The most recent best seller among professing Christians in North America is The Shack by William Paul Young (Newbury Park, CA: Windblown Media, 2007) 248 pp. “The book is a novel set in the Northwest, for the most part in the northeast corner of the State of Oregon. It is a novel designed to propound a particular view of the nature of God and the resolution of the problem of human suffering. Its subtitle betrays its scope: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity” [http://theshackreview.com/content/ReviewofTheShack.pdf (James De Young, Review, 2)]
By way of summary: The format is a retelling of the experience of Mackenzie Allen Phillips by his friend Willie. Mackenzie has a troubled past & finds himself in training for ministry yet unable to pursue it. Then he experiences the brutal murder of his youngest daughter and he becomes bitter toward God. Three and a half years later, he is led by God back to the murder scene—a desolate cabin in the mountains and forests of Northeast Oregon—where he encounters the Triune God and finds how to have joy again in his life. It is tied to the reason for his existence and his relationship with God. The murder of his daughter is also solved (De Young, Review, 2).
A note about this review. I seek access to numerous book reviews through journals, magazines and on-line sources. I do this so I can keep abreast of what is being published and being read. I think this is important as a “shepherd of the souls of God's sheep.” Access to such reviews allows me also to use my limited financial resources to buy books that I will find to be most profitable for me. I only have limited time to read also so book reviews allow me to become conversant with the content of a book and the critiques of it [while dutifully recognizing the theological perspective of the reviewer(s)]. Thus, I've chosen not to purchase or read The Shack but I've read around a dozen reviews of the book from a variety of theological perspectives. Rather than cull from the various reviews points of concern, I want to make you aware of a specific review of The Shack that I think is probably one of the most important to read and I'll explain why as I share a few comments from James B De Young's review.
I've noted above James B. De Young's “At The Back Of The Shack A Torrent Of Universalism: A Review” (Revised ed., May, 2008) and one needs to know that De Young is a close friend of William Young, who goes by “Paul.” De Young (p. 5) notes their families and kids have been friends for about a dozen years and De Young and Paul have been “theological buddies” enjoying multiple discussions of theological issues over the years & together co-founded a Christian forum where they and several others have explored many theological issues including universal reconciliation. They've had many conversations about things that are reflected in his novel—the meaning of reality, the Trinity, love, the fall, humanity, the future, etc. About four years ago Paul embraced universal reconciliation, and strongly defended his decision. It is on this matter that they part company.
De Young (p, 2), rightly notes “Because the fiction is deeply moving the reader is caught up in the emotions of the story. And therein lies the problem. It is too easy to feel deeply with the sufferings and triumphs of the characters and miss the theological point of what is being said.” De Young writes (p. 8), “It is often said that to understand a book better one needs to know its author. We even say this about the Bible. Well, I am acquainted with Paul and his doctrinal beliefs. Thus I feel qualified and compelled to address the contents of the novel. I am concerned that many may read this story without discerning that what Paul writes undermines evangelical theology, the gospel, and the institutional church founded by Jesus himself and his Apostles.”
De Young (p. 7) adds helpful insight by revealing that “Paul admits that his novel is partially autobiographical. Paul has shunned the institutional church, holding church instead in a private home with his family and some friends. He has regularly opposed other institutions associated with the church, such as seminaries and Bible schools, and has opposed the institution of the government. In The Shack he identifies all institutions as demonic systems and power-control entities that hinder relationship with God (see the discussion below). If these words show that Paul is being true to himself in his practices will not his other words reflect his being true to himself in his beliefs? It is not surprising that all of these thoughts and beliefs are represented in The Shack. It is particularly bold for Paul to have them come from the mouth of God himself (often in neglect of other, contrasting words from God as recorded in the text of Scripture).
De Young (p. 3) warns of the various theological errors propounded in the novel, saying, “The greatest doctrinal distortion in the book is Paul’s assumption of universal reconciliation. There are other points of theology that are distorted or improbable or debatable. These include mutual submission in the Godhead; no subordination within the Godhead or among people; the Father’s co-crucifixion with Christ (modalistic); people completing a circle of relationship with the three persons of the Godhead; institutions being identified as diabolical; etc. Yet the most serious error is Paul’s embrace of universal reconciliation which lies embedded in the book.”
“Recently Paul has deflected charges that he is a universalist. I presume that he means that he is not an adherent of general universalism. This is that system of belief that affirms that there are many roads to God and Jesus is only one of these. This is not Paul’s belief” (De Young, Review, 6). William Young [“Paul”] does embrace and teaches universal reconciliation in The Shack. “Universal reconciliation is not a minor doctrine. It goes to the heart of evangelical faith—who God is; what he accomplished at the cross; what sin is; how and when people are saved; what the nature of the judgment after death is; etc” (De Young, Review, 8). De Young says, “Christian universalism (also known as universal reconciliation) argues that love is the supreme attribute of God that trumps all others. Those who refuse him now will be given another chance to repent after they die. Thus unbelieving humanity, and fallen angels and the Devil himself, will one day in hell repent and be delivered from it and be admitted into heaven. There cannot be any left in the universe whom the love of God does not conquer; hence the words, universalism reconciliation” [ http://theshackreview.com/content/ TheShackShorterReview.pdf (De Young, June 2008, 8)]. De Young carefully exposes this subtle teaching in The Shack & how it distorts a biblical understanding of God and his attributes and the gospel!
De Young interacts with arguments as to why someone might still read the book despite its subversive theology [read the full review on-line]. De Young (p. 39) concludes, “He [Paul] is subversive to the truth about a lot of things, including the nature of God and the eternal end of people, particularly the lost. He is subversive to the institutions of the church, the state, the home. The book hinders rather than helps genuine spiritual growth and understanding. Paul acts like an insurgent does within a culture. The effect is chaos and anarchy.” So, this is why I have no desire to spend any time in the vicinity of The Shack and why I recommend you also steer clear of it as well!
Randy
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Persecution and Following Jesus
Several things recently have turned my focus to the persecution of God's people. Sunday, November 9th is designated as the “International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church” and so it is good for us to think about this reality and to pray for brothers and sisters in Christ who are daily undergoing persecution because of their faithfulness to Jesus. The news reports that I read, mention on a daily basis persecution taking place in various parts of the world such as India, Pakistan, Iraq etc. What can be overlooked in our North American context is the cost of following Jesus. This is especially true where North American churches are preaching a gospel of “easy-believism” or “non-Lordship” salvation that minimizes the commitment one makes to Jesus as a “professed” Christian. I've recently been reading John MacArthur's twenty-fifth anniversary edition of The Gospel According To Jesus What Is Authentic Faith? (Zondervan, 2008) which rightfully challenges and exposes the biblical distortion of the gospel in the non-Lordship gospel. One might have hoped this message would've disappeared off the scene but alas they seem to be still flourishing with their own theological society and journal.
Recently, I finished reading John Piper's, Spectacular Sins And Their Global Purpose In The Glory of Christ (Crossway, 2008) and appreciated Piper's clarion call and possibly prophetic call to prepare the saints in our North American churches for potential hard times of trial and possible persecution. Piper focuses on the role of “spectacular sins” in God's sovereign and global purposes and rightly points us to Jesus and our victory in him over the evil that abounds in this world. In an age of seeker-sensitive and emergent church approaches that water-down God's truth and ignore the confrontational truths of sin, hell, God's wrath and judgment this is a timely call to awake and be prepared because “the times are a changing” and Christians in North America may soon find, like others throughout the world, that there is a real cost to following Jesus.
The election of Barack Obama as President of the United States has been viewed by most as signaling a time of change is coming. Some are delighted but others are very concerned, especially among some Christians that I've read and spoken with recently. There is a concern that many things that Christians value and strive for will be lost or undermined and abortion become even more firmly entrenched then previously, euthanasia gain greater momentum, and Christians will be “silenced” legally in voicing any public opposition to homosexuality. Certainly if these and other freedoms and rights are curtailed or rescinded it will present a much different climate for one to be a “professing” Christian and not simply a “closet” Christian. Yet, what these Christians I've spoken with and read do understand is the biblical truth that God is sovereign and sets up and brings down leaders according to His plans and purposes. So, thankfully, we can rest with confidence that God is in control! They also realize though that it may be part of God's purposes to bring about a political and national context where Christians will begin to be discriminated against, legally arrested and persecuted for a commitment to Jesus. This will present a real challenge for the church in North America. It may also mean the next Barna poll instead of listing 60% of all Americans as “professing” Christians will show possibly only a 20% profession or less when it begins to actually “cost” to follow Jesus!
God has his purposes in allowing His saints to be hounded, persecuted and killed by evil people and regimes in this world. It certainly “raises the stakes” in terms of professing to be a Christian and identifying with them! It also purifies the church as the uncommitted with “one foot in the world and another in a pew” leave and as the true saints are weaned from this world and prepared for eternity. The discipline and judgment of God are intended for the good of God's people and the advancement of God's kingdom (Heb 12:7-13). God's purging of the sin of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 isn't your typical “church-growth” strategy but the church grew greatly as a result (Acts 5:12-13) and persecution caused the gospel to be taken to other places (Acts 8:1) so others were saved (Acts 8:4ff). There are of course other purposes that could be listed but ultimately God intends to glorify Jesus in it all.
I highly recommend the monthly devotional magazine, Tabletalk which is published by Ligonier Ministries and available from Sola Scriptura International in Canada. In the November 2008 issue there are three outstanding articles on missions providing an overview and description of the church situations in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The article by Peter Hammond on the situation in Africa provides insight into the conflict between Animism, communism, Islam and Christianity. God has used persecution in Nigeria, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Rwanda etc to add to his church many souls as pastors with arms or feet cut off fearlessly carrying the “good news” to lost sinners. Hammond writes that reports indicate that as many as five million Muslims may have turned to Jesus in Sudan in the past twenty years and in Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco etc the number of Muslim converts continues to grow. Hammonds notes that on al-Jazeera TV in Saudi Arabia a leading Sheikh complained that “sixteen thousand Muslims convert to Christianity” every day! The Sheikh claimed Islam is losing six million Muslims a year to conversions to Christianity. Even if these numbers are exaggerated to stir up opposition to Christians and the gospel, it is clear that in the very face of Satanic hostility and persecution by sinful men God is greatly adding to Jesus' kingdom and exalting Jesus' name among the nations!
So, who knows in the wise purposes of God what exactly He has in store for the church in North America, but it may include persecution. If we are truly followers of Christ we should be ready to give even our lives, if required, to proclaim the glories of Christ, having set our affections on things above and knowing our citizenship is in heaven where Jesus is and awaits us (Col 3:1-2).
Randy
Recently, I finished reading John Piper's, Spectacular Sins And Their Global Purpose In The Glory of Christ (Crossway, 2008) and appreciated Piper's clarion call and possibly prophetic call to prepare the saints in our North American churches for potential hard times of trial and possible persecution. Piper focuses on the role of “spectacular sins” in God's sovereign and global purposes and rightly points us to Jesus and our victory in him over the evil that abounds in this world. In an age of seeker-sensitive and emergent church approaches that water-down God's truth and ignore the confrontational truths of sin, hell, God's wrath and judgment this is a timely call to awake and be prepared because “the times are a changing” and Christians in North America may soon find, like others throughout the world, that there is a real cost to following Jesus.
The election of Barack Obama as President of the United States has been viewed by most as signaling a time of change is coming. Some are delighted but others are very concerned, especially among some Christians that I've read and spoken with recently. There is a concern that many things that Christians value and strive for will be lost or undermined and abortion become even more firmly entrenched then previously, euthanasia gain greater momentum, and Christians will be “silenced” legally in voicing any public opposition to homosexuality. Certainly if these and other freedoms and rights are curtailed or rescinded it will present a much different climate for one to be a “professing” Christian and not simply a “closet” Christian. Yet, what these Christians I've spoken with and read do understand is the biblical truth that God is sovereign and sets up and brings down leaders according to His plans and purposes. So, thankfully, we can rest with confidence that God is in control! They also realize though that it may be part of God's purposes to bring about a political and national context where Christians will begin to be discriminated against, legally arrested and persecuted for a commitment to Jesus. This will present a real challenge for the church in North America. It may also mean the next Barna poll instead of listing 60% of all Americans as “professing” Christians will show possibly only a 20% profession or less when it begins to actually “cost” to follow Jesus!
God has his purposes in allowing His saints to be hounded, persecuted and killed by evil people and regimes in this world. It certainly “raises the stakes” in terms of professing to be a Christian and identifying with them! It also purifies the church as the uncommitted with “one foot in the world and another in a pew” leave and as the true saints are weaned from this world and prepared for eternity. The discipline and judgment of God are intended for the good of God's people and the advancement of God's kingdom (Heb 12:7-13). God's purging of the sin of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 isn't your typical “church-growth” strategy but the church grew greatly as a result (Acts 5:12-13) and persecution caused the gospel to be taken to other places (Acts 8:1) so others were saved (Acts 8:4ff). There are of course other purposes that could be listed but ultimately God intends to glorify Jesus in it all.
I highly recommend the monthly devotional magazine, Tabletalk which is published by Ligonier Ministries and available from Sola Scriptura International in Canada. In the November 2008 issue there are three outstanding articles on missions providing an overview and description of the church situations in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The article by Peter Hammond on the situation in Africa provides insight into the conflict between Animism, communism, Islam and Christianity. God has used persecution in Nigeria, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Rwanda etc to add to his church many souls as pastors with arms or feet cut off fearlessly carrying the “good news” to lost sinners. Hammond writes that reports indicate that as many as five million Muslims may have turned to Jesus in Sudan in the past twenty years and in Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco etc the number of Muslim converts continues to grow. Hammonds notes that on al-Jazeera TV in Saudi Arabia a leading Sheikh complained that “sixteen thousand Muslims convert to Christianity” every day! The Sheikh claimed Islam is losing six million Muslims a year to conversions to Christianity. Even if these numbers are exaggerated to stir up opposition to Christians and the gospel, it is clear that in the very face of Satanic hostility and persecution by sinful men God is greatly adding to Jesus' kingdom and exalting Jesus' name among the nations!
So, who knows in the wise purposes of God what exactly He has in store for the church in North America, but it may include persecution. If we are truly followers of Christ we should be ready to give even our lives, if required, to proclaim the glories of Christ, having set our affections on things above and knowing our citizenship is in heaven where Jesus is and awaits us (Col 3:1-2).
Randy
Monday, November 10, 2008
Chosen By Grace
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” (Eph 1:4 NIV). A title or name can say a great deal about a person or what someone is committed to or believes. The name for this blog was specifically selected because it reflects biblical truths that we affirm and exult in, namely the sovereign electing grace of the Triune God towards undeserving sinners such as ourselves. Election is a biblical idea as is clear from Ephesians 1:4 and many other passages that speak of God choosing or electing a people. Election is also a great comfort to many saints and yet raises great consternation to many other saints! The debates on election can be simplified to this simple issue, what is God's choosing or election based upon? Some argue God's choosing is based upon God's foresight in history/time of those who would choose Jesus as their Savior. Yet, texts like Acts 13:48 which indicates faith flows from or follows God's decree of election or Romans 9:11-12 that teach that election isn't based on any human work or response should settle the issue. Ephesians 1:5 clearly states that election is based upon God's purpose and divine will/pleasure, as we read, “In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will...”. This is why we believe and rejoice in God's sovereign election of sinners to salvation! A helpful read on this issue of election is Robert A Peterson, Election and Free Will (Presbyterian & Reformed, 2007)
It is not my purpose to enter into a lengthy defense of the biblical teaching on God's sovereignty in election but rather to simply “lay our cards on the table” and make it clear that those of us associated with this blog are committed to the “doctrines of grace” which have also historically been described as the five points of Calvinism or summed up with the acronym “TULIP”. We are associated with the Christian & Missionary Alliance denomination and we understand that isn't where one would typically go if you were searching for strong supporters of the “doctrines of grace” but such is the case for at least the leadership of this one Alliance church. Our commitment is to the doctrines of grace and I don't use the term “Calvinism” because it is anachronistic since these biblical truths of God's saving grace were revealed by Jesus long before John Calvin was born and secondly, we don't embrace all that John Calvin taught. It is my understanding, the Alliance has simply not made issues such as the doctrines of grace [Calvinism or Arminianism] a point of contention but has focused on missions and living a holy life, which all Christians can agree are good areas to focus upon!
So, why even mention this commitment? Simply because it speaks volumes about our biblical understanding of God, man and the way in which God saves fallen, sinful mankind. Those are essential issues that comprise the heart of the gospel and the doctrines of grace are about the gospel! The bible teaches that mankind sinned against God in Adam and consequently all humans are born as sinners in rebellion against God (Rom 5:12-14; Ps 51:5; Ps 58:3). Sinful mankind doesn't understand God's ways or seek God for deliverance from the bondage of sin but lives under God's wrath alienated from God due to sin (Rom 3:10-12; Eph 2:1-3). If no one seeks God as the bible teaches, than how can a sinner be saved? Mankind doesn't even seek such salvation but thankfully God has chosen to exhibit his great love to sinners by providing all that is necessary for their forgiveness and reconciliation to himself through the Divine Son coming in the Incarnation [Jesus] to achieve a free [to sinners] but costly [to God] salvation for sinners!
Ephesians 1:4 means that in eternity, God having determined to create, seeing the rebellion of Adam and fall of the human race into sin, determined out of that fallen humanity to save a multitude [the exact number known only to God] from every race, nationality and people group to be to the praise of His inexplicable grace. Since all mankind was rightly deserving of God's just punishment of eternal death due to its sin in Adam and its corrupt sinful nature, God was under no moral obligation to show mercy to any sinners, not even one (!), but lovingly chose to show mercy to a multitude of rebellious sinners. God's choice wasn't based upon the talents, abilities or efforts of the sinners chosen or anything connected to them, but God's choice was simply and solely in accordance with his sovereign and free choice to “show mercy to whom he would show mercy” (Rom 9:10-16).
This great plan is worked out in time and space in Jesus' righteous life and death for God's sheep so that these chosen ones receive the benefits of Jesus' righteousness and substitutionary death for them and they become by faith in Jesus a people forgiven and adopted as children into God's family. God's Spirit moves like the wind wherever God sends it to stir dead sinners to spiritual life so that they are “born again or born from above” (John 3:6-8). They are by God's Spirit powerfully and effectively through the gospel drawn to Jesus and have a desire for God's forgiveness as they see for the first time the inexplicable loveliness of Jesus as the one who is their Savior and Lord (Jn 6:37, 44, 65).
This has been my experience. Early in September of 1972 while riding home on the school bus I “providentially” overheard my neighbor telling a friend about her brother's conversion at university. I'd attended Sunday school but I hadn't been to church in several years since starting high school. I wasn't wrestling with any conviction about sin or seeking to re-establish some type of relationship with the church or God. I wasn't “seeking God” but for some reason I wanted to talk with this fellow, who was slightly older than myself and a neighbor. I convinced my mother to let me skip school the next day and she consented since many students were going to see a Shakespearean play in Stratford, Ontario but I hadn't signed up to attend. There are no coincidences in life only the perfect providential leading of a sovereign God! Little did I realize that the conversation the next day would be the beginning of three weeks of a growing and intense concern for my eternal salvation as I gave myself over to prayer and bible reading realizing for the first time that I wasn't a Christian and I didn't know the peace and forgiveness of God through Jesus. That peace and assurance came late in September as I read through the Gospel of John & realized God loved me so much that Jesus had died to pay the penalty for my sins against God.
My experience illustrates the wonderful truth that sinners are chosen by grace to salvation in Christ in eternity (Eph 1:4-6). God's sovereign electing grace to me in eternity was manifest in time while I was still a sinner uncaring and unconcerned about my soul. God arranged the circumstances providentially to begin drawing me to himself in repentance and faith. All who are “chosen by grace” can't help but be a thankful, humbled people, who desire to live their lives in expressions of eternal gratitude as Paul says, “to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (Eph 1:6).
Randy
It is not my purpose to enter into a lengthy defense of the biblical teaching on God's sovereignty in election but rather to simply “lay our cards on the table” and make it clear that those of us associated with this blog are committed to the “doctrines of grace” which have also historically been described as the five points of Calvinism or summed up with the acronym “TULIP”. We are associated with the Christian & Missionary Alliance denomination and we understand that isn't where one would typically go if you were searching for strong supporters of the “doctrines of grace” but such is the case for at least the leadership of this one Alliance church. Our commitment is to the doctrines of grace and I don't use the term “Calvinism” because it is anachronistic since these biblical truths of God's saving grace were revealed by Jesus long before John Calvin was born and secondly, we don't embrace all that John Calvin taught. It is my understanding, the Alliance has simply not made issues such as the doctrines of grace [Calvinism or Arminianism] a point of contention but has focused on missions and living a holy life, which all Christians can agree are good areas to focus upon!
So, why even mention this commitment? Simply because it speaks volumes about our biblical understanding of God, man and the way in which God saves fallen, sinful mankind. Those are essential issues that comprise the heart of the gospel and the doctrines of grace are about the gospel! The bible teaches that mankind sinned against God in Adam and consequently all humans are born as sinners in rebellion against God (Rom 5:12-14; Ps 51:5; Ps 58:3). Sinful mankind doesn't understand God's ways or seek God for deliverance from the bondage of sin but lives under God's wrath alienated from God due to sin (Rom 3:10-12; Eph 2:1-3). If no one seeks God as the bible teaches, than how can a sinner be saved? Mankind doesn't even seek such salvation but thankfully God has chosen to exhibit his great love to sinners by providing all that is necessary for their forgiveness and reconciliation to himself through the Divine Son coming in the Incarnation [Jesus] to achieve a free [to sinners] but costly [to God] salvation for sinners!
Ephesians 1:4 means that in eternity, God having determined to create, seeing the rebellion of Adam and fall of the human race into sin, determined out of that fallen humanity to save a multitude [the exact number known only to God] from every race, nationality and people group to be to the praise of His inexplicable grace. Since all mankind was rightly deserving of God's just punishment of eternal death due to its sin in Adam and its corrupt sinful nature, God was under no moral obligation to show mercy to any sinners, not even one (!), but lovingly chose to show mercy to a multitude of rebellious sinners. God's choice wasn't based upon the talents, abilities or efforts of the sinners chosen or anything connected to them, but God's choice was simply and solely in accordance with his sovereign and free choice to “show mercy to whom he would show mercy” (Rom 9:10-16).
This great plan is worked out in time and space in Jesus' righteous life and death for God's sheep so that these chosen ones receive the benefits of Jesus' righteousness and substitutionary death for them and they become by faith in Jesus a people forgiven and adopted as children into God's family. God's Spirit moves like the wind wherever God sends it to stir dead sinners to spiritual life so that they are “born again or born from above” (John 3:6-8). They are by God's Spirit powerfully and effectively through the gospel drawn to Jesus and have a desire for God's forgiveness as they see for the first time the inexplicable loveliness of Jesus as the one who is their Savior and Lord (Jn 6:37, 44, 65).
This has been my experience. Early in September of 1972 while riding home on the school bus I “providentially” overheard my neighbor telling a friend about her brother's conversion at university. I'd attended Sunday school but I hadn't been to church in several years since starting high school. I wasn't wrestling with any conviction about sin or seeking to re-establish some type of relationship with the church or God. I wasn't “seeking God” but for some reason I wanted to talk with this fellow, who was slightly older than myself and a neighbor. I convinced my mother to let me skip school the next day and she consented since many students were going to see a Shakespearean play in Stratford, Ontario but I hadn't signed up to attend. There are no coincidences in life only the perfect providential leading of a sovereign God! Little did I realize that the conversation the next day would be the beginning of three weeks of a growing and intense concern for my eternal salvation as I gave myself over to prayer and bible reading realizing for the first time that I wasn't a Christian and I didn't know the peace and forgiveness of God through Jesus. That peace and assurance came late in September as I read through the Gospel of John & realized God loved me so much that Jesus had died to pay the penalty for my sins against God.
My experience illustrates the wonderful truth that sinners are chosen by grace to salvation in Christ in eternity (Eph 1:4-6). God's sovereign electing grace to me in eternity was manifest in time while I was still a sinner uncaring and unconcerned about my soul. God arranged the circumstances providentially to begin drawing me to himself in repentance and faith. All who are “chosen by grace” can't help but be a thankful, humbled people, who desire to live their lives in expressions of eternal gratitude as Paul says, “to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (Eph 1:6).
Randy
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