“The cross reminds us that God is present, especially when it looks like he’s not” (David Zahl, Mockingbird Devotional, p. 62).
What does Zahl mean here?
When do you feel closest to God? Isn’t it when everything is going “right”? When everyone is healthy? When there’s money in the bank account? When the car or house or appliances are working, and the future looks rosy? In other words, when you’re feeling “blessed”?
But then the hard times come, don’t they? Adversity strikes. You get sick. You lose your job. You can’t get an interview. Your marriage has never been worse. You aren’t talking to your sister or brother. A child dies. Your wife dies. And that picture-perfect life you were hoping to lead fades away to something more resembling a living nightmare.
In those moments, God can feel very far away.
But here’s the truth: your feelings are lying. God is present. The cross reminds us of that.
When the disciples saw Jesus hanging on the cross, they thought God had abandoned them. They thought it was all over and fled like rats. Little did they know (at the time), not only was it not all over, it was all just the beginning.
God had not left the scene; He was at the scene, right in the thick of human misery and suffering, on that cross, fulfilling His promises, and doing something brand-new for creation. God was in Christ doing the greatest work the universe had ever seen—being the Lamb of God and taking away the sin of the world and reconciling it to Himself (John 1:29; 2 Cor 5:19)!
From a human perspective—from the perspective of your “feelings”—the cross looks like the absence of God. But from the perspective of faith, the cross means that God is present in your darkest times, bringing you salvation.
Phil
Well said.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Leo Z
Pastor Shawn,
The cross of Christ…John 3:16, personified. The ultimate act of love in the universe. God’s love manifested in the giving of His Son!
Thanks for the post.
Keeping you and GES in earnest prayer.
Alvin
Shawn
I couldn’t really find much of anything that David Zahl believes except that one of his theological hero’s is Johnny Cash? Whatever that means~? Shawn I noticed you put two verses John 1:29; 2 Cor 5:19. I know that most professing Christians don’t believe those verses. They believe that POTENTIALLY Jesus took away the sin of the world. So, most don’t even believe in the efficiency of the cross.
I challenge you to prove that Zahl believes that Jesus took away the sin of the world~?
That is that sin as sin is never mentioned at the Great White Throne (Revelation 20:1-15).
And that Jesus was not only the propitiation for believers sins, but for the WHOLE worlds sins (1 John 2:2).
Because to use someone’s teaching concerning the cross, and they don’t even really believe in the efficiency of the cross is a contradiction, is it not?
If I’m wrong on Zahl I will be the first to apologize, but I don’t think I’m wrong.
Either someone believes that Jesus took away the sin of the world, or they do not. There is no in-between.
Alvin
I believe that most of those ones who were attacking Zane calling his gospel the cross-less gospel didn’t even believe John 1:29.
And we know Zane preached the cross……the true cross, where ALL THE SIN OF THE WORD WAS TAKEN AWAY.
How important is this~?
It means that no one was left out. People who think they are un-savable this is HUGE~! You weren’t left out~! No one was~!
And all these ones who say they knew Jesus died for THEM…..NO HE DIED FOR EVERYONE~!
He made everyone SAVABLE~! PRAISE THE LORD~!
Alvin
David Zahl is one of the ministers there.
Christ Episcopal Church in Charlottesville, VA.
XVII. Of Predestination and Election.
Predestination to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honour. Wherefore, they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God, be called according to God’s purpose by his Spirit working in due season: they through Grace obey the calling: they be justified freely: they be made sons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his only- begotten Son Jesus Christ: they walk religiously in good works, and at length, by God’s mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity.
Alvin
They direct you to the Homily of Justification:
Homily Of Justification
Faith alone, how it is to be understood. Nevertheless, this sentence, that we be justified by faith only, is not so meant of them, that the said justifying faith is alone in man, without true repentance, hope, charity, dread, and the fear of GOD, at any time and season. Nor when they say, That we be justified freely, they mean not that we should or might afterward be idle, and that nothing should be required on our parts afterward: Neither they mean not so to be justified without good works, that we should do no good works at all, like as shall be more expressed at large hereafter.
Pam
Brother Alvin, thank you for your diligent research. This is very enlightening.
Alvin
https://faithalone.org/journal/1997ii/Caddock.html
I also found what is called “centering prayer,” there. This article by Caddock explains just what that is, and gives us a warning. That is how I felt listening to this Zahl at times was like he was speaking in another language. You could listen to him a lot and come away with just a bunch of nothing?
Pam
Thank you for that link, Brother Alvin. I remember this article well and have read it a few times throughout the years. I’m going to re-read it again.
If I recall correctly, John Caddock and Zane Hodges were supposed to collaborate on a book about New Age spirituality, but Zane didn’t live long enough. It’s a subject that needs to stay on the front burner. Thank you for sharing the link so that other readers can access the article.
This sort of thing is why I stick with just a few tried and true authors.
Leo Z
Hi Pam, Yes, sticking with a few tried and true authors is a good thing. It helps to establish and reinforce a strong unshakable foundation for the truths that one learns. However, I also believe there is a time that everyone should be open to broaden their horizons by reading work beyond those considered to be tried and true. Here are 3 reasons why. 1) It’s good to know what other views are taught out there. It helps one to be prepared to contend for the truth. 2) Learning what the other side believe and teach sharpens one’s skills of discernment of what is true or false in real time personal experience (not just by reading about it from a favored tried and true author). 3) All truth is God’s truth. Truth can be presented by an author who teach some things you would not necessarily agree with. Gordon Clark on “faith and saving faith” and David Engelsma on “assurance of salvation” comes to mind. Of course, for the new and young believer, there is always the danger of falling into error. For these babes in the faith, I would recommend sticking with the tried and true authors to strengthen their foundations before venturing out to uncharted and untested territories. Once girded, firmed and confident in truth, it would be easier to navigate in what is out there. Just my opinion. Blessings to you! .
Alvin
I don’t agree…..especially this late in the game. Spend the majority of your time in the Scriptures. That’s how people who know a counterfeit because they been studying the real thing. Also I would recommend Zane’s commentary on Romans, it’s probably one of the most mis-understood Books out there, and is key to our own growth. If we looked at our own understanding of the Scriptures, and compared it to a TV, what size would be your picture~? 6” or 10” or maybe a 12” Well Zane’s was a 65”. God was showing Zane things way beyond what you will find out there….why~! Because of his humble heart and openness to God. I’m not saying he knew everything, but he was light years ahead of all these confused people were being shown.
And spend your time looking for people who are open….God will bring them to you:-)
You can spend hours and hours with these cults, and see hardly any results, if any. Anyone giving you the truth will tell you that. Unless you just like arguing with people~?
Leo Z
To use your illustration, each person is given a TV screen by God, the size determined by their openness and desire to learn. The issue is not the size but how responsibly it is used and managed for Him. I do not discriminate (and never will) as to who I share God’s saving message with. In my mind, every unsaved person is game, even those in the cults. As difficult as they may be, they still need to hear the message, nevertheless. I have the cults knocking at my door a lot and I share God’s truth with them when able to. Who knows, I may be planting the seed at that time for someone else to water and harvest down the road. I’ve never considered any of the time I spent sharing the saving gospel without positive responses a waste of time. The results are of God, saving is His business, not mine. I’m called to be a witness and ambassador for Christ. I have led many people to believe in Jesus for eternal life, mostly Roman Catholics (who are considered a cultic group by many). I have also led people to Christ, who were garden variety pagans and some of other persuasions. Whoever God puts in front of me, I see as an opportunity. And no, I do not argue with people, especially with the cults (i.e. the deity of Christ). I just share the need for “life everlasting” found in Jesus alone by believing in Him alone, apart from their works. Blessings to you!
Leo Z
Alvin, I have no issues with your points. Yes, I agree, we need to spend time studying the Scripture. That’s a given. Yes, we learn to spot the counterfeit and false by mastering the genuine and true. Yes, we need to spend time learning from tried and true authors and teachers as Pam said. Yes, Zane Hodges is one of those people. He was a gifted and talented man of God, who in my estimation was way ahead of his contemporaries and the scholars of today. People should and can learn a whole lot from his brilliant teachings and insights. His convictions and masterful biblical scholarship was threatening to many that is why he was grossly maligned and persecuted then and even so now (my personal estimation). Besides being a gifted Bible scholar, he was also widely read man, who read works not by those he agreed but also those he disagreed with. You can see that in his footnotes and end notes. You can still learn from reading other peoples works. Learning is not simply limited to agreeing.
Alvin
I agree Leo, were just coming at it from two different sides. I also witness to anyone I can. When I give them a pen, and a tract I don’t know anything about them. I just see them as ones God has put in my path. The Mormons, and Jehovah Witnesses I’ve spoken with many times, are right out there again the next day. I’ve never had any of the cults believe what I was saying. I did have a co-worker who got saved who was married to a Jehovah Witness, so maybe she got saved down the road?
Concerning TV screens. What I meant by that is, Zane read his Bible (Greek And English) just about every day of his life. So,he had a lot to draw from, that is the Holy Spirit had a lot to work with molding him. You as well as I know as you spend years in the word, the picture starts getting clearer, and clearer, and bigger. God has more to work with, that is some one who has been doing the time in the word with an open heart. Someone like Zane was putting all the pieces together. For us not to take advantage of that is foolish. To spend our time reading from confused people is stupid, in my opinion.
God Bless you Brother
Leo Z
Alvin, We agree to disagree on some things. I don’t agree with your take on a person having a wide range of reading which includes confused people’s work. I see that practice as part of the learning process.
However, I wouldn’t go as far as to call your take as a stupid position just because I don’t agree with it. It’s a personal preference and I respect it. In my view, it’s a peripheral issue. Having said that, I would add that reading confused people’s work only becomes stupid (I prefer to use the term “folly” or “foolishness”), if the reader starts to fall for and believe what the “confused” person says. That is why being on guard with keen discernment is needed, lest you be taken in, when navigating waters of “the confused and the false”.
Blessings to you as well, brother.
Alvin
Your point is well taken, probably stupid was a bad choice of words. Maybe not for me though. At my age I can only do so much reading before my eyes are tired. So, I’m very particular on what I read. I know Zane used ones like Brown who was confused. But, I think he used him mostly for his work in the language. Also I never agreed with using Jody Dillow, his book “The Reign Of the Servant King” had false teaching in it. In fact the discussion I had with Born Again, he could have gotten his false teaching from that book. From faith being a gift page 248,249,280.
Also from what I can tell from the book Dillow believed in a limited atonement. He didn’t believe John 1:29 (Page 269,540,543). He only believed that sins were taken away if you believed.
Quote: He pointed men not to personal revelations by the Spirit to know they had faith but to Christ’s death. This was God’s pledge that we are chosen. To use the language of Westminster, the promise of salvation was “made” to our persuasion that Christ died for us.
Leo, the question is, is it worth using someone’s work when there is false teaching in it~? And the false teaching is not about the color of the carpet, but on the MAIN THING. I say no, because were helping them get their false teaching out there, and many times to babes.
Leo Z
Alvin, it’s a two-edged sword. Yes, it’s a waste of precious time to go arbitrarily and without good reason read just any and all works of the confused. One has to be discriminant in what to study on what comes out in the confused camp. The goal is to be ready to effectively counteract effectively what the other side says and teach. Some of these confused teachers are high profile media personalities, popular, charismatic, influential, pastor large churches and followed by many (blindly, I should say). They write and sell books like there was no tomorrow and people buy it. Their errors are out there proliferated in huge numbers. I want to read “the specifics” in those books so I can be equipped to deal with it when it comes my way.
Here’s a real life example. A man I’m discussing FG theology with, shared with me that the first book he was given to read (aside from the Bible) when he first came to faith in Jesus was “The Gospel According To Jesus” by J MacArthur. Since I’ve read it and know the specific errors in that book, I now have a better approach in dealing with this man. Not that I can’t do it without reading that confused book, but knowing the specific contents makes it a lot easier for me to hone in for the defense of truth. That applies across the board, as I had been asked (sometimes accused) why I am promoting a “crossless” gospel. Guess what these people use as their source? materials from avowed FG proponents. Keep on trucking brother!