who live in different spiritual universes. This is not the way it is supposed to be, but it happens. And more often than not, it is the Christian who suffers because of his or her faith in Jesus Christ. A lack of compatibility in things that matter most, namely, the supremacy of Jesus Christ and the sufficiency of His Word, can be a heavy weight on the heart. If you are there, resolve to be joyful in God’s service and devoted to your life’s partner.

Love is to go together with marriage. Make it so in your own life. “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13:35). That is the kind of marriage that meets with God’s approval. Live God’s principles, and enjoy the romance.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

Blessed Assurance or Blessed Doubt?

2009-02-01T07:38:00.000-05:00

“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.” These words by Fanny Crosby and Mrs. J. F. Knapp have been sung countless times with heartfelt delight. What is the basis of our assurance? The assurance of the believer’s salvation comes through God’s eternal, inerrant, and infallible Word. Jesus said that “he who hears my word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24). Is that a promise? It most definitely is and has a lot of company elsewhere in the Scriptures. Looking primarily into our hearts and obedience for assurance can be a dark hole.

There are those who are wary of the words “eternal security.” One noted theologian has said this phrase “can be quite misleading.” He is less than enthusiastic about this language because of the way some have abused the truth of the security of the believer. As the old saying goes, one might think that he is eternally secure while at the same time “he wants to ride to heaven on the back of a stolen donkey with another man’s wife.” Are there people who think they are Christians and they are not? Undoubtedly. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). There will always be those who, like Judas, deceive others and themselves about their true spiritual condition. But the truth of eternal security is clearly taught in the Bible and it is not wise to abandon words that carry this important theological freight. We would not want to do this with the word “grace” and all that it communicates, though there are some who use the word as a cover for their sin (Rom. 6:1).

It might help to briefly review some of the fundamentals regarding the security of the believer. All who belong to Jesus Christ have a guarantee from God regarding their predestination, calling, justification, and glorification (Rom. 8:28-30). Christ’s present intercessory work in heaven for the Christian will not fail (Rom. 8:34; I Jn. 2:1-2). The Holy Spirit has sealed each and every child of God (Eph. 1:13-14). The doctrine of the security of the believer is clear and bold in the Bible. We must never forget that our security in Christ depends upon the work of the Triune God. The believer’s final entrance into heaven is guaranteed by the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

It is, then, a bit curious that some Christians in our day are vouching for the value of periodic doubt with regard to the believer’s assurance of salvation. It is suggested that we must regularly doubt our salvation in obedience to God’s command to “examine ourselves.” Doubts with regard to one’s salvation, it is said, are not necessarily wrong. They just must not be life-dominating. It is even claimed that “the only validation of salvation is a life of obedience.” Two things must be considered. First of all, this is not what the Scripture teaches and, secondly, some bad fruit that will fall from this tree, e.g. self-absorption, instability, hopelessness.

We are told by some that 2 Corinthians 13:5 is a command to periodically doubt our salvation. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you – unless indeed you are disqualified?” In the wider context of the book, Paul has frequently addressed the Corinthians as believers (1:1, 21-22; 3:2-3; 8:9; 13:11, 14). This is despite the fact that he has also had to address their strife, jealousy, self-righteousness, drunkenness, and immorality. Now in Chapter 13, he wants them to ask themselves whether they are walking according to the faith that they had professed. His concern is that they be “disqualified from rewards (v. 5, 6, 7, I Corinthians 9:27, NKJV). “Your restoration is what we pray for.” (v. 9, ESV)

We do not make our salvation “more sure” by a life of fruit-bearing. The apostle Peter tells his readers, who already had faith, to give visible confirmation of their salvation to a watching world (2 Pet. 1:1, 5, 10). This is a far cry from the assertion that we can somehow get a better grip on our salvation through obedient living. Assurance of our salvation is both an immediate and progressive reality. The objective ground of the believer’s assurance of his salvation is the promise of God’s Word (I Jn. 5:12). We don’t save ourselves by persevering to the end. We can be sure that we have salvation at the present moment. Jesus Christ secures us by the value of His atoning work on the cross. Our security in Christ gives us the assurance that we belong to Him now and forever.

There is also a subjective ground to our assurance of salvation (i.e., the realization that one possesses eternal life). A true Christian will bear some fruit at some time, in some way. These changes that occur in one’s life will bring further assurance that we belong to Christ (e.g. keeping Christ’s commandments, loving other believers, forgiving those who have sinned against me, disciplining myself for godliness). Being a new creation in Christ will not go unnoticed by me nor by others. But this does not make me “more saved” than when I first believed on the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive me of my sins and give me eternal life. We can sing of blessed assurance because Jesus said: “He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live” (Jn. 11:25).

That assurance is the essence of saving faith was claimed by John Calvin. He said: “In short, no man is truly a believer, unless he be firmly persuaded, that God is a propitious and benevolent Father to him . . . unless he depend on the promises of the Divine benevolence to him, and feel an undoubted expectation of salvation” (Institutes III.II.16). And let Charles Spurgeon add his thoughts on assurance: “It is part of heaven on earth to get an assurance wrought by the Spirit. You can never, after seeing the sunlight, put up with candlelight of your doubts and fears in the dungeon of despondency.” And, finally, listen to a converted rabbi: “I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (II Tim. 1:12). Nothing can separate the believer from the love of God (Rom. 8:35-39). My dear reader, let the sure word of the living God cast light into our dungeons of doubt, dry spells, and despondencies.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

God’s Grace in Many Places

2009-01-25T07:41:00.000-05:00

I am aware that many of you got there long before I did and with some of you, multiple times. On Saturday morning, January 17 at 9:35 a.m., I felt a pain in my right side. Little did I know that a kidney stone (4.3 millimeters in size) had started its journey out of my kidney and eventually would lodge itself at the entrance of my bladder. Never in all my life have I experienced such unremitting pain. This combined with nausea and fever was not overcome by medication. More aggressive medical intervention was necessary. A urologist on staff at the hospital in Brunswick, Georgia agreed to work me into his surgical schedule on Monday, January 19. The stone was broken into several pieces by a laser procedure. The surgeon seemed especially pleased that he was able to rid my body of the unwelcomed guest.

We may wonder exactly how God reveals His grace to us in trying times. I think I have seen many evidences of His grace through this whole ordeal. There was Beth, my dear wife, by my side every step of the way. She gave up a family wedding function to accompany me to the emergency clinic, sat with me in the emergency room through the night, and drove us home on Tuesday from St. Simons, remained cheerful, encouraging, and merciful at the expense of her own energy, sleep, and time. Let’s all determine that we can be thought of as instruments of grace.

Nurses. What would we do without them? Coming into an emergency room longing for some relief from pain, there waiting at the door was a nurse. Their kindnesses were many. The attending nurse before and after surgery was dependable and did all she could to make us comfortable. She said she was a believer in Jesus Christ. It was more of God’s grace.

Common grace is the grace of God by which He showers upon us an abundance of blessings not included in our salvation. Believers and nonbelievers in Jesus Christ are recipients of common grace. Skilled physicians who know how to use modern medical technology to look inside the human body with little cameras are grace to us all. The whole operating room is an orchestration of grace.

Grace is a manifestation of God’s goodness. We do live in a fallen world. Nature has been subjected to futility. It is not what it is supposed to be. Pain is a witness to a body that is dying. But our battles with pain and suffering can be a foretaste of God’s everlasting goodness in the eternal kingdom. We must remind ourselves of God’s goodness. All that He does is worthy of our approval. When we are experiencing excruciating pain, God is good. When we become disappointed over changed plans, God is good. When piercing pain refuses to stop after we have prayed, God is good. When we become ill while away from home and familiar sources of help, God is good. When we wait for help that is delayed in coming, God is good. When medical bills come we had not anticipated, God is good. When problems multiply, God is good. When our child is diagnosed with an illness for which there is no known remedy, God is good. When the economy brings us personal financial losses, God is good. When the government pursues policies that grants license to kill the unborn, God is good. Is God’s unrelenting goodness an approval of evil? It is not. An infinitely wise and trustworthy God has decreed that evil will operate in His universe. By this He will be eternally glorified. Does that leave us with any questions? It does. For now we live by faith and see in a mirror dimly. One day God will wipe away every tear, there will no longer be any death, or mourning, or crying, or pain (1 Cor. 13:12; Rev. 21:4).

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

God Sent Me Ahead of You

2009-01-18T07:21:00.000-05:00

The words of Joseph to his brothers in Genesis 45:7 jumped off the page of my Bible (“But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”). After all that Joseph had endured in his few years, he expressed trust in the infinite wisdom of God. His brothers had been jealous of him (Gen. 37:11), hated him (Gen. 37:4, 5, 8), wanted to kill him (Gen. 37:20), threw him into a pit (Gen. 37:24), and then sold him into slavery in Egypt (Gen. 45:5). False charges of attempted rape landed him in an Egyptian prison. But Joseph sums it up by saying that God was working out His purposes in his life. Further on he says it even more forcefully, “You [his brothers] meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Gen.50:20). The psalmist underscores the truth that God “had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave” (Psa. 105:17). A wonderful truth lies on the surface of Scripture like a diamond. God is sovereign over adversity. We must listen to the Bible very carefully. It nowhere assigns responsibility for evil to God. Joseph’s brothers were guilty for the evil they did. Potiphar’s wife lied about Joseph’s intentions. He was innocent of all charges. There are many other examples of this theological puzzle in Scripture.

Wayne Grudem gives a helpful analysis of verses relating to God and evil. (1) “God uses all things to fulfill His purposes and even uses evil for His glory and for our good.” (2) “Nevertheless, God never does evil, and is never to be blamed for evil.” (3) “God rightfully blames and judges moral creatures for the evil they do.” (4) “Evil is real, not an illusion, and we should never do evil, for it will always harm us and others.” (5) “In spite of all of the foregoing statements, we have to come to the point where we confess that we do not understand how it is that God can ordain that we carry out evil deeds and yet hold us accountable for them and not be blamed Himself.” Until God gives us further light, His relation to sin will remain a mystery. He is worthy of our trust and that is how we must live (Jn. 17:3; 1 Thess. 1:9).

Now let’s make all of this very personal. The very morning I read Genesis 45:7 about how God used evil to bring about His sovereign purposes in Joseph’s life, I looked at the business section of the AJC. Bankruptcy filings, job cuts, and a generally dismal financial outlook characterized the daily briefing. Think of the evil that has contributed to the economic downturn nationally and internationally. Greed, fraud, and fiscal irresponsibility have all been nails in the coffin of our economy. What do we do? Complain? Get bitter? Live fearfully? These are roads that hopeless people take. Let’s go back to Joseph. What did he do in response to the bad things others did that directly affected him? He didn’t blame his brothers or Potiphar’s wife. He served God wherever he was. Even in prison he distinguished himself by his administrative gifts. Eventually, through Joseph’s God-given understanding of Pharaoh’s dreams, Egypt avoided a national disaster by being prepared for a devastating seven year famine. Actually, the outcome of God’s providential working in Joseph’s life saved many lives (Gen. 45:5). Perhaps even more importantly, God’s redemptive purposes through Israel were kept alive through the survival and protection of Israel (Gen. 45:7). God had told Abram that his descendants would live in a foreign land (Gen. 15:13-16). God had promised that even though there would be obstacles, His covenant with Abraham would be fulfilled.

Joseph was not only thinking of his role in the short run of human history. He was thinking of his part in bringing about God’s covenantal purposes for Israel. Joseph had an understanding of the Abrahamic covenant and Israel’s vital role in its fulfillment (Gen 12:1-3; 17:1-8). Jacob’s son who had become second only to Pharaoh in power in Egypt had a robust faith that held on to the promises of God. Does this not tell us something essential about the way we ought to think and live through difficult times? If Joseph could conduct himself so admirably even before Romans 8:28 had been written, how much more should we stand strong when our trust in God is challenged. What role are you and I playing in this grand drama of redemption? That question can’t be fully answered this side of the eternal kingdom, but one thing is for sure, “all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his [God’s] purpose.” Are we living by that truth? What kind of instruments do we want to be in the Redeemer’s hands? Have I forgiven that person who has made my life more difficult? Am I a joy to be around even in suffering a devastating loss? Am I planning for the future and helping other people to know Christ better? Whatever my plight and whatever disappointments have been put on my plate I will pray, “Lord, give me a heart that will only be satisfied by pleasing you, and no matter how confusing things get, help me to remember that you are accomplishing your purposes in my life for the exaltation of Jesus Christ.”

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

Abortion on Demand, Where are We?

2009-01-11T07:27:00.002-05:00

Since the now infamous U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Roe vs. Wade in 1973, over 37 million legal abortions have been performed in the United States. Fifty two percent of women obtaining abortions in the U.S. are younger than 25: Women aged 20-24 obtain 32 % of all abortions; Teenagers obtain 20 %. These are only some of the statistics that reveal the extent to which abortion has become in many, if not most instances, an accepted form of birth control. Actually, according to The Alan Guttmacher Institute and Planned Parenthood’s Family Planning Perspectives, 93 % of all abortions occur for social reasons (i.e., the child is unwanted or inconvenient).

“These justices probably had no idea that they were unleashing a struggle for the soul of the nation.” These words by Robert George capture the magnitude of the moral, spiritual, and social blight of abortion on demand. The following is a brief summary of various aspects of “a struggle for the soul” of our nation. This is presented not so much as a cohesive essay but a kind of anthology of statements from both pro-choice and pro-life advocates.

“The issue of abortion is not about whether life starts at conception. There are convincing arguments either way. The issue is which carries more weight: the life that may be in the embryo, or the life and needs of the woman in whose body that embryo was conceived?” (an ordained United Church of Christ pastor). Never mind that the life in the womb is defenseless and has no choice. Where is the outcry against “shedding innocent blood?”

“Nobody has complete ownership of his or her body – or else they could make it a receptacle for heroin, ride motorcycles without helmets or sell their kidneys to the highest bidder.” (Jim Wotten, AJC). A narcissistic culture trumpets alleged rights to do with one’s body as they please. Who bestowed this right upon them? Does not the fetus have some rights?

“The only distinction between the death of that unborn child and the death of a child after its birth is that the unborn child is not yet known by others to the extent the child born alive soon comes to be known. A miscarriage, like any other natural death, is a tragedy marked by loss and grief. An abortion, like any other taking of human life, is an act of moral treachery.” (Albert Mohler). The pro-abortion community stands in embarrassing silence in the presence of this reality.

“Life begins with the mother’s decision.” (presidential candidate Wesley Clark, 2004). This argument often used by those in the pro-choice movement betrays a horrifying world view, namely, that “the baby is not alive until the mother exerts an act of will.” By this standard infanticide is not far behind. Thankfully, the presidential candidate who said this did not gain political traction.

“In fact I challenge you to publish two photographs side by side: one of this ‘child’ outside the womb and another of a ‘fetus’ inside the womb both at 23 or 24 weeks, with a caption that says something like: ‘We at the Star Tribune regard the termination of the preemie as manslaughter and the termination of the fetus as the personal choice of the mother.’” Pastor John Piper wrote these words in an open letter to the Minneapolis Star Tribune which endorsed abortion in a lead editorial.

“No doubt abortions spring from mixed motives. But the will to abort invariably involves an attitude toward life. Abortions are accepted because life is cheap: if it is inconvenient to bear a child to full term, destroy it; if the child will not be what we would desire, kill it. Most abortions take place because humans do not choose to be inconvenienced. Or to be deprived. Or to permit a handicapped child to live. And this, so evangelicals affirm, is a dangerous attitude that society for its own protection does not dare permit a person to act upon. Society has the duty to protect itself against actions that would destroy it. Human life is sacred, since every man, woman, and child is made in God’s image.” (Editorial in Christianity Today, 1982)

“‘The first thing I’d do as President,’ Barack Obama told Planned Parenthood in 2007, ‘is sign the Freedom of Choice Act.’ The bill would remove almost all state and federal restrictions on abortion.” (Christianity Today, January 2009). This is a chilling prospect. Let us pray that the president elect will change his mind.

Where does all this bring us? We are being told that evangelicals under age 35 don’t have the same fire in their belly regarding the issue of legalized abortion that older evangelicals have. This may very well be true. As Christians, whether young or old, we must recommit ourselves to the righteous cause of ending the evil of abortion on demand in our society. Here are a few things we can do now. Pray that God will afflict the conscience of pro-abortionists in that they will uphold the value of human life in the womb. Pray that no bill will be signed by the new president that will remove state and federal restrictions on abortion. Encourage and support Pregnancy Care Centers that are attempting to protect the lives of the unborn. Bible believing local churches must provide an environment of compassion for unwed mothers and serve as a social conscience for the protection of the unborn. Christians must refuse to cast their ballots on election-day for candidates who are not pro-life. This is not all that can be done, but if churches would be true to God’s Word, boldly proclaim God’s eternal truth, and be known for their authentic Christianity, a culture of life would displace a culture of death.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

Twelve Resolutions for Christmas

2008-12-14T07:07:00.000-05:00

There is a studied effort in our society to eliminate God, the Christ story, and other biblical themes from the “holiday” celebration. I would like to offer some resolutions that if followed could be significant Christian counter-cultural activity. These are not intended to be a kind of legalistic system that if adhered to will earn something from God. Rather, they are an attempt to more clearly focus our worship during the season before us.

I resolve not to use language from which God’s words have been erased. I will not allow the “holiday season” to become a substitute for the “Christmas season.” If I send cards or e-mails, I will use meaningful, biblically significant, and truth-laden words.
I resolve to listen to and meditate on the eternal truth of God’s Word no matter how busy I get. A sermon on tape, the Bible on tape, sermon notes to which I prayerfully respond, and daily Scripture reading can do much to keep my mind on the truth of the Christmas story.
I resolve not to buy anything that is unwise, unnecessary, or that will diminish my ability to give to God’s work. The presents that I give will be meaningful, useful, and well within my budgetary plans. Waste, impulsiveness, and debt will not be allowed to reside in my life.
I resolve to enter the month of January without the weariness and regrets of having over-committed myself during the month of December. I will ask God for wisdom as I plan my days.
I resolve to respond to the commercialization of Christmas by displaying generosity and mercy toward those who have very real physical and material needs. I will look around to notice those who may be lonely and/or need a helping hand.
I resolve to pray every day through the Christmas season for the missionaries our church supports. I will make a special gift to one of our missionary families. I will look on the monthly church prayer calendar to pray for the persecuted church around the world.
I resolve to listen to some Christ-centered, God-exalting Christmas music in my home or in my car at least ten minutes every day.
I resolve to read the Christmas story from Luke 2:1-38 on Christmas day with my family. I will not let presents, football, or food crowd out the wonderful words of life.
I resolve not to allow food or entertainment rule over me during the Christmas season. I am responsible for what I eat, how much I eat, and what I do with my mind and time. I will glorify God with my body and not abuse it.
I resolve to display either in my house or in my yard a reminder that Christ came to this world to save sinners. A manger scene along with an explanation of its meaning will be one of the best memories our children can have of the Christmas season.
I resolve to share the good news of God’s salvation in Jesus Christ with at least one person during the Christmas season.
I resolve to be patient, kind, forgiving, helpful, sacrificial, and joyful during the Christmas season. I will display the Savior in my attitude and relationships knowing that all true goodness exalts the glory of God.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

When You Pray

2008-12-07T07:02:00.000-05:00

“Lord, bless the missionaries.” “Lord, lead, guide, and direct Larry and Pam as they look for a new house.” “ Lord, be with Harold as he faces surgery next week.” We Christians have a bad habit of using mindless clichés in our prayer life. If you are afflicted with the disease of banality in your prayers for others, there is some biblical medicine.

When the apostle Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus, he blazed a theological trail for us (Eph. 1:15-23). God’s sovereignty in the conversion and spiritual growth of his readers was the driving thought as Paul interceded for them (“faith in the Lord Jesus….and your love for all the saints”). We, too, ought to make it a habit of thanking God for His intervening, sovereign grace in the lives of those we read about in reports of the progress of the gospel in missionary newsletters. We are also to pray that God’s sovereign and holy purposes may be accomplished in His people. Nothing is more important in this world than knowing God better. This truth sat on the front row of the apostle’s thoughts. Because of this he prayed that his readers might have needed insight in grasping certain crucial truths.

All believers need their spiritual “lights” turned on. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to understand the significance of biblical doctrine. This is called illumination (“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened”). One area where the lights need to be turned on is the comprehension of the glorious destiny to which we have been called in Christ (“know what is the hope of His calling”). When praying for fellow believers, ask God to enable them to see how to live with eternity’s values constantly before their eyes. As a result this will shape their perspective on material things, insecurities regarding money, generosity, and related matters.

Just a night-light’s output of awareness of the meaning of “what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” can contribute to great changes in one’s life. We need to know who we are in Christ so we will want to live in line with this reality. Instead of “Lord, be with Tom as he visits his in-laws this week,” we can pray, “Lord, may Tom see himself as you see him (as God’s inheritance in Christ) in all his relationships and conversations this coming week.”

Pray for that family member in the hospital that he or she will comprehend “the surpassing greatness of (God’s) power toward us who believe.” The spiritual wattage of this truth will make it possible to see beyond the pain and suffering of the moment to what God wants to do in the believer’s life. We need God’s power to transform our lives through the hardships we endure. This resurrection power is available to those who belong to Christ.

When you pray this week take the time to think and pray through the petitions Paul prays in Ephesians 1:15-23. They will protect you from the use of those clichés that easily slip into our praying. The mind will become more biblically engaged as we go before the throne of God’s grace and intercede for one another. What a privilege. Prayer does change things and people.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

A Thanksgiving Walk

2008-11-23T07:26:00.001-05:00

If you are reading and listening to the news, you are being swamped with a whole lot of bad news. The economy is in the tank. Iran appears to have enough uranium for an atom bomb. Higher taxes look like they are on the horizon. Gay-marriage advocates are on the increase. The evil of abortion on demand is not even being discussed. It’s true that these things in themselves should not send a strong Christian over the edge. The world is busy being the world. We live in a perpetual Romans 1:18-32 moral and spiritual free-fall. And here we are at Thanksgiving. Don’t expect a lot of help from our culture when it comes to a Christian world view experience of thanks giving. The following is a modest proposal for some really good things for which we should be thankful. We create Christmas lists, so why not create a Thanksgiving list.

We can be thankful for the perfections of an infinitely wise and holy God (Psa. 106:1). He is a God who is always all right. We don’t get up in the morning and say to God, “How are you?” God doesn’t grow old or need wisdom. He always knows what He is doing, never makes any mistakes, and is absolutely trustworthy. Revel in the fact that God has not left this world without a Savior. It needs one desperately. We are sinners, the whole lot of us. We need forgiveness. Without God’s provision of His beloved Son, we are doomed to an eternity of God’s wrath. That’s a thought that is overwhelmingly depressing. There is only one place where there is no condemnation of God and that is in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:1). The truth of the matter is that because of Christ’s righteousness we can be accepted by God and live with Him in His heaven forever. Be thankful for that (2 Cor. 9:15; Rom. 7:23-25; 1 Cor. 15:57).

We can be thankful that God has chosen us and has gifted us to serve Him (1 Tim. 1:12). Because of God’s grace you and I can play a role in the body of Christ. God took a Christian-killing, blaspheming, self-righteous religious zealot like the apostle Paul and showed him mercy. He gifted Paul and sent him everywhere spreading the good news about God’s salvation in Jesus Christ. If God has saved you, you have a mission. You have been gifted by the Holy Spirit for a role in the church. Be thankful for that.

We can be thankful for the awe-inspiring works of God in creation and providence (Psa. 75:1; Psa. 19:1; 25:1). The splendor of God’s handiwork in the sky above and the earth beneath should cause us to celebrate His mighty power. Our prayers, conversations with our family, school work, and walks in the woods should be marked by praise and thanksgiving. Don’t sit in front of the television all day on Thanksgiving. Go outdoors. Take a walk. Look at the trees. Watch the clouds. Pick up a leaf. Watch the sunset. Feel the wind in your face. While you are doing this, think about the truth that God is near, present in all places and at all times. He is always at hand. He is in charge of the universe. The late James M. Boice put it this way, “Are you aware that God really is near at hand, that he is present in all that happens, and that nothing that ever comes into your life or happens to others is accidental?” That’s good. Savor that along with the turkey and pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving Day.

We can be thankful for God’s provision and protection (Rom.14:6, 7; Psa. 18:49; 69:29-30). Receive with thanksgiving what the Lord has given us. Don’t fail to give Him thanks for the life He has given you. That last breath of air you drew, that last heart beat. Who gave it to you? One thing it means is that God is giving you continued opportunity to worship and serve Him. And we would certainly not want to eat that first bite of cranberry sauce without looking up to heaven and thanking God for the food He has provided and the taste buds to enjoy it (1 Tim. 4:4-5).

We can be thankful for those in positions of authority (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We have just elected a new president. He needs our prayers. The task awaiting him is gargantuan. Our praying ought to done with thanksgiving “on behalf of all men,” including presidents (whether Democrat or Republican). Thank God that we can assemble together as Christians to worship God, can be protected from lawless men, and that we can live out our faith before unbelievers. And remember, a thankful heart is an evangelistic heart.We can be thankful for the triumph of the gospel (2 Cor. 2:14). We who have been born again have been subdued by God’s grace. The fragrance of that grace is to be released through us. Thank God for people you know whose lives have been transformed by God’s Spirit (Rom. 1:8; 2 Thess. 2:13-14). Thank God for Christians who are standing strong through difficult times and persecution (2 Thess. 1:3; 2 Cor. 9:11). Has someone been generous to you? Thank God for them and His grace to you through them. Thank God when the gospel frees sinners from their slavery to sin and they become slaves of righteousness (Rom. 6:17). Do you know anyone like this? It’s a long list isn’t it? When you take that walk and look at the beauty of God’s creation, be sure to thank Him for the undeserved favor shown to the one wearing your shoes.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

Praying For Valleys

2008-11-16T07:49:00.000-05:00

So there I was, panting like a dog after a 5 mile run in the middle of a hot Georgia summer. My nose was running, because unlike a hot Georgia summer- or winter for that matter- it was freezing. Freezing. Between the panting and the sniffling I probably sounded near to death. And then, there it was- a burly mountain goat- with that look on its face like, “What is your problem?” Twenty-three hundred meters up in the French Alps, I had my first ever stare-down with a real live mountain goat.

If you have been keeping up with our blog you know I have already been on one hiking trip in the French Alps. Last week, I added “le Grande Arche” to my list of conquered French mountains. It is a much longer and more difficult hike than the Belle Etoile.

At the point we encountered the goats, we were getting near the top. There was maybe another 100 to 150 meters to go. I was tired, chilled, and breathing hard. When I noticed the goat it was only about 100 yards away from me. No doubt, he had long-since seen me coming and concluded that I was no threat to him. So there we both stood, looking at each other for a minute. We were probably both wondering the same thing… “How did he get up here?”

While I can’t answer the question of how a hoofed creature with an over weighted head makes it to the top of a mountain (a mystery I am sure evolutionists would have an interesting explanation for), I can tell you how I got there. Two things: sweat and hard work.

Hiking in the Alps is not like hiking anywhere I have been in the US. I’ve found that the trails here do one thing consistently…go up. The climb is fine for the first 2 minutes and then you start feeling the burn in your legs. After 15 minutes of climbing you find yourself praying for a plateau or a valley or some other form of relief. After an hour, you’re thankful for every flat piece of ground you come across.

Praying for a valley makes sense when one is talking about mountains but, strange as it may be, I have found that I often pray for valleys in my life. Now, I know we usually liken valleys to the hard times of life, but the truth is that it is the exact opposite when hiking a real mountain. The valley is not what is difficult. The valley is part of what you are looking forward to. It is the climbing that is so hard, but it is the climbing that you have to do to get to the top. If all you do is run around the valley you will never make it to the top of the mountain.

All of this makes sense when hiking, but in everyday life it seems so hard. It is still so deeply ingrained in my thinking that if I am doing what the Lord wants, if I am really growing in Christ, then things should be easy, or at least nice. Nice. Nice, like a valley after a long hike up a big mountain. What I fail to remember is that it is not the easy or nice times that get me where I want to go. It’s not those nice, easy times that make me more like Christ. I want to be complete before Christ and when I go to be with the Lord, or He returns to get His children I don’t want to lack anything.

But how do I get there? Well, James says I am not going to get there by the easy road. Instead, he says to count it as joy when we encounter trials, because those trials test our faith. The testing of our faith produces perseverance, and when perseverance completes its work I will be complete, lacking nothing. So what does that mean? It means that the easy times of life may be the times of the least advance in my journey of sanctification. It means that the times of greatest struggle may be the times of greatest advance to the prize of being like Christ.

In James 1:2-4 there is one command given by James. The command is to think or to consider. James knows that one of the first steps to having joy in trials, and overcoming trials is thinking right. I am willing to suffer the pain of hiking up a mountain because I am ultimately looking forward to the summit that I know is above me. If you showed me a really steep mountain trail and then told me you were not really sure that it would get me to the top, I am not sure I would be willing to suffer much before I gave up. It is the same with trials in life. If I think right, or consider that God is good and in control and if I consider that without the pain there will be not gain, then I am much more likely to endure the suffering with joy and hopeful expectation.

So the challenge for me in all of this has been that I will stop praying for valleys and start persevering to glory.

“Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.”
-From Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers.

Eric Flintoff

How to Live Under the New President-Elect

2008-11-09T07:32:00.000-05:00

Amanda Jones, 109, voted for Barack Obama in the presidential election on November 4, 2008. Mrs. Jones, the daughter of an emancipated slave, Emmanuel Alfred Roberts, was born in 1899. She is quoted as saying in response to the election of Sen. Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, “The white is over everything….I never thought the colored would rise up” and accomplish this (John Burnett, NPR). She went on to say that Barack Obama’s election is “a blessing.”

This is a touching story, no matter what one’s politics. Living in the United States of America is an experience of race relations, hard fought politics, and the influence of Christianity. Slavery bound our nation in the shackles of a moral evil. But once its chains were broken, segregation and Jim Crowe laws captured much of society in the twentieth century. This cultural cancer was confronted by the Civil Rights movement under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King in the 1950’s and 60’s. Now, forty-five years after Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” message in August of 1964, America has elected its first African-American president. But many Christians have found themselves conflicted by this turn of events. President-Elect Barack Obama has taken positions on certain moral and social issues that conservative Christians find offensive and unacceptable. One African-American pastor has summed up the political and moral dilemma this way. “I am pro-life, and President-Elect Obama is the most anti-life senator to come to power in my lifetime. I also am pro-conservative justices (who limit legislating from the bench). I am pro-marriage – that is, pro-heterosexual marriage. In the end, I could not overlook these issues as I approached Election Day. But the temptation to justify voting for Obama was strong, for I did not want to be against the side of history – of an African American finally making it to the Oval Office.”

We can rejoice that history has been made. It’s a good thing that no matter what one’s ethnicity, it is possible to become President of the United States. But there are problems. Barack Obama, as indicated above, holds views on human life and homosexuality that are blatantly anti-Christian. In a speech the very night of his election victory homosexuality was mentioned as another form of morally legitimate diversity along-side of ethnic diversity. Even when they disagree with the political, social, and moral policies of the one occupying the Oval Office, Christians must know how to conduct themselves as Christ-honoring citizens. The following thoughts are designed to help believers in Jesus Christ to fulfill their responsibilities in such a time as this.

We are to live by confidence in the rule of God over all our circumstances, political and otherwise (Psa. 145:3; Dan. 4:34-35; Rom. 8:28). God in His infinite wisdom determines who will be the President of the United States. This does not mean that God approves of the policies and the manner in which a president governs. He does, however, hold office by divine appointment.

Christians are to submit to governing authorities and are to be law-abiding citizens (Rom. 13:1-7; Tit. 3:1-2; 1 Pet. 2:13-14). We are to know how to render “unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt. 22:21). Paying taxes and giving honor to whom honor is due are a part of Christian citizenship. This also means that in our political system, if we think we are paying too much in taxes we can work for reform of the laws, etc.

Never forget that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is the crown jewel of God’s redemptive plan (Eph. 1:3-12). We are to live for the proclamation and spread of the gospel to all peoples. Human government cannot solve our moral ills or create a social utopia. Human nature is not perfectible. Those who ignore this and taut a political agenda that defies God’s moral law are a danger to humanity. The crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ, is mankind’s only hope.

The church of Jesus Christ is to serve as the conscience within every nation in which it exists (Matt. 5:13-16; Titus 2:7-8; Phil. 2:15). The Holy Spirit indwelling the body of Christ constitutes a restraining force to moral evil. This is another reason why authentic Christianity seeks to protect the unborn, the weak, the elderly, and defends the divine institution of marriage as between a man and a woman.

Pray for our governing authorities (1 Tim. 2:1-4; Prov. 21:1). “Entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, (are) to be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority.” Our prayers affect decisions at the highest level.

God turns nations over to the folly of their defiance of the truth He has revealed about Himself (Rom. 1:18-32; Hab. 2:2-20). Scoffing at God’s moral law and substituting the creation for the Creator is a prescription for the ruin of a nation. The collapse of Western culture is evidence of God giving us over to the consequences of our arrogant disregard of transcendent truth.

Fear, worry, and anger must not become boarders in our homes (Phil. 4:6-7; Eph. 4:26). Anxiety regarding the state of the economy will devour joyful, generous Christian living. Anger toward those with whom we have serious political disagreements can turn us into very unpleasant people and poor advertisements for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Don’t let the news-media determine your understanding of the way things really are (Rom. 12:2; Jer. 28:15). The Bible is the only “no-spin zone” in this world. Beware of the crisis-cadence of cable news. It can make you jumpy (e.g., “the sky is falling”) and pugilistic (looking for a fight). Be wise to the distortions and the moral and social agendas of those who package the news for you.

If you are a parent, prepare your children for the challenges of their adult lives (Eph. 6:1-3). The price of our current economy mess will largely be paid by our children and grandchildren. They are going to need all the instruction and training they can get in how to live in a collapsing civilization. Instruct them in wise decision making, respect for authority, how to stand alone for God, honesty, debt-free living, and the supremacy of Jesus Christ over all things. Let them see what authentic Christianity looks like.

Manage your personal finances according to biblical precepts (Lk. 16:1-13). Money and material things are a cruel master. In the words of one popular financial counselor, “Live like no one else. So you can live like no one else.” This does not mean hoarding and self-centered living. It means staying out of debt, living within one’s means, and supporting the work of God with generous giving.

In a recent column Albert Mohler has given us wise counsel regarding living under our new President-Elect’s administration. “There must be absolutely no denial of the legitimacy of President-Elect Obama’s election and no failure to accord this new President the respect and honor due to anyone elected to that high office. Failure in this responsibility is disobedience to a clear biblical command….We must pray that God would change President-Elect Obama’s mind and heart on issues of our crucial concern. May God change his heart and open his eyes to see abortion as the murder of the innocent unborn, to see marriage as an institution to be defended, and to see a host of issues in a new light.”

Let’s allow an African American pastor to call us to our duty to President-Elect Obama. Pastor Eric C. Redmond, author of Where Are All the Brothers? Straight Answers to Men’s Questions About the Church, and past Second Vice-President of the Southern Baptist Convention, says that “The question for me at this time is this: Can I continue to live Soli Deo Gloria under a President whose moral judgment already is questionable before he takes the oath of office? Yes I can, for I can be obedient to Scripture, praying for the one in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-3), honoring the one in authority (1 Pet. 2:13-17), submitting to the one in authority (Rom. 13:1-7; Tit. 3:1), and seeking righteousness for the entire citizenry (Prov. 14:34). These I will seek to do by grace. I will “honor the good appointment of God.”

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

Infants, the Government, and Voting

2008-11-02T07:40:00.000-05:00

With a Presidential election breathing down our necks, it is in order to respond to some of the flawed thinking that has spread throughout the electorate. Sadly, even Christians have succumbed to some confused and patently unbiblical reasoning (if it is even that).

Some seem to have forgotten the importance of abortion-on-demand as a critical issue. Let’s briefly review the biblical teaching regarding abortion. One, God has made it very clear that the developing fetus is already human life (Jer. 1:4-5; Psa. 139:13-16; Ex. 21:22-24; Lk. 1:35, 41-42; 2:21). The embryo is a human being, not a tumor or mere tissue. As one observer has said, “Ultrasound has given a stunning window on the womb that shows the unborn at eight weeks sucking thumb, recoiling from pricking, responding to sound.” Two, fetal life is defenseless and will be vindicated by God (Psa. 10:17-18; 146:9; 68:5; Amos 1:13; Prov. 6:16-18; Jas. 1:27). Abortion is an assault on God, not just human beings. Woe to those who make God their adversary. A nation that legitimizes, through its legal system, the destruction of innocent human life is in for hard times. These two fundamental facts about the unborn should give pause to those who treat the unborn as if they are expendable.

The “pro-choice-for-government and pro-life-for-churches” position is one particularly troubling attempt to side-step the abortion issue. It has found some currency even among professing Christians. The idea is that churches, not the federal government, must take on the moral issue of the sacredness of human life. This has the appearance of getting one off the hook in the abortion debate. One can ostensibly vote for a presidential candidate who supports abortion on demand, while at the same time they say that they believe that abortion is wrong. But this is a morally and logically flawed argument. What good is a moral conviction if it has no implications in the public square? Not surprisingly, closely associated with this outlook is the argument, “What right do the pro-lifers have to impose their view of morality on others?” It is contended that you can’t legislate morality in a pluralistic society. The fact of the matter is that government has legislated morals quite regularly. Robertson McQuilkin in his book, Biblical Ethics, has said, “…to say that morals should not be legislated is foolish. Most of what is legislated is in the realm of morals. If one’s private religious convictions demanded that he hold slaves, have many wives, discriminate against blacks, or mutilate Orientals, these same liberal defenders of personal rights and freedoms would seek for legislation to stop him. The questions are Whose rights? (the mother’s or the unborn infant’s?) and, What rights? (the right to life of the infant or some lesser rights of the mother?).”

It is unconscionable that a Christian would knowingly vote for any political candidate who did not believe that life begins at conception and that life should be protected by appropriate laws. A critic might say, is this not one-issue voting? Yes. It is and appropriately so. Randy Alcorn has put it in sharp focus. “So is the candidate’s stand on the issue of shedding innocent blood important enough to disqualify him as a candidate? Yes. While a single issue can’t qualify a candidate, it can disqualify him….I don’t think someone is a good candidate just because he is pro-life. But he cannot be a good candidate unless he is pro-life. Personally, if he is committed to legalized child-killing, as a matter of conscience I must vote against him.” Christians who do not enter the voting booth thinking this way are contributing to the cheapening of human life. This is a moral consequence we cannot afford and for which our nation will pay a heavy price.

Briefly, there is one other matter in this presidential campaign that has become the subject of much discussion, namely, the role of government in the welfare of its citizens. One candidate has said that increased taxes are necessary to “spread the wealth around.” The word “socialist” has been batted around. The Bible has been invoked as providing proof-texts for “taking from the haves and giving to the have-nots.” Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40, “to the extent that you did it (feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, etc.) to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me” are often cited as a mandate for so-called social justice. Mercy shown to those in need is certainly a way in which a Christian demonstrates love for his neighbor (Lk. 10:25-37). But to use this biblical text to support confiscatory taxation as the basis for establishing a welfare state is contrary to its meaning. Jesus was commending good works as the fruit of God’s work of grace in the hearts of believers. Increased taxation, a bigger government bureaucracy, and a government-knows-best spell trouble for personal freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Another passage of Scripture used to legitimize a welfare state is Acts 2:42-45; 4:32-37. It is the account of the early church pooling its resources to help those in need. It was totally voluntary and not designed to create financial equality among Christians. Believers in Jesus Christ were taking exceptional measures in a response to the need of the moment. It is a good reminder that all our time, money, and possessions belong to God (not to government). This is part of the witness of the church to the unsaved of the truth that the grace-clear streams of generosity find their source in the springs of new life in Christ. If churches everywhere would live out justice and mercy in their ranks, think of the impact this would have upon society.Christian, when you visit the voting booth this week, don’t check your brain and theology at the door. Vote for the candidates who best measure up to a Christian world view. The words of Albert Mohler are most helpful, “Have you cast your vote yet? If not, what could possibly be more important-on this one day-than taking your stand with those who defend the right to exercise democracy and fulfill the responsibility of citizens? How can you face your neighbors, or your children, and say that democracy just takes too much of your time. So go vote. Vote your convictions. Vote for life, liberty, and the cause of what is right. Let your voice be heard.” I would only add to this that part of what is right is recognizing the wrongness of denying the rights of infants in the womb to live and the wrongness of giving government the right to steal in order to put itself in the place of God.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church

I Want to Vote

2008-10-26T07:54:00.000-05:00

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is not authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Rom. 13:1). These words are directed to Christians as a preamble to a section on the civic duties of the church. Human government has been instituted by God for the good of mankind. Our form of government provides privileges and freedoms unrivaled in human history. One of those privileges is the right to vote. In a few days we will have the opportunity to cast our ballot for the next president of the United States. For whom should we vote? Most registered voters have already made up their minds. What is offered here is a rehearsal of those principles that will guide this citizen at the voting machine. I want to vote for the presidential candidate who will come closer to providing the kind of leadership needed at this hour in our nation’s history.

I want to vote for a candidate who thinks and makes decisions based on a Christian worldview. A worldview is simply the way in which one interprets reality. Christian theism, for example, views reality through the lens of a belief in a God who is infinite and personal (triune), omniscient, sovereign and good. Ethics are seen as transcendent and based on the character of God as good (holy and loving). The reader is encouraged to consult James W. Sire’s book, The Universe Next Door, for a helpful development of what it means to think within the sphere of Christian theism. Moral absolutes, the sacredness of human life, and marriage as between a man and woman are some of the features of how consistently a presidential candidate adheres to a Christian worldview.

I want to vote for a candidate who will honor the founding documents of our nation. The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land. Our form of government, with its rights and liberties for American citizens, is set forth in this extraordinary document. It is not perfect, but it is probably the best mankind can do this side of Christ’s kingdom. Sadly though, there are those who want to interpret the Constitution according to their subjective whims and whatever the popular consensus is at the moment. The original intent of the authors of our Constitution is set aside to our peril. The matter of the Constitution and how it is to be interpreted bears directly on how this citizen will vote.

I want to vote for a candidate who holds a high view of human life. Abortion on demand may be legal, but as a moral option it undermines society’s responsibility to protect the defenseless. It is unconscionable for a nation to look the other way while innocent infants are slaughtered in the womb. Laws and moral persuasion work to restrain a low view of human life. We should expect a candidate for the highest office in the land to uphold the value and worth of every individual. Social usefulness is not the criteria for whether one lives or dies. A presidential candidate who countenances abortion on demand is inviting the dissolution of the nation he must swear to defend.

I want to vote for a candidate who believes that marriage is between a man and a woman. Same-sex marriages and so-called civil unions for same-sex partners are an insult to the God-ordained institution of marriage. Those who declare themselves to be homosexual certainly have inalienable rights (e.g., jobs and housing). “Nonetheless, legislation and public funds should not promote sinful lifestyles.” A presidential candidate who waffles on this important issue has declared war on the family as a “divinely-willed institution.”

I want to vote for a candidate who will appoint judges who are not hostile to Christianity. The appointment of Supreme Court justices and federal court justices is one of the duties of the president of the United States. Therefore, a presidential candidate who would likely appoint judges who will use their judicial authority to redefine marriage, deny rights to the unborn, and attempt to refashion America according to a secular social agenda will contribute to the ruin of our nation. Such a presidential candidate will not get my vote.

I want to vote for a candidate who will respect the right of the United States of America to exist as a sovereign nation and who will not subordinate our national authority to the United Nations or any kind of international socialistic world order. In a paraphrase of what one astute observer has said, beware of any presidential candidate who supports “treaties and conventions” that would empower international agencies to rule over a nation’s economic affairs or who will attempt to transform godless social theories into international law.

I want to vote for a candidate who will uphold a strong national defense and who will refuse to weaken us through any form of unilateral disarmament. Human government exists to promote the good and restrain evil (Rom. 13:4). Police departments and our armed services function to protect us from those who would seek to do us harm. Diplomacy and treaties have their place but never at the expense of an informed judgment about human nature. We are sinful human beings living in a fallen world. The belief that human nature is perfectible may set the stage for the next world war.

I want to vote for a candidate who supports Israel’s right to exist as a nation. There are terrorist organizations and governmental leaders who wish to destroy the nation of Israel. Will the next president of the United States contribute to the weakening of Israel’s right to defend itself? Listen carefully to what each candidate is saying about these issues.

I want to vote for a candidate who will not subvert our free enterprise economic system. There is a debate being waged at the present time about the role of government in a market economy. Many people are angry at certain financial institutions and are calling for more regulation. The basic idea of free enterprise, namely, putting men “on their own to make economic decisions, and let them reap the rewards or lack of rewards from those decisions,” is at its best when governed by personal integrity. Those who invite more government controls, thinking that this will ensure a healthy national economy, will wonder what happened when their personal freedoms have vanished.

I want to vote for a candidate who will not think that higher taxes is the answer to every economic and social problem we have as a nation. Government has the right of taxation. That is not the argument. Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mk. 12:17). If governing authorities are to fulfill their purpose in punishing wrongdoers and commending rightdoers, they will need some money to do it (Rom. 13:6-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-14). But the Eighth Commandment says, “You shall not steal.” Wise national leadership knows the difference between covering legitimate costs and stealing. Watch out for that presidential candidate who wants to take money by force to fund what he deems as “good causes.” In doing so, government undermines the charitable potential of its citizenry.

I want to vote for a candidate who views justice and mercy not as a means of power and control but as the means of correcting social and personal structures that are evil. The informed Christian voter knows that “the Bible denounces laws that are unjust.” Equal treatment under the law is a cherished value. We are to look for a president who sees himself as the president of all the people, not just the wealthy and the powerful.

I want to vote for a candidate who has personal moral strength. It is not necessary that he be a Christian to govern equitably and wisely. But he must be honest, just, merciful, wise, and tested. Who are his best friends? What is his political record? If he is a senator how has he voted on key issues? What is his vision for America? Does he tell the truth? What are his virtues? Character is king. A presidential candidate could be Machiavellian in his politics, even though he is a good administrator and makes grand promises. Voters beware.

Voting is not an easy thing. It takes preparation, information, and personal maturity to make an acceptable judgment at the ballot box. Even when we vote for the one who seems to be the best candidate, we may still be disappointed. But this is no excuse to stay home on voting day. We do not know what is in store for our nation. If government continues to be seen as the solution to all of our problems and an entitlement mentality (confusion of “wants” and “needs”) succeeds in driving the electorate to vote for the candidate who promises them the most, we will have lost the virtues that guard our freedoms and made us a strong nation.

I want to vote for the presidential candidate who has a profound sense of God’s sovereignty over all nations, whose integrity is not for sale, who is not an enemy of Christianity, who will not allow the systematic destruction of the family, who cherishes American liberty, who will protect the defenseless, who is committed to peace through a strong military, who repudiates the abuse of political power, who believes that God is the only absolute owner of all things, who insists on justice for the poor as well as the rich, who knows that religious and political freedom are God-given, not government-given, and who will execute the duties of the presidency in humility under God.

Perhaps you have felt a longing as you have read these qualifications for national leadership. The Christian knows that only the Lord Jesus Christ will bring a perfect government to this world. Our hopes are invested in the coming King of kings and Lord of lords and His universal reign of justice and compassion.

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church