Christ and Common Sense

Thoughts from a Central Valley Pastor

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Saddleback Church and the SBC

June 30, 2023 /

On Wednesday, June 14, 2023 the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) announced Saddleback church of Orange County, CA had been voted out of the denomination. The vote was recorded as 9,437 votes (88.46%) supporting the removal and 1,212 votes (11.36%) rejecting the removal. This ended an ordeal that officially started at the 2021 SBC annual meeting in Nashville, TN. At that time a member of the SBC named Shadd Tibbs stated to the convention, “[I move that] we the Southern Baptist Convention, of June 2021, break fellowship with Saddleback Church, as they have ordained three ladies as pastors…at the very least, I am asking that the validity of this matter be looked into and report given at the 2022 Convention…” https://www.philipmeade.com/southern-baptist-convention/sbc-2022-annual-meeting-summary/ A committee was formed to consider whether Saddleback church was “in friendly cooperation with the Convention” or not.  

The following year the SBC met for an annual meeting in Anaheim, CA on June 14-15th. A special committee was formed to determine whether Saddleback church was using the title of “pastor” appropriately or not. This was an interesting question because from a Biblical perspective the role and office of pastor is the same as that of an elder and overseer of the church (Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:1-7, 5:17-19; Titus 1:5-7) . The leadership of Saddleback had  separated the ministry of shepherding or pastoring people from the office of pastor/elder/overseer. The argument was made by the leadership of the church that women could be given the title of “pastor” because they were serving in pastoral roles without infringing on the Biblical guidelines for men to fulfill the office of a pastor. 

At the time the SBC document “The Baptist Faith & Message” stated: “While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.” In 2022, Pastor Rick Warren spoke from the floor at the SBC annual meeting in Anaheim. He called for unity within the SBC and asked the convention “are we going to treat each other as allies or adversaries?” He stated that he did not expect to return the following year. It seemed likely that Saddleback church would be disfellowshipped from the convention. 

In September of 2022, pastor Rick Warren retired from his role at Saddleback church. He was replaced by his successor, pastor Andy Wood who became the executive pastor of the church. Pastor Andy’s wife Stacie, became the main teaching pastor at Saddleback church. 

On February 21, 2023 the SBC Executive Committee ruled that three churches would be removed from the denomination. The churches appealed and on June 14th, the entire Southern Baptist Convention, was given the opportunity to rule in support or in rejection of having Saddleback church and the two other churches removed from the church. 

The 2023 SBC convention took place in New Orleans, LA from June 13-14.  Over twelve thousand SBC members, who are known as messengers, attended the convention. They were allowed to hear an appeal from pastor Rick Warren from the floor of the convention. With the three minutes he was given, he asked the convention “why should this one issue cancel our fellowship?” In response, Dr. Al Mohler spoke on behalf of the Executive Committee. He put the issue in historical perspective and reminded everyone that the words “the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture” was inserted into the SBC documents because “thirty years ago this issue threatened to tear this denomination apart.” Dr. Mohler said, “This is not just an issue of church polity. This is not just a matter of hermeneutics. It is a matter of Biblical commitment, a commitment to the Scripture that unequivocally, we believe, limits the office of pastor to men.” After hearing the appeal and the response the convention voted to remove Saddleback church from the denomination. 

The Executive Committee also agreed to change the wording of the Baptist Faith & Message document to state that every church in the SBC “affirms, appoints, or employs only men as any kind of pastor or elder as qualified by Scripture.” This addition will need to be approved for two years in a row and then it will be officially added to the SBC documents. 

I am not a part of the SBC, but I still find it helpful to follow this story because it brings clarity to an issue that churches around the world struggle with. Can women be given the title of pastor without serving in the office of elder/pastor/overseer? Can the title of pastor be separated from that of an elder? 1 Timothy 3:2 makes it clear that only men should be elders. It states, “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife.” There should be no disagreement over the gender of an elder and a careful reading of the original intent of Scripture reveals that there should be no disagreement over the gender of a pastor as well. 

The Essential Church

June 16, 2023 /

“Is the church essential?” That is the question that will be answered in a new documentary that will be released in theaters later this summer. The movie is called “The Essential Church” and is being produced by Grace Productions, which is a ministry of Grace Community Church. The documentary’s website invites the viewer to “Journey with us as we rediscover why the Church is essential and how we prove that our stand remains true from a scientific, legal, and most importantly Biblical perspective.” https://essentialchurchmovie.com

As I watched the trailer for the movie I was reminded of all the turmoil and difficulty that my immediate family and our church family went through during Covid. I still remember the date when the executive orders were given to shelter in place. 

It was March 19, 2020. We had been told all Californians had to stay in their homes for at least two weeks in order to flatten the curve of the coronavirus. Executive Order N-33-20 identified sixteen critical infrastructure sectors “whose assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual, are considered so vital to the United States that their incapacitation, or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, economic security, public health or safety, or any combination thereof.” Our governor went on to write, “I order that Californians working in these 16 critical infrastructure sectors may continue their work because of the importance of these sectors to Californians’ health and well-being.” 

I remember looking over the document that identified which industries were essential and which were not (https://www.cisa.gov/topics/risk-management/coronavirus/identifying-critical-infrastructure-during-covid-19) The sixteen industry sectors had been given by the federal government. They included the Critical Manufacturing Sector, Food and Agriculture Sector, and the Healthcare and Public Health Sector. I took the time to look into the Public Health Sector and I realized pastoral work could fit under the Public Health Sector because the spiritual health of an individual was essential for maintaining “Californian’s health and well-being.” 

I remember being at the post office during those early weeks and one of the people in line asked if my work was essential. With a clear conscience, I told the lady I was involved in essential work. I knew God expected me to shepherd his flock and serve the spiritual and physical needs of our people, regardless of whether there was a war, a plague, or a pandemic. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” I kept thinking about that verse whenever new restrictions were put in place. I couldn’t help reflecting on how believers gathered in the catacombs (underground tombs) of Rome during the persecutions of Nero and Diocletian. I thought about how believers ministered to the sick and dying during the Black Plague of Europe. I thought about how modern Christians in China gather in secret house churches because the government has restricted where and how they are allowed to worship. 

One of the difficulties of deciding what to do during Covid had to do with the information that was given to us by the health department. Early on, we were told the virus had the potential to wipe out a huge percentage of the population, not only of America, but of the world. Our family was concerned, just like everyone else. We sheltered in place for several weeks. I remember going on countless bike rides with our kids because that was an officially approved way to exercise while remaining six feet apart from other people. 

Our church family took all our services online. Our church staff frantically learned  how to set up a livestream and then we had to make sure all our people had access to it. We started using Zoom for our staff meetings and for weekly meetings. I remember organizing a Passover Seder meal with a livestream from our home! As the months passed by, we realized we would have to adapt to the federal, state, and county-wide restrictions. When the restrictions lifted, our leadership team decided to offer services over the radio at church. People drove up and watched the service, while tuning into 102.5 FM. Later people gathered on the lawn to worship together, while social distancing. We were finally able to go back indoors to worship, while providing hand sanitizer and face masks. We went out of our way to work with the county officials and the board of supervisors. We did all that work because we were convinced that the work of the church is essential. 

It wasn’t until February 23, 2023 that our governor officially ended the state of emergency. That means that our state was under Covid restrictions for almost three years. It is remarkable to look back and consider how our lives were impacted by the virus and the federal, state, and county guidelines. It is encouraging to me to see how God was able to sustain his people during the pandemic. It gives me hope that Christians will be able to continue to thrive, regardless of what difficulties come our way. 1 John 4:4 can be a great encouragement to believers today, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 

Physical Wealth or Spiritual Health? 

June 9, 2023 /

Is it easier to live as a faithful Christian in a rich country or a poor country? Is it better for your spiritual health to be surrounded by possessions and the temptations of wealth or to live in a poor country with less distractions? I had to spend time living outside the United States before I realized that wealth can be one of most dangerous enemies of the Christian life. 

The Bible teaches about the dangers of wealth. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (English Standard Version) Jesus Christ surprised his disciples when he said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24) I know American Christians would agree with this statement, but how many of us would call ourselves rich? How many of us want to admit that we are a part of the group that would find it difficult to enter heaven? 

This is important to consider because we can deceive ourselves into thinking we are not wealthy. Many American Christians wouldn’t think of themselves as rich because our society often uses that term for the upper 1% of a society. The truth about wealth, that is often overlooked in our country, is that the majority of Americans are richer than the most of the world. I found a website that lets you enter your income and family size in order to see how much of the world is richer and poorer than you. (howrichami.givingwhatwecan.org) I entered the average US income from 2021 ($70,784) with two parents and four children into the wealth calculator. The results are that if you made that much you would be richer than 89.9% of the world! 

During my research for this article I also learned that America has had the largest economy in the world every year since 1871! This means that even though the country went through immense difficulty during the Great Depression, we were still the largest economy in the world. This also means that people whose families have been in this country for the last one hundred and fifty years have become accustomed to a culture of wealth. It is the air we breathe. We may not think of ourselves as rich, but compared to the majority of people in the world, we certainly are. And if you compare the wealth of American Christians today to the people that Jesus was speaking to in Matthew 19, then the difference is even more stark. 

In Jesus’ time the majority of people were living in what would be described today as abject poverty. Most people were subsistence farmers who did not own the land they farmed. They had to pay significant taxes to the land owners and to tax collectors who kept a large percentage of profits for themselves and gave the rest to their Roman rulers. If people from Jesus’ day could come and see how we live today, they would think we were even wealthier than the rich young ruler. They might have been impressed with the many possessions that he had, but what would they think about the cars we drive or the homes we live in? What would they think about air conditioning? They wouldn’t even have a category to describe the kind of wealth we have and take for granted. 

I think this is fascinating to think about because Jesus’ point in Matthew 19 is that it is difficult for rich people to enter heaven. Rich people, like the rich young ruler, have “great possessions” that can get in the way of their relationship with God. The rich young ruler went away “sorrowful” because he knew he would have to give up the idol of his wealth in order to serve God faithfully. I often think about this in terms of living in the United States. It is a common occurrence to see Christians get drawn into the rat race of riches. It is easy to find yourself looking around, thinking that we need more wealth to be happy. I have to constantly remind myself that God does not want me to store up treasures here on earth, “where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.” (Matt. 6:19) He wants me to live for eternity. He wants me to live ready to give up any of my physical possessions to follow after him. He doesn’t want me to be sorrowful when I think of giving up time and money for him. He wants me to be joyful! 

When I read the account of the rich young ruler, I am sobered because I know I am in danger of acting like the rich man. I am in danger of being caught up with the temptations that wealth and comfort bring. I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to live in less affluent countries like Albania, Malaysia, and Thailand. My time in those countries convinced me that with wealth comes spiritual apathy. Instead of relying on God for our daily bread, people in wealthy countries often forget about God (Proverbs 30:8-9). Instead of learning to walk by the Spirit in slower economies, American Christians often feel the need to keep apace with the frenzied pace of an affluent society. I often think about how different life would be if people couldn’t afford the automobile or internet access. Would we immediately discover that we have more time to fellowship with people the way believers did in the early church. We would have time to practice the “one anothers” as we are commanded to in Scripture (1 Cor. 11:33, Gal. 5:13, 6:2, Eph. 4:2). 

I have been rushed to even write this article. There are deadlines and responsibilities that come from living in California that keep everyone busy. I wish I had time today to write about the other dangers to spiritual growth that come with wealth and comfort. The dangers of spiritual laziness and complacency. The danger of fearing man rather than God. These are very real symptoms of a life that is devoted to the pursuit of wealth.

God may bless you with wealth and great possessions, but the Christian must always remember that this world’s wealth is transitory. The wealth that God is concerned about is spiritual wealth and riches and that can only be found by keeping focused on God and dependent on him. 

The Bride of Christ

June 2, 2023 /

Imagine going to a wedding where the bridesmaids were given more attention than the bride. Wouldn’t it be strange to see the bridesmaids wearing beautiful white gowns while the bride was adorned in a plain dress? People wouldn’t know what to do. They would wonder “Who is getting married here? Why are the bridesmaids stealing the show?” They would be in an uproar because everyone knows the wedding is for the bride and groom. The bridesmaids are there to support the bride, not to take attention away from her. 

In Ephesians 5:25, the apostle Paul wrote, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” 

This is a great illustration to meditate upon. Ephesians 5 is telling us that a husband’s love for his wife is supposed to be modeled after the supernatural, sacrificial love of Jesus Christ! In the same way that he was willing to give his life up for the church, a Christian husband should be willing to love his wife and care for her. This is a weighty responsibility for every husband. It fits into God’s greater plan to use marriage to help the church become more holy. Think about it. Can a husband do a good job leading his wife in holiness if he is not pursuing a holy life himself? He needs to be setting the course for his wife and his children so that they can all be transformed into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).

The main point of Ephesians 5:25-27 is to reveal what type of love a husband is supposed to have for his wife. A secondary point is that Christ is uniquely focused on the purity and spiritual growth of the church. He is like a groom that is waiting for his bride, the church, to be prepared for the wedding feast! Revelation 19:6-9 gives us a prophetic preview of the wedding feast where the bride will finally be presented to the groom, Jesus Christ. It says, ““Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 

These true words of God reveal that Christians are to think of their lives as a time to prepare for the marriage supper of the Lamb. The wedding dress of the bride is made up of the righteous deeds of the saints. This is a helpful image. God wants believers to see their work and recreation as either preparing for the marriage feast or not. Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” 

The will of the Lord for believers living today is to live for the marriage feast of the Lamb. It is to be invested in the local church, which is the physical representation of the bride of Christ. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” The day referred to in Hebrews 10 includes the judgment of God, but it also includes a view towards the eternal state, when the bride of Christ will be united with the groom, Jesus Christ. 

Personally, I find it helpful to think about life in terms of this wedding illustration. Am I thinking about the church being prepared as the bride of Christ? Or am I being lulled into complacency by only thinking about the church as a building that needs upkeep and maintenance? Do I know what role I am supposed to play as a part of the body of Christ? Am I being faithful in my role as a husband and father? Am I living in light of the wedding feast of the Lamb? Am I focused on preparing the bride for the groom? These questions will help us keep our focus on things that will last. Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) 

May God give us the grace and the strength to be able to keep our focus on the wedding feast of the lamb so that we might live in light of eternity, not the temporary world that we currently live in. 

ocean wave at blue hour
Photo by Emiliano Arano on Pexels.com

The Power of Proverbs

May 26, 2023 /

I have been amazed at how helpful the book of Proverbs has been in raising our four children. No other book in the Bible has brought as many fruitful discussions to our family devotions. We keep coming back to its thought-provoking chapters and profound moral puzzles because they help our sons and daughters learn how to navigate the difficulties of life. Some of the wise sayings are straight-forward and simple to understand, but many of them make you stop and think through the implications of their ancient wisdom.

I have lost count of the times I have told my family, “A Proverb a day keeps temptation away.” Studying the book of Proverbs does not guarantee an end to temptation, but it does provide a Biblically approved path that avoids the minefield of sin and dangers that lie on either side of the road of righteousness. Proverbs 10:9-10 puts it like this, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (English Standard Version) The book of Proverbs also makes it clear that it would be foolish to try to learn from its pages without first submitting yourself to God. Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” There is a right way to read the book of Proverbs. It is to come with the attitude of a submissive learner, ready to learn from its ancient deposit of truth.

After studying the Bible for more than two decades, I have come to the conclusion that the book of Proverbs is an indispensable manual for gaining the practical wisdom needed to live the way God intended. It is an ancient book that was compiled by wise men during the reign of the Jewish king Hezekiah (circa 715-686 BC). The book of Proverbs is made up of 915 verses, which were written by at least four authors, of whom King Solomon is by far the most well-known. The fame of his wisdom is not surprising if one realizes that the Bible claims he was the wisest man to ever live (1 Kings 3:12, 28). During his lifetime, men and women of renown traveled great distances to listen to his teaching on a wide range of subjects, including biology, philosophy, and theology. 1 Kings 4:34 gives the following historical account, “And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.”

I am often convicted by how easy it is to take God’s word. Imagine what people who lived during king Solomon’s time would have thought if they could own a personal copy of a book that had almost a thousand of the wisest sayings in the world? They would have considered it one of their most valuable possessions. One way to not take Proverbs for granted has been by reading a chapter or a portion of a chapter every day. This is easy to do because the book of Proverbs is divided into thirty-one chapters, one for every day of the month. Whenever I meet someone who wants to read the Bible consistently, I encourage them to read a Proverb a day. This makes it easy to keep track of the reading assignment and it keeps the topic interesting because the topics often change from verse to verse.

Some people find it difficult to read through Proverbs because the topics change so often. That is one reason why I recommend Dr. Richard Mayhue’s book Practicing Proverbs: Wise Living for Foolish Times. It is an excellent guide that takes a thematic approach to the book. This helps the reader dive into different themes such as Family, the Marketplace, Personal, and Spiritual wisdom. Dr. Mayhue encourages people to take an entire year to read through the Proverbs, reading through the chapters repeatedly in order to soak up the wisdom of each passage.

Personally, I have found it is helpful to ask the following questions with each Proverb: 1) How is this principle shown to be true in the rest of Scripture? 2) How is the truth of this proverb illustrated in modern life? These two questions have helped our family delve into hundreds of proverbs. This approach is helpful because the discussion can be adapted to the age of the children, whether they are young or teenagers.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of reading the Proverbs with our family has come from seeing our children grow in wisdom and in stature with God and man. I am not saying that they have arrived at wisdom, I am saying that I have been able to see how God has used His word to convict them of sin and bring them to repentance. He has helped them to see their own tendency to be immature and that has helped give them a desire to grow in spiritual maturity. He has used the book of Proverbs to give them priceless warnings about the dangers of life, so they will be prepared when the difficulties of life and the temptations of the world try to disrupt their path. My prayer is that they would develop a habit of reading the Proverbs that will serve them the rest of their lives.

Proverbs 8:35-36 provides a classic summary for why we should all pursue wisdom, “For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

Iron Sharpens Iron Conference

May 19, 2023 /

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” This famous verse, found in Proverbs 27:17 (ESV), captures the heart of the Iron Sharpens Iron (ISI) conference, which takes place every year at Hickman Community Church in Hickman, CA. 

I have been hearing about the ISI Conference for several years, but this was the first time I had the opportunity to make the two hour trip up Highway 99 to this special conference. The first reason it is unique is because of where it is held. As of 2020, the city of Hickman had an official population of 751 souls. Hickman Community Church has a good size facility so I wouldn’t be surprised if the city size grows by several hundred every Sunday morning! The church campus has plenty of space to make room for all the people who come, whether it is on a Sunday morning for a worship service or for a men’s conference like ISI. 

The second thing that impressed me about the conference was how many of the speakers are serving here in the Central Valley. All eight of the speakers came from Northern California. We had Tulare, Merced, Stanislaus, Sacramento, and even Nevada county represented at the conference. This may not be significant to many, but the fact that so many well-trained, godly speakers were available to speak was a great encouragement to me. My prayer is that this trend would continue as the conference prepares for the future. 

The ISI conference is built around four main sessions and three break-out sessions. These are spaced out evenly between three meals, dinner on Friday night, and breakfast and lunch on Saturday. The theme of this year’s conference was on leaving a legacy for the next generation. Dr. Rick Gregory, from Grace Bible Church in Fair Oaks, did an excellent job keeping the men in attendance engaged and challenged from God’s word. The first session laid a foundation for leaving a legacy by emphasizing the importance of having integrity. A man’s impact on future generations will not have lasting power if he does not have integrity. The next session was focused on investing wisely in the next generation. The Bible has both positive and negative examples of how to pour into the lives of younger men (Positive 1 Thess. 5:11, Heb. 10:24-25, Negative 1 Ki. 1:6). 

Pastor Rick’s third session was on learning how to use Godly influence in each man’s legacy. He gave very practical guidance on how a father’s role in a child’s life needs to change as the child grows. The role changes from that of a lot of control, when the child is an infant and toddler, to that of a coach as the child grows older. Later, when the child reaches adulthood the role needs to change to counseling and once the child is married and has children, the father’s role should develop into that of a consultant, giving guidance as needed. I found this to be a helpful session because I have seen my children show a need for my role in their lives to change in a similar way to what Dr. Rick mentioned. The fourth and last session, was actually a Q&A with all the available speakers. This was helpful and I especially appreciated the restorative answer to the question of whether someone can leave a legacy if they have made major mistakes in life. The pastors expressed a need for men to acknowledge their mistakes, to repent of them, and then to sincerely seek to live the remainder of their life for the glory of God. Overall, the main sessions combined to make a forceful argument for men to carefully consider how they are investing in the next generation. 

I traveled up to ISI with two men from Grace Bible Hanford and one from Grace Church of the Valley in Kingsburg. Our brother from Hanford speaks fluent Spanish, so he was able to attend two break-out sessions in Spanish, the first was on Adoring God and the second was on Evangelism. The rest of us were able to hear two great sessions on sharing our faith and on family worship. The latter included a helpful description of Deuteronomy 6:4-8, which highlights God’s commands for parents to teach Scripture “diligently to your children” all the time. The session on sharing your faith was powerful to hear because it was given by a pastor who had seen God turn his life around, giving him the ultimate reason to share the good news of Jesus Christ. 

As always, one of the highlights of a men’s conference is hearing so many faithful men belting out powerful worship songs to God. We had several opportunities to be led in singing by the worship band and each of them were powerful times to sing of who God is and what he has done. 

The conference ended around 4:30 pm on Saturday. We thanked the hosts and got into our car for the drive home. We were able to talk about what we had heard and learned during the sessions. We set goals for how we would be able to implement the encouragement we had been given. I am happy to report that some of us have already had good conversations about the conference, which means we are already well on our way of pursuing the ISI goal to sharpen one another for the glory of God. Hopefully, we will be able to make a return trip next year. 

The Godly Woman of Proverbs Thirty-One

May 12, 2023 /

The Bible gives a refreshingly clear description of an ideal woman in Proverbs 31:10-31. It is refreshing because it is not focused on the outward appearance of a woman. The twenty-two verses in this passage are overflowing with colorful imagery and practical illustrations of the kind of woman who “is to be praised.” It is important to note that the Bible does not require women to be married to faithfully serve God (1 Corinthians 7:7-8). Those who are married have a specific role to play in God’s glorious plan, but the principles listed in Proverbs 31 provides guidance regardless of whether someone is single or married. 

Many Christians are aware of the importance of the passage, but what is not as well known is that every stanza begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, starting with Aleph and ending with Tau. One reason the original author created this abecedarian, was to paint a complete picture of a Godly woman. This helped the readers of Proverbs to grasp the attitude and actions that God wants woman to have. 

This ancient wisdom has been helpful for women of every generation that have had access to it. As a husband of one such woman, I can personally attest to the joy and peace that is brought into the world by women who seek to follow after these principles. My prayer is that this article will bring a renewed interest in this profound teaching about God’s view of a wise woman. 

One of the unique aspects of this chapter is that the author goes out of his way to highlight the unique value that a woman of God brings to her husband. The modern reader might be surprised that husbands are mentioned in a chapter about women, but this is no surprise to the informed reader of Scripture. Genesis 2:15-18 

specifies that God’s intention in creating Eve was to be a “suitable helper” for her husband. Ephesians 5:22-27 gives even more detail regarding God’s beautiful design for marriage. The author, the apostle Paul, commands each husband to love his wife in a sacrificial way, modeled after the incomparable servanthood of Jesus Christ. In verse 22, the apostle Paul specifies that each wife is to submit to her husband’s leadership of the family. Far from encouraging wives to subjugate themselves to the sinful domination of a worldly husband, this is a profound encouragement for wives to follow the loving leadership of a husband who is being held accountable by the perfect guidance of a good and gracious God. 

This picture of a Godly wife supporting her loving husband is masterfully displayed in Proverbs 31:10-31. The passage includes three references to the husband and each of them show the special value that a woman of God can bring to her husband. Verses 10-12 state that a Godly wife “is more precious than jewels.” She has earned the trust of her husband and he is convinced that his relationship with her will bring him success, and not harm, all her life. 

Verse 23 is the next place that mentions the connection between a husband and an ideal woman of God. It says, “ Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.” The verses above and below imply that his wife’s excellent work and remarkable industry are one of the reasons her husband has such a good reputation in the city. 

Verses 28-31 bring a nice bookend to the passage because they reveal that a Godly woman will be praised by her children and her husband, “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many jwomen have done kexcellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” The last sentence implies that her husband is the one recognizing his wife’s remarkable service to him, his family, and the community. 

The majority of the chapter is filled with detailed descriptions of the activity and attitude of an ideal woman of God. She is actively involved in the oversight of the business of the home. She is sacrificial in her concern for her children and for the responsibilities she has been given. She does not praise herself or demand recognition. Her praise comes from the lips of others. Proverbs 27:2 reinforces the idea of measuring the value of a woman of God from the words of others, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” Ultimately, the value of each woman is only decided by the God who made her. Scripture is also clear that a woman does not have to be married in order to be faithful to God. In fact, the apostle Paul wrote that there was much value for both men and women to remain single (1 Corinthians 7:7-8). Regardless of someone’s marital status, each person can benefit by studying the example given in Proverbs 31 and each person can prayerfully ask God to help them live in a way that is pleasing to Him. 

Exemplary Husband, Excellent Wife

May 2, 2023 /

My conviction about the importance of marriage and family grows every year. When Lydia and I were first married in 2007 we were both in love with each other and with the idea of being married (I’m glad to report that both are still true!) We were committed to God’s design for a man and a woman to make a covenant to live together and to serve the Lord together. As each year has passed, our appreciation for God’s institution of marriage has deepened. Now that we are enjoying our sixteenth year of marriage, I am overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude to God for bringing my wife and me together and for using our marriage to help each of us grow more committed to God and to each other.

One reason I have been thinking about marriage recently is because my wife and I have been reading through two of the best books on the subject. The Exemplary Husband by Stuart Scott and The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace were written to help Christian couples grow and mature in their service to the Lord. As you can tell from their titles, these books have set the bar incredibly high for husbands and wives. Lydia and I have been challenged and convicted by what we have read. I thought it would be helpful to share a few of the points from The Exemplary Husband that God has used most powerfully in my life.

Before I go any further, I need to clarify that I am not claiming to be the exemplary husband. I certainly have many areas to grow in. I’m also not saying that we have a perfect marriage. I am saying that my wife and I are amazed at God’s design for marriage and we want to pursue the Bible’s high calling for as many years as he gives us together on this earth.

Stuart Scott’s book is built around four sections: A Husband’s Recognitions, Responsibilities, Resolves, and Regrets. The first section lays a strong foundation to help each husband understand their standing before God. He is the one who created marriage and he knows how it is supposed to function. Scott does a great job laying out the most important passages of Scripture for understanding God, man, sin, the purpose of relationships and marriage, and most importantly for this book, man’s role in marriage.

The second section is worth the price of the book because it is so rare in our society to find a clarion voice regarding roles in marriage. The Bible makes clear statements about the differences between men and women and about the specific role that husbands are to play in marriage. It was refreshing to see how Scott put a husband’s role in the context of worshipping God. Marriage is not about meeting the husband’s needs. It is about serving God and others. The chapters on love and leadership were convicting because it is so easy to want to cater to my own preferences instead of being sacrificial and self-less. The Exemplary Husband helps the reader think about marriage the way God does. This helps give each husband the justification and the motivation needed to think and act as a servant in marriage.

The section on a Husband’s Resolves relates to his commitment to tackle some of the difficult parts of marriage. It was convicting to be reminded of my pride and my hesitancy to be humble and serve my wife. The Biblical encouragement for husbands to “live with your wives in an understanding way” is one of the most important passages for husbands to understand (1 Peter 3:7) The chapter on “Helping Your Wife Deal With Her Sin” gets at the heart of why God design marriage. It is supposed to be used by God to mold both the husband and wife into the image of Jesus Christ. This is such a beautiful purpose for marriage and any Christian who has been married will attest to how effective the relationship is for showing us our sin and our need to be humbled and sanctified by God.

The last section is titled “A Husband’s Regrets.” It makes sure that the exemplary husband is aware of his own weaknesses and it gives a very effective warning on sins that can cut directly against the goal of pursuing God in marriage. This section, in particular, proves that the author does not shy away from addressing the dangers of weak husband. I found it encouraging and convicting to read Scott’s warnings against anger, anxiety and fear, and lust.

God has given humanity a wonderful gift in marriage. Some may be tempted to think of it as a utilitarian aspect of society, but we must never forget that it was instituted by God when he introduced the idea to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden (Genesis 1-2). Christians must take marriage seriously. They must recognize that the centerpiece of God’s design for humanity is marriage, the sacred union of a husband and wife. My prayer is that those reading would be motivated to study God’s word on marriage. I would highly recommend The Exemplary Husband and The Excellent Wife in pursuing that goal. I know my wife and I have been convicted and encouraged by what we have read.

Folded Cloth, Strengthened Faith

April 7, 2023 /

The most exhilarating message I have ever given was during a sunrise service at San Gabriel Community Church. I remember it so vividly because I was facing the rising sun while I preached about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. It was surreal to think about how the very same sun had risen on an empty tomb more than two thousand years ago.

That year, I had spent hours preparing to speak about how Peter and John discovered the empty tomb in John 20:1-10. John’s account begins with Mary Magdalene visiting the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark. She saw that the tomb stone had been rolled away! She ran to Simon Peter and immediately told him, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Naturally, Peter was concerned that someone had stolen the body, so he dashed out of the home and raced towards the tomb. We know from the Bible’s account that John joined Peter running to the tomb. They both raced towards the tomb to see what had happened to Jesus’ body.

We know that John was faster than Peter because John 20:4-5 tells us that he overtook Peter and arrived at the tomb first. John then stooped down to look into the tomb, but he did not go inside. The Bible gives very specific details about what happened next. It says, “Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.”

This reference to the folded face cloth is significant for several reasons. First, we know it is important because John goes out of his way to describe this smaller handkerchief that had been folded and left in the tomb. John could have just written about the burial clothes and the face cloth in general, but he didn’t. He drew the reader’s attention to the face cloth because he wanted to show that it needed to be considered differently than the other burial clothes.

The second reason the face cloth is significant is because it had been folded. Why would Jesus have taken the time to fold this cloth? You would expect most people would not be thinking about folding pieces of cloth that had just been wrapped around a dead body, especially if it was their own. Jesus was different. He was thoughtful and purposeful. He folded the cloth because he wanted to let the disciples know that his body had not been stolen.

If the body had been stolen, do you think the thieves would have taken the time to fold the face cloth and leave it in a prominent place? No. They would have been wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. If the face cloth was folded, it meant that criminals were not in charge of the situation. It was Jesus who was in control. He was not in a rush. He had taken off the strips of cloth that surrounded his body in the grave. He had put them in one place and he had removed his face cloth, folded it, and placed it in a different place so those coming after him would recognize what had taken place.

Peter and John arrived on the scene and began acting like amateur detectives. They were looking for clues and we know from John’s account in his gospel that they recognized the significance of the folded face cloth. The third observation makes this clear. John 20:8-9 says, “Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;” The third reason the folded cloth is significant is because John’s sight of the folded face cloth led him to believe that the body hadn’t been stolen and that Jesus had actually risen from the dead.

The second disciple to go into the tomb was John. He had been the first one to arrive at the tomb, but he didn’t have a clear view of the face cloth because he had not actually gone inside. It was Peter who went barreling into the tomb. He saw the burial cloth and the folded face cloth, but John’s gospel doesn’t tell us how Peter reacted. John’s account does tell us John’s response. It tells us that “he saw and believed.” The emphasis here is on the fact that John saw the burial cloths and the folded face cloth. We know he understood the significance of the face cloth because his account tells us that he “believed.” This idea of belief is to consider something to be worthy of one’s trust. He believed that Jesus’ body had not been stolen. He believed that Jesus had risen from the dead!

If you keep reading in John’s account you will see that the next part of the account describes how Jesus appeared to Mary and the disciples. First he appeared to Mary in the garden and then later that night he appeared to a group of the disciples in Jerusalem. The sequence of events is staggering to consider. Why didn’t he just appear to them right away? Clearly he wanted to let them see the empty tomb for themselves. He wanted them to have a visceral, powerful experience of having their faith strengthened by the hard facts of the gospel. They may have doubted that Jesus would rise from the dead, but now they had to believe it. He was alive! The tomb stone had been rolled away, the burial cloths had been discarded and the face cloth had been carefully folded and left as a memento that Jesus had risen from the dead!

I remember being deeply impacted by studying the significance of Jesus folding his face cloth and leaving it for the disciples to discover. It helped my faith in God and my appreciation of the work of Jesus Christ increase. My prayer is that you will take the time to study the historical account of Jesus’ resurrection so that you will be struck by the power of our risen Lord! He is risen. He is Risen Indeed!

Integrity Needed!

March 24, 2023 /

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” (Matthew 5:13 ESV) This famous passage has captured the imagination of followers of Christ ever since Jesus first taught it to a large crowd at the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus Christ wanted to give his followers a helpful illustration so they would understand how to influence the world around them. Salt brings flavor to food and salt preserves food. If it was low quality salt, then it would not have its desired impact. If it was pure and of high quality, then it would have a profound effect.

We often take salt for granted today, but in the time of the Roman Empire it was regarded as one of the most valuable commodities on the market. I was surprised to learn that salt was actually used as currency to pay soldiers in the Roman legion. Once month’s wage was called a solarium in Latin, which is actually where we get our English word “salary” from. We know salt was used to season food, but it had many different uses in the ancient world. It was used to preserve food so that it would not spoil. It was also used in small quantities in soil to help plants grow. The book of Judges gives proof that it was used as a form of punishment on a captured city. After Abimelech destroyed the city of Shechem the Bible says he “sowed it with salt.” (Judges 9:45) This would mean that nothing would be able to grow in the fields around the city for many years.

There is disagreement about which meaning Jesus was emphasizing when he referred to his followers as the salt of the earth. Was he referring to the purity of salt, the flavor enhancement, or the preserving property of salt? I believe Jesus could have been referring to each of these meanings, but I am convinced he was emphasizing the preserving power of salt. If salt loses its ability to preserve food then the meat would rot and become worthless. It would not be good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.


If you look at the context of the Sermon on the Mount it is clear that Christians will be persecuted for their faith. They will suffer for speaking the truth in love to those around them. Matthew 5:14-16 refers to followers of Christ as the light of the world. The darkness is great, but the light of God is able to shine brightly and keep back the negative impact of the darkness.


Recently, our Men of Grace group was discussing a chapter about integrity in Kent Hughes book, Disciplines of a Godly Man. The chapter was called “The Discipline of Integrity” and it was a call for men in the church to make a stand for what is right. The author gave many examples of how our culture celebrates sin and corruption. None of our men had to be convinced that we are living in a time of low moral integrity. Many in our society don’t think twice about stealing from the workplace or being dishonest with their taxes. The news is often filled with stories of embezzlement and fraud at the highest levels of government and society.


The moral morass of our society makes it even more important for Christians to make a stand for what is right. We are the salt of the earth. We need to use God’s word as our ethical standard. Leviticus 19:2 says, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” The follower of Christ looks to God for his definition of right and wrong. We need to constantly align our consciences with the word of God. That is how we will be able to stay pure and live in holiness. When we fall short we must repent of our sins, but we must always keep our standards high so that we may be the salt of the earth and point people to Christ.

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