Family Newsletter--Love the Church (Part 3)

The Bride of Christ and Her Competitors

by Jordan Jachim

Loving your local church is critical for you. The Church is the most important of the three jurisdictions (family, church, state) because only the Church universal (that is, all believers) will remain throughout eternity. The Family structure is gone when one reaches heaven, and the State is burned when the earth is destroyed, but the Church is in Heaven for ever and ever. However, the Church universal and local today is downplayed, downgraded and forgotten. Often, it seems now to be nothing more than a club. How different this is to Christ’s view of the Church as His Bride. Think of that! The Bride of Christ!

There is a challenger to gain and keep the loyalties and affections of her members. Enter the bad guy: man. Man’s selfish sinful nature wants nothing to do with the Bride of Christ. Even once a person is saved by Christ, his old nature is still present, not being completely overcome here, but in heaven. I wish to touch on just a few ways than man endeavors to steal the time, dollars, energy, prayer, tears, sweat, and blood from Christ’s Church.

Some of the Church’s rivals are found in the other two jurisdictions (see above). Many see their family, sleep, or work, as more important than their local church. When properly working, no jurisdiction should steal from another. But in so many cases, the jurisdictions are not properly working. Many in the church are looking, not to the Lord of Heaven, their Bridegroom, but to a rival sovereign, the State, to solve their problems. They believe that if only we can just pack enough seats in the Congress with “good guys” or elect a particular face to sit in the White House, all problems will be solved, or most of them, anyway.

What is the problem here? Has the author inferred that politics is worthless or dirty? Far be it from me. I believe Christians working in politics (whether voting or holding an office) is vital. And I firmly believe that if Christians don’t work in politics, others will fill the slack. For too many Christians, though, working for a political party or candidate has all but eclipsed working for one’s local church. Rather than working for “Our Father” that “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven” many Christians appear to be working for “Our favorite candidate” that “Thy election to the White House come, thy will be done in Congress”.

So, on which side of the fence are you? Analyze the questions. These questions are not good vs. bad, but good vs. best.

Do you know more about a particular candidate than about your pastor?

Do you know a particular party’s platform better than your church’s creed?

Are American laws more important to you than Biblical laws (from which English laws are derived, and after them, American laws)?

Is a speech by your favorite politician during election time worth more to you than a sermon?

Trying to fix the State exclusive of the Church or Family is like putting the cart before the horse: it won’t go anywhere permanently. If the Church is reformed, her members can influence the State, and reforming the family makes reforming the church a whole lot easier. But none of these can be reformed unless every family member, church member, and citizen reads and applies the Bible. And reading and applying the Bible is the best way to show your love for both the Church and Her Lord.

“May Christ be praised, pre-eminent, adored;

I love the Church because I love Her Lord.”

(I Love the Church by Chris Anderson)

Family Newsletter--Love the Church (Part 2)

Love the Church Like the "Birkenhead Drill"

By Jordan Jachim

“Where, then, does this rule which prevailed in the sinking Titanic come from? It comes from God, through the faith of Jesus of Nazareth. “It is the ideal of self- sacrifice. It is the rule that ‘the strong ought to bear the infirmities of those that are weak.’ It is the divine revelation which is summed up in the words: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’”—Dr. Henry Van Dyke

On February 26, 1852, a British troopship named H. M. S. Birkenhead struck a reef, and all knew she was doomed to sink. The water was filled with sharks and the lifeboats were too few. But the brave British soldiers filled the lifeboats with the women and children, as they themselves stood on deck, ready to die. One of the few survivors of the soldiers, Corporal W. Smith, 12th Foot, who swam through the shark-infested sea to land, wrote:

“Yes, that all-conquering discipline—for of all the women and children not one is lost. Because of that, and because we obeyed—I and the rest of us are satisfied.”

Fifty years later, an ocean liner named Titanic was taking her maiden voyage across the North Atlantic. She struck an iceberg, and her lifeboats were inadequate for the number of passengers aboard. Again the men stood on deck as women and children filled the lifeboats. Benjamin Guggenheim, a businessman who had $95,000,000 to his name, said to a member of the crew as the ship sank, “I am willing to remain and play the man’s game, if there are not enough boats for more than the women and children. ... No woman shall be left aboard this ship because Ben Guggenheim was a coward.” And Ben Guggenheim was no blusterer. He went down with the ship. His words speak for many of the men on board the Titanic.

In 1942, a secret commando force of British troops under Major Hugh Seagrim was operating in Burma against the Japanese. The locals aided him in sabotage on the Japanese. The Japanese arrested and tortured the locals, hoping they would betray Seagrim. Not one of them did, but Major Seagrim and eight of his men surrendered to spare the people from further torture. Seagrim said that he should be executed and his men spared, because they had only been following his orders. The eight men demanded to die with their Major, and all nine were executed.

(picture from King & Country Toy Soldiers)

I was not a witness to these deeds of heroism, but I did see men act in the spirit of chivalry as set forth by the men of the Birkenhead and Titanic. At a conference we attended last December, one of the sessions was jam-packed and more people kept coming. All the seats were filled, so entire families—men, women, and children—were standing to hear the upcoming important lecture. Quietly, some men arose and stood or sat by the wall, leaving the seats for a few women, but there were not enough for all. An announcement came from the podium that some women were standing, and, as though an unseen signal had been relayed through the auditorium, most of the men— old men, young men, and men with seated families—got out of their seats without a murmur or a complaint.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13, KJV) This is how Christ loved the Church. He bled and died for Her.

“Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2, KJV)

In loving sacrificially, we have the example first of Christ, but also of the soldiers aboard the Birkenhead, the gentlemen on the Titanic, Major Seagrim and his commandos, the men at the conference, and “so great a cloud of witnesses”. May we love and sacrifice as they loved and sacrificed.

Family Newsletter--Love the Church (Part 1)

We attended NCFIC Conference "Love the Church" this past December. We were inspired to make our next family newsletter from Valentines Day about loving the church.

Loving the Church by Being Faithful Servants of Christ

by David Jachim

In Holy Scripture, God provides us with many beautiful illustrations for the Church of Jesus Christ. These illustrations can be classified according to various themes including national metaphors (for example, a holy nation in 1 Peter 2:9 and God’s people in Revelation 21:3), religious metaphors (for example, a royal priesthood in 1 Peter 2:9 and a living sacrifice in Romans 12:2), and family metaphors (for example, the household of God in Ephesians 2:19 and sons of God in 1 John 3:2). One of the most beautiful and vivid pictures of the Church is given in Ephesians 5 where the relationship between Christ and His followers is analogized to that of the marriage union between a husband and wife.

The love that is shared between a husband and his dear wife is the closest and most intimate of any human relationship. God uses the picture of that relationship to depict not only the beauty and sacredness of the roles of the marriage partners, but also to communicate deep truths about His love and commitment to His people. As we see God’s love and His relationship to the church, we will see our responsibilities to Him and how we can be loving His church.

In Ephesians 5:25-33, there is much that we can learn in how we as born-again believers should live in relation to our loving spiritual head, the Lord Jesus Christ. From this passage, consider the following ways that you can be loving the body of Christ:

• Love the church by willingly, lovingly, and joyfully serving Christ out of your gratitude for His sacrifice for you. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it (Ephesians 5:25, KJV) Christ’s love for the Church is expressed through His willingness to give himself up for it - particularly as evidenced by His sacrificial death on the Cross. This supreme act of love should result in us responding to Him with gratitude by being a radiant servant for the furthering of His Kingdom. As we learn to serve Him, we will be showing a love for the church.

• Love the church by committing yourself to being a diligent student of God’s Word through knowing and applying what God teaches you through the Bible. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:26-27, KJV) Not only did Christ yield His life for His bride the Church, but He also progressively works in the lives of His people to conform them into His image. This work is accomplished through the power of the perfect, inerrant (without error), and entirely sufficient Word of God. Since God uses the Bible in sanctifying us into godly, holy character, we need to know His Word. Commit yourself to reading, studying, meditating on, and memorizing Holy Scripture. As you do so, allow the Lord to wash you through His truth so that you can be a holy follower of Christ without spot or blemish. As you are changed, also look for opportunities to testify of the work that God Almighty is doing within you so that you can bring honor and glory to the Name of your blessed Redeemer.

• Love the church by carrying out the specific works that God has planned for you to advance the cause of Christ. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:29-30, KJV) All who are born-again believers by the grace of God are a part of His body. By being members of Christ’s body, we should be seeking to fulfill the role for which God has equipped us. Just as the human body is made up of many members and each member needs to be performing its function well in order to have a healthy physical body, so the body of Christ contains many members that need to be fulfilling the specific works that God has prepared in advance for us to do (see Ephesians 2:10) in order to have a healthy and vibrant spiritual body. If you do not know the gift(s) and how to use them in carrying out specific good works, pray to the Lord for His wisdom. Be assured that you will be furnished by your loving Heavenly Father what you need to accomplish the particular tasks that He has planned for you.

• Love the church by intimately abiding in Christ through a holy pursuit to know the Lord Jesus deeply and by submitting to His loving headship. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31-32, KJV) The intimacy that is shared within the context of marriage is likened to Christ’s relationship with the church. In order to have such intimacy, we need to abide in Him recognizing that He is the life-giving vine (John 15). This connection that we have with Christ necessitates that we have a heart of love for Him, a conviction to order our lives in a manner consistent with the Bible, a commitment to be obedient to His leading, and the discipline to spend time with Him to develop a closeness to Him that will cause the us to live all of life radiantly and joyfully.

God has a love for the church that is shown in many various manifestations, including the promises that He has given of the ultimate victory that awaits His people. Are we being a faithful bride by serving the Lord Jesus, knowing and applying God’s Word, carrying out the specific works that God has prepared for you, and abiding in Christ by seeking to know Him and submit to Him? Or are you guilty of having forsaken your love for your blessed Redeemer by seeking to fulfill your own selfish desires, planning to build your own kingdom rather than advancing His, neglecting your time with Him, and using your own reason rather than God’s revelation to make decisions? Love the church and may the world around us see this love as a testimony of the power of Christ, as indicated in John 13:35: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (KJV)

November Family Newsletter - Thanksgiving (Part 3)

November Family Newsletter - Thanksgiving (Part 2)

Pilgrims: Myth vs. Reality

By Jordan Jachim

Because the Pilgrims are so important to the history of the English colonies in the New World, they have been subjected to several persistent myths (as all great men of history are). So what are these myths? You have doubtless seen the differences between the two included pictures, and I will explain some of them.

Traditionally, the Pilgrims are shown with a bell-mouthed blunderbuss. It is true the blunderbuss was invented in the 1600’s, but only the cavalry carried it, because they needed a short, easy-to-reload gun. The blunderbuss was mainly used by coach drivers in the 1700’s to repel highwaymen, or sailors fighting in close quarters, because it was only accurate at short ranges. The Pilgrims, in common with all fighting men of the 17^th Century, would have carried a matchlock musket, which was longer and more accurate than the blunderbuss.

Figure 1: Matchlock Musket (42” barrel)

Figure 2: Blunderbuss (15” barrel)

Facial hair for men is also inaccurately shown. Pilgrims would not have worn mustaches without beards, nor beards without mustaches. The only clean-shaven men were those too young to grow beards, and some of the gentry. Pilgrims wore beards and mustaches, or mustaches and goatees.

The popular “sugar-loaf” hat would have been worn, but the Pilgrim men also had knitted “Monmouth” caps, and round-hats turned up on one side, along with metal “Morion” helmets for soldiers.

Figure 3:

Top: Monmouth cap (left) and Morion helmet (right)

Bottom: “Sugar loaf” hat (left) and round-hat (right)

Collars are shown larger than the Pilgrims really wore. The Pilgrims’ collars were shorter, and often went right around the neck. They did not wear something that looks like an oversized modern shirt collar.

The somber black-and-white color scheme is just plain wrong. The Pilgrims, in common with other Englishmen, wore colorful outfits. In fact, black was an expensive color to dye clothes in the 17^th century, though the preachers wore it.

Log cabins were not built by Pilgrims, but by Swedish settlers in 1638.

The hair of the women would be pinned up under the hat, not worn loose (definitely no bangs streaming out from under the cap, ugh!), while the common aprons are much too small.

The Pilgrims did not sail to America for religious freedom. They left England for freedom, but they went to Holland, not America. They left because the Dutch were a bad influence on their children, and because a truce during the 30 Years’ War might expire soon.

Buckles are dished out liberally to our mythical Pilgrims, placed on hats (definitely not), waist belts (sometimes), and shoes (wrong). The Pilgrims did wear buckles on their shoulder belts.

Every man carried a dagger, and many had swords.

While the real Pilgrims wore doublets (like a jacket that only comes to one’s waist, with or without sleeves) with coats on top, the mythical ones seem to wear coats exclusively.

The Indians to go with the inaccurate Pilgrims look as if they were pulled from the Wild West. The real Indians the Pilgrims met would have looked more like Mohawks.

The list could go on, but this article shows that the modern perception of Pilgrims is highly inaccurate.

Much of the information on myths is taken from The Thanksgiving Primer. The blunderbuss and matchlock photos courtesy of www.militaryheritage.com, hats from the collection of Aidan Jachim.

November Family Newsletter - Thanksgiving (Part 1)

Offering Thanksgiving to the Lord

By David Jachim

As we draw near the Thanksgiving holiday, let us turn our attention to God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, and His Holy Word - looking for His wisdom about how and for what we should be thankful. The Bible teaches that we are to offer thanksgiving to the Lord God Omnipotent. “And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.” (Psalm 50:14, KJV). The Hebrew word that is most often translated “thanksgiving” throughout the Old Testament is “toda”. The meaning of this word involves an extending of the hand and usually signifies adoration. Based on this meaning, our thanksgiving to the Lord should be filled with praise and adoration. This Thanksgiving, let us all be truly giving thanks to the Name that is above all names by honoring and glorifying Him for Who He is and what He has done. Consider the following specific issues for which we can all be thankful as children of the King:

• God’s gift of salvation - Our salvation in Christ is nothing that any one of us have earned or deserve. Our sin nature and our specific acts of rebellion toward God’s Law deserve hellfire and eternal damnation. The very idea that God allows us to have ANY means of escaping this just judgment is nothing short of amazing grace - and how sweet is its sound. Give thanks that “he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” (Psalm 103:10, NIV)
• God’s perfect and inerrant Word - The Bible is an incredible gift that God has given to us for teaching, doctrine, reproof, and instruction in righteousness for the purpose of thoroughly equipping us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16,17). Praise the Lord that you can read, study, meditate upon, memorize, and apply God’s Holy Word. Scripture is sufficient for every area of faith and practice. It will be a light to our path giving us clear direction if we will diligently and rightfully use it.
• God’s Holy Spirit - What an amazing truth that not only has God given us the gift of His Word, but He has sent His Holy Spirit to dwell within us to help us properly understand, interpret, apply, and recall the truth communicated by the Lord. Show gratitude to the Lord for graciously giving the Counselor that lovingly guides His children into God’s perfect truth. “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:5, KJV)
• God’s sovereignty - Praise the Lord that our God reigns! He is in control of all things and He is working out His plan and purpose here on this earth as well as in heaven. Our hearts should be filled with gratefulness that our God is King of kings and Lord of lords both now and forever. “The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.” (Psalm 146:10, KJV)
• God’s love - God IS love and provides us with the capacity to love. While God’s love is perfect, our love is imperfect because we are sinful human creatures. Nevertheless, we should be ever grateful that He has given us the incredible gift of being able to see His love and has given to us the ability to love. God demonstrates His love for us in many different ways, including the gift of life on this earth, the blessings that He provides while on this planet, and the glorious hope that we have of the life to come. “I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39, KJV)
• God’s faithfulness - The God that we serve is faithful to His covenant. Thank the Lord that He is just and shows His faithfulness whether we are breaking His covenant or are walking consistent with it. He will bless us when we are upholding His Law and will discipline us when we are in rebellion against that Law. “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:9, KJV)
• God’s holiness - God is perfect in character and His perfection is prominently shown in His holiness. He has nothing in Him that would mar this perfect holiness. In the book of Revelation, He is praised around His throne by the four living creatures as they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8, KJV) God’s holiness should cause us to praise His Name and give thanks to Him for being beyond description.
• God’s purpose - God is working in this world according to His purpose and He allows us to be a part of His purpose by preparing us to accomplish good works. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV) What a gift we have been given to be a part of His plan that He has determined in advance. Offer your thanksgiving for the privilege that you have of being a part of the purpose of the Almighty!

The above list is in no way meant to be comprehensive, but details only some of the many good works and divine attributes of the One True God. All of God’s perfect character qualities, all He has already done, everything that He is presently accomplishing, and everything that He promises for the future should cause us to be giving thanks. This Thanksgiving, take the time to reflect upon the Lord God and may our Heavenly Father be pleased as you joyfully present Him with your offering of thanksgiving!

Are You a Good Person?