Celebrate Your Liberty In Christ

Philip Johnson sounds a little like Martin Luther in his Independence Day post titled, "Real Liberty." He shows that Christian Liberty is different than Antinomianism.

First, our liberty in Christ is a freedom from the yoke of sin.

Liberty in Christ is not a freedom from spiritual responsibility. It is certainly not any kind of moral autonomy. It is not a release from the divine standard of righteousness. It does not mean we are discharged from our duty to obey the moral law. If you think of liberty in those terms, you need to think again.
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So our liberty in Christ, paradoxically, involves a positive kind of servitude as well. It's not an absolute freedom or moral autonomy.

Second, true Christian liberty is freedom from the yoke of the law.

Now this is the point at which many people get confused. Didn't I just say that Christian liberty doesn't erase the moral duties set forth in God's law?

Young, Reformed and Clueless?

Chad Knudson reflects on the danger of defining yourself by a Soteriological label.

As great as it is to see Calvinism make a resurgence among people, it should not define us. At times I fear that people and churches take pride in their Calvinism rather than the gospel. What should define us is the gospel. I realize that the Doctrines of Grace represent the gospel, but even our understanding of the these wonderful truths of God’s grace cannot be divorced from the greater plotline of Scripture.

But you said that God can do anything.

Pastor's kids have the best and worst questions. Three weeks back I was teaching that God could not fit inside Solomon's Temple. God is way too big. We build our teaching around these big God statements. HT: Sally Michael

• God can do anything.
• Nothing is too hard for God.
• God always keeps his promises.
• God's word proves true.
• God never lies.
  
• God is bigger than anything.
• God is everywhere.
  
• God knows everything.
• God sees everything.
• God hears everything.
  
• God is better than anything.
• No one is happier than God.
• Jesus is the greatest treasure.
  

So when my statement seemed to limit God - one of our PKs called me out. "But you said that God can do anything?" Here are three ways to answer this question. If you have a fourth I'd love to hear it too. Just post it to the comments.

1. God can do anything except not be God.
2. God can do all his holy will.
3. I should have said, "The temple could not hold God - it was too small." The active verb is very important. My wording seemed to limit God. It would have been better to limit the Temple.
   

Interview with Children's Author Joey Allen

Can 4-8 year old children learn about the Trinity? My kids certainly are – with the help of Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers. Author Joey Allen has carefully presented the central doctrines of Christianity in these four excellent children’s books. Titles include: The Trinity, The Bible, The Gospel, and The Mission. Each book is biblical sound and beautifully illustrated. My experience in using these with my children has been excellent. Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Joey Allen.

From NEW LEAF PUBLISHING: Joey Allen is a missionary and artist who desires to see people all over the world worship God for who He truly is. Joey has traveled to China, India, the Philippines, and Russia to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Georgia and was awarded the Cliff Chandler Graphic Design Scholarship. He is currently working on a Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. Joey and his wife Christy currently reside in Dallas, Texas.

Can you tell me how you came to Christ?

This interview has been moved to my new website - check it out with a full review of these books. Review: Joey Allen’s "Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers"

In Christ

Hello Friends,

I have a question for you. I have been thinking about Exodus 32 quite a bit lately as at church my pastor is preaching through Exodus.

Exodus 32 has some great teaching about the following

1) Creation of the Golden Calf
2) Aaron half confession of "So they gave it (gold) to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”""
3) Moses asking "Who was on the Lord's Side?"
4) The Wrath of God being revealed against those who were not answering the call.
5) Aaron being Saved from the Wrath of God and being part of the remnant who was saved.

I have been thinking about this and relating it to being IN CHRIST. What a picture even in the midst of Aaron's sinfulness and failures, he is saved from the coming wrath! He doesn't follow the James 4 and Luke 18 method of true confession of sin, but God is truly working to save His people.

How has each of you focused on teaching to your children or other children in your church the true realities of sin and the importance of being "IN CHRIST" and being saved from the coming wrath, remembering that when we fail we need to teach to our children to turn to Christ "our righteousness", but also teach the correct method of repentence (James 4 and Luke 18, etc).

I'm struggling to keep a balance. I don't want lawlessness but I also want them to always see grace before their eyes in their walk despite their failures in repentence.

How do each of you keep this balance in your teaching? (whether children's ministry or your own children)

Will The Next Generation Treasure Christ? is a dialog on reforming children’s ministry and equipping parents - for the glory of Christ and the joy of our children.

Uncle Owen, this R2 unit has a bad motivator.

Bad Motivator - this is a good description of the human heart. I often hear "mature" Christians lament their non- desire for the things of God. My own motivator is worse than I care to admit. The scriptures use the strongest language to describe our moral condition.

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.", "There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:9-18 ESV)

Will The Next Generation Treasure Christ? is a dialog on reforming children’s ministry and equipping parents - for the glory of Christ and the joy of our children.

Is Jesus Your Jedi? - (RE) Revived Edition

My wife’s family is mostly Methodist. Our Christmas visits often yield a few bizarre tales from their church life. This year was no exception. Kellie’s aunt explained one recent children’s sermon. The title was “Jesus is my Jedi.” The topic was unclear. This is the same church that embraced an “I Love Lucy” Bible study. They are looking forward to the next minister rotation.

I would object to this lesson on the following points:
1. This metaphor does not correspond to reality. Jesus is not, was not and will not be a Jedi. Wikipedia says, “The Jedi are a fictional monastic peacekeeping organization from the Star Wars saga.” The concept of Jedi cannot be divorced from the dualistic “myth” of the Force. Any comparisons between Jesus and the Jedi belong to the bizarre reaches of the imagination.

2. To make this comparison in a children’s sermon is irresponsible. We must be careful in using metaphors with young children. Suppose the content of this metaphor was entirely biblical (that’s being generous). The danger is leading children to draw further spiritual lessons from Star Wars – which would certainly be unbiblical.

3. Allow me to assume the goal of this lesson was to make Jesus more relevant or “cool” to the children. Such attempts often cause confusion and open the Gospel to ridicule. This metaphor is offense to the biblical portrayal of Jesus. If we must understand the Jedi-ness of Jesus to appreciate him then the scriptures have failed. The minister who gave this lesson is not known for his confidence in the scriptures.

4. Ultimately this metaphor obscures the character of God. Who would think the Jedi worthy to be compared with the Jesus?

Colossians 1:15-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (16) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. (17) And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (19) For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, (20) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

In many churches object lessons are non-negotiable when you teach kids. (Though the Bible is often optional!)

I have a toy sword with Hebrews 4:12 written out on it – just for children’s church. We talk about King Jesus. I will often say something like this, “Sin is when our hearts are fighting against God. When we disobey his Word we become his enemies. It is a terrible thing to be God’s enemy. God has promised forever punishment for his enemies. But Jesus has made a way of peace – by dying on the cross for our sins.”

The mother who told me this story was upset with the violent aspect of the lesson. From her perspective it was not appropriate. I wasn’t there. But I would trust her judgment. I think kids need to hear the whole bible, not just the “G” rated sections. But to make decapitation the focus for a children’s lesson is to appeal to the macabre for entertainment value.

What do you think? Is this just an object lesson gone bad? Should we trade in the cross for a Light Saber? Or will this Rev. Relevant have some explaining to do?