COMMITMENT!

Until Oct 31, 1517, the medieval practice of the Catholic Church of granting indulgences—a scandalously commercialized transaction by which one could purchase remission from purgatory by viewing relics of saints (and donating money)—went largely unopposed.

Absolution from sin had become a commodity to be purchased. The Schlosskirche (Castle Church) in Wittenberg, in Germany, held one of Europe’s most significant collection of relics, and was center of veneration of these “antiquities”, that supposedly included among other objects of fantasy and imagination, straw from Jesus manger, and the body of one of the children massacred by King Herod.

Until Oct 31, 1517. On that day Martin Luther nailed his “95 Theses” (Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences) to the door of the Schlosskirche. Luther was outraged by the thought of sin being remitted by human works. This, he recognized, was an offense against the grace of God and the doctrine of justification by faith.

(There I am, standing before that famous door in Wittenberg; the original wooden doors, of course, are gone, to be replaced in the 19th century by bronze replicas bearing the Latin text of Luther’s theses.)

Against great opposition, this man of God stood firm. Pope Leo X issued a papal edict in 1520, condemning Luther and demanding a retraction. Luther burnt the edict in Wittenberg! Demands for Luther’s recantation continued. At great danger to his life, Luther refused. There would be no compromise. In 1521, in one of his most remarkable confrontations with church authorities at the Assembly of Worms (also in Germany), this stalwart said:

“Unless I can be instructed and convinced
with evidence from the Holy Scriptures
or with open, clear, and distinct grounds
and reasoning—and my conscience is
captive to the Word of God—
then I cannot and will not recant,
because it is neither safe nor wise
to act against conscience.
Here I stand. I can do no other.

God help me! Amen.

The Protestant Reformation had begun, to a great extent because of the commitment of one man to his God and to the veracity of God’s Word. An unbending, unyielding, undaunted stance.

Every believer in Christ is called upon to be committed likewise to God and His Word. To persevere. To stand firm. To hold fast.

Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding
in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your toil
is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58

Indeed! Not in vain at all! For there will be a reward for such faithfulness. May we not lose those deserts due to lack of commitment. Christ says:

“I am coming quickly;
hold fast what you have,
so that no one
will take your crown.”
Revelation 3:11

We are to hold fast what we have, committed to what we have learnt from the Word: how we should walk with God, abide in Christ, live by the Spirit.

So then, brethren,
stand firm and hold
to the traditions
which you were taught …
2 Thessalonians 2:15

God calls for a commitment. A line is drawn. Whom or what will we serve? As Joshua challenged the children of Israel:

Only be very careful
… to love the LORD your God
and walk in all His ways
and keep His commandments
and hold fast to Him
and serve Him with all your heart
and with all your soul.
.. choose for yourselves today
whom you will serve;
… but as for me and my house,
we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 22:5; 24:15

Will we be wholeheartedly, steadfastly, diligently committed to God?

GLORIFY!

A long-awaited expedition became reality last week. Drew, the organist at the church I attend in Aberdeen, and I set out on a pilgrimage to pay our respects to Herr Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750).

There’s yours faithfully and JSB having a chat in the Bach House at Eisenach, Germany. What a delight to revisit history and to breathe the same air as this musical genius and strong Christian. While there is no doubt that he was God’s unique musical gift to mankind, evidence of Bach’s spirituality and devotion to his Creator abounds. His settings of sacred texts speak (sing?) eloquently of the words they handle, focusing performer and listener upon the conceptual content of the piece, lyrics and music fitting one another with forceful passion and flawless perfection. He knew his God. Bach’s Bible comes down to us annotated with marginalia and comments. He knew his Scripture. Many of his manuscripts, both sacred and secular, contain the acronym “S.D.G”, Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone). He knew his life’s purpose.

Bach is reported to have observed that music exists “in order to make a well-sounding harmony to the glory of God and the permissible delectation of the spirit; and the aim and final reason … of all music … should be nothing else but the glory of God and the recreation of the mind. Where this is not observed, there will be no real music but only a devilish hubbub.”

Quite in line with the biblical mandate concerning not only music but every other human activity.

Whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

Of course, there can only be one Bach! But the Bible is clear that all believers have one or more spiritual gifts and that we are called to exercise them, in whatever capacity and in whichever arena, unto God for His glory.

As each one has received
a special gift, employ it
in serving one another
as good stewards
of the manifold grace of God.
Whoever speaks, is to do so
as one who is speaking
the utterances of God;
whoever serves is to do so
as one who is serving
by the strength
which God supplies;
so that in all things
God may be glorified
through Jesus Christ,
to whom belongs the glory
and dominion
forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10–11

To the end, Bach remained faithful to God in his music-making. On his deathbed, blind, and in a darkened room, he dictated to his son-in-law, Johann Christoph Altnikol, a choral prelude. Appropriately, it was on Vor deinen Thron tret ich hiermit.

Before Thy Throne I now appear,
O Lord! bow down Thy gracious ear,
Reject not from Thy loving face
A [poor sinner] who sues for Grace.
Bodo von Hodenberg, 1646

On July 10, 1750, this musician nonpareil suffered a stroke. Ten days later, “a little after a quarter to nine in the evening, in the sixty-sixth year of his life, he quietly and peacefully, by the merit of his Redeemer, departed this life,” as his obituary put it.

Whatever you do,
do your work heartily,
as for the Lord
rather than for men,
knowing that from the Lord
you will receive the reward
of the inheritance.
It is the Lord Christ
whom you serve.
Colossians 3:23–24

As children of God, as members of the body of Christ, let us remember whom we serve and why—to glorify God in everything.

Whatever you do
in word or deed,
do all in the name
of the Lord Jesus ….
Colossians 3:17

FORTRESS

A few weeks ago, while traveling in the western Highlands of Scotland with some friends, we literally ran into this fascinating structure!

Eilean Donan (Scottish Gaelic meaning Isle of Donan) is a small island (pop. 1!) in Loch Duich, connected by a footbridge to the mainland. This isle was named for St. Donan (Donnán of Eigg) martyred in that area in 617 A.D. On this parcel is the Eilean Donan Castle. The original edifice dates back from the early 13th century, for the most part a stronghold for various clans; the current restoration by the MacRae clan was undertaken in the early 1900s. For obvious reasons, Castle Eilean Donan has the distinction of being one of the most photographed castles in Scotland.

Enthralling monuments, these castles. And Scotland has a fair share of them—over 3,000, in various shapes, sizes, and states of preservation. Even the ruins look magnificent. Castle, from the Latin, castellum = fortress. These stone productions are both defensive (for protection from the enemy) and offensive (often located in hostile territory to control surrounding land). And, in many cases, castles evolved into residences for the lord or monarch who had them built.

I can’t help but think that the Christian’s “fortress” has all three of these characteristics: it is defensive; it is offensive; it is the home of the King! Indeed, the believer’s fortress is God Himself.

He who dwells in the shelter
of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow
of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD,
“My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”
Psalm 91:1–2

This fortress is defensive …

The LORD is my rock
and my fortress
and my deliverer,
My God, my rock,
in whom I take refuge.
My shield and
the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.
I call upon the LORD,
who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:2–3

This fortress is offensive.

In my distress
I called upon the LORD,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice
out of His temple,
And my cry for help
before Him came into His ears.
Then the earth
shook and quaked;
And the foundations
of the mountains
were trembling
And were shaken,
because He was angry.
He sent out His arrows,
and scattered them [enemies],
And lightning flashes
in abundance, and routed them.
Psalm 18:6–7, 13

What can our response be to this great “Castle”, the God who is our fortress?

Praise …

The LORD lives,
and blessed be my rock;
And exalted be the God
of my salvation,
Therefore I will give thanks
to You among the nations, O LORD,
And I will sing praises
to Your name.
Psalm 18: 46, 49

And trust …

For You are my rock
and my fortress;
For Your name's sake
You will lead me and guide me.
How great is Your goodness,
Which You have stored up
for those who fear You,
Which You have wrought
for those who take refuge in You,
Before the sons of men!
Be strong and
let your heart take courage,
All you who hope in the LORD.
Psalm 31:3, 19, 24

Our great God, a Personal fortress, who loves us and give us victory!

Who will separate us
from the love of Christ?
Will tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
But in all these things
we overwhelmingly conquer
through Him who loved us.
Romans 8:35, 37

Amen!

FINISHED!

Finished! Almost. There I am with the 260-page tome of my thesis (Text to Praxis: Hermeneutics and Homiletics in Dialogue). There I go, early last week, to the University Office to formally submit the thesis to the Registrar. Almost finished. Almost, because there remains an oral exam—a defense of my thesis—to be encountered in late May. Nevertheless, it feels good to have the workload off my back, at least for a while. A sense of accomplishment. Finished!

In the light of Passion Week and the accomplishments of another Person on the cross, my petty accomplishment fades into the abyss of insignificance. He was the one who cried, “It is finished!”, after suffering the physical and emotional agonies of mockery, scourging, and crucifixion. Yet His greatest torment was His “separation” from God the Father, who had forsaken God the Son, because Jesus Christ …

… who knew no sin
[was made] sin on our behalf,
so that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21

The spiritual suffering incomprehensible as holy God took on the sin of mankind. Jesus utter abandonment was echoed in His cry from the cross:

“My God, my God,
Why have You forsaken me?”
Mark 15:34

But in that great act of self-sacrifice Christ atoned for (covered the cost of) our sins, paying the full and final penalty thereof, opening access between holy God and those who place their trust in Christ’s finished work on the cross. Finished! Completed! Accomplished! Paid in full!

“It is finished!”
John 19:30

This exclamation was His last as He died on the cross. The verb not only conveys the sense of “finishing” it also carries the intent of “accomplishing”—fulfilling the obligations that were required of God the Son by God the Father in the power of God the Spirit. In His total obedience to the Father, Jesus Christ drank of the cup that was intended for us, in our place. In the Garden of Gethsemane as He anguished over what He knew was coming, He gave Himself totally to the will of the Father.

“Your will be done.”
Matthew 26:42

And it was. Fully. Finished!

Surely our griefs
He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves
esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through
for our transgressions,
He was crushed
for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being
fell upon Him,
And by His scourging
we are healed.
Isaiah 53:4–5

Finished! An action completed in the past that also points to the continuing state of affairs resulting from that past action. It was finished for all time. For all people. In all places. Now. For me and for you.

For God so loved the world,
that He gave
His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him
shall not perish,
but have eternal life.
John 3:16

The ramifications of the finished work of Christ reverberate across all time. For those have placed their trust in this work (and those who place and those who will place), to them eternal life is given. Death has been conquered. Sin has been banished. Satan has been defeated. And Christ’s resurrection proves the finality of His awesome work. Finished!

Love’s redeeming work is done!
Fought the fight, the battle won:
See, our Sun’s eclipse has passed;
See, the light returns at last. Hallelujah!

Lives again our glorious King;
Where, O death, in now your sting?
Once He died, our souls to save;
Where thy victory, O grave? Hallelujah!
Charles Wesley, 1739

UNGIFTED!

A couple of weeks ago, I was involved in a competition. Cooking!

“Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook” used to be a popular game-show here in the UK several years ago. Two unwitting scapegoats would be utilized to give the rest of the crowd some great entertainment, as those two victims attempted to cook something demonstrated to them by a chef.

Our church decided it was time for some fun. With all the dreariness of winter, the dullness of the clime, and the desperation of darkness, what better activity to engage in. Get two lunkheads to provide laughs for the congregation by duplicating “Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook.” I don’t know how I got into this (well, I do: arm-twisting by a certain person who will go unnamed; watch out, Leonie). All I can say is, that Saturday, the church certainly got some laughs at the expense of David and me. To our credit, folks consumed the stuff we concocted without collapsing on the spot. I can’t vouch for their long-term physical and psychological well-being after ingesting our indigestible indignities. (I did notice that there were a lot less people in church the next day.)

I hate being in involved in stuff I have no clue about. And clueless I was about cooking. My pièce de résistance is a PBJ sandwich and instant coffee. Culinary crafts are not my gift, I can tell you that.

In the body of Christ, the church, we tend to have that same attitude. If I ain’t gifted; I ain’t doin’ it. Evangelism—nope, not me. Acts of mercy—that’s not my cup of tea. Teaching—who, me? Service—my muscles are wasted, my bones weary, my mind weak. Leadership is not my forte. Giving—what do I have to give?

But the Bible teaches that we are all called to be active even in those areas in which we may not be particularly gifted.

Evangelism is everyone’s mandate …

Go therefore
and make disciples of all the nations ….
Matthew 28:19

Giving is required of all …

God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7

Faith we are all called upon to possess …

… for we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7

Mercy is our middle name …

Be kind to one another,
tender-hearted,
forgiving each other ….
Ephesians 4:32

Service we are commanded to engage in …

Bear one another's burdens,
and thereby fulfill
the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2

Leadership, at least some facets thereof, we all should exercise …

We urge you, brothers and sisters,
admonish the unruly,
encourage the fainthearted,
help the weak,
be patient with everyone.
1 Thessalonians 5:14

Teaching is a role we must all undertake, in some fashion, in some setting …

… by this time
you ought to be teachers.
Hebrews 5:12

So there is no excuse, is there? “Not my gift” is really a cop-out. While we may concentrate on those aspects of Christian life that the Holy Spirit enables us to be good at, we must remember the words of Paul …

I can do all things
through Him
who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

Of course, the greatest gift of all is love. That is the most essential aspect of our life in Christ.

A new commandment
I give to you,
that you love one another ….
John 13:34

A commandment Christ gave His followers a few days before His crucifixion. Appropriate for us this Holy Week. So let’s get to work. And remember …

Whatever you do,
do your work heartily,
as for the Lord
rather than for men.
Colossians 3:23