Turning from Dead Idols to the Living Christ

“Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.” -Jeremiah 10:5

The sights and sounds are familiar to me. Joyful singing with shouts of “amen” and “hallelujah” fills the air. A pastor prays and opens the Bible, explains the text and helps his people understand and apply what is read. There is baptism and taking the Lord’s Supper together. Yet, as I sit here in the front row of Nepali Revival Church, I am overwhelmed with the thought that the multitude around me rejoicing in Christ’s gospel together were not long ago devout Buddhists and Hindus. For a few of them, just hours ago.

We sinners have become master idol makers in our running from God. We either craft and carry ornate statutes like Hindus or craft a god with our opinions and emotions. Either way, such idols must be informed of identity and cannot walk or speak. Idols have no quality to be feared; however, idols are dangerous.

The Apostle Paul commands the church in Colossae to put to death the earthly desires in you “which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). What makes idolatry dangerous isn’t simply the moral failure, but that idolatry is the reason the wrath of God is coming (vs 6). Our covenant making God has a holy, pure jealousy demanding our singular devotion and joy (Exodus 20). And Christ’s gospel welcomes those who are far off, no matter their nation or language or tribe, into the Lord’s salvation that the nations would be glad (Psalm 67:4). 

Whether I sit in this room filled with Nepali Christians, or I am back at Allison Avenue, I am surrounded by former idol crafters, carriers, and worshipers. As Paul says “you too once walked” (Colossians 3:7). When our Nepali brothers and sisters call for Hindus and Buddhists to smash their idols and turn to the living God, calling for repentance, they are speaking of the Way in which they have found: Jesus is alive. He does not need to be crafted and carried. He is to be feared. He can do harm or good. Turn to Him and have everlasting life enjoying our gracious God forever.

When we tell the world and each other to smash the idols of “sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness,” we speak as those who once worshiped and carried those idols. Allow me to encourage you, my beloved church family, with the boldness and joy of our Nepali church family. Much like the church in Thessalonica, be encouraged of seeing how they have turned from idols to the living and true God (I Thessalonians 1:9-10). Be bold and joyful as you speak Christ’s gospel to idol worshipers around you. Jesus saves. His gospel is the power of God to save.

Heavenly Father, how we rejoice in Your salvation we enjoy through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! How You have called us to turn from our idols and worship You, the living and true God. Grant us boldness and joy as we proclaim this good news in Christ to the idol worshipers around us that they may turn from their idols and escape Your holy wrath and be invited in to enjoy You forever. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Comfort from a Church's Faith

“…for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.” -I Thessalonians 3:7

The Apostle Paul reflected upon the toils and troubles of gospel ministry. Jesus told us we are not above our Teacher, whom the world persecuted and therefore will persecute us (John 15:20). We suffer in the footsteps of He who suffered for us (I Peter 2:21) and we shouldn’t be surprised to suffer (I Peter 4:12). In the sharing of our Lord’s afflictions, we are blessed (Matthew 5:10-12).

In his letter to the church family in Thessalonica, Paul said that the stress of his ministry was comforted from the report from pastor Timothy regarding their faith. John echoes this when he said, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (III John 1:4). 

Pastoral ministry involves real lives, real sins, real marriages and families. There is much pain involved, including accusations and injury from words from those who delight in inflicting pain and division. Yet, I have discovered the joy of all joys: to see a strong church family who truly loves one another and delights in Christ together! 

And this is my plea to you, my beloved flock: delight in the Lord. Come and assemble on Sunday mornings yearning to delight in Him together. Come and be encouraged in the faith, then encourage each other in the faith. This brings comfort and joy to the pastors, which makes this difficult calling of watch care for your soul a joyful duty to our Lord, which is a benefit to the church (Hebrews 13:17). This love is God’s means of grace of delight and comfort for the whole church. This love displays the power and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church.

Heavenly Father, with gratitude we praise You for the unity of our church family. We thank You for the love we share. We pray that Jesus may increase, and we may decrease, that You would be glorified in Your people. We ask for Your mercy to treasure You more. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Our Worshipful Thanksgiving Together

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” –I Thessalonians 5:18

Thanksgiving is easy in those circumstances that meet our needs, or when people live up to standards we place upon them. The disciple of Jesus, however, is to have gratitude in ALL circumstances.

We gather each Sunday to sing songs making melody to the Lord with our heart (Ephesians5:20), yet these songs are filled with our thanksgiving to God (Ephesians5:21). Much like Psalm 69:30, “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving!”  Our grateful songs are to be a shared thanksgiving in all circumstances together.

What about those times our hearts feel low, or we just don’t feel joyful enough? We are tempted to use that to not attend Sunday services or, worse, to go and injure the church with our flaming tongues (James 3:6, 4:1). The temptation keeps us from God’s mercy, the very thing we need most. 

Grief and trouble comes in this life, and these things weigh heavy upon our hearts. I think the hymn writer Robert Robinson says it right, “tune my heart to sing Thy grace.” The prayer of a child to the Father, “Lord, my troubled heart feels low and troubled. Tune my heart to sing with the saints with a thankful heart.” We must be reminded of His rich mercy and goodness. We must hear the gospel. When we hear of the joys we wait for together, we rejoice with thanksgiving together.

Grumbling never builds up the church or encourages the faith; but thanksgiving in all circumstances magnifies the Lord. We can rejoice in God’s goodness, or we can complain about what did not meet our standards; either people or things. Paul told the church in Philippi whom he called “my joy and my crown” that he had learned to be satisfied in all circumstances (Philippians 4:10-13). If I am fully satisfied in Christ alone, I can rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians4:4) and let my thanksgiving and requests be made known to God (Philippians4:6).

When heavy hearts grumble or grieve, let us encourage joyful thanksgiving. When our own hearts need tuning to sing His praise, let us receive admonishment with gratitude before God. When we hear the call to worship, “O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3), let us resolve to enter Sunday morning with expectation to hear His gospel, tuning our hearts to rejoice, and magnify the name of God with thanksgiving together.

Heavenly Father, our hearts become burdened, pierced with griefs, or cold from our own pride. Help us to cast these weights aside, Lord. Tune our hearts to sing Your worthy praise, songs from the hearts of Your grateful people. In Jesus’ name. Amen.