Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Public Vows


Four months ago today Kenzie and I had the privilege of worshiping the Lord by making covenantal vows before both God and man. Marriage has been a blessing beyond what I can express. I am constantly reminded of the Bride of Christ, and how Christ pursued us to make us his Bride. It is a constant reminder to pursue my wife as Christ pursues the church.

Today I decided to come back and read the vows we made to each other four months ago. It is so easy to forget things in the past. It already feels like forever ago when we stood at our marriage ceremony. Marriage is a public event. Vows are made publicly. People come and celebrate from all over the place. I believe a reason vows are made publicly is so people can be held accountable to the vows they have made. Here are the vows we made to each other. May these be an encouragement to you, and may you help hold Kenzie and I accountable to our vows.

Kenzie, I love you, and I take you as my wedded wife for the purpose of glorifying God. For the purpose of seeking Christ and his kingdom above all things. For the purpose of declaring the gospel and making the name of Jesus Christ known. For the purpose of our sanctification. For the purpose of worship. And I promise to forsake my own needs in order to serve you with my life, even as Christ did for the church. I promise to be faithful, as Christ is faithful to the church. I promise that if the Lord blesses us with children, I will raise them in truth even as Christ has raised us in truth. I promise to hold to these vows no matter what trial we face on this earth.

Ben, I promise to continually strive to love Christ first, and you second. I take you as my husband for the purpose of glorifying the Lord, and seeking His kingdom above all things. I take you as my husband for the purpose of declaring the gospel and making the name of Jesus Christ known.  I promise to daily forsake my own needs and serve you with my life. I promise to submit to you as the head of our family, as Christ is head of the church. I promise to forsake all others and be faithful to you, as the Lord is faithful to us. I promise to be your companion, and support you, even in the difficult times. I promise to hold you accountable, and speak to you with respect and love. I promise if the Lord gives us children, that I will train them in the truth. I promise to hold these vows, no matter what, so that the Lord might be honored and glorified through us.  

I love you babe!

Revelation 19:7

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;



Sunday, December 16, 2012

Christians and Gun Control


The tragedy in Connecticut is obscene and horrendous. No parent should ever have to bury a child, especially a young child, especially a murdered child. This revolting and horrifying event is heartbreaking.  Our prayers and condolences go out to the families and people involved in this terrible situation.

Amidst this tragedy, a political discussion has been pulled to the surface… again. Should the government ban guns? Should more people be armed and have guns? These are the two big questions being discussed. To be honest, I don’t know which of the two options is best (No one really knows because no one knows the future). But in saying this, I do know gun control is not the answer to prevent murder.

The first murder in history is recorded in Genesis 4. Cain is angry and jealous of his brother Abel and he murders him. The root issue with this first murder is the same issue at work in murderers today. They are sinful people. Sin is the issue here, not guns, not knives, not fists. Murder happens because people are sinful and are in desperate need of a Savior.

Gun control is not the answer, Jesus is.

The only way to eliminate sin is through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Guns, laws, and governments do not bring victory over sin. Christ alone gives victory over sin.

I am not convinced the topic of gun control is the best topic to be discussing right now among our Christian brothers and sisters. I have seen political debate over non-gospel issues divide people in the church. Emotional issues like this have the tendency to cause anger against our Christian family when different views are expressed. The ironic thing is that when we get angry and insult each other, we are committing just as serious a sin as murder.

Jesus says in Matthew 5:21-22 “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.”

If you have gotten angry or insulted a brother in Christ over their political view on gun control (or any political view for that matter), then you are just as liable to death and hell as the murderer of the children in Connecticut.

Jesus is the answer to sin and death. Maybe we should be more focused on how to reach more people with the good news of Jesus Christ. Maybe we should be more focused on pursuing people out of love, and telling them that they no longer need to be slaves of sin.

Jesus has the power to defeat sin and death. Let’s be unified and spread the hope we have in Jesus Christ our Lord, Savior, and God.