Death is NOT OK
If you are struggling with the death of a loved one, human or pet, please be free. You are not in bondage to “accepting it” or moving on. You are free to never accept it. Don’t worry, the body and mind will adjust and you will adapt through a new homeostasis because part of you is gone that you will never get back. You can be happy again because your body and mind will create a new normal for you.
This is because God doesn’t accept death. The Bible never states that “death is a normal process of life.” That’s pure nonsense. In fact, the Bible states that death is God’s “enemy” and will be the “last enemy that He will defeat.” This is one reason I love being a nurse; I am fighting God’s enemy. When we lose the fight, it’s not ok, but we know that we will eventually win the war through Christ. My father was a Mason, and I am not advocating for Free Masonry, but during their memorial service for my dad, the speaker, arrayed in his Mason uniform with a sword at his side, said, “We are here today to celebrate the life of Harry Dohse who has been struck down by this world.” I love that. That is so true. Death is not a natural process of life, it’s a homicide committed by a fallen world.
Of late, my favorite Bible verse is Hebrews 2:14,15, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” It’s ok to fear an enemy, though we overcome that fear in order to defeat them. Christ died to free us from enslavement to fear. But that doesn’t make death a part of life; death is God’s enemy. If you are not ok with death, that’s ok because God isn’t either. As nurses, we see it all the time with families and even doctors: requests or orders that reflect denial concerning the inevitable, and I am totally ok with that because death should be denied. Absolutely, I will reorder those eyedrops or Atorvastatin right away. This reflects last vestiges of hope, and is part of the mourning process. The patient is 100 years old and is Full Code? Why is that not ok? Too much life? Why would death be given permission at all? Has death become our friend because our life isn’t what it was?
We should never be in a hurry to surrender to death. In the dying process, dealing with it holistically and embracing God’s enemy is a fine line.
paul
Everything You Need to Know About Church: Steve Lawson
The target audience of this post is those familiar with the ministry circles of John MacArthur Jr., G3, and Ligonier. Hence, this post will not include a lot of background about the close relationship that “Lead Teacher” Steve Lawson had with those ministries. Suffice to say this circle of ministry is a substantial representation of the evangelical church. The internet is fraught with digital placards displaying profound unction by those who represent these ministries.
A lot could be said about the depths of this latest church scandal, but I want to focus on their rules for thee, but not for me mentality. This is because the church is an authoritative institution that has placed itself as an additional mediator between God’s children and God himself. Additionally, the church is not even a sanctified hierarchy, but obviously, a caste system where moral theological principles are not evenly applied on each level.
In this circle of “ministry,” which could also include TGC, G4, and many others, there is a very strong emphasis on the church commoners being willing to “place themselves under the authority of godly men” via the local church. The likes of John Piper and John MacArthur continually call into question those unwilling to be active members of a local church. John Piper has even stated that a willingness to be a member of a church and under its authority is synonymous with loving Jesus. This blog has posted the receipts for over 10 years and will not belabor the point here.
So, now, what do we find out? We find Trinity Bible Church, Ligonier, Master’s seminary, Grace Community Church, G3, et al, accepted a special designation for Lawson referred to as “Lead Preacher,” which excluded him from being a member of a church (and he wasn’t) or an elder. It is unclear how many leaders of these ministries knew about his 5-year relationship with a very young lady, but for certain they all knew that he wasn’t a member of a church, while demanding church membership for the church commoners. Furthermore, the only reason we know any of this is because the girl’s father threatened Steve Lawson with public discloser. Meanwhile, remember that the Reformed church has ruined thousands of lives via church discipline, and Mark Dever became a hero for placing 256 church members under church discipline for nonattendance.
So, how many parishioners will begin to rethink church in leu of this stunning hypocrisy? Few, because parishioners are getting what they want. For all practical purposes, Lawson was a hired entertainer at Trinity and everyone was fine with that. Furthermore, there is a human tendency to find assurance of salvation through expertism rather than Christ. Lawson was an expert theologian and proficient entertainer, that’s all that mattered.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, apparently, Lawson is living in Tennessee and is estranged from his wife. But, the beat goes on. This is business as usual in the church. Some could demand that leaders like Voddie Baucham confess about what they knew and when, but that’s what church discipline is for…
…those who ask relevant questions.
paul.
Where’s Steve? How Lawson’s Response Could Salvage the Church and Glorify Christ
Even though I believe church is a lie and nothing but a salvation marketing business, the church ought to consult me on many matters. I would even do it for free because I am a nice guy. As you know, the latest scandal trending in the church is the Steve Lawson disaster. This one is so bad that the ministries involved are trying to move on ASAP, and the usual clichés seem woefully worn-out and hollow. This one is really, really bad.
Or is it? When I went to church back in the day, a Reformed church, a respected elder had to resign under similar circumstances. The actions of this elder after his “fall” still speak to me today, about 24 years later. First of all, his post-actions emphasized the fact that he was still a member of that church and that was important. After the morning “worship service” (I believe the whole of our lives are worship and service) where he publicly confessed, he never missed a so-called “service” and remained faithful to the choir and other non-leadership ministries that he was involved in. If he wanted to send a message that everything else he did as a church member was important…the message was received loud and clear.
Also, when he walked forward to address the congregation with his confession, his wife was right behind him and sat in the front row while he spoke. I remember her powerful demeanor like it was yesterday, and I picture it in my mind some 24 years later. She was overtly defiant, as in, “Nothing is going to stand between me and this marriage.” The former elder and his family modeled godliness in that congregation for many years afterward. She later supported him in a significant professional endeavor.
So, where’s Steve? Imagine if his response was the same, and what a powerful testimony it would be. That’s where the focus would be, not the damage that has been done. These guys (the Reformed crowd in general) constantly preach about our response to trials, but I can tell you, so far, their response is becoming worse than the original sin.
paul
Feelings
When the Bible speaks of “sinful desires,” that is best interpreted as “emotions,” and better yet, “feelings.” Sin makes its appeal through the emotions. Christians must learn to separate feelings from truth. The wise Christian is an investor. He/she will decline an immediate payoff for the pure gold of good feelings based on truth. Often, the Christian will endure suffering for the sake of truth that produces the “joy set ahead.”
When I was a teenager, my stepdad tried to teach me how to fly his Piper Cub. My problem was that I could not disassociate my feelings of how the plane was flying from what the instruments were actually telling me. Have you ever noticed that airplane pilots tend to be emotionally level? That’s why. If you were a passenger in the plane at the time, the bickering between my stepdad and I would have undoubtedly made you very nervous. “We are coming in nose down.” ‘No we aren’t.’ “yes we are, look at the horizon gage.” ‘The gage is wrong.’ “You better let me take over.” ‘Why? This is fun.’ “I’m taking over before it’s too late.” ‘Whatever.’
And the Bible is not wrong. God has not left his children without a full philosophical statement for life and godliness. It has a self-sustaining power source, and communicates reality through words and their arrangement. God set the standard for epistemology when he created the metaphysical world with words. Feelings don’t interpret reality, words do. Feelings are not our authority; feelings must be brought to the court of law for a hearing and a judgment.
Feelings can invoke thinking and thinking can invoke feelings. It works both ways. A feeling arises, like maybe chest pain, and we think, “I could be having a heart attack.” That thought brings a feeling of fear, and then we think, “I’m going to die.” That might be true, and then again it might not be true. As Christians, we must function by truth. More times than not, worry is a lie. An extremely small amount of what we worry about actually happens. The apostle Paul tells us to bring every thought into captivity and bring it under the authority of Christ. Then we are to “dwell” on what is true.
The world dresses up lies to appeal to our desires. “If it feels good, do it.” Therein, feelings are the authority and not truth. I have noticed in our day that Christians rarely bring pithy truisms into the court of truth. There is simply no mental discernment policeman to arrest the thought and interrogate it. Pithy truisms are designed to stimulate the chemistry of the brain with an entertaining poetic ring. “If it feels good, believe it.” Then, eventually, you will do it. Perhaps the most apt example is Doris Day’s rendition of Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be). Who can watch that video and keep from humming that lie to ourselves throughout the rest of the day?
In all of this, God’s word teaches us an important principle: Christians can change their desires through investment. “Where your treasure is, your heart will be there also” Our treasure needs to be the truth. Paul said to “hate what is evil and cling to what is good.” Can you learn to hate someone or something? Sure you can. You ignore it, and you focus on the truth regarding it. That thing you are thinking of may make you feel good, but what is the truth regarding it? Not investing in it and thinking truthfully about it will eventually change our feelings about it. Often, how we feel about something is the only good thing about it, and that has death written all over it. Right doing leads to right feeling (Philippians 4:9).
Joy does not always walk with obedience at every moment, but it will always show up later, if not sooner.
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
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