I have spent the last couple of days over at my brother's house helping out, and I anticipate this weekend I will be too busy living life to write about it. So let me take this opportunity to offer up the work of someone else...
Over on the Ligonier blog, R.C. Sproul Jr offers some provocative questions for folks on Facebook in his article, "Should Christians Be On Facebook?" Jr. is not the R.C,.Sproul whose theological insight we are all familiar with. Book buyers should be cautious these days about buying books with the name R.C. Sproul on the cover. Jr. is taking advantage of his father's fame but his work is not as spiritually filling. Nonetheless, this article about living on-line may of interest to some of you who go there.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Children Growing Up In Unbelief
Raising children to fear the Lord, in the sense of genuine belief, is a project with a poor record of success. The best we can hope for in our own strength as parents, mentors, and adult role models, is to raise children who are respectful of our beliefs and conform to a somewhat Christian lifestyle. Genuine belief is God's work. Mike Horton, in a piece recounting some statistics to explain the beginning of the White Horse Inn radio program, cites that 60% of youth raised in Evangelical church families no longer attend any church by their sophomore year. That is, by the time they are 19 or 20 and have moved out of the home into the world on their own, they have separated from the church.
But, let us turn that around. Over one third of those born as unbelievers into our household come to salvation while still youths! Can you imagine what a difference it would make if one out of three unbelievers in the general population came to faith? Ah, but that is an attitude too hard when we survey the children on a Sunday morning. We hope for better than that when we have specific children, especially our own, in view.
Many of those unbelieving children continue in their unbelief when they grow up and move out of their parents home. Like the prodigal son, there is hope that the Holy Spirit will convict them later in life and they will return to the church. It weighs on the minds of the parents. Jim Eliff recently wrote "Comfort For Christian Parents of Unbelieving Children" for Bulletin Inserts. Among the ten points he made is...
There is much more. This brief quote is taken from the first of the ten points. Please, go read it.
There are a few points we can take away as a church. First, we should expect that some number of the children growing up in our church will not be faithful believers when they become young adults. Some will be genuine apostates, but we pray many will be simply living out their unbelief until the Holy Spirit moves in His good time.
Second, those parents need our prayer and support in their grief. Yes, grief. Very much as if the child had died. Children who are dead in their sins. Often when the child moves away from the home, the rest of us in the church simply don't see them any more. They leave quietly, and we don't notice the anguish of parents who are newly acquainted with their children's unbelief through the lifestyle they begin to live.
Third, while they are still children in our midst, we want to equip them with a correct understanding of the gospel and the basic doctrines of our faith so the Holy Spirit finds something in their hearts to work with. We know that faith comes through hearing the gospel. Let us make sure they hear it clearly.
Some number of those children will be apostate, turning against the church in hostility. Regarding those, David Murray writes on the Gospel Coalition blog "Help For Hurting Churches in Dealing With Apostasy". He takes advice from John Owens. A highlight from that piece...
But, let us turn that around. Over one third of those born as unbelievers into our household come to salvation while still youths! Can you imagine what a difference it would make if one out of three unbelievers in the general population came to faith? Ah, but that is an attitude too hard when we survey the children on a Sunday morning. We hope for better than that when we have specific children, especially our own, in view.
Many of those unbelieving children continue in their unbelief when they grow up and move out of their parents home. Like the prodigal son, there is hope that the Holy Spirit will convict them later in life and they will return to the church. It weighs on the minds of the parents. Jim Eliff recently wrote "Comfort For Christian Parents of Unbelieving Children" for Bulletin Inserts. Among the ten points he made is...
2. The miracle of the new birth is no less possible to God if our child is attentive to Him or running away from Him. Our child is like all other children when it comes to God's grace. He is dead spiritually whether he is in church or not, whether he listened well to the truths we tried to teach him or did not, whether he has some interest in God now or has none at all. He may be converted in the pig pen or the pew and we do not know in this case what is preferred by God.As the title implies, the piece is a comfort to parents. However, Howard Eames followed up on Christian Communications Worldwide with a much better piece that takes each of the ten points in the Eliff article and builds on them. Of the two, I recommend the longer "A Journey In Search of Comfort as a Parent of Unconverted Children."
The first thing your children need is an inclination to God and His Word. Without that, nothing else of any real value will occur. Where does such an inclination come from? It comes from the Lord. Our children must want to know God. They must want to read His Word and draw near to Him. These desires come from God. He is the great Incliner of hearts (cf. Proverbs 21:1). Therefore, I pray Psalm 119.36 on behalf of my children: "Lord, incline their hearts to Your testimonies and not to (worldly) gain." The "pride of life" in a culture of affluence is overwhelming. To see a young person committed to Jesus Christ and His Word, and committed to seeking first His Kingdom, is a rarity. I pray that God would do this great work in their hearts.
Furthermore, my children need to have the eyes of their hearts opened so that when God graciously changes their inclinations from loving their own peculiar pigpen to loving His Word and truth, they might see what is really there, and not be deceived by their own secular or worldly presuppositions. And so I pray Psalm 119:18 for my children: "Lord, open their eyes. Open the very eyes of their hearts that they might behold wonderful and truthful things from your most blessed Word. Lord, lead them into truth and out of error. Reveal Your glory to their heart of hearts."
But even further, my children need for their hearts to be enlightened. They need to be able to see the glory of Biblical truth, not just interesting facts and stories reminiscent of their childhood days in Sunday School. Who is the great Enlightener of the hearts of men? God is! And so I pray with the Apostle Paul from Ephesians 1:18: "Lord, enlighten the very eyes of their hearts that they might behold the blessedness of Your truth, Your perspective, Your worldview, Your most blessed Person. Lord, give them the anointing you promise in John's first epistle! (see 1 John 2:27, referring to the Holy Spirit).
Of course what we really want for our children from all this engagement with His Word and the work of His Spirit is that their hearts will ultimately be satisfied with God and not with the world. Where does that satisfaction come from? Surely it comes from the great Satisfier of the eternal souls of men, the Lord Jesus. And so I pray Psalm 90:14, "Lord, satisfy my children with Yourself, satisfy them in the morning with Your steadfast love, that they may rejoice and be glad all their days."
There is much more. This brief quote is taken from the first of the ten points. Please, go read it.
There are a few points we can take away as a church. First, we should expect that some number of the children growing up in our church will not be faithful believers when they become young adults. Some will be genuine apostates, but we pray many will be simply living out their unbelief until the Holy Spirit moves in His good time.
Second, those parents need our prayer and support in their grief. Yes, grief. Very much as if the child had died. Children who are dead in their sins. Often when the child moves away from the home, the rest of us in the church simply don't see them any more. They leave quietly, and we don't notice the anguish of parents who are newly acquainted with their children's unbelief through the lifestyle they begin to live.
Third, while they are still children in our midst, we want to equip them with a correct understanding of the gospel and the basic doctrines of our faith so the Holy Spirit finds something in their hearts to work with. We know that faith comes through hearing the gospel. Let us make sure they hear it clearly.
Some number of those children will be apostate, turning against the church in hostility. Regarding those, David Murray writes on the Gospel Coalition blog "Help For Hurting Churches in Dealing With Apostasy". He takes advice from John Owens. A highlight from that piece...
4. The causes of apostasyI found John Owen's "The Nature of Apostasy" (the actual title is much longer as befits a Puritan writer) in volume VII of his "Works". I'll be reading it soon.
Owen went on to list particular causes of apostasy, so that pastors and their congregations will “watch and pray.”
5. The distinction between a stumble (Peter) and a fall (Judas)
- Deeply-rooted and unremoved enmity in the minds of many against spiritual things
- Pride and vanity of the mind which refuses to bow before the authority of Scripture
- Sloth and negligence
- False assurance and groundless self-confidence
- False sense of security due to neglect of the Spirit’s warnings about apostasy
- Love of the world and its passing pleasures (Demas in 2 Tim. 4:10)
- As the first “apostate” Satan draws many into apostasy and forces others to apostatize through persecution
- Persons in high positions in the church leading evil lives (Jer. 23:15; 1 Sam. 2:12-17)
- Unrepented national sins that influence the people
- Divisions in the church
- The uselessness of many Christians
Pastors need to skillfully distinguish between a Christian’s stumble and an apostate’s fall. Every Christian errs in doctrine, falls into sin, and offers faulty worship from time to time. That does not make them an apostate. Owen defined apostasy as “continued persistent rebellion and disobedience to God and his word,” or “total and final and public renunciation of all the chief principles and doctrines of Christianity.”
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Good Preaching
Awhile ago I posted a short piece with this blog title. That piece , after a little joking around, was about church community, not preaching. But it brought in some folks searching on the phrase "good preaching". So let me say a little something about good preaching...
In the Old Testament, more often than not, we find the man of God who goes to God to find out what to say to the people. Sometimes that is nothing at all like what the people want to hear.
In today's American church we celebrate the preacher who is a man of the people, one who knows the needs of his congregation and tries to meet them.
Do you see a difference?
Good preaching comes from the man who diligently digs the word of God out of his Bible and tells his people what they need to hear. Good preaching cannot come from a man who is not himself a born again Christian, no matter his scholarly qualifications or oratorical skills. Good preaching cannot come from a man who is a born again Christian but who does not work to dig out and understand the word of God. Good preaching can only come from the man who both walks the walk and works hard getting his nose and fingers covered by the ink from pages of the Bible and bears the marks of prayer on his knees.
Oh! I have much I could say about preachers who entertain, who tell amusing anecdotes, who fear their congregation's reaction to hard truths. On the other hand, I could wax eloquent about carefully exegeting the text book by book and teaching people thereby how to read their Bibles at home. But I think this wee bit will suffice to tell the good from the bad.
In the Old Testament, more often than not, we find the man of God who goes to God to find out what to say to the people. Sometimes that is nothing at all like what the people want to hear.
In today's American church we celebrate the preacher who is a man of the people, one who knows the needs of his congregation and tries to meet them.
Do you see a difference?
Good preaching comes from the man who diligently digs the word of God out of his Bible and tells his people what they need to hear. Good preaching cannot come from a man who is not himself a born again Christian, no matter his scholarly qualifications or oratorical skills. Good preaching cannot come from a man who is a born again Christian but who does not work to dig out and understand the word of God. Good preaching can only come from the man who both walks the walk and works hard getting his nose and fingers covered by the ink from pages of the Bible and bears the marks of prayer on his knees.
Oh! I have much I could say about preachers who entertain, who tell amusing anecdotes, who fear their congregation's reaction to hard truths. On the other hand, I could wax eloquent about carefully exegeting the text book by book and teaching people thereby how to read their Bibles at home. But I think this wee bit will suffice to tell the good from the bad.
Wild Wild West Borders
Anywhere along our southern border with Mexico has become as dangerous as the most lawless of the wild wild west of the old American frontier. The city of Ciudad Juarez, comparable in size to Denver at 1.5 million in the metropolitan area, has just experienced it's 1000th murder this year. It is keeping pace with 2009 when it experienced over 2000 murders, making it as dangerous as any declared war zone.
The drug cartels are becoming more sophisticated and organized than the police. In this country, they are contributing to the political campaigns of candidates for sheriff and mayor in the towns and counties along the border and intimidating candidates they don't favor. On the Mexican side of the border, they murder candidates and office holders who oppose them, or kidnap their children. Property owners along the border endure dangerous trespassers they dare not interfere with lest they get killed.
The cancer is spreading to our larger cities somewhat further from the border with drug gangs setting up safe houses and distribution centers in quiet residential neighborhoods. The city of Phoenix has become the kidnap capital of the U.S. Is it any wonder that in states like Arizona citizens are demanding more robust action from government?
Yet, our federal government, safely seated over a 1000 miles away, is politicizing the situation and playing it for votes in the November election. There is a serious disconnect between the dangers faced by citizens along the border and the unconcern of our government.
The state of Arizona is asking for some fair play in the analysis of its new law regarding illegal aliens. Do you think the unfair political characterizations will abate anytime before the election?
Video from YouTube.com
The drug cartels are becoming more sophisticated and organized than the police. In this country, they are contributing to the political campaigns of candidates for sheriff and mayor in the towns and counties along the border and intimidating candidates they don't favor. On the Mexican side of the border, they murder candidates and office holders who oppose them, or kidnap their children. Property owners along the border endure dangerous trespassers they dare not interfere with lest they get killed.
The cancer is spreading to our larger cities somewhat further from the border with drug gangs setting up safe houses and distribution centers in quiet residential neighborhoods. The city of Phoenix has become the kidnap capital of the U.S. Is it any wonder that in states like Arizona citizens are demanding more robust action from government?
Yet, our federal government, safely seated over a 1000 miles away, is politicizing the situation and playing it for votes in the November election. There is a serious disconnect between the dangers faced by citizens along the border and the unconcern of our government.
The state of Arizona is asking for some fair play in the analysis of its new law regarding illegal aliens. Do you think the unfair political characterizations will abate anytime before the election?
Video from YouTube.com
Monday, May 24, 2010
False Converts
This You Tube video feels scripted. As such, it is more like truthiness than truth. That is to say, the point it makes is true, but the characters fit stereotypes too perfectly and speak without the uhmmms and hem-haws used by normal people speaking embarrassingly of themselves. Long time readers will know that the necessity of regeneration for true faith is something of a hobby horse for me (see here and here). So I appreciate the point being made here in the modern vernacular of video better than I might make it using mere words.
See what you think.
Posted on You Tube by RealTruthMatters
See what you think.
Posted on You Tube by RealTruthMatters
Praise God For Poor Attendance
We have a congregation which self consciously does not neglect to meet together (Heb 10:25), looking forward to the weekly encouragement we receive from each other. It is a disappointment when, as on this Sunday, so many are absent. But the story is in the reasons people were unable to attend. Unlike many fellowships across our fair city, it wasn't because the weather was so fair that picnics and golf courses were more inviting, nor because our Canadian neighbors are celebrating the spring national holiday that begins the annual vacation season. Reasons included family tragedies, serious illness, required travel to distant cities for work -- reasons that both invite us to pray for their comfort or well-being and instantly invite compassion.
This morning, beyond praying for individual members and friends in their specific circumstances, I was stimulated to pray for the church as a whole. Seeing the sanctuary half empty does that to me. I found an excellent model for that kind of prayer in the beginning of 1 Corinthians.
I find Paul's prayer beginning this letter all the more meaningful because he is preparing to chew them out for a number of faults and deficiencies. Yet, before chewing on them for things like tolerating adultery, despoiling the Lord's Supper, poor worship practices, hypocrisy, infighting and factions, Paul takes a moment to thank God that they are genuine regenerate Christians!
Now, I don't think we have anywhere near the problems in our congregation that the ancient church in Corinth faced. But Paul instructs us here with a healthy attitude in prayer for this church that serves even our small congregation.
First and overall is gratitude to God for His grace in calling us together in the first place. It is the grace of God and the work of our Lord Jesus Christ that calls us individually and together as an assembly in Christ. The gifts He has given us include His calling, His regeneration, His sanctification, faith to believe, peace with God and the patience to love each other, and all the many gifts of service in the body of Christ.
His sanctification is both the "setting aside" to be holy in service to Him, and the continuing growth in renewing our minds and being conformed to the image of our Lord. Sanctification can be rough when you travel the road alone. God, our Father, disciplines those whom He loves, seeking to instruct them to rely on Him alone rather than in our own strength and character to muddle through life's vicissitudes. Grief at the sudden death of a loved one, or the worry and expense and uncertainties of serious illness, can shake even the faithful. We need each other.
We are to each other a gift from God for our mutual encouragement. Not least is our accountability to each other, being adopted into a new family. John writes, "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren." (1 John 3:14) I find in my relationships with tis family of Christ adopted believers the confirmation of the testimony of Christ in my life.
I praise God for the committed fellowship of Sovereign Grace Bible Church.
This morning, beyond praying for individual members and friends in their specific circumstances, I was stimulated to pray for the church as a whole. Seeing the sanctuary half empty does that to me. I found an excellent model for that kind of prayer in the beginning of 1 Corinthians.
To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours;
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:2-9 NASB
I find Paul's prayer beginning this letter all the more meaningful because he is preparing to chew them out for a number of faults and deficiencies. Yet, before chewing on them for things like tolerating adultery, despoiling the Lord's Supper, poor worship practices, hypocrisy, infighting and factions, Paul takes a moment to thank God that they are genuine regenerate Christians!
Now, I don't think we have anywhere near the problems in our congregation that the ancient church in Corinth faced. But Paul instructs us here with a healthy attitude in prayer for this church that serves even our small congregation.
First and overall is gratitude to God for His grace in calling us together in the first place. It is the grace of God and the work of our Lord Jesus Christ that calls us individually and together as an assembly in Christ. The gifts He has given us include His calling, His regeneration, His sanctification, faith to believe, peace with God and the patience to love each other, and all the many gifts of service in the body of Christ.
His sanctification is both the "setting aside" to be holy in service to Him, and the continuing growth in renewing our minds and being conformed to the image of our Lord. Sanctification can be rough when you travel the road alone. God, our Father, disciplines those whom He loves, seeking to instruct them to rely on Him alone rather than in our own strength and character to muddle through life's vicissitudes. Grief at the sudden death of a loved one, or the worry and expense and uncertainties of serious illness, can shake even the faithful. We need each other.
We are to each other a gift from God for our mutual encouragement. Not least is our accountability to each other, being adopted into a new family. John writes, "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren." (1 John 3:14) I find in my relationships with tis family of Christ adopted believers the confirmation of the testimony of Christ in my life.
I praise God for the committed fellowship of Sovereign Grace Bible Church.
Best Wishes For Two Friends
Last summer I took about a dozen things I had written to a friend for his review and comments. That led directly to starting this blog. Today, that friend, my first regular reader, and his wife are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. Mark, a lawyer, and his wife Bonnie, have been both sage advisors and wise friends. This is for them...
Happy anniversary, Mark and Bonnie!
For the rest of you, What makes you think the lawyer hasn't already heard your lawyer jokes?
A young couple, madly in love, were were tragically killed in an auto accident. Upon arriving at the gates of heaven, they shyly asked St. Peter if they could get married in heaven. St. Peter told them, "Have a seat over there and I'll go find out."
As the two young people patiently waited for St. Peter to return, the hours turned into days, the days into weeks, and the weeks into months. Patience gave way to boredom, boredom turned into impatience, and they began to argue with each other. Then one morning St. Peter returned looking hagard and worn out and said to them, "O.K. It is arranged. You can get married."
The young couple were of course grateful, but aware of pending differences of opinion, asked, "Is it possible to get divorced in heaven?"
St. Peter, alarmed, exclaimed, "It took months to find a priest up here! Do you have any idea how long it will take to find a lawyer?"
Happy anniversary, Mark and Bonnie!
For the rest of you, What makes you think the lawyer hasn't already heard your lawyer jokes?
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Response To "Do Babies Go To Heaven?"
This blog has about 20 regular readers, half through RSS and email feeds and the rest online. In addition to the regular readers, I am getting about 120 visits per month. There are, however, very few comments.
In yesterday's post, Do Babies Go To Heaven?, I recounted a position taken by Pastor John MacArthur. I posted it because it struck me as odd, being motivated more by feeling than exegesis. I should apologize, gentle reader, for not emphasizing that more strongly. In the first of Pastor MacArthur's two sermons on the topic, he included children through some "age of accountability", possibly 8 or 10 or 12, excepting the heathen, among the innocents.
I am therefore especially grateful to Pastor Jarrett for his permission to publish his comment to that post....
In yesterday's post, Do Babies Go To Heaven?, I recounted a position taken by Pastor John MacArthur. I posted it because it struck me as odd, being motivated more by feeling than exegesis. I should apologize, gentle reader, for not emphasizing that more strongly. In the first of Pastor MacArthur's two sermons on the topic, he included children through some "age of accountability", possibly 8 or 10 or 12, excepting the heathen, among the innocents.
It’s not an age; it is a condition. From child to child, it varies, and, as I said, you have to include in this those who grow up mentally disadvantaged, mentally disabled, mentally retarded so as never to be able to have a sufficient, mature understanding and a convincingly comprehensive grasp of law and grace and sin and salvation. This is not an age; this is a condition. That’s who we’re talking about: people in that condition where they cannot, in a mature way, understand and comprehend convincingly these issues. We’re talking about those people.If I had been more thoughtful, I might have started with that to express some skepticism. But I tossed off the skeptic with the comment at the beginning, "I am disposed to want to believe that.."
I am therefore especially grateful to Pastor Jarrett for his permission to publish his comment to that post....
Let me encourage all my readers to react in the comments to the stuff you find on this blog. This is Colorado Layman, not Colorado Elder. Keep me on the beam.Harry:
Now that I am at my computer allow me to add a few things (or to summarize some of what I said earlier). Here is why what John said is dangerous and completely unfounded in the biblical text:
1. 2Sa 2:23 does not teach David going to see his baby in heaven but rather joining him in death. Death is the antecedent in that passage not heaven ('he has died...I will go to him...") Besides the whole concept of heaven was foggy to David and the OT saints.
2. Abortion is now the greatest form of evangelism and what I should be counseling parents to do if they want to make sure their kids get saved is blowing their brains out before they reach the (now needed) "age of accountability".
3. The imputation of Adam's sin clearly taught in Rom 5 is destroyed. Either babies are sinners before they sin or because they sin--the Bible teaches both. Human beings sin because they are sinners and they are sinners because they sin. Imputation and Implementation are the orthodox position. The position you find "comfort" in is worse than the Roman Catholic position. They at least believe in original sin and the need to have it removed through baptism (so that they don't go to Hell).
4. By saying that babies have no deeds to be judged by and therefore on judgement will be welcomed into heaven is a complete denial of Unconditional Election and forgets the fact that Scripture teaches sin to be more about who we are rather than what we do. This is why Proverbs 21 can say the plowing of the wicked is sin. In other words our every breath from conception is one of rebellion because it is exercised without faith. This is why Psa 58:3 says that "the wicked go astray from birth"--sounds to me like the Bible attributes babies with sin the moment they are born!
Does this mean no babies go to heaven?
NO. John the Baptist was regenerate in the womb, David also claims to have believed while in the womb and while on his mother's breasts (Psa 22:9-10). Babies can believe since it is done by the power of God not the mental facultities or capabilities of the person! We must be careful not to deny the awesome and mighty power of God to save to the uttermost! But unless that happens, unless faith takes place no one is saved. Unless, otherwise you are willing to believe what is my 5th and final point (or implication).
5. You have now created two ways to be saved--on with faith, one without.
Dear brother,
You are obviously free to write what you like on your blog -- but today's post was dangerous doctrinal error. And as I mentioned before, I am not the only one who feels this strongly about what Mac wrote, there are plenty of others. He lit up the theological journals when he wrote his little book on this. I was actually at the Shpeherds conference when he announced it and gave it out. And there was a colllective sigh of anguish and frustration among many of the pastors when he did. I therefore have the book and have read through it. It is the worst exegesis I have ever seen from MacArthur--very uncharacteristic of such a great man. I truly believe he wrote it in reaction to situations in his church and seeking to give those people comfort. Yet again we don't do it thru lies --or twisting the Scripture to make it fit what we need it to say--we give comfort by causing people to again trust that "Judge of all the earth shall (and always does) do right" (Gen 18:25).
your brother who is more than honored to call you as such,pastor
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Do Babies Go To Heaven?
Hat tip to the blog Street Fishing for this.
Do babies go to heaven? It is a thorny question which the Bible does not answer in so many words. Most pastors would say, "I don't know". But Dr. John MacArthur answers...
Wow. I am disposed to want to believe that. But then, so is Dr. MacArthur. He stated in the second of two sermons on this topic (transcript: part one, part two) that he is a parent who lost an infant to a miscarriage. Nonetheless, he is a godly man whose careful study and exposition of the Bible is worthy of respect.
The problem with answering this question is that we must be careful interpreting the will of God in ways that trip over into universalism. For instance, if we say that God extends salvation to folks who have not rejected the gospel, then we might posit a race of aborigines isolated on an island and living in harmony with their environment. If we want them to go to heaven, clearly the thing to do would be to prohibit any Christian missionary from approaching the island.
But then, such a race does not, cannot, exist. Everyone is born with a sin nature. If they had no sin, they would not die. Death is a penalty for sin ever since the fall. Everyone is born morally corrupt, not morally neutral.
Yet we know that God is gracious and loving and kind, not wanting any to perish. All salvation is by grace alone. Salvation is for the glory of God through the work of Christ at the cross, extended to unworthy incapable sinners by the sovereign choice of God. The question we ask is whether that grace is also extended to those who cannot believe, not just those who do believe?
Dr. MacArthur find a ray of hope in such passages as these...
Dr. MacArthur understands the rest these infants go to to be rest in Christ. In similar fashion, he interprets the destination of King David's baby by Bathsheba to be heaven.
Dr. MacArthur's argument hinges on this passage...
Dr. MacArthur argues that everywhere the Bible speaks of condemnation, it is on account of the deeds of man. Therefore, when the books are opened, and it is found that there are no deeds written for the unborn or very young, God's default disposition is not condemnation but salvation. God doesn't charge people with actual sin until they commit them.
Now that is a comforting thought.
Do babies go to heaven? It is a thorny question which the Bible does not answer in so many words. Most pastors would say, "I don't know". But Dr. John MacArthur answers...
"All children who die before they reach the condition of accountability by which they convincingly understand their sin and corruption and embrace the gospel by faith are graciously saved eternally by God through the work of Jesus Christ, being elect by sovereign choice, innocent of willful sin, rebellion, and unbelief, by which works they would be justly condemned unto eternal punishment."
Wow. I am disposed to want to believe that. But then, so is Dr. MacArthur. He stated in the second of two sermons on this topic (transcript: part one, part two) that he is a parent who lost an infant to a miscarriage. Nonetheless, he is a godly man whose careful study and exposition of the Bible is worthy of respect.
The problem with answering this question is that we must be careful interpreting the will of God in ways that trip over into universalism. For instance, if we say that God extends salvation to folks who have not rejected the gospel, then we might posit a race of aborigines isolated on an island and living in harmony with their environment. If we want them to go to heaven, clearly the thing to do would be to prohibit any Christian missionary from approaching the island.
But then, such a race does not, cannot, exist. Everyone is born with a sin nature. If they had no sin, they would not die. Death is a penalty for sin ever since the fall. Everyone is born morally corrupt, not morally neutral.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me. Psalm 51:5 NASB
Yet we know that God is gracious and loving and kind, not wanting any to perish. All salvation is by grace alone. Salvation is for the glory of God through the work of Christ at the cross, extended to unworthy incapable sinners by the sovereign choice of God. The question we ask is whether that grace is also extended to those who cannot believe, not just those who do believe?
Dr. MacArthur find a ray of hope in such passages as these...
"Why did I not die at birth,
Come forth from the womb and expire?
Why did the knees receive me,
And why the breasts, that I should suck?
For now I would have lain down and been quiet;
I would have slept then, I would have been at rest." Job 3:11-13 NASB
"Or like a miscarriage which is discarded, I would not be,
As infants that never saw light.
There the wicked cease from raging,
And there the weary are at rest." Job 3:16-17 NASB
If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, "Better the miscarriage than he, for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity. It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he." Ecclesiastes 6:3-5 NASB
Dr. MacArthur understands the rest these infants go to to be rest in Christ. In similar fashion, he interprets the destination of King David's baby by Bathsheba to be heaven.
Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food?"
He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.' But now that he has died; why shall I fast? I will go to him, but he will not return to me." 2 Samuel 12:21-23 NASB
Dr. MacArthur's argument hinges on this passage...
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which was the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. Revelation 20:11-12 NASB
Dr. MacArthur argues that everywhere the Bible speaks of condemnation, it is on account of the deeds of man. Therefore, when the books are opened, and it is found that there are no deeds written for the unborn or very young, God's default disposition is not condemnation but salvation. God doesn't charge people with actual sin until they commit them.
Now that is a comforting thought.
Amusement from HolyCoast.com
HolyCoast.com is a blog that mixes religion and politics. Sometimes I find that combination annoying. But I have very much enjoyed the last several times I have moused over to read the view from Orange County, California. Consider, for instance, the post "Truly Awful Songwriting" about writing a modern worship song.
"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.
A tip of the hat to Worship Matters where you can join the discussion about contemporary worship services.
Back on HolyCoast.com, I was entertained by this music video on the border situation and immigration. Get out you American flag and wave along with the music.
Recycle A Love Song.Write a song for your girlfriend. When she breaks up with you, convert it into a worship song. Be sure to change all uses of “girl” or “baby”.
Make the Song All About YouThe main point of your song should be your experiences and how God makes you feel. Don’t bother with objective truth about God. I would suggest that you use the words “I” or “me” at least 12-15 times. For example, “I feel like singing, yes I feel like spinning, because You make me feel so good inside. Like it’s my birthday, but more
Yep. I think that captures it.
That just sorta naturally leads to the video from North Point Media over on Vimeo.
"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.
A tip of the hat to Worship Matters where you can join the discussion about contemporary worship services.
Back on HolyCoast.com, I was entertained by this music video on the border situation and immigration. Get out you American flag and wave along with the music.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
