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Social Media Pt. 3

Set-up Proper Boundaries

“Liberty must be limited in order to be possessed.” – Edmund Burke

When you sit down to eat with a ruler, Consider carefully what is before you;And put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. Proverbs 23:1-2

Last week, we talked about some different techniques that media companies use to trick you into spending more time on their platforms than you realize you are spending. This week, we are going to discuss how you can counter these traps with some strategies of your own. You don’t have to use all of these techniques (I’m not your boss). Everyone is different, and some techniques will work better for you than others. Try the following and see what works best for you.

1. Clock-in, clock-out.

A big part of the trouble with social media is that it is an infinity pool of engaging content. We keep scrolling, watching, and swiping to find the one more thing that will satisfy us, and before we know it, hours have gone by.

One of the best things you can do to counter the infinity pool is to log your time on different apps. For some people, the simple fact of a timer running while you’re watching youtube videos will be enough for them to be conscious of how much time they are spending. If you need a little extra help in scaling back your time spent on instagram each day, you can download one of a number of apps and programs that lock you out of certain apps or games after you spend your allotted time on them each day (you get to set these limits in the program). You’ll find yourself asking “is this video worth my spending 8 of my 15 minutes that I allow myself on youtube each day?” More often than not, the answer will be no.

2. Make things inconvenient for yourself.

One of reasons why we instinctively check our social feeds during any break in our day is because we can. It’s easy, two clicks and we are in before we have even made the conscious decision to be swimming in our infinity pool of data. The designers of social media apps know this, and that’s why they push hard for you to download their apps or have your computer auto-log you into their site.

The easiest thing you can do to make your social media use more deliberate is to make logging in just a little harder. Log out of your youtube account after using it so you consciously have to enter

your username and password before you start watching streaming videos next time. Don’t download the facebook app, make yourself log into the website manually instead.

You can also limit the locations you access certain forms of social media. For instance, I only go on facebook on my desktop. This stops me from scrolling endlessly on my phone at restaurants or at work. It seems like a weird trick, but it works well for me.

Another variation of this is where you put your technology when it’s not in use. Some people are very disciplined at not carrying their phone around the house with them when they are home at night. If you leave your phone in the kitchen, you won’t be able to fall into the endless scrolling trap as easily.

3. Don’t browse right before bed or right after getting up in the morning.

Ever sit on your phone on the couch as you’re browsing instagram and thing “I’m too tired to go to bed”? It takes willpower to switch tasks, even if that task is going to bed, because it’s far easier to just keep scrolling, swiping, and watching videos. To avoid falling into the infinity pool trap when you are tired and lacking willpower, try setting yourself a buffer time of at least 30 minutes of no phone or internet before you go to bed and after you wake up in the morning.

To make this easier, I actually don’t bring my phone into my bedroom. I use an alarm clock to wake up (yes, they still make them), and read a book before I fall asleep at night. Again, deliberate inconvenience is your friend when reclaiming your time – if the phone stays in your kitchen when you’re home at night, you won’t be tempted to browse instagram one last time before you turn in for the night.

4. Don’t post angry.

If you feel your anger start to rise at something you read on social media, it’s time to step away from the technology for a while. Do not, under any circumstances, start posting. James 19-20 tells us

“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

That’s exactly the opposite of what tech companies want you to do. They want you to get upset and engage with the content.

Why?

Right, because outrage drives engagement and engagement means they are getting attention, which is a valuable commodity (reference pt. 2 of this series). Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that outrage is a virtue.

If there’s some good that can be done by posting, commenting, or sharing about what is making you angry, then great go ahead and post… after you’ve had some time to cool down. Nothing needs to be done immediately – the internet isn’t going anywhere. If it should be done, it can be done in a few hours after you’ve had time to calm down.

5. Take breaks

One of the best things you can do to start taking back control of your internet time is to take breaks. Try a 24 hour technology fast. If that’s too easy, try for 48 hours. Every time you instinctively reach for your phone durnig the fast, make a mental note. You will be shocked to find how much of a part of your life picking up your phone to check social media has become.

Some people make this a weekly exercise. That’s probably a little tough for most of us, but if we can’t do a 24 tech break at least once a month, we are probably too handcuffed to our phones.

The key to unlocking those handcuffs is yours. Try some of these techniques and see if they make a difference for you.

As I’ve said before, my wish is not that you stop using your phone. My wish is that you realize how much of your life you are spending on social media and related apps. If you want to spend time on them, that’s fine, but you need to be consciously making that choice. God has given you a finite amount of time on this planet to steward. Do it well. Spend your time and attention in a way that is honoring to him.

Author: Samuel Schmitt

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Social Media Use PT. 1


Psalm 144:4 

Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.  

Psalm 90:12  

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. 

The average American spends 23.7 hours a week on the internet. For perspective, that’s the equivalent of browsing facebook, watching youtube, and posting on instagram from 12:01 in the morning until 11:46 at night, with no breaks for eating, sleeping, or using the bathroom one day a week, every week. It’s a staggering thought- even more staggering to consider when the same study goes on to point out that the average American’s internet usage per week has risen steadily since the year 2000 and the rise hasn’t begun to slow down yet. Not only are we spending that much time online, but we’re continuing to find ways to spend more time online finding a life insurance. Consider smartphones, a relatively recent phenomena (only popular for the past 10 years). Seventy-seven percent of Americans own smartphones and the average American checks their phone more than 80 times per day. Something that didn’t exist more than ten years ago for most people, is now considered an essential part of life.  

There is no way we can spend so much time online, and not be changed. From amazon to facebook, the internet has fundamentally changed how we shop, work, play, and relate. Some of these changes are good – we can stay in touch with friends and family at long distance easier than ever before, and it’s never been easier to buy cheap books (and other items, but most importantly, books). Some of these changes are not so good.  

Have you ever started browsing instagram, only to look up a half-hour later and wonder what happened? Do you find yourself reaching for your phone to check youtube anytime work gets boring? Ever feel like if you just scroll a little further on some app or program, that you’ll find something really good? Can I ask an even more personal question: when was the last time you went to the bathroom without your phone?  

It’s not your fault. Tech companies hire well paid teams of phycologists, behavior experts, marketers, and AI programmers to help them build their apps, web pages, and video games in a way that manipulates you into spending more time on them then you realize you are spending. 

Maybe you’re reading this thinking, I don’t have a problem, I control my browsing habits, they don’t control me. If you don’t think you have a problem, humor me- try a 48 hour tech fast. If you’re like most of us (myself included) it won’t be an easy experience. Addicts rarely realize they have a problem until their fix is taken away.  

Why listen to me about how to use the internet? Good question. I do not have a degree in sociology or psychology. My field of study and experience is communications and advertising. I sell advertising for a local media company and have studied both national and local digital advertising. It’s my job to know how the new “attention economy” works. I’ve also worked in an online ministry for thirteen years and seen the rapid changes that technology forces on all of us.  I bring something to the table different than that of a sociologist and psychologist – battlefield knowledge. The battle that I speak of is the battle for dollars, and the terrain that’s being fought over is not hills or cities, but your attention, your emotions, and your time.  

I don’t want you to stop using the internet. But I want you to know some things, some things that will help you be less manipulatable, some things that will help you to keep or reclaim that which is rightfully yours to use as you will- your attention, your emotions, and your time. 

To be continued in Pt. 2…

Author: Samuel Schmitt

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What Is The Benefit Of Fasting?

Through out the history of the Church, Christians have participated in Lent as a way to prepare their hearts and minds to realize more fully the glory of the Easter celebration. Now perhaps more then ever, this time of preparation and anticipation is needed in our churches. Our lives quickly become so filled with obligations and activities that Easter seems to surprise us. Lent offers us the opportunity to focus on the greatness of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and the power in His resurrection, so that when Easter arrives we are not caught off guard. According to Scott McConnell, the executive director of LifeWay Research, one of the reasons people do not observe Lent is because it involves fasting from pleasures. If the fast seems pointless, or if you need some encouragement during your fast I want to share with you some of what Thomas Aquinas had to say about fasting.

Thomas Aquinas is considered to be one of the most influential Christian philosophers and theologians of all time. In his best know work the Summa Theologica, he explains three reasons for fasting.

“First, in order to bridle the lusts of the flesh.” Aquinas points out that abstaining from food or other pleasures helps us to fight off more sinister desires. By fasting we are choosing to discipline ourselves enough to deny ourselves something that brings us pleasure. If you chose during Lent to abstain from Netflix, or social media you are denying yourself the pleasure of watching your favorite show or the escape of constantly scrolling. As we abstain from these simply pleasures we build the discipline to withstand the temptation of more serious sins. The act of fighting against the temptation causes us to turn to God for strength and builds in us the ability to resist something that may bring us temporary pleasure. On the flip side if we are unable to deny ourselves the pleasure of Netflix, or our favorite candy, it is doubtful we will be able to deny the temptation to take a second glance at a sensual photo or to have one too many beers. Denying simply pleasures helps to prepare us to resist the temptation of things that in the short term may be more pleasurable, but ultimately lead to misery.

“Secondly, we have recourse to fasting in order that the mind may arise more freely to the contemplation of heavenly things.” When we intentionally sever our attachment to things we find comforting, we are forced to seek comfort somewhere else. Fasting during Lent is an opportunity to force ourselves to turn to God for comfort when normally we may have turned to something else. If at the end of the day you always turn to your favorite video game or channel in order to wind down, consider giving that up. When we suffer through the absence of that comfort we are reminded that our ultimate Comforter is God. Fasting is not simply about denying ourselves something we enjoy; it is about reminding, and perhaps forcing, ourselves to turn to God instead.

“Thirdly, in order to satisfy for sins: wherefore it is written (Joel 2:12): ‘Be converted to Me with all your heart, in fasting and in weeping and in mourning.’” It is difficult at first glance to understand what Aquinas is saying with this third point but when he clarifies with the verse from Joel it becomes clearer. Aquinas is not saying that just because we fast the weight of our sins is removed, that is done through the merciful grace of Christ. What Aquinas is teaching us is that being in a relationship with God is not simply claiming belief in an idea or feeling fuzzy in our souls. God wants all of us to be in love with Him, body, mind, and soul. It is easy to fall into the habit of only worshiping God with our minds, but fasting allows us to worship and adore Him with our bodies. We are denying our bodies something it desires so that our desires can be focused on Him. Whenever we feel the tug in our bodies to consume that candy or just zone out at the end of the day, and we deny it, we are using our physical desires to refocus our attention on God. As we create a habit of having our desires satisfied by God we are more likely in the future to find satisfaction in Him when we have sinful desires. When we are more completely satisfied in God we will begin to realize that sinful things are not truly satisfying. The process of being converted to God with all of our hearts means being won over by God more completely.

If you choose to fast during Lent I hope the words of Thomas Aquinas will help strengthen your resolve. Fasting is difficult, and it is meant to be. Despite its difficulty fasting can be a valuable tool to grow deeper in your relationship with God. Whatever you fast from it is important to remember that fasting is not an opportunity to win the praise of those around us, it is an act of loving devotion to God. Although Aquinas was brilliant he is nothing compared to Our Lord Jesus Christ. So I will leave you with the words of Our Savior from Matthew 6:16-18,

 

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

 

Author: Nathan Phillips, Associate Pastor of the River Alliance Church

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Doubt

“I used to believe but then I had questions that couldn’t be answered and so I couldn’t believe anymore. You just have never doubted or questioned what people told you about God and the Bible, that’s why you believe.” This was the comment I received at work when a client discovered that I was also a local Pastor. What the man didn’t know was that I had asked questions and continued to ask questions. Questioning is an important part of the Christian faith. In the book of Acts we are told that the ones who heard Paul’s message and rigorously tested it against Scripture were considered to be noble.

“The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

Acts 17:10-11

But what about when our questions turn into doubts? Lets take a look at some ways that, as Christians, we should deal with doubts.

  1. Rely on the Holy Spirit

“These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

1 Corinthians 2:10-11

Remember that when we are reconciling our doubts we are not going alone. God has blessed us with the Holy Spirit, and He is working within us to reveal all wisdom and Truth. A common mistake made by those who have allowed doubt to devour their faith is that they rely entirely on their own intellect. We have the Holy Spirit abiding within us and we should rely on Him while we vigorously pursue truth. Pray continuously and ask God to make clear to us the answers to our doubts. Don’t be satisfied with blind faith. The Holy Spirit works within us, as we pursue truth, to bring our entire being, our heart, body, mind, and soul into harmonious agreement with the Creature. Intellect does not need to be sacrificed in order to have Faith, in fact when it is lead by the Holy Spirit our intellect will deepen our Faith.

  1. Know You Are Not Alone

“Righteous are you, O Lord,

when I complain to you;

yet I would plead my case before you.

Why does the way of the wicked prosper?

Why do all who are treacherous thrive?”

Jeremiah 12:1

I can assure you no doubt about God or Christianity you have ever had is new. People have been asking questions since Christianity began and people have been working through their doubts for just as long. Maybe you doubt the morality of Hell or struggle with the idea of suffering. These are age-old questions that have been asked in Scripture and by countless individuals including Church Fathers and theologians. Again you do not need to rely on your own intellect solely, read what the Bible has to say about your questions. Read the great men and women who have faced your same doubts and come out with a more concrete faith. Talk to your Pastor and/or trusted Christian friends who can pursue truth along side you.

  1. Follow Truth Wherever It Leads

“Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”

John 14:6

I am not afraid to have this as my final point, because if we honestly pursue truth, rely on the Holy Spirit, and look to the faithful who have gone before us we will be lead into a deeper relationship with Jesus who is the Truth. We may be challenged and we may be uncomfortable but we will come out the other side with a deeper faith then we had before. That does not mean it will be easy. Perhaps we will learn that our theology or understanding needs adjustment. Perhaps we will need to change the way we behave or the way we believe, but one thing is sure, God who is the source of all knowledge and wisdom will be glorified and our love for Him will be magnified by our honest pursuit of truth.

 

Author:Nathan Phillips – Associate Pastor at the River Church

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Outrage

“Anyone who supports this candidate will be judged for their ignorance.”

“Wow, strong words from a pastor! Weak-kneed, supposed Christians like you are why the church is falling apart. We’ll see who God judges!”

I sat back from my computer, stunned after witnessing the above exchange. There was more to the conversation (forty-seven reply’s more, to be exact), but I had gotten the gist of things. It was nearly election day in 2016, and outrage was the order of the day. I tried to rationalize things, tried to tell myself that people were just worked up in what had become a difficult election for both sides. People would come to their senses a week after the election, I reasoned. Maybe two weeks tops.

Now, almost two years later to the day, very little has changed. When we look at how many Christians in the American church interact with culture, we see a reaction characterized by one thing: outrage. This is a problem.

Outrage is not a virtue.

Certainly there are times that call for strong action. Jesus himself demonstrated anger at times during his ministry, such as when he saw Pharisees abusing their power or greedy merchants disrupting the worship at the temple. But Jesus’ ministry was not a political ministry (John 6:15), nor did Jesus attempt to win a “culture war” by raging against the evils of Roman society (of which there were many). Jesus did not try to change the culture by sermons in the public square against Roman foreign policy (which was immoral). Instead, he built relationships with individuals. He healed the sick. He fed the hungry. His ministry was not defined by his outrage. His ministry was known/ for His love.

What about us? Jesus tells us in John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Can this be said of us in the American church? Are we known by those around us for our love? Is that what characterizes our interactions with one another on social media? At work? At school? At home?

Outrage is not a virtue.

What is a virtue? A virtue is a moral habit. Virtues are the good things that make up character. Patience, peace, love, self-control, these are all virtues. Virtues are the sorts of things that should characterize our lives, the sorts of things we should be known for.

But, one may claim, don’t we live in a time that calls for outrage? Doesn’t (abortion, or Trump, or immigration, or government corruption, or gun violence, the removal of God from the public square, etc) call for a response of outrage? Isn’t outrage a virtue because of the time we live in?

That’s a valid question. Certainly, there are difficult issues facing us as American Christians, and the Bible does speak directly into some of these issues (and indirectly into many others). However, I stand firmly by my claim that outrage is not a virtue. We do not live in a uniquely wicked time. Even a cursory reading of the history of the Roman world during Jesus’ time would indicate that their culture world was far more violent and unjust than ours. And yet, what did Jesus say that the lives of his followers should be known by? Love.

So what is the answer then? Is the answer to bury our heads in the sand and never speak about injustices? To never have discussions with those that disagree with us?

No, that is not the answer. Perhaps there is not one answer to this question, but there are a few principles we can draw from the Bible.

  1. Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

This is fairly simple principle that comes directly from James 1:9. Yet how many people only listen during conversations so they respond? How many look forward to discussions mainly so that they can here themselves talk and show off their (supposed) intelligence?

Not taking the time to humbly listen to others, even others we disagree with, is wrong. It’s wrong because it’s prideful, and inconsiderate. How would we like to be treated? We would like to be listened to and treated with respect in a conversation. We should treat others in that way.

  1. Give others the benefit of the doubt regarding their motives.

For some reason, we’ve shifted from disagreeing with people over issues like gun control, abortion, taxes, and immigration, to hating people over them. Many have convinced themselves that only an evil person could disagree with them on certain issues, therefore, anyone who is on the opposite side of that issue is evil. Nowhere has this been more evident than on social media the past couple years. Liberals aren’t just wrong, their evil and hate God, claim some. Trump supporters aren’t just wrong, they’re stupid (and Nazi’s), claim others.

There are many reasons why we got to this point (those of us who work in advertising bear much of the blame), but we need to stop. C.S. Lewis, while writing about politics in England during his time, pointed out that virtually everyone wants the same thing. They want to live in peace and freedom. They want people to have the ability to make a certain amount of money. They want a society where good can be done. We disagree how to get there, but we all generally, want the same outcome. Therefore, we should treat those who disagree with us humbly and with the respect that these motives deserve.

  1. Keep things in perspective.

Finally, we need to remember that, at the end of the day, we are called to love God and love other people. Our primary calling is not to win elections, culture wars, or arguments on social media. Yes, sometimes our calling will mean that we engage in these things, but they are not the primary goal of our faith.

 

Author: Samuel Schmitt, member of the River Alliance Church

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Sending Thoughts and Prayers

“Sending thoughts and prayers.” If you are on social media or watch the news you almost certainly have seen this phrase. You might have even written it. In many ways it has become cliché. A phrase that many people throw around without thinking. Although at its face this phrase seems innocent, it recently has caused some people to express their outrage at the comment.

A few weeks ago I posted on a Facebook group asking Atheists how they respond to someone who is going through intense suffering. I received many great and insightful responses. One of the comments that stuck out to me was by a man named Donnie.

He said,

“I can reveal what expression p***** off many atheists; ‘sending thoughts and prayers”

When I asked why it was so upsetting he responded,

“Because, this is derived of any factual help and only strengthens the faith of the ‘well-wisher’ who believes they can ‘poke’ their deity because of the special position they have (‘In touch with the creator of the Universe’) without a shred of evidence that their religious ‘abilities’ are any real. And, why the believer wouldn’t say, ‘Fasting and praying about you’? This at least would involve action on the side of the ‘well-wisher’.”

Later he added,

“It totally replaces any practical help and amounts exactly to doing nothing.”

Donnie is not the only one who feels this way. In fact several others echoed Donnie’s concern in the same conversation thread. As Christians we need to take criticisms like this seriously and honestly evaluate the phrase, “sending thoughts and prayers.” Should Christians use this phrase and if so what are the dangers we should be aware of?

To begin with, I want to examine the statement “sending thoughts and prayers.” The first part “sending thoughts” is an idea that is foreign from the Christian faith. Nowhere in the Scriptures do thoughts have power outside of the life of the thinker. The Bible does not say we can send positive or negative energy; or that our thoughts can cover a suffering person with a telepathic feeling of peace. That being said, thoughts do have a significant ability to influence the actions and behaviors of the thinker. Matthew 15:19 says,

19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

Evil desires lead to evil thoughts and evil thoughts manifest into evil actions. Perhaps this is why the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” What we think about matters and has the power to influence the way we interact in the world.

We are not called to “send” positive thoughts to people who are suffering. We are instructed to think godly thoughts in order that we can produce godly actions. Our thoughts have the ability to transform our lives so that we can become the type of people who can give aid and love to someone who is suffering.

The second part, “sending prayers” is a foundational belief in Christianity and a common practice among followers of Jesus Christ. Looking at the Scriptures we are repeatedly instructed to pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells Christians to “pray continually”. The primary difference between thought and prayer in the Christian worldview is that prayer is a communal activity involving the person praying and God, while thought is an internal activity only in the mind of the thinker.

It has to be stated that the Bible does not describe prayer as a tool wielded by the righteous to bribe or manipulate the action of God. God is not a genie in our service to grant us every wish. In fact several times throughout the New Testament we find Jesus and His disciples criticizing people for using prayer as a means to puff themselves up or satisfy a selfish desire. Prayer is about aligning our will with God’s, not about trying to force God to submit to our will.

God in His grace has given all of humanity the opportunity to come before Him in prayer. In prayer we can come before God with our praise, thanksgiving, and burdens. Especially in times of trouble Christians are instructed to pray, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

So why do we pray for others who are suffering? We pray for the suffering because the Bible tells us that God can offer comfort, peace, and healing. God is actively working to restore this fallen world, which has been corrupted by sin. Prayer is our opportunity to participate in God’s work of restoration. Scripture informs us that God hears our prayers and is actively working in the world around us, often times through prayer. James 5:16 describes prayer as both “powerful and effective.”

In prayer we can encounter God, and because of this encounter we will be changed. Our priorities, passions, and activities will become more aligned with God’s priorities, passions, and activities. Prayer is an aspect of God’s work in the world and as Christians we should never abandon it. I have seen God’s work through prayer in my own life and in the lives of those around me, and it is because of the power of prayer I have witnessed that I continue to pray.

Praying for those who are suffering is a necessary activity of those who follow Jesus Christ. We should not steer away from or be ashamed of praying for people, or letting them know we are praying for them.

Should Christians post, “sending thoughts and prayers?” It would not be accurate to say we are “sending thoughts”, however we could confidently say something like, “thinking about you and praying for you.” Although this still may frustrate some people, Christians have been instructed to pray, and believe in the power of prayer and so to neglect it would be disobedient to God and uncaring for those who are suffering.

So what is the danger in writing a post expressing our sympathy and intention to pray? Many people who type, “Sending thoughts and prayers” end there. They scroll down to the next post satisfied that they have done their part. How many of us pray that God will send comfort to a suffering person but make no effort to offer the comfort He has enabled us to supply? How many of us say we are praying, but then fall into the snare of apathetic complacency? I know I have been guilty of this at certain points in my life, and my suspicion is that I am not alone. Donnie’s comments should carry with them a weight of conviction for many Christians.

In Matthew 25 Jesus tells about the final judgment and in it He describes the scene before the throne.

34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

We are called to care for the sick, poor, and suffering. To use the life we have been given to glorify God by loving His creation. By showing love for His creation we truly show love for Him. This is a difficult step for many people to take because this requires sacrifice. It requires the people of God to get out from behind their computer screens and use the resources and abilities that God has blessed them with to show the love of God to everyone around them. God may have already given us the ability to be the answer to someone’s prayer. We could be the source of comfort for an individual crippled by sorrow. We could be the hand that can help rebuild a broken home. We could be the ones who give food to the hungry. We are the body of Christ and we have been blessed with the opportunity to be instruments of His work in the world.

So yes continue to pray. Pray without ceasing. Pray that God would comfort the sick and broken, that He would defend the abused, and rescue the hurting. But also pray that He would give you the opportunity to be His hands and feet in the world. Pray that God would reveal to you the ways that you can show His love to the hurting in your present circumstance. We should not be ashamed of our prayers, but we should be ashamed if we use prayer as an excuse to ignore the opportunities God has given us to act.

“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

1 John 3:17-18

-Nathan Phillips, Associate Pastor of the River Alliance Church

 

 

 

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Spiritual Gifts

Many well-meaning Christians love to ask the question “what is my spiritual gift?” While this is not a bad question, it is important to first answer the question “what is a spiritual gift?” There are actually quite a few components of spiritual gifts that can easily be overlooked. First, we will look to Scripture to understand the purpose of spiritual gifts. Second, we will look to Scripture to see who appoints them. Third, we will look to Scripture to see how many gifts each person should strive for. After those three aspects of spiritual gifts have been examined from a biblical perspective, then we will tackle the question of how to discover our own gifts.

1 Peter 4 is where the purpose of spiritual gifts is most clearly defined. The first half of 1 Peter 4 focuses on what it looks to live for God. 1 Peter 4:10, specifically, states that “Each of you should use whatever [spiritual] gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (NIV). In other words, the reason that we receive spiritual gifts is to serve the body of Christ.

There is another small passage in the Bible that quite clearly explains the purpose of spiritual gifts. Ephesians 4 discusses the importance of building up the body of Christ, His church. Verses 11 and 12 explain “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Again, this passage reiterates that the reason we receive spiritual gifts is to serve the body of Christ, specifically to build it up.

Now that the purpose of spiritual gifts has been clearly defined, we must next address the question of who gives the spiritual gifts? 1 Corinthians 12 mentions a large variety of spiritual gifts, however, it is interesting to note that in this passage Paul places a great emphasis on who it is that gives these gifts: the Holy Spirit. After each gift, he mentions that it is given “by the same spirit.” At the conclusion of his massive list, he very clearly states in verse 11 that “All these [spiritual gifts] are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” People are not randomly assigned gifts, but the Holy Spirit distributes gifts uniquely to each person. Everyone is wonderfully different!

Now that we have an understanding of the purpose of spiritual gifts and who gives them, it is important to mention that we are called to desire all of the gifts. Later on in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he states that Christians ought to “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy” (1 Corinthians 14:1). It is out of love for others that we serve others through spiritual gifts, so we ought to be desiring all of them, since they are all good. It is interesting to note, however, that some gifts are considered greater than others, such as prophecy. 1 Corinthians 12:31, for example, actually commands people to “…eagerly desire the greater gifts…”

Since we have talked in great detail about the gifts and have a fairly good understanding of them, it may be beneficial to list some of the spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible. While there are a few other various gifts, some of the most well-known ones are found in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. Romans 12:6-8 lists the gifts of prophecy, serving, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy. 1 Corinthians 12:8–10 lists the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues.

Now that we have defined the purpose of spiritual gifts, know that they are given by the Holy Spirit, understand that we should strive for all of them, and have looked at all of the examples of gifts in the Bible, let’s create a definition for spiritual gifts based off of what we learned so that we can address the initial question: “what is my spiritual gift?” In short, a spiritual gift is a unique and divine empowerment bestowed by the Holy Spirit upon believers to serve others so that the body of Christ may be built up. Since the purpose of spiritual gifts is to serve others, it would make sense that the way in which we would discover our gifts is through service, as we will quickly discover our strong giftings as well as our weaknesses. Therefore, rather than asking “what is my spiritual gift?” let us instead ask “how can I discover my spiritual giftings?” The best way to discover our spiritual gifts is to start serving, or if you are completely unaware of your giftings, it may be beneficial for you to find a mentor who can speak into your life and identify what your gifts may be.

 

Author: Francie Swanson, Intern at the River Alliance Church

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1st Samuel 1:10-15 Hannah’s Outcry

Suffering, pain, and sorrow are familiar experiences for all of us. Some may be more familiar and some may be less, but the truth is that we live in a world that has been corrupted by sin and as a result suffering touches us all. One of the greatest things about the Bible is that it does not shy away from showing the full breadth of human experience. There are depictions of pain, joy, love, anger and every other emotion. As we flip through it’s pages we see people standing in victory and people brought to their knees in anguish.

 

The book of First Samuel begins with the story of Hannah who was barren. She longed to have a child but it seemed impossible. Overwhelmed with sorrow, Hannah went to the LORD’s Temple and cried out before God.

 

10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

1 Samuel 1:10-11

 

We are given this small portion of her prayer before God. It begins with her addressing God as the “LORD of hosts”. According to the Talmud this is the first time, recorded in Scripture, that this title for God is used in a prayer. Even in her pain and anguish Hannah comes before God and acknowledges His glory. It is easy in times of pain to diminish God, or turn our anger towards Him, but Hannah comes before God proclaiming His glory and trusting in His mercy and love.

 

Then she pleads with God to look upon her suffering and bless her with a son. Then she says that she will “give him to the LORD all the days of his life” at first glance it seems like a bribe. But she is revealing something more profound in this statement then a simple bribe. She is recognizing that everything belongs to God. Even the son her heart longs for would be a gift from God, entrusted to her for a time. She is also revealing that her hearts desire is for a son who is deeply in love with God. The best thing she could want for her son is a life dedicated to knowing and loving the God who created the universe and granted him life. When God blesses us with children it is tempting to hold them tightly to our side and jealously cage their affections. Hannah has the faith to come before God with her request because she has confidence that He is a good and loving God who sees her suffering and cares about her pain. Her love for God and her faith in His goodness directs her desire for a son who knows and loves God.

 

While Hannah was praying to God, Eli the priest was watching her from His seat in front of the LORD’s Temple.

 

 

12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.”

 

When Hannah came before God and laid her heart out before Him she was not poised and collected. In fact her prayer was so fervent that she appeared to be intoxicated. When Hannah heard Eli’s rebuke she answered him.

 

15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.

 

Hannah was not drunk she was, “pouring her soul out” to the Lord. She was coming before the Creator of the universe and allowing Him to see all her vulnerability. She poured out her pain at being barren, and tortured by those who looked down on her empty womb. She brought all of her fear, pain and suffering and poured it out before the Lord. Her outpouring of pain was not a trickle or a carefully poured glass it was a crashing river of emotion being fully expressed.

 

When we consider that throughout history people have suffered through wars, starvation, horrible illnesses, and unimaginable abuses, Hannah’s barrenness does not seem like a big deal. But her prayer has been preserved for generations because she had the faith to pour her soul out before God and He listened. She was not alone in her suffering. She was not forgotten. Her pain was not insignificant. She mattered to God and you do too.

 

We can have the same confidence in God’s love as Hannah did. When we are burdened with pain we can pour our souls out before the Lord. We do not need flowery words or melodic prayers. All we need is a heart yearning for God’s peace and the willingness to be vulnerable before Him.

 

Oh LORD of hosts

Thank You for caring about my suffering

Thank You that Your eyes are not blind to my tears

And Your ears are not deaf to my plea

I bring you my pain and my sorrow

All the suffering and anxiety I lay at Your feet

From the moment You breathed the breath of life into humanity You took notice

From my first breath You heard my cry

Allow me the faith to come before You with my pleas

Grant me the peace to stand vulnerable in Your presence

Thank You for the new life You have bought for me

Through the sacrifice of Your Son Jesus Christ

Thank You for the hope of eternal life in Your presence

Where I will be free from suffering and pain

Where I will be truly free to love You

Uninhibited by the snares of my own sin

I pray that in all things Your name will be Glorified

And Your will be done

In the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior

Amen


Author: Nathan Phillips, Associate Pastor at the River Alliance Church

 

 

 

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Bible Part 2

I grew up in a home with two other brothers, and three sisters. And each of us were about 18months. We were always close in age but we were also really close in general. When we were kids our favorite pastime was dressing up like knights or Jedi and fighting with whatever we could find. I remember one time we had broken almost all of our Light Sabers so we resorted to the next best thing. Bats and long sticks. As you can imagine this didn’t go very well.

The worst time I can remember my younger brother Jeffery and I were teaming up on my older brother Joshua. During the sword fight Jeffery started running away and seeing victory in his grasp Joshua ran after him. But we had a plan. Jeffery would lure Joshua around the house, meanwhile I would be waiting around the house on this ledge. The plan was when Joshua ran around the house I would leap off the ledge and attack him from the sky.

The plan worked perfectly. As I saw Jeffery coming around the corner I got ready to jump and as soon as I saw Joshua I attacked.

I came down from the sky aiming for his bat thinking that if I hit it hard enough it would disarm him. At the last moment Joshua moved his hand and instead of my bat making contact with his bat it came down full force on his wrist. It was successful in disarming him but in the process it broke his wrist.

Now that we are older we don’t fight with light sabers or bats but instead we do “verbal jousting” we argue about religion and politics. Last election all three of us voted for different people and we all have slightly different theology so as you can imagine it gets pretty intense.

Usually it is very heated and productive but we hit a wall when we disagree on the credibility of sources. One person might have an opinion based of some statistic they found or an article they read but if we don’t all agree that the source is credible the conversation ends because we don’t have a common belief about the authority of the source.

That is why we decided to start our sermon series on systematic theology with the Bible. Whenever we talk about God, sin, salvation, or anything else in theology we have to point at the Bible. But if we don’t all agree on what we believe about the Bible we aren’t going to be able to get anywhere. One person could bring up a Bible passage but if people don’t agree that the Bible is the word of God then the verse means nothing.

Today we are going to look at 2 Timothy 3 and discuss a little more what we believe about the Bible.

To begin with lets look at some context. Paul wrote 2 Timothy while he was imprisoned for the second time in Rome, shortly before he was executed. He wrote it to Timothy one of his close friends and disciples.

The reason Paul is writing to Timothy is to give him advice and instruction when it comes to ministry. It is a pretty short letter but is just packed to the rim with insight. Today we are going to be taking a look at chapter three. It begins with a warning in verses 1-9.

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.” 

Clearly the future Paul is describing does not seem very pleasant. I think the verse that best describes the nature of humanity in this passage is verse 5 “Having a form of godliness but denying its power.” In our world today we continue to see people who are searching for an answer to the problems of life. We try to reduce suffering, expand fairness and morality. Many people attempt to mimic the moral truths of Christuanity without believing Jesus or the Bible. They want a form of godliness but deny the power of God. They are looking for truth, finding false truth, and then teaching those false truths to the people around them. After Paul warns Timothy about this future he addresses Timothy directly in verses 10-13.

“But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

When it says in verse 10 that Timothy has closely “followed” the word for followed means something like observed intently. Paul is telling Timothy that those who hold true to the truth of the gospel will face persecution. Timothy shouldn’t doubt this because Paul’s very life is evidence of this. Then in verse 13 Paul says that evil men and imposters will just get worse and worse. They will continue to be deceived and to deceive others. It is almost like this gap between those who want to live for Christ and those who are living for lies and evil will grow greater and greater.

Given Paul’s warning in the beginning of the chapter and his assurance that evil people will get worse and worse, and his assurance that those who live for Christ will be persecuted why doesn’t Paul just quit? Why doesn’t Timothy just close the letter and become a merchant?

Because they have a belief and love for Jesus Christ that makes those other things look so insignificant that they are not asking “How do I avoid this future?” they are asking “how can I bring the light of truth into this darkness of deception?”

Paul tells him exactly how to do this in verses 14-15,

“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Paul tells Timothy to continue in two things, the things that he has learned and been assured of and in the Holy Scriptures.

So what has Timothy learned and been assured of?

The Gospel of Christ. Paul also says that he knows who he learned them from. Timothy had been blessed to have many people teach him about the Gospel of Jesus. Two women, his mother and grandmother, taught Timothy from an early childhood about the Gospel. They lived out strong faith lives and wanted to pass that on to Timothy. Paul in his first letter to Timothy calls him his son in the faith, because he came along side Timothy and mentored him. He shared with him the love of Christ.

We talk a lot about the River being the kid’s church as well. Every Sunday we pray that God will bless these kids and reveal Himself to them. How amazing would it be if my children and your children could grow up and say, “I know and love Jesus because my family, because the people at the River cared about me enough to tell show me the love of Jesus every time they saw me.”

Paul tells Timothy to continue in the Gospel of Christ and the Holy Scriptures. But what is Paul referring to when he says Holy Scriptures? He means the entirety of the Old Testament. This term the Holy Scriptures at this time meant the Old Testament. Keep this in mind when we go to the next verses. Both the Old Testament and what Timothy had learned severed the same purpose to make Timothy wise for salvation in Christ Jesus.

So Paul tells Timothy that despite the nature of the future despite the persecution that is to come he should continue in what he has been taught and assured of and in the Holy Scriptures because the relationship he has with Jesus Christ brings salvation and that salvation is much greater then any evil or persecution.

Than Paul talks specifically about Scripture in verses 16-17.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

When Paul talks about Scripture in this passage he outlines where Scripture comes from and what it is profitable for.

Rob talked about the inspiration of scripture last week from 2 Peter. It means that Scripture as it was originally given did not come from human logic or reason but rather it came from God. The best way I can describe this is, “God gave His message to human authors who perfectly conveyed it in their own words.”

Paul says Scripture is profitable for doctrine, meaning it informs us about who God is and how as creations of God should operate. It is profitable for reproof, meaning t provides proof or reasons for what we believe. Scripture is profitable for correction, meaning it tells us to turn away from sin and turn towards God. Scripture informs us on how to live lives that are right before God and honor Him.

The ultimate purpose of Scripture is that it points us to Jesus Christ so that we can grow to be in a more intimate with Him and become more like Him. And it equips us to glorify God with our actions.

We have to ask again what does Paul have in mind when he says Scripture? Paul is talking about the Old Testament.

So how did we get to place we are now where by Scripture we mean the Old and New Testament?

Two weeks ago Rob talked about 2 Peter 1:20-21 which says,

“knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

We believe that the New Testament is Scripture because we believe that the process of God speaking through people by the power of the Holy Spirit which we see in the Old Testament was continued in the New Testament.

The early church had some criteria when confirming the books of the New Testament.

  1. Could the writing be link to an apostle/eyewitness?
  2. Were the books widely accepted by the church?
  3. Did the books contradict the Old Testament the teachings of Jesus or the writing of His apostles?

All the books in the New Testament had to meet all these and more criteria but these were the three main criteria.

So why do we not accept some of the Gnostic gospels like the Gospel of Thomas or Philip? The answer is pretty simple, they do not meet the criteria. They were not widely accepted by the church, they were not written based of eyewitness accounts, and they state something that is contrary to the beliefs of Christianity.

Some people make the claim that the early church just didn’t want any books in the Bible that disagreed with what they believed. And to this I say “well duh” They early church was made up of leaders who knew Jesus, heard His teachings and followed His ministry. So if they believed Jesus why would they accept any writings that contradicted Him?

So we believe the New Testament is Scripture because we believe that God took care of this process. God guided and directed the writing and preservation of the New Testament.

We believe the Old Testament because Jesus and the founders of the Church all believed the Old Testament. Two weeks ago Rob and I had several people ask us about the Apocryphal books. Some of the additional books in the Catholic Bible. Whether these were considered the word of God, or why don’t we have them in our Bible.

And this is an important question. Some of the Apocryphal writings are very valuable; some of them are even mentioned or quoted in other parts of Scripture.

One of the main reasons we do not include them in our Bible is because the early church and even the Jews did not consider them Scripture.

They read them and studied them but they were not considered Scripture. You see in the first century and throughout Jewish history there is the idea of a hierarchy of religious writing. A Jewish theologian named David Stern described it as Heresy, Sacred Text and Canon. Heresy would be something that directly contradicts the rest of the Bible. Heretical books would be like the Gnostic Gospels or the so-called “Lost Bible” these books are written by unreliable sources and make claims that are contradictory to our belief. Sacred texts would be things like the books of Maccabees where it has some really good historical and religious value but if you disagreed with it you wouldn’t be committing heresy. This would be like if a church had everyone read a Francis Chan or John Piper book. These books could be valuable to for us to read but God does not inspire them. The books that are considered Canon would be books we believe that are inspired by God and describe perfectly the Christian life.

Both the writings of the New Testament and the Old Testament have the same common story. All of Scripture points to salvation through Jesus Christ. The entire Bible describes the Human condition as being enslaved to sin and separated from God. And points to the only way that we can be reunited with God which is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.

So that is what we believe about the Bible but how do we apply this?

I think it goes back to the warning Paul gave at the beginning of chapter 3. We are living in a world that is chasing after lies. People everywhere are being deceived and then deceiving others. So how do we survive in a world taken over by evil and deception? We follow the truth. We know that humans were created to glorify God and live in relationship with Him but that we are separated by our sin. Our own sinful nature and selfishness stops us from having the relationship with God that we were meant to have. The only way that we can be in a right relationship with God is if we are freed from our sin and in order for us to be free from our sin we need a perfect sacrifice to take the punishment of sin upon Himself. And that sacrifice was Jesus Christ. He was perfect and although He didn’t deserve the punishment He willingly took the punishment of our sin upon Himself. Then He defeated the power of sin and death by rising from the dead three days later.

The way we know this truth is because God revealed it to us through the Bible. The church can change in many ways. We can change the cloths our pastors wear, the buildings we meet in or the style of songs we sing. But if we do not hold fast to the Word of God we will loose the truth and we will be taken over by deception.

The word of God is what holds us all accountable. Rob and I are accountable to you to the district and to the elders. But more then that all of us are accountable to the word of God.

Not because the paper or binding or the ink is magic. We all are accountable to the Bible because through it God convicts us of our nature and reveals to us the good news of Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

 

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The Bible Part 1

 

Some times it can be hard to define theology. Theology is literally the study of God. Although on a broader scale when we delve into Theology we don’t just study God himself, but the things of God like the church and salvation and the end times. There are specific fancy words for separate studies like ecclesiology and soteriology and eschatology, but for the most part they all come under the larger umbrella of Theology.

I believe theology is very important for us. Growing up in the church I believed in Jesus and knew the basics of the Bible and belief, but I had not really thought much about theology. And basically I just took in whatever the church talked about and never really took the time to consider what I really believed overall about God and the things of God. It wasn’t until much later in life that I started to consider what I believe at a deeper level. And I don’t think that I am alone in that.

So we are embarking on a new sermon series. In order to provide a framework for this series, we will be using the Statement of Faith of The Christian and Missionary Alliance. If you are interested you can find a link to this statement on our website. The statement is made up of the different aspects of theology that our denomination decided were important enough to use in outlining what we believe. So we will be focusing in on those areas as well as maybe a few other areas that they didn’t cover, to provide the framework for our theological discussion.

So I think it will be really good for us to go through this sermon series and along the way consider what we personally believe. Actually, I think a really good assignment for this series would be for each of us to begin to formulate our own personal statement of faith. So as we talk about these things, you might want to consider jotting down your thoughts on these areas and consider if you were to write your own statement of faith what would it look like? What would you include? What would you not include? And why? Maybe at the end of this series we will take the time and ask about those things. And along the way, if questions come up, please email or text me or Nathan so that we can address those in sermons or one on one.

With all of that in mind, Please turn with me in your Bibles to the book of 2 Peter, chapter 1. Now it probably makes sense for a study on theology to begin with talking about God, but as Nathan and I were discussing where to go with this series, we decided to start with Scripture. We decided to do this because the Bible is going to be our resource for this sermon series. We are going to figure out what we believe about God, the church, salvation and all of those other things, by digging into Scripture. So it makes sense for us to consider what we believe about the Bible if we are going to use this as a source for the rest of our discussions.

So that is why we are beginning with 2 Peter. The book begins by saying that it was written by Peter. Now I want to point out that some Scholars doubt that authorship. There are a variety of reasons for their concerns. Some point to how closely it resembles the book of Jude, others point to how different it is from I Peter. But the arguments they make, while reasonable, also have reasonable explanations. If you would like to talk more about that or look it up on your own, there are some great commentaries that dig into it. After the research that I did, I would put myself in the camp that accepts the authorship of Peter.

So that leads to my next question. Who was Peter? He was probably the most well-known of all the disciples. There are lots of stories in the Gospels and in the book of Acts that include Peter as a character.

Next, who is Peter writing to in this book? The opening of this chapter tells us that he is writing to other people who have this faith in Jesus Christ. In the verses leading up to our passage for today Peter talks with them about their faith and how they should be growing in their walk with the Lord, adding knowledge and virtue and self-control.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at our passage, beginning with verse 16,

“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”

When Peter says “we” he is referring too himself and the other apostles who knew Jesus and are now spreading the Gospel.

He says they did not follow cleverly devised myths, which are fables or stories that are not true. Stories like these are made up.

Instead of simply believing made up stories, they trusted their eyewitness accounts. Peter and the other disciples were literally there with Christ. They saw his life and ministry. They were not spreading urban legends that they had heard second hand. They were literally testifying about what they had personally witnessed.

Think about this, Peter had a front row seat to all the miracles like the feeding of the 5,000, the walking on water, the raising of Lazarus, and all of the other amazing things that Jesus did. He also had a front row seat to listen to Jesus’ teachings, his parables, the times in the synagogues, or in front of crowds or even arguing with the Pharisees. And then Peter was also there after the crowds had left when Jesus took the time to break things down and make sure they understood what he was saying. Peter also got a first row seat for the triumphal entry and Holy week and Jesus’ arrest, trial and death. And then he was there on Easter morning at the empty tomb, seeing the linens where Jesus was laid, but the body gone. And he was there in the locked room when Jesus popped in. And he was there when Jesus ascended to Heaven after giving them the Great Commission.

So when he told people about Jesus, he was literally telling them what he saw and heard and experienced. He was making known to them the power and majesty of Jesus that he saw firsthand. He was truly an eyewitness to all of it.

We also know that Peter suffered for telling people about Jesus. If it was a lie or something he had made up, it would have been silly to keep up that façade. But apparently he was so adamant about sharing these words that he eventually faced the same death as Jesus, with one exception. Peter was crucified upside down, because he did not believe he was worthy of dying in the exact same way as Jesus.

It is important for us to understand who these people are who were testifying about Jesus? It helps us understand the reliability of Scripture. When we read the Bible we are reading the accounts of eyewitnesses like Peter who are telling us literally about what they saw, heard, and experienced and we know that they are trustworthy authors because they were willing to die for what they were sharing. Peter was telling the truth. He was not spreading myths.

Let’s keep going. Take a look at verses 17 and 18

“For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.”

He is referring to an event from the life of Christ called the transfiguration. That event is recorded for us in Matthew 17, Mark 9 and Luke 9. On this day, Jesus took his inner circle, Peter, James and John and went up to the top of a mountain to pray. And when they got up there Jesus was transfigured. His appearance changed right before their very eyes. His face shown like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And then Moses and Elijah joined him and they just hung out and talked with Jesus. It must have been quite a sight. But why does Peter mention this here? Why did they get to witness it?

Because it shows Jesus’ connection with God and his honor and glory. They literally hear from God in that moment that this Jesus is the Son of God. And so when Peter talks about Jesus’ power and majesty, he knows what he is talking about because not only did he see all of Jesus’ life and miracles and everything, but he was also there on that mountain for that transfiguration moment when God Himself testified about who Jesus is.

So let’s move on to verse 19,

“And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,”

What is the prophetic word a reference to? The Scriptures. While prophecy does mean talking about future events, it also refers to communicating revealed truth. The Scriptures are reliable and true. Like the Psalmist writes, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” The Scripture is like a lamp shining in the dark. I love how Peter warns them to pay attention to the light.

In this letter Peter references Christ’s second coming. The day dawning is probably a reference to that second coming, while the morning star is probably a reference to Christ. One day we will see Christ face to face for all eternity but For now, we rely on the prophecies of Scripture.

Okay with all of that in mind then let’s look at verses 20-21,

“knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Notice that Peter uses the words “first of all”. It is like a little pause for effect. What he is about to talk about is foundational for believers. He then goes on to speak to us of the divine nature of Scripture.

What makes the prophecy of Scripture different than just something that someone says? It does not come from someone’s own interpretation. What this means is that the prophecies of Scripture are not just made up from a person. The prophecies of Scripture come from God.

And this follows a process which is, “Men were carried along by the Holy Spirit” who told them what to say or what to write. What we have recorded for us is not just the words of people, but God chose men and then carried those men along by the Holy Spirit, revealing to them what they were to say or write and helping them throughout the process.

The word translated here as carried is actually a Greek word from which we get our word ferry. So the Holy Spirit ferried them along, bringing them to a particular place.

Not that they were just robots or dictation machines. He used their own unique personalities and writing styles, but make no mistake about it, He carried them along through His Holy Spirit.

That means that this book is different than other books. Not just different than fiction or even regular non-fiction books. But different also than commentaries about the Bible or books or sermons written by good Christian men and women. Those things are still their words. Hopefully the Holy Spirit is leading them and they are writing things that are good and helpful to our lives, but the Bible is on a different level than those kinds of writings.

When people talk about the “Inspiration of Scripture” that is what these verses are addressing. God inspired men to write this book. He worked through them in an unusual way to give us His Word. There is an authority and reliability in this book that is different than every other book in this world.

Now along those lines, there were other books and letters written around the same time as some as these.

The word canon refers to a rule or measuring stick. In the early church the decision was made for a list of criteria to decide on which books would be included in the Bible. They were trying to figure out which books should be considered inspired, and which ones should not. In order for a book to be included in the canon of Scripture it had to measure up to those criteria that had been decided upon.

Those criteria were things like: the book had to conform to orthodoxy of what the church already believed. It was still early in Christianity, not long since Christ had ascended to Heaven, and so they knew what they believed and were not going to water it down with things that took them away from those foundational beliefs. Another rule was that the book had to be from either a prophet or an apostle or someone closely connected to them. They didn’t want books written by others who were farther removed.

There were other rules, but you can get the gist of the process. Over the years different councils of church leaders discussed which books to include and eventually in 397 A.D. the canon was closed.

There are some other good books that can help us in understanding God. For instance the Roman Catholic Church includes the apocrypha, which is made up of some books that are not included in the Protestant Bible. There are reasons they were not included. For instance, the Jews do not consider those books inspired. There are even many catholic scholars that reject the books. There are other reasons you can get into if you are interested. There are also other letters from great leaders in the early church that are not included. These can be helpful, but we should not treat them the same as the books that have been canonized.

Ultimately, God superintended the process of the writing of Scripture, carrying the men along through his Holy Spirit, why would he then stop once it was written? I believe that he continued to carry along the process through the early church as they decided on which books to include and which ones not to include and then in the translation work along the way and everything that has transpired to bring us this book. The same God who took care of the process early on, I believe continued to provide the way to bring us what we have.

We will continue this next week to talk about the Word of God from 2 Timothy 3. But for now I want to end with the realization that this is the Bible that God wanted us to have and so we should embrace the Scriptures and let God use them in our lives to help us know him. And that is what we are going to do as we continue through this series.