God's Intervention in the Public Square, Harmonizing, Jonny Cash & Mermaids
We should entertain angels within, but we shouldn’t tolerate evil without.
When you read a passage like Genesis 19, you feel somewhat overwhelmed by all the sensory ethical overload. Daughters are used as bargaining, Sodom and Gomorrah have reached the apex of evil, angels come to your front door, there is a table set before the presence of our enemies, harrowing escapes, cities laid waste by God’s judgment, drunkenness, incest, and much more in 38 verses. There is a lot of moral theology displayed. But I want to make two simple observations about this explosive text:
a) We should entertain angels within, but b) we shouldn’t tolerate evil without.
Sodom and Gomorrah did not become ripe for judgment overnight. Lot entertains God’s servants with food and shelter, but he also tolerates evil deeds in his city. So, here is a takeaway: we can have Jesus in our homes and still be comfortable that the devils are out there. You can have piety within but act as if everything is normal in the world. However, in Genesis 19, God is about to destroy the city, and that city includes your house.
Don’t be so heavenly-minded that you become naïve to the earthly good. Entertain angels, offer comfort and refuge to God’s servants, but don’t act like the guys outside will leave you alone.
This is why worship is warfare: worship is the Church’s cry for God’s intervention in the public square. While we desire the good of the city with our votes and our public intolerance for evil, we begin here. This is the genesis of our protest. In worship, we declare that things are not well out there, but we entrust our bodies and souls to God, who does all things well.
Notations
Thousands of Christians are moving away from contemporary-style praise music and are reviving hymn and psalm-singing. However, many people are not equipped with musical training, which can make learning and singing traditional worship music extremely difficult.
So, what do we do?
I spoke with Isaiah Holt about their app called Sing Your Part. The app facilitates singing, especially in parts.
You can bring the sheet music and the audio parts to any occasion and sing great hymns and psalms at all times and in all places.
My gratitude to George Reed for the editing and music!
Some of you following the latest brouhaha over the NSA ad should also read the CREC statement clarifying the denomination’s relationship with such statements.
While some voices in the CREC have more significant influence due to their stature and status, everyone is responsible for and owns their statements. Localized statements do not become formal endorsements of the entire Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, no matter how influential those voices may be.
Whether that voice comes from Moscow, Pensacola, Fort Worth, or Birmingham, they reflect the denomination insofar as: a) those individuals' ordinations reside in the CREC, and b) their local churches are members of presbyteries and thus invested in the well-being of the whole. And c) their confessional and sacramental commitments reflect their loyalty to the Constitution and By-Laws of the denomination.
Yet, concerning strategy and how best to confront the culture, they are at liberty to pursue this goal as they deem best as a church or institution. We believe there ought to be diverse strategies to reflect the varied personalities and pursuits and further communicate the particular disposition of that body. This makes the CREC particularly suited to answer distinct concerns at different times and places.
One can find the ad unhelpful or timely and biblically defensible (as I do) and still affirm that it only speaks to the persuasions of New Saint Andrews College and in no way reflects the entire denomination.
You can read Doug Wilson’s reflections here.
My last post in response to Escondido Theology was the most read in my history on Substack. I’d be happy to give you a three-month free trial. Reply to this email, and I will send you a link for a three-month subscription.
My interview on marrying, burying, and ministering was a blast!
It was awesome to enjoy a meal and worship with AD Robles and family!
AD’s YouTube channel is funny and fruitful, and you should check it out!
I have been working my way through Season 1 of Jeeves and Wooster. Hugh Laurie is magnificent! I am also reading the Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse. Man, what a hoot! Watching the show also gives us a glimpse into Hugh Laurie’s musical genius. Stephen Fry plays Jeeves like he was predestined for the role. Again, phenomenally funny!
The Jeeves and Wooster series may be my favorite of all time! They're perfect for those roles.
I recently found out that the Grandfather of a friend and teacher of mine was the original Bertram Wooster.
He and Wodehouse were in the same circles, and apparently this grandfather and one other young man were amalgamated into the inspiration for the character.
I only recently found this out, but now I know it I can certainly see the echoes of Wooster in my friend.