The Beauty of God's Holiness, by Thomas L. Trevethan

It was the title of this book that caught my eye, as I see few books about holiness today. That holds true, whether this applies to religious sections in libraries or bookstores, or Christian bookstores. The cover of this book has a lovely picture of trees, reflecting God's image as Creator. The author, Thomas Trevethan, was an author I have never heard of until I purchased this book used at a used general bookstore. He is an area Director for the Southeastern Michigan region of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. He has also written another book I have never heard of, OUR JOYFUL CONFIDENCE. This book, THE BEAUTY OF GOD'S HOLINESS, begins with a preface preparing the reader for much of the strong material that is much of the book. Part 1 establishes the reality of God's holiness and provides an exposition on it, based on the Bible. Part 2 outlines the reality of our sin, our need for Jesus, what He actually did for us, and what our response to this holy, gracious, majestic God should be. The book contains headings within the text and frequent Bible quotations. The author closes with four pages of notes to cite his sources.

This book lives up to the title and is solidly God-focused. I did not come to this book expecting any of the watered-down gospel that I so often hear preached and taught in local church fellowships. I knew that this book would not affirm me or even tell me that Jesus died for me because "I was worth it to Him." The author's sole purpose is to exalt and glorify the Person of God. This is not light or entertaining reading but is for serious Christians who want a fresh vision of God in a Western culture that is, frankly, worldly and self-absorbed. This book fully explains what God's holiness is and it explains many hard-to-understand or hard-to-accept passages. For example, the author debunked the idea that the prophet Elisha was an "ill-tempered boor" when he was angry at some young people who were mocking his bald head of hair. The author also debunks any thought of God's meanness of spirit when He struck these youths dead (p129). According to the author, this prophet had to have respect or else He could not effectively serve God as His mouthpiece. The author's explanations often are not what we would like but his goal is not to please readers, but to please God. The author also expands, in more detail than we would like, about how serious is our sin, how an affront to God's holiness we are, why we so desperately need Jesus, and why His death on the cross fully satisfies God's wrath. While much in this book is not what we may want to hear, it is what we badly need to hear. As the book is so grounded in Scripture and continually points to it, I could do little to mentally rebut much of anything in this book even though the author obviously takes a dim view of human nature. This is the kind of book that I will want to read over and over, not to be entertained but to appreciate God for all He is, and to fulfill the command to consider God's goodness and severity together. This author admits that this book is not the "whole counsel of God," as it emphasizes the holiness, justice and judgment of God, rather than His love and His grace. As the love and grace of God are typically over-emphasized at the expense of His holiness and justice, this book seeks to provide a much-needed balance.

I recommend this book for every Pastor in the land. I recommend it especially for pastors who have caved into the relativism, humanism, consumerism, and secularism of this Western culture and have watered down the strong Gospel. This book will provide abundant motivation and perspective for fleeing from the temptation to "tickle ears" to avoid offending hearers and losing members and their contributions. I also recommend this book for every Christian though I fear that many will have the patience to plod through this deep book, or to handle the blatantly God-centered thrust of the text. But we cannot focus on the traits of God we like and ignore all the others. Even a casual reading of Scripture will make it very clear that God is an infinitely holy God Who cannot tolerate the slightest sin, Who cannot and will not accept us apart from His Son's perfect and bloody sacrifice of His life, and is the Judge before Who you and I will have to stand before on Judgment Day and give account for how we have lived our lives. I think a youth version of this book needs to be written.

Are Roman Catholics Followers of Jesus?

Jesus' sacrifice is a once-time sacrifice. They treat the Eucharist as an actual presence of Jesus' body and blood every time they partake of it.

Jesus is, according to the Bible, the only Mediator we need with God the Father. They teach that we need The Virgin Mary as "co-redemptrix."

We are free to pray to God in our own words as long as we do so in faith. They teach that we must use a Rosary and other special prayers.

Scripture recognizes Baptism and the Eucharist as the only Sacraments we need. They teach these, adding things like The Holy Water, the burning of incense and others rituals.

Jesus makes clear that we have only one Father, God. They teach that the Pope and lesser Priests and others are to be called "Holy Father."

We who follow Jesus are all called saints. They hold a canonization system for special people to get this title.

Marriage is considered sacred among even Pastors in the Bible. They forbid their priests and nuns marriage.

What I like About Roman Catholics

This describes the worldwide religious body called the Roman Catholic Church. On my first blog, I am reviewing a book by an artist, from the Jesus Movement, who had converted to the Roman Catholic religion. In the past, I have read some other books by Catholic writers. I have always admired Mother Teresa. As a "pro-life" person, I commend the strong stance this religious body has on abortion, though I believe that they go too far in prohibiting birth control even in marriage. Yes, I know that without the awesome obedience of Jesus' earthly mother, Mary, the salvation plan would never have happened (or God would have had to turn to someone else as the means to bring His Son into the world to become God made man). Mary had a major role in her human Son's life and was there throughout His life, even standing at the foot of the cross as He was dying. Yes, we are to value and observe the two Sacraments that the Bible has called us to observe. Yes, we are terribly sinful and need a Mediator to give us access to a holy God, Who cannot tolerate even the smallest speck of our sin. But does God need all that this religious body has added to His teachings?

What I Don't Like About the Roman Catholic Teachings

When I was growing up, I was led to believe that the Roman Catholic religion was just a variant of Christianity, though it added to the simple message of the Christian faith. Even early into my adulthood, I did not really question it though I would never want to join any Roman Catholic fellowship. I would see Catholic versions of Bibles at bookstores or book fairs and wonder why they had to add "their books" to the inspired Word of God. I know of at least one person who had ultimately left the denomination of my childhood, to become part of the Roman Catholic religious body; however, I know of quite a few people who testify that while they grew up in the Catholic religion, they left it. The religion of my childhood, itself, like Roman Catholicism itself, adds to Scripture and to the simple Gospel of Jesus by teaching and practicing infant baptism, which has no Biblical grounds. But when I read books by Catholic authors, it was clear that their teachings added to the Gospel of Christ, complicating its simplicity of simply trusting Christ's one-time atoning death for us, to save us. We can do nothing--zip, zero, none--to earn our salvation or to add a thing to what Jesus did for us at Calvary. Nothing! Even the repentance and faith that are required of us are gifts that we cannot do unaided. This, as I see it, is the heart of the problem with the Roman Catholic religion. I do not have anything against any Roman Catholic individuals. I am certain that many Catholics trust in Jesus alone for their salvation, and stay in that religion for their own reasons. Maybe they want to be a force for good among other Catholics, and to witness to them. Maybe they are married to spouses that will not leave. Maybe they fear to leave because of family intimidation. In many visits to bookstores and libraries, I have seen numerous Catholic books. In more recent years, I have seen many apologetics teachers and nonprofits that called the Roman Catholic religion a cult and even interpret the "Harlot Church" of Revelation to be the Roman Catholic Church. I have read those verses and the end of this "Harlot Church" is not a pretty one. And her "Daughters" in Revelation are either considered to our Protestant denominations who have been influenced by this godless culture, or are interpreted to be false teachers like Joyce Meyer, Rob Bell, Benny Hinn, or Joel Osteen. Considering how our culture is moving away from any moral compass and how the modern Church has gotten away from Biblical Christianity, these interpretations of the Bible make sense.

On Popes and Priests and Jesus

I remember when the Pose, years ago, came to the United States. I remember all the hype surrounding his arrival. He had extensive security, including what was called a Popemobile. I knew, even then, that being a public figure, he was especially vulnerable. I could not help but contrast this arrival to that of Jesus, the Son of God made man, over 2000 years ago when He was riding into Jerusalem to die on a cross for the sins of the world. Jesus, like the Pope, was at this time a public figure. His gracious ministry, full of teaching, preaching and healings, was very well-known. Threats were constantly being made against His life, because of His boldness in standing up to the religious leaders of His day. But guess what? Though He was every bit physically at-risk as the Pope was, He did not use extensive security to protect Himself when He arrived in Jerusalem. He rode in on a donkey, and had only palm branches surrounding Him, as well as worshiping people, children included. Aside from this, in light of all the sexual abuse scandals surrounding priests, I find it amazing that the Roman Catholic religious body has been able to get new followers. Now I'm fully aware of the many Protestant religious leaders and Pastors have their share of scandals, often sexual immorality or white collar crime scandals. So no denomination has a corner on this "equal opportunity destroyer" called scandals among Pastors or other religious leaders, public or private. However, because priests are forbidden to marry and have no outlet for their sexual desires, I think that this helps explain (but not excuse!) why sexual abuse has been reported as so prevalent among Catholic priests. The authority structure of the Roman Catholic religious body is not Scriptural. There is nothing in the Bible that says that God needs a Pope as the Head of Rome, to oversee its millions of followers. There is nothing in the Bible that tells us that priests or any other religious leader, cannot marry. There is absolutely nothing anywhere in the Bible that indicates that God needs Mary as a third party and go-between, to have us access Him. This unique role is reserve solely for His Son, Jesus, Who died a once-for-all death so that only He is needed! Roman Catholic leaders and those who believe in all these Catholic teachings, are adding many things to the Word of God and putting themselves and others in the position of experiencing God's judgment unless they repent and believe the simple Gospel of Christ, that we are saved by the once-for-all death of Jesus Christ through faith.

If You are A Roman Catholic or Know A Roman Catholic

If you are Roman Catholic or know Roman Catholics, I have nothing against you. It is your religion that I have problems with. If you read the Bible, you will see that God has problems with a complicated religion that adds to the simple Gospel of Christ. You will not be held accountable for being raised in this religion, just as you would not be held accountable for growing up up in any other religion. But I believe that God holds you accountable to read His Word and to see if all you have been taught is so, or if you have been taught wrong things. I am including a link to a webpage that includes more about the origins and history of the Roman Catholic religion. You can find it here.

Reformation In World Missions by Bob Finley

This book is written by an international mission whose mission is to send funds to native Christian ministries in so-called mission field countries all over the world. These countries are in many closed countries and hostile areas that do not welcome foreign Christian workers as missionaries. Headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, Christian Aid Mission sends financial assistance to over 700 native missions that operate more than 400 Bible institutes and centers that train native Christian missionaries. These missions and training centers send over 80,000 native, front-line Christian missionaries on the field. Many of these workers work in closed lands of persecution, and in areas hostile to Christianity, where American (and I'm sure no other Western) missionaries are not welcome. This author is the founder and owner of Christian Aid Mission, after traveling to both Korea and China. This book's first chapter begins with a call to change and why this change is needed. The second chapter establishes why the Bible does not support the traditional mission model of sending out foreign Western missionaries to continents like Asia or Africa or to other lands. The third chapter provides the Biblical model. The rest of the chapters make a case for native Christian missions and missionaries, using numerous stories from and examples of why the traditional mission model is no longer relevant and why it must be generally abandoned. The book ends with a final chapter and a "final word" that sum up the arguments of this book. The book concludes with a glossary of specialized terms.

The title pretty much describes what this book is all about. I had read a book of a similar nature on this very same subject, so this book and its arguments did not take me by surprise. I'm talking about REVOLUTION IN WORLD MISSIONS, which I have reviewed in an earlier post. I'm even more convinced by this author's case that he makes for native Christian missions and native Christian missionaries. I found myself being surprised at how our Western co-patriots, as missionaries, have come off to so many severely impoverished peoples whom they were sincerely trying to reach. And our traditional, Western missionaries have, as long as I can remember, been almost idolized as "elite Christians" and models for all of us to follow. The author's credibility is enhanced by the fact that he himself is Western. He is not speaking as a critical or envious international person, not can he be construed as such a person. This author gives due credit to the pioneer missionaries, even to saying how unworthy he feels that he is of them. His argument is that the need for such missionaries is largely over in many closed nations and hostile areas, where there are native Christian workers, usually working at great personal cost and risk, trying to make Christ known to underreached and unreached people groups. This author provides many examples from both Scripture and from modern experience for why we Christians in the must change our traditional missions model to this evolving, growing model that is going on today. I'm so convinced by his call to de-emphasize sending Westerners to "mission field countries" and instead to stay home and support native Christian workers, that I have given my last book on this topic to our local congregation. The author argues how focusing on staying home and sending resources to impoverished native Christian workers, would go farther to further the cause of Christ than to send Westerners who are often viewed with suspicion by native peoples and understandably. I know that many in the Christian community may not want to let go of our traditional model and the author points this out. But if we really want to see Christ made known by "those who have not heard," we should be open to his point of view and pray about this, corporately and as individuals.

I strongly recommend this book for every Pastor and for all those who serve on church boards. I also strongly recommend this book for any and every Christian who is interested in world missions or is interested in becoming a professional missionary. They may not like this author's arguments and may be offended and even insulted, but this is a message that must be heard by every people who cares about "those who have not heard." I recommend this book for all individual Christians. This book and others can be obtained free of charge at the website of the nonprofit called Christian Aid Mission. You can go here.

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Should We Talk About Falling In Love With Jesus?

I have seen a trend among many well-meaning Christian writers and singers. I understand why they do this.

I have read books and heard songs inviting me to "fall in love with Jesus" and to "have a love affair with God." This sounds very beautiful.

Especially this theological metaphor has been used most in addressing single people and those in unhappy marriages. "Just let Jesus be your Husband," is the invitation.

Especially in some modern Christian music, singers seem to like to sing of the Christian life as a "love affair" with Jesus. I have found this to be so especially among early modern Christian music.

It is true that the Church is depicted in the Bible as the Bride of Christ and we are His Body which He loves with a deep, tender, self-sacrificing love. The command for husbands in Christian marriages to love their wives is based on our relationship with Christ and based on this metaphor. Other parts of Scripture depict the Church as the Bride of Christ and us as His Body. If you really read the Bible, though, you will not be able to find anywhere that we are, as individuals, depicted as individual "brides of Christ." In fact, I have noticed all over Scripture, that everywhere that God's love is mentioned, it is always addressed to us collectively. In the New Testament, when God's love is mentioned, it is almost always addressed to the Church of Christ collectively. Is it that God does not see us as individuals, only as a group or groups? This used to bother me. However, it is clear, in the teaching of the Election of followers of Jesus, that God elects us as individuals "before the foundation of the world."

Jesus did mention what constitutes love for Him. He tells us, "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15, NIV). Before we says, "Amen!" we have to get it into our heads what this means and that this is hard stuff. Just read the Sermon on the Mount, for starters. He meant every word He said there, and everywhere else.

This very same Jesus will be the One before Whom all us us will have to stand at the Judgment Seat, to receive rewards as His followers (if we receive any). I wish that our Pastors would preach about the Judgment and about the reality of the stark fact that each of us will have to give an account for how we have lived on Earth. This is bad news for those who do not know Jesus, but it is bad news also for many of us who have lived careless Christian lives and have lived for ourselves instead of Jesus who had lived and died for us.

Devotion should not be confused with emotion. I fear that this metaphor of the Christian life as "falling in love with Jesus" can set us up to do just that. But as I can tell you, we dare not walk by our emotions or gauge our spiritual health based on what we feel.

Yes, by all means, Following Jesus is all about loving Him because He first loved us! But we need to realize how Jesus spells love. It is call "O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E." This should prompt us to pray for fully surrendered hearts that want to do whatever He asks of us.

This is the kind of Bride He is coming back for, one with a pure and unspotted wedding garment of holy lives.

He calls us to fulfill the Great Commission, to go and make disciples "of all nations." You can help to fulfill this Great Commission in a very simple way. Please visit here.

What Will It Take to Purify the Church in the West?

When I often read about the lives and the testimonies of our severely persecuted brothers and sisters in Jesus worldwide, and then read Scripture, I see much that they share in common. When I survey the situation of so much of the modern Church in the West and of my own life and then read the same Scripture, I see a disconnect. Our severely persecuted brothers and sisters i Jesus, outside the West, often live life in the Book of Acts. They so often are much closer to Biblical Christianity than most of us followers of Jesus in the West.

On the other side of the world, followers of Jesus meet secretly in homes, forests, or wherever they will remain undetected by authorities or by others hostile to them. The Holy Spirit moves in power among them. God is known to move in power in countries outside the West. The faith of these followers of Jesus, tried by fire, enables them to take Jesus at His Word. They are open to the supernatural. There is minimal structure or control, though there is order. They are lost in the wonder of the holiness of God. The Gospel is preached in purity; both the love and severity of God are considered together. They do not hide the offense of the cross to get converts, and they don't tell you how to "live your best life now." They pray for strength to stand strong and not deny their faith, even in the face of death. These gatherings are largely inter-generational and diverse. They don't ever want this meeting to end, as they know when it does they will go back to hell. They have to be careful to discreetly worship to escape detection by those who would arrest them for this "crime" or who would attack them for this "alien religion." They literally take their lives in their hands to meet like this. They concern themselves more with what they look like to God than about impressing each other, as they are all in the same boat.

Getting closer to home, we have a far different picture. Churchgoers get all dressed up to go to meet with may others in a building. This building is called a church. It works best if that building has a steeple, and the service has either a choir in a sanctuary or a band in an auditorium. The Pastor makes sure to keep his sermon to about 20 or so minutes. You hear much about the love of God, exhortation you "can live your best life now," but much is left out. God forbid that we mention Hell or God's wrath. Usually prayers, readings and worship is all structured. We dare not commit any breach of etiquette in what is considered this holy place. Everyone is largely out to impress everyone else, or at least to look "respectable." The Holy Spirit has little room to move in this atmosphere. In more "progressive" fellowships, the atmosphere is more relaxed but the same principles apply and still, the worship service runs more like a business than a fellowship of believers in whom God lives. We have may have groups, but they are homogenized and age-segregated, for the most part. After an hour of "worship," we are eager to leave, maybe after having some "fellowship" over coffee and doughnuts.

What is the disconnect here?
The first example is based on much research as to what a typical worship service looks like in many closed countries or conflict areas where religious freedom does not exist. The second example is what a typical worship service in the West, especially America, looks like. I ask you, dear brothers and sisters in Jesus, which example of a worship service looks more like the New Testament and like Biblical Christianity? Which example is more conducive to challenging us to bearing much fruit and to spiritual growth, as Jesus expects? Which example is more costly but also more rewarding?

If we are honest with ourselves and each other, we must make some admissions about much of the Church in the West. We may not face overt, blatant enemies like swords, threats, bombs, wars, or physical persecution, but our enemies are just as real. They are just as bad for our souls as these other blatant enemies are to our severely persecuted brothers and sisters in Jesus worldwide. I'm talking about things that we tend to readily let slip in the "back doors" of our local fellowships and influence us. I am talking about enemies such as materialism, individualism, secularism, relativism, traditionalism, and consumerism. How does that work? you may wonder.

Think about it.

We are to follow Jesus in the context of our cultures and we certainly cannot change the enemies we face, short of leaving our lands and taking residence outside the West. But I don't think most of us are called to do that. We can, though, prayerfully work to resist our subtle enemies and partner with nonprofits that serve the persecuted. We can do what we can to live more simply and sacrificially. We can stand with our severely persecuted brothers and sisters in Jesus in prayer and through giving to nonprofits that serve them. Or we can continue to "sleep in the light" and wait for God to purify us in the same way He has purified and tried so many of our brothers and sisters in Jesus outside the West. Some Christian leaders are predicting that severe persecution is coming to the West, especially America. Only God knows that for sure, but what will we need to purify us?

While no one wants severe persecution to befall us, what weapon does God have left to wake us up?

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