1 Corinthians 13:4-7

 “Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

— ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭7‬‬

Most questions about this chapter regard the preceding verses or the following verses. What’s important to note about these verses is that they (obviously) have paragraphs and CHAPTERS that precede and follow. Though I won’t disparage the reading of them for personal use or at special occasions too much, they gain so much more meaning when read within ch 12-14. 

Corinthians arguing over spiritual gifts and who has the best ones. Paul says, “All are members of one body.” I’ve heard it said that spiritual gifts are not given to me, but given to the church through me. (And no, these lists of gifts are not exhaustive, but that’s for another time).

Paul closes 12 with saying the highest gift is love. Then he explains what that looks like, because the Corinthians are the most selfish, proud, and divided group of people we find in the NT. Without a proper understanding of love and unity, none of their other issues discussed in the letter would find resolution. No other spiritual gifts would matter. And then ch 14 discusses order in the church community, whether sign gifts or a group of women who were disrupting (and obviously very debated how applicable that is for today).

“Love does not rejoice at injustice but the truth.” Sometimes today, “truth” people and “justice” people disagree on what each of those terms mean and how to accomplish the latter. “Truth” people are accused of not caring about justice because they’re so focused on being right. 

I don’t have any monumental solutions. But revisiting the heart of love for neighbor may be a place to start. Issues are not as crystal clear as we may think, causing us to listen to people, ask how we can serve and show the love of Christ, and sacrifice our own ambitions.

Ephesians 4:29-32

“You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk. Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.”

— ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭29‬-‭32‬‬

This paragraph is obviously part of a much larger section on life in the community, with an overarching theme of unity. This is one of my favorite examples of bracketing in Paul’s letters. 

Two things were common in my raising: (1) Vv. 29 and 32 were crammed into my head through memorization. I could quote them forward and backward. 

(2) Constant questions about what it meant to “grieve the Holy Spirit.” The typical sermon/lesson concluded that grieving the Spirit was sin. Choosing rebellion against God meant causing Him grief. 

We should first dive into the meaning of “grief,” which I believe has both connotations of frustration and general sadness. We would need to check the usage of the word throughout the Greek period as well as its specific uses around the time of the NT to narrow its possibilities here. More importantly, how did Paul use the word elsewhere and what makes most sense in this context? I haven’t done this study yet, but it really doesn’t affect my point here. Does the Holy Spirit grow angry? Perhaps. Jesus did. Does the Holy Spirit weep? Maybe. Jesus did.  

This is a tremendous responsibility. I have “power” to control the emotions of the third person of the Trinity?! I certainly don’t want to frustrate Him. That’s way too much pressure. I can’t even handle making decisions for my own life, wellbeing. 

Well, first, it’s a good thing Paul confirms the Spirit has already sealed believers until the day of redemption. So whatever he is referencing is not about salvation. God has secured His children. Ephesians emphasizes this throughout the chapters (see 1:3-14).

But this is where those other 2 verses help us. I have always used a jigsaw puzzle as my analogy. If I pick up a random blue piece of a puzzle, I may take a good guess as to where it belongs, but it could be part of a blue truck, or fill in some of the ocean, or find its place in the sky, or a house. The possibilities are endless. I need some surrounding pieces to help me. 

By looking at the surrounding verses, I may gain insight into how I grieve the Spirit. And what do you know—they both reference the same thing. Unwholesome talk, hatred, enmity, tearing others down, wrath, slander. One of the primary themes of Ephesians is the unity of the body of Christ. We are one church in Christ. If my life is filled with hatred and wrath, so much that I am tearing apart other believers, I am working against the mission of Christ. And the mission of the Spirit. 

I am not the only person who is sealed by the Spirit. All believers are. And if He guarantees salvation for all, then He unites all followers of Jesus. How can I possibly think it wise to tear apart what He builds together?

Working against the mission of the Spirit surely brings grief and frustration. 

Instead, v. 32b. Be kind one to another. Forgive. How much? By what standard? As Christ forgave you. 

These bring joy, peace, unity, not only to us but to the Spirit working in and among us.

4th of July

Let me be frank and upfront in case the main point gets lost in the paragraphs below: I am so incredibly thankful to be living in America, and I have tremendous memories of celebrating our freedom as a teenager and young adult. I've been surrounded (and related to) veterans and first responders, including within churches I am a member of and at jobs I have held, and I always do my best to thank each one personally. Their daily sacrifice is more than I can imagine. 

I have had discussions with those who live elsewhere in the world, and there are definitely some attractive conclusions I hear about cultures and locations. I dream of traveling more as finances become steadier and schedule allows, but I have always been content and grateful for my upbringing.

However, being grateful for America does not compare to my love and loyalty to Jesus. There is no comparison.

This is not a post about church and state, or America's issues (or blessings). This is not an argument for how to repair any social issue, or how to improve the church's witness. That may just take several years (with some new directional choices depending on which church and which direction has been chosen recently).

I am simply addressing one issue that may provide insight into how the church views the state, because the past several years have forced me to reconsider this. I never thought much about going to church and hearing the four or five patriotic hymns, saying the Pledge of Allegiance, hearing a sermon about how awful America (or her churches) are, waving flags around, or having prayer circles for grand revival. And some or all of that may or may not be familiar with you (or some or all of that may be repulsive to you).

But I don't want to argue about flags in church. Or saying the Pledge. If we start by yelling about order of service or decorations, we talk in circles, and nothing is accomplished. The waters get muddy. 

I like to debate sometimes, but yelling and frustration just gets old after a while. And heated passion on a topic like this is understandable. Conclusions are assumed to be indicative of one's level of patriotism. But if we've learned anything the past several years, it's that no issue is clear cut. There's background, context, and multiple layers to each conversation.

So to cut through all of that, I only have one question. One fundamental question to consider before we decide how to arrange services on July 4 (or any other patriotic holiday):

What is the purpose of gathering together in the first place?

Why do we come together on Sunday? I would hope it's something like to worship the one true God, to proclaim the gospel (and not just for the unbelievers who may come but also to refresh His followers), to edify the discouraged, to equip saints for further ministry, to express dependence on God in prayer and song, to fellowship with believers and share experiences together in unity---all this to the glory of God.

Something like that.

Have you seen or experienced an extravagant service about "God and Country" or "God Bless America"? If not, try First Baptist Dallas. I'll let you reach a personal conclusion on how much of the previous paragraph is occurring within that service.

"But Kevin, it's just one week. Besides, we're told to pray for civil leaders." Ok, we can pray for leaders. Of course--by all means--any role of leadership deserves prayer. But praying for leaders seems to imply a heart of prayer lives inside the pastor, the elders, the congregants. In my experience, it's really easy for someone to royally bash anyone in government they despise and then fulfill 1 Timothy 2 and Romans 13 in a two-minute prayer on July 4 (begging for revival). 

So a full service devoted to these things? Probably not necessary. Focus drifts from what is essential on the life of the believer, and the emphasis is placed on the secular. The things below. The kingdom(s) of this world.

One biblical passage that could support a service like this would be Jeremiah 29 (oh, don’t say v. 11). The people of Israel are getting antsy in exile and false prophets are telling them they are going home soon. Jeremiah has other ideas (from YHWH). He says to plant vineyards, build houses, and get comfortable, because it’s going to be a while. Then v. 7 says to seek the peace and prosperity of Babylon. Pray for it, because if it prospers, Israel will prosper. 

I can get inside the heads of many, many preachers who want to see the church in exile (true, from 1 Peter), but their attitude towards America is rarely the same attitude that Israel had toward Babylon. The church is not ethnic Israel (obviously), the church is not America, and Israel is not America. If America prospers does the church prosper? Maybe, maybe not. If America suffers, does the church suffer? Maybe, maybe not. Here’s the main point—the church does not depend on America’s wellbeing. There’s a whole world beyond our borders where the name and kingdom of Jesus is expanding.

So here's the litmus test that I have found so helpful. I’ve read several articles and social media posts on the issue, and one thought always shines bright (and it applies to any day, but especially on these special occasions). 

Could our worship service be transported to another culture? 

Or perhaps more likely, what if someone from another culture/country were sitting in our service? Would they still be able to sing, listen, and respond?

Of course, there will always be barriers of culture and language. We cannot translate every idiom or preference for everyone who may cross our path. But if a refugee finds solace within the doors of my church, and I spend an entire hour singing about my country, praying for God to bless her, and teaching my people how to improve her status in the world, he/she may be confused. How is that message applicable? How does it edify him? I cannot expect her to pray for my home country. 

The church is universal. The gospel is for all peoples, and that is what binds us together. I have more in common with a brother or sister around the world in a completely different culture than a completely atheist neighbor across the street. 

If I plan a worship service, it must reflect this global bond.

Again, this is really not a post about the Pledge of Allegiance or the existence of flags in service or praying for America or tribute videos. But if you’ve ever felt that tension while sitting in a service about America, thoughts wandering through your head, “Does this count as worship? What are we worshipping here?”—then maybe the worship service has ended and something much more secular has begun (though well-intended).

I agree with others who have articulated much better and with far better reasoning/support that patriotic celebrations are appropriate and may even be necessary at times. (Some groups of individuals may even disagree with that statement, and I would be open to their concerns and having open dialogue. Though we may disagree, I understand hurts and grievances run deep.) But the time for these celebrations is not a specific block of time that we mortals have devoted to worshipping the Almighty. 

One could argue that our lives are worship, "all days are sacred now" according to Paul. So who gets to decide which block of time is more important than any other. It's a double-sided argument, I suppose. Either we appreciate blocks of time to gather as an assembled body (locally) for worship, edification, and ministry with our gifts (not to the neglect of doing these elsewhere throughout the week) and focus our attention on the God alone, or we devote our entire lives to Him, implying nothing sacred may ever stir our hearts or exit our mouths (I'm speaking of devotion to another cause, team, idea, goal, or yes, country). It's a tense conversation to have, but worthy of the deepest thoughts and considerations.

The last several years only surfaced some deep misplaced loyalties among churchgoers. Perhaps returning to a singular focus in our worship times will weed out some of this division, polarity, animosity, and disunity. Imagine that. Focusing on Jesus may remind us of what we have in common--even with believers around the world. 

The Most Valuable Thing I Learned in Seminary

Stepping onto the campus of Dallas Theological Seminary was filled with emotions, high expectations, and absolute naïveté. About everything. Kim and I had certain goals and plans, but we were also wise enough to hold onto some of those loosely. My background was pretty much Bible and nothing else. Sure, I loved sports and could dabble in other hobbies, but studying the Bible was my focus. And there was no other place better suited for me than DTS.

Four years and some $50,000 later, some expectations remained. Goals had shifted slightly, but eyes were still on that PhD prize. That journey is briefly covered in my memoir, but my intention here is to discuss one of the most valuable things I learned on that campus. 

I had the privilege of hearing incredible speakers in chapel. I had multiple classes with Drs Dan Wallace, Darrell Bock, Buist Fanning, Bob Chisholm, Gordon Johnston, and many other world class scholars. Topics like Greek and Hebrew grammar, the use of the OT in the NT, textual criticism, OT and NT backgrounds, as well as diving deep into individual book were everyday occurrences. I was flooded with information, and I soaked up every drop.

My background was independent fundamental Baptist. And I’m just going to leave that there. No reason to applaud or reject outright. Anyone who reads these things can react as they see fit. But one doctrine that  we stressed highly was the Bible. (Probably why I sought to study it for the rest of my life). “If it’s in there, it’s true. No questions asked.”

I don’t remember the professor, or the class, or the day (I think, Dr Wallace, but that’s a 85% guess). Seminary (and even college) had already introduced me to solid, Christian people who believed some different things than me. Shoot, I had professors who disagreed with each other on certain passages and topics. 

And one day—whoever this professor was—made it clear that that’s ok. Everything in the Bible may be true (which deserves another post, because the nuancing in that statement needs clarified), but my understanding of these things may not be perfect. I am definitely not inerrant. Nobody is.

So as we develop “systems of belief” or doctrines or conclusions about various passages, we need to be careful about how tightly we hold to these conclusions. Historically, my background is “everything is essential because the Bible discusses it.” But what if we disagree?

The day I learned about holding a hierarchy of doctrines was monumental. It was worth the price of tuition and on-campus housing. What are the essential doctrines—the ones most necessary for fellowship among believers? I would say there are, hmm, two or three. 

•     Jesus is God / He rose from the dead
•     Salvation by faith
•     Triune God (though many believers need clarity on how to define this, including me sometimes)

After this, there are second tier doctrines, third tier doctrines, and maybe fourth and fifth. This doesn’t mean “less true.” But how tightly we hold to our conviction regarding how we discuss them loosens as we travel down the line.

I don’t debate issues about spiritual gifts as much as I depend on God’s grace for salvation more than my own self-sufficiency. But I have.

I really do not care about the precise timeline of how God will end all things as much as I hold to Jesus’ Lordship. But I used to.

Debates can be fun. Diving into passages is necessary and can be fruitful. We need exegesis and interpretation. I still long for consistent and deep scholarship as a habit in my own skill set and schedule. But when other students reach different conclusions, we must engage in civil discourse. We must hold the core truths most tightly and seek fellowship with all followers of Jesus. 

Elevating the lower tiers to a higher level is a quick path to division. Seek unity in the essentials. The church is desperate for this.

Romans 15:4-6

 “For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope. Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

— ‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬-‭6‬‬

V 4 is an explanation of v. 3, where Paul quotes from OT to try to prove that Jesus was foretold as not thinking of Himself but others. This is a whole study of how NT authors used OT passages, and it’s not always (in fact, rarely is) a simple prediction-fulfillment. Often used Jewish rabbi interpretation techniques, allegory, pattern fulfillment, etc. Very interesting study.

But v. 4 summarizes it well. Everything formerly written is for our instruction. It still applies. Of course, we have to understand it well. And there’s still debate as to how many meanings and how many applications, but that’s too much for here. The purpose is that we have hope. So that we are encouraged to endure.

These verses close 2 full chapters on living together as strong/weak brothers and striving for unity regardless of secondary/tertiary issues we don’t agree on. Paul prays for unity. As we gain encouragement from the Scriptures, looking at the example of Jesus, we can strive for unity, so that the Father receives all the glory. It’s not about us.