It's actually a lateral transfer. The new home is located at www.thelightheartedcalvinist.com (shown below). This will redirect to WordPress. After you read my writings, click on the Links page to go to sources who are much more literate and knowledgable.
Barack Obama has been elected President (don't start with the "not until the electoral college meets, blah, blah, blah rigmarole. The sun doesn't "rise," either, but that's what we say and we all know what it means. Sheesh.) My Christian buddies may throw up in their mouth at this, but I say, "Praise God." WHAT!?!?! "Praise God."
God is still on the throne, carrying our His perfect plan and His perfect will through His providential governance of His creation. Free agents (man) have exercised their will and have done exactly what God ordained they do. "But Obama's the most pro-abortion candidate for President ever!" Yes, he is. "Praise God." Did I vote for Mr. Obama? No. "Praise God." I mean it. If Job can say, with assurance, when his helpmate Mrs. Job is telling him to "Curse God and die," after his livestock and servants have been slaughtered, his children killed and his health taken away (but he did still have his wife, which is another lesson for another time(!)), "Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" Now, before you go off the deep end, I am not calling Mr. Obama evil. My point is that what happened yesterday happened because God wanted it to. Do we see it as "good" or "evil?" Was yesterday "good" or "evil?" What I do know is this - it was one of those "all things" Paul speaks about in Romans 8 that God is going to work for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose. I'm sure we all have our viewpoints. We do not, though, look at this world through anything but our own version of horse blinders. Does not God use our choices in His sovereign, timeless governing of His creation? I would pray Mr. Obama would "see the light," as it were, on issues such as abortion. We all, though, were in the darkness at one point until God brought His people out of the darkness and "into His marvelous light." (1 Peter 2) Even still, we are not all perfect yet. Not even the Republicans. Pray for Mr. Obama, Mr. Biden, Ms. Pelosi and all those who will be leading our country. REALLY pray that God the Holy Spirit moves upon people - including you and I - and grants repentance and faith and submission and obedience and "...cause you (His people) to walk in my statutes." (Ezekiel 36:27) I pray first, though, that I would be obedient to the Light.
Which brings us to "does theology matter?" Yes. Mr. Obama is doing nothing more than carrying our his own theology/doctrine as he understands it. Where did he get it? Someone taught it to him. Someone with a "Rev." in front of his name or someone within his church or fellowship of believers. Was that theology openly pro-abortion? Perhaps. But, perhaps not. Just what was that theology? We don't know. Whatever it was, it has fueled his worldview. This is why theology DOES matter. Just who IS God? What does He say? How obedient are we to be to what portion (or the entirety) of His Word? What parts of Scripture are "culturally bound" and not applicable to us in 2008 and beyond? Is Mr. Obama going to be President because Satan has a hold on our country and God is wringing His hands in the heavens hoping we can just "man up" and take our country back? Is the country "ours" to begin with?
As an aside - those of us who are white can't begin to understand just what this means to the African-Americans in this country. I tear up myself - not at Obama's victory - but at how I see people reacting to something they NEVER thought they would see in their lifetime or their children's lifetime. Reacting not to his social agenda or economic programs or anything else other than the fact a man of his race will sit in the Oval Office. The Shawshank Redemption line comes to mind in Andy's letter to Red: "Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." That's not a biblical quote, but it may be where these people with tears in their eyes are at. Now they have hope. Not biblical hope, but a form of hope. Even the seculars are aware of the value of hope and we see its fruit in the reactions of those yesterday.
To quote Josh Gelatt (who, of course, beat me to the punch on this. He IS a lot younger and more fleet of brain and swift of keyboard than me) from several weeks ago, "God is a sovereign King, not a cosmic beggar." Praise God. From whom all blessings flow. He knows what He's doing. Even on November 4, 2008.
I'm not the first to ask. Many more learned people than I have posed the question. The question arose as I was reading this story concerning the change in leadership at Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral. Schuller, well known for his "positive," feel-good, self-esteem promoting messages, is quoted in the article as saying,
"The real minister's name that we honor is Jesus, not Schuller," he said to thunderous applause, according to the Los Angeles Times. "I was called to start a mission, not a church," Schuller said. "You don't try to preach . . . what is sin and what isn't sin."
Oh.
Good thing Jesus (all quotations from the ESV) never told anyone, "..from now on sin no more." (John 8:11) Good thing Jesus never told people seeking answers to injustice in Luke 13:1-5: "There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Good thing? Uhhh, no. The right thing is what Jesus did. So did the apostles in their preaching and teaching.
Is not one of the problems in the church today, the redefining of sin, if we talk about it at all? Is not sin why we need a Savior? If we "don't try to preach . . . what is sin and what isn't sin," per Dr. Schuller, then how is what we teach ultimately any different than good moralistic citizenship with a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? If we do not talk or define sin, then how do we talk about or define sanctification and holiness? How do we evangelize biblically?
I use Mozilla Thunderbird. I subscribed to Joel Osteen's weekly newsletter (no, I'm not a masochist) to see what churchy things they do there. Thunderbird had this opinion of the newsletter on its own (pertinent section circled):
I was duly impressed.
"All you have to do is believe!"
Much talk floats around now, as always, through church history, about the necessity or lack thereof for sound doctrine. "Deeds, not creeds" and so on. "Why are we discussing these things - all you have to do is believe in Jesus!" True, but what Jesus? The Jesus of Mormonism? Of the Jehovah's Witnesses? Of Islam? The Jesus of contemporary Christianity who is nothing more than your "buddy" and who would never speak an unkind word? (Tell that to the scribes and Pharisees, no?)
Just who Jesus "is" (thanks, Mr. Clinton, for making "is" a part of our ongoing dialogue in America) is for another time. But "believe?" Now, I'm just some redneck from the boondocks and not a giant of the faith like some and like one "giant" I'll cite below.
John 3:16 is clear - "whoever believes" will receive eternal life. Just what IS belief? It appears that not all who "believe" receive eternal life. Some passages:
John 2:23-25 (ESV): 23Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
So they "believed" but Jesus did not believe that they believed. I'd trust what Jesus' thoughts/actions were.
John 8:31:59 (ESV):
31So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?"
34Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father."
39They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41You are doing the works your father did." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God." 42Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."
48The Jews answered him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?" 49Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." 52The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.' 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?" 54Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.' 55But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad." 57So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" 58Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." 59So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
We have Jews who believed in Him (v. 31), who in v. 59 are picking up stones to throw at Him. Interesting, isn't it, that Jesus says in vv. 37 and 40 that "you seek to kill me" when they haven't said or done anything yet to indicate that - all they have done is ask a question and then give a couple responses, none of which show a desire to kill Him? Knowing what is in our hearts better than we know ourselves, Jesus knows their desire to kill Him even as they "believe."
Acts 26:24-29 (ESV): 24And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind." 25But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe." 28And Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?" 29And Paul said, "Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains."
Do we have evidence that Agrippa was "saved?" It appears not. Did Agrippa "believe" in a saving way or did he "believe" in the same way the demons do (James 2:19)?
Charles Stanley has a long-lasting ministry that has affected many people and bless him for that. However, his book "Eternal Security" (Copyright 1990 by Charles Stanley) presents some issues that are somewhat puzzling. I think both Arminians and Calvinists will have issues with what the statements from his book I'll reference shortly.
I would affirm the 1689 LBCF on the perseverance of the saints, which says (from Founders.org):
A Faith to Confess: The Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689
Rewritten in Modern English
©1975, Carey Publications, Ltd., 75 Woodhill Road, Leeds, U.K., LS16 7BZ
Reprinted here by permission
CHAPTER 17 - THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
THE saints are those whom God has accepted in Christ the Beloved, and effectually called and sanctified by His Spirit. To them He has given the precious faith that pertains to all His elect. The persons to whom such blessings have been imparted can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but they shall certainly persevere in grace to the end and be eternally saved, for God will never repent of having called them and made gifts to them. Consequently He continues to beget and to nourish in them faith, repentance,love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit that issue in immortality. Many storms and floods may arise and beat upon them, yet they can never be moved from the foundation and rock on which by faith they are firmly established. Even if unbelief and Satan's temptations cause them for a time to lose the sight and comfort of the light and love of God, yet the unchanging God remains their God, and He will certainly keep and save them by His power until they come to the enjoyment of their purchased possession; for they are engraven on the palms of His hands, and their names have been written in the book of life from all eternity.
Ps. 89:31,32; Mal. 3:6; John 10:28,29; 1 Cor. 11:32; Phil. 1:6; 2 Tim. 2:19; 1 John 2:19.
It is on no free will of their own that the saints' perseverance depends, but on the immutability of the decree of election, which in its turn depends upon the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, the efficacious merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and the saints' union with Him, the oath of God, the abiding character of the Spirit's indwelling of the saints, the divine nature of which they are partakers and, lastly, the terms of the covenant of grace. All these factors guarantee the certainty and infallibility of the saints' perseverance.
Jer. 32:40; John 14:19; Rom. 5:9,10; 8:30; 9:11,16; Heb. 6:17,18; 1 John 3:9.
In various ways-the temptations of Satan and of the world, the striving of indwelling sin to get the upper hand, the neglect of the means appointed for their preservation-saints may fall into fearful sins, and may even continue in them for a time. In this way they incur God's displeasure, grieve His Holy Spirit, do injury to their graces, diminish their comforts, experience hardness of heart and accusations of conscience, hurt and scandalize others, and bring God's chastisements on themselves. Yet being saints their repentance will be renewed, and through faith they will be preserved in Christ Jesus to the end.
2 Sam. 12:14; Ps. 32:3,4; 51:10,12; Isa. 64:5,9; Matt. 26:70,72,74; Luke 22:32,61,62; Eph. 4:30.
We then proceed to Mr. Stanley's statements. Page 74 says, “The Bible clearly teaches that God’s love for His people is of such magnitude that even those who walk away from the faith have not the slightest chance of slipping from His hand.” Page 80 says (emphasis mine): "God does not require a constant attitude of faith in order to be saved–only an act of faith,” and “Forgiveness/salvation is applied at the moment of faith. It is not the same thing as faith. And its permanence is not contingent upon the permanence of one’s faith.” Page 81: “Again, saving faith is not necessarily a sustained attitude of gratefulness for God’s gift. It is a singular moment in time wherein we take what God has offered.” The last one is especially shocking on page 93 (emphasis again mine): “Even if a believer for all practical purposes becomes an unbeliever, his salvation is not in jeopardy. Christ will remain faithful.” Christ is indeed faithful. The teaching of the New Testament, though, is clear on the need for the Christian to keep on believing (testing one's self, examining one's self, e.g., 2 Cor 13:5, 2 Peter 1:10 and so). If you REALLY want to read something shocking, read pp. 126-128 and his view on the "outer darkness." Terrifying.
People listen to what we say and what we teach. If memory serves, Gordon Clark, whom I greatly admire, says "belief" is "assent to a proposition." I think he had a problem with the threefold aspect of faith (Greg Koukl on that topic) offered by the Reformers. I would fall into Koukl's camp and therefore, MacArthur's camp that Jesus must not only be Savior, but Lord as well. Paul, in 1 Cor. 15, discusses the Gospel they HAD received (past tense) and the fact those same people were BEING saved (present and ongoing), working out their salvation (presently) as Philippians 2 tells us. Praise God He is perfecting us imperfect people (Phil. 3:12) and that He will complete His work (Phil 1:6, Heb. 12:2).
That we would be careful in pronouncing anyone saved because they make a profession of faith. I didn't even discuss Acts 8 and Simon the sorcerer and Peter's rebuke of him. We are to proclaim how to be saved. By belief. Proper, biblical, saving belief. And make sure we are saved ourselves.
A common response I get when giving a message on holiness or sin or even the Gospel is, "Well, how come you don't talk about the joy?" Umm, well, because it appears that those who preached in the Scriptures didn't do it, either. There is a time for it, when the passage or the message calls for it - but if we follow the model of those in the Scriptures, wellllllllll............
Greg Koukl's essay on "God loves you" evangelism is pertinent here:
Preaching God's Love in Acts?
By Gregory Koukl
What was the emphasis in the evangelistic preaching of the Apostles as recorded in the book of Acts? Does the record of Acts support the notion that the central focus of Christianity is one's love relationship with God and personal life enhancement? Or did these disciples of Christ focus on something else?
The list below includes every instance of evangelistic preaching in the book of Acts, a summary of content, and an analysis of emphasis.
1. Pentecost, Acts 2:14-39
Peter notes the manifestations of the Holy Spirit that all had been witnessing, then ties them to the fulfillment of prophecy of Joel about the last days. He then preaches Jesus as the Messiah--attested to by miracles and by the resurrection which was prophesied by David--and the guilt of the crowd for the crucifixion.
The emphasis is on forgiveness of sin by Jesus the Messiah. There is no mention of God's love or a relationship with Him.
2. Peter at the Gate Beautiful, Acts 3:12-26
After Peter and John healed a man lame from birth, Peter placed the blame for Jesus' death on the shoulders of the listeners. He then appealed to fulfilled prophecy and told them either to believe and return and thus receive forgiveness and times of refreshing, or be destroyed.
The emphasis is on forgiveness of sin by Jesus the Messiah. There is no mention of God's love or a relationship with Him.
3. Peter before the High Priest, Acts 4:8-12
Peter attributes the healing of the man lame from birth to Jesus the Messiah, whom the Jews had crucified, but whom God had raised from the dead. He quotes prophecy and says there is no other means of salvation but through Jesus. Peter then refuses to be silent about the Gospel.
The emphasis is on forgiveness of sin by Jesus the Messiah. There is no mention of God's love or a relationship with him.
4. Peter's Defense a Second Time before the Council, Acts 5:29-32
Peter proclaims the resurrected Christ as Prince and Savior who brings forgiveness of sin and gives the gift of the Holy Spirit. He accuses the Council of putting Jesus to death. They are so infuriated they want to kill the Apostles. Instead, on the advice of Gamaliel, the believers are flogged and released.
There is no mention of God's love or any kind of tender relationship with Him.
5. Stephen's Defense before the Council, Acts 7:1-60
Stephen recounts the history of the Jews in which they constantly rebel, rejecting God's deliverer. He accuses the Jews of being stiff-necked, resisting the Holy Spirit just as their forefathers had. He accuses them also of betraying and murdering the Righteous One, the Messiah. They are so filled with rage they murder him.
Emphasis is on the guilt of the Jews. There is no mention of God's love.
[Note: When God speaks to Saul about his future during the events surrounding Saul's conversion (Acts 9), there is no mention of an intimate relationship, only that Paul would suffer much for the sake of Christ.]
6. Peter's Message to the Household of Cornelius, Acts 10:34-43
Peter talks of the ministry of Jesus, His miracles, death on the cross, and resurrection. Peter tells the Gentiles it is his job to solemnly testify that Jesus is the One appointed by God to judge the world, that Jesus' coming was prophesied, and that belief in Him brings forgiveness of sin.
The emphasis is on Jesus, the prophesied Messiah who either brings judgment or forgives of sin. There is no mention of God's love.
7. Paul's Message to the Jews in the Synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, Acts 13:16-41
Paul preaches Jesus as the anticipated Savior, affirmed by John the Baptist, crucified by the Jews, who rose from the dead in fulfillment of prophesy. Paul then proclaims forgiveness of sin and freedom from the Law for all who believe.
Paul proclaims Jesus the prophesied Messiah crucified and resurrected. His emphasis is on forgiveness amidst warning.
8. Paul at the Areopagus in Athens, Acts 17:22-31
Paul discloses the nature of the "unknown God," One who is responsible for all creation, and in whom we all depend for our very existence. He calls all men to repent, because God has appointed a judge, a man who has risen from the dead.
Emphasis is on the nature of God, and the reality of judgment. There is no mention of relationship or God's love.
9. Paul's Defense before the Jews in Jerusalem, Acts 22:1-21
Paul gives his testimony, detailing his persecution of Christians motivated by his zeal toward God, his conversion on the road to Damascus, and how his sins were washed away in Jesus' name. When he mentions his mission to the Gentiles, however, the Jews protested violently.
Emphasis is on Paul's personal encounter with Christ, his own forgiveness from sin, and his subsequent mission. There is no offer of personal relationship with God or mention of God's love.
10. Paul's Defense before the Sanhedrin, Acts 23:1-6
Paul says he is on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead. There is no mention of the love of God.
11. Paul's Defense before the governor, Felix, Acts 24:10-21
Paul establishes his innocence regarding the Jews' charges, then affirms the Law and the Prophets and the general resurrection of both righteous and wicked, a belief for which he says he is on trial.
There is no mention of God's love or even of forgiveness.
12. Paul before Felix and Drusilla, Acts 24:24-25
Paul speaks of righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come which frightens Felix who then sends Paul away. There is no mention of God's love or of a personal relationship with Him.
13. Paul's Defense before the Agrippa, Acts 26:1-29
Paul gives his testimony, noting the importance of the resurrection. He tells of the commission Jesus had given him, proclaiming the Gospel with a goal of deliverance from Satanic darkness to receiving forgiveness and an inheritance from God. Paul claims his message is the same as the prophets regarding the Messiah's suffering and resurrection.
Emphasis is on the resurrection of Christ, prophetic fulfillment and forgiveness, and Paul's responsibility to preach the Gospel. There is no mention of love or a relationship with God.
The love of God is never mentioned a single time in the entire book of Acts.
©1999 Gregory Koukl. Reproduction permitted for non-commercial use only.
For more information, contact Stand to Reason at 1438 East 33rd St., Signal Hill, CA 90755
(800) 2-REASON (562) 595-7333 www.str.org
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Actually, my word search shows the word "love" doesn't appear AT ALL in the book of Acts.
Joy? Yes, as a fruit of the Spirit subsequent to salvation. But as an evangelistic tool ("You can have JOY!") it feeds into humanistic desires and makes salvation about the sinner's "feeling" and emotions rather than the glorification of God through repentance, submission, faith and obedience, reconciling the sinner to His Savior.
So is this video "wrong?" He doesn't talk about the joy. Just that pesky Gospel, you know.
We had dinner with another Christian brother of "non-Reformed' persuasion and he was telling about this TV preacher he ice fishes with occasionally. He told us that he had told this guy about me and my Calvinist beliefs. The preacher said something along the lines of, "We'll pray for healing." My response was, "Well, ______________, it's a big burden still being one the few people who thinks Martin Luther was right, but that's a burden I'm willing to bear." All he did was laugh.
Is that not the case, though? On the essentials of the Reformation - especially as Luther himself considered them essential - most "Protestants" would say (if we were to dig deep) that Luther was dead wrong on the theological issues of the Reformation with regard to salvation. See especially the Erasmus vs. Luther discourse on the will of man.
This came from a Lutheran friend and it can be filed under The Pot Calling The Kettle Black, to be sure. In the interest of full disclosure, I attend a Baptist church and am studying at Reformed Baptist Seminary.
Why do you make sure you always invite two Baptists to go fishing with you and not just one?
Because if you invite one he'll drink all your beer. If you invite two, neither one will drink any.
In my prior summary of the prison ministry weekend at Scott Correctional Facility, I forgot to mention this.
Most of our time is spent in what we call the "Community Room," which in this case was a section of the gymnasium divided off with canvas-like tarps hanging on metal rods. The prisoners attending the weekend sit at tables with the volunteers - six female prisoners to a table with three female volunteers at each table. My wife was seated at a table in one of the back corners of the room, probably 30 yards from the other end of the room. The format of the weekend doesn't allow each volunteer to really have time to get to know each prisoner, which leads to the comment that was made by one of the prisoners at the end of the weekend.
Each prisoner is given an opportunity to speak at the end of the weekend and one prisoner, during her comments, said, "Where's the lady with the long white hair?" All the volunteers sit together facing the prisoners at this service. I'm sitting next to my wife and we both turn around and look for the lady with the long white hair that she was asking about. Oh - by the way, my wife has long white hair. The prisoner then points to my wife and says that she never had a chance to talk to her at all during the weekend but she was watching her from across the room and couldn't help but notice her "gentle spirit," and she wanted to acknowledge her for that.
Yes, people DO pay attention to us. Even when we think they don't. That's one thing no one has ever said about me - having a gentle spirit.....but my wife has received that compliment many times. I am blessed.
Of course, if one were to be REALLY snarky, one could make the point that ALL Arminian training is basic....
You're right. You can't. So stop trying.
Over the years of serving in prison ministry, the one issue that prisoners always want to talk about is self-forgiveness. It's one of those "if I had a nickel for every time..." things.
This is the single largest issue that I encounter that keeps people from true freedom in Christ. Where did this concept come from? Certainly not the Scriptures. Nowhere, either explicitly or implicitly, is this mentioned. Where are commanded to add something to the cross in order to be forgiven for our sins? When did the cross become insufficient?
Here's how the typical conversation goes:
Counselee: "I can't forgive myself for __________ (naming the sin)."
Me: "You're right."
C: "What do you mean?"
M: "You're right. You can't forgive yourself. You don't have to, anyway."
C: "Yes, I do."
M: "OK. Are you a Christian? (then I ask some basic questions to make sure he is. If the answer is ultimately "yes," we continue) Do you believe God forgives sin?"
C: "Yes."
M: "Do you believe He has the power and authority to forgive sin?"
C: "Yes."
M: "Do you believe He has power and authority to forgive YOUR sin?"
C: "Yes."
M: "Have you asked Him to forgive you for your sin?"
C: "Yes."
M" Do you believe Jesus died to forgive sin?"
C: "Yes."
M: "Do you believe Jesus died so YOUR sin could be forgiven?"
C: "Yes."
M: Has your sin been forgiven?"
C: Yes."
M: "Completely?"
C: "Yes."
M: "So that sin of ____________ has been forgiven?"
C: "Yes."
M: "Do you believe that?"
C: "Yes."
M: "Really? Totally?"
C: "Totally."
M: "Where does it say in the Bible that you need to forgive yourself?"
C: "Well, uh..it doesn't."
M: "Are you sure?"
C: "I, uh think so..."
M: "You're right. It doesn't. So if God has forgiven your sin through the blood of Jesus Christ and you have accepted that forgiveness as complete and sufficient, why do you feel you have to forgive yourself?"
C: "I just do. I don't know why."
Then the merry-go-round continues.
We can't add anything to the cross. If we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, why do people think there's another spiritual hoop to jump through?
This past Sunday night, accompanied by my wife, a good Christian brother and I traveled to Straits Correctional Facility to baptize some prisoners. Why? Well, it is biblical, no?
When a prisoner becomes a Christian, he isn't just allowed to go get baptized right away. There's a process. You just can't run the Ethiopian eunuch down to the water and baptize him as Philip did. At this particular prison, baptisms are typically done annually. What happens is the chaplain borrows a portable baptismal from another local prison and it is set up in their "gym", since there's a concrete floor there that can withstand the water that will be splashed/dripped.
Some question why we baptize them. Because Scripture commands believers to be baptized. "But isn't there a lot of 'jailhouse religion'?" Yes, but so what? With any baptism you're placing trust that the profession is genuine. Many who are baptized outside prisons have a form of jailhouse religion as well, as we can all see from the state of the evangelical church.
What a blessing it was. Approximately 20 men were baptized. I couldn't stop smiling the whole time. Some will come back to the weekly bible study we have there. Some won't. All need prayer. As we all do.
A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of serving on a Keryx prison ministry weekend held at Scott Correctional Facility in Plymouth. Given 10 days to ponder, here are some thoughts.
First, the location. Coming from the boondocks where I live and being used to prisons in rural settings or in not the "best part" of town, it was striking to see this prison, located at the corner of Five Mile Road and Beck Road. Let's just say this one is NOT in the poor side of town. New shopping malls and rather large, expensive houses all around. No wonder the MDOC is closing the prison and as rumor has it, selling the property to a real estate developer (Pulte, perhaps?)who would put more rather large, expensive homes on the property once they bulldoze the prison. But here we have a prison that has been open less than twenty years being closed and torn down. With, most likely, the proceeds from the sale just becoming another item buried in the state budget. Not having the answer, what do we learn from this, most likely a result of the prison building boom of the 80's? How do we control correctional costs in this state, which are indeed staggering? You can say reduce prisoner population, which will happen through sentencing/probation/treatment/parole/commutation/etc. means, but only until some highly visible case happens where someone released "early" commits some horrific crime (like this one) and it becomes political suicide to keep that plan going. Being a Christian, I would maintain the issues are primarily spiritual and hence require spiritual treatment. But that's for another post.
After 12 years and over 2500 hours volunteering in men's prisons, this was my first venture inside a women's prison. The first thing that struck me was the uniforms. Now, I'm used to the uniforms. On men. I remember when the male prisoners wore civilian clothes (and in many cases, more expensive civilian clothes than I could ever afford) until things changed back in the late 90's. It took a while to get used to seeing the men in the uniforms - blue shirts with blue pants, with an orange shoulder stripe. Seeing the women in uniforms was just somehow more "wrong" than the men. I know, this is not politically correct, but that's my personal thought.
The prison itself was, well, a prison. In one way or another all the ones I've been to (six in all), when you get down to it, are pretty much the same. Perhaps some have pole barn architecture, some have brick buildings (as Scott does) or some are dorm/barracks-style. What doesn't change is the atmosphere. They are glum places. Full of people walking around, hands stuffed in pockets, heads either down or focused straight ahead on something straight ahead in the far-off distance. And those aren't just prisoners doing so. Not having been a prisoner or a staff member in a prison, I can't pretend to understand the culture. The staff was actually, on the whole, very accomodating. What we do when we do a weekend is a tremendous disruption to routine and routine is very important there. They were very cheerful and professional, unlike some prisons where certain staff has been openly hostile and disdainful toward us.
Now, confidentiality prevents me from being too open about what happened. Over the course of the weekend, one thing struck me that I've encountered in men's prisons and I think it's a shame. Way too many of the prisoners look at their earliest out date (the first day they can be released) as the guaranteed day they are going home. One woman's earliest out date was coming up in a year or so, as an example. She just "knew" she was going home then and there was no doubt in her mind. Having seen this time and time again, all she is doing is setting herself up for a fall. In addition, there's some bad doctrine that is behind the Christians who have that attitude. They have been taught to "claim" their parole and they always "claim" the first date. Throwing aside the secular reasons for caution in doing this, as a Christian, who are we to in fact, place an obligation upon God to give us what we desire? Could He grant the desires of our heart? Sure. Does He have to, even when our faith is firm? No. These prisoners claim they have received a "word from God" or a "a revelation". Odd how that revelation never says they're going to spend more years in prison after their earliest out date, which in fact, many do. Then when their parole isn't granted, Christians rebuke them for not having enough faith in their prayers, which is "why God didn't give you your parole." So much for "if the Lord wills" as James says.
What mindset causes that kind of deception? Again, I can't pretend to know. What I do know is that Scripture does command us to pray and that God will answer. But is every answer an exact "yes" to our prayer? No. Look at Jesus in the garden. Paul in 2 Cor. 12. The answer was different than the one given to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3. We cannot pretend to know why God answers heartfelt prayers for release from prison with a "no." Why He would want a child (or children) to continue to live without Mom or Grandma around. Somehow, though, in His will, He does and if it's in His will, it's good and it's lovely. Mysterious, yes. Tragic, yes - but only to us. It all makes perfect sense to Him.
One might say, well, you just don't understand. What I can understand is the Word of God. I can also understand my experience as it relates to the Word of God. How heartfelt prayers offered by our family for our son and offered by Christian prisoners at Kinross Correctional Facility for a year and a half for our son were answered in God's providence with our son being killed at age 19 in 2002. My wife prayed for Jon's health and his soul in the middle of the night May 29, 2002. We found out later his estimated time of death was around the time my wife prayed? Coincidental? No, providential. Our fractured relationship with our son was healed before he died. Was our son's death an accident, as people refer to such incidents? No. God had a purpose and plan that He has had eternally for our son's death that day. I talk freely about his death to prisoners and about our encounter with the criminal justice system after his death. I also talk freely about how God providentially was actively involved in our son's death.
There was also an interesting conversation with a prisoner about marriage. Prisoners tend to have a problem with my personal conviction on marriage. I personally believe that a Biblical marriage cannot and should not be initiated while one of the partners is incarcerated. This particular prison was a) one of those who "knows" she's getting out at her earliest out date over the next few years and b) was adamant about marrying a man whom she met while incarcerated. Red flags are flying all over the place at this. One of the frustrations of doing ministry such as what we do on these weekends is that you are in essence doing battlefield counseling. You usually get one chance, over 15-30 minutes, to try and give sound, biblical advice to someone you've never met before and may well never see again. As a result of this, my counsel tends to be a little more confrontational than would otherwise happen - you know this will probably be your only opportunity to have their ear. This particular prisoner had "man problems" in the past. BIG man problems. Now she wants to marry some guy whom she's never seen other than in the visiting room. Works out well for him, in a sense. But in another, not so. All one can do is try to bring Scripture in and get past the emotion and life circumstances that got the prisoner to this point and take a wider view of things and try to help them from making some of the same mistakes that led to them being there in the first place.
Finally, the sadness. Sadness at hearing women introduce themselves and tell us about their families. Most had children. Many had grandchildren. All those children and grandchildren growing up without Mom or Grandma around. Many of those children also growing up without Dad (or Grandpa) around because we men are real good at using women for our own carnal purposes and leaving them to deal with the consequences. Families are foundational to a sound society. Families with a mother AND a father. Men need to step up and take responsibility. Men need to be men and not treat their woman as a piece of property. Countless times I've heard male prisoners discuss the anguish they know they've caused their parents - especially their mother. The pain they feel because they have children "in the world" growing up without a father. The "what can I do from in here's" when they talk about hearing that their son/daughter is starting to do the same stupid things they did to get sent to prison. This time, with the prisoners being female, there just seemed to be something more inherently "wrong" with them being there, away from children. Yes, I know that sounds chauvinistic. One of our female volunteers (I was one of only three male volunteers - we were there as Spiritual Directors) asked me, "What did these women do to get put here?" I said, "The same stupid things men do." Sin transcends gender. Sin abounds on either side of the fence. Sin is something we as Christians need to be examining ourselves for all the time. This isn't a "those prisoners are bad people" thing. Scripture says we are all bad (dead, actually, spiritually) by nature. Society judges certain sins as being worthy of imprisonment. Are we not all, though, conceived under a death sentence (Psalm 51 and others)? Who am I to judge my sin as being less worthy of condemnation than that of a prisoner? Of a child molester? A rapist? A murderer? All we can do is proclaim the message of redemption and reconciliation provided through the cross of Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to breathe life into people who had none before and praise Him that He was merciful in doing so in our lives.
All these women will be moving to Huron Valley over the next several months. We pray for them. And for those who will supervise them. Through it all, we give glory to the living God.
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