Go West Young Man?

Well, that could be a possibility after what happened in my follow up interview this week. Roanoke is now a great possibility--I met with the head attorney, and had dinner with the other attorney. The collections business is an unpleasant one, but their operations were ultimately very professional and if offered (they indicated they were "fairly confident" they would make me an offer), I would definitely consider it. I also sent more letters to the Attorney General's office telling them I really, really wanted to work for them, but we'll see how that turns out. It's not a news flash that I would reject all other offers if asked to work for the AG's office, but it could be a moot point if the AG essentially says NO.

On a side note, I had Brazilian cuisine for the first time--it was quite good!

Interview Today

It has been a rather slow week, with me substituting for an English class and a Chemistry class, and reading three fiction books. I have an interview today for a position that actually is in Roanoke (about 4-5 hours west), but thankfully the interviewer is going to be in Virginia Beach today so that I can meet her for lunch. So instead of driving approximately 5 hours one way, I only have to drive 5 miles one way. God is gracious, for sure. I'm not totally sure what the position will entail, so I'm going in with low expectations--but not much to lose, since I'm not driving far!

UPDATE: Well, the interview was Friday, and went well--it seems an unpleasant line of work, that being collections (I mean, who wants to be hounded by someone wanting their money, even if they do owe it?), but interesting nonetheless. I read some information about the company that they collect for that raises some concerns with me, but it turns out that I will be able to address them further with them this week. While I was writing my thank-you letter for the interview this morning, she called back wanting to have a follow-up in Roanoke and meet with the other attorney. Thankfully, they're putting me up for one night in a hotel, so that I won't have to drive 10 hours in one day (round-trip).

Mortification of Sin, Part 3

This is my third post in the series on Owen's Mortification of Sin. This chapter deals with the means through which God effects mortification of our sin, that being the Holy Spirit.

I want to begin from a quote from the family pastor at my church, who wrote an article on being the King's fool, rather than being a fool who believes he is a king:

How often have we condemned the idolatry of others while allowing our own little gods to live in our houses and play in our hearts simply because we have dressed them up in a Christian t-shirt? Christ-exalting desires and habits are not the edited versions of worldly desires and habits. Are we really making the gospel beautiful today by the words we use, the thoughts that come spontaneously into our minds, the way we eat or sleep or plan? Or, are there patterns of speaking or behaving in my life that are like an old favorite shirt or pair of shoes? They are so comfortable and have been a part of my life for so long that I don't even realize how ugly, stained and smelly they are to those around me. Let us see our personal idols in light of Scripture and throw them in the trash. Then let us strive by the Spirit's power to clothe ourselves with new and better things [Col.3:1-17].

Now, in approaching the third chapter, I want to focus on the aspect of our desires as Christians. Owen begins with the fact that many, including Papists, have a focus on mortification, but in the end does not bring about the result desired. They fast, they prescribe penance, and even preach about mortifying sin, but it is not connected in any way to Christ or the Holy Spirit.

Owens does not condemn the actions of fasting, praying and meditating but points out that their focus is on "the natural man instead of the corrupt old man, -- upon the body wherein we live instead of the body of death."

What does this mean? Simply put, the focus is on living a better life here, and also deals with how such sin affects others living here--not how it affects our spiritual growth or relationship with God. In a sense, it is a moral reformation, a promise to do better--not to commit this sin again, and to either physically or spiritually whip oneself into such a resolve, without involving the Holy Spirit at all. Owen says: "they watch over themselves, and pray for a season, until this heat waxes cold, and the sense of sin is worn off: and so mortification goes also, and sin returns to its former dominion. Duties are excellent food for an unhealthy soul; they are no physic for a sick soul."

The problem? The desires were NEVER dealt with--you could put a criminal in a nice suit, clean him up, but it still doesn't change his nature--who he IS. Similarly, we as sinners can work ourselves to death and promise we won't do that again, we're GOING to do better, and it is all for naught. We either as Owen says above, pray and work for a while and think that sin is beaten--or worse, we despair that we are not beating it and give up. Either way, sin again enters in, taking control.

Now, the Spirit being given to us by God as the means, how does He work?

1. Owen says that our hearts are caused to "abound in grace and the fruits that are contrary to the flesh."

The great promise from Scripture is that in changing our desires through our justification and ongoing santification, a vacuum is not created--our old nature and desires are replaced with new, God-honoring ones. In mortifying, it is simply not enough to try and not sin, as I have said before--we must ask the Spirit to grant measures of grace to replace sinful desires with desires to glorify God (reading the Scriptures, listening to the Word preached, etc.).

2. Next, Owen says that not only does the Spirit assist in replacing desires, but on a real physical level, by "weakening and destroying" the root and the habit of the sin. I'm sure that all of us can look back on some struggles we used to have that we don't have anymore, due to His grace in not only changing our desires in the mind, but in the body.

3. Most important, Owen points out that the Spirit by granting faith gives us the Cross of Christ, in communion with Him. What a glorious truth.

To close the chapter, he answers the question of some who might say, "If it is the Spirit, then what am I to do?"

One misunderstanding of those who are opposed to Reformed doctrine and perhaps Lordship salvation (monergism) is that they believe our formulation of doctrine leads to the conclusion that the will of man is violated. This is simply not the case--we argue that the will is in fact empowered. Being dead in sin and without Christ, all would perish by their own decisions and actions, because their desires lead them to willfully choose sin. Those who are awakened to the truth have their desires changed and thus willfully follow Christ.

Similarly, Owen correctly points out that the Spirit "works upon our understandings, wills, consciences, and affections, agreeably to their own natures; he works in us and with us, not against us or without us; so that his assistance is an encouragement as to the facilitating of the work, and no occasion of neglect as to the work itself."

So, for those who do not seek the Spirit's help but try it on their own will ultimately be frustrated, and will expend all their energy and not be any further in winning the battle against sin. For these Christians, having lost all hope in the battle, they simply dress up their habits and actions (possibly idols) to make them appear Christian from anyone who would look, but on closer inspection, their desires toward some sins have not changed.

May we be transformed by the renewing of our minds, and seek the Spirit's help in the ongoing battle against sin!

Good Friday

As I sit and ponder about the significance of today, and what to write, Frank Turk over at his blog has said it better than I could. So read the story of our Lord's journey to the cross, and notice in the Gospels how God ordained this to be, through the means of those like you and I, in crucifying Christ on the Cross. Grieve your sins appropriately which put Him there, for they grieved and offended a holy and righteous God, commanding a punishment be given for them--but praise His Son for dying for your sins on that cross so long ago, so that you might live eternally with Him.

Make no mistake: redemption was accomplished. The fruits of that act (our continuing sanctification and our glorification) have yet to be played out in time, but they will come to pass.

A Good Friday, indeed.

How Long? Well, Longer, Apparently....

I just received notice today that I was not chosen for the position I interviewed for at the AG's office, and I have to say that it stings a little bit. This is one that I really wanted, and it seemed that God had lined everything thing up, with connections and good rapport with the interviewers, but it was not in His plan. I have an interview with another department in that office next week, but it's hard to hope. To be rejected out of such a small pool of candidates (just three) is quite tough, especially having had a follow up interview. My wife and I's financial condition surely doesn't make this process any easier, as it forces me to consider just taking some temporary legal work by moving to an area that has that work. Though I don't want to settle for something like this, I don't know what to do after hearing "no" so many times. It's hard not to feel like I'm not wanted by anyone, but I simply have to rest in Christ's grace that He knows best for this situation.

Surely doesn't make it easy.

Mortification of Sin, Part 2--The Deceitful Nature of Sin

This is the second post in my series as I read through John Owen's Mortification of Sin (see first post for link to the online version of this book). This second chapter is quite full of excellent analysis and I will not attempt to recreate it all here, but there are some definite points worthy of discussion.

FIRST: There is not one believer on this earth that is exempt from the command to mortify sin.

You see, when I was in college, there were some who I viewed as "holier than thou" folks, and who always seemed to be doing the proverbial "self-whipping" and "sack cloth and ashes" idea when they described their sin. I thought that they were acting as if they were more righteous than me since they acted this way--I was in fact QUITE wrong. They recognized their sinfulness and asked God to help mortify such desires and acts. Owen similarly calls on ALL Christians to do the same--it is to be our "daily work" as Paul states in 1 Cor. 9:27, "I discipline my body and keep it under control" (the Greek literally can be translated: I pummel my body and make it a slave).

Why does he say that we should do this? Because there is a most important second truth.

SECOND: Sin does not only still abide in us, but it is actively working to bring about the worst of sins.

Ponder that for just a moment. Have you ever tried to bargain with sin? Have you said, okay, we'll do this, but I'll go no further, I'm drawing the line here? Has that ever worked? Of course not! Because you immediately rationalize the act! Sin convinces you that you're not that bad, or "hey, you haven't done this in a while." Fill in the excuse. Even though we are in Christ, the flesh battles against the Spirit daily, and wants nothing more for us than to fall! (see Galatians 5:17). And not only does it want us to fall, but to suffer greatly, in bringing about the worst of sins. This excerpt illustrates this:
Sin aims always at the utmost; every time it rises up to tempt or entice, might it have its own course, it would go out to the utmost sin in that kind. Every unclean thought or glance would be adultery if it could; every covetous desire would be oppression, every thought of unbelief would be atheism, might it grow to its head. Men may come to that, that sin may not be heard speaking a scandalous word in their hearts, -- that is, provoking to any great sin with scandal in its mouth; but yet every rise of lust, might it have its course, would come to the height of villainy: it is like the grave, that is never satisfied.

Sin does not endeavor that you tell a "white" lie--it wishes to destroy your soul by using lying and other sins that result to destroy your soul! Owen aptly says: "Be killing sin or it will be killing you." Is that stark enough?

So what are we to do? How can we combat this?

THREE: The Spirit and our new nature have been granted to us by the grace of God to combat and oppose this sin and fleshly desire that battles against us.

We have been given the gift of the Spirit so that we can oppose sin, and to not do so is to neglect the grace and the gift that God has given us. The Spirit's help is to be used and exercised! Owen later indicates that "exercise and success are the two main cherishers of grace in the heart." If such grace is not exercised, then the soul will wither in despair and misery and sin take more of a foothold.

In mortifying sin, it is important to emphasize as well that we are to not only kill sin but replace it with godly thinking in "growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (see 2 Peter 3:18)

Lastly, what are the dangers of not mortifying sin and the flesh? Owen points out two types of wrong thinking, first in ourselves, then in others.

FOUR: We who do not mortify the flesh take sin too lightly.

We should not tolerate sin without a "bitterness of heart" as Owen describes it; over our daily sins we should be convicted and properly grieve them, since they do grieve our Father. To dismiss them flippantly is to not understand the nature of grace, for if you dismiss them so lightly than you cannot grasp the nature of God's grace any more firmly.

FIFTH: We who do not mortify the flesh cause others to think that if they would measure up to us, then they would be in a good condition.

This not only hardens others to think that they are in as good condition as these "best" professors, but they are also deceived into thinking they are in a good condition, all the while sin festers in them, producing the deeds of the flesh. Worse yet, it can confirm in someone a belief in Christ when there is no such warrant or evidence of that in the least.

So what is the warning? Mortify the sin and deeds of flesh in your life, being on your guard against the deceitfulness of sin; but be encouraged Christian, the Holy Spirit is given to you to help combat this spirit of the flesh.

How Long?

Lately, I have been literally living in the Psalms, as many of them accurately describe how I feel at the moment. I've also been reading Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure by Martin-Lloyd Jones. Both have helped during this time of walking in a spiritual type of wilderness--not that I feel far from God, but in the sense that waiting for an answer can sometimes feel like abandonment, though I know He is quite close and has actually been quite faithful in sustaining me and even growing me through this whole process.

But I can't lie--for another week to go by without a word AT ALL from the folks I'm hoping will employ me is quite tough. And then, last night, my wife and I went to praise team practice to prepare for worship on Sunday, and found out we were singing this song, based on Psalm 13:

How Long

How long O Lord
Will you forget me
How long O Lord
Will you look the other way
How long O Lord
Must I wrestle with my thoughts
And everyday have such sorrow in my heart

Chorus:
Look on me and answer
O God my Father
Give light to darkness
Before they see me fall


Bridge:
But I trust in your unfailing love
Yes my heart will rejoice
Still I sing of your unfailing love
You have been good
You will be good to me.


Needless to say, it was very difficult to sing that song (and as it works out, I will just have a minor part in singing it). This is good, because the song hits so near to my soul at this moment, it rings a little too true. It is important to notice, however, that the song starts as a lament and ends in worshiping God in His faithfulness. This is something I have to hold strong to, even in the uncertainty of the moment. He knows, ordains and guides all things. To Him be the power, the glory, and the praise, forever and ever!