Modern Day Rechabites

Before I begin this post I think its only fair to begin that I am not advocating for anyone to take the particular stance that I am going to stand for in this post. However I do believe there are some who may have God begin to tug at the strings of their heart to consider a different choice based on the power of the Scripture and the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

A fair amount of disagreement exists about the subject of alcohol. Therefore let me go ahead and approach the disagreement head on and discuss it in a very black and white manner. There are a number of secondary issues in the Christian faith. I understand that well. And to be honest there have been many seasons of my life that the secondary issues were more primary to me. In fact maybe they even still are.... But regardless of the "level" we place on these issues these are still issues that we as believers must wrestle through. Scripture is clear about the issue of drunkenness and we can all agree that is a sin. But can we consume it? Yes. There is no where in the bible that forbids the consumption of alcohol. It is a freedom we have in Christ there is no doubt about that. And some enjoy that as a freedom. I however am probably becoming one of the rare few who do not enjoy that freedom. My wife Cassie does not enjoy that freedom either.

We both over the past few years since we began full time ministry service have realized the rarity of our conviction on this point. And to be honest over the past several months my heart and soul has searched within itself about whether this conviction is a legalistic one that I need to repent of in the hopes of being able to live more freely within the gospel. Because I believe the gospel provides freedom in Christ. Thus I do not want to be bound by legalistic standards that I believe are not from God.

And so over the last few months I have had countless number of conversations regarding the issue of alcohol with those in our church, my family and others. As I have done so I have come across most of the arguments on both sides of the issue. Here they are just to name a few...

1. There are those who point to the NT and Jesus turning the water into wine and will say if Jesus turned the water into wine it must be okay to consume. And I can't argue with that.
2.  Another argument is that Paul instructs Timothy to consume wine for the sake of his own health. 
3. On the other side there are two common arguments. John McArthur makes lexical arguments regarding the words used for wine in the biblical times. He has word studies that he believes shows the Greek words used for wine in the bible reflect that the alcoholic content of what wine was in that time is far different than the wine we have today. 
4. Others don't even make the lexical arguments against alcohol but rather use the idea that it's a stumbling block from Paul's terminology. Saying that it can cause others to stumble if they consume it.

Now I think there are valid points within each of the 4 arguments/positions listed above. But this morning I came across a passage of Scripture that shifted my entire thinking on this subject.  
Jeremiah 35 is a passage I don't remember in all my conversations about the subject of alcohol that has ever really been talked about and or used. I am sure someone somewhere has but I haven't heard it before. So when I read it I was pretty blown away. For those unfamiliar with the historical context of Jeremiah it pretty much goes like this. God has raised up a prophet named Jeremiah to preach to his people Israel a message of repentance. But because their hearts are so hard and their rebellion so strong they reject his preaching every time. The hope of the book is found in Jeremiah 30 - 31 that despite their rebellion God will still save, bless and use them. Which is such a beautiful illustration of the gospel hope we have.

 In the midst of the rebellion Israel is displaying God sends Jeremiah to go to a particular house. Jeremiah 35:2 "Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak with them and bring them to the house of the Lord." Now as you read the chapter there are several interesting things that happen. First when Jeremiah comes to their house God tells Jeremiah to offer those in the house wine to drink. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal right? A wine tasting gig put on by God? Who wouldn't go that? And as the chapter goes on Jeremiah being the faithful prophet he is does exactly what God had commanded him to do. He gathers them all together and puts wine before them. What happen next is truly beautiful to me. Because what happens next is how I believe God provided the answer I have been searching for and wrestling to find for a really long time....(God why don't I have the freedom to drink like others I know do?)

Jeremiah 35:6 "But they answered, "We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our Father commanded us, 'You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your son's forever." The passage goes on to tell further instructions the Rechabites were to follow as well. And then in verse 8 it says they obeyed the voice of their father to drink no wine all of their days. Now let me stop right here and interject that this passage here in Jeremiah 35 is really most all we know about this nomadic tribe the Rechabites from what scholars tell us. I think this is fairly significant observation that all we know about them is how they are obeying the instruction their Dad gave to them.  The passage goes on in Jeremiah 35:12-17 to say .."Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 13 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to my words? declares the LORD. 14 The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father's command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. 15 I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, 'Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.' But you did not incline your ear or listen to me. 16 The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the command that their father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me. 17 Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered." Now from just a causal reading of these verses its apparent that God is speaking through Jeremiah and telling the nation of Israel that the Rechabites are an example of what Godly obedience is. The Rechabites were an example of obedience in the midst of a people who were not following God.

Now a couple of parallels that I want to point out right of the gate that I am not making. I am not using this passage to say that every Christian who finds the liberty and freedom to consume alcohol is like Israel and is being wayward in their obedience. But what I do believe this passage can be used to say is that there are certain people/families that are set apart to be salt and light to the world around them in their unique obedience to stay absent from alcohol. And those who are set apart in this way should not be labeled as "weaker" brothers because they don't drink. 

A few final thoughts I want to leave everyone reading this with.  I believe God has set me and my family apart as Modern day Rechabites. Within the bible there is one concept and one command that I think are critical and play into Jeremiah 35 in a profound way for my own life personally and for my beautiful bride Cassie. The command is one most know well its the fifth command "Honor your father and mother". The important concept playing into this passage is one we know less about and its headship. The role that God has given to men, and fathers. Headship implies more than just being an example to those God places in our care. It's living as God has designed a man to live and to be all God has called a man to be. My purpose in bringing those two items up is because while Cassie's Dad and my Dad are different. And I am talking night and day different..... They both raised us before we even knew God would bring us together to be married with the conviction that alcohol was not a substance that would be consumed under their household. And so we both grew up as Modern day Rechabites. Why? Because we honored the headship of our dad's and listened to what they commanded us. Now that I am married and we have our own house and family how does this reality still affect us? Well I don't believe that my dad's headship over me has ended. That's a lifelong role he plays in my life. He will always be my dad. And I am still called to honor him. So as with Cassie to her dad. Just because we are married doesn't mean we get to throw out the convictions our dad's raised us with. I wonder if there are not a lot younger 20 something Christians who think that because they are married with their own family that they get to just make their own rules? I don't think the bible teaches that. To sum it all up let me say this. I am a modern day Rechabite as odd as that may be because I still want to honor my dad's headship over me and in doing so hopefully I am also honoring God. Not everyone has the same story Cassie and I do and that's why we are a "rare" breed. But through this passage God has given me the resolve that the path of abstinence to alcohol is what He has called our family too.

I hope this encourages others whose path is similar to Cassie and I's. Maybe this is the biblical text that God wanted to bring to your mind to keep fighting the fight and sticking with an "unpopular" conviction.

Be blessed.

Review continued

I left off yesterday with discussing the truth of chapter 2 within Recovering Redemption and hope it was helpful. Chapter 4 entitled "Struggling Well" was another helpful chapter to me personally. I think the overall concept itself to some sounds strange. How can we struggle well? But as the book points out its possible through the gospel of Jesus Christ. One of the overall thesis within that chapter was God's design for the believer's life is not to be without or get past struggle in life but with his power learn to get through it well. Selfishly we all would probably like to go around the block of struggle but in God's plan its normally to drive straight through it. And that's how He develops us. Another really helpful concept within this part of the book was the idea that both Christians and non-Christians will have struggle in life. Therefore no life struggle is not what defines us as believers. Instead its how we process through that struggle with the power of the gospel that sets us apart as Christians.

Skipping ahead to chapter 8 on Fear and Anxiety is what I'd like to do next. Not that there wasn't good stuff in the other chapters but just because this was a strong chapter. Matt opens with the struggle of his bout with cancer and thus has instant credibility with us as the readers. No one is going to argue with that story. Having never dealt with a struggle of this magnitude I wondered how applicable it was to me. But as I continued to read it hit me that in the depth of who we are we all struggle with fear and anxiety at some level. And how that manifests itself is different in all of us. The last part of the chapter was particularly strong in my opinion. Here is where Matt admits the struggle we all have and leaves us with one strong piece of wisdom as he writes "The worst thing you can do with fear and anxiety is to pretend you're too strong to have them. The best thing you can do is just let Him be in charge of them." I think in the culture I've grown up around this statement would rub some I know the wrong way. Because as a men especially we've been wired to just thicken our skin up and act like we got it. There is freedom and healing in learning that we actually don't. I would also throw out one caution here to consider. I think the pendulum might be starting to swing to far in the other direction too. Where now we are so open about our hang ups, fears and anxiety it almost works against us in a way to stop pursuing sanctification. I'm not voting for less transparency about our shortcomings. Never would I vote that way. But I believe it's vital that in the midst of our open confession about our shortcomings we work toward gospel living too and not just settle on confession. Confession is the beginning of the redemption process not an end.

Chapter 10 "Go in Peace" may have been for me the most convicting chapter overall. It talked a lot about relational reconciliation and how the gospel bears light on how to do that and the need to that. I know there is some of this needing to happen in my life and its hard to just honestly do it. Regardless though I pray for an opportunity to do it and to see God be given glory through the process. And as a result of reading this chapter I would challenge anyone else reading this post who knows there is someone in their life they need to reconcile with but haven't needs to figure out a way to just do it.

Finally wanted to share one block quote from chapter 11 that I will conclude this review with is as I believe its remarkably powerful. "Being baptized somewhere as a kid, but then showing no transformation of life, no willingness to walk in obedience to God, no acceptance of a greater authority than the autonomous tyrant of their own will, and yet still expecting to be hailed as a Christian - we would never apply that kind of logic to any other realm of life and consider it normal. " I am a big coffee drinker, except I hate the way it smells, and especially the way it tastes. I love my family, but I'd rather spend time with anybody else but them. I've always been a huge, huge Mets fan. That's baseball right?" Ludicrous." Chandler nails here it on the head. And there are those who apply this logic to themselves. May the grace and mercy of God wake you up inside to stop fooling yourself.

Do I recommend the book ? Highly. Its worth the read and consideration and probably worth a re-read to be perfectly honest. Through the gospel change is possible. And that is good news.



 

Recovering Redemption Review

Wow! 8 months later after a vow to become more committed to a regular blog posting it seems I have let the readers down. Good thing there are like 5 of you. Maybe.... Anyway I felt compelled to give a review of a book I actually just completed today and offer it up for those of you who maybe interested in reading it too.

It's entitled "Recovering Redemption: A Gospel-Saturated Perspective On How To Change." By Matt Chandler and Michael Snetzer. Overall  the book was challenging and thought and provoking. I will tell why it was in a few moments but first let me address one piece of information that may hang up some of my readers. For those of you reading you may or may not know that Matt Chandler is the President of Acts 29. Acts 29 in the world that I live in is one of the premier church planting agencies there is. It seems to be the agency most I know desire to go with when wanting to plant a church. Probably because its hard to refute the fact that God has blessed this ministry in some incredible ways. But in some of the circles that I have found myself in within recent years that entity itself has been plagued with a lot of unnecessary judgments and critical remarks. Have there been some pastors and planters who have come from Acts 29 who have messed up? Of course. I don't think anyone is arguing that. But can we also agree Jesus provides grace, reconciliation and hope for the darkest of sinners too? Hopefully we can or else I am hopeless and so is whoever else that is reading this post right now too. 

Why do I bring all of that up? Simple. I don't want this review and the truth of this book to be tainted. Will it still happen? Probably. Because there are those who have a biased opinion over someone they have never met or talked with just because that someone leads an organization that they think has hurt them. Not trying to be mean here just shooting for truth and don't want to pull any hidden punches. Like how unfair would it be if I got done bringing out all the good points of this book and then say oh by the way Pastor Matt leads such and such organization that you may or may not like. You would automatically discredit all the good that you just heard. Maybe by me doing it this way more credibility can be established and hopefully those who may read this can glean great spiritual help.

Just to set the record straight. I am not a part of Acts 29. The church God has given me to lead and Pastor is not an Acts 29 church. I think this entity does great things for the Kingdom but I don't square up with them completely theologically and wonder a bit about the name itself. Still though despite all of those hangups they are still apart of THE family and I'm thankful Jesus is saving souls through their efforts.

Now to the book. Chapter 2 "Attempted Redemption" was particularly good. Here 4 common methods were addressed that all stumble in when trying to attempt their own redemption. And can't we all be honest for a moment. Don't all of us attempt redemption on our own in some way or another? Even those of us who have professed Christ for a several years I think can fall into the trap of doing this at times. Thankfully we have the Spirit to awaken us when we do it. The 4 ways Chandler and Snetzer list out that we attempt redemption is first through ourselves. I thought in this section one great insight pointed out was that who has lied to us and let us down more than us? Therefore isn't insidious to look to yourself for redemption when you keep failing yourself? Second way folks try to attempt redemption is through others. The authors share some examples here about those who they have seen try this and how miserably its worked out for them. I believe there are so many people in my neighborhood (using that term in an illustrative sense not purely physical sense) right now who are doing this. Seeking redemption, completion, fulfillment and joy in their spouses, kids, family, boy friend, girl friend, etc. But we have to remember those relationship are mere shadows to THE relationship which will bring redemption. Let me back up for a moment and admit I've been guilty of the same hangup. Here is how this generally works itself out in my life. When Cassie is disappointed, sad or upset guess what? So am I? Cause when momma aint happy aint nobody happy. Until this moment I haven't realized how messed up that statement is.... But why is that so? It's because my feelings, satisfaction is so wrapped up in Cassie's that she is almost like my god. And that was NEVER  hear me NEVER the way it was supposed to be. And instead of loving her through those times when she is sad I just tend to get sad and mad right along with her too. I need to learn my joy and contentment doesn't come from Cassie it comes from Christ alone. This doesn't mean I am unsympathetic to her needs as if they don't matter. It does mean that when she is upset I can learn to stay strong and calm through it. By nature I've kind of always been a "people pleaser" guess that is what you get when you start throwing newspapers at 10 yrs old. But this section helped open that reality up to me so much more than ever before. And realize my position in Christ isn't achieved through what man says about me its through what He says about me. The third failed attempt at redemption that chapter mentions is with the world. Through substances, sex, money, you name it many attempt it this way too. Here in the deep bible belt south I've observed our worldly attempts are a bit more civilized. Athletics, our college, our hobbies. These are some of the common worldly attempts at the redemption dilemma. But as Matt points out again. Guess what all of these attempts end the same way. Failure. Failure to give us what we are truly after. The fourth failed attempt at redemption is in religion. So glad the authors mentioned this because this is the attempt that is going to damn more than any of the others combined. Empty church attendance, and coerced obedience don't add up to redemption. Those activities won't produce change in us the way we want them too. Neither will any of the other 3 attempts either.

I am out of time but will complete this review tomorrow. Have a great evening.