The Gospel, Injustice and the Widow’s Courage

Once, Jesus told a story about a widow who pesters a corrupt judge until he gives her justice. Jesus did this to show his disciples, “that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). “Therefore,” the preacher concludes, “this parable teaches us that God is like that corrupt judge. If he does not answer, just be like the widow, pray harder, and eventually God will give you what you want!” My heart sinks: that does not sound like Good News at all! I came to church to hear more about what Jesus has done for us; I leave church wondering if I’m praying hard enough to qualify. Discouraged, I look back at the text. But what’s this, right here in verse 7? “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?” Jesus says God answers our prayers quickly, not slowly and reluctantly! What a relief: God is actually the opposite of that corrupt judge! But then…what does this parable actually teach us about God and prayer? I take another look at the text. I realize Jesus uses the word “justice” four times. So justice must be a central concept. Then I notice that the protagonist in the story is a widow. I do a quick word-search: “widow”. Ninety-six (96!) scripture references pop up. When I scan through the references, I find a very strong biblical connection between “widows” and “justice”, like: “[God] defends the cause of the widow” (Deuteronomy 10:18), and “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees…making widows their prey” (Isaiah 10:1-2). The parable begins to make sense: the corrupt judge is actually under God’s curse. The widow knows this. That is why she keeps bothering the judge so boldly and persistently: she understands from God’s Word that God is on her side! She knows that, one way or another, God is going to make sure she gets justice! Reading through the parable again, I realize the corrupt judge figures this out in verse 4: “Even though I don’t fear God or people, I’m gonna give this widow her justice so she won’t eventually come and attack me!” The judge is not afraid of anyone’s judgement. But the widow is so bold and persistent he starts to wonder if she is more powerful than she seems. Perhaps she has a rich relative who has gone away on a long trip, and when that relative gets back and finds out how the judge treated her he will rally all his wealth and power and have that judge removed? So he gives in. The judge can only speculate in earthly terms — but his thinking is spiritually correct. Jesus confirms this in verse 6: “Listen to what the unjust judge says!” Pay attention: the judge is right! This widow is actually far more powerful than she seems! Why? Because God is on her side. To test my interpretation, I look at the larger context. Sure enough, in the moments just before Jesus told this parable, he told his disciples that he would be going away for a long time, that they would suffer while he was gone, but that he would return suddenly and destroy everyone who “tries to keep their life” (Luke 17:33) — especially at the expense of the poor and the helpless. Then, to illustrate his teaching, Jesus tells a parable about a judge who tries to keep his life at the expense of a poor, helpless widow. What is Jesus’ point? He tells us in verse 7: “Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones?…I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.” Then he finishes with, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” So what is this parable actually about? It is about praying faithfully for Jesus’ return! It is about speaking up boldly and persistently against earthly injustice, knowing that God has promised to give us justice, and quickly. Does this parable mean Jesus guarantees us justice in earthly courts? No. That is earthly thinking. In fact, Jesus tells his disciples they will often be executed by earthly courts (Luke 21:16)! But Jesus has guaranteed us justice in God’s court — and on the Day of his return. Therefore, like the widow, we pray. And we speak up boldly and persistently against earthly injustice, knowing that — even as we suffer the earthly consequences — we are the beloved children of the One who is “coming soon” (Revelation 22:20) to destroy all injustice and make all things new. Now that sounds like the kind of Good News I’d want to hear!   ——— Article derived from a sermon entitled “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (Part I), or: How to Survive the Apocalypse”. The sermon can be listened to at https://www.cdpckl.com/luke/

Transcultural Community

What does it mean to be a transcultural community? South African pastor One Mokgatle defines “Transcultural” as “a community that reflects, embraces and enjoys the diversity of its context, but by the power of the gospel transcends it and creates one new community in Christ”. When we planted Regeneration Church in the city of Monash, Melbourne in 2017 we decided that “Transcultural Community” was going to be one of our core values. We are aiming to reach the suburb of Clayton, the most ethnically diverse suburb in Australia with 122 nationalities represented, so we want to be a church that welcomes people from every nation. Yet, the impetus to make “Transcultural” a core value was not just missional and pragmatic, but theological and biblical.   The Gospel Creates a Transcultural Community Ephesians 2:1-10 is one of my favourite gospel summaries in all of Scripture. In the next few verses, Paul applies the gospel to the Ephesian Christians by first reminding them that they being Gentile were excluded from God’s promise but have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Then he goes on to say this: “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility”. The gospel breaks down every national and ethnic boundary. The people of God are no longer defined by nationality or ethnicity but rather by faith in Christ. A vertical reconciliation between God and humanity now leads to a horizontal reconciliation between people. Peace or “shalom” is the goal. This is not just the cessation of war but wholeness, health, security, harmony, prosperity and well-being. Therefore, the gospel destroys racism, ethnocentrism and all forms of cultural pride to create a transcultural community.   The Goal of the Gospel is a Transcultural Community “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10) In Revelation 7, we get a glimpse of the ultimate, final, triumphant church. Every Christian that ever lived throughout history from every nation, tribe, people and language, gathered around the throne to worship Jesus. The amazing thing is that we don’t somehow get assimilated into some heavenly monoculture. Rather, each people group retains its language and culture in the New Creation. The goal of the gospel is a people of God redeemed from every nation, tribe, people and language. The local church should be a foretaste of this heavenly reality. If the ultimate church is a movie, then the local church should be a trailer.   The Gospel Transcends Culture Some people might ask why “transcultural” instead of “multicultural”? While “multicultural” communicates that there are many cultures, “transcultural” communicates that there is something that transcends the many cultures. The gospel of Jesus Christ. The way to achieve a transcultural community is to value the strengths and uniqueness of every culture while not elevating any culture above the other. At the same time, we must allow the gospel to critique the weaknesses and idols of every culture. As we pursue a transcultural community, what emerges is the culture of the kingdom of heaven. John Piper says, “The bloodline of Jesus Christ is deeper than the bloodlines of race. The death and resurrection of the Son of God for sinners is the only sufficient power to bring the bloodlines of race into the single bloodline of the cross”.

Gospel-saturated parenting in the city

Living in a harried, busy city kind of life means little time to spend with our children. In between work, school and enrichment classes, our lives are spent mostly on the road driving somewhere or stuck in a traffic jam. The short window of time to interact is often filled with practical stuff like homework or things to prepare for school. We fit in a short time of devotion if we find time, and if not, a short prayer before bedtime to complete our checklist of tasks to do. “We simply can’t squeeze a biblical model of parenting into a frenetic schedule shaped by the world’s view of what a successful child looks like.” (Paul Tripp) Many of us are running from activity to activity, anxious that our children will somehow miss out. Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,  so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. (Deuteronomy 11:18-21) Is it possible for busy parents to live up to the bible passage above? Yes. These verses are not just for parents in the OT times – they are just as relevant to us today. Teaching the Word of God and showing our children how to develop a relationship with Him is more than another thing we have to do. It is the utmost priority! We have to swim upstream against all the demands this busy life is calling us to, turn our backs on them, fix our eyes and hearts on the unchangeable faithfulness and grace of Jesus, and grasp the wisdom and grace that can only be found in His word. When we lose God in our parenting, we lose the very thing we need to give our children most: God Himself. Children do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). If we don’t prioritize or see the urgency of the souls of our children, we have lost what we are called to do as parents – that is to be tools of God’s agenda to shape the hearts and lives of our children in His Word. So, how can we live out gospel-saturated parenting? Rest in the knowledge that God is sovereign, and we can depend on Him totally for our children. Their future lies in His hands, not ours. Christ is more than enough to help us meet the demands of the day. Fight to develop a sweet communion with Jesus, as we can’t give what we don’t have. Strive to keep the main thing the main thing, and be courageous to filter out temptations to be like the world. Spend time in God’s word, and teach it to your children. Find opportunities throughout the day to speak truths into their hearts. Let us not lose sight of our main calling in parenting. Let us put off our striving in our own strength, and rest in the sufficient grace of Jesus to bring up our children in this world. Faithfully point them to Him, in the way we live and we love. Our children do not need more of the world. They need more of Christ.

Christians need to hear the Gospel

“The truth of the Gospel is the principle article of all Christian doctrine…. Most necessary is it that we know this article well, teach it to others, and beat it into their heads continually.” Martin Luther.   It may seem strange that Christians need to continually be reminded of the gospel. After all, shouldn’t we already know it? Here are 3 reasons why Christians need to preach the gospel to themselves, and to each other regularly. For the Accusing Conscience Some time ago, when I was in the heat of an argument with someone, that person said to me “…and you call yourself a Christian! “ As the words sank in, I felt terrible. I had disappointed God, again. I was unworthy to be called His child. This person was right. How could I call myself a Christian when I had just lost my temper in such a manner… These were some of the thoughts swirling through my head. When a dear friend needed urgent prayer some moments later, I couldn’t even pray for her, simply because I felt unworthy. Truth be told, our sinful nature isn’t something we should blatantly dismiss. Sin is sin, trifle or otherwise within our own perceptions.  It is to be confessed to God, and grieved over. However, when our sins feel greater than God’s grace, could it be that we have lost sight of the gospel? In such times, we need to stop, confess our sins to God, and then preach the gospel to ourselves. It’s true. I am not worthy of God (Romans 3: 23). But Jesus is worthy (Romans 3: 24-25; 8:34). Jesus lived the life I should have lived, perfectly. Jesus bore my punishment for me so that I may receive forgiveness (Romans 5: 6-9). He will forgive my failures and not cast me away (Romans 8:32-39). I am not worthy, but Jesus is my righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). For the Religious The human heart’s default mode is believing that God’s acceptance of a person is dependent on their works. We need to reset our hearts to gospel-mode every day! When we lose sight of the gospel, we either look at our sins and doubt our standing before God, or we will look at our good works and think we are accepted by them. We are eager to know how we can please God. This is a good thing. However, if we lose sight of the gospel, we will naturally position our “religious” works on a pedestal higher than God’s finished work at the Cross. When we feel we have obeyed God for the day, our prayers become happy and bold. On the contrary, our failure at obedience makes us feel that we need to make it up to Him. Dare we ever think that our standing before God is based on our own merit (Galatians 2:21)? The gospel reminds us that it isn’t! We need to set ourselves, and help others to set themselves to gospel-mode every day! For the Christian Life For the Christian, the gospel provides not just the entrance to the faith, rather, it is the fuel for the rest of our walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, ethical teachings arose from constant reminders about the status of those who belonged to Christ. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, for instance, Paul spends the first three chapters explaining God’s great work in Christ, and then devotes the concluding chapters to the practical implications of the gospel for personal, family and congregational life. Romans 6 reminds us that our fight against sin arises from knowing who we are in Christ, and what He has done for us. Colossians 3: 1-4 reminds us that because we have been raised with Christ, we are to set our hearts on things above. Are you struggling to love the unlovable? Are you struggling to trust God? Are you trying to fight sin in your life? You can’t overcome it by just trying harder. Meditate on the gospel. Know what He has done for you. Know who you are in Christ. It is at the Cross of Jesus that you will be humbled, be ever so thankful and find power to live a life worthy of the very same gospel you have received! Preach the gospel to yourself daily. Preach it to each other. Help each other think through the implications of the gospel. And may God let the truth of the gospel of Christ sink deeper into our hearts daily as we wait for His return!