Parody: You're My Joy

You're My Joy
(a parody of "Overjoyed" by Stevie Wonder)
Psalm 73:25-26; Psalm 16:11; Jer. 2:13, etc.

Over time, I've been hoarding up treasures I love
Just to know that they never render satisfaction
Till I found the Pearl I searched all my days
Now I've got to throw my treasures away

All the gifts, which You give us, are perfect and good
But You are Your best gift, 'twas of You I've been dreaming
The heaven I want would look like a hell
Without God the One who makes heaven well

Chorus:
For whom have I in heaven but You?
And on earth, too,
There is nothing
That I desire beside you
And even though my flesh and heart grow weak
You're my heart's strength
You're my Joy and you're mine 'ternally

My vile heart had me shamefully turn the Fount down
Just to find, I hewed broken cisterns [that] can't hold water
I've now found out that without the Divine
The joy that I sought can never be mine

"God is not a tool for finding pleasure. God is not the shovel, so to speak, with which we dig for buried jewels. God is Himself the treasure. The Christian's pursuit of happiness is consummated when we find in God our all in all. He and He alone is our exceeding great reward. He is not a means to a higher end. He is the end."
(Sam Storms, Pleasures Evermore, p. 79)

Genuine Christianity Makes Good Friday Everyday

Yesterday was a good Friday. Many different religious groups who profess Christianity here in the Philippines maintained certain religious practices so devotedly. Some were genuine, some were not. Some were plausible, some were ludicrous. My claim is that we can determine genuine Christians among them. Essentially, the difference is that genuine Christianity worships God in spirit and in truth while fake ones don't. But how do you know if a certain person or a certain religious group worships God in spirit and truth? Aside from the soundness of doctrines and practices, the evident manifestation is in religious passion or desires. The following are some religious desires wherein genuine and false Christianity differ:

1. Desire to make the day God-glorifying

On Good Friday, many people desire to be godly. They want to talk about God or dedicate some of their time to God on this day. Genuine Christianity, on the other hand, glorifies God every day and every hour and in everything: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Cor. 10:31, NIV) A genuine Christian is someone whom the world observes and remarks: "this man cares so much about God".

2. Desire to make the day Christ-centered

On Good Friday, many people desire to talk about Christ and go to church. They will temporarily set aside their worldly stuff for the Nazarene who once died in this world. On the other hand, Genuine Christianity believes that "to live is Christ" (Phil. 1:21) A true Christian daily aims for a "fruitful labor" (vv. 22, 24) for and like the Lord. He lives daily for Christ alone. His words and actions are Christ-centered.

3. Desire to make the day Cross-exalting

On Good Friday, many people lend some time thinking about Jesus' cross in the Calvary. Some to repay Him, some to thank Him. Genuine Christianity on the other hand is constant, daily cross-exaltation. "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2) A genuine Christian daily manifests his great indebtedness to what Jesus did for him. "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

4. Desire to make the day Sin-mortifying

The term "mortify" means to kill. On Good Friday, many people do their best to keep themselves from sinning. They pray, they read the Bible, they listen to sermons, and they cease their vices. In short, they do religious actions they don't usually do. Genuine Christianity, however, declares a lifetime war with sin. "For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live" (Rom. 8:13) "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." (Col. 3:5)

Some say that Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with God, as if religion cannot be a good thing. I say Christianity is a relationship with God that essentially worships God in spirit and in truth and inevitably manifests in a daily passion for a God-glorifying, Christ-centered, cross-exalting, and sin-mortifying religion.

Genuine Christianity, guided by truth and the Spirit, makes Good Friday every day. Are we then genuine Christians?

The Dung and The Treasure

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as dung, in order that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8)

Though the title is ugly, I love the message of this parody. Its message is based on Philippians 3:4-12. It was desiringGod's Sermon Jam entitled "Treasuring Him" (click here for the video) that inspired me to write this.

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Dung

(A Parody of "Numb" by Linkin Park)

I.

I, Paul, have been circumcised the eight day

Benjamite descent of our Hebraic race

And in law, was a strict Pharisee

Zealous persecutor, In righteousness was pure

(All that I have gain for Christ now I deem as loss, though)

Indeed I count all things loss for Christ's surpassing value

(For me to know my Lord, I suffered the loss of all)

Chorus 1:

All things I count as dung

That Christ I may gain

And in Him be found

So that I might wear

Not my righteousness

Which is from the law

But which is through faith

In Christ, my treasure

II.

I have seen I was gladdened easily

Holding too tightly on pitiful pleasures

Cause the One Being who can satisfy me

Is none else than Christ, Him we must pursue 

(Don't think I abandon all things for a vacuum)

What I do is a trade for a superior pleasure

(And don't think to ignore won't bring danger to your soul)

Cause to price Him less than things is to waste life itself!

Chorus 2:

All things I count as dung

That I may know Him

His resurrection's power

And His sufferings' share

Conformed to His death

I'd then be raised too

And enjoy being

with Christ, my treasure

Bridge:

And I know I'm not yet that perfect too

But I go pressing on to lay hold what Christ laid hold for me also

Chorus 3:

All things I count as dung

When to Him compared

Money, house, foods, jobs,

Clothes, looks, toys, talents,

Sex, friends, families

All God gave us to

In a way make plain

They're not our treasures

All things are just dung

Christ is priceless Jewel

The only Being worthy of all glory

All things are just dung

Christ is priceless Jewel

The only Being who can satisfy me


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"How does Paul make Christ look great? Answer: By experiencing Christ as a treasure that everything else in his life is as nothing by comparison. I count everything... as loss in comparison with the treasure that Christ has become for me. ... The way we display the supreme worth of Jesus is by treasuring Him above all things and then making choices which make the joy we have in His supreme worth manifest. Get It. Get It. And if He is not that for you tonight, if He is not treasure for you, pray all night if you have to, that your heart would be so changed that you would now treasure Jesus above everything in your life." (John Piper)

Why 'Watchdog of God'?

Even though the Bible makes no mention of a Christian being a dog (in fact, in 2 Peter 2:22 it refers to false teachers!), there are certain characteristics of a watchdog that I would like myself to be associated with.

My Shepherd’s Advocate
 

I am simultaneously a sheep and a watchdog. I am a sheep because I also once wandered astray and was sought by Christ my Shepherd, because He laid down His life for me, because I don’t follow strangers, and because He leads me with His loving rod.¹ On the other hand, I am a watchdog because I am my Shepherd’s advocate, seeking nothing but intimacy with him, desiring nothing but his pleasure, wanting nothing but to bravely defend my Triune God and His cause from anyone who belittles Him or anything that diminishes his perfect glory. I am His servant, His advocate, His watchdog. I love borrowing these words of the great reformer and theologian John Calvin, “A dog barks when it sees that its master is being attacked. I would be a real coward if I saw God’s truth being attacked and remained quiet without making a sound.”²

As Dumb as a Dog

As a watchdog I am intimate with my Shepherd but never will I be arrogant to say that I completely know my Master. In view of God’s transcendence³, I am as dumb as a dog! I do pursue knowing Him deeper. I promote communion with Him in His Word, prayer and assiduous meditation. Yet I am just a finite, sinful (but redeemed) being trying to understand the infinite, sovereign, self-sufficient Being who created the whole cosmic universe with all its immensity and complexity. Therefore, after every theological pursuit, I can only exclaim with Paul: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”⁴ and like the disabled Mephibosheth to king David, I can also say to God: "What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”⁵

A Guardian of the Sheep

Nevertheless, this transcendent God has given me a new heart and has made me like a docile canine. That’s why I love the church of God!⁶ I do my best to be a guardian of the sheep, keeping them from going astray and from being touched by the enemies⁷. And I will do it as long as I live. Semper Reformanda⁸ is the principle, always promoting reformation by the word because Christian life and church life are constant conformity to the image of the Son⁹. Let me clarify that I am not alone here. All genuine sheep are watchdogs. And all true woollies bark just all spiritual watchdogs bleat. They have great zeal for the purity of the church because they know that she is the Bride of the Holy One¹⁰. Hence, they are watchful and courageous. And, if they should, they are ready to bark even if they would be chased away.

Barking at Wolves and the Roaring Lion

Admittedly, I may not only be barking at sheep wandering off. I may also be barking at wolves (false teachers) and the roaring lion that is ready to devour (Satan)¹¹. They are stronger than I am in craftiness and power. So to bark is to risk. But my Shepherd makes no risk because He is Omniscient. Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.¹² Therefore, I am unafraid to bark. For nothing can separate a lover of Christ from the love of Christ. In fact, all things work together for his good.¹³ So to bark at all costs because of my love for this great God is a joyful privilege¹⁴, not a burden.

To Guard, Bark, Bite for the Glory of God

And, actually, this blog is designed specifically for that. One may call this just religious jargon. I call this my spiritual warcry! That means that I believe there’s no middle ground. It’s only either you’re a pro-Shepherd or an anti-Shepherd. Either you’re in the pasture or not. Either you’re a watchdog like me or a non-watchdog (that is, a goat or a wolf). And please make no mistake of my intention in saying that I am a watchdog of God. I am a mere watchdog! The one deserving of any praise in this blog is the very Treasure I desire to guard, the One who is supreme in all things – God alone. My single desire is to guard, bark, bite and even crunch for the glory of God. May my barks indeed please him, not dishonor him. And may every woolly watchdog like me never be silent!

***ROARING***

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Notes:

1. See Psalm 23 and John 10:7-18.

2. As cited by Herman Selderhuis in his biographical book John Calvin: A Pilgrim’s Life, p.31.

3. God’s transcendence refers to His being uniquely above and beyond the being of the world. (see Isaiah 40:25; 55:8,9)

4. Romans 11:33-34.

5. 2 Samuel 9:8.

6. I refer to the universal church throughout the world, composed of all authentic believers.

7. As all elders are instructed to guard the flock (1 Peter 5:2) and all Christians to be watchful (1 Peter 5:8; 1 Corinthians 16:13).

8. Latin for “always reforming”, used by some Protestant Reformers.

9. See Romans 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18.

10. See Ephesians 5:23-27; Revelation 19:7, 8.

11. Matthew 7:15 and 1 Peter 5:8.

12. Revelation 5:5; 1 Tim. 6:15.

13. See Rom. 8:28, 38-39.

14. Paul even described it as “gain” in Philippians 1:21.