1 Samuel 23:1-14

“So David inquired of the Lord…”

1 Samuel 23:2

God’s guidance is essential for making righteous decisions.

This may seem so obvious as to require no comment. Yet, having been involved in church leadership for a number of years, I have regularly watched Christian leaders assume they know God’s will, and so fail to ask for God’s guidance. Frankly, far too often I have been that leader! It’s easy to move in a particular direction based upon our own expectations or our interpretation of the circumstances. But in this passage we find David, in the face of a “no brainer,” pausing to seek the Lord’s will no less than three times! When David was at his best, he followed this pattern of asking for the Lord’s direction. And it was this, as much as anything in his life, which made him a man after God’s own heart. Conversely, his failure to do so resulted in some of his most glaring mistakes. But in this passage, David shines in his careful attention to God’s will.

The passage also teaches us something about the general leading of God in our lives. The three instances given us here illuminate and can help us navigate the murky circumstances that often surround us. As God’s children, we want to follow His will, but the Holy Spirit’s leading can sometimes seem unclear. The principles given here can provide some guidance, whether we are in a position of leadership or simply seeking to follow Christ in our daily lives. So, what are these principles?

1. The Lord consistently guides us toward ministry. V.2
The Philistines were attacking God’s people at Keilah and David had the means to help them. His band of followers had grown to about 600 men, so he had a respectable fighting force that could be used to help his brethren. David’s instinctive response was to rush to their aid, but he stopped to first seek the Lord’s direction. Once he received the Lord’s blessing, he began to move to break the Philistine siege.
While it may be difficult to determine WHICH ministry in which to be engaged – there are, after all so many opportunities – the Spirit will generally lead us in the direction of using our gifts and abilities for the sake of others. This was our Lord’s pattern of life and ought to be ours as well.

2. The Lord usually leads away from selfish considerations. V.4
David’s decision was questioned by his men who clearly anticipated the dangers of adding another enemy to their list. They were already running from Saul, why take on the Philistines? Militarily, attacking the Philistines would put David and his men at greater risk. David wisely considered their objection and laid it before the Lord. God promised victory and on that promise David moved forward.
Ministry, whether at home or overseas, is inherently risky. If we only consider ourselves, we will never get involved. But the followers of Christ are called to deny themselves and to take up their cross. So if our thoughts are consumed with our needs, our comfort and our security, we are probably NOT listening to the Spirit’s guidance. It is interesting to note, however, that in the context of David’s obedience, God provided for the physical needs of his entourage: their defeat of the Philistines allowed David to “lead away their livestock.”

3. The Lord leads us to act for the good of His people. Vv. 11,12
David rescued Keilah and then heard that Saul had located him, and was intending to come destroy the city. David was understandably concerned for himself and for the safety of his men, as well as for the safety of the city. So he again inquired of the Lord and was told that Saul would indeed come down to Keilah, and that the men of the city would give David up to save themselves. So, for the good of all concerned, David chose to leave the city and find refuge elsewhere. As a result, Saul gave up the pursuit for a time.
The fact that you have ministered to the needs of the brethren doesn’t always ensure that they will acknowledge that ministry or be thankful for it. But whether you are affirmed in ministry or not, the general principle of loving the brethren requires us to act for their good – even if it means sacrifice or loss on our part.

In his sensitivity to God’s will, David once again provides us with an illustration of his greater Son, our Lord Jesus. But where David failed repeatedly in his obedience to God’s will, Christ excelled on our behalf. And as we watch Him walk through His earthly ministry, we find Him following the will of His Father from beginning to end. These three principles were repeatedly exemplified in Christ’s earthly ministry, and can be seen most clearly in His willingness to sacrifice His very life for our redemption. May God give us the grace to walk in Christ’s footsteps and make our decisions according to these same principles.

1 Samuel 22: 6-23

1 Samuel 22: 6-23

“For all of you have conspired against me…”

Characteristics of ungodly leadership.

When Richard Hofstadter identified “The Paranoid Style in American Politics,” he was simply recognizing a pattern that has always existed, not only in American politics, but in political contexts everywhere. This paranoia results from man’s sinful self-obsession that insists on interpreting circumstances in self-centered terms. We see a clear example of this paranoid style in this passage as Saul sought to destroy David and all those who supported him. He had no logical support for this unreasoning fear and loathing of David, but nevertheless he interprets David’s actions as a threat to him and to his reign. Reading through this passage, we are provided with a surprisingly “modern” view of the paranoid leader – one who is characterized by ungodliness. Here are some of the characteristics:

1. Ungodly leadership encourages the cult of personality. V. 6

In this verse, we see Saul in his home town of Gibeah (a safe place for him), sitting on a hill, holding his spear in his hand, surrounded by his servants. The vignette fairly shouts, “Look at me!” While David is hiding for his life in the forest of Hereth, Saul is posing so that all the attention will be focused on him. And as he speaks, it quickly becomes clear that his interpretation of these events has everything to do with Saul’s paranoia and very little to do with the facts.

This is simply the logical conclusion of the rebellion of man – a rebellion that replaced God with self. Whether it’s the supposed “divine kings” of Egypt and Rome or the self-important bloviators in our own government, the cult of personality tends to dominate the political process.

2. Ungodly leadership motivates through sinful desires. V. 7

This is not always easy to see, unless one is inside the organization. Here, Saul sought to use wealth and power as a motivation for his followers to support him. This speaks volumes about Saul’s own priorities! When God is forsaken, the sense of righteousness departs and the only motive left is a crass selfishness. Men have done amazing things in the pursuit of wealth and power, but even they eventually must admit that these things do not satisfy.

How can it be that even in the Church we see these same motivations? Christ NEVER told us to pursue wealth and power. If God gives them to us, we are to handle them carefully as wise stewards, not seek our own glory through them. Beware of so-called Christian organizations that focus on their size, income, influence or wealth. There is something wrong with the leadership in these situations.

3. Ungodly leadership interprets reality to its own advantage. Vv. 8,13

Saul’s paranoia caused him to believe that everyone was against him: his own servants “have conspired against me,” Jonathan “has stirred up my servant against me,” David was “lying in ambush,” and even the priests were in on the conspiracy. How blind could he be? Ungodly leadership eventually loses the ability to tell truth from lies and begins to call evil good – even to the point of attacking and destroying God’s servants.

We can see this so clearly in our own political system where spin control has taken the place of truth-telling. On both sides of the aisle – Democrat and Republican – statesmanship and honesty have been sacrificed on the altar of partisan politics.

Sadly, this same pattern is often witnessed within the Church as well. People fight for power and influence by interpreting reality to their own advantage, and (especially in church splits) it becomes a game of “he said/she said.” How desperately we need Biblical leaders who “by the manifestation of truth [will] commend themselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God!” (2 Cor. 4:2)

4. Ungodly leadership is open to the manipulation of the unscrupulous. Vv. 9,10

We have met Doeg the Edomite before. He was the man who was “detained before the Lord” when David came to ask Ahimelech for advice. But instead of telling Saul immediately, Doeg held on to that information until he could use it for his own advantage. By his revelation he was then able to appear as a loyal follower of Saul just when the king thought all others were against him.

We know from Psalm 52 that this man was evil and was speaking from a heart of deceit and falsehood. As David wrote the psalm, he deliberately contrasted Doeg’s evil with God’s covenant love and faithfulness. He also prophesied Doeg’s destruction. But history is full of these kind of men and women: devoted to their own advancement at any cost and willing to manipulate others to get it. And in their paranoia, ungodly leaders are easy prey for the unscrupulous.

The Church has also had it share of Doeg’s and Elmer Gantry’s. There is no sense of God’s presence or blessing on their work, they are simply using God’s people to gain wealth and power. Such people will have a show of piety, but (like Doeg) will gladly destroy God’s priests for the sake of personal advantage. More often than we’d care to admit, these are the kind of people who end up in positions of leadership in the church. This danger should cause us to pray for our leaders, who are constantly tempted to use their position for their own gain. It should also cause us to speak up, take action and keep our leaders accountable.

A negative example is often very powerful. Saul shows us in this passage what godly leadership is NOT. May Jesus Christ continue to provide godly leaders for His Church and give His people the ability to discern the difference between and Saul and a David.

Update from Kumasi, Ghana

We left Sunyani on Monday morning and retraced our route southeast to Kumasi. Kumasi is the second largest city in Ghana, with a population of 2 ½ million. It is also a center for Christian activity within the country, with churches everywhere. It is difficult for us Americans to grasp the kind of religious freedom that exists in Ghana. Almost 2/3 of the population consists of practicing Christians, and the country has not experienced the secular backlash America has. Consequently, such things as prayer and chapel in the public schools, public displays of faith and Christian involvement in society and culture are quite commonplace. The taxis have slogans on them like, “By Grace” or “Tell Jesus” and you often see the Jehovah Jireh Hair Salon or the Almighty God Building Supplies. Christian music blares from huge loudspeakers on many street corners and there are at least 2 or 3 religious programming channels on the TV. Ghanaian Christians are quite open about their faith, but by their own admission, they don’t know much about the Bible. That is where EPI comes in: training pastors to build up their people in the faith.

Once in Kumasi, our team divided forces: Ken and John continued on with Sam Oppong to teach a conference in Sefwi Bekwai, while I remained in Kumasi as the main speaker for a pastors’ conference that is held each year for graduates of the Bible Training Centre for Pastors (BTCP). Bishop Samuel organizes this conference every year, and it attracts pastors from many different denominations – many of them Pentecostal in their leaning – for three days of seminars and workshops. I had committed to this venue when I was in country in February, but I had no idea at the time what it would involve. I was given only about 1 ½ hours each day on Tuesday through Thursday, so I had to edit the curriculum rather severely. However, the editing was well worth it, because I was privileged to teach on Biblical Holiness to about 400 pastors!

Each morning, Rev. John would come to pick me up at the hotel, and we would begin our adventure with Kumasi traffic. The morning rush hour was incredible, with traffic jammed into every “roundabout” and for ½ a mile on each side. Rather than waste the gas, he would often just turn the car off until he could creep forward a bit. All around us were street vendors, knocking on the windows and hawking their wares: plastic bags of drinking water, gum, loaves of bread, sunglasses, popcorn, newspapers, bagged apples, dish towels, cookies, etc. Why go to a store when they will bring whatever you need right to your car? Wednesday morning, we were sitting at one of the intersections – pedestrians threading their way between the bumper-to-bumper traffic – when two policemen stepped up to the car. After looking at the expired insurance sticker on the windshield, they both climbed into our back seat! They insisted that Rev. John drive to the police station to pay a fine. (I found out later that this is common practice in Ghana, since otherwise people will simply drive off and never show up at the station. I was also told that he could have simply paid a bribe right on the spot and they would have left him alone, but because I was in the car, they were reluctant to shake him down.) He finally convinced them to allow him to drop me off at the conference first and then he went to pay his “fine.”

I spoke in the mornings for the first two days, coming to the podium after they had prayed and worshiped for two hours. This preparation made them very ready to hear the Word. On Tuesday, I demonstrated from Ephesians 2:8-10 about how holiness is a natural outworking of the gospel of grace. I defined Biblical holiness and warned them against the two extremes, perfectionism and legalism. We then considered the main obstacle to personal holiness – our sinful hearts. Wednesday, we looked at Biblical descriptions of the battle for holiness, specifically Paul’s recurring theme of “put off/put on.” I reminded them that we must pursue holiness together; each of us using the spiritual gifts God has given us. The text was Ephesians 4. On Thursday, the Ghanaian Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture was the keynote speaker for the “opening ceremony.” This is a cabinet-level position that has responsibility over all religious activity in the country – and the man is an outspoken evangelical Christian! He encouraged these pastors to actively use their influence to change the culture of Ghana, so that the country will move in a more Biblical direction. His presence gave an excuse for all of the attendees to dress in their finest church attire. Everyone wore their clerical collars while the bishops and senior pastors were in full regalia: robes, stoles and caps. In the midst of such sartorial splendor, I – with my dress shirt and tie – looked like a mud hen at a peacock convention!

I was given the final word of the conference on Thursday evening. As we approached the venue, lightning was flashing; and a heavy rain began just as I took the microphone. But it passed quickly and God gave me grace to take them through Romans 6, explaining how our union with Christ gives us a new identity that has died to sin. Then I spoke from Romans 8, describing the new power that is ours through the Holy Spirit – a power that enables us “to put to death the deeds of the body.” We closed with the truth that God is for us (Rom. 8:31) and that nothing – not even our own sin – can separate us from the love of God in Christ. (8:39) As the sermon drew to a close, I could sense a huge wave of response building: people were shouting “hallelujah,” jumping in their seats, raising hands and clapping. At the close, they spontaneously broke into song; singing (as I learned later) about how nothing can separate them from God’s love. (The bishop said afterward, “We have sung this song many times, but now we truly understand it!”) And as they sang, they literally danced for joy, twirling their handkerchiefs in the air and shouting. I have never witnessed such an outpouring of joy in love for God. It was overwhelming! And all I could do was stand (I wanted to dance, but I’m just too white!) in awe of the amazing grace and goodness of God. O that God would give His church in the U.S. such a deep joy and love for Him! While we might express that joy differently, it would certainly transform our worship.

What an incredible ending to a most satisfying month in Africa! God has truly blessed my time here and has blessed me as well. I am so thankful for the privilege of teaching His truth. And to see the impact of Biblical truth on God’s people here only adds to my determination to continue in and to expand this ministry. Thank you for the indispensable part you have played in this work – your prayers and generosity have made it possible. May the Lord bless you for your faithfulness to Him.

I wrote most this from Accra as I prepared to return home. God graciously provided a new passport to replace the one that was stolen two weeks ago, so I was able to fly home. And, on Saturday, the manager of the hotel where the theft occurred simply gave me the laptop I have been using while in country! It’s not equivalent to what I lost, but it has enabled me to continue working since I’ve returned home. The flights on Saturday and Sunday were unremarkable (that’s good!) and it was wonderful to see Susan and the family again. We are jumping right back into the work here with presentations on Friday and Sunday.

There is so much that remains to be done. As God provides, I hope to return to Ghana in February or March and again in July of 2008. We are also looking to Him to guide me as I consider other opportunities for ministry that He has opened both in West Africa and elsewhere. I will explain more about some these opportunities and will give a summary of what God has done through this month of ministry in the September newsletter.

Grace and peace,

Dan.

Sunyani Update

The burglary occurred within hours of when I landed in Accra. Sam Oppong, the EPI National Advisor for Ghana, met me at Kotoka Airport about noon and we drove to the Deon Hotel. Ken Aull, one of the team, was due in from Delaware around 6 pm, so we were at the airport when they broke into my room. It was a professional job – they moved quickly and focused on easily disposable electronic equipment: laptop, digital camera, cell phone and chargers. They searched for money, but missed the envelope behind some Folgers Singles coffee packs. And in their haste, they dropped my Palm, where I keep my schedule and contact information. But the most valuable item taken was my U.S. passport. Everyone was stunned. They must have followed us from the airport. Checking into the hotel an hour after we did, they waited in their room until we left to get Ken. Five minutes later, they were out the door and gone.
The consequences of their “visit” were much more prolonged. That evening, Sam and I spent several hours filing a police report in a crowded, run-down police station with bored policemen - one of whom was trying to sleep at the duty desk. The application for a replacement passport required three trips to the American Consulate: the first to be told I needed a copy of the police report, the second to file all the needed paperwork (including the police report and a new passport photo we had taken) and a third because the lady and I were so engrossed in our conversation that neither of us thought to have me sign the application! But by Monday evening, it was all done and we are hoping that a new passport will be waiting when we return to Accra next Friday.
[I have been amazed at the size of the network that responded to this emergency with prayer and helpful advice. Literally hundreds of people all over the world have been following this story and have been praying for us and for our work here. I’ve lost track of the number of churches that brought this prayer request before their people. I have been humbled by your concern and am very thankful for all of you. Only the Lord knows what will come from this outpouring of support and sympathy. However, I do know that He has been honored as you have upheld us in prayer.]
Refocusing on why the Lord has brought us here, the team left Accra for Sunyani on Tuesday morning. (John Herberich had flown in from Atlanta on Sunday.) With several stops along the way and road construction delays, the drive ended up taking most of the day. Sunyani is located in west central Ghana and is a booming town of over 100,000 people. It is near the gold fields (Ghana used to be called the Gold Coast) and there are lots of European and Asian mining employees in the area.
The rain forest that used to cover this entire country is all gone now except for the occasional huge Onyona tree towering over the fields and scrub along the road. As we traveled, we often saw young men displaying some animal they had recently killed: “bush meat” they call it. Passing motorists will take the pangolin (like a large armadillo) or “grass cutter” (a LARGE rodent) home for supper. These, along with softball-sized snails and other “mystery meats” are offered in little stands all along the road. Sam assures me that grass cutter is really quite good, but he declined to stop and purchase one for our enjoyment. I’m really not all that disappointed.
The conference kicked off on Thursday morning, after a day to polish up our notes and prepare. Nearly 80 church leaders from many different denominations attended the conference and they were eager to hear the Word of God. Most of those attending were senior pastors or district pastors, having responsibility for more than one church. These are the church leaders we want to equip – those whose influence will have a strong impact on the Church at large. This was our first time teaching this curriculum on Biblical Holiness, and it was exciting to see the positive response to the teaching. There is a large amount of legalism among the churches in Ghana and it shows itself through the various lists of “do’s and don’ts” that each church seems to develop. As we explained that true holiness is a heart attitude and not produced by a list of rules, we were thrilled to see them wrestling with the Word and growing in their understanding. As always, the Q & A times provided us with the best feedback: their questions were applicatory, thoughtful and challenging. They ranged from questions about whether it is possible to become totally sinless in this life, to whether sinning after you are saved can cause you to lose your salvation, to how to confess your own sin to your congregation without losing spiritual authority. Amazingly, when we show them the answer in the Word, they accept it without hesitation. African Christians are absolutely convinced that the Bible is God’s Word and whatever the Word teaches, they believe. This is what makes teaching them such a joy.
We settled into a pattern, rotating our teaching between each of us three teachers. I stepped out of the rotation on Friday afternoon since I wasn’t feeling well, but returned on Saturday and we finished with dividing the conferees into discussion groups. They summarized what they had learned, applied it to their own situations, and then discussed potential problems with teaching and exemplifying Biblical holiness in Ghanaian culture. Their group reports made it clear that they not only understood what we taught, but they were already seeking to apply these truths to their life and ministry. It’s exciting to consider that these leaders will teach these same truths to thousands of God’s people. As we finished the conference, the three of us were each given a shirt celebrating Ghana’s 50th birthday as an independent nation.
It has been a great privilege to return to Sunyani. I have been here four times now and it is gratifying to see the spiritual growth in those who regularly attend the EPI conferences. The Lord is doing a work among our brothers here, and EPI is a part of that work. While they have many challenges before them, this conference has planted a seed that, we pray, will bear much fruit for God’s glory.
Tomorrow is Sunday and each of us is scheduled to preach in a local church. Monday will find us on the road to our next conference destination. More on that later. Thanks again for your indispensable part in this ministry!
Grace and peace,
Dan.

EPI Report: Kaberamaido, Uganda

Pastor Samuel’s son was bitten by a snake on Sunday night. We were scheduled to be on the road to Kaberamaido by 11 am Monday but this was only one of several complications. Our ride was late due to mechanical issues, and I needed to discuss several things with the Green Pasture leadership – one of whom had been struggling with malaria all during the conference. Also, we needed to check on Rich, Pastor Samuel’s boy. His foot was quite swollen, but they think he will be fine, and were as stunned as we were that it had happened. So, it was nearing 2:00 pm by the time we left Mbale.
The road to Kaberamaido took us northwest into cattle country. We often saw young boys whacking their cattle with a stick or controlling a huge bull by a rope tied to its hind leg. The African cattle are quite distinctive with a shoulder hump like a Brahma, but also with HUGE horns that seem all out of proportion to their lean, tough bodies. And when a herd of them decides to cross the road (as they often do) they quite literally stop traffic. When passing them, our vehicle would slow down just in case one decided to jump on to the road. None of them did, though, because they were well guarded. Cattle are VERY important to the Teso and Kumam peoples since they are seen as a form of wealth. Every young man must accumulate some cows if he ever hopes to get married: even with their cell phones and email addresses, the bride price in this region must be paid in cattle. The usual minimum, we were told, is 5 cows – a huge investment.
The topography changed as we traveled, moving from the lush tea and coffee plantations of Mbale to the acacia scrub and grazing lands of the Teso region. We drove through Kumi to Soroti (where the pavement ends) and then endured another 20 miles of rutted, slippery, pot-holed one-lane “road.” Kaberamaido isn’t on the way to anywhere, so there is relatively little vehicle traffic on this road and no incentive on the part of the government to improve it. It’s no wonder that few people from the outside have been there. But its very isolation makes it an important EPI venue. The pastors there have had no training except what EPI has provided over the years, and they greatly appreciate our willingness to come. These pastors in the Pentecostal Assembly of God are hungry for God’s Word and recognize that they need it desperately. John, one of the leaders, told me at supper on Tuesday that our topic (Biblical Stewardship) and even our illustrations were divinely appropriate. “If we don’t teach our people doctrine,” John said, “We will be held accountable.” They see EPI’s ministry among them as a great help in this area. And, of course, we are thrilled to see God’s hand moving to stir up an African Reformation.
We taught on Biblical Stewardship on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning. As we worked through the material, the Lord clearly indicated that the section on Biblical interpretation was the most needed. So, we expanded that section to provide them with examples and illustrations. Dick Hannula and Doug Bond were both very effective in their presentations as we worked through the various principles of hermeneutics and illustrated them directly from Scripture. God greatly helped us and, I believe, guided our thoughts and words to point us in the proper direction. It was a wonderful experience – as encouraging to us as it was to them. And THEY were WONDERFUL students! Serious, thoughtful and insightful, they listened carefully and asked excellent questions. Even on some of the more controversial issues, they were willing to listen to the Word and to follow where it led them. On Wednesday we broke them into 10 discussion groups (there were about 250 church leaders attending) and appointed them to bring back a summary of the teaching on Biblical interpretation and to ask for clarification on any areas they didn’t understand. What a joy to hear them speak of becoming humble before the Word, interpreting in context, comparing various versions and using the “W questions” (Who? What? When? Where? Why?) to dissect a passage! They ‘’get it.” We concluded on Thursday with some thoughts on Stewardship of possessions. I also analyzed some of the errors of the so-called Prosperity Gospel to offset the strong appeal it has for them in their extreme poverty.
Under EPI’s influence, the PAG leadership in the Kaberamaido area is now planning to begin a pastor’s training institute in October. They asked us to help them by providing books – especially books on Biblical interpretation. All three of us promised to do what we can to get some books in their hands asap. Also, they want Martin Odi, EPI’s Ugandan director, to do some teaching in that training institute. What a providential opening! God is moving in remarkable ways.
As soon as lunch was over on Thursday, we climbed in the van and began the trip back to Mbale. Aside from some damage to Doug’s expensive camera, the trip was largely uneventful. We spent the night in Mbale and left early the next morning for Kampala, which seemed to be one immense traffic jam. But we persevered and were able to do some shopping and arrive in Entebbe on Friday evening. Since we had to be up at 2 am to make our flight, we hit the sack early. All of us flew together to Nairobi and then went our separate ways – Doug and Dick to Seattle via Amsterdam, and I to Ghana for another two weeks of ministry.
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The enemy has been particularly busy during this trip. Seeing the remarkable responses to the Word that have occurred in the first two weeks, it’s not surprising that Satan would seek to discourage or sidetrack us. Many of you have already heard that within a few hours of landing in Ghana, my hotel room was burglarized and I lost my new laptop, my camera (hence, no picture to head this post) and my Global cell phone, along with a number of other items. In addition, the thieves also took my passport. We have filed a police report and I have completed the paperwork for a new passport, hoping to receive it before I return home on September 1st. Although I will miss these items, they are only things and can be replaced. They were a gift from God to begin with, and He is free to use them – and us – for His glory in whatever way He chooses. We are not discouraged and the new team (John Herberich, Ken Aull and me) is looking forward to what God will do in these next two weeks. As we seek His Kingdom first, we know that He will supply what we need. In fact, the hotel has already made arrangements to loan me a laptop while I’m in Ghana. Thank you for your prayers and for your expressions of support. I am humbled to think that so many of God’s people are praying for us, and I am amazed at the size of the “network” that has emerged in these last several days. Please continue to pray that we will remain focused upon the work God has for us. We want Him to receive all the glory.
Grace and peace,
Dan.

EPI Report: Mbale, Uganda

We landed in Entebbe, Uganda last Sunday night to the smells, sounds and realities of Africa. Although we had reserved our rooms at the Entebbe Flight Motel some time in advance, we discovered that the rooms had been rented out to others. So, after our entourage made the short trip to the motel, we found ourselves in two “dorm” rooms, each sleeping 6. It was quite a group – 9 EPI teachers with three or four bags apiece, tired and bedraggled from nearly 24 hours of coping with planes and airports. It took two trips with the motel van to ferry all the people and luggage. The next morning, after a quick shower and a good breakfast of fruit and toast, six of us left for Mbale in two vehicles. (The other three were headed to Mbarara – in the opposite direction.)

Any drive in Africa is an adventure, and this was no exception. After some errands in Kampala, we were to stop on the eastern side of the city to fill up with gas, but our driver got lost and we took an unintended hour-long tour of several residential sections. Numerous dead ends, potholed streets and cell phone conferences later, we were able to retrace our steps and meet up with our companions. We ate a late lunch in Jinja, near the Nile R., after being accosted by two armed soldiers for taking pictures of the Nile bridge. (It appears that taking such pictures is forbidden unless, of course, you pay the 10,000 shilling fine – about $6 – that the soldiers immediately pocketed.) After lunch, we bounced along a seemingly endless portion of this main road that has remained unpaved for years, dodging on-coming traffic and alternately rolling our windows up when the dust became too bad and down for ventilation. Eventually, just as the sun was going down, we reached Mbale and settled into our home for the next week, the Dreamland Guest House.

Mbale has one of the most beautiful settings that I have seen in Africa. A several thousand foot escarpment rises sharply to the east of the town, its bulk hiding the much higher Mt. Elgon that sits behind it on the Uganda/Kenya border. With its verdant slopes and numerous waterfalls, the escarpment looks like a setting for “Land of the Lost.” Susan, Ray Warwick and I were at this same location last summer, for the inauguration of the Christian Education curriculum. This trip, I returned with Doug Bond and Dick Hannula to teach the same curriculum to a new group of teachers. Doug and Dick are both ruling elders at one of our supporting churches, Faith Presbyterian Church in Tacoma, WA.

Our conference work began on Tuesday morning. Actually, there were three EPI conferences running simultaneously. We were doing Christian Education, Don Mountain and his team were teaching Biblical Counseling and Les Miller was teaching a small conference on technology, using the 10 refurbished laptops he had brought with him. (That explains much of the luggage we toted!) This conference schedule evidences the growth of EPI in the last several years, both in number of teams and also in focus of our equipping. We have come to realize that God is bringing Reformation to Africa and, as with the Protestant Reformation of the 16^th century, it moves beyond pastors to educators and to the intelligent use of available technology. May the Lord use our small efforts for His glory!

Each day we drove the muddy, severely rutted “road” to the Green Pastures compound. (It has been raining here almost daily.) Our passage always provoked the curiosity of the neighborhood and we often accompanied by a small parade of children who easily kept up with our slow crawl down the path. The teaching began about 9:30 am, after a time of prayer and singing, and continued until lunch around 2:00 pm. The participants – over 200 in the three conferences – then lined up for their lunch, which was cooked on site over an open fire. As the special guests, we walked to the conference coordinator’s house to each our lunch there. Since we ate the same food as did the conferees, it was always an African meal: beans, rice, chicken or beef, greens and the Ugandan staple of matooke (steamed green bananas). Stuffed to the gills after lunch, we taught for another couple hours and usually finished about 5:00 pm. After returning to the guest house and cleaning up, we often went out for a late supper: eating about 8:30 pm and falling in bed sometime around 10 pm.

About 50 teachers and administrators attended our educators’ conference, and we had a wonderful time teaching them about Biblical Worldview and its application to a truly Christian Education. Their quick grasp of the concepts and the feedback we received in the Q & A sessions were both very encouraging. In our discussions with these educators, they suggested that although the truths they were learning were transforming their thinking, they needed regular reinforcement of these truths if they hoped to continue in them. On their own, they met on Wednesday evening to lay out the structure for an organization, the Christian Spiritual Concern Mission Uganda (CSCM). Their goal is to take these truths and to use them to transform their schools and, through them, Ugandan society. Their proposal stated that one of the specific objectives of CSCM is “to extend the new approach of Christian Education to a minimum of 65% of the Christian founded schools and churches.” This, along with their other objectives, sets an ambitious goal. But we are taught in Scripture not to despise the day of small things. It shows how serious they are about implementing what they have learned. Pray for these dear brothers and sisters as they seek to “bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I have agreed, at their request, to remain involved and to provide counsel and mentoring throughout the coming year via email. We praise God for such results!

Our fellowship here in Mbale has been sweet. I have been able to renew friendship with Barasa Philemon, the conference coordinator, and his wife Harriet. Also, we have spent a lot of time with Pastor Nelson and his wife Agnes. These dear folks are being used by God to establish a model school in Green Pasture Outreach, and their vision is to see this kind of Biblical equipping of pastors and educators extended throughout Uganda. To this end, they are thrilled with their partnership with EPI. In fact, at dinner on Thursday night, I spoke for some time with Barasa about training 10-15 Ugandan couples to teach the EPI Marriage Conference. Marriages in Africa are in terrible shape and having these trainers would greatly broaden the reach of God’s truth.

On Friday, we scheduled a visit to a local coffee processing plant. Dick and Doug enjoyed the tour, but I was ambushed by some kind of virus and spent the day in bed instead. Saturday we traveled into the mountains to visit Sipi Falls. The region called Kapchurwa boasts beautiful mountain scenery and abundant waterfalls. The beauty reminded us of the greatness of the God we serve. Tomorrow, we will each be preaching in a separate church here in Mbale. Monday we leave for Kaberamaido and our second conference. Thank you for your prayers. This ministry depends upon your faithful support.

How I Became a Paedobaptist

Since I’m leaving for Africa on Saturday, I don’t have a lot of time to post this blog. However, I wanted to put up something that might be helpful for those who read it regularly. What follows is my response to a question from my friend, “C,” a Baptist attending a Presbyterian church, who asked me how I made the transition from Reformed Baptist to Presbyterian – especially in regard to the issue of infant baptism. My answer might be seen as somewhat controversial, but that is not my intention. Nor is it my desire to offend my Baptist brethren, some of whom I know read this blog. As I say in the response, I don’t consider one’s views on baptism to be something central to Christian fellowship. (I couldn’t minister in Africa if I did!) Also, I understand that Baptists view baptism as one’s public profession of faith, not as a covenantal sign. Neither the email nor this post is intended to be a comprehensive theological discussion of the issue of baptism. Theologians from both perspectives have done that and done it well. Rather, I am writing to convey my own history – the Biblical passages and personal questions that caused me to change my views on the issue. I’m posting it because this kind of personal approach may be helpful for someone. And it is my hope that God will use it to bring about a greater appreciation for the paedobaptist position.

Dear C,
Responding to your question has been on my list for some time, but I've been thinking about how best to reply. I'm honored that you would ask me this question, and I certainly don't want to give the wrong impression because, to my mind, baptism is not an issue that is central to fellowship. I also don't want to offend you - and some of what I write may sound offensive. Please forgive me, if it is, and know that my only intention is to answer your question as honestly as I can. I don't expect to be able to convince you one way or the other - that's the Lord's business. That said, I'll relate my own experience.

It took a series of very serious spiritual shocks, but the Lord brought me to the point in the early 90's where I began to question some of what I had been taught in Baptist circles. Like you, I looked at my bookshelves and realized that most of the men whose theology and Biblical exposition I respected held a paedobaptist position. Since I was serving as the Principle of a Christian School at the time, I took my first step toward the paedobaptist view when I began to consider what the Bible teaches about the children of believers - both in the OT and the NT. I began to develop a theology of children, drawing on OT passages (like Ps.127,128 and Is.44:1-5; 54:13), Christ's teaching (...Don't hinder...of such is the Kingdom...), His actions (laying on of hands and blessing), and Paul's direct addresses to children (obey...in the Lord). In the process, I began to perceive a unity of perspective moving from the OT into the NT. In the OT, children are specifically included in the covenantal community, and in the NT, children are treated and exhorted as members of the covenantal community.

I began to see that the Baptist view of the church tends to be atomistic (i.e. radically individualistic) - the church is essentially a collection of individuals who voluntarily associate (and disassociate) as they please. This view is antithetical to what I believe Scripture teaches about the unity in Christ of God's covenant people - a unity that is spiritual, and is to be expressed outwardly in church life. And as time went on, I came to believe that this unbiblical atomism is most visibly expressed in the Baptist view of the sacrament of baptism. This view reinforces atomism by making entrance into the covenantal community dependent upon the choice/action of the individual. Even if you grant that salvation is all of God (as I know you do, along with many Baptists), one who is saved by God's grace is still does not become a member of the covenantal community (the church) until they present themselves for baptism. Granted, they are members of the invisible church and are saved, but they are denied access to the Lord's Supper and have no essential role in the church until they publicly declare their faith by presenting themselves for baptism. In contrast, infant baptism displays a clear picture of the sovereignty of God in salvation: the infant is brought into the covenantal community through no effort or choice of its own, just as we are saved by God's action from outside ourselves. (No, baptism is not salvation, and a public profession is still required before partaking in the Lord's Supper - but I'm assuming you know that line of reasoning.)

I was still not a paedobaptist, but by this point I was considering the possibility that it could be a legitimate view. Its legitimacy was further reinforced by the fact that I already believed in the essential unity between the OT and the NT. Later on, I realized that this hermeneutical question lies at the heart of the issue. Reformed writers – regardless of their view on baptism - assert the continuing between the testaments. But the Baptist view MUST make a strong distinction between OT and NT in regard to the relationship of circumcision to baptism, in order to explain its radical restriction (vis-à-vis the OT) in the membership of the covenantal community. Yet, all agree that the OTHER sacrament, the Lord's Supper, is a direct-line development from the OT sacrament of Passover. What Biblical line of reasoning (I asked myself) allows us to disassociate baptism from its OT roots? And by what right, absent any clear Biblical statement, do we have to bar children from the covenantal community (and, by implication, from the sign of the covenant) when their INCLUSION is so central to the identity of the people of God in the OT?

It was at this point that I asked a simple question: What would have been the expectation of a new Jewish believer in the early days of the church in Acts? Clearly, they would have expected that their children would also be part of this community of faith, which they saw (correctly) as the fulfillment of OT promises. They would also have expected that the sign of inclusion - whatever that was - would be given at least to their male offspring. Suddenly, I found the shoe was on the other foot. I had been used to "shutting up" paedobaptists by asking them where the NT taught us to baptize our children. But now I realized that the silence of the NT may actually be a clear indication that these Jewish believers ALREADY UNDERSTOOD the rules of covenantal inclusion. They were essentially the same rules as had applied since the time of Abraham. IF THE RULES HAD CHANGED, then the NT would have had to state the new guidelines in unequivocal terms. And there was only silence. Could it be that the only essential change had been in the nature of the covenantal sign - a change that had been heralded by John and by Jesus from the very beginning of their ministries? Could it be that this was part of the reason why Paul, in his ministry to the Gentiles, insisted so strongly that circumcision not be required of them - because it had become a purely ethnic thing, having been superseded by the covenant sign of baptism? Was baptism the NT form of circumcision, retaining its meaning as a rite of cleansing, but removing the shedding of blood because Christ's blood had now been shed? Apparently, the Council of Jerusalem agreed with Paul since it allowed that there was no imperative for the Gentiles to be circumcised, even though they were clearly seen as "the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles." For although the Gentiles had once been "excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise," they were now "brought near by the blood of Christ." "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household." Eph. 2:12,13,19. For "in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham [came] to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ....And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." Gal. 3:27,29

With that, I crossed the line. This all happened while driving home from a Ligonier Conference in Florida. I started the drive as a Reformed Baptist and arrived home a Presbyterian. As I began to think back through the relevant texts, things began to realign into a new pattern. Now, BOTH sacraments were expansions upon OT roots - they carried the same meanings but had taken on different expressions. Just as in the OT, inclusion in the covenantal community did not constitute salvation - a work of God's grace in the heart was still required. But also, as promised, the New Covenant was better, including in the covenantal community (and in its sign of baptism) not only men but also women, not only boys but also girls, not only Jews but also Gentiles. And the passages bore this out: "The promise is for you AND FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND FOR ALL WHO ARE FAR OFF, as many as the Lord shall call to Himself." So also the household baptism passages in Acts 16; Paul's exhortations to children to obey their covenant Lord (Eph. 6:1); and his clear equation of circumcision and baptism in Col. 2:11,12.

I had a place for children and an answer to the atomism: covenant. It is not just believer's baptism (although adult believers do receive covenant baptism in Acts, usually accompanied by the baptism of the entire household); it is covenant baptism - a sign of God's promise to bless His people and their children. It brings the entire family into a relationship with God: for the believer, the full relationship of saving faith; for the infant, a relationship of blessing and instruction that looks forward to the day when, by God's grace, the child will embrace his birthright and trust in Christ alone. This perspective of being "God's household," carried from the family into the church, becomes the paradigm for both biblical submission and the exercise of divinely delegated authority. One does not simply choose to associate, one is called by God, marked out as belonging to Him and sovereignly placed within His household, under His rule. The Kingdom is far more, and far more important, than its constituent individual members.

Now, there are many other issues that impinge upon this one - mode of baptism, eschatology (at least in its dispensational form), ecclesiology, etc. Maybe we can talk about some of these when we get together later. May the Lord give you wisdom as you consider these things. They are not written as clearly as I would like, but perhaps this will do for a start.
Grace and peace,
Dan.

A Man of Faith

I had the privilege of speaking to a men’s breakfast at our church last Saturday and the Lord led me to the passage in Genesis 22 where Abraham is commanded to sacrifice Isaac. This has been a troublesome passage for many – believers and unbelievers alike. If I remember correctly, both Kierkegaard and Freud expended a tremendous amount of time trying (unsuccessfully) to come to terms with what God was doing here. At the risk of seeming simplistic, I have some thoughts about what God may have been doing in Abraham’s life, and why this seemingly incongruous command was issued.

A Man of Faith

1. God calls men of faith to develop a relationship with Him – something God delights in. vv. 1,2

Notice that in Abraham’s life, it was God who initiated the relationship and who continued to nurture it with communication, covenant and provision. This is still the case today. Any relationship with God is initiated by God Himself through the sovereign working of His Spirit. But with Abraham, this relationship has deepened over the past 30 years or so – and through Abraham’s many failures – to the point that it has become a real friendship (James 2:23). God had been there long before Isaac, and Abraham continues to walk in this friendship.

Over the course of time, Abraham had learned to recognize God’s voice and to respond to it. This is a strong characteristic of a man of faith, one that we see in both the OT and NT prophets. While others may only hear “thunder,” the man of faith knows the voice of his Shepherd (Jn 10). This begs the question: Have you learned to hear the voice of God? I hear it most frequently when I’m reading the Word, but I also hear it often when listening to Biblical preaching. Others have heard Him speak directly – as He did here with Abraham. The man of faith is always listening for God to speak for His voice is indispensable to the development of a relationship with Him.

2. To deepen this relationship, God tests men of faith. V.1

The author of Hebrews warns us that “those whom the Lord loves, He disciplines.” So, we aren’t surprised to see this happen in Abraham’s experience. Nor should we be startled when such testing comes our way.

God doesn’t test because He wants to find out what we will do. Obviously, in His omniscience, He has known from all eternity what we will do. His testing brings about at least two results, both of which are designed to deepen our friendship with God. First, testing enables us to see what is in our own hearts. (See Deut. 8:1 ff) This revelation then brings us to the point where we are willing to tear down the idols that we have built – idols that are hindering our relationship with Him.

The wording God used in v. 1 clearly indicates that Isaac had become an idol in Abraham’s life: “your son, your only son, whom you love.” Isaac was NOT Abraham’s only son! (Remember Ishmael?) But he had become the only son who mattered. And in his thankfulness for the gift, Abraham had lost sight of the Giver. He had taken a legitimate, God-given blessing – one given through God’s promise, received by faith and accomplished through God’s power – and he had made it “the main thing.” Now, before we get too critical of Abraham, we need to realize we also create idols. We do it when we focus our Christianity on salvation (as though it was the end of all God’s work) and neglect the Savior who has died to provide it for us. We engage in idolatry when we make American culture and prosperity our evidence that we are right with God. And – perhaps most insidiously – we do it when we substitute orthodoxy and correct practice for a living, growing relationship with God.

So, God came to Abraham with the command to sacrifice his idol. And his faith was such that he was willing to obey God and put Him first, no matter what the consequences might be.

How do we know that Abraham got the point? Is there some evidence in the text that he realized what God was doing and why? I think so. Let me just list a couple of indicators:

a. Abraham obeyed God immediately. In Genesis 18, when it was only his nephew Lot who was threatened, Abraham boldly argued with God. But here, with Isaac’s life on the line, Abraham immediately obeyed without a word. Instead, he rose early and made his preparations.

b. Abraham said nothing about this situation to anyone else. V. 3 This was between him and God. He said nothing to Sarah because (Heb. 11:19) he believed both he and Isaac would be returning. He didn’t explain his actions to Isaac either. Isaac obviously had a huge stake in this situation, but Abraham kept him in the dark.

c. He did, however, verbalize his faith to others. “…we will worship and return to you.” V. 5 This was pure faith on Abraham’s part. He was going to kill his own son, yet believed that God would raise him from the dead, if necessary. (See Heb. 11)

d. And he didn’t neglect his other duties, even while under stress. Vv. 6-8 It’s interesting to see him instruct Isaac about God’s provision, even when he didn’t know HOW God would or even could provide. And he required Isaac to carry the wood! It wasn’t proper for Abraham to carry it, when his able-bodied son was available.

e. Finally, he carried through to the end, intending to kill Isaac, but believing that God would somehow keep his promise. V. 9

3. As a result of this relationship, the man of faith expects and receives (even in the midst of testing) remarkable provisions from God. Vv. 11-14

Abraham expected God do something remarkable and received something totally unexpected through the provision of the ram. So it is with all men (and women) of faith: they pray with the firm expectation that God will answer. Even when they don’t know HOW God will provide, they still expect Him to be faithful to His promises. And when He does provide, they understand that provision as an affirmation of His covenant promise to be our God. And, like Abraham, they are drawn into a deeper, stronger and more trusting relationship with the One who, against all expectation, provided His own Son as the Lamb of God to take away our sin.

So, what about you? If you are one of God’s beloved friends, there has been and will certainly continue to be regular testing in your life. May Abraham’s example encourage you to forsake anything that stands as an idol between you and your Savior. And may God’s difficult providences only serve to draw you closer to Him.

1 Samuel 22: 1-5

So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s household heard of it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them.

1 Samuel 22: 1,2

Some thoughts on ministry.

Having escaped from the hands of the Philistines, David fled to the cave of Adullam. He blessed the Lord for “delivering him from all his fears,” but now he was in a barren place with little hope and encouragement. Why was he there? What was he supposed to do? What was the Lord teaching him?

Experiences like this are common in the lives of God’s people. It seems that God has set you aside and that your usefulness is ended. To all outward appearances, your day is over, and opportunities for ministry have been removed. And yet these are the times when God is able to get our attention and to show us Himself. Each time I have been to Adullam, I have developed a greater appreciation for God’s grace toward me as a sinner. And ironically, Adullam is a good place to learn to minister to the needs of others.

Ministry opportunities often come at undesirable times.

David had just escaped from Gath after a less-than-sterling spiritual performance. He probably was looking for a place to just disappear for a while, a place where he could “crawl in a hole” and rest. But that’s not what God had in mind at all. His experience in Gath had taught David some things about God’s faithfulness and goodness and God wanted that truth to be shared with others. (See Psalms 34,56)

God’s pattern is always to teach us so that we can teach others. When we focus exclusively on “my relationship with God,” we neglect the covenantal bonds that unite God’s people. Frankly, ministry opportunities often come when we least desire them. But rather than focus on ourselves, God leads us to focus on the needs of others.

Ministry opportunities are often found in unusual places.

This cave was definitely NOT on the main highway. But once David was there, God began to lead others there also. God is not limited by location. In fact, some of the greatest works He has done have been in out of the way places: Abraham’s tent, Jacob’s ladder, Moses’ bush, Elijah’s mountain, a stable in Bethlehem, Paul in Arabia, John on Patmos… How often He takes His people away from the familiar, from the crowds, in order to show them something about Himself.

So, if you want to find where God is at work, don’t look where the crowd is looking. Look instead for where He has placed His anointed ones because that’s where the action is – that’s where God is looking. (2Chron. 16:9)

Ministry opportunities often involve unexpected people.

Remember that God is the God of the unlikely, the undesirable, the outcast, the wounded, the poor and the foolish. And these were exactly the kind of people God brought to David at Adullam. His brothers – not exactly his strongest support group heretofore – now show up with the rest of the family. More than likely, they fear for their lives since David is now an outlaw. Then there were the distressed, the indebted, the discontented – malcontents every one of them – who show up at his cave door. It reminds you of the church doesn’t it?

God was going to do something special with this ragamuffin crew. And David became their captain, their leader. It was not exactly like being a king, more like being a bandit chief, but David would learn to lead and to minister to the needs of these men.

Ministry opportunities can form unbreakable bonds.

This group at Adullam became the core of David’s army – his “mighty men.” These 400 men followed David all the way to the throne, becoming along the way men who David could trust with his life. There was a mutual loyalty here: they would do virtually anything for David (see 1 Chron. 11: 15-19) and, as a result, David trusted them completely and gave them positions of authority when he became king.

The common experience of ministry forms an esprit de corps and can create unbreakable bonds of friendship. These are the bonds of true spiritual fellowship, and they can be seen among God’s people in many places. When we hold our loyalty to the Lord of first importance, then our love for Him overbears any differences or disagreements.

Ministry opportunities often result in unanticipated responsibilities.

David became their captain, which meant he was responsible not only to lead them in way but also to provide for them and for their families. I’m sure David didn’t come to Adullam with this in mind. Yet it was part of what resulted from this context. David became their leader in every sense of the word and they looked to him to meet their needs.

As I write this, I have recently received a call from a “former” parishioner seeking prayer and spiritual counsel. It has been years since I have been their pastor in any formal sense, but the responsibility of ministry goes on.

May the Lord fill you with His grace to minister to the needs of those around you. And may you find His grace sufficient for your needs as well. It is the road our Savior walked, and we are privileged to follow Him.

Thoughts on Sabbath-Keeping

In the light of my lateness with this post, I thought I would make use of something I wrote earlier this year on Sabbatarianism. For many Christians, this may be a moot issue since keeping the Sabbath has fallen on hard times lately. However, it remains a continuing question for confessional churches like the PCA, whose pastors strive to remain true to the Westminster Confession. I do not hold to a strict view of the Sabbath, however, I take a more historical view on the issue than some. I thought it might be of some interest to those who may struggle with the issue. And, no, I do not have any interest in dialogging about which day of the week is the true Sabbath. If we understand the Sabbath commandment as being fulfilled in Christ, then every day ought to be "a festive day of rest:" resting in Christ's work on our behalf.


As to the keeping of the Sabbath, The Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) 21.8 specifically prohibits “works, words and thoughts about our worldly employments and recreations.” Leaving aside the question of whether it is even possible to obey this prohibition, on this issue I believe the Confession and Catechisms are more reflective of 17^th century English politico-ecclesiastical struggles than of the NT teaching on the Sabbath rest. During the early 17^th century, the issue of Sabbath-keeping became one of the major battlegrounds within the English Church. The Puritans supported strict Sabbatarianism, while the moderate Calvinists took a more lax view of the Sabbath. This laxity was encouraged – even recommended - by the English monarchy through the re-publishing of King James’ Book of Sports, which encouraged so-called healthy recreation on the Sabbath. Eventually, under Archbishop Laud, pastors were required to read from the Book of Sports on the Lord’s Day. The Puritans were outraged by this requirement. They saw it as a violation of the crown rights of King Jesus and they dug in their heels on this issue. Consequently, the Puritan position regarding recreation on the Sabbath moved from being a question of Biblical interpretation to being a rigid defense of their position in reaction against the king’s assertion of royal authority in the Church. As the two wings of the Church became increasingly polarized and as the English Civil War loomed, strict Sabbatarianism became one of the identifying marks of a “true” Puritan – i.e. it became a Puritan shibboleth. With the temporary ascendancy of the Puritans during the Commonwealth period, the victorious Puritans in the Westminster Assembly enshrined strict Sabbatarianism in their masterful Westminster Standards. And we have inherited the position with the Confession. Several other sections of the WCF, such as certain statements in Chapter 23, “Of the Civil Magistrate” and Chapter 25, “Of the Church,” similarly reflected the political and ecclesiastical conflicts of the 17^th century church. They were later recognized for what they were, and were edited to reflect a more Biblical position. I believe strict Sabbatarianism falls into that same category, although we in the PCA have yet to officially recognize it as such. In my experience, however, it seems that our practice already concedes that strict Sabbatarianism is an anachronistic holdover from 17^th century Puritanism.
I believe that Reformed believers on the continent maintained a much more balanced and biblical view of the Sabbath Day. To a great degree, this is because Sabbath-keeping never became a political football on the Continent. Consequently, the brethren there were free to consider the Sabbath in the full light of Scriptural teaching. Compare the wording of the Heidelberg Catechism, Question 103: “What is God’s will for you in the fourth commandment? First, that the gospel ministry and education for it be maintained, and that, especially on the festive day of rest, I regularly attend the assembly of God’s people to learn what God’s Word teaches, to participate in the sacraments, to pray to God publicly, and to bring Christian offerings for the poor. Second, that in every day of my life I rest from my evil ways, let the Lord work in me through his Spirit, and so begin already in this life the eternal Sabbath.”
This answer effectively describes my view of the Sabbath as well as my practice. I believe that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath, that it is to be celebrated as a “festive day of rest,” and that it is most valuable for God’s people when it is understood and kept in this life as a resting in Christ’s works on our behalf and as a foretaste of our eternal Sabbath rest.

1 Samuel 21:10-15

Then David arose and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish king of Gath.

1 Samuel 21:10

Fear is one of the greatest enemies of God’s people.

David is on the run, and he’s afraid. I found it hard to relate to David in this situation until, one night, I awoke with my heart in the strangling grip of fear. It wasn’t the African hut I was sleeping in or the imagined dangers of my circumstances – the fear was irrational. There was nothing wrong, but I still wanted to run.

Fear is paralyzing: the mind freezes, the heart beats frantically, the muscles tense, and we look for a place to run. It’s even worse when our circumstances produce the fear, because we can then find justification for our anxiety. This was David’s situation. He WAS in danger; Saul had determined to kill him. So, when he left Nob and the comforting presence of Ahimelech, the fear took hold and David ran.

Fear accounts for the strange direction of David’s flight. Maybe it was Goliath’s sword that gave him the idea – after all, Gath had been the giant’s home town. Somehow, in his fear, he thought they wouldn’t recognize him. Fear does funny things to the mind – and to the spiritual memory. It caused David to entirely forget the protection and promise of God. Against all sensibility, he ran to Israel’s enemies for protection from Israel’s king!

Fear also caused David to violate the Lord’s commands and to engage in deception. Once he was identified and brought before the king of Gath, David began to dissimulate: he feigned madness, in essence lying about his condition, with the hope that “pleading insanity” would enable him to escape. He was more concerned about himself than about God and His glory.

Since fear has such power to blunt our reason and cause us to pull into ourselves, it is no wonder that Satan seeks to use fear as a weapon against God’s people. If he can make us afraid, he can paralyze us and destroy our usefulness. All of this is why the Scripture goes to such great lengths to teach us about fear and how to handle it. For, you see, fear is not a godly response. It is essentially a selfish emotion that comes upon us and causes us to forget God and His promises. And unless there are medical causes for it, fear indicates a spiritual problem.

So it is not surprising that the Bible contrasts fear with faith. David learned this for himself through this difficult circumstance. We know he learned his lesson because this experience provides the background for two of David’s psalms – Psalms 34 and 56. After describing the hostility of his foes, here is David’s account of what sustained him through the dangers he encountered among the Philistines: Thou hast taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in Thy bottle; are they not in Thy book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; this I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Thy vows are binding upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to Thee. For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, indeed my feet from stumbling, so that I may walk before God in the light of the living. (Ps. 56:8-13) Note the contrast: “In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid.” Faith vs. fear.

In Psalm 34, while David gives thanks to the Lord for his deliverance, he also expands on this lesson. In verse 7 he says, The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. This is a different kind of fear, a reverential fear. This kind of fear is only found among those who trust in God.

The lesson is clear. Despite all the sin and deception that characterized David’s actions during this time, he came to see that circumstantial fear can be overcome through a reverential fear for God. When we take our eyes off our situation - off of whatever is creating our fear - and we look to God in faith, we quickly realize that God is greater than our circumstances. The truth of God’s promises, the truth that He is “for us” in Christ (Rom. 8:31), the truth that neither man nor circumstances can do anything to us that God does not allow, enable us to act boldly.

David overcame his fear with truth:

· God was for him. Ps. 56:9

· God can overrule the desires of men. Ps. 56:11

· God is a deliverer, a refuge. Ps. 56:13; 34:4

· God hears His people and answers their prayers. Ps. 34:4,6,15,17

· God is good and meets the needs of those who revere Him. Ps. 34:8,10

· God allows difficulty in our life but He is there protecting us. Ps. 34:19,20

· God uses fear and difficulty to teach us to praise and to trust Him. Ps. 34:1-3

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear. (1 Jn. 4:18)

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Tim. 1:7 ESV)