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Dear St. Mark Saints,

Thank you for your prayers and support over the last two months. The Lord is hearing and answering in the hoped for direction so far. I thought I would share a small snippet as to how they are affecting me, as a means to encourage you in your walk with the Lord Jesus.

This week, just minutes before beginning a procedure that has a long list of side effects from seizures to strokes to kidney dialysis to death, and the whole kitchen sink in between (you know how those medical consent forms list EVERYTHING!), I was looking in the mirror and said, “Lord, into your hands I commit my future and life. If you want me in heaven today, I’m ready. Or later.” But then I stopped and thought, “Wait a minute; that’s a silly statement! I’ve always already been in the Lord’s hand, from my conception till now. I’m a son of the covenant; I’m a covenantal son! Jesus has lovingly shepherded and guided me to this point, and will do so forever.” So then I stopped and started thanking the Lord for always having been with me my whole life, grateful that He’s always been my Lord and Protector and Shepherd.

I share all this to encourage you this week to not only ask the Lord’s blessing for your week, but also to remember to thank Him that He’s been with you all along, holding your hand and guiding you through life’s difficulties and trials, which is why we can consider even our trials as joy inexpressible. Jesus is shaping them for our growth and maturity and dependence upon Him. What an amazing Lord we serve and are surrounded by!

As this new year begins, we’ve witnessed a lot of hope for the renewal of American culture from the incoming political class. But America can’t be renewed from within because we are a sinful, bankrupt nation that does not worship Jesus as Lord. As a culture, we refuse to mention the name of the true Lord of the world, Jesus Christ. Have you seen a bumper sticker that says “Jesus Bless America”? And we banished the Ten Commandments from the schools and halls of government institutions, and sue those who try to bring them back (Judge Moore).

America, in order to be renewed, must go through a death and resurrection. We are in the death throes, culturally, and yet resurrection is already on the scene. But the City of Man is not yet looking to the City of God in its midst, because the City of Man still believes it is alive and able to self-renew.

Where is this resurrection? Right in your midst this morning! Centered in the worship of the real and true king, Jesus. It’s in the liturgy that expresses God’s grace and salvation, not the state’s. It’s in us, the church, that believes it has died and been resurrected in union with Jesus at our baptism (Romans 6.1-4). It’s in marriage informed by God’s word where it is the happiest state for men and women. It’s in each spouse who has died to their own desires and lives for the other. It’s in parents dying to the world’s selfish ideas of happiness and believing Jesus that children are a blessing and a reward and that maturity is a blessing, not immaturity. It’s in husbands dying to themselves and instead providing for and protecting their families. It’s in Christians one-anothering each other and that spilling over and out to the unbelieving neighbors. It’s in men choosing careers where they can obey Jesus in their work rather than choosing careers for money where they have to sell their souls to the Christ-cancelling culture. It’s in Christians who understand the gospel is “Jesus is Lord” and that what motivates and binds a culture is fidelity to worshipping Jesus and trusting His word in all walks of life.

You get the point. So Onward, Christian Soldiers!

Yes, Christmas is over, at least in the West; our Eastern brothers are still celebrating! But it’s not really over, at least the import of it, because of the political nature of Christ’s birth: He was born a King, and worshipped as a King, and as we all know, Herod was not too happy with that (as neither was Pharaoh, who killed a lot of baby boys so they wouldn’t rise up and be king, either).

But at the end of his life, the political authorities were still not too happy with Jesus the King. The Jewish leaders were incensed at Pilate for writing “King of the Jews” and placing the placard on his cross. That was after Pilate also had some misgivings about Jesus being a King who could muster all the armies he wanted.

This is because the unbelieving mind always understands political rule in a particular way — as coercion and tyranny and the imposition of right-handed power. This kind of political power and rule breaks the two greatest commandments: it doesn’t love God and it doesn’t love its neighbors. But what was the life of Jesus all about, if it wasn’t loving God his Father and his neighbors as himself?

Which implicates YOU right along with Jesus, because you are in Jesus and you wear his name! As we celebrate the life of Jesus the next six months or so, we are implicating ourselves as Jesus People who follow the Way, which means we shouldn’t be surprised if we gain the attention of the political rulers/cancel crowd/fact-checkers in the same manner as Jesus did: by loving the Father and loving neighbors as ourselves. Unbelieving political rulers don’t really like that; it’s a challenge to their rule. Yes, and so was Jesus! Being a merry wine-bibber really gets under their skin! May Jesus use it and us to bring them to true worship!

(From the newsletter “friends of Theopolis”)

Angels make periodic appearances in the Old Testament, but nowhere is there as thick a cluster as at the beginning of the gospel story. Angels appear to Joseph (repeatedly). Gabriel visits Zacharias and Mary. Angelic hosts sing to shepherds near Bethlehem. It’s fitting. Angels’ natural habitat is heaven. Whenever an angel appears on earth, he brings a bit of heaven with him. He is a bit of heaven.

Christmas angels offer a glimpse of Jesus’ mission.

After Adam’s sin, earth ceases to harmonize with the music of heaven or keep in step with the dance of the angels. Adam untunes creation.

In Jesus, heaven invades earth to restore it to heavenly harmony. Jesus retunes earth to heaven.

There’s resistance. As soon as the angelic choir makes its appearance, Satan and demons mount resistance to preserve the dissonant noise.

The Advent of the Son is the beginning of the last great battle between heaven and hell, with earth as the battlefield. Heaven wins! Jesus will win, yes. But also: He has won, casting Satan from heaven.

Incarnation is invasion. Jesus comes as Captain of the Father’s hosts to conquer earth and annex it to the empire of heaven. Because we live on the other side of His definitive victory, we live Christmas every day.

As we do the will of God on earth as it is in heaven, we extend the harmony of angelic song, looking for the day when heaven and earth merge in perfect polyphony.

Merry Christmas from Theopolis!
Peter Leithart

Yes, it’s still Christmastime! So be sure and keep telling everyone you greet, “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!” Why? To your brothers and sisters, and even to unbelievers, you are broadcasting the biblical worldview, the worldview that will one day be true for everyone! It encourages your fellow believers that, yes, Jesus came and conquered our sinful human natures and now fills us with his Spirit that will disciple the nations in Christ. To unbelievers, you are proclaiming to them the true story of the Gospel: Jesus is Lord, and he is Lord now and always will be! You are offering them salvation in your very greeting.

How so? By greeting them with “Merry Christmas,” you are telling the story of world history, of the story of our successful war for independence from the devil, who enslaved us to death but now has had his head crushed by our Warrior.

By greeting others with “Merry Christmas,” the symbols of your speech, as well as the trees, carols, gifts, Handel’s Messiah, the colors of red and green and white, family get togethers, etc., all proclaim as markers and monuments and memorials that “thus far the Lord has helped us.”

By greeting everyone with “Merry Christmas,” you are living out the practice of the gospel, ordering your life around the life and accomplishments of Jesus. We do this that the holidays will mark and surround our lives, lives that are lived in the light of the conquering gospel.

So by these celebrations and pronouncements, you are not only living out your life in the light of Jesus’ face, but you are declaring to all unbelievers what the worldview of the entire earth will someday be: Merry Christmas, and Peace to all!

“Jesus is the Reason.” God gave his Son to take our flesh; not just our “material bodies,” but our fallen human nature — dilapidated, cursed, fractured, etc. He bore our fallen nature on the cross, rising from the dead to overcome the power of sin and judgment. In his resurrected life we have life eternal (Romans 6)!

But around this time of year, and in light of get togethers with family and friends, where the subject of churches and worship styles and denominations unavoidably come up, it will do us well to reflect on what Jesus has given us in our own denomination: the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches.

What are some of Christ’s blessings to us in this regard?

Praise and worship along the lines of biblical covenantal renewal worship, structured by and filled with God’s Word. Every Sunday you worship in the heavenlies and feed upon Christ! (Hebrews 12; 1 Corinthians 10).

Pastoral approach to problems, where we try to work out our problems as brothers and sisters, and not just “sue” one another in church court!

Paedocommunion that sees your children as loved by God as His children, and therefore included as a member of his body from his/her conception, and married to Christ as part of His bride at baptism. They belong to God and are trained and encouraged as such from the very beginning as children of God.

Postmillienial perspective on the future of God’s kingdom — Jesus is reigning as the world’s Emperor, and by his power and authority he intends to see the nations discipled in His Holy Spirit before the final coming (Matthew 28).

Perspective of multiple confessional statements, which means we aren’t sectarian, pushing away other Christians who might differ, but recognizing that Christ’s kingdom embraces more than our little church or denomination. Other Christians are our brothers and sisters, so we love them and work with them.

So give thanks to Jesus for these gifts this Christmas, and keep this list in your back pocket for when you need it at all those gatherings!

“Jesus is the Reason for the Season.” That’s absolutely true. Not just for the reason that the Second Person of the Trinity, the Son, took on human flesh to die in our place and bear God’s wrath on our part, but also because beyond that, Jesus ascended to heaven to rule the world—the whole world! That’s because Christmas leads to his passion, death, resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost.

So “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.” Not only for yourself and family and joy in feasting and shopping and giving gifts to one another as God gave the gift of his Son for us (John 3:16), but also for all your relatives and friends and work acquaintances. They need to hear that Jesus not only saves sinners, but is ruling the world, all of it, every square inch. They need to be called by you to worship the true God, not some idolatrous substitute. They also need to understand that “Jesus is Lord,” not just some great teacher or buddy or wise guy.

This fact wasn’t lost on Herod. When he heard the question the Magi asked, “Where is he who was born king of the Jews,” he immediately saw this as a threat to his own governmental power and rulership over Israel and Rome, since he shared both roles. He probably understood Daniel 2 was being fulfilled in his day.

What was his reaction? To try to kill Jesus! By becoming a new Pharaoh, he sought to kill all the new baby boys in Israel two and under! But Just as Pharaoh failed, so did Herod. (Herod’s story is after the birth, but when Gabriel appeared to Mary, he said that Jesus would “be the son of the Most High,” “rule on the throne of his father David… and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1.30-31).)

Jesus is the Reason for the Seaon,” but also “the Ruler of the World’s Season”!

About this time every year some of your Christian friends will question your keeping of the “holidays,” maybe even referring to them as “Roman holy days,” hoping to make you feel queasy about enjoying the festivities. Or, they may say something negative about the “church calendar” or “church year” as something “man-made” or unbiblical.

So how do you respond, and cheerfully so?

Well, think biblically. Think Genesis! Start with chapter 1, where the Lord established the sun, moon, and stars to regulate seasons and times and to rule the day and night. Also, think Sabbath day, on which God rested, blessing the day and calling it holy. And then think about all the festivals God gave the Israelites, festivals of rejoicing and feasting and singing and making merry. Also think about how all those festivals started on new moons, or certain days of the month, and lasted several days or a week plus one day, all governed by the sun and moon from Genesis chapter 1.

But even better, think about and go to Leviticus 23, where the Lord summarizes all the appointed festivals he’s given Israel, establishing a “church year” or “church calendar” for his people’s worship and enjoyment. After mentioning the weekly Sabbath, we have the whole list: Passover (Easter), Feast of First Fruits, Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and finally, Feast of Booths. All were feasts except the one day of fasting for the Day of Atonement!

But your friend may quip, “those were all for Israel; we’re not Jews!”

At that point, just smile and say, “Meditate a little on 1 Peter 2:9-10, and how the Apostle Peter applies those words to the early Christian church. And then take me to Starbucks and we’ll talk some more!”

It is fitting that after a week in which we set aside time to give thanks to God for all that He has done for us, we now come to that time of the Christian Year known as Advent. This is a season of expectancy as the calendar leads us through the life of Christ and we anticipate the incarnation of Jesus at Christmastide.

Of course we approach this season of anticipation and remembrance in the light of its fulfillment having already taken place. As we rehearse and remember the life of Christ and God’s good gifts to us, we know the future. It is good and right to be reminded in this way of the already and the not yet. Christ has already come, and yet we joyfully anticipate the incarnational celebration of Christmastide.

An “already, not-yet” state fills our lives as Christ followers. Jesus is ruling and reigning. He has subdued his enemies. And yet He must rule until He has put (future) all enemies under his feet. We who are alive in Christ need not fear death, for death has been defeated. And yet Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians that the last enemy to be destroyed is death.

We still anticipate a future state of victory that is yet to be realized. The incarnation of Christ is what makes this future state of victory possible. And His incarnation makes possible the salvation of His people, which has been, is being, and will be accomplished.

As the first Advent candle is lit today, remember the hope imparted by the prophets who declared the coming of Christ. As The Lesson taken from the Old Testament today says, Christ is, “A Branch of righteousness,” and, “He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.” This has happened, is happening, and will happen. So look expectantly this day to the incarnation of Christ your Savior!

“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight…”

In the gospel reading today, Jesus reveals the nature of His kingdom. It is not of this world, and therefore, traditional, worldly tactics will not be employed.

The apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10, “ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…”

Our battle is not with flesh and blood, but with principalities, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places. It’s easy to focus on government overreach and wars and rumors of wars. Of course, politics are not to be ignored, but we must be careful to not be distracted from even more important things.

James tells us in James 3, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom … the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

We proclaim the gospel message, “peace on earth, goodwill toward men.” And we do so through good conduct with meekness and wisdom. So when you are tempted to focus too much on the fleshly front, remember these words of Christ, and of Paul and James. You bring a message of peace. Live peaceably with all men to the extent possible on your part.

In our day and time many Christians are forgoing the weekly worship of Jesus in an established church, staying at home and reading their bibles or watching a podcast from a Christian speaker. They believe the church has failed, the Evangelical pastorate has failed, and the church won’t fight the culture war. Discipleship online is the way forward.

How do you answer this belief? Biblically and with kindness, of course! There are multiple lines of persuasion (the list below is not exhaustive!).

Stephen calls the people of Israel in the wilderness “the church” in Acts 7, even when pastored by sinful men, such as Moses and Aaron.

The church in Jesus’ day was corrupt, but Jesus never told them to stop worshipping. In fact, he would tell those he healed to go to the priest for ritual cleansing. He also told people to “do as they say, not as they do.”

Matthew 16 gives the church the keys of the kingdom even though Peter was about to deny Christ.

Hebrews 10:25 tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

Hebrews 13:17ff says to submit to your leaders who watch over your soul.

Ephesians 4:11-16 teaches us that the church is the body of Christ. You’re not connected to Christ, the head, without being in his body. Jesus has appointed some apostles, and some teachers, for the building up of the body, not just individuals.

1 Corinthians 10-11 emphasizes the importance of feeding on Christ rightly in the body. If you’re not in church, you are also not being nourished weekly with the body and blood of Christ.

Finally, we were never made to live as lone rangers. God is a Trinity and man was designed for communion with Him and with each other.

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” — 1 Peter 2:21—23

The words of Jesus are instructive for us after the recent election. No matter how you voted or what you espouse in terms of political views, we dare not revile others if they revile us. Our Lord did not do that and neither should we. We should remain steadfast, kind, and worthy listeners of others. We don’t strive with muscle but with gospel persuasion.

But this should be true in other areas as well. It’s easy for faithful believers to be reviled over a whole slew of issues, whether homeschooling, modest dress in clothing and grooming standards, teaching our children respect for seniors and others, self-discipline, corporal punishment, six-day creation, the Bible as infallible truth, sexual purity before and in marriage, courtship, private charity, biblical counseling vs psychological secularism, etc. The list could go on and on. We are different from the world and we shouldn’t shrink back from that-we follow the Lord Jesus where he leads.

The world needs us to be different, for they have no answers and no hope without Christ. They are confused; we are not. Let us be the light.

So let us not revile, but let us love and lead and show the world the way forward in kindness with resolute firmness, entrusting ourselves to our Heavenly Father. He will sustain us even as he did his Son.