Blessing, enduring, and entreating

Dear Lord, please make me like your wonderful apostles that Paul describes in 1Cor 4:12-13:

When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat.

Please God, remake me into a blessing to those around me - not just my friends and family, but also those that revile, persecute, or slander me. In Your Son's and my Savior's name, Jesus Christ, amen.

More on violence

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-7; ESV)

Echoing Solomon’s Ecclesiastes, the OT prophets clearly pointed to times that it was appropriate to arm (Joel 13:10) and other times when it was appropriate to disarm (Isa 2:4, Micah 4:3). Coming into the New Testament and our Lord and Head of the church, Jesus Christ, we see the same idea:

And he said to them, "When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "Nothing." He said to them, "But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors.' For what is written about me has its fulfillment." And they said, "Look, Lord, here are two swords." And he said to them, "It is enough." (Luke 22:35-37; ESV)

And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Matthew 26:51-52; ESV; You also see this story told in Mark 14:43f and John 18:10-11)

The bottom line seems to be that there will come a day when weapons and violence are not needed and man will be at peace in the City of God, but until then we’d best build them, put them in their proper places, and train to use them properly.

Ligon Duncan on the Great Commission

This past Sunday I had the distinct pleasure of hearing Dr. Ligon Duncan preach the message at our new church's Service of Organization in McComb, MS. Dr. Duncan is a living Presbyterian legend, but I am also pleased to report that he is also quite a pleasant, down-to-earth guy. The type of man that puts his pants on one leg at a time - just like you or I do. He is just exceptionally gifted at teaching and preaching.

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There was a lot to his sermon, but the one point that I wanted to post on today was his exposition of the Great Commission.

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Mat 28:18 -20; ESV)

Dr. Duncan brought up the point that it is not enough that we just get people to believe in Jesus (James 2:19). Rather, according to the Great Commission, we must make disciples (i.e. people who are disciplined in their belief) and we have to get them actively participating in the church (at least to the point of baptism) and we have to teach them to observe all that Jesus has commanded (i.e. we have to teach them to understand the theological details - not just 'Mere Christianity,' though that might be a start).

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Thanks, Ligon, for kicking it up a notch for us...