Soli Deo Gloria

by Dr. Russell Moore reprinted here by permission

A Mormon television star stands in front of the Lincoln Memorial and calls American Christians to revival. He assembles some evangelical celebrities to give testimonies, and then preaches a God and country revivalism that leaves the evangelicals cheering that they’ve heard the gospel, right there in the nation’s capital.

The news media pronounces him the new leader of America’s Christian conservative movement, and a flock of America’s Christian conservatives have no problem with that.

If you’d told me that ten years ago, I would have assumed it was from the pages of an evangelical apocalyptic novel about the end-times. But it’s not. It’s from this week’s headlines. And it is a scandal.

Fox News commentator Glenn Beck, of course, is that Mormon at the center of all this. Beck isn’t the problem. He’s an entrepreneur, he’s brilliant, and, hats off to him, he knows his market. Latter-day Saints have every right to speak, with full religious liberty, in the public square. I’m quite willing to work with Mormons on various issues, as citizens working for the common good. What concerns me here is not what this says about Beck or the “Tea Party” or any other entertainment or political figure. What concerns me is about what this says about the Christian churches in the United States.

It’s taken us a long time to get here, in this plummet from Francis Schaeffer to Glenn Beck. In order to be this gullible, American Christians have had to endure years of vacuous talk about undefined “revival” and “turning America back to God” that was less about anything uniquely Christian than about, at best, a generically theistic civil religion and, at worst, some partisan political movement.

Rather than cultivating a Christian vision of justice and the common good (which would have, by necessity, been nuanced enough to put us sometimes at odds with our political allies), we’ve relied on populist God-and-country sloganeering and outrage-generating talking heads. We’ve tolerated heresy and buffoonery in our leadership as long as with it there is sufficient political “conservatism” and a sufficient commercial venue to sell our books and products.

Too often, and for too long, American “Christianity” has been a political agenda in search of a gospel useful enough to accommodate it. There is a liberation theology of the Left, and there is also a liberation theology of the Right, and both are at heart mammon worship. The liberation theology of the Left often wants a Barabbas, to fight off the oppressors as though our ultimate problem were the reign of Rome and not the reign of death. The liberation theology of the Right wants a golden calf, to represent religion and to remind us of all the economic security we had in Egypt. Both want a Caesar or a Pharaoh, not a Messiah.

Leaders will always be tempted to bypass the problem behind the problems: captivity to sin, bondage to the accusations of the demonic powers, the sentence of death. That’s why so many of our Christian superstars smile at crowds of thousands, reassuring them that they don’t like to talk about sin. That’s why other Christian celebrities are seen to be courageous for fighting their culture wars, while they carefully leave out the sins most likely to be endemic to the people paying the bills in their movements.

Where there is no gospel, something else will fill the void: therapy, consumerism, racial or class resentment, utopian politics, crazy conspiracy theories of the left, crazy conspiracy theories of the right; anything will do. The prophet Isaiah warned us of such conspiracies replacing the Word of God centuries ago (Is. 8:12–20). As long as the Serpent’s voice is heard, “You shall not surely die,” the powers are comfortable.

This is, of course, not new. Our Lord Jesus faced this test when Satan took him to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the earth, and their glory. Satan did not mind surrendering his authority to Jesus. He didn’t mind a universe without pornography or Islam or abortion or nuclear weaponry. Satan did not mind Judeo-Christian values. He wasn’t worried about “revival” or “getting back to God.” What he opposes was the gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected for the sins of the world.

We used to sing that old gospel song, “I will cling to an old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.”  The scandalous scene at the Lincoln Memorial indicates that many of us want to exchange it in too soon. To Jesus, Satan offered power and glory. To us, all he needs offer is celebrity and attention.

Mormonism and Mammonism are contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They offer another Lord Jesus than the One offered in the Scriptures and Christian tradition, and another way to approach him. An embrace of these tragic new vehicles for the old Gnostic heresy is unloving to our Mormon friends and secularist neighbors, and to the rest of the watching world. Any “revival” that is possible without the Lord Jesus Christ is a “revival” of a different kind of spirit than the Spirit of Christ (1 Jn. 4:1-3).

The answer to this scandal isn’t a retreat, as some would have it, to an allegedly apolitical isolation. Such attempts lead us right back here, in spades, to a hyper-political wasteland. If the churches are not forming consciences, consciences will be formed by the status quo, including whatever demagogues can yell the loudest or cry the hardest. The answer isn’t a narrowing sectarianism, retreating further and further into our enclaves. The answer includes local churches that preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and disciple their congregations to know the difference between the kingdom of God and the latest political whim.

It’s sad to see so many Christians confusing Mormon politics or American nationalism with the gospel of Jesus Christ. But, don’t get me wrong, I’m not pessimistic. Jesus will build his church, and he will build it on the gospel. He doesn’t need American Christianity to do it. Vibrant, loving, orthodox Christianity will flourish, perhaps among the poor of Haiti or the persecuted of Sudan or the outlawed of China, but it will flourish.

And there will be a new generation, in America and elsewhere, who will be ready for a gospel that is more than just Fox News at prayer.

by Dr. Russell Moore reprinted here by permission

“The true test of discipleship is our witness to the world and not just the promises we make to God. Does our own discipleship pass this test? People make many promises when they are alone with God -– promises about living a better life, spending more time in prayer, or giving more money to charity. But the real test of our discipleship is what we say and do when we are under pressure to take a stand for Christ. What do we say then?

Unless we speak up for what we believe, then we ourselves become the deniers of Christ. I deny Christ when I talk with my friends about being involved in church, but not about what it means to know Jesus. I deny Christ when there is so little that is distinctive about the way I live people at work or school do not even know that I’m a Christian. I deny Christ when I am so afraid about what people think that I shrink back from telling people the biblical truth about controversial issues like abortion, or homosexuality, or the unique claims of Jesus Christ as the world’s only Savior. I deny Christ when I say something a Christian shouldn’t say or do something a Christian shouldn’t do because I want to have fun or to be popular. But if I cannot speak up and say something for Jesus, then what kind of disciple am I anyway?”

- Philip Graham Ryken (From his reformed expositional commentary on Mark)

“I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction”   (Isaiah 48:10).

This has long been the motto fixed before our eye upon the wall of our bedroom, and in many ways it has also been written on our heart. It is no mean thing to be chosen of God. God’s choice makes chosen men choice men. Better to be the elect of God than the elect of a whole nation. So eminent is this privilege, that whatever drawback may be joined to it we very joyfully accept it, even as the Jew ate the bitter herbs for the sake of the Paschal Lamb. We choose the furnace, since God chooses us in it. We are chosen as an afflicted people and not as a prosperous people, chosen not in the palace but in the furnace. In the furnace beauty is marred, fashion is destroyed, strength is melted, glory is consumed, and yet here eternal love reveals its secrets and declares its choice. So has it been in our case. In times of severest trial God has made to us our calling and election plain, and we have made it sure: then have we chosen the LORD to be our God, and He has shown that we are assuredly His chosen. Therefore, if today the furnace be heated seven times hotter, we will not dread it, for the glorious Son of God will walk with us amid the glowing coals.

- Charles Spurgeon

O LORD, I am a shell full of dust, but animated with an invisible rational soul and made anew by an unseen power of grace; yet I am no rare object of valuable price, but one that has nothing and is nothing, although chosen of thee from eternity, given to Christ, and born again; I am deeply convinced of the evil and misery of a sinful state, of the vanity of creatures, but also of the sufficiency of Christ.

When thou wouldst guide me I control myself, when thou wouldst be sovereign I rule myself. When thou wouldst take care of me I suffice myself. When I should depend on thy providings I supply myself, when I should submit to thy providence I follow my will, when I should study, love, honour, trust thee, I serve myself; I fault and correct thy laws to suit myself, instead of thee I look to man’s approbation, and am by nature an idolater.

Lord, it is my chief design to bring my heart back to thee. Convince me that I cannot be my own god, or make myself happy, nor my own Christ to restore my joy, nor my own Spirit to teach, guide, rule me. Help me to see that grace does this by providential affliction, for when my credit is god thou dost cast me lower, when riches are my idol thou dost wing them away, when pleasure is my all thou dost turn it into bitterness.

Take away my roving eye, curious ear, greedy appetite, lustful heart; show me that none of these things can heal a wounded conscience, or support a tottering frame, or uphold a departing spirit. Then take me to the cross and leave me there.

From The Valley of Vision – A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions

“The Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them. They were glad when they heard this, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.” Mark 14:10-11

The narrative of Mary’s devotion to Christ (Mark 14:3-9) serves as an amazing contrast between the two bookends of Judas’ betrayal. The religious leaders wanted desperately to find a way to get to Christ before the Passover in order to avoid the crowds. Like a black and white contrast to Mary, Judas now comes on the scene.

Could it be that Judas has now come to the realization that Christ is not the political messiah he has hoped for? Scripture doesn’t tell us and we’d only be speculating what was going through his mind. However, what Scripture does tell us is that the actions of Judas were planned before time began and prophesied all throughout Scripture. While never excusing the horrific sin of Judas, Scripture makes it clear that the actions of this son of perdition were a fulfillment of Holy Scripture. (John 17:12)

When I read these two verses of Scripture concerning Judas there is a word here that causes me to think of another early event of the life of Jesus. Recall the temptations of Christ in the wilderness by Satan. Three times Satan tempted Christ with no success. What is striking is how Luke records that event. Luke tells us that Satan left Christ after the temptation until an ‘opportune time’. (Luke 4:13) When we read the other gospel accounts we learn that Satan entered into Judas inciting him to begin his betrayal. There is no doubt too that we see the sin of Judas’ greed and worldliness being used by Satan. While this truth should definitely cause us to realize that Satan is a powerful adversary it should also cause us to marvel at the absolute wisdom and sovereignty of our great God who will use the most horrific event in all of time to become the greatest and magnificent saving event. God, allowing Satan and Judas to spark the arrest and death of Christ, is by His sovereign hand and unsearchable wisdom orchestrating the greatest good which was planned before time began. It’s when we have a right and solid understanding of who our great God is in light of all of Scripture that we can truly grasp and hold fast to the amazing truth Paul pens that we are to be anxious for nothing. (Philippians 4:6-8) Believers truly can be anxious for nothing as we set our minds of things above and on the cross of Jesus Christ knowing truly that all things work for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) May we be in awe of the great truth that “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

Judas is an interesting study. With the watering down of the gospel in most of the American church today there is little to no teaching on the reality of apostasy. Judas would actually be a great example of someone who can be around Christ, His teachings and His people and yet be an enemy of Christ the entire time. In fact, it’s striking that in Acts when the disciples seek to replace the office of Judas with another that they make it a point to say that Judas shared in the ministry. (Acts 1:17) We should allow this passage to cause us to test ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5) The life of Judas should also help us to understand the reality of real apostasy that the writer of Hebrews warns about. (Hebrews 6:4)

It is dangerously possible to grow up in the church and be baptized, sit under excellent teaching and preaching, partake of the sacraments and even be active in ministry and still be as lost as Judas. You see, participating in the motions of church does not save us. Sadly, there are many who may call themselves Christians in the same way Judas would have openly called himself a disciple of Christ but like Judas, are lost and outside of the saving faith needed to secure salvation. Like Judas, there are many who profess Christ only to have the benefits of Christ and not Christ Himself. This is a dangerous position!

This is where Mary makes an excellent contrast to Judas and why I believe Mark puts these two narratives back to back. Mary had true saving faith. We need to remember that while faith is a requirement for salvation, faith is not what actually saves us. Faith is a gift of grace from God that is the instrument that points us to that which saves us – the Person and work of Jesus Christ! Mary’s faith and love was in Christ Himself. Judas did not have this saving faith which is solemnly illustrated by his love for the world and how his life comes to an end.

What or who are you putting your trust in? Just to be called a Christian means absolutely nothing unless God is the One who has caused you to be born again and sealed you with His Name in Christ by His Holy Spirit. Follow the lead of Mary and come to the end of yourself putting your faith and trust in Christ alone.

Soli Deo Gloria

“We are not the ministers of Christ if we preach in such a way that unconverted men do not know they are unconverted. Unless preachers preach so as to make the consciences of their hearers feel in what spiritual condition they are truly in, then they may be ministers of Satan, but they are not ministers of Christ.” – William Fenner (1600-1640)

Why is it that the majority of the church today simply refuse to do this:

“Now I urge you, brethren, keep you eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” Romans 16:17-18