Wrestling With Piper

Who would say that Herod's contempt (Luke 23:11) or Pilate's spineless expediency (Luke 23:24) or the Jews' 'Crucify, crucify him!' (Luke 23:21) or the Gentile soldier's mockery (Luke 23:36)--who would say that these were not sin? Yet Luke, in Acts 4:27-28, records the prayer of the saints:

"Truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place."

People lift their hand to rebel against the Most High only to find that their rebellion is unwitting service in the wonderful designs of God. Even sin cannot frustrate the purposes of the Almighty. He Himself does not commit sin, but He has decreed that there be acts that are sin, for the acts of Pilate and Herod were predestined by God's plan. (Desiring God, 35-6)

Notice that Piper is not saying God allows sin. He says God decrees that there be acts that are sin, essentially that God Himself -- in all of his perfection and goodness -- wills that there be sin, without actually sinning. Is Our Great God a hypocrite? NO! He has made it so that in the end, we will see His Mercy and His Sovereignty, His Grace and His Judgment, and we will tremble with awe at the majesty of God! Yet this is something that is a hard hurdle to jump - a difficult idea to ponder, especially when coming to the conclusion that God is the ultimate causality of sin. Here is what Job said after losing his livestock and his family:

Naked I came from my
mother's womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lord gave, and the
Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the Name of the
Lord. (Job 1:21)

We all know that God let Satan enter into Job's life -- that he effectively stayed Satan's hand and did not let things happen to Job before its time -- but Job gives God the ultimate causality, not Satan. Job essentially says that it is because of God that he has lost his livelihood, his children and his livestock. And, instead of him being reprimanded, the very next verse says, "In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong."

I am not coming to any conclusions about it at the moment, but I am trying to wrap my head around it, as much as God allows anyway. I know that His thoughts are far above my thoughts and His ways are far above my ways, but I would be hard-pressed not to think about it.

Martyrs in Turkey

This post is being penned in a sea of sorrow. Somehow, the words to express my fear and shame for the actions of men who claim murder "in the name of religion" are far from me. For the first time since the Turkish Republic was founded in 1997, Christians have become martyrs. The chilling thing to note is that this will not be the last time we hear of these gruesome tales.

Please pray for everyone involved. We have been told "They will know us by our love." Please pray that is true and that we, as Christians, will not rush to take up whip and chain against a religion that is already confused and lost in a state of rebellion to the One True God.

Father, we look for mercy where there should not be any, knowing full well that Yours is a plan well beyond understanding. We do not look for clarity, but for peace. Further, we pray for the families of the killers, that they might not take joy in the death of others, but that You, in Your Divine Light, might make them vessels for Your Holy Kingdom. Affect them, God; quicken them.

God, if You so will it, we pray that Your judgement might come down with the weight of Your Mighty Right Hand upon the oppressors of Your People. Save us, God, from the distribution of the wicked. We pray for the Christians in the region, that You might put out Your Hand of Protection and hedge them in. Spare their lives, God, in Your goodness.

To find the original story, please go here: http://www.compassdirect.org/en/display.php?page=news&lang=en&length=long&idelement=4836