Standing Against The Ecumenical Monoculture

My New Blog

2011-06-15T12:11:00.001-05:00

I am proud to announce my new blog Missio Dei (http://keithwalters.org/). The new blog features cool things like top level page navigation and storage space for podcasting, PDF files, and Word documents. I hope to make use of these new features as soon as possible. Currently there is still much to do to get the site in its final form, but until then check it out and let me know what you think.

My New Blog

2007-05-06T19:04:00.000-05:00

When the Fertility Clinic Meets the Abortion Clinic: A Modern Paradox

2007-05-06T17:46:00.000-05:00

The LA Times featured an Op-Ed article entitled The abortion debate brought home and the tagline: “He and his wife have always been pro-choice; recently, they were forced to make the Choice.” The article details the experiences of a husband and wife who, unable to have children, having underwent two previous unsuccessful in-vitro fertilizations underwent a third. The issue was not; however, with the procedure but its results, namely more children than they wanted. The article describes a paradox that may sadly be the every increasing norm.

A Brief Respite from Finals Week

2007-05-01T14:06:00.000-05:00

This is the last week of class at TMS and next week is finals week so I do not have time to post much. However, I thought I would pass along an interesting post from the Logos Bible Software Blog entitled Smokers Drive Up Costs of Bibles the article is both interesting and contains a very humorous photo, enjoy. I would also recommend that you go to Mark Driscoll's blog and watch The Banned Church Planting Video it is only eight minutes and worth the time.

A Tragic Reminder of the Human Condition

2007-04-17T14:05:00.000-05:00

After the tragic Virginia Tech massacre yesterday news sites everywhere, I think Der Spiegel’s article A Chronicle of the Worst Rampages Ever issues an important reminder, that such senseless violence is not limited to a particular country, a particular age group, nor a particular time in history; it is a tragic aspect of the human condition. Already and in the days that will follow there is sure to be much critical discussion on how such tragedies can be avoided. As followers of Christ, we must remind ourselves that while gun control, intensified security, and other precautions may control the symptoms of this condition they do not address the cause, man’s sin, to which the Gospel is the only answer.

Biblical Repentance

2007-04-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

In light of the current discussion of Lordship Salvation at Ignite UK, I have decided to provide a semi-exhaustive definition of Biblical Repentance here.

Prior to defining repentance within its New Testaments context, it is important to understand it within its Old Testament context, this is especially true because the first calls to repentance in the New Testament (Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3) are Old Testament calls to repentance and indeed the two are synonymous and thus defining one defines the other.

Repentance in the Old Testament

The meaning in these verses is clear and as such need no explanation.

I Kings 8 46 “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, 47 yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ . . . 49 then . . . their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause 50 and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them.

Psalm 78 32 In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. 33 So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror. 34 When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. 35 They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer.

Isaiah 1 27 Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness. 28 But rebels and sinners shall be broken together, and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.

Jeremiah 5:3 O Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You have struck them down, but they felt no anguish; you have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent.

Jeremiah 34 15 You recently repented and did what was right in my eyes by proclaiming liberty, each to his neighbor, and you made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name, 16 but then you turned around and profaned my name when each of you took back his male and female slaves, whom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them into subjection to be your slaves.

Ezekiel 14:6 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations.”

Ezekiel 18 30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”

Repentance in the New Testament

Building upon the clear presentation of repentance as a change in both mindset and lifestyle the New Testament concept of repentance now begins to unfold. First, it is important to understand its use in the New Testament. In Matthew chapter three, John the Baptist cries out “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He is calling Jews to prepare for their Messiah, their King, by living according to his rule, this is further expressed in the quotation from Isaiah, which describes John as the voice, which cries in the wilderness “Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.” This concept remains true to this day whenever a ruler or political official is going to make an appearance preparations must be made prior to their appearing. This allusion was especially true in ancient times when roads had to be cleared of debris to allow quick and safe travel for royalty and one would most definitely incur punishment if he failed to heed such a warning. John was calling them to prepare themselves spiritually and physically to be in the presence of their King. When the king comes one does not merely change his mind concerning the King’s Lordship and yet make no physical preparations, nor does one merely feel remorse for his failure to live in submission to that Lordship and yet make no change in action. Nor can such a definition of repentance be imposed on this text, the historical situation does not allow it, rebellion is rebellion and regardless of ones “feelings of remorse” such rebellion would not be tolerated by worldly powers nor would it be tolerated by Israel’s Messiah.

And ultimately it was not tolerated in Matthew 12 Israel rejects her Messiah and He abandoned her to give hope to the Gentiles. Stephen speaks of this event in Acts 7:51-53 51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

Are we to impose our self-serving understanding of repentance on that? Is Christ unjust? Is He simply ignorant for not understanding that true repentance is merely a mental consent to His Lordship that requires no tangible fruit?

I think repentance is clear by this point but if you are still having trouble by an exhaustive concordance and read every Bible verse on repentance and its meaning will become indisputably clear, you can also search the Bible for “repentance” at Bible Gateway.

To look briefly at the word itself in the Greek there is both the verb “repent” (μετανοέω/metanoeo) and the noun “repentance” (μετάνοια/metanoia). It is a combination of two Greek words the preposition meta, simply translated with or after, and nous which is used in reference to one’s mind, understanding, or comprehension. Taken together they can be strictly translated “to comprehend afterward.” It is also important to note that when used in combination they imply change therefore leading to the understanding of repentance as an understanding after-the-fact and the subsequent correction of future action based upon this newfound knowledge.

Concluding Thoughts

True repentance necessitates both a change in mind and a change in lifestyle neither the historical context nor the etymology of the word allows any other rendering. Furthermore the view that repentance is simply a change of mind apart from a change in walk is predicated upon an unbiblical understanding of the Lordship of Christ and as such it is important that the root issue there is addressed, namely that Christ is Lord and He was Lord both prior to and regardless of His role as Savior. The Lordship of Christ has been adequately addressed elsewhere and will not be further discussed here. However it is also important that one understand repentance as both a one time event leading to salvation (Acts 11:18; II Corinthians 7:10) and a perpetual practice through which we are daily conformed to Christ (Luke 22:32; Acts 3:19).

2007-04-03 The Brief

2007-04-03T18:12:00.000-05:00

Ed Stetzer on the Gospel

Since the nature of the Gospel and how it should be presented has been the talk of late I was thrilled to read Ed Stetzer’s new post Beginning Conversation about Christ.

We Built this City

Sorry, about the reference to cheesy rock music but World Magazine has a good article up profiling “10 unique urban centers, the people who make them thrive, and those whose life calling is to make them better.” As the article, Street Smart, points out most of us live in cities and so the article should be of a particular interest to us all.

Bio Fueling Starvation

Foreign Affairs has an article addressing the possible ramification of pursuing biofuel as a gasoline alternative entitled How Biofuels Could Starve the Poor. Taking agriculture classes in college I was required to participate in a debate on this issue and all of the research that I found on the subject clearly presented biofuels as an unsustainable alternative to gasoline. This is due to both the land mass needed to create such fuels and their exorbitant production costs, so much so that tractors on ethanol farms use gasoline rather than ethanol. I had never thought of the possible effects such fuels could have on the world food market and this article presents us with those effects.

A German Critique of American Megachurches

Der Spiegel which has had a great string of articles on religion during the past months has another one and the title says it all Karaoke for the Lord: The Recipe for Success at American Megachurches.

From the article:

The megachurches mushrooming in the United States are mammoth feel-good temples providing entertainment for one and all. The ministers used to deliver weekly jeremiads excoriating homosexuality, feminism and abortion, but many -- particularly younger evangelists -- are now using the pulpit to preach about Africa and the environment.

Noting the rapid expanse of megachurches in America, doubling since the year 2000, the author exclaims:

Because Americans will switch churches when they find one that suits them better (even if it's only the time of the service), the rapid growth rate indicates that these modern cathedrals are meeting a social need.

Seeker Sensitive Blogging

2007-04-03T13:52:00.000-05:00

For those of you expecting criticism you will be sadly disappointed. In fact, I myself am guilty of seeker sensitive blogging, after incessant complaints concerning the layout of my blog I have decided to re-code it. It is my hope that this simpler layout will placate the complainers among you, just do not expect to have your ears tickled. LOL

Anyways I have not posted in quite a while because school, namely Greek Exegesis II is killing me. I hope that I will have some more posts up soon. In addition, I just recently joined Facebook so look for me on there.

The Whole Counsel of God: What is the Gospel?

2007-03-25T22:16:00.000-05:00

Introduction

In Acts 20 Paul calls together the elders of the church in Ephesus and has them meet him in Miletus. Among his closing remarks is this statement: “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:27 NASB). Many have argued that Paul is offering a defense of his ministry in Ephesus; however, when understood within its context this is Paul’s way of handing the Ephesian elders the proverbial torch. He has fulfilled his ministry to them and now the burden rests on their shoulders.

Just three verses earlier Paul tells them, “I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24 NASB). At this point one must ask if there is any connection between the “gospel of the grace of God” which Paul mentions here and the “whole purpose of God” which Paul mentions three verses later.

If the ministry which Paul received from the Lord Jesus was “to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God” and if, when noting the fulfillment of that ministry he notes his declaration of “the whole purpose of God” then the “gospel of the grace of God” must be included in, or be synonymous with, “the whole purpose of God.” Before drawing any conclusions, however, it would be important to examine the phrase “the whole purpose of God.”

First is the word “whole” (pasan/πᾶσαν), which emphasizes the total content of something. Second, is the word “purpose” (boulen/βουλὴν), which can be translated plan or purpose it can also be translated counsel. However, these terms do not connote counsel, as you would usually use it, namely the giving of advice or guidance. Instead, this particular word describes the resolute decision of a communal deliberation, the decision made by a council, namely the Triune God. It is as this point when the meaning of this text unfolds as it gives the sense of Paul declaring the plan of the God. Finally then, it can be concluded that Paul did not merely give them advice from God, but that he literally declared the totality of God’s plan. What then, is this plan if not the Gospel?

Beginning with the understanding that the Gospel is the message which declares the totality of God’s plan, I will now briefly outline the Gospel within this framework. As a cursory side note, the Greek word for Gospel (evangelion/εὐαγγέλιον) can be simply translated good news, and indeed all of God’s plans are good, the totality of God’s plans being the supremely good, therefore the message of the totality of the Triune God’s plan must be the greatest of all good news.

Eternity Past: Why are we here?

First, God is the Gospel. The Gospel is His plan, carried out by His power, and purposed for His glory. It only makes sense to begin here; beginning at this point reflects your theology. If man is more important in salvation, then you begin with man and his problem. If God is most important, then you will begin with Him and His purpose. Furthermore, explaining the Gospel apart from defining God is self-defeating. Man’s sin makes sense only against the backdrop of God’s holiness. Creation makes sense only against the backdrop of the Creator. Salvation makes sense only against the backdrop of God’s mercy, graciousness, and love.
We must begin by explaining the attributes and the inter-Trinitarian relationship of God, namely their infinitely perfect love, community, communication, and enjoyment [1]. Establishing who God is establishes the purpose of creation, namely, the glory of God. Within postmodernism there is ultimately no universal purpose or no universal good. That God exists and that man actually has a purpose, and that that purpose is the greatest of all good, the glory of God, is certainly good news.

Creation: How did we get here?

Secondly we must further explain God’s purpose of creation (His glory), man’s distinct position in creation, and man’s intrinsic value as the image-bearer of God. Furthermore, the intrinsic goodness of human nature must be explained; failure to do so results in individuals discounting sin as merely an aspect of human nature. Sin is an aspect of man’s sinful nature acquired at the fall.

Fall: What went wrong?

Third, and building on the last point, it now becomes clear that man is something less than fully human; man is not as he should be. He is no longer a suitable image bearer of God; he carries a distorted image and cannot glorify God, as he should, thus man is unable to fulfill his purpose.

Redemption: Can it be Fixed?

Fourth and most complexly is redemption. I hope that everyone understands the basic concept here so I will mention some of the more complex issues. Sadly, most modern Christians are under the opinion that Christian history begins at the church. This however is not the case; Christ must be understood as Israel’s Messiah, the savior of the covenant people of God. Moreover, the church must be explained as that which has been grafted into Israel so that we are now partakers in the covenants of promise, covenants originally made with Israel. This may not seem very important; however God’s expansion of the covenants to include a previously uncovenanted people depends on our understanding of God’s grace. Understanding the superiority of the new covenant also deepens our understanding of God’s grace, and understanding God’s role in the history of Israel deepens our understanding of God’s providence.

Completion: What is our goal?

Finally is eschatology. The greatest news of the Gospel is that God will eventually finish what He started. What He has purposed He will ultimately bring to pass and one day we will once again enjoy a perfect relationship with Him. For many Christians their greatest joy is in absolution, the forgiveness of their sins, this; however, is not the ultimate aim of the cross. The ultimate aim of the cross is reconciliation, to the glory of God. The removal of sins is a means to an end, that end being reunion with God. This perfect relationship with God takes us back to the complete restoration of what creation was purposed towards. Sadly, many people have misunderstood heaven, and thus their man-centered heaven has led them to a man-centered perspective on life. We must restore a God-centered understanding of heaven, as the perpetual enjoyment of and rejoicing of God. Eschatology may not seem that encouraging to you, however a cursory review of the New Testament will reveal that this is a consistent source of encouragement throughout the ages.

Concluding Thoughts

In retrospect, the Gospel is the message concerning the historical events in which God created man, purposing him for His glory, in which God’s Son satisfies His Father’s wrath by His substitutionary and propitiatory death on the cross. The Son’s righteousness is imputed to sinful man, the Holy Spirit sanctifies particular individuals by conforming them to Christ likeness, and ultimately God will punish the sins of all men. God will bring those particular individuals, for whom Christ died, to whom His righteousness was imputed, and in whom the Holy Spirit abides, into a perfect and joyous relationship with Himself, for His glory.

For those of you wishing to see this concept in a more developed framework please visit Ignite USC: Biblical Worldview. Finishing this is my goal for the summer and it will, in all likelihood, be made available for download via PDF for those of you who might be interested. I look forward to reading your comments and partaking in much charitable discussion with you all.

Ultimately this is just a bare outline for sharing the Gospel, and you will need to fill in the categories with scripture and explain it in a way that fits your given context. Now you, like Paul, can say, “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.”

[1] Jonathan Edwards describes the inter-Trinitarian relationship as follows: “God is infinitely happy in the enjoyment of Himself . . . and accordingly it must be supposed that God perpetually and eternally has a most perfect idea of himself, as it were . . . in actual view, and from hence arises a most pure and perfect act . . ., which is the Divine love, complacence and joy.” Jonathan Edwards, Treatise on Grace: And Other Posthumously Published Writings (Cambridge and London: James Clarke and Co. LTD., 1971), 99.

Addendum One (2007-3-28)

My main concern here is the five general categories in which the Gospel is divided (Eternity Past, Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Completion). The material explaining these five categories is simply an explanation of my thoughts and a justification for the divisions. I am not only concerned with the content of the message but the means by which it is shared. Most of the Gospel presentations which I have seen are in an interrogation/inquisition format; however, this is not what you find in Scripture, what you find in Scripture is individuals proclaiming/explaining the Gospel to others. More often than not, Christ is the one being interrogated and he shares the Gospel in the context of that interrogation, and not vice versa. The Gospel must be presented within the context of a conversation, not where truth is placed on equal ground with error, but where the Gospel is explained to individuals by giving honest answers to their questions. Furthermore, in asking these questions to others you will ultimately understand their entire worldview, the presuppositions with which they are entering this conversation, understanding this allows you to explain a proper understanding of the world, namely the Gospel.

Announcing the Official Ignite USC Website

2007-03-13T17:52:00.000-05:00

Ignite USC Official Website

The site will likely under go some changes soon I am using Wordpress for it and am just getting used to using this new system. I am very excited about it as the site has storage space that I can podcast from and make study material available via PDF. Please visit the site and let me know what you think. If you do not like the theme then visit Wordpress and tell me which them would work better. Thanks for all your help and please be in prayer as the plant continues to move forward.

The Shepherds' Conference: On Creativity

2007-03-09T19:20:00.000-05:00

For the final seminar of the 2007 Shepherds' Conference I attended Dan Dumas' lecture entitled "Creativity With Out Compromise: How to be Innovative Without Being Seeker Sensitive." I really enjoyed it and found it to be extremely practical below are my notes from that seminar.

First, We Must Understand that Our Natural Tendency is to Drift Toward One of Two Extremes:

Extreme Creativity Devoid of Content
Excellent Content Devoid of Creativity

Second, Submissive Creativity Always Places the Priority on Scripture

Third, Intentional Creativity is Necessary to Build a Church

Fourth, Your Motivation (To Be Creative) Should be Practical Obedience to the Command to "Love the Lord your God . . . and Love Your Neighbor as Your Self"

Fifth, Your Philosophy of Ministry Determines Creativity

A High View of God
A High View of the Scriptures
A High View of the Church
A High View of Strong Spiritual Leadership
A High View of Worship"

Five things that Kill Creativity:

The Comfortable Status Quo Places a Death Grip on Ingeneuity
We Forget the Nature of God; He is the Creator
We Cling to Tradition Over Revelation
We are Lazy and Undisciplined in our Ministry (Because Creativity is Hard)
We Have a Fear of Man, Namely our Congregations that Hate Change

"Be Creative or Shrivel up and Die" Ten Steps that Foster Creativity

1. Pray and Search the Scriptures Like Crazy: If we are going to be creative then it must be Biblical

2. Place High Expectations on People to Pursue Excellence: Learn to sweat the small stuff. Do not lower the bar. Every aspect of your ministry matters, nothing is insignificant.

3. Clarify that Ministry in the Flesh is Neither Expedient nor Profitable: Creativity must not be a means of artificially inflating ministry.

4. Create an Enjoyable Culture of Change (Constant Scrutiny is the Mark of Creative People)

5. Reject Mediocrity as an Acceptable Way of Ministry (At the Same Time Do Not Become a Sinful Perfectionist): This pairs well with point two above.

6. Refuse to Be Creative in a Vaccume: Churches everywhere may be facing your same situation learn from and with them.

7. Steps to Becoming Creative

a. Intentionally Go Away Alone

--Think Deliberately: Intentionally think creatively.

--Think Distance: Plan for the future. If your ministry is going to change are you prepared to see it through?

--Think Solitude: You need to be undistracted and focus, so unplug and disconnect.

--Think Service: Creativity is not for the sake of novelty it is aimed at better serving others.

--Think Outside the Box

--Think Big

--Think Critical

--Think Ahead

--Think Details: The minutiae matters.

--Think Journaling: Don't just think write and rewrite and rethink.

--Think Communication: How, when, where, and to whom will you share this.

--Think Patience: Change often takes time you must prepare for this.

b. Intentionally Go Away Together to be Creative

--Be Honest: Be frank, stop beating around the bush and accomplish something.

--Be Smart

--Be Open: Welcome criticism of your ministry from other ministers.

--Be Strategic (SWOT=Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)

--Be Humble: Do not become defensive when criticized

--Be Effective: Go away as a group and intentionally address change, do not waste your pastoral retreat on stupid stuff

8. Do Not Confuse Stewardship With Cheapness

9. Do Not Take the Easy Way Out

10. Instruct, Model, Overcommunicate: Let others know what will be changed. Be a model for change. Overcommunicate change, individuals quickly form opinions and twist your words do not give them this opportunity.

The Shepherds' Conference 2007

2007-03-08T13:38:00.000-05:00

Sadly, John Piper was unable to come to this years Shepherds' Conference, due to the death of his father. I would encourage you all to read his journal entry on this event. Hello, My Father Just Died

The conference has been great so far. Steve Lawson's sermon on Apostolic preaching was phenomenal, I love his passionate exposition of God's Word, he is one of my favorite expositors and his sermon issued a much needed exhortation and call for passionate preaching in a time when exposition is often associated with boring unaffected preaching. Ligon Duncan continues to amaze me with his profound understanding of the Old Testament, his sermon at Together for the Gospel on the preaching from the Old Testament issued a huge challenge for me, and it was encouraging to hear him preach from the Old Testament in a way that brings the truth to life for believers today. Al Mohler, as always, brought it and his exposition of I Corinthians 2:1-5 was fantastic, I highly recommend reading his introduction to anyone who will be reading Corinthians soon as it does a wonderful job of setting the cultural context in which that church existed. Mark Dever's message was one that all American Evangelical's need to hear. He soberly warned the pastors that they need to prepare for the coming persecution and that they need to prepare their churches for the coming persecution lest they all fall away. I especially enjoyed his exhortation that pastors should prepare their wives to be pastor’s widows. I was incredibly thankful that he called the men to cease their reliance on Evangelical political activism to protect them from persecution and to begin relying on the Sovereign hand of God to uphold them during the persecution that is sure to come. Below are links to Tim Challies blog entries on the main sessions at the conference, if you have time please read them all. I will also be posting my notes from Dan Dumas' lecture "Creativity Without Compromise: How to be Innovative Without Being Seeker Sensitive" and I hope you will read them and be as encouraged as I was.

Session I: John MacArthur "Why Every Self-Respecting Calvinist is a Pre-Millennialist"
Session II: Steve Lawson "The Passion and the Power of Apostolic Preaching" Acts 2:14-21
Session III: C. J. Mahaney Isaiah 66:1-2
Session IV: Ligon Duncan Numbers 5:11-31 (I Corinthians 10:1-13)
Q&A Session
Session V: Al Mohler I Corinthians 2:1-5
Session VI: Mark Dever The Book of Daniel
Keynote Panel
Session VII: John MacArthur Luke 18

For the Gospel

2007-02-21T18:16:00.000-05:00

For those of you who received my e-mail I appreciate you taking the time to come and read my thoughts. For those of you who did not receive my e-mail I would greatly appreciate and you would greatly benefit from listening to Ed Stetzer’s message Toward a Missional Convention. This was delivered at the Baptist Identity II Conference for those of you listening to the other messages. If you want to know more about Ed Stetzer I would recommend going to his blog (click here). Above all listen to Ed Stetzer’s message and I have listed suggestions of similar messages at the end of this post.

If you want to know my thoughts here, they are. While taking church history over the past two semesters and talking to others one of the things that has really stood out. Has been how the church has, during different periods in time, banded together to stand for Truth and combat error. The most obvious is when the Reformers, who disagreed on numerous aspects of theology, banded together to combat the works-based message of the Catholic Church. Even before that, the Nicene Creed and many other creeds served to affirm truth and refute error. In recent times, one can look to the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, where numerous Protestants across a wide range of denominations gathered to defend the validity of Scripture itself. While we may look to these as triumphs in church history I have began to see them as our most visible failures. The Reformation fell short of a true reform due to the Reformers inability to come to a consensus on various issues, and they inevitably committed some of the same atrocities that the Catholic Church committed, they just did so with a more Biblical Soteriology. While they gained an initial triumph, they were unable to bring about complete reform. In early Puritan America, religious freedom quickly became a freedom to practice Puritanism; however, thanks to Baptist ministers such as Roger Williams and John Clarke, who was arrested and whipped for preaching in a home, this is not still the case.

Do not miss understand me I am not one to shy away from controversy, just look at my previous posts or ask for my honest opinion on something, but I think over the past year I have grown frustrated with the lack of progress I see coming out of controversy (Ironically that statement may be controversial.). If you wanted me to, I could list off every “theological heritage” which I feel apart and if you want to challenge the Biblical validity of any of my views, I would quickly respond. However, I think I have grown to the point now where I realize that that is not the point. Perpetual theological debate is not the aim of theology, the glory of God is, and I do not think we glorify God when we ignore God’s commands to engage the culture so that we can retreat from culture and fight amongst ourselves. There are aspects of theology that we must contend for, others that we can agree to disagree on, and there are culturally contrived convictions that we must completely rid ourselves of. But are we willing to do that for the Gospel?

For more sermons addressing this topic, I would recommend:
The Supremacy of Christ and the Church in a Postmodern World by Mark Driscoll
The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel in a Postmodern World by Tim Keller

2007-02-20 The Brief

2007-02-20T15:55:00.000-05:00

Anglicanism and Catholicism to Reunite?

Here is the interesting story from The Times on the subject.

A Book to Watch

After the success of Richard Dawkins’ book, The God Delusion, Victor J. Stenger’s provocatively titled God: The Failed Hypothesis How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist by is sure to make waves.

Question of the Day: Is Morality Nonsense?

The Puritans thought so.[1] “Civility is not purity, a man may be clothed with moral virtues — justice, prudence, temperance — and yet go to hell. If we want to be pure in heart, then we must not rest in outward purity.[2]” “Civility does but wash a man, grace changes him. . . . Civility is but strewing flowers on a dead corpse. A man may be wonderfully moralized, yet but a tame devil.[3]” “Nor indeed do I know of anything which doth more threaten the undermining of true Christianity . . . than the putting of moral virtues into legal dress.[4]”What do you think?

[1] I do acknowledge that there is a slight discrepancy between what the Puritans said and what they did, but their opinion on this subject stands nevertheless.
[2] Watson, Thomas. The Beatitudes
[3] Ibid.
[3] Willard, Samuel. Morality Not to Be Relied on for Life

2007-02-08 The Brief

2007-02-08T15:05:00.000-05:00

Jesus in the Morning, Voodoo in the Evening
This is a short informatory article on the blending of Christianity or Islam with voodoo in Africa. This paradox is one that I have witnessed during oversees travel.

Islam and the West
This lengthy article looks at the political and ideological interaction between the West, the Middle East, Islam, and Christianity. What I found particularly interesting has little to do with the article. In the 6th paragraph the writer makes this comment: “Yet, given the current European propensity for viewing reason as a Christian legacy and themselves as sole heirs to the Enlightenment, it ill befits Europe's residents to cast reason aside whenever their relationship with Islam and Muslims is at issue.” Most American “Christians” view Europe as a secularized and pagan society, but flowing out of the natural religion of liberal theology Europe, or at least this writer, views itself in line with a “Christian” tradition. While America lies in the Fundamentalist tradition, Europe lies in the Liberal tradition. This provides a vivid example that should serve as a word of caution toward over contextualization. While many would consider the rise of natural theology and emphasis on reason as a secular development, it was not. At its heart, it was a religious development. With the rise of modernity individuals sought to develop a “Christian” theology that had meaning and relevance within this newly emerging cultural context and what resulted was distinctly not Christian, namely philosophical naturalism. I frequently mention contextualization and this serves to illustrate the immanent danger that faces us all.

2007-02-06 The Brief

2007-02-06T19:51:00.000-05:00

Inspired by Justin Sok and the Foreign Policy Passport I have decided to do a bi-weekly brief to share interesting/pertinent articles that I read online. I hope this proves worthwhile and educational.

A Calvinist Faces Death
David Van Biema, of Time Magazine, interviews Dr. Albert Mohler concerning his recent health crisis. This article is brief and encouraging, especially for those who have or are going through similar circumstances. Although in our Biblically illiterate culture the title did surprise me.

Has Globalization Passed Its Peak?
Foreign Affairs examines the future global economic landscape, as it pertains to globalization and free trade, in light of rising economic nationalism. This is important because globalization has as much to do with the free trade of commodities as it does with the free exchange of information and ideas; its ramifications are both economical and ideological.

The Power of Faith
Der Spiegel has a series of interesting and thought provoking articles on religion; I appreciate reading about religion from a different perspective. The Atlas of the World’s Great Religions is especially interesting

Ed Stetzer on Cultural Relevance

2007-01-30T19:17:00.000-05:00

Ed Stetzer recently posted an fabulous post which asks the question “Why is cultural relevance a big deal?” I highly encourage everyone to read the article below are some highlights.

. . . The scriptures are relevant to this and every culture. They do not need updating, correcting, or revisioning. On the contrary, what needs revisioning is our understanding and obedience to God's word as we live out His mission in context. When we live a humble orthodoxy and humble missiology, we will be salt and light in contemporary culture—a biblically-faithful, culturally-relevant, counter culture. . . .

. . . The irony of this [arguing against cultural relevance] is that every church is culturally relevant. It is simply a matter of whether the culture of the church is in any way similar to the culture of its community or only meaningful to itself. . . .

. . . The unchurched think that Christianity is a retrograde culture rather than a living faith. Our job is to remove the "extra" stumbling blocks of culture without removing the essential stumbling block of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:23). . . .

Jonathan Edwards on the Redeeming the Time

2007-01-12T11:35:00.000-05:00

The Preciousness Of Time And The Importance Of Redeeming It
I. Why time is precious.
II. Reflections on time past.
III. Who are chiefly deserving of reproof from the subject of the preciousness of time.
IV. An exhortation to improve time
V. Advice respecting the improvement of time.

2006 A Year in Books

2006-12-31T17:51:00.000-05:00

Books are listed in alphabetical order, by author’s last name, with brief commentary/synopsis. I hope you are encouraged to read some of the books on this list and I would love to hear what you are reading.

My Top Ten

Edwards, Jonathan. A Jonathan Edwards Reader ISBN: 0300098383

This is a wonderful selection of the writings of Jonathan Edwards. The selections are divided into public, personal, and private writings. Much of what is included is obscure, aside from various abridgements of larger works, and it introduced me to a side of Edwards that I had never seen before. Through this I came to appreciate the literary ability of Jonathan Edwards and above the meticulous logic and profound insight into Scripture I was impressed with what a vivid writer Edwards was. The book features a brief biography that is mainly bibliographical which does well to introduce the reader to the various works included in this book although it does a poor job of introducing Edwards. If you are looking to an introduction to Jonathan Edwards I would recommend reading God’s Passion for His Glory: Living the Vision of Jonathan Edwards, by John Piper ISBN: 1581340079. Piper’s opening biography of Edwards is thorough yet brief; however, his lengthy footnotes added to The End for Which God created the World make it unnecessarily lengthy so my recommendation is that you skip Piper’s footnotes and just read Edwards’ original text your first time through.

Pearcey, Nancy R. Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity ISBN:

1581344589

Building upon the arguments of Francis Schaeffer, Nancy Pearcey presents the Biblical worldview within the framework of Creation, Fall, and Redemption. This book is very multifaceted; it presents an academic apologetic, which shows the shortcomings of non-Biblical worldviews and the superiority of the Biblical Worldview. It presents a historical recollection of the cultural and philosophical environments that have polluted the modern “Christian” worldview. It also presents the Biblical worldview and its practical applications that move us towards cultural engagement. This book, while difficult to read at times, is a must read for evangelicals.

Schaeffer, Francis A. The Francis A. Schaeffer Trilogy: The Three Essential Books in One Volume (The God Who Is There / Escape from Reason / He Is There and He Is Not Silent) ISBN: 0891075615

I am hoping to finish this compilation next year; as of now, I have only read He is There and He is Not Silent. I would actually recommend reading this before reading Total Truth, because Schaeffer presents the philosophical argument/necessity of a Biblical worldview, which Pearcey uses in her book. Schaeffer does this in a most simplistic way allowing this apologetic to be easily understood. If you were going to pick between the two I would recommend this over Total Truth for its simplicity and Total Truth for its thoroughness and push for cultural engagement. The choice is yours but I would recommend both.

Verduin, Leonard. The Reformers and Their Stepchildren ISBN: 1579789358

This book was phenomenal. I do not think any book has so radically shaped my understanding of history, namely the reformation era, and my understanding of the relationship between the church and state. This book tells the story of the “second front” of the Protestant Reformation. These “radical reformers” were hated and considered heretics by both Catholics and the mainline Protestant Reformers; however, time has proven their position to be the orthodox one. Due to immense persecution, little is known about the radical reformers, however, thanks to his linguistic expertise and research abilities Verduin brings much to light and gives us the leading text on this subject.

Mahaney, C. J. Humility: True Greatness ISBN: 1590523261

Just watching C. J. preach is enough to make me nauseous over my pride and this book is no different, it will cut and convict you.

Nofer, H. Fred. New Testament Greek Made Functional ISBN: N/A

I doubt anyone expected to see a Greek grammar in my top ten; however, I have taken Greek before and read Greek grammars before but none that are this simple. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain a basic understanding of the Greek language. This was the text for Gladiator Greek, an eight week class, by then end of which we were reading out of our Greek New Testaments. I was shocked at how fast I was able to pick this up, with an absurd amount of time spent in study that is, but if you spend a week or two on each lesion I think you will pick it up quite easily. If I were to teach Greek in a local church this would be the text of choice. (Available for purchase here.)

Olson, Roger E. The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition & Reform ISBN: 0830815058

The title explains it all; Olson does well to present church history in narrative form. The book is massive; however, its narrative quality makes it a pleasant read. Olson hits the highlights and key figures of church history and presents their theologies in a simplified form. I knew little, if anything, of church history prior to reading Olson and this text served as a wonderful introduction to the subject.

Piper, John. Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry ISBN: 0805426205

The same themes that tend to arise in most books by Piper are presented as personal letters and pleas written to the reader calling them to “radical ministry.” I love John Piper and very much enjoyed the way this book was written. While none of us will ever be able to be mentored by Piper this book is a personal effort where he does just that.

Stetzer, Ed. Planting Missional Churches ISBN: 0805443703

This book started great and was loaded with great practical advice. I think the overall theme and aim of this book is one that needs to be proclaimed and embraced in our churches, however, I was hoping the book would be a bit more radical. It issues a method and a call to plant missional churches however I feel that much of what is presented exists within an unbiblical church paradigm that has been engrained in the minds of modern evangelicals. If we are going to plant truly missional churches then we need a missional paradigm. Despite its shortcomings this is the best work on the subject and it is loaded with practical advice, based upon Stetzer’s years of teaching, preaching, and church planting experience.

The Master’s Seminary Journal Volume 10 Number 2 Fall 1999 (See Here for Purchase or Free Download)
This Journal presents the Biblical covenants and is a great read, especially if you know little of Israel’s history or want to gain a better understanding of the Old Testament.

Honorable Mentions

Adams, Jay Edward. The Christian's Guide to Guidance: How to Make Biblical Decisions in Everyday Life ISBN: 1889032069
Most of this book was spent telling stories and it took several chapters before he began to address the guidance, there are probably better books on the subject.

Augustine, Aurelius. Confessions ISBN: 1565634519
A definite classic and a good read; despite its Catholic overtones and exhortation toward an allegorical interpretation of the Old Testament.

Calvin, John. The Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life ISBN: 0801065283
My translation was slightly annoying, due to the unnecessary, morphing of this doctrinal treatise into a devotional form. This book is Calvin at his simplest. He lays down an argument for his understanding of the Christian life and gives application from that argument. Another great short read.

Chapell, Bryan. Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon ISBN: 0801025869
Read the final section of this book first as Chapell fails to begin by defining what Christ-centered preaching is and why the expository sermon needs redeeming. This book has noble intentions but fell short of my expectations.

Dana, H. E. and Julius R. Mantey. A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament ISBN: 0023270705
I enjoyed the setup of this book and its individually numbered paragraphs allow for simple use in the classroom. Their prolific quotation from numerous other grammars make this a great source of information.

Dever, Mark and Paul Alexander. Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel ISBN: 1581347383
Dever lays out an understanding of what the church should look like and then gives practical insights from his pastoral experience.

Driscoll, Mark. Confessions of a Reformission Rev. Hard Lessons from an Emerging Missional Church ISBN: 0310270162
Driscoll offers a no-holds-barred recounting of the planting and growth of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, while offering advice along the way. Parts of this book were laugh out loud funny and others were gut wrenching Driscoll paints a vivid picture of church planting and the struggle that it entails.

Edman, V. Raymond. They Found the Secret ISBN: 0310240514
A great collection of short biographies that will definitely encourage you as it introduces the lives of numerous individuals from diverse religious backgrounds.

Edwards, Jonathan. The Works of Jonathan Edwards (In Two Volumes) ISBN: 1565630858
Dissertation on the End for Which God Created the World (Vol.1)
Simply phenomenal, when I first read this it was one of those life-altering books. The most accessible copy of this text is probably God’s Passion for His Glory: Living the Vision of Jonathan Edwards, by John Piper ISBN: 1581340079, which features a biography of Edwards by Piper, the full text of The End for Which God Created the World, and includes both Edwards’ original footnotes and footnotes by Piper as well.

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections (Vol.1)
I think this is a much-needed message in our time. Our tendency is to lean towards either mindless emotionalism or dry scholasticism. In this treatise Edwards sets out to define what religious affections, or passions, are and guarding against the previously mentioned inclinations Edwards calls for passionate intellectualism, arguing that right knowledge should lead to right passions.

The Preciousness of Time (Vol.2)
This is my favorite sermon by Edwards, which is odd because I am a terrible procrastinator. I will likely post it on the blog soon as it is a fitting message for the New Year.

Edwards, Jonathan. A Treatise on Grace ISBN: 0227679059

Ferguson, Sinclair. Heart for God ISBN: 0851515029
I read this during a Dodgers game so it is short. Ferguson does a short, yet deep study through some of God’s attributes. Its length and set up would make this great for devotional use.

Jefferson, Charles. The Minister as Shepherd: The Privileges and Responsibilities of Pastoral Leadership ISBN: 0875087744
More so than the central message of the book, I appreciated his insights into culture and anticipation of the ideological and cultural consequences of modernity. Too often we are playing catch-up with the culture at large developing apologetics for ideologies that no longer hold a prominent position in society; when we should be looking at the current cultural environment and preparing to engage and reach the emerging and yet to emerge cultures of the future.

Kantenwein, Lee L. Diagrammatical Analysis ISBN: 0884691500
A short book on sentence diagramming and analysis.

Kempis, Thomas. The Imitation of Christ ISBN: 0375700188
Considered a “Christian classic” by many this was the most annoying book I have ever read. Above the Catholic and mystic overtones is the annoying literary device where he frequently speaks as Christ.

Kuyper, Abraham. Lectures on Calvinism ISBN: 1589600568
I honestly read this book just to find a quote. There are some strange things coming out of his preference for the magisterial reformation, but overall I really enjoyed this book on a Calvinistic worldview.

Lutzer, Erwin. Pastor to Pastor ISBN: 0825431646
It seems to me that most books on the pastorate do more to exposit the prevailing paradigm rather than Scripture and this book was no different. I keep hoping to read a book dedicated to expositing what Scripture has to say about the pastorate and all I seem to find are what amount to cultural essays.

McIntosh, Gary. Biblical Church Growth: How You Can Work With God to Build a Faithful Church ISBN: 080109156X
A practical book on church growth, that builds upon the popular church growth paradigm.

McManis, Cliff. Christian Living Beyond Belief: Biblical Principles for the Life of Faith ISBN: 0977226220
A great little book laying down the basics of Christianity that I think everyone would benefit from.

Mahaney, C.J. Why Small Groups? ISBN: 1881039064
This book is both simple and practical and arguably the definitive work on small group Bible study.

Mahaney, C.J. Sex, Romance And The Glory Of God: What Every Christian Husband Needs To Know ISBN: 1581346247
C. J. takes the reader through the Song of Solomon and will have you laughing out loud as he shares what Scripture has to say.

Showers, Renald. There Really Is a Difference!: A Comparison of Covenant and Dispensational Theology ISBN: 0915540509
I would not really call this a comparison. Renald is clearly a Dispensationalist and a book that simply presented Dispensationalism and analyzed Covenantal Theology, rather than attempting to present an unbiased view of both, would have better served the reader.

Spurgeon, Charles. Lectures to My Students ISBN: 0310329116
This remains the classic work and must read for everyone considering fulltime ministry. Spurgeon brings a level of sobriety and wisdom to a subject that we should all take seriously.

The Master’s Seminary Journal Volume 17 Number 2 Fall 2006 (See Here for Purchase or Free Download)
All I have read so far were the book reviews, which are always helpful so you can be aware of the underlying theological themes of a book prior to reading it.

What I Look Forward to Reading Next Year

Edwards, Jonathan. The Works of Jonathan Edwards (In Two Volumes) ISBN: 1565630858
A Careful and Strict Inquiry into the Prevailing Notions of the Freedom of Will (Vol.1)
A Dissertation on the Nature of True Virtue (Vol.1)
A History of the Work of Redemption (Vol.1)
Inquiry Concerning Qualifications for Communion (Vol.1)
Narrative of Surprising Conversions (Vol.1)
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God (Vol.2)

Finger, Thomas N. A Contemporary Anabaptist Theology: Biblical, Historical, Constructive ISBN: 0830827854

Goldsworthy, Graeme According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible ISBN: 0830826963

Lawson, Steven J. Foundations of Grace 1400 BC - AD 100: A Long Line of Godly Men (Volume One) ISBN: 1567690777

A Biblical Understanding of Church/State Relations

2006-12-19T16:43:00.000-05:00

There are three possible approaches to this subject from an understanding of the nature of the church, from an understanding of the nature of the kingdom of God, and from an understanding of the nature of the Gospel. There are numerous perspectives concerning the nature of the church and the nature of the kingdom of God; however, I think most reasonably minded individuals can come to a consensus on the nature of the Gospel. Because of this, I will approach the subject from an understanding of the nature of the Gospel. Ultimately, all theology comes down to one thing, the Gospel. Central to ones understanding of the church is the Gospel. Central to ones understanding of the kingdom is the Gospel. The Gospel is the wellspring of all Truth and so it is fitting that we both begin and remain there.

First, the very nature of the Gospel is that it makes society pluralistic; this is what it means for the gospel to be exclusive (Matthew 10:34-37). Wherever the Gospel goes pluralism, if not already present, is introduced. The Gospel is an exclusive message; this means that there are those who are included and those who are excluded. This is also the nature of the church and the nature of the kingdom of God, there are those who are included, and those excluded. This means there will always be at least two groups and that is plural. If society was monocultural, then we would all be damned. Pluralism is part of the good news of the Gospel; that God has chosen and redeemed individuals within a unanimously rebellious world; thereby making the world pluralistic. This relates to politics because Evangelical political activism seeks to singularize society (an Evangelical monoculture) while the Gospel makes society pluralistic.

Second, the very nature of the Gospel is missiological. What do I mean by that? At the heart of missions, or being missional, is contextualization, of both the message and the messenger (I Corinthians 9:22-23). If you disagree with that last statement, go look at your Bible. If your Bible is in a language other than Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic then you are a product of contextualization. Men and women have died, been burned at the stake, drowned, disemboweled, and undergone the most unimaginable torture so that the Gospel can be contextualized. This relates to politics because Evangelical political activism seeks to conform the culture to the Gospel, while missional contextualization seeks to contextualize the Gospel within a pagan culture. The two stand in direct opposition.

Third, the very nature of the Gospel is inferiority, namely that the Gospel is a foolish message proclaimed to foolish people (Matthew 9:11-13, I Corinthians 1:18). Contrary to what many self-righteous “Christians” believe the Gospel is stupid, it is idiotic, the Greek word for “foolishness” in I Corinthians 1:18 is the word from which we get moron, it is that dumb. Furthermore, in verses 26, and following, Paul reminds Christians that they are morons too! The simple fact is that you cannot embrace the Gospel if you feel morally or intellectually superior to the surrounding world; you can only embrace the Gospel if you are morally inferior. This relates to politics because Evangelical political activism seeks to create a morally superior culture while Gospel seeks out those who are morally inferior.

Fourth, the very nature of the Gospel is liberalism (Galatians 5:13). God liberally lavishes His grace upon us. God call us to proclaim the Gospel liberally. This may seem like a stretch but liberalism is the exact opposite of legalism, and God opposes legalism. Was it not the legalism of the Pharisees that kept them from loving liberally? Was it not the legalism of the Pharisees that kept them from proclaiming Truth liberally? Was it not the legalism of the Pharisees that kept them from living liberally? Paul’s statement in I Corinthians 9:22-23 is a declaration that Paul was culturally liberal. This relates to politics because Evangelical political activism seeks to enforce state-sanctioned legalism while the Gospel compels us to live liberally.

Fifth, the very nature of the Gospel is voluntarism, as opposed to coercion (Luke 10:16). The Gospel is a message to be proclaimed which subsequently means that it can be accepted or rejected. The Gospel is not a message to be enforced. In fact, the Gospel cannot be enforced and when ignorant individuals seek to have it enforced, it is no longer the Gospel.

This is where the apparent contradiction comes in. Because while the nature of the Gospel demands the strictest of separations between it and the state Scripture, however, is replete with commands ordering followers of Christ to submit themselves to the governing authorities (Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1-11; Titus 3:1). Paul even appeals to his Roman citizenship when arrested (Acts 22:25) and even to Caesar (Acts 25:11). Most profound of all is that Paul wrote his exhortation to the church in Rome around A.D. 56 two years into the persecution by Nero (A.D. 54-68). A persecution in which “Some Christians were arrested, confessed their faith, and were ‘convicted not so much,’ says Tacitus, ‘of the crime of incendiarism as of hating the human race (Does that sound familiar?) [1].’” Schaff continues, “A ‘vast multitude’ of Christians was put to death in the most shocking manner. Some were crucified, probably in mockery of the punishment of Christ, some sewed up in the skins of wild beasts and exposed to the voracity of mad dogs in the arena. The satanic tragedy reached its climax at night in the imperial . . . . Christian men and women, covered with pitch or oil or resin, and nailed to posts of pine, were lighted and burned as torches for the amusement of the mob [2].” It is clear that followers of Christ must submit themselves to the governing authorities, even if that means dying in the arena!

Before concluding it is important that we take note of the uniqueness of the American situation. The American situation is unique not only in our current global context but also in the context of history. America is unique in the freedoms and rights that it has bestowed upon its citizens and it is unique in its Democraticness, not that there are not other democratic nations but American Democracy is unique.

All of this has led me to several conclusions. First, the nature of the Gospel is unequivocally clear that it cannot be promoted by political means nor can it be enforced by a political power; furthermore, “Christian moral norms,” if there is such a thing, cannot be forced upon a culture nor can they be enforced within a culture where they are already present. Second, the “right to vote” is not a right; it is a unique privilege that has been granted to Americans. Since it is not a right it can, and I would argue will, be taken away.

Ultimately, our problem is this: we are more concerned with being American than we are with being followers of Christ. That is why the mission field is largely vacant; because as Americans we feel this is our home, when as followers of Christ we are sojourners and foreigners in every land. By mission field I am not speaking of foreign missions but all missionary activity; no concept of “home missions” can exist within a worldview where you are always a foreigner. Even here in comfortable America, the mission field is largely vacant of individuals who cease to be antagonistic towards American culture and contextualize the Gospel into it. There are plenty of people conforming the Gospel to American culture, thus loosing the Gospel. There are also plenty of people seeking to conform American culture to the Gospel, thus loosing the Gospel in legalism. There are also those who are honestly trying to share the Gospel and yet there efforts are largely misunderstood because they do so in ignorance of the culture. What we need are followers of Christ who will plant indigenous church planting churches by contextualizing the Gospel into the cultures, which they desire to reach.

I hope that all of you will respond in charity, as I am sure most will disagree and honestly, if I had read this a year ago I would have disagreed as well. If you disagree with my post and would like me to reply to your comment please state your argument or question concisely and I will reply in a like fashion.

[1] Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Volume 1
[2] Ibid.

Newsweek “On Faith”

2006-11-21T14:59:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have not heard I highly recommend heading over to the conversation at Newsweek entitled “On Faith: A Conversation on Religion with John Meacham and Sally Quinn.” From Jon Meacham:

From the nature of evil to religious reformation, from the morality of fetal stem-cell research to the history of scripture, from how to raise kids in multi-faith households to the place of gays in traditional churches -- of the asking of questions, to paraphrase Ecclesiastes, there shall be no end. We think that the online world, with its limitless space, offers us a unique opportunity to carry on a fruitful, intriguing, and above all constructive conversation about the things that matter most.

The names and biographical information of the nearly seventy panelists can be found here among which is one of Evangelicism’s wisest leaders, Albert Mohler. I am quite pleased that there will be nearly seventy panelists involved in this conversation; as Evangelicals, we would do well to read them all, in hopes of better understanding the culture in which we must contextualize the Gospel message. Among the seventy panelists, I would recommend reading the posts by three particular individuals, in addition to Dr. Mohler of course. First, emergent church leader Brian McLaren, McLaren is known for writing the book A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I Am a Missional, Evangelical, Post/Protestant, Liberal/Conservative, Mystical/Poetic, Biblical, Charismatic/Contemplative, Fundamentalist/Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, Catholic, Green, Incarnational, Depressed-yet-Hopeful, Emergent, Unfinished CHRISTIAN. By “generous orthodoxy” McLaren means no orthodoxy, he is up to his ears in ecumenism. Second, seeker sensitive church leader Rick Warren, Warren is known for writing the doctrinally ambiguous yet insanely popular books The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church. Third, leading philosopher and evolutionist Daniel Dennett, Dennett claims Darwinism as the "universal acid" that "eats through just about every traditional concept and leaves in its wake a revolutionized world-view." He also asserts that natural selection accounts for and explains everything from microbiology to the formation of the family and societies.

Rick Warren and Brian McLaren are both members of movements that compromise the Biblical Gospel. All who love the Gospel would do well to understand where they have compromised the Gospel because their error is propagated globally through their writing and sermons. Daniel Dennett is representative of the culture at large, especially academia. However, my main recommendation would be to read the unompromising Biblical insight of Albert Mohler; especially the responses to his posts.

A Brief History of Church/State Relations Part 3

2006-11-21T14:27:00.000-05:00

Getting Medieval: The Reformation Falls Short (1517-1600)

The theme of the Reformation can be summarized in five Latin statements: Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone), Solus Christus (Christ Alone), Sola Gratia (Grace Alone), Sola Fide (Faith Alone), and Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone be the Glory). These concepts were not new to the Reformation; throughout history they had been upheld by various small and persecuted sects, whom we will discuss in the next section, the Reformation merely represents the popularization and widespread acceptance of these beliefs as Biblical Truth.

The turning point for this movement was October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the doors of the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. In only a matter of weeks his Ninety-five Theses were translated, re-printed, and sent throughout Europe. They were not as radical as we might assume them to be; they do not oppose the Pope or the Catholic church at any point, but rather they protest the abusive use of indulgences, nevertheless this represents the soteriological (the doctrine of salvation) turning point in institutionalized church history. The Reformers propagated and contended for salvation through faith alone by grace alone; this stands in stark contrast to the meritorious works-based soteriology propagated by the Catholic church. The Reformers also returned the church to the Biblical understanding of God as God; namely a return to the view of God as the supreme, absolute, Sovereign, ruler, creator, owner, sustainer of the entire universe.

While the reformation is a watershed event in the churches return to a Biblical Soteriology and Theology Proper (the doctrine of God), the reformation represents a failure in terms of reforming ecclesiology (doctrine of the church). It is clear that over the course of the Reformation the ecclesiology of the reformers underwent a drastic change. It is clear that early in the Reformation Luther and even Zwingli, who died in battle, advocated a strict separation between church and state; this stood in contrast the sacramental Catholic system where the functions of the church and the state were indistinguishable. This conviction was abandoned over the course of the Reformation, whether this was due to cowardice, Biblical conviction, or sheer pragmatism I am unsure; however it is clear that after this shift in thinking Protestantism became just a violent and vicious as the Catholic church, which it had opposed. It is at this point that the Separatists, as they are generically known, broke their ties to the Reformers and began to build a new church, one distinctively separate from the state. It is important to note that it is the Reformers, who broke their ties to the Separatists, and not vice versa. In light of the Reformers, the role of the Separatist is often understated, if not neglected, and it is to their massively important story that we now turn.

Reformation Underground: The Neo-Donatists

The Separatists were not products of the Reformation but its predecessors and its successors, insomuch as I am concerned they were the Reformation. The Separatists did not merely precede the Reformation; they preceded it by more than a century. At the time of the Reformation they were not known as Separatists, they actually had many names, most of which were terms of derision given to them by their persecutors. Below is a brief explanation of two of these names followed by a brief explanation of their role in history.

The first is Donatism. Donatism dates back to the Donatist Rebellion of the fourth century. The Donatist Rebellion was a reaction against Constantinianism and the new Sacralism of the Catholic Church. In contrast to the all-inclusive Constantinian state-church, the Donatists understood the church to be composed of only the saved. Eventually Rome dispatched troops and the Donatist Rebellion was crushed, however, their influence was not undone. It is because of their strong belief in the church as separate from the state that the Separatists were called Donatists, or Neo-Donatists.

The second is Anabaptism. As the title denotes they advocated a new baptism/rebaptism, or more specifically believer’s baptism. This is because they considered the forced baptism of he Catholic church invalid. In understand this one must know that in the name of “Christendom” baptisms were forced. In 1525, the Council at Zurich required parents to baptize their children, within a week of birth, lest they be banished. Four years later the Diet of Speier commanded that every individual guilty of Anabaptism, regardless of age or sex, be put to death. It is reported that forced baptism occurred until 1863.
While numerous other names could be given and explained these two adequately, demonstrate the Separatists’ understanding of the church as both separate from the state and separate from society. This at a time when the church and state were indistinguishable and society was inseparable from the state-church that ruled over it.

While much concerning the Separatists is unknown, due to their persecution by both Catholic and Reformers, they are great heroes of the faith. They were by nature a missional people they drew no line of distinction between missionary and pastor. They also drew no line of distinction between “home missions” and “foreign missions.” The concept of “home missions” can only exist within Christendom, a sacral society. They, however, understood themselves to be sojourners and foreigners, with Heaven as their only home, thus leaving only foreign missions. They were also mighty in the scriptures, so mighty that prior to being burned at the stake they would be gagged lest they proclaim the Gospel from the flames and so draw men and women after themselves.

It is to the Separatists that “American Protestants” owe believers baptism, separation of church and state, and voluntary church membership. Understanding the Separatists should shed much light upon what is meant by the First Amendment, namely a safeguard against Sacralism.

The Emerging American Sacralism: The First Amendment

With the aforementioned understanding of the Separatists and the First Amendment as a safeguard against Sacralism, we must guard ourselves against two things Christian Sacralism and Secular Sacralism. We live at a time when the fundamental dividing line between American political is not even political, it is ideological, it is doctrinal, and in all honesty, it is theological. It as turned from a debate over policy to a debate over God.

First and foremost, we must guard against Christian Sacralism, against a church-controlled state. The greatest threat to the Gospel is not the state-controlled church of Secular Sacralism but the church-controlled state of Christian Sacralism. This is true for several reasons. First, Christian Sacralism kills the church. Within Christian Sacralism, church membership is mandatory and as such, no concept of the redeemed body of Christ can exist. Second, Christian Sacralism kills missions. Missions cannot exist within the all-inclusive state-church of Christian Sacralism. Third, Christian Sacralism kills the Gospel. The state-enforced morality of Christian Sacralism is by nature legalistic and stands directly opposed to the Gospel. Moreover, within Christian Sacralism the Gospel is no longer a message proclaimed but a norm to be enforced, the Gospel once persecuted becomes a means of persecution. Much of Evangelical political activism exemplifies Christian Sacralism as Evangelicals seek to force “Christian” norms upon American society.

Secondly, we must guard against Secular Sacralism, against a state-controlled church. Before continuing, it is critical to define what Secular Sacralism is and is not. Secular Sacralism is not simply a secular government. A Secular Sacralism is a form of government, which enforces secularism. The American trend towards state-sanctioned ecumenism is an example of Secular Sacralism. What distinguishes Secular Sacralism from that which is merely secular is the difference between something enforced and something normalized. The normalization of abortion and homosexuality are not the marks of Secular Sacralism but the marks of that which is simply secular, however, the forced abortion of all children with birth defects is a mark of Secular Sacralism.

A Brief History of Church/State Relations Part 2

2006-10-30T15:55:00.000-05:00

Once Upon a Time: The Church is Born (30-100 AD)

The early church had a very practical understanding of a composite society, this is inherent within the Gospel message, because there will always be those who stumble over the cross and those who glory in it. The following excerpt from The Epistle of Diognetus (ca 100 AD) illustrates this quite well:

“Christians are not distinct from the rest of men in country or language or customs. . . . They inhabit their own fatherland, but as sojourners; they participate in everything as citizens, and endure everything as foreigners. Every foreign country is to them a fatherland and every fatherland a foreign country . . . . They live on earth but their citizenship is in heaven.”

It is quite interesting that they were able to live as ordinary citizens in spite of the persecution, which the church endured; they did not cease to proclaim the Gospel nor did they engage in crusades to have Christ replace the god’s of Rome. The persecution was so extensive that none of the apostles saw the close of the century. Herod Agrippa killed James, the brother of John, in 44. Philip was crucified in 54. Peter was crucified in 67. John was the only apostle to escape a violent death and he likely died in 98. Andrew was crucified. Thomas was speared to death in the East. Bartholomew was crucified in India. Matthew was killed in Ethiopia in 60. James, the son of Alphaeus, was stoned. Simon was crucified in Britain in 74. Jude, commonly called Thaddeus, was crucified in 72. Matthias was stoned and crucified in Jerusalem.

Things began to change and the church slowly became disenchanted with inhabiting their fatherland as sojourners.

Losing Our Identity: The Apologists Contend for Themselves (100-200 AD)

In between the period of the Apostles, described above, and overlapping the period of the Apologists, is a period generally known as the Apostolic Fathers. They are considered to have been alive during the time of the Apostles and many were supposedly disciples of the apostles themselves. Their writings are primarily epistles and sermons written to edify the church. It is important to understand these general characteristics because they lived through the same persecutions as the Apologists and yet their responses stand in stark contrast to one another.

The Apologetic Fathers lived around 100-200 AD; however, the persecution that set the stage for their apologies began far earlier in history. Major persecution of the church began with Nero, in 54, and continued unimpeded until Constantine in 300. What makes the writings of the Apologists so different is that they did not write to edify the church, they wrote to defend the church. This sounds great; however, this is, in my opinion, one of the saddest points in church history. Because they did not write to defend church doctrine, they did not write out of evangelistic zeal, they did not write out of a passion for the glory of God, they selfishly wrote to secure the safe existence of the church. They no longer viewed themselves as sojourners in a foreign land whose primary citizenship was in heaven, but as men and women whose primary citizenship was in Rome. They failed to “fight the good fight of the faith” and fought for themselves instead. Little did they know that in the coming century an emperor would come to power and wage war not against them but on their behalf.

A Tale of Two Swords: Constantinianism

Constantine was co-emperor of Rome, with Licinius, from 311-324. In 312, at the battle of Milvian Bridge he claimed to have a vision of a cross, over which was phrase “By this sign conquer.” He was victorious and subsequently proceeded to issue numerous edicts and grants favoring Christians. The effects of this are seen even to this day, the Rx symbol present a most pharmacies is an abbreviated form of the Greek word for Christ and was emblazoned on the shields of Constantine’s army. This marks a massive turning point in church history; no longer was the church persecuted by the state, now it possessed the power to persecute through the state.

The church justified its new political rule by allegorically interpreting one verse of scripture. “And they said, ‘Look, Lord, here are two swords.’ And he said to them, ‘It is enough’” (Luke 22:38). From Constantine on the church has wielded both the sword of the spirit and the sword of steel with the slaughter of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, as the result.

If you wish to fully understand the horrors, which this brought about then I would recommend reading the Malleus Maleficarum (translated: Witch Hammer or Hammer of Witches). This is the standard handbook on the prosecution of witches/heretics. Originally published in Germany in 1487 it has been used by both Protestants and Catholics. The third section details the horrific methods by which confessions are to be extracted.

Constantine set numerous precedents whose influence throughout history cannot be imagined; in fact, much of American law and legal tradition can be traced back, through English law, directly to Constantine. It is because of this that we would do well to understand our history lest we continue to repeat its mistakes.

There are positive effects, though I do not consider them as such, of this new state church. The rights of women were elevated, incest was forbidden, divorce was made difficult, adultery became a punishable offense, as did infanticide, the grip of slavery was lessened, and the gladiatorial shows were partially abolished. I do not consider the results positive because they are the result of a new Sacralism, and this contradicts the very nature of the Gospel. Among the negative effects are the secularization and paganization of the church, the development of idols and icons, the synchronism of the church and Roman civil government, the persecution of heretics, and the secularization of the church led to monasticism. Membership in the church was no longer voluntary; as citizens of Rome you were citizens in the kingdom of God, there was no distinction between the two. This view of the kingdom of God had been proliferated to the degree that when Rome began to fall most thought the tribulation was at hand.

The next fifteen-thousand years of church history can very much be summarized by the church persecuting through the state; everything from the Crusades, to the Inquisition, to the Salem witch trials builds on the foundation Constantine laid. By the grace of God, this movement is not without its defectors and those who rebelled against it, which will be presented in my next post.

A Brief History of Church/State Relations Part 1

2006-10-21T15:44:00.000-05:00

The Old Testament: A Sacramental System

In order to have a Biblical perspective on politics one must first understand the two political systems, or more specifically societal paradigms, presented in Scripture. Each of these systems are easily defined and has unique characteristics that differentiate it from the other. The first of these is the Sacramental System; beginning at the fall (Genesis 3:7) and ending as the temple veil was torn (Matthew 27:51).

A Sacral Society is a monolithic society centered around one unanimously embraced religion. The fundamental driving force behind a sacral is the idea that societal harmony requires religious unanimity; it assumes that religious diversity always results in social discord and within a sacral society, it does. The key to understanding Sacral Societies is realizing that there is no distinction between church and state, the two are synonyms, and can be used interchangeably because they refer to the same institution.

There are numerous distinctives of a Sacral Society. First, within a Sacramental System, the church and the state represent a singular institution, this is commonly known as a theocracy. Second, a Sacral Society has only one religion, the state religion. Third, a Sacramental System is physical in focus; religious form outweighs spiritual essence. Because the state cannot judge the heart motives of an individual, outward compliance is the mark of a true believer, and subsequently a true citizen; the state must create and regulate standardized religious forms. Fourth, because Sacral Societies are theocratic and the mark of true citizenship is outward religious conformity they employ coercion to maintain religious harmony.

The Old Testament is replete with examples of what a Sacral Society looks like.
Israel was a Sacramental Society; as a theocracy, they were by definition Sacral. Even Israel’s enemies were Sacral Societies, whether it be Egypt and their god’s, Dagon of the Philistines, Baal-zebub of Ekron, or any of the god’s of the nations surrounding Israel they were all societies united in and by the worship of their god(s). The law given to Israel maintained civil and spiritual unity; there were no distinctions between the two, which is why those who broke spiritual unity were stoned. The nations that opposed Israel also opposed Israel’s God and likewise the nations that opposed Israel’s God opposed Israel, there is no separating of the two in Sacral Society. This is precisely why the Jews, including the Disciples, could not conceive of a Messiah that did not rule an earthly Kingdom (Acts 1:6).

The New Testament: A Composite System

The second of these is the Composite System; beginning at the tearing of the temple veil (Matthew 27:51). A Composite Society is just that, a compound differentiated society, one could even consider this Democracy, where individuals of differing religious orientations can peacefully coexists within a single society. This is a society where individuals can maintain loyalty to a secular political entity while maintaining their religious orientation; a society where one can “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s (Matthew 22:21).” The key to understanding Composite Societies is realizing that there is a clear distinction between church and state; they represent two distinct separate institutions that do not overlap in any way.

There are several distinctives of a Composite Society. First, within a Composite System, the church and state represent two distinctly separate institutions. Second, a Composite Society is religiously diverse. Third, a Composite System is spiritual in focus, since there is no state religion there are no standardized religious forms. Fourth, because the church and state are two separate institutions individuals can maintain loyalties to both institutions and ones religion becomes a mater of free choice. It is implied in the previous sentence that the state neither aids nor hinders any religion.

The New Testament paints a clear picture of what a Composite society should look like. God makes it clear that He establishes all human governments from Hitler to the Romans that killed Christ and He commands us to submit ourselves to these authorities (Romans 13:1; Acts 4:26-28; Colossians 1:16). He even establishes Governments that oppose Him, and His servants, to the point that we are to be encouraged that neither rulers nor powers can separate us from the Love of God in Christ our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). Even at this we do not war with these earthly powers (Ephesians 6:12). Paul even claimed citizenship to Rome, the same Rome that killed Christ (Acts 22:25). Paul understood that the Kingdom of God and the empire of Rome were not in opposition to the point that he could claim citizenship to both. While in Athens Paul noted that they worshipped many gods, even noting an alter inscribed “to the unknown god.” The Apostles recognize that the Sacramental System had ended and the surrounding word did as well, societal harmony was no longer dependant upon religious unanimity.

It is also important to note that the New Testament is completely devoid of prescribed worship forms, as found in the Old Testament. The main word describing Old Testament worship (proskuneo in the Greek Old Testament) mainly occurs in the Gospels and in Revelation, and at that it is in reference to falling down and worshipping Christ. It is also used once in Paul’s letters and that in reference to an unbeliever viewing the literal presence and power of God through the entire congregation prophesying. The gathered church and their actions are never referred to as worship in the New Testament. New Testament worship is no longer bound to strict, location oriented, external, government-enforced forms of worship; we are free to worship in spirit and in truth.

Intermission

Why is this important? I defined the above categories at length because it is imperative that we understand and recognize their characteristics, as the repercussions of their influence has had a profound impact on human history and will play a large role in shaping human history. All this will become clear in my next post, which will be far less in-depth and hopefully far more enlightening.

**I owe much of my understanding and clarity of thought, on this subject, to The Reformers and Their Stepchildren (Dissent and Nonconformity Series) by Leonard Verduin, on which I will post a book review in the coming weeks.

A Biblical Perspective of Politics

2006-10-09T11:57:00.000-05:00

Lately the unbiblical perspective from which “American Christians,” namely Evangelicals, approach politics has increasingly burdened me. Perhaps this is because I live in LA and have seen first hand the damaging effects this unbiblical perspective has on those who do not share our convictions. Below is the outline for my upcoming series of posts outlining A Biblical Perspective on Politics. These posts will either convict or anger you so I would ask that all who respond would do so in charity.

A Brief History of Church/State Relations Part One

A Brief History of Church/State Relations Part Two

A Brief History of Church/State Relations Par Three

A Biblical Understanding of Church/State Relations

The Coming End of Religious Freedom in America

2006-10-02T18:26:00.000-05:00

This week the LA Times published a review of an upcoming documentary entitled, Jesus Camp (the article is available here). The film documents “Kids on Fire,” a summer camp in North Dakota. The film focuses on three children Rachael, Levi, and Tory. I may take the time to see the film to learn what perverted distortion of Biblical discipleship is being presented as the status quo among evangelicals, as this documentary will likely play a large role of forming, or confirming, the public’s opinion of Evangelicism.

More important than the documentary itself is the following comment quoted by the reviewer: “I kept saying to myself, 'OK, these are the Christian version of the Madrassas (those Islamic religious instructional schools in Pakistan and elsewhere, often financed by Saudi oil money) … so both sides are pretty much equally sick.” More and more individuals are comparing Evangelicism to radical Islam; what makes this comparison so important is the clarity with which it pinpoints the root issue. The root issue is that the problem with radical Islam has nothing to do with its violent tendencies but rather its intolerance of other viewpoints, a characteristic shared with Evangelicism.

If this does not serve as a siren to break the silence before the coming storm I am unsure what will. Earlier this month Stephen Green was arrested in Great Brittan for handing out tracts addressing homosexuality (some articles are available here and here). Just last week German parents who home school their children were being imprisoned. I am not going to make prophetic predictions concerning when we will begin seeing laws condemning the Gospel as hate speech or against following Christ[1] on the ballot here in America, although I think it will be soon.
Honestly, if God uses such persecution to shock the dead American Church to life, to rid the church of nominal Christians, and drive the Church out of comfort and complacency and into the nations; then I look forward to it.
___________________________
[1] I say following Christ instead of Christianity because I see a vast difference between the two; furthermore, I am trying to eliminate the term “Christian” from my vocabulary and replacing it with “follower of Christ.” I am doing this for several reasons. First, Christianity is an institutionalized religion, Christ did not come to establish an institution He came to establish His Church. Secondly, the world, especially America, is rife with self-professing Christians, very few of which truly follow Christ. The fulfillment of the Great Commission is not found in individuals from every race and tongue and tribe affirming a catechism or creed; but by individuals from every race and tongue and tribe submitting themselves, in obedience, to everything Christ has commanded (Matthew 28:18-20). In closing, I will leave you with a quote. “During the time of Christ, we would be known as followers of the way or followers of Christ and the surrounding culture would insult us by calling us ‘Christians.’ But now we call ourselves Christians and the surrounding world calls us hypocrites.” -Erwin Raphael McManus

Rosie O'Donnell Speaks Out Part Two

2006-09-26T13:19:00.000-05:00

While Rosie is seriously mistaken in her analysis, I think evangelicalism is largely to blame for her misunderstanding. The unbridled push towards greater evangelical political activism has lead to the misunderstanding that its aim is creating a quasi theocracy. An idea that many, if not most, evangelicals would embrace, depending on their eschatology and ecclesiology.

This misunderstanding has proliferated to the point that the primary dividing line between political parties is moralistic. With presidential, among other elections, looming just around the corner we must exercise due diligence in both how and why we vote. We must also be clear in explaining these convictions to others, lest others confuse the actions of the United States with the actions of Christ.

I see Rosie’s understanding of the situation as representative of the culture at large. I also think her understanding of the situation is representative of the international community as well; most internationals tend to view America as a “Christian nation.” While viewing a nation as “Christian” may be distinct from a “Christian Theocracy,” it is very easy to conceive of the US as a “Theocratic Democracy,” where Christ rules through the passions of the masses.

I think it is time that American Evangelicals embrace the fact that America is not a Christian nation; that we would stop reducing the Gospel to a moralistic message enforceable by legislation, that we would cease to belittle God by reducing Him to a political party, and that we would cease misrepresenting the name of Christ for the sake of political gain.

I think it is time that American Evangelicals realize that the gospel is not advanced on the back of public favor, that self-righteous legalism and enforced morality glorifies self and not God, that God is not a Republican, nor is He a Democrat, as He transcends all worldly institutions, that we have become Pharisaic in our quest for a political Messiah, and that failure to realize these things blasphemes the living God.

18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” I Corinthians 1:18-31

Rosie O'Donnell Speaks Out Part One

2006-09-19T18:36:00.000-05:00

I am sure many of you have heard of Rosie O’Donnell’s recent comments on The View comparing radical Christianity and radical Islam. She is quoted as saying, “Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America where we have separation of church and state. . . And as a result of the attack and the killing of 3,000 innocent people, we invaded two countries and killed innocent people.” When confronted about radical Muslims desire to kill Americans. O’Donnell replied, “No, but we are bombing innocent people in other countries, true or false?”

I will post my thoughts on this later, however, I want to know if the majority of you feel that, her actions are unfounded, or are we to blame for her misunderstanding?

The Evangelical Impact on American Foreign Policy

2006-09-07T12:41:00.000-05:00

Foreign Affairs has an informative article, God’s Country?, describing the current and historical relationship between American Evangelicals and American foreign policy. Below is their description of the article. I hope you find it informative and look forward to hearing your thoughts.

“Religion has always been a major force in U.S. politics, but the recent surge in the number and the power of evangelicals is recasting the country's political scene -- with dramatic implications for foreign policy. This should not be cause for panic: evangelicals are passionately devoted to justice and improving the world, and eager to reach out across sectarian lines.”

Something Completely Different

2006-09-04T19:24:00.000-05:00

Since the five year anniversary of September 11th is just around the corner and it will certainly dominate much of what we read and hear over the coming week I have decided to post a link to the following website: September 11th Revisited. The contents of this site are controversial to say the least; however, I find it to be very thought provoking and just a nice diversion from the norm. Yes, the video is about an hour long; although I am sure you will probably spend an equal, if not greater, amount of time watching similar programs on TV during the coming week. It is unlikely that I will reply to comments on this one, but as always, I look forward to reading your reactions.

Evangelical Political Activism

2006-08-25T15:01:00.000-05:00

Please read this post in its entirety before coming to an opinion. I think many will be offended or upset by my opening paragraph and yet agree with the overall thought conveyed by this post. I look forward to reading your responses.

First, America is not a Christian nation. Yes, individuals came to America fleeing religious persecution, the church was very involved in the early American government, and many of America's laws reflect a Christian worldview. America is “one nation under God” in the same way that Iraq and North Korea are nations under God; because God is sovereign and rules the nations (Psalm 22:28). God establishes all governing authorities, from Hitler to George W. Bush (Romans 13:1). America, however, is not a Christian nation; it is a nation founded by Christians. The only "Christian" nation in the history of the world was Israel, a nation set apart by God for His glory. America is a nation in rebellion against God. The people of America follow Satan (Ephesians 2:2) and are literally enemies of God (Romans 8:7, Colossians 1:21). As Christians, we must realize this; we must realize that America, from the day of its discovery, has been a nation at war with God.

Second, the answer to this problem is not legislation, laws, or posting the Ten Commandments, regardless of how historical it may be. Listen to the words of Christ when addressing this issue to the Pharisees, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness (Matthew 23:27-28).” Christ was rebuking them because their strict outward obedience was not a reflection of their heart. I Timothy 4:8 addresses the same issue that physical restraint yields only temporary benefits, while true godliness is of eternal value.

How do people find peace with God?

They find peace through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not through obedience to American law.
If you stop homosexuals from getting married and having sex, is God going to allow them to enter heaven?

No, and Scripture makes this expressly clear. Which begs the question “if this is of no eternal
benefit why do we invest so much time, energy, and money into such vain efforts?”

Do we, as American Evangelicals, care about homosexuals? Do we feel compassion for those who have had an abortion? Read Matthew 12:9-14. Do you look more like the Pharisees or Christ?

If you want to see America change, then you must change Americans. The Ten Commandments are being taken down, prayer is being banned, and “under God” is being taken out of the pledge because American’s are sinners in rebellion against God. The solution is not that we pass laws to enforce state sanctioned piety, but that we share the Gospel; the key to changing people’s actions is changing their hearts. Christ came to seek and save the lost and we should be about that very same business.

What are you talking about?

2006-08-24T14:25:00.000-05:00

The two most frequent comments I receive about my blog are, “I do not read your blog because it is too complicated (or intellectual)” and “What is your blog supposed to be about?” My goal in writing this post is to, as simply as possible, explain what my blog is about and why it is important. I did a long series of posts on this when I began bogging; but this will be far shorter and simpler.

What is the ecumenical monoculture?

As previously defined, the ecumenical monoculture is a single, homogeneous culture without diversity or dissension; a culture unified in thought and purpose. Simply stated it is the inevitable result of the evil system of this world, a global state of pluralistic postmodernism devoid of absolute truth. Now, let me show you why this is true.

First, comes the Biblical understanding that we live amidst an evil world system ruled by Satan (II Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:1-2, Colossians 2:8, and I John 5:19). Secondly, all false teaching originates from Satan and the demonic forces of this world; subsequently submission to such beliefs is tantamount to Satan worship (Matthew 16:23, I Corinthians 10:20, Galatians 1:8-9, I Timothy 4:1, and I John 4:3). Every world religion and philosophical system, other than the one presented in Scripture, originates from Satan, and aims at his praise. We therefore live in a world unified in hostile opposition of God and worship of Satan (Romans 5:10, Philippians 3:18, and Colossians 1:21). There are only two sides to this conflict; there are no neutral parties (Matthew 12:30). This homogeneous system of evil, unified in opposing God, is the ecumenical monoculture.

Secondly, the unity and homogeneity of this evil system will only increase over time. While this evil world system is unified in opposition to God, there is much variety within this system. However, Scripture presents this system as working its way toward unvarying unity. Whether this will take the form of postmodernism or some other life philosophy or religion, we cannot be sure. Nevertheless, we can be sure that we live amongst an evil world system and we must stand, with the Gospel of the glory of Christ, against its unification.

For more on this I would recommend reading the 2000 SBC Resolution On The Threat Of New Age Globalism.

Forget the Black Eyed Peas, Nick C. Asks “Where’s the Theology?”

2006-08-14T15:58:00.000-05:00

In response to my previous post What do you Think? Nick, concerned with the church’s apparent disregard for theology, asked the question “Why is the church starting to preach the love of God without his wrath?” Now, I think my response would have been slightly different several weeks ago. However, studying I John in my Greek class has given me a slightly different, and hopefully more insightful, perspective on this subject.

I think love often gets a bad rap, not because there is something inherently wrong with it, but because it is presented in such superficial and trite ways. However, the love of God is not superficial or trite; it is not a foolish infatuation. God, being both infinite and unchanging, possesses a love that is likewise both infinite and unchanging. God’s love knows no bounds; it never fades, and never changes over time. God’s love is constant, unlike the fickle affections of men.

Listen to the words of Paul; “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing (I Corinthians 13:1-4).”

And the words of Christ, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these (Mark 12:29-31).”

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” . . . “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:32, 36).

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15).”

Clearly, love should have a prominent position in the lives of those who follow Christ and in the life of His church. To answer Nick’s question; the problem is not that they are preaching love absent of God’s wrath; the problem is that they are teaching neither.

It was love that provoked Paul’s spirit, in Acts 17, when he saw Athens filled with idols. It was love that cause Christ to have compassion on the crowds when He saw that they were like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36). God’s abounding love and mercy caused Him to give His only Son so that we might have eternal life. Honestly, I think God’s love, and the effect it has on your lives, should scare you. What drives the martyr to be burned at the stake in hopes that God’s kingdom might be advance through his faithful witness? What is it that drives the missionary to forsake everything and place his family in certain danger if not love? What could have driven Paul to wish himself accursed, and cut off from Christ, that his kinsmen might be redeemed, if not love? When you love Christ, His glory, His holiness, His justice, His mercy, His cross, His mission, and His people your life will look drastically different. This is clearly not the love being preached in most churches; this is a dangerous, a demanding love, and a self-sacrificing love.

If, as Paul says, apart from love we have nothing, are nothing, and gain nothing, then how does the church properly balance love and theology? First, love cannot be abstracted from theology. If theology is the study of God and one of God’s attributes is love, then our theology should drive our love. The Scriptures clearly state that God is love (I John 4:8) and when churches abandon sound doctrine, they are also forsaking their ability to love.

Secondly, throughout I John the Scriptures present a picture of the church as having three essential components, Truth, love, and obedience.

The church is relevant not because it has a popular message, a captivating speaker, or an innovative program; the church is relevant because it has the Truth, namely Christ. When the church ceases to proclaim the Truth, it becomes irrelevant and useless; such churches are merely pagan places of worship engaged in idolatry.

The churches fellowship and witness is proven genuine because of its love. We are not known as Christ’s disciples because of a title we bestow upon ourselves, but because of our love, the love of Christ in us. The Great Commission finds its fulfillment not merely in our proclamation of the Gospel of Christ, to the nations, but in our bearing out of the sufferings of Christ, to the nations. We literally share the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:10) and through this the world sees God’s longsuffering and abundant love.

All of this culminates in obedience, “4 Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked (I John 2:4-6).” You must not merely know the Truth; you must submit yourself to it (v.4). And by obeying the Truth, the love of God is perfected in you (v.5). That is how Christ’s disciples should live; in submission to the Truth, which perfects their love, so that their life mirrors the life of Christ.

“Prophetic Politics” God and the Prevailing Geopolitical Paradigm

2006-08-05T23:50:00.000-05:00

I did not have Greek homework last weekend and was able to read an interesting Foreign Policy article entitled Why God is Winning; you will have to register, with Foreign Policy, to read the article but I think it is worth the read. Below is a brief synopsis of the article and some of my thoughts about it. On a similar note Foreign Policy just began a blog, to which I have provided link in my blog section, incase anyone cares.

The article begins:

Religion was supposed to fade away as globalization and freedom spread. Instead, it’s booming around the world, often deciding who gets elected. And the divine intervention is just beginning. Democracy is giving people a voice, and more and more, they want to talk about God.

The article begins on a somewhat jovial note, which quickly sours.

The spread of democracy, far from checking the power of militant religious activists, will probably only enhance the reach of prophetic political movements, many of which will emerge from democratic processes more organized, more popular, and more legitimate than before—but quite possibly no less violent.

Then, beginning with Time’s April 1966 cover story, “Is God Dead?” they recount “god’s comeback.” To the point where 64% of the world’s population would consider themselves Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, or Hindu, at the dawn of the 21st century; up 14% from the previous century. They go on to note that since 2000, nearly half of all civil wars have been religious in nature and that religion is the motivation for most transnational terrorist attacks.

The article closes with the following statement.

As a framework for explaining and predicting the course of global politics, secularism is increasingly unsound. God is winning in global politics. And modernization, democratization, and globalization have only made him stronger.

What does all of this mean? What is a Biblical response to this article?

Response One

Do not let the statistics above fool you; the world is no more religious now than it was 2000 years ago. Everyone is religious; whether it is one of the four major religions listed above, some obscure cult or religious sect, agnosticism, or postmodernism. What that statistic tells us is that the major world religions are slowly, yet effectively, drawing individuals away from their belief systems and into one of these four categories.

While globalization has served to legitimize, organize, and intensify prophetic political movements, it has also served to expand their realm of influence as never before. We live in a world that is connected as never before; modern means of communication, travel, and mass technological growth, within all spheres of life, have served to diminish boundaries both nationally and trans-nationally (I will return to this later in my post). While this presents us with an unparalleled opportunity to present the Gospel, we must not forget that the same opportunity has been presented to individuals of every ideological viewpoint around the globe. Indeed modern technological advances, while providing this unparalleled opportunity, have in no way made the task of worldwide gospel proclamation any easier.

Response Two

This article makes an obvious, yet easily ignored, statement that Christians would do well to note and that statement is, surprisingly enough, found in the first sentence; “Religion was supposed to fade away as globalization and freedom spread.” Here we find both the reason for the writing of this article and the source of our concern. The article was written because, contrary to popular belief, religion is not fading in proportion to the spread of globalization. This should drive us to two main concerns; what, inherent within globalization, would lead to the conclusion that globalization causes religious decline and is it possible that, contrary to current trends, globalization will eventually lead to religious decline?

First, in order to understand why globalization would cause religious decline we must understand what globalization is and what it does. Globalization is the increasing economic interdependence, between states, resulting from the advent of modern means of communication, travel, and mass technological growth, within all spheres of life; which have diminish boundaries both nationally and trans-nationally. Globalization facilitates the exchange, movement, creation, and implementation of ideologies, material resources, and human resources both nationally and trans-nationally.

Second, the inherent danger within globalization is not that it promises global economic prosperity, but that is represents the global exchange, movement, creation, and implementation of ideologies. The exportation of American culture and thought is frequently referred to as Americanization. America’s ruthless assimilation of other cultures should serve as a prophetic warning; cautioning us against the inevitable aftermath of globalization, a global monoculture. This is clearly heard in the European Union’s slogan, “Europe: many tongues one voice.” The unavoidable result of globalization is a single, homogeneous culture without diversity or dissension; rest assured, when the world has one voice it will be a voice unified in rebellion against God and His Word.

As Christians we live in an age of unparalled Gospel opportunity and must be resolved to live missional Gospel driven lives; knowing that this is but a season and the calm before the coming storm.

A Biblical Perspective on the Conflict in Israel

2006-07-31T15:26:00.000-05:00

This Sunday I was blessed to hear John MacArthur briefly speak of what our perspective on the conflict in Israel should be. It seems that many evangelicals have an extremely unbiblical perspective on this conflict therefore; I would like to share what I learned this Sunday.

Israel has the Sovereign Right to Defend Itself

First, we must recognize that God has established the nations and they have no authority except what has been granted them by God (Romans 13). God has granted Israel the right to defend itself against hostile aggressors and Israel is just in doing so.

Israel is Currently a Nation Under God’s Judgment

Second, we must recognize that Israel, and subsequently the Jewish people, is a nation under the judgment of God. Israel has rejected Christ, the New Testament, and the entire Old Testament, in that the purpose of the Old Testament is to point towards Christ. They are literally enemies of God and of the Gospel (Romans 5:10). The Israel is no safer now than in the days of captivity.

Israel’s Actions Cannot Hinder the Sovereign Plans of God

Third, God’s purposes are immutable, what He decrees always comes to pass, and all those who plot against Him do so vainly (Isaiah 14:24, 43:13, 55:11). The fulfillment of God’s will is not dependent upon anyone or anything; He does as He pleases.

Israel Need’s the Gospel

What is Israel’s most pressing need; UN sanctions, assistance, a Hezbollah ceasefire? No, Israel needs what it has always needed, the Gospel. How should Christians respond to this conflict? We should respond with the Gospel.

What do you think?

2006-07-27T20:54:00.000-05:00

Amazingly, enough I do not have very much to say which is why I want to hear from you. School and work have been keeping me very busy lately and I have not been able to spend as much time reading books and keeping up with world news, as I would like. Because of this, I have decided to ask your opinion on a couple of issues. I will likely not comment on this post, as I want to hear your opinions.

First, are any topics you would like to read a post on?

Second, if I were to do a F.A.Q. what kind of things would you like to see on it?

Third, where do you see the modern church failing? What is going wrong and what are the Biblical solutions to these problems? I do not want this to become a church bashing fest, however, I think there are real concerns and problems to be addressed.

Fourth, where do you see the modern church succeeding?

Albert Mohler on Apologetics

2006-07-15T14:42:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have not already read Albert Mohler’s commentaries on “Christian Apologetics for a Postmodern Age” I would highly recommend that you do so. Below are the links for all three parts.

“You Are Bringing Strange Things to Our Ears”: Christian Apologetics for a Postmodern Age

“You Are Bringing Strange Things to Our Ears”: Christian Apologetics for a Postmodern Age, Part 2

“You Are Bringing Strange Things to Our Ears”: Christian Apologetics for a Postmodern Age, Part 3

Our New Addition

2006-07-12T16:00:00.000-05:00

I have been very busy lately studying for Greek but I wanted to post some pictures of our two new kittens; Tiggy and Benson. Tiggy is the Tabby and Benson is the Calico, both girls. They are both very energetic and loads of fun. Benson was sick when we first got her but after ten days of amoxicillin she has become a little ball of energy and has put on some weight. I will be sure to update everyone with more pictures as they grow :)

As you can also see I have re-coded my blog, which still has a couple of kinks that need to be worked out, let me know if you like the new look and how it looks on your screen (I think you need 1024x768, or higher, to view it correctly). I should be doing some more posts on the Christian Worldview and Monism soon, but will probably limit myself to one post a week, probably Saturdays. In August, we begin translating I John and I look forward to sharing some of the fruits of that labor here. That is all I can think of now, I look forward to your comments.

I almost forgot; cats rule and dogs drool :)

A Christian Worldview Part Three: Redemption

2006-06-30T13:25:00.000-05:00

In the same way that I described the effects of the fall, I am going to briefly describe redemption in three specific categories our relationship with God, our fellow man, and creation.

God

Through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection our relationship with God can be restored and is generally described in three specific ways justification, sanctification, and glorification. In their book, The Great Doctrines of the Bible, William Evans, and S. Maxwell Coder describe justification and sanctification as follows: “In justification we are declared righteous in order that, in sanctification, we may become righteous. Justification is what God does for us, while sanctification is what God does in us. Justification puts us into a right relationship with God, while sanctification exhibits the fruit of that relationship—a life separated from a sinful world and dedicated unto God.” It is imperative to note that both justification and sanctification are blood bought products of grace and find their origin and power in God and not man. Man cannot save himself nor can man choose to be saved (Romans 3:9-20). Likewise, once justified, man cannot conform himself to the image of Christ (Galatians 3:3). Because of this God alone receives all the glory. Glorification is the competition of this when God takes us into heaven and we receive a new body and spend eternity in His presence.

Man

Abraham Kuyper, in his Lectures on Calvinism, offers a wonderful description of what our relationship with our fellow man should look like. “If Calvinism places our entire human life immediately before God, then it follows that all men or women, rich or poor, weak or strong, dull or talented, as creatures of God, and as lost sinners, have no claim whatsoever to lord over one another, and that we stand as equals before God, and consequently equal as man to man. Hence we cannot recognize any distinction among men, save as such as been imposed by God Himself, in that He gave one authority over the other, or enriched one with more talents than the other, in order that the man of more talents should serve the man with less, and in him serve his God.”

Creation

This aspect of the Christian worldview receives much neglect and is considered unimportant when viewed in comparison to man and God; however, consider the implications of rendering these three categories in another way. God is The Divine Being, man bears His Divine image, and the earth is His Divine creation, which reveals His Divine character. Just as mocking, a painting would offend a painter neglecting and abusing God’s creation represents an offence to God. We must reclaim our position as the guardians and caretakers of God’s creation.

Concluding Thoughts

The chief and supreme end for everything is that it would glorify God. It is imperative that every aspect of the Christian worldview work towards this supreme and singular end. Christ suffered on the cross in order to bring us to God (I Peter 3:18). Our relationship with creation and our fellow man must be lived in such a way that it glorifies God and leads others to do likewise (Matthew 5:16). These are not thoughts for your private life this is the framework through which, by the grace of God, you must interpret and live the whole of life.

A Christian Worldview Part Two: Fall

2006-06-23T11:43:00.000-05:00

I am going to speak of the effects of the fall briefly in three specific categories our relationship with God, others, and the rest of creation. When man rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden, our relationship went from being one of peace to one of war and we became enemies of God. God created man to live in relationship with one another and because of the fall, our relationships with others are saturated with dysfunction and conflict. Man was also created to guard and care for creation a relationship that is now epitomized by abuse and neglect.

A Christian Worldview Part One: Creation

2006-06-15T11:34:00.000-05:00

Most importantly and above all else, it the chief and supreme end for everything God has created is that it would glorify Him. Even more specifically God created you for His glory; every aspect of your life should be driven for this one great end. Your purpose is none other than to glorify God. I look forward to your discussion of this and hopefully, by His sovereign grace, God will lead us into realizing a small sliver of its unfathomable ramifications.

An Addendum

I had hoped this post would have generated more discussion and since it has not I have decided to briefly disclose some of my observations on the subject.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

No other statement in the whole of Scripture has more implications than these ten words. Everything else, in the entire course of redemptive history, is a result and fulfillment of this statement. Because of this God’s purpose in creating should be of the utmost importance to us.

God created us to live in relationship, both with him and with others; therefore, His Word must govern our relationships, to His glory.

God created gender; therefore, His Word must define gender roles.

God created work; therefore, His Word should both encourage us to work and define how we work. Many of you think of you job as a means to ministry and not a ministry in itself; you merely tolerate working so that you may minister to others through relationships. That should not be the case. If you are a painter then the way in which you paint should glorify God. If you are a teacher, your teaching should glorify God. If you are a lawyer then your pursuit of justice and truth should glorify God. When you view God as the one who has both created and purposed your work your job begins to take on a new perspective.

God created the family; therefore, His Word should govern our family life. This Sunday I was blessed to hear an individual teach on this very thing. One of his points was that far too often parents train their children to obey them when their goal as parents is to train their children to obey God. When disciplining your children it is imperative that you point them to Scripture. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy 3:16-17) Is that not your goal as parents; to train up righteous children equipped to do good works?

A Whatview???

2006-06-12T22:30:00.000-05:00

I can remember sitting in Bible class, at the Lexington Christian Academy, listening to Glenn Massey teach us of the importance of a worldview as well as watching and reading everything Francis Schaeffer had to say on the subject. I cannot remember when this subject became a neglected supposition; that I have long taken for granted. Since I began reading Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity, by Nancy Pearcey, I have been given a new and expanded understanding of the implications and necessity that we think Biblically.

Christians thinking Biblically, how can you be a Christian and not think Biblically? It is a lot easier than most of us would imagine. Understanding static theological concepts is far different than actively submitting the entirety of our being to God’s Word. In fact if you believe that understanding static theological concepts is all that is necessary to think Biblically then, more than likely, you do not have a Christian worldview.

In my previous post “When Acid Burns” I defined a worldview as; “the overarching interpretative framework through which you interpret the world around you.” I also used the following simile comparing a worldview to a pair of glasses; “Your worldview is like the glasses through which you view life; they determine not only what and how you see but if you see at all.” It its most basic sense to have a Christian worldview is to view the world as Christ would or rather to see the world through the eyes of Christ. In I Corinthians 2:16 we are told that as Christians we have the mind of Christ and it is imperative that we interpret the surrounding world accordingly.

In my next three posts I am going to attempt to explain a Christian worldview within the framework of Creation, Fall, and Redemption. I look forward to the discussion that I hope these posts bring.

(Un)Comfort(able)

2006-06-10T23:22:00.000-05:00

I was just thinking tonight about God’s word and came to the conclusion that God’s Word is always a comfort and yet it will never make us comfortable. The promises God makes in His Word are comforting even while His Word makes us uncomfortable, by confronting our sin and pushing us outside our comfort zone. I just wanted to share that brief thought with you. I plan on doing several substantial posts on a Christian worldview in the near future, so stay tuned.

Alive and Well in LA

2006-06-07T12:07:00.000-05:00

For everyone who is wondering we are moved (not unpacked though) into our apartment in LA and everything is going well. The four day drive out here was great; Allison and I had a blast spending time together in the Penske and enjoying the wonderful variety of God’s creation. Allison started her new job on Monday and really enjoyed it. I have spent most of my time unpacking and taking care of random odds and ends. I plan to send out a mass e-mail to everyone with our new address and info as soon as I can get my e-mail to work. We love and miss all of you and look forward to hearing from you soon.

When Acid Burns

2006-05-27T02:34:00.000-05:00

Context

In his book Darwin’s Dangerous Idea, Daniel Dennett calls Darwinism a “universal acid,” referencing a children’s story about an acid that eats everything it contacts, including its container. Explaining this concept he says, Darwinism “eats through just about every traditional concept and leaves in its wake a revolutionized world-view.”

Content

Whether you recognize it or not your worldview, the overarching interpretative framework through which you interpret the world around you, has profound implications on every aspect of your life. Your worldview is like the glasses through which you view life; they determine not only what and how you see but if you see at all.

Throughout the Scriptures God is spoken of as a burning fire, a consuming fire. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of how God’s Word is like a fire trapped in his bones that he cannot contain. As followers of Christ we should seek to conform every aspect of our life to the Scriptures. We should allow the “universal fire” of God’s Word to consume every aspect of our lives and ignite in them a burning passion for the glory of God.

What is Worship?

2006-05-20T09:52:00.000-05:00

This is a very difficult question and my definition will likely have many inadequacies. My goal is not to start an argument; I hope that this post will foster edifying conversation on the subject. In most situations, one would want to define something in the narrowest of terms. Worship, however, is not a narrow subject; it encompasses a variety of things. I intend to, as best as I can, holistically define worship in such a way that it is clear what worship is and is not while providing a definition that most will agree upon. We were created for God’s glory and the redeemed will spend eternity worshiping the Lord. Defining worship is not a peripheral issue; it lies at the heart of the Christian life.

Spirit and Truth

In John 4 Jesus informs a Samaritan woman, “23But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Here Christ gives us the barebones definition of worship, or rather, what is necessary to worship.

The word “spirit” when speaking of God is in reference to His invisible nature and when referencing man it is in reference to man’s spirit, or heart. The word “truth” simply refers to the divine attributes of God, as revealed in His Word. Worship must also be a truthful non-hypocritical and non-deceptive act. “True worshipers” (alhqinoi proskunhtai is derived from proskuneo meaning to bow a knee) are therefore those who know God, as revealed in Scripture, and whose hearts are humbled before the Lord. True worship only occurs when we know God and our hearts are humbled before Him; inward attitude/action, not outer conformity, is the mark of true worship.

Fun with Greek

Below is a list of Greek words, commonly translated as worship, and there definitions (thank you Woody).

Proskuneo: this is the most frequent word rendered to worship. It is used of an act of homage or reverence, John 4.
Sebomai: to revere, stressing the feeling of awe or devotion, Matt 15:9
Sebazomai: to honor religiously, Rom 1:25
Eusebeo: to act piously towards.

All of these definitions define action, or rather an act, something done or performed. My question is this: “Does merely performing the physical actions implied by these words constitute true worship?” A similar question filtered through the implied humility of John 4: “Is true humility found in the mere physical expressions of humility? Or is true humility the attitude of the heart behind those humble actions?”

Themes from Scripture

I Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”

God does not desire the actions of worship; He desires a people who listen to and heed His voice.

Isaiah 1:11, 16-17 “11What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. 16Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, 17learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.”

God is disgusted with the abundance of Israel’s sacrifices (OT worship) and no longer delights in them. Later in the passage, God commands them to cleanse themselves and obey His commands. Likewise, I think God is disgusted with our abundance of singing and is seeking a people who will wholly submit to Him.

Isaiah 29:13 And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.”

God desires a people who worship in spirit and truth. He does not desire our lip service He wants our hearts to honor Him; He also wants our hearts to have a truthful knowledge of Him and not a knowledge distorted by man. Later in Isaiah 29, the Lord speaks of how the humble are those who will rejoice in Him but the proud will be destroyed; worship is a matter of the heart.

Jeremiah 12:2-3 2You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. 3Yet you know me, O LORD; you see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter!

The prophet Jeremiah is lamenting the proud and arrogant who are appearing to prosper (bear fruit) even though their hearts do not honor God; His cry is that God will destroy these men and prosper those who truly worship Him in their hearts.

Malachi 1:6-7 “6A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ 7By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the LORD's table may be despised.”

The priests in Malachi still perform their priestly duties; however, they do not do so out of a fear of the Lord or to honor Him, they perform their duties out of obligation. God does not desire rote obedience He desires a humble heart that submits itself to Him.

Malachi 2:1-2 “1And now, O priests, this command is for you. 2If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.”

The priests in Malachi are performing their sacrifices, albeit with imperfect animals, and doing their duties so what is God’s complaint? Their hearts. “If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name;” God desires that they worship Him from the heart, that they honor Him from the heart.

Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

Worship within the new covenant is not a matter of animal sacrifices it is a matter of self-sacrifice. The resounding theme throughout the whole of Scripture, Paul writes that we should be living sacrifices and that is how we worship. Notice that it is our “spiritual worship” and Christ clearly states that we must worship in spirit and truth.

II Corinthians 9:7 Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

God’s delight in our giving is not in the mere action of giving but in the cheerful heart attitude behind our giving.

Bringing it all Together

It is obvious throughout Scripture that we must know God to worship Him. We know God through living His Word, not merely being taught or studying His Word. Knowledge of God must be experiential; we must know Him because we experience Him by submitting to and living out His word. We cannot know God, and subsequently worship Him, if we do not submit to and live His Word.

It is also obvious throughout Scripture that because God is spirit we must worship in spirit. Singing songs (or anything else that is considered worship), like the OT sacrifices, is only considered worship when the right attitude of heart is what compels those actions. Worship is not a matter of the physical realm; worship is a matter of the heart that at times manifests itself in tangible physical ways. It is also important to note that the physical manifestations of worship (singing or whatever) are a hypocritical abomination when they do not proceed from a heart of worship. We must caution ourselves against defining worship by its mere physical manifestations because worship is a matter of spirit and truth.

What is the Role of Music in Church?

2006-05-15T09:58:00.000-05:00

This post is sort of an addendum to Music is not Worship…Breathing is posted by Justin Sok. Just so, no one is confused this post only addresses the role of music; I will be doing a follow post entitled What is Biblical Worship? That post will attempt to set fourth how worship is defined in Scripture, please reserve your comments concerning the nature of worship for that post.

Throughout the whole of Scripture, the corporate singing of songs is presented as a means by which we are taught (Exodus 15, Deuteronomy 31-31 specifically 31:19,21, Judges 5, I Samuel 18:7, II Samuel 22, I Chronicles 16 and that is just a small sample).

This is why Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit writes, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16). There are several implications of this passage.

First, our songs must be Bible-saturated Christ-centered songs. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” if our songs are to be effective at teaching and admonishing then they must be saturated with Scripture; because “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (II Timothy 3:16).

Second, our songs must teach and admonish. If the word of Christ must dwell in us to sing such songs then it naturally follows that the word of Christ will flow forth when singing (Luke 6:45). Since the Word of God is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” it also naturally follows that songs based upon God’s Word will do such things. Teaching (didasko) means to instruct, impart doctrine, tutor, or to advise. Admonish (noutheteo) means to warn, exhort, rebuke, or to set right. Our songs should be those that, by the Word of God, lead us into submitting ourselves to Christ and rebuke or set us right when we fail to do so.

Third, the singing of such songs always results in and flows forth from a thankful heart. Scripture is God’s gracious self-disclosure; a gift that we are immeasurably unworthy of. We should always be thankful that we have received this Word and that after receiving it God is so gracious as to lead us in obedience to it and patient enough to correct our disobedience.

The ultimate purpose of the local church is to glorify God. The specific means by which it glorifies God is through the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). This is also in accord with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) which sets fourth the task, of the church, as the teaching others to obey Christ, to the glory of God. In the same way, music and songs ultimately exist to glorify God; however, the primary means by which they do that is by teaching the saints to submit themselves to God, for His glory.

Without question the role of music, in the corporate gathering of the local church, is to teach and admonish God’s people by His Word.

How Can We Break the Cycle?

2006-05-09T20:22:00.000-05:00

5What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. I Corinthians 3:5-8

In my previous post, I addressed the issue that the abandonment of God’s Word as the source of both theology and methodology by modern evangelicals does not represent a shift in the historical church polity/planting/growth paradigm; it represents their abandonment of God. If that is the current pattern then how do we break out of it?

In the Paul’s epistle to the church at Corinth we find them in a similar state; they are finding their identity in an individual and placing a higher value the oratory finesse of these individuals than they are placing on the content of their message. Within this passage, we also find the solution to breaking free from this cycle.

What is Man?

Paul refers to himself in the third person and asks, “Who am I?” “Who am I that you would follow me?” “Who is Apollos that you would follow him?” The Corinthians had been arguing with regard to who they followed (1:11-12). Paul answers his own question and informs the Corinthians that they are all mere men, servants of God, whom God has sent to them. There is nothing about Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or any one else that should warrant the Corinthians’ attention except that they were sent by God.

We too must gain a proper understanding of who man is. No matter how compelling, charismatic, passionate, or sincere someone may be the only thing that warrants our attention is if they serve and are sent by God, namely the preaching of and submission to God’s Word.

What is the Seed?

In verse six, we find that Paul planted something and the Sunday school answer would be that he planted the Gospel and in I Corinthians 2:2 we find that to be the case; “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” Paul decided to know nothing except the Gospel while he was in Corinth. It is imperative that we note that this means the entirety of Paul’s life was governed by and consumed by the Gospel. Paul’s theology was founded upon the Gospel, his evangelism was fueled by the Gospel, his service was encouraged by the Gospel, his endurance was sustained by the Gospel, and his methodology was formed by the Gospel.

We too must realize that the seed is the Gospel and this Gospel seed determines how, where, when, and why we plant it.

What is the Water?

In verse six, we find that Apollos watered something and once again, the Sunday school answer would be that he watered with the Gospel. In Romans 1:15 Paul writes that he is, “eager to preach the gospel” to them. This is the church in Rome and they would not be the church apart from the hearing of the Gospel; why then does Paul desire to preach it to them again? The answer is found in both verse thirteen where Paul says, “in order that I may reap some harvest among you” and verse eleven where he says, “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you.”

We too must understand, like Paul that the Gospel seed is watered by the Gospel to bring about spiritual birth (justification) and the continuation of this watering then brings about spiritual growth (sanctification). We must never tire of the Gospel, it is then message by which we are saved and by which we grow.

What is God?

God is the only one worthy of any admiration in this entire story. Paul and Apollos are called by God, send by God, bearing a message from God, and delivering it in the way in which God has specified. God then takes this Gospel message and causes it to grow. No amount of sowing and watering can cause the Gospel seed to grow apart from divine intervention.

We too must recognize that it is God alone who causes the Gospel seed to grow. If a church is truly growing, it is not because of the leadership or the church growth program; it is because of God. Now we must not assume that leadership and church structure are unimportant. Just as the Gospel shaped Paul’s theology and methodology, we must do likewise if we expect God to cause what has been sown and watered to grow. “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (I Corinthians 1:18).

Israel Demands a King

2006-05-05T23:46:00.000-05:00

4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” I Samuel 8:4-9

I love the Old Testament; so much of Israel’s history, their failures and successes, so closely mirror the modern church that we would do well to study it often. Like many judges before him, Samuel was a man faithful to the Lord; however, his sons were corrupt and abusive and this led the people to desire a king. In this passage, the whoredom of Israel is revealed in several ways that closely mirror the failures of the modern church paradigm.

They Desired to Live like the World

Israel cried out “Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” They were surrounded by pagan nations who were ruled by kings and Israel wanted to be like them. In verse eight God reminds Samuel that this is nothing new, ever since their deliverance from Pharaoh in Egypt the Israelites have exhibited a pattern of unfaithfulness, which God foretold in Deuteronomy 17:14.

This is exactly what is happening in modern churches, church planting strategies, and church growth programs that are based upon secular marketing strategies rather than Scripture. Modern Christians, and I use the term loosely, have looked enviously upon the marketing and growth strategies of corporate America, and have sought to grow the kingdom of God in a similar manner. Like Israel’s desire for a king, this modern trend is nothing new but rather the culmination of the long-standing unfaithfulness of American evangelicals.

They Desired to Fight like the World

Despite Israel’s presence and responsibility in them the Lord was the one who fought their battles in the past (Exodus 14:14, 25, Deuteronomy 1:30, Joshua 10:25) and apart from God they could not succeed in battle (Deuteronomy 1:42). Their desire for a king marked their abandonment of His power and provision for their strength and strategy (v.20).

This is exactly what is happening when modern churches rely upon secular marketing strategies to grow God’s kingdom rather than the Holy Spirit transforming the hearts of men through the proclamation of God’s Word. In Israel’s past God had spoken to Moses, Joshua, and the Judges who then proclaimed the Word of the Lord to the people of Israel. Israel’s request for a king represented their abandonment of God’s Word for the wisdom of man. Just as Israel’s desire for a king led to their destruction and enslavement modern evangelicals’ desire for worldly wisdom will lead to false growth and an inability to battle the enemy.

They Desired to Submit like the World

In verse nine God commands Samuel to “solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” In the verses following Samuel describes at length the ways in which the king will abuse Israel and yet they replied “No! We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles (v.19-20).”

In the same way, that Israel desired a king, despite severe warnings of his abuses, modern evangelicals tolerate ministries whose founding values are more psychological than theological because they would rather submit to a man rather than the living God.

They Desired to Worship like the World

Ultimately, Israel’s actions were the manifestations, not the ultimate end, of their thinking. The end result of their desire what not the abandonment of God’s Word, or God’s rules, or God’s provision; the ultimate end of their desire was the abandonment and rejection of God (v.7-8).

Likewise, the abandonment of God’s Word as the source of both theology and methodology by modern evangelicals does not represent a shift in the historical church polity/planting/growth paradigm; it represents their abandonment of God.

Many of you who read this will find it to be a far cry from my previous post; in which I gave the following quote by David Prior.

“Paul looks at the Corinthian church as it is in Christ Jesus before he looks at anything else that is true of the church. That disciplined statement of faith is rarely made in local churches; the warts are examined and lamented, but often there’s no vision of what God has already done in Christ.”

I think there is continuity between these two posts in that you cannot view a church “as it is in Christ Jesus” if Christ is not taught there; the only way you could view it would be as an object of His wrath. More importantly it is only through understanding where, why, and how we fail that we can overcome these failures by the grace of God.

The Humble Cross-Centered Heart of Paul

2006-05-01T08:49:00.000-05:00

Ever since I attended Resolved, Humility: True Greatness by, C. J. Mahaney has been at the top of my “to read list.” Over the past week, I have had the pleasure of reading this wonderfully challenging book. This is not intended to be a formal book review; I just want to share some of my reflections on this book in light of recent conversation. While not a book review, I highly recommend this book to everyone.

I Corinthians 1:4, “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus.” This verse must be one of the most oft quoted verses in personal correspondence, I have written it at the end of many letters my self and yet I never gave the context in which this verse was written a single thought. Paul is writing the church at Corinth to confront numerous issues and serious theological error. They were often drunk at the Lord’s Supper, they were divided, some had denied the resurrection, and they were sexually immoral to a point that appalled even the pagans. The church at Corinth had serious problems and yet Paul always thanks God for them. Paul continues to display this love as he writes, “I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (I Corinthians 4:14-15).

While attending Together for the Gospel last week I was very interested in seeing how these men, who have poured their lives into the local church, addressed the gaping failures of modern Evangelicism. Much of our conversation negatively focuses on the failures of local churches rather than the active work of God’s grace within them. Yes, there are serious problems, problems that cannot be tolerated and must be addressed; however, we must do so in a gracious and loving way, as Paul does. David Prior, in The Message of 1 Corinthians: Life in the Local Church, describes Paul’s perspective as follows,

"Paul looks at the Corinthian church as it is in Christ Jesus before he looks at anything else that is true of the church. That disciplined statement of faith is rarely made in local churches; the warts are examined and lamented, but often there’s no vision of what God has already done in Christ."

How does Paul cultivate such a perspective? In Humility: True Greatness C. J. Mahaney unfolds the profundity of Ephesians 4:29 as the answer to this question. “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29). The verse is very straightforward; however, we must be careful not to miss the profound simplicity of what Paul is saying. Our talk is to be constructive and build up so that we may give grace to those who hear. Where do we find the most profound expression of grace that man has ever known? What is the blazing center of God’s grace and the Christian life? Paul is saying that our language should be Cross-centered, God-glorifying, and Gospel-saturated language. Is their any greater means of grace towards an individual than the Gospel? Certainly not, may all of our language bear this good news.

Together for the Gospel

2006-04-29T11:52:00.000-05:00

This week I have had the privilege of attending Together for the Gospel, A Conference and Conversation for Pastors and Preachers hosted by Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, C.J. Mahaney, Albert Mohler. Rather than recount the experience to you I want to point you towards several important resources.

First, the Together for the Gospel website.

Second, the Together for the Gospel Blog.

Third, the Sovereign Grace Store where you can purchase individual audio messages or the complete MP3 CD for only $11.00 this is quite a bargain.

Fourth, the blog of Tim Challies, the official live blog during Together for the Gospel. Below are Tim’s live blogs for each session his notes are fantastically detailed and I recommended you read them.

Also, I have been posting quite infrequently as of late and I plan to do several substantial posts during the coming weeks. So stay tuned and give feedback.

A Severe Inditement

2006-04-23T22:34:00.000-05:00

While reading a friends blog I was directed to the following two provocatively and accurately titled posts: Cheap Grace: Pimp my gospel! and Pimping Jesus: consumerism and the red-light gospel. I hope you all enjoy these insights into the modern evangelism/gospel presentation paradigm.

Life is a Vapor

2006-04-22T09:13:00.000-05:00

This morning I saw the new Nickleback music video, “Savin’ Me”, and really liked it so I decided to provide all of you with a link and tell you to go watch it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. To view the video click here.

The Specificity of General Revelation

2006-04-20T09:15:00.000-05:00

The purpose of this post is in no way to minimize the primacy of Specific Revelation, Scripture, but to show how we can reason from creation to Biblical Truth. Clearly, an individual could draw unbiblical conclusions through this process, which is why Scripture must remain paramount. I hope that this will provide opportunities to confirm what individuals know to be true with Scripture as Paul did in Acts 17.

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:18-20

For me the most obvious is God’s grace. If you ask any conservationist they will say that we do not deserve creation; we abuse it, pollute it, and waste what we extract from it. Maybe a biologist might notice the complexity of God in His designing of such complex biological and ecological systems. An artist might notice the beauty of God through the beauty of nature.

I want to put forth an argument for the pleasures of God as evident in creation. If understanding art aides in understanding the artist, poetry the poet, and architecture the architect, one could assume that understanding creation will lead to a greater understanding of God. This argument has two main assumptions; that God is logical and that God seeks His joy. If these are true assumptions, one could conclude that God takes pleasure in creating because He has created. Because we enjoy creation and God has created us, one could conclude that we were created to enjoy creation. Because we enjoy creation and God seeks His joy, one could conclude that God enjoys our enjoyment of creation. Because creation is ultimately a reflection of its Creator, God, we can conclude two things. Ultimately, we were created to enjoy God. Ultimately, God’s joy is a joy in Himself.

Again, these are all just thoughts I have been pondering during the day. I look forward to you feedback and hearing if you have any Acts 17 like thoughts about creation or culture.

Jonathan Edwards on the Redeeming the Time Part 5

2006-04-19T08:31:00.000-05:00

The Preciousness Of Time And The Importance Of Redeeming It

SECTION V

Advice respecting the improvement of time.

I shall conclude with advising to three things in particular.

First, improve the present time without any delay. If you delay and put off its improvement, still more time will be lost; and it will be an evidence that you are not sensible of its preciousness. Talk not of more convenient seasons hereafter; but improve your time while you have it, after the example of the psalmist. Psa. 119:60, “I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.”

Second, be especially careful to improve those parts of time which are most precious. Though all time is very precious, yet some parts are more precious than others; as, particularly, holy time is more precious than common time. Such time is of great advantage for our everlasting welfare. Therefore, above all, improve your Sabbaths, and especially the time of public worship, which is the most precious part. Lose it not either in sleep, or in carelessness, inattention, and wandering imaginations. How sottish are they who waste away, not only their common, but holy time, yea the very season of attendance on the holy ordinances of God! — The time of youth is precious, on many accounts. Therefore, if you be in the enjoyment of this time, take heed that you improve it. Let not the precious days and years of youth slip away without improvement. A time of the strivings of God’s Spirit is more precious than other time. Then God is near; and we are directed, in Isa. 55:6, “To seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call upon him while he is near.” Such especially is an accepted time, and a day of salvation: 2 Cor. 6:2, “I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in a day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Third, improve well your time of leisure from worldly business. Many persons have a great deal of such time, and all have some. If men be but disposed to it, such time may be improved to great advantage. When we are most free from cares for the body, and business of an outward nature, a happy opportunity for the soul is afforded. Therefore spend not such opportunities unprofitably, nor in such a manner that you will not be able to give a good account thereof to God. Waste them not away wholly in unprofitable visits, or useless diversions or amusements. Diversion should be used only in subserviency to business. So much, and no more, should be used, as doth most fit the mind and body for the work of our general and particular callings.

You have need to improve every talent, advantage, and opportunity, to your utmost, while time lasts; for it will soon be said concerning you, according to the oath of the angel, in Rev. 10:5, 6, “And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer."

Jonathan Edwards on the Redeeming the Time Part 4

2006-04-18T06:41:00.000-05:00

The Preciousness Of Time And The Importance Of Redeeming It

SECTION IV

An exhortation to improve time.

Consider what hath been said of the preciousness of time, how much depends upon it, how short and uncertain it is, how irrecoverable it will be when gone. If you have a right conception of these things, you will be more choice of your time than of the most fine gold. Every hour and moment will seem precious to you. — But besides those considerations which have been already set before you, consider also the following:

First, that you are accountable to God for your time. Time is a talent given us by God; he hath set us our day; and it is not for nothing. Our day was appointed for some work; therefore he will, at the day’s end, call us to an account. We must give account to him of the improvement of all our time. We are God’s servants; as a servant is accountable to his master, how he spends his time when he is sent forth to work, so are we accountable to God. If men would aright consider this, and keep it in mind, would they not improve their time otherwise than they do? Would you not behave otherwise than you do, if you considered with yourselves every morning, that you must give an account to God, how you shall have spent that day? And if you considered with yourselves, at the beginning of every evening, that you must give an account to God, how you shall have spent that evening? Christ hath told us, that “for every idle word which men speak they shall give account in the day of judgment,” Mat. 12:36. How well, therefore, may we conclude, that we must give an account of all our idle misspent time!

Second, consider how much time you have lost already. For your having lost so much, you have the greater need of diligently improving what yet remains. You ought to mourn and lament over your lost time. But that is not all, you must apply yourselves the more diligently to improve the remaining part, that you may redeem lost time. — You who are considerably advanced in life, and have hitherto spent your time in vanities and worldly cares, and have lived in a great measure negligent of the interests of your souls, may well be terrified and amazed, when you think how much time you have lost and wasted away. — In that you have lost so much time, you have the more need of diligence, on three accounts.

1. As your opportunity is so much the shorter. — Your time at its whole length is short. But set aside all that you have already lost, and then how much shorter is it! As to that part of your time which you have already lost, it is not to be reckoned into your opportunity; for that will never be any more; and it is no better, but worse to you, than if it never had been.

2. You have the same work to do that you had at first, and that under great difficulties. Hitherto you have done nothing at all of your work, all remains to be done, and that with vastly greater difficulties and opposition in your way than would have been if you had set about it seasonably. So that the time in which to do your work is not only grown shorter, but your work is grown greater. You not only have the same work to do, but you have more work. For while you have lost your time, you have not only shortened it, but you have been making work for yourselves. How well may this consideration awaken you to a thorough care, not to let things run on in this manner any longer, and rouse you up immediately to apply yourselves to your work with all your might!

3. That is the best of your time which you have lost. The first of a man’s time, after he comes to the exercise of his reason, and to be capable of performing his work, is the best. You who have lived in sin till past your youth, have lost the best part. So that here all these things to be considered together, viz. that your time in the whole is but short, there is none to spare. A great part of that is gone, so that it is become much shorter. That which is gone is the best; yet all your work remains, and not only so, but with greater difficulties than ever before attended it. And the shorter your time is, the more work you have to do.

What will make you sensible of the necessity of a diligent improvement of remaining time, if these things will not? Sometimes such considerations as these have another effect, viz. to discourage persons, and to make them think, that seeing they have lost so much time, it is not worth their while to attempt to do anything now. The devil makes fools of them; for when they are young, he tells them, there is time enough hereafter, there is no need of being in haste, it will be better seeking salvation hereafter; and then they believe him. Afterwards, when their youth is past, he tells them, that now they have lost so much, and the best of their time, that it is not worth their while to attempt to do anything; and now they believe him too. So that with them no time is good. The season of youth is not a good time; for that is most fit for pleasure and mirth, and there will be enough afterwards. And what comes afterwards is not a good time, because the best of it is gone. Thus are men infatuated and ruined.

But what madness is it for persons to give way to discouragement, so as to neglect their work, because their time is short! What need have they rather to awake out of sleep, thoroughly to rouse up themselves, and to be in good earnest, that if possible they may yet obtain eternal life! Peradventure God may yet give them repentance to the acknowledgment of the truth, that they may be saved. Though it be late in the day, yet God calls upon you to rouse, and to apply yourselves to your work. And will you not hearken to his counsel in this great affair, rather than to the counsel of your mortal enemy?

Third, consider how time is sometimes valued by those who are come near to the end of it. What a sense of its preciousness have poor sinners sometimes, when they are on their deathbeds! Such have cried out, O, a thousand worlds for an inch of time! Then time appears to them indeed precious. An inch of time could do them no more good than before, when they were in health, supposing a like disposition to improve it, nor indeed so much. For a man’s time upon a deathbed is attended with far greater disadvantage for such an improvement as will be for the good of his soul, than when he is in health. — But the near approach of death makes men sensible of the inestimable worth of time. Perhaps, when they were in health, they were as insensible of its value as your are, and were as negligent of it. But how are their thoughts altered now! It is not because they are deceived, that they think time to be of such value, but because their eyes are opened. And it is because you are deceived and blind that you do not think as they do.

Fourth, consider what a value we may conclude is set upon time by those who are past the end of it. What thoughts do you think they have of its preciousness, who have lost all their opportunity for obtaining eternal life, and are gone to hell? Though they were very lavish of their time while they lived, and set no great value upon it; yet how have they changed their judgments! How would they value the opportunity which you have, if they might but have it granted to them! What would they not give for one of your days, under the means of grace! — So will you, first or last, be convinced. But if you be not convinced except in the manner in which they are, it will be too late.

There are two ways of making men sensible of the preciousness of time. One is, by showing them the reason why it must be precious, by telling them how much depends on it, how short it is, how uncertain, etc. The other is experience, wherein men are convinced how much depends on the improvement of time. The latter is the most effectual way; for that always convinces, if nothing else doth. — But if persons be not convinced by the former means, the latter will do them no good. If the former be ineffectual, the latter, though it be certain, yet is always too late. Experience never fails to open the eyes of men, though they were never opened before. But if they be first opened by that, it is no way to their benefit. Let all therefore be persuaded to improve their time to their utmost.

Jonathan Edwards on the Redeeming the Time Part 3

2006-04-17T08:23:00.000-05:00

The Preciousness Of Time And The Importance Of Redeeming It

SECTION III

Who are chiefly deserving of reproof from the subject of the preciousness of time.

How little is the preciousness of time considered, and how little sense of it do the greater part of mankind seem to have! And to how little good purpose do many spend their time! There is nothing more precious, and yet nothing of which men are more prodigal. Time is with many, as silver was in the days of Solomon, as the stones of the street, and nothing accounted of. They act as if time were as plenty as silver was then, and as if they had a great deal more than they needed, and knew not what to do with it. If men were as lavish of their money as they are of their time, if it were as common a thing for them to throw away their money, as it is for them to throw away their time, we should think them beside themselves, and not in the possession of their right minds. Yet time is a thousand times more precious than money; and when it is gone, cannot be purchased for money, cannot be redeemed by silver or gold. — There are several sorts of persons who are reproved by this doctrine, whom I shall particularly mention.

First, those who spend a great part of their time in idleness, or in doing nothing that turns to any account, either for the good of their souls or bodies; nothing either for their own benefit, or for the benefit of their neighbor, either of the family or of the body-politic to which they belong. There are some persons upon whose hands time seems to lie heavy, who, instead of being concerned to improve it as it passes, and taking care that it pass not without making it their own, act as if it were rather their concern to contrive ways how to waste and consume it; as though time, instead of being precious, were rather a mere encumbrance to them. Their hands refuse to labor, and rather than put themselves to it, they will let their families suffer, and will suffer themselves. Pro. 19:15, “An idle soul shall suffer hunger.” Pro. 23:21, “Drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.”

Some spend much of their time at the tavern, over their cups, and in wandering from house to house, wasting away their hours in idle and unprofitable talk which will turn to no good account. Pro. 14:23, “In all labour there is profit; but the talk of the lips tendeth only to poverty.” The direction of the apostle, in Eph. 4:28 is, that we should “labour, working with our hands the thing that is good, that we may have to give to him that needeth.” But indolent men, instead of gaining anything to give to him that needeth, do but waste what they have already. Pro. 18:9, “He that is slothful in his work, is brother to him that is a great waster.”

Second, they are reproved by this doctrine who spend their time in wickedness, who do not merely spend their time in doing nothing to any good purpose, but spend it to ill purposes. Such do not only lose their time, but they do worse; with it they hurt both themselves and others. — Time is precious, as we have heard, because eternity depends upon it. By the improvement of time, we have opportunity of escaping eternal misery, and obtaining eternal blessedness. But those who spend their time in wicked works, not only neglect to improve their time to obtain eternal happiness, or to escape damnation, but they spend it to a quite contrary purpose, viz. to increase their eternal misery, or to render their damnation the more heavy and intolerable.

Some spend much time in reveling, and in unclean talk and practices, in vicious company-keeping, in corrupting and ensnaring the minds of others, setting bad examples, and leading others into sin, undoing not only their own souls, but the souls of others. Some spend much of their precious time in detraction and backbiting; in talking against others; in contention, not only quarreling themselves, but fomenting and stirring up strife and contention. It would have been well for some men, and well for their neighbors, if they had never done anything at all. For then they would have done neither good nor hurt. But now they have done a great deal more hurt than they have done or ever will do good. There are some persons whom it would have been better for the towns where they live, to have at the charge of maintaining them in doing nothing, if that would have kept them in a state of inactivity.

Those who have spent much of their time in wickedness, if ever they shall reform, and enter upon a different mode of living, will find, not only that they have wasted the past, but that they have made work for their remaining time, to undo what they have done. How will many men, when they shall have done with time, and shall look back upon their past lives, wish that they had no time! The time which they spend on earth will be worse to them than if they had spent so much time in hell. For an eternity of more dreadful misery in hell will be the fruit of their time on earth, as they employ it.

Third, those are reproved by this doctrine, who spend their time only in worldly pursuits, neglecting their souls. Such men lose their time, let them be ever so diligent in their worldly business. And though they may be careful not to let any of it pass so, but that it shall some way or other turn to their worldly profit. They that improve time only for their benefit in time, lose it; because time was not given for itself, but for that everlasting duration which succeeds it. —They, therefore, whose time is taken up in caring and laboring for the world only, in inquiring what they shall eat, and what they shall drink, and wherewithal they shall be clothed; in contriving to lay up for themselves treasure upon earth, how to enrich themselves, how to make themselves great in the world, or how to live in comfortable and pleasant circumstances, while here; who busy their minds and employ their strength in these things only, and the stream of whose affections is directed towards these things; they lose their precious time.

Let such, therefore, as have been guilty of thus spending their time, consider it. You have spent a great part of your time, and a great part of your strength, in getting a little of the world; and how little good doth it afford you, now you have gotten it! What happiness or satisfaction can you reap from it? Will it give you peace of conscience, or any rational quietness or comfort? What is your poor, needy, perishing soul the better for it? And what better prospects doth it afford you of your approaching eternity? And what will all that you have acquired avail you when time shall be no longer?

Jonathan Edwards on the Redeeming the Time Part 2

2006-04-16T06:30:00.000-05:00

The Preciousness Of Time And The Importance Of Redeeming It

SECTION II

Reflections on time past.

You have now heard of the preciousness of time; and you are the persons concerned, to whom God hath committed that precious talent. You have an eternity before you. When God created you, and gave you reasonable souls, he made you for an endless duration. He gave you time here in order to a preparation for eternity, and your future eternity depends on the improvement of time. — Consider, therefore, what you have done with your past time. You are not now beginning your time, but a great deal is past and gone; and all the wit, and power, and treasure of the universe, cannot recover it. Many of you may well conclude, that more than half of your time is gone. Though you should live to the ordinary age of man, your glass is more than half run; and it may be there are but few sands remaining. Your sun is past the meridian, and perhaps just setting, or going into an everlasting eclipse. Consider, therefore, what account you can give of your improvements of past time. How have you let the precious golden sands of your glass run?

Every day that you have enjoyed has been precious; yea, your moments have been precious. But have you not wasted your precious moments, your precious days, yea, your precious years? If you should reckon up how many days you have lived, what a sum would there be! And how precious hath every one of those days been! Consider, therefore, what have you done with them? What is become of them all? What can you show of any improvement made, or good done, or benefit obtained, answerable to all this time which you have lived? When you look back, and search, do you not find this past time of your lives in a great measure empty, having not been filled up with any good improvement? And if God, that hath given you your time, should now call you to an account, what account could you give to him?

How much may be done in a year? How much good is there opportunity to do in such a space of time! How much service may persons do for God, and how much for their own souls, if to their utmost they improve it! How much may be done in a day! But what have you done in so many days and years that you have lived? What have you done with the whole time of your youth, you that are past your youth? What is become of all that precious season of life? Hath it not all been in vain to you? Would it not have been as well or better for you, if all that time you had been asleep, or in a state of nonexistence?

You have had much time of leisure and freedom from worldly business. Consider to what purpose you have spent it. You have not only had ordinary time, but you have had a great deal of holy time. What have you done with all the Sabbath-days which you have enjoyed? Consider those things seriously, and let your own consciences make answer.

Jonathan Edwards on the Redeeming the Time Part 1

2006-04-15T09:41:00.000-05:00

The Preciousness Of Time And The Importance Of Redeeming It

Christians should not only study to improve the opportunities they enjoy, for their own advantage, as those who would make a good bargain; but also labor to reclaim others from their evil courses; that so God might defer his anger, and time might be redeemed from that terrible destruction, which, when it should come, would put an end to the time of divine patience. And it may be upon this account, that this reason is added, Because the days are evil. As if the apostle had said, the corruption of the times tends to hasten threatened judgments; but your holy and circumspect walk will tend to redeem time from the devouring jaws of those calamities. — However, thus much is certainly held forth to us in the words; viz. that upon time we should set a high value, and be exceeding careful that it be not lost; and we are therefore exhorted to exercise wisdom and circumspection, in order that we may redeem it. And hence it appears, that time is exceedingly precious.

SECTION I
Why time is precious.

Time is precious for the following reasons:

First, because a happy or miserable eternity depends on the good or ill improvement of it. Things are precious in proportion to their importance, or to the degree wherein they concern our welfare. Men are wont to set the highest value on those things upon which they are sensible their interest chiefly depends. And this renders time so exceedingly precious, because our eternal welfare depends on the improvement of it. — Indeed our welfare in this world depends upon its improvement. If we improve it not, we shall be in danger of coming to poverty and disgrace; but by a good improvement of it, we may obtain those things which will be useful and comfortable. But it is above all things precious, as our state through eternity depends upon it. The importance of the improvement of time upon other accounts, is in subordination to this.

Gold and silver are esteemed precious by men; but they are of no worth to any man, only as thereby he has an opportunity of avoiding or removing some evil, or of possessing himself of some good. And the greater the evil is which any man hath advantage to escape, or the good which he hath advantage to obtain, by anything that he possesses, by so much the greater is the value of that thing to him, whatever it be. Thus if a man, by anything which he hath, may save his life, which he must lose without it, he will look upon that by which he hath the opportunity of escaping so great an evil as death, to be very precious. — Hence it is that time is so exceedingly precious, because by it we have opportunity of escaping everlasting misery, and of obtaining everlasting blessedness and glory. On this depends our escape from an infinite evil, and our attainment of an infinite good.

Second, time is very short, which is another thing that renders it very precious. The scarcity of any commodity occasions men to set a higher value upon it, especially if it be necessary and they cannot do without it. Thus when Samaria was besieged by the Syrians, and provisions were exceedingly scarce, “an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver.” 2 Kin. 6:25. — So time is the more to be prized by men, because a whole eternity depends upon it; and yet we have but a little of time. “When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.” Job 16:22. “My days are swifter than a post. They are passed away as the swift ships; as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.” Job 9:25, 26. “Our life; what is it? It is but a vapour which appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Jam. 4:14. It is but as a moment to eternity. Time is so short, and the work which we have to do in it is so great, that we have none of it to spare. The work which we have to do to prepare for eternity, must be done in time, or it never can be done; and it is found to be a work of great difficulty and labor, and therefore that for which time is the more requisite.

Third, time ought to be esteemed by us very precious, because we are uncertain of its continuance. We know that it is very short, but we know not how short. We know not how little of it remains, whether a year, or several years, or only a month, a week, or a day. We are every day uncertain whether that day will not be the last, or whether we are to have the whole day. There is nothing that experience doth more verify than this. — If a man had but little provision laid up for a journey or a voyage, and at the same time knew that if his provision should fail, he must perish by the way, he would be the more choice of it. — How much more would many men prize their time, if they knew that they had but a few months, or a few days, more to live! And certainly a wise man will prize his time the more, as he knows not but that it will be so as to himself. This is the case with multitudes now in the world, who at present enjoy health, and see no signs of approaching death. Many such, no doubt, are to die the next month, many the next week, yea, many probably tomorrow, and some this night. Yet these same persons know nothing of it, and perhaps think nothing of it, and neither they nor their neighbors can say that they are more likely soon to be taken out of the world than others. This teaches us how we ought to prize our time, and how careful we ought to be, that we lose none of it.

Fourth, time is very precious, because when it is past, it cannot be recovered. There are many things which men possess, which if they part with, they can obtain them again. If a man have parted with something which he had, not knowing the worth of it, or the need he should have of it; he often can regain it, at least with pains and cost. If a man have been overseen in a bargain, and have bartered away or sold something, and afterwards repents of it, he may often obtain a release, and recover what he had parted with. — But it is not so with respect to time. When once that is gone, it is gone forever; no pains, no cost will recover it. Though we repent ever so much that we let it pass, and did not improve it while we had it, it will be to no purpose. Every part of it is successively offered to us, that we may choose whether we will make it our own, or not. But there is no delay. It will not wait upon us to see whether or no we will comply with the offer. But if we refuse, it is immediately taken away, and never offered more. As to that part of time which is gone, however we have neglected to improve it, it is out of our possession and out of our reach.

If we have lived fifty, or sixty, or seventy years, and have not improved our time, now it cannot be helped. It is eternally gone from us. All that we can do, is to improve the little that remains. Yea, if a man have spent all his life but a few moments unimproved, all that is gone is lost, and only those few remaining moments can possibly be made his own. And if the whole of a man’s time be gone, and it be all lost, it is irrecoverable. — Eternity depends on the improvement of time. But when once the time of life is gone, when once death is come, we have no more to do with time; there is no possibility of obtaining the restoration of it, or another space in which to prepare for eternity. If a man should lose the whole of his worldly substance, and become a bankrupt, it is possible that his loss may be made up. He may have another estate as good. But when the time of life is gone, it is impossible that we should ever obtain another such time. All opportunity of obtaining eternal welfare is utterly and everlastingly gone.

My Wishlist

2006-04-06T16:19:00.000-05:00

For all of you who are chomping at the bit to buy something for me here is my wishlist. Sometime I will try to divide it into a list of books I need for Seminary and books I just want to read.

Academic/Theology

Ames, William. The Marrow of Theology
Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics
Bavnick, Herman. Reformed Dogmatics: Prolegomena (vol.1)
________. Reformed Dogmatics: God and Creation (vol.2)
Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology
________. History of Christian Doctrines
Boice, James M. Foundations of the Christian Faith
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Cost of Discipleship
Bloom, Allan. The Closing of the American Mind
Brown, Peter. Augustine of Hippo
Cahill, Mark. One Heartbeat Away: Your Journey into Eternity
Couch, Mal. An Introduction to Classical Evangelical Hermeneutics: A Guide to the History and Practice of Biblical Interpretation
Cowper, William. The Poems of William Cowper
Dempski, William. Design Inference
Edwards, Jonathan. To The Rising Generation
Hershberger, Guy Franklin. The Recovery of the Anabaptist Vision (Dissent and Nonconformity)
Hirsch, E. D. Validity in Interpretation
Greidanus, Sidney. Preaching Christ from the Old Testament: A Contemporary Hermeneutical Method
Gerstner, Edna. Jonathan and Sarah an Uncommon Union
Gerstner, John H. Theology in Dialogue
________. The Rational Biblical theology of Jonathan Edwards
Goldsworthy, Graeme. Preaching the Whole Bible As Christian Scripture: The Application of Biblical Theology to Expository Preaching
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology
Kuyper, Abraham and James D. Bratt. Abraham Kuyper: A Centennial Reader
MacArthur, John. How To Get The Most From God’s Word
________. How to Meet The Enemy
________. Introduction To Biblical Counseling
________. Kingdom Living: Here and now
________. Marks of a Healthy Church
________. Our Sufficiency In Christ
________. Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry
________. The Power of Integrity: Building a Life Without Compromise
________. The Vanishing Consequence
________. Walk Worthy
Metzger, Bruce M. Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament
Nettles, Tom. Baptists: Key People Involved in Forming a Baptist Identity (Beginnings in Britain)
Oberman, Heiko A. Luther: Man Between God and the Devil
Ortlund, Raymond C. Whoredom: God's Unfaithful Wife in Biblical Theology (New Studies in Biblical Theology)
Parker, T. H. L. John Calvin: A Biography.
Piper, John. A Godward Life: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life
________. The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God
________. The Supremacy of God in Preaching
Schaeffer, Francis A. Complete Works
Schreiner, Thomas R. Paul, Apostle of God's Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology (Pauline Theology)
Schreiner, Thomas R. and Bruce A. Ware. Still Sovereign: Contemporary Perspectives on Election, Foreknowledge, and Grace
Sibbes, Richard.
Sproul, R. C. After Darkness Light
________. Classical Apologetics
________. Essential Truths of the Christian Faith
________. Lifeviews
________. The Consequence of Ideas
________. What is Reformed Theology
Stewart, Matthew. The Courier and the Heretic: Leibniz, Spinoza, and the Fate of God in the Modern World
Thomas, Robert L. Evangelical Hermeneutics
Verduin, Leonard. The Anatomy of a Hybrid: A Study in Church-State Relationships
Vines, Jerry and James Shaddix. Power in the Pulpit: How to Prepare and Deliver Expository Sermons
Ware, Bruce A. God's Greater Glory: The Exalted God Of Scripture And The Christian Faith
________. God's Lesser Glory: The Diminished God of Open Theism
________. Their God Is Too Small: Open Theism and the Undermining of Confidence in God
Watts, Isaac. Logic: The Right Use of Reason in the Inquiry After Truth
Wells, David F. No Place For Truth or Whatever Happened to Evangelical Theology?
________. God in the Wasteland: The Reality of Truth in a World of Fading Dreams
________. Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision

Pleasure Reasing/Fiction

Ambrose, Stephen E. Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451: A Novel
Dumas, Alexandre. The Count of Monte Cristo
________. The Three Muskateers
Faulkner, William. Light In August
Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World
Orwell, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four
Winters, Dick. Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memories of Major Dick Winters

My Library

2006-04-06T16:17:00.000-05:00

I am slowly getting this updated.

I. Bibliographic tools
II. Bibles
· MacArthur, J. J. The MacArthur Daily Bible: Read through the Bible in one year, with notes from John MacArthur. Nelson, 2003.
· ________. The MacArthur Study Bible NKJV. Word, 1997.
· ________. The MacArthur Study Bible NASB. Nelson, 2006.
· Wuest, Kenneth S. The New Testament : An expanded translation. Eerdmans, 1961.
III. Biblical Texts
IV. Old Testament Tools
V. New Testament Tools
VI. Hermeneutics and Exegesis
· MacArthur, J. Rediscovering expository preaching. Word. 1997.
· Wiersbe, W. W., & Wiersbe, D. The elements of preaching: The art of biblical preaching clearly and simply presented. Tyndale House, 1986.
VII. General Reference Works
VIII. Concordances
IX. Works of Archaeology, Geography, and History
X. Survey and Introduction
· Wiersbe, Warren W. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament. Victor, 1992.
· ________. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament. Victor, 1993.
XI. Theological Works
XII. One-Volume Commentaries
· ________. The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Nelson Reference, 2005.
· Wiersbe, W. W. The Bible exposition commentary. Victor, 1996.
XIII. Commentary Sets
· MacArthur, John. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary. Moody, 1983- .
· Wiersbe, W. W. Be available. An Old testament study. Victor, 1996.
· ________. Be comforted. An Old Testament study. Victor, 1996.
· ________. Be committed. An Old Testament study. Ruth and Esther. Victor, 1996.
· ________. Be decisive. An Old testament study. Victor, 1996.
· ________. Be determined. Victor, 1996.
· ________. Be holy. Victor, 1996.
· ________. Be obedient. Victor, 1996.
· ________. Be patient. An Old Testament study. Victor, 1996.
· ________. Be satisfied. Victor, 1996.
· ________. Be skillful. An Old Testament study. Victor, 1996.
· ________. Be strong. Victor, 1996.
· ________. Be what you are : 12 intriguing pictures of the Christian from the New Testament. Tyndale, 1996.
· Wuest, Kenneth S. Wuest's word studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English reader. Eerdmans, 1984.
XIV. Individual Book Commentaries
XV. Christian Life
· MacArthur, J., Jr. How to study the Bible. John MacArthur's Bible Studies. Moody, 1996.
· ________. Alone with God. Victor, 1995.
· ________. The book on leadership : The power of a godly influence. Thomas Nelson, 2004.
· ________. Different by design. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor, 1997.
· ________. The fulfilled family. Moody, 1997.
· ________. Hard to believe : The high cost and infinite value of following Jesus. Thomas Nelson, 2003.
· ________. Truth For Today A Daily Touch Of God's Grace. J. Countryman, 2001.
· ________. The Quest for Character. J. Countryman, 2006.
· ________. Welcome to the Family: What to Expect Now That You're a Christian. Nelson, 2005.
· ________. Samuel: How One Godly Man Changed a Nation (MacArthur Bible Studies). Nelson Impact, 2000.
· ________. 1 & 2 Timothy: Encouragement for Church Leaders (MacArthur Bible Studies). Nelson Impact, 2001.
· ________. Romans: Grace, Truth, and Redemption (MacArthur Bible Studies). Nelson Impact, 2000.
· ________. Why One Way?. W Publishing Group, 2002.
· ________. Found: God's Will. Rev. ed. Chariot Victor Publishing, 1998.
· ________. Follow Me. J. Countryman, 2004.
· ________. Fool's Gold?: Discerning Truth In An Age Of Error. Crossway, 2005.
· ________. Ashamed of the Gospel: When the Church Becomes Like the World. Expanded Edition. Crossway, 1993.
· ________. Twelve Ordinary Men. W Publishing Group, 2002.
· ________. The Gospel According to Jesus. Rev. and Expanded. Zondervan, 1994.
· Wiersbe, W. W. (1988). Prayer : Basic training. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale.

Monastic Cultural Separatism?

2006-04-01T20:40:00.000-05:00

Monastic: a strictly disciplined self-abnegating life of secluded contemplation

Cultural: of or relating to all socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and products of human work and thought considered as the expression of a particular period, class, community, or population

Separatism: the act of advocating separation

While modern evangelicals do not build monasteries in the old sense of the word, we have in effect severed all ties with the surrounding world and culture. We now have Christian art, Christian music, Christian Movies, Christian Sports, and we even have Christian romance novels. Did I mention Christian satellite TV? One could almost literally go through their entire day without consuming or coming in contact with anything tainted by the secular world. Sadly, this is not what Christ had in mind when He prayed the “The High Priestly Prayer” (John 17). Christ never desired for His church to be monastically separated from the world (John 17:15).

There is yet another extreme to this equation; a church that has completely severed all ties with what has historically been considered the church; a church that has embraced the surrounding culture and abandoned Biblical theology in an attempt to become more appealing. Quite to the contrary, Christ prayed that God would sanctify us in the Truth, the Word of God. Their desire for cultural relevance has led them to forsake the very thing they need.

The church was not called in to monastic cultural separatism but to radical cultural transformation. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). We are not to conform to the ideological patterns of this world; we are called to be transformed through building a Biblical worldview. This is the cultural work that we have before us: not to separate ourselves from secular culture, nor to embrace secular culture, but to transform secular culture.

18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:18-25

The Sinner’s Prayer: Is there a Better Evangelism Paradigm?

2006-03-30T00:12:00.000-05:00

Note: The following discussion has been carried over from another blog and since my blog has become the new hotspot for debates between Roman Catholics and Protestants, it has been continued here.

Before beginning, I will admit that my views concerning this subject are biased because as a child I prayed the sinner’s prayer, while failing to make a true commitment. That paired with an unbiblical understanding of the perseverance of the saints led me to place my confidence, of the security of my salvation, in my praying a prayer rather than in my bearing of fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8).

Do I think there is a better evangelism paradigm than the sinner’s prayer? Yes, when coupled with an inadequate presentation of the Gospel the sinners prayer is dangerous for several reasons.

1. I think it is rooted in our desire for closure rather than Scripture and our desire to see Biblical converts.

2. I think it flows out of an unbiblical understanding of the great commission; we are called to disciple not merely evangelize.

3. I think it leads believers to place their assurance of Salvation in an act rather than in God.

4. I think it oversimplifies the Gospel.

5. I think it does not maintain an equal understanding of Christ as both Savior and Lord.

Do I think that praying the sinner’s prayer is unbiblical, heretical, or just plain bad? No, I just think there are better methods of concluding a Gospel presentation and I am positive that someone with more experience and wisdom could point me to a better method than anything I could suggest as well. I do not think this is a question of what is Biblical or unbiblical but about what methods convey the Gospel with more clarity.

Disclaimer: This all depends on what sinner’s prayer you pray and how you present the Gospel. When coupled with a Biblical Gospel presentation praying a prayer, as an outward sign of an inward commitment, is a very Biblical thing. What should be avoided is presenting the Gospel as “pray this prayer and you are always saved,” that is unbiblical. A proper presentation of the Gospel should always result in a proper understanding of prayer, in this case a prayer of commitment and submission to Christ. Honestly, would not want to pray to the God who purchased them with the blood of His only begotten Son? I think communication with the Father is a natural result of receiving the Gospel message and we should stress the importance of communicating with the Father. What we should avoid is stressing the mechanistic repetition of a prayer that does not flow forth from the heart; it is my conviction that our desire for closure causes us to do that very thing. This is why I would suggest praying a simple prayer for the individual, encouraging them pray there on there own, or encouraging them to go home a talk to God about their new life in Him.

Finally, just share the Gospel; immerse yourself in God’s Word so you know the Gospel and share it like crazy. It is my prayer that we would combine a mature knowledge of God with an ever-increasing passion for God and go tell the world. For some reason it seems that the more you know about God the more boring you become and I think we need to change that. The Puritans call this “logic on fire” the more you know of God the more your passions burn for Him.

Cognitive Dissonance: A Civil War of the Psyche

2006-03-29T09:07:00.000-05:00

One of the great challenges of apologetics in our times is destroying the arguments and lofty opinions raised against the knowledge of God (II Corinthians 10:5). This is not due to the soundness of secular arguments but rather their plurality. There has always been a plurality of arguments and lofty opinions raised against the knowledge of God; however, modern times are set apart because of the plurality of conflicting arguments that one individual can hold. To compound this situation these conflicting arguments can be coherently held within the framework of the cognitive divide. (See my previous post “The Answer to the Monoculture: II Corinthians 10:4-5 and Acts 17” for more on this divide) If a worldview were defined as “the glasses through which one sees and interprets the world;” then most Americans are wearing bifocals or trifocals, which they use to pragmatically interpret the world.

Apologetics must be an appeal to both the the heart/conscience(1) and the mind. It must appeal to the heart lest they become like the church in Ephesus and loose their passion for God even though they posess a knowledge of Him (Revelation 2:4). It must appeal to the mind lest they become like the Jews who were passionate about God though their passion was not based on a knowledge of God (Romans 10:1-3).

Most of what we call apologetics focuses on the destruction of singular worldviews; rationalism, phlosophical naturalism, Hinduism, consumerism, romanticism, modernism, postmodernism, hypermodernism, etc. Such methods are no longer effective within the cognitive divide framework where one individual can hold multiple worldviews simultaneously. There are not pure postmoderns. One of the oft used examples of this is that no one wants a postmodern banker; since truth is relative your $500 paycheck may only be a $5.00 paycheck to a postmodern banker. No banker ever does that; because they have accepted modernism as their worldview at work. At the same time this same banker may accept a postmodern view of religious truth. This creates quite a challenge for the apologist (which we all are; I Peter 3:15).

To begin to understand how apologetics works in this new environment we must first understand the cognitive divide. I am not sure if there is a specific name for this phenomenon I like the terms: Adaptationalism, Divisionalism, or maybe just Pragmatism. Whatever you call it the basic premise, in its simplest form, is that the mind is divided into two different sectors one sector is dedicated to the worldviews, which govern the objective world, and the other is dedicated to the worldviews, which govern the subjective world. Science and rationality are placed under the umbrella of objective truth while religion and morality are considered subjective. An example of this would be an individual whose predominant worldview concerning the subjective world would be Postmodernism while their predominant worldview concerning the objective world would be modernism. There are other possible combinations: romanticism and rationalism or hypermodernism and naturalism for example.

Once again, the challenge of modern apologists it to destroy whatever worldviews an individual may have and then unify their mind under the total all-encompassing truth of Scripture. Apologetics like this must occur within a relationship with the individual or with the culture, that individual is from (see Acts 17 for how Paul does this). This requires you to listen first and destroy later because we must know what an individual believes before we can effectively combat it.

(1) I have combined the heart and the conscience or several reasons. Namely, because I find the passages concerning the hardening of one’s heart to be similar to the passages concerning the searing of one’s conscience. I think they are separate entities but they share a similar function. Please let me know your thoughts on this.

Ignite: A New Testament Church Determined to Set UK on Fire for God

2006-03-27T23:46:00.000-05:00

If you have not gone to the website for Ignite, please go and have a look. Find out when and where we meet to pray, find out how you can help us set fire to this campus, and find out how God is already beginning to dramatically move on the University of Kentucky's campus.

Potential Energy vs. Kinetic Energy

2006-03-24T10:52:00.000-05:00

My physics teacher in high school, Harry Taylor, would always sign our yearbooks with the following words of wisdom, “May your PE= your KE.” Potential energy is just that, your potential. Kinetic energy is the measure of the energy that you are currently using through motion. The “Parable of the Talents” (Matthew 25:14-30) speaks of this very thing.

Commenting on this parable Erwin Raphael McManus says the following:

Yet this parable gives us an inside view of legalism at its best. This man was paralyzed by an improper view of God. There is a difference between the fear of God and being afraid of God. We have seen that the fear of God sets us free to live. Being afraid of God paralyses us and reduced us to existing. His wrong view of God’s character led him to a wrong conclusion of what God would require of him. At the same time, his wrong view of God led him to lose both the potential of his life and the pleasure of his master.

This parable establishes God’s measure for our lives. God sees not only who we are, but who we can become. When we neglect our God-given capacity, when we refuse to maximize our God-given potential, it is wickedness in the sight of God. How would it change the work of the church if our measure of effectiveness was not how little sin was being done, but how much good was being accomplished? We have seen with clarity that a life lived against God is wicked, but have we ever seen as clearly that to live a life beneath our divine capacity is equally dishonoring to God? To not have that opportunity is tragic. To relinquish it, to neglect it, to reject it is wicked in the sight of God.

As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. II Timothy 4:5

More Mohler and More Total Truth

2006-03-21T13:30:00.000-05:00

The following is an excerpt from Albert Mohler’s Commentary entitled “Can Believers Be Bible Scholars? A Strange Debate in the Academy.”

Michael V. Fox doesn't believe that faith-based scholarship of the Bible is possible--and he wants to see such scholars marginalized in the larger world of scholarship. In an essay posted at the Web site for the Society of Biblical Literature [SBL], Fox argues, “In my view, faith-based study has no place in academic scholarship, whether the object of study is the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or Homer. Faith-based study is a different realm of intellectual activity that can dip into Bible scholarship for its own purposes, but cannot contribute to it.”

This all flows forth from the secular/sacred split that is dividing the modern mind. The secular/sacred split divides the mind into two areas first, the subjective realm of religion and morality and the objective realm of science and reason. In the realm of scholarship, as discussed above, all faith-based scholarship is placed in the subjective realm of religion and morality while non-faith-based scholarship is placed in the objective realm of science and reason. The ever-widening chasm between these two realms is discrediting all faith-based study as subjective and thus inconsequential. We must regain a view that Scripture is objectively true and that it is total truth for the totality of life. We must have undivided minds and live undivided lives unified under the objective reality of the Biblical metanarrative.

Mark Cahill Exhorts us to Contend for the Faith

2006-03-21T11:02:00.000-05:00

Although I have only met Mark a couple times I consider him one of my friends; because his ministry has had a profound impact on my life and with his busy schedule he still finds time to answer all of my e-mails. I have pasted his March 2006 Newsletter below because it specifically addresses what I hope this blog stands for and it fits right in with a discussion that we have been having at Marvelous Light (see discussion here). Mark speaks everywhere on evangelism, has written some of my favorite books on the subject, and he lives to evangelize. Micah Millican and I picked him up from the Lexington airport once, to take him to the state FCA convention, and everyone on his flight came up, shook his hand, and thanked him for talking to them on the flight and giving them a copy of his book. On top of that, it took us forever to get him out of the airport, as he would not leave until everyone received a tract; he lives for the Gospel. I would recommend that everyone who reads this go to http://www.markcahill.org/, buy his books, and listen to his sermons.

March 2006 Newsletter

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye shouldearnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were beforeof old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."

Jude 3, 4

CONTEND

I expect Hollywood to lie to me. I expect college professors to lie to me. I expect some people in government to twist the truth into lies. I expect popular magazines to distort the truth. I expect evil dictators like Adolf Hitler, Fidel Castro and Joseph Stalin to spew untruth when they open their mouths.

So, why shouldn’t I look at so-called “religious” people and expect the same thing? The Bible commands us to be very careful of wolves in sheep’s clothing—to be very careful of certain men who will creep into the church and teach ungodly things. But it seems like I always tend to give religious people a free pass, when the Bible tells me to do just the opposite. Why? Because it is often so hard to tell the difference between true and false Christians. The closer someone walks to the line of righteousness, the harder it is to tell that person apart from someone who is truly righteous (a true Christian). It’s sort of like this—someone can walk down the street all dressed up like a basketball player, but I would never know if he was one until I saw him try to take the ball to the hoop. I would need more information than just the outward appearance to come to the right conclusion. Too many times we accept religious people at face value, when we really need more information to come to the right conclusion.

I was speaking at an event recently, and I made a comment about something that was written in the will of Pope John Paul II. There were some Catholic kids and adults at the event who didn’t take too kindly to what I said. They emailed me and said that we should be all about unity, and why can’t we just unite under the same umbrella? Well at first that sounds good, but perhaps I need more information in order to draw the right conclusion about this unity umbrella. Wouldn’t you agree?

Roman Catholicism and Protestant Christianity are two faiths with some very distinct differences. The protestant reformation began when a Roman Catholic scholar, Martin Luther, protested what the Vatican was teaching. He had three main concerns.First, the Catholic Church was denying the idea of Scripture alone being the sole authority in the church. They had elevated some of the traditions of men to the same level as Scripture, which contradicts the clear teaching of the Bible.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says,

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

Clearly, Scripture is the final authority on all things.

Traditions of men cannot be on the same level as Scripture, but at the council of Trent in 1545, the Roman Catholic Church decided that tradition was equal in authority to Scripture. The council’s decision reversed what had been accepted for over 1,500 years—that Scripture alone was the sole authority.

What were some of the traditions being held up by the church? They included: the church built upon Peter as the first pope; purgatory; prayers to Mary and other dead saints to mediate on our behalf; kneeling and praying before statues and images; confession to a priest for absolution of sins; the necessity of mass and sacraments for salvation; salvation only through the Roman Catholic Church; the Eucharist by transubstantiation literally becoming the body and blood of Jesus; the selling of indulgences; veneration and worship of Mary; the rosary; immaculate conception of Mary; sinlessness of Mary. There is no biblical backing for any of these traditions.

Mark 7:1-9 says,

"Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, ‘Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?’ He answered and said unto them, ‘Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.’ And he said unto them, ‘Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.’"

These traditions of men are contrary to the teachings of God. So what will it be—Scripture or tradition? It’s your choice.

Luther’s second concern was the Catholic Church’s denial that Christ alone is the head of the church. But Christ is the head of the church and the only one that can save us from our sins. In Roman Catholicism the pope is the head of the church, the vicar of Christ. He is also viewed as being infallible in his teachings. Since Luther’s time, the Catholic Church has even elevated Mary to the place of Christ, according to the new Catholic Catechism, published in English in 1995. She is referred to as advocate, mediator, and redeemer by the Catholic Church.

1 John 2:1,2 says,

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

1 Timothy 2:5 says,

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

Finally, the third concern that Luther had was the Catholic Church’s view of salvation. They rejected salvation by faith alone, but rather said that salvation is by faith plus works. Also, according to Catholic teaching, purgatory is a place for the purification of sins, even though the Bible doesn’t even hint that such a place exists (the council of Florence made purgatory official in 1438). Alms were given and indulgences were purchased for the dead, in hopes that such efforts would lessen a loved one’s time in purgatory. Again, the only problem is that purgatory is not taught in the Bible. If purgatory is real, then Christ’s death is insufficient for the forgiveness of sins. And that flies in the face of clear biblical teaching. But remember, if Scripture is not the sole authority, then it really doesn’t matter what the Bible says, because it can always be trumped by the teachings and traditions of men.

1 John 1:7 says,

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

If all of my sin is cleansed by the blood of Jesus, there is no need for purgatory (even if it did exist!).

Hebrews 10:18 says,

"Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin."

Nothing else can wash away our sins but the blood of Jesus. Nothing. There is no good deed that I can do to erase any sin I have ever committed. Only my faith in Jesus Christ can do that.Please make it a point to read the new Catholic Catechism of 1995. You will be amazed at what you read.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says,

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

John 14:6 says,

"Jesus saith unto him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’"

In 1994 there was a document signed by several evangelical and Catholic leaders called The Evangelicals and Catholics Together Document. It was a commitment by both parties to lay aside doctrinal differences and to go forward in unity fighting for social reform. Brothers and sisters in Christ, we cannot put aside our doctrinal differences just for the sake of unity. We must stand up for the truth and earnestly contend for the faith, just like the book of Jude says. We cannot compromise on truth, even if people call us “narrow-minded.” Truth is narrow.If I told you that 2+2 = 5, and you told me I was wrong, should I say that you are narrow-minded? No. I should say, “You’re right! And I’m wrong!” In the same way, the truth about Jesus Christ and salvation is very narrow, and we cannot compromise on that just so that we can all huddle together under the umbrella of unity. How can truth unify with error? Not everyone can be under the same umbrella. There’s a right umbrella and a wrong umbrella. Which one do you want to be under?You cannot go to heaven by being Roman Catholic. You cannot go to heaven by being a Baptist. You cannot go to heaven by being a Presbyterian, a Methodist, an Episcopal or a Charismatic. You cannot go to heaven by being a Muslim. You cannot go to heaven by being a Hindu. You cannot go to heaven by being a Buddhist. According to Jesus, who is the Truth, the only way you can go to heaven is by being born again, trusting in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation.

John 3:3 says,

"Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’”

Until the nets are full,

Mark

P.S. I just received an email from some people who are witnessing in Florida. They gave the book One Heartbeat Away to an atheist. He became a Christian after reading it. They gave the book to an evolutionist. He became a creationist after reading it. Praise be to God!

Reflections on Peru

2006-03-20T08:08:00.000-05:00

Background

For those of you who do not know I spent the last week in Peru. Before specifically addressing our trip, I want to give some background information on what we are doing in Peru. Porter Memorial Baptist Church is working with IMB missionary Mike Weaver, developer of the Rapid Entry Advance Plan (REAP). The current end vision for the Peru partnership is “to have a viable indigenous, reproducible church in every town and every person in the people group have access to the Gospel by 2013 (7 years)”. Simply put we will work ourselves out of a job by 2013 and then employ the plan elsewhere to plant churches among another people group.

Important Concepts

There are two concepts to define in order to gain a correct understand of the purpose and goal of this seven-year partnership. First, church planting is missions. If your idea of a mission trip is evangelism abstracted from the local church then you have an unbiblical understanding of missions. The Great Commission is not a call to evangelize but to disciple. The goal of REAP is to plant churches both through discipling and to disciple the people of Peru. Second, what it means to plant indigenous churches. I think the easiest way to understand this is through painting a picture of what an indigenous church does not look like. Imagine Sunday morning in northern Kenya where locals go to church wearing suits and ties, to sit in pews, and drink communion from little plastic cups. This is not an indigenous Kenyan church it is Americanization, the locals never wear suits any other day of the week, they never do anything indoors much less sit in pews, and they drink from a common cup whenever they eat at each other’s houses. The goal of REAP is planting indigenous churches that are methodologically and theologically Biblical but whose style is distinct to that culture; this means they may meet in huts and not cathedrals, they may play native instruments and not an organ, and they may wear gourds and animal skins instead of suits.

Personal Reflections

First, foreign countries such as France, Japan, Germany, and others had spent time and money investing in the areas that we stayed and visited; the problem was that their honest efforts ranged from helpful to laughably useless. One of the most helpful items was a hydroelectric station used to generate electricity. The most useless was a satellite TV receiver that rebroadcast satellite TV over standard UHF and VHF frequencies that the locals could receive via an antenna. The problem was that the locals did not have TVs much less the electricity needed to power one. As Christians, we often attempt to meet the needs of individuals before forming a relationship and understanding what an individuals specific needs are and how we can meet them best.

Secondly, we are surveying towns deep in the mountains of the world’s driest desert, they have had ¼ inch of rain in 700 years, and almost every town has a Catholic church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Seventh Day Adventists. We are interviewing a woman in an abandoned mining town and she told us “I don’t want to learn Catholic, or Jehovah’s Witness, or Seventh Day Adventist; I want to learn the Bible. I know it is God’s Word and it is all we have, but there is not one to teach it to us.” I have never been to a place that is this open in my entire life, where you walk through the fields of harvest and the grain literally cries out “pick me, pick me, pick me.” At the same time, the situation bore an immense amount of shame; because these heretical groups had beaten us to the punch and I think every Christian should be ashamed of that. One thing is for sure, we must go back and I would encourage all of you to get involved in this anyway you can because amazing things are going to happen in Peru and inside PMBC because of Peru.

Mohler’s Commentary on Total Truth

2006-03-18T23:11:00.000-05:00

Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey is quickly becoming one of my favorite books of all time and I would encourage you to read Albert Mohler’s commentary on the book's importance, “Total Truth”--A Bold Manifesto for the Christian Worldview.

This Is Awesome

2006-03-07T10:55:00.000-05:00

For those of you who havenot heard of Jason McElwain or seen this video check it out because it is awesome. If you are blessed to know Wally and have seen him play basketball this video reminds me of him lighting up the net.

South Dakota Enacts Law Banning Abortion

2006-03-07T07:27:00.000-05:00

From the article:
Gov. Michael Rounds of South Dakota signed into law the nation's most sweeping state abortion ban on Monday, an intentional provocation meant to set up a direct legal challenge to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 United States Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal.

You can read the complete New York Times Article here: South Dakota Bans Abortion, Setting Up a Battle.

The Answer to the Monoculture: II Corinthians 10:4-5 and Acts 17

2006-03-03T01:55:00.000-05:00

4For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

v.4 We live in a world at war, a spiritual war, a war that has been fought since the fall of man. While we may be persecuted and physically oppressed because of our belief in Christ, our fight is nonetheless a spiritual one. We fight the good fight of the faith with divine power, power from God. In I Corinthians 1:18 we find that the message of the cross is the power of God “to us who are being saved.” This means that the strongholds are ideological strongholds, in which men entrench themselves through self-deception.

v.5 in the first half of this verse, there are two conflicting ideologies man’s opinion, which is not founded upon objective knowledge but man’s sinful desires, and the perfect and objective knowledge of God. Through the word of the cross, which is the power of God, we destroy every opinion that conflicts with God’s word. I think that is where most of us stop destroy, destroy, destroy. However, Paul takes it one-step further by saying that we must subjugate their thought life. There is a definite difference between destroying an individuals thoughts and subjugating them. The subjugation of an individual’s thoughts implies that their thoughts will be useful when brought into captive obedience to Christ. This phenomenon is largely due to the role of general revelation, although perverted by sin, upon the formation of man’s thoughts (see my previous post “The Sin of the Monoculture” for more information regarding this).

In Acts 17 Paul is brought before the Areopagus so they might understand his strange new teachings. Paul both destroys their ideological stronghold and subjugates their thoughts.

Paul destroys their ideological strongholds by informing them that:

God rules both heaven and Earth.
God created the world.
God does not dwell in temples nor is He served by man.
God is the source of all life.
Etcetera

Paul subjugates their thoughts by informing them that:

There is a god whom they do not know.
He even goes on to point out that; their own poets have made correct statements about God. Paul probably knew this because he spent everyday in the marketplace proclaiming Christ.

Too often we are so caught up in refuting an argument that we forget to listen to the individual we are sharing with. Like Paul, we should know their poetry, favorite band, or simply their thoughts on life. This allows us to understand and destroy their stronghold with God’s Word and it aids us in subjugating their correct thoughts to Christ. Presuppositional apologetics does not work in a postmodern age; after all the only thing you can presuppose about postmoderns is that, there are no presuppositions. We must form relationships and allow individuals to construct their worldview before us so that we can destroy the fallacies that support it and use what truth may exist in it to construct a Christian worldview.

I will close with a modern example that really hit me this week while reading. Immanuel Kant was a Newtonian Determinist, he believed that the universe was like a machine entirely determined by the laws of nature; this encompassed everything from the orbits of the planets to the synapses firing in your brain. At the same time, he maintained a paradoxical view that man was an autonomous free moral agent, or at least there is the illusion of such. After reading that I could only sit and think about what would have happened if an individual, like Paul, said to Kant; “you are right the actions of the universe are entirely determined by the laws of nature. Laws created and sustained by an absolute Sovereign God, and in Him, all things hold together, from the microscopic double helix DNA carrying the code of your genetic makeup to the rotation of the Milky Way Galaxy. Un-paradoxically your moral accountability is not an illusion it is real and one day the absolute Sovereign God who holds the planets in orbit will hold you accountable.”

In short, our job as apologists is not only to show corrupt ideology for what it is but also to confirm what man has gleaned from general revelation as true, once that thought has been freed from the false ideology, which suppresses the Truth. All of which must happen within the framework of a relationship.

Church Growth and church Growth

2006-02-27T00:47:00.000-05:00

Something that particularly disturbs me and causes much confusion within modern Christianity is the difference between Church growth and church growth. Church growth always results in church growth but church growth does not always mean Church growth. What am I talking about?

Organism vs. Organization

The problem is that we have institutionalized the body of Christ. It is the difference between the Organism and the Organization. The Church is a living organism; it is the body of Christ, the worldwide body of believers. The church is an institution, a localized organization existing within a given space, in its most fundamental form it is an earthly association existing within and around a building or location. Before continuing, it is important to note several distinctions between the Church and the church.

The Church is eternal and global while the church is temporary and localized. The Church is the global body of Christ and being such exists eternally. The church is a local entity and is temporary, there is one church in eternity, and that is the Church.
The local Church is different from the local church. The local Church is the body of believers within a given location, which may exist within many churches. The local church is an entity, where members of the local Church may congregate.
Church membership is active while church membership static. Membership within the Church denotes the bearing of fruit; it means taking initiative and action. There are no nominal members of the Church; everyone is active. Membership within the church is an association that can be inactive and does not necessarily denote the bearing of fruit. You can be a member of the church and have no real connection to it, other than your name being present on a list. There are active members in the church but sadly, activity does not necessarily determine membership.

Alive and Well

I hope that the following passages of Scripture on suffering and the body of Christ will exemplify what I mean by the Church. The Church is the body of Christ and it is a living Organism, it moves, it grows, it talks, and it suffers. That is exactly what Paul means when he says, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church” (Colossians 1:24). He was not saying that the death of Christ was insufficient but that we are Christ’s body and the world must see Him suffer, through our suffering. That is the cry of Hebrews 13:12-13 “So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.” If you are persecuted ultimately Christ is persecuted and you are blessed enough to bear His reproach. That is why Christ asked “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

The Method to This Madness

I am not trying to undermine the importance of membership in the local church. My point is this: the prominent evangelism model in evangelical Christianity is a “come and hear” model rather than a “go and tell model.” We focus so much of our time persuading individuals to come to our church that we neglect to confront them with what really maters, membership in the Church. I am privileged and blessed to have an awesome pastor who takes time to disciple me and expounds the Word of God every time he steps into the pulpit. There are also several other pastors whose churches, if you lived near them, I would beg you to attend. However, we must always set Church growth as a higher priority than church growth. With that in mind there are certainly churches that I would plead with you not to attend and in many places there may only be one church worth attending, if that. Our priority must not be inviting individuals to the church so that they can hear the Gospel; our priority as Christians must be going and telling the Gospel and, if necessary, encouraging individuals to come and hear our pastor. Honestly, if they truly are members of the Church then they will want to go to a church and hear God’s word. The Church is not an institution, it is not an organization, and it is not centered around a building; the Church is a living organism centered around the living God all the while bearing out the sufferings of Christ for the whole world to see.

The Reality of the Monoculture: Jude 1:3-4

2006-02-24T12:24:00.000-05:00

“3Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

v.3 Jude desires to write about their common salvation but is unable; John MacArthur uses the illustration of when you start writing and then wad your letter up and throw it away repeatedly. That is what Jude is doing and what was intended to be an encouraging letter about their common salvation turns into a call to arms. He exhorts them to contend and agonize, to preserve the faith.

v.4 He cannot write about their common salvation because false teachers who, by an act of God’s sovereign choice, were destined for damnation have secretly began perverting God’s grace and denying His sovereign rule.

In the four passages that I have gone through under the heading, “The Reality of the Monoculture” it is important to notice the progression of events throughout these passages. Matthew 7:15-23 issues a warning to be on your guard against false teachers. II Timothy 4:3 warns of a coming time when sinful man will surround himself with false teachers. II Peter 2:1-3 again warns that just as false prophets arose in Israel that false teachers will arise among the church. Jude 1:3-4 no longer issues a warning of coming false teachers; but rather it issues a call to defend the faith that is under attack by false teachers.

Jude was the brother of Jesus so this letter was not written long after Christ’s resurrection and in that short time false teachers have perverted the Gospel to the point that salvation in no longer common. The situation is just as serious today; we live in a veritable cornucopia of heresy.

Catholicism teaches that individuals are saved based on their own merit. They also view the Pope as the supreme and universal master over the church. Universalism believes that every individual is saved through Christ regardless of his or her belief or acknowledgement of Him. Arminianism denies the lordship Christ by limiting Gods sovereignty. Open Theism denies God’s omniscience thus limiting His sovereignty. Still others believe you can loose your salvation or that you can be saved without acknowledging the lordship of Christ. Not to mention those who would add works, such as baptism, onto salvation. These things are not small matters; many of these are salvific issues. We should not ignore these issues for the sake of ecumenism and unity. Far too often Christians are unifying themselves with error for the sake of peace. We must stop being politically correct and start being intolerant of error in whatever way it may manifest itself. We must contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

Dueling Book Reviews

2006-02-23T00:28:00.000-05:00

My past three posts have been exposition on texts dealing with false teaching and since it appears that, no one is reading them I am going to mix things up with a book review. For those of you who did not notice while my past three posts had the same title they dealt with different passages of Scripture, I am sure everyone is scrolling down to read them now. In my reviews I simply write reviews; I try not to draw points out of books because you would be better off reading the book and hearing it from the author. I simply want to point out the strengths and weaknesses of books that I enjoyed reading.

Be Intolerant Because Some Things Are Just Stupid

I was walking by the church library and saw this book and new I would love it, while secretly wishing I had written a book with that title. The back cover says it all “Our generation is being destroyed by manic tolerance.” Written by Ryan Dobson, who enjoys surfing and skateboarding, means that the book is loaded with language geared toward reaching today’s youth culture. However, I think this is a great book for everyone for several reasons. First, it teaches simple apologetic arguments suitable for anyone to learn and use to defend the Faith. Second, it presents solid arguments that will be useful in examining your own worldview. Third, the author unashamedly and vividly confronts the most popular worldview today, relativism (manic tolerance). Fourth, the title is truthful and frank, which I very much enjoy. In short, the book is straightforward, easy to read, and an excellent tool for defending the Faith and standing against the ecumenical monoculture.

Nine Marks Of A Healthy Church (Booklet)

Like the first book review I ever did, this is only a booklet review. However, if someone would like to purchase the full-blown book I would love to read and review it for you. The best part about the book review is the book is available for free download, in PDF format, here (it can also be purchased via this link). Written by Mark Dever, of Capital Hill Baptist Church and IX Marks Ministries, it is sure to be a great read. Mark begins by stating that, “These are not the only attributes of a healthy church. . . . The nine attributes discussed here are marks that may set a church apart, that may distinguish a sound, healthy, biblical church from many of its more sickly sisters. The nine marks discussed here are found too rarely today, and are therefore in special need of being brought to our attention and cultivated in our churches.” The nine attributes laid forth within this booklet are indeed rare and a necessity for a healthy church. I would obviously recommend this book to pastors; however, a Biblical understanding of what attributes distinguish healthy congregation are vital not only to pastors but their congregations as well. I recommend this book to everyone; whether leading a church, looking for a church, or actively involved in a church. The end of each chapter features several “Questions for Reflection” that will surely be of benefit to everyone who reads this booklet.

The only area where I felt there was room for improvement was the final chapter on a “Biblical Understanding of Leadership.” Rather than lying forth, what a Biblical leadership structure looks like the author presents an argument distinguishing the Baptist and Presbyterian views of eldership. While I agree with his definition of Biblical eldership, the reader would be better served by defining a Biblical leadership structure that encompasses the major leadership roles described in Scripture.

The Reality of the Monoculture: II Peter 2:1-3

2006-02-21T11:22:00.000-05:00

“1But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

My previous two posts have been on the lengthy side so I am only going to highlight a few key points in this passage.

v.1 Peter assures the recipients of this letter that just as assuredly as false teachers emerged to deceive Israel false teachers would arise to deceive them as well. This remains a sure reality to this day; that false teachers will arise to deceive God’s people. By “secretly,” Peter is not talking about individuals who are covert but prominent teachers who covertly disguise damning lies as Truth. The Greek word (despoten) Master is the word from which we derive the English word “despot.” These false teachers deny, by both their teaching and their lifestyle, the absolute sovereign nature of God.

v.2 Many, who appear to be of God’s chosen people, will follow their evil desires and embrace false teaching. Because of these nominal Christians, the True Gospel is blasphemed. This is exactly what Paul describes in Romans 2:23-24 where the hypocrisy of the Jews led the Gentiles to blaspheme God.

v.3 Driven by covetousness false teachers will try to take advantage of you with their lies. After what seems to be a discouraging promise that false teachers will arise to deceive nominal Christians; Peter encourages us with God’s sovereignty. God, in an exercise of His sovereign choice (Romans 9), prepared these false teachers for destruction, a destruction that is not idle but is actively storing up wrath for the day when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed (Romans 2:5). False teachers do not exist outside of God’s control, they may reject His rule and His authority but He remains sovereign over them (Romans 9:14-23).

The Reality of the Monoculture: II Timothy 4:3-4

2006-02-17T01:02:00.000-05:00

“3For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

Throughout First and Second Timothy false teachers and false teaching is a constantly reoccurring issue. Paul urged Timothy to Ephesus to command certain men not to teach false doctrines (I Timothy 1:3) men who desired to teach the law but lacked understanding (I Timothy 1:7). Paul warns Timothy of Hymenaeus and Alexander whom Paul handed over to Satan (I Timothy 1:19-20). Similar to the passage above Paul warns, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared” (I Timothy 4:1-2). False teachers know nothing (I Timothy 6:3-5). Paul exhorts, “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," for by professing it some have swerved from the faith” (I Timothy 6:20-21). False teachings spread quickly like gangrene and cancer (II Timothy 2:17). Paul warns of Hymenaeus and Philetus who have abandoned the Truth (II Timothy 2:17-18). False teachers perform the will of Satan (II Timothy 2:26). Paul warns that in the last days false teachers will arise and oppose the truth (II Timothy 3:1-9). False teachers and teachings will only increase and become worse over time (II Timothy 3:13). This all builds into Paul’s final exhortation of Timothy and this passage records Paul’s final warning of false teachers and teachings.

v.3 Paul does not specifically say that these false teachers arose within the church, however, speaking of a coming time “when people will not endure” means that at one point they did endure sound teaching, which means Paul is speaking of apostate church members. These individuals represent the seed, which landed on the rocky places and sprang up quickly but eventually died (Matthew 13:1-23). Paul is warning Timothy of a coming time when people will not endure, or tolerate, sound teaching. Because of this, “they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.” This bears a striking resemblance to Hosea 4:8-9 where the priests are like the people and they are all insatiably seeking sin. They are just like the Athenians who waste all of their time hearing and teaching new things (Acts 17:21). Men are surrounding themselves with, and surrounding, false teachers who teach new and increasingly sensual teachings that promote their sinful desires.

v.4 They have willingly abandoned the truth, which causes them to turn aside to lies. This is the exact same sequence of events spoken of in Romans 1:18-25. When you abandon the truth the only thing left to hold is a lie; that is what Paul is describing by their actively choosing to abandon truth and their passively being turned aside to lies.

Here are two very simple ways to easily recognize false teaching. First, if it is new then it is false, Paul commanded Timothy saying, “what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (II timothy 2:2). There has and continues to be a long line of faithful men who have contended for the Truth and entrusted it to other faithful men. Second, if it suits man’s desires then it is false, man loves evil and not the Truth (John 3:19). Biblical teaching should stand in direct conflict with everything sinful man desires. False teaching is spreading like cancer throughout the modern church and nominal Christians are embracing these lies as Truth as they accumulate false teachers to promote their evil lusts. Those outside the church have never tolerated the Truth and the church itself is becoming increasingly intolerant of the Truth.

The Reality of the Monoculture: Matthew 7:15-23

2006-02-11T12:41:00.000-05:00

“15Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”

I really wanted to run quickly through these four passages and go directly to the present reality of the monoculture however I feel it will be more beneficial to take a detailed look at these four passages before looking at the current world situation (please read “A Biblical Response to the Ecumenical Monoculture” for more information).

v.15 Christ warns the multitude to be alert, on their guard, always looking for those who would falsely claim to speak for God. By sheep’s clothing Christ is not speaking of one who sneaks into the flock dressed as a sheep; He is speaking of a false shepherd. Shepherds often wore wool clothing made from their sheep’s wool. This is also consistent with His calling them false prophets; prophets were not mere members of the Church, they are leaders who spoke for God. Christ is warning the multitudes of being led astray by false leadership who would seek to destroy them as a ravenous wolves would tear a sheep, which strayed from the flock, to pieces.

v.16 We can know who the false teachers are; this is so important that in verse 20 He reminds/encourages the multitudes that they can know who the false teachers are. Proponents of ecumenism would quote Matthew 7:1 saying, “We cannot call others out as false prophets because we are forbidden to judge” this; however, is an incorrect interpretation, Matthew 7:1 only forbids hypocritical judgment. We can know who false teachers are and we will know them by their fruits, the practical effects of their teachings and doctrines.

v.17-18 The previous verse dealt specifically with the fruits of ones teachings and doctrines these verses deal more specifically with the tree, which is the teachings and doctrines themselves. In the same way that good trees produce good fruit and bad trees produce bad fruit; the teaching of sound doctrine produces lives that are lived according to Scripture. It is important to note the Christ is concerned with both the teaching and its result. Supporters of the seeker and emergent church movements justify teaching unbiblical doctrines because of the results of their ministry; however, the tree must be good if it is to yield good fruit. This is precisely why Paul tells Timothy, “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” (I Timothy 4:16).

v.19 This verse is self-explanatory; the mark of a real Christian is good fruit and failure to produce fruit results in damnation.

v.21-23 This is a continuation of the thought in verse 19 and focuses on the result of false prophets and their own self-deception. Teaching, prophesying, and casting out demons in God’s name are not qualifiers to enter the kingdom of heaven. This reemphasizes the false prophets of verse 15 who outwardly appear to be true prophets. The one who enters the kingdom of heaven is the one who does God’s will. Those who promote ecumenism and use their own cleverness and ingenuity to build the church are in rebellion against God. God has set fourth in His Word specific methodologies and doctrines that must be followed if Christ is to build His church through what is taught (I Corinthians 3:7). Scripture alone must be the foundation for everything you do a foundation of anything else is outside of God’s will and subsequently false. Pastors, teachers, prophets, etcetera who’s methodologies and doctrines are not founded upon Scripture are false; regardless of what element of truth there may be in their teaching. The church must defend itself against these false shepherds, wherever they are found.

The Presuppositionality of All Things Part 2

2006-02-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

In my previous post, I established that God and His word must be the root source of everything we as Christians do. Even actions as mundane and commonplace as eating and drinking should be done to the glory of God (I Corinthians 10:31).

For quite some time I have been annoyed with the large amounts of reverends, bishops, priests, and Christians who still write our local newspaper and claim that Intelligent Design promotes a religious belief while evolution is a religiously autonomous truth. There are no religiously autonomous truths; its root source is either God and His Word or it is something else.

Evolution presupposes the scientific process as both preceding and validating all truth. This is a religious claim because it presupposes something other than God as ultimate. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36). All truth is from God; truth cannot exist apart from God. God created every truth. To presuppose something other than God as the root source for anything is idolatrous and evolution is just that.

The Presuppositionality of All Things Part 1

2006-02-06T10:23:00.000-05:00

I promise that this post is far more useful than its title. I have spent the past several days reading Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey, which I hope to do a book review on soon, and I wanted to share some of my thoughts on recent happenings as I filter them through my thoughts from this book.

One of the points that she raises is, “If you press any set of ideas back far enough, eventually you reach some starting point. Something has to be taken as self-existent—the ultimate reality and source of everything else. There’s not reason for it to exist; it just ‘is.’” This self-existent ultimate reality is the presupposition from which everything else derives its meaning. Take evolution, for example; the presupposition of evolution is the scientific process; it both precedes and validates all truth.

As a Christians God is our presupposition for all things (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, 9:10, 15:33, Romans 11:36); God simply is (Exodus 3:14). To illustrate this I want to look at Psalm 138:2.

“I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.”

God has exalted His Word and His Name above everything. This is seen through the fact that apart from the name of Christ no one can be saved (Acts 4:12) and apart from God’s Word no one can be saved (Romans 10:17). Some translations translate this verse as saying, “for you have exalted your Word above your name.” Which is also valid in that apart from the Word of God His name has no meaning; we can only know God through His word. God and His word should presuppose everything the Christian does; everything should flow out of and tested by God through His Word. In order to properly assess our motives and our actions we must determine their ultimate cause, which is either God and His Word or something else.

Ecumenism at Work

2006-02-02T17:39:00.000-05:00

I just heard this story today and was so disgusted and appalled by the ludicrous actions of the Judge Edward Cashman, of Vermont, that I had to inform you of this story. Cashman sentenced Mark Huelett to 60 days in jail for molesting a girl for a period of four years beginning when she was six. I cannot even express how absurdly ludicrous this is. How can 60 days in prison be a proportionate punishment for four years of child molestation?

“During the sentencing, Cashman said the best way to ensure public safety was to get Hulett out of prison so he could receive sex offender treatment.” How in the world can letting a self-confessing child molester loose be in the best interest of public safety? This is most assuredly a result of postmodern thought and ecumenism.

For more information you can read the whole story here Vermont asks judge to rethink sex offender's 60-day sentence. Thankfully, the judge has been under extreme criticism after this ridiculous mockery of justice and last Thursday he increased the prison sentence to three to ten years. Even at that, this is absurd and should hardly be considered as justice. The story covering the sentence increase can be read here Judge, under fire, increases sentence for sex offender.

The Sin of the Monoculture: Romans 1:18-25

2006-01-31T13:26:00.000-05:00

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

v.21, 22-23, &24-25 These three sets of verses all follow the same progression of events which Paul repeats three times in three different ways to nail this truth into our hearts and minds. First, knowledge of God, that has been made plain to them, is exchanged for a lie that God is like a created thing. This leads to an inherent failure to glorify God whom then gives them over to their sinful lusts. Idolatry is generally associated to the worship of images resembling birds and animals and reptiles; however, the first idol listed in verse 23 is one in an image resembling mortal man. While individuals do worship money and status, among other things, the most rampant form of idolatry involves worshiping a god that resembles mortal man.

The there are two specific idols I want to address the ecumenical/postmodern idol and the idol which has resulted through embracing the American dream. Sadly, the worship of these idols runs rampant in the “church.” Proponents of ecumenism have created a god who resembles mortal man in his tolerance and acceptance of sin. They say things like, “my Jesus would not send people to hell.” Your Jesus? As if, you can just create your own. God is not ecumenical (Isaiah 42:8, Luke 12:49-53). God does not tolerate or accept sin (Romans 2:5, Romans 8:8, 35-37). Salvation is found in Christ alone (John 14:6, Acts 4:12).

The result of the American dream is an idol whose main concern is the safety and comfort of man. Through embracing the American dream, the church has not only become idolatrous; but also created a god who is idolatrous as well, a god who worships man by placing a higher value on the safety, or comfort, of his creations rather than the advancement of his kingdom and his glory. God does not exist to make you safe (Matthew 10:37-39, John 21:19, Hebrews 11, 13:12-14). God created you for His glory (Isaiah 43:7). His purpose in your life is that you would glorify Him and teach others to glorify Him. God does not exist to make you healthy, wealthy, and prosperous. The idolatrous god of the American dream is a farce. God killed His Son in order to advance His Kingdom and Glorify His name. Why would He treat you any differently?

It is time to stop reinventing Christ and return to the Biblical Jesus, Biblical Christianity, and the Biblical purpose of the Church. Anything less is idolatrous.

Books Books Books

2006-01-28T12:51:00.000-05:00

At the Together for the Gospel Blog, Albert Mohler posted some of his thoughts on reading books and while I try to keep everything here somewhat original I had to refer you on to read his post, Some Thoughts on the Reading of Books. I love books and I love to read so for me one of the saddest and most disturbing trends within among modern evangelicals and within America, as a whole, is a lack of reading. I think it is safe to say that the majority of reading that does occur is of the superficial fictional type that fails to stimulate deep thought. This is largely due to our incessant desire to be stimulated by the onslaught of vivid images provided by television and video games. I mainly read books on theology but I also enjoy reading books about WWII and Scotland; I find books on war particularly interesting because they remind me of what the Christian life is, a war for eternal freedom, and what this war requires, great sacrifice. On this theme, Erwin Raphael McManus said the following, “God’s Kingdom is a Kingdom of war. Not where we kill but where we are willing to let others kill us. Not where we hate but we are willing to embrace the hate of others. Not where we are violent but where we take the violence of the world upon ourselves and allow the love of God to prevail. I wonder how many of us actually believe God can prevail if we love the worst of sinners; if we extend our lives into the most dangerous situation in the world?”

My First Book Review, Actually it is a Booklet Review

2006-01-26T12:05:00.000-05:00

As I slowly read various books I plan to begin posting book reviews hoping to encourage you with, exhort you through, and expose you to the wisdom of Godly men.

Recently, I was given a copy of John M. Frame's short booklet Studying Theology as a Servant of Jesus. John M. Frame is the Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida.

In his short (17 page) booklet he offers nine points of advice (including the conclusion) for “young theologians,” those just beginning to study theology. While the book is written to young and prospective seminarians is my hope that you would see the important role of theology in your own life. In its simplest form, theology is the study of God. More importantly, the theology you develop through your personal study of God is essentially the application of God’s Word to your life. I think this booklet offers solid advice to ensure that you study correctly, which should result in proper application to your life.

There are three important points that I would like to draw out of Frame's essay. First, theology is the study God and this is a spiritual pursuit. You cannot know God or grow in your knowledge of him apart from the redeeming work of Christ on the cross. Frame states the goal of this pursuit as such: “theology, as the application of God's Word to human life, is a spiritual task, and, as such, requires you to have a close walk with God and a willingness to do theology his way.” Your lifestyle reflects your theology if you do not live what you believe then you do not really believe it. While this is a spiritual pursuit, it will nonetheless require diligent study and much rigorous thought.

Second, theology, as the study of God, is a pursuit that results in increasing obedience and submission to Christ. Upon growing in ones mental understanding of God it naturally follows, that one will grow in obedience to God. For those of you who do not see this as a natural result consider this warning from Romans 2:4-5; “4Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.” Our hearts must not be hardened; but by the grace of God, in Christ, we must pray that our hearts be pierced by the Word and led into deeper obedience to God. Obedience must not be a rote process devoid of emotion. Our obedience must be a passionate and joyful obedience. The Puritans called this phenomenon “logic on fire;” which means that as we grown in our knowledge of God, theology, we must grow in our passionate love for God. A proper knowledge of God results in a proper and ever increasing love of God and love for God. A proper love of God and for God cannot exist without knowledge of Him (Romans 10:1-4).

Third, the study of God must be pursued with immense humility. As stated above you cannot know or grow in you understanding of God apart from Christ (I Corinthians 1:21, 30). Because of this man cannot boast as if he discovered or found God (I Corinthians 1:28-29). As you study theology you must constantly give thanks for and boast in the unfathomably gracious God that allows you to know, study, and obey Him (I Corinthians 1:31 & Galatians 6:14).

Implied in all of this is that the study of God must be a study of the Bible. God has so graciously blessed us with the undeserved privilege of reading His words and hearing Him speak in Scripture. We must never place human experience, scientific evidence, or any other knowledge gained from general revelation above what God has self-disclosed to us in Scripture.

Resolved Part 3

2006-01-23T21:08:00.000-05:00

I have thought about all of the excellent sermons that we were able to hear at Resolved that I would love to share but I really want you to see the result of God’s Word and how it changes everything about life. Rick Holland began one of the sessions by telling the story of a young man named Ryan Gay who a week before the conference had gone to the doctor because of a very bad cough and was diagnosed with a very large cancerous tumor that was located in between his heart and left lung. Ryan immediately began aggressive Chemotherapy and was subsequently unable to travel across America to Resolved. Rick called Ryan so that we could all hear him and pray for him; upon Rick asking what we could pray for Ryan listed several things including his family, friends, and the conference and he never once mentioned himself. Of all the things that stuck in my mind after Resolved it was this when Rick asked Ryan how he was doing and Ryan’s reply was this, “God has shown me so much through this I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.” Of all the preaching and singing that occurred during the entire conference I think God was most glorified in those words. Life and the world look so different when Christ is your treasure. Oh that we would learn to treasure Christ like Ryan.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ Philippians 3:8

Resolved Part 2

2006-01-20T22:14:00.000-05:00

I was going to write something here but I think we would be better served by listening to Jonathan Edwards. Below are his seventy resolutions, in their totality, that he penned at the young age of seventeen. These resolutions and many more of Jonathan Edwards works can be found at www.JonathanEdwards.com

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don't hinder.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

(Resolutions 1 through 21 written in on setting in New Haven in 1722)

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God's glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to east away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, "A faithful man who can find?" may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722.

34. Resolved, in narration's never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22 and 26, 1722.

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord's day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.

43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God's, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723.

44. Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12 and 13.1723.

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May27, and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July ii, and July 13.

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; "knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord." June 25 and July 13, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan.14' and July '3' 1723.

64. Resolved, when I find those "groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those "breakings of soul for the longing it hath," of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear', of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton's 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. Aug. 17, 1723.

Resolved Part 1

2006-01-20T00:57:00.000-05:00

I have not posted in a little over a week this is because Allison and I have been blessed with the awesome opportunity to visit one of my best friends Chase Sears, to visit The Master’s Seminary, and attend the Resolved in Los Angeles, California. Resolved is based around the seventy resolutions made by Jonathan Edwards at age seventeen. I highly recommend that you go to their website and view the trailer for Resolved 2006. Even more highly recommended is purchasing the MP3s or CDs of both Resolved 2005 and 2006 they contain some of the finest expository preaching you will ever hear and I guarantee it will change your life.

I plan to do several posts about Resolved but first I want to tell you about what impacted me the most at Resolved. Above all, of the excellent and passionate exposition, I was most affected by the conduct and personality of C. J. Mahaney, the founder of Sovereign Grace Ministries. He is by far the humblest person I have ever met and his humility is convicting. By watching and listening to him, I was able to see what true humility in a man of God looks like. This is rare but I am going to endorse a book I have not yet read. As soon as I can I will purchase and read Humility: True Greatness by C. J. Mahaney and I hope that you too would do likewise.

The Threat of the Monoculture: Acts 4:7-12 & 18-20

2006-01-11T09:28:00.000-05:00

7And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by him this man is standing before you well. 11This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

18So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

v.18 They could do whatever they wanted; they could speak and teach whatever they wanted to so long as it was not done in the name of Christ. Driven by ecumenism the monoculture must embrace every deity and yet acknowledge none, as antithetical as this might appear it is true. The ecumenical monoculture cannot acknowledge Christ as supreme over other Gods and in fact, because of Christ’s own claim to supremacy over all other gods the monoculture cannot acknowledge Him at all. Christ is, by His nature supreme; therefore, if the monoculture acknowledges Him it also acknowledges his supremacy. Because of this, the monoculture must oppose Christ.

v.19-20 Many within modern Christianity are being dictated to by the culture rather than transforming it, this is true of everything from music to church planting/growth models and preaching. In stark contrast to this unbiblical trend, Peter offers these words “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge.” Man’s opinion is inconsequential. Our chief concern, in any and every situation, is what is right in the sight of God. Above all else, our lives must be pleasing to God. Preaching a narrow-minded, exclusive, and foolish message is right in the eyes of God regardless of what society thinks.

v.12 This is the threat of the monoculture: that through abandoning sound doctrine and embracing suicidal ecumenism no one will be saved. Salvation is in Christ alone. There is salvation in no other belief system or deity and salvation cannot be earned through good works. A frequently asked question in response to this is “What about the man on the island who has never heard about Christ?” Apart from a man on a boat with a Bible, the man on the island has no hope; he cannot earn his salvation nor does his lack of knowledge about Christ exempt him from being held accountable for his sins. The offensive message of Christ must be preached lest everyone be like that man on the island with no access to the gospel and no hope for salvation.

Another Case to Keep an Eye On

2006-01-03T23:13:00.000-05:00

Today, Albert Mohler’s website points out another legal challenge to Christian schools, to which we should all pay close attention. His article: A Case to Watch -- Another Challenge to Christian Schools can be read in its entirety here.

The Danger of the Monoculture: I Timothy 4:11-16

2005-12-31T11:37:00.000-05:00

11Command and teach these things. 12Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. 16Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Paul begins chapter four with the warning “that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” because their consciences have been made numb as if being seared by a hot iron. The proponents of the ecumenical monoculture and postmodern Christianity have abandoned Christ and his teachings and in turn devoted themselves to the teachings of demons. We live in that time, in verse three Paul even lists several popular false doctrines currently taught at Ephesus. The ecumenical monoculture and postmodern Christianity claims that doctrine and theology are unimportant, however, I Timothy offers several reasons why this just is not so.

v.11 Biblical Christianity and the monoculture clash over this issue. The monoculture asks, “Why, if we are all on our own spiritual journey should one man stand and speak with authority?” The pastor exists to shepherd, lead, and protect God’s flock, not merely to journey with it. A good pastor will command and teach the Word of God. The fulfillment of The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) is dependent upon teaching the nations to obey God’s Word. God is not an inert spiritual being; He is a despotic ruler (Acts 4) of absolute power who demands your obedience.

v.13 A good pastor devotes himself to three things. First, a good pastor must devote himself to the public reading of Scripture. Cashing in on Biblical illiteracy, many are abandoning the public reading of Scripture for skits, video clips, and stories. Any authority the pastor has is derived from God’s Word and apart from this the pastor has no authority. Second, a good pastor must devote himself to exhortation. Exhortation refers to the application of God’s word; this could take the form of a command to obey and submit, encouragement to persevere, comfort, or rebuke. Third, a good pastor must devote himself to teaching, also translated doctrine. The current trend of teaching anecdotal stories and pop psychology is abhorrently unbiblical. The pastor must systematically exposit God’s Word.

v.14 Paul is referring to Timothy’s spiritual gifts, to be used in ministry, of preaching/teaching, and evangelism. Through abandoning Christ and devoting themselves to demonic doctrines, the proponents of the monoculture and postmodern Christianity have no spiritual gifts. However, this passage exhorts Biblical pastors, and every Christian, to stay the course, to be doctrinally sound, and to use you spiritual gifts.

v.15 Paul continues his exhortation encouraging every good pastor to devote himself to these things to the point that all may see their progress. Quite simply others should notice your obedience to God’s Word.

v.16 This verse offers a promise from God coupled with an extremely severe warning. Perseverance in the Truth is a mark of genuine conversion and the pastor who perseveres in teaching sound doctrine can be used by God as an instrument to deliver the Gospel that God might save some (see John 8:31 and Romans 10:9-17). The pastor must persevere in two areas his teaching/doctrine and his conduct; he must teach and live the truth and because of this God will save some. The warning and the danger of the monoculture is this: the abandonment of Biblical doctrine is tantamount to abandoning Christ and the congregation who bases their salvation upon the doctrines of demons will not be saved. The monoculture wants to downplay the importance of doctrinal beliefs posing that they are unimportant, unnecessary, and should be abandoned to promote unity, ecumenism. This is a damning lie; sound doctrine is of the utmost importance because without the preaching of the true Word of Christ no one can be saved (Romans 10:9-17).

Reflections on the Scriptures and Christmas

2005-12-26T01:07:00.000-05:00

At some point in the near future, I will return to my plan as discussed in “A Biblical Response to the Ecumenical Monoculture” and then quickly transition into another topic that I am rather anxious to discuss. However, until then I want to offer a couple reflections on the Scriptures and Christmas. Below is on of my favorite passages about the birth of Christ and brief reflections on it.

1And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, Revelation 12:1-5

The woman, the nation of Israel, is being tormented and pursued by a great red dragon, Satan, who seeks to devour her child, Jesus Christ. All the nations will be subject to the absolute and universal rule of Christ. The latter part of verse five speaks of Christ crushing Satan’s rebellion and ascending into Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, Acts 2:24, Hebrews 1:3). The birth of Christ does not represent the birth of a cute and giggly child. The birth of Christ represents the coming of The King to crush Satan’s rebellion and take back His kingdom by force. This was, and still is, a war and Satan knew it. Herod too feared the birth of The King and though Christ was just a child he too was determined to destroy Him (Matthew 2:13-16).

I love the line in "O Little Town of Bethlehem" that says, "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight." Too often, I sing this hymn and miss the sheer weight of these few words. The hopes and fears of all eternity, everyone who has ever lived, are met in Christ. He meets our hope in that for our sake God made Christ, who knew no sin, sin so that in Christ we might become the righteousness of God (II Corinthians 5:21). However, as we sing this joyous hymn it comes with the sobering reminder that the birth of Christ is the fulfillment of an eternity of fears, many of which are yet to be recognized. May we never forget that the birth of Christ represents the coming of The King, to whom we must submit, and may this drive us to die reaching the world for Christ, that they too might rejoice in Him.

How To Fight For Christmas

2005-12-22T05:55:00.000-05:00

In recent years, the response to monoculture has been in the form of political activism and legislation. Jonathan Edwards, in Charity and It’s Fruits, proposes a very different response. “A man of a right spirit is not a man of narrow and private views, but is greatly interested and concerned for the good of the community to which he belongs, and particularly of the city or village in which he resides, and for the true welfare of the society of which he is a member. God commanded the Jews that were carried away captive to Babylon, to seek the good of that city, though it was not their native place, but only the city of their captivity. His injunction was (Jer. 29:7), “Seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it.” And a man of truly Christian spirit will be earnest for the good of his country, and of the place of his residence, and will be disposed to lay himself out for its improvement.”

He went on to say, “And those that are possessed of the spirit of Christian charity are of a more enlarged spirit still; for they are concerned, not only for the thrift of the community, but for the welfare of the Church of God, and of all the people of God individually. Of such a spirit was Moses, the man of God, and therefore he earnestly interceded for God’s visible people, and declared himself ready to die that they might be spared (Exo. 32:11, 32). And of such a spirit was Paul, who was so concerned for the welfare of all, both Jews and Gentiles, that he was willing to become as they were (1 Cor. 9:19-23), if possibly he might save some of them.”

Jonathan Edwards realized that cultural transformation is dependent upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ first transforming the lives of those within that culture. He makes the extremely important point that our concern must not merely stop at the community but must extend to the Church of God and the individual people of God. I love the phrase “true welfare.” Legislation and political protest is not “true welfare.” The true welfare of any community and every individual is Jesus Christ Himself and we must be willing to lay down our lives sacrificially for Him. The fight for Christmas is not fought within the state legislature, on storefront displays, or in roadside nativity scenes. The fight for Christmas is fought within the heart of every individual and it is fought with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:11-14

The Fight For Christmas Part 2

2005-12-19T22:35:00.000-05:00

The controversy surrounding Christmas is a prime example of the ecumenical monoculture at work. By removing the more blatantly “Christian” symbols surrounding Christmas the resulting, religious strife free, homogeneous culture can peacefully enjoy the holidays.

The fight for Christmas, and the backlash against all things Christian, is merely a symptom of a deeper, older, and more serious problem, the failure to reach America for Christ. This is a result of decades of the embedding of the “American Dream” into Christian culture; thus resulting in the institutionalizing of Christianity. American Christianity is no longer a movement empowered by the Holy Spirit, driven by a passion for Christ, and founded upon the inerrant Word of God.

Modern American Christianity is more like the pharisaic religion that Christ stood against. Its finance committees are driven by business strategy and more concerned with what can be done rather than what must be done. Its preaching is more akin to pop psychology and self-help books than the words of the Sovereign Universal Ruler. Its god is lacking in righteousness, limited power, and blasphemous mockery of the Infinitely Righteous, Immeasurably Beautiful, and Unfathomably Powerful God that IS. This is not true of all Christians in America, not all churches in America, it is however the prevailing norm.

The Fight For Christmas Part 1

2005-12-18T16:57:00.000-05:00

Today I read an Associated Press article entitled; Group fights Wal-Mart on 'happy holidays'. The article reported, "Controversy over the secularization of Christmas is nothing new, but this year religious groups are publicly taking on retailers who have decided to tone down the religious aspects of the holiday in their store decorations and promotional material."

The New York Times also ran an article entitled, Good Will Took a Holiday, Whatever You Call It. The New York Times reports; "At a Christmas tree lighting ceremony recently in Manhasset, N.Y., a crowd of 200 gasped at the intemperate words uttered by a public official who was angry at a priest for an invocation the official considered too religious." Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman is quoted as saying "This is inappropriate, I just want to make it clear that this is in no way a religious ceremony." In addition, an elementary school in Dodgeville, Wisconsin modified the lyrics of "Silent Night" "to eliminate religious references."

The fact remains, and will always remain, that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and to claim otherwise is simply ludicrous. The advocates of ecumenism want all the trappings of Christmas without having to acknowledge that it represents the birth of THE KING to which every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every will tongue confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

A Biblical Response to the Ecumenical Monoculture

2005-12-14T22:55:00.000-05:00

Now that I have thoroughly profiled the ecumenical monoculture I plan to set forth what a Biblical response to it should be. Once I begin to lay forth a Biblical response to the ecumenical monoculture, my posts will be titled by the verses, which are exposited therein. These posts will be interrupted occasionally by cultural commentary, breaking news, and anything else that I deem of importance. Before I begin addressing a Biblical response to the ecumenical monoculture, I find it necessary to offer an introduction, albeit a lengthy one, to the topic with the following series of posts.

The Danger of the Monoculture: I Timothy 4:15-16

The Threat of the Monoculture: Acts 4:12

The Sin of the Monoculture: Romans 1:18-23

The Reality of the Monoculture: Matthew 7:15-23, II Timothy 4:3, II Peter 2:1-3, and Jude 1:3-4

The Answer to the Monoculture: II Corinthians 10:5, Jude 1:17-25

Why should you stand against the ecumenical monoculture? Part 5

2005-12-13T09:51:00.000-05:00

The Ecumenical Monoculture is Exclusive Part 4

Christianity

“You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3

“I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.” Isaiah 42:8

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17
Biblical Christianity is not, and will never be, tolerated by the ecumenical monoculture. The proponents of the ecumenical monoculture are vigorously opposing the absolute and exclusive truth claim made by Biblical Christianity.

I admit that due to the, anti-Christian, agenda, of the ecumenical monoculture, and rampant drives towards tolerance, in sects of all religions, it is unlikely that the monoculture will come to oppose any who are not conservative or fundamental in their beliefs, namely conservative evangelical Christians. The push towards inclusivism and tolerance can be seen in the following statement made by the Catholic church: “The Church's relationship with the Muslims. ‘The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day.’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 841) I find it highly unlikely that any faithful Muslim would agree with that statement. The move towards ecumenism is not limited to Catholicism; the postmodern Sirens are even luring those who would call themselves Christian to make shipwreck of their faith.

Does that sound like tolerance? Is the ecumenical monoculture concerned with establishing or promoting unity among churches or religions? Is the ecumenical monoculture supremely tolerant, as it claims? Or is it venomously intolerant and purposed solely to promote moral relativism? The ecumenical monoculture is not tolerant of other beliefs, as shown by Shanafelt’s statement. Postmodernism is only tolerant of those who believe that truth and God are constructs of the human mind. The monoculture will not tolerate any religious belief system that makes an absolute/exclusive claim. Postmodernism and the ecumenical monoculture are only tolerant of those who compromise their beliefs to comply with the monoculture. By claiming, that universal/absolute truth does not exist Postmodernism makes an exclusive and absolute truth claim.

Postmodernism’s Intolerance of its Own Truth Claim

Self-contradiction appears inherent within the postmodern thought process (Please read “Why should you stand against the ecumenical monoculture? Part 1” for further explanation). Its view of tolerance is no exception to this. If “the limit of tolerance is intolerance (1)” and Postmodernism is intolerant (see “Why should you stand against the ecumenical monoculture? Parts 2-5”) then postmodernism cannot tolerate its own beliefs. Because of its venomous intolerance of ALL exclusive/absolute belief systems postmodernism cannot tolerate its own intolerance. This seems obvious but every day more and more people are being enticed by the sweet songs of tolerance sung by the postmodern Sirens.

(1) Shanafelt, R. (2002). Idols of Our Tribes? Relativism, Truth and Falsity in Ethnographic Fieldwork and Cross-cultural Interaction. Critique of Anthropology, Volume 22, Issue 1, 7-29.

"Not A Tame Lion"

2005-12-09T09:26:00.000-05:00

Last night at 12:03am I went to see The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and I must say that it is awesome. Any reservations I had about the muting of its allegorical thrust, poor rendering of computer-generated characters, or bad acting were dispelled. The film was great and I recommend it to everyone. For a more in depth review I thoroughly recommend reading Aslan Is On the Move--The Chronicles of Narnia on Film by Dr. Albert Mohler.

Gone Commercial?

2005-12-07T12:16:00.000-05:00

Yesterday USA Today featured an article entitled Some megachurches closing for Christmas. Why are these mega churches canceling their services on Christmas Sunday? “Cally Parkinson, a spokeswoman for Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., said church leaders decided that organizing services on a Christmas Sunday would not be the most effective use of staff and volunteer resources. The last time Christmas fell on a Sunday was 1994, and only a small number of people showed up to pray, she said.” Parkinson goes on to say that, “If our target and our mission is to reach the unchurched, basically the people who don't go to church, how likely is it that they'll be going to church on Christmas morning?” First, using the fact that the unchurched do not go to church, as an excuse for canceling church is absurd. Such logic is completely nonsensical. Secondly, it is important to note that their church’s mission is to reach the unchurched; not to glorify God or to herald the Gospel of Christ. Willow Creek, and every other seeker friendly church, is driven by the fickle desires of the unchurched instead of being driven by sound Biblical doctrine. Ultimately, their church is controlled by the desires of the unchurched and therefore their church has become a product to be marketed.

USA Today also reports, “Among the other megachurches closing on Christmas Day are Southland Christian Church in Nicholasville, Ky., near Lexington, and Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, outside of Dallas. North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Ga., outside of Atlanta, said on its website that no services will be held on Christmas Day or New Year's Day, which also falls on a Sunday.”

Most interestingly enough the secular newspaper reports that, “It is almost unheard of for a Christian church to cancel services on a Sunday, and opponents of the closures are accusing these congregations of bowing to secular culture.” Are these churches bowing to secular culture? Yes, in shame of the Gospel and to their shame before Christ.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) Need I say more?

Standing Against The Ecumenical Monoculture

My New Blog

My New Blog

When the Fertility Clinic Meets the Abortion Clinic: A Modern Paradox

A Brief Respite from Finals Week

A Tragic Reminder of the Human Condition

Biblical Repentance

2007-04-03 The Brief

Seeker Sensitive Blogging

The Whole Counsel of God: What is the Gospel?

Announcing the Official Ignite USC Website

The Shepherds' Conference: On Creativity

The Shepherds' Conference 2007

For the Gospel

2007-02-20 The Brief

2007-02-08 The Brief

2007-02-06 The Brief

Ed Stetzer on Cultural Relevance

Jonathan Edwards on the Redeeming the Time

2006 A Year in Books

A Biblical Understanding of Church/State Relations

Newsweek “On Faith”

A Brief History of Church/State Relations Part 3

A Brief History of Church/State Relations Part 2

A Brief History of Church/State Relations Part 1

A Biblical Perspective of Politics

The Coming End of Religious Freedom in America

Rosie O'Donnell Speaks Out Part Two

Rosie O'Donnell Speaks Out Part One

The Evangelical Impact on American Foreign Policy

Something Completely Different

Evangelical Political Activism

What are you talking about?

Forget the Black Eyed Peas, Nick C. Asks “Where’s the Theology?”

“Prophetic Politics” God and the Prevailing Geopolitical Paradigm

A Biblical Perspective on the Conflict in Israel

What do you think?

Albert Mohler on Apologetics

Our New Addition

A Christian Worldview Part Three: Redemption

A Christian Worldview Part Two: Fall

A Christian Worldview Part One: Creation

Recommended Readings

A Whatview???

(Un)Comfort(able)

Alive and Well in LA

When Acid Burns

What is Worship?

What is the Role of Music in Church?

How Can We Break the Cycle?

Israel Demands a King

The Humble Cross-Centered Heart of Paul

Together for the Gospel

A Severe Inditement

Life is a Vapor

The Specificity of General Revelation

Jonathan Edwards on the Redeeming the Time Part 5

Jonathan Edwards on the Redeeming the Time Part 4

Jonathan Edwards on the Redeeming the Time Part 3

Jonathan Edwards on the Redeeming the Time Part 2

Jonathan Edwards on the Redeeming the Time Part 1

My Wishlist

My Library

Monastic Cultural Separatism?

The Sinner’s Prayer: Is there a Better Evangelism Paradigm?

Cognitive Dissonance: A Civil War of the Psyche

Ignite: A New Testament Church Determined to Set UK on Fire for God

Potential Energy vs. Kinetic Energy

More Mohler and More Total Truth

Mark Cahill Exhorts us to Contend for the Faith

Reflections on Peru

Mohler’s Commentary on Total Truth

This Is Awesome

South Dakota Enacts Law Banning Abortion

The Answer to the Monoculture: II Corinthians 10:4-5 and Acts 17

Church Growth and church Growth

The Reality of the Monoculture: Jude 1:3-4

Dueling Book Reviews

The Reality of the Monoculture: II Peter 2:1-3

The Reality of the Monoculture: II Timothy 4:3-4