Can demons appear in human form like angels?

This is an interesting question but it may not have a definite answer.

You might recall that when Jesus cast a legion of demons out of the Gadarene man, they pleaded to enter pigs (Mk 5). Some have taken this to imply that demons are unable to assume corporeal forms of their own and are therefore restless to inhabit the bodies of other creatures. Certain scholars have even argued that God's curse on the fallen angels includes taking away their to manifest bodily, in the way good angels do throughout the Bible. I must admit, however, I don't know of any clear Scripture which confirms that theory. Moreover, if the demons were so anxious to escape their disembodied state, why did they immediately drive the pigs off a cliff? I think the legion might simply have been overcome with an insatiably desire to possess and harm God’s creatures, regardless of their ability to manifest corporeally.

Elsewhere, Paul warns the Galatians not to receive any false "gospel" even if it is presented by an angel. Since no good angel would spread a false gospel, it seems like demons can literally pose as angels of light. But Paul might simply be exaggerating for effect. Something like exclaiming today to the guards as Buckingham Palace, “even if King Arthur comes to you, don’t open these gates!” It doesn’t have to be based on a real possibility to stress the importance of one’s duty.

Compare also 2 Corinthians 11:14, which says "Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." This suggests he can masquerade in other forms. But it's possible Paul means this only in a spiritual way, which says nothing of Satan’s ability to appear in human form.

Whether or not demons have the ability to appear like humans, I think one thing is definite. The Bible presents no clear evidence that demonic impostors are something we should expect or specially beware. If you meet a very bad man, go ahead and think, "that's a bad man," not, "he might be a demon." Personally, if necessary, I’d call the police and not an exorcist to make sure.

Is God actually jealous?

Now and then people ask what the Bible means when it says God is jealous. For instance, Exodus 20 declares, “the LORD your God is a jealous God, visiting iniquity upon the wicked.” Since God is incapable of sin, what do these texts mean? I think the answer will not only help you understand but even appreciate the Bible’s description of our “jealous” God. But first, let’s get something clear about the words we use to describe God.

Analogical Language

God is uncreated and transcendently wonderful. His perfections infinitely exceed the experience and comprehension possible to creatures. For that reason, when the Bible sets out to describe the Lord’s nature and attributes, it cannot do so comprehensively. There are simply no human words to fully convey his glorious being. Instead, it uses what we might call "analogical" language. That is, it speaks truthfully in ways accommodated to our finite comprehension by employing metaphors and analogies based on created things humans can relate to. God’s providence is described as a mighty hand. His omniscience is likened to eyes. Even exact descriptions, such as “the Lord is faithful,” rely upon a human conception of faithfulness that falls short of the infinitude of God’s faithfulness.

Analogies about God necessarily fall short but that doesn't mean they are useless. For instance, if I was trying to explain the taste of coffee to someone who had never tasted it, I might say, "it's a brewed beverage somewhat like tea but stronger and nuttier." Anyone who has tasted both coffee and tea might object that the two are very different, and they are in comparison to one another. But to the one who has only tasted tea, the analogy prevents them from imagining coffee to be anything like milk, beer, or wine. It puts them in the ballpark for conceiving of the thing in question. Even so, human descriptions of God will always fall short of the divine realities which they signify, but they help bring us closer to understanding who he is.

How is God jealous?

Now, back to the word "jealousy." Obviously, God is sinless. Therefore, whatever is communicated by the term. “jealousy” must not signify any fault within the divine being. Sadly, as sinners, our best feelings are tinged with sin and selfishness and jealousy is no exception. Our experience of that feeling is typically intermixed with pettiness, envy, and distrust. But in God's case, "jealousy" represents only the purest motives and feelings connected with the term.

By way of illustration, suppose a wife discovers her husband has been cheating on her. Jealousy in this case is not entirely unwarranted or sinful. Rather, feelings of disappointment, grief, and wrath work together in this instance to manifest the wife’s high regard for marriage itself, as well as for their mutual commitment and her own personal dignity, all of which are slighted by adultery. For the wife to be entirely without jealousy would imply a sinful indifference to the sanctity of marriage and the evil of adultery. Therefore we can say that jealousy in its purest sense is a righteous zeal for the honor and integrity of something or someone.

Even so, God's jealousy is a pure and fervent regard both for divine honor as well as for the sacred bond he shares with believers in Christ, a relationship comparable to marriage (cf. Eph 6:1ff). For God to be without such jealousy would actually be a fault as it would mean he is indifferent to sin and idolatry. But let me add one word of advice. We must be careful not to slip lazily into thinking of God monopersonally, as the world generally does. No, as Christians, we must think of God's attributes, especially jealousy, tripersonally. That is, understanding that each Person of the Trinity is not concerned for himself so much as for the dignity of the other divine Persons. The Father is appropriately jealous for his Son to be accorded due honor. The Son is similarly jealous for his Father to be revered. The Holy Spirit is zealous for the Father and Son to be cherished and obeyed. Thinking tripersonally of God’s jealousy prevents us from collapsing divine motives into selfishness.

I hope this answer helps you to appreciate this often misunderstood aspect of God revealed in the Word. The Lord bless your studies and service!

How Does One Become a Pastor?

I was recently asked, “How does one become a pastor?”

The short answer is, by God's grace!

Basically, there are several steps.

First, there needs to be some knowledge of what the role involves. How can you wish to pastor if you don't know what they do? Also, there has to be a strong desire to perform that role, God willing. It's more than a job. It's a calling. So it can't be about money, but about the desire to minister the good news of Jesus and care for his flock.

Next, the would-be pastor needs to develop his God-given abilities and understanding, so as to prove that he may in fact be called. For instance, he needs to be a diligent student, speak and write clearly, learn to resolve conflicts between people, interpret the Bible accurately, and above all to pray. This process usually takes many years.

From this point, the path into most Reformed pastorates would be to attend college as well as seminary. Seminary is an additional 3-4 years of schooling in the biblical languages, theology, and pastoral skills like counseling. It's a long and difficult road, but very rewarding and completely worthwhile. Without seminary, I would be far less equipped for my role.

Finally, if the person is able to pass special ordination exams, then a local church or presbytery may call him to serve as their pastor.

Let me say, pastoring is both the hardest and most satisfying work I can imagine myself doing. It is also very necessary. But there are few who are able and willing to do it. So if God calls you to pastor, I'll rejoice!

Books on Wisdom & Discipleship

This past Sunday in the sermons, I recommended several books related to wisdom and discipleship. This coming Lord’s Day, look for them on the Featured Books loan table in the foyer or purchase copies below.

Also, several people asked for the verses I quoted. Here are the outlines for the AM sermon on the Wise and the PM sermon on fools.

The Master Plan of Evangelism
by Robert Coleman

Unfortunately, I misspoke and referred to this as The Master Plan of Discipleship, which is another of Coleman’s books (also worth reading). But the Master Plan of Evangelism is the one which I prefer, which lays out in detail Jesus’ “concentric-circles” method of making disciples. It contains many inspiring and practical observations.

The Spiritual Life
by Cornelius Vitringa

A Reformed classic on practical Christian growth and true spirituality. It was recently translated into modern English from the original Latin text by one of my former professors. It’s not too long or difficult but very rich.

Life in Jesus by Octavius Winslow

Octavius Winslow, a close friend and fellow minister with Charles Spurgeon, is best known for his devotional insights on sanctification. In this book he recounts the life, faith, and influence of his mother, Mary Winslow. Good for all but especially moms and dads who need reminding of the importance of their calling.

when it seems like Loving Others Means Harming Ourselves

Recently, I received some thoughtful questions related to the following statement by John Calvin:

…in everything we care best for ourselves, if we become absorbed in love toward others…

Is it not true, however, that our very desire to “be absorbed in love toward others” sometimes results in self-harm? A wife who cares for her impaired husband might neglect her own spiritual, physical, and social well being. It’s not uncommon to hear of social workers investing extraordinary time and care in their work, later succumbing to depression and burnout. In such cases, Calvin’s words seem to fall flat. So what do we make of his claim that “we care best for ourselves, if we become absorbed in love toward others”?

I cannot speak directly for Calvin, but I can try to place his words in what I think is their intended context.

His statement takes several things for granted, starting with what constitutes genuine love. According to 1 Corinthians 13, Christian love is not just a general well-wishing, but is a yearning on behalf of others for that which is most pleasing to the Lord and most good for them. Ordinarily speaking, this love is not self-destructive but sustainable, since the good of others includes our ability to continue doing them good. For that reason, if you help others in ways that are ultimately self-defeating, such as working yourself ragged, you are probably not “absorbed in love,” but in a whole mixture of good, evil, and ignorant intentions.

Suppose a man wishing to benefit his family misidentifies their “good” and how to achieve it. He views their well being primarily in terms of having an income that can only be realized by neglecting his own spiritual life and physical health. Would we say this man is truly absorbed in “love,” as defined by the Word? Is he not driven in part by error, fear, or pride? I think that Calvin’s point is that being absorbed in love for others means seeking good ends by good means. Today’s love shouldn’t come at the expense of tomorrow’s.

“Being absorbed in love for others means seeking good ends by good means. Today’s love shouldn’t come at the expense of tomorrow’s.”

According to this ideal, who but Christ is ever fully "absorbed in love"? I know I am not. Yet we may approximate Christ’s love when we remain mindful both of our responsibilities and our limitations. This was illustrated once when Jesus looked upon “fields white with harvest,” representing boundless opportunities for ministry. On that occasion, the Lord did not teach his disciples to pray, “God, make me a super servant who can carry out this work alone.” No, he bade them, “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38).

In his book, The Imperfect Pastor, Zack Eswine makes an excellent point that John the Baptist declared what many of us in practice deny: "I am not the Christ" (Jn 1:20). All too often, we feel obligated to love as only Christ can love. Moreover, we feel unloving if we do not at least attempt to transcend our finite natures. But in reality, confessing “I am not the Christ,” means I will I never be omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent . That is, my duty to love will never include having or desiring perfect knowledge about how to love others. Nor can I be everywhere for everyone at once. Above all, “I am not the Christ,” means my love will never come close to being able to doing everything for everyone. Even to wish otherwise is idolatrous! 

From our position as creatures, Christian love includes faith-enabled submission to all kinds of limitations. Love obliges us to accept God’s wisdom in permitting gaps to go unfilled for a time. Love humbles us to receive, engage, and rejoice in the help of others. True love for others is not at odds with God’s love for us, but perfectly integrates with his revealed will.

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved rest. — Psalm 127:2

The Lord bless you with divine wisdom to be more and more absorbed in love,

Recommended Books: on Death and Heaven

This past Sunday evening, I mentioned several resources which I’ve found helpful in thinking through death and the afterlife. Here they are.

Books on Dying Well

• Farewell to My Friends by Adolph Monod — He was called "the Spurgeon of France" on account of his powerful gospel preaching. When death drew near, Monod gathered his closest friends to his bedside and shared a final series of lessons. These were written down and collected into Farewell to My Friends. You can read it online for free or purchase the book from Amazon.

Books on heaven

• (My top pick) The Happiness of Heaven by Maurice Roberts is a sound, scriptural, and practical look at what heaven is like by a Reformed pastor. It skirts most of the unknowable questions and focuses on the joys we can count on.

• We Shall See God by Charles Spurgeon (edited by Randy Alcorn). This is a 50-unit devotional based on the always-enriching writings of the aforementioned C. H. Spurgeon.

• Heaven by Randy Alcorn. This popular book by a contemporary Evangelical author is sizable but easy to read. Its only significant fault is that sometimes Alcorn veers into speculation (he’s confident we’ll play basketball in glory). But I don’t recall anything really problematic.

Finally, the author whose son recently passed, who I said is like a mentor to me, is Tim Challies:

• Here’s the post where he first announced Nick’s death.

• For a solid devotional type book, Run to Win is worthwhile.

• For a Christian perspective on productivity, see Do More Better.

• His Visual Theology Guides are super interesting to look through, especially for ages 13-20. Both are in the church library.

• The easiest place to go just might be his website: https://www.challies.com/. Every day, Tim posts an A La Carte with fresh links to resources he scours from around the Web, including news and Christian articles, as well as sales on books. And every day he posts one article of his own. Always edifying.

Resources for learning the Heidelberg Catechism

Learning the Heidelberg Catechism doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, young children memorize large portions of it every year. But it help to have some tools at your disposal. Here are some I’ve found helpful:

The Heidelberg Catechism

Here’s an online edition (mobile compatible) of the official version translated and approved by the United Reformed Churches in North America in 2016, which is in our hymnal. It’s the one to memorize.

HC Graduated Memory Book by Rev. John Bouwers

Speaking of memorizing, this handy tool presents each answer of the HC in four different versions, from shortest to fullest. In this way, children as young as three can begin memorizing. It is “graduated” because each next version of the answer builds on the last, incorporating the same words up to adult level:

Lord’s Day 1 — Q&A1

Q: What is your only comfort in life and in death?

Beginner’s Version

A: That I
belong
to Jesus Christ.

Intermediate Version

A: That I am not my own, but belong
to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins.

He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven.

Advanced Version

A: That I am not my own, but belong—
body and soul,
in life and in death—
to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins.

He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven.
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.

Christ, by his Holy Spirit,
also assures me of eternal life
and makes me willing and ready
to live for him.

Complete Version

A: That I am not my own, but belong—
body and soul,
in life and in death—
to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,
and has delivered me from the tyranny of the devil.

He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven.
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.

Because I belong to him, 
Christ, by his Holy Spirit,
also assures me of eternal life
and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready
from now on to live for him.

Best of all, it uses our 2016 URCNA translation of the HC.

The Good News We Almost Forgot by Kevin DeYoung

A well-loved modern collection of weekly devotions, each based on a single Lord’s Day of the Heidelberg Catechism. The author focuses on how the good news of grace permeates our Reformed perspective on faith and life. While written for adults, I would say it’s good down to age 14.

The Sunday Reader: Vol. 2 | #31

Addressing Questions About Infant Baptism

Here was my response to a few recent questions.

Should I Buy a House Near my Church

Something to consider if you have the opportunity.

How Is the Gospel Witness in Rome?

“The irony and tragedy of Italy is that it was regarded as a highly religious land and people, with deeply rooted religious traditions, but with no access to the Bible and therefore total ignorance of the Word of God.“ Here’s the current state of things in light of Reformation Day.

When Loneliness is Your Closest Companion

A widow writes on her experience of bereavement in light of her faith.

ABOUT — The Sunday Reader shares articles we've found particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or edifying this week. While not always representing the views of our Pastors and Elders, these selections offer a mix of viewpoints to broaden and frame your understanding of God, Scripture, ourselves, and the world we serve in Christ's name.