Why Are We Embracing Accusation?

The following is a letter written by my friend Geoff Ashley. I am so thankful to the Lord to walk with this man everyday, and to know him as a brother in Christ.

An Open Response to Recent Criticism
of The Village Church’s Use of“Embracing Accusation”
On the weekend of September 15th and 16th, 2007, Michael Bleecker, Worship Pastor at The Village Church, introduced the song, “Embracing Accusation,” originally written by Shane Barnard and recorded by Shane and Shane. After giving a brief overview of the Biblical context of the song, Michael asked the congregation to be seated and allow the worship team to sing it over them.

The following week Michael in particular received some intensely negative feedback regarding the song. Not only did the discouragement include questions of the validity of the message, but even questioned Michael’s maturity and theological prowess in choosing such a song.

The lyrics to the song are as follows:

Father of lies, coming to steal kill and destroy
All my hopes of being good enough
I hear him saying, “cursed are the ones who can’t abide”
He’s right, halleluia, he’s right
The devil is preaching the song of the redeemed
That I am cursed and gone astray
I cannot gain salvation
Embracing accusation
Could the father of lies be telling the truth of
God to me tonight?
That if the penalty of sin is death, then death is mine
I hear him saying, “cursed are the ones who can’t abide”
The devil’s singing over me an age old song
That I am cursed and gone astray
Singing the first verse so conveniently over me
He’s forgotten the refrain.
JESUS SAVES!!!

As a friend and co-worker of Michael’s I thought I would offer up the following defense, though I am quite sure it is unnecessary. The following are simply my thoughts as to the validity of singing such an apparently controversial song.

1. The message is Biblically-accurate
2. The method is Biblically-established
3. The minister is Biblically-faithful


1. The message is Biblically-accurate

The song is derived from Galatians 3:10-13 which reads:

For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM." Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"

Satan is indeed the father of lies (John 8:44), who has come to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). No man will ever be good enough and so all such hope is no hope at all (Romans 3:20).

Does Satan literally sing and preach accusation over us? No, but it is a song and that involves poetry and symbolism. We do know that Satan is the accuser (being the Hebrew term for it) and even that he is said to constantly make accusation against the brethren day and night (Revelation 12:10).

The fact is the law brings forth a curse and that all who rely upon this law are therefore under the curse. Since none of us are able to stand up to the law’s demands, we are worthy of the curse and unworthy of life. If that is the accusation leveled against us by Satan, then he is right. We are not worthy of anything but wrath!

Just because he is the father of lies, that doesn’t mean that everything he says is a complete falsehood. Rather, he masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) and perverts and corrupts the truth to suit his malicious purposes (see Genesis 3). He twists and bends the truth just enough.

The song tells a truth. All truth is God’s truth. Truth is good.

2. The method is Biblically-established

Some complaints hinted that a song which focuses so much of the text upon Satan is therefore a song chiefly concerned with Satan. However, the fact that we sing about something doesn’t mean that we are praising the thing about which we are singing. Furthermore, don’t a vast number of Psalms direct a great many words toward speaking of the unrighteous and the enemies of the Psalmist? Would singing that Psalm therefore indicate a perverse praise of such enemies? Hardly! The Scriptures are replete with examples of a similar method of using the enemies of God to contrast the righteous and using examples of sin to establish the faithfulness of Christ’s triumph over it.

One expressed concern involved the fact that Jesus was not explicitly mentioned until the end of the song. However, such concern is unwarranted for a couple of reasons. First, the gospel is founded on the inability of man to fulfill the law. Without the bad news, there is no good news. We must start with a problem before a solution makes sense. Second, the nature of biblical revelation is explicitly progressive. The Bible starts with the goodness of Eden, but it takes some thousands of pages until we again get to perfection. It takes an entire Old Testament before we explicitly meet the Son of God and an entire gospel before we find its heart, the slaughter and resurrection of Christ. The Bible utilizes the literary method of suspense to dramatize the uniqueness and power of salvation. The song should not be faulted for doing a similar work.

3. The minister is Biblically-faithful

Some complaints, as mentioned, questioned the maturity or wisdom of Michael in choosing such a song, concerned that there is no process by which songs are filtered for theological content. As to this concern that Michael acts as a Lone Ranger in choosing songs, with no oversight whatsoever, there should be no apprehension. A number of times, I and other pastors have received phone calls and/or e-mails from Michael as to the theological content of the songs which are sung. I have hardly heard a single new song introduced which has not been adequately thought through by various pastors.

In addition, Michael is a true student of the word. So passionate is he for teaching God’s truth that he leads his team in regular meetings in which he works through the doctrines presented in Grudem’s, Systematic Theology. Not normal fare for a worship pastor, I am sure.

To be perfectly honest, I have yet to meet another worship pastor (not that there are none out there) with an equaled passion for doctrinal purity and for using the media of song to teach the beautiful truths of Christ to the church. I am ever thankful that I can rest easy in trusting that Michael will not lead the hearts or minds of the flock away from the Shepherd.

Conclusion:

I certainly understand that some people did not enjoy the song, but my hope is that we will all recognize that dislike alone should not open the door for criticism. Hopefully all who have concerns will recognize that the issue is not one of wisdom, but personal preference. True, the song is not inerrant (not much is), but it did not violate Scripture. Furthermore, the congregation wasn’t even led to participate in singing the song. Rather, truth, in a creative manner, was sung over the audience. We were told to listen and absorb. We must keep in mind that not all share our preferences and desires.

Lastly, I thought I would mention the fact that a number of congregants were deeply touched by the message. Tuesday morning I received an e-mail from a friend speaking of the depth of worship he experienced in having woken up the night before with the words of the song in his mind. As he pondered the words over and over, he realized not only the validity of the message, but also his own frailty in having bitten the bait so often. Just this very evening I came home to find one of my roommates listening to the song. When I asked him his thoughts on it, he shared that he had been meditating on the message for the past couple of days. Over and over he listened to the song while praying that he might remember the refrain. The gospel demands that we not only remember that Jesus saves, but that we remember from what it is that we are saved (notice all the commands to remember throughout Scripture).

The truth is that we all have our own feelings and preferences. Some people were ambivalent toward the song, some people were frustrated, but others were broken, encouraged, edified and taught by it. It is painfully clear that no person, no church, no church service and no song can please everyone. We are all different and God has wired and gifted us in different ways. These distinctions should be embraced.

Let us not fall victim to judging people or things by a yoke which is not justified. The fact is that Michael chose a song which violated neither Scriptural truths nor principles. Let us remember the lies and, ultimately, the truth which sets us free – Jesus saves!

Amen.

-Geoff Ashley

A Long Remembrance, A Thankful Heart, And A Blessed Hope

This is a long remembrance, the cry of a thankful heart, and the shout of a blessed hope:

The door shut behind me. This apartment was nice. I looked out over the balcony. Before me a mountain range sloped across the sky, and aspen trees rustled in the wind's embrace. This was Colorado. I had always wanted to move, to just go away, and be by myself. This was my opportunity. This was my time to be a man, and not need anyone, to be strong. In the end, I would show everyone that I was tough, and that I could make it on my own.

There was nothing in the apartment but my bag, backpack, and computer. Mom was shipping my boxes to me. I stepped outside on the balcony, and sat down on the chair I brought with me. I lit up one of the black and mild cigars that I hoped would bring comfort, but there wasn't much there for me. I put on my headphones and dived into the soundtrack from LEGENDS OF THE FALL, and for a moment, I was caught up in being the wild one who won't ever let life hurt him again, who won't ever, ever make that mistake again. There was no resolve.

I went inside, sliding the balcony door behind me. I opened up my laptop, and put in, THE LAST SAMURAI. A movie. A movie will always soothe me. I will take my comfort in this. Surely, surely, this. Nothing.

I sat back on the bare floor, in the empty apartment, with my broken, lonely soul. And I cried. I just sat there and cried. There was nothing else to do.

That night would come again a year and a half later in a different place, but the new night brought a change. I started pleading with God.

I started saying, "If you really exist, if you really care, will you help me? Or, will you make it to where I never wake up again? Please do one of these. Please. I can't go on. I give up. I've done every possible thing I know to do in life, and I quit. I don't have any more strength to fight. I am dead. Take me or help me. Take me or help me. Take me or help me. Please help. I'm so scared."

He did both.

He reached down and grabbed me, and threw me into a place I still don't fully understand. He broke me, scattered me into specks of dust floating in the wind. Then he gathered the dust up, and breathed life into me. He revived me according to His word. (Psalm 119) In faithfulness He afflicted me, and His lovingkindess comforted me. (Psalm 119) He heard my voice according to His lovingkindess. (Psalm 119)

"The right hand of the Lord is exalted;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

I will not die, but live,
And tell of the works of the Lord. (Let it be Lord! Send me out for Your Glory!)
The Lord has disciplined me severely,
But He has not given me over to death."

-Psalm 118:15-18 NASB

"This is my comfort in my affliction,
That Your word has revived me."

-Psalm 119:50

Jesus saves!

By His will, by His power, for His glory, He brought me to the Village, and He opened my eyes to see strength, to see what being a man is--a shape of dust in need of a savior. A soul completely dependent on Jesus.

He opened my eyes to see that I am nothing but a soul that cleaves to the dust. (Psalm 119) My very nature reaches for the dust I was crafted from. I am hopeless without Him. I am dead in my trespasses. I should be dead right now.

But He saves! Jesus saves! He revived me according to His word. All those years ago, He took the dust from the ground, formed it, and breathed life into the first man according to the power of His word. Then man tasted death. How will this dust live again?

It will live according to His word!

"Revive me according to Your word."

-Psalm 119:25

Breathe on us Lord. Do not leave us to death and despair. Do not let us return to the dust we came from. Revive us according to Your word! Amen.

I am thankful. From such places of loneliness and despair the Lord has saved me. He has taught me other things about being a man. A man needs help from friends. A man is not strong by himself, he is dead. A man needs help.

I don't understand the friends I have. I don't understand the community I live in. How could I, for who can fully know the ways of the Lord? Because it is the Lord that has crafted the community I live in. IT IS NOT MAN! It wouldn't make any sense if it was man. Only our merciful Lord could establish something like this.

A letter of encouragement. Dinners with great food, and deep conversation. Dedicated nights of affirmation and challenge. Rebuking. Prayer. Comfort. Sympathy. Empathy. Laughter. Movies. Trips. Study. Music. Swimming. Fun. A shoulder, and a hand. A hug, and a kiss. Help.

The Lord is mighty. The Lord is to be praised.

I am thankful. Most people live their whole lives without a whole week of this community, much less years. We have been given a miracle in our midst.

Why? For His glory, for our joy, and for others. This must go out. It cannot, cannot, cannot end on us. We must not turn a deaf ear, or a blind eye to those that are hurting around us. We cannot be closed, but open, seeking out those who were like us--hurt, confused, lost, and in despair. May He bring them to Himself, and may He use us to be His hands and feet in this broken world. May He open our eyes to see the lost.

I am thankful. He has shown me what friendship can look like. He has shown me a concern that is not built on selfish gain, but on the outpouring of a love for Jesus. A care that is not worried about what it will receive, but what it can give. A deep, earnest desire to serve, rather than to be served. A life of sacrifice, not selfishness. May it be!

I am thankful. God's word is so heart-wrenching. But it is full of hope. It is real, and it is hard, and His ways are not our ways. There is a passage in Job that grabbed me today, and ultimately became the whole motivation for writing this passage.

It is a story of pain, grief, and loss, but it's a story of friends too. Of how God will use broken, dust-filled men to comfort His children in community.

****Before I share the story, I think it is crucial to say that the friends in this story are rebuked by God, and that they cause harm in the end, which shows that friends can never be our ultimate hope. But I believe this short story illustrates a moment that God used broken, dust-filled men to comfort His child. And it's the way He used them to comfort in this moment that so intrigues me.****

This story is from the book of Job. Job has lost his possessions. He has lost his sons and daughters. He has boils from his feet to his head. He is scraping himself while sitting in ashes. His wife has asked him to curse God and die.

In this moment, Job's three friends come to see him. They have heard of all his adversity, and they want to sympathize with him and comfort him.

What will they do? In this moment, how will they comfort him? Here is what happened:

"When they lifted up their eyes at a distance and did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept. And each of them tore his robe and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky. Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great."

(italics, my emphasis) Job 2:12-13 NASB

What did they do? In this moment, they did not try to give Job the wisest nugget of wisdom ever given to man. They did not try to fix anything. They did not curse Job, or laugh at him, or find fault with him. In this moment, they did something else:

"Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great."

For seven days and seven nights? Wow. Haha. That is amazing. Could any of us do that? Would any of us do that? I know I always want to give that one word of wisdom that will set things right, or tunnel down into the depths of the problem to find the answer. This is finally what Job's friends attempt to do too, but before their folly, they do something amazing. They just sit there with him. There are no words. There is nothing to say. They are just there with him, "because they saw that his pain was very great."

I think in this moment, we see one of the many ways community can work in God's hands. Sometimes, we just need to be there for each other. There is nothing we can do, and nothing we can fix. All we can do is be there. And by God's grace, I have friends that will just be there, because there is nothing else they can do. I want others to have this too. I have hope that they will.

I have a long remembrance of what it's like without this community. And I have a thankful heart for the community He has given now. More than anything I have a blessed hope, because my hope is ultimately not in community itself, nor in what God has done in my life, nor in what He is doing and will do in others lives, nor in my church, nor in my future. It is in Him. It is in the maker and sustainer of the universe, the Holy One of Israel.

In the end, I have A Blessed Hope,

"For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers."

-1 Timothy 4:10

Three Short Stories

Reservation Road
Self-Medicated
Trade

I just finished watching these three short stories. I have no idea if the movies will be any good, but I know these trailers are. There is so much that scratches underneath our surfaces, and crawls in the darkness of our lives. May we not be blind and deaf to the suffering around us.

Rambling

Things I want to write about:

God is good. I want to write with passion. I want to live with passion. I hate the times when I internally try to rein myself in, instead of just being excited. I don't want to be that way. God made me the way he made me for a reason.

Oh! How I love hope! God has been teaching me a great deal about hope lately.

1 John 3:2

ἀγαπητοί νῦν τέκνα θεοῦ ἐσμεν καὶ οὔπω ἐφανερώθη τί ἐσόμεθα οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἐὰν φανερωθῇ ὅμοιοι αὐτῷ ἐσόμεθα ὅτι ὀψόμεθα αὐτὸν καθώς ἐστιν

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. (NASB)

1 John 3:3


καὶ πᾶς ὁ ἔχων τὴν ἐλπίδα ταύτην ἐπ' αὐτῷ ἁγνίζει ἑαυτὸν καθὼς ἐκεῖνος ἁγνός ἐστιν

And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (NASB)

These verses are amazing to me.

"Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be."

I mean, listen to that! My goodness. We have not appeared as what we will be. Oh, thank you Father! This means that when we fear things or people we shouldn't fear, when we have anxiety we shouldn't have, when we doubt when we shouldn't doubt, we have not appeared as what we will be.

"We know that when He appears, we will be like Him..."

What? Are you kidding me? We will be like Him. This is just incredible. All things fade on earth until death finds them, but He is eternal! We will not die, but live! Amen.

"...because we will see Him just as He is."

Oh, for that day Lord. Oh, for that day.

And this shatters my thoughts:

"And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."

Haha...wow. This is hope--that we have our hope fixed on Him! In the end, all of the growth we experience, all of the joys we know, all of the friends we have, marriage, children, love, death, it is all trumped in the light of this hope. These are all wonderful gifts He gives us, but in the end, our hope cannot end on these things. His mercy to us is that our hope is fixed on Him. Oh Father, thank you. Please, we beseech you that our hope will be fixed on you, and nothing else. Amen.

So, lately I've been thinking, I don't want to be content with my growth in the Lord. I want to know Him more, to love Him more, to desire Him more, to be consumed by Him. In the end, I want my life to be like Paul's, or Spurgeon's, or Luther's.

But after teaching me about hope one night in 1 John, he taught me again in 1 Timothy 4:10.

1 Timothy 4:10

εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ κοπιῶμεν καὶ ἀγωνιζόμεθα ὅτι ἠλπίκαμεν ἐπὶ θεῷ ζῶντι ὅς ἐστιν σωτὴρ πάντων ἀνθρώπων μάλιστα πιστῶν

For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. (NASB)

Why do I labor and strive to know the Lord? Why do I want to imitate my heroes of the faith?

"...because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers."

What peace and freedom this truth brings. What mercy he has shown us. Our hope is fixed on the precious name of our Lord Jesus, and nothing else.

I love you Lord. Thank you for letting me write. Thank you for letting me breathe. Thank you for letting me rest in You. Amen.

PS-
Dear Most Excellent Roommate Dude,

This Greek's for you.