Blog https://www.hbcpotch.co.za Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:40:15 -0400 http://churchplantmedia.com/ "Daughter, Give me Your Heart" (On Titus 2:5 and Working at Home) https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/-daughter-give-me-your-heart-on-titus-2:5-and-working-at-home https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/-daughter-give-me-your-heart-on-titus-2:5-and-working-at-home#comments Wed, 06 Mar 2024 11:00:00 -0500 https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/-daughter-give-me-your-heart-on-titus-2:5-and-working-at-home INTRODUCTION

Tit 2:3-5 commands, “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

What does it mean for a woman to be “working at home”? Does this mean that a woman would be sinning to have a career outside of the home of any kind?

We would be wise to proceed with caution. There are other passages within the pastoral letters that, upon first reading, seem to say something which it does not. For example, 1 Timothy 2:15 says, “Yet she (a woman) will be saved through childbearing – if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.” Does this text mean that women must bear children to be saved? No one would conclude that based on other clear texts of Scripture (cf. Eph. 2:8-9).

The same is true with Titus 2:5. Before we reach any conclusion, we need to study it. We need to consider what was happening in Crete and allow the rest of the Bible to put its weight upon this verse like an inverse pyramid.

TESTING OUR HEARTS

Before we seek an answer, we must first test our hearts. Hypothetically, if Christ today, right now, were to ask you to leave your job, be fully committed to home-schooling your kids, and be physically at home, would you do it?

If not, is that not the very definition of an idol? Maybe far more of us have the exact same heart as the rich young man who, when asked to sell everything he had to follow Jesus, turned away sorrowfully because he loved his money too much. Do we love our jobs too much? Do we love the acclaim and praise of others too much? Do we think that Christ may ask us anything, except to leave our jobs? Are there certain things we would never consider giving up in obedience to Christ? (By the way, this is not a question only for women as the rich young ruler proves).

This is important because we should never come to Scripture and say, “I don’t like what I think it says; therefore, it cannot say that.” Instead, our hearts should belong to Christ supremely and say, “Lord, whatever You require of me, my answer is ‘yes.’ Whatever Your commands are, I will do it. I trust You.” Whatever our conclusion on this passage is, let none of us be idol worshipers but Christ followers. God calls you today, “Daughter, give me your heart.”

BACKGROUND

The context shows that this is addressed to women who are married and have children. Young women are to “love their husbands and children . . . and [to be] submissive to their own husbands.” This is not addressed to single women.

This emphasis makes sense within the context of Crete (and Ephesus in 1 and 2 Timothy). Paul writes regarding the false teachers in Titus 1:11, “They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.” In Ephesus, false teachers were forbidding marriage (1 Timothy 4:3) and by implication childbearing as well. That is why Paul commands younger widows to marry instead of being “idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies” (1 Tim. 5:13). Since they had no husband and children, they could not be working at home, but instead were always going from home to home. Sadly, some of these younger widows “have already strayed after Satan.” (1 Tim. 5:16).

In 1 Timothy 5:14, Paul gives another route which parallels beautifully with Titus 2, “So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.” This is such a clear parallel to Titus 2:5 that they may be taken as synonymous. To work at home is to manage your home.

With marriage and childbearing under fire, Paul sought to restore the goodness of God’s design for marriage and childbearing. Far from hindering a woman’s calling to follow Christ, to bear children and raise them is exactly the way she works out her salvation as a Christian woman (1 Tim. 2:15).[1] Bill Mounce summed it up well, “The church’s women were to work out the implications of their salvation not by following the false teachers, but, among other things, by accepting the callings for which God had created them.”[2]

Therefore, the opposite of working at home would be to despise your husband’s authority, neglect your children, and wander from house to house. But to work at home means to make your home your highest delight, calling, and duty.

PROVERBS 31 SILVER BULLET

The virtuous Proverbs 31 woman confirms our understanding of Titus 2:5. How did that woman “work at home”?

Proverbs 31:15-16 says, “She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.” To buy a field must mean a field outside of your house. But more than that, she turns that field into a business. “She is not contented with simply becoming a land baroness. She wants her property to become a money-making venture yearly, not simply when it is resold.”[3] This is running a business. This is making money.

Yet, this woman has a completely homeward motivation with everything she does. Notice what makes her distinct from just a career woman. “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life” (vv. 11-12). What she does, she does for her husband and children. John Kitchen wrote, “She is, first, a ‘keeper of the home’ (Titus 2:5) and only secondarily a career woman. Her focus is fixed and helps to secure the marriage and home (‘All the days of her life’).”[4]

The rest of Proverbs shows how a godly woman views her primary calling as supporting her husband and children. “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones” (Prov. 12:4). “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.” (Prov. 14:1).

This is still a radical departure from modern culture. Today women are told that they should not give up their careers for their husbands or children. Nothing should stop her from reaching her potential (which means, making money). Women are told to find their identity and worth in their careers, how much money they make, and how independent they are from their husbands and children. If your husband or children are in the way, discard them. If your husband desires you to stay at home, rebel against him.

The biblical view is the opposite of this. A woman will reach her fullest potential and make her fullest impact when she is her husband’s helper and the manager of her home. She succeeds when he succeeds. As Proverbs 31:23 says, “Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.” When her husband is honoured, she feels honoured. She is not the typical career woman; she is a godly woman, because she does everything for her first love, the Lord Jesus, and secondly, in obedience to Him, for her family.

Practically, this would mean that whenever her career is to the detriment of her house and children, she makes a plan to make more time to manage her house well. She submits to her husband's authority when he lovingly leads in a direction that affects her career with joy and trust. She rejects the world’s view that a stay-at-home mom is somehow wasting her gifts and time. Every family stands before God and will give an account to Him for how they raised their children, especially the husband and father. 

The counsel of John MacArthur is wise, “In consultation with their husbands, they must use good judgment in deciding how much time can justifiably and wisely be spent in activities outside the home, whether at a paying job or in some form of service. When they have a genuine desire to obey and honor the Lord in all things and to conscientiously seek guidance from His Word and in prayer, they can be assured that He will provide the necessary wisdom and resolution.”[5] Under the authority of her husband, she is to wisely consider what the best way forward is to care for the house and her children.

CONCLUSION

Titus 2:5 does not teach that it is sinful for a woman to have a career or make money. The context shows that marriage and family were under attack and Paul sought to restore a woman’s holy calling of being a wife and mother. She is to manage her home and to do whatever she does for her home as her highest priority. A career always comes second to this.

If our hearts belong to God, there is nothing worth keeping if it keeps us from obeying Him. And if our hearts belong to God, our hearts will also be at home – gladly giving ourselves for the benefit of our husbands and children that they too might treasure our greatest Treasure, the Lord Jesus Christ. What a high and noble calling!

 

Notes

[1] This is my view on what 1 Timothy 2:15 means. Paul is saying that a Christian woman is fulfilling her calling by bearing children and in this manner to work out her salvation by embracing motherhood (that is, to show that her faith is real and not dead). He does not mean every Christian woman should bear children, but that bearing children and raising them well is the ordinary expectation for women in marriage.

[2] Bill Mounce, “Should Women ‘Work at Home’?” Desiring God, October 19, 2023, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/should-women-work-at-home.

[3] John A. Kitchen, Proverbs: A Mentor Commentary (Ross-Shire: Christian Focus, 2006), 714.

[4] Kitchen, Proverbs, 712.

[5] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Titus (Chicago: Moody, 1996), 87.

 

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INTRODUCTION

Tit 2:3-5 commands, “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

What does it mean for a woman to be “working at home”? Does this mean that a woman would be sinning to have a career outside of the home of any kind?

We would be wise to proceed with caution. There are other passages within the pastoral letters that, upon first reading, seem to say something which it does not. For example, 1 Timothy 2:15 says, “Yet she (a woman) will be saved through childbearing – if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.” Does this text mean that women must bear children to be saved? No one would conclude that based on other clear texts of Scripture (cf. Eph. 2:8-9).

The same is true with Titus 2:5. Before we reach any conclusion, we need to study it. We need to consider what was happening in Crete and allow the rest of the Bible to put its weight upon this verse like an inverse pyramid.

TESTING OUR HEARTS

Before we seek an answer, we must first test our hearts. Hypothetically, if Christ today, right now, were to ask you to leave your job, be fully committed to home-schooling your kids, and be physically at home, would you do it?

If not, is that not the very definition of an idol? Maybe far more of us have the exact same heart as the rich young man who, when asked to sell everything he had to follow Jesus, turned away sorrowfully because he loved his money too much. Do we love our jobs too much? Do we love the acclaim and praise of others too much? Do we think that Christ may ask us anything, except to leave our jobs? Are there certain things we would never consider giving up in obedience to Christ? (By the way, this is not a question only for women as the rich young ruler proves).

This is important because we should never come to Scripture and say, “I don’t like what I think it says; therefore, it cannot say that.” Instead, our hearts should belong to Christ supremely and say, “Lord, whatever You require of me, my answer is ‘yes.’ Whatever Your commands are, I will do it. I trust You.” Whatever our conclusion on this passage is, let none of us be idol worshipers but Christ followers. God calls you today, “Daughter, give me your heart.”

BACKGROUND

The context shows that this is addressed to women who are married and have children. Young women are to “love their husbands and children . . . and [to be] submissive to their own husbands.” This is not addressed to single women.

This emphasis makes sense within the context of Crete (and Ephesus in 1 and 2 Timothy). Paul writes regarding the false teachers in Titus 1:11, “They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.” In Ephesus, false teachers were forbidding marriage (1 Timothy 4:3) and by implication childbearing as well. That is why Paul commands younger widows to marry instead of being “idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies” (1 Tim. 5:13). Since they had no husband and children, they could not be working at home, but instead were always going from home to home. Sadly, some of these younger widows “have already strayed after Satan.” (1 Tim. 5:16).

In 1 Timothy 5:14, Paul gives another route which parallels beautifully with Titus 2, “So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.” This is such a clear parallel to Titus 2:5 that they may be taken as synonymous. To work at home is to manage your home.

With marriage and childbearing under fire, Paul sought to restore the goodness of God’s design for marriage and childbearing. Far from hindering a woman’s calling to follow Christ, to bear children and raise them is exactly the way she works out her salvation as a Christian woman (1 Tim. 2:15).[1] Bill Mounce summed it up well, “The church’s women were to work out the implications of their salvation not by following the false teachers, but, among other things, by accepting the callings for which God had created them.”[2]

Therefore, the opposite of working at home would be to despise your husband’s authority, neglect your children, and wander from house to house. But to work at home means to make your home your highest delight, calling, and duty.

PROVERBS 31 SILVER BULLET

The virtuous Proverbs 31 woman confirms our understanding of Titus 2:5. How did that woman “work at home”?

Proverbs 31:15-16 says, “She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.” To buy a field must mean a field outside of your house. But more than that, she turns that field into a business. “She is not contented with simply becoming a land baroness. She wants her property to become a money-making venture yearly, not simply when it is resold.”[3] This is running a business. This is making money.

Yet, this woman has a completely homeward motivation with everything she does. Notice what makes her distinct from just a career woman. “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life” (vv. 11-12). What she does, she does for her husband and children. John Kitchen wrote, “She is, first, a ‘keeper of the home’ (Titus 2:5) and only secondarily a career woman. Her focus is fixed and helps to secure the marriage and home (‘All the days of her life’).”[4]

The rest of Proverbs shows how a godly woman views her primary calling as supporting her husband and children. “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones” (Prov. 12:4). “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.” (Prov. 14:1).

This is still a radical departure from modern culture. Today women are told that they should not give up their careers for their husbands or children. Nothing should stop her from reaching her potential (which means, making money). Women are told to find their identity and worth in their careers, how much money they make, and how independent they are from their husbands and children. If your husband or children are in the way, discard them. If your husband desires you to stay at home, rebel against him.

The biblical view is the opposite of this. A woman will reach her fullest potential and make her fullest impact when she is her husband’s helper and the manager of her home. She succeeds when he succeeds. As Proverbs 31:23 says, “Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.” When her husband is honoured, she feels honoured. She is not the typical career woman; she is a godly woman, because she does everything for her first love, the Lord Jesus, and secondly, in obedience to Him, for her family.

Practically, this would mean that whenever her career is to the detriment of her house and children, she makes a plan to make more time to manage her house well. She submits to her husband's authority when he lovingly leads in a direction that affects her career with joy and trust. She rejects the world’s view that a stay-at-home mom is somehow wasting her gifts and time. Every family stands before God and will give an account to Him for how they raised their children, especially the husband and father. 

The counsel of John MacArthur is wise, “In consultation with their husbands, they must use good judgment in deciding how much time can justifiably and wisely be spent in activities outside the home, whether at a paying job or in some form of service. When they have a genuine desire to obey and honor the Lord in all things and to conscientiously seek guidance from His Word and in prayer, they can be assured that He will provide the necessary wisdom and resolution.”[5] Under the authority of her husband, she is to wisely consider what the best way forward is to care for the house and her children.

CONCLUSION

Titus 2:5 does not teach that it is sinful for a woman to have a career or make money. The context shows that marriage and family were under attack and Paul sought to restore a woman’s holy calling of being a wife and mother. She is to manage her home and to do whatever she does for her home as her highest priority. A career always comes second to this.

If our hearts belong to God, there is nothing worth keeping if it keeps us from obeying Him. And if our hearts belong to God, our hearts will also be at home – gladly giving ourselves for the benefit of our husbands and children that they too might treasure our greatest Treasure, the Lord Jesus Christ. What a high and noble calling!

 

Notes

[1] This is my view on what 1 Timothy 2:15 means. Paul is saying that a Christian woman is fulfilling her calling by bearing children and in this manner to work out her salvation by embracing motherhood (that is, to show that her faith is real and not dead). He does not mean every Christian woman should bear children, but that bearing children and raising them well is the ordinary expectation for women in marriage.

[2] Bill Mounce, “Should Women ‘Work at Home’?” Desiring God, October 19, 2023, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/should-women-work-at-home.

[3] John A. Kitchen, Proverbs: A Mentor Commentary (Ross-Shire: Christian Focus, 2006), 714.

[4] Kitchen, Proverbs, 712.

[5] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Titus (Chicago: Moody, 1996), 87.

 

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Leader's Response To Extended Lockdown https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/leaders-response-to-extended-lockdown- https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/leaders-response-to-extended-lockdown-#comments Sun, 24 Jan 2021 13:00:00 -0500 https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/leaders-response-to-extended-lockdown- HBC Leader’s Response To The Extended Lockdown Announced January 2021

 

13 January 2021

 

Dear Church Family

 

Initially, I was inclined and ready to disobey the government if they would extend the lockdown on religious gatherings. I thought that to allow casinos, malls, restaurants, and other indoor places to operate was hypocritical and did not make sense.

 

Also, looking at how some solid churches in SA decided to meet regardless of the recent 14-day lockdown, I was inclined to follow suit. It seemed like it was a time to say, “We must obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29).

 

But there were certain biblical principles which I ignored which others wisely and graciously pointed out to me. This was after I (and no doubt many of you reading this) have prayed for me and the leadership for wisdom. God is faithful to answer those prayers and I believe He has (see James 1:5).

 

What I failed to remember was that we are governed by the totality of Scripture and not just one verse. So even though we are clearly commanded to ‘not neglect meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another’ (Heb 10:25), there are other principles which applies to our specific situation.

 

And because of the principles of our love for neighbour, our witness, and submitting to the government, we have decided not to meet at this stage and to follow the government’s restrictions on indoor gatherings.

 

Please consider these principles humbly with a prayerful attitude before the Lord and His Word. Why not stop reading right now and pray for humility?

 

  1. Love For Neighbour

 

In my opinion, this is the key principle for not meeting at this stage: Love for neighbour.

 

Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And he said to them, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’ (Mt 22:36-40)

 

It is how to apply ‘loving our neighbour as ourselves’ where Christians disagree, and it all depends on how serious you think the virus and the new strain really is. This is a medical question, not a spiritual one.

 

If you think it is not a big deal, and that it is not that serious, then to obey the government makes no sense. But, if it is serious, and if we will truly be saving lives and helping our health-care system by not meeting, then it makes sense not to meet.

 

So is it serious? Are we in a pandemic? Is the virus real?

 

I asked a medical doctor who is both a close friend and a mature Christian for the facts regarding the condition of our hospitals to get a feel for the seriousness of the virus. What he gave me was alarming. I want to reproduce what he told me here. The goal is not to scare anyone, but to help us understand our condition and the reality of where we are in South Africa.

 

Hospitals in Gauteng as well as other private hospitals are contacting Klerksdorp hospital (and no doubt others as well) to ask if they could send their Covid-19 patients, since they have no space left for them. Klerksdorp had to decline because it too is already full.

 

Also, there is reason to believe that the infections in Klerksdorp might worsen, because workers and the miners have now returned from holiday in hotspot areas (including myself). Therefore, we can expect a spike in infections in the following few months.

He told me, “The numbers are bad; people are dying every day.”

 

Again, this is not to make an already fearful situation more fearful. But we need to know these facts to inform our decision to obey or disobey the government.

 

There is another factor to consider.

 

Not only should we be concerned for our doctors and our health-care system, but we should also be concerned for our unbelieving friends and families across South Africa.

 

Christians should not fear death (Phil 1:21). To die as a Christian is a glorious thing, for then we are with the Lord forever (see Luke 23:43). Yet, what about those who do not know Christ? What about the families left behind? Should we be careless at a time when many are dying without Christ, eternally separated from Him? Should we be careless when families will be left without a father, a mother, a brother, or a sister?

 

These considerations should cause us to do whatever we can to stop the spread of the virus and save lives.

 

Therefore, if the virus is this serious, if people are dying daily, if our health-care system is burdened and stretched beyond its capacity, is it not the most loving thing we can do for our neighbor to not meet during this time? Does not the president’s prohibition for indoor gatherings make sense?

 

But you might say, “But does it make sense to close churches while keeping casinos and malls and restaurants open?”

 

At first, it was this thought that made me think we should meet. But upon further reflection, the prohibition does have a very practical reason behind it.

 

These public, indoor places are places where social distancing is naturally kept. No one knows one another in casinos and malls and in many other activities and therefore do not have the urge to be in any physical contact with others (and this was true even before Covid-19!).

But what is the most natural thing to do at funerals and churches? Is it not to have close fellowship with one another and to hug one another? That is how it should be and what would be natural to do when we do see each other. This sort of close fellowship is commended in Scripture by greeting one another with a ‘holy kiss’ (Rom 16:16; 1 Cor 16:20). You could say in many cases that to break social distancing as Christians is irresistible, because it is so natural.

 

Therefore, the restrictions for these indoor gatherings makes sense (for now) and love for neighbour is the primary reason why we think it will glorify God to not meet as a church.

 

  1. Witness

 

The second principle which I overlooked is the principle of keeping our witness before unbelievers strong. God is concerned over His glory before a watching and unbelieving world.

 

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Pt 2:12).

 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Mt 5:16).

 

We should be concerned to not give any added reasons for the world to hate God and His gospel through what we do and do not do. Therefore, if we can at all help it, we should be jealous over His glory and name before people.[1]

 

This is not to say that we should only do what the world would like. We would then have to preach an unoffensive and unbiblical gospel (see Gal 1:6-10). Rather, we should seek to remove any unnecessary stumbling blocks while obeying the Lord.

Therefore, what will the world think when we will be the cause of some dying because of our gathering together? What will the unbelieving world think when we are imprisoned for meeting? Will they say, “These Christians really love Jesus”? or will they say, “Those people are so selfish! They only care for themselves”?

 

The answer is obvious. Since God’s Name will be blasphemed through us meeting at this stage, that provides an added reason not to meet to glorify His Name.

 

  1. Submission To The Government

 

The last principle we should consider is the basic command in Scripture to honour and submit to our government in all things except in sinning.

 

I mention this one last, because of the obvious and building tension in many of our hearts against the government revealed through our words and memes (see Mt 12:34). There seems to be a basic attitude of hatred and rebellion against our government.

 

Yet, Scripture remains true and authoritative about our default attitude towards the government (good or bad).

 

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (Rom 13:1-2)

 

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. (1 Pt 2:13-14)

 

You could say that the Scriptures ‘shout’ that we should obey the government and ‘whisper’ that we should disobey (see Acts 4:19; 5:29). It really is in the exceptions that we disobey and even then, we should do so with a respectful attitude, longing to obey the authorities which God placed over us.

Now add to these Scriptures our specific government who has shown that they are willing to open churches to meet once ‘the curve is flatten’ or when our healthcare system is better equipped to handle the new infections, and the case to submit becomes stronger.

 

This has been a long-time concern for me which 2020 has already made clear. And that is that there is a basic attitude of rebellion instead of one of submission as the Scriptures command. It is as if we cannot wait to find a reason to disobey. This is certainly not true for everybody, but it is the ‘spirit’ of our age.

 

You will see constant memes and statements made about how ridiculous our government is. True or not, we as Christians cannot join in the mocking. We are commanded to “honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (1 Pt 2:17).

 

This is not to say that we should trust the government or even say that it is a good one. Rather, it is to submit under God’s sovereignty who placed this government over us and are making laws for the public good. We can be a voice against injustice and use whatever means available to oppose wickedness while at the same time be willing to submit by wearing a mask and not meeting for a time.

 

Some have said that wearing a mask is a form of slavery: We are ‘forced’ to do what we do not want to do, and it seems that we so easily give away our freedom.   

 

But think with me. If we can legitimately feel and deny wearing masks, what stops us from also feeling that we are enslaved to drive the speed-limit? What stops us from arguing that the government ‘owns our face’ when we must wear a helmet when driving a motorbike?

 

You might say, “But that’s different. That is saving lives. Those laws are for the public good, while the new laws do not make sense and are hypocritical.” So we are back at point one whether or not the virus is really serious or not. On masks, even though it might not stop you from getting the virus, it certainly protects you and others in other ways.[2]

 

Besides, the point is not to only obey the laws which makes sense, but to obey all the laws even if they do not make sense to you personally. The illustration of parenting settles the matter. How many rules would our children obey if they only had to obey the ones which made sense to them? And yet, under God, they are required to obey us since God gave parents as authorities over their children.

 

In the same way, God has given the government over us to make laws for the public good. Even if we might disagree with some of them, if they are not asking us to sin, our basic and default attitude should be to obey in obedience to God’s Word.

                                    

Therefore, because of our government over us, given by God, that adds another reason and motive for us as Christians to not meet at this time.

 

Conclusion

 

Am I looking forward to the new lockdown of not meeting as a church? Not at all. I love the church and the gathering of the saints. I love preaching to people who can respond with their facial expressions and emotions during a sermon.

 

But for this time, because of the principles of loving our neighbour, our Christian witness before an unbelieving world, and having a basic attitude of submitting to the government, I do believe that it will glorify God the most for us as a church to not meet during this time.

 

The only concern we do have is that the lockdown is indefinite. We will try to keep a close eye on the numbers and the news and constantly revaluate our decision.

 

But do not think that we can do nothing during this time. Here is my final exhortation for us as a church.

 

Can we use our Lord’s Day and the time we would have spent to travel and be at church to rather visit with one another? Can we use our Sundays to pursue one another more intentionally? Can we make use of technology which the Lord has blessed us with to contact one another through text and calls to encourage one another and to pray for one another? Just because we cannot meet as a church does not mean we cannot meet as Christians scattered. Let us make the most of this time we have.

 

Please know that I am planning to use this time for visitations and calls. If you have a special desire for a visit, do not hesitate to contact me, and I will do my best to come to you.

 

Remember that God is sovereign and our Father. Everything He allows in our lives and in the world is always intended to be for the good of His church, which is His body (see Eph 1:22-23).

 

Also, do not hesitate to ask me any question or raise any concern you might have. I pray that we would humbly listen to one another and love one another for God’s glory until He comes.

 

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25)

 

Yours Faithfully

Riaan

 

[1] I am aware that churches who are meeting despite the lockdown do so for the very same reason as why we are not meeting – The glory of God. This fact shows that we should be slow to accuse one another of evil or cowardly motives.

[2] For example 1) reminding us all that there is a pandemic we should be aware of; 2) keeping us from touching our face and nose; 3) preventing sneezing from reaching a large area around us.

]]>
HBC Leader’s Response To The Extended Lockdown Announced January 2021

 

13 January 2021

 

Dear Church Family

 

Initially, I was inclined and ready to disobey the government if they would extend the lockdown on religious gatherings. I thought that to allow casinos, malls, restaurants, and other indoor places to operate was hypocritical and did not make sense.

 

Also, looking at how some solid churches in SA decided to meet regardless of the recent 14-day lockdown, I was inclined to follow suit. It seemed like it was a time to say, “We must obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29).

 

But there were certain biblical principles which I ignored which others wisely and graciously pointed out to me. This was after I (and no doubt many of you reading this) have prayed for me and the leadership for wisdom. God is faithful to answer those prayers and I believe He has (see James 1:5).

 

What I failed to remember was that we are governed by the totality of Scripture and not just one verse. So even though we are clearly commanded to ‘not neglect meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another’ (Heb 10:25), there are other principles which applies to our specific situation.

 

And because of the principles of our love for neighbour, our witness, and submitting to the government, we have decided not to meet at this stage and to follow the government’s restrictions on indoor gatherings.

 

Please consider these principles humbly with a prayerful attitude before the Lord and His Word. Why not stop reading right now and pray for humility?

 

  1. Love For Neighbour

 

In my opinion, this is the key principle for not meeting at this stage: Love for neighbour.

 

Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And he said to them, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’ (Mt 22:36-40)

 

It is how to apply ‘loving our neighbour as ourselves’ where Christians disagree, and it all depends on how serious you think the virus and the new strain really is. This is a medical question, not a spiritual one.

 

If you think it is not a big deal, and that it is not that serious, then to obey the government makes no sense. But, if it is serious, and if we will truly be saving lives and helping our health-care system by not meeting, then it makes sense not to meet.

 

So is it serious? Are we in a pandemic? Is the virus real?

 

I asked a medical doctor who is both a close friend and a mature Christian for the facts regarding the condition of our hospitals to get a feel for the seriousness of the virus. What he gave me was alarming. I want to reproduce what he told me here. The goal is not to scare anyone, but to help us understand our condition and the reality of where we are in South Africa.

 

Hospitals in Gauteng as well as other private hospitals are contacting Klerksdorp hospital (and no doubt others as well) to ask if they could send their Covid-19 patients, since they have no space left for them. Klerksdorp had to decline because it too is already full.

 

Also, there is reason to believe that the infections in Klerksdorp might worsen, because workers and the miners have now returned from holiday in hotspot areas (including myself). Therefore, we can expect a spike in infections in the following few months.

He told me, “The numbers are bad; people are dying every day.”

 

Again, this is not to make an already fearful situation more fearful. But we need to know these facts to inform our decision to obey or disobey the government.

 

There is another factor to consider.

 

Not only should we be concerned for our doctors and our health-care system, but we should also be concerned for our unbelieving friends and families across South Africa.

 

Christians should not fear death (Phil 1:21). To die as a Christian is a glorious thing, for then we are with the Lord forever (see Luke 23:43). Yet, what about those who do not know Christ? What about the families left behind? Should we be careless at a time when many are dying without Christ, eternally separated from Him? Should we be careless when families will be left without a father, a mother, a brother, or a sister?

 

These considerations should cause us to do whatever we can to stop the spread of the virus and save lives.

 

Therefore, if the virus is this serious, if people are dying daily, if our health-care system is burdened and stretched beyond its capacity, is it not the most loving thing we can do for our neighbor to not meet during this time? Does not the president’s prohibition for indoor gatherings make sense?

 

But you might say, “But does it make sense to close churches while keeping casinos and malls and restaurants open?”

 

At first, it was this thought that made me think we should meet. But upon further reflection, the prohibition does have a very practical reason behind it.

 

These public, indoor places are places where social distancing is naturally kept. No one knows one another in casinos and malls and in many other activities and therefore do not have the urge to be in any physical contact with others (and this was true even before Covid-19!).

But what is the most natural thing to do at funerals and churches? Is it not to have close fellowship with one another and to hug one another? That is how it should be and what would be natural to do when we do see each other. This sort of close fellowship is commended in Scripture by greeting one another with a ‘holy kiss’ (Rom 16:16; 1 Cor 16:20). You could say in many cases that to break social distancing as Christians is irresistible, because it is so natural.

 

Therefore, the restrictions for these indoor gatherings makes sense (for now) and love for neighbour is the primary reason why we think it will glorify God to not meet as a church.

 

  1. Witness

 

The second principle which I overlooked is the principle of keeping our witness before unbelievers strong. God is concerned over His glory before a watching and unbelieving world.

 

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Pt 2:12).

 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Mt 5:16).

 

We should be concerned to not give any added reasons for the world to hate God and His gospel through what we do and do not do. Therefore, if we can at all help it, we should be jealous over His glory and name before people.[1]

 

This is not to say that we should only do what the world would like. We would then have to preach an unoffensive and unbiblical gospel (see Gal 1:6-10). Rather, we should seek to remove any unnecessary stumbling blocks while obeying the Lord.

Therefore, what will the world think when we will be the cause of some dying because of our gathering together? What will the unbelieving world think when we are imprisoned for meeting? Will they say, “These Christians really love Jesus”? or will they say, “Those people are so selfish! They only care for themselves”?

 

The answer is obvious. Since God’s Name will be blasphemed through us meeting at this stage, that provides an added reason not to meet to glorify His Name.

 

  1. Submission To The Government

 

The last principle we should consider is the basic command in Scripture to honour and submit to our government in all things except in sinning.

 

I mention this one last, because of the obvious and building tension in many of our hearts against the government revealed through our words and memes (see Mt 12:34). There seems to be a basic attitude of hatred and rebellion against our government.

 

Yet, Scripture remains true and authoritative about our default attitude towards the government (good or bad).

 

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (Rom 13:1-2)

 

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. (1 Pt 2:13-14)

 

You could say that the Scriptures ‘shout’ that we should obey the government and ‘whisper’ that we should disobey (see Acts 4:19; 5:29). It really is in the exceptions that we disobey and even then, we should do so with a respectful attitude, longing to obey the authorities which God placed over us.

Now add to these Scriptures our specific government who has shown that they are willing to open churches to meet once ‘the curve is flatten’ or when our healthcare system is better equipped to handle the new infections, and the case to submit becomes stronger.

 

This has been a long-time concern for me which 2020 has already made clear. And that is that there is a basic attitude of rebellion instead of one of submission as the Scriptures command. It is as if we cannot wait to find a reason to disobey. This is certainly not true for everybody, but it is the ‘spirit’ of our age.

 

You will see constant memes and statements made about how ridiculous our government is. True or not, we as Christians cannot join in the mocking. We are commanded to “honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (1 Pt 2:17).

 

This is not to say that we should trust the government or even say that it is a good one. Rather, it is to submit under God’s sovereignty who placed this government over us and are making laws for the public good. We can be a voice against injustice and use whatever means available to oppose wickedness while at the same time be willing to submit by wearing a mask and not meeting for a time.

 

Some have said that wearing a mask is a form of slavery: We are ‘forced’ to do what we do not want to do, and it seems that we so easily give away our freedom.   

 

But think with me. If we can legitimately feel and deny wearing masks, what stops us from also feeling that we are enslaved to drive the speed-limit? What stops us from arguing that the government ‘owns our face’ when we must wear a helmet when driving a motorbike?

 

You might say, “But that’s different. That is saving lives. Those laws are for the public good, while the new laws do not make sense and are hypocritical.” So we are back at point one whether or not the virus is really serious or not. On masks, even though it might not stop you from getting the virus, it certainly protects you and others in other ways.[2]

 

Besides, the point is not to only obey the laws which makes sense, but to obey all the laws even if they do not make sense to you personally. The illustration of parenting settles the matter. How many rules would our children obey if they only had to obey the ones which made sense to them? And yet, under God, they are required to obey us since God gave parents as authorities over their children.

 

In the same way, God has given the government over us to make laws for the public good. Even if we might disagree with some of them, if they are not asking us to sin, our basic and default attitude should be to obey in obedience to God’s Word.

                                    

Therefore, because of our government over us, given by God, that adds another reason and motive for us as Christians to not meet at this time.

 

Conclusion

 

Am I looking forward to the new lockdown of not meeting as a church? Not at all. I love the church and the gathering of the saints. I love preaching to people who can respond with their facial expressions and emotions during a sermon.

 

But for this time, because of the principles of loving our neighbour, our Christian witness before an unbelieving world, and having a basic attitude of submitting to the government, I do believe that it will glorify God the most for us as a church to not meet during this time.

 

The only concern we do have is that the lockdown is indefinite. We will try to keep a close eye on the numbers and the news and constantly revaluate our decision.

 

But do not think that we can do nothing during this time. Here is my final exhortation for us as a church.

 

Can we use our Lord’s Day and the time we would have spent to travel and be at church to rather visit with one another? Can we use our Sundays to pursue one another more intentionally? Can we make use of technology which the Lord has blessed us with to contact one another through text and calls to encourage one another and to pray for one another? Just because we cannot meet as a church does not mean we cannot meet as Christians scattered. Let us make the most of this time we have.

 

Please know that I am planning to use this time for visitations and calls. If you have a special desire for a visit, do not hesitate to contact me, and I will do my best to come to you.

 

Remember that God is sovereign and our Father. Everything He allows in our lives and in the world is always intended to be for the good of His church, which is His body (see Eph 1:22-23).

 

Also, do not hesitate to ask me any question or raise any concern you might have. I pray that we would humbly listen to one another and love one another for God’s glory until He comes.

 

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25)

 

Yours Faithfully

Riaan

 

[1] I am aware that churches who are meeting despite the lockdown do so for the very same reason as why we are not meeting – The glory of God. This fact shows that we should be slow to accuse one another of evil or cowardly motives.

[2] For example 1) reminding us all that there is a pandemic we should be aware of; 2) keeping us from touching our face and nose; 3) preventing sneezing from reaching a large area around us.

]]>
Don't Waste Your Lockdown! https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/dont-waste-your-lockdown https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/dont-waste-your-lockdown#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2020 11:00:00 -0400 https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/dont-waste-your-lockdown Don’t waste your Lockdown!

26 March 2020

By Riaan Strydom

 

It felt like yesterday when we celebrated the New Year of 2020. The potential of the year felt limitless and we felt immortal. But who could’ve ever imagined that in a few months’ time, people will be hoarding toilet paper for what feels like a modern apocalypse!  The Coronavirus has changed the world in a few short weeks.

 

And now we are preparing for a 21-day-lockdown announced by our President to flatten the curve of infections. Since nothing happens without God’s permission, plan, and eternal purposes (Eph 1:11; Rom 11:36), we have received a 21-day-lockdown from the hand of our loving Heavenly Father, who wants to make us more like His Son through His Holy Spirit (2 Cor 3:18).

 

So how may we as Christians best use these days?

 

The Greatest Commandment

 

I believe that the single text to guide us in this time is the Greatest Commandment,

 

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these (Mark 12:29-31).

 

This command never goes on lockdown! We are to seek and strive by God’s grace and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to obey this command to the glory of Christ.

 

So the key question is this: How will I love God in this lockdown with everything I have? How will I love my neighbour in this time?

 

Beware!

 

There are four ‘robbers’ of our love for God and people we should beware of. These are four leaches who are ever ready to suck us dry:  

 

  1. Laziness

The mother-hen who will hatch every egg of sin is laziness – you know, that feeling that nothing needs to be done, no one needs help, no one needs prayer….

 

  1. Selfishness

And before long, the first ‘egg’ to be laid by laziness is selfishness. This is my time! My wife, my husband, my children, my extended family and friends, and the needy around me don’t need me now.

 

  1. Entertainment

The first ‘chicken’ which may hatch from the egg of selfishness is the over-indulgence in useless entertainment. If we are not watchful, we will find that we haven’t grown at all in our love for God, but only in polluting our minds with God-less entertainment.

 

  1. Lust

The final ‘robber’ we should be vigilant against is that of lust. We will do well to remember how King David fell. It was while he was in ‘lockdown’, so to speak, too lazy to do battle, when he fell into his scandalous adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11). And because it is easier today to watch pornography than to make a cup of coffee, of all times, it is now that we are to be most vigilant!

 

Love God

 

God has given us 21 days to ‘be still and know’ that He is God (Ps 46:10). We have 21 days to deepen our love, trust, and worship of the Triune God of the Universe. We have the greatest book given to us by the greatest Being in existence.

 

Therefore, by far the best way not to waste your lockdown is to invest your time in the reading, meditating, studying, and memorizing of Scriptures. Set aside a daily time where you become still before Him. Consider following a reading plan if you’re not already.

 

Use the time to memorize Scripture – If you don’t know where to start, consider using ‘Fighter Verses’ online for a list of verses to begin memorizing. Try memorize whole chapters of the Bible. If you memorize a verse a day, you will have banked 21 verses in your soul and mind.

 

It is an ideal time to read books.

 

Consider reading one of the Christian Classics (Pilgrim’s Progress and Knowing God immediately comes to mind). I also recommend a great book by Tim Challies, Do More Better, which is a practical, Christian guide to productivity. Whatever you read, be sure to read books that will fuel your love for God and people.  

 

If you only read a few hours a day, you could finish small books in a day or two. Imagine reading 10+ books in the lockdown!

 

Seek to grow in your skills.

 

If you’re a student, see this as a time for you to get ahead with your studies. Perhaps a studying schedule will help you to stay focussed on the essential subjects you need to invest in.

 

If you’re working, use the time to read up, study, or practice in the field you’re in to be better equipped to love people in your work.

 

Think of some personal areas in which you can grow.

 

I personally will do some exercises at home (Thankfully, you don’t need a gym to exercise). Perhaps you could finish a home project, start to learn a musical instrument, or learn some other hobby that will challenge you.

 

And then, pray, pray, pray!

 

What will be our excuse for prayerlessness in these days?

 

“Lord, the blankets were too heavy for my arms to lift up! Lord, the pillow locked me down in my place; I was helpless! Lord, I didn’t have the energy to push the red button on the remote or the lock button on my phone! Lord, I just didn’t have the time to pray, because I had to stay up to date with the Coronavirus memes!”

 

Of all times in history, it is right now that we have absolutely no excuse not to pray!

 

It is the only way we commune with God. It is the most loving, most practical, most effective way to love people right now while at home.

 

So pray for your church leaders, for the needy and lonely, for the government, for doctors and hospitals, and for the lost. Ask specifically for husband’s hearts to be turned to their wives, the heart of wives to their husbands, and the heart of parents to their children. What good might come through the fervent prayer of God’s people (James 5:16)?

 

Pray together with your family – Consider making a prayer calendar (Monday – Pray for the government; Tuesday – Pray for hospitals…), and pray with your family for the various needs of people.

 

If you would use the time God has given you to grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18), this lockdown won’t be wasted!

 

Love your Neighbour

 

The second part of the greatest commandment is the practical expression of your love for God.

 

And during the lockdown, we have the unique opportunity to love our neighbour – especially the neighbours you will be locked up with!

 

I recommend having what we call in our family a “Team Talk”. It is when I and Deborah come together and brainstorm over something. Have a family ‘conference’ table and discuss the various needs and goals you would like to achieve at this time.

 

Here’s an outline for the discussion:

  1. Prayer – Ask God to help you, guide you, and give you wisdom and love for one another.
  2. Thanksgiving – what are you thankful for about your family?
  3. Repentance – where have you failed as a family? Where is repentance appropriate?
  4. Planning – Plan what you will do as a family for the 21 days.

 

Some things you can consider doing together as a family:

  1. Teach your children a good, biblical catechism (New City Catechism or Catechism for Boys and Girls online are great).
  2. Make a prayer calendar and pray regularly together.
  3. Memorize Scripture together on God’s character and promises.
  4. Fill the house with great hymns and Christian music about the character of God.
  5. Organize the home – Your stuck anyway! Might as well clean it up a bit!
  6. Skype with Parents, family, and friends.
  7. Playing board games together
  8. Have a ‘pajama party’ and watch a great movie together (Pilgrim’s Progress will be free for this time[1]).

 

At this moment, the most loving thing to do is to stay at home to flatten the curve.

 

But while the infections are few now, there might come a time when the hospitals will be so burdened by all the patience that they will need help in the future. I think we as Christians should gladly volunteer, even at the risk of being infected, since ‘to live is Christ and to die is gain!’ (Phil 1:21). Jesus has removed our fear of death by paying for all our sins (Heb 2:10-18). Therefore, we can gladly give up our lives, so that others might live and so see and hear the gospel through us.

 

There is one last way we won’t waste our lockdown – and that is to rest! We are not just a floating soul, but also possess a body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20). Therefore, a wise way to spend your time is to get enough sleep in and be refreshed to go and work again.

 

Conclusion

 

I pray that this article will ‘stir you up to love and good works’ and ‘encourage you as you see the Day drawing near’ (Heb 10:24-25).

 

So whatever we will do in this lockdown, whether we eat or drink, let us as do all to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31), in the name of the Lord Jesus (Col 3:17), and all in love for others (1 Cor 16:14).

 

[1] If you’d like the free link to the Pilgrim’s Progress, feel free to email me at strydom1riaan@gmail.com.

]]>
Don’t waste your Lockdown!

26 March 2020

By Riaan Strydom

 

It felt like yesterday when we celebrated the New Year of 2020. The potential of the year felt limitless and we felt immortal. But who could’ve ever imagined that in a few months’ time, people will be hoarding toilet paper for what feels like a modern apocalypse!  The Coronavirus has changed the world in a few short weeks.

 

And now we are preparing for a 21-day-lockdown announced by our President to flatten the curve of infections. Since nothing happens without God’s permission, plan, and eternal purposes (Eph 1:11; Rom 11:36), we have received a 21-day-lockdown from the hand of our loving Heavenly Father, who wants to make us more like His Son through His Holy Spirit (2 Cor 3:18).

 

So how may we as Christians best use these days?

 

The Greatest Commandment

 

I believe that the single text to guide us in this time is the Greatest Commandment,

 

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these (Mark 12:29-31).

 

This command never goes on lockdown! We are to seek and strive by God’s grace and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to obey this command to the glory of Christ.

 

So the key question is this: How will I love God in this lockdown with everything I have? How will I love my neighbour in this time?

 

Beware!

 

There are four ‘robbers’ of our love for God and people we should beware of. These are four leaches who are ever ready to suck us dry:  

 

  1. Laziness

The mother-hen who will hatch every egg of sin is laziness – you know, that feeling that nothing needs to be done, no one needs help, no one needs prayer….

 

  1. Selfishness

And before long, the first ‘egg’ to be laid by laziness is selfishness. This is my time! My wife, my husband, my children, my extended family and friends, and the needy around me don’t need me now.

 

  1. Entertainment

The first ‘chicken’ which may hatch from the egg of selfishness is the over-indulgence in useless entertainment. If we are not watchful, we will find that we haven’t grown at all in our love for God, but only in polluting our minds with God-less entertainment.

 

  1. Lust

The final ‘robber’ we should be vigilant against is that of lust. We will do well to remember how King David fell. It was while he was in ‘lockdown’, so to speak, too lazy to do battle, when he fell into his scandalous adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11). And because it is easier today to watch pornography than to make a cup of coffee, of all times, it is now that we are to be most vigilant!

 

Love God

 

God has given us 21 days to ‘be still and know’ that He is God (Ps 46:10). We have 21 days to deepen our love, trust, and worship of the Triune God of the Universe. We have the greatest book given to us by the greatest Being in existence.

 

Therefore, by far the best way not to waste your lockdown is to invest your time in the reading, meditating, studying, and memorizing of Scriptures. Set aside a daily time where you become still before Him. Consider following a reading plan if you’re not already.

 

Use the time to memorize Scripture – If you don’t know where to start, consider using ‘Fighter Verses’ online for a list of verses to begin memorizing. Try memorize whole chapters of the Bible. If you memorize a verse a day, you will have banked 21 verses in your soul and mind.

 

It is an ideal time to read books.

 

Consider reading one of the Christian Classics (Pilgrim’s Progress and Knowing God immediately comes to mind). I also recommend a great book by Tim Challies, Do More Better, which is a practical, Christian guide to productivity. Whatever you read, be sure to read books that will fuel your love for God and people.  

 

If you only read a few hours a day, you could finish small books in a day or two. Imagine reading 10+ books in the lockdown!

 

Seek to grow in your skills.

 

If you’re a student, see this as a time for you to get ahead with your studies. Perhaps a studying schedule will help you to stay focussed on the essential subjects you need to invest in.

 

If you’re working, use the time to read up, study, or practice in the field you’re in to be better equipped to love people in your work.

 

Think of some personal areas in which you can grow.

 

I personally will do some exercises at home (Thankfully, you don’t need a gym to exercise). Perhaps you could finish a home project, start to learn a musical instrument, or learn some other hobby that will challenge you.

 

And then, pray, pray, pray!

 

What will be our excuse for prayerlessness in these days?

 

“Lord, the blankets were too heavy for my arms to lift up! Lord, the pillow locked me down in my place; I was helpless! Lord, I didn’t have the energy to push the red button on the remote or the lock button on my phone! Lord, I just didn’t have the time to pray, because I had to stay up to date with the Coronavirus memes!”

 

Of all times in history, it is right now that we have absolutely no excuse not to pray!

 

It is the only way we commune with God. It is the most loving, most practical, most effective way to love people right now while at home.

 

So pray for your church leaders, for the needy and lonely, for the government, for doctors and hospitals, and for the lost. Ask specifically for husband’s hearts to be turned to their wives, the heart of wives to their husbands, and the heart of parents to their children. What good might come through the fervent prayer of God’s people (James 5:16)?

 

Pray together with your family – Consider making a prayer calendar (Monday – Pray for the government; Tuesday – Pray for hospitals…), and pray with your family for the various needs of people.

 

If you would use the time God has given you to grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18), this lockdown won’t be wasted!

 

Love your Neighbour

 

The second part of the greatest commandment is the practical expression of your love for God.

 

And during the lockdown, we have the unique opportunity to love our neighbour – especially the neighbours you will be locked up with!

 

I recommend having what we call in our family a “Team Talk”. It is when I and Deborah come together and brainstorm over something. Have a family ‘conference’ table and discuss the various needs and goals you would like to achieve at this time.

 

Here’s an outline for the discussion:

  1. Prayer – Ask God to help you, guide you, and give you wisdom and love for one another.
  2. Thanksgiving – what are you thankful for about your family?
  3. Repentance – where have you failed as a family? Where is repentance appropriate?
  4. Planning – Plan what you will do as a family for the 21 days.

 

Some things you can consider doing together as a family:

  1. Teach your children a good, biblical catechism (New City Catechism or Catechism for Boys and Girls online are great).
  2. Make a prayer calendar and pray regularly together.
  3. Memorize Scripture together on God’s character and promises.
  4. Fill the house with great hymns and Christian music about the character of God.
  5. Organize the home – Your stuck anyway! Might as well clean it up a bit!
  6. Skype with Parents, family, and friends.
  7. Playing board games together
  8. Have a ‘pajama party’ and watch a great movie together (Pilgrim’s Progress will be free for this time[1]).

 

At this moment, the most loving thing to do is to stay at home to flatten the curve.

 

But while the infections are few now, there might come a time when the hospitals will be so burdened by all the patience that they will need help in the future. I think we as Christians should gladly volunteer, even at the risk of being infected, since ‘to live is Christ and to die is gain!’ (Phil 1:21). Jesus has removed our fear of death by paying for all our sins (Heb 2:10-18). Therefore, we can gladly give up our lives, so that others might live and so see and hear the gospel through us.

 

There is one last way we won’t waste our lockdown – and that is to rest! We are not just a floating soul, but also possess a body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20). Therefore, a wise way to spend your time is to get enough sleep in and be refreshed to go and work again.

 

Conclusion

 

I pray that this article will ‘stir you up to love and good works’ and ‘encourage you as you see the Day drawing near’ (Heb 10:24-25).

 

So whatever we will do in this lockdown, whether we eat or drink, let us as do all to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31), in the name of the Lord Jesus (Col 3:17), and all in love for others (1 Cor 16:14).

 

[1] If you’d like the free link to the Pilgrim’s Progress, feel free to email me at strydom1riaan@gmail.com.

]]>
Interpreting the Book of Revelation: Part 1 https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/interpreting-the-book-of-revelation-part-1 https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/interpreting-the-book-of-revelation-part-1#comments Tue, 24 Mar 2020 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/interpreting-the-book-of-revelation-part-1 Interpreting the Book of Revelation: Part 1

It has been a great privilege to study and preach through the book of Revelation these past few months (You can listen to the sermons here). 
 
Due to the nature of the series, it was not possible to go into too much detail or spend a lot of time on some of the finer points. My aim in these articles is to give some more clarity; hopefully, there will be quite a few Aha! moments.
 
Over the next few weeks I will seek to explain my current understanding on the following topics: The 7 Cycles, the two witnesses, the 42-month period, the Mark of the Beast, the Millennium, and the New Jerusalem. If there is anything else you would like me to cover please email me at info@heritagbaptist.co.za
 
To begin with let’s focus on an aspect of verse 1 which will hopefully help us to be as consistent as possible in our interpretation of Revelation. Verse 1, for me, is paradigmatic for the whole book:
 
The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show His slaves what must quickly take place. He sent it and signified it through His angel to His slave John (HCSB)
 
Notice the word signified. It is a translation of the Greek word semaino. The Oxford English Dictionary states that the word semantic originates from this Greek word. To signify means to make something known through symbols. Earlier in verse 1 the revelation of Jesus is given to show what must take place. So, right at the commencement of Revelation John is letting us know that God is going to use symbolic communication to teach His church.[1]
 
Now most people realise instinctively that Revelation is a book full of symbolism. Even those who shout the loudest that they take the book literally, (I would argue that I am reading it literally, in terms of its genre, and that they are reading it in a rather wooden, literalistic way) are inconsistent when they come to the locusts, the dragon and the beasts. No one, I presume, expects a literal dragon to start flying around (If you do, perhaps it’s time to stop watching The Hobbit movies).
 
If most of Revelation is symbolic then how do we interpret it? When it comes to symbolic language there are four levels of communication. First there is the linguistic level; the written words. Secondly, there is the visionary level; the things that John saw e.g. dragon, lampstands etc. Thirdly, there is the referential level; the historical referent of the vision. Finally, there is the symbolical level; what does the symbolism reveal about the historic referent.[2]
 
Perhaps this example will make things clearer. In Revelation 1:12-16 John sees a human-like figure with white hair, eyes of fire and a sword protruding from his mouth. Level one is simply the words in the text. Level two is what John saw. When we come to level three we are seeking to determine what/who the historical referent is. Fortunately, this passage is not difficult, the referent is Jesus Christ. Level four is when we ask what do the symbols reveal about Jesus Christ, the referent. I would argue that the white hair symbolizes His wisdom, the fiery eyes show His righteous, holy omniscience and the sword signifies the power and authority of His words.
 
To be consistent with symbolic literature you must make sure that you do not miss any of the steps. Don’t jump from the linguistic to the referential without dealing with the fact that John is having a vision and that there is symbolic meaning.
 
Lord willing this will be fleshed out in the coming weeks (Please note I am not using the word fleshed in a literalistic way).

SDG


[1] G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 1999), 50–51.
 
[2] https://frame-poythress.org/genre-and-hermeneutics-in-revelation-201-6/

]]>
Interpreting the Book of Revelation: Part 1

It has been a great privilege to study and preach through the book of Revelation these past few months (You can listen to the sermons here). 
 
Due to the nature of the series, it was not possible to go into too much detail or spend a lot of time on some of the finer points. My aim in these articles is to give some more clarity; hopefully, there will be quite a few Aha! moments.
 
Over the next few weeks I will seek to explain my current understanding on the following topics: The 7 Cycles, the two witnesses, the 42-month period, the Mark of the Beast, the Millennium, and the New Jerusalem. If there is anything else you would like me to cover please email me at info@heritagbaptist.co.za
 
To begin with let’s focus on an aspect of verse 1 which will hopefully help us to be as consistent as possible in our interpretation of Revelation. Verse 1, for me, is paradigmatic for the whole book:
 
The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show His slaves what must quickly take place. He sent it and signified it through His angel to His slave John (HCSB)
 
Notice the word signified. It is a translation of the Greek word semaino. The Oxford English Dictionary states that the word semantic originates from this Greek word. To signify means to make something known through symbols. Earlier in verse 1 the revelation of Jesus is given to show what must take place. So, right at the commencement of Revelation John is letting us know that God is going to use symbolic communication to teach His church.[1]
 
Now most people realise instinctively that Revelation is a book full of symbolism. Even those who shout the loudest that they take the book literally, (I would argue that I am reading it literally, in terms of its genre, and that they are reading it in a rather wooden, literalistic way) are inconsistent when they come to the locusts, the dragon and the beasts. No one, I presume, expects a literal dragon to start flying around (If you do, perhaps it’s time to stop watching The Hobbit movies).
 
If most of Revelation is symbolic then how do we interpret it? When it comes to symbolic language there are four levels of communication. First there is the linguistic level; the written words. Secondly, there is the visionary level; the things that John saw e.g. dragon, lampstands etc. Thirdly, there is the referential level; the historical referent of the vision. Finally, there is the symbolical level; what does the symbolism reveal about the historic referent.[2]
 
Perhaps this example will make things clearer. In Revelation 1:12-16 John sees a human-like figure with white hair, eyes of fire and a sword protruding from his mouth. Level one is simply the words in the text. Level two is what John saw. When we come to level three we are seeking to determine what/who the historical referent is. Fortunately, this passage is not difficult, the referent is Jesus Christ. Level four is when we ask what do the symbols reveal about Jesus Christ, the referent. I would argue that the white hair symbolizes His wisdom, the fiery eyes show His righteous, holy omniscience and the sword signifies the power and authority of His words.
 
To be consistent with symbolic literature you must make sure that you do not miss any of the steps. Don’t jump from the linguistic to the referential without dealing with the fact that John is having a vision and that there is symbolic meaning.
 
Lord willing this will be fleshed out in the coming weeks (Please note I am not using the word fleshed in a literalistic way).

SDG


[1] G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 1999), 50–51.
 
[2] https://frame-poythress.org/genre-and-hermeneutics-in-revelation-201-6/

]]>
Interpreting the Book of Revelation: Part 2 https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/interpreting-the-book-of-revelation-part-2 https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/interpreting-the-book-of-revelation-part-2#comments Tue, 17 Jul 2018 16:00:00 -0400 https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/interpreting-the-book-of-revelation-part-2 Interpreting the Book of Revelation: Part 2
The Seven Cycles


One of the difficulties with the book of Revelation is that there are so many different interpretations. Some say that most of what John wrote was fulfilled in the first century AD (Preterist), some argue that the primary focus is the period just before Christ’s second coming (Futurist), while others believe that Revelation gives us a straight chronological history between Christ’s first and second coming (Historicist).
 
Personally, I believe that Revelation is cyclical (Idealist). Each cycle covers either the whole, or an aspect, of the period between Christ’s first coming and His second coming. Think of the soccer world cup. The ball is played out to Neymar who comes within a meter of an opposition player and falls over in agony. We then see the same event from five different angles. The ref, not wanting to make a mistake, asks for the VAR. The VAR zooms in on a specific section of the event, Neymar’s foot. We see that a nasty blade of grass caught Neymar’s boot and sent him hurtling in anguish leaving us all wondering how he survived the pain of all those tattoos. In the same way the Lord shows John different perspectives on the same period of history but sometimes He zooms in on specific aspects.
 
There are three primary reasons why I hold to the cyclical view. They are the exegetical, numerical, and stylistic.
 
The Exegetical Argument
 
The exegetical argument must always be our first port of call if we want to understand the text. I grew up with a futurist understanding of Revelation but even as a young Christian I remember reading Revelation and thinking ‘this sounds like the end of the world’ and I would only be in chapter 6! Still 15 more chapters until the ‘official’ end. Perhaps you have had the same experience? Well, the cyclical understanding makes sense of the text.
 
Here are the seven cycles with the passages that describe the end of the world in each cycle:
 

  1. Revelation 4:1-8:1, chapter 6:12-17 details the opening of the 6th Seal and the final cries of the damned, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
  2. Revelation 8:2-11:19, chapter 11:15-19 declare that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and that God’s wrath has come and it is time for the dead to be judged. Clearly a reference to the final judgement.
  3. Revelation 12:1-14:20, chapter 14:14-20, these verses are a clear fulfilment of Jesus’ end time harvest parable in Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43.
  4. Revelation 15:1-16:21, chapter 16:17-21.
  5. Revelation 17:1-19:10, in these chapters we have the fall of Babylon and the marriage supper of the Lamb.
  6. Revelation 19:11-19:21, this short cycle depicts the Lord Jesus as a great warrior destroying the Beast, the False Prophet and all unbelievers. This passage is particularly problematic for those who hold to a premillennial or postmillennial position. Verses 17 through 21 repeatedly emphasise the death of all humans, if Revelation is not cyclical then who will be around to enjoy the millennium?
  7. Revelation 20:1-21:8, the final cycle introduces us to the new heaven and earth that is free from all unbelievers and Satan who is thrown into the lake of fire.

 
The Numerical Argument
 
Even a cursory reading of Revelation will reveal the importance of numbers and especially the number seven. As one commentator notes,
 
One of the first features of Revelation a reader notices is the use of numbers and their significance. To an amazing degree, the number seven is predominant both explicitly and implicitly. This number should not be taken literally but must be understood as an idea that expresses totality or completeness.[1]
 
There are seven of each of the following, spirits (1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6), golden lampstands (1:12; 2:1), stars (1:16, 20; 2:1; 3:1), lampstands (1:13, 20; 2:5; 11:4), seals (5:1; 6:1), horns (5:6), eyes (5:6), angels (8:2, 6; 15:1, 6–8; 16:1; 17:1; 21:9), trumpets (8:2, 6), thunder (10:3), crowns (12:3), heads (12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 7, 9), plagues (15:1, 6), bowls (15:7; 16:1), hills (17:9), and kings (17:10). There are seven beatitudes and seven attributes and many more implicit examples of seven.
 
Sometimes scholars bend over backwards and practice hermeneutical gymnastics to make something fit. In this case, the cycles fall naturally into seven, which fits with the symbolic use of the number seven in the rest of the book. These seven cycles show God’s complete plan for this age.
 
The Stylistic Argument
 
Finally, the Stylistic argument. Each biblical author, as with any author, has their own style. The Apostle John had a very unique style. He had a cyclical or spiral style of writing. He would introduce themes and then come back to them over and over again.
 
His first epistle is the most well-known for this. The three tests, social, moral and theological are reiterated over and over again. Even his Gospel does this. The school I attended was named after St. John and the motto is Lux, Vita, Caritas which means light, life and love. These are the three themes that are repeated throughout the fourth Gospel. So, when we come to the book of Revelation we should expect to see John’s cyclical style and, lo and behold, we do.
 
The cyclical argument is the one that makes sense of the repeated, global, eschatological, cataclysmic events scattered throughout Revelation. It also continues the symbolic use of the number seven as well as John’s idiosyncratic style of writing.
 
Michael Rogers

SDG 

 
[1] Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, vol. 20, Exposition of the Book of Revelation, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 4.
]]>
Interpreting the Book of Revelation: Part 2
The Seven Cycles


One of the difficulties with the book of Revelation is that there are so many different interpretations. Some say that most of what John wrote was fulfilled in the first century AD (Preterist), some argue that the primary focus is the period just before Christ’s second coming (Futurist), while others believe that Revelation gives us a straight chronological history between Christ’s first and second coming (Historicist).
 
Personally, I believe that Revelation is cyclical (Idealist). Each cycle covers either the whole, or an aspect, of the period between Christ’s first coming and His second coming. Think of the soccer world cup. The ball is played out to Neymar who comes within a meter of an opposition player and falls over in agony. We then see the same event from five different angles. The ref, not wanting to make a mistake, asks for the VAR. The VAR zooms in on a specific section of the event, Neymar’s foot. We see that a nasty blade of grass caught Neymar’s boot and sent him hurtling in anguish leaving us all wondering how he survived the pain of all those tattoos. In the same way the Lord shows John different perspectives on the same period of history but sometimes He zooms in on specific aspects.
 
There are three primary reasons why I hold to the cyclical view. They are the exegetical, numerical, and stylistic.
 
The Exegetical Argument
 
The exegetical argument must always be our first port of call if we want to understand the text. I grew up with a futurist understanding of Revelation but even as a young Christian I remember reading Revelation and thinking ‘this sounds like the end of the world’ and I would only be in chapter 6! Still 15 more chapters until the ‘official’ end. Perhaps you have had the same experience? Well, the cyclical understanding makes sense of the text.
 
Here are the seven cycles with the passages that describe the end of the world in each cycle:
 

  1. Revelation 4:1-8:1, chapter 6:12-17 details the opening of the 6th Seal and the final cries of the damned, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
  2. Revelation 8:2-11:19, chapter 11:15-19 declare that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and that God’s wrath has come and it is time for the dead to be judged. Clearly a reference to the final judgement.
  3. Revelation 12:1-14:20, chapter 14:14-20, these verses are a clear fulfilment of Jesus’ end time harvest parable in Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43.
  4. Revelation 15:1-16:21, chapter 16:17-21.
  5. Revelation 17:1-19:10, in these chapters we have the fall of Babylon and the marriage supper of the Lamb.
  6. Revelation 19:11-19:21, this short cycle depicts the Lord Jesus as a great warrior destroying the Beast, the False Prophet and all unbelievers. This passage is particularly problematic for those who hold to a premillennial or postmillennial position. Verses 17 through 21 repeatedly emphasise the death of all humans, if Revelation is not cyclical then who will be around to enjoy the millennium?
  7. Revelation 20:1-21:8, the final cycle introduces us to the new heaven and earth that is free from all unbelievers and Satan who is thrown into the lake of fire.

 
The Numerical Argument
 
Even a cursory reading of Revelation will reveal the importance of numbers and especially the number seven. As one commentator notes,
 
One of the first features of Revelation a reader notices is the use of numbers and their significance. To an amazing degree, the number seven is predominant both explicitly and implicitly. This number should not be taken literally but must be understood as an idea that expresses totality or completeness.[1]
 
There are seven of each of the following, spirits (1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6), golden lampstands (1:12; 2:1), stars (1:16, 20; 2:1; 3:1), lampstands (1:13, 20; 2:5; 11:4), seals (5:1; 6:1), horns (5:6), eyes (5:6), angels (8:2, 6; 15:1, 6–8; 16:1; 17:1; 21:9), trumpets (8:2, 6), thunder (10:3), crowns (12:3), heads (12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 7, 9), plagues (15:1, 6), bowls (15:7; 16:1), hills (17:9), and kings (17:10). There are seven beatitudes and seven attributes and many more implicit examples of seven.
 
Sometimes scholars bend over backwards and practice hermeneutical gymnastics to make something fit. In this case, the cycles fall naturally into seven, which fits with the symbolic use of the number seven in the rest of the book. These seven cycles show God’s complete plan for this age.
 
The Stylistic Argument
 
Finally, the Stylistic argument. Each biblical author, as with any author, has their own style. The Apostle John had a very unique style. He had a cyclical or spiral style of writing. He would introduce themes and then come back to them over and over again.
 
His first epistle is the most well-known for this. The three tests, social, moral and theological are reiterated over and over again. Even his Gospel does this. The school I attended was named after St. John and the motto is Lux, Vita, Caritas which means light, life and love. These are the three themes that are repeated throughout the fourth Gospel. So, when we come to the book of Revelation we should expect to see John’s cyclical style and, lo and behold, we do.
 
The cyclical argument is the one that makes sense of the repeated, global, eschatological, cataclysmic events scattered throughout Revelation. It also continues the symbolic use of the number seven as well as John’s idiosyncratic style of writing.
 
Michael Rogers

SDG 

 
[1] Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, vol. 20, Exposition of the Book of Revelation, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 4.
]]>
Mission Possible https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/mission-possible https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/mission-possible#comments Tue, 23 Jan 2018 11:00:00 -0500 https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/mission-possible I recently read In The Plex by Steven Levy, the subtitle declares, How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives. One of the most fascinating insights, for me anyway, was OKRs. At Google employees must submit what are known as OKRs, Objectives and Key Results. Objectives are the goals that they must set for the next quarter. These Objectives must be ambitious, and should feel somewhat uncomfortable. The Key Results regarding their Objectives are measurable. At Google they use a 0–1.0 scale to grade each key result. The interesting thing to me was that the “sweet spot” for an OKR grade is .6 — .7; if someone consistently gets 1.0 then it means that their OKRs aren’t ambitious enough. This type of thinking was introduced at Google in 1999 when they were just a little googlet but it was a principle that was foundational to them becoming the behemoth that they are today.
 
It often concerns me when Christians think small and are not ambitious regarding the glory of Christ and the expansion of God’s Kingdom (Read Romans 2:6-8 to see how seriously God takes our ambition). At Heritage we want to be ambitious for God’s glory. We want to see many people taken out of darkness and delivered from bondage to idols. We long to see a great multitude from all different cultures worshipping the only, true, and living God. We desire a legion of mature disciples serving in the church and on the mission field. After all, didn’t our Lord Jesus state that our Father is glorified when we bear much fruit? (cf. John 15:8)
 
To this end we are implementing some structural changes. The changes were unpacked in a recent sermon series covering the five sections. The five sections are:

A church that isn’t reaching out into the community is a dying church, it is a church that has lost its first love and is no longer a witness to the love and beauty of Christ (Revelation 2:4-5). May Heritage never lose its passion for the lost. Jesus came to seek the lost (Luke 19:10) and as the Father sent Him into the world to do that so Christ has sent us (John 17:18 & 20:21). If Christ has sent us and empowered us by the Holy Spirit we must be ambitious and request great things of the Lord.
 
The former Libertine slave trader, John Newton, wrote:
 
Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much;
None can ever ask too much.

 
While Charles Spurgeon preached:
 
In prayer we stand where angels bow with veiled faces; there, even there, the cherubim and seraphim adore, before that selfsame throne to which our prayers ascend. And shall we come there with stunted requests, and narrow and contracted faith? Nay, it becomes not a King to be giving away pence and groats, he distributes pieces of broad gold; he scatters not as poor men must, scraps of bread and broken meat, but he makes a feast of fat things, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
 
Lastly, William Carey said:
 
Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.
 
May God increase our faith and boldness. The Lord is already answering our prayers! We are outgrowing our current venue and have begun to pray and look for another. The church plant in Potchefstroom is growing and we hope to have someone on site soon. Many students are attending due to the FOCUS campus ministry. We have great plans for a church plant in Alexandria Township. The Lord is working may we not be lazy fellow labourers.
 
Pray, invite others, use the invitation cards, find out where there is a Christianity Explored course. If you are able to gather a group of five or more people together for a Christianity Explored course then please let us know.
 
Let’s attempt great things for our Great God.

Michael Rogers

Soli Deo Gloria

]]>
I recently read In The Plex by Steven Levy, the subtitle declares, How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives. One of the most fascinating insights, for me anyway, was OKRs. At Google employees must submit what are known as OKRs, Objectives and Key Results. Objectives are the goals that they must set for the next quarter. These Objectives must be ambitious, and should feel somewhat uncomfortable. The Key Results regarding their Objectives are measurable. At Google they use a 0–1.0 scale to grade each key result. The interesting thing to me was that the “sweet spot” for an OKR grade is .6 — .7; if someone consistently gets 1.0 then it means that their OKRs aren’t ambitious enough. This type of thinking was introduced at Google in 1999 when they were just a little googlet but it was a principle that was foundational to them becoming the behemoth that they are today.
 
It often concerns me when Christians think small and are not ambitious regarding the glory of Christ and the expansion of God’s Kingdom (Read Romans 2:6-8 to see how seriously God takes our ambition). At Heritage we want to be ambitious for God’s glory. We want to see many people taken out of darkness and delivered from bondage to idols. We long to see a great multitude from all different cultures worshipping the only, true, and living God. We desire a legion of mature disciples serving in the church and on the mission field. After all, didn’t our Lord Jesus state that our Father is glorified when we bear much fruit? (cf. John 15:8)
 
To this end we are implementing some structural changes. The changes were unpacked in a recent sermon series covering the five sections. The five sections are:

A church that isn’t reaching out into the community is a dying church, it is a church that has lost its first love and is no longer a witness to the love and beauty of Christ (Revelation 2:4-5). May Heritage never lose its passion for the lost. Jesus came to seek the lost (Luke 19:10) and as the Father sent Him into the world to do that so Christ has sent us (John 17:18 & 20:21). If Christ has sent us and empowered us by the Holy Spirit we must be ambitious and request great things of the Lord.
 
The former Libertine slave trader, John Newton, wrote:
 
Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much;
None can ever ask too much.

 
While Charles Spurgeon preached:
 
In prayer we stand where angels bow with veiled faces; there, even there, the cherubim and seraphim adore, before that selfsame throne to which our prayers ascend. And shall we come there with stunted requests, and narrow and contracted faith? Nay, it becomes not a King to be giving away pence and groats, he distributes pieces of broad gold; he scatters not as poor men must, scraps of bread and broken meat, but he makes a feast of fat things, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
 
Lastly, William Carey said:
 
Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.
 
May God increase our faith and boldness. The Lord is already answering our prayers! We are outgrowing our current venue and have begun to pray and look for another. The church plant in Potchefstroom is growing and we hope to have someone on site soon. Many students are attending due to the FOCUS campus ministry. We have great plans for a church plant in Alexandria Township. The Lord is working may we not be lazy fellow labourers.
 
Pray, invite others, use the invitation cards, find out where there is a Christianity Explored course. If you are able to gather a group of five or more people together for a Christianity Explored course then please let us know.
 
Let’s attempt great things for our Great God.

Michael Rogers

Soli Deo Gloria

]]>
Magnetic Magnification https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/magnetic-magnification https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/magnetic-magnification#comments Tue, 23 Jan 2018 11:00:00 -0500 https://www.hbcpotch.co.za/blog/post/magnetic-magnification There can be no doubt that God takes our worship of Him very seriously. Even a cursory reading of the Bible makes this abundantly clear. The whole of Leviticus, the accounts of Nadab and Abihu, Ananias and Sapphira, the pastoral epistles all confirm this. Logically this makes perfect sense, God made us, He owns and He tells us how we should approach Him. Just as there is a certain protocol when one approaches the Queen of England or the CEO of a multinational so God tells us how we should come to Him.
 
The Lord has given us the specific components of worship. He tells us to pray, sing corporately, read the Bible, preach the Bible, practice the sacraments of communion and baptism, and church discipline when necessary. This is why you won’t find us replacing a Lord’s Day service with a puppet show or a Passion concert.
 
But how are we to do everything? The Apostle Paul writes to the church at Corinth and tells them that when they gather to worship, “All things should be done decently and in order.” (1 Cor. 14:40) In the pastoral epistles, Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus, Paul is concerned about what the world will think of the Church if she does not behave in a fitting way. Sadly, we have all seen or read about the ridicule that is heaped upon the Church when professing churches behave foolishly. Paul wants the Church, like Israel of old, to be a light to the nations. We are supposed to show through the way we worship that God is beautiful, good and true.
 
The biblical triumvirate of Goodness, Beauty, and Truth must be seen by those who attend a Lord’s Day service. It is for this reason that we seek to be faithful to God’s Word when it comes to the elements of our services (Goodness). In the content of our prayers, our songs and our preaching we seek to proclaim Truth. What is often forgotten in our crass age is that we should seek to do everything excellently, to God’s glory. This includes our singing, relevant eloquence in preaching and praying, and the aesthetics of our gatherings (Beauty).
 
As elders we are constantly looking for ways to improve every area of our worship services. Our motto is that of the Dutch Reformers, semper reformanda (always reforming). We want everyone who serves on the Lord’s Day to realise that they are not serving the elders but the Lord. As they fulfill each task with beauty, goodness and truth they are pointing people to Christ. As the Lord provides financially we will seek to make the venue as welcoming and aesthetically pleasing as possible. We desire to see more musicians helping us to worship the Lord in a beautiful, truth filled way. Paul tells Timothy, a pastor, that his progress must be seen by his congregation (1 Tim. 4:15). As pastors our preaching, wisdom, guidance, holiness should be progressing.
 
What an incredible privilege to be involved in the worship of the triune God. To be able to reflect back to God and out towards others the ultimate Beauty, Truth and Goodness of the Lord Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit help us to do it better every Sunday.

Michael Rogers

Soli Deo Gloria

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There can be no doubt that God takes our worship of Him very seriously. Even a cursory reading of the Bible makes this abundantly clear. The whole of Leviticus, the accounts of Nadab and Abihu, Ananias and Sapphira, the pastoral epistles all confirm this. Logically this makes perfect sense, God made us, He owns and He tells us how we should approach Him. Just as there is a certain protocol when one approaches the Queen of England or the CEO of a multinational so God tells us how we should come to Him.
 
The Lord has given us the specific components of worship. He tells us to pray, sing corporately, read the Bible, preach the Bible, practice the sacraments of communion and baptism, and church discipline when necessary. This is why you won’t find us replacing a Lord’s Day service with a puppet show or a Passion concert.
 
But how are we to do everything? The Apostle Paul writes to the church at Corinth and tells them that when they gather to worship, “All things should be done decently and in order.” (1 Cor. 14:40) In the pastoral epistles, Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus, Paul is concerned about what the world will think of the Church if she does not behave in a fitting way. Sadly, we have all seen or read about the ridicule that is heaped upon the Church when professing churches behave foolishly. Paul wants the Church, like Israel of old, to be a light to the nations. We are supposed to show through the way we worship that God is beautiful, good and true.
 
The biblical triumvirate of Goodness, Beauty, and Truth must be seen by those who attend a Lord’s Day service. It is for this reason that we seek to be faithful to God’s Word when it comes to the elements of our services (Goodness). In the content of our prayers, our songs and our preaching we seek to proclaim Truth. What is often forgotten in our crass age is that we should seek to do everything excellently, to God’s glory. This includes our singing, relevant eloquence in preaching and praying, and the aesthetics of our gatherings (Beauty).
 
As elders we are constantly looking for ways to improve every area of our worship services. Our motto is that of the Dutch Reformers, semper reformanda (always reforming). We want everyone who serves on the Lord’s Day to realise that they are not serving the elders but the Lord. As they fulfill each task with beauty, goodness and truth they are pointing people to Christ. As the Lord provides financially we will seek to make the venue as welcoming and aesthetically pleasing as possible. We desire to see more musicians helping us to worship the Lord in a beautiful, truth filled way. Paul tells Timothy, a pastor, that his progress must be seen by his congregation (1 Tim. 4:15). As pastors our preaching, wisdom, guidance, holiness should be progressing.
 
What an incredible privilege to be involved in the worship of the triune God. To be able to reflect back to God and out towards others the ultimate Beauty, Truth and Goodness of the Lord Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit help us to do it better every Sunday.

Michael Rogers

Soli Deo Gloria

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