Motivation for Heavenly Meditation

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set you minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

                                         —The Apostle Paul, Colossians 3:1-3

I believe that every Christian experiences seasons of spiritual difficulty and discouragement, when God seems to retreat behind the dark clouds of Providence or when temptations feel overwhelming. In these seasons, the world’s deceptive appeal seems to shine brighter than ever (Mark 4:19, Heb. 3:13), and heavenly life appears dim and distant from reality. Even seminary students, who are privileged regularly to study the Bible and theology, feel the great weight of the sinful flesh working on a finite mind. What can we do to correct our thinking during these challenging periods of our lives?

Mercifully, God has given us a remedy. Paul, in Colossians 3, instructs the church regarding their thought life.

What Paul told these Christians is instructive for us as well, so that whenever we struggle to correct our thinking we can apply the same truths in the same way. These few verses give us great encouragement as we fight the battle for our minds. Notice how Paul instructs these Christians.

First, what he said is based on the gospel. His statements are conditioned on the acceptance of the gospel: “If you have been raised with Christ….” The commands that he issues are only applicable to Christians, because only through the gospel can one die and still have life—and heavenly life at that! In fact, these instructions only make sense for those who have counted gain in this life as loss so that they may know Christ (cf. Phil. 3:7-9). What Paul tells them is based on the best possible news, namely that their future hope of existence (and their current existence) is securely guarded “with Christ in God” in the heavenly places.

Paul reminds them of the great encouragement that exists in the gospel because of what God has done for them in Christ. This helps us as Christians when we are discouraged or downtrodden because it places our focus on the glory of God as it is displayed in Christ. In all circumstances we can look to the riches of God’s grace which are given in Christ, and we can know that no suffering can take away the hope we have in Him.

Second, what Paul said was based on reality. The things he told these Christians were true at the moment that he wrote them; the blessings were not just coming in the future, but they were already possessed by the Colossian church. Christ was, at that very moment, seated with God in the heavenly places, interceding for His saints (Heb. 7:25). In addition, the Christians in that church had died! More importantly, they had new spiritual life and vitality in Christ, who was their life (Col. 3:4).

These same things should compel us to set our minds on the heavenly realities because they are so much more important than our earthly circumstances. These heavenly realities also have immediate implications for how we live here on earth, as Paul makes clear in verse 6 and following. God has great grace and love for His children, and that love is on glorious display in the gospel. Remembering these things will help to correct any fallacious thinking that creeps into our minds.

Finally, as we see throughout the Bible, what God promises His children is not the removal of difficulty but the grace to overcome even the greatest opposition. This is evident because Paul does not say that God will make it easy for them to resist the appeal of ‘what is on the earth,’ but instead he gives them a lofty command with spiritual reasoning. The fulfillment of these commands will be brought about by God’s strength so that as the Colossians bear the fruit of righteousness, all the glory will be given to God (cf. Col. 1:10-11, Phil. 1:10-11). This was true even in Paul’s own life (cf. 2 Cor. 12:7-10). In the midst of Paul’s trials, God gave him spiritual strength by setting his mind on spiritual realities in the gospel (Gal. 2:20, Phil. 3:7-11).

Christians—be encouraged! God has given you a rich resource to offset the deluding influence of the world. God has given you His own Word so that you renew your mind constantly, fighting against the natural tendencies that plague us. Heed Paul’s command—set your mind on the things above, where Christ is. Set your minds on the gospel; set your mind on reality as it exists in Christ. In doing these things, rely on God, and see if He will not grant you strength to persevere in even the most severe affliction.

He is good—set your mind on Him!

--Dean of Admissions

Evil Men and Impostors

“…But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

                         —the apostle Paul, 2 Timothy 3:13

The apostle warned his beloved disciple Timothy about false teachers who propagated falsehood and who believed it themselves. Sadly, there are many such people today. There are many who spread lies about the Bible, or who corrupt the truth of the gospel with error.

It is important to note that Paul said that these people were deceived—not only did they spread a toxic brew of lies, they accepted and truly believed what they taught. Such people are especially hard to counteract because they can appear genuine and sincere.

Nevertheless, examine how Paul described such persons; he called them “evil men and impostors.” As such, the influence of the deceived is to be strongly counteracted by gospel light and truth. Paul actively fought against falsehood as the apostle of Christ, even as he said he was “destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God” (2 Cor. 10:5). For Paul, error and truth were not academic matters, but were matters of life and death in the churches.

He fought darkness by shining the piercing light of truth—look at Colossians 2:1-4. What Paul told them, he told them because he wanted to ensure that no one would delude them ‘with a persuasive argument’ (Col. 2:4). There are many persuasive and plausible arguments in the world that can only be opposed by the truth of the Bible. At the same time, we can trust that the Lord has given us sufficient knowledge in the Scriptures to oppose all error. We have more than adequate light to dispel even the darkest of the devils lies!

This does not mean that the dispelling of darkness is an easy task, though. Rather, it is something that we must train for, that we must prepare our minds for beforehand. When we suffer for the sake of the gospel, Peter says, we should always be ready “to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” (1 Pet. 3:15). I believe that this requires a great deal of thought, study, and training. How will you know how to counteract error with truth, unless you have a solid foundation in the Word of God? How will you gain a solid foundation without study?

God has given us His Word for the purpose of knowing Him. One fringe benefit of the Word, however, is that we can learn the truth in order to defend ourselves and our spiritual family against the errors of the deceived. In addition, God may even open the eyes of those who are in darkness, saving them by His sovereign grace (2 Tim. 2:24-26).

Study, then! I encourage you all to dig into the Word of God with eagerness, seeking to know God in truth, being able to defend your hope with undeniable truth. May God be glorified by the spread of light in the midst of darkness. May He bring a new reformation to our hearts, to our minds, and—through His Word at work in us—to our land.

Soli Deo Gloria!

--Dean of Admissions

Excellence

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men….”

                                          –Paul, Col. 3:23

Given the cultural setting in which we live, one way that Christians can honor the Lord is by distinguishing themselves as hard workers. It is very good that Christians in the past were recognized for their ‘Protestant work ethic,’ a phrase that connoted diligence and perseverance. Such actions reflect gloriously on the Master and Lord of the Church, Jesus Christ, who was Himself an incredibly hard worker—even when functioning like the humblest slave (John 13:1-16).

So then, students, do your work with excellence! Exercise diligence in your studies and in your service, regardless of what the nature of your work is. Paul said, “Whatever you do…” was to be done as for the Lord.

In addition, all work is to be done heartily, which uses a Greek phrase that means ‘with soul’ or ‘with breath.’ The idea is that we would work so fully, capably, and happily that it seems like we are doing the work for God Himself instead of some human master. Both at school and at our vocation, the quality of our work should be so high that if it were worshipfully submitted to God it would be a pleasing sacrifice in His holy eyes.

Strive for excellence in all the labor that the Lord has given you. When you excel, humbly ensure that the Lord gets all the glory for your work, knowing that He has done this good thing in you. I trust that such an offering will be pleasing in His eyes.

--Dean of Admissions

The Importance of People

Have you ever stopped to think about the enormous importance of people? Other human beings play crucial roles in our lives—our parents, siblings, spouse, children, bosses, workers, leaders, and friends are all different people with whom we are connected. Consider the vast impact that they have on your life.

Someone raised you, provided for you, trains you, depends on you, encourages you, and on and on. Other people are often the source of some of the greatest joy and the greatest frustration that we will know in this life. The delight and pain of relationships is a fundamental aspect of what it means to live as a human in the world that God created. People are vitally important to our lives.

So treasure them.

Too often we undervalue human relationships, even if we do so unconsciously. It is all too rare that we stop and consider what a blessing it is to have other human beings around us in our day to day lives. God has given them to us for our blessing, growth, and joy. They exist to minister to us and for us to minister to. If you struggle to appreciate other human beings, consider these three things.

First, all human beings are creatures of God. As such, they are beings created in the image of God, no matter how far short of His glory they fall. Our treatment of those made in the image of God reflects the way we treat God Himself (cf. James 3:9). Generally, we are called to love our neighbors, regardless of the way that they treat us (Matt. 5:44, 22:36-40). You cannot fulfill that command without having significant interaction with other people. Human beings are also eternal creatures—every human being will spend an eternity in either heaven or hell. When you interact with people, then, you should be mindful of how much thought and care God has put into the making of each one. He has given each one the immense privilege and duty of resembling Him and called them to love those who look like Him. Give that some thought.

Second, as a Christian, you must recognize that other Christians are the very children of God by adoption. God chose and loved each Christian with a fatherly and redeeming love. He took special care to save the soul of each Christian by providing His own unique Son as a perfect Substitute, then lovingly regenerated them with the Spirit, cleansing their hearts by faith (Rom. 5:17-18, Rom. 8:32, Titus 3:5, Acts 15:9). They are His children, the beloved of God, the ones whom He will defend and avenge (2 Thes. 1:6). God highly values His children and does not take it lightly when they are mistreated. They, in one sense, are the object of God’s attention in this world. He places a high value on them—and so should you.

Finally, it is people whom God has chosen to redeem in order to demonstrate His grace. Reflect for a moment on the implications this has on your actions. If you are a Christian, you are able to take part in the glorious sanctification and edification of the church. God has chosen the church as the platform or the stage where He can magnificently manifest His gracious character. This means that people—individuals, people just like you and me—are redeemed, and that that redemption of people is the primary arena where God’s glory is displayed. If you do not value the relationships that God has providentially placed in your life, beware! God has an incredible plan to make His glory known, and it is seen most clearly in the lives of human beings, for that is where the cross of Christ shows forth its power. Do not think lightly of other people, for God does not.

People are incredibly important to us, even at the level of our physical sustenance. You would not exist to read this without other people. More importantly, God has so worked that people are the living stones of which His temple is built (1 Peter 2:5, Eph. 2:21-22). Highly value other people, then, and ask God to help you live with them as you ought. His glory is at stake in such relationships!

--Dean of Admissions

(Bonus points to anyone who can identify the location where the above picture was taken.)

Spiritual Health Assessment, Part 2

As we said last time, spiritual health is an aspect of our existence that is incredibly important—and often neglected. How can we be better aware of our spiritual health? I believe there are three areas of our lives that we need to consider in this regard.

First, we must regularly assess ourselves. In one regard it seems unlikely that such an endeavor is even possible, given the deceptive nature of our own sinful hearts and of sin in general (Jer. 17:9, Heb. 3:13), yet the apostles commanded the churches of God to do this very thing (1 Cor. 11:28-31, 2 Cor. 13:5, 2 Peter 1:10-11). We should judge our own spiritual state based on the Word of God because it stands outside of us (apart from our sin), and because God uses it for that very purpose (Heb. 4:12-13). We should regularly be examining our own spiritual state to see if we are living in obedience—or to see if we are even Christians at all!

Second, we should be appreciative when others assess our spiritual health, even when such an assessment is uninvited. The reason that we should be grateful is that these outside assessors do not have the same blind spots we have when we examine ourselves. We tend to have too high (or too low) a view of specific elements of our own spiritual maturity, and these people may reveal something to us that would be hidden to our self-assessment. When others give a spontaneous evaluation of us, we should listen with trust that their motives are right (1 Cor. 13:7).

However, that does not mean that we should uncritically affirm their evaluation, whether it is bad or good. Rather, we should analyze the outside evaluation with the Bible and prayerfully examine it. It may be an accurate assessment, or maybe partially accurate. It may be entirely false. In any case, we should be careful not to reject or accept it immediately, but we should meditate on the Bible to see if it is accurate, and then respond accordingly. The danger of receiving a favorable assessment from another person is that we love to hear good things about ourselves, even if they are false. Again, we must guard against our own deceitful hearts and ensure that God’s Word is truly our standard.

Third, we should happily and graciously assess the spiritual health of others. In the most formal occurrence, this is what happens in church discipline when it occurs in line with Matthew 18:15-17. Informally, this is what happens when Christians talk and encourage one another or exhort one another. Biblically counseling our brothers and sisters in Christ requires these assessments, so that whether we see the fruit of the Spirit or the fruit of sin we respond accordingly with encouragement or rebuke. It is important to do this happily because it is a difficult task to undertake. It is challenging to stand before a sibling in Christ and deliver a biblical rebuke. On the other hand, the rewards of a biblical rebuke can be so great that even the most timid Christian can lovingly deliver one. The potential results of rebuke are increased obedience to God, increased love for the church, and increased fellowship between believers. This is truly a great reward!

If we would address our own spiritual health and the spiritual health of others with zeal and diligence, the church may very well blossom in a new age of joy and obedience! Sadly, there are few churches (much less individuals) that practice spiritual medicine on a regular basis. It sometimes takes great crises or scandals to awaken our senses to the spiritual plagues of our day—and by that point, it is usually too late. We ask God that He would stir us up to great zeal in this matter, so that the church may grow to a state of bodily health and maturity for His glory and for our good. You, then, Christian, should begin with yourself. Assess your spiritual health in line with God’s Word, and as you grow, help others to do the same.

May God grant that a new era of health and vitality sweep through the churches!

--Dean of Admissions

Spiritual Health Assessment, Part 1

Regular physical health checkups are an important part of many people’s yearly schedules. These assessments help us to gauge our well-being based on a number of indicators, which are individual aspects of fitness that reflect on our overall state. Many people religiously schedule these visits to the doctor—while an equal number probably put them off indefinitely. In either case, our physical health is rarely a matter of indifference since even those who avoid the doctor are concerned about the state of their bodily soundness (Eph. 5:29).

Given the amount of attention (and worry) that people devote to their bodies, does not it seem somewhat funny how little care we devote to our souls? We meditate at length about how we can train, nourish, clothe, clean, beautify, and enhance our bodies, yet few of us give regular attention to the state of our spiritual health—and if we are thinking reasonably, we should give extreme attention to our heavenly health!

For some people, spiritual vitality is almost never an object of consideration. They give little thought to the individual aspects of spiritual fitness that reflect on their overall state of health as a Christian. What are those indicators of health or sickness?

First, obedience is a helpful measure for us. If we wish to know how much we love the Lord, we should examine the degree to which we treasure obedience and hate sin (cf. John 14:15). In 1 John, holy living is an indicator of spiritual vitality (2:5-6, 2:29, 3:9, 5:3-4) and the absence of holiness indicates spiritual deadness (2:15)! I am not saying that our obedience saves us or gives us merit before God (cf. Luke 18:9-14, Rom. 10:3), but that everyone who has been saved by Christ alone will therefore strive to obey Him (Eph. 2:8-10, Titus 2:14), and that this obedience is a marker of our health or sickness. Consider an analogy.

A Christian is considering marrying an outwardly moral but unbelieving pagan. If that Christian goes through with that marriage, it would be like having all of your hair fall out in large clumps. Can you live without your hair? Absolutely. Is a person dead if their hair falls out suddenly? No, not necessarily. But if all of your hair fell out at once you would be gravely concerned about the state of your bodily health. Suddenly losing all of your hair is an indicator of more serious problems that remain hidden. It would be the same for that Christian: marrying an unbeliever is a frightening indication of spiritual insensitivity to sin—and might actually be an indicator of total spiritual deadness.

We can assess our spiritual health in part, then, by examining whether we are striving for holiness or we are indifferent to obedience.

Second, an abundance of loving service is an indicator of spiritual life and health (1 John 2:10, 3:10, 3:14, 3:18-20). Dedication to the needs and preferences of others is indication that we are truly taught by God (1 Thes. 4:9-10). Generous ministry, for example, is obedience to the confession of the gospel (2 Cor. 9:13) and is indicative of the operation of the surpassing grace of God (2 Cor. 9:14).

Third, our level of spiritual health is indicated by our interaction with the Word of God. If a person is humble before God’s Word and has true knowledge of it, then it likely that that person is spiritually mature (John 8:31-32). There are biblical doctrines that are provided to the spiritually mature (1 Cor. 2:6), and orthodoxy is generally given as one indication of true faith (1 John 2:23-24, 4:6, 4:15, 5:1). Fidelity to the Word of God is basic to our spiritual growth and health, and deep longing for it is indicative of increasing maturity (Ps. 119:123-128).

These three things help us know whether we are growing, stagnating, or somewhere in between. We should be careful to assess our spiritual health, for the ramifications are far more serious than for physical health. God is good to bless His children—and part of that blessing is gloriously correcting us when we stray into destructive sin. Assess your spiritual health, and pray that God would give you clear insight into your own maturity (Rom. 12:3).

In all things, seek to glorify God in Christ. If you are healthy, praise Him (Rom. 6:17-18)! If you find you are unhealthy, repent and reexamine the gospel of God’s grace. “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:10). In any case, seek an accurate assessment of the health of your soul—may God give you blessed spiritual and physical health (3 John 1:2).

--Dean of Admissions

Final Exam

As we prepare for another semester at Christ Seminary, it is helpful to keep the end in mind. Remembering the goal of our labor helps us to focus on what is most important. The conclusion of many types of classes, though not as much at Christ Seminary, is successfully passing a final exam.

When I was in seminary, a professor gave me a beneficial reminder (and wake-up call) related to final exams. It was the last session of my first semester and the professor had just given the instructions for the exam, when he said this:

“Remember—the real final exam for this class is Judgment Day.”

 Sobering, isn’t it? Few things help to put classes, books, papers, and life in general into perspective like a reminder that we will all stand before the judgment seat of the living God, and give Him an account (Rom. 14:10-12). It would be less awesome and terrible if He did not know all secrets and plan to disclose them, but, as we know from Scripture, He does know and He will disclose (Rom. 2:16, 1 Cor. 4:5, Heb. 4:13, Acts 1:24, Prov. 10:9). This is who God is.

Remember, then, in all of your studies in the coming semester, that you are a steward of the grace of God. If you are a Christian, you are the beneficiary of the ministry of the Holy Spirit and you are a guardian of the gospel. Much has been entrusted into your care, and much will be required of you (Luke 12:48). Mercifully, it is the Lord—the very One who will examine you!—who will also keep you from stumbling (Jude 1:24-25)!

If you are not a Christian, then God has caused this blog post to fall into your hands by some mysterious providence, and you must also know that God has given you very much and that much will be required of you as well. God has given you life and breath, health and ability, capacity of mind and of body. He has fed you, given you drink, sustained you, protected you, provided for your every need, and has often withheld His wrath from falling on you immediately, though you deserve utter punishment. You, too, will stand before Him in this final examination of mankind. There is only one way to prepare for that day, only one way to make sure that it is not the worst day of your existence.

Repent and believe in the gospel of grace in Jesus Christ!

If you are a Christian, you too should prepare for that final examination. Examine your life to see if there are any hurtful ways in your manner of living (Ps. 139:24). Pray that God would protect you from the domination of sin (Ps. 19:13). Make it your ambition to be pleasing to God in every aspect of your character and actions (2 Cor. 5:9). These things can only be accomplished by God’s help, through the power He provides, and for His glory.

We all need to remember that this life will culminate in a final, eschatological examination. Whatever tests and exams we may face until then are mere precursors and forerunners to that great event. There is coming a day when we shall all be examined to the uttermost—and this final examination will be cumulative. Prepare, then, for that day! There is no reason to be found apart from Christ, or to be found an unrighteous steward. The Lord will grant Christians the grace to pass the examination by the finished work of Christ (Rom. 5:1, Rom. 8:1, Col. 2:13-14, Titus 3:4-7)! Praise Him!

--Dean of Admissions

Translation, Interpretation, and Reading in Color (Part 2)

Last time we examined the question of whether or not it is worthwhile to learn Greek and Hebrew. I argued that yes, it was worthwhile, because it increases our awareness of linguistic structures, it opens valuable resources to us, and removes a layer of interpretation from our reading. There is another reason, however, that learning Greek and Hebrew is so beneficial—and in my mind, this is the icing on the cake.

Fourth and finally, it is worthwhile for students and pastors to learn Greek and Hebrew because of the richness and joy that it provides. One pastor described it as ‘reading in color.’ What he meant was that the textures of texts—that is, the shades of meaning, the subtler nuances of language—were now immediately apparent, rather than coming to light through the arduous use of linguistic tools. A student or pastor who is absolutely proficient in Greek and Hebrew will be able to complete his exegesis with relative ease (and, probably, joyful ease). Yes, reading in the original languages can be joyful—it should be joyful!—and not toilsome labor.

Reading the Words of our God should always be a delightful exercise, but slothful, sinful minds will always be distracted by difficulty. Difficulty is responsible for much sluggardly exegesis in this fallen world and especially in this age of laziness. Learning Greek and Hebrew will be difficult, I assure you, but I believe that proficiency in these languages will provide great light from God’s Word, and such light often tends to illuminate and drive away even the gravest of difficulties. The difficulty of this learning is real, and not imagined, but it will yield such rewards as are fitting for those who endure great difficulty for God’s name (2 Tim. 2:3-6).

If what was once laborious became elementary (with a righteous ease), would you not think that was worthwhile? For the rest of our lives we will spend time in the exegesis of Scripture in one language or another. Why not make that language Greek or Hebrew? Even if learning these languages took you ten years, you would have them for the rest of your life!

Admittedly, Greek and Hebrew are not for everyone. The investment of time and effort to learn these languages is great, and even greater if one wishes to master them. Not all people have the opportunity to do such things—for some, it is simply not possible. But does not that make it even sweeter a goal for anyone who can?

Being able to read the Bible in the original texts, as nearly as we are able to produce them, is no small treasure. The Word itself is a treasure because it is our source of knowledge about our Invisible God. How precious it is, then, to have ease in understanding when we pick up the Scriptures! May God grant that we all, as many as are able, will invest the time and effort so that we too can ‘read in color.’ May it please Him!

--Dean of Admissions