Virtual Devotions

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” – Matthew 22:15-17

Dear Friends,

In chapter 22 of the Gospel of Matthew, both the Pharisees and Sadducees continue to confront Jesus.  Having failed in their direct attack on Jesus’ authority in chapter 21, they change their tactics and try to trick Jesus and “trap him in his words.”  In today’s verses, the Pharisees, a religious sect, are joined by the Herodians, a political party. 

First, it is amazing to me how after 2,000 years, nothing has changed.  These politicians and religious leaders come at Jesus first with flattery, which is ironic because in their own words they admit that Jesus isn’t swayed by men because He knows who they really are. 

Second, by joining these two groups together, it is no wonder that their question involves God and taxes.  Of course, we all know Jesus’ reply, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s.”   The joining of religious leaders and politicians occurs in our day as well and in my sight it is equally destructive for the church.

During the Bush administration, the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives was established.  The goal was to encourage faith-based organizations to seek federal funding to address issues such as drug addiction and homelessness.  On February 5, 2009, President Obama established a similar office called the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships.  While President Obama has tried to distinguish his program from the Bush initiative by making the funds available to secular groups as well as religious, it is in essence the same program.

Many religious groups have heralded these initiatives as a good thing, but if given the opportunity to receive federal funding, I would say “no thank you,” because that money comes with a price.  Just ask the CEOs of the banks and the auto industries who have been called to Washington to account for the money they have received.  President Obama himself has said in regard to his faith-based initiative, “If you get a federal grant, you can’t use that grant money to proselytize to the people you help.”

Can’t proselytize!  To proselytize IS why we do missions.  It is a means by which we spread the Gospel.  Feeding the hungry, giving shelter to the homeless, caring for the sick, all of these things are good things, but they are of temporal value only.  If we are not first concerned about the eternal condition of the lost, all of the temporal work we do is in vain.  If taking federal money means that I can’t preach the Gospel, then I will do with whatever God provides to me – which by the way, I know will be sufficient.

“Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and render unto God what is God’s.”  This, I believe is a two-way street.  While we are to live in obedience to earthly rulers so far as it does not violate our faith, we must not be yoked to anyone or anything that would suppress the truth in rightousness. Keep them separate.

In Christ,

David

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3

Dear Friends,

If you are a Roman Catholic or if you find interest in news stories about the Christian faith, you may have read that the Catholic practice of indulgences is making a comeback.

According to Catholic doctrine, even after sins are forgiven through confession, there is still “temporal punishment” due for the sin because of the lasting effects of the sin.  This punishment can either be satisfied while alive on earth or in purgatory, an intermediary place between earth and heaven where the believer is “purified” of the effects of their sin before entering heaven. 

One way to satisfy this “temporal punishment” is through indulgences.  An indulgence is “an extra-sacramental remission of temporal punishment.”   Basically, it is the satisfaction of the temporal debt owed for sin through some good work.  It is important to remember that the eternal debt had previously been satisfied through the sacrament of confession and penance, but the temporal debt is still owed.

According to the website of the Diocese of Brooklyn, a Catholic may receive an indulgence by “going to confession, receiving holy communion, saying a prayer for the pope and achieving ‘complete detachment from any inclination to sin.’” 

The Protestant understanding is much different.  For this understanding, let me turn to the Book of Hebrews and our verse today.  The writer of Hebrews begins with a basic presupposition, that Christ’s work on the cross was once and for all complete for the forgiveness of sin.

The writer contrasts this to the Hebrew practice of ritual sacrifice that provided only temporary satisfaction for sin.  Year after year the high priest had to once again offer the sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin.  But not Christ, His sacrifice was all that is needed and afterward, He sat down at the right hand of the Father indicating that the work is finished.

Because the work is finished, there is nothing more for the believer to do than to believe, to have faith.  And even our faith is a work of God, or more correctly said, a gift of God. 

Therefore, because Christ has done all that is necessary for the forgiveness of sin and God has supernaturally endowed us with the gift of faith, all glory and honor belong to Him alone and no action or work is required of us.

In Christ,

David

“His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” – Ephesians 2:15b-16

Dear Friends,

This past weekend, I went to Maryland for my uncle and aunt’s 50^th wedding anniversary.  While up there, I had the opportunity to visit two very different churches.  The first was a typical contemporary, evangelical church, which my cousin and I visited.  The second was a Roman Catholic church where my uncle and aunt renewed their wedding vows.

At the first, most people were casually dressed.  At the second, most everyone was more formally dressed.  At the first, the worship leader was in jeans.  At the second, the priest was in a robe.  At the first, the music was upbeat, praise and worship.  At the second, the music was choral responsorial psalms.  At the first, there was no cross in sight.  At the second, a life-sized statue of the Savior still hung on the cross.  It was an interesting contrast of two groups, both of whom call themselves Christians.

As we look across the different denominations today, we may wonder how we ever became so different, so divided.  And as we look within the denominations themselves, it seems they will continue to divide. 

In today’s verses from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he speaks of how God chose two groups of people, Jews and Gentiles, to come together, two men into one man.  They are brought together by the work of Christ on the cross, and through Him they both have access to the Father by the Holy Spirit.

Like Paul, when faced with differences, we need to go back to what Paul calls the things of first importance: that Christ died for our sins, was buried and is Resurrected.  These are the basic building blocks of the Christian faith. 

I may be disheartened that a church would not have a cross at the center of their sanctuary or disturbed that a church has a likeness of the Savior still hanging on the cross when I know He is now seated at the right hand of the Father.  But these things pale in comparison to the basic gospel message that binds us together, that we are all sinners, saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and through Him alone – there is no other way.   These are the things that are of first importance.

In Him,

David

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”” Romans 10:14-15

Dear Friends,

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he longs for his fellow Israelites to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Yet he laments how can they be saved unless someone preaches the Good News, the Gospel, to them.

Recently, I heard of a man in California who killed his wife and children and then himself after being laid off from work.  I was so intensely disturbed by this report that I had to raise this issue.

We, as the church, recipients of the gift of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, have a responsibility, a duty, a commandment from the Lord Himself, to go into the world and preach the Gospel.  Each time I hear terrible news as described above, I wonder if we are doing enough in our evangelistic efforts.

This man had no hope.  He could not call on the One he did not believe in.  And how could he have called on the One if he had never been told.  Did anyone ever tell him about Christ?

This is a sobering subject, but one that must be addressed.  The church is failing in the world as we go through our usual routine.  We must be ever aware of those around us who do not know Christ or whose faith is weak so that they can be strengthen in the hope that comes only through Christ Jesus.

And this pronouncement must be verbal.  Many suggest that our testimony is in our actions.  True, our actions can be a testimony to our faith, but faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ.  As Christians we must tell people about Christ, otherwise when they see the good we do, they will simply attribute it to our being “good people.”

Your testimony is not your life.  Your testimony is what Christ has done in your life.  Tell someone about how Christ has rescued you and in the process, by the Spirit they may be rescued.

In Christ,

David