Choose Your Mother

Recently I met with a few local pastors for prayer. As an introduction we were asked to give our basic approach to ministry, or our church purpose statement. The lead pastor from one of the largest churches around said something startling to me. He explained that he had been reared in the same church association in which I had been reared. He described it as "Jewish, with a thin veneer of grace." He was contrasting law and grace. As a result of this he now emphasizes grace as often as he can. This really got me thinking. In our desire to live for God, and inspire obedience in others, have we developed our own "Law of Moses?" Unessentials become a litmus test for spirituality in a legalistic culture. Strange issues are used as indicators of spiritual life and "maturity." Things like clothing, hairstyle, innocent entertainments, style of music, version of the Bible, day of worship, consumption of alcohol, use of tobacco, and many other issues become the "standards."

This was a huge issue as the Gospel was preached in the first century, and has continued to be huge through the centuries. Paul is not fond of artificial moral standards, to say the least. One example of his attitude about this is when he calls such artificial moral standards "weak and worthless elementary principles of the world." (Gal. 4:9)

I love the allegory in Galatians four.

Galatians 4:23-26 "For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother."

In terms of spiritual life we must choose a mother. He says that law keepers are choosing to be children of the slave woman, Hagar. This applies to all false religions that teach salvation by works, but in the context of Galatians it is a caution for believers. Many are following a legalistic slavery thinking that they are pleasing God. Let us be sure that our moral standards are God's. Let us be sure that we are not judging ourselves or others by "weak and worthless elementary principles of the world." Choose your mother!

Why We Preach

Nathan’s Notes

1 Corinthians 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

This is a precious passage of Holy Writing.

Here are some of the highlights, which I love:

1. It pleases God to reveal himself in Biblical preaching.

2. All those who believe will be saved through what we preach.

3. It does not matter whether you prefer signs or wisdom; our message is the same: Christ crucified.

4. If you are called, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

5. Christ is God’s weakness in humiliation and death, but he overcomes our enemies of sin and death.


Psalm 65: 3 When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions.

Many times we can feel that we are wasting our time continuing to talk to people about Christ. We can think that there is no hope for them to come to faith. But, faithful prayer and witness do bring results. Our gospel is foolishness to the worldly wise but to those who are called by God it is power and wisdom!

Recently Lars Jorgensen had the joy of leading his elderly father to faith in Christ. The Jorgensens had prayed for him for several decades, and had spoken with him over and over. He had never really showed any interest. But, as he is getting older and weaker, God opened his heart, and he believed in Jesus for his salvation!

Thanks also for praying for our Vacation Bible School. It was one of the largest we have had in a few years, and the response was very positive. Our teachers are so good, and we wrapped them in a very exciting package! Several of the children prayed to receive Christ, and many hid God’s word in their hearts. Even though the program and packaging are different, we are still preaching Christ crucified.