A Thirst for Knowledge

Sometime during my Naval Academy (college) years, I started hungering for answers about God and His Word.  I had classmates, from various denominations, who often shared aspects of their Christian faith.  And I wanted to know the truth...and why.

As a child I had attended a Baptist church, and I knew answers were in the Bible.  I spent a lot of my free time reading the Bible, but I still needed somebody to explain things to me.

So on Saturdays, I'd walk to the Christian bookstore in downtown Annapolis, and try to find "that book" that would give me answers.

And for the next 20 years or so, I read a steady diet of Christian books on: theology, denominations, prayer, parenting, marriage, time management, church growth, spiritual gifts, the good Christian life, church history,  apologetics, creation, spiritual warfare, the end times, healing, miracles...

Even with all that reading, I couldn't put it "all together" and was still unsettled in my soul, wanting answers.
 
And then, one day, it happened; I don't even know when.  I knew and know that the answer is Christ and the cross, faith and salvation.   

Now, almost every day, I think, "I really didn't understand and get this...until today." 

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God...1 Peter 3:18 

Our God became man, walked among us, and died for our sins, for my sins.  That truth has such depth that it's new to me and deeper to me every day.

We have a thirst for knowledge, and our society is used to getting instant answers to seemingly everything.  We're spoiled into thinking that our thirst can be quenched.

Now, whenever I hear people, including Christians, ask difficult and often unanswerable questions...I think, "I don't have to know the answer to this question in order to make my faith real, or better, or secure."

I'm taken back to Adam's sin, back to the First Commandment.  I want to be God, to have His knowledge.  But the fact is, "He is...and I is not." 

Our thirst for knowledge is good, and the Bible is abundant, not only in the amount of knowledge, but in the profound richness and insight it contains, about our hearts and about our God. 

But for some things, we're not given the answer.  And there's comfort in that.  For "He is God...and I is not."
 

Latin - It's a "Dead" Language

In the French language, everyday items are considered either masculine or feminine.  For instance, the French word for kitchen is "la cuisine."  The "la" signifies that kitchen is feminine.  The word for prince is "le prince" with the "le" indicating that prince is masculine.  

 
The Romance languages, or languages derived from Latin, all have this in common - that nouns are either masculine or feminine.  Likewise, the adjectives, the words that describe the nouns, also have a masculine and feminine form. 

I suppose the French and other Romance language speakers see this as correct, and also see some beauty and meaning to it.  But for an English speaker, this concept is "foreign."

I was recently reminded of this trait of Latin and Romance languages when I saw our upcoming sermon series on the Solas of the Reformation.

Sola Fide is Latin for Faith Alone, with "sola" being a feminine form of only/alone.  Solus Christus means Christ Alone; and "solus" is the masculine form of only/alone.

Confused?!!  And don't forget Soli Deo Gloria - Glory to God Alone.

I bring this up because I sometimes wonder if we're becoming a genderless society.

If we become a genderless society, what will happen to our English language, with our feminine and masculine pronouns?  And will the Romance languages ditch their gender nouns and adjectives?

In the book 1984, George Orwell's futuristic society would often declare that a certain word no longer existed.  Once the word was gone, the concept that the word stood for would also be lost and forgotten.

For instance, we learned in our homeschool Psychology class that if a culture doesn't have a word for "past" it's people are unable to comprehend history or past events.  A culture that only counts to 2, will look at any amount greater than 2, and call it "many."

Words matter, and words shape our thinking.  

So, back to Latin and faith...

Today Latin is no longer spoken and is considered a "dead" language, which means that it doesn't change, doesn't add new words, even as society and culture do change.  

No matter how English or French change, and possibly become genderless, Latin will always be the same.

And my point is...God is always the same; He never changes.  His Word is true.  

...it is impossible for God to lie...Hebrews 6:18

 And His promises are true.  

...the word of the LORD proves true...Psalm 18:30

No matter what our society does or in what direction it goes, the Lord always is...His very name says that.  I am, I was, and I will be...

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”  Exodus 3:14

He's a rock, a fortress...unmoving - always true to Himself.

For I the LORD do not change...Malachi 3:6

He always saves.

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 1 Timothy 1:15

And He always loves.  His love doesn't change.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.  Lamentations 3:22

That's our comfort, that's our hope.

Soli Deo Gloria. 

Baptism - It's in the News...

Ok - Baptism may not be in the news, but it's been on my mind and in my conversations the past week.  And the focus has been the same - What does baptism signify or do?

Late last week, with baptism fresh in my thoughts...I ran into a fellow homeschool mom, whom I hadn't seen in a few years.  She's a Reformed Baptist and shared that she was hoping her teenage son, now a high school graduate, would soon be baptized.  

She related how her son needs to decide to be baptized, needs to know if he really believes, needs to know if he's really a Christian.  

My response was, "You know Lutherans believe a little differently about baptism and salvation."  And there in Walmart's Vegetable Aisle, we had a 15-minute discussion about baptism and faith. 

Baptists believe that baptism is an ordinance or a "rule" to follow, a "rule" that lets a person publicly profess faith in Jesus.  Baptists also believe that only those people who have faith in Jesus and who have some understanding of salvation are to be baptized.

Lutherans believe that God is working in baptism; that baptism is a means (or a way) that God gives His grace and saving faith.  Baptism is not a rule or work to follow, but God's work and His gift to us.  

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

The question then becomes, "If faith is a gift, how does God give us that gift?  How do we know we have it?"

Baptism...now saves you...1 Peter 3:21

Baptism is a way that we "get" grace and saving faith.  (The other ways being His Word and The Lord's Supper.) 

Lutherans believe that we don't have to conjure up faith within ourselves, and we don't have to decide that we believe.  God does it all, and we can be sure of that when we think of baptism.

The Baptist's next response is always, "But how can babies believe?  Babies can't have faith."

My friend was sure I had nothing to say that would convince her otherwise.

My response:

What about John the Baptist?  Didn't he leap in his mother's womb?

And you were just talking about your grandchildren...I would bet that, no matter how young they are, your grandkids "prefer" your care and have faith in you...and not in me.  They know and trust you.

A baby or young child can have faith.  It may not be a mature faith, but babies are aware and can trust.  

I also added that sometimes God's ways don't make logical or reasonable sense to us, and that's also part of faith.  We still believe because that's what His Word says.

My friend looked at me, realizing that I'd given her "food for thought."

We agreed to exchange church literature regarding baptism, and I told her I'd pray for her son.

Then Sunday morning came...Baptism was still not in the news, but it was the topic of Pastor's Bible class.

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7

Navy Football - It's About Love?

Coach Ken at an earlier game

On Saturday, Navy football beat Air Force, 48-45, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 15 seconds left in the game.  As the game ended, the Brigade of Midshipmen (the student body) and the Navy fans burst into cheer.  Navy had blown a big lead and was just relieved to get the win.  


Afterwards in the locker room, Coach Ken Niumatalolo said this to the players:

The greatest motivation isn’t hate, it isn’t fear. It’s love. I love all of you...Regardless of what I say to you sometimes.

Who knew?  Football is about love!!

When asked about my time as a Marine Corps Officer, I always smile and say, "I love Marines."

Marines can be creatively exasperating.  I often gave them blunt guidance.  And I sometimes erred in my rebukes.  But, all in love.

I think that's what Coach Ken was referring to - sometimes the players need his harsh correction, and sometimes he's just too severe.

Nevertheless - Coach Ken loves his Navy players.

From experience, I know that within the military, there's a common identity, goal, and a way-of-life that brings people together and seals our relationships.

And in the midst of struggles, we pull for and support one another.  The military, by its very nature, produces a bond not easily broken.

And so is Christ's church.  Jesus' motivation wasn't hate or fear, but love.  Even though He seemed to be defeated, because of love, He won.

And in that love, the church is bonded together, bonded by His blood, by His death and resurrection.

From top to bottom, the church is full of sinners.  Our call is to love each other, regardless of how we might sometimes treat each other or what we might sometimes say.   

Jesus says to his disciples, to us...

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.  John 13:35

Because Jesus came in love, life is about love, even football.  Beat Army!

 

Stream of Consciousness and Praying

Right at this moment...what are you thinking about?  The day's work, an argument you had, finances, a doctor's appointment, your phone's battery?

Have you ever thought about "what you think about" throughout your day?


I recently finished reading The Sound and the Fury - a novel which I've attempted to read many, many times.  The Sound and the Fury is a "stream of consciousness" novel - a story that's told through someone's thoughts.  

The difficulty in reading a "stream of consciousness" novel is that the actual story line is "mixed-in" with all the other story-teller's "thoughts."  These "thoughts" might be past events, future events, dreams, conversations...just anything that's going on in the narrator's head.  

Reading these novels can be very confusing, as the story-teller's thoughts and focus are constantly shifting.

I've also been reading and studying Speaking the Truth in Love by David Powlison.  Powlison considers how, on a sleepless night, a person's thoughts are "all over the place."  He suggests that, at these times, a person should think on God's Word, and pray.

In considering Powlison's suggestion, I ask myself, "Is there a way that my daily 'stream of consciousness' can be spoken to God?"  In other words, I'd be addressing all my random and mixed thoughts to God.  

While I'm sure that's not totally possible, I know that I can do a better job of turning my thought life into prayers.

For instance...

- Instead of playing a relationship conflict over and over in my mind, I can tell the Lord what happened, pray to let go of the hurt, and pray for reconciliation.

- Instead of worrying through a problem, I can address the problem to the Lord and ask for His help.

- Instead of rehearsing an upcoming encounter, I can say to the Lord, "I think I should handle it this way..." and then explain to Him what I plan to say or do.  

I know that I'll have to continually "catch myself" when I start "stream of consciousness" thinking, and I'll have to make an effort to transform those thoughts into prayers.  

But I also know that praying to God is not as easy as it seems.  I can't just add a "Dear God" to my thought, because...as David says:

O LORD, you have searched me and known me...you discern my thoughts from afar..and are acquainted with all my ways. Psalm 139:1-3 

In standing before God's throne, I'm aware of my own sin.  I have to pray "without guile" because I can't deceive Him.  He knows me.  

And I'm forced to look at my own heart.  It requires effort and can be painful.  I don't like to admit my own guilt and shortcomings.  Who does?

But...Jesus.

He has taken that guilt away, and freed my heart to see clearly, to confess, and to love.

David ends that Psalm with:

Search me, O God, and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts!  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139:23-24 

And the way He leads may seem painful, but He means it to be free and light.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 

Amen.