What is Christian Worship?

In his book, Desiring God, John Piper describes worship as, "A way of gladly reflecting back to God the radiance of His worth" (84). Worship is not about adding anything to God, but is rather a reflecting of something he already possesses - infinite worthiness, greatness, beauty, power, etc. And, our worship of him is our glad reflecting back to him how great he is. If we are just going through the motions (outward "worship" with no gladness or heart that delights in God) we are engaging in vain worship (Matthew 15:8-9). 

Earlier in Piper's chapter on worship, he gives this helpful illustration of "Fuel, Furnace, and Heat" (82).

Perhaps we can tie things together with this picture: The fuel of worship is the truth of God; the furnace of worship is the spirit of man; and the heat of worship is the vital affections of reverence, contrition, trust, gratitude, and joy.  

But there is something missing from this picture. There is furnace, fuel, and heat, but no fire. The fuel of truth in the furnace of our spirit does not automatically produce the heat of worship. There must be ignition and fire. This is the Holy Spirit.
... 

Now we can complete our picture. The fuel of worship is a true vision of the greatness of God; the fire that makes the fuel burn white hot is the quickening of the Holy Spirit; the furnace made alive and warm by the flame of truth is our renewed spirit; and the resulting heat of our affections is powerful worship, pushing its way out in confessions, longings, acclamations, tears, songs, shouts, bowed heads, lifted hands, and obedient lives.

How Should We Respond to the Bathroom Controversies?

I never thought I'd title a blog post using toilet language, but such is the world we live in. With news swirling about Target stores allowing people to use whichever restroom fits their "gender identity" and President Obama's administration issuing a letter to all public schools requiring the same thing, we must think biblically.

First, we must remind ourselves that our God is on his throne. Early Christians lived in a world of confusion, sin, and a government which allowed all sorts of terrible things. We find ourselves in a similar situation. And the most important thing that is the same is that our God still reigns. Nations may rage against him but he is still building his kingdom. So, let's not lose hope. The power of the gospel transformed lives then and it does today.

Second, in light of that truth, we must not give in to rage and bitterness. Those argue with bitterness and rage are like caught animals that are backed into a corner. We, however, are under the sovereign reign of our God. And we know how the story ends. Also, we know that we too were once enslaved to our own fallen minds, flesh, and even the Devil. Therefore, we, as recipients of grace, must be full of grace as we argue for what is good and right (Titus 3:1-8).

Third, we ought to know the facts of what is going on and be thoughtful about how to bring the gospel to bear on the situation. Out of our love for God and neighbor, we must see the significance of these cultural developments. More and more we are seeing the idolatry of self. The demand to be able to define one's own self contrary to the Creator's design. Out of love for God, and his glory, and out of love for those blinded by Satan and sin, we must lovingly speak truth and the gospel message. We must be prepared to suffer for doing good. We should argue for what is true and right, even if we are misunderstood and condemned by those we are seeking to love. Below are a few good resources to help in this.

• Albert Mohler's podcast from May 16, 2016 on the issue is helpful in getting an understanding of what is happening and how we might think about it.
• John Piper's podcast on May 16, 2016 on whether or not he would use the restroom at Target.
• A copy of the letter from the Department of Education and Justice. 
• Here are  few excerpts. 
• Regarding locker rooms: "A school may provide separate facilities on the basis of sex, but must allow transgender students access to such facilities consistent with their gender identity. A school may not require transgender students to use facilities inconsistent with their gender identity or to use individual-user facilities when other students are not required to do so."
• Regarding overnight accommodations (ie. hotels on trips):  "Title IX allows a school to provide separate housing on the basis of sex.22 But a school must allow transgender students to access housing consistent with their gender identity and may not require transgender students to stay in single-occupancy accommodations or to disclose personal information when not required of other students."

• Joe Carter's "Explainer" regarding what the Obama Administration has done with this letter it issued (he explains what the letter is, how it functions in government, what penalties will be imposed on non-compliant school districts, etc.). 
• This video (see below) from the Family Policy of Washington State which highlights the foolishness of current cultural thinking. If we can self-determine our gender, why not our age? I would wonder if a high school student self-identified as a 21 year old if they could skip school and, when brought in on truancy charges claim their new self-identity as a defense. And could they legally drink and when arrested again claim their new self-identity of 21 years old? 

You might also be interested in this video: 

What is Christian Conversion?

John Piper's description of how one becomes a Christian (conversion) in his book Desiring God (pg. 71-72).

Once we had no delight in God, and Christ was just a vague historical figure. What we enjoyed was food and friendships and productivity and investments and vacations and hobbies and games and reading and shopping and sex and sports and art and TV and travel…but not God. He was an idea—even a good one—and a topic for discussion; but He was not a treasure of delight. 

Then something miraculous happened. It was like the opening of the eyes of the blind during the golden dawn. First the stunned silence before the unspeakable beauty of holiness. Then the shock and terror that we had actually loved the darkness [ie. sin]. Then the settling stillness of joy that this is the soul’s end. The quest is over. We would give anything if we might be granted to live in the presence of this glory forever and ever.
And then, faith—the confidence that Christ has made a way for me, a sinner, to live in His glorious fellowship forever, the confidence that if I come to God through Christ, He will give me the desire of my heart to share His holiness and behold His glory.  

But before the confidence comes the craving. Before the decision comes the delight. Before trust comes the discovery of Treasure.

In other words, God must give us new life (regenerate us) to awaken us to his glory. In response to that, we are in awe and delight in how great he is. But, we also are in fear because of our great sin against this great God. So we respond with a turning away from our sin (it's lesser pleasures) to trust in Jesus as our Savior and great treasure!

Regeneration comes from God, and so does our faith. We must believe, but we won't unless God graciously opens our eyes to see what is truly valuable.

Here are some verses that highlight this truth:

John 3:18-20 

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

2 Cor. 4:6

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Use Your Summer Well

Tim Challies has a good article by Peter Krol  entitled "3 Ways College Students Can Do More Better Through Finals Week and Into the Summer." I really enjoy reading what Tim has to say about productivity (he has a book on it which I have not read, but I have read many of his blog posts that formed the backbone of that book).

In this article, Krol applies his wisdom in this area to college students and young adults. Here are his three main points:

1. Make a List and Stick to It
2. Set Goals for the Summer
3. Create a Productivity System for Next School Year

My favorite part is in the set goals for the summer. His list several questions to ask yourself as you set goals:

• What parts of the Bible do you want to read for the first time or study more deeply?
• What books would you like to read? [Ben's note: Desiring God by John Piper. See you Thursday at our house for book club]
• What people would you like to meet with for outreach, encouragement, or discipleship?
• What would you like to learn, and from whom? How can you get yourself around people who live the kind of life you would like to live before Christ, so they can rub off on you?
• Where can you volunteer your time?
• How can you get more involved in your church?
• What other projects would encourage you?

I pray this summer would be one that serves to make you more like Christ. It won't happen without effort on your part though. 

"Isolation from the Church is Dangerous"

Here is a good article by Josh Buice on the dangers of becoming isolated from your church family. I know (most) of you reading this are involved in a local church and see it important. But, as he points out, we often don't go looking to isolate ourselves. It can often happen slowly, over time.

Here is one good quote,

We must learn to see the church as a blessing from God rather than an inconvenience.  We must never look at the church as a violation to our spiritual privacy fence.  We were never called to walk the journey of the Christian life alone.  Surround yourself with gospel preaching, gospel singing, and gospel friends who will be honest with you.  When the church is honest with you, receive it.  Take heed so that you will not fall (1 Cor. 10:12).  We all need the church. 

"Four Warnings for Your Twenties"

There is a good article at Desiring God by Marshall Segal entitled "Four Warnings for Your Twenties." He looks at 1 Corinthians 10:7-14 and notes what 20 somethings should learn from Israel's experiences in the Old Testament.

He writes,

"The same temptations that were murdering the believers under Moses are waging a spiritual war against believers today: entertainment, sexual immorality, impatience, and contentment. Paul finishes the paragraph by saying, “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come” (1 Corinthians 10:11)."

Here are the four main headings of temptation he goes on to address from Israel's history:

1. Do you distract yourself with entertainment?
2. Are you experimenting with sexual sin?
3. Do you refuse to wait?
4. Are you always unhappy?

Take some time to read the article and learn from Israel.

For Those Discouraged in Evangelism, Jesus Saves (Not You)

Is there a friend or family member that you fear is beyond the gospel of salvation? Perhaps they are hostile towards Jesus or maybe they have made up a Jesus they are comfortable with (but one who cannot save them). Maybe they are so enslaved to their own passions and desires that it seems impossible that they will ever walk in the freedom of loving God.

It is easy to slip into this sort of thinking. For me it usually isn't an outright thought of giving up on them. But it often creeps in and then manifests itself in a weakening of my resolve to proclaim Christ, crucified and risen for sinners, to them.

Recently I found myself rebuked by Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones on this issue.  Here is what I read,

We tend to regard certain people as beyond hope, and assume that they must of necessity continue in their grooves as they are and die unrepentant and unredeemed. We just shake our heads over them and express our sorrow. We have talked to them and tried to persuade them. We have appealed to them and preached to them. Everything that human agency can possibly do has been tried and has failed. We cannot get them to come our way, so we feel that their case is hopeless and desperate. Ah! what a lack of faith all that reveals! How different from what we find here in the New Testament and always in the church during days of revival and true faith! If you and I are to save men and women, then indeed the case is hopeless. All our efforts will most certainly fail. But that is not our gospel. It is Jesus Christ who saves! There is no limit to what He can do! His methods are not confined as ours are.

Ian Murray's Biography of Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones, Volume 1, page 226.