John Chrysostom (to his congregation): To me it is nothing when I am applauded and well spoken of. There is only one thing I ask of you — to prove your approval of me through your works. That is how you can speak well of me, and that is what is going to do you good. This, to me, is the greatest honor. I prefer it to a material crown. I do not desire applause and being well spoken of. I have one request to make — for you to listen to me in quiet attentiveness and to put my advice into practice. This is not a theater. You don’t sit here in order to admire actors and to applaud them. This is a place where you must learn the things of God.

Matthew Henry: Those who teach by their doctrine must teach by their life, or else they pull down with one hand what they build up with the other.

 John Owen: A minister may fill his pews, his communion roll, the mouths of the public, but what that minister is on his knees in secret before God Almighty, that he is and no more.

John Wesley: Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth.

I would say that we’re theologically very conservative and culturally pretty liberal. Politically is another matter, but theologically conservative and culturally liberal. You’ll see kids with mohawks, piercings, tattoos, playing in punk bands, driving up on scooters and smoking cigarettes and carrying the ESV translation of the Bible arguing about propitiation. That’s Seattle. But we don’t want those kids to all convert to Christian culture when they meet Jesus. We want them to stay in their tribe and be missionaries to their tribe. In the same way, if I went to Africa and converted a 20 year old kid, the last thing I’d do is dress him up in a suit and tell him to learn proper English. I’d make him remain African culturally, and then bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ as far into African culture as he could. When this happens overseas, we say they’re a good missionary. When Hudson Taylor shows up in China and dresses in Chinese dress and learns Chinese language and eats Chinese food and gets a Chinese haircut, everybody says there’s a good Christian. When we do that in punk rock culture people think it’s capitulation. I think there’s hypocrisy there. That’s why we’re not reaching Americans. We have a double standard, we get stuck on the style and we forget the substance of the Gospel.
- Mark Driscoll

EDIT:

I would just like to say that I do not think this quote is so “cool” anymore. I feel like Driscoll is trying to develop a connection that simply isn’t there. Hudson Taylor’s adaption to Chinese culture is completely different from adaption to punk rock culture namely because adapting to punk rock culture would inevitably lead to spiritual compromise. Now that’s what I call capitulation.

I would have to say that my favorite extra-biblical story would be Rocky. There were many tensions in his life including: poverty, injuries, loss of loved ones, and a list of brutal nemeses. I’ve never really considered the fact that God might be using the tension in my life in just the same way. Reason being, I’ve always believed that there was a huge disparity between stories/movies and reality. Although to some extent my belief holds true, I should be able to accept the fact that God can use tension in my life for a greater good.

2. Suppose a non-Christian said to you, “Why should I become a Christian? I know non-Christians who are extremely kind, and Christians who are downright rude!” How would you respond?

Christians are not perfect. It’s not fair for you to take your experiences with rude Christians and make a judgment upon all of Christianity. Morality and sincerity will not save you from God’s judgment. Romans 3:23 states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” And the only provision for man’s sin is Jesus Christ. I know this because in John 14:6 it says, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

Esth. 6:1 ¶ On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.
Esth. 6:2 And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
Esth. 6:3 And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king’s young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

An illustration of God’s providence: God’s providence is like the wind. Although you may not be able to see or feel the blowing wind, the bending trees tell its own story.

Esth. 6:12 ¶ Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.
Esth. 6:13 And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”

Haman’s wise men and his wife Zeresh instantaneously believed in the “power and final victory of Israel’s God.” Although Christians in the US have easy access to the Bible (The chronicles of God’s providence and sovereignty throughout history) and a vast number of other resources, we often fail to grasp the insight of pagans!

Esth. 5:9 ¶ And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
Esth. 5:10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh.
Esth. 5:11 And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king.
Esth. 5:12 Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king.
Esth. 5:13 Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

Haman was heralded as second in command after the king, yet he let Mordecai’s disobedience affect the happiness that flowed from such royal recognition. What is a Christian? Christians are the royal priesthood, children of God, and heirs alongside Christ. We have received an abundance of benefits graciously given to us by our Father in heaven: Prayer, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, our coming glorification, knowledge of God, the Bible, and so much more. How is it then that we cling on to joy that is far from “impregnable?” We are too much like Haman.

Esth. 4:6 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate,
Esth. 4:7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.
Esth. 4:8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people.
Esth. 4:9 And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said.

The more I read through this commentary, the more it becomes plain to me, that Mordecai and I are very alike! Duguid made a very interesting point this morning: “When a Jew puts on sackcloth and ashes, prayer naturally follows.” However, Mordecai did not resort to prayer instead he went outside and cried a “loud, bitter cry.” After crying, he told Esther (through Hathach) to intercede on behalf of the Jews by pleading with King Ahasuerus. Mordecai’s behavior reveals his “empire-assimilated” mind. It is quite evident that he finds more security and assurance on the human level than on the divine. Likewise, I find myself relying upon my own strength and will before lifting up life’s issues to God. This type of attitude not only forsakes the adequacy of God but also exposes my “halfway Christian” unbelief. My lack of faith stems from none other than the absence of persistent prayer in my life. Here’s the spiritual truth: Prayer and faith are directly correlated.

When God brings trials into our lives and calls us to submit willingly to the loss of the very things that this world calls most precious – money, friends, reputation, health, strength, dreams, and aspirations – how do we respond? With Esther’s sweet compliant spirit? On the contrary, our hearts swiftly revolt against God whenever things do not go our way, whenever our will is not done.

Esther was willing to put up with a lot of things for the sake of the empire. She was fattened to perfect size and even went through a 12-month perfuming process. All for what you might ask? A one-night-stand with a Gentile King. Esther submitted willingly because whether she became the Queen or just another concubine, she would be guaranteed comfort for life. Christians today are just as entangled with similar types of issues. We bow down and pledge allegiance to “modern Ahasuerus’” before we do so to God. How absurd is this fact! God, our heavenly Father who loves us abundantly, who works all things providentially for our own good, we reject and place below our worldly ambitions. Why do we long after such temporary, fleeting desires? Why do so-called Christians yearn for that one-night-stand so desperately when we know, through unobstructed reason, that God offers us infinitely more?

It is not that Mordecai was being totally unreasonable in his reluctance to bow to Haman, but we wonder whether this was the right issue for making a stand. Think how many other compromises Mordecai has made in order to remain alive and employed in the Persian court!

This quote paired with Chapter 3 brought to mind a clear example from my very own life. Recently, I met up with a friend, a fellow brother, whom I’ve known for a long time even before I became a believer. Because this particular friend has seen both sides of my coin it is extremely difficult for me to act comfortably around him. I feel that his perspective of me has not changed whatsoever since kindergarten therefore I feel pressured to meet certain expectations when in his presence. In my mind I envision myself painlessly and shamelessly saying to him, “I take my faith seriously now, I’ve changed. I am no longer that same Justin!” But mainly because of cowardice I have not brought myself to this point. As a cheap alternative, I’ve tried taking stands against him every time he would “sin” in hopes that he would then get the picture. However, failure fell onto my lap hangout after hangout, which proceedingly plunged me into a spiral of guilt. But just recently, Jenny, my girlfriend, by the grace of God exposed the “Mordecai” inside of me via gentle rebuking. She told me that, just like Mordecai, I cared more about secondary issues than the primary ones. Mordecai did not flinch when his cousin was taken to the harem of a Gentile King and on top of that he was the one that unethically told Esther to conceal her Jewishness. Was his disobedience towards Haman the right issue to make a stand? Similarly, I was bent on extracting and exposing every sin that my friend committed when the first thing I should have done was ask about his spiritual life! Although my mistakes and Mordecai’s mistakes are not fully comparable, one thing’s for sure, “we were both shooting flies with cannonballs.”

Matt. 23:24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

Esth. 1:6 There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods* and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones.
Esth. 1:7 Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king.
Esth. 1:8 And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired.

“The empire of materialism in which we live takes stuff desperately seriously. It wants us to study the empire’s laws and learn how to get ahead by the empire’s standards. It wants us to dream of six-month-long banquets in beautifully decorated gardens, and then to devote our lives to pursuing the dream. It is easy for us to be dazzled by the empire’s ostentatious show, but it is empty of real power at the center. The empire of this world is a glittering hologram that has no real substance. To defend ourselves against the danger of being assimilated, we must learn to laugh at the empire. We must learn to laugh at those around us whose lives are wasted in pursuit of so many worthless goals, and to laugh at ourselves when we see our own hearts getting weighed on the empire’s scale of values…True value lies in the values of an altogether different empire.”

- Iain Duguid

I started my REC: Esther & Ruth today. When I read the first couple pages of the commentary I immediately felt that I would not enjoy it as much as Ryken’s Galatians. However, at the close of the first chapter, Iain Duguid went ballistic when he wrote about the passage’s application for modern believers.

The excerpt above is what really cut me deepest out of the whole chapter. I’ve always known that I struggled with materialism and I’ve always known that this world that I live in has had a conforming effect upon me. But one thing I’ve never known was the degree of this assimilation. Sometimes when I examine my actions throughout the day or reflect after hanging out with a friend, I uncover insecurities deep within myself. Theses insecurities are usually rooted in materialism and serve as the basis for my sinful behavior. When it comes down to it, I have adopted the world’s values and forsaken the values of the Kingdom of Heaven. Where is my home? Where does my allegiance lie? I am so complacent with sin in my life that I let it manipulate what I do and say. I pray that I may soon be able to laugh at this world and it’s warped set of priorities. Derek Webb in his song “Wedding Dress” poetically describes this materialistic compromise that many Christians commit today:

So could you love this bastard child?
Though I don’t trust you to provide
With one hand in a pot of gold
And with the other in your side
‘Cause I am so easily satisfied
By the call of lovers so less wild
That I would take a little cash
Over your very flesh and blood

The fact that the book of Esther never names God is both significant and wonderful because it shows that God works His sovereignty whether men recognize it or not.

7. Hopefully, you noticed this sermon’s very stern and very loving warning: Many people rush through life feeling healthy and prosperous, and one day they will wake up and find that they have thoughtlessly tumbled into the very presence of God, and that his righteous, complete, unerring and unrepealable judgment awaits them. Resolve today that you will not so thoughtlessly tumble into his presence. Have you made preparations for your certain appearance before God? What responsibility do you have to issue this warning to others, especially those you love?

To prevent myself from thoughtlessly tumbling into God’s presence I must take every sin seriously. I mustn’t have a careless attitude that pushes sin aside till a later day that never quite seems to arrive. All Christians also have a responsibility to warn other believers as well. A true love for your brothers and sisters in Christ consists of rebuking as well as encouragement.

8. Does God have any enemies who should not be a Christian’s enemies? Should a Christian have any enemies who are not God’s enemies? Do you? Who? What?

No and no. I feel as if sometimes I allow sin to exist inside of me when I am fully aware that sin is God’s enemy. By doing so I am essentially committing treason towards my holy, faithful, and perfect Father. At times I also consider people enemies whom God does not consider enemies, namely my brothers in Christ. I do not necessarily hate my brothers but I am frequently envious of them and am frustrated by them. Therefore, by harboring these wicked feeling against them I am treating them as enemies.

9. What specifically is meant by the promise, “God will certainly deliver his people”? Sometimes Christians claim that the doctrine of God’s sovereignty will kill evangelism. But how does a certainty in God’s sovereignty, combined with a certainty in the fact that he will deliver his people, actually stimulate mission and evangelism? But the same token, why is it that people who believe in God’s sovereignty and certain deliverance so often travel to “closed” countries to share the gospel where Christian evangelism is a punishable offense?

Evangelism is a mandate given to all Christians by Jesus Christ himself. Once this mandate is paired with the doctrine of God’s sovereignty and the certainty that God will deliver his people, all Christians should naturally be motivated to spread the good news to the ends of the earth. God is on our side and uses us effectively as tools for his glory!

Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Matt. 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in* the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matt. 28:20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

10. What are you waiting to be delivered from? Really, more than anything else in the world, what do you long to be delivered from? Does this help you to see what you most value?

I am waiting to be delivered from my lifelong battle with sin. I cannot wait for the day I conquer sin through death or for the day of Christ’s second coming, whichever one comes first. I guess it does help me to see what I value most, but I can readily admit that I often lose focus of those values and attach myself to the things of this world.

God delivered the Jews. Even though God’s name is not once mentioned in the book of Esther, His providence throughout cannot be denied.

2. Were Esther and Mordecai perfectly upstanding throughout the story? When discussing the Bible both with Christians and non-Christians, why should we not feel the need to defend all the behavior even of the “good guys”? In fact, why should we be willing to point out their faults?

Both Esther and Mordecai were not perfectly upstanding throughout the story. Esther answered Mordecai’s request with much reluctance and Mordecai was shown as very stiff-necked when he fail to honor Haman. When we’re discussing the Bible both with Christians and non-Christians, we should not feel the need to defend all the behavior even of the “good guys” because realisitically Christians are sinners too. We should be willing to point out their faults in order to make known the fact that God can work through and does work through imperfect vessels. Consider the 12 disciples for starters.

3. Let’s take our conclusions to question 2 and apply them to ourselves. Why should we be willing to point out our personal flaws, even serious ones, to both Christians and non-Christians (while keeping other considerations of prudence, e.g., don’t cause a brother to stumble)?

We should be willing to point out our personal flaws, even serious ones, to both Christians and non-Christians so that people could see first hand, that perfection is not a prerequisite of Christianity. By sharing past failures and mistakes, there is a chance that other misconceptions could potentially cleared up as well.

4. We have considered the fact that the book of Esther works as one long narrative illustration of the apostle Paul’s reassuring words in Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” First, let’s consider, does God work in this fashion for everyone? Does this include non-Christians? Whom does he work for? Second, let’s ask, what does Paul mean by “all things”? List two or three “things” that you often fail to remember God is using for good purposes in your life (for example: someone’s death, your struggle with a particular sin, a loved one’s refusal to consider Christianity, etc.). What would placing these two or three struggles into the “all things” category mean for your life? How will you do this?

Based on Romans 8:28, my answers are no, no, and Christians. When Paul says “all things” he means exactly that. According to John Macarthur, “God providentially orchestrates both good and bad for the temporal and eternal good of those who love him.” My two “things” are: 1) Glen and John’s nonchalant attitude towards Christianity and 2) Anxiety for graduation especially since I desire to find a job right when summer starts. I think that in placing these two “things” in the “all things” category, it is quite obvious that God wants me to: 1) Persevere in reaching out to others and 2) To be fully dependent upon God rather than self especially in times of high anxiety. I will do this by calling both guys this week and by dedicating myself to serious, honest prayer.

5. No matter what your circumstances are, God has specifically placed you where you are right now. Why is this comforting? Why should this fact not lead us to complacency but to action.

1 Corinthians 10:13 is a perfect companion verse to this question and serves as the ultimate source of comfort. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” God is up in heaven rooting for us and that is why we should be moved to action instead of being downtrodden in our complacencies. Charles Spurgeon speaks similarly on this topic:

No life can surpass that of a man who quietly continues to serve God in the place where providence has placed him.