Refusal to greet as the canary in the coal mine

Refusal to greet as the canary in the coal mine

“Leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
– Matthew 5:24

“The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.”
– 3 John 1:15

An unwillingness to greet a fellow believer is relational canary in the coal mine. It shows there needs to be reconciliation.

We greet on the way, as it were, to the communion table. To partake in the same bread and wine together.

If we’re unwilling to greet or be greeted, we should “leave our gift at the altar” and go make things right, at least with due diligence (Romans 12:18).

This is part of “discerning the body” (1 Corinthians 11:29).

See also

Why I Am a Covenantal Credobaptist

The sign of the Abrahamic covenant (circumcision) marked out a nation, a male line to the Messiah, and signaled the need for a circumcised heart.

The sign of the New Covenant (baptism) celebrates the reality of a circumcised heart, the arrival of the male Offspring, and membership in a global, singular nation of believers who are permanent members.

Hence we baptize men and women, we don’t baptize unbelieving spouses, and we only occasion it on a credible profession of faith — evidence of one’s rebirth.

New wine, new wineskins. New Covenant, new sign with “escalated” meaning.

Dispensationalism and paedobaptism have this in common: They don’t sufficiently “escalate” Old Testament types.

Example: The land promises of the Old Testament point to fact that God’s people will inherit the whole Earth. Classic dispensationalism downplays or rejects this.

Paedobaptism fails to see the escalated “genealogical principle” fulfilled in Christ and the New Covenant. Biblically, the New Covenant only includes those “born of God”:

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

The 1689 federalism aspect: all prior Biblical covenants prepared for THE covenant of grace, the New Covenant.

Christians working together

Apologia Utah. First Baptist Church of Provo. Tri-Grace Ministries. The Mission Church. And others.

I am thankful for John and Laurie Kauer who coordinated this.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

– Philippians 1:3-5

7 ways you can pray for evangelists

1. That our homes would be in order, seeking to imitate our elders (1 Timothy 3:4).

2. That we would love our local churches and not be lone rangers (Hebrews 10:25, 1 Peter 2:17).

3. That God would provide encouraging and faithful friends (Proverbs 18:24).

4. That we would not lose our zeal. “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” (Romans 12:11)

5. That we would not be acerbic, but rather courteous and kind. “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6)

6. That God would give us opportunities to boldly proclaim the gospel: “Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ.” (Colossians 3:3-4)

7. That personal sin or ministry failure would not sap our joy; that forgiveness would restore our overflowing joy and open our mouths (Psalm 51:12-13).

The Wise Man

The Wise Man

A wise man listens to his parents (Proverbs 1:8, 4:1), loves those who reprove him (9:8), heeds life-giving reproof (15:31), and receives commandments (10:8).

He brings healing with words (12:18). His teaching is a fountain of life (13:14). Those who walk with him become wise (13:20). His mouth commends knowledge (15:2).

His sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness (16:21). He makes his speech judicious (16:23).

He quietly holds back, and does not give full vent to his spirit (29:11). He protects himself with wise words (14:3). He is cautious and turns away from evil (14:16).

He appeases the king’s wrath (16:14). He earns the king’s favor (14:35). He is impartial (24:23).

His fruit is the tree of life (11:30). He scales the city of the mighty (21:22). His wealth is a crown (14:24). He does not devour his treasure (21:20). He enhances his might (24:5).

He inherits honor (3:35), grows in wisdom (9:9), gladdens his father (10:1), builds up his house (14:1), wins souls (11:30), and establishes plans with counsel (20:18).

He will dwell among the wise (15:31).

But most of all, the wise man builds his house on the rock: he hears the words of Christ and does them (Matthew 7:24).

“Behold, something greater than Solomon is here.”
– Matthew 12:42

On Avoiding Fools

On Avoiding Fools

A fool slanders (Proverbs 10:18), treats wrong-doing like a joke (10:23), is reckless and careless (14:16), doesn’t take pleasure in understanding (18:2), is blind to his own ignorance (12:15), flaunts his folly (13:16), and feeds on foolishness (15:14).

He spurns godly rebuke (17:10), walks into fights (18:6), ruins himself (18:7), lacks integrity (19:1), rants, ridicules (29:9), and takes pleasure in expressing ignorant opinions (18:2).

He is inveterately foolish (26:11), hopelessly arrogant (26:12), aggravating (27:3), self-trusting (28:26), and unrestrained (29:11).

His companions suffer harm (13:20). He brings grief to his parents (17:25). He deserves the rod (14:3). Honorable men avoid him (20:3). It is not fitting to give him honor (26:1). Those who play according to his rules become like him (26:4).

He can’t be trusted to relay information (26:6). Proverbs are useless in his mouth (26:7). He devours precious treasure (21:20) and despises good sense (23:9).

So you definitely, definitely, definitely should not give him what is holy, or cast pearls before him. He will only trample them and attack you (Matthew 7:6).

Generational Patience

Generational Patience

Christians need generational patience.

Not just patience with individuals, i.e. “Maybe that Christian will understand this doctrine correctly in 40 years.”

More like, “Maybe that Christian faithfully laid the groundwork for their great-grandchildren to understand this doctrine.”

Christ is building up his body “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood.” (Ephesians 4:13)

We’re not there yet. It is taking generations. So we can patiently reform, and be thankful for previous generations of believers who have equipped us to move forward.

“Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.” (Philippians 3:15)

Eventually.

Thick Skin and Tender Hearts

Thick Skin and Tender Hearts

Having thick skin is the best way to have a tender heart.

Thin skin (being easy to offend) is conducive to bitterness, pettiness, resentment, impatience, and irritability.

“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
– Proverbs 19:11

“Love is patient and kind… It is not irritable or resentful… Love bears all things… endures all things.”
– 1 Corinthians 13:4,5,7

On the flip side: Love is not “is not arrogant or rude” (13:4, 5).

It doesn’t use thick skin as a pretense for lack of courtesy and coldheartedness.

“Be gentle, and… show perfect courtesy toward all people.” (Titus 3:2)

Reasons to gather on the Lord’s Day this Christmas

Reasons to gather on the Lord’s Day this Christmas

– Because the Lord’s Day is a real day (Revelation 1:10), and the Lord’s Supper is a real supper (1 Corinthians 11:20).

– Because the church will be gathering *as* the church — the sacred assembly of Christ’s people.

– Because the choice of Sunday is not incidental or merely prudential, but the day of our Lord’s resurrection.

– Because we spiritually need such meetings as a means of grace. “Meetings of the church are enjoined upon us by God’s Word; and from our everyday experience we well know how we need them.” (John Calvin)

– Because it is especially fitting to celebrate the incarnation of our Lord by gathering and corporately worshipping him on the Lord’s Day.

– Because it is unfitting to celebrate our Lord’s incarnation by avoiding the gathering of his Bride. “Canceling church to celebrate Christmas is like avoiding your wife to celebrate your anniversary. It’s illogical.” (Dale Partridge)

– Because the Christian church is our forever enduring family which will outlast our own household units.

– Because it shows our supreme allegiance to Christ to our extended family who are visiting.

– Because Christmas is a time of year where visitors are especially anticipated. “Don’t mock nominal Christians for showing up only on Easter/Christmas… and then follow that up by giving them no where to go when Christmas falls on the Lord’s Day.” (Brian Moats)

– Because we should wean ourselves from overdependence on sound systems, bands, and nursery. “It is possible to have a worship service on Christmas Day without the normal amount of staff and volunteers.” (Tom Buck)

– Because cancelling the church gathering actually makes it more lonely for Christians without family.

– Because not everyone celebrates Christmas, and to cancel our church gathering would be to bind their conscience to Christmas.

“When a church unnecessarily cancels Lord’s Day worship, it doesn’t ‘free up’ Christians, but burdens them with human traditions and displaces God as Lord of their conscience.” (Steve Meister)

“Strange to me that so many Christian pastors think that they can best honor the Lord by neglecting His Day (which He forbids) so that they can celebrate His birth (which He never commands).” (Tom Ascol)

– Because Easter is also on the Lord’s Day. “I hate to tell pastors this, but Easter is also on a Sunday this year.” (Rob Deverell)

– Because we have nothing better to do.