Mon, Aug 28th - 1:38AM

The Light of the Cross

by J. Gregory Mantle

     "The school of the Cross," said John Bunyan when he was dying, "is the school of light."  It is the mirror in which the selfishness, hideousness, and penalty of human sin is reflected.  There is no searchlight like that which flashes from the hill of Calvary for discovering to us the plague of our own hearts.

     Simeon's words which predict the sorrows that were to pierce Mary's heart, predict also the laying open of the hidden dispositions of many other hearts (Luke 2:34,35).  Our deepest self is revealed by our attitude to the Cross of Jesus.  If we stand in its light, we shall find it a touchstone where we are tried and proved to the very depths of our being.  It will be "quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Neither is there any creature that will not be manifest in its sight."

     The Cross is not only possessed of sin-killing, but of sin-discovering power.  Before it can be "death to every vice," it must be light to reveal it loathsomeness. 

     To see what your sin really means bring it into the light of the Cross, and say as you gaze upon that marred visage and those pierced hands and feet: "It was my pride, my lust, my unbelief, my selfishness, that pointed the nails and fixed the thorns."  There are those who can testify that the perceived relation of the death of Christ to their sin has instantly so discovered to them its true character, and has so broken its power that the Cross has proved in an utterly unexpected sense their pathway to freedom.

     A Bechuana Christian exclaimed in the enthusiasm of his newly-found faith: "The Cross of Christ condemns me to become a saint!"  His words contain an all-important truth, for they at once reveal the real purpose of the Saviour's death and the true object of the Christian's life.  That object is not the foriveness of sins, not a title to heaven, not deliverance from the wrath to come, but a saintly walk.  Yes, the Cross condemns me to become a saint.

     It is out of the light of the Cross that men who profess to be Christians, and who have perchance renounced glaring sins, drop into a slothful, selfish, worldly life.  They contrast their present with their past; or they compare their life with the lives so many are living around them, and they are content.  The danger of this condition is intensified, because in gross sin there is some prospect of getting the conscience disturbed, but in this unhealthy state they persuade themselves that this is all that is required of them, and all that Jesus can do for them, and they cry: "Peace, peace, when there is no peace!"

     St. Paul meets the horrible suggestion, "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound:"  with the words: "God forbid.  How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?"  (Rom. 6:1-3).  That surely means that Christ's death implies union as well as substitution.  His death and resurrection-life condemn me to be a saint, and it is unspeakably mean of me to claim to be one with Him in the freedom from sin's punishment, which His Cross secures, and not one with Him in His attitude towards sin and in His attitude toward God.  Dean Vaughn speaks strongly when he says: "all sinning now is a re-crucifixion---it is a disregard, it is a despite, it is more---it is a re-binding and re-nailing and re-torturing and re-agonizing and re-killing of Him whose one death was the sufficient sin-bearing, and therefore the intended sin-eradication and sin-extermination forever."

     Yet this crime of perpetual crucifixion is continually enacted in the thought-life of the world, and with this awful aggravation: the men of the first century knew not what they did, they sinned in the dark, but the men of the nineteenth century sin against the light. "The criterion of character," says one, "is moral identification," and if our life belies our lips, if we make an orthodox profession but live a heterodox life; if we trifle with what we ignorantly call little sins and allow them to have dominion over us; if we are cowardly and silent, and given to desertion as the Christ of God stands at the  bar of public opinion; if we not only refuse to confess Him ourselves, but hinder others from confessing Him, we morally identify ourselves with those who cried: "Away with Him; not this man, but Barabbas!"

     "It was not the hammer and the nails which crucified Him; nor the Roman soldiers who wielded the weapons of His passion; nor the arm and the hand which smote the sharp iron into the wood--- these were but the blind material instruments of His agony.  His true crucifiers were our sins---and we, ourselves---the sinners, for whom He died.  This was the real power of darkness which set in motion all the array of death.  Wilful sins renew, in virtue and by implication, the wounds that were suffered on Mount Calvary.  And this reveals in us the true depth and measure of our guilt."

Adapted from "The Way of the Cross," chapter three, by J. Gregory Mantle.  Kingsley Press

Fri, Aug 25th - 1:26AM

Let's Win Them!

To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all [men], that I might by all means save some.  1Cor. 9:22

     As I approached Monroe Street from the north on Nevada Avenue Jared, my young helper and disciple in Christ was standing on the corner waiting, with his painter's hat turned backward.  We had just, the previous evening had a wonderful dinner at some friends from my church, a time of sweet fellowship and communion in the Lord.  That following morning I cringed when I saw the position of Jared's hat.  Jared and I have gone through seeming generations of conflict, grace and restorative love in the short year we've known each other.  I'll never forget my first encounter with him a couple of days after his release from jail last August, and the straightforwardness of his manner.  I hired him then and found him to be a good painter, albeit a sometimes overzealous evangelist both on and off the job.  I fired him the first time last Fall for badgering a customer, a Catholic lady who fairly stood her ground with him.  When I admonished him later to respect the religious beliefs of my customers he bristled and accused me of loving money more than God. 

     Last Winter, however I proved the absurdity of his arrogant statement as I cared for him through his financial difficulties and physical infirmities, as well as his backsliding into sin (including drugs).  The Lord Jesus graciously granted Jared repentance this Spring  after a long Winter of frustration and travail, and I re-hired him for the painting season.  I could chronicle more details to our intense relationship, but suffice it here that Jared has become much as a son to me in Christ, although a kind of generation gap, religious and otherwise often separates us.  I say unashamedly that I love the young man and count it a privilege to be a vessel of grace in his life as he grows spiritually into the man of God he is sure to be. 

     On this particular morning as I picked Jared up for work, I was, as many times in the past troubled in how to confront him on this seemingly small matter of the position of his hat on his head.  I've spent much time and given much thought to the image I desire to project in my business to the community we serve.  Painters tend to be a wild bunch, often quite ragged and even profane of appearance.  We had already gone round and round about wearing shorts and I have also required a modest haircut of him.  Sometimes I feel like a mother with a rebellious child in him, not knowing how and when to draw the line or give way on issues when necessary.  After a few morning comments were exchanged, I calmly asked him to turn his hat around, which he promptly did, but not without the proverbial protest.  "Why?" he blurted.

     Well, with that I pushed aside my fears of quenching his young spirit and falling into a father-son lecture on the evils of contemporary dress and appearance, and began to express my view on the matter.    Somehow, the Spirit gave me grace to speak in a clear and (relatively) calm tone to present a historical perspective back to the cultural rebellion of the 1960's, of which I was a glowing part myself, and bringing it up to the very present in the early 21st century.  The spirit I was combating was not merely captivating this 31 year old sitting next to me, but an entire generation (of all ages) in the contemporary Evangelical Church, with their battle cry, "What does it all really, matter?"  The passage in 2Corinthians, "casting down imaginations (arguments) and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God..."  2Cor. 10:5, though not specifically in the forefront of my mind, was certainly operative as I did battle against this spiritual adversary. 

     Later, after arriving at the job site, Jared surprised me by acknowledging the voice of the Holy Spirit in my words and his gracious submission to my request, though he certainly did not agree entirely.  He later cited the above passage to me (1Cor. 9:22) and asked for my perspective on it, which I gladly gave.  This little obscure statement of Paul's concerning deference to others in non-essential matters has, perhaps become the most misused passage in the New Testament in justifying a host of activities and concepts in contemporary Christianity for the supposed sake of "winning" this generation to Christ.  O I would that it were only the young and partially initiated who had fallen to the carnal reasonings of which I speak.  Not so.  Sadly, many of our leaders and elders in the Lord have led us in this direction of worldly compromise and diminished potency in our witness to the unbelieving world around us.  My question to this generation of professing believers in Jesus Christ is, "How much like them must we become before the difference between us and the rest of the world diminishes to nothing?"

     May the Lord of His church shake us up and wake us up to our complacency and spiritual adultery in relation to Christ, our heavenly spouse and Lord!

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.  2Cor. 11:2

Sat, Aug 12th - 5:54AM

Repentance as a Way of Life

     Take my yoke upon you and learn of me...Matt. 11:29

     The word repentance has, of course certain negative connotations which cannot be removed without radically altering the concept which the word represents.  However, there is a broader meaning to this idea than is commonly held even among professing Christians today.  That meaning needs to be fully explored by everyone who sincerely and honestly is seeking to find the truest expression of godliness in his life.  In the Old Testament we see the word "turn" used in relation to sin and the turning away from it.

For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn [yourselves], and live ye. (Ezek. 18:32)

The more positive aspect of repentance comes out in a New Testament passage in which Paul sums up the essence of his preaching to the Ephesian elders:

Sun, Aug 6th - 11:36AM

Let's Do It Our Way

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Luk 6:46)

     Self-will is man's greatest enemy.  True, the Devil is said to be our adversary, but his manipulations, deceits and trickery are all outside the province of the sovereignty of the free-will of men.  A review of human history as chronicled in the Bible illustrates this truth beyond dispute.  The woman in the garden and later her husband acted in a way that seemed good and appropriate to them.  Their son, Cain made the very same error in bringing an unacceptable sacrifice to God.  Later, all of the blunders made in the wilderness by the children of Israel, including the ill-advised prophesyings of Balaam to lead them into sin were the direct result of the exercise of their will in a fashion that later proved to be inconsistent with the will of God.

     The human imagination is fertile ground with ideas, methods, concepts and seemingly infinite creativity to employed for good.  Life is filled with illustrations in technology, business, art and the sciences.  The good that has resulted for the betterment of life here on this planet cannot be denied.  Whatever the problem, whether it be  technical/mechanical or moral, we can work through it and find a satisfactory solution, sooner or later.  If we apply ourselves diligently  and employ all of the host of mental, physical, moral, emotional and "spiritual"resources available to us in our human constitution, both individually and collectively, we can overcome any problem we face.  Getting a man on the moon was probably the classic example of the employment of human effort in the accomplishment of a seemingly lofty and virtually impossible goal.  An illustration in the Bible of a similar cooperative effort, though not quite as successful was the building of the tower in a place called Babel.  For some reason the Almighty wasn't consulted on this noble and mamoth task, and expressed His disapproval by not only thwarting their planned structure, but additionally confusing their language/communication capabilities.  But, with the persistency of ants when their mounds are somehow disturbed or destroyed, humanity went right on building civilizations and empires to their own credit and glory in spite of the Creator's lack of blessing.

     Many more illustrations of the propensity for self-determination  in the human soul can be found in Scripture.  God's people are by no means exempt from this wicked, rebellious inclination of the human heart.  The most outstanding in the Old Testament, and perhaps in the entire Bible is the case of Saul, first King of Israel.  Here was a man chosen out of relatively low circumstances and raised up by the Lord to be supreme leader of his nation.  It must be noted that his view of himself, of others and of God seemed to reflect a genuine humility in his heart.  But one particular action on his part after his ascent to power exposed a very deep flaw in his character.  That was self-will stemming from a loyalty to and ultimate love of self, rather than God.  It cost him the kingdom, as well as his very life. 

A later, New Testament example are the couple in the early church known as Ananias and Sapphira.  (Acts 5)  The self-will of their hearts was exposed before the entire church and rightfully judged of God.

   We see by these examples and many others in Scripture that this root sin is by no means excluded from the people of God.  Paul warns several times in his writings of those, who at one time had gained acceptance and prominence in the churches, but had set out on courses of their own, often leading many others to spiritual harm and destruction.  In our text, Jesus gives a very solemn warning against disobedience to the express will of God.  The building of our lives must be founded upon the foundation of God's truth which is contrary and opposed to the inclinations and tendencies of the fallen human heart.  That's why just prior to our text He uses the illustration of a good tree bringing forth good fruit and a bad tree, correspondingly bringing forth bad fruit. It is the motives and intentions of the heart that God is concerned with as much as our outward actions.  But outward actions do matter to God.  The little phrase, "God knows my heart" is so annoying to me.

     Where does this leave us in our discussion?  Just there.  There won't be any excuses on the day we stand before Christ at His judgment.  "But pastor said..." or "the Biblical scholars told us", or "everybody in the church was doing it."   It is absolutely incumbant upon us as individuals to listen to the voice of God as presented in the written Scriptures and to follow the leading of His blessed Spirit in the conduct of our lives while here.  The Christian life is not one of consensus of the majority.  It never was such a thing. 

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock... (Mat 7:24)

Sat, Aug 5th - 3:03AM

Spiritual or Carnal Christianity?

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.  Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  Rom. 8:5-9

     Jared, my young employee lay before me in a hospital bed feeling better after a day, yesterday of misery and anguish brought on by pain killers given him for his symptoms relating to acute colitis.  His doctors have talked of the posibility of surgery resulting in a colostomy, a very unpleasant thought for a young man in his prime, or for anyone.  But Jared was upbeat tonight as I visited him after work and dinner.  We have become very good friends in the year (nearly) that we have known each other, despite the many conflicts between us stemming from his stubborn self-will that is often fueled by the "Christian" beliefs he holds.  The theology that he so fervently embraces encompasses a variety of  contemporary ideas currently circulating throughout the body of Christ, including assured physical healing, modern worship modes, material prosperity and numerous other concepts that seem to me to bear little resemblance to the cross-carrying, self-denying discipleship taught in the New Testament and embraced by the Lord's early followers.

     Someone from the chaplain's department had brought Jared a radio/CD player and after a while in our fellowship time this evening he coaxed me into listening to a "really powerful" worship rendition.  I won't describe my response fully for fear of being misunderstood by my readers, but I listened patiently, happy that things were going better for my dear brother in Christ.  But Jared pressed me, as he is wont to do, trying to get an acknowledgement that the noises coming from the singers on that machine were exhibiting the power of the Spirit as they went through their gyrations and rythmic clamor.  We bantered with each other jokingly, each maintaining his position, his that the music was spiritual,  and mine that it was nothing more than a manifestation of the flesh, and therefore sensual and counter to and counterfeit of the true worship of God "in Spirit and in truth."  Beneath it all was, and is a very strong bond of love and kinship between us that is a gift from the Lord.  But somehow, as stong as this young man's love and zeal for God are, there is a very real vein of deception in his mind and soul that permeates all of his living.

     What is true Christianity and what constitutes authentic service and worship to God in Jesus Christ?  Endless jangling and debate has transpired since the Lord's departure concerning this matter.  It would be supposed that Scripture, clear as it is, and certainly as it has been preserved down through the centuries would clear the matter without controversy.  Indeed, repentance and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ is God's simple answer to the complexities of sin and death in this present world.  God has always had a living testimony of His grace in this world from the time of Abel to the very present.  A remnant of His redeemed have always followed the faithful path into His eternal kingdom, pressed though they were on every side by the lies and harrassment of the world around them.  Today, as we approach the climax of human history at this late stage of it's progression, that deception and persecution of the truth are as intense as ever they have been.  Those who are Christ's must heed the call to "come out from among them" and to be truly separate from that anti-christ system that  permeates today's culture and has infected professing Christendom so subtily and powerfully.

    Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2Ti 2:19)