The United States of America Turns 250

Proverbs 14:34. This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on Sunday, July 5, 2026.

Two Hundred Fifty years ago yesterday, the Continental Congress debated and adopted the formal declaration of Independence that was worked out by the Committee of Five: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston.

It was actually on July 2^nd of that year that the same congress adopted a resolution absolving themselves from any allegiance and political tie to Great Britain.

Later after a decade of struggling to work together as a Republic, the Constitution was hammered out and ratified with this preamble:

"We The People of the United States of America in order to

• form a more perfect Union,
• establish Justice,
• insure domestic Tranquility,
• provide for the common defence,
• promote the general Welfare, and
• secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,

do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Many things can be said about this statement.  First, it purposefully lists “We the People” in large letters as the agent creating the document.  No government was giving the people anything.  It was the people who were creating and empowering the federal government.

I want to focus on the last purpose listed for the creation of this constitution, “and secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.”  The importance of Liberty, Freedom, was a common theme among the leaders of those days. 

Many sermons and speeches referenced Proverbs 14:34 in those days.  “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”

The question now hangs over our Republic as it did all those years ago, will we prosper as a people into the future, and what exactly is meant by prosperity?

When Patrick Henry passed away in 1799, there was an original copy of the 1765 Stamp Act among his personal effects.  This Act had been passed by the Virginia legislature, of which Henry was a member at the time.  A handwritten message was placed on the back of that document by Patrick, knowing others would go through his stuff at his death.  Here is the message.

“Whether this [the American Revolution] will prove a blessing or a curse will depend upon the use our people make of the blessings which a gracious God hath bestowed on us.  If they are wise, they will be great and happy.  If they are of a contrary character, they will be miserable.  Righteousness alone can exalt them as a nation [Proverbs 14:34].  Reader!—whoever thou art, remember this!—and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself and encourage it in others. P. Henry.”

The scope of this proverb is national, but Patrick brings it down to the personal level.  If it is true that righteousness exalts a nation, then I must do my part within my sphere of influence.  I must “practice virtue” myself.  Of course, much righteousness is not done because we are too busy pointing out the unrighteousness of others.  May God help us to grasp this once again across this Republic!

Let’s go deeper into this proverb.

Righteousness exalts a nation

Though this is a simple statement, it begs many questions regarding what is meant by the person making it. 

Just what is righteousness?  This is one of the prime questions of our day.  How we define righteousness, right and wrong, is up for grabs today.  Many refuse to accept that there can be an absolute right or wrong.  They are all about a subjective approach to this definition.

However, this creates a problem.  Everyone will complain if you punch them in the face and take their stuff.  Will it be any easier for them to accept it if I say, that it is “right” for me?  Of course not.  This is not a view you can actually live by, at least not for long.  It works fine, until it doesn’t.  Such people will have no problem pretending that you have absolutely wronged them!  Clearly, they won’t use that terminology!

This reminds me of the book of Judges in the Bible, each one doing what is right in their own eyes.  They too started out as a people with “No king, but King Yahweh!”  Yet, they couldn’t survive everyone being their own king.  God had to save them over and over again.

America started out with the mantra, “No king, but King Jesus!”  We too are finding it hard to stick to that path.  We would rather follow our own definition of righteousness.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 14:12 that, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”  You could replace “seems” with “feels” and have the same sense.  This was illustrated by Adam and Eve in the Garden.  The serpent tempted them to define right and wrong for themselves.  Come on!  Don’t you want to be like God?  Thus, humanity embarked on a road of death almost from its beginning.

If you are using your “feelings” to determine what is right, you will quickly find out that no one else cares.  Why should my life be determined by your feelings?  If there is no absolute right and wrong, then we can’t even begin to have a discussion.  There is no foundation to start on but everyone’s feelings.

Those who are intellectually honest will see quickly that this is a weak position.  Thus, people will quickly retreat to a more sophisticated position.  The definition of righteousness becomes whatever the majority of people within a society agree upon for the time being.  Of course, there rarely is a vote on the subject.  And then in cases where a vote happens, it is rarely a true majority.  There are those who are for a position and those who are against.  Yet, there are many in the middle who become the target of the “highest bidder,” seeking to get their vote.  Of course, some of them do not vote.

In the end such a definition of righteousness creates a social quagmire, quicksand, upon which we can never depend upon what will be right tomorrow.  Everyone will be constantly “evolving” on the issues in order to look like they are with the times.  In the end, we are led to become a prostitute-people selling ourselves for the next beautiful trinket, selling ourselves for “bread and circus.”

In truth, this position is about what the majority can be manipulated to go along with.  Yet, God’s Word shows us a better way.  Psalm 145:17 says, “The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.”  The best definition of what is righteous is that which conforms to the character of God.

This is often described as “the way of the LORD,” as opposed to “the way that seems right to a man.”  The Old Testament revealed the character and actions of God.  However, because men often manipulate words to their own ends, Jesus came as the exact representation of God the Father’s righteousness and nature.  He was the perfect image.  What did we find by the way Jesus lived and died?  God is far more loving than some want to pretend, and sin is far worse than we ever imagined.

The twisted nature of sin hijacks you from truth (if you were ever interested in it in the first place).  In the name of God, we will put God to death.  In the name of truth, we will put truth to death.  Without the righteousness of God, you will always end up in destruction because you are rejecting the Creator of all things and His wisdom, instruction, on how it was made to work.

So, what is the righteousness of a nation, or the lack thereof?  It is found in the public policies and their level of conformity to God’s revealed will.  It is essentially all the things we as a people are living by.

What is meant in this proverb by being exalted?  It is a general statement, so it is not so much about being the top nation in the world.  It simply means to rise, to rise up out of degradation, poverty, and slavery (first spiritually and then naturally).  No other nation has to be pulled down in order for a nation to rise.  A man rising up and being industrious all day does nothing to diminish the people around him.  They too could do the same thing.

We are a people halting at the intersection of the future.  I do not believe a majority of the people agree with the ungodly things that are being pushed in our land.  However, some think it is somehow godly not to promote the principles of Christ in our land.  Too often the standing down of people who claim to follow the righteousness of Christ contributes to the lack of righteousness in this Republic.  How long can a man do this and remain righteous?  This is a tension that we need to seek the Holy Spirit concerning.

The problem in our society is not the kid who is confused about their gender.  The problem is a collusion of so-called experts to tell them that their solution is surgery.  Again, I doubt a majority of Americans think that this is good and the best option.  So why does the majority stand down and let it happen?

Sin is a disgrace to any people

The second half of Proverbs 14:34 describes the reverse of the first half.  No people are so great as to make themselves immune to this truth.  Let me be direct.  The United States of America is not immune to this verse.  Before we get into that, let’s talk about what we mean by sin.

The English word “sin” refers to missing a target.  However, we should be clear on what the target should be.  A better definition would be any thought, speech, or action that goes against the revealed character of God.  This involves both internal and external things.

Of course, external sins cause more damage to a society, but then, all sins begin internally.  It is only a matter of time before it shows its ugly head in one form or another.  Thus, a person should never settle for simply nipping sin when it buds, i.e., breaks forth into our external life.  We must commit ourselves to rooting it out of our hearts and mind through a diligent relationship with Christ.  Such a relationship will involve the Written Word of God, prayer, listening for the leading of the Holy Spirit, and living out the righteousness of Christ.

Our society is in the midst of exalting and enshrining in its public policies full-throated rejections of God’s revealed will.  Things like no-fault divorce, no penalty for adultery, the attack of Christian families, the abortion issue, and many others, are encouraging the average persons in sin.  I don’t say that pointing the finger.  Yes, we all fall short of the glory of God and have plenty of fingers pointing at us.  However, I am talking about the public policies, what we are holding up as acceptable or good.  Many of these things are rejections of the revealed will of God.

All people need compassion and grace, but it is not an act of compassion to help people cast off the righteousness of God.  It is not an act of compassion to remove as many consequences as possible of a person’s sin.  Our society seems to have a sick form of sin where we try to make ourselves feel better by redefining sin.  In truth, this is a national suicide according to Proverbs 14:34.

The word “disgrace” here could be translated “shame.”  It is functioning as a contrast to the earlier exaltation caused by righteousness.

Shame can refer to feelings that we have regarding the bad things that we have done.  A person may or may not feel ashamed of the sin they are doing.

Shame can also refer to your position before society for what you have done.  It is the overt standing of society towards our sinful actions.  A person may or may not care about what society thinks.  In fact, society and people can be wrong.

Finally, shame can also be the consequences or damage done to us and others when we sin.  All sin causes injury to self and others to some degree.  Thus, the disgrace is a sinking down into the consequences of our sin.  It is the resultant bondage in which we find ourselves stuck.

How long can a people, a Republic, cause injury to themselves morally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically without falling?  What would that fall look like?  It would look like a dissolving of the things that once held us up.  It would look like righteousness becoming rarer and rarer while sin becomes more and more common. 

I said this earlier and I want to say it again.  No people are immune to the destructive effects of sin.  We must be a light to our people.  We must speak the truth in love.  We need to stand with Jesus in this hour for our people.

If you find yourself or others having an attitude that says, “Nothing can be done,” then hear the word of the Lord.  Our work is not based on the likelihood of success.  It is based upon the sacrifice and command of Christ.  It is based upon the leading of the Holy Spirit.  In our flesh, we may not care about politics and our Republic.  But, as a believer in Jesus, we must be concerned and involved in the public policies of our society, however that may be.

May God strengthen us in this day as we cross 250 years as a Republic!

America 250 audio

The Things that God Hates 2: Arrogant Eyes

Proverbs 6:16-17; Psalm 18:27; Proverbs 18:12; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Psalm 62:9-12; Psalm 131; 1 Peter 5:5-7.

This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on August 15, 2021.

Today, we will look at the first thing that is hated by God, arrogant eyes.  Arrogance is usually obvious to us when we see it in others.  However, there are times when it becomes infectious, or endemic, to a group of people, a nation, or even a whole world.

When the Titanic set out on her maiden voyage back in 1912, the world touted it as unsinkable.  Of course, they would not think they were being arrogant because they felt that they were just following the science.  The Titanic never finished that voyage and still lies at the bottom of the Atlantic to this day.  An iceberg flow that they were warned about became their date with destiny, a place where pride runs into reality and is cast down.

Since Proverbs 6 only lists the things that God hates, we will be looking at a number of other passages, but let’s start in Proverbs 6.

God hates arrogant eyes

The NKJV describes this first thing as “a proud look.”  Other versions use the word “haughty,” or “arrogant.”  The word that is being translated is a verb that would literally mean “exalting,” or “rising up.”  Secondly, it is literally talking about our eyes.  God hates exalting eyes, or eyes that are rising up.  It is understandable that the English translation has chosen understanding over being literal.  Of course, to have arrogant, or haughty eyes, one first has a pride problem that is going on inside their heart.  Before we get too deep into talking about pride and arrogance, there is one more aspect of this list of hated things that we should recognize.

The list involves parts of the body that are used in our sin.  It begins with the eyes and works down the body to the feet for the first five.  Things six and seven then point to things that actively extend from us towards others.  This will make more sense when we get there, but it involves the things we speak and the things we sow among others.

We could just treat this as a device to enable memorizing, or simply an artistic flourish of the writer, but we must not overlook the truth that God hates it when we use the body that He has given us for sinful things.  Our pride doesn’t stay in the heart.  If it is not humbled by us, then it will worm its way to the surface, and it will show itself on our face, and in our countenance.

Let’s look at some other passages on this issue.

“For You will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks.”  Psalm 18:27

“Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility.” Proverbs 18:12

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”  Proverbs 16:18

In these verses, the arrogance of the proud is brought down and destroyed in contrast to the salvation and honor of those who are humble.  Of course, many proud people seem to avoid destruction in this life, and the humble often seem to know nothing, but it.  It is not always evident in life that God hates pride and will judge it.

Yet, if you were to look into the life of a proud person in the way that God can see, you would see countless ways that God has been rebuking their pride.  Like warning signs on a road, or messages about icebergs ahead, they double down on their pride and cruise on past it.  Proverbs pictures pride as an essential element to the destruction of anyone.  You can be poor and have nothing, and yet, still be proud.  Ultimately, all of us will face God one day after our death.  Remember, He hates arrogant eyes.  Many proud and pompous people will stand before God after their death.  It will not go well for them in that day.  You do not want to go into eternity as a person who rejected the rebukes of God concerning their pride.

Now, let’s look at 2 Timothy 3:1-5.  Here, we are warned that pride and arrogance will be prevalent in the last days.  Most of these phrases either list an aspect of pride, or something that is dripping with it: Lovers of themselves, boasters, proud, blasphemers, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, headstrong, haughty.  Wow, what a list!

These are the battlegrounds of our hearts today.  They are also part of what makes these last days so perilous and difficult.  We are a generation that loves to talk of love, but in our heart and actions, there is all manner of pride and arrogance against one another.  It is too little to say that God is not pleased.  Can we hear the Scripture warning us that God hates these things, and that our judgment is even now piling up, higher and higher?  It will reach heaven one day, and God will say, “Enough!”  He will send judgment upon this arrogant world, and many will be caught in the trap of destruction.

O friend, don’t be enamored and idolize the proud.  Don’t work to be like them.  Rather, choose to pick up your cross and become like the lowly Jesus, who is loved of God.  Such a person may suffer peril on this earth, but they will receive the wonderful welcome of God, His salvation and Life Eternal!

If God hates pride, then we should take some time to focus on what He loves, humility.

God loves humility

The flip side of all of these hated things, is that there are things that God loves, and the flipside of pride is humility.  Psalm 62:9-12 counsels us to put our trust in God and not in the things of this world.  It reminds us that God has mercy in quantities and in quality that this world can never understand, or give.

We can spend our whole life trying “to be something,” to the detriment of our own soul.  What do I mean?  Our psalm makes it clear that God only saves the lowly.  He does not save the proud; He brings them down in judgment.  Yet, the lowly receive His mercy.

Psalm 62 tells us something that we either don’t know, or too easily forget.  There is no difference between a person of low degree (as judged by this world) and a person of high degree (according to the world).  It tells us that the lowly person is just a vapor, here today, gone tomorrow.  When it says that the highborn are a lie, it is emphasizing that they are no different than the lowly person.  They too are but a vapor, here today, gone tomorrow.  So then, why be so proud over and against the lowly?  Or worse, why try to be one of the high and mighty?

The truth is that every human being on earth is lowly, and it is the most logical thing for us to be humble.  However, we use our minds and hearts to rationalize that we are better, smarter, more valuable than others.  Remember that God renders to each one according to his work.  If you have spent your whole life in arrogant judgment against others, rejecting God’s rebukes all along the way, then prepare for such from God when you get there.  He only saves the lowly.

Psalm 131 is a short psalm that I like to think of as the prayer of humility.  The humble person recognizes that there are things in life that are too great and difficult for us to solve, or figure out.  In such cases, we are faced with a choice.  Will I let arrogance and pride push me further into things that I am ill-equipped to face without God?  Or, will I remain humble and trust that God will help me through it even though I don’t understand it all?

The picture of trust in this passage is that of a weaned child.  The weaned child has grown up enough that it has learned to depend upon the mother’s care.  The weaned child is no longer dependent upon the mother as it once was.  As an infant, it screamed and cried until she nursed it, but now it has learned that it doesn’t have to scream and cry in order to get food.  Mom has been faithful in looking out for it.  The weaned child is still a child.  It cannot face life alone, but it doesn’t have to, and it knows it.  Such a child can face a big world, and big problems, with a calm and quieted soul, peace.  Peace like a gently flowing river can flood our souls when we learn to put our hope and trust in God.  I would say that this is a great prayer to pray each day, as we wake up to face the day.  Even better is to do what it says; trust Him!

Our last passage will be 1 Peter 5:5-7.  If you want the grace of God, then humble yourself in the sight of God, and the people around you.  Peter explains that part of the grace of God for the lowly is that He has a proper time of exaltation for them.  Of course, for us, the best time for exaltation is now!

We all have some measure of exaltation in this life, even if it is just maturing into an adult with abilities that no infant can have.  However, the true “proper time” of our exaltation is after we have shed these mortal bodies at the Resurrection.  Our mortal, and sinful flesh, is really bad at handling exaltation, which is proven every day.  As it is said, “Power corrupts, and absolute power absolutely corrupts.”  Can I live this life trusting God knows the amount of exaltation that I can handle without losing my soul?  And, can I trust that He holds in reserve for me an exaltation that I cannot begin to fathom?

Let me close by warning us of the trap of the proud.  Not all exaltation is duly deserved, and it is always a test of our character and choices.  When you are exalted in any way, you must work even harder to remain humble.  I am reminded of the warning that James gives to those who want to be teachers.  You will have a stricter judgment.  So, let us hear the warning to those who desire exaltation.  You will have a harder time wrestling with pride, and thus facing a tougher judgment.  Of course, someone has to lead, but let them not rejoice in that day.  The proud think that they are being exalted because that is their proper place (over the lesser others), but in truth, they are being exalted, like Pharaoh of old, so that God can make an example out of them.  The higher they rise the greater the fall. 

The end times will fall with a great crash as Jesus returns.  God help us to be a people who are feeding upon the humility and lowliness of Jesus, instead of the arrogance and pride of the spirit of this world.

Arrogant Eyes audio

The Mind behind the Incarnation

Philippians 2:5-11.  This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on December 23, 2018.

It is easy for Christmas to be taken over by the things that our flesh likes.  We can become far too excited about the latest technological gadget that we are getting, or similar things.  We can bask in the nostalgia of family, big meals, and “magical moments.”  However, Jesus did not come to make us feel good about life and ourselves, although we will have those things from time to time.  Rather, Jesus came to save us.

Yes, God wants to save us from oppressive governance that sees itself as god.  Yes, God wants even to save us from those fellow citizens who seek to take advantage of us like a wolf does a chicken.   Yes, God wants even to save us from our own lower motivations and mistakes.  Yet, ultimately Jesus came to save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21). 

Our sins affect our heart and our mind to the point that we can never feel or think our way out of their effects.  Yet, God so loved the world filled with humans that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes on him should not perish, but have eternal life.  Today we are going to focus on the mind of Christ and the mind of God the Father who sent him to earth.  We are going to talk about the kind of thinking that can save us from all those things I mentioned earlier. 

Let’s look at Philippians 2.

The mind of Christ

In verses 1-4, Paul describes several issues that go to the heart of how we tend to think.  In verse 3 he says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or deceit.”  In verse 4 he states, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests.”  Later he emphasizes this more in verse 14, “Do all things without complaining and disputing.”  Also he says in verse 21, “They all seek their own interests.”  All of these descriptions flow from a heart and mind that is twisted towards self.  This is every single person who has ever lived besides Jesus.  If it was not for him coming to earth and demonstrating a different heart, a different mind, we would still be lost and without hope.

So, when we think about the baby in the manger, let us also think about the mind, or the thinking, that was behind what was happening that day.  Let’s remember that Jesus represented not just a clash of thinking between God and 1^st century Jewish religion and philosophy.  Rather, he represents a clash of thinking between God and every generation who has ever lived, including ours today.

Thus starting in verse 5 Paul tells us that we need to have the same mind or thinking that Jesus had when he left the throne of heaven to be born in a lowly stable.  We should question ourselves this morning.  What mind have I been using and living by?  Have I lived by the mind of Christ or the mind and rationale that comes naturally to me?

So what is it about the mind of Christ that we need?  First Jesus did not cling to being in the form of God (vs. 6).  The KJV and the NKJV translate this verse to say that Jesus didn’t think it robbery to be equal with God.  However, the flow of the argument is not towards Jesus being equal with God, but rather away from that state.  He is leaving heaven in order to take on that which is lesser than God.  Thus the point is not that he didn’t think that he had robbed God to be equal with Him, but that His equality with God was not something to cling to or snatch at.  Jesus was willing to lay that amazing, incredible place with the Father aside in order to come down and save us.  So what am I clinging to that I need to let go of in order to experience what God has for me and others in my life?  Jesus wasn’t climbing the ladder and clinging to his place.  He was descending the ladder in order to help us.

Another part about this mind of Christ is that he was willing to “empty himself” in order to become a servant, in human form.  We are not told exactly of what Christ emptied himself.  However, we know that at the very least he emptied himself of his position and the rights or privileges that go along with it.  His mind, which is the same mind as that of the Father, does not cling to power and position, but rather lays it aside in order to serve others, at least if need be.  For you and I, we only have to descend out of the high and loft position of our inflated ego in order to be of service to God, but for Jesus it was truly a humbling of epic proportions.  We should ask ourselves today.  What do I need to empty myself of in order to serve those that God has put in my life?

Lastly in verse 8, we are told that Jesus laid down his human life in order to obey God’s will.  It is easy to focus on the sacrifice of Christ and the love for us that compelled him, and yet overlook his love for God the Father.  He chooses to obey the Father’s will by laying down his life.  Our impulse is to throw God’s commands and plans back in his face and shout, “You expect too much!”  Yet, Jesus trusted the plan of the Father, even when it led him to become a servant to serve mankind, and even to be crucified on a cross.

It is not easy to trust God, but Jesus did.  He also asks us to trust him, pick up our own cross, and follow him.  Do I trust him that much?  Am I refusing to follow Jesus because it costs me something, even my life?

After Paul shows us the mind of Christ that we need in order to be what God wants us to be in each other’s life, he then turns to the effects of this selfless obedience to God the Father.

The reward of God the Father

In verses 9-11, we are shown the response of God the Father to the selfless actions of Jesus. 

First of all God highly exalts Jesus and, I will add here, at the proper time.  The actions of Jesus are all the opposite of self interest and exaltation.  Jesus actually is humbling himself and doing a humbling work that leads to death.  Nothing he does is about trying to lift himself.  We can get so consumed with trying to get ahead, whether secularly or spiritually, that we neglect to think about what we may be risking.  What will God think of my thinking and the actions that it led me to do in this life?  Were they all about self promotion and seeking to be higher?  Or were they similar to those of Christ?

We are told that Jesus is currently at the right hand of the Father awaiting the signal to come back to earth and take control of the governance of this world.  However, that is his experience after the Father chose to exalt him.  Before this exaltation, Jesus is humbling himself and rejecting the temptation to make those things happen on his own.  Even now Jesus is not exalting himself.  He only accepts the exaltation that the Father has given him. 

1 Peter 5:5-7 says, “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.  Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”  Notice that God opposes the proud.  When we humble ourselves, we put ourselves in a position for God to exalt us at the proper time.  I would put before you today that this life is not the time for exaltation.  Our flesh can’t handle it.

Verse 7 highlights the big problem.  When we are humble we get worried and anxious about all that we aren’t getting.  We are counseled to trust God and his care for us.  Our flesh doesn’t like such an answer, but God does.  You can exalt yourself in this life and be humbled by God at its end, or you can humble yourself in this life and be exalted by him at its end.

Part of Christ’s exaltation is that he is given a name above all others.  The emphasis is not on some new name that is really cool.  A person’s “name” is equivalent to their reputation and standing among others.  Jesus is given a reputation and standing that is above all others, both on earth and in heaven.  This position is similar to that which he had before because it is once again at the Father’s side, but now he has an even greater honor and standing.  He is now the Redeemer and Savior of humanity.  He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  If we will take on the same mind that Jesus had, and if we will live out this life as the Holy Spirit leads, we will also join him in attaining great honors and standing at his side.

We are told that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, whether in heaven, or on earth, or in the grave.  This is not just about the physical position of bowing, but about the submission it represents.  Eventually even the enemies of Christ will have to recognize his true standing.

In that moment we are told that they will also confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  What Jesus lost by not seeking his own selfish interests, is given back to him in even greater portion by the Father.  What the religious leaders of his day gained through their self seeking actions, was taken away from them by the Father. 

Knowing that God is bringing all beings of creation to a place where they will confess that Jesus is Lord, what should we do?  To double down on being a rebel only ensures that we would die in our sins and stand before God, confessing that Jesus is Lord, but to no avail for our future.  However, if we will confess him as Lord in this life, and take on the mind of Christ, if we will humble ourselves and live in obedience to his commands, then our confession will lead to the reward of God the Father, who gives us a place at the side of Jesus forever.

So let us contemplate this Christmas season.  Am I following the thinking of this world, the thinking of the devil, or am I letting the mind of Christ lead me?  Let’s live according to the mind of Christ and truly find life!

The Mind behind the Incarnation audio

Instructions to the Flock

In 1 Peter 5:5, we move from talking to the elders to talking to the “youngers.”  If God puts elders in authority then those who are not elders need to submit to that authority.  Submission has been a big theme in Peter’s letter.  It started back in chapter 2 when he told the believers to submit to the human governments.  Then he spoke to slaves about submitting to their masters.  Next he spoke to wives about submitting to their husbands.  He even mentions that, after the cross, all angels and spiritual authorities are submitted to Christ.  This last “submission” is for the Church body to its leaders.

Remember that the definition of submission is this: taking your proper place under a proper authority.  This definition hinges on the terms proper.  It is the Word of God that makes something proper.  Thus, we are not called to submit to everything or one that purports it is an authority.  But when we do recognize proper authority, even then, we submit to it in the proper way.  Thus it does not call for the Church body to become slavishly obedient to the whims of Church leaders.  So let’s look at what Peter has to say here.

We Should Submit To The Elders

I recognize, again, that submission has been abused by leaders.  Thus the virtue of submission requires us to use our minds and listen to God’s Word.  Submission to godly leadership does have boundaries.  They are not God and can take unscriptural positions.  However, as a virtue, submission recognizes that I too am a sinner in need of restraint.  Thus it is only proper that God should place proper authorities over me in appropriate ways.  Leaders should not be telling members who to marry.  But we should listen when they remind us of the Scripture’s injunction to not marry unbelievers.  They are the elders who have a more mature spiritual wisdom and understanding.  I am the “younger” and not just in age.  Those who are not put in leadership should carefully follow those who have been put in leadership as a child should listen to its parents.  Again, this is within Scriptural bounds.

The term “likewise” is used to point us back to the elders.  In the same way they are to submit to Christ’s calling on their life, so we too must submit to it.  How were they supposed to respond?  They were supposed to respond willingly rather than being forced into it (vs. 2).  They were supposed to eagerly serve with pure motives rather than for dishonest gain.  They were supposed to serve as examples rather than “lording” their authority over the Church.  Thus the body of Christ also needs to submit willingly without being forced.  We should be eager to submit with pure motives rather than for dishonest gain, i.e. manipulating.  We should be quick to follow the “right” examples rather than those elders who fall into coercive tactics.  When both elders and “youngers” properly respond to the Lord this can be a beautiful environment where God speaks to us in his Word and confirms it with the leading of elders.  This environment is a protective environment that keeps us spiritually safe.

The Church Should Be Mutually Submitted

Here Peter moves beyond the elder / flock distinction and speaks to the Church as a whole.  The overall or general atmosphere of the Church should be defined by mutual submission.  But under what authority do we submit to one another?  First, we do so under the authority of God’s Word.  But second, we do so under the authority of the demands of Love (i.e. God’s nature).  In love we learn to humble ourselves to serve and to be served.  Elders are simply to lead us in this area of mutual submission and growing in the Truth of Christ.  We need to listen and be led by the “commands” of love.

Next Peter says that they should clothe themselves with humility.  The word used here is one of a servant tying an apron around them.  Humility must be the “uniform” that we tie on ourselves.  It identifies us as one of Christ’s flock.  It is symbolic of the time when Jesus tied on a towel and washed his disciple’s feet.  If we serve without a humble mind it spoils the service.  But, those being washed have to humble themselves, too.  Peter was quick to tell the Lord he couldn’t wash his feet.  But Jesus told him if he didn’t wash Peter’s feet that Peter would have nothing with the Lord.  Oops!  “I take that back, Lord!  Wash all of me!”  We can be too quick to say that we don’t need any leadership.  However, it is God’s wisdom and we should not reject it.  To reject it is to jeopardize our position in Christ because we are rejecting the very Word of Christ.

Peter then quotes from Proverbs 3:34.  Believers ought to humble themselves beneath the “Mighty Hand” of God because God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.  The word resists here could better be translated as “sets himself against.”  If you walk in pride God sets himself against you.  Hmm… I wonder who will win?  Like the angel in the way before Balaam, God will stand against us if we walk in pride.  But if we humble ourselves he will be quick to give us grace.  Thus his hand is called mighty.  It is powerful in judgment to those who in their own wisdom walk in pride.  And, it is powerful in grace to those who are humble.  Which would you rather receive?

Final Instructions To Believers

On top of being submitted to the elders, Peter asks the believers to put their daily concerns upon the Lord.  When we carry around our “stuff” all the time, it leads to increased anxiety.  The picture has been used of rolling your burdens upon the Lord like the people in the middle east loaded up a camel. Let God do the heavy lifting of those daily concerns that tend to weigh us down.  When we do this we are enabled to help each other.  Can you imagine a worker showing up to move your furniture, but he has a 100 pound pack on his back and is holding an arm full of groceries?  If he is going to be any help at all he will need to unload himself first.  Peter shares this concern in the same vein.  We must learn to roll our burden onto Jesus if we are going to be able to help one another.  How do we do this?  First we do it through prayer.  When we talk through our anxieties and then ask God for his help, we begin to unload ourselves of much weight.  However, it also involves faith.  We need to trust that he really is caring for us.  This doesn’t mean he simply has emotions about our situation, but that he is also actually taking care of us.  We can talk to him about it, ask for help, and then quit worrying about it.  This unloading process is too often avoided in our lives.  It causes much pain and grief in our lives and the lives of others.

Next he tells them to be watchful over their souls.  This involves sobriety, i.e. not being drunk on the pleasures of this world.  And, it also involves vigilance.  The watchful shepherd is standing at attention, watching both the sheep and the hills for sign of trouble.  We need to take our spiritual condition serious and not get caught up in living life to please our flesh.  We have an enemy who is an equal opportunity eater.  Like a lion he will eat anything that isn’t ready for it.  So take your stand against the enemy.  Like David of old, do not rely upon your own wisdom and strength.  But, rather, rely upon the power and might of the Spirit of the Lord.  He can only devour those who are not sober and vigilant.  “Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.”

Final Thoughts

We can get so worried about the things of life that we forget; it is God who takes care of us.  Perhaps you are worried about all the things you shouldn’t be, and not worried about all the things you should?  Let the Spirit of God speak to your heart and correct you in this area.

Also, God has given us all the instructions we need to outwit the devil’s schemes.  We just need to trust him.  Godly leadership is a part of that.  Don’t settle for saying it doesn’t work.  Find a place where there are elders who trust God and are caring for the souls of those who attend that church.  You won’t always agree with them.  But humble yourself and let God use them to help watch over your soul.  In doing so you are thwarting the work of the devil in your life.

Instructions to Flock Audio