Don't quit!

At the end of Ephesians, Paul mentions several people by name. I found it quite interesting to trace those names through the New Testament. Those names give the idea that Paul was not the lone ranger/super apostle that we might have expected. He had many friends and fellow ministers who assisted him on his journeys and while he was in prison. This teamwork is a good pattern for our current ministry endeavors. But there are also other names that have a different story. Take for instance, Archippus whom Paul mentions only twice.

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house.
Philemon 1-2

And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
Colossians 4:17

There is not much information provided about him, but Paul does describe Archippus as a fellow Christian soldier who was involved in the spiritual battle mentioned in Ephesians 6:10-18. It is always good to have others fighting alongside you in the battle. Archippus may also have been Philemon's son. You get that idea from the way Paul uses his name in his greeting to Philemon, Apphia (probably his wife), Archippus (probably his son), and to the church in his house.

While we may not remember much else about Archippus, Paul's mention of him at the end of the letter to the Colossians, reverberates with every person who has been a part of a Christian ministry. Archippus needed the encouragement to continue the ministry he had been given by the Lord. Notice two thoughts in Paul's admonition. Not only did he encourage Archippus to continue ministering, he also pointed him to the one who gave him his ministry. There are times when you just want to quit. Ministering to people is not always easy. And adding the spiritual battle to the mix doesn't make things any easier. But knowing that God had given you a particular ministry certainly helps. Think of those who were discouraged throughout the Scriptures. What was it that helped them to continue? It was a confirmation from God that he was with them in their ministry (see Acts 18:9-11).

Are you discouraged today? Are you thinking of quitting the ministry? Before you do, think of others who have faced that same difficulty before. You are not alone. But remember this as well. God has given you a specific ministry and will give you the strength to carry it through to completion. So don't give up! God is with you and will provide for your needs as you continue the ministry he has given you.

The Current Battle in Fundamentalism

A few days ago, Don Johnson posted a thoughtful article about the current battle in fundamentalism. After talking about the past battles against modernism and new evangelicalism, he sums up the current battle with this paragraph:

There is, however, a current battle. The current battle is the battle over culture. Some younger fundamentalists (and the conservative evangelicals) seem to be articulating a position that only battles over theology are legitimate, no one can do battle over non-theological matters. As long as doctrine is orthodox, there is no remaining conflict. Culture, as a neutral object, or at least as an insignificant object, must not become the focus of division. But is this challenge non-theological?

I have been thinking about the current trends in fundamentalism and found his article a refreshing perspective. Read the complete article and his conclusion at www.proclaimanddefend.org/2013/05/29/culture-is-the-battleground.

Thoughts about CCM

There have been many thoughts posted about music recently. One of the recurring ideas is that music is a personal choice based on taste and culture. Another is that the changing culture must be met with a change in ministry method. To some that change requires contemporary popular music styles because it best communicates in the present culture. What I fail to find in these arguments is a definition of music that is acceptable to the Lord.

• Is my personal taste in music what matters to the Lord?
• Is it appropriate to choose any music style I like to sing to Him?
• Does God only care about the heart or does style also concern Him?
• Is certain music worldly and inappropriate? or is music in fact amoral?

During the discussion, I think we often talk past each other. One person's definition of CCM may include any form of popular music (heavy metal, rap, jazz, etc.) while others are referring to hymns sung with a country twang. Unless we define what we are talking about, the discussion won't be very conclusive or helpful.

I think a better discussion needs to take place. And that discussion needs to address things like the way songs are sung, associations, pragmatism, and a definition of good, bad, and better music.

The Mystery of the Gospel

"Who would ever have guessed that our salvation does not depend on our prayers, our devotional life, our good deeds in general and even those that may be comprehended under the heading 'religious virtues' in particular? Who would have worked it out that salvation depends on the coming to this earth of the Son of God and on his living in lowliness and humility, 'despised and rejected of men'? Who would have thought that the culmination of all this would have been a death like that of a criminal on a cross? And if he was to die in this way, who would have reasoned that on the third day he would rise again? All this is in the plan of God, a plan that we could never have worked out for ourselves. ... This 'mystery,' says Paul, is 'the mystery of the gospel.' The good news that God has worked out our salvation himself and that it involved the sending of his Son to live in obscurity and to die on a cross is certainly something that is not the product of human ingenuity."

Leon Morris, Reflections on the Letter to the Ephesians, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1994), 212.

The Sword of the Spirit

In Ephesians 6:17, Paul exhorts every believer to take the whole armor of God. Included with the "panoply" is one weapon which is called the Sword of the Spirit.

Military Use

Your mind is probably thinking now about a knight from King Arthur’s round table -- a well-armored man with a large sword swung with two hands. In your mind, the hero is swinging his sword with all his might and his enemies, small trees, and anything else in the way are cut in half by his powerful sword. That's not what Paul meant here. The Greek word “μάχαιρα refers to ‘a relatively short sword (or even dagger) used for cutting and stabbing’, and was distinct from … ‘a large, broad sword used for both cutting and piercing’"¹ This type of dagger was good for close combat where you would not have room to swing a long broad sword. The short sword could be used for quick thrusts that would slip through the joints of the enemy’s armor.

Spiritual Use

Paul urges us to take the short sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. A couple of thoughts:

1. It is the Word of God.

Paul uses the word ῥῆμα and not logos. “The two terms are often interchangeable, but the latter tends to emphasize the word as spoken or proclaimed (as in 5:26).”² What God has spoken to his holy prophets has been recorded in the Bible which is rightly called the Word of God. The Bible is the perfect and completed compilation of what God has said to us. The spiritual sword then is used as we speak God's Word to others.

2. It is the sword of the Spirit.

As you think of the battle, realize that you are not alone. The Holy Spirit who was given to each believer also has an important role in our spiritual battles. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-10). He is also effective in this role (Heb. 4:12). What a comfort this is to know that he is with us and that he will apply the Scriptures as needed in every situation. He can both comfort and convict as necessary.

3. It is our offensive/defensive weapon in the spiritual battles we face.

Armed with a good knowledge of the Scriptures, we can do two things. First, we can defend ourselves against the temptations hurled our way by recalling/quoting a Scripture verse that applies to the situation. This is what Jesus did repeatedly when tempted in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1-11). Second, we can speak Scripture to present God’s truth for those who need to hear it. When we present the Scriptures to someone, the power is not in our speaking ability or logic, but in the Word of God itself. Remember that!

As you use the Sword of the Spirit today, remember that your short sword may need to be "thrusted" many times before the enemy is defeated. One verse may not defeat the enemy like a broad sword’s stroke. So, know, understand, and memorize the Scriptures (2 Tim. 2:15) so that you can repeatedly be used by God the Holy Spirit to defeat your spiritual enemies.

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¹ O’Brien, Peter, The Letter to the Ephesians, (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999), 481.
² O'Brien 482.

The Helmet of Salvation

During first-century battles, “the Roman soldier wore a bronze helmet equipped with cheek pieces. The helmet was a heavy decorative and expensive item which had an inside lining of felt or sponge which made the weight bearable. Nothing short of an axe or hammer could pierce a heavy helmet” (Reinecker and Rogers 542). Imagine yourself going into battle against a sword swinging enemy without any protection for your head. That would be incredibly dangerous! But with your head safely covered, you could confidently defend yourself from his attack.

Facing spiritual battles without the certainty of your own salvation is as foolish as fighting a physical battle without a helmet. God has given us the helmet of salvation to guard our minds from doubt and to give us confidence in every spiritual battle (Eph. 6:17). Consider several times that the word "save" is mentioned in the New Testament:

• We have been saved from perishing (John 3:16).
• We have been saved from a perverse generation (Acts 2:40).
• We have been saved from God’s wrath (Rom. 5:9).
• We have been saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:5-8).
• We have been saved according to his purpose not our works (2 Tim. 1:9).
• We have been saved according to his mercy (Titus 3:5).

God wants us to have certainty regarding our salvation (1 John 5:13). It is not something we hope will happen some day but something that has already taken place, continues, and will be consummated when we are with God for eternity. Christians from past generations have been able to face very difficult situations knowing that God would keep his promise of their future salvation if they died during their battle. That certainty gave them the confidence to persevere under great trials. Do you know that you have been saved? Are you confident that God will keep his promise of salvation for you? Look to the promises of God and believe him today.

Looking for the Perfect Church?

"Often when a Christian who loves the Lord is troubled by worldliness and sin in the church, he is met with this statement: 'There is no such thing as the perfect church.' ... The accusation that a person is looking for a perfect church has been successfully used to get men with a heart sensitive to God to compromise and stay where they should leave (for the good of their spiritual souls, for the good of their children and the good of their testimony.) By not leaving, they become disobedient and, over time, sear their conscience, harden their hearts, and become party to compromise."

Curtis Sluss, "Being in the Way, the Lord Led," as viewed at http://theprojector.org/projectors/spring2013.pdf.