Respectable Sins: Judgmentalism

“We equate our opinions with truth.” (Bridges, 141)

Well isn’t that why we blog? After all, I can’t help it if I’m right!

Actually, this very notion of judgmentalism, which Jerry Bridges writes about in chapter 17 of Respectable Sins, is one of the reasons that I was hesitant to start this blog – for fear of revealing my own heart judgments in a way that is dishonoring to God, not edifying to the church, nor attractive to non-Christians. Hopefully, I have not stumbled in this regard, but would I know?

PCA GA: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

I am finally starting to feel like myself again (on Saturday evening) after returning from Dallas, Texas for the 36th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (the denomination I serve). Should you desire you can watch the archived webcast of any part of the assembly. Here is my take on this past week.

The Good:

• General Assembly affords an incredible opportunity for renewing old friendships and making new ones. I enjoyed being able to see several seminary classmates and spend some time with old friends. This usually includes good conversation over a shared meal – just think of how much of Christ’s ministry took place over a meal.
• Seminars: a few years ago seminars on a large variety of topics and issues were added to the schedule and I find this to be one of the best parts of the assembly. Every now and then I hear someone say that they don’t like the seminars because it is not the purpose of this gathering (i.e. to do the business of the denomination), but these do not have to be mutual exclusive and the seminars provide a unique opportunity to benefit from the vast gifts of teachers, pastors, and ministry leaders throughout our denomination.
• Another one of my favorite parts of GA is hearing about what the Lord is doing through the various ministries/agencies of the PCA, usually through informational reports. In some ways, this is the best part, because we get to celebrate the Kingdom of God advancing around the world through our denomination (for sure we are just a part of that and maybe even a small part, but this is still a most encouraging time during GA

Respectable Sins: Weeds of Anger

When Bridges talks about the weeds of anger, he is referring to the long term results of anger. And though we often think of anger as something that may come and go and just a part of life, there is no mistaking the Biblical stance on anger (hint: it’s not very favorable to anger). Here are the “weeds of anger”:

• Resentment: this anger that is held on to…”Resentment may be more difficult to deal with than outwardly expressed anger because the person often continues to nurse his wounds and dwell on his ill-treatment” (130).
• Bitterness
• Enmity and hostility
• Grudge: this is more serious than merely holding a grudge against someone in some innocuous way as Bridges is using the Biblical definition. The word then is associated with taking revenge on the object of the grudge.
• Strife: there certainly has been no shortage of strife in Christ’s Church through the years.

Respectable Sins: Anger

I don’t get angry, I get even. Okay, not really.

In chapters, fifteen and sixteen of Respectable Sins, Jerry Bridges addresses the topic of anger. He states at the end of chapter sixteen that his goal has been to “help us face the fact that much, if not most, of our anger is sinful, even though it may arise from the sinful actions of others” (139). He is not attempting an exhaustive treatment of this complex issue, but does want us to see how and where tolerate the sin of anger in our lives. Along these same lines, Bridges offers a very strong reminder (not unlike in the most recent chapters) that our anger is not the fault of others, even though we may have been seriously injured or sinned against, but is a result of our own fallen flesh. Finally, by way of introduction, Bridges doesn’t allow us to use the notion of “righteous anger” to hide behind. If we are honest, we are rarely righteously angry, especially when it involves our relationships with those we are most closely related to (family, friends, fellow church members, co-workers, etc…). Bridges says his focus is on “ordinary anger”.

Free Audiobook from ChristianAudio

Every month, ChristianAudio gives away a free mp3 download of an audiobook. I have downloaded quite a few (e.g. Religious Affections and The Life of David Brainerd by Jonathan Edwards) since I found out about this deal at the beginning of the year. You may also find other audiobooks that may be of interest to you. June’s freebee is Bunyan’s classic Pilgrim’s Progress. Check it out!

Respectable Sins: Lack of Self-Control

Introduction & Schedule for blogging on Respectable Sins

Reflections on Chapters 1 & 2

Reflections on Chapters 3 & 4

Reflections on Chapters 5 & 6

Reflections on Chapters 7 & 8

Reflections on Chapters 9 & 10

Reflections on Chapters 11 & 12

In chapter 13 of Jerry Bridges very good book, Respectable Sins, he addresses the topic of self-control. He defines self-control as “a governance or prudent control of one’s desires, cravings, impulses, emotions, and passions” (110). But Bridges is quick to point out a paradox of the Christian life: we must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to enable our self-control rather than our own will power. We are also reminded that Biblical self-control covers every aspect of life. On one hand, I am encouraged by the reminder to rely upon the Holy Spirit, but it is discouraging to think about self-control applied to every aspect of life. I get tired just thinking about it, but then again maybe I have been relying on my own natural will-power. I suppose that makes for an unholy alliance: my flesh and my will-power.

Bridges addresses self-control in three areas and then suggest others to consider:

• Eating and Drinking: for Bridges this a matter of self-control as applied to each individual versus simply referring to those who struggle with their weight. An example Bridges uses is the over-consumption of soda. Personally this is an area where I struggle. I did give up caffeine and soda for lent a couple of years ago, but I typically drink at least one soda a day and I am not sure that this is so good for me.
• Temper
  
• Personal Finances: again this might apply to someone who is in debt (“I’m up to debt to my eyeballs. Somebody help me – please” – name that pop culture reference) or someone with lots of resources used poorly or without restraint.
• Use of computer or television, impulse buying, engaging in hobbies, or playing/watching sports.

I was also struck by another thought towards the beginning of the chapter: “We have boundaries from our Christian culture that tend to restrain us from obvious sins, but within those boundaries we pretty much live as we please” (110). We can all be guilty of this in small or large ways. This also highlights another danger of legalism (this is my tangent, rather than Bridges thoughts). By subscribing to a man-made system of laws, which may protect us from some dangers or troubles, we may be tempted that we are free from other unrelated sins. That is, if I begin to think my righteousness is built up by my law keeping in one area, I may well be tempted to ignore sins in other areas. Why focus on our sin, which only declares our unfitness (gossip or haughty spirit), when I can focus on my spiritual health through arenas where I excel (e.g. not drinking alcohol or not swearing)?

Sermons

I’ve added a new page (my pages can be accessed by the tabs at the very top of the blog) for my sermons. I am using SplashCast Media to upload my sermons, which can then be played through an embedded player on the sermons page. I settled on SplashCast for two reasons: the embeddable media player is supported by WordPress (they don’t allow a lot of flash based players) and is free. Thus far, I have been pleased with the “publishing” process. The only problem (potential) is that you cannot download the mp3 files, which might make listening less practical. Of course, I might be the only one who cares.

The New Bully Pulpit

Apparently Barack Obama’s church has become the new bully pulpit (pun intended!). You probably have heard about the most recent flap over a guest preacher’s words at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. If not, read here. McCain has also had his own trouble with endorsements or associations with well known televangelists as well. So, to be fair, it is not just Obama’s church, but has become true of many churches.  All of this has me thinking about the role and place of preaching; about the use and misuse of the pulpit.

It is from the pulpit that we should hear the Word of God expounded and the Gospel extolled. This may include addressing contemporary issues of the day, but what should be front and center is what God has to say through His Word to a broken people in a broken world. Unfortunately the pulpit in many prominent churches is being used for political gain and political advancement. I do believe that Scripture addresses matters of the state and politics, so that it is not so say there is never application and explanation to or of the political arena. What breaks my heart is that there are so many people who could be hearing about the Glories of God in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and they may not even know what they are missing.  There are also some sobering reminders and exhortation for the preacher in Scripture, for example:

2 Timothy 4:1-5
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

James 3:1
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judges with greater strictness.

Mosaic Project

I am just about done with my most recent tile mosaic project. Unfortunately I have not been able to spend much time on these projects for a variety of reasons, but I am glad to reach this point on this one. To finish I need to fill in some low spots in the grout and paint the sides to give it a completed look.

Design: The design is based on our church logo, which was designed by previous assistant pastor Rusty Mosely, (now church planting in O’Fallon, IL). On the back of our bulletin we make this statement: “Calvary’s logo is centered on a cross made from our initials C and P, because the good news of the cross is the center of our message and life.”

Media: Light smoky blue & cocoa ceramic tile and sanded alabaster grout on 1/2″ plywood. The mosaic measures 16″ x 16″.

Respectable Sins: Selfishness

Jerry Bridges addresses another difficult to spot sin (in ourselves, we have no problem seeing it in other people) in chapter twelve: selfishness. I know for myself, there have been two main times when my selfishness has been brought to the light in a major way: the first few months (or is it years?) of marriage and becoming a parent to two kiddos. In both cases, there was no place for my selfishness to hide and I became very aware of how selfish I am. I’m other couples and parents would share a similar sentiment. However, those events certainly don’t eradicate the sin of selfishness in our own lives.

Bridges again identifies four areas of selfishness for us to consider, confess, and pray about:

• Selfishness with our interests: do you dominate conversations with talk about yourself, your family, your hobbies, etc…?
• Selfishness with our time: are you selfish by inordinately guarding your own time or by imposing yourself on another person’s time? “Selfishness with one’s time will frequently be observed in the home” (104). Uh, no comment.
• Selfishness with our money: do we recognize all of our money and resources as a gift form God?
• Selfishness with our inconsiderateness: do you think about the impact of your actions on others? Are we considerate of others feelings? Within our society we are increasingly experiencing this with the epidemic of cell phones. What we communicate is that we are only thinking of ourselves – which is the heart of selfishness

When and where are you most likely to exhibit selfishness?

Respectable Sins: Pride

Introduction & Schedule for blogging on Respectable Sins

Reflections on Chapters 1 & 2

Reflections on Chapters 3 & 4

Reflections on Chapters 5 & 6

Reflections on Chapters 7 & 8

Reflections on Chapters 9 & 10

Are we having fun yet? I don’t know about you, but this is a challenging book to read. We rarely like to admit our own faults and sins, we get to be pretty good at justifying them, and don’t like other people pulling back the layers of our heart. Respectable Sins is a challenge to all of those things. So on we go to the next two acceptable sins: pride and selfishness. I actually thought about skipping these chapters since I’m doing just fine in these areas, but then I remembered the rest of you.

In chapter eleven, “Pride”, Bridges deals with this sin, but not in the typical manner. I say that, because we readily acknowledge that pride is a sin and often understand how it keeps us from our relationship with God. But in keeping with the theme of the book, Bridges wants us to see particular areas of pride that we may have difficulty recognizing as sinful or seeing them in ourselves. Here are the types of pride he addresses and a few of my thoughts:

• Pride of moral self-righteousness: This sin, unfortunately, is what identifies a large segment of Christianity. While we should care about the things that God cares about, but not to the exclusion of recognizing our own sinfulness. I wonder how often we miss this sin in our own hearts and its expression often on our lips?
• Pride of correct doctrine: In Reformed circles, this sin is also evident. If truth be told, though we are not alone, we often express a desire to see (our) correct doctrine spread throughout the world, instead of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to remember that correct doctrine or belief doesn’t save us, but belief & trust in a person that saves.
• Pride of achievement: This sin raises its ugly head when we care more about our own recognition or success than we do the glory of God. This is one area where I have found Desiring God ministry to be so helpful.
• Pride of an independent spirit: I knew just what Bridges was referring to with the other areas of pride, but I did not know what he meant at first. This sin is characterized by “a resistance to authority, especially spiritual authority, and an unteachable attitude” (97). While we often see this in young people, it can crop up any of our hearts when we become set our own ways and don’t care to hear or learn from anyone or especially from Scripture.

Since the Biblical antidote to pride is humility, we should pray specifically that the Lord would humble us and show us our sin of pride (especially in these hard to see areas) and remind ourselves of Scripture that addresses both. You also might consider reading a book on humility, such as Humility: True Greatness by C.J. Mahaney.

What are your thoughts on this chapter?

Another Hymn: for a friend

Come Boldly To The Throne Of Grace
Taken from the Gadsby Hymnal # 675
Words – D. Herbert, printed in the Gadsby Hymnal, 1838.
Music – Clint Wells and Brian T. Murphy, 2004  (Red Mountain Music)

Come boldly to a throne of grace,
Ye wretched sinners come;
And lay your load at Jesus’ feet,
And plead what he has done.

“How can I come?” Some soul may say,
“I’m lame and cannot walk;
My guilt and sin have stopped my mouth;
I sigh, but dare not talk.”

Come boldly to the throne of grace,
Though lost, and blind, and lame;
Jehovah is the sinner’s Friend,
And ever was the same.

He makes the dead to hear his voice;
He makes the blind to see;
The sinner lost he came to save,
And set the prisoner free.

Come boldly to the throne of grace,
For Jesus fills the throne;
And those he kills he makes alive;
He hears the sigh or groan.

Poor bankrupt souls, who feel and know
The hell of sin within,
Come boldly to the throne of grace;
The Lord will take you in.

Help My Unbelief

Help My Unbelief by John Newton (you may of heard of him or at least sung Amazing Grace); Taken from the Gadsby Hymnal – #278. To hear a contemporary version of this hymn and bunch of other great “new” hymns, please visit Red Mountain Music. There is a deep honesty in this hymn that we are often unwilling to admit, but unless we admit our weakness and struggle, we will never be able to call out to our Helper, our Lord. This is one reason these older hymns are so needed and still relevant to the church today.  Update (to correct previous omission):  The order of the lyrics below represent the Red Mountain Music version, with new music written by Clint Wells.

I know the Lord is nigh,
And would but cannot pray,
For Satan meets me when I try,
And frights my soul away,
And frights my soul away.

I would but can’t repent,
Though I endeavor oft;
This stony heart can never relent
Till Jesus makes it soft,
Till Jesus makes it soft.

Help my unbelief.
Help my unbelief.
Help my unbelief.
My help must come from Thee.

I would but cannot love,
Though wooed by love divine;
No arguments have power to move
A soul as base as mine.
A soul so base as mine.

I would but cannot rest,
In God’s most holy will;
I know what He appoints is best,
And murmur at it still.
I murmur at it still.

Help my unbelief.
Help my unbelief.
Help my unbelief.
My help must come from Thee.