Leave Like Moses

It has been a long time since I was in public school. When I was in school I had many teachers who were Christians. But even in the early nineties their faith was kept under wraps. They could not pray for us or push us towards God. They could not reject a teaching because the Bible rejected it. And I went to public school in a conservative Southern state. It is hard to picture that has changed for the better in the last 20 years. Every story I hear is of schools becoming more and more liberal in their teachings on sexuality, politics, economics, etc. I know there might be exceptions, but my guess they are few and far between.

What would I say to a Christian who is teaching in the public schools? I would say:

Thanks for your work, labor, and love for the students. I know you see your job as a way of honoring God. Despite these things and all the good you have done, I would still encourage you to get out. You will make less money teaching at a private school. You might have to move to get a job. You will lose many of your benefits. Your financial security will be lost. Your reputation might be ruined. But given the current situation, it is the right thing to do.

Wouldn't it be great to work at a place where you can talk about Christ openly? Wouldn't it be great to tell your math students about the God who created this world with order so Algebra works? Wouldn't it be great to pray with your students before class or to show them how history demonstrates man's sinfulness and God's kindness?  Wouldn't it be great to pray with other teachers for a student who is struggling? There is little doubt that at this stage in history it would be a sacrifice to leave the public school system. But the New Testament is clear that those who sacrifice for Christ will have their reward (See Matthew 10:42, 19:27-30, and Colossians 3:24).

In particular I would encourage Christians working in the public school system to meditate on Hebrews 11:23-27, the story of Moses.

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.   

Moses left Egypt because he would rather suffer with God's people than enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. He knew it would be painful, but he also knew that Christ was worth more than Egypt and would reward him. I believe this is where many Christian teachers in public schools are at. It would be a tremendous help to your fellow Christians if you left "Egypt" behind. I know you have done some good and I know you would like to do more good. I also know there are many Christian kids in these schools. And I know you love the students that come in each year. But at some point, as Jesus said, you have to let the dead buried the dead. The public schools are more and more hostile to the Christian faith. The constant hammering of the homosexual agenda, failure of a sexual ethic beyond consent, prominence of the evolutionary origins of man, rejection of truth in favor of feelings, revising of history, watering down of standards, lack of respect for authority, necessity of being politically correct, and the postmodern reading of literature all indicate that the public schools are not a place where a Christian teacher can consistently and publicly exercise their love for Christ their Savior and Lord. Therefore I would encourage you to get out and find a place where your faith in Christ, love for his Word, and understanding of His Lordship can be a central part of your teaching.

Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion

We often think about the differences between Mt. Sinai and our current worship. Hebrews 12:18-29 points out many of these differences. But how is the assembly at Mt. Sinai like our Lord’s Day worship services where we go up to Mt. Zion? Christopher Ash mentions four ways as he compares Exodus 19 to Hebrews 12. On the Lord’s Day

- We still assemble together.  

- We still assemble in the presence of God. (Hebrews 12:23)

- The God in whose presence we assemble is still a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29)

- We still assemble to hear God’s Word. (Hebrews 12:25)

It is All Better

The Greek word translated “better” in the book of Hebrews is used 19 times in the New Testament. Thirteen of those uses are found in Hebrews.  One recurring theme in Hebrews is that Christ has brought in a better covenant. Thus the word “better” dominates the book, especially from chapter six on.  I wanted to list all the places “better” is used in Hebrews. These verses are not hard to understand, but at the end I will explain briefly what it all means. These verses are from the English Standard Version translation.

(Heb 1:4)  Having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

(Heb 6:9)  Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.

(Heb 7:19)  (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

(Heb 7:22)  This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

(Heb 8:6)  But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

(Heb 9:23)  Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

(Heb 10:34)  For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

(Heb 11:16)  But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

(Heb 11:35)  Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they obtain a better resurrection.

(Heb 11:40) Since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

(Heb 12:24) And to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Here are the points in condensed form.

First, Jesus has a better name, introduces a better hope, is the mediator and guarantor of a better covenant that is enacted on better promises and has offered a better sacrifice that speaks a better word than Abel.

Second, the Old Testament saints looked forward to a better country and a better resurrection.

Finally, the readers of the book of Hebrews are expected to press forward to better things, to give up their possessions because they had a better possession, and they are made better by being joined with the Old Testament saints. 

Sermon Notes: Hebrews 12:18-29

What should new covenant worship look like? I gave a brief answer on Sunday.

1.       New covenant worship is decentralized on earth. We do not all have to be in one physical location to worship. No matter where saints are gathered, South Africa, Pensacola, FL. or Morgantown, WV, if they are in Christ they are worshiping on Mt. Zion. 

2.       To refuse new covenant worship is to sit on the door while the feast goes on inside. It is to choose mud over steak. It is to live in the slum instead of the mansion. There is no greater sin than this. (c.f. Matthew 22, I Cor. 5:8) Refusing grace is to refuse glory and feasting and joy and gladness. The primary gospel message is not believe in Jesus Christ so you won’t go to Hell. It is believe in Jesus Christ so you won’t miss the feast.

3.       Our worship should be filled with the Word of God. God still speaks. We must still listen. God has not stopped speaking. 

4.       Our worship should be shot through with gratitude. Gratitude is rooted in humility.

5.       Our worship should be shot through with awe, fear, and reverence. Again this comes from humility before the God who made Heaven and Earth and who redeemed us from the pit.

6.       In worship we come to the same God as the Israelites on Mt. Sinai.  We come to the same consuming fire. God has not changed. He does things now just as he did then. Except the priests and sacrifices and temple were all weak and have been replaced by the greater Priest, Sacrifice and Temple.

7.       Our worship should give equal access to all Christians. The table is for all.  That is why all Christians can eat and drink with us. That is why our baptized children come to the table. They are part of this new covenant. Anyone we consider a Christian needs to be included. There is no longer a veil.

8.       Our worship should be bold because of Christ. (Hebrews 4:16, 10:19-23) The foundation of our worship is the shed blood of Christ. The most amazing thing is not that God is a consuming fire, but that you can stand in the presence of this consuming fire.

9.       Our worship should shake the world out of us.  Christ came to shake the world. (c.f. I John 2:17) The world is passing away. The world is transient. The nations are transient.  America is a shadow. There is stone filling the earth. A kingdom whose dominion shall be from shore to shore. A King to whom all kings will bow. This means part of worship is to show us where we have compromised with the world.  And our worship is to remind us that the kingdoms of this world are a drop in the bucket. (Isaiah 40:15)

10.   Our worship should focus on the unshakeable Kingdom of Christ. The great realities of the cross, redemption, sin, worship, etc. should dominate our worship. This will not make our worship irrelevant. It will make the whole world relevant for us.