Dug Down Deep (3)

We've been reading and learning about some serious foundational concepts of the Christian faith in our current book, Dug Down Deep, by Joshua Harris. Bedrock really. I thought we'd take a moment to review some of these ideas, which hopefully now don't look so big and scary.

First up: Theology

In chapter 3, Josh tells us that theology is the study of God--God's church, God's plan of salvation, God's work in us to make us like Jesus, etc. More specifically, there is theology proper, or the doctrine of God--who God is and what he is like. Why is this important? "What we think about God--what we understand about his character and his attributes--shapes our understanding of every other doctrine and even life itself" (p. 39). What are some of these characteristics and attributes?

1. I am created / God is creator
2. I have a beginning / God is eternal
3. I am dependent / God is self-existent
4. I am limited in space / God is omnipresent
5. I am limited in power / God is almighty
6. I am limited in knowledge / God is all-knowing

In short, God is qualitatively different from us. He is holy, which deals not just with moral purity but with God as "separate from his creation in his perfection and power.... transcendent.... above us and beyond us" (p. 43).

Question: How does your concept of God affect your everyday life as an employee, a wife, a mom, a sister, a grandmother, a daughter, a widow, a friend?


The Doctrine of Scripture

What is the Bible? Where does it come from? What are its characteristics? How are we supposed to read and obey it? These are all questions answered by the the doctrine of Scripture. In chapter 4, we see that one major facet in the doctrine of Scripture is the necessity of Scripture--the Bible is "necessary for us to know and obey God" (p. 57). Without it we would not know the heart of God towards his people. Then we read about three major components of the doctrine of Scripture:

1. Inerrancy - "It is totally true--free from error--in all it affirms" (p. 68).
2. Clarity - It is self-interpreting.
3. Sufficiency - It gives us "all we need to know for salvation and eternal life" (p. 69).

Josh sums it up best: "The Bible is the story of what God has done for us. We don't come to it to receive instructions on saving ourselves. It's not a list of rules and guidelines that we must follow perfectly in order to earn our way into God's favor. The Bible is the story of what he has done. It's the story of how every man-made effort at salvation fails and only the grace of God can rescue and redeem sinners" (p. 72).

Question: Does a limited view of Scripture cause you to refer to other sources for answers to the situations in your life: a conflict with a co-worker, a misbehaving child, an unbelieving husband?


The Doctrine of the Person and Work of Christ

The person is who Jesus is. The work is what he has done for us. In chapter 5 we see that in order to rightly understand the person of Christ, we must see that he was both God and man at the same time. He was truly God, and proved his divine nature through the virgin conception, supernatural miracles, and his own claims of equality with God. And he was also truly man, born by a human mother, grew and developed, hungered and thirsted, experienced human emotions, grew tired, etc. What did this God-man come to do? "The work he came to accomplish is nothing less than the setting right of all that is wrong--in our relationship with God, in our hearts, in creation, in the whole universe.... Jesus didn't come only to save me, forgive my sins, and improve my life. He does all this, but this is only a small part of a much bigger picture" (p. 87).

Question: How often are you affected by the fact that God himself died for your sins?


Atonement

Atonement "speaks of how sinful, guilty men and women can have a restored relationship with a perfectly good and righteous God..." (p. 98). It's part of what the work of Christ accomplished. There are three keys to understanding atonement. First, the trinitarian nature of God. "The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit worked together to save mankind.... at the cross, God himself both delivered and received the blow" (p. 101). An amazing concept. Second, the holiness and justice of God. "Because God is holy and just, no one will get away with anything in this life" (p. 104). God must punish sin, because if he doesn't, he ceases to be holy and just. Third, our own guilt and sin before God. "We all carry around some sense that we've done wrong, that we haven't measured up to the standards of others or to our own standards--much less the standards of God.... Our problem is far greater than we imagine" (p. 105, 110).

"The unimaginable message of the Bible is that God's love for us is so great that he made a way for us to be good again though the atoning life and death of his Son" (p. 111). As we saw earlier, Jesus came to reconcile us to God--that is the work of Christ. He did so by penal substitution--he paid the penalty for our sins. He died taking our punishment upon himself. And what is the result of this work? Propitiation--the satisfying and turning away of God's wrath. This could not be done of our own will or power or work, it had to be done by Jesus himself.

"There is a way to be good again. It is to trust in Jesus and his atoning death" (p. 115).

Question: Are you constantly trying to "be better at," "work harder at" overcoming anger at your child, disrespect towards your husband, or gossiping at work? Or are you trusting in Jesus' atoning work to cover your sins and to change who you are from the inside out?


Next week, we'll take a look at the concepts covered in chapters 7-11. And we'll start up with our next book, Living the Cross Centered Life, by C.J. Mahaney, on Monday, March 15. Make sure to stop by the bookstore this Sunday to order a copy.

How to Love Your Sister Pt. 2

I was the bully. Jenny was the drama queen.
I cut holes in Jenny's afghan...just 'cause. Jenny wailed as if her world, and not just a blanket, was crumbling around her.

I was the tomboy. Jenny was the little princess.
I collected frogs and slugs. Jenny dressed up in princess outfits to visit the library.

I was the logical mathematician. Jenny was the creative writer.
My world had to be explainable and knowable. Jenny delighted in the unexplainable and unknowable.


So how in the world do two wholly different people commune peaceably, or joyfully? We have learned to start at the cross and work outward. Forgiveness becomes simple when you know just how much has been forgiven you in Christ.

For me, I only found the desire/strength/will to love my sister after asking the Lord for it. I didn't want the superficial "she's family so I love her" front, but a real, sacrificial "one-anothering" kind of love. That's a Spirit-given, Jesus-kind of love. The only "answer" to how to love your sister is prayer.

There are, however, several practical "rules" Jenny and I try to practice.

1. No pop psychology! All counsel and advice must come from the Bible! We are not the other's foundation or support. We aim to point each other toward God as our foundation.

2. When we drive anywhere, before we pull out of the driveway we lay down guidelines for our behavior toward each other. The number one guideline is that God is sovereign over everything. Everything that happens is for our good. And we both have permission to remind each other of that as often as needed. Traffic, rainstorms, flat tires, hunger, getting lost, and GPS failure are all under God's providence.

We have set up that whoever is not driving controls the iPod. That's practical. Whoever is driving gets to control the internal temperature of the car (which means an Arctic to Saharan difference). When things break down, we are learning to pray together for our Father's forgiveness. No more blameshifting and excusemaking! Sin is sin.

3. We cook together, which can be a challenge! Remember what I said about the logician and the dreamer? Different kitchen worldviews! We have a joke that our cooking together means I cook while Jenny watches from her stool in the corner. God's grace has shown me patience and even a chuckle or two, like when she can't measure water or burns the kitchen floor or explodes half of dinner in the blender. It's funny. We laugh together, knowing that in light of eternity, it's just not a big deal. (In fact, we're both giggling as I write this remembering how just a few hours ago Jenny sent dinner all over the kitchen.) Godly love doesn't just overlook weaknesses, but seeks to strengthen it. So now we cook together, and I teach her technique. And she reciprocates in her area of strength.

4. We enjoy each other, forgiving when necessary, correcting when necessary, always preaching the Gospel to each other. We read good books to each other and listen to good preachers together. Our fellowship is in Christ.

We have far to go, but I'm so thankful for the grace that has brought us farther than we would have thought possible. There a hundreds of ways to show love to "that person" in your life. Many are practical, but those practicalities will only flow from the love that Christ has given you. Are you praying for a God-given love? The other person may not respond. God knows. He loved us while we were enemies and hated Him. Only He can give us Christ-like love. Pray!

How to Love Your Sister Pt. 1

She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child.
Barbara Alpert

I get this exclamation a lot, from heavenlings and worldlings alike, that Robin and I are so close! I guess it's rare to see two relatively young* sisters get along so well. It saddens me to think that Robin and I are the exception to the rule, that so many sisters are missing out on the great gift that God has given them. So maybe as an encouragement, Robbie and I thought we would share a little bit about the grace God has given us to be able to overcome our natural enmity, because as we will both tell you, we weren't always close. In fact, we didn't even like each other.

We're only twenty months apart and so share many of the same experiences, which is not at all the same thing as experiencing the same thing.We have very different personalities, very different ways of thinking, and very different quirks--hence, mutual dislike and irritation. Except sisters are sneaky--because we couldn't avoid each other, we learned how to use and manipulate each other. Our relationship was a breeding ground of selfishness.

It wasn't totally bad. You wouldn't look at us and think that we hated each other. We got along tolerably well in public and even enjoyed each other's company--to an extent. I don't feel bad speaking for her, as we've repented about this to each other, but we both used each other. Robin had a car, which meant freedom for me. Robin was really shy, and I was bolder and willing to lead, which meant freedom for her. Privately, we fought over everything, and inflicted cruel words and acts upon each other. As time went on, I began to not know how to live without her--my entire selfish life was bound up in what I could get out of her, whether emotionally or financially.

So, we went off to college together and shared a tiny shoebox-sized room with a third person. That was fun, you betcha. Then we did it a second year. And we did get better, just through the natural maturing process. But our hearts were still selfish and we still used each other and we still fought.

Then everything changed. Through the teaching of one Bible professor on campus, the Holy Spirit began convicting my heart and stirring a desire for holiness in me. I saw my sin as I had never seen it before--my sin, not her sin. I saw my Savior as infinitely dear, infinitely precious, infinitely loving. All of the selfish motives for which I used my sister were revealed as idolatry. I wanted her to be as God to me, and when she failed, I despised her for it.

But once I saw Christ as supremely precious and gloriously sovereign, worthy of worship and adoration, I was freed to love my sister as a fellow creature and as a fellow heir in Christ.


And Robin will continue tomorrow!


*Just for the record, contrary to popular belief, I represent the younger half of this young duo.

Making the Bible Believable

Frequently when women are given teaching from Titus 2, I've heard them say to me, "Oh no! Not this again!! Can't we move on to other things? Can't we study the deep things of God?"

I appreciate their desire to study Scripture. It is God's will that we be students of His Word (theologians), for it is only the truth of the Gospel (as found in the whole of Scripture) which establishes us firm in our faith, equipping us for every good work, and for every spiritual battle (2 Timothy 2:15,16; Ephesians 6:10-20).

So, why, out of all the books in the Bible, should Titus be one book that women keep coming back to? Shouldn't it be a book that is read once a year like all the other books as part of a "through the Bible in a year" reading program?

Good question.

First of all, the book of Titus isn't a "for women only" book. It is a book that should be often referred to by pastors, older men, young men, and people who work for a boss. There is truth in this book for everyone, no matter what their gender, age, or position. But this book does contain a specific focus for women where we find a specific command to teach and learn and live the Titus 2 way.

Also, there is nothing in this book that isn't taught elsewhere in the Bible. The book of Titus is consistent with the doctrine of manhood and womanhood found throughout scripture. Though this book is short, and could be easily overlooked, it packs a punch with its concise presentation of the Gospel and application to life. When we study the book of Titus, we are being theologians. We are studying theology. This is deep stuff. And it is mysterious. For in this book we learn specifically how the conduct of our lives makes a difference for the effective advance of the Gospel.

Paul realized the only way for the message of the Gospel to be communicated effectively in a culture steeped in a mix of religiosity and secularism was for the believers to live it in such a way as to validate the words spoken. In other words: Live in such a way as to make the Bible believable.

Some women get hung up on the specifics of the "Titus 2 woman." They quickly jump to conclusions about matters like submission and working outside the home. There are extremes in both directions and a lot of fuzzy thinking in between. Some will dogmatically assert that Titus 2 teaches that submission means wearing gingham jumpers, no make-up, homeschooling, and never expressing an opinion. On the other hand, there are others who are quick to assert that Christian women must not be governed by a list of do's and don'ts. They maintain that they must live in the "freedom of Christ" and be all that they can be (just like unsaved women only with Christ's name pinned to the lapel of their business suit). But this is not what makes the Bible believable.

So, what does make the Bible believable? The answer is found in chapter 1:16, "They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works" and 2:5 "... so that the Word of God may not be reviled." The way we live makes the Bible either believable or unbelievable.

Let me put it to you with some questions as food for thought:

Do my children (young or grown) observe my overall lifestyle as being consistent with my profession of faith?
Do my neighbors see a difference in me, other than that they see me pull out of the driveway for church on a Sunday morning?
Do my unsaved family members see what faith looks like?
What do my girlfriends hear me talk about most?

Or:
Do my children think that God is not worth trusting since mommy still worries, frets, and gets angry with daddy?
Do my girlfriends wonder what difference Christ makes when they see me eating too much, talking too much, sleeping too much, and "dissing" my husband?
Do my neighbors wonder if I really mean what I say when I tell them, "God is enough" when I am scrambling to work in order to pay for more stuff?
Do my unsaved family members hear that the husband/wife relationship is to reflect the God the Father and Son's relationship (1 Corinthians 11:3), but get the impression from my marriage that God the Father and God the Son must be in conflict and competing with each other for their own rights?

As Carolyn Mahaney points out: Usually unbelievers are not interested in our doctrine. They are more interested to see if our doctrine works (paraphrase from Teach What Is Good).

For example: One thing most everyone knows about the Bible is that it tells us to "love our neighbor." Many years ago my neighbor changed the placement of her garbage can at the end of her driveway, which meant we needed to change where we placed ours. This really irritated me, and so, rather than love her, I began competing with her for garbage can placement. I thought if I put my can out before she did, then she'd get the point. Well, to make a stupid story short, I was not demonstrating Christ-like love for my neighbor. After several weeks of this silly game I did end up having a helpful, and humble conversation with her where I admitted my anger and asked for her forgiveness, which did open up a conversation about Christ.

Another example: Have you ever had the experience of receiving praise for the kind of marriage you have, or the good kids you have? These are powerful opportunities to witness for Christ. We must clearly communicate to people that it is ONLY because of what Christ has done for us and in us that we can even begin to have a marriage and family that is praiseworthy. When we do not (and I'm sad to say I've been guilty of this as well) we take praise onto ourselves and people lose an opportunity to hear about the Gospel.

"... the church is to have a godly impact on an ungodly world. This is what makes our evangelistic efforts and impact effective and fruitful.

You may claim to have true doctrine, biblical doctrine. In your head you may know true biblical doctrine. But if you’re living in a way that is contrary to the true biblical doctrine, then what you really believe is not true doctrine. Doctrine and life have to match each other (Nancy Leigh DeMoss - Revive Our Hearts ministry).

That's how we make the Bible believable.

Monthly Wrap-Up: February

Well, it's been one month since the relaunch of the Women By Design blog. We hope you've been blessed this month and that you're feeling comfortable in our new home. Here's the month in review:

We began the month looking at what it means to be a woman by design.

- Gayline encouraged us to embrace our sovereignly designed womanhood
- Brooke talked about her early-life struggle with femininity
- Jenn wrote about her battle with her inner-feminist
- And Robin wrapped up our intro week with a look back at the Garden of Eden and pitfalls we should avoid

After a snowy weekend, Gayline began her Titus 2 series, something you'll want to keep tuning into just about every Monday. Jenn, Robin, and Brooke filled out the week with a series on Proverbs 31.

We also kicked off our What Are You Reading? series, beginning with a new book from Joshua Harris, Dug Down Deep. We hope that you've been reading along and trust that you are enjoying the journey.

In week three, we looked at the implications of theology on everyday life, parenting, and worship. Last week we capped off the month with three posts on humility, pulled straight from TFC's RMMR reading plan.

We hope you'll join us this month as we continue on in Titus 2 and Dug Down Deep, and take a look at sisterhood, modesty, the love of others and more!