WSC Q&A #68

Q: What is required in the sixth commandment?
A: The sixth commandment requires all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life, and the life of others.
Genesis 9:6 Whoever sheds the blood of a man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. 

This commandment very much concerns itself with how we view human life. It shows us that God values human life. Why? Why does God value human life? Because of what Moses wrote in the first few chapters of Genesis. When God created man, he created him male and female after his own image. Human beings are special acts of God's creation. We are image bearers of God himself. This week's Scripture passage from Genesis 9 reemphasizes this idea. The shedding of blood is hated by God, "for God made man in his own image". When we do things that harm or destroy ourselves or our fellow men, we are harming or destroying the image of God in that person. 

Again, think  beyond the surface wording of this commandment to the heart issue underneath. Not only are we to not intentionally do things that would damage our lives or the lives of others, but we are to actively preserve life, in accordance with the laws of our land and of course, the law of God. This means a lot of things. It should effect how we think about our own bodies. Are we good stewards of ourselves? Do we eat right, exercise, take general care of our health? Do we concern ourselves with the wellbeing of our neighbors? How does this commandment effect how we live in community with our fellow man? How does it effect our political views? Our views on life, our views on social justice, our views on foreign policy? How does it effect our views on the church itself, both locally and globally? Are we actively endeavoring to preserve all life whenever possible? These are big questions. Many of them are matters of conscience, and as the Westminster Confession states, God alone is Lord of the conscience. But I hope to at least get us to think through these issues. It's my hope that we would actively seek to apply God's law to all aspects of our lives, because God's law does indeed speak to all aspects of life!

Worth Reading

Ruth 2

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 Ministry of the Pew

A great follow up on last week’s point from Ruth’s commitment: Your people shall be my people. Practical ideas for us as a young church learning to Love People.

Ray’s advice was based on a particular view of church. He saw church as a place where Christians go to work. Church is a gathering of God’s people to hear his word and respond in faith and obedience. In this gathering, we are in fellowship with each other, through the blood of Jesus, and, because of our fellowship, we seek to serve each other. We use our gifts and abilities to strengthen one another and build Christ’s Church—‘edification’ is the word often used to describe what goes on in church. All believers are involved in building the church, not just clergy or preachers. The New Testament consistently teaches that in the growth of the body of Christ each part must do its work (see Eph 4; 1 Cor 12-14). Because of this, we aren’t to see ourselves merely as part of an organization called [Proclamation Church], but as servants of God’s people, eager to meet the needs of others even if it means sacrificing our own.

GLADYS AYLWARD – TOUCHING WITH GOD’S LOVE

Take a moment to read this true story recounting the wondrous deeds of the Lord:

Gladys Aylward (1902-1970), a plucky British missionary to China, was once led of the Lord to minister for several months in China’s second largest prison. At the same time, she was ministering at a nearby leper colony, and the Christians there earnestly prayed for her prison ministry.

In Community Group with David Foster Wallace

Reflecting on Wallace’s depiction of community, I couldn’t help but think: Wouldn’t this be a great kind of church, a great community? One filled with listeners who identified your pain as part of their own. One of such un-pretense that even the most bottomless confession is received with grace by people who all count themselves as the chief of sinners. One of such consistency that the members live life together instead of merely gathering when they feel like they need it and scattering until their next crisis.

WSC Q&A #67

Q: Which is the sixth commandment?
A: The sixth commandment is, You shall not murder.
Romans 13:9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

This is one of those commandments where many of us think, "this is an easy one to keep!" But remember, the commandments are summaries of God's law. There's much more to keeping any one of the commandments than simply obeying the outward sign. So it is with this commandment. There is much more to keeping this commandment than simply not taking another person's life. There's a heart issue at play. This is why Jesus says on the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire."

The Heidelberg Catechism has a wonderful section on the 6th commandment, showing us how it is not only the outward acts that matter, but also the inward heart reality:

106. Q. But does this commandment speak only of killing?
A. By forbidding murder God teaches us that he hates the root of murder, such as envy, hatred, anger, and desire of revenge, and that he regards all these as murder.

107. Q. Is it enough, then that we do not kill our neighbor in any such way?
A. No. When God condemns envy, hatred, and anger, he commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves, to show patience, peace, gentleness, mercy, and friendliness toward him, to protect him from harm as much as we can, and to do good even to our enemies.

Worth Reading

Ruth 1:6-22

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.

Jesus is Real, Living, Precious, and Present

Christ is a real, true, living friend. He is the Christian’s closest friend. But like any friendship, it is a friendship that must be maintained by mutual knowing. So how do we come to know Christ and learn to trust him more and more over time? In other words, how does Christ become a more and more real friend in our lives? …

If you want to know Jesus, be much in his Word

A Sky Unsullied by Clouds: William Wilberforce gives hope to a 14 year old girl in pain

And yours my dear Girl is a Sun which will never go down, but will get brighter & brighter with a Warmth & brilliance, of which now you can have no conception. I dare say you know & like Cowper. He, you know, speaks of "a Vault unsullied with a Cloud." Now therefore accustom yourself to think "the Scene around me is gloomy and darksome, but a friendly and, that a divine, Hand of a kind and loving Saviour, is leading me on the Way He sees best for me, & in His own good time He will bring me into the Light.

I Will Bear Witness | Heath Lambert’s Testimony

This one is worth listening to / watching. Perhaps Sunday evening when you would have been at church before, or play it while you work around the house. Whatever you have to do, I urge you to listen to it.

This plenary session took place at the 2014 Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation National Conference. For more information about CCEF and their resources, visit ccef.org

Worth Reading

Ruth 1:1-6

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.

Christ Descended into Hell: No Hope without It

Of the twelve affirmations that constitute the Apostles' Creed -- perhaps the most regularly recited statement of basic Christian doctrine in the western Church of the last 1500 years -- none has caused greater uncertainty and debate over the centuries than that declaring that Jesus Christ "descended into hell."

Followed By The God of Grace

It was early in my junior year at Virginia Tech—and I felt like everywhere I turned, God was following me around…

Do not underestimate how important it is to always be throwing Gospel seed wherever you go. Whether we are on a beach, in a Waffle House, flying a plane, driving drunk people home, or doing normal life; remember that God is working to call His people to Himself—and He is using you to do it.

My wife regularly reminds me that “every brief encounter is from the Lord.” It may be a full Gospel conversation on a short-term mission trip or it may be simply asking a cashier how you can pray for them. God uses all sorts of “brief encounters” to awaken Gospel interest in the hearts of His elect.

The question is, are you actively seeking ways to help others hear the good news of the sinner-seeking Savior?

The Title of “Brother” Means Something

I grew up in the church and I’ve always heard the title “brother” as a prefix to almost every man in the church. As I became a teenager, I remember thinking that the prefix was merely an old fashioned way of addressing one another in the church. . . I came to understand that the title was not merely an antiquated word thrown around in the community of the local church. (The article addresses the title “brother”, but applies equally to “sister”.)