Because the Ninth Commandment seems to be universally ignored in our modern day, especially on the blogosphere, and because this minister is doing a Sunday School study on the Ninth Commandment, it seemed good to put the fruits of that study up on this blog.

We could make a case that the public media is a professional industry directly involved in the systematic and pernicious spreading of slander and defamation. At any rate, here is the first Sunday School Lesson:

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Trinity Covenant Church Pastor C. W. Powell
Prepared for Sunday School. May 11, 2008 The Ninth Commandment: Part One

The Seventh Commandment is simple: “Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor.”

The HC gives the meaning this way:
Q112: What does the ninth Commandment require?
A112: That I bear false witness against no one,[1] twist no one's words,[2] be no backbiter or slanderer,[3] join in condemning no one unheard and rashly;[4] but that on pain of God's heavy wrath I avoid all lying and deceit [5] as the very works of the devil;[6] and that in matters of judgment and justice and in all other affairs I love, speak honestly and confess the truth;[7] also, insofar as I can, defend and promote my neighbor's good name.[8]

1. Bear False Witness against no one: “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.” (Pr 19:5 av) “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.” (Pr 19:9 av)

2. Twist no one’s words: “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth [to go on foot, spy out, foot it, go about, walk along, move the feet]not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.” (Ps 15:1-3)

Notes that I made from Charles Bridges about 15 years ago on this passage:

What is the character of true Christians? Who are the true believers? this question is of the greatest importance. Jesus said that not everyone who says "Lord, Lord," but the one that does the will of the Father. Many deceive others and very man deceive themselves. The Bible takes away all our delusions.

vs. 1. "Holy Hill" means God's temple and kingdom. The true church now, and heaven at last. Only God knows the answer to this question; only God can discern some of the evidence that is given in this Psalm. Two principles are set forth in II Tim. 2:19: God knows those that are his; our duty is to depart from sin.

vs. 2. A tree is known by its fruit. These are the fruit of the regenerate and good man. His nature has been transformed by the Spirit of God. These are not fruits that are tied on to the old stock, but the living produce of a new man in Jesus Christ.

1. He walks uprightly. Not bending from side to side. Neither seeking to please all men; nor seeking to please himself. "Walking is far more important than talking."

2. He works righteousness. His faith is therefore alive, and not dead. He is grateful for what people do for him, including the Lord Jesus; he does not seek to have others in debt to him; but rather sees himself in debt to others. This is the true cure for legalism: a thankful heart.

3. Speaks the truth in his heart. What a contrast with the last Psalm! [The fool hath said in his heart “There is no God.” True men scorn double meanings, evasions, equivocations, lies of all type. He has faced the truth in his heart and does not fear it in the marketplace of ideas.

The man who has enthroned the virgin of truth in his inner man will see through the sham of the world and its hypocrites. Those who despise truth will follow the devil's bait into quagmire and ruin. Truth is not what I perceive to be true, but what God has spoken.

4. He doesn't backbite. Slander is the devil's best and first work. He slandered God in the Garden of Eden, and slanders God's people in every age. Often the minister most evilly spoken of in a community is the best man there. Backbiting is the cowardly way of "standing for righteousness." The coward nips at the heels of those whom he fears to confront.

5. He doesn't do evil to his neighbor. What are the Ten Commandments but an expression of true love? They sweep away the sham counterfeit of love which pretends love while doing all sorts of wrong. We will not injure the name, person, nor estate of those whom we truly love.

6. He doesn't take up a reproach: The receiver of stolen goods is equally guilty as the thief. Good venders will seek to know the source of good offered to them in sale. A good man does not trade in the good name of those whom he loves. The person who buys is necessary for the sale and is part of the transaction. Drug dealing would cease if either party is eliminated. So it is with the trade in slander. An angry look driveth away a backbiting tongue. The slanderer’s tongue is set on fire of hell; we ought to cry "Fire! fire!" and chase them from us. [Bridges]

7. If you love the church, you will hate backbiting, for there is nothing more deadly for the church. False doctrine and heresy is slander and untruth about God. Slander against the people of God is slander against the image of God. Slander against the minister and the officers of the church is especially pernicious. The only resources that the minister and elders have to enable them to do the work of the church effectively is their good name. If slander and bitterness rob them of that the whole church will suffer, sometimes for years to come.

More of this next week.

Edwin Arthur Powell

In Memoriam

A blessed Mother's Day tribute to my beloved son and daughter, Joshua and Minami, far from us in Japan, in memory of Edwin Arthur Powell, whom God in His Sovereign Wisdom and Mercy took to Himself.


As I wrote at the time, my faith teaches me that the souls of babies who die in infancy, are with the Lord Jesus who said, "Suffer the little ones to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."


I know that someday I will see and know this precious little one, whom God in His unquestioned wisdom and grace, took from us before we knew him. He was taken away in weakness and frailty, but we will know him in strength and glory.


A number of years ago I planted a small bunch of violets just off our front porch. Since then, every year, they have reseeded themselves and seem to come up in random places, as God wills. The picture at the top of this post is published in memory of Edwin.


I do not know if they observe Mother's Day in Japan, but Sunday is Mother's Day in America, and this flower is for Minami, who is loved dearly by Grandma Penny and Grandpa Bud.

We will never forget.

Do not think that the world does not have its doctrines of justification, but not by faith in the blood of Christ. It is justification by whim and political advantage.

During the 90's liberals justified the lying and the repeated fornication and sexual assaults of Bill Clinton and attacted viciously those who deemed them immoral and a disqualification for office.

Now these same people are justifying the bitter hatred and racism of the pseudo-minisster Jefferson Wright whose church Obama joined in ordr to gain politcial advantage.

Of course liberals have morals only when it suits their politics and then only those morals that suit their purpose. They can change them like actors changing costumes in 15-second blackouts..

"In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? 2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? 4 ¶ The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men." (Ps 11:1-4)

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The man who trusts the Lord might rightfully say, "Why do you call me to flee like bird."

You say, "But the wicked are bending their bow; their arrows are poised to fly at you; they will suddenly destroy you."

"Ah, that is true," says the righteous, "and if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do against evil men? But God is in his holy temple, His throne is in heaven, He is aware of the devices and plans of men--He even sees the archer who secretly aims at the righteous." Exactly

The foundations of the work of God in the world are not Hillary, Barack, or John. Thank God for that. If you are distressed over the prospects of this next election, then you have not properly considered what the promises of God are, and you maybe look to too much from government.

God is on His throne in heaven and He rules all things and brings everything into judgment. What happens in the world should not affect our peace and tranquility, for God is judge of all the earth.

"I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace." (Ps 37:35-37)

"Yet he passed away." Where is Hitler? Where is Mussolini? Where is FDR? Where is Mao? Where is Napoleon? All of them are gone. The godly of years past have gone on to glory; the wicked have been turned into hell. The world continues along in the path ordained for it.

"Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;" (Isa 51:11-12 AV)

Why should a man, or a woman, who are going to die, bring distress to the inheritors of eternal life? Amen and Amen.

The Scourge of a Lying Tongue

20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. (Pr 26:20-28)

The Apostle James declared that the tongue is set on fire of hell. Solomon said that contentious men are wood and coal to kindle and keep the fire going. The slanderer is not to be believed because he has many abominations in his heart and covers up his wickedness.

James also puts it this way: "Where there is envy and strife, there is confusion and every evil work." The phony words cover up iniquity, and in time the rottenness will be revealed.

Faithful ministers are the especial butt of railings and bitter words, because the preaching of the word stirs up the flesh. In order to hide his sin the contentious man adds sin to sin. "He hath a devil," they said of the Lord Jesus. "Who do you think you are?" they added. "He said he would build the temple in three days," others said. "We be not born of fornication," still others said, meaning that Mary had conceived the Lord out of wedlock. The angrier they got, the more vicious their words were, for anger and hatred burned within them, "He casts out devils by the prince of devils."

God, however, has a very special care for his faithful ministers. "He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit. There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment." (Pr 12:17-19)

The lying tongue may gain a temporary goal, but the lying tongue cannot change the fabric of the universe, which is the creation of God. Truth arises from the grave that the contentious person prepares for it; it rises up and says, "You are a liar."

1Ch 16:22 Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

Ps 105:15 Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

EU defends biofuel goals amid food crises - Yahoo! News

EU defends biofuel goals amid food crises - Yahoo! News: "The EU Commission on Monday rejected claims that producing biofuels is a 'crime against humanity' that threatens food supplies, and vowed to stick to its goals as part of a climate change package."
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"How Sweet It Is," to quote Jackie Gleason. People shouldn't fool with Mother Nature, especially when they are playing God.

The First Draft of History Looks a Bit Rough on Bush - US News and World Report

The First Draft of History Looks a Bit Rough on Bush - US News and World Report: "President Bush often argues that history will vindicate him. So he can't be pleased with an informal survey of 109 professional historians conducted by the History News Network. It found that 98 percent of them believe that Bush's presidency has been a failure, while only about 2 percent see it as a success. Not only that, more than 61 percent of the historians say the current presidency is the worst in American history."
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Yes, but current historians are like new magazines such as the US News and World Report. They do not write history, they write propaganda, because they are products of their age, just like reporters, subject to the same prejudices.

Any act cannot be judged except by future events and no one knows now what those events will be.

So the story is asinine. No body knows it better than the historians, but modern history, just like modern journalism has become organized and profitable transgression of the Ninth Commandment.

Contemporary history thought that Harry Truman was a terrible president, but subsequent events proved him right about the cold war and communist agression.

Gram

My grandmother was known as Gram, and she died in Oregon when I was about six years old. She had lived in the hills of Kentucky, married to a petty county official, part-time preacher, bootlegger, and general scoundrel. She had several grown daughters and five children at home, my mother then being the youngest at 3 years old. One day Granddad packed up every thing in a wagon, hitched the horse to it, called the kids and Gram and drove away, never looking back. Gram never saw her daughters or her grandkids again. One thing Granddad knew about the Bible was that women were to be in subjection, and Gram knew that, too. She kept the five kids with her and Grandpa and rode the wagon clear to Oregon. They stopped for a year in Missouri, where my youngest uncle was born.

Granddad always had money in his pocket but spent nothing on the family. Everyone had to shift for himself; Gram had to make do the best she could to feed the family. It took them about three years to come into northern Oregon and make their way south to Medford. It was there that Gram found out that in the case of a divorce, the Oregon courts often awarded the kids to the mother. This would never happen in Kentucky in those days for the father always had custody.

Gram decided to stay put. She squatted in an empty house with her six kids, took in washing, went to the Methodist church, and reared the lot of them, all through the great depression. The boys generally married good wives and the grandchildren went to church and confessed Christ.

Gram never saw most of them. Granddad went on South to Yuba City and died there, never seeing his family again or sending a dime of support. Most of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren confess Christ and live Christian productive lives today. The sins of the father were not visited upon them; the Lord worked in their lives; and they were added to the church.

They are the offspring of a woman who had a few years of grammar school education, who worked from sunup to sundown, walking miles to the homes of the rich to do their washing, read her Bible every day, made quilts, went to church every Sunday. Among her children no one could lay a finger on her and they spoke reverently of her until the day she died in my mother’s arms. She would not have been comfortable in any of our modern churches, but she knew the grace of God, loved her Bible, and believed in Jesus Christ. She never went to a spa, never visited a hairdresser, never knew anything but toil and faith. But she had iron in her veins.

I have only a very dim memory of her, and I am not sure the one I see in my mind is that of the small picture that my Mother always had in a place of prominence in our home. I am not proud of my grandfather, but I am immensely proud of that heroic Kentucky woman.

Wonderful quote, worthy of one named after the great reformer!

If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.- Martin Luther King, Jr.
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It is too bad that so many of our black brothers today have listened to other voices and would say, "Who wants to be like one o' them white folks?" But they should pause a moment and listen to their best friends like Bill Cosby.

It's an Unmitigated Disaster!!

Lloyd's warns of a lack of natural disasters Business The Guardian: "Lloyd's of London warned yesterday that an absence last year of natural disasters or man-made accidents was putting pressure on firms to reduce premiums in 2008.
The world's oldest and biggest insurance market said that though the lack of major disasters had allowed firms to push up profits 5% in 2007, underwriting margins were being squeezed."
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What are we going to do without more disasters? Liberalism will have nothing to scare people about in order to increase the power and size of government. Algore will have to give up the billions he stood to make in selling indulgences for those who use too much carbon. Conspiritorialists will have to find other things to blame on their favorite enemies. What will Bush-haters do with no disasters to blame on him.

Worst of all, the dispensationalist will have to change his predictions about the immanent return of Christ; for if there are no earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters, how will he be able to read the signs of the times. Its a disaster!

We need to pray [to whatever god you pray to] that we will see an immediate increase in disasters so that these careers can be saved, and by saving these careers we can revive the world's economy. Without disasters who is there to save?

The Heidelberg Catechism, Question 105 asks, "What does God require in the sixth Commandment?"

The answer in part is: "That I do not revile, hate, insult or kill my neighbor either in thought, word, or gesture, much less in deed...."

The law is spiritual, the Apostle Paul said, which means that sins against the commandments originate in the spirit or in the heart of men. The ill will of the heart manifests itself in many ways, in thought, word, or deed. The outward manifestation of hatred, or inward murder, is described in four words:

Revile: Webster says this means "spread negative information about." It means to speak evil of a person, whether the information is true or false. When he was on the cross, the enemies of the Lord Jesus [Matt. 27:39] "reviled him" saying, "Thou who destroyest the temple and buildest it again in three days, save thyself." Paul said in 1Cor. 4:12 that it is the lot of the ministers to be reviled, but they must not revile again, for this is the example that the Lord Jesus set for us.

Hate: "33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." (Mt 18:33-35 AV) These are the words of Christ, and need no explanation.

Also: 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5

Insult: Webster says that this means a "deliberately offensive act or word." The Bible forbids me to deliberately give offense to my neighbor. We are not to tempt others into sin, by hooking their anger, or triggering their sinfulness, for this is not love. We are to be gentle unto all men and patient.

Kill: This is obvious. We are not to shed the blood of our neighbor.

Reviling and insult are prime ingredients of contentiousness in a church. Because of the destructiveness of contentiousnes it is especially marked out for discipline in the constitution of the Reformed Church in the U.S. Webster defines contentiousness as "a disposition to fight." The Greek word implies quarrels among friends.

Royal college warns abortions can lead to mental illness - Times Online

Question: Does the abortion make them crazy, or does their insanity make them have abortions?

To willingly kill her baby, a mother would have to be centered on her own pleasure, convenience, wealth, or some other selfish end--in other words, mentally ill. Of course she's nuts. And so is the father, grandparents, ministers, and the rest of the citizens who approve.

For a mother to rip her unborn from her body to be disposed of as so much garbage is unnatural and a war against herself. Natural affections, as Paul puts it in 2Timothy 3, are repressed and ridiculed. Such women are "silly women" who are laden with lusts [2Tim. 3:6], led astray by corrupt and evil men. Such sins can be forgiven through the blood of Christ, but not unless they are acknowledged to be sins and abhored.

Abortion is another legacy of the wickedness of the 1960's and its aftermath. Why does it take so long for the era to be recognized as an era of madness: rebellion against mother and father, against church and authority, against nature and decency, against truth and order?

"Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD." (Jer 6:15 av)

"Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities." (Jude 1:8 av)

"But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities." (2Pe 2:10 av)

We received the sad news this week that our son Josh and his wife Manami, who live in Japan, have lost their baby, Edwin Arthur Powell, who would have been born in the next few days. He was pronounced dead in the womb, because the cord had become kinked and he had no oxygen or nourishment. It is devastating to all our family. It is the first death in our immediate family--all our other 17 grandchildren were born healthy and strong.

It is a great comfort at this time to know that babies are in the hands of the Lord. I do not think that anything happens by chance, especially the death of these little ones, and I am certain that the death of a baby is a certain mark of the election of God and that all of these little ones are secure in the presence of God forever, especially those born of the covenant community, but I am persuaded also that all babies are.

Josh was baptized as a baby and committed to Christ at that time. We do pray daily that Josh will confess his faith in Christ--he is a wonderful and loving son--he only lacks the gift of faith that comes from Christ alone. But just as Levi was in the loins of Abraham when he paid tithes to Melchizadec, so was Edwin in the loins of Joshua when he was baptized. If Abraham's faith was sufficient to include his seed within the covenant of Israel, then it is also true of the covenant of Christ. Only ultimate unbelief is a sign of reprobation and babies cannot produce that sign. This grandfather could not be persuaded that Edwin is not with the Lord.

"Suffer the little ones to come unto me," are the words of our Lord Jesus. "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost." (Mt 18:10-11 av)

For an extraordinary example of a Religion of Peace and Brotherhood, click on the picture above.

Why can't we all just get along?

We must trust this stuff?

[I wrote this more than ten years ago. Do we add Al Gore to this list? I think so.]

First it was Freud reversing himself on hysteria in order to protect a child-molesting colleague. Then in the Margaret Mead, cooking the books on her research in Samoa, to make the data fit her pre-conceived ideas. Then it was evolutionists rewriting history to pretend that Christians believed in a "flat earth," and other absurdities. What scientific giant would fall next?

Enter Alfred Kinsey, whose 1948 book Sexual Behavior in the Humand Male and his 1953 sequel Sexual Behavior in the Human Female gave scientific justification for the sexual revolution of the sixties and seventies. Rachel Waldavsky (Reader's Digest, April 1997) reports that Kinsey collected child pornography, photos and film of children engaged in sexual acts from adults who had had sex with them. "It is not so difficult," Kinsey wrote in his second report, "to explain why a human animal does a particular thing sexually. It is more difficult to explain why each and every individual is not involved in every type of sexual activity."

Kinsey's conclusions were based on samples "grossly unrepresentative" of the general population. Those who volunteer for such projects are two to four times more active sexually than non volunteers, and Kinsey's samples also included prison inmates, 1400 convicted sex offenders. This is science? Is it science to go looking for what you want to find?

In spite of the fraud and corruption in the scientific community--a national scandal reported by Time magazine (August 26, 1991), huge numbers of Americans would rather trust their souls to the findings of science, swallowing the "research" blindly, rather than the old, old story of Jesus Christ, which does not change with the tides of human philosophy or adapt itself in order to obtain government grants.

May, 1997

The Real Bigotry

A couple of years ago I was called to jury duty. I didn't expect to be called, because I had heard that ministers and especially seminary professors would not be chosen. But I was.

But the case and the jury is not the story. After we were chosen and given our instructions, we walked outside, I with a tall, middle aged, urbane and soft-spoken man. We exchanged few pleasantries and he asked me what I did. [A very Western Civiilization question, for we define ourselves by what we do].

I told him that I taught systematic theology at New Geneva Seminary. My next remark would have been been a question about what he did, but I never had the opportunity.

He launched into a bitter, albeit soft-spoken and urbane, tirade against the Bible and Christianity. It did not seem to matter whether or not I believed the things that he attributed to Christianity, because he never attempted to find out what I thought. He without even a ripple in his thought KNEW what I thought and what kind of person I was and what kind of relatives I had and, I suppose, knew what I had had for breakfast. I just looked at him, turned my back and walked away. We had no opportunity to speak again.

He was elected foreman of the jury, and I flatter myself that several times during the deliberations I saved his sorry hide, by helping define the issues, the law, and the facts. The jury could have been deeply divided, but I think I served justice well by what I said, although I did not speak much. He warmed some to me as the proceedings advanced.

His attitude toward Christianity would have been stereotypical of the white male's attitude toward "those people" who had black skin in the thirties and forties of the 20th century.

He was well-educated, well-spoken --did I say that? I hope I get an opportunity to speak to him again someday, but it is doubtful, I suppose. I hope I was a good witness for Christ. I do not feel guilty about turning and walking away at the end of his tirade, for the scripture says to answer a fool according to his folly. It was not the time or place to engage in religious polemics; he would have known that if he were not a fool.

I also feel good about my performance on the jury, for I think I was a good witness for Christ, although I did not quote the Bible or behave in a sanctimonious manner. Others did, for there were some simple Christians on the jury and that is the kind of Christianity they knew. I wanted him to know that even if he was a jerk, I was certainly not one and could behave with discretion and do the job we were called to do. I have a warm feeling that my remarks at a critical time in our discussions were what defined the issues, threw light on the law in terms of the judges instructions, and united us in a fair and just decision. It was an answer to my prayer that I would be a good witness for Christ.

He was the modern bigot. Is his disease curable? Yes, but only by the Christ that he despised.

The Pattern from Eternity

"4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will," (Eph 1:4-5 AV)

"28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 ¶ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Ro 8:28-29 AV)

Man, emphatically, is not the captain of his soul, nor master of his fate.

He would like to think so, but the reality testifies against him as does the Scriptures. For the children of God their pattern is from eternity, written in the eternal decree of God, sent into the world in the Person of the Son of God, and worked in them by the Holy Spirit.

It is not for you or for me to decide this for ourselves, to determine [!] what sort of person we are going to be, for it is God that works us "both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Even the good works that we are called to do are not to be defined by ourselves but have been "forordained that we should walk in them."

This is not to mean that we are not called to make the choice or that preachers are not called to exhort us to do good works. On the contrary we are called to "put on Christ," " put off the old man" and "put on the new man." The will of man is real and he is responsible for his choices. But what is he to put on? whatever suit of clothes he fancies he would look good for himself or for his neighbors? No. He is to put on Christ, the model from eternity.

People choose according to their fancies and corrupt hearts, but the sheep of the Lord know his voice and they follow Him. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

Good and Profitable


"This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men." (Tit 3:8 AV)

It is a good and faithful minister that constantly reminds his congregation to maintain good works.

When this is done and the appeal is to thankfulness and the love of God, the minister is not preaching works righteousness. Instead, he is being obedient to his call.

This is so transparently good, that only a certain defensive blindness could miss it. It is good for a congregation to have love for each other. It is good for them to protect the reputation, the property, the life, and the joy of other members of the congregation. Just as a person must drive on the right side of the road in America in order to show his love for his neighbor and not imperil life, property, and happiness, so a Christian must maintain good works if he is to be a blessing to his brothers and sisters in the church.

Often churches and communities are dominated by bullies that do not maintain good works. They lord it over others in the congregation by the force of their personality and sometimes by a pretended piety. They intimidate others and impose their will on their churches and their families and friends by bullying tactics--by fear, guilt, and such. They use many different tactics for the rebellious heart is very fertile in such things. Even children are very innovative when they seek methods to circumvent the will of their parents.

The constitutions of the church are designed to protect in biblical ways the rights of all; not only the rights of the members of the church, but the rights of its officers and leaders. If every member of the church is allowed to carry on guerella warfare against the officers of the church, the duty of the officers to obey the scripture quoted above is impaired or obliterated. This is so transparently true that the only reason someone would dissent would be in order to overthrow legitimate government and impose their will on others, contrary to the covenant of the church. In such cases the whole church will suffer.

The Light Is Often Painful

"For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." (Joh 3:20)

I am exactly like everyone else, so I
know what I am talking about in this
post. We poor sinners do not like to
have the light of the Scriptures turned,
into our souls.

Some of the Scriptures are o.k., for we pick and choose from them to fashion a suit of clothes that makes us look pretty snappy. In this we are like Huckleberry Finn. He decided that he would give up watermelon and persimmons for Lent because "watermelons were out of season and persimmons ain't never any good."

In other matters we don't mind being rascals, but we hope no-one finds out, and if they do, we hope they won't tell anyone.

But God doesn't play our game. He looks on the heart and not on the outward appearance. His word is a blinding light to those who chaff against it for "it is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Heb 4:12)

In the last day, we will not be judged by what others think of us, or by the reputation that we have carefully cultivated, or even by our own opinion of ourselves. Jesus said it plainly, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (Joh 12:48) There should be no surprises at the day of judgment, for the words of Christ have been before the world since the beginning, for He is the one that not only spoke through the prophets but came to speak to us plainly. We didn't like it, but crucified the Lord of Glory, to our shame.

Neither will we be excused because we have had our feelings hurt and excuse ourselves. The light hurts; the truth is painful; the salt that cleanses the wound stings.

But it is better to face the truth now, than to face the fire of God's indignation in the last day. As the apostle put it, "If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." (1Co 11:31 av)

By What Spirit?

"And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us." 1John 3:24

The picture was taken east of Aspen, CO, early fall, 2007

Jesus promised to baptize those who believe on Him with the Holy Spirit. "I will send you another Comforter..." He said. What are the attributes of this Holy Spirit? Besides all the attributes that apply to the Godhead, Scripture assigns these to Him:

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of adoption. He assures us that we are the children of God: reject any word that would cast doubt upon this.

He is the Spirit of holiness: We are sanctified by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all: it is the Spirit that separates us unto God and unto holiness of life.

He is the Spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind. The Holy Spirit works effectively in us to love God and our neighbor and to think clearly in terms of God’s revelation.

He is the Spirit of Christ and the Father: The work of the Trinity is One and never in contradiction to the work of the Father and the Son. He calls those predestined by the Father and redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He is the Spirit who inspired the prophets and gave us the Holy Scriptures. Holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. It is impossible that the Holy Spirit’s work in the believer would be in conflict with the Scriptures. He is the Spirit of power, love, and soundness of mind. He brings order into our lives, families, and churches just as He did in Creation, moving upon the faces of the waters.

He is the same Spirit who works in all the people of God. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. He is not the spirit that works in the disobedient, the rebellious, the disorderly, and the ignorant. His works are longsuffering, temperance, patience, mercy, grace, and peace. The Lord’s people hear in the Spirit the voice of the Good Shepherd and will not follow another voice.

What Spirit moves you?