Need a Role Model? Consider Boaz

Most know of the wonton sexual predation occurring on multiple levels by those in power against the weak—generally, though not exclusively, men against women—coming to light in the exposure of public figures and the #MeToo of social media. While many have rightly decried the actions perpetrated on victims, Amy Mantravadi has given a response that does not examine the severity of the act so much as offered a biblical solution in Boaz is a Hero for our Time. Consider just this portion:

Boaz went out of his way to help Ruth. He spent the rest of the day coming up with ways to give her more food, inviting her to join them at lunch and commanding his men to purposefully drop extra grain for her to reap. Even the way that he gave her food was designed to uphold her dignity, and he forbid his men from rebuking her. (2:14-16) Moreover, he spoke encouraging words to Ruth and honored her faith rather than judging her based on appearance or background. (Again, whether or not he personally appreciated her appearance is a matter for debate, but he didn’t say anything about it.)

The piece is well worth the read. While most want heroes with capes, lightsabers, and superhuman abilities, real heroes are known by their divinely-enabled character. Men, be that hero.

Like Father, Like Son

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

You have been thought worthy of adoption, you call God Father; accordingly live up to the relationship.  Here he brought out the equality of the Father and the Son: bidding us to be imitators of God, he urged the same thing in reference to the Son as well.  And as he said of the Father that he has forgiven us, so too of Christ that he loved us and gave himself up for us.

Theodoret of Cyrus, "The Letter to the Ephesians" on Ephesians 5:1-2

Seek First the Kingdom of God: Life Lesson from Solomon

I am reading through Ecclesiastes, and a thought came to me that this book is an expanded discourse on a portion of the Sermon on the Mount.  In Matthew 6:19-34, Jesus tells the people not to seek after the treasures of this world, because that treasure will not last and the effort leads you away from the Giver of all good things.  You serve the wrong master.  No longer are you trusting that the Almighty God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills to meet your need.  You worry about the lack and not remember what has been received, looking instead to make plans and expend effort improving your lot in life.  Jesus' solution for that problem is:

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  (Matt 6:33)

Solomon, the wealthiest and most powerful man on earth, pursued all he could and wrote from experience on the vanity of chasing after what the Lord would warn against on that mountainside centuries later—wealth, goods, wisdom, and many other things that are considered important by the world and our flesh—in order to achieve happiness and contentment.  Solomon's advice is:

Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.  Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.  For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.  (Eccl 5:18-20)

Notice the central theme of the two passages: God will give the desire of your heart if you stop chasing the wind and rest in His goodness.  Wealth and possessions are not the problem, the love of money is.  This malady is not restricted to an economic stratum.  Whatever one's income, there is a temptation to be more intent on gaining just a bit more in ignorance that the blessing of the Lord makes rich (Prov 10:22) and great gain comes from godliness with contentment (1 Tim 6:6).

Wearing the Right Fragrance

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.  For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.

In every way, nonetheless, we sing the praises of God, who in his wise conduct of our affairs leads us hither and yon, making us obvious to everyone, and through us offering the knowledge of godliness.  By fragrance of knowledge he referred to the knowledge in this life, teaching two things at the same time: this is an insignificant part of perfect knowledge; and while the latter now eludes us it will at the appropriate be made manifest, after the manner of incense, which in many cases when mixed with fire in a bedroom spreads its fragrance even outside.  Those who catch it, while not seeing it, enjoy its sweet smell.

We offer everyone the sweet fragrance of Christ, but not all given a share in it enjoy salvation.  To those with bad eyes the light is treacherous and unkind, but it is not the sun that causes the harm.  It is also said that vultures shun the fragrance of perfume, yet perfume is still sweet-smelling, even if vultures give it a wide berth.  Likewise, too, the saving message brings about salvation for those who believe, but inflicts ruin on the unbelieving.

Theodoret of Cyrus, "The Second Letter to the Corinthians" on 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Culturally Aware or Failing Miserably?

A recent Christianity Today article raised an issue within the church.  Here are the lead paragraphs.

Two weeks ago, younger evangelical leaders gathered in Washington D.C. to reflect about the shape Christianity should take in the world. Q, the conference hosted by Gabe Lyons, is one of the more interesting spots in the evangelical landscape.  Self-conscious in its cultural (which is to say, not political) orientation, conference attendees are an interesting cross-section of the evangelical world.  Some might be emergent, others might be Reformed, but no one talks much about all that.  It's concern about social issues, rather than distinctive theological ones, that attendees seem to gather around.

In a breathtaking moment of unity, however, conference attendees affirmed that churches should advocate for contraceptives for the single people in their midst.  After a panel discussion on the best ways to reduce abortions in the church (tacit answer: contraception), an instant poll put the question to attendees: "Do you believe churches should advocate contraception for their single twentysomethings?"  The question is ambiguously worded (Advocate how?  From the pulpit?  Which twentysomethings?  All of them?).  But even so, 70 percent of respondents understood enough to say "yes."

The result of this instant poll is disturbing but reflects how greatly the world has infected the church.  How is it that so many attendees had no qualms of affirming contraceptives for singles?  Did they not realize the overriding concern is the whole area of personal holiness, or had they accepted the lie that "regardless of what young people are taught, they will do it anyway?"

Who do we blame for this attitude?  Whoever is not teaching that there are consequences for sinful behavior.  Whoever is not teaching that your sin is so heinous that Christ died on the cross to atone for it.  Whoever is not teaching that there is a Savior to whom we can go and confess sin having the promise of forgiveness.  Did I miss anyone?

Live and Suffer as Servants of God

1 Peter 2:16
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

1 Peter 3:14-16
But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.  Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

For why, indeed, have our writings deserved to be given to the flames? our meetings to be cruelly broken up, in which prayer is made to the Supreme God, peace and pardon are asked for all in authority, for soldiers, kings, friends, enemies, for those still in life, and those freed from the bondage of the flesh; in which all that is said is such as to make men humane, gentle, modest, virtuous, chaste, generous in dealing with their substance, and inseparably united to all embraced in our brotherhood?¹

Arnobius of Sicca, The Case against the Pagans, Book IV, cap. 36

¹ I.e., the communion of saints within the church.

Titus: The Handbook on Godliness

Paul's epistle to Titus is literally dripping with references to godliness from the first sentence onward. A simple outline of the book looks like this:

1. Spiritual Conduct of leaders

• The standard (1:5-9)
• The purpose (1:10-16)
  

2. Spiritual conduct of believers in general

• As a result of sound doctrine through the teaching of God's grace (2:1-15)
• As a result of a changed life in Christ (3:1-15)
  

Titus was left by Paul on an island with a rather debauched history. Here was a people who would rather swindle a neighbor than lend a hand. Christians are to be different than that. There are social mores that need to be upheld; evidences of growing maturity; understanding of gender roles; and above these the leadership lifestyle is to be exemplary in order to deal with the disorderly.

Notice the two reasons Paul gives for godly conduct. First mentioned is teaching. Notice the teacher--God's grace. I find this fascinating because we do not think of grace as a teacher. Grace does indeed teach us: of our sinful condition, of a righteous God, of redemption, of faith. Beyond these grace teaches the work of sanctification, which is the theological area Paul addresses through most of this epistle.

Second is the changed life. That is what we were; this is what we are. Now live like a real difference was made. If something real happened, show it.

There is one point that strikes home in the list of elder qualifications. Each of those is a facet of the normal Christian life. Every older man (and woman) should give evidence of the Lord working in him through conduct obvious to all.