WSC Q&A #66

Q: What is the reason annexed in the fifth commandment?
A: The reason annexed in the fifth commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment.
Deuteronomy 5:16 Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you. 

When God gave this command and promise, he gave it to God's people as they were expressed in the nation of Israel, about to go into and live in a land given specifically to them, the Promise Land. The promise of a long and prosperous life in the Promise Land was contingent upon the Israelites keeping God's law, here in particular, to obey and honor parents (and all authority figures). Now, of course, God's people are not limited to one nation and one geographic location, but that does not mean the promise is null and void. 

It is important that we understand this is not a magic formula to a long and healthy life. As the catechism points out, these promises are not only contingent on our obedience, but also upon what God deems will bring him the most glory and do us the most good. These two things, God's glory and God's good works towards his people, always take precedence over everything else. And yet, the promises that come with keeping the fifth commandment are good, "common sense" promises. Peace, prosperity, and even longer life are more likely if we listen to the sage advice of our parents and elders, if we submit to the governing authority as far as we can without disobeying God, and if we love one another and serve one another well. 

WSC Q&A #65

Q: What is forbidden in the fifth commandment?
A: The fifth commandment forbids the neglecting of, or doing anything against, the honor and duty which belongs to every one in their several places and relations. 
Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has
fulfilled the law.

Disrespect runs rampant in our society. Just take one casual stroll through your Facebook wall, listen to talk radio for 10 minutes, or listen to how children speak to their parents at the local park. It seems we're all inclined to show disrespect to whomever we please whenever we please. The fifth commandment kicks against this kind of attitude towards others. We, especially as Christians, do not have the luxury of being disrespectful to others. Not to our parents, not to our bosses, not to our children, not even to politicians with whom we disagree. 

"Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law." Can we live this way? Can we live in a way that shows love and respect to all people, regardless of whether or not they believe what we believe, do what we would do, act as we would act? This is the heart of this commandment. We are to show love and honor to all people, even if we deem the person as being "dishonorable". It's one of the hardest things in the world to do, yet, isn't it how Jesus treated everyone around him? Christ is a wonderful example of keeping this commandment, not only in how he honored his earthly father and mother, but also in how he treated everyone he came into contact with, even with those who opposed him. There is not a shred of disrespect or dishonor found in Christ, who kept the law perfectly. By the grace of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of our God, we too can and should strive to treat others this way. 

Worth Reading

Romans 4:13-25

Do you come to our gathered worship service expecting God to speak to you through his Word? We encourage you to prayerfully read through the passage that will be preached prior to the service to help you prepare.

What Do Expiation and Propitiation Mean?

When we talk about the vicarious aspect of the atonement, two rather technical words come up again and again: expiation and propitiation….

This is about the essence of salvation—that as people who are covered by the atonement, we are redeemed from the supreme danger to which any person is exposed. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of a holy God Who’s wrathful. But there is no wrath for those whose sins have been paid. That is what salvation is all about.

The Resurrection of Jesus, the Memory of Chappo, and How History Works

Holy Week and Easter turns our minds naturally to the events in Jerusalem in either AD 30 or 33, and to the Christian contention that Jesus of Nazareth, after his death by crucifixion, was raised from the dead. It is an historical rather that merely religious claim. Christians contend that it happened in time and space.

Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?

This one is worth watching. A short, animated video on the historicity of the resurrection that you might find enjoyable and edifying this Easter. May be particularly appealing to children and youth.

WSC Q&A #64

Q: What is required in the fifth commandment?
A: The fifth commandment requires the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to every one in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors or equals. 
1 Peter 2:17: Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Here again is this emphasis on honoring all authority. I think most of us understand this. We understand that those in authority over us, even when they do not act honorably, should be shown honor. For example, regardless of how you feel about a particular president or his policies, if you were invited to meet with him, you would certainly show him honor. Very few people would openly dishonor or show disrespect to one who has authority over them.

However, the catechism is taking this even further, and the verse from 1 Peter 2 emphasizes the point the catechism is making. The catechism says that the 5th commandment really teaches us to honor everyone! We, as the children of God, are to honor those who have authority over us, those who may be considered our equals, and also those who we may tend to think of as inferior to us. "Honor everyone", Peter would write. And why? Because, as he would write in the preceding verse, we are servants of God. Jesus Christ is our great example in this, isn't he? He truly has authority over every single being. Every person he met in his earthly ministry was an inferior to him. And yet, Jesus says in Mark 10:45 that "the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

If we are to reflect the attitude and posture of our Lord, if we are to strive to be Christ-like, then we too must live not to be served, but to serve, and in doing so, we may truly honor all people. 

Worth Reading

Mark 15:21-47

Do you come to our gathered worship service expecting God to speak to you through his Word? We encourage you to prayerfully read through the passage that will be preached prior to the service to help you prepare.

The Holy Spirit Never “Convicts” Christians

So if the Holy Spirit doesn’t convict us, condemn us, or otherwise put us on guilt trips, what does He do?

Two Vantage Points Become One

In a similar way, Scripture helps us see past the dark times to the coming end-of-days party. Or to put it more accurately, the Spirit swoops in on our earth-bound existence and takes us into the triune God, from whose vantage point all things look very different. Everything changes once our vision is aligned with the Lord’s.

10 MARKS OF AN IMMATURE BELIEVER

Be not then discouraged, you who discern in yourselves but small measures of grace; look on your wants and imperfections so as to grow in grace, and not to be content with any measure, but look not on the small beginning in grace as discouragement to you. When you see a great oak in a field, you may say this great tree was once but a small acorn…Grace, where it is true, will be growing.