The problem is that American Christians do not have a heart that is thirsting for an experience with God, eager to express gratitude and praise to Him, and open to His response to their efforts to convey humility, appreciation, acknowledgment of His love and character, and joy in knowing and serving Him.

-George Barna

Warden, Michael D. (Editor), Experience God in Worship

Instead God sent warmth and crystal skies and cool breezes and golden leaves and hanging sea gulls over Elliot Park.

Amazing. Absolutely amazing!

We deserved the 52-story IDS tower to fall, and bridges to collapse, and poisonous gas to kill thousands. But instead God gave us over-the-top foretastes of heaven.

This is why everyone is crying out, Where was God on Thursday! Where were you God! How could you do this? Why did you let this happen?

Everybody is saying that, aren’t they?”

- John Piper

Copyright 2008 John Piper. Used by permission.

This video was publish in March, yet I was compelled to post it here for you to see.

Last weekend my wife and I spent time in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina on a weekend retreat with our Sunday school class.  The drive up was exhilarating as we approached the mountain line and began experiencing the popping of our ears as our bodies adjusted to the change in pressure.  The colors of the leaves were astounding.  The views from the car as we climbed higher and higher were absolutely breathtaking.

read the rest of this article …

The debate in the visible Church in our time concerning the need for Christians to walk in Repentance is actually quite perplexing to those of us whose hearts and consciences are bound to the Word of God. It clearly exhorts us all to repent and walk in righteousness. I had a conversation with a Pastor a couple of years ago at lunch following his sermon that Sunday morning. We discussed the dreadful condition in the visible Church today in which most professing Christians appeared to be very immature and in bondage to their flesh. I asked for his opinion of why that was so. His response was that it was the result of the Church not being the Church as God designed. There was little or no Church discipline. There was little preaching of the Law and the Gospel together. There was hardly ever a mention of walking in repentance before our Holy God. I agreed completely with his analysis. He also shared that he did not believe that a very large percentage of the professing Christians were genuine. 

Head on over to “Possessing the Treasure” to read the rest of this great article.

- Thomas Watson, “The Right Understanding of the Law“

But the bible also says that He punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation? (Exodus 20:5; 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9)  Now there’s something the world would argue with?  What kind of a God punishes innocent children because of what their parents do?  To quote Abraham, will not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Genesis 18:25)

There are those who gleefully chalk this up as just another irreconcilable biblical contradiction; another example of the capricious and vengeful God of the bible; without giving it any thought.  But let’s take a little time to consider what the bible asserts in these passages.  By way of example, consider first yourself.  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:20).  I know that when I stand before God, I will have to admit that I have sinned against God in ways that deserve death.  And so, it is fair to say that I rightfully die for my own sins.  But consider also the sin of Adam.  Biblically, it is by Adam that both sin and death first entered the world (Romans 5:12).  As children of Adam, we are like him in our nature and we are powerless to resist sin.  And so in another sense we die as a consequence of Adam’s sin.  And so, both statements are true.

If that seems as clear as mud, let me expand on the example;  Adam’s sin had consequences which he did not foresee.  The wages of Adam’s sin was his own death (Genesis 2:17); so Adam had to be removed from the garden (or else he might also eat fruit from the tree of life, escaping death and living forever—Genesis 3:22-23).  When, of necessity, Adam was removed from the garden, so too the world in which his children would grow up was changed.  Of necessity, the man who reared his children was himself changed by his sin.  That is, Adam was no longer a good example for his children.  The son who followed in Adam’s footsteps would disobey God.  At best, Adam might exhort his children to “do as I say”; but “not as I have done”.

The point is Adam’s sin brought with it consequences for his children which he did not foresee.  Adam’s children were raised in a changed world by a man who had been changed by sin—a man whose testimony was made weak by sin.  His children were raised in a different world in which sin was highly visible–even irresistable.  The fact they were not in the garden was a constant reminder of the sin that led to their removal.  The fact they could only eat by the sweat of their brow was a constant reminder of the sin that brought this curse upon them (Genesis 3:17-19).  And, temptation was easier to give in to because even their father had failed.  Compare this to the world they could have been raised in; and the man they could have been raised by; if Adam had not sinned. 

These then are God’s biblical principles as expressed in our opening verses: 

• Every man dies for his own sins (Jeremiah 31:30); and,
• Every sin has unforeseeable consequences for the generations which follow (Exodus 20:5; 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9).

I know that we want to believe that there are such things as “private” or “personal” sins—ones that only God and we know about and that only impact us.  But God promises us in no uncertain terms—the sins of the father will be visited upon his children to the third and fourth generation.  God promises that there are no private sins.  God promises that we will be changed by sin.  And if we are changed by sin so is the world in which our children will grow up.

Again, consider Adam’s sin.  How could it have been any more private?  There was no one there to see it and no one had to know about it.  It was just between Adam and God.  But in the end, no sin could have ended up more public.  Because God promises that sin ALWAYS finds us out; and sin is ALWAYS visited upon the generations that follow.

The world knows that these principles of God are true.  Who can deny the long-term generational consequences for children who have an alcoholic parent, a drug addicted parent, divorced parents, absentee parents, a promiscuous parent, or a violent parent.  According to God’s word these are sins and some children will follow in their parent’s footsteps—and, in turn, so may their children’s children.  Others may rise above the same temptations.  But all are raised in a changed world by parents who are changed by the sins they have committed.

The world questions God about this principle of His!  Why do YOU punish innocent children for our sins?  It’s fair that you punish me, but not them!!  And God answers, that is not how it works.  Why do you commit sin—knowing that your children will bear a portion of the cost?  You know My principles.  And knowing them it is you and your decision to sin which commits your children to share in your punishment—not I.  The world is quick to criticize God demanding that He change. But they are unwilling to do what they demand God do—they are unwilling to change themselves.  Get over it because God will not, nor should He, change.  But, there is another answer to sparing your children the burden of your sins:  You change!  You stop sinning!  And there is God’s point!!  And that should be your goal!!

Let me provide another, more modern example.  Turn on your television and look for the visible sins of our generation.  For that matter, just look at the world around you:  in America sexual promiscuity, greed and worse are everywhere.   Because of the sins of our generation, we have changed the world for our children.  We did not foresee that our generational sins would become so culturally visible.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that our children are being desensitized to sexual promiscuity, to greed and to worse in the world that we have made for them.  And, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that it will be generations before our sins have finished bearing their foul fruit in the lives of our descendants. 

God’s principles provide that every man shall die for his own sin.  And God promises that there are no private sins; every man’s sin will bear unforeseen fruit for generations to come.  In our hearts, we know it is true that sin always changes us and makes worse the world in which we live.

But why do God’s principles provide that others will ALWAYS be caught up in the consequences of our sins.  We cannot know for sure; because we cannot understand His ways.  But perhaps it is so we will one day freely choose to quit sinning because we love others.  Perhaps one day we will come to love others so much (even more than ourselves) that we couldn’t bear to see them caught up in the consequences of our giving in to temptation.  One day it will be love of God and love of others, not fear or pride, which convinces us to remain holy before a HOLY God.  When we are raised again incorruptible, it may be the love of our brothers which will keep us strong enough to resist all temptation!

After reading the instructive comments on what I originally wrote, I edited the piece to resolve my blunder.  As the comments suggest, I edited out the idea of dying “solely for” our own sins.  The piece still focuses on our sins and their consequences (without intending to exclude the importance of our nature as sinners) while hoping to reconcile, in a somewhat simpler form, the seeming conflict outlined in the opening paragraphs.

Until next time; keep the faith! 

There is at least two types of changing here that could be expressed:1) The change that happens due to the amazing work of His son on the Cross - spiritual transformation or 2) The constant changes in life due to the effects of a fallen world. At this point your saying, well what about number 3….. oh and 3) Seasonal change. What’s being noted here is the celebration of the seasonal change, owned by God. Don’t get me wrong either, the statement has some sense of acknowledging that God is in control, but the object of the statement is the changing world, rather than the faithful God. Changing world (rather than changing seasons) is probably not the statement you want to use in the Christian context of celebration. Even at that “Celebrating the beauty of God’s changing seasons” still leaves the object of celebration as the gift rather than the giver.

Fall is a wonderful time of year and I’m thankful for it. For several reasons, but mainly because of the aching desire within me to get to the mountains for the fall colors, fire side chats and hot chocolate. So, I’m not really attacking those who enjoy the season change. I’m with ya on that one. Yet still, The subtly of this statement is too close to the reality that so many in our churches live out, worshiping the gift rather than the giver. Subtle… yes, reflective of a body of believers in Christ, no. If I could write it again it would read more like this: “Celebrating God’s faithfulness in a changing world” We celebrate because He is faithful to provide our every need, breath, life, water, food. We celebrate because of His continued grace and mercy on our lives. We celebrate because of the faithfulness of His Son. We celebrate because He is giver of good things. We celebrate because of who He is. We celebrate in thankfulness because despite the fall He was mighty to save, despite David’s sin He sends Nathan, despite Moses’ weaknesses He provides Aaron, despite Jonah’s refusal to go He provides salvation. We worship…HIM.  Sure, we take delight in his creation. We note it’s beauty. Yet, even as we take note of it’s beauty we turn to it’s creator and say, “Wow, God how great you are to give such amazing things!” It’s amazing how small we begin to feel in the reflection of something overwhelmingly huge! I might be reading a bit too much into the headline, but I do think that the timeliness of this is pertinent. So next time you see the beauty of the changing leaves or feel the brisk cool fall breeze on your face… Thank Him, Praise Him, Worship Him.