New Blog

Looking for a new blog to read that has a true Biblical view of the world we live in? Check out Wright Thinking authored by Rev. Scott R. Wright of Redeemer Church (PCA) in Hudson, Ohio. The blog continues to grow and expand so check back often and feel free to leave a comment.

Familiarity & Contempt

Familiarity & Contempt

by Rev. Scott R. Wright

It has been said, "Familiarity breeds contempt." Familiarity is a wonderful thing, especially when it describes one's relationship to God. But when twisted by sin, it can trigger a despicable response. Our culture's general disdain for anything Christian is an illustration of this. It scorns those ideas and convictions that served to undergird our nation's structure. Familiarity with our founding principles has bred contempt. The alarming result is an erosion of the collective commitment to what is true, honorable, just, commendable and excellent (Php 4:8). Sadly, the contemporary Church is not immune from such attrition. While regularly handling sacred things she seems to have lost much of her appreciation for those hallowed privileges entrusted to her by Christ.
Jesus taught that those who saw gospel works and heard gospel words would be truly blessed. This has been fulfilled in our day. Our generation enjoys the blessings of which He spoke. More blessed are we than many prophets and kings who desired to see and hear gospel things, and did not (Lk 10:24). The best, the brightest and the most influential of the Old Testament longed to behold the fulfillment of ancient promises. But they were unable because they did not live to see the gospel age. Today, even the humblest Christian has access to these glorious mysteries. The most unassuming believer is in a more exalted position than John the Baptist himself (Mt 11:11). By grace alone we are living in the latter days. We regularly see proof of God’s miracles of grace in human lives. We routinely hear glad tidings of great joy about Christ's cross and resurrection. Do we cherish these amazing gospel privileges? Do we fully appreciate our place in history? Oh, let not sin pervert the familiarity we have with Jesus. Consider His Person. Ponder his benefits. Deal not falsely like the other familiar friend (Ps 55:13).

Rev. Scott R. Wright is pastor of Redeemer Church (PCA) in Hudson, Ohio. To learn more visit www.redeemerohio.org. Copyright reserved.

Daughters of Eve Ephesians 5:22-24

What does submission look like in a Christian marriage? Listen to this outstanding sermon and be blessed.

The Purpose of Marriage Ephesians 5:31-32

(Ignore the pop-up adds)

Part two in a series on Marriage. A great, new look at this subject.

Tiger's Tiger

Tiger's Tiger

by Rev. Scott R. Wright, Ph.D.

News of Tiger Woods’ infidelities rocked the world. His double life finally caught up with him, and it cost him dearly. He lost his sponsors, his wife and his dignity, and a horrified public scratched their heads saying, “How could he have done such a thing?” From those shocking revelations most concluded that he was overcome by an illness – an addiction - which destroyed his image. What he needs, they say, is a good dose of therapy. But what our culture wrongly describes as an addiction requiring treatment is correctly identified in Scripture as a sin that demands repentance. What that means, at least in part, is that Tiger’s problem is far more urgent and dangerous than people think.

Adultery is not a symptom but a sin. It is the outworking of an indwelling principle of iniquity that plagues every one of us. Indeed, in each heart sin crouches at the door seeking to devour, and unless one does well, he will not rule over it (Gen 4:7). Therefore Tiger has a “tiger” on his hands. He’ll need more than treatment because he is in for a fight. The poignant reality is that he is no match for this sinister beast. It has devoured the best this world has to offer. So like every other sinner Tiger must obtain power from outside himself if he has any hope of mastering the fiend. More specifically, he will need the radical and regenerative influence of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, if he ever hopes to prevail. His golf prowess pales in comparison to the prowess of sin to dupe and destroy. Therefore to win this match He must look to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:2), and humbly rely on the indwelling Spirit’s life-giving and heart-transforming energy. Only then will Tiger Woods be whole in One.

Rev. Scott R. Wright is pastor of Redeemer Church (PCA). For more information please contact scottRwright@gmail.com or go to www.RedeemerOhio.org. Copyright reserved

Shameless Persistence

Shameless Persistence

by Rev. Scott R. Wright, Ph.D.

We live in a society of quitters. Marriages fail, companies collapse, careers cease, and lives are lost all because people give up too easily. In a word, we as a culture lack staying power. Sadly this tendency has infiltrated the church. It is alarming how often professing Christians parroting the culture abandon their commitments, renounce their convictions, and give up the pursuit of holiness. They do so simply because they refuse to persevere in following Christ, in walking with the Spirit, and in doing good.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the arena of prayer. In "closet contests" modern Christians seem to have lost the determination to prevail like that which motivated Jacob at Peniel (Gen 32:25). Perhaps this is one reason why the contemporary church finds her task so difficult. She will overcome not by might nor by power but by God's Spirit, who is given in answer to prayer (Lk 11:13). But she is not praying! As pray-ers we must persevere that we may enjoy success in the Christian life. In fact, one must be shamelessly persistent in prayer if he is to obtain whatever he needs (Lk 11:8). That is so counter-cultural! Rather than giving up and crying foul when our desire for instant gratification is foiled, we must stick with it on our knees in asking, seeking, and knocking! In time through persistence our minds and hearts will be properly aligned and suitably poised to receive the good things God has so graciously and generously designed for us. Those desires offered to Him for things agreeable to His will shall be satisfied through our diligent and dogged pursuit of answers from heaven. Isn't this what characterized Jesus Himself, whose greatest work was the fruit of persistent prayer (Mk 14:36)? Let us walk in the same way He walked (1Jn 2:6).

Rev. Scott R. Wright is pastor of Redeemer Church (PCA). For more information please contact scottRwright@gmail.com or go to www.RedeemerOhio.org. Copyright reserved

Engraved Names

Engraved Names

Our culture is not just fascinated by but obsessed with the beautiful, the impressive, the dazzling and spectacular. As that fixation on celebrities and celebrity-ism bleeds into the church, Christians are more apt to esteem great gifts among their ranks than divine grace within their hearts. It was no different with the disciples, who greatly rejoiced when they were authorized to suppress the demons themselves in their gospel ministry. Upon returning from one of their evangelistic "crusades" they jointly celebrated their ability to subject even the spiritual forces themselves (Lk 10:17).
Jesus' response is both instructive and heartening. He said, "Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are engraved in heaven" (Lk 10:20). It is not as celebrities that we will experience our deepest joy and know our greatest pleasure. Rather, it will be as adopted sons and daughters of God, endowed with all the family privileges that we will know our utmost delight. As an ancient scribe with a stylus would etch the name in a stone tablet, so God has etched the names of His elect children in the Lamb's book of life (Rev 21:27). It is permanent, ineradicable, impossible to remove! This helps put into proper perspective the whole notion of spectacular gifts. While the Lord variously equips His servants for ministry on earth, what matters most is one's membership in heaven. The beautiful, impressive, dazzling and spectacular that so impress men here will make no difference there. It will all fade away. But our place and position in God's family will never wane. The mountains will sing and the trees will clap as we go out in joy (Is 55:12). So we have reason to rejoice!

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Rev. Scott R. Wright, Ph.D. is pastor of Redeemer Church (PCA) in Hudson, Ohio. For more information please contact scottrwright@gmail.com or go to http://www.redeemerohio.org/. Copyright reserved.

Are They For Us?

Are They For Us?

by Rev. Scott R. Wright, Ph.D.

Parachurch organizations (those standing outside and alongside of the church) have always been controversial. For example, the disciples were troubled by an unauthorized exorcist because "he does not follow with us" (Lk 9:49). Today such organizations have multiplied in unprecedented numbers. Far from being a sign of ecclesiastical health, their proliferation implies church problems which they are designed to solve (e.g. evangelism, media, education, disaster relief). Sensing an unmet need, sincere Christians often take the initiative in devoting time, energy and resources to facilitate ministry in particular areas. The question for the church has always been, "Are they for us or against us?"

Interestingly, when the disciples sought to impede the work of the "non-denominational" exorcist, Jesus corrected them saying, "Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you" (Lk 9:50). How illuminating! While the Bible identifies the Church as the divinely-appointed agent of gospel ministry, Jesus teaches us in this terse statement how to treat those who seek to glorify Him though they "do not follow with us." We are to exercise godly tolerance toward those sincere Christians who labor for the Kingdom not as a part of our church, not ordained as we are, and not in fraternal relations with us. He who believes in Christ and sincerely tries to serve Him will reach the same end even though he does not follow Him in the same way. We have plenty of enemies already. Why make more? Remember, "Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward" (Mk 9:41).
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Scott R. Wright is pastor of Redeemer Church (PCA). For more info. contact scottRwright@gmail.com or http://www.redeemerohio.org/. Copyright reserved.