For Baxter this fit what He believed God called pastors to be as they lovingly shepherd the flock of God. “Every time we look upon our congregations, let us believingly remember that they are the purchase of Christ’s blood, and therefore should be regarded by us with the deepest interest and the most tender affection.”

Watson exhorts us that, “Until sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet.” With one hand, we must let go of the sin that sticks so closely to us, as we grab the gentle and firm hand of the Savior with the other. Devotion to Christ becomes sweeter and deeper as sin becomes duller to our heart.

The Church should always show compassion and demonstrate benevolence, but the government was never meant to be a support for the selfish living of citizens who have something to offer their neighbors.

The Church should care about people fleeing to the United States for protection, freedom, and justice. There must be firm policies and laws that protect its own citizens as a central priority, while demonstrating compassion over comfort, and operating in faith rather than fear.

“No political system or government is ever really complete this side of eternity.” (Beckwith, pg. 34)

However, the Gospel rooted in the hearts of Jesus-followers will have a social effect. Where Christians are operating as good citizens, people will be cared for as their spiritual need is exposed. 

We must be very careful to not separate standing up for orthodoxy within the Church and standing up for morality within the culture. It is not our aim to create a Christian government. But it is our mandate, as Paul exhorts Titus in shepherding the church under his care, to “be careful to devote themselves to good works.

For a Christian who is called to obey the authorities God has put us under, we are faced with a conflicting set of obligations. Obeying God will mean coming under the authority of laws justly created by the ruling government, except where obeying the government would mean directly disobeying God.

The Church is first and foremost a theological and missional institution, not a political or social one. What that means is that we work in the realm of truth and lies about God, His world, and His plan for humanity (theological). For us to be the salt and light that Jesus commanded us to be, we must know what the Word of God says about an issue so that we can “determine to do something about it” (missional), both individually and corporately as God’s Church!

… and I trust doing church How the Bible clearly lays out will in fact yield the fruit He promises. These days I want more Gospel opportunities than ever to see lost people find satisfaction in Christ the Redeemer … I also feel more driven than ever to the How of doing church along with the What of the Gospel.

You may not fancy yourself musical or artistic but creating beauty and enjoying beauty is part of the wonder to be enjoyed by all in the world He made. You don’t have to be brilliant or even share what you create with anyone … find ways in your days to creatively enjoy the Creator in all His goodness and beauty!

We must rebel against such erroneous views of independence … and we do that by a heart of submission. Nothing is more Christ-exalting (and freeing) than submission to the King. May your joy be found not in “you being you”, but in “you coming under Him”. 

We need not be afraid, we need not let anger control us, and we need not turn to any other solution than allegiance to the Ultimate King.

If you are a Christ-follower committed to growing as a servant-disciple on mission for the glory of King Jesus … well then, I’ll be so bold as to say – Church Membership is a MUST.

God’s rest was not from a place of exhaustion or fatigue, but of completion and satisfaction. Therefore, the rest He invites us into is far deeper than sleeping in and heading to the beach (though those are beautiful gifts).

Spiritual growth is to be built into the inter-generational fabric of the local church. We need to be vigilant to not substitute the comfort of private digital instruction for the beautiful mess of meaningful relationships where both encouragement and admonition occur.

Our God is a patient God and therefore our patience toward others isn’t based on them being worthy of our patience toward them, but on God’s patient heart to wretched sinners.

In our pride, thinking we can figure it out, be enough, and soldier on, we actually end up isolating ourselves from the love of others, and act like the Holy Spirit is unnecessary in our lives. So, fight those normal (human) feelings that tell you to “be strong”, and in your real weakness (neediness) ask for help!

We are ready to speak the plain truth of the Word of God, AND we do it with gentleness and respect. Judgment resides in the heart, so if you find yourself sounding too judge-y, perhaps you need to remind yourself of the very thing the apostle Paul reminded the Corinthian church, “And such were some of you.” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

You feel guilty for not doing it all well enough? You’ve just simply let some of those go thinking there are just too many things required of me? Listen, only one thing truly matters. That one thing is prizing Jesus above all else and loving Him as your highest delight!