Are we not professionals?

First things first (Veggie Tales Slide)

Before we go any farther. We have to make something very clear. This message is not about how to be saved. This message is not about how to get right with God, or even how to fix yourself… For that we go to the Cross, we come to Christ in faith whose righteousness is placed on us, who cleanses us from all sin, who exchanges our heart of stone for a heart of flesh through the Holy Spirit, who advocates for us to God the Father, who assures us when we undergoe trials and tribulations, who is with us even to the very end of the age, and who commanded that we make disciples of all nations wherever we me be, wherever we may go by baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey all that Christ commaded us. This message is for the person whom God already looks at with favor, who longs to embrace the Father’s heart and to love what God loves, not just comply with what God has commanded.

What do I mean… I mean that you could hear everything I am about to say, and take it the wrong way. Phil Vischer the creator of Veggie Tales was probably a little sad to be bought out of his prized creation, but in his reflection he was grateful because there was always something troublesome to him about the show. He identified what’s called ‘moralism;’ that idea that what ‘you really need’ is lessons on how to live right, think right, speak right, do right. After that it’s up to you, right? There’s another problem with that view… it’s called heresy! Wait, What?! Yes, heresy… The very same heresy that people like Augustine of Hippo devoted their life to rebutting; Palagianism. The idea that what you really need is better circumstances, education, and opportunity, and with that you can be a good person. Because people are generally good, right? Wrong! Paul devotes the first six chapters of Romans, just to make that point.

Like the writer of Hebrews (Heb 5:11-14), this message is built on the basics of justification by faith, with the understaning that Christ saves us by his work for good works… (Eph 2:8-10) this is a message about what Good works look like for God’s people.

Words and Speech Proverbs 15:1-8

Welcome to the grind! We’re hitting the deckplates hard and talking about qualities every believer, every person should value.

So then why is the first idea in this proverb about being soft, or weak?

Proverbs 15:1 ESV

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Context, context, context… I am not saying that a Christian should strive to be a pushover. We need the basics first… We do not strive for dominance in this world; we do not play the game of the world to be the best in the world. Christ challenged us to take up our crosses, daily, (c.f. Luke 9:23) because there are crosses to bear for each of us. And because we have our eyes on a higher prize than the world’s goods. We have the resurrection to look forward to, we have eternity to look forward to, and we, today, have work to do… not to make this place heaven. But to help others see heaven.

Pr 25:15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.

What’s the idea of Proverbs 15:1… it’s that righteousness in our speech is winsome. Your place in Christ is secure, there is zero need to defend ourselves. I do not have to pretend that my stuff doesn’t stink or that I am mr. answer man, nor do you need to belittle yourself to get your way… The idea is that you can be deliberatly good aimed in your responses, instead of reactive or defensive. Not manipulative, but supportive/healing/helpful. Good advice and kind words are winsome, and when people realize we are not trying to manipulate them with these things, they are powerful tools for God’s people to share the Gospel.

Proverbs 15:2 ESV

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

We have this pervasive idea, like a cancer, spreading throughout western Christianity, today. For whatever reason, it is the idea that sciences and religion are incompatible, like oil and water. Have you noticed it?

I notice it whenever I see “Christian” coffee shops, or “Christian” bakers, or “Christian” software, etc… those are not bad things, not saying that, but it reveals a certain defensiveness about our faith culture. Case and point, as a pastor, I have a library of almost 6,000 books on my computer; a library made just for “Christian” research?! It’s pretty useful when I write a message, but I wonder how useful it is to interact with the world’s ideas that you are constantly exposed to… If we wall ourselves in like monks, we overlook the power of the Gospel and of knowledge… what we learn.. we are told to share. We commend knowledge with our words, so that others can learn. This assumes that there are those surrounding us who need to hear it. If you have knowledge, share it! After all, folly is poured out around us all day long =) That’s what salt does, that’s what light does. Where you see godlessness, sinfulness, corruption, ignorance… you pour out moralism?! Nope! You commend knowledge! Affirm the truth when you hear others speak it, most of what we hear will always be a mixed bag. Find things in the words of others to affirm. Off your own take on those things as God leads. But you are not to be reactive, saints! You are responsive.

Divine Omniscience (Moral Knowledge) <Santa Picture>

Proverbs 15:3 ESV

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Doctrine break: Let’s take a pause to think about what we just heard… a metaphor about the knowledge of God.

One way to approach that is to make a distinction of “what” and “how” (Feinberg, No One Like Him)

Perception: The How. Does God have material optical sensors in every physical location? No. God is spirit, non-material. What we read here is something recognized throughout Scripture; God is fully aware (perceiving) everywhere, material and immaterial/physical and metaphysical. God’s cognition is infinite and incomprehensible.

Omniscience: The What. There are many aspects of knowledge, and in this case we are learning of God’s Moral knowledge. God is fully aware of both the evil and the good. When we think of omniscience, we probably first think of basic propositional knowledge, and that God knows all of it. I guess this is related to that, but it is distinct.