Due to road conditions, River Stone Students is cancelling tonight's MDWK service. We will gather again next week.

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Due to the current and forecasted weather conditions, River Stone is cancelling service tomorrow morning. Pastor Michael will preach on Facebook Live tomorrow at 10:00 AM.

Giving can still be done online for those who give in person at riverstone.family/give.

Please stay safe!

May 25

We are traveling home today!
On Saturday we spent the day with Hawick Baptist Church helping with their building project. We have pictures and stories to tell about our day.
We fly from Edinburgh to London then to Chicago and then on to Springfield. Pray that all our connections go well. Our scheduled arrival is 8:38PM. We woke up at 10:30PM Missouri time to start our traveling.
We are excited to share about our Church partners and work in Scotland!

May 23

May 22
Yesterday, May 21st, the conference officially kicked off in the afternoon, and the team made the most of the opportunity to connect with numerous Pastors and ministers of the Gospel. A challenging sermon based on Ephesians 1 was delivered, followed by inspiring testimonies from several Pastors who have successfully planted churches globally. Lunch and dinner were shared at the conference venue with over 120 attendees, representing 26 countries across four continents. The evening concluded with a walk through Edinburgh, then back at our apartment the team members shared their individual conference experiences. We also recognized Heather and Michael’s 21st wedding anniversary, they got to have breakfast together and spent time together on a walk before the conference.

Today, May 22nd, we began the day with a time of team prayer before a beautiful walk through Edinburgh garden park on our way to Charlotte Chapel (20 minute walk). The rest of today will be at the conference 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Prayers are requested for the development of deeper relationships with current partners and for the establishment of new connections that could lead to short-term projects with churches in need.

May 17
We arrived with almost no travel trouble. Just a sprint through Charolette Airport and catching our flight by just a couple minutes. Otherwise we made it to Edinburgh with all of our luggage.

Friday evening we had dinner and grocery shopped then got to sleep early. Everyone was very tired after 33 hours since our last real sleep.

Today, we will be with Christ Church Queensferry spending the morning in the park connecting with the community, prayer walking the neighborhood and encouraging the church. This afternoon will be with Adam and Judith McNinch, and dinner in their home.

Isac is dealing with some sickness still, pray for him as we have several busy days with little rest. The team is doing great! We are excited for the ministry days ahead.

The Advent season is a time of anticipation, of wonder, and of preparation. As we have gathered together to worship Jesus in this season, we have lit the candles of Advent—the hope candle, the peace candle, the joy candle, and the love candle—in this symbolic tradition we are reminded of the depth and the beauty of what the Advent season truly means. I want to focus our attention on love, the fourth and perhaps most profound theme of Advent. This love isn’t just a warm sentiment or fleeting emotion. It’s a person—Jesus Christ.  

At the heart of Advent is the awesome truth that love came to us from heaven, and dwelt among us. In John 1:14, we read, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

This verse is the essence of Christmas. God didn’t just tell us about His love—He showed us in the most personal, intimate way imaginable. Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, left the splendor and glory of heaven to be one of us fully, to live among us, fully God and fully man. That’s not a distant or remote source of love; that is a love that draws near.  

When we think about love in human terms, it often involves risk. Loving someone deeply opens us to vulnerability, to pain, and surely to sacrifice. The incarnation of Jesus—the Advent of love—is the ultimate example of vulnerability, of pain, and of sacrifice. Philippians 2:7-8 captures this truth perfectly, “He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

Jesus’ love wasn’t hesitant or halfway. It was complete, sacrificial, and extravagant. Not only was love made flesh, but this was a profound and pursuing love.

From the beginning of Scripture, we see a God who relentlessly pursues His people. In the Old Testament, His covenant love (in Hebrew “hesed”) is woven throughout every story. God’s love for Israel wasn’t based on their faithfulness—because, let’s face it, they often weren’t faithful—but on His steadfast character.  

Consider the words of Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Even when humanity turned its back on God, He remained faithful, and His ultimate act of pursuit was sending Jesus to bridge the gap sin created.  

In Luke 15, Jesus teaches His disciples the truths of the parable of the lost sheep, where the shepherd leaves the 99 to go after the one. This is a perfect picture of the pursuing love of God, love in action—a love that doesn’t rest until the lost are found. It’s easy to feel like that one sheep sometimes, isn’t it? Wandering, unsure, maybe even unworthy. But the Advent of love, the pursuing love of God in and through Jesus Christ, tells us that Jesus comes for you, for me, and for every lost soul.

Not only was God’s love made flesh, and not only does He pursue us in His love, but His love transforms who we are.

One of the most beautiful aspects of the love of God is that it doesn’t leave us where it finds us. It transforms us. Romans 5:8 reminds us: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Think about this. Jesus didn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up or get our act together. He loved us in our brokenness, in our wandering, and He met us there.  

The love of God has the power to change everything. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” When we repent our sin, and we place our faith in Jesus, His love begins a Holy Spirit transformative work in our hearts. It doesn’t just make us feel better; it makes us new. This is why Advent is such a special time to reflect on these truths. As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we’re reminded of how deeply loved we are—and how that love can inspire us to love others.  

If God’s love took on flesh in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and He has so pursued us, and transformed us, who is it then that can receive this love of God. Who does God love?

The Advent of love isn’t exclusive or selective. It is for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord” (Romans 10:13). God’s Word says that they “will be saved” (Romans 10:13). The angel’s announcement to the shepherds in Luke 2:10-11 captures this beautifully: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.”

The shepherds were ordinary, overlooked people. Yet they were the first to hear the news of Jesus’ birth. This is an amazing example in the Word of God that God’s grace and forgiveness, His salvation is for everyone. It’s not for the elite or the perfect. It’s for the broken, the weary, and the outcast. Jesus Himself demonstrated this during His ministry. He touched lepers, dined with sinners, and welcomed children. His love broke through societal barriers and extended to everyone He met.

In fact, part of the transformation that God does in our hearts is that He calls us as followers of Jesus to reflect and imitate His love to the world. In John 13:34-35, Jesus commands us: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

God came to us, God pursues us, God transforms us, and He offers salvation to all, and all of this is a massive testimony to the generosity of God.

Perhaps the most well-known verse in the Word of God encapsulates the Advent of love: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Here we see that love gives. The love of God is generous, and it calls us to be generous too—not just with material things, but with our time, our kindness, and our compassion. In fact, the generosity of God in pursuing us with His salvation, shows us our own role, as followers of Jesus, to be pursuing the lost with the same Gospel which came to us and saved us. What is more generous toward others than sharing with them the hope of the Gospel found alone in Jesus Christ? During Advent, we have countless opportunities to reflect this generous love.

Advent also reminds us of the eternal nature of God’s love. It’s not seasonal or situational. It’s constant and unchanging. Romans 8:38-39 is a powerful reminder of this truth: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

No matter what you’re facing this Advent season—grief, uncertainty, loneliness—know that God’s love remains. It’s a foundation you can build your life on.

So, how do we respond to the incredible love that came to us, that pursues us, that transforms us, and is a generous eternal love that we’ve been offered and given?  

1. We receive it. Advent invites us to pause and reflect on the magnitude of God’s love. It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season, but let’s take time to sit with Jesus and let His love renew our hearts.
2. We reflect it. Just as Jesus’ love reached us, we’re called to reach others. This could mean showing forgiveness, practicing patience, or simply being present with someone who needs a listening ear.
3. We rejoice in it. Advent is a celebration! Love has come. Emmanuel—God with us—is here. Let that truth fill your heart with gratitude and joy this season.  

The Advent of love is the story of Jesus—His coming, His sacrifice, and His promise to return. It’s a story that changes everything.  

This Christmas, as you light the candle of love, remember that it symbolizes more than a feeling. It represents the radical, self-giving, world-changing love of Jesus Christ. Let’s carry that love with us—not just during Advent, but every day. Let’s live as people transformed by love, sharing it freely and abundantly with a world that desperately needs it.

Merry Christmas, and may the love of Christ fill your heart this season and always.

In Revelation 12, we are presented with an absolute victorious truth for believers: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” In the midst of the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, greatly anticipating the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Revelation 12:11, unveils three key elements of the spiritual victory that we have in Christ and will have until He comes—Christ’s atoning work, the believer’s faithful testimony, and an unyielding devotion to God even in the face of death.

You must see yourself, you in your sinful condition, essentially in a courtroom scene. The prosecutor, with piercing eyes and an icy voice, rises to his feet. He unrolls a scroll filled with the charges against the defendant—you. Every sin, every failure, every shameful act you’ve ever committed is laid bare before the court. The evidence is damning, and the verdict seems inevitable. But then, your Advocate, Jesus the Christ, the Son and sacrifice of God, steps forward. With scars in His hands and love in His eyes, He raises a blood-stained banner and declares, “It is finished!” The prosecutor falls silent. The accusations are overruled. You are free, for there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

This is the picture of Revelation 12:11 in action. Satan, the great accuser, stands day and night, hurling accusations against believers before God (Revelation 12:10). But those in Christ have overcome him—not through our own efforts, but by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony, and a faith so steadfast it values eternal life above all else.

So, what do these truths teach us? What are principles can we draw from the text, from Revelation 12:11, that strengthen our faith today and encourage us in this our ongoing spiritual battles?

The blood of Christ is the foundation of every believer's victory over sin and Satan. His sacrifice disarmed the powers of darkness. Pastor Charles Spurgeon once preached to his congregation, “There is no sin so little that it does not need to be washed in the blood of Christ; and there is no sin so great that it cannot be washed in the blood of Christ.” ¹ The blood of Christ is the believer’s assurance of forgiveness, righteousness, and victory! The Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 2:14-15, that Jesus “canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities.”

Revelation 12:10 describes Satan as “the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night.” What power do such accusations hold against those covered by the blood of Christ? None whatsoever. Like a boundless and powerful river is the blood of Christ, so deep and wide that it completely washes away every sin Satan could ever bring against you. No accusation can stand because His blood covers them all. When we grasp the sufficiency and the effectiveness of Christ’s sacrifice, we can stand boldly in the face of accusations, knowing that “If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness” (Romans 8:10).

The “word of their testimony” is not only a declaration of faith, it is a proclamation of God’s faithfulness. There is nothing more tragic than a Christian who doubts the power of the Gospel they profess to believe. Testify of Christ, and you will see the chains of sin, and death, and darkness fall from others, just as they have so powerfully fallen from you. Sharing your testimony of Christ, magnify God’s redemptive work and resist the enemy’s lies.

The saints in Revelation 12:11 displayed a boldness hard to find today. Even in the face of death, their unwavering commitment to Christ, their fear of the Lord, took away their fear of man and the death which threatened them. Puritan pastor and theologian Richard Sibbes once wrote that, “Satan gives Adam an apple, and takes away Paradise. Therefore in all temptations let us consider not what he offers, but what we shall lose.” ² This was the fear of God, affection for God, love for God, consideration taken by these saints in Revelation 12. True faith values eternal treasures over temporal pleasures and dares to stand firm regardless of the cost.

Revelation 12:11 says that “they did not love their life even when faced with death.” This reveals the depths of the devotion, the loyalty, and the allegiance they have for Christ. Their love for Him outweighed even their instinct for self-preservation. To live for Christ is supreme, to die for Christ is exalted all the same! Puritan pastor and theologian Richard Baker once wrote, "If there be glory laid up for them that die in the Lord; much more shall they be glorified that die for the Lord." ³ These truths are a challenge to believers, it is for us to surrender all, holding nothing back from our Lord.

Living in the victory we have over Satan is not achieved by human strength. He is not a figment of our imagination and therefore somehow willed away by positive thinking or therapy. It is only through a constant reliance on Christ and His finished work that we can know such victory over Satan. Do you believe the Gospel? Do you believe you are a sinner? Do you believe Christ is the forgiver, the justifier, the Redeemer? Are you then willing to part with your sins? We are dependent on Christ for it all. Cling then to Christ daily, and He will carry you through it victoriously! Daily dependence on Christ strengthens believers to resist the enemy and walk in victory.

The blood of the Lamb shed for you and for me at the cross not only secures personal victory but also empowers the Church to advance the kingdom of God. The preaching of Christ crucified is central to overcoming the enemy’s schemes. As Charles Spurgeon put it, “The cross is the battering ram that breaks down the gates of hell.” ⁴ When we lift high the message of the cross, we disarm Satan and draw people to salvation. "Preaching is God’s chief method of winning souls unto Himself, “for after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe...Preaching is God’s chief method of winning souls unto Himself, “for after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” ⁵

Revelation 12 presents a vivid picture of the very real world of spiritual warfare that we truly live in and amongst. However, those who are saved by God’s grace, through faith in Christ, can rest in the assurance that the victory has already been secured by Christ. When Christ died on the cross, this was the death of death itself, it was the ruination of any power Satan may have believed he possessed. Though the enemy rages, his defeat is sealed, and Christ reigns supreme.

When John is writing about the “word of their testimony,” he is demonstrating the power of the Gospel to transform lives and push back the darkness of Satan, sin, and death. For, there is no greater weapon in the hands of the Church, the body of Christ, the people of God, than the simple, but powerful, testimony of a transformed life. A so-called gospel which only saves, but does not transform, is no Gospel at all. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not our salvation and then our shame, “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” (Romans 1:16). Every true believer has a testimony of Christ’s salvation and transformation to share, to preach, to proclaim. Every testimony is a declaration of God’s power to save and to change into His likeness but he power of the Holy Spirit.

Enduring and persevering faith, and our steadfast commitment to Christ, even in the face of suffering, opposition, or death, results in the ultimate reward of eternal life and glory with God. This is a consistent theme in the Word of God. How often we are shown and taught that temporary trials are insignificant compared to the joy and rewards of eternity. These believer’s kindled willingness to suffer—even to the point of martyrdom, to the point of death for Christ—shows their unwavering confidence in the promises of God. They value the eternal over the temporal, trusting that what awaits them far outweighs the sacrifices they make in this life. This perspective helps believers to face hardship with faith, with courage and hope.

The saints’ willingness to suffer and die for their faith points to the ultimate reward awaiting those who endure. Thomas Brooks reminds us, “Though Satan’s malice may outlive your life, yet it cannot outlive your reward.” ⁶ The promise of eternal glory empowers believers to stand firm, knowing that the trials of this life are momentary compared to the joy of eternity with Christ.

Though Revelation 12 is a revelation of what is to come for believers during the tribulation, for all believers in all times, this is a call to a courageous and victorious faith, an unwavering devotion to Christ. Our victory is not in ourselves but in the blood of the Lamb and the power of His cross. Let us boldly proclaim the Gospel, resist the devil’s lies, and live as overcomers through the blood of the Lamb.

May we stand firm in the battle, rejoicing in the truth that the Lamb who was slain has triumphed over the dragon. Victory is ours through Him.

¹ Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. “‘The Precious Blood of Christ.’” The Spurgeon Center for Biblical Preaching at Midwestern Seminary. Last modified March 26, 1865. Accessed November 15, 2024. https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/the-precious-blood-of-christ/#flipbook/.

² Thomas, Isaac David Ellis. The Golden Treasury of Puritan Quotations. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, p. 293, 2022.

³ Ibid. p. 53.

⁴ Taken from The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit C. H. Spurgeon Collection. Only necessary changes have been made, such as correcting spelling errors, some punctuation usage, capitalization of deity pronouns, and minimal updating of a few archaic words. The content is unabridged. Additional Bible-based resources are available at www.spurgeongems.org.

⁵ Ibid.

⁶ Brooks, Thomas. Precious Remedies against Satan’s Devices. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2021.

MARCH 14, 2023 | RYAN HEFFERNON

This week, James River Church is hosting a Week of Power. This event desires "spiritual awakening in Missouri and our nations" as well as "healings, signs, wonders, and deliverance."

The keynote speakers are Bill Johnson and Randy Clark. Johnson is the senior leader of Bethel Church and the co-founder of the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM). Clark is also tied to BSSM but is more widely known as the founder of Global Awakening and a self-proclaimed apostle, focusing on miraculous healing and prophecy.

This is not the first time Johnson has spoken in our city, and he is not the first controversial preacher to preach here
 
So why is this important? And what makes this different? Here is what you need to know about these figures and their beliefs, focusing on Johnson.

Bethel Church is a charismatic church founded in 1952. They have long been known for their worship band, but also for their unorthodox tendencies, including claims of "glory clouds" or gold dust and "angel feathers" falling from the ceiling in worship services, to the existence of BSSM.

BSSM exists so that students can "learn how to read, understand, and “do” the Bible, how to practice His presence, to witness, heal the sick, prophesy, preach, pray, cast out demons and much more."

I emphasized that last sentence because it encapsulates the overall bend of Bethel towards miraculous giftings. Johnson is the co-founder of BSSM, and Clark is a teacher at the school.

The lack of a concrete confession or statement of faith from Bethel or Bill Johnson makes identifying false teachings more difficult. For instance, River Stone's statement of faith is the Baptist Faith and Message, the most prominent doctrinal statement in Southern Baptist Churches. Bethel's statement of faith is much more vague, so it is necessary to dive into the personal theology of men like Johnson.

Much of Johnson and Bethel's theology falls into an extreme version of charasmaticism. For instance, he adheres to doctrines such as his own "Jesus is perfect theology" doctrine, which more or less claims that Jesus will always heal when we ask Him to heal.

However, when you dive deeper, Johnson's root theology is much more troublesome, specifically his beliefs on the Trinity and Jesus' divinity. Johnson flirts with what we would call kenoticism, which is the belief that Christ emptied himself of His divinity. I say flirts with because while his published words reflect this theology, his public claims deny this theology, as we will see.

This theology is loosely based on Philippians 2:7, where Paul writes that Jesus "emptied himself by taking the form of a servant." Here's a better interpretation of that text.

Johnson's writings over the years have often focused on Christ's divinity, specifically the relationship between Jesus as man and Jesus as God. In four different books, including When Heaven Invades Earth, Johnson says a variation of the same quote.

“Jesus set aside his divinity, choosing instead to live as a man, completely dependent on God."

Johnson has attempted to clarify these words as well, claiming that Jesus was fully God and fully man. He also says that he reached out to the publisher of When Heaven Invades Earth to rephrase several problematic aspects of that book. This is a wonderful thing! We shouldn't deny that.

Johnson says this: "Jesus chose to live in the limitations of a man, dependent on the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit. So He was living in what was possible for us...it doesn't come from questioning his divinity. It just comes from the choice He would make to live a style that can be followed by those who have no sin and are empowered by the Holy Spirit."

The description states that "neither Bethel Church nor Bill Johnson believes in kenosis theory." This is, again, a wonderful thing. However, we must still deal with Johnson's own words in other publications.

In Heaven Invades, Johnson writes:

"Jesus Christ said of Himself, ‘The Son can do nothing.’  In the Greek language that word nothing has a unique meaning—it means NOTHING, just like it does in English! He had NO supernatural capabilities whatsoever!…He performed miracles, wonders, and signs, as a man in right relationship to God…not as God."

And again in The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind: Access to a Life of Miracles, Johnson writes:

"Jesus had no ability to heal the sick.  He couldn’t cast out devils, and He had no ability to raise the dead.  He said of Himself in John 5:19, ‘the Son can do nothing of Himself.’  He had set aside His divinity. He did miracles as man in right relationship with God because He was setting forth a model for us, something for us to follow…Jesus so emptied Himself that He was incapable of doing what was required of Him by the Father – without the Father’s help."

The quotes above, including from his clarification, have one important thing in common: They either question or outright reject Jesus acting as God while on Earth. That is, they may not reject that Jesus was and is God, but they question Jesus' functional capacity to act as God while a man on Earth. His works were done by a man in right relationship with God, but not as God. This tears apart the theological concept of the Hypostatic Union, which affirms that "Jesus was both God and man, fully divine and fully human."

Specifically, they go as far as to say that Jesus had no supernatural capabilities and that his miracles were the result of his right relationship with God, a tacit undermining of Jesus' divinity altogether.

This brings us to a fork in the road. How do we reconcile Johnson's clarification with his own words?

In the entirety of church history, nearly every heresy has been in some way associated with trinitarian theology. That is, the denial or undermining of the trinity in some form, most commonly in the form of the person and divinity of Jesus. Arianism, Docetism, and Modalism all have to do with the trinity concerning Jesus' person and deity.

I do not use the word heresy lightly. I think we are obligated to look at men like Johnson with generosity of spirit and understand that Johnson could very well be in the process of recanting his kenotic-leaning beliefs. With this in mind, we should still be highly cautious to engage with teachings that even flirt with trinitarian theology. The Athanasian Creed sums up historic Christian orthodoxy quite well:

"Now this is the [true] faith:

that we worship one God in Trinity and the Trinity in unity, neither confounding their persons nor dividing their essence...but it is necessary for eternal salvation that one also believes in the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ faithfully.

Now this is the true faith:

that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, is both God and man, equally...Although he is God and man, yet Christ is not two, but one. He is one, however, not by his divinity being turned into flesh, but by God's taking humanity to himself."

This is orthodox Christian teaching, importantly noting that "anyone who does not keep it whole and unbroken will doubtless perish eternally." We are not to confound nor divide the essence of the Trinity. He is one, not by his divinity being turned into flesh, but by God's taking humanity to himself.

Johnson's teachings, even if unintentional or misunderstood as he claims, are confounding and divided enough to warrant a warning.

In his review of Johnson's book When Heaven Invades Earth: A Practical Guide to a Life of Miracles, David Schrock of 9Marks writes this:

It’s no light matter to call someone a heretic. Heresy isn’t merely theological error; it’s error that tampers with our understanding of God and Christ and threatens, if not completely undermines, our standing before him. Historically, heresy has been saved for matters that deny the Trinity or reject the early church councils. Therefore, we must use the greatest caution when invoking the term. And yet, when Trinity-eroding, Christ-denying, gospel-subverting error is published, we ought not shy away from declaring a teacher or teaching as heretical. 

For that reason, I must use the word heresy to speak of Bill Johnson’s book When Heaven Invades Earth: A Practical Guide to a Life of Miracles.

In the review, he concludes:

In the end, I must submit, Bill Johnson’s book is modern-day heresy. In his “gospel of power” he has made an encounter with the “power” of God more important than trust in the triune God of Scripture. As a consequence, he has proffered a God that is impersonal, a Jesus who minimizes his Lordship, and a Spirit whose electric power overwhelms his eternal personhood.

I empathize with Schrock. Associating anyone with heresy is not a light matter. And it is even more difficult given Johnson's attempt to clarify his writings. This is not written to sling mud or toil but as a warning. Paul writes in Titus 1 that we "must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."

The words of clarification from Johnson remain highly troubling and are enough to flee from his teaching. Any erosion of the trinity or Christ's divinity, or in this case the capacity of Christ's divinity while on Earth, must be rejected.

The furthest conclusion of Johnson's doctrine is not simply an error, similar to the errors Paul corrected in the church at Corinth. It is a whole different Gospel, the kind that Paul wrote about in his letter to the Galatians, one that is accursed. As Schrock writes, to erode the Trinity is to deny who Christ was and is, and this is something that must not go unaddressed in our city.

I think it is crucial to note again that this is not an attack, but a warning. So my challenge to our church this week would be to hold firm to sound doctrine if allowed to speak on this topic with friends, family, or co-workers. Pray for Johnson, Clark, and the members of Bethel Church, as well as discernment for our brothers and sisters and Christ who will hear them speak this week.

But I would also challenge our church to do so with hearts to stir up love and good works and to love our neighbor, not to ridicule or win an argument. Whether it be in our conversations or our social media posts, use your voice to make much of Jesus and to love your neighbor.

NOVEMBER 28, 2022  |  MICHAEL LACOBEE

“O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches
Your boughs, so green in Summer-time
Stay bravely green in Winter-time
O Tannenbaum, O Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches”

For some of you, the lyrics to this song are a wonderful reminder of the excitement and joy that many experience during the Advent/Christmas season. For others, “O Christmas Tree” may fill you with frustration and strong convictions. As we head into this Advent/Christmas Season, and I assume because I am a pastor, it is inevitable that I will be answering the questions surrounding how we celebrate the Advent/Christmas Season, and why. There is no doubt about it, it is crucial for us to use Biblical discernment in the liturgy of our lives, to know why we do what we do.

So, why do we bring these trees into our homes? Why do we decorate them? Can we? Should we? I want to share with you the answer to “What should we believe about Christmas trees?”

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE

We know of course that “Christmas Tree” is not its official title. The “Christmas Tree” is typically an evergreen conifer, traditionally a fir, a spruce, or a pine tree. This is important to remember because these trees are absolutely beautiful year around, not just during the season of our Christmas celebrations. Now, how we came to be bringing these beautiful trees into our homes and gathering places is very interesting. The known and common tradition today of bringing an evergreen conifer tree into your home, and then decorating it, is traced to all the way back to the 1500’s and comes from Germany. It wasn’t until the Renaissance period that we have clear records of the evergreen tree being used as a symbol of Christmas. There is no doubt a ton of folklore, legends, and myths surrounding its uses and purposes. “The most likely theory is that Christmas trees started with medieval plays. Dramas depicting Biblical themes began as part of the Church's worship, but by the late Middle Ages, they had become rowdy, imaginative performances dominated by laypeople and taking place in the open air. The plays celebrating the Nativity were linked to the story of creation—in part because Christmas Eve was also considered the feast day of Adam and Eve. Thus, as part of the play for that day, the Garden of Eden was symbolized by a ‘paradise tree’ [a Christmas tree] hung with fruit” ¹

Evergreen trees were certainly used prior to the 1500’s, and for a wonderful fuller article on this subject you can read Edwin and Jennifer Woodruff Tait’s article, Why Do We Have Christmas Trees? It is true that evergreen trees have been used in many different ways by many different cultures; however, it is important to remember that the common use today comes, not from second-century paganism, but coming into and out of the Protestant Reformation in 16th century Germany. Today, our use of the evergreen tree as a Christmas tree came from these early German traditions, and most likely came through German immigration into the United States.

A BRIEF ANSWER ABOUT YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE

Again, it is crucial for us to use Biblical discernment in the liturgy of our lives, to know why we do what we do; however, in being Biblically discerning toward the Christmas tree, the person who is convinced that Christmas trees are idols, evil, pagan, or satanic, will have a very difficult time showing that the body of Christ shouldn't and cannot celebrate Jesus’ birth with a Christmas tree. Here are three truths to help you Biblically discern what you should believe about Christmas trees:

PAGAN PRACTICE DOES NOT RUIN THE GLORY OF GOD.

History seems to ebb and flow in and out of good and bad uses of the evergreen tree. History also seems to ebb and flow, in and out of focus, on the accuracy of the historical accounts, whether or not they are true, how true, how clear, how fabricated. Regardless, even if the pagan use of the evergreen tree was historically accurate, one cannot conclude that we cannot enjoy the use of a Christmas tree today. Pastor John MacArthur’s analogy is helpful,

“During World War II the American military used some remote South Pacific islands for temporary landing strips and supply depots. Prior to that time the indigenous tribal people had never seen modern technology up close. Large cargo planes swooped in filled with an array of material goods, and for the first time the islanders saw cigarette lighters (which they deemed to be miraculous), jeeps, refrigerators, radios, power tools, and many varieties of food. When the war was over, the islanders concluded that the men who brought cargo were gods, so they began building shrines to the cargo gods. They hoped the cargo gods would return with more goods.” ²

These men and their stuff were not gods, obviously. The paganism was real, but the belief was false. The materials were real, they were useful, and even amazingly designed, but they were not divine, nor are they gods to be worshipped. So, does their false faith make the use of a refrigerator wicked? Not at all. Can false faith toward an evergreen tree make an evergreen tree wicked? Not at all. In the same way, think about how candles are used in cultic and false religion contexts. From heretical doctrine, paganism, satanism, cults, and many other very dangerous systems of false faith, candles are used alongside some of the most radical and ridiculous, evil and dark beliefs. Can we not therefore use and burn candles in homes or in our gathering places? Of course we can. In fact, I have a Wood-wick Frasier Fir Candle burning in my office as I write this. Remember what Psalm 95 proclaims,

“For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.”

The evergreen tree is His, He made it, He formed it, “in His hands are the depths of the earth. Pagan practice does not ruin the glory of God and His creation.  

PAGAN PRACTICE DOES NOT ANNEX THE WORD OF GOD.

I am not saying that simply because the Scriptures do not directly address Christmas trees, they are therefore permitted. That would be an argument built on sand. However, there is nothing in the Word of God that either commands or prohibits us in celebrating or decorating the Advent/Christmas season with Christmas trees, or other Advent/Christmas decorations.

Some cite Jeremiah 10:1-16 as a passage that forbids the cutting down and decorating of trees. However, it is clear, in its context that God did not give to His people a divine order against Christmas trees. Jeremiah is very obviously communicating that the gods of the godless are nonsensical and foolish. They went and walked their false gods out of the woods, chopped them down, carved them up, plated them with silver and gold, and worshiped them. It is clear that we understand the difference between a Christmas tree and an actually worshipped false god or idol. There are other passages of Scripture which show the misuses and abuses of God’s ex nihilo materials (i.e. Isaiah 44), but they mock such foolishness of bowing down and worshipping such man made idols. No where in the Word of God are we commanded not to decorate with evergreens or other materials like it.

On a side note, if you are bowing down before your Christmas tree, carving it into an idol, and praying to it, you have “exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man,” you have “exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Romans 1:23–25).

PAGAN PRACTICE DOES NOT PERMIT PRIDE IN YOUR HEART.

When I was a kid, my brothers and I loved it when our parents allowed us to sleep in the living room, on the floor or the couch, in the glow of our Christmas tree lights, and other peacefully glowing decorations we had. My dad always insisted on a real tree, so even the smell was a wonderful experience. In fact, I was often found resting with my head fully under the tree looking up into it while I was awake, and sleeping peacefully under it while I was asleep. I can honestly confess “to God be the glory,” when it comes to our Christmas trees. For the Christian who sincerely enjoys the beauty of their Christmas tree, for God’s glory, and in the liberty afforded you by the Gospel, you can enjoy it, thank God for it, and glorify Him through it. Trust me, many Christians through Church history have done just that.

There is no well founded arguments anyone can make to demonize our enjoying the Christmas tree in our homes, this time of year, or any other. In fact, for those who insist on making the Christmas season a legalistic burden to Jesus’ Church, I Biblically and strongly warn them against making such harsh, discouraging, and distracting judgments of the Gospel liberty we have as Christians, the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 14:5-6,

⁵ One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. ⁶ He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.

Is the Lord to be pleased for the Christian who looks down upon another for either celebrating or not celebrating Christmas in a particular way? This is pride, spiritual pride. For the one who argues against the Christmas tree, there is great warning when we feel that “somehow we have achieved a higher plane of spirituality by doing or not doing something about which the Bible is silent, we misuse our freedom in Christ, create divisions within His body, and thereby dishonor the Lord.” ³

We must not choose Church history and tradition over the freedom we have in Christ. For example, as much as I have seriously benefitted from the Puritans and their loving and following Jesus, many of the Puritans objected to the celebration of Christmas. In 1647, the Puritan-led type of government attempted to cancel Christmas. They forbid traditional expressions of celebration, they ordered stores to stay open, ordered Churches to stay closed, and even arrested ministers for preaching on Christmas Day, which I will freely be doing myself this December 25, 2022. We are not to be troubled about baseless arguments against Christmas decorations. Rather, we should be focused on the Christ of Christmas and giving all diligence to remembering the real reason for this wonderful season.

What should you believe about Christmas trees? That God has made such beautiful trees, and regardless what the world around us chooses to do with what God has made, we rearrange everything in our lives asking if it glorifies God, does it please the Lord, is God honored in it, does it cause my brother or sister in Christ to stumble? Answer and discern these things Biblically, and then wonder in the goodness of God. As you decorate your Christmas tree this year, enjoy it as you are in awe of God's creation! Let wonder fill your heart as it did the prophet Isaiah, for “The splendor of Lebanon will come to you, its evergreens, firs, and cypresses together, to beautify my palace; I will bestow honor on my throne room.” Church, be in awe of God, worship the Lord, rejoice in His goodness and grace, give glory to the One who gave Himself to us that we might know Him.

1 Woodruff Tait, Edwin, and Jennifer Woodruff Tait. “Why Do We Have Christmas Trees?” Web log. Christianitytoday.com(blog). Christianity Today, December 11, 2008. https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/2008/december/why-do-we-have-christmas-trees.html.

2 MacArthur, John. “Should Christians Have Christmas Trees?” Web log. GTY.org (blog). Grace to You, December 17, 2009. https://www.gty.org/library/questions/QA073/should-christians-have-christmas-trees.

3 “Should We Have a Christmas Tree?” Web log. GotQuestions.org (blog). Got Questions Ministries. Accessed November 28, 2022. https://www.gotquestions.org/Christmas-tree.html.