Josh Benner

Blog

  • Uncivil disobedience: looting and riots are counterproductive

    1024px-A_man_stands_on_a_burned_out_car_on_Thursday_morning_as_fires_burn_behind_him_in_the_Lake_St_area_of_Minneapolis,_Minnesota_(49945886467)
    Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

    Over the weekend, violent protests erupted throughout the nation and in other parts of the world. Parts of large cities have been turned into urban war zones. Much of the country has been put under curfews.

    Any justice loving person was outraged by what happened to George Floyd on Monday. But these riots are not righteous or noble. I see so many people who act as if these actions are above being questioned. It’s madness.

    I see so many friends who talk as if these riots are the most logical response, like there’s no other way.

    I fail to see how looting and destruction will achieve anything positive or win anyone to the cause. How will that make anything better and not worse? You have great cities all over America where private businesses are being vandalized and destroyed. You have law abiding citizens all over this nation who are peacefully protesting and demonstrating. And their efforts are undermined when people riot, burn down, and loot. (more…)

  • Sermon: The New Temple – Haggai 1:1-11

    Prayer

    From Psalm 34 

    I will bless the Lord at all times;
        his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
    2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
        let the humble hear and be glad.
    3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
        and let us exalt his name together!

    4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
        and delivered me from all my fears.
    5 Those who look to him are radiant,
        and their faces shall never be ashamed.
    6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
        and saved him out of all his troubles.
    7 The angel of the Lord encamps
        around those who fear him, and delivers them.

    8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
        Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

    (more…)

  • BREAKING: ILLINOIS GOVERNOR LIFTS RESTRICTIONS ON WORHSIP GATHERINGS

    As Illinois moves from phase 2 into phase 3 and gathering sizes are still limited to groups of 10, facing lawsuits, pressure, and legal challenges, Governor J.B. Pritzker has lifted restrictions on houses of worship. The initial restrictions went into effect for Illinois churches in the middle of March.

    The Illinois Department of Public Health released a multi-page document which still gives recommendations for what churches should do. They still recommend churches not meeting in person and instead utilizing streaming. They also recommend gathering outside or gathering in groups of less than 10, but these are advise rather than mandates.

    As a pastor in Illinois, I will say that I do appreciate the governor caring about the health of the people in this wonderful state. I was not a fan of the restrictions on churches and believe that it’s a fundamental right to gather together for worship. But I don’t believe that there was ever any malice on the part of Governor Pritzker.

    It is still important for churches to be wise, for pastors to tend to their flocks, and for parishioners to monitor their health. But it’s going to be a great weekend when churches throughout the state can again come together in worship.

    Excerpts from the IDPH document include:

    This document provides guidance for places of worship and providers of religious services to support the safest possible environment for faith leaders, employees, volunteers, scholars, and all other types of workers, as well as congregants, worshippers, and visitors.

    it is strongly recommended that places of worship continue to facilitate remote services, particularly for those who are vulnerable to COVID-19 including older adults and those with co-morbidities. 

    As gatherings grow in size, they pose a greater risk of becoming a source of COVID-19 transmission.  The current Statewide guidelines recommend gatherings of no more than 10 people.  Where the 10-person limit cannot be followed in places of worship, these guidelines are recommended.

    Set a capacity limit for the place of worship that allows for extensive social distancing (six feet or more) between congregants.  Consider limiting attendance to 25% of building capacity or a maximum of 100 attendees, whichever is lower. 

    Strongly consider discontinuing singing (and post signage discouraging singing), group recitation, and other practices and performances where there is increased likelihood for transmission from contaminated exhaled droplets.

    These recommendations are reasonable and give Illinois churches a lot of flexibility in how they choose to worship. 

    Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear what you think, and don’t forget to subscribe! 

  • The gospel in the exodus journey

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    The exodus journey is the seminal event of the Old Testament. It’s the story of God miraculously delivering the Israelites from slavery for the purpose of bringing them to the promised land.

    The Old Testament constantly calls upon the Israelites to remember what God had done. For Christians today, there are a number of parallels between the exodus and the gospel. The Israelites were in slavery in Egypt. We were enslaved to sin and Christ redeemed us.

    During the wanderings in the desert, the Israelites complain and rebel. For Christians,  we continue to struggle and rebel. God redeemed Israel to bring them to the Promised Land. And Jesus is bringing us into a land too. To a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem.

    Both the exodus and the new covenant of the gospel are commemorated with meals. The passover meal was celebrated annually, as a reminder for God’s deliverance in the exodus event and for him sparing the Israelites. With the gospel, we celebrate the Lord’ Supper, communion which is a reminder of Jesus body that was broken for our sin and his blood that was shed for our sin.

    Exodus was in fulfillment of the promises of God to Abraham for land and to Moses for deliverance from slavery. The gospel is fulfillment of God’s promise of providing a Messiah, a king from the Davidic line, a perfect and spotless lamb to be sacrificed.

    In both stories, we see victory in a place where it appeared to be defeat. Israel was caught between the Egyptian army and the sea. It seemed there was no way out. In the gospel, Jesus died on the cross, where it looked like that was the end of Jesus’ ministry. In both stories, what appeared to be the end was just the beginning.

    It was entirely the work of God in freeing his people from slavery in Egypt. And the gospel is entirely the work of the Lord in redeeming us from the penalty of sin.

    Both events are undeniable, indisputable, irrefutable, unimpeachable proof of God’s love. God loved Israel. And God loves you. God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have enteral life (John 3:16). God shows his love that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

    This event, Israel was constantly called to remember. Because it showed God’s love, it showed his goodness, it showed that he was for his people.

    We see that in the gospel.

    We sin, we have struggles, we have baggage. And everyday, we have opportunities to sin, to respond without faith, to question the goodness of God.

    But instead what we must do is to remember his goodness through the gospel. To remember that Jesus saved us, that he redeemed us.

    To remember that God delivers his people from slavery to freedom. For Christians, because of what Jesus did on the cross, that we have the promise of eternal life. We serve a good God.

    Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear what you think, and don’t forget to subscribe! 

  • George Floyd and blindness to justice: when video evidence isn’t enough to convince some

    Twitter from Law Offices of Ben Crump

    I look at comments from some on the Blue Lives Matter Facebook page and the excuses and deflections of what happened to George Floyd are sickening.

    Yes, I appreciate our law enforcement officers. But there needs to be a really serious look at injustice and crime when it’s perpetuated by the ones who are sworn to serve and protect the public.

    (more…)