A Day to Celebrate

Fellow Traveler,

Did you know there will be two major celebrations tomorrow? October 31 is best known for Halloween, the tradition that began with superstition beliefs by the Druids. It originated with the ancient festival of Samhain, when the Druid priests of the occult were known for worshipping evil spirits and sacrificing humans to their demon gods. The people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all the saints. He didn’t like its pagan aspect, so All Saints Day was created, but incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Today, Halloween has evolved into a day of trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, parties, and donning costumes. It is also celebrated by hardcore wiccans and satanists around the world as their high and unholy day.

The second celebration memorializes the actions of an obscure Roman Catholic monk in Wittenberg, Germany. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed a list of doctrinal grievances to the local bulletin board – the door of the castle church. Someone copied them, had them printed, and within a few weeks all of Germany was buzzing about this 33 year-old monk who had such boldness that he would confront the Church itself without fear. He wanted radical change in the doctrine of Indulgences, which essentially assured forgiveness of sins to the living and dead for money. These 95 theses would make their way to Rome and the Pope and started what was later called The Protestant Reformation in Europe. The Reformation would forever change the society of western civilization, rescuing it from the domination and damnation of Roman Catholic views of faith and practice.

God used the boldness of Luther (and many others before and after him) to change the course of history, just as He had done in the first century. The true Church was brought out of spiritual darkness into the light of God’s true Gospel – that believers are saved by Faith alone, through the Scriptures alone, by Grace alone, by Christ alone, and to God’s Glory alone. Luther was fearless before those who wanted to see him hanged. He took to heart the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy, “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry!” II Timothy 4:1-5.

We celebrate and enjoy the truths that blossomed during those years of reformation even to this day. Our country was founded on the backs of the men and women who stood for them and died for them. They were incorporated them into our system of government. We surely enjoy our freedom of religious thought and worship because of their faithfulness and boldness.

So let us not forget to rejoice in God’s goodness and mercy as seen that day in 1517. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” The Church will survive and thrive under Christ’s kingship. He has so willed it and will bring it to pass, no matter how dire the situation or circumstance. Outward persecution may be at the door, but it will not extinguish the flame of the true Church.

Old Davy

The Fight

Fellow Traveler,

Just what do I believe about the Bible? Am I able to articulate that belief? When someone asks me a spiritual question, is my answer based solidly on the Scriptures? Do I know what my local church’s statement of faith is? Do I know what true evangelical Christians have believed through the centuries? Most of us have a simple set of basic knowledge about what the Bible teaches about God, man, salvation, and the Church, but we are exhorted to know the details and defend them tenaciously.

The apostle Jude writes to say that very thing. Addressing all believers, he declares, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation [true Christianity shared by true Christians], I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” Jude 3. The apostle Paul calls this, “the common faith” in Titus 1:4, and says in his letter to the Philippians that we should, “with one mind strive together for the faith of the gospel.” Philippians 1:27b. So, this common faith is that body or system of beliefs that are fundamental to the Gospel.

Paul’s teaching reminds us of the importance of the truth. He tells the believers in Galatia, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1: 8. And then he says to the Ephesians, “that we should no longer be children, tossed about with every wind of doctrine, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.” Ephesians 4:14. Knowing true biblical teaching is vital for every believer. Read your church’s doctrinal statement. Make sure it is biblical and historic. The modern and new teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons aren’t historic. They distort established church beliefs and are contrary to the Gospel. The modern and new teachings of many Christian churches have also strayed from a historical foundation, such as the denial of the Trinity and the falsehood of having to speak in tongues before one can be saved.

Furthermore, Jude 3 exhorts us to earnestly contend and fight for that apostolic faith. Our present world here in America is experiencing the results of ignoring this plain command. The Christian church has not stood its ground against the rise of secularism, humanism, and atheism as it is charged to do by God Himself. Watered down preaching has given assurance to millions that they are accepted by God if they’re just doing and living the best they can, being generous, being tolerant, and showing love to everyone. This isn’t the Gospel and as Paul says, it is cursed.

There are so many resources available for us that succinctly explain what these basic doctrines are. They give cross references as proof texts. They were written by godly pastors and scholars, and we do well to have them available. The one that I use is the Philadelphia Baptist Confession of Faith published in 1742. http://baptiststudiesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/philadelphia-confession.pdf It is a wonderful condensation of all the major doctrines and has its roots in the Presbyterian Westminster Confession of Faith. http://files1.wts.edu/uploads/pdf/about/WCF_30.pdf

As we experience moral decline and wandering churches in our day, we can never expect positive change without a return to and emphasis on biblical truth. May God have mercy on us, our cities, states and nation – but especially on our churches, that they would earnestly contend for truth in a world that calls evil good and good evil.

Pray for revival, both for others and ourselves as we stand strong in Christ’s army. We are in a spiritual war with the Lord as our commander in chief. Let’s not resist His orders and encouragement.

Old Davy

Marry Me

Fellow Traveler,

The months were turning into years. Living out of wedlock with Barbara was taking its toll – on her. All of our family and friends were married, and it was deeply painful for her to be the outsider when we’d visit others. She had finally had enough of my “it’s only a piece of paper” reasoning and pronounced the ultimatum: “Either marry me or it’s over!”

I was really in a pickle here. Although we were together 24/7 and enjoyed each other, only one of us had a head-over-heels experience, and it wasn’t me. But the decision came shortly, and we scheduled a trip to San Luis Obispo where we were married at the courthouse in front of a blind judge, his secretary, and a seeing-eye German Shepherd.

Needless to say, the family wasn’t told and had to read about it in the newspaper’s “Just Married” column. My insensitivity and immaturity were on display that May 1971, and I was both clueless and without compunction. My vocabulary didn’t include true loving feelings for this wonderfully devoted girl at my side. The words “I love you” were still one sided. It would take a year and a half before those affections would come to life.

Jesus told His disciples, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12. In January, 1972 this life changing truth entered my heart when I learned of God’s love for me, a sinner. The ‘sinner’ part was easy to see. The fact that someone, God Himself, would forgive me was much harder to believe. That is why they call it amazing grace. And if God could love me that much, I was free to love others, especially beautiful Barbara! What a day that was – and each day since.

Paul encourages the church in Ephesus, saying, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” Ephesians 5:25. Jesus makes the impossible possible, giving the example, motivation, willingness, and strength to lavish our affection on our wives and no other. He elevates the meaning of marriage to a spiritual level and rewards our obedience.

Let us love our spouses today with that treasured affection only spouses know. We all fall short because we too often take each other for granted and get upset when things don’t go our way. May the Lord fill our hearts with thanksgiving, and remember the words of Solomon, “Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth.” Proverbs 5:18.

Old Davy

Last and Least

Fellow Traveler,

Across the street from where I work part time there is a company that trains developmentally disabled folks. Open Door Services teaches life skills, behavior management, community integration and does employment training. Unfortunately, these people have become the bottom of the totem pole citizens, looked on as inferior intruders into our ‘normal’ world. They are labeled intellectual aliens and shunned by most. Except for family, close friends of the family, and a handful of caring people, they are looked on as asylum candidates that should be in an institution. Thankfully, there are social and business supporters that have come on the scene recently to help them enter life’s mainstream.

Jesus told his close disciples, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats, and He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'” Matthew 25:31-40.

Just who are “the least of these?” I think we have to include ALL who have worth in God’s eyes, and that includes the developmentally disabled – those with autism, ADHP, cerebral palsy, hearing and vision impairment and learning disabilities. We can’t ignore those who were created in God’s image. We care for the sick, the imprisoned, hurricane victims, and the hungry. We should no less care for those we can’t relate to in an intellectual or physical sense. Jesus healed the sick and had compassion on the blind and possessed. He declared the good news without respect of person. He said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. And as that good word that goes forth, a Christian caring and love accompanies it.

We might ask our churches, “What are we doing to reach out to the least and last?” Your church may have a deaf ministry or prison ministry. Is it possible they could have a DD ministry for the developmentally disabled? Could they have a ministry to the homeless? The answer is “Yes.”

May the Lord speak to our hearts today and open our ears to receive His answer.

Old Davy

P.S. We’ll be on vacation next Lord’s Day, so it will be your turn to encourage someone.