Blessed Assurance

            Hello, everyone! It’s been a little while since I’ve filled up this space. I hope you all are staying safe and enjoying a slower time during this COVID-19 pandemic. I’m grateful that I’ve been able to enjoy significant quality time with those around me, including a scenic hike to Machine Falls in Tullahoma, TN. Here in Tennessee, the restrictions are beginning to ease up quite a bit. I ate in a restaurant for the first time in months last Friday! I’d never been so glad to see Mexican food.

              If you know me, you know I love to discuss and debate theology. One of the questions I am asked time and time again is in regard to the eternal security of the believer.  More simply put, once a Christian is “saved”, can they ever become “unsaved”? Said another way, once a Christian places faith in Christ, do they have assurance that they will persevere to Salvation? It’s a question that has splintered Protestantism almost from the beginning and is a doctrine worthy of intense study.

              The doctrine of the eternal security of the believer gained popularity in Calvin’s Geneva and through other like-minded reformers of the 16^th century. The doctrine, however, took a dramatic turn within the American context during the period of revival that is known as the Great Awakening.  So, what changed you ask?

              The biggest difference between the confessionally Reformed thought strain and the Great Awakening thinking prevalent in modern Evangelicalism today is on whom the focus of assurance lies. For Calvin and those in his vein, the focus of assurance is external, or God-focused. That is, God brings His people to final perseverance through the ordinary means of Grace – Word and Sacrament.

              The purpose of this post is not to examine the doctrine of double predestination, most often associated with Calvin today. However, to properly discuss how the modern Evangelical version of the assurance of Salvation came about, we must articulate at a basic level what the double predestination entails. At its most basic, un-nuanced level, double predestination asserts that God predetermined before the beginning of time who would be saved and who would be damned to Hell based on nothing but His own desires. The doctrine essentially denies that man has any semblance of free will. Those considered the “elect” are predestined for Heaven, while the “reprobate” are destined for damnation regardless of anything they do. Again, I’m not discussing my opinion on this doctrine here (Although, I’d be happy to have this conversation with any one of you one-on-one!).

              As the notion of the eternal security of the “elect” spread from continental Europe to the British Isles and eventually America, Christians began to try to determine if they were among the “elect” who would be destined for Heaven.  Unfortunately, instead of resting on God’s means of Grace in the Word and Sacraments, believers began to look inward for signs of election.  Revivalist preachers in the Great Awakening such as John Wesley and George Whitefield began to emphasize instances of personal conversion as evidence that a believer was a “true” believer and would have eternal life. Other preachers used verses such as Matthew 7:17 to indicate that a believer could know if they were saved or not based upon the fruit their life yielded. Matthew 7:17 reads as follows: “Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” Eventually, this line of thinking led to the development of things like the “Sinner’s Prayer” and the “Romans Road”, through which one was thought to have invited Christ into the very depths of their heart. Subsequently, salvation was secured for that believer at the time the prayer was prayed.

              Dramatic conversion experiences and producing good fruit are good things, right? So, what is flawed with this line of thinking?

              Conversion experiences are undeniably wonderful and are to be cherished and celebrated. I cherish my own conversion story and love to recount it any chance I get (Let me tell you about it sometime!). I love to hear the conversion stories of others in which they speak of the faithfulness of God in their lives.  In fact, I’d love to hear more conversion stories than I’m hearing right now. I want to hear stories about how the love of God has opened eyes and changed lives forever. Nonetheless, as Christians, we shouldn’t look to our conversion experience as assurance of our eternal salvation. Doing so opens the door ever so slightly for Satan to create doubt in our minds. More than likely, there will come a time in all of our lives in which we struggle and invariably start to question if our own conversion was legitimate. Was it all just an act? Was it sincere? Did God accept my conversion? This crevice of an opening is all Satan needs in order to wage spiritual warfare against us.

              Similarly, producing good fruit is very important – the Scripture I referenced above commands it, in fact. However, the fruit produced must be an outworking of the Grace which God has so lovingly bestowed upon us. Fruit production should never be used as one criterion in a formula to determine if one is “saved” or not.  Doing so opens the door for a de facto works-based salvation – the very doctrine the Reformers fought so hard to dispense with.  It also creates internal strife and hand wringing. For the fruit checkers, no matter how much good fruit is produced, they can never know if it is enough in the eyes of God. Scripture doesn’t give us a threshold for good works to be performed. Is 1 good work a day enough? 5? 10? 20? (spoiler alert – no amount good works is ever enough to earn the salvific Grace of God!) You get the point – using the production of good fruit to prove one is saved only leads to frustration and more uncertainty. Leave the fruit checking to the farmers, this is a battle that can never be won.

              Fortunately for us as Christians, this frustration is unnecessary and can be easily avoided. All that we need to do is to look outward to God for signs of His promises rather than looking inward to evaluate ourselves based upon our own merits. In His Holy Word and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, God has given us real, objective means of Grace to seal us in His promises. None of these three things require an ounce of subjective guesswork on our part.  When we read the Scriptures, get Baptized, or partake of His body and precious blood, we have objective evidence that we are abiding in Him. Next time you feel yourself struggling with your faith, look away from yourself and towards the promises of God sealed to us in the ordinary means of Grace.

In Christ,

Kendal May

Grace and Peace

Peace, fleeting as can be,

Like the cotton candy remnant of a beautiful summer day.

Listlessly drifting to and fro amidst a raging sea,

Peace, there must be a way.

Troublesome, the times appear,

With anxiety and doubt commencing from every direction.

Every corner of the subconscious teeming with fear,

Gasping, in search of perfection.

Pride, the reason for stumble,

Mercilessly trapping God’s people in lies and deceit.

As the walls close in and the world begins to crumble,

Begrudgingly, we admit defeat.

Prostrate, we come before the Lord,

From our torturous anguish and transgressions, we plead to depart.

A relationship so fractured and blemished, how could it ever be restored?

Grace, which He wills to impart.

Grace, free as can be,

Meandering with purpose from God on the mount.

Unmerited favor which allows us to become Holy,

Peace, springs plentiful from this fount.

Easter Liturgies

Easter Liturgy

              As we prepare to enter into this time of worship on Easter Sunday, we joyfully proclaim the resurrection of our Savior. Just as the man in the white robe who encountered the women at the tomb, let us become emboldened to share this Good News with all those whom we meet on our journey.  The void now occupying the tomb has filled the void in our relationship with the Father, turning darkness into light, night into day, and most importantly – death into life. The righteous blood poured out for the whole world on Calvary has perfectly atoned for our transgressions so that we may have everlasting life and become conformed to His most holy image. Let the brilliant splendor of this glorious mystery draw us ever nearer to the God who sent His only son to perish in our place. The tomb has been rolled away - all those living in darkness have now seen a great light.¹

Alleluia! Alleluia!

1. Isaiah 9:2

Easter Liturgy Alternate

              As we prepare to enter into this time of worship on Easter Sunday, let us give thanks and praise to our God for the gift of His only son, our Savior and our Holy Redeemer. By pouring out His blood for us on Calvary, He filled us with the hope of everlasting life, if only we would believe in Him. In descending into Hell, Christ ensured that we are not consigned to that awful fate – but one much greater. Upon rising on the third day, He rebuilt the Temple and fulfilled that which was prophesied long ago. Now, let us share this Good News with all that we meet on our journey. We must declare His glory among the nations and His marvelous works among all the people.¹  For it is His marvelous works and not our own which reconcile us to a right relationship with the Father and conform us to become justified in His sight. For this, we offer a never-ending hymn of praise.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

1. Psalm 96:3

Waiting with Eagerness

                 How quickly we’ve made it to Saturday of Holy Week. Hopefully, the weather where you are is just as beautiful as it is here in Tennessee. It’s been brilliantly clear with highs in the 60’s over the past few days. Hard to argue with that this time of year.

              I’ve really been enjoying all of the writing I’ve been able to do this week, and it is my sincere prayer that my readers are able to glean a little something from each of my posts. I pray that God will give me the wisdom to write the things that people need to hear in the current time. I’ve had quite a few posts this week. If you’ve missed some of them, now is a great time to catch up.

Palm Sunday: Some reflections of Jesus’s entrance into the city of Jerusalem.

https://kendalwordandsacrament.blogspot.com/2020/04/palm-sunday-reflections.html

Life as a Christian: Some thoughts on how my life has changed since reverting to the practice of my Christian faith about three years ago.

https://kendalwordandsacrament.blogspot.com/2020/04/life-as-christian.html

Holy Thursday: The shepherd becomes the lamb so that His sheep may have eternal life.

https://kendalwordandsacrament.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-final-passover-lamb.html

Good Friday: A short poem I wrote about the trek to Calvary.

https://kendalwordandsacrament.blogspot.com/2020/04/good-friday-poem.html

              Good Friday has now come and gone. The once and for all spotless sacrifice has been offered and the veil of the temple torn in two. There is now only one more sleep until we wake up and experience the glorious resurrection of Christ. Even though we’ve experienced Easter Sunday numerous times before, I hope you still long to celebrate like it’s your first Easter as a Christian. This miraculous rising from the dead should never become old and stale but should remain fresh and invigorating.

              So, what do we do now? We wait, of course. We wait for the glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  Holy Saturday is a day filled with eagerness and anticipation of what we know is coming.  We await the chance to proclaim, “Alleluia! Christ, the Lord is risen today”.  I think this waiting is so good for our Christian souls at it exposes the longing we have for our resurrected Savior. It exposes the desire to be filled with hope of eternal life. All of this is great and much needed!

              But do we also remember that Christ will be coming again one day? We profess in the Apostle’s Creed that He will come again on the last day to judge the living and the dead and His kingdom will have no end. Do we anticipate the second coming with the same gusto with which we anticipate the resurrection? Do we live each day in eager anticipation of the day in which Christ will return and establish the New Heavens and the New Earth. If we are being brutally honest, the answer for most of us (myself included) is no. Sure, we know that the second coming will be nothing short of astonishing, but we certainly don’t long for it as much as we’d like to think we do.

              So, I want to issue a challenge to all of us today (again, myself included). I challenge all of us to approach each day with the same anticipation as Holy Saturday when we are looking ahead to Easter Sunday.  Let’s be bold in sharing the message of the Gospel as if everyone’s life depends on it (it does!).  Let’s be confident in proclaiming that we are only wretched sinners saved by Grace alone. Let’s be effusive in our praise for the God that is the author and perfector of our faith. Let us continually be anticipating the day in which we will reign with him forever and ever.  For it is the resurrection of Easter Sunday which affords us the chance to one day rule with Him upon His glorious return.

In Christ,

Kendal May

Good Friday Poem

Though He was found guilty of nary a crime;

He was ordered to Calvary; indeed, it was His time.

Mocked, beaten, and crowned with a thorn;

He took up a cross that was rugged and worn.

As He made His way to the hill; he passed the women crying;

For they knew this was the Son of Man who would be dying.

Though He received help from Simon of Cyrene;

The mood that day was anything but serene.

Time after time on the journey He fell;

Each weary step inching us further from Hell.

The soldiers drove nails through His hands and His feet;

Every thud bringing Satan closer to defeat.

As He hung on the cross between two of the worst;

To fulfill the prophesy, He stated “I thirst”.

As the day faded into the darkness of night;

His purple robe would soon become white.

To ensure He was dead, the Romans pierced His side;

It was abundantly clear; this was the man about whom so much was prophesied.

But His work that day can never be diminished;

Before bowing His head, He said “It is finished”.

(Additional for Easter)

Fortunately for us, the story doesn’t end there;

Our relationship with the Father, He sought to repair.

For us, he paid the ultimate price;

Becoming the once and for all spotless sacrifice.

On the third day the women found the entrance to the tomb rolled away;

Jesus had risen, turning night back into day.

Death is defeated, the veil has been torn;

For our Salvation, our sins He has borne.

His resurrection may not end all our strife;

But His finished work brings the hope of eternal life.

The Final Passover Lamb

       

            

          

              Wow, Holy Thursday (sometimes referred to as Maundy Thursday) is already upon us. I hope that your devotional time has been fruitful this week as we slowly build to the joyous resurrection that secured for us the possibility of eternal life.  There has been and will continue to be quite a bit of content on the blog this week.  Check out the links below to visit my previous Holy Week blog entries.

Palm Sunday: Reflecting on Jesus’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem.

https://kendalwordandsacrament.blogspot.com/2020/04/palm-sunday-reflections.html

Life as a Christian: Some introspective thoughts on how my life has changed since I reverted to practicing my Christian faith about three years ago.

https://kendalwordandsacrament.blogspot.com/2020/04/life-as-christian.html

On to tonight’s topic.

              Holy Thursday is marked by the last meal Jesus shared with His disciples in the upper room. This meal is usually referred to as the Last Supper. To prepare for this blog posting, I read through the Last Supper account in each of the four Gospels. Per usual, Matthew, Mark, and Luke record the events as unfolding in a very similar manner while John’s version and timeline differ slightly. It is generally understood that Mark’s Gospel was the first to be written with Matthew and Luke using Mark’s Gospel writings as an outline for their own. John’s Gospel was written down much later than the other three. I’m getting off track here, but this is a key point to understand when reading through the Gospels.

              For the purposes of this reflection, I’ll be using Matthew’s account in Chapter 26. The story of the Last Supper begins with Matthew telling us that the authorities were plotting to have Jesus killed, but wanted to wait as the feast of the Passover was approaching and they did not want to upset the Jewish people.  This temporary delay of the inevitable allowed Jesus to share one last meal with His faithful disciples. Well, eleven of the twelve disciples were faithful. Satan had already entered the heart of Judas Iscariot in order that he would eventually betray Jesus for a measly thirty pieces of silver.

              Jesus then directs His disciples to head to the upper room to prepare the Passover meal. The Passover was a Jewish ritual celebration dating back to the days of Exodus.  In the time of Exodus, the Jewish people were enslaved in the land of Egypt. As the Jewish people were chosen by God, Moses was tasked with leading the Jews out of Egypt and into the promised land (Remember the burning bush?). In the course of the Exodus, a series of plagues afflicted the Egyptians. The last plague was that the first-born male of each Egyptian family would be killed. In order that this awful plague would “pass over” the Jewish people, they were instructed to slaughter a sacrificial lamb and to mark their door with the blood of the lamb. If this task was completed, the household would be spared. Eventually, the Jewish people escaped Egypt and reached the promised land, which we now know as the present-day state of Israel. To commemorate the exodus from Egypt, the Passover celebration was inaugurated and included the annual killing and eating of a sacrificial lamb.

            Back in the upper room with his twelve disciples, the annual Passover feast had commenced.  In verse 26, Jesus begins to introduce to us what will become known as the Words of Institution for the Lord’s Supper – an act of worship that persists as a means of Grace to this very day.  Matthew chapter 26, verses 26 through 28 are vital to our faith as Christians. The Scriptures reads as follows: “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

              Wow! There’s so much rich Gospel truth contained in these three short verses. There has been and continues to be much debate over the nature of Jesus’s words in these verses. Was Jesus speaking literally or figuratively when he proclaimed, “this is my body” and then later, “this is my blood”? That’s a debate that won’t be settled in this space.  (I’d love to discuss it with any of you though!) And in the spirit of unity, I won’t try to settle the debate tonight. Holy Week is a time to unite Christians worldwide through our common belief in the resurrection of Christ, not to divide the body over matters of non-salvific doctrine. It is my own personal belief that Jesus is truly present to us in a very special way when we partake in the Lord’s Supper. The manner in which His presence is manifested to us is truly a mystery that we won’t understand this side of Heaven. Again, this is my own personal opinion after studying the Scriptures in earnest. There is certainly ample evidence to support the doctrine that the Lord’s Supper is purely symbolic in nature.

              But whether Jesus’s words are literal or symbolic, there is a much deeper and glorious truth to be found in the Last Supper meal.  The most important point to be taken from the Last Supper passage is the way in which Christ interjects Himself into the greater context of the Passover celebration ritual. In doing so, Jesus draws a distinction between the sacrificial society of the Old Covenant and the Covenant of Grace that is to be initiated upon His death, burial, and resurrection. Remember, I mentioned above that the killing and eating of the sacrificial lamb was at the center of the ritual. In the context of the Last Supper amongst His disciples, Jesus inserts Himself as the sacrificial Passover lamb. The disciples were all practicing Jews and would have understood the connection Jesus was making. Over the course of His earthly ministry, Jesus had been preparing the disciples for His impending departure. By assuming the role of the Passover lamb, it became apparent that this impending prophecy was imminent. The prophecy was fulfilled on Good Friday and, subsequently, the temple veil was torn in two (Matthew 27:52); thereby ending the Jewish sacrificial system once and for all (This is the theme of much of the Book of Hebrews). Jesus, Himself, bore our sins and became the ultimate, spotless Passover sacrifice – ensuring a restored relationship with the Father who sent Him if only we would believe upon Him. The blood He spilled for us on Calvary is the purest offering to the Father that could possibly exist – blood pure enough to cleanse us of our sins and clothe us in the righteousness of Christ.  For this free gift, we owe our lives to the final Passover lamb.

              I think that Holy Thursday often goes under the radar during Holy Week. The events in the upper room set the stage for the trek to Calvary that we see the next day. As you continue through the week, I’d encourage you to take time to reflect on the Last Supper. The reality that the commemorative Passover sacrifice became a true and living sacrificial offering for our sins is truly something to remember and proclaim. The shepherd became the lamb so that His sheep might have eternal life.

If you are interested in more information about the connection between the Passover ritual and the Last Supper, here is a book I’d recommend:

Table and Tradition: Toward and Ecumenical Understanding of the Eucharist by Alasdair Heron

https://www.amazon.com/Table-Tradition-Ecumenical-Understanding-Eucharist/dp/0664245161

Well, I’ve gone on long enough for today’s Holy Thursday blog post. Be sure to check back to my blog frequently. I’ll have more content to follow this week for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Grace and peace to you as you traverse through this unique Holy Week.

In Christ,

Kendal May

             

Life as a Christian

       

            Hey everyone! I hope you are off to a good start with Holy Week. Hard to believe we are almost to the midway point of the week. Time sure flies, even in a quarantine. As I mentioned in my last post, I’ll have plenty of Holy Week content. I started on Sunday with a reflection of Jesus’s entrance into the city of Jerusalem. If you missed it, the link is below:

https://kendalwordandsacrament.blogspot.com/2020/04/palm-sunday-reflections.html

              I like to use Holy Week as a time of personal reflection. I like to take time to consider where I am now and where I have been. It’s a time to take inventory, if you will. It’s been almost three years now since I dove headfirst back into the faith of my youth. I had taken a wide detour during my high school and college years until Jesus took the wheel and steered me sharply back onto the main road.  You can read an in-depth recounting of my spiritual journey here:

https://kendalwordandsacrament.blogspot.com/2019/05/my-story.html

              I started to think about all of the ways in which my life has been different since God forcefully drew me to Himself. A lot of the changes are of the superficial variety – church attendance, studying theology and Scripture, sharing the Gospel when I can, etc. That’s not to say that these changes weren’t essential. They are the foundation of my faith.  At this point in my walk, I can’t imagine not being in the Scriptures regularly. This discipline keeps me grounded and reminds me constantly of the assuring promises of God. Something I need to be reminded of regularly.

              But some of the life changes I’ve undergone have been much deeper than surface level. These changes have taken place in the deepest chambers of my heart. They are profound and have forever altered how I view myself as well as those around me. I’ll outline just a few of these below.

              Firstly, my walk with Christ has changed the way I relate to those I meet along the journey. As I mentioned above, reading the Scriptures has completely changed how I view the world, the people in it, and the ways in which we relate to God. Even when it may be difficult, I force myself to remember that every human being was hand crafted in the image of God.  Though it may sometimes be difficult to discern on the surface, each and every person that we come across is redeemable in the eyes of our loving Father.  I think back to what people must have thought of me before I reverted to following Christ and remember the seemingly insurmountable grip that sin can sometimes possess.  I try my best to approach each day and each situation with a fresh sense of positivity. It’s my hope that everyone I come across can encounter the love of God through my behavior.

              I’ve also come to embrace Christian community. Over the past few years, I’ve been blessed to be involved with several wonderful small groups. Each group has been encouraging in its own way and has provided next-level accountability. It’s true what they say – we can’t do the Christian life alone! Growing up, I never really had a ton of close friends. I had lots of friendly acquaintances, but it was heavily surface level interaction.  Being in these groups, doing life with fellow Christians, and experiencing all of the ups, downs, joys, and triumphs of the Christian life has allowed me to experience humanity on a much deeper level than I’ve ever experienced before. For this, I am extremely grateful. I’m reminded of Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”

              Secondly, following Christ has narrowed my life’s focus and simplified my mindset. I now have an end goal in mind. That goal is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. If an action or opportunity isn’t leading to this end goal, then it gets thrown on the scrap heap to be hauled off. Following Christ and abiding in Him through the Word and Sacraments has brought a clarity to me life that I would have never thought possible just three years ago. That doesn’t mean I don’t ever temporarily become distracted from this goal. Sin is a gnawing problem in my life and always will be. I’m betting you are the same way. The main difference between now and three years ago is that I have an internal guide to find my way back to narrow path. You know that guide to be the Holy Spirit. John 16:13 outlines the role of the Holy Spirit, saying “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” Again, I am extremely grateful.

              Finally, abiding in Christ has given me a permanent identity. I’m not a huge Enneagram person and certainly haven’t spent time studying all the different personality types. I have taken the test, though, and know that I am a 5. I believe a 5 is called “the researcher”. Given my studious nature and love of theology, this probably a pretty appropriate label. However, I think I also have some select characteristics of a number 4. The number 4 is “the individualist”. I’ve always had an innate desire to fit in with the crowd – to be considered “normal” if you will. In an interesting paradox, however, I’ve always felt a need to stand out in some way. Growing up, my identity was often found in playing sports and being the “smart kid” in class. I found ways to stand out, such as qualifying for the state geography bee two years in a row (I know it sounds really nerdy, but if I had advanced out of the state competition, I could have met Alex Trebek! Who would have been laughing then!?).  But these identities were fleeting, like a leaf floating on a crisp fall day. Once I got to college, I was no longer playing organized sports and was just another college student at a state university. For some reason, I felt I had to create another identity for myself. Over the end of my college career and into my young professional life, my identity transformed into that of the “craft beer guru”. I knew everything there was to know about craft beer and had tried every variety of brew I could get my hands on. Once again, I found this identity to be fleeting like a light feather in the wind. Not to mention that this was a hobby that was more harmful than good.

 It was about this time that God drew me back to Himself, His Son, His Word, and His Sacraments. It came in His perfect timing and not a moment too soon. I opened the Scriptures and soon found a brand new identify – one that would never change or fade away.  It was found in Romans chapter 3, verses 22 through 24: “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” My identity is simply that I am a sinner in need of a saving Grace, and for that I am extremely grateful.

In Christ,

Kendal May