day no. 16,487: the sword, the keys, and the rod

Q: What governments have been established directly by God?

A: God has established the responsibility of self-government in every individual, and family government, church government, and civil government in society.

— Toby Sumpter, A Catechism on the Governments: 50 Questions & Answers

Every form of human governance given to us by God has a corresponding symbol associated with it. For the civil magistrate, it is the sword (Romans 13:4). For the church, it is the keys (Matt 26:19). For the family, it is the rod (Pr. 13:24, 22:15). The State can wield the sword to execute, the church can withhold access to the table to excommunicate, and the family can discipline or disinherit according to the age of the member and the extent of the offense.

However, none of these agencies are independent of God. None of them are free to set their own standards. Their jurisdictions and administrations have been prescribed to them by God.

So, the sword must be swung by a particular standard, not just willy-nilly at whomever happens to irritate the one wielding it. The State does not set the standard for what offenses deserve the sword, God has already determined that. He has merely handed the sword to the State and given them authority to execute His will. The State must also not refuse to swing the sword where God has said. It is not within their authority to applaud violence or condemn peace.It cannot be in good faith by beheading the righteous and protecting the wretched. God sees and judges the judges who do so.

Likewise, the doors to the kingdom of Christ must not be locked according to the moods of the doorkeepers. Doors must have locks, but they must not lock anyone out arbitrarily. The standard for discipline and excommunication is not according to the preferences of the elders, but according to the Word of God.

Lastly, wills should not be written or edited by mere favoritism. Children should not be excluded from inheritances unless they break covenant. Children should not be disciplined according to the whims of their parents, but according to the Word of the Lord. Likewise, they should not be disinherited according to the peculiar tastes of the parent, but only according to the commandments of God.

Spanks must only be administered according to sins defined by Scripture and last wills and testaments must only written and enforced according to the Word of God contained in the Old and New testaments.

day no. 14,299: we is more loved than me

I recently listened through a series of conference talks by Doug Wilson on "The Fooleries of Preaching." There were 4 talks total and after the last one there was a brief Q & A session (click HERE)

In response to a question about private consumption of sermons via YouTube, Vimeo, Podcast, etc… versus corporate participation in breathing the same air as the preacher, Pastor Wilson, made reference to Psalm 87:2.

Psalm 87:2

The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.

God loves the communal gathering of His people MORE than the individual, private times of devotion. This isn't at all to poo poo private, devotional seeking of the Lord, but rather to emphasize that corporate worship is loved MORE by God than private. I think we assume the opposite. We find this Word from the Lord surprising. We would have expected it to be the other way around. Clearly the collected gathering is strengthened by the integrity of its individual member's private commitment and faith, but there is something peculiar and particular about meeting together as a body that brings delight to God that cannot be produced by individual consumption of spirituality. There are some things that can only be done in private, like praying before the Lord as Jesus commands in His sermon on the mount. But we are more loved by God than me. And that is hard to get your head around in an individualistic, privatized religious milieu like ours.

for more on Psalm 87 from Pastor Wilson, click HERE.

countdown to Candeo

Head on over to:

http://candeochurch.blogspot.com/

We are beginning 40 days of Q & A's as we count down to the official launch of Candeo Church in the Cedar Valley!

q & a

John 6:28-29

Q: ²⁸ Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”

A: ²⁹ Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

You cannot do the works of God. 
Only God works.
God accomplishes His work on His own. 
Do you believe this? 
Do you believe in the One who does all of this?

John 6:44

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.