day no. 17,295: revelation vs. speculations

“And though St. John saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators.” ― G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

The imaginations of men are stranger than the visions of God.

"Take away the supernatural, and what remains is the unnatural”  ― G.K. Chesterton

When men forsake the Spirit of God, they are left to their own devices even when they retain the sacred scriptures. So, a man attempting to make sense of a vision from God without the help of the Spirit of God will end up with utter nonsense.

The revelations of God are strange, but assuring.

The speculations of men are stranger and disturbing.

day no. 17,294: good stories and bad lies

“A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author.” — G. K. Chesterton

A good story gives us insight into the nature of heroism, a bad story gives us insight into the nature of despotism. There are few things more glorious than a good virtue admired well and there are few things more ugly than a bad vice poorly concealed.

2 Corinthians 13:8

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

Those who seek to laud the truth weave brilliant yarns, while those who try to justify a lie tell lame tales.

Philippians 2:4

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Good author tell good stories about others, bad authors tell bad stories about themselves. Instead of telling a story, the bad author tells on himself.

day no. 17,293: national poisons and local antidotes

“The national antidote generally grows wild in the woods side by side with the national poison." — G.K. Chesterton, What I Saw in America

God often provides the cure to be in the same proximity as the poison. Where racial vainglory and bigotry are poisoning the well, honor and humility grow nearby. Honoring your father and mother does not require you to dishonor someone else's father or mother. God has made a way for everyone to obey without anyone having to hate their neighbor. You can be proud of your people without disparaging other people. There are ample reasons to be embarrassed by our parents and to be proud of them. If you point out only the embarrassments of other people's parents while pointing out only the achievements of our own, we sin against our neighbor. We must remember our people's faults and the achievements of other people's parents. I say this merely because the temptation is to overlook your culture's faults and fixate on the faults of others. The opportunity for humility is near by the one to honor. Anyone can honor God by honoring their parents while not repeating their sins. 

day no. 17,292: free speech, eh? says who?

"The First Amendment does not grant us the right to free speech. As the Declaration phrases it, we are endowed by our Creator with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That word happiness in an earlier draft was property. The right to free speech is a right that is subsumed under the right of liberty—to travel about as I please, talking about whatever I want to as I go. This is bestowed on us by our Creator, and the government has the obligation to guard and protect that right. If they were the ones who bestowed that right, then it is no longer a right, but rather a privilege. Whatsoever the government giveth, the government taketh away, and blessed be the name of the government." — Douglas Wilson, Not Civil Rights at All

We have the right to free speech. Says who? God. If the answer to that question is anything or anyone other than "God," we do not possess are right, but merely are taking advantage of a privilege, a privilege that can be revoked. If we have free speech because congress says so, then we are only free to speak as long as they continue to say so. But if they exercise their freedom of speech to say that we no longer can say certain things, then our freedom to speak can be taken away. 

Either rights come from God or they don't. If they do not, then our "rights" are whatever the State says they are. They retain the freedom to speak about whatever they want when they want including the right to say that our speech is not being policed o punishable by imprisonment. Hate speech may be a sin depending on what was said and whose standard of hate is being used, but it should never be a crime. It may be a sin to be stupid or spiteful, but it should not be illegal to say something stupid.

day no. 17,291: using the word "rights" wrong

"The problem was not that the 1964 Civil Rights Act gave blacks certain rights, but rather that it gave them the wrong kind. It created the entire apparatus that misconstrues and misapplies the logic of rights. If civil rights for a black man meant that he was going to be protected from threats of bodily harm by Bubba if he tried to vote in rural Mississippi, then rights here means what it ought to mean. And that man should have his rights protected. But if civil rights for a black man meant that he was going to be promoted well past his abilities in order to make up for an injustice perpetrated against someone of the same color 150 years ago, then the word rights has been perverted, and twisted beyond all recognition." — Douglas Wilson, Not Civil Rights at All

Rights come from God. They are not created on the spot or in the moment. They are not generated in response to an injustice. They are not created in order to correct a problem. Rights are not disposable. They cannot be invented when you need them and done away with when they get in the way. They are either from God and for every image bearer or they are from man and for whoever those in charge determine eligible. But rights in the latter sense are not rights at all. They are privileges or prejudices. Rights, strictly speaking, are from God alone or they are not rights. 

The government cannot make new rights the way they make new dollar bills. They cannot produce rights. Our capitols are not rights factories. Neither are they rights incinerators. The state cannot create a right and they cannot destroy them. They can enforce them or they can ignore them. A good state enforces and protects the rights God has already provided. A bad state ignores those rights or even worse seeks to keep people from expressing them.

day no. 17,290: when surrounded by evil, remember, it's a target rich environment

"We’ve been looking for the enemy for some time now. We’ve finally found him. We’re surrounded. That simplifies things.” — Chesty Puller

The one benefit to being surrounded is that you don't have to waste time or resources finding the enemy. They have already done all that work for you. That frees you up to focus on firing away. Especially in the event of being surrounded, the decision of where to shoot it solved. Shoot anywhere and you are aiming at the enemy. Even a bad shot can hit the broad side of a barn and someone with bad aim can hit the enemy if the enemy is everywhere.

"All right, they’re on our left, they’re on our right, they’re in front of us, they’re behind us . . . they can’t get away this time.” — Chesty Puller

The enemy cannot escape your bullets when they positions themselves in every direction. Sure, you're surrounded, but at least its a target rich environment.

"The greater the diameter of light, the greater the circumference of darkness. Expanding this, if you are in a dark place, the more effective your light is, the greater the diameter of your light, the longer the boundary line between light and darkness grows. This means there is no way, in this fallen world, to solve problems without increasing them. Be encouraged therefore. This is not a sign that something has gone desperately, terribly wrong. No, it is sign of something else, much more exhilarating." — Douglas Wilson, The Circumference of Darkness

As the kingdom of Christ advances, the number of contact points with the darkness will increase. Do not lose heart. It only seems like the darkness is growing. But it is retreating to the corners and someday the light will fill the entire room.

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven

So, don't stop shining as brightly as you can where you are. Do not be afraid of the dying night. It seems like sunset, but it is twilight. 

"Do not, I beseech you, be troubled about the increase of forces already in dissolution. You have mistaken the hour of the night; it is already morning.” — Hilaire Belloc

Do not forget how to tell time. Do not set your watch to world standard time, set it to Christ and the year of our Lord.

"So the brighter that light shines, the more opportunities the darkness has to say and do something about it. So as I said before, be encouraged therefore." — Douglas Wilson, The Circumference of Darkness

An increase in interaction is not a sign of their growing forces, but a sign of their imminent dissolution.

John 1:4-5 (ESV)

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The darkness has not, will not, and never will overcome the light and life of God revealed in Jesus Christ, our Lord, by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Amen.

day no. 17,289: clearly standing for the truth (exhortation outline)

Christ Church Leavenworth

WLC 144: Clearly

February 22, 2026

Clearly Standing for the Truth

THE TEXT

Our text this morning is Colossians 4:3-4, these are the words of God,

“Pray for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ — that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”

INTRODUCTION

This morning we are continuing our walk through Q144 of the WLC which asks, “What are the duties required in the ninth commandment?” The answer provided by the Westminster divines includes the duty “to appear and stand for the truth from the heart, sincerely, freely, clearly, and fully.” The portion of this duty we will be focusing on this morning is, “clearly,” as in clearly standing for the truth.

As we saw in our text, we ought to speak clearly, especially when discussing the things of God. We owe this to others. As we’ve discussed before, this is what the word “ought” means. When you ought to do something for someone, it is because you owe it to them. So, if you are intentionally vague about what you clearly believe, you are not only robbing your neighbor, you are bearing false witness against yourself. But being clear in your communication is, ironically, not easier said than done. Paul, Himself, listed it as a prayer request in our text. He prayed for an open door for the Word and a careful tongue when speaking. He recognized his duty to speak the truth clearly and knew that he needed God’s help to do it.

The duty to be clear is generally understood by most and we testify to that fact in the way that we converse. For example, it is not uncommon, in the course of a conversation, to hear someone say something like, “Now, just to be clear,” or “Let me clarify.” We sometimes even go as far to say, “Not gonna lie.” Why do we feel the need to do that? Are we implying that everything else we said might be a lie? I shouldn’t need to reassure you that what I’m about to say isn’t a lie. But because we recognize our obligation to be clear in our communication, we feel the need to clarify what we mean, especially if we’re worried it might sound a bit mean.

Consider 1 Corinthians 14:7-9, “If lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said?” While the context of these verses is more about language in general than words in particular, the principle still applies. If you know what you would like to say if you had the courage, but instead you say something vague with a bit more wiggle room in it because you lose your nerve, then you are like a broken bugle. You are not making a distinct sound; you are just making noise. But there is a reason for that, right? A distinct bugle sound is a call to what? To battle. It alerts everyone to the urgency of the situation. But if you’d rather not get into a fight right now or if you’re scared of what the outcome would be if you did get into one, you might be tempted to make an indistinct sound in order to avoid an argument. So, you say something, but not what you mean, because you know that if you did, the bugle would blast and a battle would break out. So, you use unclear words as a kind of camouflage to avoid an uncomfortable confrontation. You’re still at war with your neighbor, they just don’t know it. Remember, deceit, subterfuge, misinformation, misdirection, and bald-faced lies are all acts of war. 

That being the case, you should be clear about what team you are on and you should want others to know too. Spiritual androgyny is bearing false witness. We have seen the physical manifestation of this kind of thing all around us with increasing frequency it seems. It is not unusual to see someone at the store or on your screen that makes you wonder, “Is that a boy or a girl? What am I looking at here” Some of our kids have even wondered aloud and made it more awkward for everyone. But remember, they aren’t the ones who need to be shushed. They are not the ones who made it weird. The dude in the dress did.

Androgyny and transgenderism are only possible in a society that tolerates bearing false witness. But we, not content merely to tolerate it, have actually taken it a step further, and celebrated it. We have invited it into our public libraries and thrown parades for it in our streets. The Scriptures clearly teach that men should dress and act in a way that clearly communicates that fact and that women should do likewise. (see 1 Cor 11:1-16). No one should have to guess. No one should have to wonder what you are. So, if your name is Pat, make sure we know if it’s short for Patrick or Patricia without having to ask.

Now, bring that idea back into the spiritual realm. No one should have to wonder if you are a Christian or not. No one should have to attend your funeral wondering what you believed. Your friends and family should not be forced to guess if you are in Heaven. They shouldn’t be reduced to hoping for some secret conversion that only the Lord saw. You owe your loved ones clear evidence of your common faith. Children, you owe your parents assurance. They should not have to lose sleep worrying about the sincerity of your belief. You should go to great lengths to make your calling and election sure. (2 Peter 1:10). Both for your own sake and for the sake of those who love you. If you are married, you owe your spouse clear evidence of an ongoing faith in the Lord. They should not have to bank on what you used to do. They should not have to wonder where you’re at right now.

  

Lastly, know that clarity is kindness. Saying what you mean and meaning what you say is a simple way to love your neighbor. Sometimes, however, it’s easier to settle for being nice. Kindness is a command, niceness is not. Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another.” Understand the difference. Nice is vague, but it feels good. Kindness is clear, but it hurts sometimes. Kindness forgives sins, but not without naming them first. Nice says there’s nothing to forgive, which sounds nice, but it’s not true. 

CALL TO CONFESSION

Well, since we often choose nice over kind and vague admissions over clear confessions, we are reminded of our need to regularly confess our sins, whether they be these or others. So, if you are able, please kneel with me and confess your sins, first privately and then corporately using the prayer found in your bulletin.

CORPORATE CONFESSION

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be justified in Your words and blameless in Your judgment. Cleanse me, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

DECLARATION OF PARDON

Arise and hear the Good News! 

The assurance of pardon today comes from Philippians 3:8-10 “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know Him and the power of his resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death.

Our Father in Heaven has not been vague or unclear: there is only one way, one truth, and one life and no one comes to the Father except through Him. He is the one and only Son of God, Jesus Christ, our Lord. He is our King and He is kind. You have confessed your sins and placed them on Him, and so the Father has placed His righteousness on you. Therefore, it is my privilege to declare to you that by the grace of God and through your faith in Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven… THANKS BE TO GOD!

Now let us ascend to the presence of God in all worship and praise.