Matt Capps Books, Christianity, Faith, Life, Personal, Religion, The Great Commission Resurgence, The Southern Baptist Convention, Thoughts

Luke 15:11-32 and “A Father with Two Lost Sons”: What it means to be a child of God, in the family of God.

In almost every Bible Luke 15:11-32 has the heading “The Parable of the Prodigal Son”, which indirectly causes many readers to focus on the younger rebellious son, which misses the point of the whole story. This is really a parable about “A Father with Two Lost Sons”, both of which are prodigals. The father is compassionate and merciful. Both sons are lost, but in different ways. These are two seemingly different sons who, beneath the surface, are essentially the same. My point, this parable focuses on the entire family, the relationships among family members. If we read the parable through these lenses I believe it has implications it has for us as “Children of God” (individually) and implications on what it means to be in “the family of God” (corporately).

You see, Jesus was a masterful story teller. There are very powerful reasons why he chose to tell this parable in the setting of a family. There were cultural distinctives that his hearers would have picked up on. The context of biblical material is always important in helping one understand the story.

A Few Cultural Distinctives

During this time period the basic idea of family was much different than it is today. In modern Western culture we think in terms of a “nuclear family” of individual people (Father, Mother, Children), for Jesus original hearers the family was a larger extended unit of people. Unlike our culture, their idea of intimate family members would consist of grandparents, the married children’s families (the in-laws), their unmarried son’s and daughters, the male and female hired servants, and the family slaves. There was a reason for this. In those times you did not survive unless you had a strong intact, cohesive family group. The family was a means of survival. In many ways the family functioned on a corporate (by this I mean, a body of people who act as a unit) level- as a means of livelihood. There was security in being a part of a family. This is hard for us to understand in our day when so many of us are independent. In that day wealth and livelihood was measured by land, cattle, and means of production. It was crucial that the family fortune stay in tact.

Beyond that, there was a cultural understanding of sonship that is important to understanding the parable. The son’s of the patriarch were held in special honor. The son’s were heirs. As an heir you guarded the Family Heritage. As a son you carried the family name, and your name was an important part of your identity. Your name stood for your values and beliefs. The sons also guarded the Family livelihood, tightly connected to the “family business.” This is particularly interesting in the case of the “elder son.” The elder son was to carry on the family business once the father was no longer able to run the household. This was one of the reasons that the elder son got the majority of the inheritance. Being an elder son was more of an “office” than anything else. But more importantly, for the purposes of the parable, the elder son was also expected to serve as a family mediator. He was to protect the family and their assets to prevent the breakup of the family.

Commentary on Luke 15:11-32

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’

This is unimaginably disrespectful and hateful. By saying “give me my inheritance”, the younger son was saying (to his father) you are more valuable dead. Give me what your life is worth. I do not care about the livelihood of our family. I want no part in our heritage. I don’t care about the family name. Most importantly, I want to cut off my relationship with you. This is a death wish.

And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

No one would give the younger son anything. He had exhausted all of his resources. He was poor, hungry, and needy. Not to mention that there was a famine, so no one has anything to give him. No one has anything to sustain his life. So much so that he longed pig feed.

Is this not the story of humanity? We were created to live in fellowship with God. That was our original home. But, our first parents, Adam and Eve cut off their relationship with our Heavenly Father and were exiled. We (as the human family) have been in spiritual exile ever since. Like the younger brother many people around us live in famine, and nothing in this world can sustain life. So many people try and fill their emptiness with pig feed.

“But when he came to himself (came to his senses), he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! (He was going to die) I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. (He acknowledge his folly towards God and his Father)

Here is an extremely important acknowledgment of the younger son;

I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.

This is huge! He knows that intentionally broke off his relationship with his father, with his whole family. He had no care for their well being. He had no respect for the family name. He had even wasted his whole inheritance, the family wealth. He had basically said to his father- you are more valuable dead to me.

As he comes back he knows, “I am not longer worthy to be called you son.” And he’s not. He has given up all rights to be a part of the family. He has given up all rights to ever have his fellowship restored. They owe him nothing. Yet, he plans to do the only thing he can do, plead with his father, have mercy on me, at least treat me as a servant. “Treat me as one of your hired servants.”

This “servant” language is key to understanding what is going on. He is basically planning on saying “let me attempt, at least make an effort repay you for everything I have done. Let my work, not only move me towards repaying you, but also let it be a sign of my repentance.”

And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, (the father’s robe, as head of the household) and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand (place the family seal on back on his hand), and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it (they rarely ate meat- livestock = wealth), and let us eat and celebrate (lets have the biggest party this family has ever seen).

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’

That’s the good news. That’s a picture of the Gospel. I am not worthy to be called a son! But the father has mercy when he repents and makes the declaration, “You are now my son. You are now part of the family.”

And they began to celebrate.

Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’

Remember, the oldest son in the family had a special occupation to secure the families wealth and unity. He was to act as a mediator in these situations. But he refuses, and walks out of the family home. Think about it. The younger son has wasted his inheritance. So allowing the younger son back into the family came at the expense of the elder brother. He would have to sacrifice his riches.

But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out (the father came out to bring the young rebellious son home, and now goes out to bring the older self righteous son home) and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you,

There is that “serve” word again. Don’t miss this. When the younger son returned home, he asks that his father would make him a servant (to pay his way back into the family), now the older son is basically saying the opposite, that he has earned his place in the family in a life of service. He declares, “I have been your servant.”

And I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came (notice, he does not say “my brother”), who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he (the father) said to him, (being rich in mercy and compassion) ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Now, the elder brother represented the religious leaders that were in Jesus audience; he “never” disobeys any of the father’s laws. In the end, he is the one who misses the feast of salvation rather than his rebellious brother. See, the younger brother knew he was lost. The greatest danger to the elder brothers is that they do not know that they are lost.

Jesus ends the parable there. The elder brother is left outside the celebration. Jesus was using this story to teach us that all of humanity is lost- Either in rebellion or self-righteous religion. The whole human family is lost in sin. Jesus was also saying that the heavenly father is compassionate and merciful. Lastly, Christ was saying that he would be the true and greater elder brother. His audience might or might not of picked up on this at the time, but think about it.

Jesus the True and Greater Elder Brother

As Jesus proclaimed- “No one comes to the father but through me.” I mentioned earlier about the importance of sonship in that culture. In their family the elder son got the majority of the inheritance. Like the younger son, we as humanity have thrown away our inheritance, which is our relationship with the father. Colossians 1:15 tells us that Jesus “is the first born of all creation.” He is humanities true and greater elder brother. Unlike the elder son in the parable, Jesus comes and searches for us while we are prodigals. While are dead in our trespasses and sins, wandering in a famined land. That’s why Jesus came. Jesus brings us home. He brings the lost to their senses.

In the same way that the elder son was to serve as the family mediator, Jesus serves as our mediator. He mends the broken relationship back to the Father through his perfect life and sacrifice. As the elder son’s job was to continue and protect the family business. God is in the business of redemption, of brining the lost prodigals and the proud self-righteous back into the family feast. And Jesus is always (As we read in Luke) “about his Fathers business.” Unlike the elder brother in the parable, Jesus celebrates when we come home. Jesus gave his life to give you and I the riches we do not deserve. Unlike the elder brother of the parable, Jesus gladly shares with us the riches of His father. He was slaughtered so that you and I could be reconciled and brought into the family of God. That’s the good news of our Elder Brother Jesus Christ. This has massive implications on our lives as “Children of God” in the “Family of God.”

As Children of God we are given the status of sons

“Sonship” is not an automatic universal given. Not everyone is a “child of God.” Now, there is a sense in which all human beings are God’s “offspring” by virtue of being created by Him, in His image (Acts 17:29). But we as Christians, we actually have a relationship with God as Father, and only we have the status of children of God.  As Galatians 3:26 says “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” This is a gift. Not something you earn, or loose. It is a gift, for those who are “in Christ.” In other words, it is only through faith in Christ that God adopts us into his family. Our status as children of God is secure in Christ.

As sons we have a deep security because we are part of the family through Christ. Like the younger son who said,  “I don’t deserve the status of sonship.” We also do not deserve sonship in the family of God because of sin. But like the father in the parable, the heavenly Father is compassionate and merciful when we come to him in realization that we are lost. Some of us rarely apply this security to your daily walk. Like the younger son we often get in the attitude of “I want to pay you back, God.” when we sin. Or some of us are like the older brother who try and use our obedience to get out of God what we want (“God, I have done all these things- I deserve so and so.” Or- on the negative end, “God I cannot believe this is happening to me, after all I have done for you?”). In other words, we attempt to justify ourselves before God by our morality. But there is no security in that mindset, in that mindset you are basing your security on your performance, and you will fail.

Thank God for our true and greater elder brother, Jesus Christ. As a true believer, as a son and daughter you are secure! You are not a servant who earns favor before God. You have been given a secure legal sonship in Christ. This is a legal relationship that you can rest on. Does this mean that we don’t need to be obedient? Certainly not! But it does change our motivation for obedience. The point of being obedient is not to make yourself feel secure in your relationship with God. Once you realize that you have been given the status of sonship, something you do not deserve, it will promote obedience. So obedience is a response to God’s grace.

As Children of God we experience the relationship of sons

Being brought into the family of God, through Christ, gives us complete access to our loving Father. As we read in Galatians 4:4-7; “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

“Abba Father” is an intimate name for God. As sons we have unconditional intimate access just as a child has access to a father like no one else in this world has. Like the father in the parable, our God is compassionate and merciful. As true believers you will always be his children, and therefore never have to worry about your access to him. The fathers love for you is not based on your performance, but on Christ’s perfect obedience. When you are in Christ, God sees you in Christ. In other words, God now treats you as if we are “only sons”, like Jesus. Jesus says in John 17:20-24, “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one.” In other words, we can approach God with the same boldness as Christ, because we have the status of sons.

As Children of God we gain the full inheritance of sons

Our inheritance is life- it is relationship with God. When Christ removed the curse we deserved, he gave us the riches and authority that he alone deserved. As sons we have authority over sin. Unless we remember the riches set before us we will be anxious and even despairing in this life. We need to remember that our inheritance of life is guaranteed. It’s not something to be earned (like the elder brother in the parable thought), it is ours as sons.

As you grow in your Christian life more and more sin will be revealed in your life. But here’s the thing, you realize that all sin looks about as good as pig feed in light of the feast promised to us in Christ. This should give us boldness to conquer sin. Romans 8 reminds us that; “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death…For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.”

That should give you boldness over sin. You are a child of God. This not only has massive implications on your personal walk, but also ties in to how we function as a church family. We are not just members of some organizational group. We are a family. In a family there is not just one point of contact, like there is in a “quilting club” or “car club.” The gospel touches every area of our lives. As believers we are brought into the family of God together. This is a family, and like a family we share life, we are a unit. Our fellowship with one another is a gift of grace, because, like a family, these relationships go deeper than any other human relationships.

In the family of God there Should be Commitment to the Family Livelihood

We belong to each other in Jesus Christ. Period. There are going to be times when all of us act like younger brothers, there are going to be times when all of us act like elder brothers. In the same way that you did not choose your siblings, you do not choose your brothers and sisters in Christ. They come with the family. There is a bond. We would all acknowledge that there are people in God’s family that you would never choose as friends, but you are family. Remember that we have a compassionate father, and a sacrificial elder brother- therefore, what God did for us, we owe to each other. The more we realize we have received, the more we can give.

In the Family of God there Should be Transparency among Family Members

You can’t fool your brothers and sisters. They know what you are really like! Like I said, all of us have “younger brother” and “elder brother” tendencies in our lives. So I encourage everyone to be honest with each other, hold each other accountable, gently call each other out. We need to realize that God has created this church family reality through Christ, and it is for your good when you participate. Plus, this is only possible in Christ. Why? Well, when your security is based on Christ, and not how others perceive you its a lot easier to build meaningful relationships. In Christ we are enabled to be transparent because we don’t fear rejection from our Christian brothers and sisters. There is security in the family of God.

In the Family of God there Should be Transformation of Lives

In many ways, you and I are largely the product of your family. You are largely shaped by the people you spend the most time with. You will only change if you are “re-familyed.” You need to get to know people, not just come to church classes, but really intimately being with each other. This is costly. Being closely involved with other people will be time consuming, complicated, and messy. Close relationships make it more likely to that you will sin against someone or someone will sin against you. Therefore you will need times of confession and forgiveness.

Close relationships push us to die to ourselves. It’s in these close relationships that we begin to see the younger brother or elder brother spirit revealed in our hearts. But that is God’s plan- that we grow together. In many ways, sanctification is a group project. Thank God, for what he has done in Jesus Christ to make s part of this glorious family reality. Our true elder brother is Jesus Christ. He came to earth to sacrifice himself so that we could become sons of God. This is what turns us into a family, and this is what guides us in our relationships with each other.

Bibliography

  1. The Prodigal God- Tim Keller
  2. The Parables- Brad H. Young
  3. Interpreting the Parables- Craig L. Blomberg
  4. The Gospel of Luke- Joel B. Green (NICNT)
  5. The Gospel of Luke, Vol. 2- Darrell L. Bock (BECNT)
  6. God, Marriage, and Family- Andreas J. Kostenberger
  7. Marriage and Family in Ancient Israel- Chapter by Daniel L. Block
  8. Life Together- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
  9. How People Change- Timothy S. Lane, Paul D. Tripp
Matt Capps Christianity, Culture, Faith, Life, Personal, Religion, The Great Commission Resurgence, The Southern Baptist Convention

Together for Adoption: Orphans and James 1:27

As many of you know, we are currently in the process of adoption. You can visit Laura’s blog to keep updated on the process. This morning I saw that Russell Moore posted a new video on his blog. He writes;

“We encourage you to watch this video, produced by our friends at Together for Adoption. Dr. Moore will be speaking at the Together for Adoption conference in October. Registration for the conference is now open.”


Matt Capps Christianity, Culture, Faith, Life, Personal, Religion, The Great Commission Resurgence, The Southern Baptist Convention, Thoughts

Our Decision to Adopt and the Work of God!

Laura and I have decided to begin the adoption process- hoping to adopt a baby from Ethiopia. If you would like, you can follow our journey here. We are very excited!

I truly believe that God has worked in our hearts and lives, individually and together, in showing us the joy and priority of adoption.

For me, the journey began in college. I will never forget when I visited an orphanage in Guatemala City, Guatemala almost 6 years ago. In this specific orphanage there were hundreds of children who had been abandoned by their parents for various reasons.

At one point during the day we were taken into a room lined with cribs, a small room where the workers attempted to care for 20-30 infants. This was a powerful moment that has been seared into my mind. I will never forget it.

I walked through the room with tears streaming down my face- wondering “who will care for these children?” “Who will hold them and let them know that they are loved?” “Who will nurture these children as they grow older?” I can see, and feel it, like it was yesterday. What I did not understand at the time was how God would use this moment later.

Looking back at that experience as a college student in the Guatemalan orphanage, I remembered that I was not only weeping over the abandoned children, but over the fact that there was very little I could do.

The words of Jesus are so powerful here- I wish I could have whispered them to each one of those precious children;

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18)

The raw emotion that adoption stirs in my heart has only grown as I have studied the theology of adoption. Adoption one of the metaphors Paul uses in the New Testament to express the multifaceted grace of God shown to us in salvation. (See here)

The very word translated adoption in your New Testament is a compound of two words, “son” and “placing.” Adoption in the New Testament is a term that denotes the legal act of transfer into a new family- “the placing of a son.”

With this transfer come all of the attending privileges and responsibilities of being part of the family. Adoption is a powerful image because the adoptee is taken out of his previous state and placed in a new relationship…thus, the adoptee starts a new life as part of his new family. The new family embraces their adopted son or daughter as their own. (Great resource here)

For the Christian- images of salvation should be so blatant and obvious here because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

When Christians are adopted into the family of God- it is through, and only through Jesus Christ. There is no ‘natural tie’ between sinners and a Holy God. Our spiritual adoption is a decision of God. God adopts us, orphans, out of His free love. We are given the rights of sons and daughters- as heirs!

For me, this truth has illuminated the biblical mandate and given me a solid foundation to accompany the emotion I felt six years ago in the Guatemalan orphanage.

I am in total agreement with Russell Moore when he writes;

“The Gospel of Jesus Christ means our families and churches ought to be at the forefront of the adoption of orphans…as we become more attuned to the gospel, we’ll have more of a burden for orphans.” (Adopted for Life, 18)

Pray for us as we begin our adoption journey. Ultimately, pray that we trust in Christ- because he is the one who blazed this trail.

Matt Capps Christianity, Culture, Faith, Life, Philosophy, Religion

Thoughts on Jesus’ use of Parables

Other than the fact that parables were “the established teaching method” of his day, Jesus used parables for other reasons. Jesus was dealing with concrete realities, not abstract ideas, and illustrated these realities in ways that were easy for the people to grasp.

Concerning his audience, there was one basic difference between the Greek listener and the Jew, the Greek could argue for arguments sake all day, while the Jew was interested in reaching conclusions, and even more, these conclusions had to be taught in such a way that they led to action.

The question in the listeners mind was, ‘what must I do?’ Yet this method extends beyond a particular race, in a particular time and place. All of us tend to think in pictures on some level or another (most people have difficulty grasping abstract ideas). Jesus gave us these cameo-like pictures in the form of parable to make these ideas comprehensible. A parable has been defined as ‘an earthly story with a heavenly meaning’. Jesus used earthly things to lead men’s minds to heavenly things.

Barclay again, ‘Jesus parables were designed to make one stabbing truth flash out at a man the moment he heard it’. These metaphor’s and simile’s are often drawn from nature or common life, arresting the hearer by its vividness and strangeness, and leaving the mind in sufficient doubt about its precise application to tease it into active thought.

Thoughts on interpreting the Parables First, to understand any parable properly we must have some sense of knowledge on the circumstances in which it was spoken. For the most part we have sufficient knowledge of the background; the parable must always be interpreted in light of its background. But, in balance, we must not let our assumptions on this background reconstruction dominate our interpretation unless the background is specifically in the text.

Second, the parable was spoken by Jesus to illustrate one aspect of truth, and to stress that one message (aspect of truth) which the need of the moment required. It would be quite impossible to find the whole of the Christian faith embodied in any one parable, yet with all the parables together, we can gain unmatched insight into the mind of the master teacher.

James Montgomery Boice once wrote, “this is what the parables do, perhaps more than any comparable portion of scripture. Other sections of the Bible give us a grand theology. Some move us to a grateful response to God. But the parables break through mere words and make us ask whether there has indeed been any real difference in our lives.”

Matt Capps Christianity, Culture, Faith, Life, Religion

Rick Warren’s Inauguration Prayer for President Barack Obama

Matt Capps Christianity, Culture, Faith, Life, Media and Technology, Personal, Philosophy, Religion, Thoughts

The Freedom of Choice Act

The issue of abortion, and the issues surrounding abortion have been at the heart of many pro-life advocates for the past few months. I thought I would pass on this blog post from Justin Taylor,

“Consider signing the Fight FOCA [Freedom of Choice Act] Petition.

No matter your political persuasion or feeling on the role of politics, it’s a simple thing you can do to help fight against this legislation, which would:

eradicate state and federal laws that the majority of Americans support, such as:

  • Bans on Partial Birth Abortion
  • Requirements that women be given information about the risks of getting an abortion
  • Only licensed physicians can perform abortions
  • Parents must be informed and give consent to their minor daughter’s abortion

FOCA would erase these laws and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future.”

For more background information on the Freedom of Choice Act, please see his post here.

To sign the petition, CLICK HERE

Matt Capps Christianity, Culture, Faith, Life, Personal, Philosophy, Religion, Thoughts

God Has Lost Weight

I am not talking about physical weight,

In David Wells book “God in the Wasteland: The Reality of Truth in a World of Fading Dreams”, he makes the following observation about modern society,

“It is one of the defining marks of Our Time that God is now weightless. I do not mean by this that he is ethereal but rather that he has become unimportant. He rests upon the world so inconsequentially as not to be noticeable. He has lost his saliency for human life.

Those who assure the pollsters of their belief in God’s existence may nonetheless consider him less interesting than television, his commands less authoritative than their appetites for affluence and influence, his judgment no more awe-inspiring than the evening news, and his truth less compelling than the advertisers’ sweet fog of flattery and lies. That is weightlessness. It is a condition we have assigned him after having nudged him out to the periphery of our secularized life. . . . Weightlessness tells us nothing about God but everything about ourselves, about our condition, about our psychological disposition to exclude God from our reality.”

Something to chew on…

Matt Capps Christianity, Faith, Life, Personal, Religion, Thoughts

C.J. Mahaney on being ‘Busy’

This is an excellent post from C.J. Mahaney! He provides a sobering look at ‘being busy’. We live in a world where we have endless options, and what seems to be, millions of things to do. So take a few minutes, a break, and read this pastor’s heart…here is an excerpt;

“I forget now who first brought these points to my attention. But the realization that I could be simultaneously busy and lazy, that I could be a hectic sluggard, that my busyness was no immunity from laziness, became a life-altering and work-altering insight. What I learned is that:

  • Busyness does not mean I am diligent
  • Busyness does not mean I am faithful
  • Busyness does not mean I am fruitful

Recognizing the sin of procrastination, and broadening the definition to include busyness, has made a significant alteration in my life. The sluggard can be busy—busy neglecting the most important work, and busy knocking out a to-do list filled with tasks of secondary importance.”

To read the whole thing click here!

Matt Capps Christianity, Culture, Faith, Life, Personal, Philosophy, Religion, Thoughts

President Obama, and a Proper Christian Response to his Election.

First off, it’s not the end of the world! It’s not the best of all possible outcomes (in my opinion), but all is not lost. This could be a wonderful opportunity for the Church to shine brighter than ever before.

The outcome of the 2008 election, to some Christians, will be a time of grief. President Obama’s stance on some moral issues are in direct opposition to the Christian worldview. With that said, we as Christian’s must not let the outcome of this election distract us from living in light of the Gospel.

“Remember that God is, and has always been Sovereign”

First, we need to be reminded of Paul’s words to the Romans, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

In this passage the Apostle Paul is speaking on the proper response to secular authorities. We must be reminded that President Obama has been placed in a ‘governing’ position over us. It is important to notice that Paul uses the word ‘submit’ here in reference to a proper posture to secular government. As Doug Moo puts it,

“To submit is to recognize one’s subordinate place in a hierarchy, to acknowledge as a general rule that certain people or institutions have ‘authority’ over us.” (Romans, 797)

The reason, these governing authorities have been ‘appointed’ by God. The Greek word here is literally ‘to order, to put someone over.’ Ultimately behind the affairs of this world is the hand of God. God’s sovereign providence is often a mysterious thing.

Thomas Oden rightly observes that anyone who reflects deeply on the issues of sovereignty and providence “stands at the confluence of many layers of mystery”.  The particulars of God’s providence within our world have only been partially revealed. The dynamics of these various layers are certainly complex. Udo Middelmann argues that “mystery refers to details not yet known, things which will be revealed later in order to complete what is now known in part.” One day we may be able look back and see how our current situation became a great catalyst for the Gospel. God is working, in spite of everything wrong in our world.

All this to say, ‘we can grieve and complain all we want’, this is a right emotion in light of the possible outcome of President Obama’s moral stances, but we cannot loose this opportunity to respond correctly as Christians.

This is an opportunity for us, as Christians, to live in such a way that America would take notice. Like the early church we should exhibit through our community life, through far from perfect”…that we are “sufficiently different and impressive to attract notice, to invite curiosity, and to inspire discipleship.”

We should make the “grace of God credible by a society of love and mutual care which astonishes” those around us so that they recognize us as something entirely different. (Michael Green, Evangelism in the Early Church)

“How Then Shall We live?”

1. We must still stand against abortion. But at the same time we must stand up for adoption. We need to let the world know that we, Christians, will raise the unwanted children. This is a radical response. The early Church was known for rescuing babies from death when they were left at doorsteps and in garbage dumps.

In the same way, we must support the efforts of our community organizations to provide care, counsel, and provision to pregnant women considering abortion so that they would choose life. We must also be involved in the process of caring for and restoring those who are dealing with the regret of past abortions.

2. We must outdo government programs that seek to provide for provision and necessities for the poor, oppressed, and outcast. We must walk beside the widows and orphans. It has been said many times that the Government had to step in because the Church was not doing it’s job.

Just as Dr. Martin Luther King once charged the church for not standing up for racial issues in the 60’s, “if today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will loose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning.” (Letter from Birmingham Jail)

I pray that we have not forever lost our voice! I pray that we do not step back in grief and become a community of escapists, and irrelevant social club. We need to impact our communities for the Gospel.

3. We must seek to use our finances in a way that wages war against the culture of greed, and the corruption and turmoil it brings. Greed is the reason our economy is unstable, its that simple. No top down financial plan will deliver America from the effects of greed.

The responsible actions of Christians who understand that money is gift from God will speak volumes to an America being drowned in greed.

4. We also must seek to uphold the family unit as designed by God. Some stats show that the divorce rate in the church is higher than the secular world. How can we have a voice on this issue if we are silent with our actions? Sure, we are not all perfect, and we have made mistakes, but we need to exhibit how the family unit should properly function in light of the Biblical pattern as an example to the world around us.

God provided a pattern of sacrificial love in the cross of Christ to show how marriage properly works. “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”, and “Wives, submit to your husbands.”

The scope of this post cannot cover all the issues pertaining to this election. Nor do I fully understand the implications of every issue, nor have I greatly expounded on each of the issues above, but I feel that we need to respond out of love not anger.

5. Lastly,

1. Pray for our new President Barack Obama (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

2. Respect Barack Obama (Rom. 13:7).

3. Honor Barack Obama (Rom. 13:7; 1 Pet. 2:17).

“Things We Must Rejoice In”

1. The implications of electing an African American president are huge. The horrible reality of our countries past illustrates the injustice of racism. We have made huge strides in recognizing all men as equal.

I am encouraged that we have an African American president. While I would rather it be someone else, I can rejoice in the fact that racial wounds can begin to heal in ways they never have.

2. Finally, and most importantly we must rejoice in the fact that our hope, as the Church, is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and nothing else. Our faith is not placed in politics, or the governing systems of this world.

Our citizenship is in the Kingdom of God. We are exiles in a strange land. But I pray that we are responsible citizens or in this world who recognize that our God is ultimately in control.

This is, more than anything else, a chance for the Church to shine the light of the Gospel in a dark secular America.

Note

Albert Mohler, John Piper, Mark Driscoll, C.J. Mahaney, Justin Taylor

Matt Capps Christianity, Culture, Life, Personal, Religion, Thoughts

Prayers for Election Day

First, Dr. Albert Mohler published an election day prayer this morning on his blog and I wanted to share it with you below;

“First, we should pray that God will bless America with leaders better than we deserve.  Democratic systems inevitably reflect the electorate’s decisions, and these decisions reveal underlying worldviews.  And, truth be told, all we can expect from democracy is the government we deserve.  We must pray for a government and for leaders better than we deserve.  May God grant us mercy as he reigns and rules over all things, including this election.

Second, we should pray that Americans will be motivated to fulfill the responsibilities of citizenship, yet also that we will be stripped of an unhealthy and idolatrous confidence in the power of government to save us.  God has given us the gift of rulers and governments in order to restrain evil, uphold righteousness, and provide for civil order.  No human ruler can save.  No government official or office holder can heal the human heart, solve the sin problem, or accomplish final justice.  These powers belong to God and God alone.

Third, we must pray that Americans will vote by conscience, not merely on the basis of celebrity or emotion.  Christian citizens must vote to uphold righteousness and contend for righteous and just laws.  But, at the same time, we must repent of moralism and the tacit assumption that better laws would produce better people.

Fourth, we must pray that Americans will vote to defend the least among us — and especially those who have no vote.  This starts, but does not end, with concern for the unborn and for the recovery of respect for the dignity and sanctity of every single human life at every stage of development, from conception until natural death.

Fifth, we should pray that God will prick the conscience of the nation on issues of morality, righteousness, and respect for marriage as the central institution of human civilization.  So much ground appears to have been lost on these issues.  We need to pray that much ground can be regained.

Sixth, we should pray that God will protect these candidates and their families.  They have been through an arduous ordeal and now face the deadline of the vote.  They are physically exhausted and now face the judgment of the people.  They are public figures, but they are also flesh and blood human beings, who are fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters.  Their families have withstood much.  We should pray for their marriages and their children.  May God protect them.

Seventh, we should pray that the election is conducted with honor, civility, respect, and justice.  We must pray that we do not face another round of litigation after an election.  This brings democracy into disrepute.  May there be a clear winner, not a contested result.

Eighth, we must pray that Americans will be prepared to accept the results of the election with respect and kindness.  This will be no time for rancor, condemnations, and conspiracy theories.  Instead, we must pray that God will settle the hearts of the people.  May Christians be ready to respond with prayer, respect for office, and a gentle spirit.  Others will be watching.

Ninth, we should pray that this election would lead to even greater opportunities to preach the Gospel, and that the freedom of the church will be respected, honored, and protected.

Tenth, we must pray for the church, praying that the church of the Lord Jesus Christ would be strengthened in the truth, grounded in the faith, and empowered for witness and ministry.  May the church, the sign of the coming kingdom, be faithful to declare the Gospel — knowing that this is the only message that will save.”

John Piper also published a prayer on Desiring God’s web page;

Father in heaven, as we approach this election on Tuesday, I pray

1) that your people will vote,

2) and that they will vote with a sense of thankfulness for a democratic system that at least partially holds in check the folly and evil in all our hearts so that power which corrupts so readily is not given to one group or person too easily;

3) that we would know and live the meaning of

  1. being in the world, but not of it,
  2. doing politics as though not doing them,
  3. being on the earth, yet having our lives hidden with Christ in God,
  4. rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God’s;

4) that we would discern what truths and values should advance by being made law and which should advance only by the leavening of honest influence;

5) that your people would see what love and justice and far-seeing wisdom demand in regard to the issues of education, business and industry, health care, marriage and family, abortion, welfare, energy, government and taxes, military, terrorism, international relations, and every challenge that we will face in the years to come;

6) and above all, that we will treasure Jesus Christ, and tell everyone of his sovereignty and supremacy over all nations, and that long after America is a footnote to the future world, he will reign with his people from every tribe and tongue and nation.

Keep us faithful to Christ’s all important Word, and may we turn to it every day for light in these dark times.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

This is a historic election in many aspects, just as every election is. But this election has the potential to either open or heal wounds that remind us of our sinful nature and our shameful past.

America is divided. Our hearts are divided. But as Christians we cannot place our ultimate hope in the next president. No man is upright or pure. Our world has felt the disastrous effects of sin and its implications. In the end we must realize that Christ is our only hope, in this life and the life to come.

We as Christians must be responsible citizens and vote. Vote realizing that whatever happens today does not change our mission to live and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of us might be upset about the outcome, and that is expected. Let me remind you of the Apostle Paul’s words to the Roman Christians;

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

The world is watching. How we as Christians respond to this election will have a massive impact on our influence in american society. Live, talk, and act with wisdom.