Author: Wick

I don’t get it. Even if you believe it…why emphasize it so much? Of course, perhaps it was one thing the pastor said, and it was taken way too out of context. That can certainly happen.

We all heard about the man in Pennsylvania this past week. He was teased by women his whole life, and apparently had a chip on his shoulder for many reasons that he blogged about. But there is some new insight offered in this article about the church he used to attend.

A quote from the killers’ own blog said about the pastor of that church: “This guy teaches (and convinced me) you can commit mass murder, then still go to heaven.”

Here’s a quote from the article:

“We believe in permanent security — once saved, always saved,” Rickard said. “He will be judged, but he will be in heaven. … He’ll be in heaven, but he won’t have any rewards because he did evil.”

Wow. Remember, that’s a public statement from someone who is a LEADER in a church RIGHT NOW. Not some crazy, off the wall, long ago statement. He’s a Deacon at the “Telestai Church” (from Greek, meaning “it is finished“) in Pennsylvania. This church is a great testimony to why I believe strongly in being a member of (even imperfect) a denomination. It’s scary to think of how many well-meaning groups of Christians have become cults like this…very far from the Truth communicated in Scripture.

The problem is, even among the main evangelical churches, probably even among the congregations at your church and my own – there are plenty of us seeking Christ with some sort of “Kingdom-economy-based” reward beyond whatever God has in store for all humanity. (not Christianity, as Jesus was about) The line of thinking that brings up thoughts like “another jewel in my crown”, or “a larger mansion”, or even “special powers or blessing (that I can somehow earn)”.

May we recognize that there’s just as much wrong with both mindsets:

“I can do whatever I want, and still get into Heaven.”

“Sure, he’s probably in Heaven, but not getting as (many rewards/good experience/etc.) because of how he lived. That’s why I’m living better than he did.”

From Sermon #88 “On Dress” (just for fun)

9. The question is, What harm does it do, to adorn ourselves with gold, or pearls, or costly array, suppose you can afford it; that is, suppose it does not hurt or impoverish your family? The first harm it does, is, it engenders pride, and, where it is already, increases it. Whoever narrowly observes what passes in his own heart will easily discern this. Nothing is more natural than to think ourselves better because we are dressed in better clothes; and it is scarce possible for a man to wear costly apparel, without, in some measure, valuing himself upon it. One of the old Heathens was so well apprized of this, that, when he had a spite to a poor man, and had a mind to turn his head, he made him a present of a suit of fine clothes.

Eutrapelus, cuicunque nocere voiebat,
Vestimenta dabat pretiosa.

[The following is Boscawen’s translation of this quotation from Horace: —

Eutrapelus, whome’er he chose
To ruin, deck’d in costly clothes.” — EDIT.]

He could not then but imagine himself to be as much better as he was finer than his neighbour. And how many thousands, not only lords and gentlemen, in England, but honest tradesmen, argue the same way! Inferring the superior value of their persons from the value of their clothes!

10. “But may not one man be as proud, though clad in sackcloth, as another is, though clad in cloth of gold?” As this argument meets us at every turn, and is supposed to be unanswerable, it will be worth while to answer it once for all, and to show the utter emptiness of it. “May not, then, one clad in sackcloth,” you ask, “be as proud as he that is clad in cloth of gold?” I answer, Certainly he may: I suppose no one doubts of it. And what inference can you draw from this? Take a parallel case. One man that drinks a cup of wholesome wine, may be as sick as another that drinks poison: But does this prove that the poison has no more tendency to hurt a man than the wine? Or does it excuse any man for taking what has a natural tendency to make him sick? Now, to apply: Experience shows that fine clothes have a natural tendency to make a man sick of pride; plain clothes have not. Although it is true, you may be sick of pride in these also, yet they have no natural tendency either to cause or increase this sickness. Therefore, all that desire to be clothed with humility, abstain from that poison.

11. Secondly. The wearing gay or costly apparel naturally tends to breed and to increase vanity. By vanity I here mean, the love and desire of being admired and praised. Every one of you that is fond of dress has a witness of this in your own bosom. Whether you will confess it before man or no, you are convinced of this before God. You know in your hearts, it is with a view to be admired that you thus adorn yourselves; and that you would not be at the pains were none to see you but God and his holy angels. Now, the more you indulge this foolish desire, the more it grows upon you. You have vanity enough by nature; but by thus indulging it, you increase it a hundred-fold. O stop! Aim at pleasing God alone, and all these ornaments will drop off.

This morning during my YMCA workout (where I lifted over 10,000 lbs….woot), I was listening to an old sermon. It was a “Hypothesis of Holiness as Happiness”. The preacher was speaking about how John Wesley often connected the aspect of Holiness with “happiness”.

This is not a “happiness” as often referred to as an excuse for whatever you want found in the Declaration of Independence as our unalienable right to pursue. This is a happiness that goes much deeper. A person who is happy, lives a grateful life. Takes pause often to purposefully “be” grateful for the day passed, or day ahead, or moment we find ourselves in.

I recognize that in reading a ridiculous amount of books, studying for youth lessons coming up this fall, and trying to be husband to my wife, and father of three – I don’t naturally pause and be thankful for all that my life contains, and all my life is heading towards.

So this weekend particularly….even with the busyness of family in town, celebrating my daughters 3rd birthday, dedication of my youngest, enjoying our new senior Pastor being in town, and the Decatur Celebration…….

I will breathe slowly. I will be thankful for the moments. I will be grateful for each smile, each tear dried, each spit up cleaned or diaper changed. I want to live a grateful, and happy life. Not because by “being happy” I somehow attain “holiness”….but because I’ve been reminded that they are very closely related…and desire both in my life.

Thanks to the random mp3 while I worked out. And perhaps also…Jesus. 🙂