By Faith, Joseph

Picture a nativity scene. Whether the scene consists of figurines in your home or of live persons and animals – what characters are in it?

  • Mary
  • The baby Jesus.
  • Shepherds
  • Wise men (though they didn’t arrive until several days after Jesus was born)
  • Animals (though Scripture doesn’t tell us there were any animals present)

Whom did I leave out?

Joseph.

But leaving out Joseph is not unusual.

In Scripture, Joseph’s actions are only recorded in Matthew 1 and 2 and Luke 2. He is referred to five other places:

  • In Jesus’s genealogies in Matthew 1 and Luke 3
  • Two times in John’s Gospel Jesus is referred to as the “son of Joseph”
  • Finally, in Matthew 13:55 Jesus is called “the carpenter’s son” – that’s the only verse that refers to Joseph’s profession. He’s a builder – probably working with both wood and stone.

So Scripture tells us little about Joseph.

Furthermore, Joseph tells us nothing about himself. Indeed, Joseph never speaks in Scripture.

  • Mary speaks.
  • Elizabeth speaks.
  • Zechariah speaks (when he’s not muted by the angel Gabriel).
  • The shepherds speak,
  • The wise men speak,
  • Even Balaam’s donkey speaks!

But Scripture records not one word from Joseph.

Furthermore, he disappears early in the story of Jesus. He’s present at Jesus’s birth; then when Jesus is 12, Joseph and Mary search for Him in Jerusalem after Passover. But as the narrative resumes when Jesus is about 30, Joseph is not there. Presumably he dies in the interim – but we don’t know when or how.

Thus, we know very little about Joseph.

So perhaps it’s not surprising that of the 461 songs we have sung at this church in the last almost 18 years, not one mentions Joseph.

Today we examine the Christmas story through the eyes of this man whom God chose as the earthly father of our Lord and Savior. As with Zechariah, we’ll look at Joseph’s faith – and how he fits together with those listed in the Hebrews 11 hall of fame for faith: Men and women who held firmly to God’s promises, and by His grace advanced His great plan, whether they had substantial earthly success or lost everything in this life.

Matthew gives the most detailed account of Joseph, so we’ll focus on the Christmas story told in Matthew 1:18-25 under these headings:

  • A Deep Disappointment
  • A Dramatic Dream
  • A Costly Obedience
  • Following Joseph’s Faith

A Deep Disappointment

Mary and Joseph are engaged to be married. In this culture, betrothal is binding, requiring a legal divorce to end. But there is no consummation of the marriage until the wedding day, when the groom takes his bride from her parents’ house.

Joseph knows Mary’s parents – the two families surely met to arrange the marriage. But most likely Joseph doesn’t know Mary well. They will have had little together, and most likely no time at all alone together.

Nevertheless, Joseph undoubtedly is excited, greatly looking forward to the marriage, confident that Mary is the wife God intends him to love and to serve, hopeful that they will have children together.

But then someone tells him the horrible news: Mary – his Mary, his lovely young fiancé, is pregnant. How could that happen?

He hasn’t even been permitted to be alone with her – how could someone else? This is completely contrary to all he knows about her. But then, he must admit he really doesn’t know that much.

Deeply disappointed, deeply saddened for her and her family, as well as for himself, he must act.

Marrying her is not even an option. What kind of wife will she be if she is unfaithful even during the engagement?

He only has two choices:

  • He can stand her before the entire town, display her obvious pregnancy, swear that he has not touched her, and then say that he divorces her. This will publicly shame her and her family.
  • Alternately, he can meet with her family with only two witnesses present and divorce her quietly.

Despite all his hurt, despite the temptation to lash out at the one whom he thinks has hurt him, Joseph decides on the second choice.  This will be just – the right response to apparent sexual sin – and merciful – not putting Mary and her family to public shame.

A Dramatic Dream

Before he has acted, however, Joseph dreams. He sees an angel, a messenger from God.

What does the angel say?

The angel definitely speaks the words from the middle of verse 20 to the end of verse 21. A minority of scholars – including D.A. Carson – think the angel’s words continue through “Immanuel” in verse 23. Since there are no quotation marks in ancient Greek manuscripts, we can’t know with certainty.

Here then are the angel’s words, assuming the minority is right:

“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for this very one will save his people from their sins. All this has come about in order that the word spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.”  (Matthew 1:20b-23a ESV; verses 21-22, own translation).

What is the angel saying? Let me expand on these words with an interpretive paraphrase:

“Joseph, you fear that Mary has been unfaithful, that she has had sexual relations with another man. But that’s not the case. This pregnancy is not to her shame; rather, it is to her honor and glory. Indeed, this pregnancy is the greatest privilege imaginable. Remember the prophecy in Isaiah – ‘a virgin will conceive and bear a son, and that son will be Immanuel, God with us.’ That son – a descendant of David – will be the Messiah, the eternal king. Furthermore, that son will be not only a king, but also a Savior from sin. For Isaiah also prophesies, ‘The Lord will lay on Him the iniquity of you all.’ Those prophecies are now fulfilled. Mary is pregnant by the Holy Spirit – not by any man. Thus, this child is Immanuel. And you too, Joseph, have a great privilege. A thousand years ago, David was your ancestor. You are the heir of David – though there has been no king among your ancestors for over 500 years. But now your adopted son – this child in Mary’s womb – will be the suffering servant and eternal king. You will be his earthly father. You and Mary have central roles in God’s great plan. Take Mary as your wife.”

How does Joseph respond?

A Costly Obedience

In Zechariah’s case, the angel appears right next to him while he is serving in the temple. There can be no denying the reality of the angel.

In Joseph’s case, the angel appears in a dream. But Joseph doesn’t suggest, “Maybe I imagined that angel. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part.”

Instead:

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (Matthew 1:24-25)

Immediately, as soon as he woke up, Joseph goes to the house of Mary’s family. He has to bring witnesses – but not for divorce. Instead, they witness a private marriage ceremony. Joseph then takes Mary to his home, but does not have sexual relations with her until after she gives birth.

Then according to the angel’s command, he names the child Jesus – not Joseph. He is obedient.

This obedience is costly. What is the cost?

In the eyes of everyone around him, Joseph is a fool, a complete fool. There’s only one way for a young girl to get pregnant. So, everyone naturally assumes that’s the case. They think: Either Joseph lacks self-control; deceiving Mary’s parents, he arranged to have sexual relations with Mary before the wedding day. Alternately, Joseph marries a woman who has been sexually promiscuous while engaged. In either case: He’s a fool.

Realize: God asks Joseph to believe in a miracle when there is an obvious, natural explanation for the event. It’s one thing to believe a miracle has occurred when an elderly woman, long past the age of childbearing – like Elizabeth – gets pregnant. It’s quite another when a young teen gets pregnant – that’s not unusual! No miracle is necessary.

The stigma of this supposed shame follows Mary, Joseph, and Jesus for decades. For example, in John 8:41, some Jewish leaders arguing with Jesus say, “We were not born of sexual immorality” – implying, “Like you!”

To fulfill God’s plan, Joseph obeys the angel – and by faith takes on himself this disgrace.

So how might we add Joseph to Hebrews 11? What statement could we make about him?

Here’s my suggestion:

By faith, Joseph took on himself the public shame of marrying a pregnant girl. Believing in God’s promise of a Messiah and Savior, he looked not at his humble origins or his perceived social standing, but gladly and immediately accepted his role as the earthly father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Following Joseph’s Faith

Joseph’s example leads to five exhortations for us:

1) Believe God’s promises

The angel does not have to convince Joseph that the Messiah is coming. Joseph knew the Scriptures. He knew what God had promised. He trusted those promises. He did not know that God would send the Messiah during his lifetime, and he had no hint about the important role he would play. But because he believed in God’s promises, when the angel spoke, reminding him of Isaiah’s prophecy, he was ready to obey.

Just so with us.

  • Believe Jesus is returning as promised
  • Believe that God will fulfill His plan, bringing all those who are His to Himself
  • Believe that those will include some from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.

These are God’s promises. These are certain to come about. Trust those promises.

2) Believe that God is using you to fulfill His promises.

Believe not only that God will use you in the future; believe that He is using you now.

Note: Joseph was already engaged to Mary before the angel spoke. He thought he was simply picking an attractive and godly wife from a good family. But all the while he was fulfilling God’s plan.

Similarly, God is using you right now. Your family, your choices, your obedience – your failures, your hurts and even your sins – God weaves all this together to bring about the fulfillment of His every promise.

My role and your role are unlikely to be as prominent as Joseph’s. But God nevertheless is using you now even while He prepares you for the purpose you will fulfill in the future.

So trust Him. Step out. As with all those listed in Hebrews 11, you can’t know ahead of time how He will use you – but He will.

3) Speaking may not be important for fulfilling your role

We preachers are called to speak – and praise God for the way He uses preaching. Praise God also for the way He uses witnessing, and words of comfort and encouragement.

But none of Joseph’s words are recorded in Scripture – only his actions.

Perhaps your actions are much more important than your words in fulfilling your role in God’s great plan.

Ask: How can I act to show the preciousness and authority of Jesus? How can I act to display the Gospel?

4) Trust and obey today

Like Joseph, when you know what following God implies, act right away.

This doesn’t mean that we should act rashly (though undoubtedly our obedient actions – like Joseph’s – may appear to be rash to others.) Scripture elsewhere exhorts us to count the cost and to seek counsel.

But when you know what actions faith in God’s promises requires, step out. Don’t procrastinate. Don’t dawdle. Joseph upon waking took Mary as his wife. Act similarly.

5) Gladly accept the cost of following Jesus

Jesus the baby appeared to be the result of sexual immorality. Joseph appeared to be an absolute fool for marrying a girl he did not impregnate. Those rumors, that innuendo, followed Jesus and presumably Joseph their entire lives. The social cost was high.

And Jesus took on even more shame: Hanging naked on a cross, executed as a common criminal, taking on Himself the punishment deserved by all His people of every century. But Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame, for the joy of playing His role in glorifying God through the redemption of all His beloved people. Now He is exalted to the highest place, seated at the right hand of God. He promises to return to right all wrongs, to establish justice, to usher in His eternal Kingdom, to perfect all His people – and to say to you face to face: “Enter into the joy of your master.”

He will say that to you if you are among His people.

Are you?

If you’re not sure: Look to Him! He is gracious, merciful, and slow to anger. He is love and mercy. Repent. Confess. And God will lay your every sin, your every disobedience, your every rebellion on Jesus. He will then justly accept you as His own.

If you are sure: Know: Whatever the cost, whatever the loss, whatever the shame of playing your role in following Jesus, He is worth it.

By faith, be like Joseph. Trust the promises. Fulfill your part in God’s plan. And enter the joy of your Master.

[This devotion is based on the December 20 sermon. You can watch or listen to that service here.]

Be Faithful, For the Faithful One Controls the Future

The year is 1810. You are one of the parents of four daughters; your youngest, Ann, nicknamed Nancy, is 21. One day you receive a letter from a young man you met only one month previously, asking to begin a courtship of Ann.

That’s not surprising – she is attractive, outgoing, and highly intelligent. But no parent has ever received a request for courtship quite like this one. Let me quote:

I have now to ask, whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next Spring, to see her no more in this world; whether you can consent to her departure for a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of missionary life; whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death. Can you consent to all this, for the sake of Him who left His heavenly home and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion, and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory with a crown of righteousness, brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall redound to her Savior from the heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair? (emphasis added)

The request came from Adoniram Judson. Ann’s parents were John and Rebecca Hasseltine.

If you were John or Rebecca: How would you respond? Would you say no? Why? Would you say yes? Why?

How does faith in God – the God of the promises – influence your answer?

Every day we make decisions – on big, important matters, like marriage, and on small, seemingly trivial matters, like what to say to the checkout clerk at the grocery store.

Scripture tells us:

  • Make every decision, even trivial ones, to the glory of God.
  • Make every decision, even trivial ones, on the basis of faith in the promise-keeping God.
  • Make every decision, even trivial ones, by faith and not by sight.

So following Scripture – by faith, not by sight, to the glory of God – what answer would you give Adoniram?

This is our fourth sermon on this great eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews. This chapter highlights how God has worked through the centuries to fulfill His promises, how He has raised up men and women of faith to trust in Him, to trust in those promises; how He has used them to advance His great plan of redemption, all culminating in Jesus – who Himself is the supreme man of faith. If we have faith in Him, we will join all these mentioned in Hebrews 11 at the culmination of God’s plans when Jesus reigns over His eternal kingdom.

Last week, we began discussing Abraham and Sarah. God calls Abraham to leave comfort, security, and family, to go he knows not where. God promises Him that in his offspring, all the families of the earth will be blessed. Later God elaborates: Abraham’s descendants will be as many as the stars in the heavens. God had earlier promised the first woman, Eve, that her descendant would crush the head of the serpent, Satan. Abraham’s descendant will fulfill both promises.

So, by faith in God, trusting in God’s promises, Abraham goes out – and never has a permanent dwelling again.

But He has promises of God – and he makes sure those around him know: the world not his home. God will bring him to a homeland, an eternal city – with foundations!

As time goes on, Abraham and Sarah must believe the seemingly impossible promise that a 90 year old woman way past the possibility of getting pregnant will give birth to a son.

God does give them their son Isaac in their old age. And God does fulfill the promise to Abraham and the promise to Eve through Isaac. For Jesus is Isaac’s physical descendant. Satan’s power is broken at the cross and the empty tomb, and Jesus will crush that serpent’s head on the last day. God is bringing those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation to His family by faith in Jesus. All those in Christ are Abraham’s children through that faith. Isaac is the child of the promise.

Today we consider an event that takes place when Isaac is about 13. God tells Abraham once again to leave his home and go where He will show him – but the problem this time is not in what he must leave; it is in what he must do. “Offer as a burnt offering your son, your only son, whom you love.” John and Rebecca Hasseltine were asked to say goodbye to their precious daughter, knowing they likely would never see her again. But Abraham had to raise the knife to kill his beloved son: “By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac” (Hebrews 11:17).

We’ll consider our text – Hebrews 11:17-22 – under three headings:

Faith in God’s Promised Future (verses 20-22)

Radical Obedience that Comes from Faith (verses 17-19)

Five Exhortations

Faith in God’s Promised Future

By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. (Hebrews 11:20-22)

Isaac blesses his twin sons Jacob and Esau in weird circumstances, as recorded in Genesis 27; Jacob in turn blesses his grandsons through Joseph after worshiping God, as recorded in Genesis 47 and 48; the dying Joseph speaks of the exodus from Egypt, asking that the Israelites take his bones with them when they leave.

We see clearly that Abraham can only offer Isaac as a sacrifice by faith. But in what sense are these acts by faith?

We all wish our children to be blessed. We all pray for our children to be blessed. Some of us make requests for what becomes of our bodies, or our ashes, after we die.

So what’s unusual or different about what Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph do? Why does the author of Hebrews mention them here, in this way?

Because they are not just stating wishes. They are not just making requests. They are not simply praying. They are trusting in the God who has promised!

Remember, God reiterated his promise to Abraham to both Isaac and Jacob: God promises Isaac: “I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 26:4). So by faith Isaac entrusted that promise to Jacob. God promises Jacob: “Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 28:14). By faith, Jacob entrusted part of that promise to Joseph’s sons.

And what about Joseph? Remember, the entire family want to Egypt during Joseph’s day. Joseph says to his brothers:

“I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” (Genesis 50:24-25)

How did Joseph know that the Israelites will leave Egypt?

Back in Genesis 15, God had said to Abraham: “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out” (Genesis 15:13-14)

Abraham undoubtedly had passed that promise down from generation to generation. So Joseph knows that though he is the second most powerful ruler in Egypt, his descendants will be oppressed. And one day, hundreds of years in the future, God will bring them out. So he – the one who brought the family to Egypt – wants his remains to leave Egypt. God has promised. The exodus will come about.

Recall Hebrews 11:1 and 6:

“Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen” (CSB). “Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Furthermore, “It is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18).

So: Isaac could bless Jacob, Jacob could bless Joseph’s sons, and Joseph could speak of the exodus and his bones because God had promised. They had faith in the God Who promises, Who fulfills every promise.

What is equivalent for us? What does this type of faith look like for us?

We can hold just so surely to the promises God gives us. Indeed, we can bless children and grandchildren in a similar way. Sure, we can pray for health, for marriage, for happiness, for career success for them. But we don’t trust in those by faith, for God does not promise anyone healthy, successful lives.

But what does God promise?

  • He promises that In Christ, He will provide everything needed for them to fulfil His purposes and to become like Jesus.
  • He promises that in Christ, He will be our shepherd –we need fear no evil, for He will be with us
  • He promises that In Christ, He is our strength and our shield –men who will die can do nothing against Him
  • He promises that In Christ – He will work all things together to glorify Himself through us, to conform us to His image, and to bring us safely to His eternal Kingdom

As the Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 1:20, by faith, we know that all the promises of God are yes in Christ Jesus. So we can pray for these and other promises to be fulfilled in our children, by faith confident that God will fulfill them all if those children are in Christ.

God controls the future. His promises reveal how He will act in the future. Nothing can divert Him from fulfilling those promises. So we can speak to others of these promises with confidence.

Let’s now see how these ideas inform our understanding of Abraham’s offering of Isaac as a sacrifice.

Radical Obedience that Comes from Faith

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered (or “reckoned” or “reasoned”) that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. (Hebrews 11:17-19)

Abraham not only received the promises (verse 17), he “embraced” them (NIV). He loved them. He reminded himself of them. They were most precious to Him.

Like Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph in verses 20-22, Abraham knows that God controls the future and that He has spoken of the future. Abraham trusts in the promise of the promiser.

Furthermore, God has proven Himself faithful to Abraham. God has already done the impossible, granting new life in a dead womb, just as He had promised. And God had told Abraham in Genesis 17:19, “I will establish my covenant with [Isaac] as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.” So when God says: “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Genesis 22:2), Abraham “considered,” “reckoned,” or “reasoned” thus: God brought Isaac into being when there was no human hope for a child; He can bring Isaac back to life when he is dead. We see this confidence in Genesis 22:5, when Abraham says to his servants, “I and the boy will … come again to you” (emphasis added).

You see? There is no way that the God who controls the future, the God who is faithful to His every promise, will let Isaac remain dead. He has promised Abraham as many descendants as the stars through Isaac; He has promised to bless all the families of the nations through Isaac. So Isaac must have descendants. Isaac must live.

God’s promise to Abraham was that certain. So Abraham displays this radical obedience

What about you and me? How do we display similar radical obedience by faith?

Five Exhortations

The first provides the foundation for the other four:

1) Know God’s promises

Know what God has promised. Know what He has not promised.

Many in the worldwide church think God has promised what He has not. When He then does not fulfill what He has not promised, many lose their faith in what He has promised.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph knew what God had truly promised; by faith, they acted on those promises. We must do the same: Know the promises from Scripture; memorize the promises; hold fast to the promises; act, trusting in those promises.

2) Trust God’s promises

We can know God’s promises and yet not trust them. We can say, “Yes, God works all things together for the good of those who love Him,” and the next minute get angry and upset because someone cuts us off in traffic.

So trust – that God is my shepherd; I shall not lack anything pertaining to life and godliness. I need fear no evil, for He is with me. Goodness and lovingkindness will pursue me all the days of my life. I will dwell in house of Lord forever. God will supply all my needs in accordance with His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

3) Help one another to trust God’s promises

This is one key purpose of the church, one key way we spur one another on to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25). Remind one another of the promises; encourage one another with the promises; tell one another of God’s faithfulness to His promises.

4) Like Abraham: Follow God even when it makes no earthly sense– because you can trust in His promises

That’s the radical obedience that comes from faith.

5) Follow God, trusting in His promises today

If we look ahead to next week and next year and future decades, trusting God can seem overwhelming. We can imagine all sorts of problems, dangers, and disappointments that might occur.

But God doesn’t give us the grace today to trust Him tomorrow. He gives us grace today to trust Him today. Indeed, we can’t trust Him for tomorrow today; we can only trust Him for today today.

So Jesus tells us – don’t worry. Ask God for what you need for that day. His mercies are new every morning. Seek first His Kingdom, and know that all you need for that Kingdom will be added to you. Don’t be anxious for tomorrow; trust God today for today’s troubles (see Matthew 6:24-34, Lamentations 3:22-24).

Conclusion

We left John and Rebecca Hasseltine with the decision: Do they allow Adoniram Judson to court their youngest daughter Ann?

They gave their consent. Adoniram and Ann were married about 18 months later, and almost immediately sailed for India, eventually ending up in Burma.

Ann never returned. She never saw her family again. Indeed, during the next 13 years, Ann and Adoniram suffered horrible hardships. They were blessed with children, but all of them died in infancy. Ann and Adoniram were separated almost as much as they were together, frequently not knowing if the other was still alive. Adoniram suffered a lengthy imprisonment in terrible conditions; he would have died had Ann not come and ministered to him in the prison.

Then, during one of their lengthy separations, Ann became ill and died. She had not seen her husband for 3 1/2 months. Four weeks passed before news of her death reached Adoniram.

Was God faithful to His promises?

Adoniram and Ann knew that He was.

Go back to Adoniram’s letter asking for permission to court her. He didn’t downplay the dangers and hardships – rather he enumerated them. He asked for John and Rebecca’s consent for the sake of Jesus, who sacrificed Himself, for the sake of immortal souls, who would come to faith in Jesus, for the glory of God, in the hope of their meeting Ann again in that promised Kingdom, after she had been used by God to bring others to faith.

God fulfilled those promises.

Ann Judson’s life was hard – exceptionally hard. And God glorified His Name through her. He remained her ever present help in trouble. He fulfilled His purposes in her. He brought her safely to His heavenly Kingdom.

God works the same way today – for all those in Christ Jesus.

So believe in Jesus. Believe in the God who promises. Believe – and, trusting, step out in radical obedience.

For He controls the future.

[This sermon was preached November 8, 2020. The audio of the sermon and video of the entire service are available at this link. The recorded service is available via Youtube at this link. For more on Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac, listen to these two sermons from 2004 on Genesis 22: first, second.]

 

 

 

Disagreements? In Church?

Disagreements? In Church? By Coty Pinckney

[This devotion is based on a talk given October 14 at the Treasuring Christ Together 2020 retreat. An earlier version of the paraphrase of Romans 14 is in this blog post. These two sermons from 2018 (first, second) provide more of the biblical foundation for the principles discussed here.]

Christians are one in Christ. God makes us one.

But although we are one, we differ. We disagree on trivial matters – should the Dodgers or the Rays win the World Series? But we also disagree about deeply held convictions: On political matters – should Christians vote Republican, Democrat, or neither? On education – should Christians send their children to public school, private school, or home school? On Christian behavior – how should we dress? What should we consume? On LGBT issues – how should we interact with family members who come out?

Furthermore, we not only disagree about such issues. We even disagree on whether such disagreements are important!

What does Scripture tell us about such disagreements?

The most helpful passage is Romans 14:1-15:7. Let’s draw five principles for how we handle disagreements from this great text. (more…)

The Greatness and Weakness of Old Testament Worship

We need food. We need shelter. We need love. We need respect.

But what is our greatest need?

Scripture is clear: Our greatest need is to see Jesus for Who He is, and to respond accordingly. Only in this way can we fulfill the purpose of our creation. Only in this way can we draw near the One in whose presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). If we are His people, and He is our God, we can lose everything else – and yet still gain (Mark 8:34-37, 10:29-30).

So the book of Hebrews exalts the Lord Jesus and commands to consider Him, to keep our eyes fixed on Him. In particular, the author shows that Jesus is superior to any Old Testament priest and that the New Covenant in Him is superior to the Old Covenant.

Seeing these contrasts, we today are tempted to denigrate Old Testament worship – either to ignore the long sections of Scripture that describe it, or to go further and think of such worship as false and misleading.

But the New Testament never treats Old Testament worship that way, neither in Hebrews nor anywhere else.

Remember: All Old Testament worship forms were commanded by God! They are all part of God’s torah, His instruction about Who He is, who we are, how we can be reconciled to Him, and how we can fulfill the purpose of our creation in a fallen world.

Thus, there is a greatness to Old Testament worship.

At the same time, as Hebrews make abundantly clear, there is a weakness in that worship.

So let’s ask: How was Old Testament worship great? And how was it weak?

Hebrews 8:5 tells us of its greatness: The Old Testament priests “serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things.”

Think of the glory! These priests were serving a copy of heavenly things!

So their worship forms were not something that they thought up, that they decided would be appropriate ways to worship God.

Neither was their worship patterned after forms that peoples around them were using.

No! God showed Moses the true, heavenly reality! And then God helped Moses to see how to best reflect that heavenly reality on earth, through the tabernacle, through the sacrifices, through the annual feasts and other forms.

Thus, all these forms of worship pointed as effectively as possible to the heavenly reality on which they were patterned. And today, you and I have the privilege of being able to read God’s instructions to Moses, and thereby to learn about the heavenly realities – indeed, to learn about Jesus through them. As He Himself says, “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me” (John 5:46; see also Luke 24:44).

So Old Testament worship is great because the Israelite priests serve a copy of heavenly things! It is precious! It was a wonderful gift of God to the people of Israel – and the description of it is a wonderful gift to us today.

But if that’s the case, how is it weak?

Old Testament worship is weak because those priests served a copy of heavenly things. Only a copy.

No one was ever redeemed by their sacrifices – that redemption had to take place in the true tent (Hebrews 8:2).

Furthermore, many Old Testament worshipers – even many of the priests – were simply going thru the motions. There was no inner delight in God, no broken and contrite heart before Him (Psalm 51:16-17).

So Jesus has obtained a much more excellent ministry (Hebrews 8:6). He ministers in the heavenly reality! Not in a shadowy copy. And He mediates a better covenant, with better promises – the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:8-12, Jeremiah 31:31-34). The very phrase “New Covenant” – written 600 years before Christ – implies that the first covenant one day will be obsolete (Hebrews 8:13). Now that Jesus has come, has died, and has risen to the right of hand of God, that time has come. Jeremiah’s prophecy is fulfilled. As great as Old Testament worship was, as wonderful as it was for the priests to picture heavenly realities, now that the perfect has come, the partial can pass away.

So the author of Hebrews emphasizes once again: Look to your great High Priest! Keep your eyes fixed on Him!

That is our greatest need today. It will remain our greatest need forever.

So exalt Jesus in your heart – and read about God-ordained, Old Testament worship forms so that you might exalt Jesus all the more.

Then praise God for the Old Covenant – and praise Him all the more for fulfilling that covenant in the New.

[This devotion is taken from part of the July 5, 2020 sermon. You can watch that service here; the sermon begins at 37:35; this section of the sermon begins at 1:03:35.]

A Prayer for Our Country for Her 244th Birthday

Father God,

We thank You for the United States of America.

  • What a privilege You grant us, O Father, to live in the first country that stated in its core documents that “All men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.”
  • What a great blessing to have wise founders who agreed with Your revelation of the fallenness of man, and therefore set up a system of checks and balances within the Constitution to diminish the opportunity for power to corrupt.
  • What a further blessing that our first president voluntarily stepped down from office, and therefore set an example for peaceful succession that we have followed for over 200 years.
  • Thank You for the previously unheard of economic freedom we have had in this country, and the consequent abundance of material goods that we are blessed with.
  • Thank you for those who have given their lives that this experiment in government of the people, by the people, and for the people might not perish from the earth.
  • Thank You for the freedom we have to worship as You instruct, without interference from the state, and for the freedom to speak against our leaders and their policies without fear of imprisonment or worse.
  • Thank You for the blessings of past revivals and awakenings that have led to the salvation of millions and the transformation of entire communities.
  • Thank You for the strategic role You have allowed the American church to play in reaching so many people groups with the Gospel of Your grace.

Whether we ourselves arrived recently or our ancestors have been in the US since its founding, we are blessed to live in this great country – and we acknowledge and thank You that this, along with every good gift, comes from You, and is undeserved by us.

We also confess, Father, the sins of our country, how so often we have failed to live up to our founding ideals.

  • Chanting security and freedom, we have tolerated or even advocated the oppression of different ethnic groups, including Native Americans, African Americans, and Japanese Americans.
  • In the name of “freedom” of choice we have tolerated or even advocated the killing of tens of millions of babies before they took a single breath.
  • In the name of “freedom” we have excused a lack of concern for the poor and downtrodden.
  • Crying out “freedom of religion” we have spawned distortions of Your Word and have bowed down to idols – including those of security, power, and wealth.
  • We have even replaced You with the USA, worshiping our country instead of You, while acting as if Your honor and glory are yoked together with the success of the United States.

We acknowledge, Father, that You have no more need of this country than you had of the Roman Empire. We continue to exist as a country because of Your mercy, and You could justly sweep us away in a moment, with no harm to Your plans for the coming Kingdom.

We confess in addition, gracious Father, that we as individuals have been infected with the virus of the false conception of freedom promulgated so widely in our country – as if freedom only means freedom of choice. You tell us in Romans 6 that true freedom is found in Christ, as we are free from sin and so slaves to righteousness. Cure us of this virus, we pray! May we be free to become what our Creator intends us to be, thereby becoming like Christ! Vaccinate us against further infection, and so use us to help others to find the only true freedom and the only lasting joy: Slavery to You.

By Your command, we seek the welfare of this country where you have sent us, even as we know that our true country is Your Kingdom. Enable us to be good citizens that bless our neighbors, shining the light of Your Gospel in all of our interactions. Make us truly instruments of Your peace and witnesses to Your grace, and so use us to bring many to Christ and to heal our land of its remaining ethnic and racial hatred, thereby forming a more perfect union. Grant us, Your church, wisdom, love, unity, and boldness to be the salt and light you intend.

O Loving Father, we so long to see Your Name magnified in all the cities, towns, and rural areas of this great land. Open eyes, by Your grace. Stir up Your church, by Your Spirit. Conform us to Christ, by Your power. Bless us so that we might be a blessing – and so bless this our country on its 244th birthday.

For the glory of Jesus our Savior we pray, Amen.

What is Biblical Discipleship?

Consider the last few verses of Matthew’s Gospel – what we frequently call “the Great Commission.” The risen Jesus says:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20).

The primary command in these verses is to “make disciples of all nations” or (perhaps better) to “disciple all nations.” Whatever Jesus means by this command, it includes preaching the Gospel so that unbelievers of all nations come to faith and are baptized, and it includes instruction in biblical life and doctrine.

Question: Where do we see such discipling taking place in the New Testament?

Everywhere! Consider a couple of specific instances:

  • There is a good reason why Jesus’ followers are called disciples! He teaches them how to understand their Scriptures; He brings them to the end of their own resources so they must acknowledge their need for a Savior; He shows them by example how to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and how to love their neighbor.
  • Paul’s relationship with Timothy is similar. Consider these words the Apostle wrote to Timothy near the end of his life:

You, however, know all about my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra [this is Timothy’s home town]–which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.  Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:10-17).

Paul (as well as Timothy’s mother and grandmother) have taught him the Scriptures, and he has thus been reproved, corrected, and trained by them. Furthermore, he has seen the Scriptures lived out in Paul’s life through patient endurance, through persistent faith in the face of suffering – even when he was left for dead after being stoned, perhaps right before young Timothy’s eyes (Acts 14:19). As a result of this process, Timothy himself now is thoroughly prepared – that is, he is discipled, equipped for every good work. Paul, therefore, goes on to  solemnly charge his son in the faith to preach that same Word, “with great patience teaching all doctrine, … endure suffering, do the work of a preacher of the Gospel, fulfill your ministry” (paraphrase of 2 Timothy 4:2b and 5b).

And the New Testament examples do not end with these two! Indeed, every epistle is an example of this discipling process, as Peter, Paul, James, John, Jude, and the author of Hebrews flesh out what the Old Testament Scriptures and Jesus Himself imply about God and man, about sin and forgiveness, about marriage and family, about work and possessions. Every New Testament author is engaged in the discipling process as he writes.

But look back again at Matthew 28:18-20. Does Jesus instruct His followers to “teach them all that I have commanded you”? No. He tells His followers to “teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Jesus is concerned not only with passing on a body of teaching, but also with joyous, heartfelt obedience to that teaching. And He means here not only, “Tell them that they must obey” but “Show them how to obey; display for them what obedience looks like.”  This is what Jesus had done for them; this is what Paul does for Timothy; this is what Paul exhorts Timothy to do for others.

So: We have seen that fulfilling Matthew 28:18-20 requires at least four strategies:

  • A strategy for reaching all nations, all people groups;
  • A strategy for teaching the “what”: Biblical doctrine, biblical truth;
  • A strategy for showing the “how”: Examples of biblical life well-lived.
  • A strategy for sharing ministry and life, so that the person being discipled receives feedback and is thoroughly equipped for his or her role in discipling others and in reaching all nations.

This broad, biblical view helps to clarify several common misconceptions about discipleship, such as:

  • “Discipleship takes place when two people read a book together and discuss it.”
  • “Discipleship means meeting regularly with someone who will help me with my problems.”
  • “Discipleship means committing to meet together indefinitely with a group of people who will help each other battle sin.”

Biblical discipleship may – but need not – include meeting together with a mentor. It will necessarily include instruction in doctrine and Christian living, but that can take multiple forms. It will certainly include dealing with sin in our lives.

But there is a key, underlying error that is common to all three of these misconceptions: Discipleship is not primarily about YOU! Jesus commands us to disciple all nations not in order for each of us to improve. Jesus commands us to disciple all nations so that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). He commands us to make disciples so that those from your people group together with those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation will sing, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:10).

What then does it mean to be discipled? Consider this definition:

Learning what the Scriptures teach and command;
learning and seeing how to live out those truths;
and getting feedback as you live out (and fail to live out) those truths
in your family, in the church community, and among unbelievers,
so that together we might build up the Church through increased faithfulness and
powerful witness, reaching all peoples to His glory.

With this understanding we are faced with four key questions:

  • How do we structure our local church so that biblical discipleship occurs?
  • How do we help each member of our local church to grow as a disciple?
  • How do we help all members to spread the Gospel and to assist others in growing as disciples?
  • How do we ensure that the teaching ministries of the church accomplish the goals of biblical discipleship?

Different churches will answer these questions differently – there are several possible structures within which biblical discipleship can take place. But we must begin by aiming at the right goal if we are to have any chance of achieving it.

What does that mean for us at DGCC?

We praise God that this already is happening among us. And we encourage you to see to it that it happens all the more. Ponder how we can both step out individually and organize ourselves corporately in order to live out biblical discipleship more fully. We welcome your ideas and initiatives. But clearly living this out includes:

  • Making wise use of the time we already spend together – face to face and virtually.
  • Asking each other good, Gospel-centered questions.
  • Looking for opportunities to do ministry together.
  • Encouraging one another and praying for one another as we reach out to those who don’t know Jesus in our circles of relationships.
  • Praying for the nations, witnessing to the nations God has brought to Charlotte, sending some of us out to the nations, and supporting those we send.
  • Seeing that the preaching ministry, Sunday School, Core Seminar, small groups youth ministry, family devotions, and individual Bible reading all work together so that “with great patience [we] teach all doctrine” – including the centrality of joy in Christ, giving and money, marriage, parenting, fighting sin and temptation, preaching the Gospel to yourself, the devotional life, reaching the nations – and we can therefore say with Paul to one another, “You know all about my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness” (2 Timothy 3:10).

Will you pray that this church might fulfill this biblical calling? Will you commit yourself to living out these mandates? Will you step out in faith – so that we might disciple one another, and disciple all nations?

Face to Face

To what extent is a virtual service a substitute for an in-person service?

Over the last several months, we’ve experienced several positive aspects of virtual services:

  • They have the potential to reach many more people than our in-person services. Our Resurrection Sunday service, for example, was viewed by several times as many as would have been present live.
  • Some have commented that it is helpful to be able to pause the video and discuss a point with others, or to rewind if they didn’t quite understand something.
  • Neighbors who have not been interested in attending have joined some of our folks in watching the service.
  • Some say they can see or hear the preacher more clearly in a streamed service.

On the other hand, we also have experienced problems with virtual services:

  • It is much easier to drift away when services are virtual.
  • It is much harder to know if you are not “there,” and impossible to know if you are not paying attention.
  • There is almost no interaction among the congregation in the service or afterwards. The interaction is solely between the speaker or singer and those listening.
  • Personally, I greatly missed the communication from congregation to preacher when recording in an almost-empty room. Yes, I missed the conversations that normally happen after the service. But a gathered congregation also communicates much to the preacher during the sermon: engagement, interest, excitement, joy – or drifting, boredom, distraction, and apathy.

Because of the benefits, we plan to continue streaming our services as we transition to having more and more of us meet in person on Sundays. Because of the problems, we will encourage folks to attend as soon as they consider it wise to do so.

But can we say more? Does Scripture give us any guidance on this issue?

Of course, the apostles and prophets had no conception of Zoom meetings – or even of telephones, for that matter. When they wanted to communicate, they either had to meet face to face or to write (and praise God for what they wrote!).

We can learn something about our own situation, however, by noting their preference for face to face meetings over communicating in writing.

The phrase “face to face” appears seventeen times in the English Standard Version (translating several different Hebrew and Greek phrases). We can draw four points from these verses:

First: Meeting face to face is a great privilege. “Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11). Clearly speaking with God face to face is a privilege – but note that speaking face to face is mentioned as an important part of human friendship also.

The second point is a corollary of the first: We should desire to meet face to face. Now, we rightly long to meet one another face to face, as the Apostle Paul longed to meet the believers in Thessalonica:

But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18).

For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? (1 Thessalonians 3:9-10)

But if we long to meet with our fellow believers, how much more do we long to see God face to face! As Paul looks forward to the eternal state, he writes with barely concealed excitement: “Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12 – see also 1 John 3:2 and Revelation 22:4).

Third: Communication is better face to face. Paul says as much in the passage quoted from 1 Thessalonians 3: There are ways he can bless them, ways that he can “supply what is lacking in [their] faith,” that are unavailable to him via letters. Similarly, the Apostle John writes, “Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete” (2 John 12). As mentioned above, this point is true even of preaching.

Fourth: We have a responsibility to encourage one another face to face. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us:

We must consider one another, how to stir one another up to love and good works, not neglecting meeting together, as is the custom of some, but encouraging, exhorting, and comforting one another – and all the more as you see the Day draw near” (own translation).

Now, the author is not only talking about meeting together in weekly worship services, for in Hebrews 3:13 he says we should encourage one another daily. And praise God that today we have the additional means of phone calls and Zoom meetings to encourage one another when we can’t be together physically.

Furthermore, it is perfectly possible to come together physically and not fulfill this passage. Too often the gathered church is an audience, interacting with those up front, but not interacting with one another either before, during, or after the service.

To this end, note the contrast the author draws: On the one hand, there are those who have developed a habit of not meeting together. On the other hand, there are those who do what? Not just meet together, but encourage, exhort, and comfort one another! They think about one another, how they can help one another to become what God intends.

The bottom line: Know the privilege of meeting together. Strongly desire to meet face to face, and therefore to communicate more effectively. Know your responsibility to consider one another, to encourage one another – and live out that responsibility in the best way you can daily. Meet with us Sundays face to face as soon as you can wisely do so.

And know that every in-person worship service, every gathering of believers face to face, is a foreshadowing of the new heavens and the new earth, when we will see Him face to face, when all the redeemed from every tribe and tongue and people and nation will fully love one another and greatly praise the Lamb and the One who sits on the throne.

Living Out the Greatest Commandments after George Floyd’s Killing: Eleven Principles 

When asked which commandment is the greatest, Jesus replied:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

How do we live out these two greatest commandments today, after the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent social upheaval?

Consider these eleven principles:

(more…)

George Floyd and the Misuse of God-Given Authority

The Apostle Paul tells us:

There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God…. If you do wrong, be afraid, for [the ruler] does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer (from Romans 13:1, 4).

The government, the state, thus has authority to work for the good of its citizens.

One aspect of that authority is the authorization to use violence against citizens of the state. But this authority is not to be used haphazardly – randomly harming some and supporting others. That’s terror. Nor is it to be used racially – systematically harming those of one ethnicity and supporting those of another. That’s genocide or its precursors. Nor is it to be used politically – harming one’s political antagonists and helping one’s political supporters. That’s tyranny.

Rather, God grants the state authority to use violence against wrongdoers as agents of God’s wrath. The state should give a foreshadowing of the justice to be implemented on the Last Day, when God sees to it that every sin is paid for – either by the blood of Christ or by the punishment of the perpetrator of the sin. So the state should only use violence when that is either necessary to halt a crime, or when that violence is just retribution for a crime already committed.

The authors of the Declaration of Independence argue that King George III had systematically misused such powers of the state, and thus the American colonies were justified in rebelling against him, and in setting up their own government.

But the government they set up was not another monarchy, substituting one king for another. Rather, “we the people … do ordain and establish this Constitution.” As Abraham Lincoln so marvelously described this political experiment four score and seven years later, it was “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” That is:

  • “Of the people:” The governing authorities are not foreigners nor aristocrats nor a dominant ethnicity, but come from the citizenry, from among the governed.
  • “By the people:” The rulers receive their authority neither from ancestry nor by the decision of a select group, but by the choice of the governed.
  • “For the people:” In line with Romans 13 and the Constitution’s preamble, the purpose of this government is to benefit its citizens as a whole – not to enrich its rulers or to extend the power of one faction or party over another.

When the state or agents of the state violate these principles – when they use law enforcement powers and violence to advance causes other than justice, other than the general welfare – they call into question the legitimacy of the government and thereby undermine their own authority. Most importantly, they misuse the authority God has granted, dishonoring Him, and making themselves liable to His perfect judgment.

The murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis policeman is a particularly egregious example of the misuse of power. Surely as time goes on we will learn what happened prior to this man being handcuffed, whether or not the officers were justified in so doing. But there is no possible justification for standing on a subdued, cuffed man’s neck for more than eight minutes until he dies from asphyxiation.

Why did this happen? What led a policeman – who should see himself as a servant of the public – to abrogate to himself the authority to take a life?

I would suggest it’s the same mindset that led to the misuse of the intelligence agencies in an attempt to take out political opponents in 2016/17; the same mindset that during this pandemic led a governor to open beaches in areas where his supporters predominate, but to close them in an area where his political rival is mayor; the same mindset that led a president to spread horrible rumors about a former congressman being a murderer.

This mindset is not, “I’m a servant of all these citizens.” It is rather: “I’m in charge. I’m here to advance my purposes, and the purposes of those like me. If someone annoys me, if someone gets in my way or in the way of our movement, he doesn’t deserve justice – he deserves to be taken out. I don’t bear the sword in vain.”

This mindset – often clothed in self-righteous justification of one’s actions – is antithetical to biblical teaching as well as to the founding principles of this country. May we, Christ’s church, call to account those who display this mindset – whether we agree or disagree with their political positions. And by God’s grace, may our governing authorities live out Romans 13 as well as the Constitution’s Preamble and the Gettysburg Address.

But it is not only policemen and politicians who are susceptible to the virus of this mindset. Many pastors are infected. Millions of church members have caught the disease. None of us is immune. And there is no vaccination available to prevent it.

So check your social media presence. Consider how you’ve interacted this week with those who are in some sense under you – those in your family, those in your workplace, those serving you in stores. Search your heart via God’s Word. Pray with David, “See if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:24).

Our Lord came “not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). May those who wield the sword see themselves as servants of the people – and may we exercise our authority as those who serve.

 

Representing Christ at the End of the Lockdown

How do you react to our meeting on Sunday morning once again?

Some are ecstatic. Some have concerns. Some will decide not to attend.

All those reactions are understandable. All can be the result of assessing the situation biblically.

All our lives, we make decisions based on our assessment of risks and the benefits associated with taking those risks. Let’s say Frank plans to drive to Atlanta to visit a friend. The latest forecast includes a severe thunderstorm warning and a tornado watch along the route. Frank may decide to postpone the trip. He’ll be more likely to do so if his tires need to be replaced, or if he really doesn’t see well in poor weather conditions. On the other hand, if Frank is not just visiting a friend but traveling to a grandchild’s wedding, the trip can’t be postponed until next week – he’ll be more likely to travel, since the cost of not traveling is missing this one-time family event.

The decision to attend a worship service this weekend is similar. If we are biblical we value meeting together highly. We all long to praise God with one voice. We all have greatly missed interacting in person with other believers.

And yet there is another option: continuing to worship “together” via the stream. While we all acknowledge that participating virtually is inferior to participating in person, we assess differently the added value of being together physically.

There are even greater differences among us on the assessment of risk. We know this virus is much more dangerous for those over 60 and for those with certain other medical conditions. Also, some who aren’t in a high-risk category themselves interact regularly with those who are, and must be especially careful about exposure to the virus.

So we will make different decisions about attendance this weekend – and that is fine.

Remember the exhortation of the Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus:

Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1b-3).

So may we show who Jesus is by the way we are humble, gentle, patient, and forbearing with one another, as we display our essential unity in Christ.

Furthermore, in these trying political times, when there are sharp differences of opinion about the danger of the virus and the usefulness of the shutdown, may we also live out Paul’s exhortation to the church in Philippi:

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves (Philippians 2:3).

There are appropriate times and places to discuss disagreements about the virus and the public policy response. May we limit such discussions to those times and place – and, in those discussions, may we be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, in humility honoring those who disagree with us as either fellow sinners saved by grace, or lost folks who need to hear of and see Jesus.

We are called to be salt and light to the world around us. As Jesus is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). Let us live that out this Sunday and throughout the time of the virus, among brothers and sisters in Christ and before the world, so that we do all to the glory of God.