A Renewal of Our Self

 

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

—Colossians 3:9-10

Have you noticed that certain activities we do require us to repeat them over and over again? If you are someone who takes a great deal of pride in the state of your vehicle—so that you wash it frequently, wax it quite often, vacuum out the inside, and make certain it receives all of the service listed in the manual that resides in the glove compartment—you know you must repeat these tasks many times in the course of a year.

The work of God that moves believers along the pathway of the kind of Christian spiritual formation that will lead to holiness is also something that is best seen as an on-going process. Theologians call that process “sanctification.” This word means “to make holy.” So, believers are moving forward along this pathway of sanctification on a continuing basis. This is exactly what the Apostle Paul was trying to convey when he wrote these words found in Colossians 3:9-10:

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

In this case, the declaration: “Do not lie to each other” truly means:

“Don’t try to pretend who you are. Don’t act one way when you are with your fellow believers and another way when you are out in the world.”

Paul urges the people in the church at Colossae to consistently be who they have now become by embracing the reality that God has given them a “new self” that is continually being renewed. The construction of the word in the New Testament Koine Greek language that is translated “renew” indicates an action that takes place over and over and over again.

As we begin a new day, let’s ask God to help us be who we really are. God has made us new. And, God is continually renewing us, as we move toward holiness. We should feel very grateful for God’s love and care. We should celebrate, in all humility, the pathway on which He has placed us, for the sake of His Kingdom and His great name.

 

_{Blog Post Copyright © 2025 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

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Searching for Peace

 

“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”

—Psalm 29:11

As we come to this new day, we can either look forward with hope, or hold back in despair. It’s so easy to become weighed down with the cares of the world. If we do not face challenges in our own lives, we might see those individuals, who are dear to us, facing trials that break our hearts. We feel that without peace—true peace—we can hardly move forward into this new day. Yet, God understands our needs in a way that goes far beyond our ability to comprehend. King David expresses these comforting thoughts, as recorded in Psalm 29:11:

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.

When we feel we can hardly go on, God reminds us that He is the source of our strength. He is the giver of our peace. We can move into the new day with confidence that He will sustain us and provide a safe haven of rest for all four of our human modalities: emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical. Let’s cling to God’s abiding love, unfailing grace, overwhelming mercy, divine strength, and spirit-restoring peace. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:31-32:

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Yes! Indeed! May it be so!

 

_{Blog Post Copyright © 2025 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Play Skillfully

 

“Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.”

—Psalm 33:3

I am not a big fan of Contemporary Christian praise music-type worship services. But, I have reached this decision for a reason that may surprise you. First, some background:

I believe that God is a God of Excellence. When I look at what He created—albeit I am looking at what He created in its fallen state—I see glimmers of a level of excellence that far exceeds what some would consider an acceptable expression of mediocrity. From this understanding, I see that God does all that He does with excellence. So, I conclude that part of my devotion to Him involves doing my very best, that is to do, whatever I do, with excellence.

Of course, as a fallen and foible-filled human being, I make many mistakes. My sin nature virtually precludes my ability to do everything with excellence. Yet, I still continue to strive for excellence. This involves making certain I have the skill set to do a task, that I understand the knowledge I must have to perform my duties, and that I have practiced my craft so that I can make as much excellence as possible a part of what I do. Therefore, believing that God desires excellence, I approach worship with a critical eye, looking for ways to assure that whatever is done to glorify God is done with excellence.

• Did someone take the time to carefully plan the worship service, so that each element in that service coordinates with a worship theme for the day that enhances the sermon the minister will preach?
  
  
• Did the people participating in the worship service practice what they are going to do or say, in order to help assure that nothing will distract from the central message of their ministering to the congregation. This means that everyone involved will avoid last minute, haphazard changes to the worship service. And, it means that the ones in charge must lovingly and carefully counsel those people who do not take their role seriously, so that they will understand how important it is to do their very best for the glory of God.
  
  
• When it comes to music in the worship service, does that music spring from a theological foundation that will help move those who worship forward in their Christian spiritual formation? Or, does the music simply tug on their emotions and create a response similar to the one they would receive if they attended any musical performance outside the walls of the church?
  
  
• Does the music involve the congregation and promote their eager participation? Or, does the music serve to spotlight only a few individual “performers” to the exclusion of the larger congregation?
  
  
• Does the music connect those who worship with the historic faith and to fellow believers from across the ages? Or, does the music merely appeal to some current cultural “hook” that will soon be replaced by some other cultural preference?
  
  
• Do those leading the music keep the focus on God? Or, do they delight in the limelight and garner praise for themselves?
  
  
• Most importantly, do the musicians have the skill to lead the congregation with excellence?
  
  

And, it is at this point that I take a turn to which many will likely object. I happen to personally enjoy a rather wide variety of musical genres. I have a rich background in what some call “serious” music—that is to say, what many would call “classical” music, though the term “classical” actually only applies to one period of time in the history of music. I also have a rich background in other musical genres: big band, jazz, classic rock, adult contemporary, country, and many more. I appreciate the artistry of each genre. And, unlike some of my serious music friends, I see the professionalism and excellence in the skill of many of the artists who perform each musical genre.

When it comes to church music, I actually have no objection to any musical genre that meets the criteria I stated earlier in this blog post: music that springs from a theological foundation that will help move those who worship forward in their spiritual formation. But, no matter what musical genre, I expect those providing the music to do so with genuine excellence.

If a church chooses to provide a basically traditional music style—as the church I currently attend does—then I expect each musician to be well-trained in that genre and to execute the music with professionalism and excellence. This means that the organist, or pianist, or other accompanying musicians must be well-educated in service-playing, understand registrations in the case of the organ, be an excellent accompanist, as well as an excellent soloist, be well-rehearsed, and recognize the role of leadership that the accompanying musicians plays in such a worship experience.

Similarly, the choral group, or choir, must consist of musicians with well-honed skill, preferably some members with professional training, understand that they must blend into a unified sound and not seek personal attention, and recognize their role in both performing as a group and in leading the congregation as it joins in singing.

When it comes to Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) in a praise music worship service—in all but the largest churches—far too few musicians actually have the professional training and skill to perform this genre of music with the level of excellence that the CCM genre demands. Meeting for 45 minutes before the worship service begins, to run through some of the selections, does not constitute the level of rehearsal necessary to perform this CCM genre of music in an excellent manner. How many of the musicians rehearse on their own on a daily basis? How many strive to constantly improve their skill at playing their chosen instruments? How many take lessons from a teacher who pushes them toward excellence?

Just because someone can play a few chords on the guitar does not mean that he or she should be performing in a praise team. And, how many praise teams realize that they are not actually performing a concert, but are—or at least should be—leading a congregation to participate in worship?

I realize there are larger churches where they are fortunate to have professionally trained and well-rehearsed musicians to participate in the praise band. But, sadly, so many smaller churches who have jumped on the Contemporary Christian Music bandwagon—thinking that this style of music makes them “relevant” to today’s culture—simply do not have musicians in their ranks with the skill to perform this genre with excellence.

“Well, Pops,” some Millennial or GenX-er might say, “that’s quite a rant you wrote there. It sounds to me like the same old-fogey talk that I’ve heard from people like you all my life.”

That may be so. Nevertheless, I have come to these conclusions after giving this matter a great deal of thought and not a small amount of research and study. I actually believe the striving for relevance is a “straw man” created by the evil one to distract us from the calling God has given us to represent Him to a fallen world. But, I also believe that I have the weight of Scripture on my side when I look at what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 33:3:

Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

As we begin a new day, let’s determine that we will do with excellence whatever God calls us to do. As long as we are ever-striving to do the very best we are able to do, surely God will receive our accomplishments as a sweet-smelling incense, rising from the altar of our lives.

 

_{Blog Post Copyright © 2025 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Caring By Sharing

 

“When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.”

—Deuteronomy 24:19

In the recent years, where our current left-leaning society has exerted overwhelming influence, I have two strikes against me. I am a lifelong spiritual, religious, social, and political Conservative. And, not surprisingly as a result, I am an Evangelical Christian. I would be hard pressed to obtain employment at virtually any secular college or university. I am scorned in the press. I am constantly abused by liberal/woke pundits in the broadcast media. I am derided, despised, and generally treated as a third-class citizen because of my strongly held beliefs.

I am also grossly misunderstood by liberal/woke individuals who do not actually know me. Contrary to their characterizations of me—and most people who hold similar beliefs to mine—I am not a racist. I am not homophobic. I am not xenophobic. I am not a sexist—in fact, I have championed and celebrated the cause of women joining my chosen profession—fire protection engineering—all my career. I do not hate the poor. I do not favor the wealthy. Virtually every slur that is hurled my way is false. And, I am certain that I am not alone.

I have many friends who are Conservatives and Evangelical Christians, who also feel abused by our secular, liberal/woke society. We are falsely accused and imagine that our plight will only worsen over time. We feel ignored, distrusted, belittled, marginalized, and hated.

That’s why the following particular verse of Scripture is so precious to those of us who, like me, are Conservative and Evangelical Christian. This verse is one of many instructions by God to His chosen people, the Jews. It embodies a principal that I heartily embrace. Here’s what God said, as recorded in Deuteronomy 24:19:

When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

This is a verse about sharing—sharing the fruits of our labors. God wants us to share the work of our hands, our minds, and our hearts, with those in need. The individuals mentioned in this verse did nothing to “deserve” this largesse. They did not till the soil. They did not plant the seed. They did not weed the ground. They did not harvest the grain. Yet, God asks the ones who did perform all those hard tasks to share the bounty of their labors with those less fortunate than they are.

While we “Christ’s-ones” are no longer under the Law, but rather are under the Covenant of God’s grace, we still can learn a valuable lesson from this verse. In fact, because we Christians are grafted into the vine of God’s chosen people (Romans 11:11-24), we can blessedly own this verse and follow its instruction.

I declare to the liberal/woke pundits who hate us so, we fully believe that all that we are and all that we have has come to us as a precious gift from God. Therefore, we believe that we have a responsibility to do as God instructs. So, if God tells us to share the fruits of our labors with those in need, that is exactly what we intend to do.

Now, we may not at all agree with the way secular society decides to implement help for the poor. But, that is a discussion for another day. We stand firmly on the fact that instead of hating the poor and needy, we Evangelical Christians stand ready, willing, and able to show our caring by sharing. And, sharing is exactly what we do through countless rescue missions, homeless shelters, retirement communities, unwed-mother care homes, and a score of other community efforts supported by Evangelical Christians across this land and around the world.

As we begin a new day, let’s pray for those who despise us and not be surprised at the way they choose to treat us. Jesus told us what to expect in Matthew 5:11:

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

No matter what others may say about us, or do to us, we can remain faithful to the calling that God has placed on our lives. We can show the compassion of our Savior to everyone in need. And, we can do so knowing that we are being obedient to God’s command.

 

_{Blog Post Copyright © 2025 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}