Who Defines You?
We’ve wrapped up our summer sermon series looking at our Union with Christ. I really enjoyed preparing each sermon as it reminded me of these fundamental truths that I often forget. I hope you also were blessed as we looked at eight things that are ours because we are united to Christ. As I reflected on this series, I realized that ultimately our union with Christ is about our identity. When we become Christian, we take on a new name, that of Christ. The gospel is about taking a new identity, that of the risen King. I think that is pretty awesome!
The message of a gospel-shaped identity is also relevant to the questions so many are asking in our world right now. Who/what defines one's identity? One interesting bit of recent news involved a woman who led an NAACP chapter in Washington. She said that she identified as black, even though she was born to white parents. When it came out she was not biologically black, many decried her as a fraud. But it seems to me there is an inconsistency here. If our culture says that one can choose their sexual identity why can one not choose their racial identity? (As a Christian I do not believe we ultimately get to chose our identity.) Underlying all this is the question of what defines us and who gets to decide that.
Many today believe that humans are basically good. That within each one of us is good and we need to let that out. This is a powerful and attractive cultural narrative. But we should also note that it stands in contradiction to Scriptures teaching that we are sinful from birth (Psalm 51:5). One implication of this cultural narrative is that we can then trust what feels right to us, because inside us we are good. And so we must do what feels right in order to achieve our full potential. Thus we see so many looking inward to find their identity.
But there is an unintended side effect of this. If my true identity is found wholly within, and not through some human ideal which unites us, a natural segregation of people occurs. This leads to a breaking of community and instead a creation of isolated, homogeneous groups. Diverse communities ultimately disappear because there is nothing to bring unity in diversity. These groups are not true communities. A true community has something in common. I think this is why so many people struggle with loneliness today.
One aspect of the gospel is that Christ is building a new community in him. And this brings us back to our union with Christ. This community is based off the ideal human, Christ. He is the supreme example of what it means to be human. The church is this new community. It’s a community that is welcoming to all who would take on Christ’s identity. It’s a true community because we all share something in common, our identity in Christ. It’s a community that can celebrate diversity because we see diversity in the one, triune God: father, son and spirit. It’s a community with a united purpose and mission, to invite everyone on our journey to know Christ above all else.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
Strength in Weakness
The past few months were packed with a number of events that brought to the forefront some of the deepest questions we are dealing with as a country. Questions about gender, identity, marriage, and love. As these events and people's reactions have blown up across our screens and conversations, it leaves those who hold to historic Christian beliefs in a unique place. For one, it has shown how quickly those who hold to these historic Christian beliefs are being pushed aside.
There have been many reactions to all these events. But one thing I haven’t seen many people talking about is this: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor 12:9) These were the words God spoke to the Apostle Paul when he found himself in a position of weakness. Paul wrote, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Perhaps in our current situation, where we as Christians feel new weakness, where we face new insults, persecutions and difficulties, perhaps there is now a place for us to rejoice. For when we are weak, then we are strong.
Such rejoicing in weakness sounds so foreign to us as American Christians. For so long we’ve enjoyed the benefits of a culture that largely overlapped with our beliefs. We’ve enjoyed not just a seat at the table, but at the head of the table. We’ve been in a position of power. Perhaps we made the mistake of thinking that was normal. Perhaps when we’ve felt secure in our power, we didn’t leave room for Christ to work.
Let me take it one step further. Perhaps this power, that we have enjoyed for so long, has actually led us to lose a vital part of what it means to be Christian–that the way to glory comes through the cross. Instead, we’ve gone right for the glory, looking to bypass the cross.
But here is the problem with that - glory without a cross is not a Christian way. Because without the cross there is no salvation. For Jesus took a cross, which looked weak and foolish, and turned it into the gateway to salvation. Christ subverted the powers of this world, by taking what looked like loss and turning it into victory. Because we are united to Christ we are called to follow the same route. We walk the path of the cross because we know it is the gateway to glory. So, maybe all that’s happening in our culture is for our good. It’s putting us on the path we should have been on long ago – a path that leads to the cross. Perhaps we should embrace our weakness, not lament it.
Philippians tells us that Christ emptied himself. I believe the way ahead is to get back to this model. We should be known as people who empty themselves, not those who try to fill themselves up. When we do that I believe our lifestyle would better match up with the gospel which we share. Because at the center of the gospel is a cross. So let us rejoice with the Apostle Paul because when we are weak, then we are strong in Christ.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
Sharing the Gospel...With Yourself
We’ve finished our two-week series that looked at some barriers we face in evangelism. Each message has been helpful to me as I work to get better at sharing about my faith. One other barrier we face in our evangelism is that we do it so little, every time it feels like we are starting over. We never get comfortable at it. What if you could share the gospel every day? You’d probably get better at it. Well, you can share it every day. How? By sharing the gospel with yourself. Now I don’t mean practicing some rehearsed speech in the mirror. I mean actually taking various gospel truths and applying them to the situation and struggles you face. Because ultimately you need the same thing as the person who has never heard the gospel. We all need Jesus and we never get beyond that.
Let me explain with a personal example. I often seek to find my worth in what I do. If I’m succeeding in my work, I think I have worth. If I’m not, I can feel like a failure. I’m often driven to be successful because I believe that will give me more worth. This appears in various places in my life. I can feel this temptation in my work as a pastor, but I also feel this temptation elsewhere. I’ve learned one of the reasons I like pushing myself on my bike is because in my heart I believe that if I can be faster than others, that gives me more worth. Perhaps that sounds silly, and it is! But it’s also the way my sinful heart works.
So what’s the solution? It’s ultimately the gospel. Nothing else will truly change me. So how does the gospel speak to this struggle? Here are a couple ways:
●The gospel shows me that nothing I do will ever be enough. I’ve learned my successes fade quickly. They have a short shelf-life. Soon I’m yearning for something new to give me a renewed sense of worth. The gospel confirms this experience - I could never do enough to be worthy. I need something else to give me lasting worth.
●The gospel offers a worth that is greater than anything I could provide. The gospel offers me Christ Jesus and says everything that is his can be mine. That far outshines any success I could achieve.
●The gospel says I can have the greatest worth right now. The gospel doesn’t just promise some future reward. No, it says, right now, you are a son of God. God gets close to you, and smells the fragrance of Christ. God loves you like he loves his son or daughter. Right now, in Christ, God sees us as having the worth of Christ Jesus himself. So rest in that! Stop trying to find worth in cheap imposters.
I need to hear the gospel as much as anyone else. I never stop needing to hear the gospel. And you know, the better I get at sharing the gospel with myself, the better I get at sharing it with others. In fact, those gospel truths that I shared with myself, I could just as easily share with an unbeliever who is struggling with the same things I am. The root sins are the same: I need Jesus as much as the unbeliever.
We all need to get better at sharing the gospel. First, share the gospel with yourself. Then share it with other believers. Share with fellow believers where you are applying the gospel in your own life. Help other believers see how the gospel speaks to their struggles. When you get comfortable at doing that, sharing the gospel with an unbeliever will actually seem surprisingly natural.
I’d encourage you make sure you listen to this next sermon series. Each week we are looking at a gospel truth, and how it applies to our life. My goal is at the end of this series, we will have eight gospel truths that we can apply both to our own lives, and share with others around us.
One book that has been helpful for me in growing in my evangelism is The Unbelievable Gospel: Say Something Worth Believing by Jonathan Dodson. I'd encourage you to read it too. If you do, let me know. I'd love to discuss it with you!
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
Christ Is Alive
That Jesus Christ is alive is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Without it there is no Christianity. The Apostle Paul said as much in 1Corinthians 15:14.
“If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”
But He is alive and that’s the point. And every benefit we draw from the gospel is because Jesus Christ is alive. Below are four questions that are raised in Romans 8:31-35. The answers are beautiful. But they would not be if it were not for the simple fact that Jesus is alive.
1) If God is for us, who can be against us? God didn’t spare His own Son but freely gave Him up for us all. Why do you think He would hold back on you now?
2) Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? God is the one who justifies. He justifies us in Jesus.
3) Who is he that condemns? The only one who has the right to condemn you is Jesus Christ and He is not some corpse in a tomb, but He is alive at the right hand of the Father, praying for you. Still today He is connecting Himself willingly to sinful people, replacing the sin-filled record of our life with His righteous record. As long as He stands in our behalf, the Father judges us according to how good Jesus is. WOW!
4) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ…nothing and no one. Jesus died to save you. He lives to take you home. He loves His people with a passion.
So we live with confidence. No one can successfully oppose the church in its mission on Earth to make Christ known.
We live with peace. God sees His church as beautiful and righteous.
We live encouraged. Jesus is our protector and defender.
We live loved and loving. That is our real experience. We are loved by God, and as a result, are able to love like God.
All of this and so much more is because Jesus is alive. There is no reason to doubt it. We have God’s word on it. So enjoy it and do everything in your power to give it away. Christ’s love is solidly and eternally yours. And since you didn’t earn it, you can’t lose it. Your security in Christ is Christ’s gift to you. Gratefully, humbly receive and share Jesus.
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Tim
Why Utah Matters
This past weekend I had the opportunity to speak at a church in Greenwich, CT. In many ways Greenwich, CT is completely different from West Jordan, UT. For example it was about -20 degrees in Greenwich, while it was rather sunny and warm when I left Utah! Greenwich is home to many wealthy hedge fund managers who commute into NYC each day. The pastor there lamented that they would likely never be able to buy a house in the area because a small three bedroom house would cost around $750,000. I was thankful for our rather affordable housing here! But for all the differences between Connecticut and Utah we have this in common: we are both living in the least Christian areas of the United States. A recent survey I saw listed the twenty least evangelical metro areas in United States. Provo took the top spot. In fact, five of the twenty least evangelical metro areas are in Utah, which happens to be ALL the metro areas in Utah! The remaining fifteen come from places in the Northeast.
This means that Utah and Connecticut, the least Christian places in America, are some of the most important places for the future of Christianity in America. Why? Because every year around 4000 churches shut down. Only 1000 churches are started each year. This is a net loss of 3000 churches. There are less than 3000 Christian churches in Utah right now, so imagine if every single Christian church in Utah disappeared this year! That is essentially what is happening every year around our country. This means the United States will look like Utah in terms of the number of churches. As fewer people attend church in the United States, churches will find their message is less valued. Thus the church in the United States will see itself relegated more and more to the sidelines, but in Utah, this is how the Christian church has always operated.
Utah matters because we have the chance to learn how to be the church-on-the-sidelines in our society. As we learn how to do this, we have the opportunity to share what we learn with others as they find their churches relegated more and more to the sidelines. While some may see Utah as the final frontier--the last place in the United States to be reached by Christianity--we should also see it as the next frontier, a place where the church exists in the margins.
This is why we are continually trying new ways to reach out to our community. We’ve reached many new people through things like VBS, MOPS and the recent MRM Symposium. But we need bigger ideas, we need input from those who grew up here. Colossians 4:5-6 says, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” In short, we need to be a church that has answers for the questions people are asking in our communities. Too often churches only have answers to questions we wish people would ask. Our conversations need to be filled with grace. Our doing so does not just impact the future of JPC, but it could also have an impact on the Christian church in the rest of the United States.
In March, Reid Jones is leading a missions team of college students from the University of Alabama, Huntsville out here. One reason they are coming is because Reid wants to show his students a place where Christianity is on the sidelines. There will be many opportunities to help serve these students by providing them a place to stay and helping to cook meals. But also, one of the most helpful things you can do is teach them about Utah. Tell them your stories of living in a place where we are in the minority.
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Jon
Engaging Mormonism with Compassionate Boldness
Jordan Presbyterian Church hosted Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson co-authors of Answering Mormon's Questions and hosts of the radio program Viewpoint on Mormonism for a Engaging Mormonism with Compassionate Boldness Symposium.
UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE
If you have children, or have ever interacted with them, then you know that they don’t always make sense. I am not talking about when they instantly slip into some imaginary role of a superhero or princess or doctor or dinosaur. Those things actually do make sense in an imaginary way. What is most confusing to me is how so often siblings growing up in the same home, with the same parents, same teachers, same church, same foods, same everything, can look at life and respond to it so differently. I’m not even talking about “good and bad”, but just different.
I suppose we just have to remember that they are individuals, and enjoy that about them. And of course we need, as parents and fellow church members, to get to know them individually and to understand them. I have always believed that this is the highest honor you can pay to a child. They need and want the adults in their lives to care enough about them to pay attention, and try to know them. They are just “little people.”
All people want to be understood and loved. I think it is safe to say that if you don’t take the time to understand someone, you probably shouldn't give them advice or direction. There’s nothing more annoying than a self-proclaimed expert who doesn't know you but tries to tell you what to do. To speak to people constructively and productively you have to know them.
That’s why we are hosting the “Compassionate Boldness Symposium” presented by Mormonism Research Ministries. It is on Saturday, February 7 from 9:00 to 1:00pm.
We live in a culture where there is one dominate religious expression. It seems odd to a lot of people. Many have moved here to straighten them out, to teach them grace while showing very little of it. This is not a very Christian way to approach someone. A gracious attitude is much easier to have and keep when you have taken the time to know people.
So this is an opportunity to better understand the teachings of the LDS church, to appreciate the LDS people, all the while looking honestly at the differences that exist between LDS theology and historic Christianity. You are having these conversations all the time. I hope this learning opportunity makes you more humble, gracious, and effective. The Compassionate Boldness Symposium will give you a better understanding of the people you are speaking with. And honestly, this is Jesus-like. He became human. So when He gave Himself for us on the cross, He fully understood you, and why you needed a Savior so desperately.
Growing with you,
Tim
Waiting For Something?
We are all familiar with waiting. It is a part of life. Entire rooms have been devoted to it. The DMV, Medical offices, and the tire store all have waiting rooms. We wait for babies, for houses to be built, for resolutions to problems, for the cable company, for the slower spouse and for meals at a restaurant. Sometimes we tire of waiting and are wrongly accused of impatience. Other times we tire of waiting and are correctly accused of impatience. Pain, hunger, fear, busy schedules and excitement all feed our sense that we can’t wait any longer.
The wait has a purpose. Waiting for something good makes you value it more when you get it. (Waiting for your children to put their shoes on doesn’t count) Anticipating your wedding, waiting for a new car, counting the days before a vacation, looking forward to retirement or expecting a joyous reunion with someone you love helps you enjoy it more when you actually gain the thing you’ve been waiting for. And yet all of these things while good in themselves cannot permanently satisfy. You wait for them, gain them, enjoy them temporarily and then they are over. Even those things that last a lifetime, end.
Waiting for Something? That’s the title of our Advent Series this year. Every one of us is waiting for something. Have you set your heart on things that won’t last? Or have you given yourself to the very purpose for which you were made which is to know Christ better than you know anyone else and to love Him more than you love anyone or anything else? If so then you know that you must wait.
We are told much about how to wait. Patiently, actively and happily we are to wait on Christ. Some things He gives us instantly like the forgiveness of sins, a new heart and certainly a new relationship with God as our Father. But the final fulfillment of a permanent home where there is no sorrow, sadness, crying, pain or sin is in our future. It is a future with Jesus, living in His direct presence together with all who have trusted Him. This is our destiny, our hope, our certain rest. Waiting for it will take us a lot of different places and require more changes than a teenager’s wardrobe. But Jesus is worth the wait. Many tire, give up and chase lesser things that will never satisfy. But for those who “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…all these other things will be added unto them.” Matthew 6:33
Make Christ central. Revolve your life around Him. And you just wait and see if He isn’t worth it.
We began this series last Sunday with a message titled, “When you die waiting.” (It is available on our website, www.jordanpresbyterian.org)
Merry Christmas,
Tim
There Are No U-Hauls Behind Hearses
Fall is fully upon us. The mornings are colder. The leaves are falling. And Starbucks is selling Pumpkin Spice Lattes, which I recently learned actually have no trace of pumpkin in them! It also means that we renew our financial and prayer support for our missionaries. We believe the most important thing people can know is that God offers forgiveness and new life in Christ. And there are many people in Utah who still have not heard this message of grace. Because of this we send all our missions money to local efforts to spread the good news of Christ. Let me share an illustration with you that I recently read in John Piper’s book, Desiring God. I found it convicting and a good reminder that we are simply stewards of God’s gifts. The illustration is based on 1 Timothy 6:7, “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”
Suppose someone passes empty handed through the turnstile at a big-city art museum and begins to take the pictures off the wall and carry them importantly under his arm. You come up to him and say, “What are you doing?”
He answers, “I’m becoming an art collector.”
“But they’re not really yours,” you say, “and besides, they won’t let you take any of those out of here. You’ll have to go out just like you came in.”
But he answers again, “Sure, they’re mine. I’ve got them under my arm. People in the halls look at me as an important dealer. And I don’t bother myself with thoughts about leaving. Don’t be a killjoy.”
We could call this man a fool! He is out of touch with reality. So is the person who spends himself to get rich in this life. We will go out just the way we came in.
Over the next two weeks I’d encourage you to pray about how to support our church plants and RUF at the University of Utah. There isn’t a right amount to give; that is a decision between you and God. But know that investing in missions gives others the opportunity to know that same grace that you’ve experienced in Christ Jesus!
Your brother in Christ,
Jon
Jesus Loves the Little Children
When we joined a Presbyterian church in 2011, my wife and I were faced with the decision of whether to baptize our children or to be “conscientious objectors” to the Reformed doctrine of infant baptism. I dedicated myself to a study of the question over the next two years, reading many book-length treatments of the issue from both credobaptist and pedobaptist perspectives, as well as chapters on the subject from many systematic theologies on both sides.
At the end of those two years, I had become persuaded of the covenantal infant baptism position, but felt there was no single concise, accessible, and convincing resource on the topic to which I could point inquiring friends and family. I had even set out to write a book about it myself—I may still finish it some day—but then I discovered Daniel Hyde’s Jesus Loves the Little Children: Why We Baptize Children.
Hyde hits all the right notes in under 100 pages (in fact, the core of his argument fits in under 40 pages). He does a great job demonstrating the implications of covenant for the issue of baptism and the connection between the two important covenant signs of circumcision and baptism. I especially appreciated his section showing why anyone who believes in baby dedication should affirm infant baptism instead.
On the whole, this is the best single resource I know of for understanding covenantal infant baptism, and the irenic and winsome tone throughout makes me comfortable sharing it with friends and family of all backgrounds. This is the book I wish I had read first.
CONTENTS
THE COVENANT OF GRACE
First up, Hyde does a great job explaining covenant theology, the bedrock for covenantal infant baptism. The basic logic goes like this: if the old and new covenants are essentially one and the same covenant of grace, and if baptism is a sign and seal of the new covenant in the same way that circumcision was the sign and seal of the old covenant, then we should place the sign of baptism on our infant children just as the sign of circumcision was placed on infants.
I found Hyde’s explanation of the word sacrament helpful. “Sacrament” comes from the Latin sacramentum, which was “an oath of allegiance by Roman soldiers.”[1] The very word we use for sacred ordinances like baptism is rooted in the idea of covenant! What is remarkable in Hyde’s view is that this oath is not ours to make to God, but God’s oath made to us. As he points out, Romans 4:10–11 tells us Abraham’s circumcision was the seal of a righteousness imputed to him by God because of his faith. So as we talk about covenant, it’s important to keep in mind we are not talking about a covenant we enter into with God, but a covenant God enters into with us. God is the prime mover here, as in every other sphere.
Spending an entire chapter, Hyde shows persuasively from Scripture that the covenant God made with the Old Testament patriarchs and prophets is synonymous and continuous with the new covenant we are members of in the New Testament era. His key passage for showing this is Romans 11:11–24, where Paul explains that the Gentile church has been grafted into the same olive tree with Israel. Just as Ephesians 2:11–22teaches, there are not therefore two peoples of God with separate covenants and promises, but one people of God united in the same covenant of grace. Among many other passages, Hyde also cites Galatians 3 where Paul teaches that if we are Christ’s then we are Abraham’s offspring and heirs with him to one and the same promise.
CIRCUMCISION AND BAPTISM
Hyde also convincingly establishes the biblical link between the old covenant sign of circumcision and the new covenant sign of baptism. He provides a number of scriptural parallels between circumcision and baptism:
They are both initiatory rites signifying and sealing (confirming) entrance into a covenant with God.
In both, the outward aspects symbolize inward realities—circumcision of the heart (Deuteronomy 10:16; Romans 2:28–29) and baptism in the spirit (Acts 1:5; Titus 3:5).
They both symbolize the putting away (cutting away or washing away) of sin.
Both also symbolize curses for breaking the covenant. Circumcision symbolizes being cut off from God and the covenant community (Genesis 17:14). Baptism corresponds to Noah’s flood by which the whole world was judged (1 Corinthians 10:1–6; 1 Peter 3:20–22).
They both symbolize death and resurrection, putting off the old man and putting on Christ.
In addition to these parallels, Hyde shows most importantly that circumcision and baptism are directly equated in Colossians 2:11–12.
THE PROPER SUBJECTS OF BAPTISM
Following from the connections between the old and new covenants and between circumcision and baptism, Hyde comes to the question of who are the proper subjects of baptism. If our children are still members of the covenant the way the children of believers were members of the covenant anciently, then they should have the covenant sign of baptism placed upon them just as the covenant sign of circumcision was administered anciently.
Hyde proceeds to argue that our children are indeed members of the covenant, fully owning that he is making an argument from silence:
. . . after the people of God placed the sign of the covenant on their children for two thousand years, an explicit revoking of this practice is necessary if this practice is to end. Continuity between the Old and New Testaments exists unless the New Testament states otherwise by revoking a practice. Those who deny infant baptism have labeled this an argument from silence. But the silence is deafening! Arguments from silence are not weak arguments when it can be demonstrated that the reason for the silence is an assumed truth.[2]
But although Scripture may not make explicit statements, Hyde demonstrates a number of passages that imply or infer that children are still in the covenant. In addition to a careful study of passages describing household baptisms and the oft-cited statement that children of at least one believing parent are holy in 1 Corinthians 7:14, two important passages Hyde uses are Ephesians 6:1–4 and Colossians 3:20. In these passages, Paul teaches that children are still obligated to keep the commandment to honor their parents, which obligation implies they are members of the covenant community. Hyde calls special attention to the phrase in Ephesians 6:1, “obey your parents in the Lord,” arguing from the way “in the Lord” is used elsewhere that it can only mean they are in Christ and therefore in the covenant.
BABY DEDICATION OR INFANT BAPTISM?
One chapter I found especially intriguing is concerned with baby dedication. This is something I’ve never come across in any of the books I’ve read on the subject, but it immediately struck me as an obvious and important topic to cover in a book like this.
Hyde points out that the four biblical examples for baby dedication (Samuel, 1 Samuel 1:11, 24–28; Samson, Judges 13:3–5; John the Baptist,Luke 1:13–17; and Jesus, Luke 2:22–24) were each exceptions to the norm, and were all done in addition to circumcision. Hyde claims these examples of baby dedication actually serve as further evidence that children should be baptized in the new covenant. At the very least, one cannot make a valid argument from these texts that baby dedication can or should replace the covenant sign.
ONE COMPLAINT
I have only one gripe about this book. Coming from a credobaptist background, the only thing that could have convinced me (and ultimately did convince me) of the validity of pedobaptism is Scripture. Hyde’s book is, as I hope I have already shown, thoroughly biblical, but in a few places he appeals to various authorities outside the Bible for support of his position.
First, throughout the book he frequently quotes Reformed confessions and catechisms such as the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism. Sometimes he is careful to state that these are secondary sources, but other times he seems to quote them as if they are primary authorities in and of themselves. Now, I love these documents, and have personally come to see them as faithful distillations of Scripture (I would self-identify as a confessional Presbyterian), but Hyde’s not infrequent use of them weakens his argument with Baptists and non-denominational Christians who pride themselves on being “people of the book,” never appealing to extra-biblical sources for a defense of their faith and practice.
Second, Hyde includes a chapter of quotes from early church fathers, but most of the fathers seem to have in mind something closer to the Roman Catholic view of baptismal regeneration when they comment on infant baptism. Hyde’s point in bringing up the quotes is simply to show that infant baptism has been around since the earliest days of the church, but he has to do so much explaining that this point gets lost in the weeds, so to speak. I fear some will see this chapter as an appeal to tradition or human authority, though I am certain that was not Hyde’s intention. I’ve read other reviews that say they found this section very helpful, but I wish he would have stuck to quoting the Bible instead of venturing into this territory.
CONCLUSION
My one complaint aside, this is the best resource on infant baptism I have found. It is inviting and conversational in its tone and thoroughly scriptural and persuasive in its arguments. If you read only one book about covenantal infant baptism, make it this one.
God is at Work
Each time I return to the Southeast I have the opportunity to update people on how the work of church planting in Utah is going. They always want to know about Jordan Presbyterian and the larger effort.
Giving these updates is always fun for me, and honestly its sort of clarifying. When I have to think about the ministry here and how to explain what is happening and answer questions it helps me think accurately. I refuse to embellish these reports but just want to be honest. So here is what I told them.
Our church is growing slowly but surely. If you came to church a year ago and if you came to church this past Sunday you might not think so but we are ministering to more people. It just hasn’t translated consistently to Sunday attendance yet. But because of recent new efforts at outreach like VBS and MOPS, Women’s ministry like the Beth Moore seminar as well our other outreaches we have more people today who would call Jordan Presbyterian their church than before. And I told them that our own congregation is beginning to invite friends more than you used to and that you do the best job of any congregation I have ever seen of welcoming guests on a Sunday morning. And our finances are solid.
I told them that the Devil has been active as well. But God has continued to protect us. I also told them how invaluable Pastor Jon has been in leading and coordinating ministries and developing leaders and in pastoring my crusty old soul. (They support the Stoddards financially and with prayer through their missions giving.)
I also told them how Pastor Jon has helped us to see our ministry role more clearly. We offer an alternative to both the legalism of the LDS church on one side and the licentiousness of the un-churched on the other. Between these two we stand offering the Biblical Jesus, which means freedom to live and to enjoy God, not as slaves but as children.
And I told them about our plans for church planting that we hope to grow so that out of a position of greater strength and resources we can then plant healthier churches. That we called Pastor Jon as a co-pastor not because a church our size needs two but because we want to continue to expand this ministry.
And I updated them briefly on the other Utah ministries in the PCA. Some really good things are happening. New Song Presbyterian is calling an assistant pastor, Thomas Warmath, following in some respects our example. And did you know that Bryan Lee (from Gospel Presbyterian Mission) who has been so good to serve us when needed is taking his ordination exam? We plan to host his ordination service on Sunday night, October 19th.
Going back to where I came from always reminds me of why I came. It is gratifying to see and be reminded of all the Lord has provided and accomplished. And in some ways I honestly think that we are just getting started.
Serving with you,
Tim
Finding Freedom in Christ
One question I am often asked by people is what it is like being a pastor in Utah. I love getting this question because it gives me the opportunity to share about our church. I am able to tell people that our church is a place that offers a third way for people here in Utah. Anyone who has lived here very long knows Utah is polarized. Everyone is identified by their relationship to “The Church.” Some people look at the “The Church” and just see a bunch of rules that are forced on you. Other’s look at “The Church” as the only foundation for morality and family values.
And what Jordan Presbyterian provides (and any historic Christian church here does as well) is a third way, a way of the cross. And perhaps what most marks this third way is freedom. More specifically, freedom in Christ. Freedom in Christ means that we are a people who have stopped worrying about trying to make our relationship with God right. We finally acknowledge there was nothing we could do to make it right in the first place. God took every law that stood against us and nailed it to the cross with Jesus, silencing it forever. Freedom in Christ then means that we do not let others judge us by what we eat or drink. (Col 2:13-16) And so at Jordan we strive to be a people who live our lives out of that freedom we have. We are free to worship God out of joy. We are free to love others selflessly. We are freed from the burden of wondering whether we have done enough to please God.
If you are asked what it means to be a Christian here in Utah how do you respond? One way I've found helpful is to say that being a Christian means have true and lasting freedom. I’ve discovered that is something that is exciting to share with others.
A Book of Wisdom
Someone once said, “knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing that you shouldn’t put them in a fruit salad.”
Beginning the second week of August, Pastor Jon and I will begin a new sermon series through the book of Proverbs. The most gripping aspect of Proverbs is that it gives wisdom. The book simply and decisively presents wisdom and the benefits of accepting wisdom. It also clearly presents the devastating effects of trading in wisdom for folly.
We all understand this from experience don’t we? Well the wise do anyway. I have ministered to literally hundreds of people over the past 21 years who have traded in wise and godly counsel to pursue sexual liaisons, greater wealth, fame and possessions, and power. These can take so many forms and always lead ultimately to discontented, unhappy lives.
But God’s wisdom provides something different. It provides at the heart level a peace and contentedness that has very little to do with how much or how little we have. The life of the wise is evaluated by quietness, a general happiness and the love of those you live with.
Everyone is foolish to some degree but what the book of Proverbs calls us back to and instructs us in is how God made us to work best. He designed human beings to function a certain way. And when we forfeit God’s design, our sense of well-being unravels. So the call to the disobedient is to come back. The call to the immature is “start on a good path and keep at it.” And the call to the wise is to live in such a manner as to be an example.
The Lord Jesus isn’t mentioned in Proverbs. And yet He is the very personification of wisdom. He once declared, “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it to the full.” Christ saving us and paying the penalty for our sin is the power to see our lives for what they are and change where needed. He is the One who changes hearts to make us desire wisdom instead of folly.
I have said many times, “anyone can make a mistake, but a fool keeps doing it over and over again.” Come to Christ and let the gospel correct and instruct you. Find the wisdom that He offers for your good and His glory. It all begins with a proper and healthy fear of God. Not dread, but fear. Only a fool would resist God’s invitation to listen and learn and live life to the fullest.
Growing with you,
Tim
Worry: Pursuing a Better Path to Peace
What is it that you worry about? We’ve heard that there are only two things that are certain in life: death and taxes. But perhaps we could add worry to that list. We all face worries, when we’re young they may be wrapped up in questions like who we’ll marry. But as we get older the worries change: How will my kids turn out? Will I be able to retire? What worries do you face today?
In his booklet Worry: Pursuing a Better Path to Peace, David Powlison walks us through Christ’s teachings about worry in the Sermon on the Mount. Our worries can be stated in terms of, “If only...” “If only I could have this.” “If only this wouldn’t happen.” Underlying worry is a desire for us to control things mixed with the reality we have have very little control. Powlison says that, “anxiety and control are two sides of one coin.”
So how can we live a life free from worry? Powlison is helpful in that he acknowledges the real pressures and reasons we have to worry, but he also points us to seven better reasons why we should not worry, these are based on Luke 12. Powlison then provides six tools that will give us practical ways to address the temptation to worry.
Perhaps what I like best about this booklet is that it’s only thirty pages. I finished reading it in less than a half-hour.
This book is available on our book table.
The Big Picture
Imagine if you happened upon an old scrap of paper. It was a few verses from the Bible, but you didn’t know that. In fact, in this alternate world, you had never heard of Jesus before. Imagine if this short excerpt of Scripture was from Mark 15:16-32, the account of Jesus crucifixion. As you read this passage you learn of a man, you don’t know his name though. Perhaps he wasn’t that important in the long run. This man appeared to try and make himself king. He opposed the rulers of the day, but was caught. He was beaten and mocked the guards. Any followers this unnamed man had have now all fled–there isn’t a single person there showing support. The passers-by mock him, the religious leaders mock him, even the two other criminals sentenced to die with him mock him. As you read this passage you undoubtedly would get the impression that this man’s life was an utter failure. You return the scrap of paper and think, “wow, what tragic life” and then perhaps you never remember that story again.
Without the whole story you would never know that this man’s name was Jesus. That his life would change the course of history. That over the course of two thousand years there would be several billion people who would call themselves Christians. You see, it’s important to know the whole story.
I wonder if we too often live our lives like that person who only found a scrap of the Scripture story. We focus so much on our present circumstances that we miss the bigger story. We don’t put our days, our months into the context of our life, and more importantly into the context of how God is working in the world. Instead, we feel the temptation to evaluate our lives by only looking at our present situation.
Perhaps you are struggling with some event in your life, and you feel like God is silent. But remember, God was completely silent in this passage of Mark. Perhaps you feel like you’ve been forgotten, in this passage, we are never given Jesus name. But just as this one section of Mark is not the end of the story of Jesus’ life, neither are your present circumstances the end of your story.
Perhaps, instead you feel like everything is going really well, you’re finding success in this life, you're having fun, and honestly you don’t feel the need to have much, if any, relationship with God. Well this passage serves as a warning for you too. The Roman Soldiers, the religious leaders, the masses, they too thought they were doing just fine–they didn’t need what Jesus offered. But this passage wasn’t the end of their story either. They would eventually see how wrong they were.
Whatever you're facing, I’d encourage you to put your days into perspective, to step back and look at the whole picture. To remember that neither your suffering nor success, is the end of your story.
People Count
One of the favorite things that people like to say to church planters is, “don’t worry about numbers, just be faithful.” And one of the things that church planters like to say is “I don’t care about the numbers, I just want to be faithful.” I have planted a church from scratch and I can tell you that they are probably lying. :>)
Numbers tell us a lot. In Acts 2 after the Holy Spirit had descended on the early Christians and gave them the power that God had promised, Peter very courageously preached about the risen, living Christ and we are told “those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” How did they know there were three thousand? Where did that number come from? SOMEONE COUNTED THEM.
You count people because PEOPLE COUNT. We have done that from the very inception of Jordan Presbyterian Church. (We are actually required to report those numbers to the denomination) It is interesting. Counting doesn’t mean “all you’re interested in is numbers.” Counting is one way of evaluating the effectiveness of ministry and one thing to consider when looking at a church’s efforts and resources to see if they are well spent. But numbers aren’t, nor should they be, the driving force of ministry. The gospel is the driving force. Numbers are just one thing to consider.
For the past four years we have had basically the same average attendance in church. That’s not to say we haven’t grown. We actually have. What I mean specifically is that while we have had many people move away our numbers haven’t really decreased. For example a small but significant deaf congregation used to attend here and they left, but our numbers stayed the same. For a period a number of the folks at Gospel Presbyterian worshipped with us. When they left our numbers didn’t really decrease. Two years ago we had nine High School Seniors graduate and they have largely scattered but our numbers are about the same. What this means is that more and more people are coming and finding a loving, Christ-centered fellowship of believers here.
We have something wonderful to offer. We have Jesus. I want to personally encourage you to invite and encourage people that you know who do not already attend a Biblical church to come and find what you have found here. Jesus did not reveal Himself to you so that you could keep it secret. His whole purpose for saving sinners is so that God will get glory. So give it to Him. Tell people how great He is and tell them where you are learning about Him. One place should be your church.
There are a number of opportunities to invite people to this summer. VBS, a church dinner, a women’s dinner, an ice-cream social, just to name a few. Don’t evaluate these things based on whether you like chicken or ice cream or women’s events. Rather think, “Do I know someone who might enjoy this?” We do these in part to give you opportunity to invite people. Not to mention we have weekly worship and Sunday School. So I encourage you just like always, if you’re in town and not sick come to church. That’s what Christian’s do. And bring someone with you. We’ll count them because each one of them counts. Your circle of people matter to God.
Serving with you,
Tim
Staying Alive
I have been told that the way they teach CPR now is to do the chest compressions to the tune of the old Bee Gees song, “Staying Alive.” It works out really well. As you hum it in your head you get the rhythm and the goal all at the same time.
The Lord Jesus has made us alive. He did this by His own resurrection. The power in Christ’s resurrection is power that makes the dead come to life. Jesus went from completely dead to completely alive. And He is “staying alive” to continue to rescue people to worship God.
To do that, the Father and the Son have sent the Spirit who is called the life-giving Spirit. Spiritually speaking, we were completely dead and now we are completely alive. And we are “staying alive” by the same power that brought Jesus back to life.
“Staying alive” is the rhythm and the goal of the Christian life. It is the idea that your relationship remains vibrant and joyous encompassing all of life. The same gospel that saved you, keeps you living and thriving as a Christian.
It is not that staying alive should be our goal as Christians. Staying alive is Christ’s goal for us. He is fully committed to you and will not settle for anything less than you flourishing as a Christian. That should give you tremendous confidence and security. And in order to make sure you thrive, He has gifted you.
So Christ’s goal is that you live abundantly. And to accomplish His goal He has created a rhythm to the Christian life. It is consistently, regularly, rehearsing the gospel to each other. It is giving and receiving forgiveness. It is enjoying God’s provision. It is celebrating our mutual relationship to our Father in heaven. It is working together to expand Christ’s kingdom. And it is serving one another in love. If you embrace the rhythm then the life is vibrant. If you don’t then “church” becomes boring. But that can be easily remedied.
Christ made you alive. The Holy Spirit then gifted you to serve in a local body of Christians. Again, I encourage you to ask God, “In what ways would you like to use me?” Some of the new ideas that are coming out of our recent “Network” class are things like a more intentional mercy/outreach/serving ministry, more fully developed children’s ministry, greater strides in music ministry just to name a few.
Where do you fit in? Pastor Jon or I would love to talk with you further about this. I just want you to understand that “staying alive” in Jesus’ idea is actively, intentionally giving yourself unreservedly to the One who made you alive in the first place. It is blooming where you are planted, embracing who God has made you to be.
Easter is fast approaching. Jesus is alive to give life. So are you. How will you use life to give life to others in His Name.
Serving With You,
Tim
Ministry Multiplication
For those of you who participated in the Network Study, this story will be familiar, but it’s worth repeating:
Once upon a time... right after creation... all the animals got together and formed a school. They established a well-rounded curriculum of swimming, running, climbing, and flying.
The duck excelled at swimming. In fact, he was better than the instructor! But he only make passing grades in climbing and was poor in running. He was so slow, he had to stay after school to practice running. This caused his webbed feet to become so badly worn he became only average in swimming.
The rabbit was at the top of her class in running. But after a while, she developed a twitch in her leg from all the time she spent in the water trying to improve her swimming.
The squirrel was a peak performer in climbing, but was constantly frustrated in flying class. His body became so worn from all the hard landings he did not do too well in climbing and ended up being pretty poor in running.
The eagle was a continual problem student. She was constantly disciplined for being a nonconformist. In climbing class, she would always beat everyone else to the top of the tree, but insisted on using her own way to get there.
In a couple of weeks we are holding an informational meeting to talk about my and Pastor Tim’s roles at JPC. All the elders have met and we are really excited about our plan! Earlier this year many of you went through the Network study. This study had a big impact on the discussions that Tim and I had as we talked about our roles at JPC. We realized that we don’t share the same top spiritual gifts, we have different styles, but we are united in our passion. So our question was, how do we both work in the areas where we are gifted. Or, in other words, we don’t want to be like rabbits trying to fly!
We believe that when everyone is are using their spiritual gifts in a way that fits their personality, for God’s glory, our efforts will be multiplied. And we need to multiply our efforts. God has given us something good–the knowledge that the power of sin is broken and that he is restoring broken, sinful people to himself. As a church we want everyone in this valley to have the opportunity to hear this good news, and there is a lot of work left to be done. This is an effort that is too big for just one person, or even one church. But we serve a God who took a few loaves of bread and two fish and fed 5,000 people. We are excited for this journey! Are you ready to join us?
Serving with you,
Pastor Jon