Just a quick glance at a cable news program or a scan of a newspaper article is usually enough to make one think that the world is "going to hell in a hand basket." Wars rage throughout the globe, genocide goes unchecked in Africa, Communism is not dead and is finding new friends in South America, and our own economy is perilous and troubled. In addition to all of that, the technology of today's modern world brings temptation to your fingertips. A click here or a click there and some of our basest desires can be gained through the Internet. TV and movies can also be full of sin and temptations of all kinds. It is natural to wonder exactly how can a Christian live amidst all of that? Of course, God does not leave us to wonder without an answer, and Colossians 3:1-3 is a good place to start.

Colossians 3:1-2 tells us, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Paul's remedy to living in this world is to make sure we think about heavenly things. We are to put our minds on spiritual matters and not on indulging the flesh. In other words, we as Christians have been given a new life in Christ; thus, we should have a new thought-life and a new set of priorities. If we do this, then we will be protected from the two errors that often arise as Christians live in this world.

Error number one is legalism. Paul describes that in previous verses in Colossians. Legalism is the attempt to make the things of the earth inherently evil, in and of themselves. "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," as Paul defines it in 2:21. Maybe some of you grew up with the old mantra that I did of "Do not smoke, drink, or chew or go with those who do." Paul says this attitude is a "show of wisdom in will worship" (Col. 2:23). It sounds like a great way to keep oneself pure, but it is not real wisdom, and won't help you avoid temptation. Temptation does not come from physical objects; it comes from within us. Simply avoiding worldly things is no real solution because it fails to deal with the root of sin within us. Paul says that rather than adopting a legalistic attitude, we should set our minds on things above and seek those things that are in heaven, where Christ the Lord now sits. How is this a help for living in a sinful world? When we think on things above, we understand the true root of sin within us, and we know the only real answer for sin is Christ Jesus. Setting our minds on things above will help us realize that God created all things and it was good. Our job is to use His good creation to His glory, not avoid it. In our new life in Christ, we should have a new understanding, one that conforms to Christ and His teachings. We may use the things of this earth, even smoke, drink, and chew, as long as we do so to God's glory, keeping in mind His other commands such as self-control and respect for others. Seeking those things that are above will help us understand this and elude the trap of legalism.

Error number two is self-indulgence. Paul speaks of this in the verses that follow in chapter 3. This is the attitude of one who thinks that because he is spiritual, he can do whatever he wants with his physical body, as if our lives on earth do not matter and our bodies are unimportant. So instead of trying to physically avoid all worldly things like a legalist, a self-indulgent attitude would lead one to wallow in whatever worldly things one desires, as if purity and obedience in the physical life weren't important. Seeking that which is above will also help us avoid this extreme. If our affections and our minds are set on Christ and His heavenly things, we will not revel in sinful indulgence here on earth. Paul tells believers to "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Col. 3:5). Paul is saying that if we are setting our minds on heavenly things, then the sinful things will not control us, and we will not fall into the trap of self-indulgence. We have died to sin, now our life is with Christ. Jesus teaches the same thing in Matthew 6:21 where he states, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." If our affections are upon fornication, uncleanness, and other lusts of the flesh, then our hearts will be forever dwelling in our sin. If our affections are on heavenly things, then our hearts will be with Christ.

All of that is well and good. If you are like me, you are probably asking, "Yes, but how do I set my mind on the things above?" After all, we are still plagued with sin. The answer is in living as a servant of King Jesus. Notice Paul reminds us in verse one that we are raised to a new life with Christ and that Christ is reigning over all things now at the right hand of the Father. Verse three then tells us that our lives are hidden with him now. We died and now have a new life in Christ, not in the flesh. Thus, the answer to how we set our minds on things above begins with acknowledging that we now live as servants of King Jesus and as citizens of the kingdom of heaven. If we do not understand that we have been born again to a new life and that we have been translated to His kingdom, we will not be able to seek those things that are above. Salvation is not just about being saved from sins, but it is also about being a citizen of the kingdom of heaven and living a life of thankfulness to our Lord, Savior, and King.

After understanding our place in God's kingdom, we must study to show ourselves approved (2 Tim. 2:15). To earn a driver's license, we read through a driver's manual to learn the rules and methods of driving. No one wants to share the road with someone who does not understand on what side of the road to drive or the significance of the colors red, yellow, and green on a traffic light. Similarly, in setting our minds on things above, we must study the manual. We need to read God's word. One cannot set his mind on things above if one has not read the words of the God above. And not just once, either. The Bible is a fount of wisdom that can never be exhausted. It will thoroughly equip us for every good work (II Tim. 3:17), including how to live in this world while being a citizen of the next. When it says every good work, it means every good work.

Another major component of setting our minds on things above is prayer. Our catechism calls prayer the chief means of thankfulness. If we have died to sin and our life is now hidden in Christ, should we not be thankful? Then we should pray. We should express our thanks in prayer. We should bring our cares and our concerns to Him in prayer. Prayer should become second nature. When we face trials or temptations, do we turn first to things of this world, or do we turn first to God? Do we look first to our savings accounts or do we first call our lawyers when difficult situations arise? Or do we turn first to God and ask for His help? Where we turn first is a good sign of where our minds are set. Thus, prayer is both an ally and an indicator in seeking the things above and Christ in heaven. Developing an attitude of prayer is vital. Prayer keeps our minds focused above and not here on earth. It keeps us thankful when blessings do come because we more readily recognize their real source, Jesus Christ. Prayer also keeps us humble. In asking God for help, whether it be in facing temptation or simply dealing with another day, we develop a proper perspective of how our strength flows from the Spirit, not from the flesh. This will keep our minds on heavenly things, specifically on our only comfort, Jesus Christ.

Lastly, we must have God's view of sin. That means we must hate sin with a perfect hatred. Our catechism (Q89, 90) speaks of hating sin and turning from it because of our heartfelt sorrow for it, and at the same time delighting to do God's will. Paul here in Colossians speaks of putting sin to death or of mortifying our sinful deeds. If we have a light view of sin, we will not think twice about dwelling on it, or thinking about it, or maybe even holding on to it in our hearts. If sin means little, then we will do little to avoid it. Rather we should be heartsick when we sin. It should drive us to ask forgiveness of others and of God. If we hate sin and we ever find ourselves dwelling on sin, we will react strongly and quickly to flee from temptation and flee to Christ. Hating sin, then, naturally leads us to Christ and thinking on heavenly things.

As we attempt to live in this sin-saturated world, we should remember that no one is perfect, and we will all fail. However, we should strive to develop a mindset that thinks on heavenly things, things that are above, or as Christ puts it "seek ye first the kingdom of God" (Matt. 6:33). As you study Scripture, you will find more things that will help develop this attitude. But one has to begin; thoughts do not change by themselves. We must seek Christ and His strength, and through that help we can make our new thoughts better reflect our new life in Christ.

The morning of August 24th, 1572, started like any other morning. Before the sun came up, few people were stirring. Many Reformed Christians (known in France as "Huguenots") were in Paris for the wedding of Henry of Navarre and Princess Marguerite from France, which had taken place a few days before. Admiral Gaspard Coligny was up, as he normally was at an early hour, to have his morning devotions. His family chaplain, Peter Merlin, was with him, along with a few other associates and family members. Devotions were taking place in his personal chambers because, two days before, Coligny had been shot in the shoulder and hand in an assassination attempt by the Roman Catholic Guise family. Still, Coligny stayed in Paris and continued his morning routine of prayer and worship of his savior Jesus Christ. It was during the middle of this devotional that the noise of people knocking down the door could be heard. A guard rushed in and explained that armed men were coming into the house to finish the job started a few nights before. Coligny prayed and sent everyone else out in hopes that they would survive. The murderers found Coligny there in prayer. He identified himself, and they ran him through with swords. His body was thrown from a window so that Henry Guise could identify it, which he did. Then Coligny's head was sent to the palace as a gift for the King and his body dragged through the streets, mutilated, and dumped into the river. In the distance, the church bells of the Roman Catholic churches began to ring, earlier than normal. It was a signal to the rest of the Romanist population of Paris. Now was the time to rise up and slaughter the Protestants. So began the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre.

The massacre then spread through the rest of Paris. Many were killed simply for being Reformed believers. Women and children were slaughtered in the streets. Few were spared as famous teachers like Peter Ramus and noble family men like Charles Teligny, son-in-law of Admiral Coligny, were murdered. The murderous hordes knew only one tenet: if someone is Reformed, he dies. So many were killed that day that the Seine River ran red with blood.

The Massacre was not confined to Paris either. Apparently the Queen Mother, Catherine de Medici, had sent a note to all the governors instructing them to start a massacre of their own in each province. Some did just that, letting their hatred of true religion cloud their minds. In cities like Orleans, more people were pulled from their homes and killed. In other places, local magistrates tried to protect the Protestants. Some refused to obey Catherine's decree, citing the despicable nature of the order. In Lyon the Reformed believers were rounded up by the police and put in jail to protect them. However, the mob broke down the doors, and the Reformed believers became sitting ducks. They met a martyr's fate there in the jail that was supposed to be protecting them.

No one knows for sure the number of Reformed believers who died in the murderous rampages. Estimates are that around 10,000 died in Paris alone, 3,000 by noon on the 24th, according to the Spanish ambassador. Some, including Theodore Beza, said about 300,000 total were put to death throughout France, although modern estimates are usually lower. This, of course, does not include those who fled for their lives and escaped to Switzerland, the Netherlands, or Germany. Still others found refuge in the few Protestant strongholds in France, such the city of La Rochelle, which was soon put under siege by the French Royalists. Some escaped death by pretending they were Catholic, like the Duke of Sully, who visibly carried a Roman Catholic devotional book until he got to a safe place.

You might be wondering what exactly this has to do with you as a Reformed believer today. Why this gruesome history lesson? Well, frankly because we need it. How often do we hide our faith because we feel uncomfortable at the office when people make fun of religion or Christianity? How often do we refrain from speaking up about Christ and defending His name when our friends blaspheme in their jokes or make light of sin? How often do we ditch church and the worship of our living God because we are on vacation or at a sporting event? We live in an age and a country where we are blessed in that we do not have to fear another Saint Bartholomew's Massacre. But if we were honest, we'd admit that that safety, that freedom also allows us to deny our faith long before being confronted by physical violence.

Today we often focus on the threats to Christianity around the world. We talk about Islam, Communism, brutal dictators, and maybe even still Romanism. But the biggest threat to the church has always been an internal one. It has always been our willingness to stray from Jesus Christ; it is always our apathy and unbelief. That is the real threat that the Bible focuses on. The story of the twelve spies in Numbers 13 is a good example of this. Ten spies spent forty days in the promised land, saw that it was good and bountiful, but came back to report that the people of Israel would be unable to defeat the Canaanites for they believed the Israelites were "like grasshoppers" compared to their enemies (v. 33). Yet their problem was not that they had poor military skills or that they were outnumbered. The problem was unbelief. "How long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?" (14:11). The main problem was not the enemies of Christ, but unbelief, lack of faith, and disobedience to God.

We see this pattern all through the Old Testament. In the book of Judges, the people of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and then the enemies took over. The problem was more the unbelief of Israel than the evil of the Amalakites. This is why God is always calling His people to choose Him. Joshua has to call upon the people to "choose you this day." Elijah asks the people not to "hesitate between two opinions. If the LORD is God follow Him." The same is true in the New Testament. Christ is always rebuking the Pharisees for their unbelief. Remember, the Pharisees were not Gentile unbelievers; they were professing religious leaders of Israel. John in Revelation calls out the church for this problem. "I know your works, you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead" (Rev. 3:1). And again, "So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth" (Rev.  3:16).

Even when the enemies of God do take away our mortal lives, they will not destroy the church, and their victory will be temporary. Such was the case during the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Peter Merlin, the aforementioned chaplain of the murdered Admiral Gaspard Coligny, survived the massacre. He managed to escape through a window in the roof and make his way to a nearby farm. There he hid in the hen house for three days as the killing continued. He survived because every morning a hen came and laid an egg right in front of him and then walked away. God provided his "daily bread", so that he would survive. He would go on to pastor churches and even be elected moderator of the National Synod of France. His experience during the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre is one of grace, and he never turned from his loving Lord all the days of his life. Other such stories abound. God preserved His church, and the world had seen a glimpse of true faithfulness.

The enemies of Christ will rage, and they will hate, and they will go to any lengths to destroy us. But these pagan hordes will never truly win. Christ has already won the victory. Nothing and no one will ever overcome Him. The danger is that believers will lose interest in the battle, fail to follow the standard of Christ the King, and take for granted the great grace He has given us. Our job, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is to follow Him in faith. Pray we never tire, never fail, and when our time comes, that we are found faithful.

Growing up is hard. We should just admit that up front. It leaves us with a lot of questions and often teaches us a lot of painful lessons. One of the questions I hear often as a pastor is from both youth and parents, "Can I read this, is it okay?" So my task today is to try to answer what Christian young people ought to be reading. To help us in this task, let's think of our reading habits as a healthy diet. Some things are important, others should be ingested in smaller quantities.

It should go without saying, but in today's world it does not, so, the first thing we have to do is read. Just like everyone needs to eat, you really do need to read. In a world of tweeting, texting, and You Tube viewing, reading seems almost old-fashioned. But I encourage everyone to read. A recent survey found that 33 percent of people never read a single book after graduating from high school. That same survey found that 40 percent never read again after college. Don't let this be you! Proverbs 4:7 tells us to "get wisdom and with all thy getting get understanding." How better to do this than through reading? A love of reading will enable you to teach yourself whatever you want when you get older. Every scholar in the world can be at your fingertips to teach you, if you just are willing to pick up a book, sit down and read. And yes, reading can be a form of entertainment. One that enlivens the mind, captures the imagination, and makes your pulse race, as you just have to turn the page and start the next chapter.

The Northern Plains Classis, which is sometimes known as the Non-stop Party Classis, made a visit to Pierre, SD, this March 1st and 2nd. The Classis was again entertained by the duo of Rev. David Dawn and Rev. Mike McGee, the President and Stated Clerk respectively. This tag team kept the Classis going and provided enough material for a small novel of adventures and good times. Much like Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, these two should go down in history as a pair without equal. It was my job as the humble Reformed Herald Reporter to inform you of their adventures.