Babies in Heaven - Hope in the Death of a Baby

This is a chapter from an upcoming book, Hope in the Death of a Baby: A Deeper Dive Into What the Bible Says About Pregnancy and Infant Loss.

Babies in Heaven

Your child is not dead, but only fallen asleep in the lap of Jesus. He has taken the little one from the storms of this world into the quiet nursery of the Heavenly Paradise. ~ George Whitefield

Isaiah 11 describes the new heavens and the new earth after the kingdom of the Christ is established. This chapter is where we get the idea that the lion will lie down with the lamb. In the new creation, we have wonderful promises that wolves will not devour lambs, that panthers will be friendly to young goats, that lions shall return to their vegetarian diet. Ultimately there will be peace all around.

The picture is of a restored paradise, and while some readers think this is figurative language, I believe it is literal. One reason I read it literally is because when it talks about babies and infants, it doesn’t use abstract language like, “Children could tend lions…” or “Babies could play with cobras.” It uses concrete language,

a little child shall lead them. ~ Isaiah 11:6

and

the nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. ~ Isaiah 11:8

These little ones shall be in the new heaven and the new earth. They shall lead and play.

Heaven is a Nursery

Concerning these and other verses, many authors have described heaven as a nursery. While some have said that heaven has a nursery, many have observed that it is more accurate that heaven is a nursery. Jesus said “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14, emphasis mine). He also said, “Do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).

The number of babies who have been lost and carried to heaven is staggering, and while Jesus was most likely speaking of the faith of children that lay hold of the kingdom (Matthew 18:3), he also may very well have been speaking of the sheer numbers of babies who inhabit heaven.

Notice that there are three types of infants mentioned in Isaiah 11 who indwell the new creation, 1) a small child, 2) a nursing infant, and 3) a weaned child.

Do Babies Grow in Heaven?

I know there are many babies in heaven, but a question that I cannot answer is whether babies grow in heaven. I suspect–based solely on God’s will for growth (Ephesians 4:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:3)–that they will grow up. But there is something sweet and longing in my soul for perpetual babies who have that wonderful dazzling continuing exploration and joy for all eternity.

Thomas Chalmers doesn’t shed much light on a final answer, but he seemed to likewise long for that growth,

A child who dies in infancy is but transplanted to a grander nursery, where the instruction is perfect and the growth is everlasting.

Perhaps we will all have that childlike wonder in growing in heaven, as Abraham Lincoln observed,

Surely God would not have created such a being as man, with the ability to grasp the infinite, to exist only for a day! No, no, man was made for immortality.

I have been asked by several grieving mothers if they will be able to nurse their babies in heaven. Beloved, I can’t think of a better person to ensure that the nursing baby is nourished than its mother. But it comes with one caveat: you have to be a citizen of that new creation yourself. So, pay close attention to yourself and Christ, ensure you’re trusting fully in him and his atoning work, and then I suspect there will be a great number of babies who need your loving touch and nourishment.

It is both a horrible fact of sinful life and a wonderous fact of eternal glory that there will be so many babies who were “born into heaven,” as Ashley Opliger said of her daughter who stepped straight from her womb into the throne room of grace. Heaven is a nursery of little ones beholding their Saviour. It is horrible that they did not get to grow up, but it is glorious that the first face they saw was the face of God.

Safe in the Arms of Jesus

Fanny Crosby, blind from infancy, said,

Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition to my Creator, that it would have been that I should be born blind? Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Saviour.

Because of that statement, when I comfort a grieving family whose child died before birth, I often say,

If your baby could send us a message from heaven it might sound something like this:

I so looked forward to meeting you,
Of seeing your face and feeling your touch,
But the first face I saw was the face of God!
His embrace is tender and strong.

I cannot come to you, but you may come to me,
Our creator has loved us and made a way
And we may yet meet.

Your little baby,
Safe in the arms of Jesus

The safety and security of heaven is assured. Isaiah speaks again of the new heavens and the new earth and makes this promise:

No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days… ~ Isaiah 65:20

But for now, many an infant has lived but a few days. It helps us to look forward to a time of eternal safety and rest. Fanny Crosby who penned the words to Safe in the Arms of Jesus after the loss of her own daughter and in expectation of heaven,

Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe from corroding care,
Safe from the world’s temptations,
Sins cannot harm me there,

Free from the blight of sorrow,
Free from my doubts and fears;
Only a few more trials,
Only a few more tears.

On earth we sing the lullaby, “Hush little baby, don’t you cry; Papa’s going to sing you a lullaby,” in which the father purchases the baby a mockingbird, a billy goat, a dog named rover, and a horse. In heaven we get to add cobra, adder, lion, and any other dangerous animal you want, maybe a tyrannosaurus rex or a Harpy eagle, etc. I’m not a hymn or lullaby writer, but maybe in heaven we’ll sing,

Hush little baby, don’t you cry,
daddy’s gonna sing you a heavenly lullaby.

Hush little baby just so you’re aware,
My first present to you is a friendly grizzly bear.

Hush little baby, make no mistake,
don’t forget to walk your rattlesnake.

And while we’re singing this chorus,
why don’t we go saddle your stegosaurus?

And after you’re done patting its head,
our Komodo Dragon can nap in your bed.

And through it all my sweet little one,
we’re going to worship God’s own Son.

Tears in Heaven

It has been erroneously stated that there are no tears in heaven. It is nearly accurate, but it misses the heart and love of God. Mourning is not a sin: we see Jesus weeping on earth over the death of his friend Lazarus (John 11:35), and we are encouraged not to mourn as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Mourning and weeping abound on earth.

But in heaven we see three places where Jesus wipes away tears (Isaiah 25:8, Revelation 7:17, 21:4), implying that there are tears in heaven. Psalm 56:8 says that God has kept your tears in his bottle, both your tossings and weeping have been recorded in his book.

Why are there tears? Probably for all of the reasons there are tears on earth; some are tears of joy at seeing Jesus face-to-face, others are tears of gratitude, some may be tears of thankful mourning and gratitude at seeing the scars on the Lamb of God who loved us and died for us. And likely some are tears of sorrow for knowing that such suffering still exists on earth, and especially when our beloved are still enduring the suffering of earth. Others are tears of mourning the people we expected or hoped to see in heaven who are not there. Maybe other tears of mourning are for people we knew wouldn’t meet us in heaven, but now they’re confirmed.

Whatever the reason for tears and mourning, the rest of Revelation 7:17 and 21:4 tell us this is the end of death, mourning, crying, and pain.

Conclusion

The God who holds our infants in the nursery of heaven is the same God who dries every eye and who opened the gates of heaven to every one who will put their faith in him. Christ promised that heaven belongs to children, and he died to ensure his promises are fulfilled.

'Twas love that lived, 'twas love that died,
With endless life to bless us;
Well hast Thou won Thy blood-bought Bride,
Worthy art Thou, Lord Jesus! ~ William Dickinson

Is My Baby An Angel - Hope in the Death of a Baby

 This is a chapter from an upcoming book, Hope in the Death of a Baby: A Deeper Dive Into What the Bible Says About Pregnancy and Infant Loss.

Is My Baby An Angel?

They are not set in the back part of heaven, but they are brought nigh by the blood of Christ... They are not merely as the angels, but they are part of the body of Christ, His chosen ones, who shall sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. ~ Charles Spurgeon

“Heaven gained another angel,” goes the saying, “Another angel gained its wings.” It’s a nice sentiment, but is it accurate? The idea that babies become angels comes from a few different places.

For some it is just hopeful thinking based on popular culture. Others have seen the cute little cherubs from Renaissance paintings invented to look like human infants. Some religions, like Mormonism, Swedenborgianism, and various Gnostic sects have taught that there is an evolution from man to angel to deity. Others have read Jesus’ statement that in heaven the angels of children always behold the face of God, and interpret it to believe a baby becomes an angel in heaven. Let’s look at this relationship between babies, angels, and God.

Angels Are Created Beings

First, the idea that angels were once men and will soon be gods is easy to refute. Psalm 148 looks at the creation event and it explicitly says that God commanded angels to be created, and they were created (Psalm 148:2,5). On the rare chance that I meet someone who thinks they are God or a little god with creation powers, I have held out a hand full of nothing and said, “If you are God, please command an angel to be created.” It’s an easy divinity test, if you can’t create an angel out of thin air, then you are not God (Compare John 1:3).

About one of the chief angels, God said, “You were blameless in all your ways, from the day you were created…” (Ezekiel 28:15). Angels are created, they do not evolve; they have not transformed from human to cherub, they were created whole and complete.

Some of those angels fell and sinned against heaven, such as the angel described in Ezekiel 28,

...until unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub… ~ Ezekiel 28:15-16

A search of biblical angels shows all male angels, no female angels, and no baby angels. One of the most common references to angels in the Bible is as guardians, guarding the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:24), heaven (Ezekiel 28:16), but most importantly, people.

Guardian Angels

Angels are ministering spirits (Hebrews 1:14). We see this after Jesus was tempted by the devil and the angels were ministering to him (Mark 1:13). Jesus is also clear that babies have angels assigned to them (Matthew 18:10), as do all of his saints who are to inherit eternal life (Compare Psalm 91:11 and Psalm 34:7). We might think that if we have a guardian angel or a team of angels, that nothing bad could ever happen to us. After all, angels are terrifying and powerful (Compare Matthew 28:2-4, 2 Kings 19:35, Revelation 10:1-3).

So it would be nice if they kept us from all harm; but their job is not to keep us safe, it’s to ensure we reach heaven (Hebrews 1:14), and they’ll never lose a single soul destined for heaven because Jesus won’t let them (John 10:28-29). The Bible doesn’t say that Job had a guardian angel, but we see that God allowed fallen angels to attack him with limitations (Job 1:12, 2:6). In Revelation 13:7-8,12 all authority is given to the servants of antichrist to wage war on the saints. We should not expect that God’s angels are withdrawn at this point, but that they will double-down on their duties to ensure all of God’s saints reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9). We are invincible until God says otherwise, for God has appointed a day and a way for us to enter into glory (Revelation 13:10, Hebrews 9:27).

Therefore, if something bad has happened to you or someone you love, it is not because God was surprised or his angels were overpowered, but because he is working a perfect plan of redemption written from the foundation of the earth.

One of the worst things that happened to human beings was that they also fell, yet in their fall, we see the most important difference between humans and angels.

The Human Redeemer

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost/chief (1 Timothy 1:15). There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus… (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus came to live and die to save a very specific people:

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, [Jesus] himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the off-spring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ~ Hebrews 2:14-17, emphasis mine

Jesus put on human flesh and blood so that he could die for humans, for there is no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). Angels have no Saviour, they are either elect (1 Timothy 5:21) in no need of forgiveness, or they are demons prepared for torment (Matthew 25:41) with no hope of forgiveness. If a human being were to become an angel, there would be nothing to gain, and actually much to be lost.

Angels are Christ's servants, but the saints are His members. Christ never took upon Him the nature of angels, but the nature of man; and thus, those little ones gathered into His bosom are knit to Him in a union that angels themselves do not share. ~ Matthew Henry

Angels long to look into this redemptive power and saving relationship that mankind enjoys with God through Christ and his Spirit (1 Peter 1:12). But, for the elect angels there is no redemption required and for fallen angels there is no redemption available.

While it doesn’t feel like it now, it is far superior to remain a human being when we get to heaven, for then we will be perfected to look like the perfect Son of Man (Jesus’ most used title for himself).

Made Lower Than the Angels

All angels are magnificent, even in their fallen state. Because they are physically closer to God than humans are, such as directly in the throne room of God, we think they are the highest form of creation. Their nearness to the throne of grace literally and figuratively sets them alight to reflect the glory of God (see Isaiah 6:2). All angels are cherubs with the plural being cherubim; some cherubim are called “seraph” (also spelled tsaraph), with the plural being seraphim, which means blazing ones.

Because of their magnificence the elect angels can easily be mistaken for deity (Revelation 19:10, Revelation 22:8-9), and fallen angels still lead people astray by masquerading as servants of righteousness and angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

It's no wonder then that Psalm 8:5 says that mankind was made lower than the angels. But, Hebrews 2:7-9 clarifies that this subjugation was only for “a little while,” indicating that mankind or a single man will be exalted above the angels someday. This was primarily fulfilled in the man Jesus Christ.

Some erroneous beliefs would declare that Jesus was an angel from eternity past (some say created, some say uncreated), but the scriptures are clear that he never was an angel, nor did he become an angel. Rather,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ~ John 1:1-3,14

While he is the preeminent human being, crowned with glory and honor and risen and reigning over all creation, he is not the only one who has been raised above angels. Paul asked a question that he seems to intend as rhetorical, which completely rocked my world, “Do you not know that we are to judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:3). Smarter men than I have pointed out that the word used for judge means both the condemnation of fallen angels, and an exalted state of dominion over the elect angels.

In only one sense will we be made equal to the angels: that in heaven we cannot die (Luke 20:36). But even in this equality it is far better to be a human. For a human being on earth has a perishable body; we know what it is to be frail and vulnerable and to taste the bitterness of sin, suffering, and death, so it will be oh so sweet when we put off this perishable body and put on an immortal imperishable body (1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

I feel bad for angels; they have perfect bodies without knowing the glory of a redeemed body. Their body just works; they don’t understand the pain or suffering or destitution of a broken body that groans constantly for salvation (2 Corinthians 5:1-10) or has received it (1 John 3:1-3).

The Human Redemption Story

Babies in heaven, even those that don’t know their right hand from their left hand (Jonah 4:11), have a better understanding of suffering and redemption than angels, and will be imperishable reminders to angels of how amazing God’s grace truly is, since they are risen and reigning with their Saviour. Because of your sufferings, Christ is actively bringing you to glory, perfecting you through trials, and sanctifying you, not ashamed to call you brother or sister (Hebrews 2:10-11). This is another definition of Tsaraph, to be cleansed by fire, such as,

I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, “They are my people”; and they will say, “The Lord is my God.” ~ Zechariah 13:9 (emphasis mine to point out Tsaraph)

1 Peter 1:7 is the New Testament version using the Greek word Dokimazo as the refining fire,

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith–more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire–may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (emphasis mine to point out Dokimazo)

Or as John Rippon said,

When through fiery trials thy pathways
     shall lie,
My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design,
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

In this, his suffering is the key reason that Jesus was exalted higher than the angels, and why we will be exalted above angels as well, when we reach heaven’s joys!

In that superb old hymn, Holy, Holy, the Angels Sing, Johnson Oatman puts it this way,

Then the angels stand and listen,
for they cannot join that song,
Like the sound of many waters,
by that happy, blood-washed throng;
For they sing about great trials,
battles fought and vict’ries won,
And they praise the great Redeemer,
who hath said to them, “Well done.”

Holy, holy, is what the angels sing,
And I expect to help them make
the courts of heaven ring;
But when I sing redemption’s story,
they will fold their wings,
For angels never felt the joys
that our salvation brings.

I disagree with Oatman on one small point: he says we’ll help the angels to make heaven ring. I say the angels will help us. Heaven is for us, not for them!

The Dwelling Place of God

While the Bible describes multitudes of angels in heaven, their abode is not the purpose of heaven. “The dwelling place of God is with men” (Revelation 21:3). Angels serve important functions in heaven (and the new creation) as guards (Hebrews 12:22-23), transportation (Matthew 24:31), bouncers (Matthew 13:41), music (Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8, 8:6), heralds (Luke 2:10), and ministering spirits to take care of God’s elect (Hebrews 1:14, Matthew 4:11). But heaven is not prepared for them.

Jesus told his disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2-3, compare Matthew 25:34, 1 Corinthians 2:9, Hebrews 11:16, Revelation 21:2), emphasizing that heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. In another sense the Spirit of Christ dwells in you right now (if you’ve been born again), a privilege that no angel can even fathom.

Certainly, angels will enjoy their place in heaven, but if given the option to be a human being or an angel in heaven, it is much better to be a redeemed, Spirit-indwelt, servant of the Lord than an angel.

In saying this, I am not blaspheming these glorious ones even one bit, they truly are magnificent, but their glory is dwarfed by the glory to be revealed even in the tiniest and least of saints in heaven. I think where angels really miss out is while we’re still here on earth.

The Limitations of Angels

Has an angel ever led anyone to Christ? Has a child? Psalm 8 further speaks of God establishing his strength through the voices of babies and infants (compare Matthew 21:16).

Some of my dearest friends sought the Lord after the death of a child, others were saved at memorial services for babies who died. Abel, though not a child, sets the precedent that even though someone has died, they may still speak (Hebrews 11:4). A child who died having never uttered a word can still point people to the creation, love, and redemption of the Saviour.

Other parents have followed their children into church and into the faith. Naaman’s entire journey to glory started when a little servant girl pointed him to salvation (2 Kings 5:3).

Angels can’t do several wonderful things that we can do, namely about being fruitful. Jesus is clear that angels don’t marry, and by extension don’t have babies (Matthew 22:30). Angels will rejoice when sinners come to repentance (Luke 15:10), but they don’t get to lead anyone to repentance.  While 1 Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4, 3 John 4 speak of men who became spiritual fathers, angels will never be blessed to lead anyone to Christ or disciple them in the faith.

Christian, you are called to do the work of an evangelist; the joy of leading people to the foot of a blood stained cross and calling them to repentance. An angel can only dream of that privilege.

Conclusion

Your baby in heaven is still a real, human child, perfected and redeemed; transformed to mirror the image of Jesus Christ. As exciting as it sounds to have wings, a voice like a roaring lion, and be perpetually blazing in God’s glory, it is far better to have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, to speak for heaven, and to dwell with him for eternity.

Your child did not become an angel. Angels are a completely different order of created beings. Your child is something far better: a glorified human soul, perfected in the likeness of Christ, reigning in a place of honor that angels can only look upon with wonder. ~ John MacArthur

Divorce is Not Your Saviour: A Refutation of Russell Moore

Is divorce the savior from danger and unhappiness? Russell Moore and his followers think so.

Introduction

Dr. Moore wrote an article in 2022 for Christianity Today titled Divorcing an Abusive Spouse is Not a Sin: Not only is it morally justified, it also aligns with Christ’s heart for the vulnerable. You might be wondering why I’m writing a refutation in 2026…the answer is simple, I didn’t see the article in 2022 and Christianity Today recently re-pushed it and it garnered quite a bit of interaction on social media. The first time I’d seen the article was in 2026, but I’ve heard the arguments from others for years and have refuted them numerous times in the counseling room. Now that I have a target, I’m publishing my refutation here in order to hopefully help someone draw near to Christ and hate the works of the evil one.

If you’ve followed Russell Moore for any length of time, you know he hates Jesus and his Word and is doing everything he can to tear down goodness and mercy and leave destruction in his wake. If you haven’t heard of Russell Moore, a brief internet search or a deeper dive into Allie Beth Stuckey’s Shepherds for Sale will help you understand. Even still, he has a massive following of people sporting dyed hair and spouting venomous vitriol putting up with him and championing him. He sneaks into households and captures weak women who are burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, and he has multitudes with itching ears flocking to him. If there is any consolation, it’s that God promises that he won’t get very far, and his folly will be plain to all. But though he won’t get far, he is getting somewhere, and he’s hurting people and blaspheming Christ.

A Hard Heart

In his article (I debated linking to it, but I don’t want to make it easy for anyone to sin, a brief internet search on the title will bring it up), Moore starts out quite strong, pointing out that divorce is a “concession to hardheartedness, not as God’s plan for marriage.” Lou Priolo, an excellent marriage counselor now in glory, would say that the only prerequisite for divorce is a hard heart. Unfortunately, Moore doesn’t spend any time on what hardheartedness does to a person. He misses or ignores that hard heartedness will blind eyes, dull hope, and chill love, ultimately cutting off relationships not just with people (Zechariah 7:9-10), but with God (Proverbs 28:14).

Divorce, because of this hardheartedness, needs to be hated with the anger equivalent to God’s hatred, understanding that God sees it as an act of violence and faithlessness, God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). A hard heart leaves desolation in its path (Zechariah 7:12-14). Russell Moore should hate divorce. Christians hate divorce. If you love God, you have to hate this evil (Romans 12:9). We’ve said for years,

Marriage is hard, divorce is hard. Choose your hard.

And

Marriage is blessed by God, divorce is hated by God; do you want to be blessed or cursed? Make your decision wisely.

Considering Abuse

Bear with me as I take a brief detour to address abuse. If you’re in a place of dangerous abuse, God is ready and willing to give you wisdom generously and without criticizing (James 1:5). You might say, “I don’t need wisdom, I need a divorce.” A divorce is a horrible savior; it makes all the promises and will fulfill none of them. It seems right, but its end is death (Proverbs 14:11-12, 16:24-25). Seek godly counsel. Pray unceasingly, read your Bible, understand what it says, and put it into action.

One of the shortest and yet most powerful prayers says, “Lord, if there is no purpose in this, take it away.” It’s based on Romans 8:28-29 and it recognizes that God has put you where you are, in the relationship you’re in, for a reason; for all of the things I can be in your spouse’s life, I cannot be their spouse. I can’t pray for them as God’s covenanted partner put in their life to seek their eternal wellbeing. I can help, but I can’t be their helpmeet custom designed by God for them.

Besides praying and reading your Bible, seek a godly pastor, ask a wise counselor, find a senior saint who has walked through decades of marriage fidelity or one who regrets their divorce with every fiber of their being. God wants you to thrive in life, love, and joy, and your faithfulness in this matter is his will for you to rejoice in, his Spirit is working unless you quench him (1 Thessalonians 5:17-19).

Divorce, for all of the reasons we hate it, is a sure way to extinguish the Spirit’s work in your life.

The people who wound you with their spiritual advice are likely the people who love you most, do not accumulate flatterers who will tell you only what you want to hear (Proverbs 27:6). God’s call is an upward call, and divorce is a downward regression that will only steal, kill, and destroy what God wants for you and your spouse.

If you're in violent abuse, we want it to stop. We need to get the right people involved. Our goal in both of your lives is perfect submission to the love and will of God in Christ Jesus. The strawman argument that comes to the forefront immediately is that this abuse will certainly end in death. Our immediate goal is that it doesn't, with our ultimate goal is that this relationship ends in life abundantly without regret. Love covers a multitude of sins. No-one is calling to let abuse continue or increase, and God is calling for repentance and life and growth and love.

He accepts us despite the way we are. He receives us only in Christ and for Christ's sake. Nor does he mean to leave us the way he found us, but to transform us into the likeness of his Son. ~ Sinclair Ferguson

If you're in a place of emotional abuse, we want it to stop. This is not easy, but we don't want anyone to be in such control of you that they can push you to consider self-harm or to question who you are in Christ. This is where the love of Christ constrains us; no matter what you're being told, you know who you are and who Christ is calling you to be. Remember, you can sit in absolute utter darkness and still have the light of Christ (Micah 7:8).

Paul calls the Christian to be hupernikomen, which translated is a hyper-winner, or more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37), a super-victor, someone who is so utterly convinced of Christ's love for them that they can face any foe with courage and grace.

No one is calling you to give up, and no one should be encouraging you to run from the fight; rather your fight is a spiritual battle for Christ's kingdom and the love of many. The very eternity of your spouse is at stake, and you are God's contender in the fight. If you won't pray and fight for and win this battle, who will?

Tearing Down Christianity with a False Christ

Back to the refutation: One of my main contentions with Russell Moore is that he is clearly drawing people who only like what he is saying about making divorce easy. In researching for this article I found multiple “open letters” from people lauding his efforts but upset that he is not going far enough to destroy marriage or make it easier to sin. No one is moving closer to Jesus because of his arguments. Multiple people tried to support Moore’s article to the effect of, “You’re totally right, that’s why I left the church and Christianity.” If actively helping people run from Jesus isn’t warning enough, look at the depths of the depravity of Russell Moore’s heart from the article,

What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. Yes and amen. But sometimes Jesus also would have us recognize that man should not force together what God has put asunder. ~ Russell Moore

Moore pulls the classic false teacher trick of quoting the Bible but using it to say exactly the opposite of what it means. He couldn’t be any more like Satan in that sentence using scripture to tempt the hearer to sin (confer Matthew 4:3-9). If someone says, “Jesus said…but”, you can know immediately that they are a false teacher. Moore does not give an example of when or where Jesus would have us recognize such an outlandish claim, he simply uses his false authority to contradict Jesus’ very clear command.

Leslie Vernick, another popular marriage hater, did the same thing when she definitively said, “God does not value the sanctity of marriage more than the safety and sanity of the people in it.” Despite her clearly acting the false prophet by speaking where God has not spoken, she ignores verses like, “Why are we in danger every hour?” and “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered” (1 Corinthians 15:30-31 and Romans 8:35). I’d like Russell Moore and Leslie Vernick to go to Nigeria tomorrow and tell our Nigerian brothers and sisters that God wants them to be safe. Christians won’t be hard to find, they’ve been gathering for months at funerals for Christians killed by terrorists.

God wants a lot of things in your life, but he does not have any interest in your being safe. If you are safe, or seek to make safety your life’s purpose, then chances are you are in great danger of meeting God as a Saviour scorned. There are many things worse than safety. Remember, even our own founders said things like, “Those who would give up essential liberty to purpose a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Divorce for Any Cause (Hillel versus Shammai)

Russell Moore’s contention is that abuse is the same as abandonment, and therefore warrants divorce. This idea is almost identical to the original context of Jesus’ conversation with the Pharisees in Matthew 19:3, when they ask, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” (emphasis mine). There was a massive debate happening at that time between a rabbi (teacher) named Hillel and a rabbi named Shammai. Shammai held to the sanctity of marriage and defended it at all costs. Hillel on the other hand said that a man could divorce his wife for any cause, including burning dinner, being contentious, or outgrowing her youthful beauty. Jesus shows very clearly that Shammai had rightly interpreted the texts, and that God has brought the couple together and they are not to be separated (Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:5-9). In so doing, Jesus refutes the Hillel argument of any cause. Yet Moore, always learning and always unable to arrive at the truth, misses this historical context and adds his own any cause: abuse.

Where Russell Moore is to be most condemned (may God have mercy on his soul and may he be saved before he faces God after having stored up wrath for so many years) is that he never defines abuse. Hillel would define abuse as being a bad cook, or speaking to strangers in the street, or just being mean. So do so many of Moore’s followers. I’ve personally counseled a number of people who defined abuse as turning off credit cards in the wake of unwise and unfettered spending, of working late without a phone call or text, or of using the family’s only car to drive to work and leaving them at home. Two other counselors have told me that they’ve counseled wives who felt that their husband not cleaning up after themselves was abuse. And the most painful abuse case comes from the imagination of the accuser; things like, “They’ve never hit me, but I knew it was coming” or “I had a premonition” or “I can’t prove it, but I know it’s true.”

Imaginary abuse is especially deceitful, because it’s impossible to repent of something you’ve only committed in someone else’s imagination.

Abuse, aka any cause, is a very subjective term, even if it were grounds for divorce. You only need to look at the comments of Moore’s divorced followers to see that they have not sought the will of God in their lives (I’m adding Bible verses afterwards to refute them):

Called names (When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure… ~ 1 Corinthians 4:12)

Required submission (Wives, submit to your husbands, as to the Lord. ~ Ephesians 5:22)

Blamed for problems (This is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, on endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ~ 1 Peter 2:19)

Created a loveless marriage (For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:6-8, and In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us… ~ 1 John 4:10)

Harsh words, anger, disrespect (Get behind me, Satan! ~ Matthew 16:23, Jesus to a member of his bride the church)

Breaking of the marriage vows (If we are faithless, he remains faithful… ~ 2 Timothy 2:13; your vows aren’t just to your spouse, they are between you and God)

The idea that "abuse of any kind is grounds for divorce" came up repeatedly, yet every single poster ignored that Jesus was willingly crucified by his bride to save his bride (Ephesians 5:25-26, Acts 2:36). Moore’s great failing, after rejecting everything Jesus said, is that he doesn’t define his terms and allows his audience to define his terms any way they want. Would he agree with them? He's never refuted them, but I hope he would.

Russell Moore is the modern-day Hillel, that any reason that a person can be offended is grounds for divorce. According to Moore and his followers, your happiness and preferences are God’s ultimate goal, and divorce is your savior. This ultimately helps people become the victim in their story, and it has been wisely stated that

When you make someone a victim, you cut them off from the gospel.

Moore is not just wrong on divorce, he’s wrong on salvation and eternity which are continually expressed in terms of a marriage covenant (Ephesians 5:25, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Revelation 19:9, etc.), and this will cost him and his hearers their souls.

Paul warned Timothy, “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:16). In playing fast and loose with the teaching, Moore is condemning both himself and his hearers, substituting a very poor savior in place of the Saviour who submitted himself to God’s will, suffered AND died, was abused, was demeaned, who hated the shame, but endured the cross for God’s will and glory, and is seated even now at the right hand of the Father, exalted and reigning, having won a bride for his own possession that he is actively sanctifying.

Repentance from Abuse

Moore’s next heinous failing is that he doesn’t consider repentance or forgiveness not once in his article. If and when abuse happens, for some reason Russell Moore has snipped “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8, Proverbs 10:12, Proverbs 17:9) straight out of his Bible (if he owns a Bible).

There is no view to reconciliation anywhere in Moore’s reasoning. He also doesn’t consider winning spouses (1 Corinthians 7:16) or serving them (1 Peter 3:1-2) or sacrificing for them (Ephesians 5:28-31) or making peace to be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9). He misses completely that the goal of marriage is to make both people holy, and love and patience are meant to lead people to repentance (Romans 2:4, 1 Peter 3:1-2)! We've said elsewhere that marriage is a competition in forgiveness. I hope I win, with the implication that'll I've have sinned less, hurt less, and loved more. But I'm sure my wife will win, and in that, we both win.

All of the vitriol from the disciples of Moore was based on offenses, never once considering, “Why not rather suffer wrong?” (1 Corinthians 6:7, or as Elizabeth Elliot said it, “Why not be wronged?”). For a crowd that attacks those that disagree with them for judging, they have no issue judging that their ex-spouses were unrepentant and would never change. They were sure they had married utter antichrists with no hope of redemption or growth. And why would they expect someone to be able to change?

Moore posits a false gospel of comfort and safety, not a gospel that transforms people, the very people that betrayed and crucified Jesus, into friends of God.

Moore’s Christianity has no room for the dead to live or the sinner to be saved, or Christ’s greatest enemies to even become members of the body that is his bride. Jesus said that if a person says “I repent,” you must forgive them (Luke 17:4, emphasis mine). He did not say test their repentance to be sure it is genuine, he did not say to set up your own requirements of repentance or sincerity, he did not say to keep a record of wrongs. Instead, 1 Corinthians 13 (all about love) says that love believes and hopes all things. How would you fare if Jesus forgot there was a 1 Corinthians 13 in the Bible and treated you how you’ve treated him, or if he kept a record of your abuses against him?

The cure for Moore’s horrendous heresy is as simple as, “As you wish that others would do to you, do so to them” (Luke 6:31). A spouse that runs to preserve their life will lose their life. The bitterness, poverty, and family impact speaks for itself. Julie Ganschow has heard children say, "The death of a parent would have been easier than the divorce..." A spouse who stays and battles in prayer and love and hope is a spouse that will gain their life (Luke 17:33) and build up their household (Consider Proverbs 14:3-4, Proverbs 14:1, Ephesians 5:15-33). Stand for Jesus in the ways that he fought for his bride:

You’re never more like Jesus than when you’re loving and forgiving an unlovable spouse.

Who knows if God won’t save them? And truly there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous spouses who need no repentance. Regardless if God saves them or not, your suffering is never in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58), and is nothing in comparison to the glory that is to be revealed in and to us (Romans 8:18) when Christ returns or calls us home.

Conclusion

I’m not sure why I’m still so shocked when Russell Moore shows that he has been taken captive by the devil to do his will, but his blatant disregard of clear biblical commands continues to break my heart, and seeing so many men and women who have been made twice the sons and daughters of hell as himself continues to crush and burden me. Plenty of other teachers are trying to resurrect the heresy of Hillel and destroy marriage, but Moore is being especially loud.

Years ago, before he showed his true allegiance, Russell Moore spoke on Christian military members being embedded missionaries in a closed country, and my heart was knit to his for the wisdom of that statement and sermon. Perhaps that is why his apostasy has crushed my spirit so completely; he is my Demas (2 Timothy 4:10).

Russell Moore has shown here and repeatedly that he hates God, so it is no surprise that he hates God’s covenant of marriage. In making divorce easy, Moore is leading many on the broad road to destruction, encouraging them to take lightly the vows they made to each other and in the name of God. In teaching people to run away from minor offenses and to withhold forgiveness, he is cutting them off from forgiveness. It's not just a marriage that won't reach the 50-year anniversary, it's a sinner who will spend eternity in hell. Russell Moore doesn’t just hate God and marriage, he hates you and wants you to be cut off from life and hope and peace and Jesus. He’s not saying it quite that clearly, but his constant attack on God’s Word while teaching you to doubt and rebel against the true Saviour proves that there is no love in his heart for God or neighbor.

If the greatest danger to your soul is pain and discomfort, then divorce is a viable savior. But if your greatest need is to know God, be conformed to Jesus Christ, and to love your neighbors, then we learn to hate divorce as we hold fast to the good. In teaching you to hear the Words of Christ and to do exactly the opposite, Moore is encouraging people to build their lives and eternities on a foundation that will collapse, and great will be their fall. In teaching them that marriage can be broken for a burned dinner, an unkind word, or any other cause (regardless of how dangerous it is), he is denying the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.

It is all a massive and disastrous false gospel yet many are following it to their destruction.

We’ve called it Christianity Astray for so many years and they’re going from bad to worse. Pray with me that God will grant Moore and his followers repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.

Beloved, don’t take my word for it, study God’s Word and consider how Jesus loves his bride, and how his covenant and promises will never fail. What therefore God has joined together, let not Hillel or Moore or you or any other person separate. Soften your heart, look to Jesus, the perfect bridegroom, and imitate him in how he loves his wayward and abusive beloved, his is a gospel of peace in the midst of the storm, and he is the bridegroom able to deck you in garments of salvation (Isaiah 61:10). He is your only hope for life and peace and an eternity with God.

Salutations

Reader, if you're contemplating divorce or regretting divorce, know that if you confess your sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Find someone who will stand on the truths of the Bible to help you work through your confession and repentance. But above all, look to Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.

Abuser (for lack of a better title), if you're reading this trying to figure out how to manipulate your partner back, know that your only hope is to humble yourself and seek the Lord. He is the only one that can change your heart and make your spouse trust you again. Jesus said of the very people crucifying him, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34), seek his forgiveness and righteousness first, for only then will all things be added to you (Matthew 6:33). Seek a godly counselor and do your best to make reconciliation easy for your spouse.

Counselor and Counsel, know that your advice will require an account on Judgment Day, and when Jesus said, "What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate," he was talking to you as well as the Pharisees. Pray and consider what God wants you to do, and ensure you can honestly say you're trying to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," with everything you say and do.

Dr. Moore, you’re in my prayers, and I implore you, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, be reconciled to God.

in Christ's service and yours,
Canyon

A Christian Response to Religious Accommodation Requests for Beards

Religious accommodation has been a hot topic in the last few years without much effort to deny it or discern if it’s helpful. Now that we’ve had some time to look back on what these requests accomplished it has become clear that in many cases there was no spiritual benefit to the requestor, nor discernment in the approving authorities.

I am not blameless, not in the least, having helped to push through my fair share of religious accommodations. Most were not from the Judeo-Christian foundation, but some were, and in the last few years, especially the last few months, God has shown me several things from the scriptures that I want to write down for future reference and posterity.

While the following can apply to any follower of the Bible and the one true God, I am basing my observations on the Bible, not Jewish tradition or the Talmud or history, so it may or may not resonate with those who have added to the Hebrew scriptures. I’ll reference some historical figures here, but they’re to buttress the argument, not to act as the foundation. This article is written from a Baptist (Protestant/Evangelical/Fundamental/Confessional/Calvinistic) perspective.

Service Before Self

The first thing I want to say is that most religious accommodation requests should never have been submitted. I base this on the principal of laying down our rights for the privilege of serving our fellow man. Paul surrendered his rights for the blessing of preaching the gospel,

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my workmanship in the Lord?...Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?...If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others have this rightful claim on you, do we not even more?

Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ…

But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision…for thought I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:1,3-5, 7, 11-12, 15 (emphasis mine)

That’s definitive for me; the idea that religious freedom is meant to serve an individual is crazy. I like religious freedom and the First Amendment; it has done far more good than bad, but individual religious accommodation requests destroy service before self. It'd be easy to still uphold religious freedom on a much larger scale: If you hold to a religion that requires you not to eat meat, put it on your official record and be instantly afforded an option to purchase food somewhere other than the dining facility that caters predominantly to the vast majority of people who have no qualms about eating what they are serving.

If you are a member of a religion that highly recommends beards but doesn't mandate them, you're either going to need to speak to the ruling board of the religion and get them to change their traditions to mandates, or you're going to have to admit that "highly recommended" means optional.

If you're against war but a member of a church that isn't against war (think Alvin York), then conform your beliefs to your supposed spiritual authority, expect to be treated by the tenets your religious beliefs, or find a religion that aligns with your beliefs.

If you’re not convinced by scripture, consider these quotes:

Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country. ~ John Fitzegerald Kennedy

Let good citizens prefer the public good to their own private interest... For a citizen who consults only his own disgusts or profits is a parasite upon the commonwealth. ~ Cicero

No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his well-being, to risk his body, to risk his life, in a great cause. ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Defending True Religious Accommodation

Sometimes there is a place for a religious accommodation, and I want to emphasize that there is a time to say, “whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20), and “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 4:29).

But, most of the requests are optional and are not matters of spiritual fidelity. If we treat all requests as valid, then we cheapen the real wrestlings of men like Desmond Doss and entire religions that served in non-combat roles, accomplishing wonderful things for the service of the United States. We need people like them so that if the government asks us to bow before idols or wage unjust wars or pray to anyone other than the living God, we have legal precedent and past wisdom to fight for God’s righteousness and his calling in our lives.

Hugh Latimer is famous for preaching an incredibly harsh message to King Henry VIII and being threatened with his life if he didn’t recant by the following Sunday. The very next Sunday he preached the same sermon with renewed fervor. Before preaching he asked himself aloud,

Hugh Latimer, dost thou know before whom thou art this day to speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the king's most excellent majesty, who can take away thy life if thou offendest; therefore take heed that thou speakest not a word that may displease!

But then consider well, Hugh, dost thou not know from whence thou comest; upon whose message thou art sent? Even by the great and mighty God! Who is all present! And who beholdeth all thy ways! And who is able to cast thy soul into hell! Therefore, take care that thou deliverest thy message faithfully. ~ Hugh Latimer

After the sermon Henry, instead of executing Latimer, laughed out loud and remarked that he wished he had more ministers with such conviction and integrity towards God.

In this case we must remember whole heartedly the United States Marine Corps Motto: Semper Fidelis, or Always Faithful. Most of our religious accommodation requests have been about fidelity to ourselves, not to our God nor to our country. We’ve expended tremendous time and effort for individuals who were just trying to be served, and this is not right. No wonder so few were helped by this process, even when their requests were nearly unanimously approved. In trying to waive or change the laws of the country or organizations for individuals, we’ve failed to put service before self.

So, reader, learn this lesson well: religious accommodation is only warranted when those laws or policies directly contradict the will and commands of God. In cases of contradiction, all individuals are called to choose to serve God rather than men, even if it costs them dearly. If the law or policy is unjust, then it should be fought and fixed at the appropriate legislative level, not at the individual level. Lawmakers and policy makers must consider this before pushing mass requirements or mandates.

If we are faithful to religious liberty and human flourishing within organizations (discipline is good for people, despite what we’ve been led to believe: consider 1 Timothy 4:7-8, 2 Timothy 2:4, Hebrews 12:3-11), then we’ll see morale improve, a common goal be upheld, and individuals seek the highest and best usefulness of their team, nation, and world.

A person who is convinced that they cannot submit to the orders of those appointed over them while serving God should be helped to transition, within a reasonable timeframe, to a place where they can serve God and their conscience, which may very well be outside of the organization.

Permanently exiting an organization for a spiritual conviction may sound harsh, but as we learned by kowtowing to every request, the organization will soon stand for nothing. Take the military for example: the emphasis very quickly turned from defending the country to avoiding lawsuits and bad press. Fading away from long-standing convictions quickly led to forgetting priorities and allocating manpower to things that didn’t matter and didn’t help anyone, even the people requesting the help.

Nazarite Vow

Now, the top of this list is beards. The United States military has long held to the tradition of a clean-shaven appearance. Right or wrong, this is the currently codified law of the United States military. Every military member has raised their right hand and stated that they will obey orders. Beards were the main topic recently, and certainly will be again, so I want to consider a few things from a Judeo-Christian worldview on whether beards are an integral part of the faith.

First though, I want to look at temporary concessions where I think we can work with people for their good and the furtherance of the organizations where they’ll work. Take for example the Nazarite vow. Outlined in Numbers chapter six we see that a Nazarite vow has a lot of requirements. If you don’t want to read the whole list, know that it has dietary, grooming, sanitary, and sacrificial requirements. The Nazarite vow is an opportunity to seek the Lord in a similar way as a Levitical priest:

1. Open for men or women from any (or no) tribe (Numbers 6:2)
2. Was done intentionally for the purpose of holiness (Numbers 6:2)
3. Required abstaining from wine and strong drink (Numbers 6:3)
4. Required abstaining from vinegar made from wine or spirits (Numbers 6:3)
5. Required abstaining from all grape products (Numbers 6:3-4)
6. Was for a predetermined amount of time (Numbers 6:4, though lifelong exceptions occurred elsewhere)
7. Precluded the cutting of the hair on the head, neither the beard nor the locks (hair) (Numbers 6:5)
8. Required avoiding approaching or touching a dead body (Numbers 6:6-7)
9. Required readiness to completely shave your head and making offering of doves if a dead body was touched (Numbers 6:9)
10. Required quite a few offerings, including a ewe lamb, a ram, and bread (Numbers 6:14-17)
11. Required completely shaving your head and burning your hair at the conclusion (Numbers 6:18)
12. Came with an OPTIONAL additional contribution (Numbers 6:21)

All this to say, it’s not an easy vow, and while it does allow for the wearing of a beard, this is not a standalone command. The only optional pieces of this vow are

1. If you’re going to take it
2. How long you’re going to observe it
3. If you want to include a monetary offering at the end

Paul upheld the vow and paid the expenses (likely the mandatory offerings from verses 14-17 and the optional offering from verse 21) of four Jews in Jerusalem as well as observing his own Nazarite vow in Acts 18:18.

To make it more complicated, we see men like Daniel observing a sort of vow in Daniel 10:3, similar to a Nazarite vow, but mainly focusing on avoiding wine and meat (of which the Nazarite vow says nothing) and anointing, and there is no indication that he shaved his head afterwards. Daniel’s fast or vow lasted twenty-one days. Mephibosheth also observed a modified version when he knew David’s life was in danger (2 Samuel 19:24).

So, all of this to say, we should be accommodating people who want to take temporary vows like this. If it’s in the military where there is some chance that interacting with a dead body is possible, the member should have a good plan to end the vow early (v.9). If they’re fasting from meat like Daniel, and there is a chance they will be in an austere location where vegetarian food is unavailable, they need to be sure they’ll serve others instead of endangering them, which may included breaking their vow early.

If the member is serious about growing a beard, ask them if they’d be willing to take leave; this could be part of the optional offering. We don’t want to be legalistic, as Daniel shows us there are other options, but we do want to be sincere and ensure our people are sincere. Again, the ultimate purpose of the Nazarite vow is to serve God, not to impose our rights or desires on others.

Joseph – The Shaved Ambassador

Do we have an example of someone who was serving God and people in austere, less than ideal, conditions? Yes we do. Was he required to wear a beard? Quite the opposite. Joseph spent years (at least two, maybe as many as thirteen: see Genesis 37:2, 41:1, 41:46) in prison, undoubtedly growing a pretty substantial beard. When it became apparent to the Pharaoh of Egypt that Joseph could help him, Joseph was summoned quickly. But he did not go directly to Pharaoh, the text is clear that he took some time to clean himself up, which included shaving his beard (Genesis 41:14).

There are many people worthy to be emulated in the Bible, none more so than Jesus Christ, but Joseph is near the top of that list. If Joseph took time to make himself presentable in service, and he did, then you’ll be very hard-pressed to convince me that the wear of a beard is a significant part of Christianity.

Shame in Shaving

But, you might say, shaving was seen as shameful in 2 Samuel 10 when a band of David’s men were mistreated and half their beards were shaved off and their clothing was rent in twain. The purpose of David leaving these men in hiding until their beards grew back was not so that they’d have beards, it was to let the reminder fade from how they had been shamefully treated on a diplomatic peace-making trip to supposed allies.

The shaving of half their beards was an outward sign of someone else’s sin and the inward shame of David’s men; the shaving was not the point, if it was the Ammonites would have shaved their whole heads. If any of your members are mistreated by an enemy, learn from this story to seek to restore them from their shame.

In Christianity, we see this mirrored by the transformation that turns sinners into saints (consider 1 Corinthians 6:9-11), who used to be horrible lawbreakers but are now washed, justified, and sanctified.

Jesus’ Beard

You might say, “Jesus had a beard! As a follower of Jesus, I should imitate him by having a beard! After all, 1 Corinthians 11:1 and 1 John 2:6 and 1 Peter 2:21!”

Have you ever studied how we know that Jesus had a beard? It is only mentioned in one place in scripture, Isaiah 50:6, where we see it torn from his face by those who were persecuting him. If Jesus’ beard somehow made him more holy, pious, or righteous, then we would expect the Bible to make something of it, rather than show that it was used to increase his obedience (to allow people to mistreat him) and shame and sorrow. Early Christians like Polycarp, Irenaeus, and Justin Martyr don’t mention Jesus having a beard at all, except to quote Isaiah 50:6.

Charles Spurgeon and Clement of Alexandria made arguments from nature that a beard is natural, scriptural, manly, and beneficial, and I can agree with them on all of those. But beards are all still optional. Spurgeon went on to say,

You might put on tomorrow a garment without seam, woven from the top throughout; you might put sandals on the soles of your feet; you might wear your beard uncut, and so say, “In all this I seek to be like Christ,” and you might even ride through the streets of Jerusalem upon a colt, the foal of a [donkey], but you would be no more like Christ than you are now. The greatest conformity to his image must be within. (emphasis mine)

Become an imitator of Christ by coming not to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45), and enduring the suffering he endured (Romans 8:17-18, 1 Peter 4:1-3).

Final Thoughts

If a person wants to grow a beard, they are welcome to do it outside of an organization that requires it.

If you want to anoint your beard with oil, then do so physically outside of the military or when you’re on leave. If you want to do it metaphorically, then humble yourself and promote unity among brothers (Psalm 133:1-2, compare 1 John 2:20), there's no law against that. In multiple cases the beard was the downfall of the wearer (1 Samuel 17:35 (granted, it’s a lion that suffered, but it’s impossible to grab something by the beard if they don’t have a beard…) and 2 Samuel 20:9).

In other places it was a source of shame (like David’s servants, and Jesus’ humiliation). Ezra and Ezekiel used their beards to express mourning and judgement over the sin of the people (Ezra 9:2-6, Ezekiel 5:1-17). If Ezra didn’t have a beard, would he have been able to express his mourning? If Ezekiel didn’t have a beard, would he have been able to illustrate God’s judgment? In both cases these were apt illustrations, not requirements.

Conclusion

There is no room for religious accommodation for physical reasons in Christianity, only in matters dealing with eternity. When it comes to these eternal accommodations, we’re not waiting for it to get approved on earth, we’re announcing that it is already approved in heaven.

Which Way to Pray?

Some years ago I was in the Middle East and wanted to purchase a Persian rug. From a previous trip I already had a nice large area rug, so I was just looking for a small throw rug. I picked one out, rolled it up, and brought it home. When I unrolled it, I unexpectedly tripped over something. Upon inspection, there was a small compass strategically glued to one end of the rug. I realized that it wasn’t just a Persian rug, it was a prayer rug, and the compass was meant to help a person kneeling on it find the direction to the Kaaba in Mecca, the location to which Muslims pray (Here’s a random fact: if you really wanted to pray toward Mecca from most places in the world, you’d pray downwards through the earth…unless we believe that prayers are affected by gravity and circumnavigate the globe).

I removed the compass and put that rug to work as a throw rug, but to this day there is still some glue residue in that spot. The real residue was the thought that stuck in my mind that day: Why don't Christians still pray in a certain direction?

After all, Daniel prayed in a certain direction from his exile in Persia,

When Daniel knew [that the document making prayer to anyone other than Darius illegal] had been signed, he went to his house where he had the windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. ~ Daniel 6:10 (emphasis mine)

Unlike Muslims, Daniel had a reason for praying toward Jerusalem. This was where the temple had been, and where God made his dwelling place on earth. When this temple was dedicated something interesting happened, while this was the dwelling place of God on earth, Solomon did not pray toward the temple, he “knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven…” (2 Chronicles 6:13, emphasis mine). Despite the dwelling place of God being with men, and the temple being completed, Solomon still prayed toward heaven.

Further he said, “Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built” (2 Chronicles 6:18), but then he said something that explained Daniel’s directional prayer,

Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you, that your eyes may be open day and night toward this house, the place where you have promised to set your name, that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. And listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen from heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. ~ 2 Chronicles 6:19-20 (emphasis mine, Compare 1 Kings 8:30-48)

It wasn’t until Solomon finished his prayer that God filled the temple,

As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. ~ 2 Chronicles 7:1 (emphasis mine)

Others who prayed toward Jerusalem were Jonah even from the belly of a fish (Jonah 2:4,7) and David when the temple of God was still just a tabernacle (Psalm 5:7).

But those who prayed fervently but without a physical direction include Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4-6), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:1-3), and Jeremiah (Lamentations 3:55-57), and most importantly, Jesus.

When Jesus visited Samaria there was a pile of rubble on top of Mount Gerizim and the temple on Mount Zion (in Jerusalem) had been rebuilt by Zerubbabel and renovated/expanded by Herod (which is why we call it “Herod’s temple”, I still call it “Zerubbabel’s temple”). Yet the Samaritans still insisted that Gerizim was the proper place to worship God. A Samaritan woman saw her chance to ask a prophet which mountain was the right mountain: “Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but y’all say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship” (John 4:20, y’all is the proper translation of her question, implying that Judeans (the country surrounding Jerusalem), not just Jesus, said that Zion was the location of God’s temple). Jesus answered,

The hour is coming when neither on this mountain (Gerizim) nor in Jerusalem (Zion) will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews (an abbreviated way to say Judeans). But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. ~ John 4:21-24

Jesus’ answer is clear, the proper place to pray to the Father is not location or direction dependent, it’s from the inward places: in spirit and truth. When I teach this to kids I point to the heart, “in spirit and,” I point to the head, “in truth."

In the Daniel account it’s easy to see why Daniel would pray toward Jerusalem. Or is it? To make it complicated, in Ezekiel 10 the glory of the Lord had departed from the temple, we call it “ichabod” or literally, “The Glory Has Departed” (the “i” is a negation of “chabod” or glory). So God no longer lived in Solomon’s temple…and there was no Solomon’s temple. Solomon’s temple had been burned not too long after the event of ichabod. This was some four decades before Daniel would pray in that direction. It is almost guaranteed that Daniel was familiar with those two events, yet he still prayed toward Jerusalem. Charles Spurgeon believed it was because Jerusalem was the symbol of God’s covenant promises, remembering God’s specific promises to restore his people, in another place he mentioned that Daniel had an expectation of a rebuilt temple. I believe Daniel knew the temple would be rebuilt because he prophesied that it would be destroyed again (Daniel 9:26), a prophecy that was fulfilled when Roman General Titus destroyed the temple in AD 70 and its stones were ripped one from another to access the gold that had flowed between them in a molten state (Matthew 24:2).

So while Daniel prayed toward Jerusalem, the time has come and is now here where we don’t pray toward Jerusalem because it’s no longer where God lives. We worship him in spirit and in truth. His temple and dwelling place on earth is his church, made up of living stones, and while another temple will be built sometime in the future, it won’t be where God lives. Jews still pray towards the Temple Mount at the Wailing Wall, but Christians pray in a different direction.

So which way do we pray? We pray toward God, "Our God is in the heavens, he does whatever he pleases" (Psalm 115:3, emphasis mine). Psalm 121:1-2 says that when the Psalmist looked to the hills, he wondered, “Where does my help come from?” It’s not from earth or sky, it’s from the maker of these things! In another place it says, “To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!” (Psalm 123:1, emphasis mine).

Jesus prayed for his disciples and all who would come to faith through their words by lifting up his eyes toward heaven (John 17:1). But David in Psalm 40:12 and 138:2, Ezra in Ezra 9:6, and the tax collector in Luke 18:13 looked down, in humility and shame. Why is that some would look up and others would look down?

Job 22:26 gives us the answer, that we delight ourselves in the Almighty and “lift up our faces to God.” We see the Israelites in the desert looking up, but not to heaven, toward a different object. Moses made a bronze serpent in the shape of the curse that was afflicting the wandering Israelites: if they’d look up, they would be healed and saved from the curse of their sin (Numbers 21:9). Jesus explicitly tells us that was a foreshadowing of him being lifted up on the cross (John 3:14-17), where we would would look to him, all the ends of the earth, and be saved (Isaiah 45:22).

When we pray we still hold to the example of that tax-collector, and humility is good, but it’s not the only way to pray. Often in the counseling room I’ll be actively and silently praying while listening to someone talk. It would be very distracting to bow my head right then and there. While driving it would be very inadvisable to close your eyes and bow your head. We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), but that doesn’t mean literally that we should be driving with our eyes closed. I learned long ago to give invitations for the whole man, “With every head raised, every eye open, no feet moving, and no music playing: God is ready to hear your prayer of repentance, he’ll meet you at your seat or the altar is open.”

The most important direction to pray is toward God. Hezekiah, when he was dying, turned away from men so that he could pray directly to God (2 Kings 20:2-3, Isaiah 38:2-3), the Israelites had to look away from Moses and the fiery snakes to look to the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:9), the Psalmist looked away from the hills to seek help from the Lord (Psalm 121:1-2). The author of Hebrews tells us to run the race looking to Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). Where does God dwell? He dwells in the heavens, but he also lives in you if you’ve been born again (John 14:17, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Timothy 1:14). In humility I recommend head bowed and eyes closed, in exaltation I recommend head raised and eyes up. We know the cross is just a symbol, but beloved try praying while looking to the cross, which is both a horrid symbol of the curse and a glorious symbol of God’s love. Stuart Townend wrote, “Come see the cross where love and mercy meet!” (Psalm 85:10-11).

And what about facing people? We rarely lay hands on those we’re praying for, but Jesus and Paul didn’t hesitate to physically touch those they were praying for. I’m not a mystic (dabbling in mysteries) but I have to admit that there is something mystically wonderful in the laying on of hands (compare 1 Timothy 4:14, 5:22) as well as lifting holy hands toward heaven (Nehemiah 8:6, Psalm 28:2, Psalm 63:4, Psalm 119:48, Psalm 134:2, Psalm 141:2, 1 Timothy 2:8, Hebrews 12:12).

When I and many other pastors give the benediction, we lift our hands in the direction of the congregation. This isn’t just tradition, this is following the example of Jesus, “He led [his disciples] out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them” (Luke 24:50, compare Leviticus 9:22).

Now here’s where I might take this a bit too far, but I don’t think there is any sin in it. Daniel prayed toward Jerusalem, toward a destroyed temple, toward a hope for the future, and toward a place where he longed for the Spirit of God to dwell again. If you have a loved one who is running from God, I think your heart can yearn for them by praying in their general direction. After all, what are they but an empty structure where God has no dwelling place (Ephesians 2:1-3)? Our great desire is that they may be saved (Romans 9:3, 10:1), that God would make his dwelling place among them and walk among them, and that he would be their God and they would be his people (2 Corinthians 6:16). The Prodigal Son’s father was looking in the direction whence his son might return (Luke 15:20). Pray that they would say like Emily Elliott, "O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee."

Now, you don’t have to pray in their general or specific direction, especially if you don’t know where they are. The greatest place to approach is the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). God knows where they are, even if they’re running, and it’s been rightly said (generally using Jonah 1:3 as an example), “God can hit a moving target.” So pray ultimately toward God for your wayward prodigal:

They can run from you, they can run from their upbringing, they can run from the church, they can run from God, but they can never run from your prayers. ~ Andrew van der Bijl

Paul concluded his list of spiritual warfare accoutrements with, “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (Ephesians 6:18). Elsewhere we pray unceasingly (1 Thessalonians 1:2, 3:10, 5:17, 2 Thessalonians 2:17). Pray that God will direct their hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

Our prayers can go where we cannot; there are no borders, no prison walls, no doors that are closed to us when we pray. ~ Andrew van der Bijl

So, all this to say, pray toward God. Pray toward his dwelling place, pray toward his Son, pray toward his Spirit. Pray looking up, pray looking down. Pray with eyes open beholding the horror of the cross, pray with eyes open in wonder beholding the empty cross because his work is finished and he is risen. Pray with eyes closed to shut out distractions, pray with head bowed to express your humility. Pray with hands lifted high, pray with hands laid on people (his temple on earth) within the church, pray toward the empty people you want God to indwell, pray towards the people filled with bitterness you want God to cleanse.

And above all, if you don’t know which direction to pray: Just pray.

Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord! ~ Psalm 134:2

Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven! ~ Lamentations 3:41

Jesus said to them, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ~ John 14:6

And if, by some happenstance, you do pray in the wrong direction or way, know that both the Son and the Spirit are actively praying for you if you've repented of your sins and are fully trusting in Jesus Christ for your comfort and salvation, and their prayers are perfect (Romans 8:27, Hebrews 7:25), and the Father will hear you directly, in Jesus' name (John 16:26-27), amen.

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Further Reading:

Better Chaplain Series – Pray for People

The Privilege of Prayer