While We Sojourn

This Blog has Moved

2009-12-19T16:22:00.007-06:00

If you would like to follow me to the new blog, update your links, or update your subscriptions, here is the new address:

http://johnbird812.wordpress.com/

Larry P. Arnn on Being Ruled by Technical Experts

2009-12-18T02:18:00.004-06:00

"The economic policies being proposed these days are very bad. But the principles behind them are worse. They represent a return to the idea that the American Revolution repudiated--the idea that some are equipped by nature or training to manage the lives of others without their consent....Rather than looking on us as equal beings with a set nature--such that none of us should rule another in the way that God rules man or man rules beast--our political leaders today have been taught to see us as material to be shaped and perfected by experts who have the proper technical training."

Larry P. Arnn, "Education, Economics, and Self-Government." Imprimis, December 2009.

Holiday Pictures

2009-12-16T06:20:00.007-06:00

Here is my family, minus a baby boy plus a nephew, at the Bass Performance Hall where we watched the Nutcracker last Saturday.

And here is that baby boy.

Are Christians Sinners or Saints?

2009-12-14T06:48:00.005-06:00

"We should always view ourselves both in terms of what we are in Christ, that is, saints, and what we are in ourselves, namely, sinners....while we should always rejoice in the righteousness we have in Christ, we should never cease to feel deeply our own sinfulness and consequent unworthiness."

A "Puritan preacher was reputed to have said, 'Even our tears of repentance need to be washed in the blood of the Lamb.' So our best works can never earn us one bit of favor with God. Let us then turn our attention from our own performance, whether it seems good or bad to us, and look to the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is God's provision for our sin, not only on the day we trusted Christ for our salvation but every day of our Christian lives."

Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace

New From Crossway: The Gospel in Genesis by Martyn Lloyd-Jones

2009-12-12T05:00:00.003-06:00

Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that our condition cannot be understood apart from the third chapter of Genesis. All was perfect in the garden until Adam and Eve rebelled. They didn't trust God. They wanted something more. Instead, they found misery, and they were cast out of Eden . Since then, man has been trying to regain entrance into paradise. But there is only one way, and God has provided it.

In the Gospel in Genesis: From Fig Leaves to Faith, Dr. Lloyd-Jones stresses two main points. First, we know nothing about God or our own condition without God's word. "The Bible, far from being remote from life, is the only book that really does deal with life as it is." And second, believing and obeying God leads to peace and happiness, but sin leads to misery.

Chapters one through six are taken from the account of Adam and Eve's fall in the third chapter of Genesis. The last three chapters deal with Noah and the flood, the tower of Babel , and Abraham. Lloyd-Jones sees these as literal, historical accounts, and in each of them he sees a picture of man's lost condition and need for Christ.

These nine sermons are full of substance, yet simple to understand. Dr. Lloyd-Jones was a clear and logical communicator. This book is more evangelistic than many of the Doctor's works; every sermon has a clear gospel message. It would make the perfect gift for an unbelieving friend.

If you are looking for an in-depth, verse-by-verse commentary on Genesis, this is not it. But if you want a book that makes you think, convicts you, and points you to Christ, you won't be disappointed.

World Magazine Too Reformed?

2009-12-11T05:59:00.008-06:00

From the letters section of this month's World:

"Please cancel my subscription immediately. After several years of enjoying World, we are irreversibly put off by the influence of John Calvin..."

There also happens to be an interview with J.I. Packer in the December 5th issue. "In his ninth decade, J.I. Packer continues to point a distracted evangelicalism toward the right path."

Where else can you read about politics, education, and J.I.Packer?

Thanks to my friend David Williams for introducing me to World.

The Book on Preaching

2009-12-09T06:39:00.005-06:00

Preaching & Preachers

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Zondervan

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones believed in expository sermons with substance. While the pastor of Westminster Chapel, London, he preached through entire books of the Bible, often delivering more than one sermon per verse. (His sermons from 1 John fill five volumes!) He believed that "the primary task of the Church and of the Christian minister is the preaching of the Word of God."

In Preaching and Preachers, the Doctor urges preachers to take their calling seriously. "The most urgent need in the Christian Church today is true preaching." With that in mind, he shares what he learned through his many years of pastoring and preaching. Chapters (there are 16 of them) deal with the character of the preacher, congregations, the preparation of the sermon (and the preacher), the shape and form of sermons, illustrations and humor, and the act of preaching itself. I particularly benefitted from the chapter, "What to Avoid."

I'll often enjoy a book enough to read it twice. This is one that I've read three times--I've certainly benefitted from it more than any other book on preaching. The author's style is straightforward and enjoyable to read. He is dogmatic at times, and in a few places it is evident that these lectures were delivered several decades ago. (He lists the tape-recording of sermons as a "peculiar and special abomination" of the time.) However, the practical advice he gives will never be outdated.

This is the book on Biblical, theological, expository preaching. Preachers would benefit from reading it, but their congregations would benefit even more.

Review: Studies in the Sermon on the Mount

2009-12-06T15:47:00.002-06:00

Studies in the Sermon on the Mount

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Eerdmans

You needed to be early if you wanted a seat in London’s Westminster Chapel while Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was the pastor. But it wasn’t a praise team, special effects, or food that drew the crowds. It was the pastor’s expository preaching.

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was known for his clear, verse-by-verse preaching through large sections of the Bible. One series was through the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). After pressure from those who heard the sermons, Lloyd-Jones agreed to have them published. The sixty sermons were originally published in three volumes. They are now available in one 585 page book.

Dr. Lloyd-Jones covers the fifth chapter of Matthew, with particular emphasis on the beatitudes, in part one of Studies in the Sermon on the Mount. Part two deals with the sixth and seventh chapters of Matthew. The entire sermon, says the doctor, gives a description of what the Christian is meant to be. It is not a code of ethics; nor is it a description of life in a future age. The sermon is not meant for unbelievers. It can’t be applied to nations or governments. But it is for believers in Jesus Christ, and it is as relevant today as it was when it was first delivered.

The chapters in Studies retain the sound of sermons. They are written in short, simple sentences with the key ideas explained, illustrated, applied, and repeated. This style not only benefitted the hearer, but it benefits the reader. When you’ve finished a chapter, you feel like you’ve learned something.

Studies in the Sermon on the Mount is the most thorough commentary on these passages that I have found. And Lloyd-Jones’s explanations of the verses are the most consistent, logical, clear, and helpful that I have read or heard.

I admit that reading a sixty chapter commentary sounds tedious, but this book is really a joy to read. It is theological and practical. It can be used as a reference or devotional. I have read it through twice and have read some chapters several times. It is one of the most valuable books on my shelf, and I suppose that if I had to get rid of all but one (other than the Bible), this would be my pick.

Look Beyond

2009-12-06T04:57:00.003-06:00

"Civilization goes round and round in cycles. There is no forward advance. There is no end. There is no reaching the ultimate objective. Life is simply a futile procedure. Round and round we go. We rise. We suceed. We fail. We fall. Down they go--dynasties, empires, individuals. That is always true. It is because of the flaming sword and the cherubim at the east end of the garden of Eden. Man will never get back there by his own efforts; he is incapable of it. He is not allowed to; he has been driven out--that is the judgment upon sin. But that is only the present; there is something beyond," Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Gospel in Genesis: From Fig Leaves to Faith.

A Belated Giving of Thanks

2009-11-28T09:43:00.005-06:00

Mama and Daddy married when they were teenagers. My Dad’s parents didn’t approve of Mama’s Carol King hair-do, army jacket, and patched bell-bottoms, but they gave in to the inevitable.

A couple of years later, I was born. Daddy worked for two dollars an hour to support us. He spent the weekends working on the old brown Mazda so that he could make it back to work on Monday.

Mother stayed home with her son. She had no car, no phone, and no washer or dryer. We lived in the piney woods of East Texas with few neighbors. My great grand-parents, however, lived within walking distance. We spent lots of time walking up and down the road between our houses.

A normal day started with Captain Kangaroo on a black and white twelve inch TV that rolled and a bowl of Fruity Pebbles. Then we passed the time until Daddy came home and Mama could go to the laundromat or grocery store. Mama read books, played games, and sang. I remember shivering in the blue plastic kiddy pool when the sun was behind the clouds with her singing the Beatles song, “Here Comes the Sun.”

My sister Erin was born when I was four. Though my parents struggled, Mama stayed home with us until we were both in school. When she did go to work it was at the school so that she could be home when we were. And she still made time for the class parties and any other important events.

Mama made sure every occasion was special. At Christmas time we baked treats and adorned the house with homemade decorations. When I helped bake, I wore my chef’s hat (a pair of Underoos). At Easter we had our baskets, on birthdays we had our parties, and on the first day of school we had our new clothes and supplies.

Daddy is a quiet, humble, gentle, hard working man. During the weak economy in the 1980’s he was laid off twice, but that didn’t slow him down. He mowed lawns, painted houses, and did anything else he could to pay the bills while he looked for a job. Rarely did he have a good car or new clothes; we were his only priority.

Both parents encouraged learning. Mama was always an avid reader and kept us in supply of reading material. Daddy made me read the Pilgrim’s Progress before I was old enough to understand it. He sometimes gave me writing assignments and even had me write letters to politicians. I was thrilled when I received a response from President Reagan and Senator Phil Gramm. More importantly, my parents taught us that God is Sovereign. Even before conversion I benefitted from the peace that comes from knowing that God is in complete control.

My parents expected us to work. Before I could drive, Daddy would drop me off at my mowing jobs with the push mower and gas can. The value in doing that far exceeded the ten dollars I earned for each lawn.

Both parents still work full time away from home and at home. Daddy drives the thirty miles to my grandmother’s every week to mow and do anything else that needs doing. The rest of the evenings are spent helping his grandson with homework and Bible studies. And Mama is the perfect grandmother, still showing the same love for her grandchildren that she has always shown her children.

During this month of thankfulness, I am grateful to my parents for all of the sacrifices they made for us. And I am thankful to God for blessing me with them.

The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great, by Benjamin Merkle

2009-11-28T04:56:00.004-06:00

Benjamin Merkle’s The White Horse King is a fast moving biography of Alfred the Great.

Danish Vikings terrorized Europe during the ninth century. They preferred targets that offered the least resistance and the most loot. The island of Britain was ideal. By the time Alfred became king of Anglo-Saxon Wessex in south west Britain, most of the island was conquered and under Viking rule.

The White Horse King tells how Alfred the Great defended Wessex. Fortified towns, strategically planned roads, and a new system to ensure a continuous army were all developed. But Alfred didn’t stop at that. He believed that wisdom and piety in his noblemen, soldiers, and citizens were essential to freedom. Scholars were hired, Christian writings were translated, books were distributed, and rewards were given to those who made progress. These efforts led to a “literary renaissance” and a transformation of worship and daily life.

With stories of Viking longboats moving up river to an unsuspecting village and detailed accounts of fierce battles where “spears cracked, shields split,” and “axes crashed down, cleaving helm and skull,” The White Horse King is hard to put down. Like most good biographies, the book is inspiring. It is also a great lesson in the history of England.

At times the author is repetitive, but that never kept me from eagerly turning the page. Detailed descriptions of gruesome violence may bother some readers; my wife asked me to stop telling the stories. But the author only included these when necessary, and there are relatively few. I learned much from the White Horse King, and I loved reading it. If you like history and biography, you will too.

Benjamin Merkle is a Fellow of theology and classical languages at Saint Andrews College and a contributing editor to Credenda/Agenda.

I received this book through the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger Program.

Book Giveaway Winner

2009-11-28T04:39:00.003-06:00

The winner of Dual Citizens is Justin. Once you've contacted me with your address, I'll send the book your way.

Thanks for the comments!

Beware of False Conversions

2009-11-27T06:41:00.003-06:00

Hastein was a Danish Viking who led raids from the 850’s through the 890’s. His men looted lands in Europe and Africa, praying primarily on Christians but also Muslims.

While terrorizing Italy, the leader thought it a worthy goal to plunder Rome. But he knew that the walls of the city were too strong to be stormed, so he came up with a plan to fool the trusting Christians.

A messenger was sent to the city bishop. The messenger explained that the Vikings had fell on hard times. They were hungry and tired, and their leader was mortally wounded. He desired a Christian baptism before he died.

The bishop welcomed the group into the city, allowed them to buy supplies, and stood as the sponsor at Hastein’s baptism. The Vikings returned to their ship until evening, when they sent another message to the bishop that their leader, who desired to be buried in the city, had died. The bishop sent a procession to escort the grieving Vikings back into the city.

Once in the church, while the bishop was reciting mass, the “dead” chieftain rose up with his sword and hacked the bishop to death. At this the Vikings all pulled their swords from under their robes, let out a war whoop, and commenced to slaughter everyone, including the children, who were in the church. They then raided the sleeping city and returned to their longboats with their spoils.

The Vikings, as always, were proud of their cunning until they learned that it wasn’t Rome that they had sacked. They had missed their mark by about two hundred miles and attacked the city of Luna.

Though this is an extreme example, it still makes the point that there are those who make professions of faith and receive baptism for insincere reasons.

* This story was taken from the White Horse King by Benjamin Merkle.

Free book, anyone?

2009-11-24T04:54:00.004-06:00

"Should we lose sleep over the fact that those whose priorities are defined by MTV think that Christians are out of touch and the gospel is outdated? Should we attempt to make our faith "applicable" by marketing it to some cultural niche? In a word, no," Jason Stellman, Dual Citizens.

I'll draw to give away one new copy of Dual Citizens this weekend. Click here to enter.

Review: The Prayer of the Lord

2009-11-21T04:25:00.003-06:00

The Prayer of the Lord

R.C. Sproul

Reformation Trust

“We’re not all that adept at prayer; it is a practice very few of us have mastered,” says Dr. R.C. Sproul. Who can disagree? Our prayers are often unbiblical, casual, self-centered, and thoughtless—when we pray at all. But Jesus has left us with a model of how we should pray, and it deserves our attention.

“Jesus did not give the Lord’s Prayer with the intention that it would be repeated mindlessly. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we need to pray it thoughtfully, giving attention in our minds to its content. It is not a mantra to be repeated without the engagement of the mind or heart. It is an example of godly prayer.”

Dr. R.C. Sproul’s The Prayer of the Lord is a practical study of Matthew 6:5-13. After the first chapter, “How Not to Pray,” each chapter covers a single phrase within the Lord’s Prayer. What is the significance of beginning with “our Father?” What are we asking for when we say “hallowed be your name?” Why should we pray for God’s will to be done, and which “will” are we referring to? Dr. Sproul answers these questions and many more. And if the question is not answered in the first nine chapters, there’s a good chance that it will be answered in chapter ten—“Questions and Answers.” The book concludes with a wonderful appendix: “If God is Sovereign, Why Pray?”

A major theme of The Prayer of the Lord is the sovereignty and majesty of God. This is not a book on how to increase in God’s favor through prayer. Dr. Sproul does not encourage Christians to storm into God’s presence and make demands, nor does he encourage approaching God as a friend or an equal. Instead, he reminds readers that “we are peasants in the presence of the King. Not just a king, but the King, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the One who is absolutely sovereign.” He has “condescended to give us an audience.” We should keep this in mind and pray to Him accordingly.

The ability to teach the Bible as clearly and accurately as Dr. Sproul is rare. He is a master, and this little book is no exception. The chapters are short and to the point, yet the matter is fully explained. And the book is not cluttered with quotes from other writers. Instead, Dr. Sproul uses original stories and Scriptures to illustrate his points.

For the follower of Christ, prayer is not just important; it’s essential. “Our spiritual lives are means to the end of godliness, and prayer is one of the key aspects of our spirituality.” Still, many of us struggle in this area more than any other. The Prayer of the Lord will help. Readers will be instructed, encouraged, and edified. I highly recommend it.

R.C. Sproul on Naming and Claiming

2009-11-20T14:03:00.003-06:00

"To my great distress, I sometimes hear people say, in their zeal for fervency and efficacy in prayer, that we should never qualify our prayer requests with the words ‘if it be Your will.’ Some will even say that to attach those words, those conditional terms, to our prayers is an act of unbelief. We are told today that in the boldness of faith we are to ‘name it and claim it.’ I suppose I should be more measured in my response to this trend, but I can’t think of anything more foreign to the teaching of Christ. We come to the presence of God in boldness, but never in arrogance. Yes, we can name and claim those things God has clearly promised in Scripture. For instance, we can claim the certainty of forgiveness if we confess our sins before Him, because He promises that. But when it comes to getting a raise, purchasing a home, or finding healing from a disease, God hasn’t made those kind of specific promises anywhere in Scripture, so we are not free to name and claim those things," R.C. Sproul, The Prayer of the Lord.

Book Giveaway: Dual Citizens by Jason Stellman

2009-11-19T05:44:00.006-06:00

I have one new copy of Dual Citizens to give to one of my readers thanks to the Reformation Trust book review program.

To enter, do the following:

1. Read the review here.

2. Leave a comment on this post.

The winner will be announced around December 1.

There will be another Reformation Trust title given away soon.

Review: Learn to Study the Bible

2009-11-15T17:57:00.004-06:00

Is your Bible study ever dry? Do you get bogged down in your routine? If so, you might be interested in Andy Deane’s new book, Learn to Study the Bible.

Learn to Study the Bible is divided into seven parts: The Foundations of Bible Study, Basic Bible Study Methods, Major Bible Study Methods, Creative Bible Study Methods, Studying Specific Passages, Study Methods for Younger Students, and Wrapping it All Up. All together, the author explains 40 different methods and gives neatly hand written examples of each. (Mrs. Deane did the hand writing, by the way.)

The study methods run from traditional to unusually creative, but they all encourage reading prayerfully, slowly, repeatedly, and in context. The author is clear that fruitful study requires hard work: “A half-hearted, indifferent attitude towards God’s Word will not yield very much. It’s only when you roll up your sleeves and get to work that you will discover the richness buried within the pages of Scripture.” Each method also emphasizes application: “When it comes to obeying God’s Word, it’s not the thought that counts….If you haven’t found an application, your time in the word is not finished.”

I appreciate Andy Deane’s love for the Scriptures. He has a high view of the Bible, believing it to be the inspired Word of God. And he has a burden for others to share his view. His book is full of good ideas; I have dog-eared several pages that I hope to return to. More importantly, the book made me want to dig into the word with renewed diligence.

Learn to Study the Bible would be most helpful for beginning Bible students. The author wrote it after working with the youth in his church. But all Bible students will find something helpful. Get it, read it, and apply it.

Author Interview and Book Giveaway: Don Kistler, Why Read the Puritans Today?

2009-11-14T08:12:00.007-06:00

Dr. Don Kistler is a theologian, minister, and author. He has edited over 150 books, and is the founder of Soli Deo Gloria Publications and Northampton Press. Dr. Kistler has spoken at conferences with such notable figures as Dr. John MacArthur, Dr. R. C. Sproul, Dr. D. James Kennedy, Dr. J. I. Packer, Dr. John Gerstner, Elisabeth Elliot, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, Dr. Michael Horton, Rev. Alistair Begg, Dr. Albert M. Mohler, the late Dr. James Boice, and Rev. Eric Alexander. Prior to entering the ministry, Dr. Kistler coached high school and college football for over fifteen years.

Thanks go to Dr. Kistler for agreeing to answer a few questions for us regarding the Puritans. Let’s get started.

1. Who were the Puritans?

The Puritans were a group of clergymen within the Church of England who wanted to "purify" that church from the corruption they saw within her ranks. There were unsaved men in pulpits, unlearned men who weren't preaching at all.

2. When did you become interested in their writings?

I first became interested in the Puritans when I was researching my genealogy and found that I came from Jonathan Edwards through my father and Oliver Cromwell through my mother. I started to read them just to see what my ancestors believed.

3. Why should we read Puritan writings today?

We should read the Puritans because they were so God-centered and God-obsessed. They were thinkers, and we need that desperately today.

4. For someone who hasn't read any Puritan writings, where would be a good place to start?

A good place to start would be my booklet "Why Read the Puritans Today?" to find out what was so good about them. Then read "Heaven Taken by Storm" by Thomas Watson.

5. What are some Puritan works that have influenced you the most?

I'd say that "Gospel Worship" by Jeremiah Burroughs and "Grace" by Christopher Love were life-changing books, as well as anything by Jonathan Edwards.

6. Any closing thoughts?

We become like the people with whom we spend our time, so spending time with the Puritan writers is a good investment in our own life and eternity.

If you would like a copy of Dr. Kistler’s book, Why Read the Puritans Today?, then leave a comment on this post. I will give away two copies.

Update: The winners of the booklett are Scott and Whitestone. Please send an email with your mailing address, and I'll send it your way.

Matthew Henry: The Narrow Gate

2009-11-12T06:36:00.004-06:00

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few," (Matthew 7:13-14, ESV).

"The matter is fairly stated; life and death, good and evil, are set before us; both the ways, and both the ends: now let the matter be taken entire, and considered impartially, and then choose you this day which you will walk in....No man, in his wits, would choose to go to the gallows, because it is a smooth, pleasant way to it, nor refuse the offer of a palace and a throne, because it is a rough, dirty way to it; yet such absurdities as these are men guilty of, in the concerns of their souls.

Delay not, therefore; deliberate not any longer, but enter ye in at the strait gate; knock at it by sincere and constant prayers and endeavors, and it shall be opened; nay, a wide door shall be opened, and an effectual one. It is true, we can neither go in, nor go on, without the assistance of divine grace; but it is as true, that grace is freely offered, and shall not be wanting to those that seek it, and submit to it. Conversion is hard work, but it is needful, and, blessed be God, it is not impossible if we strive," Matthew Henry, Commentary.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Asking, Seeking, and Knocking

2009-11-07T05:56:00.004-06:00

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:7-11, ESV).

"Asking, and seeking, and knocking do not just mean that if we ask for anything we like we shall get it. Of course not. What it means is this. Ask for any one of these things that is good for you, that is for the salvation of your soul, your ultimate perfection, anything that brings you nearer to God and enlarges your life and is thoroughly good for you, and He will give it you....the promise literally is this, that if we seek these good things, the fullness of the Holy Spirit, the life of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, etc., all these virtues and glories that were seen shining so brightly in the earthly life of Christ, He will give them to us. If we really want to be more like Him, and like all the saints, if we really ask for these things, we shall receive; if we seek them, we shall find them; if we knock, the door will be opened unto us and we shall enter into their possession," Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount.

This is off the subject but...

2009-11-06T06:39:00.005-06:00

If you want to read a silly horse story that I had published in Texas Coop Power magazine, you can do so here.

You can download a PDF of the magazine and see the story layout, illustrations and all, here.

If you don't want to click on either, I don't blame you. But if you like nature, rural living, and recipes, you'll find something you enjoy in the magazine.

Author Interview: Douglas Wilson

2009-11-04T04:50:00.003-06:00

Douglas Wilson was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule and answer a few questions about his new book, Five Cities that Ruled the World:

1. Tell us about yourself.

My name is Douglas Wilson, married to Nancy since 1975. We have three children, who have in turn blessed us with thirteen grandchildren, with numbers fourteen and fifteen on the way. I am the minister at Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, and am a senior fellow of theology at New St. Andrews College.

2. Tell us about your new book.

5 Cities was an enjoyable book to write. Joel Miller at Thomas Nelson suggested the topic, and it seemed intriguing to me. Many cities have controlled the world at one time or another, but influence is different from control. These five cities have had monumental influence, far beyond their heyday of political power.

3. Why is it important for Christians to read church history?

First, because the Bible requires us to honor our fathers and mothers. You can't do this by forgetting about them. And second, if you don't know where you came from, you can't know where you are or where you are going.

4. Why is it important for Christians to read secular history?

Because Christian history did not occur in a vacuum. The Incarnation of the Lord Jesus shows us that His body will also live incarnationally, surrounded by and affected by others.

5. Any closing thoughts?

Simply that the story of these five cities shows that everything is connected to everything else. Nothing can really be understood in isolation.

Five Cities that Ruled the World was released this month. You can read my review and purchase the book here.

Don Kistler to Preach in Weatherford

2009-11-03T05:16:00.004-06:00

Don Kistler, founder of Northhampton Press and Soli Deo Gloria Ministries, will preach in Weatherford, Texas this Sunday evening. The service will be held at the Brownstone Wedding Chapel, 112 W. Oak Street in downtown Weatherford, and it will begin at 5:00 P.M.

The service is sponsored by Living Word Community Church and Weatherford Presbyterian Church.

If you are in the Fort Worth area and would like to hear Dr. Kistler, then please come and worship with us.

Five Cities that Ruled the World: Douglas Wilson

2009-11-01T06:38:00.004-06:00

In Five Cities that Ruled the World, theologian Douglas Wilson takes readers through the life of Jerusalem, Athens, Rome, London, and New York.

Wilson covers the history of the world from Melchizedek to 2009 in five brief and fast moving chapters. With the skill of an experienced teacher, the author highlights the important events while passing over insignificant and boring details. Each chapter concentrates on one city: its origin, its uniqueness, its weakness, its greatness, its influence, and, in most cases, its decline. But whether the city is still strong, as is New York, or has exceeded its “lifespan of greatness,” as has Rome, each still profoundly influences our world today.

This is no ho-hum text laden with seemingly unrelated facts and dates. Wilson’s history is filled with interesting and amusing anecdotes and humor. But the work is still serious and accurate. What role did each city play in the history of the church? How did freedom and liberty, or the lack thereof, lead to the greatness, or fall, of each city? How did the ideals and philosophies of each city affect the rest of the world? And how do they apply to us today? Wilson also weaves Scripture into each story, and he ends by looking forward to that final great city, the New Jerusalem.

If you are interested in secular or church history, then this book is for you. But you don’t have to be a theologian or historian to understand or enjoy it, and you certainly don’t have to be either to benefit from it. We know more about the world today by knowing more about the world of yesterday. Five Cities that Ruled the World will whet the appetite for a deeper knowledge of history and Scripture. I recommend it.

Update: You can read my interview of author Douglas Wilson here.

Calvinism and Liberty

2009-10-31T06:01:00.003-05:00

"If you pull out a map of the world and look at all the countries that have the longest and deepest traditions of liberty, you realize that those nations have a Calvinistic heritage. Various historians have noted this anomaly, but it is not really an anomaly. Those who believe that God predetermines everything are the most likely to think that the king or Congress doesn't predestine anything"--Douglas Wilson, Five Cities that Ruled the World.

Reformation Day Winners

2009-10-31T04:08:00.006-05:00

I have randomly selected five winners of the Reformation Day T-shirt giveaway sponsored by Reformation Shirts. The winners are Lew, Jane, Michael, Adam, and DW. I have already contacted each of you through email or your blog (Lew).

Please go by and see the great selection of T-shirts at Reformation Shirts; while you're there, thank them for their generosity. And thanks to everyone who participated. There was a total of 217 entries.

Happy Reformation Day!

The Pride of Cynics

2009-10-30T06:08:00.002-05:00

"Diogenes came to Plato's house one day and was disgusted to find rich and exquisite carpets on the floor. To show his contempt he stamped and wiped his feet upon them, saying, 'Thus do I trample upon the pride of Plato.' 'With greater pride,' observed Plato mildly."

Douglas Wilson, 5 Cities that Ruled the World, quoting Clifton Fadiman, The Little, Brown Book of Anecdotes

22 Books From Devotional Christian

2009-10-29T19:56:00.002-05:00

Devotional Christian is being relaunched with a bang. They are giving away 22 books to one lucky--er, predestined--winner.

Go by, take a look around, and then write a blog post for a chance to win.

HT: Kim from Hiraeth

Larry P. Arnn: The Purpose and Function of our Political System

2009-10-29T05:19:00.005-05:00

"What is fundamental is the purpose and function of our political system. Either we shall have limited government, in which a few vital things are tended to with a careful eye and strong but limited powers, or else we shall attempt to allocate the labor and capital of the nation by force of law. This second will make a disaster of a kind not seen in this country from its first days."

Larry P. Arnn, "A Work of Recovery." Imprimis, December 2008.

A Prayer of Confession

2009-10-27T05:09:00.005-05:00

The following is an adaptation from John Calvin's Geneva Liturgy of 1543. We used it as our corporate prayer of confession at Weatherford Presbyterian (PCA) this past Sunday.

"Lord God, eternal and almighty Father:

We acknowledge before thy holy majesty that we are poor sinners, conceived and born in guilt and in corruption, prone to do evil, unable of our own power to do good. Because of our sin, we endlessly violate thy holy commandments. But, O Lord, with heartfelt sorrow we repent and turn away from all our offenses. We condemn ourselves and our evil ways, with true sorrow, asking that thy grace will relieve our distress.

Have compassion on us, most gracious God, Father of mercies, for the sake of thy son Jesus Christ our Lord. And in removing our guilt, also grant us daily increase of the grace of thy Holy Spirit, and produce in us the fruits of holiness and of righteousness pleasing in thy sight: Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

"I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake" (1 John 2:12, ESV).

Reformation Day T-Shirt Giveaway

2009-10-25T18:55:00.014-05:00

David Jacks, owner of Reformation Shirts and Theological Pursuits Bookstore, is generously sponsoring a Reformation Day T-shirt giveaway.

Simply leave a comment on this post or send an email to be entered.

Five winners will be announced on Reformation Day (October 31). I will contact you via email or through your blog and request your shipping address, size, and selection. Your shirt will then be shipped from Reformation Shirts in Fort Worth, Texas. If the style you select is not available in your size, I will ask you to make another selection.

Many thanks go to Mr. Jacks. Please remember Reformation Shirts and Theological Pursuits Bookstore when doing your Christmas shopping!

Update: There are several different T-shirts to choose from. Don't forget to check out the selection at the Reformation Shirts link above.

Update # 2: The winners have been announced in a separate post.

Free Books for Bloggers

2009-10-25T05:47:00.004-05:00

Do you have a blog? Would you like some free books? Are you willing to write book reviews? If you said "yes" to each, then here are some resources you may be interested in.

Reformation Trust will send you a PDF of any R.T. title that you request. Once you have read it and posted a review on your blog, they will send you a free copy upon approval. The review does not have to be positive, but it does have to be fair and based upon the whole book. Read more here.

Thomas Nelson also has a book review program for bloggers. You can select from a list of their newest releases, and they will send you the book. But again, you must read and review it. There is an occasional reformed title. Douglas Wilson's newest book, Five Cities that Ruled the World, just became available. I'm looking forward to that one. My copy of In Search of God and Guinness also came from this program. Learn more about it here.

Multnomah has a similar program. You can register for it here.

Some of our fellow bloggers--I won't mention any names (T.C.)--receive unsolicited books every day. And if I were a publisher, I would want Tim to review my books, too. But for those of us with fewer readers and less ability, these programs are a good opportunity.

"In the course of any given week, I will read several books. I know how much I thrive on this learning and the intellectual stimulation I get from reading. As my wife and family would be first to tell you, I can read almost anytime, anywhere, under almost any kind of conditions. I have a book with me virtually all the time, and have been known to snatch a few moments for reading at stop lights"--Al Mohler, Some Thoughts on the Reading of Books.

T4G Early Bird Registration Ends Soon

2009-10-24T07:15:00.004-05:00

There are only a few more days of the Early Bird registration for the Together for the Gospel conference (hint to my wife or any other sympathetic family member).

Have any of you already registered? Do any of you plan on registering?

If you don't register by Reformation Day (October 31), then the price goes up $50.00.

Why We Love the Church

2009-10-23T05:47:00.004-05:00

Why We Love the Church: In Praise of Institutions and Organized Religion

Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck

Moody Publishers

Want to write a Christian bestseller? Then write a book attacking the church. Tell how, after leaving the church, you found God in Starbucks or on the golf course. Tell how organized religion stifles faith. Tell your readers that buildings, sermons, hymns, and creeds are unbiblical. Tell them that church is out, and relationships are in.

Write it if you will, but don’t expect Kevin DeYoung or Ted Kluck to endorse it. They’ve seen too many of these books already. Read more.

Just Do Something

2009-10-20T07:17:00.011-05:00

Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will

Kevin DeYoung

Moody Publishers

A while back, I had the opportunity to transfer; the move would put us nearer to extended family. There were advantages to going and advantages to staying. Some friends were certain that it was God’s will for us to stay, and one even warned us with the story of Jonah and the whale. At the other end of the move were family members who had a conflicting prophecy, yet the whale was still involved. So there we were, trapped between two whales. What followed was a miserable time of praying for God to make His will known and wondering why He wasn’t. How I needed Kevin DeYoung’s book.

In Just Do Something, Kevin DeYoung says that God does not expect us to discern His secret will while waiting to zap us if we choose the wrong door. Rather, He gives us the wisdom and latitude to make our own choices:

"Live for God. Obey the Scriptures. Think of others before yourself. Be holy. Love Jesus. And as you do these things, do whatever else you like, with whomever you like, wherever you like, and you’ll be walking in the will of God."

Read more.

The Perfect Gift for Children

2009-10-17T07:59:00.008-05:00

The Lightlings

R.C. Sproul

Reformation Trust

“You know, not only are lots of people afraid of the dark, many people are afraid of the light,” said Grandpa to Charlie.

In R.C. Sproul’s Lightlings, Grandpa tells Charlie the story of the King of Light and His children—the lightlings. The lightlings lived in the happiness and warmth of the light of the king until the day that they sinned. Then their lights grew dim, they became afraid of the King and his light, and they hid themselves in the dark. That is, until the King’s Son, the Light of the World, was born.

Dr. Sproul’s little allegory is perfect for teaching the story of redemption to children. Ours love hearing it, and we love reading it to them. And the illustrations are amazing; Justin Gerard has done a beautiful job. This is one of my family’s favorite children’s books. It would make the perfect gift for your children, your grandchildren, or the noisy little child next door.

Update: You can listen to Dr. R.C. Sproul read the Lightlings here.

The Search for God and Guinness by Stephen Mansfield

2009-10-15T15:27:00.012-05:00

A stained glass window in Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral stands as a reminder of the Guinness family’s charity and compassion. Beneath the scene of a saintly figure ministering to the poor are the words of Jesus: “I was thirsty and ye gave me drink.”

In The Search for God and Guinness, Stephen Mansfield tells the story of Arthur Guinness, his business, and his descendants.

Mansfield begins his book with a short and excellent history of beer, and especially its popularity among the church fathers. The rest of the book focuses on the family and their business. Historians often group the Guinnesses into three classes: the brewers, the bankers, and the Guinnesses for God. Mansfield says this division is inaccurate and theologically misleading. It implies that only those who were in professional ministry served God. But the author shows that whether they preached or brewed, the Guinnesses honored Him. Their faith was displayed through unprecedented generosity which improved the lives of thousands, and continues to do so to this day.

The Search for God and Guinness is an excellent and inspiring work based upon thorough research. The author’s interest in his subject is contagious. His writing is strong, clear, and a pleasure to read. And the theology in this book is sound. I enjoyed the book and recommend it, especially to readers interested in history and biography.

You can order The Search for God and Guinness here.

Bonnie the Baptist

2009-10-12T14:11:00.004-05:00

Although the rest of us have adjusted well to Presbyterian life, Bonnie has been more resistant.

Beer in (Church) History

2009-10-10T15:03:00.005-05:00

Beer has played a large role in, yes, church history. And why is it any wonder when the Lord himself enjoyed wine with His disciples?

The following bits of trivia come from The Search for God and Guinness, by Stephen Mansfield. They can be substantiated by many other historical accounts.

“Monasteries brewed beer as a social service—because it was a healthier drink than water and with less alcohol than the harder liquors a man might choose—but also to raise the funds that a monastic enterprise required.”

“At the time of Luther, ‘a gallon of beer per day was the usual allowance per person, even for nuns.’ This may help to explain why beer figures so prominently in the life and writings of the great reformer.” Luther’s wife, Katie, “was a skilled brewer.”

“Luther spent much of his life in the taverns of Wittenberg and not just because he loved to drink beer. He often mentored his students there, studied there, met important visitors there, and, upon occasion, even taught classes there.”

Calvin shared Luther’s view of beer and wine. In the Institutes of the Christian Religion, Calvin wrote: “We are nowhere forbidden to laugh, or to be satisfied with food…or to be delighted with music, or to drink wine.” He also wrote: “It is permissible to use wine not only for necessity, but also to make us merry.”

“It is testimony to the importance of beer in their story that the brewery was the first permanent building the Pilgrims constructed. As Gregg Smith has written in his excellent history of beer, “Their critical shortage made a brew house a priority among the structures built that first winter in Plymouth. Even if the Pilgrims’ supply weren’t scarce, the need for a brewery was immediate.’”

“To prevent a similar experience, when the Puritans sailed to New England a decade later in 1630, they made sure that beer was in plentiful supply. Just one of their five ships, the Arbella, carried 42 tuns of beer.” (A “tun”—not “ton”—equals 252 gallons.)

"John Wesley drank wine, was something of an ale expert, and often made sure that his Methodist preachers were paid in one of the vital currencies of the day--rum. His brother, Charles Wesley, was known for the fine port, Madeira, and sherry he often served in his home; the journals of George Whitefield are filled with references to his enjoyment of alcohol. At the end of one of his letters, he wrote, 'Give my thanks to that friendly brewer for the keg of rum he sent us.'"

If you like the above quote, you can order the T-shirt here.

Dual Citizens: Worship and Life Between the Already and the Not Yet

2009-10-09T05:56:00.004-05:00

Dual Citizens: Worship and Life Between the Already and Not Yet

By Jason Stellman

Reformation Trust Publishing

Should the church change with the whims of culture in an attempt to be relevant? Or, should believers withdraw from and shun the world with all that it has to offer? Jason Stellman says no to both.

In Dual Citizens, Rev. Stellman argues for a pilgrim mindset. Christians live in the context of a “semi-realized eschatology,” or between the “already and not yet.” They are citizens of the earth and of heaven, and each of these citizenships should be manifested in its proper place.

Dual Citizens has two parts. In part one, “Christian Worship for Dual Citizens,” the author says that it is when the followers of Christ come together to worship, rather than in the living of their daily lives, that they should appear the most different. “If ever there were a time for the saints to placard their counter-culturalism and absolute refusal to be identified with the tastes and trends of this passing and evil age, their ‘coming to Him’ on the Lord’s Day would be the time…As the saints leave their houses each and every Lord’s Day morning and assemble with the rest of God’s people…they are making a much louder statement to the world than a fish emblem on their bumper ever will.”

Corporate worship belongs entirely to the heavenly kingdom. It is not meant to be the agent of political or cultural change. Likewise, the purpose of the Sabbath is not to strengthen a nation or bring it back to its “golden years.” “Our heavenly citizenship transcends even the most powerful worldly allegiances to which we hold.” Therefore, church worship should not be influenced by the community, culture, or world.

In part two, “The Christian Life for Dual Citizens,” the author argues that outside of worship, Christians are free to take part in and enjoy the culture in which they live. “When God’s people are a holy theocracy (and only then), they are commanded to withdraw from pagan religion and pagan culture, but when they are exiles and pilgrims, they are called to separate themselves only religiously, not culturally.” Stellman makes it clear that the United States is not a “holy theocracy,” nor does it (or any other nation) carry any “redemptive significance.” Therefore, believers are free to enjoy God’s earthly gifts. “Given our dual citizenship, we must not allow our desire to eat from the heavenly Tree of Life to prevent us from stopping to smell the roses of earth every now and then.”

I appreciated Stellman’s positions, especially concerning the church’s call to be separate from the culture. When corporate worship is no different than a U2 concert, the biblical description of believers as pilgrims and sojourners becomes absurd. At the same time, Christians are permitted to enjoy the world that God created. He made the earth, roses, red wine, music, and art for our benefit. We don’t glorify Him by spurning His gifts.

As a whole, Dual Citizens is edifying and enjoyable. Some of Stellman’s arguments, however, are complex and hard to follow. And I failed to see a strong connection between some of the chapters—particularly the one titled “The Bragging Calvinist”—and the broader context of the book.

Believers with reformed leanings and an interest in theology will enjoy Dual Citizens most, while believers in the coffee shop of a mega church need it most. It is not your average book on Christian living, and it won’t help you live “your best life now.” But it is encouraging for pilgrims who are waiting for a better country, and for that reason I recommend it.

Jason Stellman is the pastor of Exile Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Washington State, and is a graduate of Westminster Seminary California. Dual Citizens is his first book.

DeYoung and Dever on Baptism

2009-10-08T19:03:00.003-05:00

Kevin DeYoung and Mark Dever discuss infant baptism here.

The Making of Christ Formed in You

2009-10-03T05:46:00.003-05:00

My friend Brian Hedges agreed to be interviewed on this blog a while back, you may remember.

Brian's book, Christ Formed in You, is now in the editing process. The book will be published by Shepherd Press. Brian's editor, Kevin Meath, has created a blog to take readers step-by-step through the editing process. Click here to see the Making of Christ Formed in You.

On this blog you'll find an opportunity to order up to five copies of Brian's book for $5.00 each if you make a request before the editing process reaches 30%. I'm taking advantage of this offer--judging by the author, editor, and publisher, this is going to be a great book.

Wayne Grudem’s Response to the Protestant Paedobaptist View

2009-10-02T16:21:00.003-05:00

In Systematic Theology, Dr. Wayne Grudem covers baptism, including the different views on baptism, in chapter 49. I will discuss his response to the Protestant paedobaptist view in this post. See my last post for an explanation of the paedobaptist position.

Dr. Grudem first addresses the paedobaptist belief that New Testament baptism corresponds to Old Testament circumcision. In the Old Testament, the covenant community consisted of believers and non-believers. The outward act of circumcision was applied without regard to whether one had faith or not. This is evident when we consider that all men in Israel, including slaves who were not born into a covenant family, were commanded to be circumcised (Genesis 17:10-13).

The outward act of circumcision pointed to an inward, spiritual condition. Paul says that true circumcision is inward, “of the heart,” and, “by the Spirit” (Romans 2:29). And both there and in Romans 9:6, Paul says that true Jews are those that are Jews inwardly: “Not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel.”

In the New Testament, says Grudem, the only covenant community is the church, which is made up of the redeemed of God. One becomes a member of this community through the new birth rather than a natural birth. Baptism is the sign of membership, but it should only be administered to those who already show evidence of membership in the church. The evidence of membership, or the new birth, is faith in Jesus Christ. Those who do not have faith are not members.

Grudem says: “We should not be surprised that there was a change from the way the covenant community was entered in the Old Testament (physical birth) to the way the church is entered in the New Testament (spiritual birth).” He then gives other examples of the change from physical to spiritual. The old covenant had a physical temple, but believers are built up as a spiritual temple (1 Peter 2:5). Old covenant believers offered animal sacrifices, but New Testament believers offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Peter 2:5). National Israel received land, but believers receive a heavenly country (Hebrews 11:16). The old covenant family was made up of Abraham’s natural descendants, but the church is made up of his spiritual descendants (Gal. 3:29, Rom. 4:11-12). Examples like this can be multiplied. To summarize, Grudem says that the physical elements of the old covenant were a shadow of what is to come, “but the substance is found or fulfilled in the new covenant relationship with Jesus Christ” (Col. 2:17).

Next, Dr. Grudem addresses the household baptisms in the New Testament. Before the Philippian jailor’s household was baptized, Paul preached the gospel to them (Acts 16:32). In verse 34, we are told that they all “rejoiced.” So, Grudem says, we can assume that all were old enough to understand and believe. Regarding the house of Stephanas, Paul calls them the “first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints” (1 Cor. 16:15). So there is evidence that they too were converted and believed. This leaves only the household of Lydia. The text does not give any evidence of whether there were infants or not, and so it is inconclusive.

At Pentecost, Peter says that “the promise is to you and your children.” This verse is often used in defense of the paedobaptist position. But Peter goes on: “…to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him” (Acts 2:39). So the promise, ultimately, is to those who believe and their believing children. A few verses later, in Acts 2:41, we are told that “Those who received his word were baptized.”

Dr. Grudem gives other arguments, but since they do not relate to my previous post I will not summarize them. I do want to mention his final point. Dr. Grudem says that the practice of infant baptism may lead to a false sense of security. Those who are baptized as infants may trust in their baptism, and therefore not realize their need for Christ. This will lead to churches full of unbelievers, and ultimately to liberalism.

What is my response? I find Dr. Grudem’s first arguments compelling. Believers on both sides of the issue will agree that many of the physical aspects of Old Testament worship represented greater, spiritual truths that were and are fulfilled in Christ. Regarding household baptisms, I agree that the passages are not decisive. I would not, at this point, make any definite assertion. But Dr. Grudem’s points are enough to at least cause a “reasonable doubt” as to whether infants were baptized.

Dr. Grudem’s last argument is weak. Though infant baptism may lead to a false sense of security, the same can be said about believer’s baptism. In main-line (non-reformed) Baptist churches, young children are commonly pressed to make a profession of faith, baptized, assured that they are saved, and rebuked if they ever express doubt. False security is related more to the accuracy and fullness of the gospel presentation than the mode of baptism.

While in other areas of doctrine, worship, and church administration I am most comfortable being in a reformed Presbyterian church, I am still not convinced on the baptism issue. I say that I am not convinced, though I do find their view persuasive. Regardless, I would rather disagree on baptism but agree on the gospel than have it the other way around.

Dr. Grudem says that this is not an issue that should divide. By the way, he graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary, and his son is the pastor of a Presbyterian church in the PCA.

What Christian Parents Should Know about Infant Baptism

2009-09-28T18:01:00.004-05:00

What Christian Parents Should Know About Infant Baptism

By John P. Sartelle

Published by Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.

Following are some main ideas from the booklet, What Christian Parents Should Know about Infant Baptism. I am not giving my view of the subject. Instead, I am trying to accurately summarize the author’s position.

John P. Sartelle asks: “If we interviewed all the couples in America who had their babies baptized in the past year, how many could open their Bibles and explain what that meant?” Not many, he answers.

The author’s purpose in his book is to show that infant baptism is not an empty ritual. It is, rather, a meaningful practice with biblical support. Parents who baptize their infants, in order for it to have any meaning, ought to understand what they are doing. And those who disagree with the practice should understand before they criticize.

The discussion between paedobaptists and credobaptists moves beyond baptism. It is rooted in how one views the Old Testament. Believers of the reformed tradition see more continuity between the Old and the New. There is one family of covenant believers. The Old Testament covenant and promises are not replaced by the New; instead, they are fulfilled.

Abraham was saved by grace through faith, just as we are today (Romans 4). After Abraham was justified, God commanded him to be circumcised. Circumcision became the outward sign of the covenant relationship between believers and their God. It was the sign of covenant membership, faith, belief, salvation, and cleansing. It was a sign of being set apart to a holy life.

In the Old Testament, when adults from outside Israel (the visible covenant family) became believers, they were circumcised. But every male child born into a covenant family was also circumcised (Genesis 17).

Just as circumcision was the outward sign of covenant membership in the Old Testament, baptism became the outward sign of covenant membership in the New Testament. “Every New Testament teaching has its roots in the Old Testament.”

When hearers of the Apostles’ preaching were converted, they were commanded to be baptized. Baptism is, like circumcision, the sign of faith, belief, salvation, cleansing, and being set apart to a holy life. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul explains to converted Gentiles that they had, in a sense, been circumcised through their baptism: “In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands…having been buried with Him in baptism” (Col. 1:11-12).

Sartelle says that the gospel message “was no less gracious and encompassing than the message of salvation to Abraham.” If there is continuity from the Old Testament to the New, then the covenant promises extend to believers and their families, just as they did in Israel. Evidence of this is found in 1 Cor. 7:14, where Paul says that children of believers are “set apart.”

Mr. Sartelle believes that there is New Testament evidence that the children of believers were baptized. Acts 16:15 tells us that Lydia and her household were baptized, and then we read the same of the Philippian jailor (Acts 16:33). Paul also tells us in 1 Cor. 1:16 that he baptized the household of Stephanas.

Sartelle makes it very clear that neither circumcision nor baptism saves, nor are they required for salvation. Does baptism guarantee that a child will grow into faith? The answer, of course, is no. One could ask whether believer’s baptism guarantees that the adult recipient has faith, and the answer is also no. But infant baptism is a symbol of God’s grace and His covenant promises. Do those promises extend to the family? If so, then the symbol of the promise should also extend to the family. Just as believer’s baptism symbolizes God’s mercy and grace, so does infant baptism. It is the outward sign of membership to God’s covenant family. It is also a pledge, made by the parents, that the child will be raised to love and follow the Lord. Without the influence of the church, faithful parents, and Scripture and prayer in the home, it becomes meaningless. But with these, it has great meaning.

This very short book (27 pages) is written for the “person in the pew.” It is simple and straightforward, and will be helpful to those wanting to better understand the paedobaptist view.

What are my thoughts on the issue? A few years back, when I knew nothing about infant baptism, I could have given you thoughts a-plenty. I’ve known the arguments against it well before I knew anything about it. But many of those arguments were based upon false assumptions regarding the other position. As with many issues, as I study the word of God I realize that this question is not nearly as black and white as I thought it was. If it was, as some say, simply a matter of “believing the Bible,” then men like Mark Dever, John Piper, and Charles Spurgeon would be in agreement with R.C. Sproul, J.I. Packer, and Matthew Henry. But that’s not the case. For now I’m going to stay quiet and keep studying.

Did Christ Descend into Hell?

2009-09-22T21:19:00.002-05:00

The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty; Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven; and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.

Amen.

The above version of the Apostle’s Creed was taken from Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology. If you are familiar with the Creed, you probably noticed the omission of the phrase, “He descended into hell,” just before, “the third day he rose from the dead.” In chapter 27 of Systematic Theology, Dr. Grudem spends nine pages (586-594) discussing why the phrase should not be included in the Creed.

First, according to Dr. Grudem, the phrase did not appear at all in the earliest versions of the Creed. From 200 to 650 A.D., the phrase only appeared in two versions, and the author of these understood “hell” to mean hades (the grave) rather than geena (place of punishment). These versions did not have the phrase, “and buried,” so “descended into the grave” would have meant just that. Later versions mixed the two phrases, and so the confusion began.

Dr. Grudem then deals with the passages of Scripture that have been used to support a descent into hell (Acts 2:27, Romans 10:6-7, Ephesians 4:8-9, 1 Peter 3:18-20, and 1 Peter 4:6). He does a good job of showing that these verses do not teach that Christ descended into hell and that it is a big stretch to say that they do.

Scripture does, however, seem to contradict the descent into hell theory. Grudem uses three quotes from Jesus on the cross. First, Jesus said to the thief, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). It seems reasonable to conclude, then, that Jesus ascended rather than descended at death. Second, as Jesus was dying, he proclaimed that, “It is finished.” Had he still to descend into hell, for whatever reason, his work would not have been finished. And third, Jesus cried, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Again, this shows that his spirit went immediately to heaven rather than into hell.

Dr. Grudem concludes by saying that the only argument for retaining the phrase, “He descended into hell,” is that it has been around for so long. “But an old mistake is still a mistake….My own judgment is that there would be all gain and no loss if it were dropped from the Creed once for all. Concerning the doctrinal question of whether Christ did descend into hell after he died, the answer from several passages of Scripture seems clearly to be no.”

Advice to Church Leaders From a Youth Sunday School Text

2009-09-18T09:17:00.003-05:00

In the past, I have not had a high opinion of Sunday school curriculum; at least, not the ones that I have been exposed to. But I am very pleased with the material our church is using for the youth class.

John Piper’s ministry, Desiring God, is well known. But have you heard of Children Desiring God? Take a look at their resources.

The curriculum being used by our church is titled Teach Me Your Way, by Sally Michael. It is, by the way, published by Children Desiring God.

In reading through the introduction, which is written for teachers, I found several quotes that demonstrate how this material is different from other popular Sunday school material.

As I was highlighting and taking notes, it occurred to me that these bits of advice, if followed, would improve church services as a whole. Many pastors and church leaders would do well to take heed.

Here are some quotes. I have added any italics.

“While it is certainly possible to learn while being entertained, entertainment is not the goal of this study. Activities that have fun as their primary goal have been omitted.”

During worship time, “Songs should be chosen that focus on the majesty and character of God and should not encourage irreverence or silliness.”

“Always use your Bible to look up the passages…teach with an open Bible before you.”

“The key verses (of each lesson) have been carefully chosen to give students a strong, Bible-based, theological foundation.”

“Instead of using confusing terminology like ‘ask Jesus into your heart,’ we suggest using the phrase, ‘trust in Jesus.’”

“The majority of the lesson time should be spent presenting and explaining the biblical text, not in making the illustrations.”

“Keep in mind that your class most likely includes unbelievers as well as believers. Be careful not to use ‘inclusive’ language that communicates to unbelievers that they are Christians….For example, instead of stating, ‘After we die, we will go to heaven to be with Jesus,’ qualify your statement with, ‘Those of us who are trusting in Jesus as our Savior will go to heaven to be with Him when we die.’ Although we do not want to deny true saving faith, we also do not want to provide false assurance.”

“In order to have a fruitful time of heart application, both mentors and students need to train their minds to think God’s thoughts after Him by studying His word; only after transformation of the mind can renewal of the heart take place.”

“Surrendering to Christ in salvation involves the mind, heart, and will of the person and true saving faith results in submission to the will and ways of Jesus.”

Note: Teach Me Your Way uses the English Standard Version text.

Spirit, or Flesh?

2009-09-08T16:35:00.002-05:00

Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote (somewhere) that often, when we think that we are spiritually cold, the problem may really be that we are sick or tired. That’s something helpful for me to remember.

When I get home from my full-time job, my little ones are waiting. After four or five hours of playing, reading, bathing, feeding, tucking in, and taking them to tinkle, I sit down to read. And guess what? My mind wanders, if it works at all. And that goes for my prayer time, too. So I go to bed feeling like a wretch and hoping to do better in the morning.

The alarm goes off, but I’m sleeping so soundly that I don’t wake up. Still, I manage to turn it off. It sounds again; I stumble to the kitchen, make the coffee, and find my desk. But still, no luck. My reading goes in one ear and out the other, or something like that. And what’s the verdict? I’m spiritually dull, dry, cold, or dead. But I want to read and pray so badly. Maybe I’m just tired. It’s amazing how much a little rest can improve my “spiritual” condition.

We have this treasure in earthen vessels. Our vessels are weak. On top of that, we have personalities.

There’s the guy who is the life of the party. He can’t stand to be alone, and he thrives on being around people. (He’s not me, by the way.) Naturally, he loves being at church. He’s there every time the door opens. He’s in the choir, and on every committee, and he stays an hour after services. His friend is the opposite. He is most comfortable alone, and most anxious and self-conscious when he is in the presence of others. He loves Christ, and the Church, and fellow believers as much as the other, but he is, because of his withdrawn personality, less likely to make the ice-cream social or be on a committee. Should Mr. Social judge his friend to be less spiritual, or less of a Christian, and make comments like “You can’t love Christ if you don’t love the church?”

A certain lady may love to read. As a child she read so much that her mother worried about her. Naturally, as an adult Christian, she spends more time reading the Scriptures and Christian literature than her non-reading friend. But she must remember that her love for reading may be just that—a love for reading. It does not necessarily mean that she is spiritually superior, or even that she has a greater love for God’s word. After all, her friend who reads less may feel ten times more when she does read, or get ten times more out of it. Or she may not be able to read, but spends hours in prayer, or at church.

Certain personalities may also be more inclined to certain sins. Though we are all guilty sinners, some of us may not be tempted in the particular ways that our brothers and sisters are. One may be naturally quiet due to shyness or even pride. That person should not feel smug while reading the proverbs about controlling the tongue, any more than the talkative and “friendly” person should judge the quiet one to be unfriendly or prideful. We all have areas where we are naturally tempted. Thank God, we are not all tempted to every possible sin. But we should remember that and not be too hard on those that are tempted in ways we are not.

I am not excusing laziness, or church skipping, or prayer shirking, or sin. What I am trying to say is that our natural feelings, our personalities, and our physical conditions may have a lot to do with what we consider “spiritual.” As we remember this, we should be more charitable and not so quick to judge ourselves more or less spiritual than others. After all, without Christ we are nothing.

H.M. Curry on Temperance Societies

2009-09-05T12:02:00.006-05:00

"I once more endeavored to press forward, whither I knew not, and cared not, for I was now an aimless wanderer, a tramp in heaven; but I was soon confronted by another procession. The participants this time wore blue ribbons in their button-holes and temperance badges upon the lapels of their coats.

A tall man headed the procession carrying a large flag inscribed to the W.C.T.U. of America. I soon discovered that it was the ransomed of the temperance societies holding high carnival to their great benefactors. Temperance lecturers, total abstinence societies, and prohibitionists workers of every description were there with samples of their work, in the persons of reformed drunkards whom they had saved from destruction.

I watched my opportunity, and seeking out one of their chief men, I asked, 'Is Jesus of Nazareth in your procession?' The answer came prompt and decisive, 'He is not here.' I ventured a little further and asked again, 'What think ye of him, if peradventure you know him?' The man responded, 'He is not much respected by our societies. When he was in the world he was considered by our ancient brethren as a wine-bibber and a glutton. He even went so far as to attend a wedding among the lower class of people, and when the wine was exhausted and the guests all drunk he made them a new supply of the vile stuff, right in the face of all respectable people who were laboring to suppress the manufacture, sale and use of the dreadful poison; and one of his chief apostles recommended the use of wine. So you see there is not much agreement between us and him, either in heaven or on earth, consequently we are found very seldom, if ever, in each other's company. Many whom you see here were saved by temperance workers from drunkards' graves and drunkards' hell which would have been their certain doom, had not the temperance cause superseded the work and teaching of him you inquire for.'

I had now seen enough of the place to desire no more of it, and was ready to sink in utter despair....Then came the dreadful thought of spending eternity there. It was more than I could bear; my agony of heart and last struggles of despair aroused me, and I once more rejoice that it was only a dream, a dreadful illusion, but a true picture of the heaven that the religionists of this world are making."

--H.M. Curry, A Dream Tour

Review: The Exemplary Husband

2009-08-30T16:24:00.004-05:00

The Exemplary Husband

Stuart Scott

Focus Publishing

The home is the most important area of ministry for husbands. It can also be the most difficult, and it is often the most neglected. The characteristics of an exemplary husband do not come naturally. Nor are they taught in school. We need help. Outside of the Bible, Dr. Stuart Scott’s The Exemplary Husband is the best help I’ve found.

The Exemplary Husband is divided into four parts: A Husband’s Understanding, A Husband’s Responsibility, A Husband’s Resolves, and A Husband’s Regrets.

In part one, Dr. Scott gives the biblical and theological background for the rest of the book. Before a man can succeed as a Christian husband, he must understand who God is. He must also understand his own fallen condition, and he must know and understand what the Bible says about relationships, marriage, and the husband’s role in marriage.

Part two deals with the husband’s responsibilities. First and foremost, the exemplary husband must worship Christ alone. Other responsibilities of a husband discussed in part two are love, leadership, physical intimacy, and stewardship.

In part 3, A Husband’s Resolves, Dr. Scott says that the fundamental commitments of the exemplary husband should be humility, service, sensitivity to his wife, helping his wife deal with her sin, good communication, and conflict resolution.

The book closes with part four, where Dr. Scott deals with those sins common to men that do great harm to a marriage: anger, anxiety and fear, and lust.

Strengths

The first thing I appreciate about this book is its layout and formatting. There are 4 parts, 21 chapters that fit neatly into the parts, and 372 pages. At the end of the book are nine helpful and practical appendixes along with several pages for notes. The text is divided into headings and subheadings with many bulleted lists in between, and there are wide margins and an extra space between every paragraph. All of this makes for easier navigation, reading, and note taking. Dr. Scott writes in a clear and simple manner. He thoroughly explains each concept, and there’s hardly a wasted sentence.

I also appreciate the use of Scripture; it is easy to see what the book is based upon. There is scarcely a page without an appropriate, perfectly applied passage. At the same time, Dr. Scott seldom quotes other writers from outside the Bible. I found this refreshing.

The author sums up his book in these two points: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and lovingly lead and cherish your wife for the glory of God” (page 302). That is a fitting description of the book’s message. Another statement that summarizes the book is that “God’s will for every Christian husband is to shepherd and love his wife the way Christ shepherds and loves the church” (page 5). Because Dr. Scott has a high view of God and a burden for strong, biblical marriages, his standards are high. They should be, considering that Christ is the ultimate example of an exemplary husband.

Criticism

I agree with Dr. Scott that, though men and woman are equal in the eyes of God, they have been given different roles within marriage. In places, however, the book seems to imply that the husband has a higher level of maturity, wisdom, or sanctification—more like a father/daughter relationship. In chapter 15, Dealing with the Wife’s Sin, the author gives steps to address minor sins—maybe, he says, the wife has yelled at the children. A suggested step is to “ask her to please take some time to think through what happened and whether or not she sinned in her thinking or actions.” This sounds like a teacher’s request to a student rather than a husband’s request to a wife. A few other examples of this tone could be given. Perhaps the analogy between Christ’s relationship to the church and the husband’s relationship to his wife is pressed beyond what the Scriptures intended. In the same chapter, Dr. Scott writes: “We know that God grants us forgiveness on the basis of confession and sincere repentance, which is evidenced by a turning away from whatever sin is being confessed (Psalm 32:1). Since God has this conditional element to His forgiveness, it should be clear that our granting of forgiveness to others should also have a conditional element to it.” While I agree that our repentance is necessary for God’s forgiveness, it doesn’t follow that we should require others to confess and repent before we forgive them. God is perfect; we are not. Christ is infinitely greater than His church, while husbands and wives are created equal.

Regardless of my criticism, which is based upon my imperfect perspective, I highly recommend this book to all husbands. It would be perfect for a men’s group to study together. It would also benefit young, single men—I wish that I had read it a few times before I walked the aisle. And I hope to read it several more times; my marriage would be better for it.

Dr. Stuart Scott has been married for over 25 years. He earned his M. Div. from Grace Theological Seminary and his D. Min. from Covenant Theological Seminary. He is currently Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.

Family Time and Reading

2009-08-27T07:14:00.003-05:00

On Tuesday my wife took our son for his one-year checkup, so I took the day off to be our daughter’s substitute teacher. Bonnie is finishing her third week of kindergarten. We are using Covenant Home Curriculum. Covenant provides a classical approach to education with a reformed Christian emphasis. We are happy with what we have and plan to use Covenant again next year.

Tuesday morning was a lot of fun. First, Bonnie had her Bible lesson. She uses the ESV Bible along with a Bible story book called Come Ye Children. Her other subjects are math, phonics, penmanship, and poetry. With only one short break, school took just over two hours.

For lunch we went to the stock-yards café—have I mentioned that we live in Texas? We then stayed for the first half of the weekly cattle auction. I kept expecting Bonnie to want to go home, but that didn’t happen. She would have stayed all day if she could have. Anyway, we ended up staying through the bulls, cows, and cow/calf pairs. It was a good field trip.

In the evenings we have been reading through the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. Last week we finished volume six: The Long Winter. I’m reading them aloud to the girls, but I suspect that my wife is enjoying them the most. Before heading back to the prairie we’ve decided to take a break and read Anne of Green Gables—another of my wife’s, I mean daughters’, favorites.

Besides the books we’re reading to the children, my wife and I have been reading some of the classics. Amanda is reading Hawthorne’s the House of the Seven Gables, and I just finished the Scarlet Letter. Speaking of Nathaniel Hawthorne, I highly recommend the Celestial Railroad. If you aren’t familiar with the Pilgrim’s Progress, you won’t appreciate it as much, but I still think you would enjoy it. And it applies more today than when it was written.

As far as Christian books go, I’m reading through Grudem’s Systematic Theology, and I just finished the Exemplary Husband. I hope to post the review this week. Amanda is reading the companion to the Exemplary Husband—the Excellent Wife. Reading those two at the same time has made for good conversation.

But don’t let all of this book talk fool you; if you are imagining a quite, peaceful home where everyone just sits around and reads, come visit us. With three children under six years old, ours is a mad house. But it’s also a happy house.

August Book Giveaway Winners

2009-08-25T06:00:00.003-05:00

Instead of two winners, I've chosen three for August. The winners of Growing Up in Grace by Murray G. Brett are Pilgrim Mommy, Lisa, and Gregg.

If each of you will send me your address, I'll get your books in the mail. You can use the "contact me" link.

Thanks for reading and participating.

August Book Giveaway

2009-08-13T17:00:00.003-05:00

A few months ago I gave away a copy of Growing Up in Grace by Murray Brett. Thanks to Mr. Brett's generosity, I'll be giving two more copies away this month. All that you need to do to enter is leave a comment. I'll draw two winners at the end of the month.

You can read my review of this book here.

Review: Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God

2009-08-11T16:53:00.000-05:00

Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God

By J.I. Packer

Inter-Varsity Press

God is sovereign and in control of His universe, yet man is responsible for his actions. This is difficult to understand. Still, both are taught in the Bible. Christians often solve the difficulty by either rejecting, or at least ignoring, one or the other. This is especially true in evangelism. But J.I. Packer says that both truths are important for a right understanding of evangelism.

Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God is divided into four chapters. In chapter one, “Divine Sovereignty,” Dr. Packer makes the case that all Christians believe that God is sovereign, whether they admit it or not. This is evident when they pray. “How then, do you pray? Do you ask God for your daily bread? Do you thank God for your conversion? Do you pray for the conversion of others? If the answer is “yes”—well, that proves that, whatever side you may have taken in debates on this question in the past, in your heart you believe in the sovereignty of God no less firmly than anyone else” (pg. 23).

The aim of chapter two, “Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility,” is to show that while God is in control of salvation, man still has the responsibility to evangelize. “God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility are taught to us side by side in the same Bible; sometimes, indeed, in the same text….While we must always remember that it is our responsibility to proclaim salvation, we must never forget that it is God who saves” (pg. 34).

How both of these can be true is a mystery, yet Dr. Packer says that it is not a contradiction. Rather, it is an antinomy, which he defines as “an appearance of contradiction between conclusions which seem equally logical, reasonable, or necessary.” Despite the appearance of contradiction, we must remember: “A God whom we could understand exhaustively, and whose revelation of himself confronted us with no mysteries whatsoever, would be a God in man’s image and therefore an imaginary God…” (pg. 31).

In chapter three, “Evangelism,” Dr. Packer thoroughly answers four questions: “What is evangelism? What is the evangelistic message? What is the motive for evangelizing?” and “By what means and methods should evangelism be practiced?” This chapter is full of practical help grounded in sound theology.

The final chapter, “Divine Sovereignty and Evangelism,” answers the question: “Supposing that all things do in fact happen under the direct dominion of God, and that God has already fixed the future by his decree and resolved whom he will save and whom not—how does that bear on our duty to evangelize?” (pg. 104). The answer comes under two main heads:

1. “The sovereignty of God in grace does not affect anything about the nature and duty of Evangelism.”

“We are to order our lives by the light of His law, not by our guesses about his plan.” God’s sovereignty does not affect the necessity, or urgency, or genuineness of evangelism, says Dr. Packer. Nor does it affect the sinner’s responsibility for his reaction to the gospel.

2. “The sovereignty of God in grace gives us our only hope of success in evangelism.”

“We are to preach, because without knowledge of the gospel no man can be saved. We are to pray, because only the sovereign Holy Spirit in us and in man’s heart can make our preaching effective to man’s salvation…” (pg. 134).

This book exceeded my expectations. Dr. Packer gives sound answers to difficult questions. All Christians would benefit from this very helpful book; I highly recommend it.

Dr. J.I. Packer is Board of Governors Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is one of today’s most influential evangelical theologians. His best known work is Knowing God (1973).

The Hiatus that Wasn't

2009-08-08T07:25:00.005-05:00

Not quite two weeks after I said goodbye, I posted again. Why?

More reading leads to more writing; at least that's how it is with me. And since I am writing anyway, why not post some of it?

Since I have officially "quit," I am not obligated to post anything. So the blog is no longer a burden--not that it ever really was. On the other hand, I can post if I want. My pride tells me to abstain since I said that I would. But my wife tells me that is prideful.

As for the more important things I said I was going to devote my time to, they are still the priority. But for now, my family is still asleep, I have met my daily reading goal, and I've been jogging--well, at least walking--in the evenings.

If my indecisiveness is irritating (it is at least embarrassing), please forgive me. When I find things in my reading that may be helpful to others, I'm going to post them. It would be selfish not to.

For those of you interested in books on writing, I've posted a new review on Amazon. You can find the link to the right.

Jewish Persecution under Antiochus IV Epiphanes

2009-08-02T07:26:00.003-05:00

While I don’t believe that the Apocrypha is inspired, I do believe that it is beneficial. 1 & 2 Maccabees, for instance, give an accurate history of the events between Malachi and Matthew.

The Greeks conquered much of the world under the leadership of Alexander the Great. This included Palestine, which, as you recall, had been ruled by Darius and the Persians.

Before his death, Alexander divided the kingdom into four provinces, each to be ruled by one of his four generals. Antioch was the capital of the Syrian province. The leaders in Antioch were known as Antiochus.

In time, Syria ruled over Palestine. Antiochus IV “Epiphanes” (manifestation of God) was in power (175-163 B.C.). Antiochus Epiphanes was an early manifestation of the anti-Christ. He persecuted and slaughtered the Jews with great zeal out of pure hatred for their religion.

During his reign, anyone found observing Jewish laws was killed. Women were tortured and executed for having their sons circumcised. Anyone found with any portion of the law was also killed.

In the 7th chapter of 2 Maccabees, you can find the following story. Antiochus was offering swine on the sacred alters in Israel to the horror of the Jews. He then forced the Jews to eat the entrails of the sacrificed pigs. To the Jew, eating any pork is an abomination.

A mother and her seven sons were arrested by the king. They were commanded to eat pork, but they refused. Antiochus commanded his men to take the first son, cut out his tongue, scalp him, mutilate him, and roast him alive in a great pan. The entire family witnessed it. Still, they would not relent. One by one they each met the same fate, choosing to die rather than deny their God or His laws.

Here are some thoughts:

1. Knowing this history helps us understand why the Jews wanted a worldly Messiah to free them from the tyranny of the Gentiles.

2. This proves again that even in the most wicked times, God has His faithful witnesses.

3. Considering that Christ promised that persecution would come to His church, how should we prepare ourselves to follow the example of these faithful Jews?

4. Consider what the Jews endured to keep from breaking the smallest of God’s laws. And then consider how easily we give into temptation in even greater matters.

Good bye for now...

2009-07-21T18:07:00.004-05:00

My posts have slowed down, but they are now coming to a halt. At least for a while.

I have three young children and a wife who I want to spend more time with. I have lots of books that I want to read and re-read. And the Dr. said that I need more exercise. I'm too young to be needing more exercise.

Also, I've never really liked computers. For the past few months, my dislike of computers has grown. And I spend all day on them at work. That's more than enough.

My blog suggestions are on the right. There's a lot of good reading out there.

I can still be reached by email.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for your encouragement.

Blessings.

Blessing

2009-07-17T07:53:00.005-05:00

For such a gift,
One would not think to pray;
Lesser joys we seek.
Yet He alone
Knows what we need
To make our lives complete.

For such a loss,
One could not think to bear;
Lesser woes we fear.
Yet He alone
Knows what we need
To turn our hearts to Him.

Review: Idelette

2009-07-07T11:47:00.004-05:00

Idelette

Edner Gerstner

Idelette Stordeur lived in Strasbourg with her husband, Jean, and her two children, Charles and Judith. Having been banished from Geneva, John Calvin was the pastor of the Strasbourg church. He was with Idelette at Jean's bedside the night that Jean died.

Martin Bucer, who had originally persuaded the reformer to come to Strasbourg, believed that the widow Stordeur would make the perfect Madam John Calvin. Within a short time, both parties agreed.

For eight years, Idelette Calvin faithfully loved and served her husband. Together they returned to Geneva, where she happily lived in the shadow of the great reformer. She shared in the ridicule directed toward her husband by the ungodly, and she shared in ministering to the sheep. With complete selflessness, Madam Calvin spent her time helping her husband accomplish his work. Even in her painful and early death, her desire was to please him by dying well.

After her death, Calvin wrote the following to his friend Pierre Viret: "My sorrow is no common one. I have lost the excellent companion of my life, who, if misfortune had come upon us, would have gladly shared with me, not merely exile in wretchedness, but death itself.... She has always been a faithful helper in my work. Never have I suffered the least hindrance from her."

Idelette is a biographical novel based upon a true story. I am not qualified to fully judge its accuracy. From the dedication, it is evident that the author made accuracy a goal: "To my husband, a professor of church history, without whose help this novel would have been much more interesting, but far less accurate."

Readers interested in reformation history would enjoy this book, as would anyone who enjoys a good novel. I rarely take the time to read fiction, but I could not put this short (160 pgs.) book down. I benefitted from reading it, and so I recommend it to you.

A Ministry Opportunity from Brian Hedges

2009-07-01T14:16:00.002-05:00

In August of this year, Ben Seal and I will travel to South Africa to spend a week serving the faculty, staff, and students of Back to the Bible Training College in Barberton. This will be Ben's second trip to the college, and my fourth. We will spend the week preaching, lecturing, and training students. My focus will be on expository preaching and leadership development. Ben will be teaching through John Piper's book Desiring God.

Our travel and lodging costs will be covered in full by our sending church. But a crucial part of our ministry to the college is providing books for the students. This is where you can help. I would like to purchase 105 ESV Study Bibles, 85 copies each of the New Bible Commentary and New Bible Dictionary (because some of the students already have these), and 120 copies of a good book on preaching. We can purchase these books from a bookstore in South Africa and have them shipped directly to the college. But it is expensive. To do all of this will cost approximately $15,000.

If you or your church would like to help, please send your donation to the following address, with "Books for Africa" written on the memo line of your check:

Fulkerson Park Baptist Church
c/o Brian Hedges
1234 Fulkerson St
Niles, MI 49120

Every dollar you send will be used for the purchase and shipping of books. I can think of few ways to put your resources for missions to better use. These books will equip future pastors and leaders in Africa with the tools they need to preach and teach God's word. Most of these students have very few books in their libraries - perhaps a used Bible and one or two other books. To equip them with these kinds of study tools is a wonderful investment. So, I hope you'll join in!

Brian G. Hedges

http://www.fulkersonpark.com/

http://www.meretheology.blogspot.com/

Book Giveaway Winner

2009-06-26T07:05:00.005-05:00

The winner of the June book giveaway is Kim from Hiraeth. I'll be mailing a copy of John Piper's book, Finally Alive, to her today. Thanks to each of you who entered.

Lord willing, there will be some more books to give away soon. Until then, you won't hear much from me. I'm planning to spend more time reading and less time yapping. I'm also spending more time with the little ones.

Thanks for reading!

Review: The Piety of John Calvin

2009-06-16T20:29:00.006-05:00

The Piety of John Calvin: A Collection of His Spiritual Prose, Poems, and Hymns

Ford Lewis Battles

P&R Publishing

During his life, John Calvin was ridiculed, slandered, and hated by those who misunderstood him. After 500 years, not much has changed. He is often thought of as no more than a cold and unaffectionate theologian. The goal of The Piety of John Calvin is to give readers a glimpse of the true Calvin—a man who was much different than his caricature.

As the title says, The Piety of John Calvin is “a collection of his spiritual prose, poems, and hymns.” Other than the preface and a lengthy introduction, the author lets the reformer speak for himself.

Chapter one, “The Spiritual Pilgrimage of Calvin,” is an autobiographical piece taken from the introduction to Calvin’s commentary on the Psalms. The Psalter, to Calvin, was a special book. “As each man best advances in understanding it, he will attain a good part of heavenly doctrine.” Calvin's story is interesting, encouraging, and edifying.

The next three chapters are portions from the Institutes: “The Kernel of Calvin’s Faith,” “Calvin on the Christian Life,” and “Calvin on Prayer.” These writings reveal Calvin the pastor. Far from being interested in theology as an end in itself, he viewed theology as a means to rightly living the Christian life. “No doctrine of tongue the gospel is, but of life itself.” "On the Christian Life," is the longest chapter, and is worth the price of the book.

Calvin was a man of prayer, and he believed it to be one of the greatest blessings and responsibilities of a believer. “As children fly to the protection of their parents, He bids us, urges us to seek in Him our every need.” Chapter 4, “Calvin on Prayer,” is Calvin’s exposition of the Lord’s Prayer. Chapter 5 is composed of many of the prayers he used in worship. There are prayers for Sunday, Wednesday, workdays, and any other occasion.

For the reader who loves hymns and music, there is a chapter of “Metrical Psalms Translated by Calvin.” Not only are the Psalms arranged for music, but the notes are even included in the book. The book concludes with prose-poems adapted from Calvin’s works and an epilogue: “Calvin on Christ and the Church.”

For those not interested in John Calvin the man, the writings in The Piety serve their original purpose: to direct the reader’s attention to the Lord. The book makes the perfect devotional, music and all. But the reader will also come away with a better grasp of the reformer from Geneva—a man full of devotion and love for God.

The author, Ford Lewis Battles, is considered one of the great Calvin scholars. He spent years translating much of Calvin’s work, including an edition of the Institutes. One of his lifetime goals “was to balance the systematic strain of Calvin with the poetic strain.” He achieved that in this book, which I highly recommend. It is one that you’ll keep.

“Here is a treasure. With impeccable scholarship and insight, Battles picks out products of Calvin’s pen that take us closest to his heart....What a godly man! And what a wonderful book!”—J.I. Packer.

Interview with Matt Plett, Part 3: Closing Thoughts on Mennonites

2009-06-12T05:19:00.009-05:00

6. Are there any common misconceptions that you would like to clear up?

Misconceptions that others have about Mennonites? Or misconceptions Mennonites have about themselves?

For non-Mennonites, I would like to reiterate that the word “Mennonite” is not synonymous with dress codes, rules, buggies, and the like. Many of us are mainstream evangelical Christians that share a heritage in the Reformation, in all Five Solas, and so forth. Further, where we live it is common to identify Mennonites by Low-German last names (Plett, Reimer, Penner, Barkman, Funk, Giesbrecht, etc.). While these are all easily recognizable “Mennonite last names”, it is ironic that today we are known by our last names when we have a heritage as a believers church! Because the Mennonites endured so much persecution, it was common for them to become inward looking, and over time “Mennonite” has come to be a culture (we are generally from either a Flemish/Low German culture; or from a Swiss culture originally) as much as a church tradition. This has strengths and weaknesses.

Among Mennonites, especially liberal Mennonites, it is becoming increasingly vogue to distance ourselves from the Reformation. One recent trend has been to label ourselves as neither Protestant nor Catholic. From a historical perspective, I find this silly. (Read more here.) Many of the liberal neo-Anabaptists I’ve talked with have never even read Menno Simons. That says a lot to me!

The early Anabaptists like Menno Simons were more Protestant than the other Reformers in many key areas as I’ve already mentioned (baptism, the state-church, etc.). Others, like Balthasar Hubmaier, were among the very first voices calling for sola Scriptura. Sure, we’ve had our radicals, mystics, heretics, and liberals, as have all other traditions. Perhaps for this reason I prefer to use the word Mennonite to Anabaptist, as “Mennonite” aligns me with Menno Simons and distances me from the mystics and the unorthodox.

7. Any closing thoughts?

This has been good for me! When I see where many of the liberal mainline Mennonites are heading, I sometimes am embarrassed by, and despair of, the name Mennonite. Whenever I go back and read Menno Simons, however, I am happy to proudly wear the label. I’ll leave you with a few excerpts from his Complete Writings:

"We certainly hope no one of a rational mind will be so foolish a man as to deny that the whole Scriptures, both the Old and New Testament, were written for our instruction, admonition, and correction, and that they are the true scepter and rule by which the Lord's kingdom, house, church, and congregation must be ruled and governed. Everything contrary to Scripture, therefore, whether it be in doctrines, beliefs, sacraments, worship, or life, should be measured by this infallible rule and demolished by this just and divine scepter, and destroyed without any respect of persons.” (p.160)

“But that he appeals to Tertullian, Cyprian, Origen and Augustine, my reply is, first, if these writers can support their teaching with the Word and command of God, we will admit that they are right. If not, then it is a doctrine of men and accursed according to the Scriptures (Gal.1:8)” (p.49)

“Behold, worthy reader, all those who sincerely believe in this glorious love of God, this abundant, great blessing of grace in Christ Jesus, manifested toward us, are progressively renewed through such faith; their hearts are flooded with joy and peace; they break forth with joyful hearts in all manner of thanksgiving; they praise and glorify God with all their hearts because they with a certainty of mind have grasped it in the spirit, have believed and known that the Father loved us so that He gave us poor, wretched sinners His own and eternal Son with all His merits as a gift, and eternal salvation. As Paul says, The grace and love of God, our Saviour, appeared, not on account of the works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:7.” (p.144-145)

“You see, dear sirs, friends, and brethren, they who believe this are those of whom the Scriptures say, to them he gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. These are they who are justified by faith and have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God; and all this, as Paul says, of grace and love. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith. There is none that can glory in himself touching this faith, for it is the gift of God. All who receive it from God receive a tree loaded with all manner of good and delicious fruit. Happy is he to whom God gives this gift, for it is more precious than gold, silver, or precious stones. Nothing can be compared with it. He that receives it receives Christ Jesus, forgiveness of sins, a new mind, and eternal life.” (p.116)

“For true evangelical faith...cannot lay dormant; but manifests itself in all righteousness and works of love; it...clothes the naked; feeds the hungry; consoles the afflicted; shelters the miserable; aids and consoles all the oppressed; returns good for evil; serves those that injure it; prays for those that persecute it." – Menno Simons, Why I Do Not Cease Teaching and Writing

Interview with Matt Plett, Part 2: Mennonite Doctrine and Practice

2009-06-11T05:29:00.004-05:00

4. What are some doctrinal distinctives of the Mennonites?

Most obvious, of course, would be our peace position. This is almost universal among Mennonites (whether liberal, conservative, or fundamentalist/legalistic). The reason my strain of Mennonites came to Canada was because the Canadian government gave us the freedom to not be drafted into military service. Service in the police force, the justice system, and higher (provincial or federal) political office is quite strongly discouraged. Service on town council or municipal government is fairly common, as these levels of government don’t legislate. Mennonites have historically emphasized that we belong to the kingdom of God, and therefore don’t see it wise to become too involved in the affairs of the kingdom of the world.

Perhaps related to this is our position on swearing oaths. In Canada, we have the freedom to affirm rather than swear an oath in court.

While those last two distinctives make us somewhat unique in the wider evangelical world, Mennonites are actually pioneers in two major areas that many evangelicals take for granted today.

The first is separation of church and state. Menno Simons and other Anabaptists went further than the magisterial Reformers did when it came to the church. We were known as part of the “Radical Reformation” largely because we went further than many others during the Reformation. The Mennonites saw the church as being a group separate from the state and from the world. It was for believers. While many Anabaptists/Mennonites were persecuted not only by the Catholic Church but also by some of the other Reformers for this position, today it is merely assumed by most evangelicals.

The second distinctive is related to the first – believer’s baptism. This is the point over which the Mennonites were originally called Anabaptists (“re-baptizers”). The early Anabaptists were among the first and fiercest proponents of sola Scriptura, and as such saw no biblical warrant for paedobaptism. One of the first defining moments for the early Anabaptists was January 21, 1525 when Conrad Grebel, George Blaurock, and Felix Manz repudiated their infant baptism and re-baptized each other upon their profession of faith.

Many of our Reformed, Presbyterian, and Lutheran brothers continue to baptize their babies, but for those of us who don’t, the practice of being baptized upon profession of faith is originally an Anabaptist/Mennonite distinctive. The practice spread to current-day Baptists through John Smyth’s contact with early Mennonite leaders.

5. How about distinctives in practice?

I already touched on baptism, but related to that are other ordinances. Here again we see variation among Mennonite denominations, but in my own tradition, we celebrate communion three times a year in a separate evening service. In addition to the bread and the cup, we celebrate foot-washing. Brothers wash the feet of brothers, and sisters the feet of sisters. This has always been a special practice for me. I love the way that it fosters humility, an attitude of service, and a special kinship with those whose feet we have washed.

Another practice that is perhaps somewhat unique is our plural lay-ministry. We select ministers and pastors from within the church body. My local church has never hired an outside pastor; all have come from within. In the 90 years that our church has existed, we have only had four pastors! Some may see this as boring or stagnant, but I see it as a sign of stability. We also have a ministerial of several ministers and deacons who all provide leadership. Currently, we have 6 ministers who preach on a rotating basis. The only ministerial members who are on staff are the head pastor and the youth pastor.

Additionally, there is a strong emphasis among Mennonites on living a Christ-like lifestyle. Menno Simons agreed with Luther and Calvin on justification by faith alone, but was perhaps a little more prone to emphasizing the other side of the coin – “faith without works is dead”. One Low German saying that has been popular among Mennonites is translated “when a man is converted, even his cows should notice”. In other words, while being “in Christ” is by grace alone, the necessary result of that grace is a change in lifestyle. Perhaps part of my affinity for Calvinism came as a result of me starting to understand the Calvinistic view of repentance and sanctification. There’s no such thing as having Jesus as saviour and not as Lord.

I think this is where modern day evangelicalism has sadly gone astray. We have people claiming to be “born again” that have never truly repented, never turned from sin, care little for sanctification, and have a faulty view of eternal security. This shows itself every time we see statistics that suggest that Christians live just like the rest of the world. I interpret that data to say that there are many unregenerate, unconverted people who claim to be “born again” but are not.

To be continued...

Interview: Matt Plett and Mennonites, Part One

2009-06-10T05:33:00.006-05:00

Thanks go to my friend Matt Plett, author of Seeking to be Faithful, for agreeing to this interview.

I chose to interview Matt because he belongs to a group that most of us are relatively unfamiliar with. I've found that the more I know about my brothers and sisters who are outside of my particular denomination, the more I am able to see common ground.

Matt has not just given us an edifying and interesting interview; he has also given us a lesson in church history. I hope you will read what follows. In order to help you do that, I am breaking the interview into two--perhaps even three--parts. Here is part one:

1. Tell us about yourself.

I am a 29 year old dairy farmer from Manitoba, Canada. After arriving in Manitoba from Russia in 1874, my family settled in a small village called Blumenort. In 1919, a number of the families in Blumenort moved about 8 miles northwest and started a new village, (originally called Prairie Rose, but now called Landmark). My great-grandpa was in that group, and he bought the land we’re now farming on. My grandpa and dad were both dairymen. When I was 12, my dad sold our dairy farm and moved our family to Oregon. I always wanted to come back to Manitoba, and did so after graduating high school. It was always a dream of mine to start dairying again on the old home place. After working 9 years as a dairy nutrition advisor for a local feed company, it was in God’s providence that the farm I grew up on came up for sale. My wife and I bought the farm and started milking cows 6 months later. I am often amazed at how God’s providence works – farming at the place I grew up on after it was out of the family for 16 years!

2. What denomination do you belong to, and how did you come to be a part of it?

I belong to Prairie Rose Evangelical Mennonite Church. We are part of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. This is the local church and conference I grew up in. My great grandpa was a song leader in this church, and my grandpa has been a deacon here for almost 30 years. Again, I see God’s hand of providence in that I am a member here.

Part of the reason our farm was sold was because my parents separated and eventually divorced. They were church members, and divorce was a very foreign concept at the time – at least in our community and our church. Neither of my parents continued to be members after their divorce. I know that many dear people were praying for the situation and especially for my sister and me, as we were 11 and 9 at the time.

My dad remarried, and we attended another church (Nazarene) outside of the community until we moved to Oregon. In Oregon we also attended a Nazarene church. I was baptized at age 17 at Valley of the Rogue Chapel – Church of the Nazarene in Rogue River, Oregon.

When I moved back to Manitoba in 1999, I transferred my membership to Prairie Rose EMC. It felt somewhat odd at first to be a member in a church that my parents were no longer part of (as I recall, my dad was excommunicated and my mom withdrew her membership). I have loved it here. The Word is faithfully taught, the fellowship is warm, and the singing is wonderful.

My wife is from the town of Blumenort (where my great-grandpa originally settled), and also grew up in the Evangelical Mennonite Conference.

As the Lord saw fit, one year ago my sister, her husband, and their two boys moved back here from Arizona (my brother-in-law is from California). Last Sunday we received them into membership in the morning, and I had the immense privilege of doing foot-washing with my brother-in-law at our communion service in the evening.

Sometimes my life feels a little “back-to-the-future-ish”!

3. Are there variations in doctrine and practice within the Mennonites?

Yes! There are considerable variations among Mennonites. At times I have felt like no longer describing myself as a Mennonite because the word didn’t seem to describe anything in particular.

To many people, the word Mennonite conjures up images of beards, black suits, head-coverings, horse-and-buggies, etc. This is certainly true of many sects of Mennonites. However, many of the mainline Mennonite denominations have become very liberal theologically. There are Mennonite churches that work with controversy over rubber vs. steel wheels. Others are dealing with homosexual ordination and the denial of substitutionary atonement. So yes, we have legalism, liberalism, and lots in between. Hopefully some that is gospel-centric!

I would consider my own church to be a typical conservative, orthodox evangelical body. We affirm the inerrancy, infallibility, sufficiency, and clarity of the Scriptures, as well as the gospel of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. We’re not a confessing Calvinistic church (although there are a solid and growing number of us, especially among the under-30 crowd), but in many areas we would have much in common with conservative Presbyterian or Baptist churches. We are not fundamentalist.

Most recently, our church has clarified our position on gender and ordination. As a body, we have (re)affirmed our complementarian understanding of the Scriptures, which mirrors the wider evangelical world. While we have always held this position, re-affirming it in response to a specific situation caused considerable controversy among some. Sadly, a number of people have left over this.

I trust that God continues to use theological controversy to magnify and glorify Himself as His people are forced to study the Bible, pray, think, refine their doctrine, and strive to honour Christ’s commands for the church.

To be continued...

Trinity Sunday

2009-06-07T17:43:00.005-05:00

A sermon for Trinity Sunday:

Matthew 28:16-20, "One God, Three Persons," Rev. Lou Tiscione, Weatherford PCA

A doctrinal statement:

"In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost: the Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son" (Westminster Confession, Chapter 2 part 3).

And a hymn:

Holy God, we praise your name;
Lord of all, we bow before you.
All on earth your scepter claim,
All in heaven above adore you.
Infinite your vast domain,
Everlasting is your reign.

Hark! The glad celestial hymn
Angel choirs above are raising;
Cherubim and seraphim,
In unceasing chorus praising,
Fill the heavens with sweet accord:
"Holy, holy, holy Lord!"

Lo, the apostolic train
Join your sacred name to hallow;
Prophets swell the glad refrain,
And the white robed martyrs follow;
And from morn to set of sun
Through the Church the song goes on.

You are King of Glory, Christ;
Son of God, yet born of Mary.
For us sinners sacrificed,
As to death a Tributary,
First to break the bars of death,
You have opened heaven to faith.

Holy Father, holy Son,
Holy Spirit, three we name you,
Though in essence only one;
Undivided God we claim you
And, adoring, bend the knee
While we own the mystery.

You can hear Don Kistler's sermon (John 17) from last Sunday here.

Christians: Not Conservatives or Liberals

2009-06-04T20:31:00.004-05:00

Many see the term conservative as synonymous with Christian. I do not. A Christian view cannot be labeled as either conservative or liberal. Let me explain by giving some examples.

Concerning poverty, conservatives often think like this: “All have equal opportunity; people need to work harder.” Poverty, in this thinking, is always caused by moral failure: drug or alcohol abuse, over-spending, or laziness. Therefore, the poor deserve no help. The liberal view is that poverty is always a result of oppression, unequal opportunity, or misfortune. The Christian (and any other thoughtful person) ought to see that neither view is adequate. Some poverty is caused by sin. Some poverty is caused by oppression, unequal opportunity, or misfortune. Regardless, the teaching of Jesus shows that we ought to have mercy on all, and that we are obligated to alleviate suffering whenever we have the opportunity. Christians should remember, after all, that they have received undeserved mercy themselves.[1]

The conservative view of the environment is that as long as the earth’s resources are used for the good of the economy, anything is justified. The liberal view is that man has no right to the earth’s resources. The Christian believes that God placed man over creation. The physical world is for our use. But we are also to be good stewards, and we are to preserve our resources for future generations. They are for the good of mankind, not the exploitation of capitalism. John Calvin, the sixteenth century reformer from Geneva, said this:

“We possess the things which God has committed to our hands, on the condition, that being content with a frugal and moderate use of them, we should take care of what shall remain. Let him who possesses a field, so partake of its yearly fruits, that he may not suffer the ground to be injured by his negligence; but let him endeavor to hand it down to posterity as he received it, or even better cultivated. Let him so feed on its fruits, that he neither dissipates it by luxury, nor permits it to be marred or ruined by neglect.”[2]

Conservatives are often overly nationalistic, thinking that what is good for the U.S. is good for the world. They ignore or excuse our country’s injustices, and they ignore the consequences that our policies have on the rest of the world. Liberals, however, blame the U.S. for all of the wrongs in the universe. Christians ought to remember that they are, first are foremost, citizens of heaven. They ought to be thankful to live in a country that affords so much liberty. And they should respect, submit to, and pray for their leaders. Yet they should also remember that their family extends far beyond U.S. borders. So does their responsibility.

Our brothers and sisters are not white, or black, or Hispanic, or Asian. They are a mixture of all. English is not the national language of Christianity. Christians should be the first to condemn racism and hate. They should treat all people with love and respect. This extends beyond race. Gay or straight, conservative or liberal, drunk or sober, citizen or alien, all should be met with compassion. That is the teaching of Christ. And because of that, many would call Him a “bleeding heart liberal.”

At the same time, there are actions and lifestyles that, if one believes the Bible, are wrong. Though we accept the one who has had an abortion, we hate abortion. Though we are to show love to the homosexual, we believe—and say—that the homosexual lifestyle is sin, just as is adultery. And we believe that marriage is defined by the word of God; it is unchangeable, regardless of the rulings of the courts. That is the teaching of Christ. And because of that, many would call Him an “intolerant bigot.”

Consider the “liberal” and “conservative” media outlets. While I often disagree with the reporting of the New York Times, their website is where I go for news. The more conservative Fox News is just as offensive to Christian values. I may agree with their reporting of a particular story, but I don’t want to see “Giselle’s Steamy Photo-shoot,” with a picture of a half-clothed Brazilian model, as a headline. And is Bill O’Reilly really a spokesman for followers of Christ? No, but then neither are the New York Times columnists.

My point is that the Christian worldview is different. It is based upon the life, work, teaching, and death of Jesus Christ, not Rush Limbaugh or Al Gore. Christians shouldn’t fit into any other worldview. We don’t trust in big government. We don’t trust in the good, the power, or the wisdom of the people. We don’t trust in the constitution or forefathers, nor do we put our hope in today’s Supreme Court. We trust in Christ.

[1] This particular example was taken from a sermon preached by Brian Hedges.

[2] John Calvin, Commentary on Genesis

Book Giveaway: Finally Alive

2009-06-02T04:58:00.011-05:00

I planned on not giving away a book this month. I even said that I was not going to give away a book this month. But as I was finishing this book, Dr. Piper told me otherwise:

"Giving away good Christian literature is one way of extending your personal witness about the gospel.... Think: Wherever I can, I want to commend Christ. I want to tell the story that God uses to give people life. Put something in your pocket, your purse, your briefcase, your car. And pray every day, Lord, make me an instrument of gospel-spreading today. Use me to open the eyes of the blind"--John Piper, Finally Alive.

To show that I want to be a doer (and not a hearer only), I will give away one new copy of Finally Alive. Seriously, I wanted to give this book anyway. Whenever I benefit from a book, I want everyone else to read it. So if you don't win this copy, I hope you buy one. Did you know that Desiring God has a "whatever you can afford" policy?

I've reviewed Finally Alive below. To enter, leave a comment on this post. I need a way to notify you if you win, so if you don't want to check back and you don't have a blog, please leave an email address. I'll draw a winner at the end of June.

Update (June 21):The winner of this book giveaway is Kim from Hiraeth. Thanks to each of you for entering.

Finally Alive, by John Piper

2009-06-02T04:54:00.003-05:00

Finally Alive

By John Piper

Christian Focus Publications, 2009

The phrase born again is widely misused and misunderstood. In his book Finally Alive, John Piper’s goal is to explain the new birth clearly and from the Bible, and he does just that.

Dr. Piper gives a complete gospel presentation in 190 pages. His book is divided into sections that answer five questions: What is the new birth, why must we be born again, how does the new birth come about, what are the effects of the new birth, and how can we help others be born again?

All are born dead in sin. In order to have eternal life, people must be born again. But how can one who is dead have life? Only by the regenerating power of God. Piper shows that this regeneration, or life, causes faith and belief. Though they appear at the same time and are inseparable, the new life is the cause of the faith, just as fire is the cause of heat. “Spiritual life and faith in Jesus come into being together. The new life makes the faith possible, and since spiritual life always awakens faith and expresses itself in faith, there is no life without faith in Jesus.”

Belief and faith are not the only fruits of a new birth; Dr. Piper shows that obedience and love also necessarily follow. “Our love for God obeys him freely and joyfully because in the new birth the spell of the world is broken and it loses its power….God himself is at work in the new birth so powerfully that we cannot keep on practicing sin.”

How does the new birth come about? By the hearing of the gospel. Not the mere hearing of sounds made by certain words, but the hearing of the historical, factual narrative of the Lord Jesus Christ and the truths concerning Him. Because God uses the spoken gospel as a means of regeneration, Christians ought to be encouraged to spread the gospel. And because the new birth results in true and unselfish love, Christians ought to be burdened to spread the gospel. “…What should we be doing to help unbelievers to be born again? The biblical answer is not obscure, and it’s not complicated. The answer is: Tell people the good news of Christ from a heart of love and a life of service.”

Piper’s love for the glory of Christ is evident in Finally Alive. So is his love for people. His chapters are clear and concise. At times they are convicting, and at times they are comforting. Finally Alive will benefit those who want a better understanding of the new birth and the effects that it should have in the life of a believer. It will also motivate and better equip those who want to share the gospel. Regardless of where you are at—unbelief, new belief, or mature belief—I recommend this book to you.

A Different Type of Primitive Baptist

2009-05-29T06:32:00.003-05:00

As I said in an earlier post, there are many differences among Primitive Baptists. I’ve described an extreme group that I was associated with. Now I would like to balance that with a group I became a part of later in life.

My wife and I moved to a small West Texas town in the middle of nowhere several years back. That town had three churches: the Baptist, the Methodist, and the Church of Christ. So we were off to the surrounding towns—the closest were 30 miles away. We found a Primitive Baptist church. I was hesitant to even visit, but we decided to give them a try. I already had the church we would visit the next week picked out, but we never went.

When we arrived, we were met at the door by the most humble man I’d ever met. We were greeted with love, smiles, and even some hugs by the congregation. The services consisted of the a cappella singing of old hymns, prayer, and an expository sermon from John that was obviously the fruit of hours of preparation and study.

The pastor had just begun his series in John; it lasted four years. Though he worked full time outside of the church to support his family, he spent many hours each week in study. He might study as many as ten different commentaries on his particular passage. He would have his passage memorized by Sunday from reading and meditating upon it throughout the week. That was a contrast from any other Primitive Baptist preacher I had known in the past.

The second contrast was the pastor’s emphasis in preaching. He was not trying to convey any particular Primitive Baptist doctrine. Instead, he wanted to preach the whole counsel of God. We continuously heard a balance between the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. Yes, we were taught the Doctrines of Grace. But we were also taught that these doctrines encourage, rather than discourage, a life of holiness. There was no antinomianism. There was no hyper-Calvinism. There was a balanced preaching of the Word of God.

A third contrast was a more inclusive spirit. Other Primitive Baptists I had known in the past would only have fellowship with Primitive Baptists. Some seemed to think that all others were lost. However, our pastor often preached at his local Southern Baptist church when invited. And he read and introduced me to the great writers from among the Presbyterians, Anglicans, Methodists, and Independents of the past. He believed, like I do, that the church is much bigger than any denomination.

Also, our pastor did not discourage evangelism—he encouraged it. He believed in election, but he also believed that men must believe the gospel in order to be saved. That belief, though it is so foundational to most of us, is considered heresy by many Primitive Baptists, and so it was the biggest contrast of all.

My point is that there are some very balanced and Biblical Primitive Baptists that are not much different from other reformed Baptists. They have their distinctions—foot washing, for instance. Most only use the King James Version, though there are some progressives that are now using the ESV and other versions. Most don’t use music with their singing, but there are some who do. Most don’t have Sunday school, but there are some who do. And most don’t support mission work, but there are some who do.

The Shallow Soil

2009-05-27T03:59:00.003-05:00

Should churches strive to give immediate assurance to one who has made a profession of faith?

"And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away" (Luke 8:13, ESV).

There are those who receive the word with joy yet are not born again. They even believe for a while--at least superficially. Yet, because they are not regenerated, they fall away.

False assurance is dangerous. A true believer with a lack of assurance will miss out on joy and fellowship, yet he is not in danger. But false assurance keeps non-believers confident, secure, and unconcerned in their sin. It keeps them from repentance. It keeps them from seeing their need for Jesus Christ. Can you think of a more dangerous position?

"On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness" (Matt. 7:22-23, ESV).

Book Giveaway Winner and Other Notes

2009-05-26T16:01:00.005-05:00

The winner of Growing Up in Grace by Murray G. Brett is "Good Stuff." Please send me your address through email, and I'll send the book your way.

I've been getting several books in the mail lately. Really, I'm not going to buy anymore for a long, long time. Here are some I've received in the last week or so:

The Piety of John Calvin by Ford Lewis Battles

How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler & Charles Van Doren

Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg

Finally Alive by John Piper

I've noticed that although Finally Alive was published in February, it has already lost the status of being Piper's new book. Is that what is meant by "prolific author?"

A case of poison ivy extended my already long weekend. Normally I wouldn't stay home, but this time it is in one of my eyes. So this morning, while in the Dr.'s waiting room, I started reading the Piper book. It's going to be good. Speaking of some statistics published by a Christian research firm, Piper says this:

"I want to say loud and clear that when the Barna Group uses the term born again to describe American church-goers whose lives are indistinguishable from the world, and who sin as much as the world, and sacrifice for others as little as the world, and embrace injustice as readily as the world, and covet things as greedily as the world, and enjoy God-ignoring entertainment as enthusiastically as the world--when the term born again is used to describe these professing Christians, the Barna Group is making a profound mistake. It is using the biblical term born again in a way that would make it unrecognizable by Jesus and the biblical writers."

John Piper, Finally Alive

Lou Tiscione, the pastor of Weatherford Presbyterian Church, is preaching through the Gospel of Mark. His sermon on Mark 1:16-20, "Follow Me," was particularly helpful to me. This coming Sunday, Whit Sunday, we will hear Don Kistler, Lord willing.

Lloyd-Jones on Altar Calls

2009-05-25T06:06:00.002-05:00

From the Banner of Truth website, here is what Martyn Lloyd-Jones had to say about altar calls.

Review: Life in Christ

2009-05-23T06:42:00.008-05:00

Life in Christ: Studies in 1 John

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Crossway

In his book Life in Christ, Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that the theme of 1 John is fellowship with God. Fellowship is most possible when Christians have an assurance of salvation: “There is nothing as vitally important as our certain knowledge that God has loved us in particular in Christ…”

How can Christians have assurance? How can they know that they are living a “life in Christ?” There are certain tests that John repeats throughout his epistle. These tests are the topics most dealt with by Lloyd-Jones in this book.

First, do we love God? If so, our love will show itself in a practical way: we will keep His commandments. “Love is not a sentiment; it is the most active, vital thing in the world. If I love, I want to please—I keep the commandments; and what I may regard as the love of God in my soul is a pure delusion unless it leads me to keep God’s commandments and to live life as He wants me to live it.”

Next, we must love our Christian brothers and sisters. This is the ultimate proof that we love God. Again, this love is not to be based upon feelings, nor is it to be based upon whether a particular person is lovable or not. Our love should proceed from our new nature, as God’s love proceeds from His nature. “We must once and for ever get rid of the idea that God has loved us by way of response either to something that is in us or to something we have done,” and so we should love others regardless of how they act or treat us. “That is what salvation is for, to enable us to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves.” What is the nature of this love toward the brethren? “It acts, it gives, it expresses itself.”

Dr. Lloyd-Jones begins each chapter with an explanation of the theology behind John’s passage: “We must start always by realizing the doctrine; always start with truth.” After the theology has been dealt with, he moves on to the practical application, giving the reader such things as “Ten tests which you can apply to yourself to know for certain that you know the love of God.”

Life in Christ was originally published in five volumes: Fellowship with God, Walking with God, Children of God, the Love of God, and Life in God. Each of these volumes corresponded to a chapter in 1 John, and they are now the main sections of this one-volume, 734 page book published by Crossway.

If you are looking for a book that will make you feel good about yourself, this is not the one. The Doctor is concerned to give true believers reasons for assurance, but he is equally concerned to strip non-believers of false assurance. If you prefer “easy believism,” you will not enjoy this book. If, however, you want to honestly examine your claim to Christianity in light of the Word of God, I recommend Life in Christ to you.

Sanctification and Humility

2009-05-22T04:55:00.003-05:00

"If we are just thinking of sanctification as not doing certain things, then, of course, we shall be pleased, and there will be a self-satisfaction about us. But the men and women who realise that sanctification means being like Him will be those who are conscious of their unworthiness, of the darkness of their own heart. They will see themselves as falling hopelessly short; they will walk with humility because they will see so clearly the difference between the Son of God and themselves. They will be conscious of their harshness, of their bad temper, of their irritability, and of a lack of love and all these other things. And that is the object which God had ultimately in His mind when He sent His Son into the world. It is not a matter of deliverance from certain sins, but of becoming more and more like Him."

Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Life in Christ

Don Kistler to Speak at Weatherford PCA

2009-05-19T05:55:00.006-05:00

Dr. Don Kistl er will be preaching the sermon at Weatherford Presbyterian Church on Sunday, May 31, Lord willing. John MacArthur said this about him: “I heartily recommend Don to you. He is a man with a strong love for the Word and a keen desire to teach it. Don’s teaching has resulted in encouraging many to a life of godliness.” We are looking forward to meeting and hearing Dr. Kistler.

George Whitefield: God’s Anointed Servant in the Great Revival of the Eighteenth Century

2009-05-16T07:26:00.005-05:00

George Whitefield: God’s Anointed Servant in the Great Revival of the Eighteenth Century

Arnold Dallimore

Crossway

In George Whitefield: God’s Anointed Servant in the Great Revival of the Eighteenth Century, Arnold Dallimore gives us a fast moving 200 page version of his 1200 page, two-volume biography of Whitefield.

George Whitefield grew up in England and attended Oxford with his friends John and Charles Wesley. These young men shared a passion for the Lord and for Evangelism, but differences in doctrine drove them apart. Whitefield held to the doctrines of grace: “I embrace the Calvinistic scheme, not because Calvin, but Jesus Christ has taught it to me.” John Wesley, on the other hand, viewed Calvinism as heresy. Despite this, the three maintained a love for each other throughout their lives. Even after bitter controversy, John Wesley preached Whitefield’s funeral.

Whitefield began preaching in the open air—sometimes to crowds estimated at near 80,000—while still in England. He continued this in North America, where he served as a missionary. While there, he became friends with Benjamin Franklin, and his preaching, along with that of Jonathan Edwards, was instrumental in bringing about the Great Awakening.

Dr. Dallimore calls Whitefield “the greatest evangelist since the apostle Paul.” There is no doubt that he had an extraordinary love and burden for sinners; tears often streamed down his face while he pleaded with them to come to Christ, and he considered himself “the servant of all.” When he died at 55, he had preached 30,000 sermons. Even when his doctor told him that he had to quit preaching and rest, he kept on. The night of his death, while on his way upstairs to bed, he paused to preach to a small group that had come to the door begging him to share the gospel. He preached until the candle in his hand burned out, and then he went up stairs for his final rest.

Biographies are often the most interesting, encouraging, and edifying books that I read. I consider this one of the best. It is hard to put down, and it’s hard to read without being changed.

Primitive Baptist Foot Washing

2009-05-14T05:33:00.005-05:00

“He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded” (John 13:4-5).

“Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:12-15).

The one thing most people know about Primitive Baptists, if anything, is that they practice foot washing.

Many Primitive Baptists believe that Christ gave a command when He said, “Ye should do as I have done to you.” To them, it is an ordinance as important as the Lord ’s Supper. Others see that the Lord was expressing a greater principle, and they observe foot washing to remind themselves to follow His example of love, humility, and service.

Most, but not all, Primitive Baptist churches have foot washing services. The churches that do observe it usually do so in conjunction with the Lord’s Supper during their once or twice a year communion meetings. Baptized members of a Primitive Baptist church are usually the only people invited to participate.

What follows is a description of a typical service, but it can vary. Communion usually follows a break; often it takes place after lunch. When everyone comes back into the church, the men sit on one side and the women sit on the other.

The Lord’s Supper is much the same as in any Baptist church, except that unleavened bread and wine are always used—I’ve even heard sermons against the use of grape juice. Often the wine is passed in only two cups: one for the men and one for the women.

When the supper is completed, the pastor reads the above passage from John. He then comes out of the pulpit, ties a long towel around his waist, and takes a basin of water to a brother. He asks the brother if he may wash his feet, and then he does so. After both feet are washed, they are dried with the “girded” towel, and then the roles are reversed. This is also taking place on the ladies’ side of the church. By the end of the service, everyone has had their feet washed.

I’ve rarely taken part in a foot washing service where I didn’t feel a strong sense of the Holy Spirit and a strong sense of love for brothers and sisters in Christ. And I can tell you, it is much more humbling to have your feet washed than to wash the feet of another, especially when you are a young, sinful boy in the midst of godly older men.

Regardless of what we think about the literal application of these verses, there is a true and important lesson for us. We should remember the Lord’s beautiful example of love and humility. There are many ways to wash the feet of our brothers and sisters without water and towels, and we should look for opportunities to do so every day. “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

Review: Spiritual Depression

2009-05-13T04:34:00.006-05:00

Spiritual Depression

by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Eerdmans Publishing

This book has been out for several years, so the following may be more of a recommendation than a review. Over the next few months I want to re-read and then recommend several books by the Doctor, as they are some of the most edifying that I've read. I finished re-reading this one in February, and it's taken me three months to post a review; maybe I'll do better with the next one.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones believed that Christians should be joyful. “Unhappy Christians are, to say the least, a poor recommendation for the Christian faith; and there can be little doubt but that the exuberant joy of the early Christians was one of the most potent factors in the spread of Christianity.” But being the pastor of one of London’s largest churches, he knew that unhappy Christians were all too common.

In Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure, the Doctor has given us twenty-one sermons originally preached in a series at Westminster Chapel. Each chapter deals with a specific, common source of unhappiness in Christians. Being a true medical doctor, the author does not ignore the fact that there are physical problems and dispositions that lead to depression. Spiritual depression, however, is different, and can be overcome by applying Biblical teaching.

Christians must, Lloyd-Jones says, apply to themselves the truths that they already know—they must preach to themselves. “You have to take yourself in hand, you have to address yourself, preach to yourself, question yourself….say to yourself: ‘Hope thou in God,’ instead of muttering in this depressed, unhappy way.”

The advice is practical and Biblical—each sermon flows from the exposition of a Scripture passage. In every chapter the author’s reasoning is based upon the gospel and what Christ has already accomplished for the believer. Dr. Lloyd-Jones’ sermons were preached to the common man; they are clear, direct, and easy to follow.

This book is not just for the unhappy Christian. It is solid, edifying, and comforting teaching that can benefit anyone. It would be of great use to one who is helping a friend or family member; it is essential for pastors who desire to be Biblical counselors.

More on Primitive Baptists: "Absoluters"

2009-05-10T06:01:00.007-05:00

There are as many differences within the Primitive Baptists as within the Baptist denomination, and throughout my life I have become acquainted with a few of them.

The folks whom I had my earliest association with were known as “absoluters,” but they called themselves hard-shells. The hard-shells believed in absolute predestination—that is, predestination of all things. This is the traditional reformed view of predestination, yet the group that I’m describing took it too far. They held to God’s sovereignty, but not to man’s responsibility. Many even claimed that God was the author of sin and held that belief as a test of fellowship.

The brethren in those churches were a humble and loving people; many of them I still have a great affection for. And though most of them were poor, they were abundantly generous. For example, one pastor I know, who is a fine carpenter, built a new church house for a congregation. Not only did he do the labor, but he purchased all of the material. When I hear the statistic that the poorest people are usually the most giving, I think of the old Primitive Baptists.

These people all had a high view of God. I’m grateful to have been exposed to that early in life. They also had a simple and reverent form of worship, which I’ve described in an earlier post. Yet they had a low view of Scripture and an even lower view of commentaries or any other tool used to understand Scripture. One exception to that was Hassell’s History of the Church of God. Hassell’s is a fine text that covers from creation to the 1800’s; it was written by two Primitive Baptist elders. Spurgeon claimed that it was one of the most accurate church histories available, yet a purpose of the text was to prove that the Primitive Baptists were the true New Testament church. This belief is still held by many Primitive Baptists as well as Landmark Baptists. For some Primitive Baptists, a quote from Hassell's holds as much weight as a quote from Scripture.

The sermons I heard were never expository, nor were they prepared. The Bible generally was not even opened. If a passage of Scripture was used, it was often misquoted and taken out of context. Anything more than this was considered interference with the work of the Holy Spirit. It was often said that “the letter killeth.” The result was that each preacher ended up saying the same thing—if anything—at each meeting, and there was little Biblical teaching.

Because man was not believed to be responsible, any exhortation—even from the New Testament—was considered “the law.” James, I was told, was an arminian. That his epistle was even in the Bible was a mystery, but it was probably there to keep us from worshiping the book.

The act of believing in Christ was considered a work. Therefore, anyone who claimed that all of the elect will believe in Christ was accused of putting a condition on salvation. That earned the dreaded label of “conditionalist.”

I have more to say, but to keep this post from being too long I will cut it off for now. Let me end with this: The beliefs and practices described in this post in no way describe all Primitive Baptists known as absoluters, and they certainly don’t describe all Primitive Baptists. This particular group made up the smallest minority, and there are very few of them left today.

For more of what I've written on the Primitive Baptists, click here.

Book Giveaway for May

2009-05-08T06:23:00.005-05:00

From time to time I give away a new book to one of my readers. The main reason I do this is to promote good books by good authors. Another reason: I've been given many good books by generous friends, and I want to return the favor.

This morning I have ordered a new copy of Growing Up in Grace (Murray G. Brett) from Reformation Heritage Books. If you're interested in reading the book, please leave a comment telling me you would like a copy. If you link to this post and tell me that you have done so, you will be entered twice. (Remember, my goal is to promote the book.) At the end of the month I'll draw a winner. You can read my review of this book here.

Also, it's been several weeks since I announced the winner of the March book giveaway, but I've never had a response. The new winner of Steven Lawson's book, The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards, is Eddie Eddings. Eddie, send your address to me via email and I'll send a copy of the book your way.

Interview: Brian Hedges on Reading, Reviewing, and Writing Books

2009-05-05T20:29:00.007-05:00

Brian Hedges is one of today's remarkable young pastors. His love for and knowledge of the Word of God is evident as you listen to his expository preaching (I nearly always have some of his sermons on my MP3 player). He also has a love for books--I think he has written book reviews on more books than I have read. You can read them on his blog, Light and Heat, or on Amazon.com, where he is a top 1,000 book reviewer. But most importantly, Brian is a model husband and father, and he is a devoted servant of Christ.

Thanks to Brian for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions for us. I hope you benefit.

1. Tell us about yourself.

I’m 35 years old, married to my best friend, Holly, and have three children –Stephen (7), Matthew (3), and Susannah (2). We live in South Bend, Indiana where I pastor Fulkerson Park Baptist Church (the church is actually in Niles, Michigan, just north of the Indiana/Michigan border). Holly and I have been married for almost thirteen years and have lived here for the past six.

I was raised in a godly Christian family; my father was (and is) a pastor. I never resented the ministry or rejected Christianity. I grew up believing, though I didn’t really begin to manifest fruit and personal change until my teen years. As a teenager I was entranced with the biography and journals of the missionary Jim Elliot. His heart for missions and subsequent martyrdom left a lasting impression on me. Following high school, I spent three years in a parachurch ministry, then spent another several years doing itinerant preaching before being ordained to the ministry in 1999.

My greatest regret in life is not finishing college and going to seminary. I make up for it with an obsessive amount of reading and self-study and still think about going back to school. But I probably just need to get over it and move on with life!

2. You are an avid reader. How important do you think it is for Christians to read books other than the Bible? And how important is it for pastors to be readers of edifying books?

Yes, I like to read. Part of that is personality and temperament – I would be an avid reader even if I was an unbeliever. I started reading as a kid and just never stopped. So, in answering your question, I think it’s important to realize that people have different learning styles and some people are more inclined to reading than others. Many Christians today and throughout history have lived in preliterate cultures and couldn’t read. I don’t, therefore, think that reading is an essential discipline to being a faithful Christian. What is vitally important is the intake of God’s Word. But that intake can happen by hearing, as well as by reading.

That being said, reading is a tremendous privilege that most Christians in the western world enjoy. And rightfully used, books can be a great aid to one’s spiritual growth. I do regularly encourage people to read books in addition to Scripture – particularly books that explain and apply Scripture, books that unpack Christian doctrine, and biographies and church history.

I do think a pastor’s reading should be extensive. Pastors should read both for depth and breadth. Perhaps I should just describe my own practice. I do several things: (1) I’m trying to read through Scripture using the Robert Murray M’Cheyne calendar (though, admittedly, I’m currently behind!). (2) For my own personal spiritual growth, I read books related to spirituality. Books in this category include a mixture of contemporary authors (John Piper, Eugene Peterson, Paul David Tripp, and others) and a lot of dead guys (Martyn Lloyd-Jones, C. S. Lewis, Saint Augustine, Jonathan Edwards, and the other great “Johns” of the faith: Calvin, Owen, and Bunyan). I also read biographies and sometimes these are more helpful and encouraging than anything else I read. (3) I also read a fair bit in theology and biblical studies. I read both inside and outside of my own tradition and include systematic theology, commentaries, monographs, and both critical and popular level treatments of theological and ethical issues. Some of my favorite authors are J. I. Packer, D. A. Carson, John Stott, N. T. Wright, Craig Blomberg, Christopher J. H. Wright, Thomas Schreiner, and Gordon Wenham. (4) I also try to read for “professional development” – though that’s not the best term for this. What I have in mind is books on hermeneutics, homiletics, leadership, preaching, teaching, pastoral ministry, counseling, etc. (5) Another category of reading (I’m not sure what to call it) includes books from other fields of study, both academic and popular. These would include books on religion, philosophy, science, history, sociology, politics, etc. Sometimes I only spot-read or skim these books and I don’t read as many of these as I probably should. But each year I do try to read several books outside of my normal range of interests. For example, a couple of my current reading projects are Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies, by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff, and Volume 1 of Lou Cannon’s biography of Ronald Regan. (6) Finally, I read a little fiction – maybe three or four novels a year. My favorites have been C. S. Lewis’s space trilogy, Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, the Harry Potter series, and most anything by John Grisham. I’m trying to read more classics now, most recently The Fall by Albert Camus. Currently I’m working on The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

This list may sound like a lot, but it’s really not. There are plenty of people out there doing the same, if not more. I’m amazed by men like Al Mohler who read between six and eight books a week! I only average about 1 or 1 ½ books a week.

3. Can you give some tips on how to write a helpful book review?

Give an overview of the book’s overall flow of thought. Include a couple of short quotes from the book. Be brief. Be specific. Be provocative. Whet the appetite of the reader. Unless, of course, it’s a bad book! If so, be fair and honest in your critique.

4. I understand that you are working on a book. Can you tell us about that?

Sure. The book is called Christ Formed in You: The Grace and Beauty of Spiritual Transformation (subtitle is tentative) and will be published by Shepherd Press either late this year or early in 2010. The book explores how the gospel works in our lives to restore the image of God within us. I’ve conceived of the book as something of a synthesis of the best teaching on spiritual formation and sanctification. I’m trying to connect the dots between the grand narrative of Scripture (creation, fall, redemption, new creation), the traditional theological categories for understanding the Christian life (justification, sanctification, regeneration), and concrete patterns and methods for change (mortifying sin, the use of spiritual disciplines, responding to suffering, and the role of community). Stated like this, it sounds more sprawling and disjointed than it really is (I think!). The unifying theme that weaves all these threads together is the “image of God.” The book is in editing now, with a fine editor named Kevin Meath. I’m sure he will help whip it into shape. We’ll see how the final product turns out.

5. Any closing thoughts?

Just my thanks again for your interest in my life, ministry, and writing. I’m grateful for your blog and appreciate your friendship.

Review: Writing to Change the World

2009-05-03T14:13:00.006-05:00

Dr. Mary Pipher says that her book, Writing to Change the World, is not a book on how to write, but a book on how to make an impact on the world through writing.

The 226 page book is divided into three sections: “What We Alone Can Say,” “The Writing Process,” and “Calls to Action.”

The first section serves as an extended introduction. People are encouraged to write with the goal of making the world a better, more compassionate place. “Writers can inspire a kinder, fairer, more beautiful world, or incite selfishness, stereotyping, and violence. Writers can unite people or divide them.”

For the reader looking for practical advice on writing, the second section is the most helpful. Dr. Pipher shares what she has learned from her years of experience, making the chapters both helpful and entertaining. Much of the advice found in this section is conventional and standard. Still, it is conveyed in a different way and with a different twist. Besides, writers can’t be reminded too much to “be precise,” or to use “apt metaphors,” or to be original, or to revise, revise, revise.

Section three is worth the price of the book. Each chapter deals with a specific form of writing: letters, speeches, personal essays, blogs, and music and poetry. Dr. Pipher writes from experience. In the chapter on letter writing, she gives an example, in full, of a persuasive letter that she wrote to a group of decision makers. She then explains why her letter failed while a letter of her friend’s succeeded. But she also did her research. For instance, she interviewed several politicians to find out what letters they consider and what letters they throw away.

The main fault that I find with the book is that it has a strong liberal bias. It contains, perhaps, enough one-sided political ideology to ruin it for some readers. On the other hand, the author shares her views without offence. Her tone suggests that she respects all people, and that she could carry on a friendly and warm conversation with anyone—even a religious conservative like me.

One point that I particularly appreciate: Dr. Pipher uses no harsh language or curse words, which are unfortunately common in many of today’s books on writing.

Writing to Change the World is what it claims to be. It will be appreciated by the open-minded reader who wants to learn to use writing to bring about change. Dr. Pipher knows her subject, and she knows and understands people. The reader will find the book full of useful information, inspiration, and motivation.

The Doctor: God's Holiness

2009-04-30T06:22:00.004-05:00

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).

In his book, Life in Christ: Studies in 1 John, Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that Christianity must begin with a true knowledge of God, and that any true knowledge of God must begin with understanding that He is a holy God.

In the pursuit of truth, which leads to salvation and joy, we must start with God, just as the apostle John did in his first letter. Theology is the study of God (Theos), and not the study of man. It is a modern error to start with man; our condition, needs, and wants are secondary.

We come to a right knowledge of God through Jesus Christ as He is revealed in His Word; not through affections, or emotions, or experience, or new revelations. And how does the Word describe God? The Word describes God as being holy, and pure, and not being able to even look upon sin. We must understand God’s holiness before we can understand the gospel.

“I suggest that if you do not start with the holiness of God you will never understand God’s plan of salvation, which is that salvation is only possible to us through the death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross on Calvary’s hill….It is not surprising that the cross has been discounted by modern theologians; it is because they have started with the love of God without His holiness.”

It is only with an understanding of His holiness that God’s love can be adequately appreciated—not that it can be adequately appreciated. Ignoring the doctrine of God’s holiness produces a superficial and arrogant form of religion—one that sees God as somehow being obligated to man. But the more that we study Scripture, the more we see that He is not obligated to anyone or anything. He is the pure, perfect, holy King; He is on the throne of the universe, not us, and He rules it with perfection.

Because God is holy, sin has to be punished. We know that Christ suffered the penalty of sin for His people. But that is not all that salvation entails. John's letter concerns fellowship with God. For there to be fellowship, there must be a similarity. How can those who live in the realm of darkness have fellowship with light? Only through Christ's death and imputed righteousness. Christ has not just paid the penalty for sin, but He has made it possible for us to have fellowship with the Holy Father. If we have fellowship and communion with Him, it's not due to anything in ourselves; it is all due to the death of the righteous Jesus Christ.

"Thank God for the thoroughness of the gospel! Thank God for the heavenly way which starts by holding us face to face with a holy, absolute God and then driving us, leading us to the only Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ."

Review: Growing Up in Grace

2009-04-25T07:15:00.008-05:00

Growing Up in Grace: The Use of Means for Communion with God

Murray G. Brett

Reformation Heritage Books, 2009

The goal of Murray G. Brett’s Growing up in Grace is to encourage readers to find their happiness in communion with God.

The author believes, as the Puritans did, in the use of means for growing in grace. Humility, confession, repentance, prayer, and meditation on God’s word are emphasized, and for the right reasons. We are to do all of these things in order to “glorify and enjoy God.”

A story or passage--often from a Puritan classic such as the Pilgrim’s Progress--along with a passage of Scripture introduces each chapter. From there the author proves the importance and usefulness of his subject, liberally quoting Scripture and the best Christian authors. Every chapter ends with application and exhortation, questions, a case study, and a list of recommendations for further study.

The chapter dealing with humility and pride was particularly convicting to me. “God is immeasurably superior to us and unless you understand that—unless it affects you to the point that you cry out to Him for His grace in the gospel of Jesus Christ—you do not yet know Him as you ought” (page 35). “Pride is the first, the worst, and the most prevalent of all sins; yet we have the tendency to treat it as if it is nothing at all, at least when it is in us” (page 38).

Also, I had to give up on highlighting in the chapter titled, “A Catalogue of Sins Seldom Confessed or Repented of.” Every point was worthy of reflection, repentance, and prayer. Beginning with, “Acting from, to, and for ourselves, rather than from, to, and for God,” the author lists 95 sins, mostly dealing with our attitudes and affections.

Murray Brett is influenced heavily by the Puritans and Scripture. The book is reminiscent of a Puritan work, yet written in contemporary English with timely applications. Mr. Brett’s style is clear and direct. The tone of the book is warm, loving, and pastoral; at the same time, the author does not dismiss the least sin or laziness. His goal is to encourage communion with God, and so he doesn’t spare anything that hinders that communion.

This book is meant to be worked and prayed through, not merely read. I hope to go back and do just that. It will be worth the effort. I recommend it to the reader who desires a stronger relationship with God through Christ. To those that believe that their relationship with God is strong enough, I recommend it even more.

Murray G. Brett has been the pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Commerce, Georgia for twelve years. He earned his Master of Divinity from The Master’s Seminary, which is headed by Dr. John MacArthur. Growing Up in Grace is his first book. I hope we see many more.

If the Lord Wills, We Will Live

2009-04-24T19:47:00.001-05:00

Mrs. Freeman was our neighbor for a short time while I was growing up. She was a widow, about 80 years old, who lived alone. Mama said she was lonely, so I occasionally visited her. Sometimes Jenny, her granddaughter, would come to spend a few days at her house.

Jenny was 10—two years older than I was—but since there weren’t other children around, we played together.

One day she showed me a shelf in her grandmother’s room. It was covered with jewelry, perfume, and trinkets. “When grandmother dies,” she said, “this will all be mine.” She didn’t say it in a greedy or uncaring way; she just stated it as a matter of fact like children do.

Even after twenty five years I remember Jenny’s remark well. At the time it didn’t mean much to me, but a short time later it had great significance. Mama told me that Jenny died. The flu was going around in our school. My sister and I recovered from it, but Jenny had a reaction to her medicine. I remember, even at that young age, seeing the sad irony in her death. We had both assumed that she would outlive her grandmother.

James teaches us the truth that God taught me through the death of my friend:

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that’” (James 4:13-15).

Mama told me that it was the Lord’s will for Jenny to die. Though we couldn’t understand it, He had a good and perfect plan. That thought comforted me at her funeral, which was the first I ever attended. And again at her grandmother’s funeral a few months later it was a comfort. And so it has been from then on.

But I also learned that our lives are short and uncertain. We don’t know what a day may bring. Let us live with a sense of urgency. Today may be our last day to show love, or charity, or mercy.

Excellence in Blogging Award

2009-04-24T04:36:00.012-05:00

I appreciate it when someone puts work into what they write. Matt Plett's posts at Seeking to be Faithful are consistently thoughtful, well written, and edifying. That's why I'm giving him the Excellence in Blogging Award. Thanks, Matt, for making a difference through blogging.

Review: A Quest for Godliness

2009-04-20T05:36:00.004-05:00

This weekend I finished reading J.I. Packer’s A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life.

Dr. Packer gives us an overview of who the English Puritans were, what they believed, and how those beliefs were worked out practically in their lives. Though it sounds like church history, I would categorize the book as practical theology. It is a challenge to the modern church to return to Biblical theology and to live and worship accordingly.

Twenty chapters are arranged under six main headings: The Puritans in Profile, The Puritans and the Bible, the Puritans and the Gospel, The Puritans and the Holy Spirit, The Puritan Christian Life, and The Puritans in Ministry. And though many of the Puritans are discussed, particular attention is paid to Richard Baxter, John Owen, and Jonathan Edwards; entire chapters are devoted to Owen and Edwards.

Regarding each topic, Dr. Packer sets out the view that was most representative of the Puritans as a whole. And he lets them speak for themselves; numerous and sometimes lengthy quotes are used throughout every chapter giving the reader a good sample of Puritan writing. And the author, though highly respectful of the Puritans, lets the reader see both their strengths and weaknesses.

Each section and chapter is interesting and edifying, but I found the chapters regarding the Puritan Christian Life particularly helpful. We would benefit from understanding and at least partially if not wholly returning to the Puritan view of the Lord’s Day, worship, marriage, and family.

Now that I’ve completed this book I’ve put it on my “most important” book shelf, right next to Calvin’s institutes. I suppose that it will be considered a reformed classic if it’s not already.

Again I See My Own Hypocrisy

2009-04-18T07:23:00.003-05:00

Throughout my life I have known and been close to many members of the Church of Christ denomination. They are usually very sweet and sincere; their belief that salvation is partly a result of works shows in their lives, which are often moral and productive.

I have, at times, been puzzled by this thought: my sweet aunt loves me, yet she believes that I am lost because I'm not a baptized member of her particular denomination. Why, then, is she not trying to convert me? Why is she content to see me go to hell? Why are all of my Church of Christ friends, who show such kindness now, apparently indifferent about my eternal destination? I've had those thoughts without seeing my own hypocrisy.

This morning I read this:

"It is often said, quite fairly, that any Christian who seriously thinks that without Christ men are lost, and who seriously loves his neighbour, will not be able to rest for the thought that all around him people are going to hell, but will lay himself out unstintingly to convert others as his prime task in life; and any Christian who fails to behave this way undermines the credibility of his faith, for if he cannot himself take it seriously as setting priorities for his own living, why should anyone else take it seriously as a source of guidance for theirs."[i]

I should apply my question to myself: why, when I profess to love my unbelieving family and friends, does it appear by my actions that I am content to see them go to hell?

[i] J.I. Packer, A Quest for Godliness

Puritans and Altar Calls

2009-04-16T05:58:00.003-05:00

"The Puritans insisted that the ultimate effectiveness of preaching is out of man's hands. Man's task is simply to be faithful in teaching the word; it is God's work to convince of its truth and write it in the heart. The Puritans would have criticised the modern evangelistic appeal, with its wheedling for 'decisions', as an unfortunate attempt by man to intrude into the Holy Spirit's province. It is for God, not man, to fix the time of conversion. 'God never laid it upon thee to covert those he sends thee to. No; to publish the gospel is thy duty.... God judgeth not of his servants' work by the success of their labour, but by their faithfulness to deliver his message'--so says Gurnall, and he speaks for them all. When the preacher has finished instructing, applying and exhorting, his pulpit work is done. It is not his business to devise devices in order to extort 'decisions'. He would be wiser to go away and pray for God's blessing on what he has said."

J.I. Packer, A Quest for Godliness

Dr. Paul Wolfe on "Above Reproach"

2009-04-10T05:33:00.008-05:00

Several months ago I posted a question regarding the meaning of Paul's phrase, "above reproach." Since then I have noticed that people are directed to this blog daily as a result of searching that phrase. I decided that there needed to be a more qualified explanation. Many thanks to Dr. Paul Wolfe, my former hermeneutics instructor, for agreeing to give us one. I hope you benefit.

1. Tell us about yourself.

I am currently Associate Professor of NT at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. However, I have recently resigned and as of this July, 2009, I will be the new Head of School for The Cambridge School of Dallas.

I completed my doctoral work in Aberdeen Scotland in 1990 and have been teaching biblical studies and theology since then. I have been married 34 years and have 3 children and one grandson.

2. Can you tell us about your radio program?

Laus Deo is a live, nationwide program on Sirius satellite radio #161; it airs Sundays from 4-5 P.M. central time. It is also call-in. I frequently interview authors about their recent books; sometimes I will do a topic myself. The program is an attempt to think through important issues from the perspective of orthodox Christianity. We are coming up on our third anniversary of the program.

3. I understand that you have done some extensive study in the Pastoral Epistles. Can you tell us about that?

My interest in the Pastoral Epistles began in undergraduate school when I wanted to know the NT perspective on church leadership. So I embarked upon a study of elders and bishops. The interest in the Pastorals carried over into my doctoral work under the supervision of I. Howard Marshall at the University of Aberdeen where I investigated the use, doctrine and extent of Scripture in the Pastoral Epistles. My thesis has not been published. However, in 1989 I published an essay entitled "Scripture in the Pastoral Epistles: PreMarcion Marcionism?” in Perspectives in Religious Studies. Also, I have a chapter in the forthcoming book, Entrusted With the Gospel: The Theology of the Pastoral Epistles, edited by A. Kostenberger and T. Wilder, scheduled to be published later this year by B & H.

4. The Google search that most commonly brings people to this blog is, "what does 'above reproach' mean?" Can you address that phrase? Is it referring to a man's entire life, or only to his present living?

The phrase "above reproach" is an important one in the Pastoral Epistles. It is the initial requirement for a bishop/elder in 1 Tim 3:2, essentially reproduced in Titus 1:6 & 7, and in 1 Tim 3:10 about deacons (though a different but similar Greek term), as the goal for widows in 1 Tim 5.7, and regarding the way Timothy was to guard the commandment in 1 Tim 6.14.

The meaning is something like blameless, or without disqualifying criticism. Six of the 8 NT uses of the two different Greek terms are found in the Pastoral Epistles.

Paul states in 1 Timothy 1 that he was considered by the Lord useful for service even though he was formerly a blasphemer, persecutor and violent man (1 Tim 1:12-14). He also upholds himself as an example of faithful Christian ministry; that is, ministry above reproach. How could he say such things about himself and hold others to a different standard? Surely he does not expect others to be blameless for all of their life, but he gets a pass. No, instead he sees the same grace applied to him to be applicable to others. His call to be above reproach applies to the life we live as those who bear the name of the Lord (2 Tim 2:19). The question is, do we pass the test as God's servants, and not did we pass it as lost pagans.

I also think it is important to see that the phrase is an overarching term in the lists of requirements for bishops/elders, deacons and widows. It is the summary requirement, which then is specified in detail with what follows, for example, in one's relationship with the opposite sex ("the husband of one wife", or better "a one woman man"), etc. When sin which brings reproach is present within a person's life, then that person has (at least temporarily) disqualified himself/herself from leadership. The way back to leadership is possible, but the test becomes more specific, strenuous, and demanding in certain respects.

5. Any closing thoughts?

The objective of a life above reproach is to protect the name and doctrine of God from reproach. Peter expresses similar concerns in his first letter. The OT is full of the same concerns about the life of Israel. I am reminded of the words of the author of Hebrews in chapter 2--If they received a just punishment for their sin, how much more should we expect who trample underfoot the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is how serious we must take Paul's concerns if we are in leadership.

Laus Deo,
Paul Wolfe

A Confession

2009-04-08T05:30:00.001-05:00

At the risk of irritating my readers, or being called a fundamentalist, or being shunned by the reformed community, I must confess: I prefer the King James Version.

No, I did not say that I only use the KJV. I did not say that I believe the translation itself is inspired, nor did I say that I believe it is the most accurate translation — I am not qualified to make that sort of judgment. But I do prefer it in most cases, and I am qualified to say that.

In our home we have at least eight translations, all of which I have done some reading in. I’ve read all of the ESV more than once, and I have recommended it to friends and family. I’m currently using it for my Old Testament reading. (It is a very close second.) But I still prefer the KJV.

Why? Here are my reasons, however weak they may be.

1. Without debating the sources, the KJV is a very literal translation, and the translators did their job carefully and prayerfully. I’m not saying that modern translation teams don’t do the same—I know that they do.

2. The language is precise. There is a purpose for “thee” and “thou.”

3. The language is reverent. The very sound of the verses can prepare one for worship. (Again, I know that the same can be said for other good translations.)

4. I like the sound of the language. Read the 23rd Psalm in the KJV, and then read it in the Holman.

5. The King James Version has been greatly used by God for several hundred years. Whitefield, Spurgeon, and Lloyd-Jones preached from it, and millions have been converted under the hearing of it.

6. You can quote from the King James to a Mormon, a Jehovah’s Witness, a fundamentalist, a Primitive Baptist, a flaming liberal, or a solid conservative and be taken seriously. Some of these groups, however, believe that no other version can properly be called “the Bible,” so they won’t listen if you use anything else.

7. The pronunciation of proper names is given in the text.

8. The last reason is the worst, but I have to include it. I was raised with it. It was the first version that I read, and the version that I’ve memorized from, and the version that was used to convict me of my sin.

Just because we disagree with the KJV only folk doesn’t mean we have to throw the translation out altogether, does it? And are you really sure that the source is not as accurate as the one being used for the modern translations?

I’m going to continue to use my ESV and NASB when I study a passage. I’m going to continue to glance in the NIV every once in a while. (I’m going to continue to not use the Holman.) And I’m going to carry my ESV to church. But while I’m in the privacy of my home, hidden in my dark office, I’ll be reading the KJV and secretly preferring it.

John Gill's Collective Writings Giveaway

2009-04-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

For the Cause of God and Truth is giving away a free copy of John Gill’s Collected Works. Enter the drawing here.

Dr. John Gill (1697-1771) was one of the most influential Baptist theologians and commentators ever. By the age of 11 he was proficient in both Latin and Greek; the local ministers would often consult him on difficult passages. He also taught himself Hebrew with nothing more than a grammar and lexicon, and could read “Hebrew with great ease and pleasure.”[i] He was known as such a devoted student that the people of the town, when something was certain, would say, “It is as sure as John Gill is in the bookseller’s shop.”[ii]

Dr. Gill was a Particular Baptist (“Particular” referring to the Calvinistic doctrine of particular redemption, as opposed to general atonement held by General Baptists). He was the pastor of New Park Street Chapel in London, which was later pastored by Charles Spurgeon, for 51 years.

Dr. Gill’s commentaries were the first that I was exposed to. Daddy had a complete set. I was later given an almost complete set (I am missing the volume on the gospels.) Whenever I asked my dad a question regarding the Bible or theology his standard answer was, “What does Gill say?”

Like all good commentators, Dr. Gill worked directly from the original languages. His research is thorough, and his comments are extensive. I doubt that there is another one-author commentary that covers every verse of the Old and New Testaments quite like his. I find it particularly helpful that Dr. Gill deals with each verse separately rather than in larger blocks as did Calvin and Henry. On the other hand, it would be much easier to read Henry’s commentaries in a devotional manner than it would be Gill’s. You can sample his work online here.

Let me heartily recommend Dr. Gill’s writings to you.

[i] A Brief Memoir of the Life and Writings of the Reverend and Learned John Gill, D.D., by John Rippon.

[ii] Ibid.

Interview: Anika on Homeschooling

2009-04-02T05:41:00.002-05:00

Meet my friend Anika Q. Anika is the author of the Christian blog, My Writing Place, which I have often found to be challenging and edifying. Many thanks go to her and her parents for agreeing to the interview. And I appreciate the work that Anika put into it. I hope you find it helpful.

Tell us about yourself and your education.

I am a 17 year old Christian girl living with my parents and three younger brothers in south-east Queensland, Australia. In my primary years my parents educated me through two Christian "umbrella schools", after my mother taught me to read with her own program. In the last year of primary and for all my high-school years I was homeschooled through a non-Christian "umbrella school". Since graduation last year, I've been studying piano and theory at home and teaching piano part-time.

Describe a typical day at your house.

My youngest brother Mike is in pre-school at the moment, so he only spends roughly an hour a day on full-on school-work with my mother. This time includes a once-a-week maths video segment, daily maths work-sheets, phonics flash-cards and reading practice. Matt is in Grade 6 and generally starts work at 8 to finish about 2 and he studies through workbooks and cassettes sent out by our umbrella school. On a day that runs smoothly, he does Maths and English before morning tea, Science and various Arts subjects before lunch and French after lunch. When it comes to Lloyd in Grade 11, there is really no such thing as a typical day - especially considering that he goes in to a tech institute one day a week to study. It all depends on what has to be done in each of his subjects. He works independently, though my mother tutors him through maths and ensures he gets up in the morning!

What are some of the advantages of home-schooling?

I think that children are able to deal with anti-Christian messages, peer-pressure and bullying better. For one thing, there isn't so much of it when you're at home. Additionally, when home-schooled children do face these things, it's generally in a secure setting. I still had to deal with bad influences as a home-schooled child but I had the benefit of dealing with them in the safety of my own home, or in a setting where my parents weren't too far away. Also, my parents could easily keep an eye on what I was studying and how it was being taught.

You can get so much more done when you are studying quietly by yourself. It's common sense that if you want to get something done, don't try to do it when surrounded by a horde of noisy people. There's also none of the necessity to run from classroom to classroom, travel to and from school and work at the pace of the rest of the class if you happen to be ahead. The print nature of home-school resources also makes it easier to study wherever you happen to be. Far easier to bring a workbook along on a car trip than a teacher!

And the disadvantages?

There is a lot of pressure on the parents, especially the mother. Not only does she have to do a mammoth amount of work in teaching, but she often has to face the criticism of both non-homeschooling parents and home-schooling parents. Some non-home-schooling parents will question the sense in home-schooling and some home-schooling parents will question the sense in home-schooling in your way. There's also pressure on the children - I know that as soon as I say "I was home-schooled" or "I was homeschooled in this way" I often need to be prepared for the Spanish Inquisition revisited.

What advice do you have to give parents who are considering home-schooling?

Don't see home-schooling as an ends - it's a means. That is, there's absolutely no point sacrificing family to home-schooling. The whole point of home-schooling should be to benefit the family through their education. God is God, not home-schooling.

Any closing thoughts?

Home-schooling is a great way to form close relationships with your children and to ensure that they get a good education that equips them to serve God. But, home-schooling is certainly not the only way to do either of these things. Even if my parents had sent me to school, I highly doubt that I would have bad relationships with them; even if they had sent me to school, I would still have had the pressure to read constantly and critically in the light of Scripture and I still would have benefited from the long discussions over the dinner table. Most importantly, the encouragement to know God as the basis for all other knowledge would have remained constant. Basically, you don't have to home-school to have a God-centred view of education.

Book Giveaway Winner

2009-03-31T05:09:00.003-05:00

The winner of Steve Lawson's newest book, The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards, is Jefflo. Please contact me so that I can get your mailing information. And thanks to all of you who participated. I wish I had one for each of you.

Lou Tiscione on "Perseverance and Glory"

2009-03-29T16:22:00.004-05:00

This morning Lou Tiscione, the pastor of Weatherford Presbyterian Church (PCA) where we are attending, completed a sermon series on the book of Jude. The entire series has been instructive and edifying, but I found this morning's sermon particularly encouraging. It was taken from the 24th and 25th verses of Jude:

"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen" (ESV).

As you might guess from the 24th verse, the main theme of the message was perseverance, or as some call it, preservation. Regardless of the word, we rejoice in the truth. It is God who accomplishes all of our salvation, from beginning to end. He who calls you is faithful to keep you.

You can listen to or download the sermon here.

When the Saints Come Marching (to your home)

2009-03-28T06:37:00.003-05:00

Two polite and nicely dressed young men came a-ringing yesterday afternoon. Despite the pleadings of my wife, I answered the door and stepped out on the porch with them. We had a charitable conversation, and I must say, they were bright. A Christian needs to be prepared in order to engage with a Mormon elder. Our conversation started like this:

"Have you heard of Joseph Smith," they asked.

"Yes."

"We would like to give you a free copy of the Book of Mormon so that you can read his very important message."

(Wondering if it would be better for me to accept it and read it or not take it...)
"I believe the 66 books recognized by the early church are sufficient to show us the way to salvation."

"Do you not believe that God speaks to us today?"

"Yes, through the 66 books of the Bible."

"Joseph Smith didn't add to the Bible, he interpreted it."

"Why would God have left His church for 1800 years without the proper interpretation of the Bible?"

"The time wasn't right. And there have always been times in history where there weren't any prophets, right?"

"Why yes, and I believe that we have been in those times since the days of the Apostles."

And we went on for several minutes. I'm a poor apologist, and I certainly didn't do well at convincing those two. But I wish I had. Not to win an argument, but to convince them of their error for their own eternal good and present joy.

Each admitted to having read the Book of Mormon several times but the Bible only once. I realize that if I'm to convince them it will have to be through Scripture. But that will be tough.

"Where I differ with you," one said, "is that I believe the cannon is not closed."

Differ indeed. What do I say to that?

I respected their sincerity and zeal, though it was a zeal not according to knowledge. And I hope they come back. And if they do, I hope that by God's grace, I do better.

I've found some help through Alpha and Omega Ministries. Dr. White gives a good list of verses to memorize and tells why each is important when reasoning with a member of the church the LDS.

The Poor in Spirit

2009-03-25T05:29:00.004-05:00

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3).

In the beatitudes, Christ is not giving “instructions for blessedness.” He is not giving a list of attitudes that men are to strive for in order to be or live like Christians. Instead, He is describing the true believer. These are the characteristics of one who has seen his own sinfulness in opposition to God’s holiness and is in a state of repentance. This is what a Christian looks like.

Blessed are the poor in spirit. What does that mean? Poor in Spirit is an inward, heart condition, not an outward condition.

Christ is not talking about people who are poor in worldly goods. Poverty in itself is not normally considered a blessing, though there are times that it can bring about spiritual good. Still, a poor person may hate God.

Christ is not talking about someone who tries to appear poor in spirit, which is hypocrisy. He deals with that later, and it is quite the opposite of what He is describing here. When we find ourselves telling others that we are “humble sinners,” we should examine our motives.

Christ is not talking about a natural poorness in spirit, such as melancholy or depression. Believers and non-believers can experience this. King Saul had a poorness of spirit caused by an evil spirit; it was no sign that the Kingdom of Heaven was his.

What is the Lord talking about? What “poorness of spirit” is a sign of blessedness? When you, by the grace of God, see that you are spiritually poor, and that you have broken the Lord’s law and the Holy Spirit convicts you, you become poor in spirit. Your sin is before you; not just past “sins,” but continual, indwelling sin. You see that despite your best effort, sin taints everything you do. It was reflecting on this that made Paul cry out, “Oh, wretched man that I am!” It is not the condition of those who think they merely “fall short” or “miss the mark,” but the one who realizes that he is an utter failure.

Christ says that “except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter the kingdom of heaven.” Well they were pretty righteous, you might think. But this poorness in spirit is an example of the righteousness of a believer exceeding the righteousness of the Pharisee.

It is a much higher standard, because it is an inward condition rather than an outward act. You can’t do it; you can’t change your heart. You can’t make yourself “poor in spirit,” though men have tried to reduce the sermon to something they can follow. But no, it is not a rule or a guideline. It is a description of what the Holy Spirit does in you. Forget your own efforts; without Him you can do nothing.

Without grace, the Sermon on the Mount describes impossibilities. No one can achieve any of it. With grace, it describes who you already are.

“Who then can be saved?”

“With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Thank God for His grace that convicts, saves, and sanctifies.

Owen on the "Principal End of the Scriptures"

2009-03-24T06:28:00.004-05:00

"The principal end of the Scriptures is....to beget in the minds of men faith, fear, obedience, and reverence of God--to make them holy and righteous....Unto this end every truth is disposed of in the Scripture as it ought to be.

If any expect that the Scripture should be written with respect unto opinions, notions, and speculations, to render men skillful and cunning in them, able to talk and dispute...they are mistaken. It is given to make us humble, holy, wise in spiritual things; to direct us in our duties, to relieve us in our temptations, to comfort us under troubles, to make us to love God and to live unto him....Unto this end there is a more glorious power and efficacy in one epistle, one psalm, one chapter, than in all the writings of men."

John Owen, from A Quest for Godliness by J.I. Packer

Loosely connected thoughts at 4:00 A.M.

2009-03-21T04:32:00.006-05:00

Spring is apparently here; I saw the first patch of bluebonnets this week, and the peach tree is purple with blooms. There was a small grass snake in the back yard and a frog in the flower bed; my little girls were thrilled to watch it for nearly a half hour. With the longer days I’ll spend less time at the computer.

I’ve been starting the mornings with a lesson in Greek. First, I’ll write the alphabet: upper, lower, the name, and the English equivalent. Next comes a portion of a verse.

boske ta probata mou (The Greek letters, which I had typed in Word, are supposed to go here.)
Bas-ke ta pra-ba-ta moo
Feed the little sheep of me
Feed my sheep (John 21:17).

And that’s the lesson. At this rate, well, it’s better than nothing.

In the Bible I’m reading through Isaiah and Paul’s epistles. Paul’s arguments are more difficult for me to follow than I used to think they were—not difficult as in difficult to agree with, but as in difficult to keep up with his line of thought. I’m also reading The Acceptable Sacrifice, or The Excellency of a Broken Heart, by John Bunyan, who, as the first page of the book says, “died, while this, his last work, was in the press.” From today’s reading:

“Man, take him as he comes into the world, and how wise soever he is in worldly and temporal things, he is yet a fool as to that which is spiritual and heavenly.”

Speaking of barriers to spiritual and heavenly things, when I sit down to read I am distracted a thousand ways. (This post is proof of that). My prayer each morning is that I can read attentively. At least half the time it’s not so. Two mornings ago I was blessed to read for two hours with concentration. Yesterday I fell miserably short. Today, well, I’m typing. I have the discipline to sit my body down, but I can’t find how to reign in my mind. I’ll read a chapter, the 28th of Isaiah for instance, and realize that it passed through my mind without comprehension. I was thinking about that grass snake. The second time I read it I’m wondering if I need to check my email. This time I’m paying attention…then I realize that I’ve finished the chapter again but only remember reading the first four verses. Okay, I’ll try Ephesians. How about Bunyan? No better. Forget it.

Next week I’ll complete my 33 year. I have been blessed more than I can imagine, but I have accomplished little. I hate to think of the time I’ve wasted. Lord help me to redeem whatever time I have left.