What Can We Learn From Josh Duggar?

Posted on by kevinjandt

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I rarely write about current events, but I think this is important enough to talk about, so today I will. The Duggar Family of 19 Kids and Counting has released reports of sexual abuse by Josh Duggar, the eldest son. The family never reported the situation until it had been discovered and then reported on by a news agency. I won’t dig into the should they have…, or the what should they have done scenarios…, because there are so many, I’ll allow the “experts” to comment on that side of things.

I write from a strictly Christian perspective, and I will tell you my family and I enjoy watching 19 Kids and Counting. It’s hard to find anything of any quality on television and this show attempts to bring decency to their message. This report of Josh is certainly disturbing and bothersome to me and to many that are fans of the family and program, as it should be. The reality is that rarely are things as they seem, and television is in the business of making things look good or bad, depending on what they want to show.

In no way do I approve or think what happened is right. The Duggars are part of a sinful world, and they are sinners by nature. We, just like them, are all under the wrath of an Almighty God outside of His regenerating work.

among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)… – Ephesians 2:3-5

One big problem I see in this whole situation is what I call an assumed salvation. I don’t know this family, so I don’t know the interactions the parents have with the children on a daily basis. I don’t understand, nor profess to know, how Jim Bob disciples his children.   They home-school, and do Bible studies, I assume they are members in good standing of a local church, according to what I see on the show. However, this does not make regenerate believers in Jesus Christ.

The danger for Christian families, and especially large Christian families, is that because they train their children to behave properly, unless their hearts have been changed they are only good looking little Pharisees. White-washed tombs, full of dead men’s bones. They look so shiny and pretty, but inside are full of corruption.

This is or was, clearly, the case with Josh. Was this something that brought him to salvation and recognition of his sin? Did this cause him to be broken, to weep, lament and mourn over his heinous offenses against a Holy God? I really don’t know. I hope it did.

The lesson I need to learn, and the lesson you need to learn from this, for our own children, is that we must preach the gospel to them.   I wrote last time about the salvation of our children, and it seems that the timing was well ordered by God’s providential plans. We have a role to play. Jim Bob and Michelle have the most important role to play in the life of their kids if they are truly saved. Spread good seed, preach the gospel, and trust God for the results.

We should never fail to teach to our children’s hearts, and show them how they can’t do it on their own. Whether it be something as repulsive as sexual molestation, or talking back to your parents, they need the gospel. All those beautiful little children need to know they need Jesus and they need the cleansing work that He did on the cross.

No matter how good it looks on the outside, or how much we teach the Bible, God must do a work in their hearts. If I could ever offer the Duggar family my tiny little speck of advice, I would call this situation exactly what it is.

It was not a mistake. It was sin.

It was so despicable and ugly to a Holy God that His Son was brutally murdered for it. He took the wrath that we deserve, He hung on that tree until it was finished. He did it so that sinful man has hope. He did it so you and I might be reconciled to the Father. Josh Duggar is a sinner, I’m a sinner, you are a sinner, and unless we repent and turn from our sin and confess Christ as Lord then we will pay for that sin eternally in hell.  Unless we’ve been washed by the blood of Christ then we are no longer seen as sinners, but as having the imputed righteousness of Jesus.

The offer of salvation is free to those that will come to Him. Let’s learn a great lesson from this and lift up this family in prayer that God would be glorified as He so richly deserves and perhaps someone will be saved I hope what the devil intended for evil, God intended for good.

And a warning to those that take some joy in this situation.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

We all need Jesus.

Kevin

Will Your Children Be Saved?

Posted on by kevinjandt

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Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. – Psalm 127:3

Indeed children are a reward, and how can we look upon our precious little ones and not consider them a gift of God. Children are also a heritage says the word of God, they are like a treasured possession that God has given to us for many purposes, one is in the hopes we pass down a godly line and continue to perpetuate the gospel. That is my hope, and that should also be your hope for your children. My hope is in the Lord, that He will save them, and that He will do all His good pleasure.

But what if that doesn’t happen?

I believe completely and trust fully in the Sovereignty of God. In some circles, I suppose I’m called a “Calvinist”, in that I affirm the doctrines of the Bible that John Calvin taught. This is a four-letter word to many in the professing Christian world, but can I trust in a God that sits back and does not have His hand upon everything; even the salvation of destruction of my children? Oh what a difficult topic this is to write about…

The LORD has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. – Proverbs 16:4

Have we not read the Scriptures? Do we avoid the hard topic of the reality of salvation? Do we assume because we are faithfully following the Lord that our children will automatically do that? This is a reality, which a Christian must embrace; because there is no guarantee of salvation for our children. We won’t explore the covenantal aspect in this post, but if we only take a cursory glance at Scripture to see how many disobedient children followed their obedient parents, it becomes obvious there is no guarantee.

“But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” – Jonah 2:9

Do we really trust that salvation is of the Lord? This is a very good question to ask, but it’s a hard question to ask. You can do all the right things. You can take your children to church, you can catechize them, you can teach them the Holy Scriptures, but you can’t guarantee their salvation.

So what do you do now? Do you “let go and let God”? I sure hope not. I sure hope you and I will be diligent, because we also have God’s commands, and the thing I believe is more important than anything else in this conversation is our obedience; if you are a believer, than you MUST be obedient to the Scriptures.

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” – Deuteronomy 6:6-7 see also Ephesians 6:4

Believing parents, and especially fathers are commanded, you’ve been given an order that you must obey, to train your children, all the time. Not part of the time, not some of the time, but at every opportunity you have. You have a responsibility to carry out the commands of the King.

Our children have a responsibility in this equation. They are commanded to repent and turn from their sin. They are without excuse, as all of mankind is without excuse, if they don’t repent and turn from their sin. There will be no “out clauses” on judgment day.

Listen to the testimony of Charles Spurgeon, in how his mother would conduct family worship and plead with them. Would you do this with your children? Would they understand the gravity of their situation, should they go unconverted? Would you not do anything and everything for your children that they might come to know the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ?

“It was the custom, on Sunday evenings, while we were yet little children, for her to stay at home with us, and then we sat round the table, and read verse by verse, and she explained the Scripture to us. After that was done, then came the time of pleading; there was a little piece of Alleine’s Alarm, or of Baxter’s Call to the Unconverted, and this was read with pointed observations made to each of us as we sat round the table; and the question was asked, how long it would be before we would think about our state, how long before we would seek the Lord. Then came a mother’s prayer, and some of the words of that prayer we shall never forget, even when our hair is grey. I remember, on one occasion, her praying thus: “Now, Lord, if my children go on in their sins, it will not be from ignorance that they perish, and my soul must bear a swift witness against them at the day of judgment if they lay not hold of Christ.” – C.H. Spurgeon

Could you say this to your children? Would you love them this much, to have them consider that you would testify against them?

Kevin

Spring…

Posted on by kevinjandt

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For a few short days in the spring, our little piece of the earth is alive with color and beauty. The colors are vibrant, the grass is lush, and the fragrance that fills the air is sweet. But it never last long…

Each and every year this is the pattern…

For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth: The time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. – Song of Solomon 2:11-12

It’s short, just like life…

We know the truth of this, yet in our lives we don’t always see it, because we are often caught up in the mundane aspects of life.

As I considered my yard the other day, I wanted to take some pictures to remember it, the grass looks as close to perfect as I can get it, but there are things you can’t see. And there are things there that I can’t see.

Lurking under the ground were moles (I think they are now gone), and popping up are dandelions and weeds. These are representative of sin. All believer’s have sin (1 John 1:8), but it’s also true that all believer’s have the Holy Spirit of God and have the ability to conquer sin (Romans 6).

Our lives are like our yards and if we don’t constantly attend to them, like a gardener protects his garden, then the ugliness begins to take over. The dandelions spread and in one or two seasons your yard is full of them.

So for the believer, to flourish, he must attend to and have attended to his yard, by the word of God (Hebrews 4:12), fellowship with the saints (Acts 2:42), and exhortation through the preaching of God’s Word (1 Timothy 4:13). God has given us certain privileges and gifts (1 Timothy 4:14). He has provided Pastor’s and teacher’s (Ephesians 4:11-12 that watch out for the flock (Acts 20:28) and teach the truth of Scripture (2 Timothy 1:13). He has provided the love and fellowship of other saints and He has told us to not forsake gathering together (Hebrews 10:25).

Lazy gardeners will allow their responsibility to relax, and they will skip every once in a while, because it’s just more convenient. We also have the pragmatist who will attend Saturday evening so they can go to their kids sporting events, rather than gather on the one day a week God has ordained (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). In fact we call it the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10), doesn’t that tell us something?

The Christian life is one of commitment and responsibility, but it is filled with tremendous joy. It is not for those that desire ease and comfort.

I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. When I saw it I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man. – Proverbs 24:30-34

If you’ve become lazy in your responsibilities as a Christian and yes I mean you have responsibilities. Then repent and turn from your sin, or better yet, examine yourself (2 Corinthians 13:5) to see if you are truly in the faith. There are no short cuts in Christianity. It’s a narrow and difficult path that leads to life, not a smooth easy highway (Matthew 7:13-14).

Kevin

Hold Fast

Posted on by kevinjandt

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We’ve reached the end of a study that for me has been incredibly rewarding. It was a challenge that came out of the blue, so to speak, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to consider this topic and stand in amazement at the depth and richness of the Word of God. Each word has meaning, and each word was breathed out by God Himself, through the pen of each individual writer. Using their unique style and their own unique personalities that God caused to say exactly what He wants us to know.

I must ask you a very simple but hard hitting question. Do you believe that about the Bible? Do you believe that it is the inerrant, infallible, all sufficient, breath of God? Do you believe that it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that they man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work? And it is the only means by which God saves? Get this wrong and you miss the whole thing? Because then you’ve strayed from sound teaching. You’ve done just what Paul warned Timothy against.

Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. – 2 Timothy 1:13-14

Paul is telling us to hold on with dear life to these words, to cling to them, as if to let go would certainly mean death. Imagine being on the deck of a ship in a big storm and the huge waves will wash you overboard. You must cling to the railing or surely you will be lost at sea. This is the imagery that comes to my mind when I think of holding fast.

However, what do you cling to? If you cling to the wrong thing it might certainly break and give way, the importance of dearly holding on is secondarily important to what we cling to and we must hold onto something solid. Something that is immovable. We must cling to dear life to the sound words committed to Timothy by Paul.

Notice here that Paul asserts his authority. Imagine the arrogance of this man claiming that his words are sound. Have you ever had a discussion or an argument with someone that wants to dismiss Paul as a notch below Jesus? “Well those words are not in red”, they might say. No, let’s put that argument in the ground very quickly… “All” Scripture is breathed out by God… Paul says so himself right here, this is the Word of God and the “words” of God.

And he goes onto proclaim that they are in Christ Jesus. Jesus appointed Paul to be a minister of the gospel, not some lesser known author, or irrelevant part of what God’s Word says. Paul is authoritative, and his words carry the full weight of God. This is a slippery slope and you will quickly descend into apostasy if you believe this lie.

Finally, hold onto the good thing which was committed to you.

Is salvation a good thing?

In this day and age we have so much going for us. Most of us live in homes that are heated in the winter and cooled in the summer. We rarely if ever miss a meal. We have plenty of resources to entertain ourselves. We enjoy vacations and time for leisure. There is seldom a day that goes by that we don’t flop down on a comfortable chair and we have the opportunity to read a book or watch television. We really don’t think about eternity on a daily basis. We really don’t spend a lot of time considering the eternal souls of those around us. We seldom if ever tell someone they are in danger, and standing at the edge of a cliff being supported only by a very thin thread of life.

So is salvation a good thing? We think so little of it, because we are so arrogantly walking around as if God does not really exist. I realize this doesn’t apply to all of us. I also realize this doesn’t apply to all of us all the time. It does apply to all of us sometimes. And I would like to us think about having it apply to us less of the time.

Paul lays it out quite clearly, that the only way we grow in this grace, and that we recognize our condition is through the power of the Spirit of God. He is the “Helper”, and for God’s people, we have the ability that others don’t have. We have the Holy Spirit living inside us, sustaining our salvation, preserving us to live in His power; to do the work that we were created for. He is there to sustain, to chasten, to convict, and for some to save.

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight – if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. – Colossians 21-23

We are kept by the power of the Holy Spirit, to do the work, for which we have been called. Today, we have an opportunity to proclaim His name. We have the privilege to call on a power that is unknown to most of the world, and use that to bring Him glory. This is your purpose if you are a believer. If you are not a believer, then your purpose is to repent and turn from your sin, or you will perish in your sin. This mission is not complex. In fact it’s quite simple.

The only question that remains; will you be faithful?

Kevin

Hope?

Posted on by kevinjandt

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For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. – 2 Timothy 1:12

We’ve turned a slight corner in looking at 2 Timothy 1:5-14, but yet we have so much more to see.

Paul has told us much, and he’s given us much encouragement. He wanted to stir up Timothy to continue in his work. He has reminded him of his need for boldness, for his ability to suffer, and to not be ashamed of the gospel. He has reminded young Timothy of the holy calling by which he was called and that all of this was planned in time past. Paul has declared authoritatively his role as an apostle and a teacher and that all his authority has been ordained by Jesus Christ Himself and proved Himself the Christ through His death and resurrection.

There is so much hope in Christ, and Paul doesn’t want Timothy to forget this. Have you ever wanted to encourage a friend, or a loved one? You remind them of the difficult things they’ve been through, and the things they’ve accomplished, and how they have so much more potential? Yes, this is what Paul wants to remind Timothy. This is not a Joel Osteen pep talk, no; it’s a call to action. It’s an exhortation to press on…

Well, Paul once again reminds Timothy of his sufferings, and why he is not ashamed. We’ve previously discussed the suffering aspect of the gospel, Jesus certainly suffered and we as Christians are told we will suffer, but today that is certainly different than it was then. But yet a day is on the horizon that this will change. I’d like to have the true believer consider this for a moment. Are you prepared? Are you preparing your family for the day that is coming? My children will suffer for the gospel, should the Lord save them, much more than I ever will. They will be minimized, they will be reduced, and they will certainly be persecuted. Will the next generation by martyred? It’s a possibility.

So where’s the hope in all this, so far, it’s mostly depressing?

The hope is just around the corner, look at what Paul then says “For I know whom I have believed…”

What an absolutely incredible statement of Jesus Christ. There is Paul’s hope. There is Timothy’s hope, and there is your hope and my hope. Jesus Christ, in all His incredible glory, is the hope for believers.

It is a real hope right? I mean it’s not a false hope like Buddha, or Muhammad? It’s not “hoping” that everything will turn out okay, its real hope. It’s something we can actually place our faith and our hope in. It’s real, it’s tangible.

And He is risen…

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received; that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. – 1 Corinthians 15:1-6

Paul had confidence in his hope, because he had confidence in the Word of God. Paul believed in the authority of Scripture. He believed that God’s Word stood the test of time, that God’s Word foretold the coming of Christ, His life, His death and His resurrection.

According to the Scriptures…

Paul believed the eye witness accounts, he knew they were accurate, he had talked with these people, and not only that; Paul himself had seen the risen Lord.

Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. – 1 Corinthians 15:8

This was a lock for Paul. This is the reason he had the confidence he had. This is why Paul would willingly and happily suffer. He knew…he had first hand, intimate knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and he was confident that for which he was called.

Lastly, Paul knew that the promises were true. He knew that what had been committed would be kept. The saints would persevere. They would persevere because God keeps His promises. He is not slack concerning His promises, He is not a liar, and He is incapable of lying. So either it was true or it wasn’t and there are no other options.

Paul believed. Do you believe?

Do you believe what the Scriptures say and do you believe the promises that God has in store for those that serve Him out of a pure heart; a pure heart that only He can give? Yes, we all want eternal life, but do you also believe the promises that He makes to the unrighteous? Because that is terrifying, and if you have some head knowledge of Him, without an intimate knowledge, a saving knowledge of Him you must also believe His promises. His promise that says He will punish the unrighteous. Those without faith will perish. The wrath of God will be poured out upon them for eternity.

But today there is still hope for you. Today you can turn to Him and be saved. That’s a promise you can count on.

However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. – 1 Timothy 1:16

Kevin