Month: June 2024

Ask the Pastor from Sunday’s Sermon – 2 Samuel 12

It seems that David’s consequences were passed to innocent parties (Bathsheba – victim, losing her son, baby dying).  How do we reconcile that with God’s “fairness” when explaining to children or perhaps to non-believers?

Great question.  Personally, I would likely start with Job 38-41 where God asks Job questions like,  “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” and “Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, and caused the dawn to know its place?”  In other words, He is God and He can do whatever He pleases and/or needs to do.

But that’s not a very satisfying answer from a human perspective.  A better answer is to talk about the ripple effect of our actions.  If a student is disruptive in class does he only affect his own learning?   If a mechanic in a two-man shop is always an hour late to work, does he only affect his own paycheck?  What about a guy driving the wrong way down a one-way road?  In each of these cases others are impacted, harmed, or maybe even killed.  In the same way David, a man and a King, chose to cross His God’s law and as a result both Uriah and the baby died and Bathsheba was twice grieved.  David’s selfish act affected more than just David; it affected a whole nation!  Great warning for us; as we wrestle with our own impulses!

Pastor Scott

This GotQuestions article makes a good argument that the baby was really rescued.  Take a read:  https://www.gotquestions.org/David-Bathsheba-child.html

Pray First – Jun 21, 2024

There is a great story in 2 Chronicles 20 of Moab’s raid on Judah when Jehoshaphat was king.  Jehoshaphat wasn’t the general David was, but he knew Who God is.  And he threw himself and his people on God’s mercy.  I love the closing line of his prayer, after reminding God of His victory over Egypt, etc. Jehoshaphat says, “O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You” (v. 12 Emphasis added).  It reminds me of Paul’s teaching in Romans 8 that The Holy Spirit intercedes for us because we don’t really know how to pray either!  

So then why pray?  Because it’s a necessary acknowledgment of our humble dependence on God.  James says, we have not because we ask not.  Peter says to cast all of our cares upon Him. Paul says to Timothy as he repairs the church at Ephesus, “First of all gather them and Pray!”  And The Son Himself when He was walking this sod, would get up early just to get alone with the Father and pray.  Pray draws us closer to God and He is the God of all flesh, there is nothing He can’t do!   We have access now, though the blood of Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16); let’s not allow it to be our last resort.

A little boy was spending his Saturday morning playing in his sandbox. He had with him his box of cars and trucks, his plastic pail, and a shiny, red plastic shovel.

In the process of creating roads and tunnels in the soft sand, he discovered a large rock in the middle of the sandbox. The lad dug around the rock, managing to dislodge it from the dirt. With no little bit of struggle, he pushed and nudged the rock across the sandbox by using his feet. (He was a very small boy and the rock was very large.) When the boy got the rock to the edge of the sandbox, however, he found that he couldn’t roll it up and over the little wall.

Determined, the little boy shoved, pushed, and pried, but every time he thought, he had made some progress, the rock tipped and then fell back into the sandbox. The little boy grunted, struggled, pushed, shoved-but his only reward was to have the rock roll back, smashing his chubby fingers. Finally he burst into tears of frustration.

All this time the boy’s father watched from the living room window as the drama unfolded. At the moment the tears fell, a large shadow fell across the boy and the sandbox. It was the boy’s father. Gently but firmly he said, “Son, why didn’t you use all the strength that you had available?”

Defeated, the boy sobbed back, “But I did, Daddy, I did! I used all the strength that I had!”

“No, son,” corrected the father kindly. “You didn’t use all the strength you had. You didn’t ask me.” With that the father reached down, picked up the rock, and removed it from the sandbox.

After Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple he quoted Isaiah 56 “My House shall be a House of Prayer!”  Let’s make sure this House – WOGF is a “House of Prayer!”

Pastor Scott

Loose Ends – June 14, 2024

#1 of 2

“No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” ~ 1 John 3:9

Several weeks (more likely months ago) I answered a question here about the verse above by posting the amplified translation which aligned the first half (practices) with the second half of the verse that declares an absolute.  A congregant pointed out a better resolution offered by the Bible Teacher Zane Hodges.  In his commentary on 1 John, Dr. Hodges reminds us of Christ’s imputed righteousness, which means by definition we stand before God without sin; our new nature is without sin.  Of course this new Holy Nature, should be affecting our flesh; or “walk” as it’s often called in Scripture, and therein lies the rub.  

Our flesh is so very used to living in this world that putting it off and putting righteousness on is, for many of us, a major ordeal and/or a daily struggle.  The temptations of the world aren’t something we deal with on an occasional basis, but are a constant assault on our senses.  So while I’m aware of the principle that Hodges teaches, I’m fearful of anything that would cause any of us to ignore the important teaching of Colossians 3, or Ephesians 4-6, or Galatians 5, by causing us to think that we can’t sin anymore. I’ve watched that happen and it inevitably leads to more sin.  So yes, it’s a good but VERY NUANCED resolution to the 1 Peter 3:9! 🙂 

#2 of 2

Recently I was discussing the Roman Catholic origin of some communion practices in the Bible Study Hour class I teach as we are working our way through 1 Corinthians.  As is my habit I was supporting my point with a relevant illustration which had me explaining the English word “repentance.”  As it happens our English word comes down to us  from the Latin poenitire “make sorry,” which comes from poena (penal; or punishment).  I went on to make the point that in the New Testament the word is Meta (change) + Noia (mind).  I was pointing out that only once in the NT sorrow and metanoia are linked (2 Cor 7:9-10), but most often it’s a call to change our orientation about who God is or about how to approach Him.  And in other literature of the time “metanoia” was used the same way we might say “he ‘changed his mind’ and didn’t go to the store that night.”  As you can imagine this led to a discussion that had nothing to do with communion and everything to do with how salvation was NOT dependent on how sorry we are for our sin.

During class I received a text asking: “So what about the Romans Road?”  Great question!  Paul spends most of the first three chapters of Romans making sure everyone understands that they are sinners who fall short of the glory of God.  He then makes the point that none of us can boast because we are not saved by our works but  we are saved by faith alone.  There is no mention in the text of Romans of “sorrow for sin.”  However, in the presentation instructions for the Romans road or the Wordless book, the script often says something like, “Now, ask them to pray and tell God how sorry they are about their sin.”  Having a “contrite heart” is Biblical.  David writes about it in Psalm 51 wherein he confesses his horrible sin.  Isaiah writes of those who have done evil and are now “lowly and contrite.”   Again, it’s not wrong, per se, to be sad that you lived a life of sin, but it’s not really part of a road in the Book of Romans.    

Pastor Scott

 Pride Month – Jun 7, 2024

June has been declared “pride” month and even though much has been said by better writers than I, as your pastor, I still feel like I need to say something.  Maybe a list would be easiest.

  1. I can’t help but notice that the date above is our 39th wedding anniversary.   Happy Anniversary Kelly – thanks for your faithful love all these years!
  2. Years ago someone shared a book review with me.  The book was written by a man with same-sex attraction who was remaining celibate because of his faith in Christ.  The theme of the book, as it was relayed to me, was the hopelessness of his celibacy, in that he wasn’t waiting for marriage or something he was just waiting to die.  It had me thinking fairly sympathetically for a time…..
    1. Then I remembered that I pastored a church where at least a dozen single people served and worshipped and they weren’t just waiting to die.  Not that it wasn’t hard, but life is hard whenever we focus on what we are missing out on!
      1. For instance, if I’m honest, in my flesh, I just want to eat ALL the time.  According to Galatians 5 the solution is the same as any other form of sensual desire. If I walk in the Spirit I can have victory, if I walk in the flesh, I will cave – every time!
      2. I also remember the sin proclivities that have been discussed in my office and around various Bible Study circles (discussed so that we wouldn’t walk in them ~Gal. 5:16)
  3. Sexual temptation is a biggie, but it’s not bigger than God and God has promised He can and will provide a way out of every temptation even the one that has someone calling themselves “gay!”.
    1. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
    2. 1 Corinthians 10:13
  4. Perhaps, contrary, to the devil’s advice, we should humble ourselves before the God of the universe and let Him have His way with us!  (James 4:1-10)

Just a thought,

Pastor Scott