Questions from Our Readers

Iassume the question refers to the preaching although it also may refer to God’s people or even the visible church in general. I think we need to take this question seriously. We live in very confusing times when it comes to matters of doctrine and understanding true spiritual life. Many young people have serious questions regarding the true work of the Lord in the heart. What is it and what is it not? The difference between the common and saving work of the Holy Spirit is less and less perceived. In the meantime, our children and grandchildren are almost continuously confronted with statements and expressions which— though they sound biblical—are often quoted out of context or worse, “cliche-like.” Many parents struggle to explain to their children what such phrases and matters mean. The guidance of Word and Spirit is indispensable. The phrase lift up the name of Jesus is not necessarily a biblical expression. In fact, when one checks the concordance, he will find that man does not lift up the Lord, but it is the Lord who lifts up man (see e.g. Psalms 3:3, 18:48, 27:6, and 28:9.) This, of course, does not mean that lifting up the name of the Lord is unbiblical at all, because there are several texts (again from the Psalms), which clearly state so: Psalm 34:3, 99:5&9, and 107:32. And the wellknown text out of Philippians 2 speaks about God exalting Christ and every knee bowing…

What is meant by lifting up the name of the Lord is best explained by Christ Himself in the first petition of the prayer He taught His disciples. Let us note in the explanation of the Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 47 that this lifting up (or sanctifying, glorifying, praising etc.) of the name of the Lord first of all flows from the right knowledge of Thee. Thee here refers to God the Father in all His attributes, of which the Catechism mentions only a few: God’s power, wisdom, goodness, justice, mercy, and truth. What a wonder it is when the Lord is pleased to reveal something of Himself and this becomes the object of heartfelt and humble worship. Let us remember that this always flows from the right knowledge of God and does not limit itself to only the name of Jesus. Salvation is the work of a Triune God. Is it possible that there is a lack of lifting up the name of the Lord because there is a lack of such discerning knowledge? Do our children hear from their parents and teachers in school what such knowledge is and how and where this is obtained? Do we still speak biblically with our children and young people when it concerns these things?

I am afraid that the lack of knowledge adds much to the confusion of our time. Many complaints center around the worshipping, (lack of) faith and hope and believing in Jesus. But is it possible that the name of Jesus is not lifted up because man has not been brought down? Is it possible that the name of Jesus is not exalted because man exalts himself in the very act of exalting Christ? I know this reads like a paradox, but let us search and try our ways. Let us remember that godly sorrow is better than false joy.

May I suggest a food for thought? Rest assured, Christ is being exalted at the right hand of the Father ever since He gloriously entered heaven after His ascension. God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name (Philippians 2:9). And yes, every knee should bow and every tongue should confess and lift up that name. We are all called to do so, but are not those that truly do so the ones who also learn that God in Christ lifts up that name for and in them? Such souls often complain that they are so lacking in not doing what they desire to do with all their heart.

Dear reader, those who at times may lift up the name of Jesus are people feeling most guilty of not doing it enough. A sinner who may at times by grace lift up the name of Jesus is one who is taught to do so by the Holy Ghost who witnesses in the heart. Remember that there are fruits that accompany such glorying. One of such precious fruits is a deep sense of one’s own unworthiness and insignificance— a loathing of self and humbling oneself in the dust before God. In other words, the humility that accompanies the lifting up of the name of Jesus is a strange thing: the minute you think you have it, you’ve lost it… Can I ever say of myself that I did it sufficiently, humbly, etc?

Woe to the unregenerate sinner who still exalts himself and rejects the lifting up of Him whom God made glorious for Himself. Woe to a religion which pretends to be able to do so without any Spirit-taught and Spirit-wrought knowledge. Woe to a true child of God who is so busy with self and so backslides that the work of heaven is forgotten here upon earth. And yes, woe to the stewards of the mysteries of God, the ministers of Christ who teach not such knowledge to their hearers. Or, as I recently read by an old English divine who wrote: “Let your instructions always echo Him. Sad! when a teacher stands before his flock to unsay what the Lord has said—to contradict His simple verities—to set some fiction in the place of truth—to scatter base coin instead of gold.” Christ is to be set forth as an all-sufficient and willing Savior. But as graciously as pardon for sin is proffered, let us not forget that this grace is not cheap, and neither is it up for grabs. The Lord makes room for it. Neither does He waste it by letting His Word fall purposeless to the ground, waiting for man to pick and lift it up. God in Christ glorifies Himself and will do so and will have a people to do so. Sad indeed are the times when such people, taught by the Lord, become few and others take their place whose boasting does not make one jealous at all.

In closing, related to the question asked, I think other questions may and must be asked. Are preacher and hearer today still speaking about the same Christ who is to be lifted up? Are we speaking and listening for the Christ of the Scriptures, whom the Heidelberg Catechism describes as “our Lord Jesus Christ, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption? A given Mediator who merits and applies His salvation?” Or are we speaking about a mediator who merited salvation and now helplessly waits for people to take, embrace, and lift Him up—people who have no struggle or issues in doing so? May the Lord favor us and our dear children and grandchildren with a knowledge that so orders and directs our whole life, our thoughts, words and actions, that the Lord’s name never be blasphemed but rather be honored and praised on our account. p

Please send your questions to Rev. H. Hofman, 112 Pratt Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49001, or hofman@premieronline.net.

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