Selah: Christians

Just because someone claims to be a Christian doesn’t make them one. If we compare what the Bible says about what a true Christian is–what they profess and how they live– with what the majority of professing Christians are, with loving, broken… hearts we can say without hesitation they are deceived by a lie and need the power of God to work in our sharing of the gospel message with them. <Selah>

Spurgeon from “Another Word Concerning the Down-Grade”

“A new religion has been initiated, which is no more Christianity than chalk is cheese; and this religion, being destitute of moral honesty, palms itself off as the old faith with slight improvements, and on this plea usurps pulpits which were erected for gospel preaching. The Atonement is scouted, the inspiration of Scripture is derided, the Holy Spirit is degraded into an influence, the punishment of sin is turned into fiction, and the resurrection into a myth, and yet these enemies of our faith expect us to call them brethren, and maintain a confederacy with them!” ~C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.spurgeon.org/s_and_t/dg03.htm

Love War

You say all is fair in love and war until it’s your broken heart beating, bleeding on the cold wooden floor.

What’s more, how do you say you love speaking only in selfish, less precious tones…prone to wander from the splendor of the sacred, consecrated, divinely created gift of Godly romance?

To dance without the Savior in the courting of another, is to utterly smother the seed that needs to breath…that needs the Light of the Holy Son to survive and arrive to complete fruition, not missing it’s God-appointed season.

Idolatry

The world stands in awe…before the image of the glory of their God.

Fallacy driven, they praise their self-sufficient, self-sustaining, successfully sinful saviour.

And they cry, “What ingenious! What beauty! What power! The god of pragmmatic innovation, practical ethics, and relative justice…so caring, so thoughtful, so benevolent…”

Yet the image alone bears the fruit of its self-serving acts…the image of humanistic hedonism…the idol god of self.

Oh, how damning and foolish is the destructive worship of the depraved man in the mirror.

Wrath and Gospel

God is not obligated to save men. Some ask, “Why not?” but it begs the question, “Why should he?” I mean, let’s first think what we are saved from. No doubt, there are several answers to this question–hell, sin– but we must, yes, and imperative must, realize we are saved, if we are saved, from the holy wrath of God. “Wrath” you may say…yes, wrath… the just punishment the Righteous Judge of all must pour out upon all who transgress the good, perfect, and holy law of the good, perfect, and only holy God. The just punishment the Righteous Judge of all must pour out upon every wicked man if He is to be good, perfect, holy, and just. And yes my dear friends, you and I alike are both guilty before God and deserving of His wrath. And if deserving of wrath we are, God, as good, perfect, holy, and just is not only not obligated to save and pardon us, He should not…He cannot. Do you see? If God is good, perfect, holy, and just, His love will be good, perfect, holy and just. Therefore, in His love He will be just and hate those who willfully transgress against this good, perfect, holy, just, loving, and righteous Law… the only conclusion then, is that a just judge who loves justice will punish the guilty. So why then should He save you? How then could He save you? (SELAH)

Now we can see our need of Christ. Now we can see our need of the cross. It is by what Christ accomplished on that tree by the predetermined plan of God, that God, not by obligation, not by obligation or some universal law outside of God Himself, can save wicked men. Our redemption was purchased in Christ Jesus suffering the wrath of God for our sins which He took upon Himself, shedding His blood to satisfy the requirements of justice and the Law. By placing our faith in Christ Jesus, and looking to Him as the propitiation for our guilt and sin, we are saved in the grace and mercy God has shown, but again, not by obligation or universal coercion. So why then? It is the free will choice of God, His good pleasure, His joy, His delight, and His desire to show His glory in sharing His love with us who do not deserve it, but in all actuality have forfeited and squandered His great blessings and gifts. It is God freely choosing to unconditionally love us unconditionally, and make a way that He might adopt us as sons and daughters to the praise of His glory. And as it is the free will desire of God to freely love with so great a love as He does, His glory and worth are infinitely magnified…and that my friends is sweet and glorious, that my friends is worthy of praise, that my friends is Good News!

The SoapBox Chronicles: Hope for the Wandering Heart

Oh, what hope does the wanderer have? We all at times play the role of the nomad, and we as a whole are a wandering people searching for a place to call our “home”. Oh, what hope do we have?

Thanks be to God whose compassions never fail. (Lamentations 3:19-26)

We run from God and the beauty of His Light, in fear that who we are will shamefully be exposed; but oh, how sweet and liberating are the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, for they indeed never cease.

It is true His Light exposes, but it is only in the presence of His Light when we see our sin and desperation that we find the mercies of God, and they are new every morning…new any and every moment we lay ourselves at the feet of Jesus with repentant hearts, and trade our sin and shame in exchange for His glory. (Selah)

He tells us in I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

And in receiving His mercies we taste the fruit of His faithfulness…
In receiving mercy we find Grace…
In receiving grace we find Salvation…
In receiving salvation we find adoption into God’s family…
And it is in our inclusion in the family of Jesus that we find a home in the heart of God.

Oh, what hope does the wanderer have?……

It is found in the Love of God poured out on a blood-stained cross, and now
resounds in an empty tomb. He is our home, and He alone is that which
satisfies the hunger, thirst, and need of the wandering soul. (Selah)

The SoapBox Chronicles: Truth and Revival

If we learn from those who are unlearned themselves, are we not then still ignorant? If we compare ourselves with others who lack Truth, what benefit is derived from conforming to their ways? What fruit is truly borne from seeds of falsity, lies, and human wisdom in man’s traditions and rituals? Oh, what false fire is now found on the altars of our own foolishness. These altars are in need of reformation and conformity to the Word of God in the Holy Scriptures; and we are in desperate need of repentance and looking again unto Christ and Christ alone for His glory, His Name, and His Kingdom to advance. Under this banner alone will we see revival in our lands, as He so chooses to move.

Psalm 46:10

Conviction

It was lost within a sea of skeptics…                                                                                                                                                                                                   Tosssed upon the shore rejected…                                                                                                                                                                                                         Truth was found lonely and neglected…

Traded in for sense                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Each common fool commits the treason                                                                                                                                                                                                 Sticking to the claim:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       “To live by faith conflicts with reason!”

But where does the road of logic go                                                                                                                                                                                                       When all your knowledge doesn’t know                                                                                                                                                                                                       A solid explanation for creation’s greatest role                                                                                                                                                                                     When rocks are finally crying out                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Will you give attention                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      To the truth your wisdom                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Can’t deny your hearts conviction:                                                                                                                                                                                                

“God is real!”

The SoapBox Chronicles: Beauty and Theology

“Do you know why you don’t love God? It comes down to theology; you don’t know Him, and if you want to grow in your love for God, you grow in your knowledge of His virtue, and of His glory, and of His attributes, and let me throw this word at you that’s not spoken of enough…His beauty. I’ve come to the realization that if theology is not beautiful, it’s not Biblical. If it doesn’t invoke passion out of the truly regenerate heart, there’s a problem” ~Paul David Washer

This quote was from a sermon I heard brother Washer preach, and I have to say it stirred my heart with wonderful thoughts. This is only a small portion of his sermon, but I find incredibly profound truth in what he said. If theology is defined as the study of God- His person and His Truth- then it is reasonable to expect from our theology that which God is. What I mean is this, if God is beautiful and wonderful and lovely, then our theological findings will be the same.

Do you see Christ as precious? Does thinking about Jesus move your heart to dance? If the heavens themselves declare the majesty and splendor of our glorious Creator, how much more should we, we who have tasted His cup of mercy and grace, because He drank the cup of God’s wrath in our place, how much more should our tongues joyfully sing of His righteousness and our mouths declare His praise?

Much, much more, I would say…much, much more!

May we passionately desire to know Him, that we may love Him more, that we may praise Him more…For He is worthy of an eternity of infinite praise, and my heart delights to see Him in all His glory. He is wondrously beautiful and He has graciously invited us to taste and see that He is good…oh; He is good, He is good, He is good!!!

Do you love Him? Do you know Him? Is He beautiful to you?

The SoapBox Chronicles: Overboard

Over I have fallen Lord, I have jumped Thy ship. Lured below by lustful treasures, I’ve been deceived and sink beneath the surface of the waters. As wisdom sleeps it seems I have forgotten: I have no strength to swim, nor voice to cry aloud. I have nothing apart from Thee and yet have foolishly abandoned Thy presence. It seems safety is my enemy, in abandoning my Lord. What dangers lurk beneath Thy sun in darkend waters deep? I cannot breath, my chest feels tight, I need Thy rescue. I’m drowning in this carnal sea and sinking further down. These fleshly weeds have caught my feet, and hold me in their captive chains. I’m so afraid apart from Thee, I cannot see Thy face! Oh, Captain of my sweet salvation hear my soul’s despair! I need Thee, oh, I need Thee and no other! If Thou, oh Lord, should leave me in my sin and let me die, Thy goodness would diminish not and still would justice reign. I am my own worst enemy, and so reap the wickedness I have sown. As Gomer whispers in my ear, I fear that I’m the unfaithful bride. But even in the darkest depths my heart still burns with hope, for Thy faithfulness stands as witness that Thy covenant will be kept. My soul cries out to Thee my God, my only hope and help! Let Thy sovreign grace condescend to take my hand! Most Blessed Lord, Thou answer me and prove I am Thine own, forsaking not the weakest of Thy sons! The radiance of Thy glory shines in all Thy saving works! Such loving mercies, loving graces, pleads my soul to sing! So Father, hear Thy son, let my praises find Thine ears! May the humble offering from my lovestruck heart rise like incense burning sweet! Though weak it is, yet all I have, my love I give to Thee! For all I have are gracious grifts from Thy most gracious hand, as Thou have first loved me! So I delight to be Thine own, forever in Thy courts to dwell. And there forever my soul will sing this song to Thee my Love:

Like Jordan, let these waters part and see my darkness flee
Washed clean beneath Thy sacred blood, unto Thy cross I cling
With heart bowed down, upon my kness, I weep and kiss Thy feet
My passionate and truest Love, in Thee my joy complete