Unfathomable Grace

In one sense, our Reformed fathers were practitioners of deconstruction. Transformed by the Gospel and consumed with a passion to think and worship well, they revisited scripture, challenged assumptions, and discarded unnecessary clutter. Very carefully, our fathers disassembled their churches and analyzed their teachings and practices through the lens of Sola Scriptura. They deconstructed. They cleaned house.

Then, our Reformed fathers engaged in the good and necessary work of reconstruction. Diligently, they engaged in the task of reorganizing doctrine and reordering church assemblies. And how did they do so?

They reorganized, reordered, or reconstructed In accordance with God’s inerrant, infallible, timeless, clear, and universal truth. In doing so, they rediscovered Christ’s Gospel, Christ’s Church, and Christ’s good way.

Isn’t it time for us to deconstruct and reconstruct in accordance with the instruction of God’s Word?

Don’t we need a better rock upon which to build our hopes, houses, churches, and nation?

Aren’t we weary of our modern idolatry? Haven’t we wasted too much time jumping focusing on materialism and hedonism? Haven’t we wasted our worship and hope on Trump, Biden, or any other fallen leader? Isn’t it all vain or empty? Hasn’t capitalism, socialism, globalism, federalism, and statism let us down again and again? How many more people, parties, philosophies, possessions or practices will we trust?

Aren’t we weary of cultural redefinition? How many more times must we redefine masculinity, femininity, marriage, life, and racism? How much longer will we take our lead from those who look at evil and call it “good?”

Aren’t we weary of “following the science?” Isn’t it wearing us out as many of our experts — political scientists, medical scientists, educational scientists, economic scientists, psychological scientists — prove to be deceived, duplicitous, and dangerous?

Aren’t we weary of religious traditionalism? Many of us are done confusing the stale, wearisome, and worn-out traditions of our church fathers with the “easy and burdernless” yoke of Christ. And how weary are we of performing good enough to either get and/or keep God’s grace?

Aren’t we weary of religious novelty? How many of us have foolishly abandoned the “old paths” of God’s Word and placed our confidence in the latest show called “Church?” Aren’t we tired of reinventing ourselves? Don’t we long to tie our modern church boat to the dock of orthodoxy and orthapraxy that stands firm in the time of storm?

And when it comes to theology, don’t we need to be consistently re-reminded of true-truth regarding:

• God’s character
• God’s purpose
• God’s creation and image
• God’s law
• Man’s significance
• Man’s natural condition and deserved reward
• God’s supernatural and free Gospel
• Man’s renewed identity
• Man’s renewed calling
• Man’s renewed affection and motivation
• God’s Counselor and counsel — his best practices
• God’s end — his final and glorious chapter

So, what do we get to do this year? How ought we to live and enjoy God’s blessing?

Oh friends, we have a Wonderful Counselor who is infinitely wise. He has put together a collection of inspired counselors that have no rivals. Together, they have provided a book of inspired literature that presents the good way, and their counsel is free for the taking. Therefore, wouldn’t we be wise to consult this source every day? And wouldn’t we prove to be very foolish on those days, weeks, or months when we are found neglecting this supreme source of wisdom? And wouldn’t we prove to be blooming idiots to reject God’s divine counsel in favor of shifting advice from neighbors, experts and scientists?

Yes friends, hear again the invitation of your Lord:

Psalm 1:1–6 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

So let us forsake the counsel of the wicked. Let us walk, stand, and sit in it no longer. Put it down. Walk away. Turn it off! Let us quit filling our minds with trash and then wondering why we have theological and philosophical headaches.

Instead, let us take our spouses and children to the house of the Lord. There we can be instructed and encouraged by God’s Spirit-called elders and Spirit-gifted teachers. There we can be improved by the mutual exhortation of our brothers and sisters. Yes, it is very good not to forsake the assembling of the saints.

Then, every single day, let us go to the book of the Lord and be instructed in the proper manner of thinking and living. And in addition to God’s book, let us also take advantage of other godly books, blogs, podcasts, recordings, and videos that are easily accessed and can be of great assistance.

Oh struggling friends, it is time to deconstruct and reconstruct based upon God’s instruction.

This year, let’s take up the book, read, and live life to the fullest. Let’s be like well-planted, well-watered, and fruitful trees. Let’s walk in the way of the Lord. Let’s walk in accordance with the “wonderful words of life.” Let’s enjoy the “blessed” life of those who cherish God’s gracious Law and Gospel.