The Law of Faith NOT Radical or Legalistic

The Kingdom intersects theSermon on the Mount; I have written about this topic before, so I won’t reiterate the same points, but after reading The Sojourner Chronicles, Buddy Overman is spot on. He critiques a recent article from World Magazine written by Anthony Bradley. He notes that Bradley’s argument is that some of the new reformers, like David Platt and Acts 29 churches, are pressing a “Radical Christianity” and “New Legalism” on the church, to which Overman refutes with some credible points.

I see the danger not in radicalism or legalism, to which men like David Platt steer well clear of and other Acts 29 pastors, but in antinomianism. Fancy word right? If we break it down, it makes perfect sense; the word anti or against, and the Latin nomos, meaning law (here’s a good link for deeper biblical study on the issue). Views like Bradley’s can be dangerous, in that if the believer denounces the holiness aspect, he/she may jeopardize the Gospel’s power of grace. Quite honestly, the “grace covers everything” argument was made in the first century and Paul vehemently affirmed that while there is forgiveness through Christ, there are still consequences for sin.

Downgrading the definition of doulos, to which Paul and Peter describe themselves in their letters to the churches, the Greek word for bondservant or slave, is a major dilemma in Americanized Christianity. While pastors as I, will teach God’s forgiveness of sin through the grace and blood of Christ and that as a free gift, obedience must be part of the equation, not in salvation, but in Christian ethics and walk. Integrity matters!

Therefore, antonomianism becomes a legalism in and of itself, this danger is far worse because it serves as a false guide for the believer to relax in his/her own understanding and not on the holiness and rightful Kingship of Christ—namely that He purchased the believer—He is outright owner.  

In my opinion, there is no fear of radical legalism in the new reformed churches, for the reasons of grace; they get it. Charles Hodge sums it up:

“Antinomianism has never had any hold in the churches of the Reformation. There is no legal connection between the neglect of moral duties, and the system which teaches that Christ is a Saviour as well from the powers as from the penalty of sin…”[1]

While one may argue that this was Bradley’s idea in noting radical Christianity and new legalism, his dilemma rests in the underpinnings of lawlessness. Paul stated that Christians do live by the law—the law of faith (Rom.3:27). This means that our walk must match our profession—I realize, this is hard, difficult, seemingly impossible at times, but as Overman correctly points out “it is self-evident that Jesus' call on each of our lives is a radical missional call of faith—one that requires radical self-denial, radical allegiance, radical public faith, and a radical pursuit of reaching the lost.”

Therefore, I stand with Overman, we must be radical and missional.

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[1] Hodge, Charles. Sytematic Theology, Vol. III. (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2003). 241

Nothing Matters (Summary)

Embarking on a new teaching series always generates new enthusiasm in the church, but this series in Ecclesiastes is so much more than a verse by verse exposition. The wisdom literature of Ecclesiastes, from an outside view, seems depressing and fatalistic, but beneath the words are the manifestation of the human heart—a reason why the Gospel is so imperative to life. The writer uses the main theme “under the sun,” throughout his work, explaining the thought that humanity is on earth, under heaven’s sovereign hand.

The “Preacher” (Ecclesiastes) acknowledges heaven as the universal overseer of mankind, a place where God rules and reigns (i.e. man is not in control). He emphasizes the cycles of life, the vanity, or useless behavior of man, striving for things which will never satisfy him. He uses imagery of rivers flowing into the sea and never being full; seems harmless, but its meaning cuts deep to the core—we want things which we cannot have, nor even if we had them, would they give us contentment or satisfaction—we would strive for something else. A generation comes and a generations goes—what does this tell us—that the world does not revolve around individualism (me). Oh how we fail to see this one!

So, we work. What does man gain for all of his work? Great question, and one in which is rhetorical for the writer. Nothing. You’ll give it all to someone else when you die; sounds comforting, huh? He says that the eyes and the ears are never satisfied. Sure thing! As I labeled them, the eye and ear are human slave masters—the eye always wants honor and the ear, praise. Christians acknowledge this deep human need, as well as non-believers, for we all strive for the words of our Master, “Well done…” I think you can finish that statement, but you get my point. The eye and ear are never satisfied—we’re enslaved to them! We work hoping to buy something, get some name for ourselves, be something we’re not, or gain a false identity—whatever the reason—it’s not because we’re thinking of others; think I’m wrong? List the top three reasons you go to work? (1) To pay bills? Sure, for what, the car payment, house payment, utilities, etc.—I’m sure none of these are for you. (2) To put food on the table; ok, now you know deep down that you need to eat, we’ll move on. (3) To provide my family a better way of life. Is THAT why you never see them? Think about it…you’re included in all of these, you have to be, or you wouldn’t work—so in general, you work for you. Is that self-centeredness or doing what you have to do? Both, I’m somewhat agreeing with you—you must work, God made work and work is good; however, when we turn what God made as awesome, into idolatry—it becomes vanity. Vanity comes from humanity.

However, the Gospel reveals that in my vanity, in my failures, in my utter depravity—Jesus loved me and in His strength it is—OK, to be weak! As long as I am no longer striving for the unattainable (idolatry), or as the writer says, feeding the wind. Humanity strives to have what is not his, while rejecting God’s goodness. The writer’s point is an important one, everything is vapor (breath) and trying to feed the wind is impossible. There is nothing new under the sun, man quests for everything, and anything, to make him happy, yet fails to see that a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, is the cure. Through Christ, I am thankful for all things and rest in His complete goodness. So, as Paul says, “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Contentment comes not from happiness, but submission to the Creator.

3 Reasons Why You Always Want To Be Yourself

1. God has designed you for something specific. The temptations, trials, and tests which you have been through in this life have prepared you for the purposes of God. Trying to be something, or someone, that you are not, will ultimately fail. The infamous David V. Goliath battle in the OT is a prime example: “David said, ‘The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!’ Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail” ~ (1 Samuel 17:37-38). While Saul desired a bold, rugged, and mighty warrior, the king could not see what God had already seen—that David was already a mighty warrior, but in his own skin, not Saul’s armor. Don’t try and wear someone else’s skin—it won’t fit and you’ll only look foolish.

2. God knit together your DNA perfectly. The Psalmist resounds at God’s amazingly creative hand; “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well” (Psalm 139:14). Being unique means that each of us were created in a specific way. Ever hear of Amy Carmichael, the 19^th century missionary? (click here for her story) . Each night before bed, Amy cried out to God, despising her brown eyes and desiring beautiful blue eyes. Her prayers were never answered, or so she thought. Later in life as a missionary to India, Amy darkened her skin with coffee grounds and realized that her dark eyes allowed her to fit in perfectly within the Indian culture—she helped many women and children and people come to know Jesus Christ!

3. God is glorified in our weakness. The LORD declared to Paul, ‘“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:9). The Gospel illustrates one constant to us—that we are all sinners in need of grace. This means we are fallible…imperfect. We all have weaknesses. This is the beauty and love of the Gospel, that Christ died for us while we were still living in our sin (Rom. 5.8). This means that while I was ultimately changed from my sinful ways, the testimony which I have in Christ, illustrates that my imperfect weakness and failure can only be attributed to the glory of God. In myself, I am weak, but in Christ, I am made strong. Therefore, any boasting I will do, will be in who I was and how He changed me, not a made up story about who I wanted to be or an embellishment to try and make me more popular—God is glorified by me being me, in Him!