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Between Babel and Beast
(America and Empires in Biblical Perspective)
The Glory of Kings: A Festschrift for James B. Jordan
Fyodor Dostoevsky
(Christian Encounters Series)
Athanasius
(Foundations of Theological Exegesis and Christian Spirituality)
The Four: A Survey of the Gospels
Defending Constantine: The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of Christendom
From Behind the Veil: The Epistles of John
Deep Exegesis:The Mystery of Reading Scripture
1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary
The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter
A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons
Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature
Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen
The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism
A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel
From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution
Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy
Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper
A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament
Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature
Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays
Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life
The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
After further delays and snags, this week we received the deed to our new building. Soon we will mark this milestone ritually by publicly immersing Dr Atwood in Gatorade. As we have said and will continue to say, this is a tremendous gift from God, and we should be very thankful for it.
In Scripture, thankfulness is not merely a feeling. It is not merely a verbal “Thank you.” We show thankfulness for the Lord’s gifts by using them faithfully and fruitfully.
We would not honor Jesus if we turned our building into Fort Trinity, a place for us to hide from the needs of the community around us. We ought not become complacent and lazy. We must resist the temptation to assume that we have somehow “arrived” as a church.
Having a building does not in any way ensure that we will be faithful. The Jews turned God’s house of prayer into a robber’s den, and we are fully capable of doing the same. Positively, we show our thanks by making our building a place of hospitality, where Jesus welcomes His people, the stranger, the orphan and widow, to His table, a house of prayer for all nations, a source of life-giving water to refresh the nations.
As you confess your sins this week, ask the Lord Jesus to go before us and to guard us from all ingratitude and all abuses of this gift. Ask the Lord Jesus to use the building to expand His gracious reign here in Moscow.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, August 19, 2012 at 7:16 am
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