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coram Deo; preaching boldly |Strength #8|



In the sixteenth century, there was a protestant reformer in England by the name of Hugh Latimer. He was known as a great preacher of his day and as a result he had many opportunities to speak. Once he found that he was to preach before the King Henry VIII of England. As he thought about his great responsibility to bring a message before the king he realized that the message that God laid on his heart was not the message that the king would want to hear.


As he began his sermon he said, “Latimer! Latimer! Do you remember that you are speaking before the high and mighty King Henry VIII; who has power to command you to be sent to prison, and who can have your head cut off, if it please him? Will you not take care to say nothing that will offend royal ears?”


He then paused and continued, “Latimer! Latimer! Do you not remember that you are speaking before the King of kings and Lord of lords; before Him, at whose throne Henry VIII will stand; before Him, to whom one day you will have to give account yourself? Latimer! Latimer! Be faithful to your Master, and declare all of God’s Word.”


Latimer faced the choice: would he preach what man wanted to hear or would he preach what Christ would have him preach. Latimer did take his stand for truth and preached boldly. Eventually, he was martyred by Henry’s daughter Queen Mary.



 

I once heard of Latimer's story when reading up on John the Baptist. As John was one of the greatest prophets who prepared the way of the Jesus's arrival. Yet even John faced opposition during his time that came from king Herod. A king who lived a life of debauchery. And John just like Latimer needed to make a conscious moral decision. Say what is the Lord's truth and be killed, or be silent in the matter. And as we know, John rebuked Herod:

For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Mark 6:18 🙅‍♂️⛔

As David Guzik's Commentary on Mark reiterates,

"When he preached repentance, John did not spare the rich and powerful. He called Herod and his wife Herodias to repent, because Herodias had been the wife of Herod’s brother Philip."¹


Now John at this time was held captive in prison. Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted him dead (Mark 6:19). Yet what I found interesting is how Herod spared his life and actually listened to John.

for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. Mark 6:20 👂😵

Why is that?🤔 Well. I believe intrinsically we all know what is inherently good and bad. As Paul writes,

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. Romans 2:14-16 📝💗

John Piper gives a further explanation,

 

"

What he means is not that every Gentile unbeliever in the world knows all six hundred commands in the first five books of the Bible.


What he means is that all human beings have sufficient knowledge of what is right and wrong written on their hearts, so that their consciences can accuse them or affirm them.


And at the judgment day they will not be held accountable for what they have no knowledge of, no access to. But they have access to many things about right and wrong.

"

 

And so we know that how we would all be brought accountable on judgment day accordingly to what we know thus far on right and wrong. Because I believe and know that God is a fair and sovereign Lord. That He gave us each this inherent knowledge. Or as the book of Romans writes "the work of the law is written on their hearts".

In addition, I find that when I divulge into sin repeatedly, a certain change occurs in my heart. Firstly, I have a larger propensity to do the said sin. Secondly, don't you feel that your conscience' conflicting thoughts or rebuke becomes smaller?


Up to a certain point, our conscience' reminders becomes this faint distant voice. And yet, even evil men like Herod also knows that getting near or hearing holy people adds this sense of security or comfort. This idea was first brought up by my Brother who reminded me why I liked watching TV so much. In a way, I displayed psychological projection. That is best described as so:

When I "watch TV" or in Herod's watching/listening with John. We both project ourselves to the said object. In Herod's case, he indirectly does so as a defense mechanism. By hearing John out, it somewhat soothes his distorted psyche. And feeds his deprived conscience. As Lane describes,



“More weak than cruel, Herod listened to John with an undeniable fascination. John’s word left him perplexed, and in anguish. Yet he found a strange pleasure in the authoritative preaching of this holy man, whose stringent life gave added power to his probing word. Too weak to follow John’s counsel, he nevertheless had to listen.”²


The good part about all this is that Herod was not totally lost. When I read the part in Mark 6:20 of how Herod kept John the Baptist safe and listened to him, I was initially shocked as to why. And yet. I do believe that by God's amazing grace, even Herod was given a chance to repent. Why else would Herod be drawn to holiness?


Similarly, in that time to come are we as believers tested. How are we supposed to handle the Herods in our lives? People who know not of Christ yet are interested in our lives? Can we stay true and reflect the holiness of our Lord Jesus Christ? To bring the gospel message to them? As John the Baptist did so. He dedicated his life in all he did for the Lord. That what mattered first and foremost was the approval of the Lord. An idea a friend used to remind me years ago called coram Deo. 🧍✝️

 

"

Coram Deo is used by many Christians as a reminder that all life is about God and that we must live our whole lives to glorify and honor God. According to R. C. Sproul, the essence of coram Deo is to “live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God” (“What does ‘coram Deo’ Mean?” ligonier.org/blog/what-does-coram-deo-mean, accessed 6/3/20). In Christian theology, the phrase has gained a deeper meaning as a philosophy for living the Christian life.


To live one’s life “before God” (coram Deo) is a scriptural concept, as the Lord is omnipresent and perceives our every action and thought (Psalm 139:1–4, 7–10). Since God created us for His glory (Isaiah 43:7), our lives should be lived for Him and His glory. As Psalm 115:1 says, “Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” Living coram Deo is to recognize that God is ultimately whom we live for; we do not live for others’ approval, recognition, or admiration (see Galatians 1:10). Since God alone is the One who redeemed us from our sin, He alone deserves all the glory and praise (Acts 4:12; Titus 3:5). 👑☀️🌟


Coram Deo counters what is taught in the world today. Entertainment media constantly presents a version of life in which God is totally absent. The predominate view of society is that we should focus on ourselves and do what we think is right for us. Popularity, fame, and fortune are the acceptable pursuits. In contrast, coram Deo reminds us that we live for an audience of one: the Lord God. Walking before God and living to glorify Him will affect all areas of our lives, and we should be ready to tell others about our purpose of living for Jesus (1 Peter 3:15).

"

-Got Questions: coram Deo-

 

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for reminding me today to preach boldly☀️🗣. Who knows when I have the opportunity to meet the Herods in my life? Help me to prepare for those moments. To firstly live a holy life before You. And to most importantly remember of coram Deo🕯️. That my life is ever before You, under Your authority, and all that I do is for Your glorious glorious name. And I pray and hope to be strong and courageous like my Lord Jesus Christ, John the Baptist and even Latimer who put You first.

As "John Trapp tells of another bold confrontation of sin in a king: “So Latimer presented for a new-year’s gift to King Henry VIII a New Testament, with a napkin, having this posy about it, Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”³


Thank You Lord for Latimer's boldness in rebuking the King Henry VIII even at the cost of his life. As Paul reminds us,

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? Romans 10:14 🗣🕊️✝️

If not us. Then who? Who else can rebuke them in love? Lord, I realize that I am also unworthy and a sinner😔, yet Lord please help me in those moments. That not just them, but we all need Your redemptive gospel at all times🕊️.


O Lord, please give me Your Holy Spirit and fire once more🔥. To know and warn others of the judgment to come💥. That as John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ' coming. So should us towards His second coming✝️.

His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Matthew 3:12 🗑️🔥

That judgment will come and so will it for us all. That unrighteous, sexually immoral, adulterers will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). What's worse is that they will inherit gehena or hell with a fire that never ends burning that agonizes the soul excruciatingly..

Help me O Lord to hold myself accountable day by day🙇. In this fleeting life, to follow You despite being despised, alienated, and even martyred. And to live a life worthy to reflect Your glory👑.. because Jesus is worth everything and more than what I am afraid of losing.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Updated on: February 25, 2023 | March 8, 2023 | March 15, 2023


Credits: 📷Emma Shappley


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