If you are struggling with sin (and, in all likelihood, you are!), I hope you too will find mercy and hope through this preaching of Psalms 40.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
What Salvation Looks Like
I listened to this sermon this morning, and ... well ... it reminded me why the Bible teaches that the preaching of the Word is a means by which God ministers to us His grace. I got a major dose of hope and grace this morning.
If you are struggling with sin (and, in all likelihood, you are!), I hope you too will find mercy and hope through this preaching of Psalms 40.
If you are struggling with sin (and, in all likelihood, you are!), I hope you too will find mercy and hope through this preaching of Psalms 40.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Insights in Parenting from Finding Nemo
I originally wrote this article for another blog and posted it sometime back. But I just watched Finding Nemo again with my boys, and once again, I teared up during several scenes that poignantly present the very issues I struggle with as a parent. So I decided to post this again today.
Yes, I am writing thoughts for grown adults of spiritual insights gleaned from Finding Nemo. Don’t laugh. But this is my stage of life. No more blockbuster hits for me. No critically acclaimed dramas. Instead, as the mother of 2 young boys who love Pixar films, I find myself watching Finding Nemo numerous times of late. However, despite the 2-10 year old intended audience, I find it oddly compelling. In fact, there are several scenes in it that speak to me—reflecting my own mental battles with God over my children. I can identify with Marlin, Nemo’s dad. He’s lost his wife and other children in a violent tragedy that leaves him obsessed with Nemo’s safety. He’s fearful, and rightfully so. But his obsession with Nemo’s safety drives Nemo to an immature act of rebellion. Marlin has provoked his child to wrath.
The rest of the story is Marlin’s heroic efforts to get Nemo back and the odd group of marine life that helps him along the way. The climactic moment, at least to me, is the scene in which Marlin and Dori, his sidekick, are stuck in the whale. It’s a poignant moment in which Marlin comes face to face with his fears and the ineffectiveness of his obsessive methods for protecting Nemo. The whale becomes a God-like figure.
And then it looks like the whale is about to digest them. It becomes obvious that Marlin has allowed his fears to keep him from trusting those who are best able to help him. He always expects the worst and keeps shooting himself in the foot accordingly …
Then Marlin lets go, the whale spurts them out his blowhole, and they find themselves in the Sydney harbor—the very place they wanted to be. Of course, this doesn’t come across nearly as poignant when reading a transcript. But every time I watch this scene, I see myself, desperate to hang on to control and utterly convinced that if I don’t fix my mess myself, I’m utterly lost. I always expect the worst of others. Then there comes this point where my attempts to fix things—to correct my own mistakes or protect others from the same—crumble in my hands and fall through my fingers. My best efforts fall miserably short of the goal of fixing my problems and protecting my loved ones.
Instead of a whale, it is the Sovereign God of the Universe who calls on me to trust Him. While Marlin’s savior in that moment only helps him through that particular phase of his journey, my Savior promises to never leave me and to thoroughly equip me for each test, trial, and temptation I face. But I must come to that moment in which I let go, even though I don’t know the outcome. I let go of my control and fall into the arms of God’s grace. I don’t know how it’s going to work out, but in my free fall, I know that God is in control, He has the power to convict men of sin, and any positive change in other’s hearts or my circumstances is ultimately because God chose to work.
Letting go when I don’t know the immediate outcome is a difficult but necessary act of faith in God—especially where my children are concerned. God understands this—just think how many of Scripture’s pivotal stories revolve around parents and their children. Dealing with fears that you’ll never have children (Abraham, Sarah, Hannah). Giving up your children in sacrifice to God (Abraham and Isaac, Hannah and Samuel). Children who break their parent’s heart through rebellion (David and Absalom, Jacob and his sons who turned on Joseph). Fine if God wants to use me for His purposes—but trusting Him with my children tests my faith in a new and intense way.
I am learning as a relatively new mom that I am powerless to control all the factors that affect my children. But I know the One who can and does, and He is the best of Fathers.
Yes, I am writing thoughts for grown adults of spiritual insights gleaned from Finding Nemo. Don’t laugh. But this is my stage of life. No more blockbuster hits for me. No critically acclaimed dramas. Instead, as the mother of 2 young boys who love Pixar films, I find myself watching Finding Nemo numerous times of late. However, despite the 2-10 year old intended audience, I find it oddly compelling. In fact, there are several scenes in it that speak to me—reflecting my own mental battles with God over my children. I can identify with Marlin, Nemo’s dad. He’s lost his wife and other children in a violent tragedy that leaves him obsessed with Nemo’s safety. He’s fearful, and rightfully so. But his obsession with Nemo’s safety drives Nemo to an immature act of rebellion. Marlin has provoked his child to wrath.
The rest of the story is Marlin’s heroic efforts to get Nemo back and the odd group of marine life that helps him along the way. The climactic moment, at least to me, is the scene in which Marlin and Dori, his sidekick, are stuck in the whale. It’s a poignant moment in which Marlin comes face to face with his fears and the ineffectiveness of his obsessive methods for protecting Nemo. The whale becomes a God-like figure.
MARLIN We're in a whale! Don't you get it!? … 'Cause you had to ask for help! And now we're stuck here!
DORY Wow. A whale. You know I speak whale.
MARLIN No, you're insane! You can't speak whale! I have to get out! I have to find my son! I have to tell him how old sea turtles are! [sobs]
DORY There, there. It's all right. It'll be okay.
MARLIN No. No, it won't.
DORY Sure it will, you'll see.
MARLIN No. I promised him I'd never let anything happen to him.
DORY Huh. That's a funny thing to promise.
MARLIN What?
DORY Well, you can't never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him. Not much fun for little Harpo.
And then it looks like the whale is about to digest them. It becomes obvious that Marlin has allowed his fears to keep him from trusting those who are best able to help him. He always expects the worst and keeps shooting himself in the foot accordingly …
MARLIN What's going on?
DORY I think he says we've stopped.
MARLIN Of course, we've stopped. Just stop trying to speak whale, you're gonna make things worse.[gasps] What is that noise? Oh no. Look what you did. The water's going down!
DORY Really? You sure about that?
MARLIN Look, it's already half-empty!
DORY Hmm..I'd say it's half full.
MARLIN Stop that! It's half-empty!
DORY Okay, that one was a little tougher… He either said we should go to the back of the throat or he wants a root beer float.
MARLIN Of course he wants us to go there! He's eating us! How do I taste, Moby!? Huh!? Do I taste good!? You tell him I'm not interested in being lunch!… What is going on!?
DORY He says it's time to let go! Everything's gonna be all right!
MARLIN How do you know!? How do you know something bad isn't gonna happen!?
DORY I don't!
Then Marlin lets go, the whale spurts them out his blowhole, and they find themselves in the Sydney harbor—the very place they wanted to be. Of course, this doesn’t come across nearly as poignant when reading a transcript. But every time I watch this scene, I see myself, desperate to hang on to control and utterly convinced that if I don’t fix my mess myself, I’m utterly lost. I always expect the worst of others. Then there comes this point where my attempts to fix things—to correct my own mistakes or protect others from the same—crumble in my hands and fall through my fingers. My best efforts fall miserably short of the goal of fixing my problems and protecting my loved ones.
Instead of a whale, it is the Sovereign God of the Universe who calls on me to trust Him. While Marlin’s savior in that moment only helps him through that particular phase of his journey, my Savior promises to never leave me and to thoroughly equip me for each test, trial, and temptation I face. But I must come to that moment in which I let go, even though I don’t know the outcome. I let go of my control and fall into the arms of God’s grace. I don’t know how it’s going to work out, but in my free fall, I know that God is in control, He has the power to convict men of sin, and any positive change in other’s hearts or my circumstances is ultimately because God chose to work.
Letting go when I don’t know the immediate outcome is a difficult but necessary act of faith in God—especially where my children are concerned. God understands this—just think how many of Scripture’s pivotal stories revolve around parents and their children. Dealing with fears that you’ll never have children (Abraham, Sarah, Hannah). Giving up your children in sacrifice to God (Abraham and Isaac, Hannah and Samuel). Children who break their parent’s heart through rebellion (David and Absalom, Jacob and his sons who turned on Joseph). Fine if God wants to use me for His purposes—but trusting Him with my children tests my faith in a new and intense way.
I am learning as a relatively new mom that I am powerless to control all the factors that affect my children. But I know the One who can and does, and He is the best of Fathers.
Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Grace in conflict--bearing with one another in love
I was asked to speak at a small women's study on grace in conflict. It forced me to organize my thoughts from the last few blog entries, and this post hopefully is a more coherent presentation of the concept.
I'm going to deal with 2 questions--first, what is grace, and second, how do we demonstrate grace in conflict?
1) What is grace?
*From Dictionary of Theological Terms by Alan Cairns
Grace is "a mode of the goodness of God, often described as undeserved favor. It is more than that. It is underserved favor bestowed upon those who are positively deserving of the wrath of God…."
*The Greek word translated grace is charis, which in short means loving-kindness, favor, or gift. However, those three words don’t really plumb the depths of how Scripture uses the term.
*Hebrew, Greek, and English dictionaries each give really long definitions of grace from multiple angles. But the common thread in each use of the term is that it is NOT about giving what is due.
*Verses using charis
(If you work for it and get what you are due, it is not charis)
(If you give good back to others who are good to you or extend charity to those who can repay it, it is not charis)
Summary: When you give back what is earned or deserved, it is not charis—it is not grace. It is not favor or benefit and it is not credited toward you as anything other than exactly what you are expected to do. Instead, grace does what is unexpected, undeserved, and out of line with reasonable responses. Grace is an unreasonable response—unreasonably good, but unreasonable nonetheless. And (Luke 6:35) when we give grace, this undeserving favor that does good to enemies and lends expecting nothing in return, then we give evidence to our relationship with our Father in heaven, because THIS is his calling card. He is good to those who don’t deserve it. He is full of grace.
2) What grace is NOT.
It’s not being diplomatic, generally friendly, or polite. Don’t mistake personal politeness or good manners for this altogether different thing named grace to which God has called us.
Grace and humility are intertwined theological concepts. When we get grace, the only choice is humility. Grace is an unreasonably lavish response to those undeserving of it. And it is based on our own understanding of God’s great, undeserved favor toward us.
A friend wrote me this in an email, "Grace is free in that it is not earned (indeed it is the very opposite of what is deserved), but it is costly as it is given with sacrifice because of love. That is the scandal of what God did for me by the cross and it is His calling for me to do to others to bring glory to His name." Then she cited the example of Jesus washing Judas' feet as the one that drew a good friend of hers to see his need for Jesus. It was Jesus example of undeserving self-sacrifice to the one who would ultimately betray him that really spoke the gospel to this man.
3) How do you demonstrate grace in conflict?
First of all, I submit that it’s impossible to demonstrate grace in any other situation. Grace assumes sin. Otherwise, you’re just being nice.
From this passage, I get 4 thoughts on grace in conflict.
a. Grace understands the truth of someone’s condition—they are ensnared by Satan and DECEIVED. They really don’t see things the way you do.
b. Grace is in it for the long haul—it patiently endures evil.
c. Grace corrects (so the truth is not subverted or glossed over) but it corrects gently (with strength well under God’s control). This reminds me of I Peter 4:8, “love covers a multitude of sins.” The Bible repeats this principle in the Old and New Testament. But what does it mean to cover sins in love? It almost sounds like we are ignoring sin and not dealing with it altogether. Here is the phrase that I use to help me distinguish between the two.
d. Grace’s goal is not self-acquittal or vindication or that people would come to see things your way. Grace’s goal is repentance with God that leads to knowledge of the truth.
Concluding thoughts:
There is grace, and then there is everything else. And everything else leads to death. If you don't get grace, you don't get the gospel. If you don't exhibit grace to others, it's evidence you don't understand it for yourself. If grace doesn't dominate your relationship to God and your obligation to others, your religion will suck the life out of you and others around you.
Grace is meaningless without truth. But truth will kill you without grace. The worst thing we can do in conflict is engage in it when we don't understand grace for ourselves. But once we really understand God's undeserved favor to ourselves, then we can minister grace to others who have sinned against us in whatever way we can with the prayer that God would draw them to repentance and the knowledge of the truth.
A good book to read on this subject is All of Grace by C. H. Spurgeon; also coming soon Prodigal God by Tim Keller.
I'm going to deal with 2 questions--first, what is grace, and second, how do we demonstrate grace in conflict?
1) What is grace?
*From Dictionary of Theological Terms by Alan Cairns
Grace is "a mode of the goodness of God, often described as undeserved favor. It is more than that. It is underserved favor bestowed upon those who are positively deserving of the wrath of God…."
*The Greek word translated grace is charis, which in short means loving-kindness, favor, or gift. However, those three words don’t really plumb the depths of how Scripture uses the term.
*Hebrew, Greek, and English dictionaries each give really long definitions of grace from multiple angles. But the common thread in each use of the term is that it is NOT about giving what is due.
*Verses using charis
Romans 4:4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.
(If you work for it and get what you are due, it is not charis)
Luke 6 32"If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
(If you give good back to others who are good to you or extend charity to those who can repay it, it is not charis)
Summary: When you give back what is earned or deserved, it is not charis—it is not grace. It is not favor or benefit and it is not credited toward you as anything other than exactly what you are expected to do. Instead, grace does what is unexpected, undeserved, and out of line with reasonable responses. Grace is an unreasonable response—unreasonably good, but unreasonable nonetheless. And (Luke 6:35) when we give grace, this undeserving favor that does good to enemies and lends expecting nothing in return, then we give evidence to our relationship with our Father in heaven, because THIS is his calling card. He is good to those who don’t deserve it. He is full of grace.
2) What grace is NOT.
It’s not being diplomatic, generally friendly, or polite. Don’t mistake personal politeness or good manners for this altogether different thing named grace to which God has called us.
Grace and humility are intertwined theological concepts. When we get grace, the only choice is humility. Grace is an unreasonably lavish response to those undeserving of it. And it is based on our own understanding of God’s great, undeserved favor toward us.
A friend wrote me this in an email, "Grace is free in that it is not earned (indeed it is the very opposite of what is deserved), but it is costly as it is given with sacrifice because of love. That is the scandal of what God did for me by the cross and it is His calling for me to do to others to bring glory to His name." Then she cited the example of Jesus washing Judas' feet as the one that drew a good friend of hers to see his need for Jesus. It was Jesus example of undeserving self-sacrifice to the one who would ultimately betray him that really spoke the gospel to this man.
3) How do you demonstrate grace in conflict?
First of all, I submit that it’s impossible to demonstrate grace in any other situation. Grace assumes sin. Otherwise, you’re just being nice.
2 Timothy 2:24-26 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
From this passage, I get 4 thoughts on grace in conflict.
a. Grace understands the truth of someone’s condition—they are ensnared by Satan and DECEIVED. They really don’t see things the way you do.
b. Grace is in it for the long haul—it patiently endures evil.
c. Grace corrects (so the truth is not subverted or glossed over) but it corrects gently (with strength well under God’s control). This reminds me of I Peter 4:8, “love covers a multitude of sins.” The Bible repeats this principle in the Old and New Testament. But what does it mean to cover sins in love? It almost sounds like we are ignoring sin and not dealing with it altogether. Here is the phrase that I use to help me distinguish between the two.
"Love doesn’t sweep sin under the carpet, but it keeps others out of the room until it can be cleaned up."
d. Grace’s goal is not self-acquittal or vindication or that people would come to see things your way. Grace’s goal is repentance with God that leads to knowledge of the truth.
Concluding thoughts:
There is grace, and then there is everything else. And everything else leads to death. If you don't get grace, you don't get the gospel. If you don't exhibit grace to others, it's evidence you don't understand it for yourself. If grace doesn't dominate your relationship to God and your obligation to others, your religion will suck the life out of you and others around you.
Grace is meaningless without truth. But truth will kill you without grace. The worst thing we can do in conflict is engage in it when we don't understand grace for ourselves. But once we really understand God's undeserved favor to ourselves, then we can minister grace to others who have sinned against us in whatever way we can with the prayer that God would draw them to repentance and the knowledge of the truth.
A good book to read on this subject is All of Grace by C. H. Spurgeon; also coming soon Prodigal God by Tim Keller.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Grace
*Note: edited on Thursday, August 7*
A godly man shared a nugget of wisdom with my husband and I last night. We were getting to know each other, and he shared some of his history in the church. There was one period in a church that was particularly discouraging and hurtful to him. He said he learned from that experience that there was grace, and then there was everything else. And everything else, he said, led to death.
Wow--that was profound. And he is exactly right. There is grace. Period. And if you don't get grace, you are spiritually dying. Everything else leads to death. If you don't get grace, you don't get the gospel. If you don't exhibit grace to others, it's evidence you don't understand it for yourself. If grace doesn't dominate your relationship to God and your obligation to others, your religion will suck the life out of you and others around you.
A good book to read on this subject is All of Grace by C. H. Spurgeon.
A godly man shared a nugget of wisdom with my husband and I last night. We were getting to know each other, and he shared some of his history in the church. There was one period in a church that was particularly discouraging and hurtful to him. He said he learned from that experience that there was grace, and then there was everything else. And everything else, he said, led to death.
Wow--that was profound. And he is exactly right. There is grace. Period. And if you don't get grace, you are spiritually dying. Everything else leads to death. If you don't get grace, you don't get the gospel. If you don't exhibit grace to others, it's evidence you don't understand it for yourself. If grace doesn't dominate your relationship to God and your obligation to others, your religion will suck the life out of you and others around you.
A good book to read on this subject is All of Grace by C. H. Spurgeon.
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Addendum: I've had a helpful discussion on this topic with a friend over the last few days that prompts me to add some thoughts. John 1:17 speaks of grace and truth, and Ephesians 4 speaks of truth with love. The question then arises--can we overemphasize grace and love at the expense of truth? I don't think so. In fact, my understanding of grace and love is that both are meaningless apart from the truth. Grace has a stark understading of the issues. It sees the truth of our sin and depravity at its clearest level. Grace isn't simply responding nicely or politely to someone while either passively or actively denying their (or your own) sin. Grace gets reality. It understands the truth. First, it reflects an understanding of the truth of our own sin. And secondly, it reflects an understanding of the sin of others. But most of all, it understands the truth of all that the death of Christ on the cross means for us.
So, my clarification is that grace is meaningless without truth. But truth will kill you without grace.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
The Battle for our Minds
2 Peter 1Peter gives instructions here that are very relevant to the mission of this blog. He tells us in verses 3 and 4 of all we have in Christ, "through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence." Then in verse 8, he speaks of being "ineffective or unfruitful" in this knowledge. I have been working through the very great promises we have in Christ, using Ephesians 1 and 2 as a base for my study. And I am soberly reflecting on the fact that simple study of these truths isn't the guarantee of spiritual growth and change. Paul and Peter both teach about the 2nd tier of the battle--first knowing the truth and second bringing our thoughts into submission to the truth.
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being
ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
In 2 Cor. 10:5, Paul teaches us that we must “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” The terms “destroy” and “take captive” are terms of war. The idea is that there is a battle for our minds. We must destroy (refute and tear down) arguments that contradict and diminish what we know to be true about God. Then we must take our thoughts captive and make them submit to what we know to be true about Christ. The same word for taking our thoughts captive is used in 2 Tim. 3:6, “For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions.” To be honest, this is not my favorite verse in the Bible. On a bad day, it just seems sexist. But on a day when I’m thinking honestly about my own nature, it reminds me that either I take my own thoughts captive and make them submit to the truth of God’s Word, or I am a prime target for someone else coming in to take my thoughts captive, leading me away from Christ and into sin. I tend to be much better at refuting the bad arguments of someone else than the ones going on inside my very own head. I can point out others unreasonable thoughts about God, but my own go unchecked quite often.
There is a battle for our minds. If you’re like me, you are likely to focus first on what you DO. But Scripture is clear that our mind is the first battlefield, well before our actions. What we THINK will determine all the rest. Here are some other verses that reinforce this concept. They have been helpful to me as I wrestle through what it means to “abide in Christ” and to live mentally governed by the reality of what I am in Him.
Colossians 1:17-18 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Isaiah 26:3 3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Good thoughts from John Stott
Here is a paragraph that hit me hard as I was reading through John Stott's commentary on Ephesians today.
Voluntary Christian self-submission is still very significant today. ‘Jesus Christ demonstrates rather than loses his dignity by his subordination to the Father. When a person is voluntarily amenable to another, gives way to him, and places himself at his service, he shows greater dignity and freedom than an individual who cannot bear to be a helper and partner to anyone but himself.’
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Do Hard Words Make Soft Hearts?
I have heard a statement for many years that I am just now starting to evaluate biblically. It goes something like this, "Hard words make soft hearts and soft words make hard hearts." I have heard it in various contexts from various groups. I always accepted it without much thought, but in the last week, I have started to evaluate this statement in light of Scripture. And I find it disturbingly lacking in Biblical foundation.
First, the statement is too simple to be meaningful. It needs disclaimers and caveats. What is meant by hard words? Who is the audience? What are the limitations? And so forth. For those who are mature Christian with years of Bible study under their belt, the disclaimers and caveats probably come naturally. My concern is that people with immature faith in Christ and little spiritual discernment don't know the Biblical disclaimers, and this statement gives them permission to use a harsh tone that is completely inconsistent with the Biblical model for the call to repentance.
Second, if we really want to understand exactly what kind of words draw men to repentance (which is what I assume is meant by soft hearts), then we must look to the Bible and Jesus' example in particular. Depending on how you define your terms, Jesus definitely spoke harshly. But we need to distinguish between harsh content and harsh tone. When Jesus combined both hard words and a hard tone, the audience was the Pharisees, and there was never any pretense of an attempt to draw them to repentance. His methods in the temple were to provoke them, but not to repentance. If we use Jesus' tone with the Pharisees as our model for hard words, let's maintain no pretense that the result will be soft hearts. The Pharisees were hardened not softened (and deliberatley so) through these interactions with Jesus.
Contrast this with those drawn to repentance through conversations with Jesus. The woman caught in adultery. The woman at the well. And lest we think Jesus was only nice when confronting women with their sin, he has repeated conversations with the disciples correcting, training, and rebuking them.
The Scripture from beginning to end is filled with instruction on the type of words (content and tone) that minister grace to the hearers and draw men to repentance. In terms of soft v. hard words, probably the most definitive verse in Scripture is Proverbs 15:1.
The New American Standard says a "gentle answer turns away anger." Another verse that gives additional clarity is 2 Tim. 2:24-25.
I'm going to add one more passage to this discussion, Ephesians 4:11-15, and then give some thoughts on the whole of them.
I think it's safe to equate the term "soft heart" from our original quote with Paul's vision in Ephesians. We are talking about the work of ministry that builds up the body of Christ in knowledge of God and maturity of faith. And the key phrase here is speaking the truth in love. This is a profound phrase and sums up the issue at hand. There is a way to speak truth that is not loving--and that is NOT God's method for building up His Body. Instead, we are called to speak the truth in love (see I Cor. 13--love is patient, kind, long-suffering, ever ready to give the benefit of the doubt, not keeping a list of wrongs). Paul says at the end of Ephesians 4 that there is a type of language that actually ministers grace to the hearer. These kinds of words are the ones that actually produce a soft heart, willing to receive the truth and repent.
In conclusion, when I think about the kind of language that I should use to draw others to repentance (which is a work of the Spirit that He allows me to participate in--but I myself am powerless to truly make someone else repent--just to be clear), I have to think back on the words and methods God used to draw me to repentance. How did God open your eyes to your sin? What tone did He use when He spoke into your heart?
Romans 2:4 gives an interesting thought that I'll use to conclude this discussion.
First, the statement is too simple to be meaningful. It needs disclaimers and caveats. What is meant by hard words? Who is the audience? What are the limitations? And so forth. For those who are mature Christian with years of Bible study under their belt, the disclaimers and caveats probably come naturally. My concern is that people with immature faith in Christ and little spiritual discernment don't know the Biblical disclaimers, and this statement gives them permission to use a harsh tone that is completely inconsistent with the Biblical model for the call to repentance.
Second, if we really want to understand exactly what kind of words draw men to repentance (which is what I assume is meant by soft hearts), then we must look to the Bible and Jesus' example in particular. Depending on how you define your terms, Jesus definitely spoke harshly. But we need to distinguish between harsh content and harsh tone. When Jesus combined both hard words and a hard tone, the audience was the Pharisees, and there was never any pretense of an attempt to draw them to repentance. His methods in the temple were to provoke them, but not to repentance. If we use Jesus' tone with the Pharisees as our model for hard words, let's maintain no pretense that the result will be soft hearts. The Pharisees were hardened not softened (and deliberatley so) through these interactions with Jesus.
Contrast this with those drawn to repentance through conversations with Jesus. The woman caught in adultery. The woman at the well. And lest we think Jesus was only nice when confronting women with their sin, he has repeated conversations with the disciples correcting, training, and rebuking them.
The Scripture from beginning to end is filled with instruction on the type of words (content and tone) that minister grace to the hearers and draw men to repentance. In terms of soft v. hard words, probably the most definitive verse in Scripture is Proverbs 15:1.
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The New American Standard says a "gentle answer turns away anger." Another verse that gives additional clarity is 2 Tim. 2:24-25.
24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,Gentleness is such an interesting term. We often confuse gentle with weak, but it really is quite different. Babies are weak. But when an adult who has the strength to crush the baby instead cradles them in their arms, they are being gentle. Gentleness is strength under control. In the context of Scripture, it is Christian strength tempered by wisdom and maturity under the Spirit's control. It disturbs me that gentleness seems a good goal for women in the church, but some immature men don't want to touch it with a 10 foot pole. Yet this is a characteristic of Jesus that He proclaims in His own teaching.
Matthew 11:29 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.
I'm going to add one more passage to this discussion, Ephesians 4:11-15, and then give some thoughts on the whole of them.
11And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
I think it's safe to equate the term "soft heart" from our original quote with Paul's vision in Ephesians. We are talking about the work of ministry that builds up the body of Christ in knowledge of God and maturity of faith. And the key phrase here is speaking the truth in love. This is a profound phrase and sums up the issue at hand. There is a way to speak truth that is not loving--and that is NOT God's method for building up His Body. Instead, we are called to speak the truth in love (see I Cor. 13--love is patient, kind, long-suffering, ever ready to give the benefit of the doubt, not keeping a list of wrongs). Paul says at the end of Ephesians 4 that there is a type of language that actually ministers grace to the hearer. These kinds of words are the ones that actually produce a soft heart, willing to receive the truth and repent.
In conclusion, when I think about the kind of language that I should use to draw others to repentance (which is a work of the Spirit that He allows me to participate in--but I myself am powerless to truly make someone else repent--just to be clear), I have to think back on the words and methods God used to draw me to repentance. How did God open your eyes to your sin? What tone did He use when He spoke into your heart?
Romans 2:4 gives an interesting thought that I'll use to conclude this discussion.
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?We need to not take lightly God's methods that lead us to repent, and we need to give heed to His example as we desire to call others to repentance as well.
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