Archives by: Gary Hoag

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jeremiah 31:3

“Nothing in human life is naturally secure or smooth or self-sustaining or permanent. Our fortunes run in a cyclical pattern that brings changes one after another, frequently within the space of a single day and sometimes even in an hour, and one may rather count on the shifting winds, or the wake of a sea-faring ship, or the illusory dreams of night with their brief respite, or the lines that children at play trace in the sand, than on human prosperity. The wise are those who because of their distrust of the present save for themselves in the world to come and because of the uncertain and fickle nature of human success embrace the kindness that does not fail.”

Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390) in an excerpt of “Oration 14” in Select Orations, trans. by Martha Vinson (Washington DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2003) 52-53.

I can totally relate to this notion from Gregory, one of the four doctors of the Eastern Church: “Nothing in human life is naturally secure or smooth or self-sustaining or permanent.” Earlier in the oration he talked about how the rich fool stored up “wealth upon wealth” in response to the uncertainties of life, and so he argued that we should in trust in something altogether more reliable.

Jenni and I are learning that the unfailing kindness that Jeremiah reminded God’s people about in the Old Testament times is way more dependable than any resources we can stockpile for ourselves. So what about you? Are you wise? For about 16 years in our marriage we were foolish. We stored up treasures for ourselves. The last 9 years have been an altogether different adventure.

We’ve found that trusting in “kindness that does not fail” is the only way to live. Life still has its uncertainties, but our treasures are secure in the world to come and we see God faithfully provide our daily bread time after time. Sometimes He provides through our work, and other times through miraculous provision. Sometimes we get to bless others, and other times they bless us. He sustains us!

Today I fly to Seoul, South Korea, to teach my “Biblical Stewardship and Christian Generosity” class at Torch Trinity Graduate University. I don’t return until 5 July 2017 so if you could pray for the stamina for me and for the Spirit to work in the lives of my students, I would appreciate it. Please also pray for God to watch over my family back in the States too. Thanks.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. John 15:9-10

“If men are in a state in which they find it hard to be weaned from their own ways and choose rather to serve the pleasures of the flesh than serve the Lord, and refuse to accept the Gospel life, there is no common ground between me and them. In the midst of this disobedient and gainsaying people I have been taught to hear the words, “Save thy own soul.” Do not then let us consent to perish together which such sinners…But we ought to testify to them day and night, alike in public and in private. Let us not consent to be drawn away with them in their wickedness. Let us above all pray that we may do them good, and rescue them from the snare of the evil one. If we cannot do this, let us at all events do our best to save our own souls from everlasting damnation.”

Basil the Great (330-379) in Letter CCXVII “To Amphilochius, on the Canons” excerpt from LXXXIV of in A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, ed. Henry Wace and Philip Schaff, Volume 8 (Oxford: James Parker, 1895) 259.

In my recent walk through the early church fathers, I have decided to explore the four doctors of the Western Church and the four doctors of the Eastern Church as I prepare to head east to teach in South Korea for a couple weeks. After finishing the doctors, I will shift my attention back to contemporary writers.

In this excerpt, Basil the Great has commented on a series of sins and how they should be addressed in the church. Near the end of his letter, he spells out what he believes is going on. The people have not been weaned from the ways of the flesh to serve the Lord and accept the Gospel life. I found this expression quite profound.

To wean us from something is to stop it and shift to something else. In biblical terms, we must “remain” or “abide” in the love of Christ.

As we seek to grow in generosity we must realize that it’s not about doing more or giving more, it’s about weaning ourselves off the world’s way of thinking and living, which pursues the desires of the flesh, and choosing to obey Gospel instructions, regardless of how crazy they might sound. Jesus’ instructions linked to money are explicit, but not harmful.

That means they are clear and life-changing, but not for our demise. At every turn when Jesus calls us to let go of material possessions. He does this not for our destruction, but so we can take hold of Him. If you have grasped this truth, testify to others day and night, but whatever you do, don’t be swayed to rationalize disobedience as acceptable behavior. It’s not the Gospel life!

I feel the Lord reminded me this morning through Basil’s words that regardless of what everyone else is doing, we must obey, testify to the truth day and night, and do good to others.

Go up to Lebanon, and cry out, and lift up your voice in Bashan; cry out from Abarim, for all your lovers are crushed. I spoke to you in your prosperity, but you said, “I will not listen.” This has been your way from your youth, for you have not obeyed my voice. The wind shall shepherd all your shepherds, and your lovers shall go into captivity; then you will be ashamed and dismayed because of all your wickedness. O inhabitant of Lebanon, nested among the cedars, how you will groan when pangs come upon you, pain as of a woman in labor! Jeremiah 22:20-23

“When he says “I spoke to you (that is God spoke through the prophets: or else ‘they spoke to you’ so that ‘my prophets’ is understood) in your prosperity, but you said, ‘I will not listen’ he charges Jerusalem with pride and with misusing their great wealth in contempt of God. He also explains how not only at this time but even from the beginning when they were first led out of Egypt, they would not listen to God. For this reason their shepherds and leaders will be scattered here and there and their necks will be bowed down to Babylonian captivity. And when he adds, “You who sit in Lebanon and make your nest among the cedars,” he is scoffing at their arrogance that sprang from their abundance in all things. He also says that sudden pain and unexpected captivity will come on them as on a woman who is giving birth.”

Jerome of Stridon (347-420) in Commentary on Jeremiah, trans. by Michael Graces, ed. by Christopher Hall (Ancient Christian Texts; Downers Grove: IVP, 2011) 134.

In speaking to various church groups, I remind them not to misuse the great wealth that God has entrusted to them. Obedience often leads to material blessing but our own prosperity can destroy us personally and our churches collectively. This is true for all Christians as well as every denomination and congregation.

Shepherds of God’s flock in modernity today must consider Old Testament texts like this one written to the Jews, as a wake up call for us lest the same complacency and arrogance spring from our own experience of abundance. Our churches have been blessed richly and must, in turn, generously put God’s resources to work, lest we too (at least metaphorically speaking) become enslaved by Babylon (which personifies materialism in Scripture).

Misuse of the material wealth God provides leads to slavery and possibly even destruction.

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales. Acts 4:33-34

“For her own benefit, the Church owns nothing except her faith. These rents and revenues to which they refer, the church gives away. The possessions of the church are expenditure on the poor. Let them count up how many captives their temples have ransomed, what nourishment they have offered to the poor, to how many exiles they have given resources for a livelihood.”

Ambrose of Milan (c. 340-397) in Epistula 73 “Ambrose Formal Reply to Symmachus” in Ambrose of Milan: Political Letters and Speeches (Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2005) 86

Just like in the early church in the book of Acts, Christians in the fourth century were giving land (or the proceeds from the sale of land) to the church so that the community of faith would have land to work and resources to care for the needy. Some land generated revenue but Ambrose was quick to note that all the money was, in turn, spent on the needy among them.

Don’t miss the beautiful economy in play here.

In antiquity, criminals fled to the safety and sanctuary of pagan temple precincts. They were often branded or tattooed for their crimes. They were prisoners of their own past. Subsequently, in modern terms, they would have no life or way of making a living. Not only does the church ransom them, also notice that exiles are cared for by the Church. This likely points to Christians who lost everything for their faith. The church was home for the destitute and dispossessed.

So what’s Ambrose saying to Symmachus (and to us)?

The Church has everything it needs in Jesus Christ and demonstrates this faith by caring for the poor. “The possessions of the church are expenditure on the poor.” In God’s economy, God is what people need most, not money. Money is a tool to care for those that God cares for that are often forgotten or ostracized by society. Encourage your church to go and do likewise: Spend money on the poor. Ransom captives. Nourish the poor. Rescue exiles!

What are the possessions of your church? Does your church value what Christ values?

Today I am teaching on “God’s Design for Faithful Workers: A Biblical Theology as a Foundation for Pastoral Preaching and Congregational Practice” at the EFCA One Conference. If you want a PDF of my slides, reply to this email. And pray for the Holy Spirit to bless all who attend through my teaching of God’s Word. Thanks.

As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19

“Those who give mercifully should be advised that they not consider themselves to be greater than those upon whom they bestow earthly goods; in effect, that they not assume that they are better than those whom they see themselves to support. For the lord of an earthly household, by distributing the ranks and responsibilities to his servants, instructs some to have authority and others to be submissive to that authority. The latter he orders to provide what is necessary to the others; the former he permits to accept what is offered to them. Generally, however, it is the leaders who offend, whereas those who are governed typically remain in the good grace of the lord of the house. In short, those who are dispensers incur wrath, while those who subsist on the dispensations of others continue without offense. Therefore, those who give mercifully of what they have should be advised that they acknowledge that they have been placed in a position to be a giver of temporal goods by the Lord of heaven. Moreover, they should give all the more humbly, in the knowledge that the things that they dispense are not their own. And when they consider that they are in the service of those to whom they give what they themselves have received, they should not allow pride to swell in their minds, but remain humbled in fear.”

Gregory the Great (c. 540-604) in The Book of Pastoral Rule (Crestwood: St Vladimirs Seminary Press, 2007) 140-141.

Gregory exhibits similar zeal as the Apostle Paul when he urges those with more than enough not to be arrogant or to hope in riches by wrongly holding on to them, but to enjoy and share them! In his words, such people should give mercifully and dispense humbly.

This is sound advice from one of the four doctors of the Western Church. Modern day givers who desire to be generous must not miss the insights he is putting forth. The problems tend to appear among the dispensers and not the recipients of giving.

Everything that each of us possesses is not our own, so all giving must be done with humility. Givers, myself included, too often like to control others or outcomes with giving. God forgive us. Help us instead, give out of humility and obedience with mercy with joy knowing that we are merely executing a responsibility God has entrusted to us. God help us not be part of the problem but part of the solution!

Today I am flying to Austin, Texas. I get to teach in a deeper learning track at the EFCA One Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. I’d appreciate your prayers for safe travel and fruitful service. Thank you.

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. Romans 6:13

“The instruments of good works: In the first place to love the Lord God with the whole heart, the whole soul, the whole strength. Then, one’s neighbor as one’s self…To deny one’s self in order to follow Christ…To hold one’s self aloof from worldly ways…To prefer nothing to the love of Christ…Not to forsake charity…To love one’s enemies, Not to curse them that curse us, but rather to bless them…To put one’s trust in God…To keep a constant watch over the actions of our life…To guard one’s tongue against bad and wicked speech…To honor the aged…To love the younger…To pray for one’s enemies in the love of Christ…To never to despair of God’s mercy.

Behold, these are the instruments of the spiritual art, which, if they have been applied without ceasing day and night and approved on judgment day, will merit for us from the Lord that reward which He hath promised: “The eye hath not seen, nor the ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). But the workshop in which we perform all these works with diligence is the enclosure of the monastery, and stability in the community.”

Benedict of Nursia (480-543) in an excerpt from The Rule of St. Benedict IV (Grand Rapids: CCEL).

Benedict wrote his rule to essentially answer the question: What does it mean to follow Jesus in the sixth century in Nursia? While many people grow up in homes, the monastery was the place where people would go to learn to live in the way of Jesus with others. That included those who had no home life or who wanted to do the Christian life in community.

Today I want to honor my father and all fathers out there who seek to live as instruments of good works. God will reward each one of us, fathers, for loving the Lord God with all our heart, soul, and strength, for keeping constant watch over the actions of our lives, for not forsaking charity, and for so many other good things. Honor the aged and love the younger today.

Stand fast, fathers, and stay the course as instruments of good works!

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

“It’s only good loving that makes good living. Put gold aside when considering human dealings; or rather let gold be present, to test the quality of human dealings…

Because you have asked, you have received [wealth]; there, do some good with it. Before you had it, you were humble; no sooner have you begun to possess wealth, than you have started despising the poor.

What sort of good is it, by which you have been made worse? You’ve been made worse, because you were bad, and you had no idea of what could make you worse, that’s why you were asking me for these things.

I gave them to you, and I tested you; you found them, and were found out. When you didn’t have them, your true self was hidden. Correct yourself: vomit out cupidity, drink in charity.

“What’s so great about what you ask me for?” Your God is saying to you. “Can’t you see the people I’ve given it to? Can’t you see the sort of people I’ve given it to?

If what you are asking me for were a great good, would bandits have it, would cheats and breakers of their word have it, would people who blaspheme me have it, would disrepute clowns have it, would shameless harlots have it? Would all these types have gold, if gold were an excellent good?

“But you say to me, ‘Isn’t gold a good thing, then?’ Certainly gold is a good thing. But bad people do bad things with good gold; good people do good things with good gold.

So because you can see the sort of people I’ve given it to, ask me for better things, ask me for more excellent things, ask me for spiritual things; ask me for myself.”

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) in Sermon 311, excerpts from sections 11-13 in Essential Sermons: Saint Augustine (New York: New City Press, 2007) 374-376.

Without doubt, Augustine is my favorite preacher from the early years of Christianity. Why? He shakes and wakes readers with his candor and clarity. “Correct yourself: vomit out cupidity, drink in charity.” So you don’t miss his point, cupidity is “greed or desire for wealth and possessions.”

He’s saying to the church in Hippo, and to us, stop seeking after good things, which will show the kind of person you really are. Rather seek after more excellent things, seek spiritual things, seek after God. Why? “It’s only good loving that makes good living.”

Life is found not having good things but in loving the right things!

I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

“It is a contest, this life present: if so, to fight is our business now: it is war and battle. In war one does not seek to have rest, in war one does not seek to have dainty living, one is not anxious about riches, one’s care is not about a wife then: one thing only he looks at, how he may overcome his foes. Be this our care likewise: if we overcome, and return with the victory, God will give us all things. Be this alone our study, how we may overcome the devil: though after all it is not our own study that does it, but God’s grace does the whole business. Be it our one study, how we may attract His grace, how we may draw to ourselves that assistance.”

John Chrysostom (c. 349-407) in Homilies of John Chrysostom on Acts of the Apostles 15 (Oxford: John Henry Parker, 1851) 214.

Both the Apostle Paul and John Chrysostom are making a similar point. We must live like we are in a war and battle. We must not allow anything to distract our focus because the present form of this world is passing away. It does not mean we fail to show love to our spouse or family members. It’s the opposite. We expend all our energies to live on mission.

They might add that the Christian life is not about being comfortable.

Our focus is on loving God and others, while not allowing relationships or riches to distract us. We focus not on “dainty living” or being “anxious about riches” but on overcoming by God’s grace. This relates to generosity because it means our money can be neither hoarded nor wasted. The best part, when we live this way, we can expect the reward of victory someday.

“God will give us all things” (cf. Romans 8:32).

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:16-17

“For the race of the pious [Christians] is now persecuted in a way contrary to all precedent, being harassed by a new kind of edicts everywhere in Asia. For unblushing informers, and such as are greedy of other men’s goods, taking occasion from the orders issued, carry on their robbery without any disguise, plundering of their property night and day those who are guilty of no wrong.

If these proceedings take place at thy bidding, well and good. For a just sovereign will never take unjust measures; and we, on our part, gladly accept the honour of such a death. This request only we present to thee, that thou wouldst first of all examine for thyself into the behaviour of these reputed agents of so much strife, and then come to a just decision as to whether they merit death and punishment, or deserve to live in safety and quiet…

And as regards thyself, seeing that thy sentiments respecting the Christians are not only the same as theirs, but even much more generous and wise, we are the more persuaded that thou wilt do all that we ask of thee…We are not those who pay homage to stones, that are without sensation; but of the only God, who is before all and over all, and, moreover, we are worshippers of His Christ, who is veritably God the Word existing before all time.”

Melito of Sardis (c. 160-177) in The Apology Addressed to Marcus Aurelius Antoninus II-III.

While today’s post may sound like it does not have much to do with generosity, it offers a prime example of a generous appeal in a time of strife. The modern world is filled with political turmoil and often followers of Christ are as guilty as non-believers at not speaking kindly. Here, Melito offers a longer, gracious appeal with respect that shows honor to the emperor.

When we find yourself wrongly treated like Christians in the second century, the tendency of the flesh (at least I know this is true for my own heart) is to fight back. Christ calls us to return harsh treatment with love and to give honor to those who oppress us. This is what made the Christians known as the “pious” race. Let’s keep living piously and generously (and make our appeals accordingly)!

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Philippians 4:1-3

“Moreover, you were all in a humble frame of mind, in no way arrogant, practicing obedience rather than demanding it, happier in giving than receiving. Being content with, and intent upon, the provisions which Christ allowed you for your earthly pilgrimage, it was His words that you carefully locked up in your hearts, and His sufferings were ever before your eyes.

Thus all were blessed with a profound and radiant peace of soul, and there was an insatiable longing to do good, as well as a rich outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the whole community. Filled, moreover, with a desire for holiness, you stretched out your hands, with ready goodwill and devout confidence, to Almighty God, imploring Him to show mercy in case you had inadvertently failed in any way.

Day and night you vied with one another in behalf of the entire brotherhood, to further the salvation of the full number of His elect by your compassion and conscientiousness. Guileless and sincere you were, and bore one another no malice. The very thought of insubordination and schism was an abomination to you. Over the failings of your neighbors you mourned; their shortcomings you judged to be your own. You had no regrets when you had been charitable, being ready for any good deed.”

Clement of Rome in 1 Clement 2:1-7, translated by James A. Kleist (New York: Paulist, 1946) 10. This is the same Clement who is mentioned by the Apostle Paul in today’s text. He would go on to lead the church in Rome as bishop. Today’s reading comes from his first letter to the church in Corinth (c. AD 96) before his martyrdom under Emperor Trajan (c. AD 100).

Clement rightly understands that to be charitable, to be a rich sharer of grace, flows from content hearts fixed on the sufferings of Jesus and souls filled with peace and radiance thanks to the work of the Holy Spirit within us. So much of what we do in the Christian life is showing mercy to those who inadvertently fail while being charitable and ready for any good deed.

What struck me was the work of the charitable saint: day by day we labor to further the salvation of many with compassion and conscientiousness. Notice, there’s no thought of schism, which is what Paul was dealing with in Philippi between Euodia and Syntyche, as it destroys the body. Why choose the charitable way? Clement would say, “You’ll have no regrets afterward!”