If you follow my Wednesday Bible Study on the blog (Wednesday’s Word), you may have noticed that, for the past year or so, I’ve been working my way through every book of the Bible, choosing a chapter from a different book each week.
Believe it or not, there really has been a method to my madness. My purpose was threefold:
To make sure readers got a taste of every single book of Scripture in hopes that you would discover a book you’d never given much thought to, and study it.
To demonstrate that every single book of Scripture is valuable and worth studying.
To encourage readers to delve more into the Old Testament in order to beef up familiarity with the broad overview of Scripture.
We’re just about to finish up this arc of Wednesday’s Word, and, starting June 1, it’s on to something new! We’re going to begin a study of a single book of Scripture, starting at the beginning and working our way through to the end. The only question is, which book will we study? The answer: You tell me!
Calvinism, or Reformed theology (most people use the two terms interchangeably) is a theological framework, drawn from Scripture, for understanding the Bible, salvation, the nature of man, and the character of God. There are five basic tenets, or “points,” of Calvinism (also known as “the Doctrines of Grace”) which are often presented via the acronym “TULIP” (Please note that these are very brief, general descriptions. See the resources below for more nuanced information and scriptural support.):
Total Depravity: Due to the Fall (Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden), all people are sinners from birth and in need of salvation.
Unconditional Election: God sovereignly predestines certain people to salvation. Whether or not a person is predestined, or “elect,” has nothing to do with her merit or good deeds. God’s reasons and criteria are known only to God. We have no way of knowing who is elect and who is not, only that people who are genuinely saved were predestined to it.
Limited Atonement: The atonement for sin that Christ made on the cross applies only to those who are, or will, in the future be, saved.
Irresistible Grace: Those who are predestined to salvation are drawn to Christ by God and will desire and accept, rather than reject, God’s offer of grace for their sin.
Perseverance of the Saints: (Sometimes called “eternal security,” or “once saved, always saved.”) Those who are truly saved will continue in the faith for the rest of their lives. Someone who “used to be a Christian” was never truly saved in the first place.
I don’t describe myself as a “Five Point Calvinist” or a “three pointer,” etc., because, while I pretty much agree with all five points (and don’t reject any of them outright), I simply think these doctrines are far more nuanced than they are often presented by Calvinists. We don’t have everything all cut-and-dried figured out about what’s going on in the mind of God about electing people. With regard to human will, we don’t know precisely what God does in a person’s heart, and how He does it, at the exact moment of regeneration. We believe what Romans 9 says about election while simultaneously believing 2 Peter 3:9, that it’s not God’s desire for anyone to perish.
And you know what? That’s OK. It’s OK to hold those things in tension while we’re here on earth. We believe what Scripture says God does, but, where the Bible is silent as to how He does it, His reasons for doing it, etc., well, we trust God and believe Scripture there, too, because it says:
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29
So that’s where I am, theologically speaking (I’ve written a little more about it here.) I guess you could say I’m a Reformed gal who leaves room for the mysteries of the mind of God.
If you have a question about:Ā a well known Christian author/leader, a Bible passage, an aspect of theology, a current issue in Christianity, or how to biblically handle a family, life, or church situation, comment below (Iāll hold all questions in queue {unpublished} for a future edition of The Mailbag) or send me an e-mail or private message. If your question is chosen for publication, your anonymity will be protected.
I hate radical secular feminism. I really do. Don’t get me wrong, I deeply appreciate the right to vote and own property. I think that men and women with the same amount of experience and education should be paid the same amount of money for doing the same job. And, I love seeing women study and develop their minds (particularly in the area of sound biblical doctrine.)
But what I don’t like is some of the methods that have been employed to achieve these things, the biblical values that have been sacrificed along the way, and the emasculating impact feminism has had on men.
Turn on any television show, watch a commercial, go to the movies, read the news, scroll through your social media feed, and examine the way men are generally viewed, spoken of, and being treated by others.
If a female character on a TV show slaps her husband or punches him in the arm, we laugh or sympathize with her anger, depending on the scenario, but if the roles were reversed we’d call the same behavior from a man abuse.
Men are frequently portrayed as bumbling incompetents as fathers, husbands, and employees, with a heroine mom, wife, or co-worker stepping in to save the day.
We see women wearing the pants in the family and treating their husbands like an extra child, and we see men who respond in kind: acting like children, obeying their wives’ commands, and, often, indulging in hours of childish pastimes, like video games, instead of working hard and caring for their families.
It’s not Father Knows Best anymore. It’s Father’s a Moronic Buffoon to Kick Around.
It’s not “Father Knows Best” anymore. It’s “Father’s a Moronic Buffoon to Kick Around”. And what’s alarming is that these attitudes have been creeping into the church for years.
And what’s alarming is that these attitudes have been creeping into the church for years.
Just as women rebelled against the law and social conventions to gain equality with men, “Christian” women now rebel against Scripture by becoming pastors and instructing and holding authority over men in the church. (In fact, this has been going on so long that many in the next generation aren’t even aware that the Bible prohibits this.)
Just as men in secular society have stepped back to avoid being run over by headstrong women, or even joined them in their quest for female dominance, evangelical men have abdicated their God-given positions of leadership in the church and home, sometimes even joining women in their violation of Scripture by inviting them into unbiblical positions of leadership and by sitting under their teaching and preaching.
Those are the things that are overt and visible. But it’s happening on a more subtle level, too, even among complementarian men, women, and churches.
Have you ever heard a man attempt to praise his wife by saying, “I married up,” or “way up,” or “way over my head,” and then proceed to describe himself as, basically, a bucket of slime in comparison to his wife? Most of the men I’ve heard say this have been good, godly men, including my husband, who has made similar remarks in the past.
Have you ever heard a man attempt to praise his wife by saying, “I married up,” or “way up,” or “way over my head,” and then proceed to describe himself as, basically, a bucket of slime in comparison to his wife?
I don’t know about the rest of you ladies, but I don’t want to hear anyone putting my husband (or any of my godly male friends) down, even my husband himself. The truth is, for believers, the cross is the great equalizer. We all marry equally up and equally down, because we are all redeemed, yet broken, sinful human beings- simultaneously saint and sinner.
The cross is the great equalizer. We all marry equally up and equally down, because we are all redeemed, yet broken, sinful human beings- simultaneously saint and sinner.
There are some really great messages in this video:
Being a mom can be tough, and husbands should appreciate all the hard work their wives do as mothers.
God wired women differently from men in a way that uniquely equips us for motherhood, and these differences are good and should be valued.
Dads need to step in and give moms a break every now and then.
It’s just supposed to be a lighthearted “moms are precious” video. I get that. But how are the makers of the video achieving the “lighthearted” part? By portraying dads as silly and hapless.
Where are we getting this idea that men have to be torn down in order to build women up? Not from the Bible, but from secular feminism. That’s their modus operandi, not God’s.
Where are we getting this idea that men have to be torn down in order to build women up? Not from the Bible, but from secular feminism.
We always look at Proverbs 31:10-31 with regard to what it says about excellent wives, but have you ever noticed what it says about husbands?
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm…
Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land…
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: āMany women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.ā 11-12a, 23, 28-29
We always look at Proverbs 31:10-31 with regard to what it says about excellent wives, but have you ever noticed what it says about husbands?
Here, in the quintessential passage praising godly wives, do we see a silly cartoon character of a husband? Do we see a husband being belittled so his wife can look good? No. We see a godly wife who does her husband good and inspires and encourages him to go out and conquer the world. We see a respectable man with a good reputation. And, we see a man who trusts, appreciates, and praises his wife without a hint of self deprecation.
The world’s way is that for women to be winners, men must lose. God’s way is iron sharpens iron. When wives are godly, it influences their husbands to be godly, and vice versa. When women fulfill the roles God has ordained for them at church, it frees and encourages men to be the leaders God has called them to be. We build each other up without tearing ourselves down. Nobody has to lose in order for somebody else to win. Godliness is truly a win-win situation.
The world’s way? For women to win, men must lose. God’s way is “iron sharpens iron”. We build each other up without tearing ourselves down. Nobody has to lose in order for somebody else to win. Godliness is truly a win-win situation.
Godly women are important, specially crafted by God for our roles, and worthy of honor and respect. But so are godly men. Let’s be sure, in the family and in the church, that we’re taking our cues from Scripture, not the world, when it comes to valuing women and men.
Numerous articles have been written about how you, as a church member, can be an encouragement to your pastor- how you can constructively praise his sermon, pray for him, get him a great gift for Pastor Appreciation Month, etc. These are good things. Please be sure to support your pastor. Being a pastor is one of the toughest and most thankless jobs out there, and if youāve read the statistics you know pastors need and deserve all the encouragement they can get.
Your preaching pastor isnāt the only person on your churchās staff who needs your support. So does your minister of music.
But your preaching pastor isnāt the only person on your churchās staff who needs your support. So does your minister of music. And, having been married to one for over twenty years, I can tell you there arenāt manyarticles out there letting you know how church members can encourage their ministers of music. Ready to show some love? Here are seven ways you can be an encouragement to your minister of music.
1. Make practice a priority.
Before you join the choir or praise team or volunteer to play an instrument, find out how much of a time commitment it will be, and consider whether or not you can diligently keep that commitment. Once youāve joined or volunteered, attend rehearsals, worship services, and performances faithfully, and be sure to arrive on time. You have no idea how much it means to your minister of music that he can count on you.
2. Get to church on time.
Think about how you would feel if you planned a dinner party, worked hard all week cooking and cleaning, and then one of the couples you invited carelessly showed up halfway through the meal. Youād probably think that was kind of rude and feel somewhat discouraged. Thatās sort of the way a minister of music can feel when people (especially the same people every week) habitually arrive late to church for non-emergency reasons. Not only that, but itās a distraction to others when you come in late, plus youāre missing out on praising God and getting your heart prepared to receive His Word during the sermon. Being on time and ready for worship benefits everybody!
3. Sing!
If you were in a meeting at work or in a college class, would you pick up your knitting, clip your nails, walk around the room chatting with friends, or bury your nose in your phone the whole time? Probably not, yet, over the years I have seen church members do all these and more during the music portion of the worship service. Itās disrespectful to the God weāre supposed to be worshiping and to the minister of music who is trying to do the work God has called him to. On the other hand, I love it when we get in the car after church and my husband says, with a smile on his face, āWow, they were really singing today!ā We have an incredible Savior who has given us the privilege of praising Him, so letās take Him up on it. Sing out! You can worship and be an encourager all at the same time.
4. Smile!
Itās pretty disheartening for a minister of music to stand up front, giving it all heās got, and then look out over the congregation and see a bunch of people looking like theyād rather be at the dentist. Think about Who youāre singing to and all the reasons why youāre singing to Him, and I challenge you to keep a frown on your face! Just the simple act of smiling while youāre singing will do wonders for your minister of music (and for you!).
5. Think before you complain.
Has your minister of music said or done something thatās clearly a sin or false doctrine? If so, you have a biblical obligation to go to him -kindly and in love- and talk to him about it directly.
Is your complaint a matter of personal preference- style of music, whether or not he wears a tie, etc.? Give it 24 hours. Does it still seem just as important? Could you possibly be a servant to him (and others in the congregation whose opinion is the opposite of yours) by overlooking an offense and not complaining?
If you do feel the need to voice your concern (and there are valid concerns that arenāt sin-related), approach your minister of music the way you would want to be approached. Instead of, āTurn that dadgum volume DOWN!ā how about, āI was wondering if it would be possible to ask the sound tech to lower the volume in the house speakers a little? My babyās ears are very sensitive and she gets fussy when itās that loud. I hate missing worship when I have to take her out to the lobby.ā Instead of, āHymns are so boring. I donāt see why we have to sing them half the time,ā how about, āI really loved those two worship songs we sang this morning! Do you think we might be able to sing more songs like that soon?ā Christ wants us to be kind to one another, so show your minister of music a little āGolden Ruleā love.
6. Speak encouraging words often.
Itās been our experience, and seems to be the general consensus among ministers of music, that the most common kind of feedback they get is negative feedback. People are much quicker to complain than affirm. Buck the trend. Did he choose one of your favorite songs for the service? Did a certain song help you to understand one of Godās attributes better? Did the choir do a nice job on their anthem? Are you praying for him? Tell him. He appreciates it more than you know.
7. Show tangible appreciation.
It is amazing what even the smallest gift can do to lift my husbandās spirits. A card of appreciation (I have come across cards that he has saved for years), something related to one of his hobbies, a church member buying him lunch at a fast food place. They might be small items monetarily speaking, but their message is, āI care about you, and I appreciate your hard work.ā And thatās priceless.
We have been blessed over the last two decades to serve at several churches that had members who were very good at encouraging their minister of music. Their love and support made my husbandās ministry a joy. What are some ways you can think of to encourage the minister of music at your church and spread that same kind of joy?
The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.
2Ā āI will utterly sweep away everything Ā Ā Ā Ā from the face of the earth,ā declares the Lord. 3Ā āI will sweep away man and beast; Ā Ā Ā Ā I will sweep away the birds of the heavens Ā Ā Ā Ā and the fish of the sea, and the rubble with the wicked. Ā Ā Ā Ā I will cut off mankind Ā Ā Ā Ā from the face of the earth,ā declares the Lord. 4Ā āI will stretch out my hand against Judah Ā Ā Ā Ā and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal Ā Ā Ā Ā and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests, 5Ā those who bow down on the roofs Ā Ā Ā Ā to the host of the heavens, those who bow down and swear to the Lord Ā Ā Ā Ā and yet swear by Milcom, 6Ā those who have turned back from following the Lord, Ā Ā Ā Ā who do not seek the Lord or inquire of him.ā
7Ā Be silent before the Lord God! Ā Ā Ā Ā For the day of the Lord is near; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice Ā Ā Ā Ā and consecrated his guests. 8Ā And on the day of the Lord‘s sacrificeā āI will punish the officials and the king’s sons Ā Ā Ā Ā and all who array themselves in foreign attire. 9Ā On that day I will punish Ā Ā Ā Ā everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master’s house Ā Ā Ā Ā with violence and fraud.
10Ā āOn that day,ā declares the Lord, Ā Ā Ā Ā āa cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, Ā Ā Ā Ā a loud crash from the hills. 11Ā Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar! Ā Ā Ā Ā For all the traders are no more; Ā Ā Ā Ā all who weigh out silver are cut off. 12Ā At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, Ā Ā Ā Ā and I will punish the men who are complacent, Ā Ā Ā Ā those who say in their hearts, āThe Lord will not do good, Ā Ā Ā Ā nor will he do ill.ā 13Ā Their goods shall be plundered, Ā Ā Ā Ā and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, Ā Ā Ā Ā they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, Ā Ā Ā Ā they shall not drink wine from them.ā
14Ā The great day of the Lord is near, Ā Ā Ā Ā near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter; Ā Ā Ā Ā the mighty man cries aloud there. 15Ā A day of wrath is that day, Ā Ā Ā Ā a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, Ā Ā Ā Ā a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities Ā Ā Ā Ā and against the lofty battlements.
17Ā I will bring distress on mankind, Ā Ā Ā Ā so that they shall walk like the blind, Ā Ā Ā Ā because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust, Ā Ā Ā Ā and their flesh like dung. 18Ā Neither their silver nor their gold Ā Ā Ā Ā shall be able to deliver them Ā Ā Ā Ā on the day of the wrath of the Lord. In the fire of his jealousy, Ā Ā Ā Ā all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end Ā Ā Ā Ā he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.
1. Who wrote the book of Zephaniah? Which genre of biblical literature is this book? Who was the intended audience of the book? What is the theme or purposed of this book?
2. What is the theme of Zephaniah 1? Which aspect of God’s character does this chapter showcase? Sometimes people think of God as wrathful in the Old Testment and loving in the New Testament. Is this true? How can God be good, loving, and wrathful all at the same time? How does God’s wrath demonstrate His goodness?
3. During which king’s reign did Zephaniah prophesy? (1) What impact might his prophecy have had on the king, and, through the king’s actions, on the people?
4. What is the sin the priests are committing in verses 4-6? Verse 5 says the priests “bow down and swear to the Lord.” Who else does it say they bow and swear to? Why would this anger God? Which Scriptures are the priests violating?
5. How do verses 14-18 describe the “great day of the Lord” (the day of judgment)? List the descriptors following the phrase “a day of…” in verses 15-16. Why will God bring judgment on the earth? (17) Why do Christians not need to fear God’s judgment and wrath against sin?
Whether or not a person is predestined, or “elect,” has nothing to do with her merit or good deeds. God’s reasons and criteria are known only to God. We have no way of knowing who is elect and who is not, only that people who are genuinely saved were predestined to it.
