Update:12/2/09

As technology progresses and the way to reach people on the Internet continues to change, we as a church want to persue as effective means as possible to stay up with the current trends and share the Gospel as effectively as we can with others. Therefore, Christ Covenant Church has opened a Facebook account and we will be focusing our postings, update, and other related material on there. This blogsite will remain open, and the articles and information on here will remain accessible. But please consider looking us up on FB (shorthand for Facebook), and joining us over there!

America: A City Set On A Hill

 ”Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill” – Matt 5:14

Jesus’ command for Christians to be a “city set on a hill” – letting our light shine before the world that men might see it and glorify our Father in heaven – was the original vision of our Pilgrim and Puritan forefathers here in America. Those men of faith firmly understood the notion there is no greater light for God than that church which is filling its Great Commission.

 Yet the days of the Pilgrims have past. America has long since forsaken the “old paths wherein was the good way” (Jer. 6:16). America is no longer a Christian nation. We are not even a post-Christian nation. We have become, to our own detriment, a Christ-hating, anti-Christian nation, which despises the Lord to the point there is no fear of God among us. The hand of almighty God is heavy upon us, and we rightly deserve His just judgment and grave displeasure. So how can we restore America? Can we ever recapture the former glory of this once great nation? And if so, how? Allow me to suggest we can: By recovering the original Pilgrim and Puritan vision of America as a shining city upon a hill.

Recall your history, those first Christian settlers who battled the tempest and trials of the North Atlantic and who stepped upon the shores of Plymouth were doing much more than simply escaping religious persecution. They had in essence already accomplished that through a series of moves through Europe to places such as Holland. Our godly forefathers had a much greater and more glorious vision for America than merely creating a religious refugee camp. They had a passionate vision: to apply all the Scriptures to every aspect of life, and to put the Bible into practice by creating a theocratic society based upon the precepts and principles of God’s Holy Word with true liberty and righteous justice for every soul. Their intentions were nothing less than to build a Scriptural commonwealth that would be an example to all — that would fulfill their passion to be that ‘city set upon a hill’ for the whole world to see. But America has lost that vision — we don’t know where we came from, we seem to no longer know whom we are or why we are here. America is in a moral fog. We seem to have developed a serious case of national amnesia, a loss of our historic collective memory. We have no standards for right and wrong. Decadence and decay surround us on every front. We have wandered away from the Ancient of Days, and His glory has departed from us. That means in order to restore America we have to have a time of national repentance. We need to seek God’s face and we need to do it upon our knees. Additionally, our nation needs to recover the truth about her Christian heritage, and God’s good providence in our country’s founding. For one example of this, Patrick Henry, a great Founding Father, and one of the strongest evangelical Christians of his time, said “It can not be too often repeated, or too strongly emphasized that America was not founded by religionists nor on any religion, but by Christians on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

This fundamental concept of our founding is lost on us today. Statements like this (which number in the thousands) never show up in the history books. Neither are the men who said them really understood, studied, or honored as the men of God they were to any serious degree. John Adams, our second President and a true son of the Puritans, spoke for all the Founding Fathers when he spoke these words to the Massachusetts Militia in 1798: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

America must seek the Lord while there is still time. We must repent of our wickedness, and plead for God’s mercy. We are in a desperate moral and spiritual crisis. We so need God’s Spirit to move upon our land and bring about a nationwide revival of such historic proportions that it could be called the ‘Third Great Awakening’. Apart from a divine intervention that will bring forth this kind of reformation and revival, I fear we are without hope.

 God has given us the blueprints to restore America. He has set forth in His Word the requirements for this kind of movement. We must put 2 Chronicles 7:14 into practice. That verse says: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

This Scripture verse plainly puts the burden of restoring America on God’s own people – on His Church! While invoking this verse is no magic formula, revival will only come as God’s people humble themselves before Him, seek His face and turn from their wicked ways. The text doesn’t say that the heathen are to turn from their wicked ways; it says if “my people” turn from their wicked ways, I will heal their land. So true Spirit-wrought revival must begin with the recovery of Biblical Christianity in our local churches and fellowships.  Only as Christians are willing to say, “I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips” (Isa. 6:5) do I believe that God will fulfill His promise to heal our land.

The Church of Jesus Christ here in America has her work cut out for her. First we must forsake the idols in our land. Compromise with the world has led to corruption in the church. We have accommodated, for far too long, apathy and complacancy in our congregations. Christians have tolerated and accepted a watered-down false gospel that proclaims a false Christ, and a false hope of salvation. So many of our largest churches in America today need nothing less than pure evangelizing to bring people to a true saving knowledge of the faith.

Rediscovery of the essential truths of the Christian faith is imperative. Christians must come to reclaim and reestablish dominion in our the public and civil realm. Yes, we need revival in our churches. But we must repent of our notion that our religious convictions must be left at the doorway of the church! The Scriptures say that Christ is to have preeminence in all things! (Col. 1:16) Not just in our hearts, but yes there. Not just in the church, but yes there. In all things! He is Lord of all, for by Him and in Him were all things created. He is Lord of our homes. He is Lord of our schools. He’s Lord of economics, politics, education, and healthcare. He is Lord of our Congress, our President, and our nation. He is Lord of all! It all belongs to Jesus Christ. Christians in America need to relearn this priceless lesson from our Pilgrim forefathers. They understood the Lordship of Christ, and we desperately need to as well.

Is there hope for America? Yes, by God’s everlasting grace there is. It begins with you, dear Christian. Search your own heart and find every sinful way. Confess to God your need for forgiveness. Then turn your face towards the Lord like a flint, and intercede on the behalf of our country. Start seeing God’s Word as more than a simple plan for personal salvation, though it is that, it is so much more! It is His blueprint for godly dominion, for applying His will on earth as it is in heaven, and for taking every thought captive for Christ. Yes there is hope for America. Her hope is the Lord Jesus Christ. The hour is late, the time is now. Will you join me? Pray that He will but send His Holy Spirit upon us once more in a sweeping revival. If we will but humble ourselves, repent of our sins, and seek His face, He will heal our land. Then America will once more be that light, that city set upon a hill, for the whole world to see. Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving

Being In, Not Of, the World

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” – John 17:16

You’ve probably heard the phrase, ‘Be in the world, but not of the world’.  And while that particular wording is not found in the New Testament, it was probably inspired by this verse of Scripture where Jesus, in His high priestly prayer, is lifting up His disciples before the Father to seek for guidance and protection for His followers.

But what does it mean to be in the world, but not of it? How do Christians live in such a way as to reflect this in their life? Let’s see if we can briefly unpack this idea, and make sense of it where we can better serve the Lord. The key is to strike a biblical balance between engaging this world or Christ, and at the same time, avoiding the temptations and enticements of a fallen world, and it’s appeal to our sinful flesh. In short, there are two pitfalls to avoid.

The first temptation is to flee this world altogether. This is only natural as the Spirit of God cultivates in the believer a newfound hatred of his own sin, and the depravity of worldliness. The whole monastic movement has its roots in this idea. Monks seek to remove themselves as much as possible from this world, to focus almost entirely on ’spiritual’ matters.

The problem with this is that it goes beyond the biblical calling. These Christians have failed to be ‘in’ the world in any meaningful way. They have removed themselves to the point that the world doesn’t even know their there. As a result, there is no salt or light that can be easily noticed by those people who take this extreme position of cloistering themselves in some obscure corner to be forgotten by others.

The second temptation is to become so ‘relevant’ to the world and to become so ‘of’ the world as to lose any discernable difference between the Christian and the world – between the church and the world. Many churches today have so diluted the light and salt of the Gospel, that it has lost its savor. In this error, Christianity has lost any distinctive qualities, and appears for all practical purposes to be a worldly institution. In this case, rather than the church being in the world, the church has let the world in the church!

Both of these pitfalls are errors to be avoided. We are not to forsake the world altogether, for we are called to be in it – engaging the prevailing culture, taking every thought captive for Jesus Christ, and bringing the message of hope and salvation to all who will hear.

Yet at the same time, we simple cannot compromise with this world either, and become of this world in such a way as to lose the uniqueness of the church. When the church is imitating the world, rather than the church bringing the world to imitate it, things are backwards. The world is winning out.

Jesus gives us our answer – in fact – He is the answer! God came into this world to seek and to save that which was lost. He was definitely “in” the world. God in the flesh – the incarnate Son of God. But He never allowed Himself to become a part of this world. He was never “of” this world. In fact, He even once said, “My kingdom is not of this world”. So let us follow after Him. May Christ be our example, and may His church, be in the world, but not of the world – just like Him!

The Greater Good

” I can hardly recollect a single plan of mine, of which I have not since seen reason to be satisfied, that had it taken place in season and circumstance just as I proposed, it would, humanly speaking, have proved my ruin; or at least it would have deprived me of the greater good the Lord had designed for me. We judge of things by their present appearances, but the Lord sees them in their consequences, if we could do so likewise we should be perfectly of His mind; but as we cannot, it is an unspeakable mercy that He will manage for us, whether we are pleased with His management or not; and it is spoken of as one of his heaviest judgments, when He gives any person or people up to the way of their own hearts, and to walk after their own counsels.”

- John Newton

Confessing Christ

“Let us all pray daily for faith and courage to confess Christ before all men. Of sin, or worldliness, or unbelief, we may well be ashamed. We ought never to be ashamed of Him who died for us on the cross. In spite of laughter, mockery, and hard words, let us boldly avow that we serve Christ. Better a thousand times confess Christ now, and be despised by man, than be disowned by Christ before His Father in the day of judgment.”

- J.C. Ryle

Sin of Unbelief

 

It is God’s invariable method to humble before he exalts; to show us our diseases before he heals them; to convince us that we are sinners before he pronounces our pardon. When, therefore, the Spirit of all grace and consolation comes to comfort and sanctify a sinner, he begins by acting the part of a reprover, and thus convincing him of sin. The sin of which he more particularly aims to convince him is unbelief. He shall reprove the world of sin, says our Saviour. Why? Because they are murderers, thieves, or adulterers? No. Because they are guilty of slander, fraud, or extortion? No. Because they are intemperate; dissipated, or sensual? No. Because they are envious, malicious, or revengeful? No; but because they are unbelievers, because they believe not on me. If there is one fact, or doctrine, or promise in the Bible, which has produced no practical effect upon your temper or conduct, be assured that you do not truly believe it.

- Edward Payson

Any Other Gospel

“If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” – Gal. 1:9

The apostle Paul reserves his harshest condemnation for those who seek to thwart, twist, and pervert the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are many who desire to turn away Christians from the truth by the means of ‘any other gospel’. His defense of the pure preaching of the Gospel of God, in all it’s majestic glory, stands as a historic landmark for Christians today. Paul’s example rings as a clarion call for the church of Jesus Christ to oppose any and all who subvert the message of God’s sovereign grace in the saving of men’s souls.

Implied in Paul’s words is the idea that Christians are to be discerning. Jesus said to be as shrewd as serpents, but as innocent as doves. As we listen to men preach, we ought to know and love God’s truth so well, that any false teachings are easily recognized. Heretics don’t go around wearing a flashing sign letting you know what they’re saying is wrong. Lies and deceit are often veiled with a covering of half-truths, big smiles, and smooth words, appearing at least on the surface, as an ‘other gospel’. Satan himself is described as an angel of light, false as that light may be. And those that serve him are false lights as well.

Those that come preaching another gospel, which is no gospel at all (1:8), are to be accursed. What does that mean? That means those who seek to distort the Gospel of Christ, lead His children away from the loving and saving truth of His Word, and fill them full of lies and deception, are to be fully and finally damned of God, and consumed in the lake of fire. To be accursed is to be beyond redemption. Paul is literally saying, “God damn you.” if you preach a false Gospel. Powerful words, yet loving and carefully chosen words from the apostle. He was jealous for truth, and the protection of the Lord’s people. He would have gone to any cost to prevent them from being lead astray by false teachers.

That’s what Christ’s church so desperately needs today. Men who are willing, men who are bold, men who will give their all to stand in the face of staunch opposition and say, “God damn you, and your false doctrine!”. We simply must not tolerate compromise to the truth. God doesn’t tolerate it, and neither should we. The Church is starving for godly men willing to stand upon the authority of God’s written Word and condemn the blasphemy that often passes for “Bible teaching” in modern evangelical circles. With a humility of the flesh, and a boldness of spirit let arise men of God willing to answer such a call. And may the Lord see fit to grant us them today!

Gather Your Manna

“Read the Bible daily. Make it part of every day’s business to read and meditate on some portion of God’s Word. Gather your manna fresh every morning. Choose your own seasons and hours. Do not scramble over and hurry your reading. Give your Bible the best, and not the worst, part of your time. But whatever plan you pursue, let it be a rule of your life to visit the throne of grace and the Bible every day.”

- J.C. Ryle

God or Mammon?

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. – Matt 6:24

The Church’s Calling

The visibility of the Church is not in its institutional presence, but in its fulfillment of its calling. When the Church truly fulfills her calling, the consequences are apparent in the diffusion and enforcement of God’s law order, so that every area of life is brought under the dominion of the triune God.

- R.J. Rushdoony

Most Wanted

“My main ambition in life is to be on the devil’s most wanted list.”

- Leonard Ravenhill

But Are We Converted?

“He that desires to be a true Christian must be experimentally acquainted with repentance and remission of sins. These are the principle things in saving religion. To belong to a pure church, and to hear the gospel, and receive the sacraments are the great privileges: but are we converted? Are we justified? If not, we are dead before God.”

- J.C Ryle

Exhorting Fathers

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. – Eph 6:4

The church is a family of families. It is an institution comprised of many households, each with a unique purpose and function within the body of Christ. Likewise, the church is only as  strong spiritually as those families which make it up. Therefore, it becomes imperative that each family, at the level of the family, become diligent students and disciples of the Lord.

This means fathers must once again turn their hearts towards their homes. Husbands must lead their families in spiritual matters within the home. If there is a lack of spirituality in our churches, is it not just a sign there is no spirituality in our homes? I believe it’s a good indication. Husbands and fathers need a great deal of repentance when it comes to their neglect in this area.

The man who goes to work and provides for the physical well-being of his family has only done half the job. He should be the provider - providing the essentials –  food, clothing, and shelter to those who are under his care. But, and this is a BIG ‘but’, he has failed in the weightier matters if this is all he’s done.

The head of the house is to provide for the spiritual well-being of his family as well, and even more so seeing their eternal souls lie in the balance. He must become a man of God that he might share the gospel, set an example, and cultivate godly living unto the Lord to those under his responsibility and care.

If we hope to see a reformation in our churches, it must begin in our homes. If there are no men of God passionately seeking Christ in their homes, determined to see his family living and serving the Lord, why should we ever expect that same man would demand truth and holiness from the pulpit of his local assembly? The truth is – I don’t think he will.

So the urgent call of today is for husbands and fathers to raise their families in the nurture and instruction of the Lord. We need to re-establish family devotions so both wives and children can come to see and respect their husbands and fathers as spiritual leaders. The church desperately needs more men of God committed to the spiritual discipleship of their homes.

If we can reform the home, we can reform the family of families – the church. But it will only come as men admit their fault, repent of it, and turn their hearts back towards their families. This will change, not only the spiritual expectations of the home, but of the church as well. We need to expect and at times demand more from both, our homes and our churches. God does. But it begins with you, husband or father, provoke not your children to anger, but raise your family up in the nurture and instruction of the Lord.

Persecuted Preaching

No man can say that we are seeking the favor and praise of men with our doctrine. We teach that all men are naturally depraved. We condemn man’s free will, his strength, wisdom, and righteousness. We say that we obtain grace by the free mercy of God alone for Christ’s sake. This is no preaching to please men. This sort of preaching procures for us the hatred and disfavor of the world, persecutions, excommunications, murders, and curses.

- Martin Luther