Where are the Children?

Have you ever noticed that there children are frequently excluded from the church worship service in America?

Most children are either not present at all, or dismissed before the sermon for a special age-appropriate Bible class. This is true in my church for kids who have not yet entered 1st grade. After 1st grade, we expect them to stay in the service with the adults. Although, this is more out of pragmatics (we can't staff an extensive children's ministry) than theological conviction.

Most kids and most parents are fine with this. I am not so sure that God is.

Last Lord's Day, in a sermon on Acts 20:5-12, we noticed that a young man named Eutychus was present in the worship service -- a service that lasted all night long. In Acts 20:11, Luke describes Eutychus as a "boy". Luke uses a term that typically refers to someone who has not yet reached puberty. Most likely Eutychus was younger than 10-12 years old.

Eutychus is not the only young child present in gathered worship.

In Joel 2:12-17 God is calling His people to repentance. In Joel 2:16 He specifically includes children and nursing infants.

In 2 Chronicles 20:1-13 Jehosaphat is praying to God because Judah has been invaded. 2 Chronicles 20:13 specifically mentions that infants and children were present. The word for infants indicates someone who moves with "tripping steps" i.e. a toddler.

These same toddlers are present in Deuteronomy 29:11 when God renews the covenant with Israel at Moab. They are also commanded to be present every seven years at the Feast of Booths when the Law is read (Deut 31:12-13).

It seems that God desires young children, even infants and toddlers, to be present with His gathered community during worship.

Shouldn't we desire what God desires?

In Christ
Pastor Mike

P.S. I am still processing and applying this. My almost 4 year old daughter does not yet stay in the worship service. Although, I am planning to change that. More on that tomorrow.

Friday on the Links

Here is a great article on Christians reaching out to the gay community.

Gossip is like chocolate.

Here is a great example of humility, repentance and pastoral example from John Piper.

Do you like the Bible?

Here is a great reminder for those who say, "I believe this, but I don't like it."

DeYoung, Restless, and Reformed: I Like What the Bible Teaches

The God Who Answers

Do you ever feel like your prayers aren't accomplishing much? Do you feel like God doesn't care?

Over the past few weeks there has been a theme in our memory verses that should encourage you -- God does hear and answer. He is the God who answers.

Consider the following verses:
"From my distress I called upon the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a large place" (Psalm 11:5)

"I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears." (Psalm 34:4)

"This poor man cried , and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles." (Psalm 34:6)

"The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry." (Psalm 34:15)

"The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles." (Psalm 34:17)

If you are a Christian, you are righteous. If you are righteous and seek the Lord, you can be confident based on the authority of His Word that He will hear, answer you and ultimately deliver you.

Call upon Him, He will answer.

In Christ
Pastor Mike

Quotes of Note

You can tell a lot about the quality of a man by how he stewards his disagreement. -- Dave Harvey (source: The Pastor and His Plurality, 2009 Sovereign Grace Pastor's Conference)

My secret prayer -- I pray that I will be very little in my own eyes, and not rob my dear Master of any part of His glory. -- George Whitefield

Love will dispose to contentment in the sphere in which God hath placed us, without coveting any things our neighbor possesses, or envying him on account of any good thing he has. -- Jonathan Edwards, Charity and its Fruits

God's Case Against America

I do not desire God's judgment on America, but I can't help but think we deserve it -- especially when I read Ezekiel 22. I recognize that America is not Israel. We are not God's covenant nation. We are not even a Christian nation (biblically, there is no such thing).

However, all nations are accountable to God. If you read through the prophets you will notice that God does judge all the nations, even those that don't recognize Him as God.

Now, consider some of the crimes Israel committed that led to God's judgment.

• They shed blood. The government even encouraged it (Eze 22:6). Can anyone say abortion?
• They had no respect for parental authority (Eze 22:7)
• They oppressed and extorted the powerless (Eze 22:7)
• They were sexually immoral (Eze 22:10-11)
• They collected unfair profits (Eze 22:12)
• Most importantly, they forgot God (Eze 22:12)

Can you honestly look through this list and say that as a nation America is not guilty of the exact same things?

If we want to avoid God's judgment, we need to repent and pray for both reformation in the church and revival outside the church.

In Christ
Pastor Mike

P.S. I do believe that God is already judging America. Read through Romans 1:18-32 if you disagree. I pray that we will come to our senses before His judgment increases.

Friday on the Links

Here is a great post on living with "gospel intentionality." This is a must read, great encouragement and challenge.

For the Sake of God's Name

Ezekiel leaves little doubt that the Israelites are a rebellious people.

In Ezekiel 20 he outlines a number of ways Israel rebelled against the Lord:

• The Exodus generation refused to get rid of their idols in Egypt (Eze 20:7-8)
• They rejected God's laws and desecrated His Sabbaths (Eze 20:13, 16)
• The next generation (in the Wilderness) also rejected God's laws, desecrated His Sabbaths, committed idolatry and practiced child sacrifice (Eze 20:21, 24, 26)
• Once they entered the Land, they continued to practice idolatry, child sacrifice and wanted to be like the nations around them (Eze 20:27-32)

They did this despite God's incredible generosity to them. He chose them, revealed Himself to them, redeemed them, gave them His Laws, the sign of the Sabbath and the Land. Despite all this, they continually rebelled against Him. They preferred their sin to God.

Before you read further, ask yourself, "Am I so different?" If you are a Christian God has chosen you, redeemed you, put His Law on your heart, given you His Holy Spirit and promised you a place in Heaven. Have you responded with whole-hearted devotion, or are you imitating the Israelites in their sin?

Now, what is God's response to this rebellion? Over and over again, He showed mercy.

He did bring judgment in the form of not allowing the initial generation into the Land (Eze 20:15). He judged the subsequent generations by removing them from the Land (Eze 20:23, 34). This judgment was severe, devestating and total. (Eze 20:45-21:32)

But, the dominant note is not judgment but mercy. He still brought rebellious Israel out of Egypt. He still gave them His Law. He still brought the rebellious wilderness generation into the Land. He will restore His rebellious people to the Land.

Why? Why does God act in mercy to a rebellious people? The answer occurs over and over again in Ezekiel -- so that Israel and the nations might know that He is God and for the sake of His name (Eze 20:9, 12, 14, 20, 22)

Don't forget to praise God today for His persistent mercy for the sake of His own name.

In Christ
Pastor Mike

Friday on the Links

C.J. Mahaney has provided an excellent post that will help you receive criticism humbly. (Here)

This article on "Approachability" is directed at church leaders, but is applicable to all Christians.

So You Want to Speak for God. . .

What does it take to speak for God? Here are just a few qualifications Ezekiel had to meet.

1. You need to know the Lord (Ezekiel 1). Ezekiel was a man who had seen the glory of the Lord in all its power and majesty.
   
2. You need to have the Holy Spirit (Eze 2:1-2)
3. You need to consume God's Word (Eze 2:8-3:3)
4. You need to be commissoned by God (Eze 2:4)
5. You need to speak only the words God gives you (Eze 3:27)

In Christ
Pastor Mike