A new year is coming upon us, indeed. However, why do we wait until January 1st to start pursuing a goal of sorts? Well, there is a Christian duty (one of several) in which we should never be found dull, neglect, or waning. It is one in which we must be constant, consistent, and continuous if we profess to know the God of Scripture. This duty, this absolute necessity, this practice is called Mortifying Sin.

As I have alluded to elsewhere, John Owen once wrote, “Be killing sin or sin will be killing you.” This is precisely why one cannot wait until January 1st. In fact, you cannot afford to defer another moment from this duty!  You must resolve yourself this instant to dedicate your very essence of existence to this task. Why? Because the wages of sin are DEATH. Now surely I have some qualifications to make.

First, in order to engage in this distinctly Christian duty, you must be a Christian. If you’re not a Christian, it is not only the height of arrogance to think for a moment that you can effectively engage in the duty of mortification,  but it is also sheer futility and the compounding of your condemnation to do so. If this applies to you, I implore you to read this. If you are a Christian, read on.

Secondly, not only must you be a Christian, but you must engage in this duty by the Spirit. If you attempt to mortify your sin apart from dependance upon the Holy Spirit, your efforts are just as vain as that of an unbeliever. Though you are now a Christian, you are still affected by that residue of indwelling sin, which is exactly why you must engage in this duty! So then, you must be a Christian to do this, and you must also do it by the Spirit.

You say, “That’s great, Josh. Thanks for telling me what I need to do (and why), but then totally leave me hanging by not telling me how.” Well, my friend, this is where the Big Guns come in. I can absolutely no better exhort you in this manner than has already been exhorted by some of the godliest men of the past. Therefore, I will give you a few brief pointers, and then suggest a book or two concerning the pointers.

What is Sin?

To kill sin, you must know sin intimately. Now, don’t twist that. Don’t misunderstand. I am not saying to engage more heavily in sinning so that you might know it better. That’s utter foolishness. I am saying that you must know your enemy– that is, Sin– and know it intimately within the context of Scripture’s light. In doing this, as a Christian, you will come to have a holy hatred for your sin. Book Suggestions:

The Sinfulness of Sin-by Ralph Venning (Banner of Truth)

The Evil of Evils-by Jeremiah Burroughs (Soli Deo Gloria-buy it used if you can)

How Does Sin Work? 

You must also know sin personally. By that, I mean you must know how sin approaches you, specifically. How does Satan use your own sinful nature to tempt you and bring you to a halt. You must learn his strategies. Book Suggestion:

Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices-by Thomas Brooks (Banner of Truth)

How Do I Mortify Sin?

Now we come to the clencher. And I’m not gonna say a thing. I’m going to suggest three books. One of them is a compilation of three works by John Owen. The other two are more contemporary works on the subject of mortification. Obviously, I’m partial to Owen. However, he can be a stickler to read most of the time for many, and some of the time for some. Therefore, the latter of the three suggestions are recommended, and are theologically solid, sound, and from a Reformed understanding of Scripture and the Christian Faith.

Overcoming Sin and Temptation: Three Classic Works by John Owen-edited by Justin Taylor & Kelly Kapic (Crossway)

The Enemy Within-by Kris Lundgaard (P & R)

A Fight to the Death-by Wayne & Joshua Mack (P & R)

Don’t wait for the New Year. Start killing sin now. Develop a more holy hatred of sin, YOUR SIN, each passing moment. We must truly seek to know the sinfulness of sin, and the wretched vile stinch it is in the nostrils of God. I’ll leave you with some applicable quotes from the grand ole Puritan Divines:

We do not want sin covered, but cured-Thomas Watson

Let no man think to kill sin with few, easy, or gentle strokes. He who hath once smitten a serpent, if he follow not on his blow until he be slain, may repent that ever he began the quarrel. And so will he who undertakes to deal with sin, and pursues it not constantly to the death.-John Owen

If you wish to stand firm in the midst of suffering, forewarn yourself of this fact: Temptation is never stronger than when relief seems to dress itself in the very sin that Satan is suggesting.-William Gurnall

Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, unto the end of a self-righteousness, is the soul and substance of all false religion in the world.-John Owen

When sin lets us alone we may let sin alone; but as sin is never less quiet than when it seems to be most quiet, and its waters are for the most part deep when they are still, so ought our contrivances against it to be vigorous at all times and in all conditions, even where there is least suspicion.-John Owen

So the seemingly ubiquitous idolatry of X-Mass is here. I usually don’t even make 2 entries per week, much less in the same day. However, I’m prompted to do so because I need to declare something:

X-Mass is a HUGE inconvenience.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for family gatherings, eating good food, and even getting gifts. But I am adamantly against the invocation of X-Mass a some kind of Christian holy day, etc. To me, it’s just like having a birthday (and NOT for Jesus, cuz he’s always been around, folks), the Fourth of July, etc.

KEEP IT OUT OF THE CHURCH. KEEP IT OUT OF FAMILY WORSHIP. DO NOT CONSECRATE IT, SANCTIFY IT, or KEEP IT HOLY. Now understand this, I didn’t say keep the truth of the incarnation out of the church. I didn’t say keep the truth of the incarnation out of family worship. That would be foolish.

Those truths are Biblical. But WHY o WHY must His birth be over emphasized at the cost of His death, life, and resurrection? They all go together? And WHY o WHY must it be especially emphasized at a certain point in the year when said time is not warranted by Scripture? Why not recognize, acknowledge, and celebrate it EVERY Lord’s Day, a Day that has been set apart by God (and the only one) specifically for His corporate Worship?

Why is it that on any number (i.e. ALL) of Lord’s Days I am able, if I so desired, to profane it by going to Wal-Mart, yet, on December 25th it’s closed? Why is that people lament having to work on Christmas? They think it a most horrible injustice for an employer to expect his employees to…GASP….work on this day. On top of this, they think it ought to be a PAID day off. Yet working the Lord’s Day is no big deal. It’s just another day.

On top of all this, this making a commandment of a tradition of men further degenerates into superstition of terrible consequences. Consider all the commercials and ads we see about “underprivileged” children and families who “don’t get anything” for X-mass. Well, HELLO, don’t ya think the expectations of getting something of X-Mass is brought up from some false notion that people are, by default, supposed to get something?

Why is it that it is primarily during this season that people are in more pitiable spirits towards widows, orphans, and the poor, but NOT THE REST OF THE YEAR? The last time I checked, Scripture didn’t put a time frame on when we should be particularly concerned with charity. Rather, we are to be mindful of the needs of the poor year around. Notice my emphasis on needs, not X-Boxes, etc. And when I say poor, I mean those who are unable to do for themselves, not those who refuse to do so.

A local bank/credit union is advertising loans for up to $2,000 just fo X-Mass! $2,000!!!! What?! Misunderstand me not, I’m all for giving gifts. And I give them to people throughout the year. But this mass incurring of debt, even and particularly by professing Christians, is a terrible example of salt and light. Have we become so unprincipled that we amass ourselves in long run debt, for the purposes of gratifying a temporary (i.e. X-mass) want of things? 

Oh, the depths of our idolatrous hearts. May God grant His Church repentance from her Will-Worshipping Idolatries. Okay, my X-Mass rants, at least in the form of a blog entry, are done for this year.

BAH HUMBUG

If only the visible Church would remove their misplaced devotion to X-mass as some Biblical “holy” day, and would put the same effort toward keeping the Sabbath holy, according to Scripture! Every Lord’s Day, close shop! Every Lord’s Day, sit under the ministry of the Word. Every Lord’s Day, have fellowship with other Christians. Every Lord’s Day, GASP, have family worship and thank God for His incarnation…but not SEPARATED from his life, death, and resurrection!

So, Friends, Happy Festivus and BAH HUMBUG.

Dyin’ ain’t much a livin’, Boy.

I wanted to share a great quote from Mr. Andrew Moody, Pastor of Christ Covenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church ins Amarillo, Texas. The discussion was revolving around the appropriateness of symbols like a bare cross decorating places of worship. Although he recognizes such decor as a circumstance of worship (as opposed to an element) he cautioned:

The cross is a symbol adopted by the church for her own use. God did not give us this symbol. It has become an icon viewed by many to have some mystical superstitious power (wards off vampires, etc). To put it plainly, the cross that Christ bore is not the cross that bore Christ (I don’t remember who said that originally, but it stuck with me)! This is a cross that isn’t visible, but spiritual. This is hell, the unhindered wrath of God poured out upon Jesus for my sin. That can’t be worn around my neck or tacked to a wall. However, it can be preached with the full power and authority of Christ through the powerful working of the Spirit!