Reformers and Puritans

Josh February 24th, 2007

We live in a world where folks are constantly seeking extravagant signs and wonders. We read and hear about UFO sightings, alien abductions, haunted houses, mysterious apparitions, and the like. Not only this, we have men following after and worshipping men, who’re merely men proclaiming to be God. Why is this? They’re attracted to the “charisma” of these individuals. They’re attracted to that which is sensational. By sensational I mean that which stronly appeals to the senses, and is typically perceived as beyond the ordinary. And this is mainly done by the folks who couldn’t care any less about the Christian faith and its demands upon those who profess to uphold it. “Forget the Scriptures”, they imply, “they’re dull, overrated, and irrelevant. Give us signs, miracles, ecstatic experiences…” They want what they percieve to be as “tangible”.

It’s very easy to get caught up in this hype as well. The typical evangelical (I use the term evangelical very loosely)Christian is bombarded with ideas that the Lord leads His children, not merely by Scripture, but by promptings, feelings, and emotions brought on by the Spirit of God. Folks, this is pervasive even amongst very “non-charismatic” denominations. “Do what the Lord’s leading you to do”, Pastors tell their congregation, without even appealing to the commands in Scripture. “You need to pray about it, and listen to what the Lord says”, says the under shepherd, without saying that God speaks through His Spirit via the principle of Sola Scriptura. This is all very dangerous breeding ground for false knowledge, pride, and even great error. Consider this:

Luke 10:17-20

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

There are several interesting components we may gather from Jesus’ comments here. First, notice the primary source of the sevent-two’s joy: No, it was not the response, or the lack thereof, to the Gospel; rather, it was the authority which they held sway over demons. Sadly enough, this was not the thrust of Christ’s intention in their commission.The Gospel was primary. That of repentance. I very much think a rebuke is set in order here by Christ. After listening to them express such joy over the power to cast out demons, he cautions them by reminding of an angel who once had great power, and let it get to his head. He says, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven“, as if to remind these men that “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov 16:18)

Moreover, He reminds them from whence this power they held over the enemy comes. “Behold”, Christ says, as if to say, “Don’t get it twisted, let it be known…I have given you authority…You didn’t derive it in and of yourself. You didn’t earn it. You can’t purchase it. It’s mine alone to give, give freely, to whom I want, however I want, and in whatever measure I so see fit and desire. Don’t be like Satan, you fools, for God Himself cast that prideful devil down to earth quick like lightning. You hold no power, authority, not even salvation, unless it has been given to you, granted you, bestowed upon you by Me, the Almighty.”

Christ then proceeds to tell them in what they should establish as priority and worthy of rejoicing. I can hear Him telling them, “Look, be careful that you not be prideful in what you’re doing. It’s all a gift from me. Furthermore, since it’s a gift that I have given you freely, don’t rejoice in the petty things like casting out demons, healing sickness, etc., because those are merely instruments which bring people either to the faith, or to further condemnation. No, I tell you, rejoice that YOU, you men, have been written in My book of Life. My seal has been set on You, by the mere good pleasure of My will. This, then, is in what you should rejoice: That I, God Almighty, know and love you.”

So, then, brothers and sisters, let us not seek the sensational, nor let us pursue what the world considers profound, nor try to match the miraculous. Let us recognize our salvation in light of our once unredeemed, undeserving circumstance, and let us rejoice in that!

• From the Study , Theology General
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