New Blog Space

I'm moving my devotional/blog to:

http://deltachurch.net/ryan_s_blog

See you there!

The Curtain's Been Torn

Mark 15:37 "And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom."

Hebrews 10:19-20 "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new an dliving way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh"

The curtain that scripture talks about is the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, first in the tabernacle and then in the temple. The Most Holy Place was where the High Priest could go in only once a year to make atonement for the sins of the people. It was where the Ark of the Covenant was and where the presence of God rested. To come into the Most Holy Place, into God's direct presence, would mean death if it wasn't done properly. In essence, the curtain represented the separation of God and man because of man's sin.

Jesus changed all of that through his death. Jesus took the penalty for our sin, and when he cried out, "It is finished!" there was no need for the curtain any more...so at his death, it split in two; thus reuniting God and man through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus, God's own Son.

The torn curtain is a tremendous visual reminder that we have direct access to God now through faith in Jesus. There is no need for priest to go to God for us. Jesus himself said that he is the only way to the Father. He has made peace for us where there once was hostility.

That's what is "good" about Good Friday.

Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage

Finishing the discussion of marriage, divorce, and remarriage

I preached on Marriage and Divorce on March 11 at Delta. We dealt very forthrightly with God’s Word on both subjects, and I logged 61 minutes of pulpit time. But despite the depth and length that we gave to those subjects, we still weren’t able to talk about the final piece of the trilogy, namely the issue of remarriage according to God’s Word. So, I’d like to take some space here to finish the subject. Before we jump in, here’s an overview of marriage and divorce:

Marriage:

-Marriage is God-ordained (Genesis 2:20-25)
-God created Eve to be Adam’s helper, and Eve is declared Adam’s wife at her creation.

-Marriage is designed as a Permanent Union (Matthew 19:4-6)
-Here’s a little Sex Ed: when you have intercourse, you are not only coming together physically, but spiritually…it is a unique union…you join your soul to that person…people who are sexually promiscuous eventually end up so torn up because their souls are ripped apart between too many people.
-God also is the ultimate one overseeing the marriage and joining the two together

-Marriage is a Covenant (Proverbs 2:17; Malachi 2:14)
-A man and woman declare love and devotion to each other, express their commitment, and share their vows…witnesses ratify the covenant…anniversaries celebrate the covenant.
-It different than a contract…there’s no signing bonus, no restructuring, no time limit.
-God is in the middle of it.

-Marriage reflects the Trinity (Deuteronomy 6:4; Genesis 2:24)
-The Hebrew word “echad” means one, and it is used to describe the Trinitarian God and the oneness of a husband and wife
-A Christian marriage is God’s first illustration of the community he desires his followers to have.

Divorce/Dissolving of a Marriage:

-Death (1 Corinthians 7:39; Romans 7:2-4)
-Remember, a covenant is a life-long commitment…death is the most legitimate ending of the marriage covenant.

-Sexual Immorality/Adultery (Matthew 5:32, 19:9)
-Much has been debated over the word used here, “Porneia”…some try to make the meaning of the word very general and vague in regards to unfaithfulness…but I believe that it is inclusive of any sexual sin, and in a marriage covenant, adultery.
-When Jesus taught about divorce in Matthew 19, he was answering a specific question posed to him by the Pharisees when they asked “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” (v. 3)…the Pharisees were holding a pretty open view of divorce at this time, and Jesus made the point to talk about the covenant of marriage as opposed to the issue of divorce…but at the end of his answer, he did say that sexual immorality or adultery was a reason for divorce.
-The OT had very strict laws concerning adultery, if someone was caught in adultery, both parties were immediately killed (Deuteronomy 22:22)…so, death was ending the marriage covenant.
-Since that law isn’t practiced now, some view that if the adulterer is not repentant of their sin, you can in effect live as if the adulterer is dead and are then released from the covenant.

-Non-Christian Divorce (1 Corinthians 7:15)
-If you get married and you are both unbelievers, and then one gets saved, if the unbelieving spouse wants out, the Christian is not to stop them
-The believing spouse is not to seek divorce, but live as a godly example and influence in the home, in hopes to see the unbeliever come to faith
-This is not about a Christian knowingly marrying a non-Christian…that’s a whole other issue

-Hardness of heart (Matthew 19:8)
-The thrust of this is “defiant, unrepentant sin”
-This not only hurts the relationship with your spouse, but also is damaging your relationship with God
-You cannot be poorly related to your spouse and rightly related to God at the same time!
-This can include issues of neglect and abuse which can break the marriage covenant
-If there are issues like this happening in a Christian marriage, the couple needs to go to the elders of the church for counsel, to work the process of church discipline, repentance and reconciliation, and ideally see the marriage restored

A final thought on the issue of divorce: just because God has given us concessions for divorce does not mean that he has given us license for divorce. His primary desire is for God-honoring marriages that practice repentance and reconciliation.

As for the issue of remarriage, the following is a very biblical summation from Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington, where much of my study has originated from other than scripture.

Am I required to take back my spouse after they have committed adultery?

Whenever possible, reconciliation is the primary motivation behind our actions
toward those who have done great harm to us (1 Corinthians 7:11). Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your father in heaven” (Matthew 5:43–45).

How does one do this in practice? Doing good to the offending spouse will mean praying for God to deeply cut the offender to the bone of their resistance, so that there is no more opposition to change. Reconciliation is not simply entering into relationship again as though nothing happened (Luke 17:3). It is not entrusting yourself to a betrayer who is likely to betray again. And it is not melting before whatever display of apology the betrayer can muster. Repentance is deep, life changing remorse by the betrayer in the face of their depravity. It is the betrayer coming to the end of themselves and authentically turning toward those harmed to be permanently oriented toward blessing, not harming or neglecting, them. Repentance is not simply an apology; in fact, an apology is merely an admission that one has been caught, a want to be “let off the hook.” Confession, not apology, is required (James 5:16). Confession spells out the offense in full.
Repentance is a well-considered path of measurable change that is demonstrated over time. As transformation is seen and confirmed, trust is regained. Restitution, where possible, is completed and reconciliation is begun with a better level of honesty, trust, and intimacy than existed before.
Repentance abandons all forms of violence (physical, which includes restraint, and standing in doorways; verbal, which is shouting, threats, demeaning ridiculing words; emotional, which can be subtle or over manipulation, and withholding.) It is a requirement on the part of the victim to forgive the offender when this authentic, long-lasting repentance is seen (Colossians 3:13).
If, however, there is no repentance, then there is no requirement to live together in the marriage (1 Corinthians 7:10–11). The temptation, though, is to give up prematurely. It is to lose hope that the restoration could occur sometime in the future. Other times it is more sinister. It is being hardened by resentment and wanting to make the other person pay.

Can I remarry if my spouse dies?

Yes. The marriage covenant ends with the death of one’s husband or wife. You are free to marry (1 Corinthians 7:39).

Can I remarry after divorcing an adulterer?

This is the most disputed issue on the topic of divorce and remarriage. On the face of it, Jesus and the apostle Paul made no allowance for remarriage.
D “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:31– 32)
D “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:9)
D He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” (Mark 10:11–12)
D “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Luke 16:18)
D To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. (1 Corinthians 7:10–11)

These statements by Jesus and Paul set the parameters for remarriage.

1. Jesus restricts the grounds for divorce to moicheia (adultery) or porneia (a broader net of sexual misconduct). Jesus speaks to the husband directly. If the husband is divorcing his wife, he is to give her a certificate of divorce, so she can remarry, rather than punish her by keeping her in a state of unsupported marriage. Jesus, in Luke 16:19, states that though an adulterous woman is given a certificate of divorce making it possible for her to remarry, the man who marries her commits adultery. The consequence of sexual sin is grave and not resolvable for the offending spouse, outside the mercy, forgiveness, and grace of the other spouse. Hardness of heart will demand punishment. Mercy and grace will work toward authentic repentance and restoration.

2. The innocent party of a divorce due to adultery may remarry. Remarriage after one has been betrayed by an adulterous spouse does not constitute adultery. The person marrying a previously married spouse who was the victim of an adulterous person also does not constitute adultery. This is implied but not specifically proscribed in Matthew 19:9. Scripture is clear: marriage is a covenant relationship that should not be broken even under extreme circumstances of betrayal such as adultery. It should be restored through repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Paul instructed members of the Corinthian church who separated from their spouses to remain unmarried, so reconciliation could occur. Reconciliation is the priority (1 Corinthians 7:10).

3. A believer who remarries after a non-Christian spouse divorces the believing spouse constitutes a legitimate marriage (1 Corinthians 7:15).

4. If divorce occurs before a person has surrendered his or her life to Christ, and an appropriate effort to restore the marriage has been undertaken without favorable results, remarriage is appropriate, so long as the believer marries a
Christian.

Does this mean the innocent party should remain single indefinitely?

It means they should remain single for as long as every effort is applied to reconcile with their husband or wife under the supervision of the church elders. Though divorce and remarriage is intensely personal, the counsel and objectivity available through consultation with the elders will greatly increase the likelihood of avoiding impulsiveness (Proverbs 15:22; Hebrews 13:17).

If the offending spouse remarries, is there any obligation for me to remain single?

This is a matter of conscience as no further option is available to restore the marriage. Remarriage to a former husband or wife who since the divorce has been married to another person is clearly forbidden (Deuteronomy 24:3–4). In this case the innocent party would be free to remarry, provided that resentments and relational issues are resolved so they are not carried forward into the new marriage.

Are there other justifications for remarriage?

Jesus made it clear that marrying an adulterer or adulteress constitutes adultery.
This means the one who is guilty of breaking faith and violating the covenant of marriage is committing himself or herself to a life of singleness. It is implicit that the innocent party may remarry, but the offender may not (Mark 10:10–12; Luke
16:18). The elders (of Mars Hill Church) take a conservative stance on remarriage, which we believe agrees with Jesus. This means that the primary thrust of any effort is to bring about repentance in the offender, restoration of relationship, forgiveness by the offended, and mutual reconciliation of the marriage.
The elders (of Mars Hill Church) would not support remarriage unless the previous marriage ended because of the stubborn unrepentance of the adulterer/adulteress (moicheia), or immoral person (porneia), or because of violence by the spouse of the previous marriage.

Can I remarry if I divorced my spouse just because we were incompatible?

No. Work toward reconciliation, which means discovering what made you incompatible, and change. There are few legitimate reasons for divorce.
Incompatibility is not one of them (1 Corinthians 7:10).

What if I divorced my spouse because of domestic violence, child abuse, or abandonment— can I remarry?

The Bible gives no direct instruction in these cases. However, the Bible is clear in this regard: a husband is responsible to love his wife, which means caring for her and protecting her from any harm. He is also responsible for the care and protection of his children. He must assure that no form of harm or exploitation comes to them (Ephesians 5:21–31).

Some have used biblical teaching on wives submitting to their husband to force battered women to stay in their marriages. This is not our position. Physical harm to spouses or children is absolutely not acceptable.

What if I was divorced while a non-Christian?

Though marriage is a blessing given to all humanity and is to be honored as a binding covenant even when entered into before being in Christ, it is understood that the non-Christian is ignorant of God’s decrees and expectations. Therefore, a non-Christian cannot be bound by the same expectations governing a Christian. The atonement Jesus achieved by His blood is sufficient to pay the penalty of previous sin. Therefore, that person would be eligible to remarry a Christian, but only after every effort is made to restore the previous marriage through a reconciliation process.


I believe that the Elders of Mars Hill Church have done a very thorough job of properly eyeleting scripture in regards to the issue of remarriage. That being said, this is not the official stance for Delta Church or the associations that we are a part of.

The bible is our final authority on all issues of faith and life. Generally, the bible teaches that: marriage is to be highly honored and every effort must be made to see that a marriage is God honoring; divorce is not God’s desire or design, yet some concessions are made for it; and remarriage for issues other than death have specific parameters that should be adhered to.

Delta seeks to be a church where marriage is championed, cultivated, and celebrated. Delta also seeks to be a church where those who have been deeply wounded by the harsh realities of divorce can be healed. And Delta seeks to be a church where people and relationships can find restoration and reconciliation.

Got a quiver full of arrows

Psalm 127:3-4

Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

My wife gave birth to our fourth child last Wednesday. Rachel Mae came in at 7lbs, 12oz and 22 inches long. God has blessed me tremendously. Enjoy the pic!

How offensive are you?

I would like to take a moment of silence for Chief Illiniwek. Tonight at the Illinois/Michigan basketball game is his last dance. He's been the symbol of The Fighting Illini's competative spirit for over 80 years. When he stepped out onto the field or court, he would get the crowd in a frenzy and let the opposing team know that they were in for a battle.

But no more.

He has been labeled as "offensive" to some Native Americans, noting that the dances he does are mimcking important religious ceremonies and his dress reflects more of the Souix tribe than the actual Illini tribe. They saw him as a mockery or their heritage and an insult to their beliefs and culture.

So, the Chief is now gone, as soon will be the Illini logo that also bears his image. I'm not going to sit here and say why they shouldn't be offended and that they're making a really big deal out of nothing. I do wonder what's in store now for teams like the Florida State Seminoles, the Atlanta Braves, and the Cleveland Indians. I precedent has now been set, and sooner or later another group will go after them.

But this has got me thinking about being offensive to people. We all offend somebody most all of the time. No two people hold exactly the same views, use the same language, hold the same ideals, or think the same thoughts. We all say and act in ways that hurt people, albeit intentionally or unintentionally. So, do people need to thicken up their skin or do people need to be more sensitive or both?

As a Chrisitan, I need to accept the fact that I will offend people with my faith. I mean, it's a very exclusive thing. I believe that the Bible is the Word of God. I believe that Jesus is God and is the only way to heaven. I believe in absolute truth. That's really offensive to most of our pluralistic society.

Galatians 5:11 talks about the "offense of the cross"; meaning that the Gospel will tick people off. When you in essence tell people who aren't believers that their philosophies or religion (or lack there of) are flat-out wrong, what do you expect them to do? They're going to be offended, get angry, hurt, and think that we're nuts. But it's really not about that. It's really not about their feelings, or ours...it's about being true and bold in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Now, before you run out and just start spouting off telling people they're going to Hell, remember what Paul wrote in Colossians 4:5-6 "Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders (ie, outside the faith), making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may now how you ought to answer each person." We are always to speak and act out of love, not judgment. We need to make sure that we truly are living out the Gospel by people of love, peace, kindness, generosity, and servitude. That way we earn the right to speak the Gospel and have it fall on fertile ears.

But be aware: you'll still offend people.

Maybe the Manliest Show Ever

There's nothing too spiritual about this post, except that God loves manly men. Is seems, especially in the Old Testament, he's always telling some guy to go beat up guys with a jawbone of an ass, cut off a defeated army's foreskins, and to stay away from loose women. When Jesus came, he didn't come as some silver-spooned, never get your hands dirty, rich man's son; no, he came as a carpenter's kid that was born in a barn. His first word might have been "splinter."

One of my new favorite shows is called "Man vs. Wild" on the Discovery Channel (http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/manvswild/manvswild.html). The host's name is Bear (very appropriate) and he used to be in the British Special Forces where he did survival training, and now he's bringing that training to the world via Discovery Channel. He even climbed Mount Everest. What the show is about is this: a helicopter drops Bear off in some remote area like a rain forest, the desert, or the Swiss Alps. All he has is the clothes on his back, a knife, flint, and a canteen. He has to find food and water on his own, and the show is over when he finds civilization. I've watched this guy eat raw zebra meat that was left over from a lion kill, eat maggots (good protein, he said), and drink water out of elephant dung to keep hydrated. He's taught me how to not get trampled by elephants and rhinos, and how to warm up after falling into a frozen lake (you need to get naked and rub snow on you). It's pretty amazing to watch a truly 'manly man' in action, even though he makes me want to throw up at least a couple times during the hour watching him eat!

So if you ever check out "Man vs. Wild", be reminded that God did indeed create and loves the 'manly man'. Now excuse me while I go and shovel snow off my driveway in my swim suit.

Perseverance

"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed...struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Go Bears!!

OK, not to really spiritualize yesterday, but I must say that Rex Grossman of the Chicago Bears is a good illustration right now. All the sports world has been hearing for the last month or two is how Rex isn't the quarterback to bring Chicago to the Superbowl; bench him and play Brian Griese. He hasn't really helped his case much by having some absolutely terrible games, either. But yesterday, he showed great composure and made big plays when he needed and the Bears are going to the Superbowl.

In life we all get beat up on, disappointed, disappoint others, don't have things go our way, and have things just be difficult. And many times the best thing we can do is "just hang in there". We have to keep doing the things we know are right and fundamental in life and faith (read scripture, pray, serve, show hospitality, love others) and just be patient for God to work everything out.

Life just happens. We aren't promised a life where everything comes up roses, but we are promised that God is in control, will work things out, and he is on our side. So in the midst of health issues, relational struggles, pressure at work, or financial stress, I encourage you to hang in there, do the things you know are right, surround yourself with people who care about you, and exercise some trust.

Peace to all...and I'm picking the Bears by 10 in the Superbowl!

Perspective

Happy 2007! It's been a little while since I've posted a new devotional, and the theme of this devotional will let you know why. Let me catch you up.

The holidays hit in full force, and we had an unexpected curve ball thrown our way. My 16 month old, Aiden, got some kind of virus or stomach flu the beginning of December that he held onto for almost a week. It then took him another week to really start feeling back to normal, or so we thought. He began to have trouble breathing and was really stuffed up, which we thought was normal for him, because he's teething and he's been on a nebulizer since he was a couple months old. But this seemed different, and on the 21st Dawn took him to the doctor. Well, they didn't come home, and instead went directly to the Pediatric ICU ward in the hospital where he spent the next 3 1/2 days with a virus, an infection in his lungs, and more cords coming out of him than C3-P0 from Star Wars. He responded really well to treatment, and was able to come home on Christmas Eve. That was the best present this year.

The PICU is not a fun place to be. There was a baby across the hall from us who was only about a week and a half old. After his parents brought him home from the hospital, they went in to his room to check on him only to discover that he wasn't breathing. He was able to be revived, but was without oxygen for 40 minutes. His internal organs were working OK, but his brain wasn't responding. I just found out yesterday that they took him off the respirator. I pray that the baby is safe in Jesus' arms right now.

But with all this going on right in the middle of the holiday hub-bub, presents, and parties, it really made me take some stock about what's really important. Presents, bows, parties, and running around can really distract us from things we take so for granted each day. Things like family, health, and salvation. Gift-getting did not matter to me this Christmas; only getting my son home healthy did and having my family all together.

We live in a society that values consumerism over generosity, programs over people, and ego over God. I truly believe that people need a good slap in the face, or get thrown on their backs sometimes to really see the important things that God has graciously given us and to stop being so busy and distracted with everything else.

In light of all this, the verse that has kept coming to mind is from Ecclesiastes 5:2 "Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few." The main gist of the verse is just imploring us to keep the right perspective; specifically that we are not as important as we think we are and God is the only One that really counts. My selfish desires for gifts at Christmas are no where near as important as my kid being sick or the pain of new parents watching their 1 month old slowly die before their eyes.

I pray that 2007 is a year that things are able to be kept in perspective. I pray that there won't be so much running around, staying busy, or acquiring 'stuff'. I pray that we all can slow down, enjoy life, love God, and love people.

Here's to a new year with new opportunities!

Grace & peace,
Ryan