Working out Salvation with Fear and Trembling

• Pretending like we’re perfect and not needing of receiving and giving of grace
• Saying words that tear down instead of build up
• Not being supportive through resources to the work of the Gospel 
• Loving worldly things more than spiritual things
• Harboring bitterness and unforgiveness

I just told my wife last night that one day we should write a book together about her thoughts of being an American who lived in Canada (when we were first married) and mine as a Canadian living in America. Despite jokes about Canada being the 51st state or “America Jr.”, there is a vast difference between both countries originating back through history to both of their foundings. She noted that no matter how long she lived in Canada, she would always be an American, and I noted that no matter how long I lived in America, I would always be a Canadian. 

That’s one of the major differences between the two nations. The two formative ideological events in Canada demonstrate who we are today. The War of 1812, where Canadians, pre-Canada, decided it was better to side with Great Britain rather than an invading force from the south (I jokingly call it the “War of Southern Aggression”) helped to begin to cement an identity that Canadians were not Americans. That cemented during Confederation in 1867 when Canada, wary of Great Britain’s pulling out of North America, and wary of the growing republican influence from the United States (what Canadians considered a “radical democracy”), decided it was in their best interest to unite a disparate group of colonies into one nation. So, if you ask a Canadian what makes a Canadian, the clearest answer is, “we’re not Americans.” 

Now, that’s not to say we don’t appreciate many wonderful things about the United States, but ideologically Canadians will always be different. And we find, when in the US (as any ex pat finds in a new country) that we become more patriotic in order to defend what makes us unique. This has been the hallmark of Canadianism from the beginning in emphasizing a mosaic of a culture which sees the value of everyone’s differences rather than the American melting pot which sees being American, above all else, the priority. 

Some of these things come out when the Olympics are on. While Canada is much stronger in the winter Olympics (I mean, we all know it snows 100% of the time in Canada) I certainly feel the need to cheer on my Canadian athletes even in the summer Olympics. I am glad when my adopted country does well too, but I secretly (and not so secretly), want Canada to do better. It’s again, part of our mosaic understanding of culture that sees our identifying difference as a Canadian as being different from everyone else. And the Olympics feeds on that. What was designed as being an event which would unite different nations together ultimately is the biggest expression of how nations are different, and the resulting competition often fosters disharmony rather than unity.

My current reading on the two formative historical events of the development of Canadian culture and watching the Olympics in the evening has made me ruminate on our nationalities, patriotism, and the Gospel.

There’s nothing wrong with being patriotic or loving your country. Americans are naturally patriotic, so much so that they sometimes find patriotism for other countries odd (I’ve been told I can go back home if I want on more than one occasion). I love my home country AND love my adopted country. But nationalism and patriotism can go too far (think Nazi Germany). Some of the current rhetoric about closing borders that we’re hearing in the political arena also is a little concerning. Here’s the thing, as Christians, we all need to remember that these countries that we live in or are from are not our homes. I’m not really Canadian. You’re not really American. We’re actually citizens of heaven, and simply sojourners here on earth. 

Our nationalism and patriotism can blind us from the needs of those around us that are different from us. We can forget that the Gospel is for everyone, and as Christians we are obligated to reach everyone, those who look and sound like us and those that don’t. And yet we continue to emphasize these things in our churches. We have black churches, white churches, Asian churches, etc. While there’s nothing wrong with appreciating our cultures, there’s everything wrong with elevating our cultures over the Gospel. If Galatians 3:28 is true, then we need to remember that in the Kingdom of God and in the Church, there is no Jew or Greek, Male or Female, Slave or Free, American or Canadian, Black or White, etc. There is just those who have been redeemed and are now standard bearers of the Kingdom of God.

So, cheer on your Olympians. Fly your flag. Honor and teach what you find great about your culture and nation. But remember, in Christ Jesus, all those other things disappear. We are then ONE; servants of the King of the Universe.  

I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t always appreciated good art. The lowest grade I ever received in school was in art. I’m not very creative nor adept in the world of art. Art also wasn’t taught in a way to make me really appreciate the beauty of the world and how it manifests itself in the creativity of the artist. I’ve been growing and expanding in appreciating art that is a reflection of the reality of the world and gives expression to the longings of our hearts. My former college philosophy professor posted “Sorrowing Old Man (At Eternity’s Gate)” by Vincent van Gogh (1890) on his Facebook today. The painting, shows the inner turmoil that many of us experience regarding all of the sad news we experience each day and are unable to articulate with words. 

Van Gogh, a troubled artist himself, captures perfectly the anguish and sorrow that people feel as they age and are closer to death. Even Christians can struggle with the knowledge of our impending end on this mortal coil. Yet, most of us struggle with an inability to communicate the deepest fears and longings in our hearts with mere words. 

While words are the primary means by which God has communicated to us His revelation (Jesus Himself is “The Word”), the language of God’s revelation includes the artistic beauty of the world around us. It informs us, and serves as a means for communicating what is at the center of our being, when we cannot formulate words. 

Art is that expression of the human soul to put into a visible form something we cannot utter in words. One of the clearest expressions of the inner turmoil of my soul over the pain and suffering of this world and yet the hope of Christ is the hauntingly beautiful “Gabriel’s Oboe” by Ennio Morricone from the movie The Mission. In the movie, a Jesuit priest is attempting to build a relationship with natives in South America. His oboe becomes the means by which the natives become interested in the priest and the message he is seeking to communicate. It is beautiful and expressive of hope and joy, and haunting in its minor tones because of the struggle and strife that end the movie (I heartily recommend the movie but be prepared to have your emotions tugged back and forth). Another piece that expresses that same struggle is “Adagio for Strings” by Samuel Barber which is the main theme of the movie Platoon. And when it comes to the general feeling of hopelessness, consider Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time“, written while a German prisoner in WWII. And it need not just be modern music. Find me someone who isn’t moved by Mozart’s “Requiem Mass in D Minor“. Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (1495) represents that sadness on the part of our own Savior following the announcement that one of the disciples would betray Him. The look of sorrow on His face is striking. We too are the disciple that betrayed our Lord. It invokes feelings in our core that are hard to speak aloud. 

It is not just sadness or inner turmoil that art speaks to, but joy and rapture as well. Holst’s “Jupiter” lifts your heart and spirit as it progresses through movements of joy! What about the old fashioned sound of happiness in Copand’s “Hoe Down” from his larger “Rodeo”. Or, what is more joyous in all of music than the overture to Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.” And Monet’s “The Cliff Walk at Pourville” (1882) just makes your heart feel warm. 

 Painting, music, movies, can help to put words to the inner feelings of our soul. We are creative beings because our God is a creator. We yearn to give expression to what we feel, and what emerges is art. There is good art, and bad art, just as there is good expression of the longings of our souls, and bad expressions (on that note, everyone must watch this excellent video about beauty by my favorite modern philosopher, Roger Scruton). 

Christians at one time were at the forefront of art and beauty as a manifestation of the goodness of God in making us creative beings with impulses to express the vast expanse of human experience to the glory of God. More Christians should be involved in this same movement today. If we hope to see better art, we need to learn to appreciate better art, and to encourage people to use their talents to express the inexpressible to honor God and educate our souls. 

For a critical look at how art has tended to denigrate itself over time, see Nancy Pearcy’s excellent, Saving Leonardo. On how we as Christians should be doing art, see the classic Art and the Bible by Francis Schaeffer and Phillip Ryken’s, Art for God’s Sake. 

N.B. Let me start with an introductory statement: “I told you sos” are not allowed as responses.

I have always been very interested in politics, government, and the news. I was raised in a home where what was going on in the world was discussed and opinions shared. Opinions could range widely, and in our home, we had, and have varying opinions. And they are held strongly, and often shared vociferously. 

I think rigorous and vigorous debate and discussion is good. We are called to earnestly contend for the faith (Jude 3) and that means addressing falsehood as well. Christians should be people who know the truth, love the truth, share the truth, and shun falsehood. But every man has to know his limitations. And I am constantly learning mine. My sinful struggles are with pride and arrogance. My joke often is, “they think they know everything, while I know I know everything.” It’s meant as a joke, but the Lord continues to work in me to show me it’s more of an accurate reflection of my heart attitude rather than a sarcastically amusing statement.

I keep well-informed of happenings around the world. I read the paper and listen to the news daily. I read widely in philosophy, ethics, and theology. I follow current events in religion, theology, and politics. I think that it is important for pastors (and Christians) to be aware of what God is doing around the world, and for us to train our thoughts to think biblically about what we see, read, and hear. Being well-informed though, is no defense for seeking to constantly correct people or win the debate. While being a teacher means correcting false thinking, there is a humble way and a proud way to do that. More often than not, especially in the political realm but in other areas too, I’m seeing that attitude grow in me.

So, for that I need to repent. I need to confess my pride and arrogance and remember God is in control and I am not. I am His servant, and a servant to His flock. I am to be boasting in the work of Christ alone and not in my knowledge or my acumen. I am not to be seeking to have the winning blow in the debate, or to police what I see on the internet.

I repent of my pride and arrogance which may have caused me to defame Christ or His church by my actions. If I have sinned against anyone reading this, please accept my apology. I am going to work, by the power of the Holy Spirit to continue to battle pride and arrogance in my life. I cannot do it alone. I hope and pray you will all pray for me for success in this area of sinful weakness. If I sin in my actions or words, I hope you’ll say something.

I know my limitations. My limitations are me. I am my biggest problem. At the core, I wrestle to make myself king rather than to submit myself to King Jesus. That’s really all of our problem. And the solution is more of Jesus and less of me.

If there is one area that I wish I had stronger training in, it would be in counseling. No one tells you in seminary that you’d do so much counseling on the local church level. Perhaps part of the problem of pastors seeing so many counselees is that the church has lost it’s obligation and privilege to counsel one another? Bob Kellemen and Kevin Carson and others helpfully renew the church’s responsibility to do just that.

In Biblical Counseling and the Church, we are reminded that each of us in the church of Jesus Christ are empowered to speak the truth of the Gospel to each other. Counseling then becomes a natural expression of the “one anothers” of the New Testament and the process of discipleship. The book begins with chapters highlighting the need to see counseling as the vision of the entire church. Then, this is followed by chapters focusing on small groups as an advantageous medium for doing biblical counseling within the church. The book moves on to consider the relationship between counseling and church discipline, the process to equip biblical counselors in your church, how counseling can be used as a means of outreach, and finally the history of biblical counseling.

While a multi-author book will have stronger and weaker chapters, overall the book did an excellent job of presenting the case and providing the means for seeing counseling be an every-member ministry of the local church. If you want to take some of the burden off your pastor, pick up this book and pass it on to others in your church. Each of us, gifted with the Gospel, can pass it on to others who are hurting and suffering and therefore counsel one another.

We truly live in a lost world. We live in a world that has rejected God. The problem is that worldliness has infected the church. Our churches tend toward looking like the world, rather than the authentic Christianity of the New Testament. Melvin Tinker in his new book, A Lost God in a Lost World, tackles these issues in a clear and effective way.

The solution is to make less of the world and to make more of God. In that vein, Tinker addresses a number of problems that exist in the church and the solution that is rooted in God. He begins by addressing the weightiness (the immense glory of God) and why that should root out the problem of idolatry in our lives. Tinker articulates key points on the necessity of the cross, of Gospel proclamation, of grace, and of being heavenly minded. In sum, Tinker offers us a mini-systematic theology complete with the problems that exist in sinful man (and in sinful churches) and the solution rooted in various points regarding who God is and how God operates in the world.

David Wells in the forward writes, “If our vision of God is clouded, or our knowledge of him is deformed, living in a hostile cultural climate becomes an unequal contest.” Surely, we live in a 1 Peter context with a hostile culture around us. The solution is not to mimic that culture but to live out a unique culture rooted in the supremacy and majesty of the Triune God. To get there, Tinker simply reminds us of the beauty and majesty of God from the Word and reminds us of it’s significance for serving as our framework for life and the church.

If you’re like most in the church, you’re concerned by the lack of growth; both in our own lives, and in our churches. Tinker will remind you the solution is not in fads or programs or in mimicking the culture, but instead is in a bigger picture in our hearts and minds of God. While some more detail on how that would look (rubber meets the road) would be helpful, overall, he sets a good foundation for us to work on in each of our contexts. Highly recommended.

It’s not the event itself that makes you nostalgic, it’s the memory of the event.

I remember back to a life of memories of the second Monday in October. It always seemed nice to have the three day weekend with no shopping Armageddon following it. I remember the turkey, the mashed potatoes, the corn, the stuffing, the home-made rolls. And the pies… Dear Lord I remember the pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Pecan. You name it. It was there. That was of course because my mother wasn’t able to make enough food only for us. Clearly she had to make enough for an invisible army that was going to attend. I remember her maxim for how many mashed potatoes to make: one large potato for each of us, and then add 2 or 3 others for good measure. But I digress…

Certainly my experience of the event may not have been as profound as many Americans. Yet, so much of it was the same. A meal with the family. An opportunity to be thankful for what we had. Time spent with family (whether we liked it or not!). And whatever the historical reason why we celebrated, we simply wanted to enjoy a good meal together and to be thankful. And, while I may not always have been thankful at the time, I’m thankful for the experience and the memories to this day.

While so much is the same, so much is different. In a few short days we’ll celebrate Thanksgiving here in the United States. There will be turkey, pie, and all the trimmings. There will be traditions and family, and good times had by all. And while the proclamation of giving thanks for survival in a new land in 1621 might be more profound than giving thanks for the recovery of King Edward VII in 1872 (although Thanksgiving was celebrated informally in Canada as early as the 1578 voyage of Frobisher), at the foundation, they are the same: being thankful for what we have, no matter what we have. I haven’t been able to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving since moving to the US (it’s hard to make the trip back to Canada for the weekend), but I am thankful for the many years of Thanksgiving celebration that I did have. And I’m thankful that, even while I celebrate the event on a different day, I’m thankful for my homeland, my family, and Thanksgivings of bygone days.

And that’s what being thankful really means. It’s not about being thankful when in plenty. It’s about being thankful in all situations (1 Thessalonians 5:18). There are times in our life where we don’t have all the family support or even the big turkey on our table. That doesn’t mean it isn’t time to be thankful. Have a roof over your head, but stovetop stuffing on your table? Be thankful. Don’t have a roof over your head, but have friends and family that help to take care of you, be thankful. Don’t have friends or family to take care of you? Be thankful you are alive and have breath. Everyone has something for which they can be thankful. The question to ask yourself this year is, in plenty or in want, what can I be thankful for?

I missed Thanksgiving in Canada for another year. But I celebrate my Canadian holidays in abstentia (my wife is gracious to me that way). I don’t have to be present to celebrate Victoria Day, Canada Day, or Canadian Thanksgiving. I can be thankful that I can celebrate here, both Canadian and American Thanksgiving. I can be thankful for family, for food, for fellowship, for friends, for everything I have. And I can be thankful for, the things I once had, and the things I will have. I’m thankful for the memories of things past, and the memories I make today. What are you thankful for today?

One of the areas in which most of us are poorly trained by the seminaries is counseling. We spend much time studying good and important things, but considering the inordinate amount of time that most pastors spend on speaking Gospel truth into people’s lives, you’d think we would do a better job of preparing people to do just that. I’m finding in 15 years of ministry, that I’m woefully under prepared for the counseling that I do, and that I am looking for further training. What is wonderful though, is that there is a great abundance of resources being published to help address these most pressing needs. Robert Kelleman, in his new series, Equipping Biblical Counselors from Zondervan is filling a large gap in those resources. His newest, Gospel Conversations: How to Care Like Christ, is exceptional, not just for pastors and counselors, but for all in the body of Christ who want to minister like Jesus did.

Kelleman’s previous book in the series, Gospel-Centered Counseling: How Christ Changes Lives and another companion book edited by himself and Jeff Forrey, Scripture and Counseling: God’s Word for Life in a Broken World (both from Zondervan), offer helpful resources to most pastors and counselors and the dedicated layperson. The first offers a helpful look at the entire counseling process and the theology behind it, in particular, the 8 ultimate questions of life to apply Christ’s truth to, and whereas the second devotes copious resources to understanding how biblical counseling uses God’s Word as it’s source. Both are excellent, but where Gospel Conversations shines in that it is designed for all of us in mind.

Gospel Conversations, though is written as a second work following Gospel-Centered Counseling, in that it is the continuation of that discussion and bringing what we’ve learned into actually doing counseling. The beauty of this though is taking the principles that Kelleman lays out and seeking to apply them to all our Gospel conversation, not just to the formal counseling situation (think Tripp’s, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands).

Kelleman employs his “four compass points” of biblical counseling to speak Gospel truth into any situation. These points are:

• Sustaining – “It’s normal to hurt.”
• Healing – “It’s possible to hope.”
• Reconciling – “It’s horrible to sin but wonderful to be forgiven.”
• Guiding – “It’s supernatural to mature.”

Kelleman uses these four points to build off speaking the truth in any Gospel-focused conversation, whether it be formal counseling or simply speaking to a brother or sister.

These points are developed along 5 or 6 further points of development (21 in all) through the handy acronyms of GRACE, RESTS, PEACEE, and FAITH. Each one develops the points further into helpful characteristics for counseling. For instance, under the 5 Sustaining counseling competencies of GRACE, Kelleman wants us to develop the following:

• Grace Connecting
• Rich Soul Empathizing
• Attuned Gospel Listening
• Comforting Spiritual Conversations
• Empathetic Scriptural Explorations

All of these points, rooted in God’s Word, provides a helpful map of helping each person in each situation. So many Christians, “don’t know what to say,” when people are hurting. Myself, with the recent loss of our unborn baby, struggled through some severe depression. So few had anything helpful or sustaining to say from God’s Word. How wonderful would it have been been to hear the kind of words outlined above through that acronym, and which Kelleman develops further, to help to sustain me in my dark depression?

Keep in mind, this isn’t an easy book. It’s certainly prepared as a textbook format, and Kelleman, while offering some foundations of biblical counseling in the beginning, also presumes we’ve got a good understanding of those foundations before we begin. That being said, for those who are interested and willing to be stretched and grow in how they speak Gospel truth into people’s lives will be richly rewarded, not only through how they apply the Gospel in their own lives but how they apply it in each others as well. You’ll apply Gospel truth to a number of real situations that will shape how you apply those same truths to those whom you meet.

Are you frustrated that you “don’t know what to say,” or frankly, that what you do say is unhelpful (often too, the case for Christians), then I would recommend Gospel Conversations, as a helpful tool to train you to speak the Gospel into any and all of life’s circumstances.