Father knows best

No, I'm not referring to the TV show and if you're reading this Dad, sorry it's not you either. Today was an ordinary Lord's day... if there is such a thing. Despite forgetting to set my alarm and the fact that the sun didn't wake me up like it usually does around 8am, I made it in time for Pastor Gary's next message in his marriage series.

If today's message could be summarized in a sentence, it would be that a central purpose in God's design of marriage was to be a principle help to the sanctification of the great majority of His people. If one were to go into a bit more detail, his miniseries has been premised on the supposition that marriage was designed not so much for the benefit of the parties concerned, but to serve as a miniature drama production illustrating the basics of the gospel message-- self sacrificing love on the part of the man and complete submission on the part of the woman. Neither comes to mankind by nature, and both are completely antithetical to the interests of remaining sin. While I can't speak to its benefits first hand, they are also available through the iron sharpening iron process of every relationship that I have.

Our evening message was brought by Pastor Andy and centered around the verses in John 20 that refer to the well known statement by Thomas- "unless I see the imprint of the nails, and put my hands into the imprint of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will not believe." Thomas is commonly described as "the doubter," but Andy made the point that the statements ascribed to him in the gospels can be easily seen to be statements faith at best, and those of a halting believer at worst. Doubting often carries with it the stigma of unbelief, but doubting and vacillating are not contradictory to faith. If it weren't, then it wouldn't be faith, it would be sight.

His message focused not so much on the actions of Thomas, but on the response of Christ to His halting disciple. As He had previously done with Mary and as He did a short time later with Peter, His response directly addressed Thomas' questionings with a savor of grace. He invited Thomas to examine His wounds; His response is far accommodating than we would ever expect. He used Thomas' exact words, even though He had not been present when they were spoken, as a further proof of His deity. Thomas faith is proven by his response, "my Lord and my God!" Jesus response is great encouragement in times when I find myself doubting His purposes, either implicitly or explicitly. He hasn't changed; His response now is exactly as His response was then. Father knows best, but He is compassionate, having been tempted in every way I have.

For some reason I was reminded today of something I heard on Alan Colmes radio show, where he was asking an evangelical minister what the difference was between the Arab suicide bombers and some students of Christian schools saying they are "willing to die for God." Sadly, the minister hadn't any real answer, but if I'd had the chance to call in with the all to obvious response. Those students were expressing a willingness to be killed by others for the sake of their allegiance to Christ, which is a long sea mile from being willing to kill others for God. It's a complete straw man to compare the two, but sadly many seem willing to make it.