Thoughts of a Pastor-Historian

In Romans 2:17-29, the apostle Paul (himself a Jew) distinguishes between those who are merely Jews outwardly and those who are truly Jews inwardly. In verses 17-27, Paul gives four characteristics that do not define true Jewishness in the eyes of God.  They are:

A. Real Jews are not those who are merely called Jews, v. 17.

B. Real Jews are not those who are merely cognitive of God’s will, v. 18.

C. Real Jews are not those who are merely confident of their position, v. 19.

D. Real Jews are not those who are merely circumcised in the flesh, vv. 25-27.

In the final two verses of chapter two, Paul gives four characteristics that do indicate that an individual is a true Jew in the eyes of God.  They are:

A. Not outward and visible circumcision, but inward and invisible.

B. Not circumcised in the flesh, but in the heart.

C. Not produced by the law, but by the Spirit.

D. Not approved by man, but by God.

In the courtroom of God the question is asked, “Will the real Jews please stand?”  And there is only one who is worthy the Lion of the tribe of Judah and when we turn and see Him we will see a bleeding Lamb, the Son of God, standing at the throne of God!  Only He is worthy to stand, because only He obeyed God always, without hypocrisy.

He is the true seed of Abraham, the true Israel, the only real Jew who has ever lived.  He is the one through whom all the nations of the earth have been blessed.

And every redeemed human being will fall on their face and sing a new song,

Worthy are you . . . for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.  Revelation 5:9-10

Then we too along with all Jewish and Gentile believers throughout all history will stand along with our redeemer who has given us the Holy Spirit to apply his work of redemption to our hearts so that we too now have circumcised hearts and we always obey God without hypocrisy.  Because we are now real Jews because of the work of Christ through the Spirit.

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On February 3, 1998, Dr. W. A. Criswell preached his last sermon at the annual Pastor’s Conference held at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, FL.  I was privileged to be in attendance for this historic moment and hear the following final words uttered from the pulpit by this great man of God.

I have announced from the pulpit that when I die, I want them to take my Bible and put it on my chest.  And when the people pass by to see me for the last time, I want them to see me with a Bible in my hand.  O God, O God, O God, O God, O God!

Sing it with me:

Give me that old-time religion.
Give me that old-time religion.
Give me that old-time religion.
It’s good enough for me.

It was good for Paul and Silas.
It was good for Paul and Silas.
It was good for Paul and Silas,
And it’s good enough for me.

It will do when I am dying.
It will do when I am dying.
It will do when I am dying,
And it’s good enough for me.

It will take us all to heaven.
It will take us all to heaven.
It will take us all to heaven,
And it’s good enough for me.

Sweet people, would you stand and sing it one more time.  And this time raise your hand to heaven.  Sing it now:

Give me that old-time religion.
Give me that old-time religion.
Give me that old-time religion.
It’s good enough for me.

It will take us all to heaven.
It will take us all to heaven.
It will take us all to heaven.
It’s good enough for me.

Give me that old-time religion.
Give me that old-time religion.
Give me that old-time religion.
It’s good enough for me.

Precious, I’ll see you here, there, or in the air.  I’ll meet you at the feet of our precious Jesus before the throne of God.  Amen, and God keep you.  You may be seated.  Amen.  Amen.

You can watch, download MP3, or read a transcript of the complete message here.

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Glen Beck’s recent comments calling on Christians to leave churches that reference the term “social justice” highlight the desperate need for thinking Christians to evaluate thoughtfully claims made by those in the media.   Too often we Christians are not know for our thoughtful reflection on current events.  When we get our talking points from the ideologues on cable news channels and talk radio we become as shrill and reactionary as they are, and just as divisive.

The vacuum that is our failure to think independently is filled with a myriad of voices in our culture. When we merely parrot back the talking points of our culture (whether conservative or liberal), we fail to engage culture as thoughtful Christians.  Feigning thinking through repetition of others thoughts is not a proper substitute for thinking.

Of course, there are occasions when someone in print or media expresses our thoughts on a subject better than we could.  These articulations can and should be recognized if it is helpful in expressing our own thoughtful reflection, but should never be a substitute for thoughtful and biblical reflection.

Sometimes we also sacrifice thoughtful reflection on the altar of a quick reaction.  We think that we must respond immediately to every issue that arises, even before all the facts are in.  This often makes us look foolish and uninformed.

The other danger, of course, is to live in a constant state of equivocation, never taking a stand on the controversial issues of the day.  Each of us by temperament is prone to one extreme or the other.  By Christian commitment we must purpose to be both thoughtful and courageous, or in Biblical terms, to be “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).  To do this, we must be able to think about the biblical and logical implications of ideas and actions and respond appropriately as the situation warrants.

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