Shepherd Press Blog

The God of all Comfort

2009-11-16T14:08:51Z

This is the third and last post in this series on what to say to your children when someone close to them dies. The topic of death is challenging. But as Christians, we should not fear talking about it. Jesus Christ has won the victory over death. Our children must see that we have the faith and courage to actually live out this reality. This is the test of whether we live by faith or by sight. Our children know the difference. In order to comfort our children we must experience comfort ourselves. This is Paul's message in his second letter to the Corinthians.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. --2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Paul writes as one who has known the comfort of God. He himself has received comfort. Therefore, he is able to bring comfort to others. So, parents, you too must know the comfort of God. You must not believe the lies of the culture about death. You must be firmly grounded in God's view of death. It is impossible to live as if this world really matters most and then make a sudden transition to thinking and acting biblically when something as disturbing as an unexpected death occurs. We can prepare for such unexpected events only by having God's thoughts in our hearts day by day. That is one of the practical benefits of faithfully following Deuteronomy 6 and daily imparting the things of God. 0o your children.

One passage that is very helpful when there are unexpected, life dominating events is Psalm 46. This psalm doesn't pull any punches. It acknowledges how devastating life can be, but it also acknowledges how total the comfort of God is for his people. Let's take a look at some key verses in the psalm.

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

This truth is reality for the psalmist. He truly believes this. Paul is expressing a similar thought in 2 Corinthians, and that truth must be your bottom line belief. That is where your heart must reside each day. Now, look at verses 2-3:

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

While these words obviously apply to natural disasters, they apply even more powerfully to the emotional impact of an unexpected life dominating event. When an expected death occurs it does feel like the earth has given way--it is an emotional earthquake. But notice that the psalmist says that because God is his refuge he will not fear, even in the face of tragedy. This is the truth of verse 7:

The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

God is his fortress. God is with him. He is living by faith. Even though devastating troubles have occurred, God is his refuge and strength. While this kind of faith will not change events or take away deep hurt, God is there to bring comfort and strength. God is our refuge and strength. Your strong belief in these realities--your reliance on God's strength--can and will be a source of comfort to your children in troubling times. This is also true for those of you who are pastors or youth workers. Your genuine faith in the God of Psalm 46 can bring comfort to those who need the comfort that only God can give.

Talking about death with your children - part 2

2009-11-14T04:54:34Z

In the last post we began discussing how to talk about death with your children. In that post we laid the foundation for thinking biblically about death and dying. Our culture attempts to avoid the reality of death by emphasizing the illusion of life without Christ. In 1 Timothy 6:19 Paul encourages us to take hold of life that is truly life. By implication, this means that there is life that is really not life at all, but death masquerading as life. It is this imposture of life that our culture worships. Thus, the culture focuses not on the life to come, but exclusively on life in the fallen world. The 21^st century is unlike the 19^th century in this regard. The afterlife was a dominant theme in 19^th century literature. The rise of existentialism in the 20^th century paved the way for a post-modern culture that is captivated by life that is not truly life. This is why you must not let the culture shape your children's view of death.

In the Bible, death is a time of sadness and grief. Additionally, for the unbeliever it is a time of fear. These perspectives are another important element of the formative instruction you must give your children to prepare them to deal with death. These perspectives move the discussion to a more intimate level than the foundational concerns we addressed in the last post.

Death is a time for sadness and grief. However, death is not hopeless for the Christian. We are to be confident of the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf, so our grief is tempered by the sure hope that Christ defeated death. I Corinthians 15:55-57 says:

Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ has defeated death. This fact provides hope. Because of Christ, taking hold of life that is truly life is a real experience for the Christian. In his letter to the Thessalonians Paul says that while Christians will grieve, it will be different that the world's grief over death.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. I Thessalonians 4:13

Death provides a practical, regular opportunity to speak of the things of God to your children as Deuteronomy 6 instructs us. The news is full of stories about death on many fronts. God does not want you to waste these opportunities by allowing news anchors and talk show hosts to fashion our view of death. Death and the centrality of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ must be brought together to challenge the world's thinking about death.

The point here is that you are to talk about all of life's situations, including death, from God's perspective. Children identify with sadness and grief. Talking about such issues as death before they make a personal impact will not remove all hurt and grief, but it can help place life's events in the positive construct of God's good providential care. While nothing can fully prepare a child for the shock of an unexpected death, having a solid biblical foundation can help provide stability.

One additional thought on the impact of culture on the church's view of death. It has become quite common to refer to a person who has died as one who has "passed." The expression is a shortening of the phrase passed away. The question still remains - to what has he passed? If the biblical realities are fully understood, then the term passing can work. However, in the politically correct world, it would be offensive to say that someone has passed to either heaven or hell. So, if you refer to someone dying as having passed, it is important to understand that that person is passing on to one of two distinct locations - one of unspeakable joy and the other of unspeakable torment.

In the next post we will look at some passages that can bring hope in the face of death.

Talking about death to your children

2009-11-13T19:05:19Z

Someone recently wrote in and asked how to talk with a young child who had just unexpectedly lost a close relative. This is a subject we have not yet specifically addressed in this blog, but it is a question that needs good biblical answers. The discussion must be addressed with gentleness and care. There are some things that can and should take place to prepare for this discussion. So, let's start with laying a solid biblical foundation about life and death.

Ever since the Fall, death has become part of life. Modern Western culture is attempting to ignore this basic reality of life. We are cajoled, persuaded, marketed, and bedazzled with the idea that life in the here and now is all that really matters. The biblical reminders that life is but a vapor, a mist which is here today and gone tomorrow, go unheeded. Many children grow up in this modern culture with little firsthand exposure to death. But when death does come to those close to them, these same children are often traumatized and devastated. If you read the pages of history, even the relatively young history of America, children dying in infancy or early childhood was common in earlier days. It was not unusual to have siblings who had died in childhood. Diseases and injuries which formerly would have been fatal are often curable now. Compared to even 100 years ago, children today face the finality of death much less frequently than their earlier counterparts did.

That being said, how do you help a child cope with the shock and deep sadness that accompanies death, particularly when it is unexpected? The first and safest place to start is always the Cross. Instead of viewing life as a gift from God, our culture views life as an entitlement. This is a natural outcome of a culture that has a low view of sin and sees little need of a Savior. Death is not seen as the rightful end of fallen man, but rather a barrier to be overcome, something we can defeat (or, at least, postpone) in our own strength. The problem is that this kind of thinking does not work well with children. Children know only the searing loss of the one who is gone . It is only the cross of Christ that can make sense of death.

Children were designed to learn from others, especially from their parents. So the way those who are close to children think about life and death will directly shape how they view death. Here are some points that should be part of your regular conversation with your children before they have to deal with death directly.

Death is a part of life, whether our culture thinks it should be or not.

All men deserve death because they are sinners.

God is in control of all things, even death.

God is good and all he does is good, even if, especially if, we cannot understand it.

We will live exactly as long as God has determined, not a second more or less.

For those who know Christ, he does not treat us as our sins deserve.

Christ conquered death by bringing new life to those seek him for forgiveness.

These themes should be discussed regularly with your children. These are the basic issues of life. There are plenty of opportunities each day to make these themes a natural part of your conversations with your child. For example, it is good to remind your children frequently that there are no random events in this world. Just because the news media doesn't know why something happened doesn't mean that the event was random. God plans all things after the counsel of his own will. Passages such as Colossians 1:15-20 and Acts 17:24-28 show the purposefulness of all of God's actions. Remember that the inclination of the culture in general, and the media in particular, is to add the element of randomness to tragic events. But our God is not random.

Prepare to talk about death by talking about the gospel. Why does man die? Man dies because of sin. Death is the ultimate reminder of the Fall. There is no escape! This theme of sin and judgment is lacking in our culture, but it is essential for our children to understand it thoroughly. It is important to see that life is maintained by God's grace, not by man's efforts and accomplishments. When the gospel message is removed from the center of daily life, we begin to think of life as an entitlement. A sense of entitlement means that there is no sense of grace. This is the current state of American culture, and this attitude is beginning to make inroads into the church. (But that is a topic for another post.) The point is that death becomes perceived as something that is not fair, instead of being accepted as the consequence of sin and rebellion against God. Children pick up on these underlying attitudes of the heart about death. That is why you want the necessity and practicality of the cross to be central in their lives and in your conversations with them.

The subject of death should not be avoided just because is it painful. One reason that these kinds of conversations don't take place more often is that children often ask questions that are more insightful and probing than we are comfortable with. But that is okay. God's Word has the answers, and your children need to hear them.

Let me stress that these are the kind of discussions you want to have with children before death touches their lives, if at all possible. It is better for them to understand the reality of life and death beforehand.

This, then, is the groundwork for talking with your children about death and dying. In the next post we will look at some things that might be helpful when the issue of death becomes more immediate. As always, let me know your thoughts.

The Wisdom of a Fool

2009-11-11T04:53:48Z

The title of this post doesn't make sense. Fools, by definition, are not wise. This is the fourth of Tedd Tripp's concerns for parents today. The first three concerns were these: grasping the importance of formative instruction, establishing a biblical view of authority and maintaining biblical communication. The fourth concern is developing the ability to contrast the supposed wisdom of fools with the wisdom of God. The book of Proverbs is the perfect place to see this contrast vividly laid out.

Proverbs 1:7 sets the tone for the rest of the book:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

The fool has no love of the true knowledge that leads to life and redemption in Christ. This true knowledge is the most important knowledge that can be acquired here on earth, and it can only be known through faith in Christ. Since fools say there is no God (Psalm 14:1), they despise his knowledge. This is the contrast that matters. One way leads to death and another leads to life. For a profoundly rewarding study, take time with your children to go over all the places the word fool is used in the Proverbs. For example, look at Proverbs 12:15:

The way of a fool seems right to him,
but a wise man listens to advice.

It is a rare person who has the wisdom to take advice. The wisdom of the fool says, "Don't listen to anyone else; do what you want." Think of all the hours you could spend talking about this contrast with your children. Of course, the goal here is not to have a lecture but a real, back and forth, two-way discussion that illustrates this powerful contrast. This would be an excellent time to tell your children about a time when you didn't listen to wise counsel, but insisted on going your own way. The conversation about this one contrast can easily be adapted to any age child--or even to adults!

Proverbs 13:20 makes this contrast:

He who walks with the wise grows wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm.

.Again, think how many practical life illustrations can be made from this one proverb that contrasts the way of the fool with the way of true wisdom. This contrast shows the value of making good friends. It calls to mind I Corinthians 15:33, which teaches that bad company corrupts good character. There are a multitude of biblical narratives that illustrate this truth. You can also appeal to stories in literature and your own life as well.

There are over 70 references to the way of a fool in Proverbs. These references provide important life lessons for you to teach to your children. Tedd believes that this contrast between the way of the fool and the wisdom of God should be given top priority. Discernment is a skill lacking in far too many Christians. Regular practice at identifying this contrast will build discernment skills in both you and your children.

I pray that you will be see the importance of these four concerns as you implement them your parenting.

One additional note. This last week I have been battling an infection and thus was not able to blog. Now, Lord willing, you will see posts more frequently again. It is a great blessing to be able to interact with you about things in life that really matter.

The Reprint of Genesis is Here!

2009-11-01T01:44:58Z

The first volume of the Herein is Love series, Genesis is here, fresh from the printer. The text has been re-edited to make it even more accessible and useable. The power of God in creation is on display in the pages of these books. This volume will enhance and encourage your love for God's Word. It will lead you to a deeper appreciation of what God has wonderfully done. We are not here by happenstance, but by the design and purpose of the will of God. This volume and the others in this series tell of the wonderful plan of God with all of its intricacies. It is this rich story unfolding from the pages of Scripture that shows the futility of man's efforts to remove God from the role of Creator. Shepherd Press is thrilled and excited to offer this tool for your use and God's glory. Here are the words of one noted and respected biblical scholar:

"Where can one even think of finding such treasures as these fine commentaries on Bible books written for children? A tour de force in children's literature."

Derek W. H. Thomas, John E. Richards Professor of Systematic and Practical Theology, RTS

Go to shepherdpress.com to purchase Herein is Love.

No men OR women needed

2009-11-01T01:37:48Z

This headline is from a recent edition of the London Daily Mail online. The rest of the headline reads: Scientists create sperm and eggs from stem cells. Here are a few quotes from this article:

The U.S. government-funded research also offers the prospect of a 'miracle pill' which staves off the menopause, allowing women to wait longer to have a child.

Scientists at Stanford University in California found the right cocktail of chemicals and vitamins to coax the cells into becoming eggs and sperm.

The American team used stem cells taken from embryos in the first days of life but
hope to repeat the process with slivers of skin. The skin cells would first be exposed to a mixture which wound back their biological clocks to embryonic stem cell state, before being transformed into sperm or eggs.

The double success, published in the journal Nature, raises the prospect of men and women one day 'growing' their own sperm and eggs for use in in vitro fertilization treatments.

Parents, while this is not exactly pleasant reading material, you can be assured that your children will be hearing about this "breakthrough" sooner than later in their education; perhaps even tomorrow. So what do you say to your 13-year-old with whom you have been slow to have "the discussion" about how babies are made?

These bio-medical endeavors, however noble their stated purposes may be, ultimately seek to gain control over the process of creating life. Ultimately, these projects seek to give man control. Neither men, women, nor God are necessary to create a child. All that is needed is some skin, a petri-dish and some drugs

If the book of Genesis makes anything clear, it is this - God is the Author and Sustainer of life. Modern man has come to believe that he is in control of his own life, even to the point of making children apart from the reproductive process ordained by God. It is still too early to tell whether the research being done at Stanford and other places will actually result in human life. However, the question must be asked: why would someone think he could do a better job at bringing babies into the world than God? Ultimately, the answer must lie in the fact that the fear and awe of God has been lost. Genesis speaks of a God who spoke the Universe into existence. The God of Genesis created matter out of nothing, to be used for his purposes. The scientists mentioned in this article, while they are attempting to by-pass the human reproductive process, must begin with something. They cannot will matter into existence.

Genesis speaks of the living, eternal God of heaven and earth. He has no beginning or end. He is not dependent upon anyone or any matter to do as he wishes. He does not experiment by testing hypotheses to see if his plans will work. God purposes and it happens. There was nothing, and then there was. No laboratory or research team can claim anything like that. Instead of being humbled by these attempts to create life man's way, these scientists actually appear to thrive on the struggle. While it is commendable to persevere, it is arrogant to attempt to replace God.

How do you explain these things to your children? The best place to start is the Bible itself and Genesis in particular. The whole story is there: God's power, His majestic plan, His overwhelming creativity, the wonder of man, the devastation of sin, the wreckage of life made by humans enslaved to sin, the hope of redemption and a Redeemer. This is Genesis. This is the beginning of the story of the Creator and his creatures. It is your story and, most importantly, it is God's story.

Too Many Words

2009-10-27T20:50:19Z

In the last post we began to examine Tedd Tripp's third concern for parents today - communication. Tedd raised two principles that must govern communication in the home. The first is the advantage of using quiet words in instruction. The next principle is the advantage of using few words in communication.

Many words are not a sign of wise speech. Proverbs 10:19 teaches that when words are many sin is not absent. In the interview, Tedd also referenced Ecclesiastes 6:11 which says:

                The more the words,
                    the less the meaning,
                    and how does that profit anyone?

What a clarifying concept! The piling on of words does not profit anyone. Like loud language, verbose communication may indicate a lack of clarity in thinking, or even a lack of trust in God. It is tempting to think that many words will make your position stronger. But, as Proverbs and Ecclesiastes teach, this is seldom the case. Look at these two examples.

A four-year-old is having trouble sharing a toy. You sit the child down and have a long monologue with him about why it is important to share with others. Every few minutes you stop and ask your son if he understands what you are saying. Your son nods his head and you say "good" and keep talking. After your discourse is finished, you think that he will surely understand your reasoning. But a four-year-old will not grasp a detailed argument on the nuances of why sharing is the most logical thing to do. What is needed in this situation is not many words, but clear, authoritative directions. Learning to prefer others before yourself is a life-long pursuit. Direct, explicit, short communication is needed to build the foundation for this four-year-old child to truly put others first.

Another example of many words yielding frustration is a parent having a long conversation with a fourteen-year-old to explain why he or she should do the yard work now instead of later. The conversation starts this way:

I know you said you wanted to go down the street to your friends for the afternoon, but I think we should do some yard work first.

As a parent, you seize upon this opportunity to "teach" why she should think more about her responsibilities to the family and to instruct her about the dangers of procrastination. As a parent you may think that the time for a long discussion has been providentially provided. The yard work needs to be done, your daughter wants to go see her friends - what a great opportunity to help her see things the right way. Again, a long period of explanation follows. But in this instance, you can quickly tell that your daughter has already "tuned you out." You attempt to solve this by adding more words about the need to respect your authority. The more your daughter tunes out, the more lengthy and intense and loud your words become. Finally, your daughter asks, "Can I go now?" You, of course, become totally frustrated and upset that she is not hearing you. To be sure, much work is needed in this situation, but loud words and more words will not help to bring either parent or daughter closer to God. Too often parents attempt to address issues with teenagers without consideration for the timing of the conversation. Careful planning is essential to productive communication with teenagers.

Wise communication is quiet speech that uses few words. Parents who employ these biblical principles will often find that this approach encourages more openness and depth in conversations with their children. Let me know your thoughts.

Quiet Communication

2009-10-26T16:39:52Z

In my recent radio interview with Tedd Tripp I asked Tedd to give four truths that he believes are important for families in today's world. The first two truths were 1) understanding the importance of formative instruction and 2) establishing a biblical view of authority. Next we will consider Tedd's third point: communication. Communicating biblically is crucial if parental authority is to be effective in achieving God's objectives. It is one thing to establish that authority is needed. It is another to communicate that authority in a loving and engaging way. The parent who says in an angry voice, "You must obey me. God says so!" is not communicating in a helpful way. The Scriptures teach that pleasant words promote instruction (e.g. Proverbs 16:20-24). Loving, firm and confident communication is an essential aspect of parental authority.

In our interview Tedd went immediately to Ecclesiastes 9:17:

The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
than the shouts of a ruler of fools.

Pleasant words are not loud words. This passage in Ecclesiastes brings needed insight to understanding communication. As Tedd pointed out, when a shouting match occurs, authority is effectively lost. In a family setting, shouting and screaming to prove a point indicates frustration, uncertainty and a lack of confidence. Loud words in such a situation will not be heeded by the heart. Loud words may win outward compliance based upon fear, frustration or resignation, but they will not win the heart. Just as a tyrannical ruler may shout down his subjects to win the moment, but not win their loyalty, a parent who prevails in a shouting match has not really established biblical authority. By contrast, a quiet voice is one that is confident of the authority it represents. A quiet voice demonstrates understanding that God's authority is the issue. This means the direction given must be rooted in Scripture and not the personal convenience or whim of the parent. Therefore, the personal offense that frequently accompanies a loud, angry response is not appropriate. Loud speech will not make God's Word any more true. The goal is not to win an argument in order to lead your children to trust Christ. Loud, angry words are do not encourage or build up. Loud words do not communicate compassion and concern for the hearer.

Too often when there is a conflict, voices become loud. Along with Ecclesiastes 9:17, Proverbs 15:1 teaches that a soft answer turns away wrath. Loud volume typically indicates that something other than love for God and his direction is driving communication. Please give this some thought. In the next post we will examine the second issue that Tedd raised about communication - too many words.

Authority Check

2009-10-23T03:10:23Z

In the last post we looked at how authority has been devalued in our culture. This is one of the factors that has caused Tedd Tripp to be concerned for Christian parents who have themselves grown up in this culture. The modern drift away from authority has had a negative impact on Christian families.

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." Our culture is suspicious of such a concept. Who is a parent to tell a child how he should act? If man is only the result of a random series of bio-chemical events, then the idea of being responsible to divine authority has no validity--in fact, it is absurd. This is the cultural mindset that today's parents have been raised with. That is why Tedd is concerned for young families. Here are some questions that can be used as a reality check--or authority check--to see if your parenting reflects the culture's view of authority or God's view of authority.

How many times do you have to ask your children to obey before they do so?

Do your children consistently obey the first time you ask them or is their obedience sporadic?

Do you children respond pleasantly when you ask them to do something?

Do your children frequently argue with you or whine when told to do something?

How often do you reference God when asking for obedience?

How do your children view authorities outside your home, for example, school teachers, Sunday School teachers, law enforcement officers, etc.?

How often in everyday life do you talk about gladly submitting to God's authority?

What attitude do your words reflect toward the authorities that God has placed over you in church, work and in government?

This list of questions is not exhaustive, but it should give you an indication of whether or not God's view of authority is the dominant view in your home.

The most basic life lesson to be learned is that man is accountable to and answerable to God. Apart from this reality, even the gospel itself has no meaning. The gospel is not about self-improvement! If I am accountable to a holy God who requires my life be totally oriented towards him and his ways, then I have a major problem. That is the context for the wonder of the gospel. Authority is not an issue that can be dismissed.

Parents, take some time to consider how you represent God's authority to your children. Look at the many, many passages of Scripture which teach and presuppose God's authority. Meditate on the truth of Ephesians 6:3, the truth that the way your children respond to authority profoundly affects their life on this earth. These truths are behind Tedd Tripp's concern that parents clearly understand the role of God's authority in their lives and in the lives of their children.

Authority

2009-10-22T03:26:31Z

We are returning to a series that we began several weeks ago. The series is based upon on a radio interview I did with Tedd Tripp earlier this year. I asked Tedd to list four important truths that he believes parents should weave into their parenting, based upon his interaction and experience in teaching families all over the world. Tedd listed these four themes:

Understanding the importance of formative instruction

Establishing a biblical view of authority

Maintaining biblical communication

Contrasting the wisdom of a fool with the wisdom of God

We covered formative Instruction in the initial post and now we turn to Tedd's next vital truth - a biblical view of authority. Authority is something that our post-modern culture sees as negative. The immediate reason for this is that the individual has become the ultimate source of authority. No one can tell me what is right or wrong - these words have become a cliché, but in this case the cliché does reflect the mood of Western thought. The wishes of leading American educator and pragmatist John Dewey and the other signers of the Humanist Manifesto have come true in our day. The first Humanist Manifesto was signed in 1933. The first and ninth propositions are listed below:

FIRST: Religious humanists regard the universe as self-existing and not created.

NINTH: In the place of the old attitudes involved in worship and prayer the humanist finds his religious emotions expressed in a heightened sense of personal life and in a cooperative effort to promote social well-being.

The signers of this manifesto believed a new religion was needed to replace the religions that believe in a supernatural being. Here is a link to the 1933 manifesto so that you can read the other 13 propositions if you wish. For these propositions to stand, no other authority may supersede the desires of man. For the last 80 years or so, subscribers to this manifesto have worked diligently to remove the concept of authority, particularly supernatural authority, from the educational construct of modern culture. This is why I say their wishes have come true. One of the casualties of the success of this movement has been parental authority. This is the issue that Tedd Tripp is concerned about.

The belief in God-given biblical authority is the cornerstone of the family. Parents must be able to appeal to God's authority to have any hope of establishing an objective base for their own authority in the home. It is not enough to require that something be done simply because a parent says so. Parents are flawed and inconsistent, just as children are, so the authority upon which they base their actions must come from outside themselves if there is to be any hope of objectivity. Furthermore, this outside source must be totally reliable and without error. These qualifiers eliminate every source except the Scriptures. Thus, you can see why it was important for the signers of the Humanist Manifesto to assert that God has nothing to do with the creation of the Universe. Prayer, worship, and, of course, the Bible, also had to be eliminated. The Humanist Manifesto III, which clarifies and updates the original, begins this way:

Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without supernaturalism, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.

Modern humanists have now dropped any pretense of religion. It is all about man. It is interesting to see that these humanists still use terms like good and ethical. The question must be asked: how is it possible to determine what is good and ethical if each man is his own standard? In other words, who is able to determine the greater good? But that is a discussion for another post.

Ephesians 6:1 gives a simple but powerful directive. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." The writer assumes here that God has authority to give this directive. Parents, then, if they are to convey an accurate and loving view of God to their children, must do so based on authority - God's authority.

We will look at the practical implications of this in the next post.

Man was not - Then he was

2009-10-14T03:10:15Z

Ardi, short for Ardipithecus ramidus, is the newest star in the field of paleontology. Both National Geographic and The Discovery Channel are promoting this discovery on their websites and television programs. This announcement is the culmination of research and studies that began in Ethiopia in 1994. Ardi has supplanted Lucy, the previous record holder of the oldest fossil with direct links to modern man. According to the National Geographic website:

The fossil puts to rest the notion, popular since Darwin's time, that a chimpanzee-like missing link--resembling something between humans and today's apes--would eventually be found at the root of the human family tree. Indeed, the new evidence suggests that the study of chimpanzee anatomy and behavior--long used to infer the nature of the earliest human ancestors--is largely irrelevant to understanding our beginnings...

The Ardipithecus ramidus fossils were discovered in Ethiopia's harsh Afar desert at a site called Aramis in the Middle Awash region, just 46 miles (74 kilometers) from where Lucy's species, Australopithecus afarensis, was found in 1974. Radiometric dating of two layers of volcanic ash that tightly sandwiched the fossil deposits revealed that Ardi lived 4.4 million years ago.

This means that we no longer have to consider ourselves as directly linked to chimpanzees. The remains of Ardi indicate that there is no missing link in the family tree of humans. Ardi is the forerunner of man. Or at least that is what these researchers are telling us. The question remains, however, will another skeleton be found that will disprove the theories about Ardi? Will this information about the human family tree eventually need to be labeled as irrelevant also?

The reason that these findings are an issue has to do with starting points. Paleontologists believe that Darwin is essentially correct. The belief is that modern man has emerged as a species as the result of a process--a random process, at that. This belief is one that offers a stark alternative to the biblical view that man is not the result of a random process.

In Genesis we read that man, as a species, is the product of the mind of God. Man was not--and then he was. Man was planned by God before there was a Universe. Genesis records that God executed his plan at a particular time and place of his choosing. Somewhere in the geographic area known as the Ancient Near East, God created man from the earth that he had also created for this exact purpose.

the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Gen. 2:7 NIV

So man is not the result of a random process, but the result of a plan. That is why the earth looks as though it produced man via the agency of a process, evolved over time. But the reason that man fits with the earth is not that he evolved through a process, but that the earth was created on purpose, as a habitat in which man would live and move and have his being. Genesis 2:7 plainly teaches that man did not result from a natural process. God took the natural, the dust of the ground, and added to it the supernatural breath of life--and man became a living being. Man was not--then he was.

The proponents of the evolutionary process do countless hours, days, weeks, and years of challenging study, only to have these labors swept aside by a single line in an article in National Geographic that deems their work irrelevant. Why? Because someone found some old bones in an arid, desolate place, and used these bones to write a new page in paleontological history. I suspect this process of research, conclusion and irrelevancy will continue as long as unbelief itself continues. You see, what is missing is not a link, but belief!

Attempting to discover man's beginnings based on the belief that man is the result of a process will never lead to understanding who man is or how his struggles can be resolved. Following the path of process inevitably leads to false hope and even to a sense of betrayal. The sense of betrayal comes when all the energy expended in searching for understanding of the process leaves one with more questions than answers, no matter how hard one works. But God calls all men to a different belief. Man naturally rejects and suppresses that belief (Romans 1:18). So man's mistaken faith in the process inevitably leads to betrayal and frustration.

Genesis tells a different story. Genesis tells the story of a plan carefully and faithfully executed by the living God of Heaven and Earth. Genesis teaches us that at just the right time God brought man into existence on this planet. The express purpose of planet Earth was to provide the ideal environment in which man could bring honor and glory to God in the universe.

Man was not--then he was.

This post will also appear later this week in the Shepherd Press Newsletter. If you are not a subscriber go over to Shepherdpress.com and sign up. Please encourage others to sign up as well. This is a great way to introduce folks to Shepherd Press!

The Bible as History

2009-10-05T12:53:45Z

If there is one thing that stood out during my recent visit to England, it is a deep sense of history. In Cambridge there are banners flying that celebrate the 800 years that the university has been in operation, from 1209 to 2009! At the Tower of London, we walked on cart paths and wide walkways that have been in use for a thousand years. London itself began as a village some 2,500 years ago. I spoke in a church that was 350 years old. In contrast, the university I attended began in 1926, and the town where we now live is less than 200 years old. My church began 14 years ago. England has survived through wars, famine, plague and conquerors for over 2 millennia. It is difficult not to be overwhelmed as the pages of history jump to life in the many venues of the United Kingdom.

The history of God's people is even more overwhelming. Since the time of Abraham, four thousand years ago, God has had a particular people for himself. The history of God's people has spread from one man and his family living in what is now Iraq, to cover the entire planet. This history of God's people is called redemptive history--the rich story of what is really important in life. Redemptive history not only tells captivating stories of the past, but it offers a certain hope for the future. As magnificent as the history of England is, it offers no hope for the future. It only speaks of glorious things that once were. In contrast, redemptive history speaks not only of the past, but of the hope of a future in which the earth and those of the human race who are called by God will be caught up in the great consummation of all history to be with God in Christ for the balance of eternity.

Redemptive history is not based upon myth and legend. It is based upon the plan of God revealed in the Scriptures. As impressive as the historical archives of England are, they are still the records and testimony of men. God's historical archives, the Scriptures, are beyond question. They are the truth of God. This is eloquently stated in Daniel 2:20-22:

                Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said:
                   "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
                wisdom and power are his.

   He changes times and seasons;
                    he sets up kings and deposes them.
                   He gives wisdom to the wise
                and knowledge to the discerning.

                He reveals deep and hidden things;
                he knows what lies in darkness,
                and light dwells with him. NIV

God is the author of all history and, in particular, redemptive history. As Daniel indicates, it is the story of redemptive history that gives context and meaning to all other history. Apart from understanding the role of redemptive history, all other history is just a collection of records of the past that leave man wondering with uncertainty how future history will unfold. Redemptive history speaks of a future where God will be glorified and his people called home to the wonder of the life that is yet to come.

This story of redemptive history begins in Genesis. The stories told there are the stuff of reality and bring hope to you and your children. What happened in Genesis impacts life today. Indeed, life today without the truths of redemptive history told in Genesis would be utter chaos. Read the pages of God's history with your children. Read them with awe and wonder. Read them with a hope that man's retelling of his past can never give. British history is powerful and moving, but unless it is set in the context of redemptive history, it will lead only to despair. Praise God that he is at work in redemptive history.

God's Word as the Prime Meridian

2009-10-01T15:04:01Z

In the last post we discussed the importance of having a standard to rely upon. The example I used was the Prime Meridian, which is the basis for navigational and time systems around the world. Imagine the chaos that would ensue if there were not a single, unique standard to use for finding our location and determining the time. Imagine if you had to have a new set of maps with different longitude and latitude references for each country that you traveled to or flew over. There could be 200 different navigational coordinates for any given location on a map. That would be chaos.

It is also chaotic to have differing moral standards for relationships. The Prime Meridian in relationships, from God's perspective, is marriage. Man was designed for marriage. In this sense, even singleness is defined by having marriage serve as the standard. Being single is an opportunity to serve God and not man. Therefore, singleness is not a relational setting for sexual activity to occur. Following God's standard of marriage defines what is appropriate in relationships with regard to sexuality--defining what is and is not appropriate with regard to sexual expression. Thus, great value and stability flow from establishing marriage as the relational standard. Modern culture is abandoning marriage as the standard at a rapid pace. In attempting to define freedom based upon human desires, the exact opposite is occurring. Seeking to obtain freedom apart from God leads to tyranny.

The same is true for issues such as abortion and euthanasia. Human life is not man's gift to man. Unlike the pronouncement in the poem, "Invictus," man is the not captain of his soul. God is the giver of life. So man is not free to take life when he thinks it is most convenient to do so. By ignoring God's role in life, uncertainty and anger emerge. Debates rage about when it is "right" to perform abortions and what are the "humane" conditions to help someone end his own life. God designed man and determined the ways he should live. The Bible thus becomes the baseline or Prime Meridian for how to live. It sets the standard for how to live in ways that are in conformity with God. In my recent visit to the United Kingdom I was intrigued at how the newspapers prominently carried articles on the usefulness of assisted suicides. Clearly, God's standard has been tossed aside. Man's brashness in experimenting with sexual relationships and ending lives that seem to be inconvenient is leading to chaos.

A good question to ask, then, is how are children to learn about the importance of following God's standard? This is one of the great benefits of understanding the purpose of life as found in the book of Genesis. Genesis clearly teaches that there is no one in control but God. God is the author and giver of life. The earth and all of creation were made at the pleasure of God's will. Violation of that will--sin--leads to devastating consequences. This is where to start in teaching your children. Man is not free to determine the structure of human sexuality as he pleases. Man is not free to determine when life should end. Both abortion and euthanasia are based upon evaluating the value of human life without considering the One who is the giver of life.

God is the Author of creation. All that we see around us and in the vast universe came to be because God willed it to be. Attempts to place the evolutionary process or some other random act as the origin of the universe deny the wonder of God and result in chaos. Genesis is clear--God is the author of Creation, and what he made was very good!

Trusting What is Unseen

2009-09-28T11:11:16Z

If you fly on an airplane or travel any distance by ship, your safety hinges on what is unseen. This may not sound accurate, since the pilot flying the plane looks through a window and the captain of the ship stands on the ship's bridge to view the waters ahead. But visual recognition, particularly on long journeys, is not the most helpful means of navigation. In fact, trusting what is seen in these situations often leads to disaster. (It is true that ocean-going ships can use the stars for navigation, but modern electronic positioning is the more dominant form.) For successful and safe directions on long trips in this modern era, trusting what is unseen is vital. For a journey to have a pleasant end, it is important to know where you are in reference to where you want to go. Determining the longitude and latitude of one's position is a safe way to determine where you are. If you use a GPS form of electronic navigation, the longitude and latitude coordinates are readily available from your GPS device. This topic becomes more interesting when you understand that these lines of longitude and latitude are arbitrary and unseen.

In 1884, 0 degrees longitude at Greenwich, England, was determined to be the Prime Meridian for the world and the official basis for the international time zone system. As this line continues upward from Greenwich and crosses the North Pole, it becomes 180 degrees longitude, or the International Date Line. Modern time keeping and global positioning systems are dependent on this imaginary line that circles planet Earth. This line was not discovered by excavating until a visible line was found with the words Prime Meridian written on it. A British astronomer, George Airy, established the location of the Prime Meridian in Greenwich in 1851. But Airy did not excavate to find this line; he established its location by his own decision. It was an arbitrary choice that others agreed to follow. So, why is this line so important?

Well, for example, let's say that the United States Congress determined that the Prime Meridian should run through Washington, D.C. Thus, all of the maps and time zones for U.S. purposes would be based on this new location of the Prime Meridian. Then, suppose that the leaders in India should decide that the Prime Meridian would run through their country. Finally, what if each of the world's 200 plus countries should determine that the Prime Meridian would run through each of their countries? Incredible chaos would result from these actions. It would be impossible to navigate or tell time with each country demanding that theirs be the one that establishes the Prime Meridian. So you see that the establishment of an unseen line is essential for travel and time keeping worldwide.

The acceptance of the Prime Meridian by all the countries in the world leads to stability, at least for measuring time and space. But for issues of lifestyle, ethics, morality and purity, the world has chosen to use whatever standard suits individual needs at the moment. From the standpoint of morality and social conduct, the resulting chaos is just as devastating as if each country had its own Prime Meridian. Issues of sexuality, abortion, murder and others are seen not from one moral compass, but from a composite of many conflicting views. People, governments, and sadly, many church leaders then attempt to form a consensus based upon divergent and often opposing perspectives. Chaos.

You have the blessing of being able to teach your children that the Bible is God's Prime Meridian for knowing how to navigate the troubling waters of life. The One who set this standard is totally trustworthy. Though he cannot be seen he can be trusted. The establishment of one Prime Meridian allows mankind to travel, tell time and provide direction for safe journeys throughout our planet. God has established his truth in written form in the Scriptures. This is the one and only way to truth and life. Rejoice in it!

Why is Sin Attractive?

2009-09-25T03:45:17Z

Sin is deceptive. Parents, this is one truth that should never be far from your thoughts. Sin never presents itself for what it is. Anger appears to be a just response when one is wronged. A lie seems to be the easy way out of a difficult situation. This is the nature of sin. It seems to be the right thing to do at the moment. No matter how long you live, sin will present itself in this way.

Ephesians 4:14 warns of the deceptive, crafty schemes of sin. Proverbs 4:19 says that those who follow wicked paths are incapable of knowing why they stumble in life. This is at least one of the reasons that Proverbs 16 urges parents to use pleasant words when instructing children. Those who sin are deceiving themselves or they are being deceived. This requires that we have compassion along with concern. Yes, there must be concern and correction given when children disobey and indulge their flesh. But it is also important to remember that sin has been at its deceptive best. Children have believed a lie when they think they must keep a toy away from an eager sibling. Sin is taunting them to trust their fleshly desires that it is only right that they should have the toy. So, if your children have sinned, it is a good and wise thing to discipline them for their disobedience. But, use pleasant words and an understanding heart as you discipline.

It is never comforting to realize that you have been duped or misled by someone. This is what sin does. It encourages you to take the wrong path and mocks you when you do. For a young child this sort of deception can be devastating to them. Therefore, when you discipline remember the ugliness of sin.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Ephesians 4:14

The sinful act also leads to lack of security. Harsh words are not helpful when addressing sin. Thus, Paul follows the model of Proverbs 16 when he says in verse 15 of this same chapter that you must speak the truth in love.

Have the courage and wisdom to respond to your children with kind compassion when they sin. They have just been played by the schemes of the master deceiver. Yes, you must discipline. But discipline in love and mercy. God's way is a better than the world's way. Don't allow your discipline to be perceived as kicking your children when they are already down. Sin is always at work. The enemy wants your good efforts as a parent to be seen as just more attacks on your children. Counter this with God's wisdom. Use pleasant words to speak the truth in love to your children.