Zeal is the fire of the soul.… Every man and woman in the world is set on fire of hell or of heaven…. Zeal is the running of the soul. If you are not zealous for God, you are running away after the things of this world.
- William Fenner (1600-1640)
Fenner makes it clear: We are always moving in one of two directions. The question is which direction we are moving. It is true that Christians are always Christians. We cannot lose our salvation (Rom. 8:31-39). And this particular post is written to genuine Christians who are backsliding in worldliness.
At the same time, we still have the lingering remnants of our mortally-wounded sinful nature (Rom. 7 & Gal. 5). What this means is that at times we either follow the pursuits of our sinful flesh or the ways of God. When we follow our sinful flesh it does not mean we have lost our salvation nor in danger of losing it. Yet, it is true that we can be dangerously diminishing our experience of such a great salvation (Ps. 32 & 51).
The new creation nature within the Christian will win the day. The Holy Spirit is more powerful than sin. When rightly understood this should not and does not promote antinomianism (i.e. no Law). Romans 6 makes it clear that our understanding of a gospel identity is crucial to grow us in killing sin and living to God. But, while God is working all things for our good and His glory (Rom. 8:28) we need to realize our responsibility to pursue Him and His ways.
It is not legalism to tell Christians to obey God’s Law in light of the gospel of grace. It is actually a type of Hyper-Calvinism to embrace spiritual laziness and wait until God “does something” before you end up obeying Him or pursuing Him with more zeal.
This is where Fenner is helpful with this quote. Our souls are ceaselessly running. The question is which direction we are running. If we are not actively pursuing God then we are actively pursuing the things of the world. This does not mean that the moment we stop reading the Bible or praying or going to church that we are pursuing the world. Christians are obeying God when we work hard, parent our children, show hospitality, enjoy God’s creation, cook and bake, and much more. But, the posture of our hearts during these tasks is important. If our hearts are ignorant of God and arrogantly ignoring Him then we are pursuing the world. If we refuse to spend time with God and only spend time pursuing our worldly desires then we are running in the wrong direction. If we are rarely thinking of God except on Sunday mornings then we are running after the world.
Because God is not only Redeemer but Creator, we must have a God-centered worldview and motivation in all things Monday to Saturday. To put God in the corner of our lives and only visit with Him for an hour on Sundays (and sometimes only once a month) is not at all to treat Him as God but rather to treat Him as a god.
John Reynolds (1667-1727) says something timeless in this extended quote:
How long shall we lie still under our formal complaints of the decay of Christian piety? How long shall we idly see the retirement of warm religion from the hearts and bosoms of those who profess Christianity? Are we willing to yield to all the lukewarmness and degeneracy that has overspread us? Even the truly pious are dull and heavy in their religion, and march on wearily in their appointed race, as if either their Lord had lost His glory or His promise to them; or they have lost their faith and hope in Him…. Is it not time to proclaim among the churches, the message of the Mediator sent from heaven to the Church of Laodicea [in Revelation 3:14-22]: to be zealous and repent?
How often the problem is with pastors, elders, deacons, church staff, and other recognized leaders in our churches. How often Christianity is presented as a nice hobby to make us feel good rather than an entire life where we live it all for the glory of God in dependence upon His grace.
The difficulty is that when this concern is raised one is often accused of legalism, unrealistic expectations, doubting someone’s salvation, and idolizing previous eras of the Church.
Here is where we can often respond wrongly. We can either respond with bitterness, anger, impatience, self-righteousness, wicked comparisons and contrasts, and sinful accusations. The wrong way to respond is with the Law or even Law-heavy preaching and teaching.
Titus 2:11-12 makes it absolutely clear that it is the gospel of grace that not only converts people but transforms them to grow in zeal for godliness and holiness. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age”.
The gospel of grace is what we must be “heavy” on. But, grace implies sin. Grace can only properly be preached if there is something to which grace can be applied. The Bible never talks about grace without talking about sin. Grace is never to be an add-on or the brief sentence at the end of a sermon. Where sin has increased, grace has super-abounded beyond our sin (Rom. 5:20). And we must preach and teach with this emphasis! Yet, grace will not be precious when we neglect an exposure of sin.
And we must expose sin. We must reveal it, describe it, and condemn it. Yes, it will hurt. But, we must also proclaim God’s grace and mercy for the sins and sinful nature that we name.
How do we see people grow in zeal for God? It is by seeing the zeal of God for us. Brothers and sisters, do you realize that even when you were faithless that God is faithful (2 Tim. 2:13)? When you ignore Him, He never neglects you. When you pursue the world more than Him, He has sent His Son into the world so that He might save you from its corruptions and idolatries. He loves you more than you could want to know that He loves you. He has forgiven you more than you wish you could be forgiven. He has delighted over you more than you could ever long for Him to delight over you.
God, in His infinite nature, is all for you! He has given Himself to you. The reason why He calls you to give your whole life to Him is not because He is a killjoy—it is because sin is a killjoy! Not only is sin a killjoy but it is vile, evil, wicked, heinous, and corrupt. Worldliness and giving God your leftovers of time, energy, and affection not only greatly affects you negatively but also is offensive to His infinite glory. But, Christ has covered you! Christ has redeemed you. Christ has given you His perfect righteousness of pursuing the Father perfectly in your place. God is not waiting on you to do something or be zealous enough before He loves you. He has already placed His steadfast love and sufficient atonement upon you—Therefore, pursue Him!
Because of this, let us not return God’s full-hearted love and commitment to us with a half-hearted and bare minimum pursuit of Him. He is worth giving our entire life to!