October 2001 chaplain's corner

The Chaplain's Corner is a monthly message for chaplains.

Chaplain's Corner - October 2001

Rev. Rich Hines

This message is primarily for those serving as correctional chaplains within the United States, and who call upon the name of Christ as their own Lord and Savior. It is for those who minister His gospel.

"God Bless America" - since September 11, 2001 I've seen it everywhere I've been, which is in California, Georgia and Florida . It's spelled out on T-shirts and handbags, bumper stickers, homemade signs for the houses and automobiles, and especially on business marquees. I think it's probably the same where you live and minister.

What are those that display these three words saying? What do the makers of those signs mean to say? Is it a prayer request, that rather sounds like a demand? Is it for some, just a rallying cheer or a battle cry - like one bumper sticker in Orlando, Florida I saw that read "God Bless America - and To H--- With Her Enemies." Or possibly, it's an appeal to patronize the businesses that displays the three words "God Bless America"?

We Bible believers might with wishful thinking envision the name and first three words of a long forgotten song, God Bless America. "God bless America, Land that I love, Stand beside her, and guide her through the night - with a Light from above." It would truly be wonderful, if a majority of those displaying these words were really thinking that our country was in the midst of a dreadful darkness and trouble that only the Light of God's word had the answers for and solutions to.

Maybe for most it's a temporary, politically correct way to say, "I'm an American and I want this country to win the war against terrorism" or something like that. A banner under which to unite.

Don't get me wrong. In one sense I like to see it, because it's in the public sector, which prior to September 11, had little use for even the thought of God. It must irritate some people, but maybe it's also an indication that mentioning the word "God" in a good sense - in public, isn't as "wacko" as it seemed only a month ago. The bottom line: I don't think it means everyone displaying these words has repented of their self-centered and sinful lifestyle and turned in faith and obedience to Christ. But I do see a benefit in all this for gospel believing chaplains.

You Christian correctional chaplains, like all who minister the gospel of Jesus Christ anywhere, now have at one time, a tremendous opportunity and obligation to bring Biblical definition and direction to many who are temporarily open and are asking good questions. Seeing the weakness of our national security systems and images that translate to thousands dying unprepared, and without warning has done something to the thought patterns of most in our society. It has affected the American psyche.

So, I well imagine the staff you work with and the inmates you serve are also asking questions. If ever in your ministry there was a time to first live consistent with the gospel and to preach and teach it with clarity, it is now.

In this Chaplain's Corner, I want to challenge you to tell the whole truth of God's saving message in Christ Jesus. Look a very relevant passage in 1 Peter 3:10-15 with me. It says:

10 For "He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil." (quoting from Psalm 34:12-16)

13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." (quoting from Isaiah 8:12)

15 But sanctify Christ as Lord, in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Verses 10,11 deal with Christian conduct and behavior. Verses 12-14 give encouragement to keep living right - consistent with the salvation Christ has brought to the believer. And verse 15 lays down the responsibility to give the complete gospel message, in the right way.

I say again, if ever in your ministry there was a time to first live consistent with the gospel and to preach and teach it with clarity it is now.

The first part of 1 Peter 3, deals with living out the salvation Christ has worked into the believer. Verses 1-9 basically deal with relationships between believers. Now, in verse 10 the scope opens up and the whole of the society - with all it's unbelievers, is in consideration.

10 For "He who would love life and see good days,"

Here the idea broadens from the Old Testament text (Ps. 34) where the meaning is primarily for this life - to the eternal aspects - loving eternity with God and seeing the good glories of heaven.

The verse continues - "let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit."

The words "tongue" and "lips" are used to point out their use in everyday speech. The word "refrain" means "to stop." The sense of the grammar is that it is the believer's responsibility to do this. Those that are heaven bound, those that are going to see eternal good and life remade new forever in heaven are to control their own speech "making to cease, restraining" their own tongues from all evil speaking and guile. Further -

11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

All the verbs, the action words, in verses 10,11 are commands for the believer to do. Refrain from speaking evil, turn away from evil, do good, seek and pursue peace - it's all the believer's responsibility.

True to the overall theme of the reality of suffering for the name of Christ at the hands (what they do to injure) and mouths (what they say to discredit) of unbelievers, these verses call believers to do good to all those around them. The word for "good" in this passage means a good character that is beneficial to others in its effect. It is linked to doing righteousness. In the midst of a sinful and sometimes hostile society, believers in Christ are to practice righteous behavior and bring blessing to their enemies.

God then encourages believers with the following statements in verse 12:

12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.

Implied in those words is the fact that the eyes of the LORD do not look favorably on the unrighteous. Rather He looks favorably on those who live out the salvation He offers in Christ - by having Christ's righteousness working through them. Also implied is the fact that the LORD God does not hear the prayers of the unrighteous, even if they're involved in religion. His face is against those who practice evil. All man-made unbiblical religion is evil.

In the Old Testament the face of the LORD, His countenance, shining upon or looking upon a person, is often connected to the idea of the blessings of salvation. Here are some examples:

Ps 31:14-16

14 But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD;

15 My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.

16 Make Your face shine upon Your servant; save me for Your mercies' sake.

Ps 67:1-2

1 God be merciful to us and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah (pause to reflect).

2 That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.

Psalm 80:3-7

3 Restore us, O God; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!

4 O LORD God of hosts, how long will You be angry against the prayer of Your people?

5 You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in great measure.

6 You have made us a strife unto our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves.

7 Restore us, O God of hosts; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!

Psalm 143:7

Answer me speedily, O LORD: my spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit.

And in the great blessing given through Aaron to God's people in Numbers 6:24-26

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace."

So here, it is implied by contrast that the face of the LORD is not against, but towards and for those that practice His righteous behavior. The only way anyone can do that is in a faith relationship with Jesus Christ!

To further encourage Christian believers, the text continues:

13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? (Lit. "become zealots of the good")

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." (quoting from Isaiah 8:12)

The point is not that the believer will never be harmed, but rather that the harm done by the unrighteous does not, can not last. It is only temporary, God's true salvation is for an eternal forever. The sense of verse 14 is "If indeed you suffer for righteousness sake - there is a tremendous blessing in that." The word for "blessed" in verse 14 refers to a happiness that no circumstance can take from you. In ancient usage it was a word thought not possible for human mortals, but rather only for immortal spirits. But in Christ this kind of happiness is both a present and future reality.

The end of verse then 14 quotes from Isaiah 8:12. Literally it says "But fear you not the fear of them, nor be troubled." The word "troubled" means to be agitated, or stirred up. Believers are then commanded (the verbs are imperative) not to fear men or let them trouble them.

Rather the threats of the ungodly should spur the true followers of Christ on to do what verse 15, the key verse, says to do. Picking up the context from the end of verse 14:

"14)...do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. 15) But sanctify Christ as Lord, in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;"

There are three parts in verse 15. Do you see them? First there is a command, then a related instruction and finally a comment on the right way to speak to enquirers.

Instead of being troubled and made afraid by the lost in society, the Christians are commanded to spend their energy in sanctifying Christ as Lord in their hearts. What does that mean? To sanctify means to set apart as holy. This could not mean the Christian believer can make the Lord Jesus more holy than He already is. Rather, it is a deep call to set Christ apart - far above every other human authority in your life. Set Him apart as Lord.

We are to do this in our "hearts" which refers to the deepest part of our rational being. This means that we are committed and resolute in the concept that He must be obeyed above everything and everyone else. It also includes knowing rationally from the Scriptures that He is Lord of all, which means that He (Jesus) is God.

Every Christian and especially those who take the role of minister - in your case "Chaplain," should be Biblically able to defend and prove as in a court of law, that Jesus is God, that He is Sovereign of all and that He is the ultimate Ruler of this world and all creation.

In our present historical setting in these United States of America, you should realize to do this will mean you are going to enrage by the book (the Koran) Muslims. In that religion, it is the height of blasphemy to ascribe Deity to any man. But the word of God, the Bible, calls Christians to do just that - because that truth (that Jesus is God) is at the center of the saving message - the "hope that is in you."

The hope is the eternal future where the believer looks forward to complete victory over sin and death through the work and promise of the only Savior - Jesus. It is my sincere conviction that most of the people in America that display the words "God Bless America" do not have that hope as a settled fact in their own life.

That brings us to the next part of verse 15, the instruction related to Christ's Lordship in your life, - "always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you." Can you defend Christ's Lordship? Are you ready to do that? The word "defense" translated "answer" in the King James Version, is "apologia" in ancient Greek. It means a speech in defense of a proposition in court. It was used for an attorney's final argument.

The one historical fact that ties together the Deity of Jesus and His victory over the believers sin is His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (see Romans 1:4 in context, and look up our archived message from April, 2001, for help).

People are asking for answers today. Questions like "Is the end of the world coming soon?" And "How can I truly be prepared to die?" We have as I said earlier, a wonderful opportunity and a tremendous obligation to give them the right, Biblical answers. Answers that center in Christ - the King of kings and Lord of lords, God the Son and the only Savior from sin through His substitutionary, atoning work at the historical cross of Calvary. Be ready to give those answers Christian Chaplain!

As you give the Biblical answers, the defense of the true God-revealed faith, our verse (1 Peter 3:15 at the end) tells you how to do it. It tells you what your attitude and deportment should be as you respond to the enquirers - "with meekness and fear."

Look at that last word - "fear." It can not mean with fear of man or societies response. Fear here must be the fear of God, for this very passage (in verse 14) has commanded believers not to fear men. As you give the defense - the gospel facts, be very, very careful not to mess up the message, for if you do you offend the Holy One! We must give Him an answer for what we've told others was His message - we better handle it with great care and clarity.

The word "meekness" on the other hand, is to be your attitude towards those people to whom you are giving the message. The word "meekness" here means giving up your rights. It sometimes is translated as "gentleness." It was used of a colt that had been broken and made useful. It is power under the control of Another. So answer questioners of the faith with that attitude of non-demanding gentleness. Answer in a meek, under-control way, that seeks to be accurate, but not in a "brow-beating" manner. Give them the accurate truth because you fear God.

We are praying for you correctional chaplains in America's jails and prisons. We at Aurora Ministries always seek to encourage you. May our God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only true God - truly bless and prosper your efforts to represent and glorify Him.

Rich Hines - Minister To Chaplains