Education, education, education....

Hello, so the Titus thread in my mind sort of tailed off...sorry.


   Just today I have done something quite extraordinary. I have done something that seemingly turns my back upon all my principles and firmly held views on modern soceity! No, I haven't blown up the stock exchange, or any other such foolish thing. Rather, I have moved into the realms of education, a place I thought that I would never ever return to!
   With one simple phone call I jumped head-first into an open learning course culminating in four modular examinations.  Eh oh.
    You may think, in the words of Sheldon Cooper, "Why I've fallen down the rabbit hole and into a land of madness", and you may well be right! Education, the scourge of Western Civilisation, has returned to the Baker worldview, albeit for a short stay.
    However, you will be happy to know that I am not taking any wishy-washy course; any qualification for qualifications sake; just to fill some spare time. No, not me. Hehe. I am taking the NFOPP and NAVA recognised Qualification of "Chattel Auctioneering", the first of its kind!
    I doubtless shall be grumpy and irritable for the foreseeable future, with this pastime taking up my evening. With great wisdom Solomon said

"....much study is a weariness to the flesh."

And he should know: Solomon BA(Hons), QC, KBE etc etc
     I would like to apologise in advance for my moodiness, hopefully it won't last too long!

      Don't worry, normal service shall be resumed soon.

An Outpost of God's Kingdom in a tempestous World

    Scattered across a wicked island, surrounded and beset by liars, decieviers and 'beasts', under assault from the Judaizers and the circumcised, Titus is left the task of ministering to the believers on Crete.
    After the initial mission to the Island Paul has returned to the mainland, and to the Church there; but Titus remains behind. Paul's band of converts and fellow-workers are now pastors in their own rights: Timothy is in Ephesus and Asia Minor, Erastus is in Corinth, Crescens is in Galatia, believers can still be found meeting in the home of Prisca and Aquilla, Philemon presumably still teaching in Collosae, Tychicus is to be found shoring up any holes in the fellowship, Apollos is setting off on a new mission and there are, of course, many many more I could mention, working hard for the spreading of the Kingdom.
    So it is that we find Titus in Crete, left behind to establish the Churches, to appoint elders, and to lead the believers in their walk. This is no easy task, Crete is the very epitimisation of wickedness and slothfulness. Epimenides, a famous Creten poet, penned the line quoted by the Apostle Paul:

"Cretens are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."

And this view was a commonly held one! Titus was in a stronghold of the world, and his aim was to proclaim Christ.
    Today we often view our country, and the western world, as slipping further and further into wickedness: Open rebellion against God is glorified, the reign of 'science' seems unquestioned, morality is discarded (much like the sanctity of life), pleasure is God, idols are raised up and the police and courts (the very symbols of 'right' and 'justice') harass and arrest Godly men and women. And how much better are things in the Church? Modern secular culture has invaded our fellowship, we become more liberal each day, the so-called "Church of England" supports homosexuality, the Archbishop of Canterbury appears to have had major surgery, thus removing any backbone he ever had, even amongst evangelical bible-believing churches disagreements and contentions have risen, leading to tension and even hate between brothers and sisters. Trivialities and the world have crept into our hearts, we are so concerned with our possesions and our reputations that Christ is relegated far down our list of priorities. Perhaps our world now isn't so different to the world Titus found himself in after all?
    Paul writes to Titus, warning him of the immorality and worldliness of the Creten Church. Many of the old arguments and heresies that plagued the early years of the Church, those surrounding circumcision and the gentiles, were now plaguing the Creten community. Decievers and liars were abounding. Titus was given strict instructions in the choice of elders and overseers, apparently the Church was not what it should be.

   All this goes to show how relevant the Epistle to Titus really is today. I would like to write, more specifically, about Paul's advice and encouragment to Titus in the weeks to come. I can offer no new revelations or ideas, but hopefully in reading God's word, and through his blessing we can see something for ourselves in this book.

The Idol

   This is a blog that I do not want to write. I've been avoiding it for weeks. Even now, I sit wondering what to write, how to pen my thoughts.
    I have been fending off an idol for years. An idol that I failed to appreciate in its full destructive power until relatively recently. It probably wouldn't be generally regarded as an idol, in the "evangelical" sense of the word; but it most certainly can be one. I probably should say at this point, this "idol" certainly is not always an idol (as you will doubtless agree). However when it takes the Lord's place in one's heart, mind or soul then it is an idol true enough.

One of my favourite songs at the moment is Greg Long's version of "Love the Lord". We are told to...

"Love the lord your god
With all your heart
And all your
Soul and mind
And love all mankind"

The question is....'do I?'

   The blurb of Timothy Keller's book "Counterfeit Gods" says the following:

Two thousand years ago, the most developed nations in the world worshipped idols, gods of wood and stone. Today we may laugh at their ignorance, but the modern manifestations of idolatry are no less foolish and just as harmful to our wellbeing.

   With that warning ringing in our ears, and with no further ado, I shall tell you about this idol. Although a perfectly beautiful gift from God, this idol, when given the Messianic expectations reserved for the Lord Jesus, can leave people broken and angry. Loneliness and impatience can stem from it and self pity walks hand in hand. It is, arguably, the 'anti-lust' idol, which is why, quite possibly, it is so attractive to young Christians.
    It has multiple biblical examples, both in a good way, as the Lord wished it to be used, but also many more examples of idolotrous use of this gift. Jacob would be a perfect example, perhaps Solomon too.
    Any guesses?



   Well, Timothy Keller aptly describes it as "Romantic Love". The subject of so much of our culture- songs, films, tv series and books. Lives are transformed by its power, nations rocked- remember the case of Helen of Troy! (Or was it Sparta?!)
    Being aquainted with a few young christians from various places and sources, I dont doubt that "romantic love" is held in high regard. Christian couples tend to get married long before non-christian couples. Now obviously we hold marriage on a higher plane than others, being ordained by God; right from the start of the bible we are told:

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

But do you not ever wonder if Christian singles seek out "love" rather over-zealously? The rise of love-guru Joshua Harris, with his hit book "I kissed dating goodbye", highlights the desire of Christians to find a wife or husband (delete as appropriate) rather than to 'date' multiple partners, and indulge in other sexual affairs. While I totally agree with this and would not dare to confront the brilliance of Mr Harris (for fear of reprival!), this has led to the idoltrous worship of romantic love.
 
    Perhaps I should give you a biblical example. Jacob has been forced from his family home, he has travelled miles across inhospitable terrain. He has arrived in the home land of his distant relations. Shepards are lounging around a well, covered with a stone. Jacob is concerned, why is no one giving their flocks water? "Too heavy" the reply comes back. All of the shepards must be present before the stone is removed, some sort of cultural and manual-handling agreement! But.....

Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

Jacob jumps to action! Single handedly maneouvering the stone from the well! After much dribbling and dreaming, Jacob appeals to Laban for Rachel's hand. 

Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

Seven years! That was quite a dowry! Seven whole years. Jacob was duped by the deceptive Laban, I think. Laban was asking for £150,000*! That's quite a sum. But Jacob doesn't even  negotiate, he dives straight in! Even if it takes seven years of free labour before he could marry Rachel he would still do it, without hesitation!

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

Keller points out how "bold, graphic and sexual" Jacob's manner is towards Rachel. The young man says to his would-be father-in-law:

“Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.”

Thats hardly the way one would speak to their fiance's father! But Jacob was totally love struck.

    If you read any of my previous blog series on Jacob then you will know that this love caused major problems, Leah was spurned by Jacob, his family was in shreds, deceptions and tricks were commonplace. Rachel and Leah bargained and argued themselves right into Jacob's bed. Rachel even stole Laban's household 'gods'. I don't think that anyone could call their family a happy one!

   In his book Keller asks the question of Jacob: why were you so overwhelmed with love? He goes on to talk about Jacob fixing all his longings upon her. When I read about this, I was really hit by what he said.  This is the "messianic expectation" i was talking about earlier. I have just discovered the quote that Keller  uses on another website. (Which is fortunate because I didn't want to copy it all out!) This is Ernest Becker, a quote from his award winning book "The Denial of Death", he is refering to the modern secular man and something he called "apocolyptic romance":

“He still needed to feel heroic, to know that his life still mattered in the scheme of things… He still had to merge himself with some higher, self absorbing meaning, in trust and gratitude… If he no longer had God, how was he to do this? One of the first ways that occurred to him, was the ‘romantic solution’… The self-glorification that he needed in his innermost nature he now looked for in the love partner. The love partner becomes the divine ideal within which to fulfill one’s life. All spiritual and moral needs now become focused in one individual… In one word, the love object is God… Man reached for a ‘thou’ when the world-view of the great religious community overseen by God died… After all, what is it that we want when we elevate the love partner to the position of God? We want redemption – nothing less.”

   This is quite something. Have I placed this image of my perfect partner in the position of God? To quote Pastor Paul Robie:

Looking to others for the kind of deep affirmation and acceptance that only God can give makes you a SLAVE to “love ”. This is an example of a GOOD thing becoming an ULTIMATE thing becoming your master.

   Here is a question for you (because if you are still reading after this long then you must need something to get your mind working)- Have you placed this idea of "romance", this perfect partner, on such a pedestal? Do you see the 'aquisition' of a soul-mate as THE vital priority? Will this wonder-woman (or super-man) fulfill all of your desires, solve all your problems? Will you be (and I quote) "complete"?

   I have seen, both in my life and others, what happens when romantic love replaces God as your #1 aim. Solomon loved his wife so so much- read Song of Solomon to get a glimpse. However, eventually, she proved to not be enough for his desires. He took hundreds more wives and lovers. None of them filled his void. In his old age he turned to God and saw how his life had been wasted with idols.
   I pray that none of us continue in this rebellion against the Lord God. God's love for us, and His salvation fulfills all of our desires. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Song of Solomon shows us, in metaphorical imagery, of the deep love Christ has for His Church.
   When we are free from this idolatry we can enjoy love and friendship and marriage as God intended it. I was reading a book recently, "Friends". In it the author explains how whenever meeting up with single christian women he would view them as 'potential wives', almost on a subconcious level. He would access their candicacy, without noticing what he was doing. I can appreciate what he is saying, becuase I feel the same way. He goes on to say how difficult it was to shake this, to view them as friends and sisters in Christ, rather than future Mr ________s (insert name here).

    I have talked for long enough, but I view this as a vital battlefield, one in which many young christians find themselves. And I pray that we can defeat the flesh and destroy those idols, those "high places" in our lives: which would rip down God and replace him with our man-made images.
   Thanks be to God that He has forgiven His people for their sins and idolatry! Praise the Lord that He doesn't deal with us as we deserve.
  
   Why?

  Because Christ has paid for our iniquities.
  Paul says:

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

  

Song for the Sabbath

Psalm 92- It speaks for itself.

a psalm, a song for the sabbath.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
    to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
    and your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp,
    to the melody of the lyre.
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
    at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

How great are your works, O Lord!
   Your thoughts are very deep!
The stupid man cannot know;
   the fool cannot understand this:
that though the wicked sprout like grass
   and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever;
   but you, O Lord, are on high forever.
For behold, your enemies, O Lord,
   for behold, your enemies shall perish;
all evildoers shall be scattered.

But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
   you have poured over me fresh oil.
My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;
   my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.

The righteous flourish like the palm tree
    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the Lord;
    they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age;
    they are ever full of sap and green,
to declare that the Lord is upright;
    he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Watch out, there are idols about

     Hello.

   Idolatry is sin. Sin is blatent and wicked rebellion against God. God hates sin. God hates idols.

Forget this wishy washy:

"Do I have any idols?"
[Momentary pause, knowing nod and pursing of lips.]
"It's a challenge to think about"

    Idolatry is alive and well in 21st Century England. Idolatry is alive and kicking in the Church today. Idolatry is alive and, I dare say, thriving in my life.
    I hate the sins in me, I hate my idolatry, I detest and despise the 'treasures' I have stored up. But I praise the God of grace for His victory in me!



   Recently I read a book that I would highly reccomend (and my reccomendations do not come easy- I have been described as "Been there, done that- didn't like it"). Written by Jerry Bridges, author of 'Pursuit of Holiness', it strikes hard at the Christian and holds no bars. "Respectable Sins" is a book that hits hard at the sins (remember sin is rebellion from our very souls aimed against the King of Glory) that we have trivialised, the sin in our lives that is embedded deep, and hardly even noticed. I would seriously suggest this book as a must read for Christians, it is a vital issue both for the experienced and new christian, for the young and the old. Read it!
  Spoiler Alert: what I am about to discuss will reveal one of Bridge's 'respectable sins', and I might even venture onto his other topics too.

   ..........Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.... after that prolonged introduction, I have just spent the last 10 minutes trying to find the section that I specifically wanted to talk about, only to realise that it is in another book!

   Please do still read "Respectable Sins", it will batter you, smash you about a bit and then spit you out.  Sounds painful? It is. You know what they say.....no pain, no gain.
 
   The idolatry I really wanted to bring up was one highlighted in Tim Keller's "Counterfeit Gods", another terrifying read. But that will have to wait now. In the meantime get on www.thegoodbook.co.uk and order Respectable Sins!!!

Christian Metallurgy

Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold

Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will

Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart

Cleanse me from my sin
Deep within

   Eh oh. Thats a scary song. Do I really want to be "purified" like silver or gold?
   Eh oh. I'm ready to make sacrifices, but that?!
   Is that truly my heart's one desire? To be holy? Ready  to do God's will? It sounds great, but I want it  on my terms. Thinking about it, its probably easier just to sing the hymn and nod to the words, no need to actually do anything.

  The refining of impure metals is a long process, taking many cycles before the gold or silver is "pure". If I want to truly throw myself  into God's hands then I must be prepared for His constant work in my life (or "his life", as I probably should call it). Loads of hymns and songs and a whole reem of Bible passages talk about this process:

"For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver..."

"...when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold."

""And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver,
and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them.
I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”"

   The popular Christian band "Casting Crowns" says, in "Praise you in the Storm":

"I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away."

   Trusting God while around other Christians, while life is going just how I want it to, is tough, but not impossibly so. Trusting God while I am being forced to give up or lose the things which I hold so dear is not so easy. Perhaps one should ponder on why those things have come to mean so much in the first place? After all, is it not God who gave us those things- "In him we live and move and have our being". But seeing our own sinful idolitary (worship of what God has given us, rather than God Himself) is not so easy, especially when being faced with the loss of God's gifts. Many of us prefer to doubt God, or to see ourselves as being the victims in some form of cosmic mugging.
   Years ago, one christian man had lost all  his money and assets in the American depression. He sent his wife and two children to France on a ship, while he finished closing up his ties in the USA. Shortly after he received a telegram, it simply read, "Ship sunk. Children dead. Come soon." He quickly got passage on another ship heading to France. During that journey he wrote the words  of the well known hymn- "It is well with my soul." He knew what it was to have God strengthening him. I thank God that He gives us strength when we need it.
   I've always hated it when people describe Christian things as "a challenge". In my mind, a challenge is a tough Suduko puzzle. No, the Christian life is warfare, not a stroll in the park ("More tea, vicar?"). We are assaulting Satan's strongholds, battling him in his own dominion; he does not want us to follow Christ. No one would describe the D-Day landings as "a challenge". It was a fearsome, bloody, putrifying battle; but a necessary one nevertheless. Our daily 'taking up' of the cross will be much the same.
  But we are not fighting this battle alone, Jesus has gone on before us, the war is already won! Thanks be to God for the victory!
  Jesus used very vivid imagery to describe the purifying of his people. In fact his words smash straight toward our 'modern' 'hedenistic' worldviews:

"If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell."

  This certainly doesn't sound like a "challenge"!  Jesus is telling us that we must 'get serious' with sin. Following Jesus will not always be easy, we must be prepared to lose our idolatrous desires and possesions. But he will be with us every step of the way, he will never, ever desert us. He has already walked the path that we are walking. Lets look to him for our strength!

"I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away"

For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?

    Just finished reading today's section of Psalm 18 (1-15) and have simply been amazed by it. I sometimes view the psalms as the "easy option"- "its either Deuteronomy or Psalms, which should i read?"- but the wisdom and majesty of them is so overwhelming.

    Take yesterday's reading, for example,

"As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be  satisfied with your likeness."

Even though all my longings, hopes and aspirations are tied up in the Lord, when I meet Him in Glory, I most certainly wont be disapointed! Thats what David knew for sure.

   And then today:

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Just think about all of those metaphors for a moment.
"I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies."
"In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.....THEN the earth realed and rocked... He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind."

   And peeking ahead into tommorow's reading:

"He rescued me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me."
"For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness."
"For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall."
"This God- his way is perfect;  the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him."
"For who is  God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?- the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless."

Praise the LORD!