Will We By Judged By Our Works?

Judgment day. The trumpet sounds, Jesus somehow reveals himself to the world and God creates a new Heaven and a new Earth. The nations are arraigned before the Son of God. Among them are many people to Jesus' left who have attended church, dropped checks in the collection plate and sang countless hymns. They wait for the King of the New Creation to announce to them that because of their faith alone they are forgiven. They take deep breaths in great anticipation for the words from the throne "well done good and faithful servant, enter my Kingdom." They watch as the Christ turns to his right and tells all of the people gathered on the opposite side that they are blessed and may inherit eternity because they fed Jesus when He was hungry, gave Him something to drink when He was thirsty, welcomed Him when He was a stranger, clothed Him when He was in need, cared for Him when He was sick and even visited Him when He was in prison. The throngs to the Messiah's right look to their King in shock. Some murmur to themselves while others just yell out, "Lord, when did we do these things?" Jesus responds with a warm, appreciative smile, "What you did to the least among you…you did for me!"
Christ slowly turns to look to those at His left but his countenance has changed. He looks mad! Jesus says in a very strong, passionate tone, "You, on the other hand, are cursed! Away from me because you didn't feed me, welcome me, visit me, clothe me or take care of me." The crowd at the left scream in desperation "BUT LORD! When did we see you hungry or in need or sick or in prison…!" Jesus responds in a croaked voice tinged with both anger and sorrow, "what you didn't do to the least among you…you didn't do for me!"
Sound weird? Not what you were raised to expect from Judgment Day? Yet, this is exactly the picture presented by Matthew 25:31-46 (and anticipated in Matt. 25:14-30). BUT what about Jesus telling Nicodemus that one needs to be "born again" in order to be saved (John 3:3) or Peter telling the Jews gathered in Jerusalem that they need only to repent and be baptized to be saved (Acts 2:38) or Christ telling the thief on the cross that, apparently because of his simple confession, he would join Jesus in paradise that very day (Luke 23:39-43)? For goodness sakes, what about Paul telling the church that we are justified not by works but by faith alone (Gal. 2:16)?
Yet, there are also passages of Scripture like 2 Corinthians 5:10 ("For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.") and Revelation 20:12 ("And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened, the book of life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done.") as well as Romans 2:6-10; 1 Cor. 4:5, etc.
So are we saved by faith or by works? This question stands at the center of a very heated and important debate going on in churches and seminaries across the world as we speak. It is important to note that it is not a debate between liberals and conservatives but largely conservatives versus conservatives. Evangelical scholars like N.T. Wright and megachurch pastors like Rob Bell have embraced a form of what is known as "The New Perspective on Paul" which teaches that Christians all enter the Kingdom by faith and the grace of God but that they stay there (or "keep the new Covenant") by "good works." This has drawn howls from very influential conservative Christians like John MacArthur, John Piper, Mark Driscoll and Professor Don Carson.
So, who has the better argument? What do folks like John MacArthur do with passages like Matthew 25:31-46? What does N.T. Wright do with Galatians 2:16? Do most Christians need to get out of their chairs and start feeding the poor to stay out of hell? Is it fair that a serial killer like Ted Bundy can "come to Christ" on death row and go to heaven and sit right next to Mother Theresa? If so, then what do you tell someone on their death bed who truly regrets their life and wants to accept Christ? Sorry, too late! Better pack sunscreen! And what about the poor who try to take advantage of you? Doesn't Paul say to the Thessalonians that those who don’t work, don't eat (2 Thess. 3:10)?
All I can tell you is to pick up your Bibles, start reading and click on this blog in a few weeks for more. Happy Bible wrestling!

Will We Be Judged By Our Works?

Coming soon...check back and God bless.

Justification & Righteousness--The Classical Reformed Perspective

In classical Reformed thought, justification and righteousness fall within the parameters of "bi-covenantalism." This is roughly how the story goes: (1) our very great grandfather Adam, who corporately represented all of humankind, disobeyed God's law which brought a curse upon the earth or "imputed" his sin to all of us; (2) God then sends Jesus, who, like Adam, represents all humankind but, unlike Adam, was fully obedient. His "passive obedience" on the cross resulted in the sins of the members of the church (for those who adhere to limited atonement) being paid in full. His "active obedience" (i.e., His sinless life or "righteousness") fulfilled the law and is imputed to us as well; (3) Thus, Christians are relieved of the unpayable debt of sin by Christ's substitutionary atonement on the cross and then declared "righteous" by way of Christ's obedience and our faith in Christ. This is the great Reformed doctrine of "Justification by Faith Alone."

The first schema involving Adam (and Israel) falls within a covenant of works (i.e., obedience = blessing and disobedience = a curse) while the second system is a covenant of grace (i.e., because we cannot pay the price, Jesus pays it for us and because we cannot obey, Jesus obeys and imputes his righteousness to us).

I am in the midst of re-reading all of Bishop N.T. Wright's works in order to outline his theology in full. Included in this outline will be his controversial re-definition of "Justification" and "Righteousness." Check back soon and God bless!

Blessed Podcasts

A brother in Christ recently purchased his very first iPod and asked me to recommend podcasts. Fortunately, there are a number of great (and free!) Christian podcasts that are available and that I listen to on a regular, if not a weekly, basis.

Check out (by typing into the iTunes store search engine):

1) Mars Hill Church. Not to be confused with Mars Hill Bible Church (where Rob Bell preaches and is drifting farther left every week), this is where Mark Driscoll preaches. Mark was immortalized by Donald Miller in his book "Blue Like Jazz" as the "Cussing Pastor." Mark, however, doesn't drop any F-bombs or anything during his weekly sermons that are uploaded on-line (sorry to dissapoint). Mark is, in my opinion, the best "emerging" preacher out there in that he is, in his own words, "theologically conservative but culturally liberal."

2) Relevant Magazine. A weekly podcast featuring the editorial staff of Relevant Magazine (which you should subscribe to!) pontificating on news of the weird, pop culture, etc. A lot of fun. I never miss it.

3) "Dirty Little Secrets" by the XXX Church. A weekly 1/2 hour podcast featuring Craig Gross of the XXX Church which is a ministry geared to converting those in the porn industry and ministering to those addicted to pornography. A great ministry that is shining Christ's light into the darkness. If you are a dude then go to their website (google it) and get their software which blocks porn on your computer. No reason to even have the temptation in your house. Also consider buying Bibles for them to hand out to those at porn conventions or buying their shirts which supports their ministry and feature slogans like "porn sucks" and "Christian Men Don't Masturbate." But be warned, these guys work for Christ in the gutter and their language reflects it.

4) Wallbuilders. A daily podcast featuring David Barton and Rick Green and focusing on a wide range of public policy issues from a theological and historical point-of-view. Fantastic stuff!

5) Desiring God. John Piper's weekly sermons and Piper is the MAN. 'nuff said!

If you are a theology geek like me then be sure to check out podcasts from Dallas Theological Seminary and Covenant Theological Seminary. Both feature deep theological discussions and/or Bible classes online. Great for a nerd like me.

There are many others that might interest you. Just click on "Podcasts" then "Religion & Spirituality" and then "Christianity" for a list of the top 20 Christian podcasts. You'll find some great stuff!

May God bless your downloads!

Be sure to check 'em out and tell them that Pastor Matt sent ya'.

When Fired Upon?

During the last few years my hometown's political climate has changed drastically due to the rise of a handful of very vocal "bloggers." Generally, they seem to have concentrated on Portsmouth city politics (and esp. the city's purchase of the Martings Building) but every once in a while they shift their focus beyond the goings-on at the municipal building and lately they have targeted my own family.
The bloggers are upset with my Father's recent Scioto Citizen editorial in which he opined that many of the bloggers are mean spirited. In a humorous turn, that seems to have escaped them, the bloggers responded to my father by attacking him!
Among the "arguments" floated by the bloggers are that: (1) Christ's Community Church exists to financially benefit my father and his family; (2) the church is really a front for the Republican Party; and (3) my father is hypocrite because there are unconfirmed rumors of extramarital affairs.
Now, the last one is so absurd that those who have known my father for close to 40-years actually burst out laughing and it would be funny if it wasn't in fact slanderous and actionable. I have personally volunteered to file suit several times on behalf of my father but he has always dismissed it by stating that falsities have been floated about him ever since he arrived in Portsmouth and that unless it hurts the church it isn't even worth acknowledging.
The first two are equally absurd and demonstrate that the bloggers may be passionate but they are not exactly Woodward & Bernstein because they haven't done their homework. What most people don't know is that my parents worked in the private sector for decades and they saved their money wisely. My mother quit her job as a remedial reading teacher and opened two children's clothing stores before selling them both after being offered a great job by a corporate insurance agency located in Columbus. My father also landed a series of good gigs in the steel industry.
My mother commuted to Columbus every weekday for 10 years. I remember getting up for school between 6:30-7am just as she was jumping in her car to be in her office by 9am. She usually returned home around 7:30pm and immediately began cleaning house or fixing a late dinner if we hadn't eaten. She was tireless, good at her job and a wise investor.
My father, on the other hand, travelled all over the country and, eventually, the world. I remember him going on business trips with his good friend and colleague Bob Carver, to Salt Lake City, Wheeling/Pittsburgh and even India to sell raw materials to steel mills. He too worked very hard, made good money and saved a great deal of it. Trust me...I was always asking for it and usually getting "the look" in response ("the look" was given in lieu of stories of their poverty...and thank goodness because they did grow up in poverty).
Thankfully, while Mom & Dad were working their tails off in the private sector, the great staff at Christ's Community Church (then Rick Clark, Paula Bailey, Dick Duduit, and Herb Bussa--a former union official and vocal Democrat by the way) "held down the fort", so to speak.
So, the bloggers look at my parent's home in Rosemount (which is nice but not exactly Charles Foster Kane's Xanadu) and think that my parent's must be milking the church but don't know anything about the decades they spent working 70-80 hour weeks to save the money to buy their house or their two "new cars" (Toyotas--not exactly the Jim & Tammy Fae life!).
Thankfully, they have both since "retired" from the private sector but still work 70 hour weeks, just at CCC. Coincidently, the tremendous growth at CCC coincides with my father's return to full-time ministry.
Now, they both do take a salary from CCC but the last time I checked the average salaries of pastors from churches of similar sizes, their salaries are roughly 1/10 of what their colleagues make. Yet, unlike many pastors, my parents still tithe at least 10% of their gross income back to the church!
So much for the $ argument.
The Republican Party or Vast-Right Wing argument is another tired, old accusation that has been around for years. Ignore the fact that many vocal Democrats have been pillars of Christ's Community Church (late County Engineer Jim Weaver and the aforementioned Herb Bussa being two that come immediately to mind) or that my father has openly supported Democratic candidates like Jim Weaver and his successor Clyde Willis, Mayor Jim Kalb (over Republican Trent Williams) and, of course, the late, great Speaker Riffe (who despite what one blogger stated did in fact help bring many non-state jobs to Scioto County and always kept his word to my father). The simple fact is that my father was raised a Democrat (as was my mother) but both felt alienated by the party's embrace of a pro-abortion, pro-gay rights agenda. Both have stated that they have absolutely no loyalty to the Republican Party and if the party ever softens its support for life and/or marriage then they will simply register as independants. My parents base their belief in their reading of Scripture, which is the end-all-be-all for them. The bloggers may disagree with their views or even their interpretation of the Bible but then they should either agree to disagree or engage in a helpful debate instead of just casting aspersions.
Now, I could go on and on. Despite what the bloggers state they have very little in common with Charles Colson, their intepretation of the Constitution and Constitutional history is poor (and to toot my own horn, I did earn one of the highest grades in the subject while attending Cornell Law and the subject is one of my passion's) and the last time I checked the various recalls they have led have not produced the dividends they promised while the folks at CCC are keeping the homeless shelter afloat, assisting hundreds of single parents every fall, weathing dozens of local houses every summar and underwriting psychological counseling for members who need it (not to mention the hospital visits, accounts at local grocery stores for the needy, etc., etc.).
To be fair, obviouslly, I am not totally objective. I love my parents and am very proud of them. They stood by me when I was the a-typtical rebellious preacher's kid, then a mouthy & arrogant political hack, and later when I was diagnosed with cancer and finally became a Christian. They helped put me through college, seminary and law school.
But as their son, I also certainly know their faults better than most (and inherited many of them). They can be overly stubborn, short tempered, talk too much, listen too little and say things they shouldn't. You can certainly say all these things about them (and me) but no one can truthfully say that they are not hard working, passionate, honest and sincere.
So, guys, blog away but please try to be fair even in response to what you see as an unmerited attack.

River City Redmption Project Coming Soon

Check Back! Will be coming soon.