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If God Blessed America (What Would He Do?)

by Gregg Metcalf

Ever since that September day

all you see are signs that say

God Bless America

No one stops to realize

to take time to analyze

only God Bless America

It's heard on everybody's lips

no one stops to think, out it slips

God Bless America

Do they even think at all

is it just some empty call?

God Bless America

If God were to bless America

just what would He do?

Would He send angels from heaven

with the red, white, and blue?

Do you really think we deserve

anything since we are this way

If God were to bless America

tell me, what would He say?  

Would God wink at all our sin

and simply say forget it friend?

But God Bless America

Holiness and righteousness

are things that God will bless

God bless America

If God were to bless America

just what would He do?

Would He send angels from heaven

with the red, white, and blue?

Do you really think we deserve

anything since we are this way

If God were to bless America

tell me, what would He say? 

 

Or will we fall on our face

and repent in disgrace

God bless America

Do we think He won't care

and why do we even dare

to ask God bless America

If God were to bless America

just what would He do?

Would He send angels from heaven

with the red, white, and blue?

Do you really think we deserve

anything since we are this way

If God were to bless America

tell me, what would He say?

 

So, tell me, 

if God blessed America

what would He do?

 

How Do I Study the Scriptures?

New Testament Exegesis

A few days ago I was chatting with someone about the overwhelming value of studying the Scriptures exegetically. I was asked how does one do that? I was specifically asked how I did it? Did I follow a list, specific instructions? Was there a blue-print or process sheet? At the risk of boring or alienating my non-technical readers I thought I would give a quick recap of how I exegetically study the scriptures.

Fist, let me share three of my most favorite books dealing with exegesis and exposition of Scripture:

• How to Prepare Bible Messages by James Braga

• New Testament Exegesis by Gordon D. Fee

• Multipurpose Tools for Bible Study - by Frederick W. Danker.

 I have several other books and tools but these are my three top favorites. :)

 

My steps are as follows:

1.  I research the historical content of the book I am studying

      Author - Who wrote the book?
      Audience - Who was the book written to?
      Age - When was the book written?
      Affairs - What was the historical background of the audience?
      Aim - Why was the book/passage written?
      Argument - What was the author's purpose (s) for writing?
      Analysis - The general outline of the book
 
2.  I determine the limits of the passage I am studying

     By examining what precedes my passage
     By examining what follows my passage

3.  I familiarize myself with the passage thoroughly

     What is the main idea?
     What is (are) the key word (s)
     I  engage my 6 friends in conversation:

        Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How?

4.  I analyze the sentence structure and syntax

     What is the subject?
     What is the predicate?
     What is the object?
 
5.  I begin familiarizing myself with the Greek text

      I employ precepts of textual criticism
      I examine textual variants and/or interpretive challenges
      I establish the best reading (translation) [with lots of help]

6.  I analyze the grammar

     I use a grammatical worksheet:

        reference
        text form (how the word is written in the text)
        the lexical form of the word
        grammatical description of the word
        explanation of the meaning and its usage
        
7. I analyze and do word studies on significant words/terms

    I research the authors choice of a word and how he uses it
 
8.  I research the historical and cultural background of the passage

     The bible was not written to 21st century, white, Anglo-Saxons. It was written to 1st century Jews. What historical and cultural bridges do I need to cross in order to make the passage and application sensible. My task is to determine the original meaning of the author and apply his meaning to a modern audience.

9. I determine the genre and then apply principles to study that genre.

   Is it an epistle? (letter)
   Is it a gospel?
   Is it a historical narrative? (Acts)
   Is it an apocalyptic writing? (Revelation)

10.  I consult commentaries, dictionaries, atlases, periodicals, magazines, journals, and other helps to make sure I am on track and not "out to lunch"

Contrary to what people may think it takes a lot of work, sweat, and prayer to determine the precise meaning of the first century author and then to make accurate application to modern day listeners. There is no private interpretation of Scripture. It does not mean one thing to you and another thing to me. There is only one meaning to every passage, verse, or book of the bible. Good oration and attractive ideas are no substitute for good ole fashion exegetical study. The most dangerous and damming words you will ever hear in this life are: "This is what it means to me." 

It does not matter what it means to you or me. What did it the bible writer mean by what he said? What did his hearers or listeners understand him to mean? It takes hard work to dig this out of the text. That is why there is much more bad preaching/teaching than there is good preaching/teaching.

A Wonderful Definition of Grace

Over the last forty (40) years I have written a number of quotes, comments, pithy sayings, and poems in the fly-leafs of my bibles. Each Tuesday I am going to share those various entries from my bibles with you. I hope they will be as much of blessing to you as they have been to me. Sometimes I will be able to give credit where credit is due and sometimes I won’t be able to credit the source. I apologize for this to each one who contributed these gems over the last forty (40) years.

TODAY'S TREASURE:

"Grace is the pleasure of God, to magnify the worth of God, by giving sinners the right and power to delight in God, without obscuring the glory of God."  

--John Piper

Wherefore Art Thou O Rain?

Monday Morning Musings

First, I am reminded once again why I love Southwest Washington, we get: 

46 inches of rain

4 inches of snow

Average maximum 

temperature: 61 degrees


Average low temperature: 41 degrees

So, why I muse was it 93 degrees yesterday and why is it going to be 91 degrees today? Where is the rain that I love so much. Bah humbug on this heat-wave. Thank you Lord I am not in Death Valley today!

Second, wonderful opportunity of gathering with the local body of Christ at Coal Creek Community Church. Was aptly reminded that believers can be fickle and childish, but thank God He loves us anyways and is mucho long-suffering.

Third, I learned that it is not a good idea to pick your laptop up by the open "lid," especially if you slip and your thump applies sufficient enough pressure to "kill" your screen. Laptop screen 0 - Gregg's thumb 1.

Fourth, had left over chili and corn bread yesterday for supper. Forgive me for saying, I make a "mean" homemade chili!

Fifth, received a free 1599 Geneva Bible and am enjoying reading this translation for my morning devotions. (No, it is not in old English - it was modernized so I could recognize it) Here is an example of Romans 1:1-6 from Tyndale's Bible.

 Paul the seruaut of Iesus Christ called to be an Apostle put a parte to preache the Gospell of God
2 which he promysed afore by his Prophetes in the holy scriptures
3 that make mension of his sonne the which was begotte of the seed of David as pertayninge to the flesshe:
4 and declared to be the sonne of God with power of the holy goost that sanctifieth sence ye tyme that Iesus Christ oure Lorde rose agayne from deeth
5 by whom we have receaved grace and apostleshyppe to bringe all maner hethe people vnto obedience of the fayth that is in his name:
6 of the which hethen are ye a part also which are Iesus christes by vocacio.

Our Unshakable God

"All the plots of hell and commotions on earth have not so much as shaken God's hand to spoil one letter or line he has been drawing."

-- William Gurnall

The False Christ of Arminianism (Part II)

Learn to Answer the Right Question

Yesterday I began this post with the late "breaking news" that I may have stumbled on what must have been a well kept secret. Learning to answer the right question may be a great way to reduce the amount of vitriolic rhetoric and superfluous gasbaggery that can abound.

First, let me say that I have come to loathe labels. I do think at times labels have the tendency to be divisive. I have come to realize that many times labels can be destructive rather than "helpful." Labels can also distort valuable viewpoints and the truth.

Let me say secondly, that I think it is also fairy-tailed naivety to think that we can totally eliminate labels from our discussions. I do not think that we can completely avoid using some "labels" for accurate description of certain doctrines or teachings.

Having said that, let me say that I am in the process of preparing a new study on Paul's letter to the Roman congregations. One of the themes in Romans is that of justification. I have commenced an in-depth research and reading regiment on justification.

In doing so I was somewhat startled to see some teachings that are not only germane to the subject of justification, but how they also "nullify" justification. This realization caused me to wallow through this "discussion" and let to the following conclusions.

It took nearly five years of intense and dedicated study to finally come to the position that the "Arminian" position of salvation was not biblical. I also came to the conviction that the "doctrines of grace" contains the true New Testament Gospel. Truly, the discussion centers on two diametrically opposed positions known as monergism and synergism.

Some of you may need to forgive me because this is not the time to go into a complete description of these  positions. This was not my purpose nor promise when I began yesterday. Suffice it to say that monergism describes the doctrine that God through the Holy Spirit based on the completed work of Christ on the cross works alone to effectively bring salvation to sinners through spiritual regeneration without the help or aid of sinners. Synergism is the teaching that salvation involves cooperation of both God and the sinner, a combination of divine grace and human participation.

These teachings are in deed opposite and cannot be brought together. One is right and one is wrong. I am convicted by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit that monergism is right and synergism is wrong. Not only wrong, but damming to the soul. There is no salvation in synergism.

I was also plagued by a tremendous struggle. That struggle can be reduced to the following dilemma: since  synergism is so wrong why are there individuals who saved who hold to this position?

I think synergism and Arminianism is a very damming doctrine. There are some who call is a very cruel hoax. John Owen dismissed Arminianism with this observation:

"...faith [the required Arminian condition of salvation] as an impossibility: it is 'as if a man should promise a blind man a thousand pounds upon condition that he will see.'" (John Owen) 

Owen called the Arminian Christ "but a half-mediator" because He procures the end of salvation but not the means to it.

Charles Spurgeon spoke of Arminianism in this manner. Spurgeon compared Arminianism and what he called Calvinism, which is really the doctrines of grace, to two bridges over a river. The Arminian bridge is wide and easy but does not bring its traveler safely to the other shore. It stops short in sight of the shore because something is left for the depraved will of the natural man to accomplish - i. e. to exercise faith in Christ by his own strength. Spurgeon went on to say that the Calvinist bridge is narrow but spans the whole river for Christ Jesus is the Alpha and Omega of salvation and justification.

It is not my desire at this time to demonstrate why Arminianism has a false Christ and is a damming doctrine nor demonstrate why the doctrines of grace reflect the very teaching of Christ and the Bible. My point is to demonstrate how I finally resolved the struggle that I dealt with these past twenty five years.

My struggle was as I said, how could Arminianism or synergism be so wrong and yet there are people saved in that "camp?" Well, I discovered I was answering the wrong question.

What is the wrong question in regards to this struggle? The wrong question is: Can Arminians be saved? Most people would say yes, even though their system and Christ is false. How can these people be truly saved? Some of course have flat out rejected their "salvation." Others have come up with terms such as "muddle-headed Arminians" meaning they are muddled in their thinking. They became believers with faulty doctrine. I ran across a term recently called "folk Arminians." This term was defined as people who have been reared under faulty theology and have never been exposed to the biblical doctrines of grace.

I struggled however with the fact that synergism is unbiblical and damming. Damming in the sense that is causes justification to rely upon the faith of a dead sinner. So how could a person be really saved by that system?

Well, here is the right question:  Are Arminians saved? No, I am not trying to be funny. First, to answer the question can Arminians be saved? No! They cannot be. Their doctrine is unbiblical, possess a false Christ and denies the depravity and deadness of a sinner relying on a sinner to cooperate with divine grace. An Arminian cannot be saved by the teachings of synergism.

Are Arminians saved? Yes! At least some. God promised to save His elect. They will not be lost. All whom God gave to Christ will be saved. The cross and the work of Christ was efficacious. All of the elect are born dead in trespasses and sin, all are under condemnation, and all need salvation. God will save His elect regardless of what system you might have been brought up in or exposed to. Somehow, God can work through faulty theology whether it be Catholic, Mormon, Pagan, Mystic, Baptist, or Arminian and save His elect.

When I came to think through this my struggle instantly ceased. Synergism and monergism are diametrically opposed. Only one can be right. The other is wrong. I no longer have to struggle with the question of how one can be truly saved and yet be Arminian in thinking. God saves sinners in spite of themselves.

I am no longer asking the question of can an Arminian be saved by a false system, to are some Arminians truly saved? 

Now the quest begins on how to educate them to biblical doctrine? Those who are God's elect and have been redeemed by the efficacious work of the cross need to be taught properly. 

So, in conclusion, at least for me, learning to answer the right question solved years of frustrating struggle.

How about you? What questions do you need to re-think through?

The False Christ of Arminianism (Part I)

Learn to Answer the Right Question!

Just yesterday, at age 58 and some plus forty years in various type of bible teaching service I learned something. Quite frankly I wish I had learned this "truth" or principle a long time ago.

What did I learn, you say? I learned that it is important if not imperative to answer the right question. Simple, right? Well, apparently not for me.

Of course sometimes the necessity lies upon the one asking the question to ask the right question. Simply because we have the "power" or ability to speak doesn't mean that we always communicate accurately. Let me illustrate what I am trying to "communicate" with an experience in my life.

In the late seventies, early eighties while in college I worked for the Alta Dena Dairy of the City of Industry (CA.) I worked in the ice cream department. In this department we "pulled" the freshly made and packaged ice cream off the conveyor belt, stacked it in pallets, and then with forklifts stored the ice cream in a large freezer. The remaining portion of our shift entailed the "pulling" of orders for various retail outlets and loading them onto semi-trucks for shipping.

Loading these trucks required a "truck shagger" to walk to the truck line, find the right truck, drive it to our loading dock and back it up (accurately) in order to secure a seal between the dock and the truck. We then loaded the semi either by hand or with a forklift.

One day, our "shagger" did not show up. We still needed to load the trucks. My supervisor asked me, "Metcalf, can you drive that truck?" Now, notice how he asked the question - "Can you drive the truck." He did not ask, "Have you ever driven a truck?" or "Do you know how to drive a truck." He didn't even ask if I could back the truck up to the dock. 

What guy doesn't love forty-five foot tractor trailers? My reply was a "truthful" one, I said "Yes!" I believed I could drive anything. Come on, how hard could it be?

First, it took me nearly thirty minutes to figure out how to start it. I kept turning the key with nothing happening. It was by accident I discovered that it had a floor switch that needed to be depressed once the key was in the on position. 

Second, I discovered that not only was it a manual transmission, it had two gear shifts. I didn't know what a "split-shift" was at that time.

Third, when I did get the truck rolling I could barely get it out of first and into second. Fortunately I didn't need to find any other gears while driving from the line to the dock.

Fourth, I had never backed-up anything that big before. However, how hard could it be? I had pulled a number of U-Haul trailers before. I knew you had to turn the wheel opposite of where the "rear" of the trailer was going.

Well, I decided the trailer was nothing more than a U-Haul trailer on steroids, so I said a prayer, gritted my teeth, and by God's grace found reverse. It has been well over thirty years since that incident therefore I can't remember how many attempts were needed before I was able to not only make straight contact with the dock but also formed a seal between the trailer and the cushions on the dock but I did.

Needless to say, after that experience (never telling the boss that was the first time I drove a split-shift and backed up a tractor- trailer) I became the designated swing shift truck shagger. All because my supervisor did not ask the "right" question. In his defense I am sure that he thought he asked the right question. 

What does this have to do with The False Christ of Arminianism? First, let me say that there is a huge gulf between the underlying theology of Arminianism and the theology of the biblical doctrines of grace.

Second, I have come to understand clearly that these "doctrines" or teachings are diametrically opposed. They cannot be synthesized. One is true while the other is false.

Third, because many people who are truly saved were exposed or saved with some type of Arminian flavor. Because of this truth many believers stop short of calling Arminianism a false gospel.

I have struggled with this myself for a long time. Well, yesterday I realized what was causing my struggle. I was focused on the wrong question concerning this issue. Yesterday, I discovered the question that really needed to be asked. Once I saw this, the entire struggle instantly ceased. 

So, tomorrow, Lord willing in Part Two I will divulge both the wrong question and then the right question. 

Will You Join Me?