tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20106834376018769552024-03-13T09:17:27.012-04:00The Chasidic CalvinistThe Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-42473437576247349662013-03-27T16:22:00.002-04:002013-03-28T16:27:37.723-04:00My thoughts on the current debate<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The first thing we have to do is be honest: this debate isn’t about so-called “marriage equality,” rather this debate is about the
practice of homosexuality. The only reason people have any sort of objection to
same sex marriages is because there is an underlying objection to homosexuality
in general. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With that in mind, I offer a few points that every
Christian should consider before deciding where they stand in this debate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<ol>
<li><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Practicing
homosexuality is a sin</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. There is no biblical sense in
denying it. Some "Christians" can try to rewrite the Bible all they
want, but the Bible has much to say about sex and when it comes to
homosexuality, it is a sin (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201.27&version=ESV" target="_blank">Romans 1.27</a>). Heterosexual sex before marriage is a sin. Adultery is a sin. Pornography is a sin. It would be nice if the church would be consistent
in its sexual-sin objections and speak out on all forms of sin and not just
homosexuality, because if it did, then Christians might not look like they are picking on
one segment of the population when we are silent about so many other sins.</span></li>
<li><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God
detests all sin</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. The wages of sin is death (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%206.23&version=ESV" target="_blank">Romans 6.23</a>) The text does not say the wages of <i>some sin</i>
are death, but the wages of sin are death. That sin includes (among many
others): insolence, hate, envy, maliciousness and gossip (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201.29-31&version=ESV" target="_blank">Romans 1.29-31</a>). The old lady who
gossips in the church is <i>just</i> <i>as guilty</i> of sin that is punishable by
death as the Gay porn star is guilty. To paraphrase Tim Keller who
is the worse swimmer: the one who swims 3 miles from shore, drowns and dies or
the one who swims 50 miles from shore drowns and dies? They are both dead, what
does it matter? (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2013.1-5&version=ESV" target="_blank">Luke 13 for your consideration</a>)</span></li>
<li><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Everyone
is born inherently sinful</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. A homosexual who says they were
born this way is probably correct. God is the one who cursed creation following
the sin of Adam and Eve and it is because of that sin that we are all born with
a genetic disposition to commit sin (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%203.14-19,%20Romans%208.19-21&version=ESV" target="_blank">Genesis 3/Romans 8)</a>. Think of it as a spiritual disease. You
will sin. You have no choice in the matter. We are all born sinners. We all
have a predisposition to commit some sin. We are all attracted to something we
should not be and all of us, if we seek to follow Christ, must deny that part
of our self daily for the rest of our lives. For an alcoholic that means every
social function where alcohol is present, they may have to be absent. For a
glutton that means every time they drive past a fast food restaurant they are
going to have an internal struggle about whether they should go through the
drive-thru and get a bite to eat. For a people-pleaser this means they have to
accept that every day they will probably let someone down. And for a homosexual
that means they will have to live a life of celibacy. If you want to talk about
equality then let us talk about sin—there is no greater source of human
equality then the recognition that we are all sinners in need of grace; there
is no better reason to restrain from judging others than an honest awareness of
your own sinfulness.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Happiness does not equal salvation</i>. I'm so baffled when I encounter Christians who seem to think that happiness in this life is the goal of human life. <a href="http://www.opc.org/lc.html" target="_blank">We were created to glorify God and enjoy him forever--that is it</a>. <a href="https://www.rca.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=380" target="_blank">Our only comfort in life and in death is the knowledge that we are not our own</a>. I know many have taken sides in this current debate because they think everyone should be happy, as if the gospel that we proclaim is one of warm feelings and temporal joy. Such an attitude actually disqualifies one from being a servant of Christ (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians%201.10&version=ESV" target="_blank">Galatians 1.10</a>).</span></li>
<li><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Everyone
needs the grace of God in Jesus and nothing else</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.
The only way out of this mess is to let go of all of our dreams, aspirations,
false righteousness and sins and embrace the love of God in Christ. What an
opportunity is being presented to the faithful to proclaim the gospel of God’s
grace. If someone wants to know what your thoughts are about “marriage equality”
tell them the truth! Tell them who are we, wretched sinners that we are, to spend so much
of our time consumed with so-called human rights as if we were owed anything? As
the missionary Helen Roseveare said, “<span style="background: white;">To be a Christian…
you must embrace the fact that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, sacrificed His all,
dying for us on the Cross, that we might be forgiven. Surely we should expect
to live as closely like our Savior as we can. And in this world of ‘What can I
get out of it?’ we can expect to sacrifice. Our whole emphasis has to be ‘What
can I put into it?’ A Christian who speaks as you suggest cannot have fallen in
love with Jesus, nor understood what God has done for him or her. We are so
totally undeserving of God’s grace, how dare we demand anything?”</span></span></li>
<li><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do
not be surprised that not everyone agrees with you</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.
Remember, “has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For 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.” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20corinthians%201.20-21&version=ESV" target="_blank">1 Cor 1.20-21</a>) Sometimes we
speak to people in a rational way, pointing to Scripture and the plain truths
there, and somehow they walk away disagreeing with the truth. As D.A. Carson
writes, “the utter bankruptcy of all the world’s efforts to know God was part
of God’s wise design…not only did the wise and the scholars and the
philosophers fail to understand, God in his all-wise providence actually worked
it out that way.”* We will not win people over by well crafted arguments, but
rather by pointing them to the cross and preaching Christ crucified, which is
foolishness to the world but displays the splendid wisdom of God (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20corinthians%201.22-25&version=ESV" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 1.22-25</a>).</span></li>
<li><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> This is Holy Week</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. Tomorrow night the Western church
will commemorate Jesus’ institution of the Lord’s Supper and the agony of the
Garden of Gethsemane. We will sadly anticipate the brutality of the cross on
Friday and joyfully celebrate the good news that he is risen on Sunday! Surely
Christ did not go through so much in order that we could change our profile
picture (to either a red = sign or a red + sign) feel good about ourselves and think we are actually making a
difference did he? I don’t think so. What a sad state the American church is in
and what a sad witness during this holy time.</span></li>
<li><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love is an orientation</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. The biblical teachings on
sexuality and marriage are crystal clear <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2019.4-6,%2011-12&version=NIV" target="_blank">(Matthew 19.4-6, 12 for one example</a>). <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20john%203.11&version=NIV" target="_blank">The biblical teaching on love is also crystal clear</a>. After loving God the most important thing we can do is love our
neighbor (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2012.29-31&version=ESV" target="_blank">Mark 12.39-41</a>) and our neighbor is anyone we may randomly encounter (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2010.25-37&version=ESV" target="_blank">Luke 1525-37</a>). Andrew Marin’s
book has a wonderfully memorable title and he is right, love is an orientation.
Regardless of what happens Christians are called to love our enemies and even
pray for those who persecute us (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%205.43-48&version=ESV" target="_blank">Matthew 5.43-48</a>).</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">So for a Christian, there is no marriage debate. The Bible has already settled the matter. Society can debate it; they can have their simple fun; they can advance the cause of "progress" and further the delusion of self-created righteousness, but no matter what law is made or unmade nothing can change what God has already said. The true debate is actually how will we as Christians respond? Will we learn from this and start living out our faith, loving God and our neighbor, speaking the truth and proclaiming Christ crucified? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">* D.A. Carson, <i>The Cross and Christian Ministry</i>, page 18.</span></span></div>
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<br />The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-3105980810072850512013-03-13T22:30:00.002-04:002013-03-13T22:30:58.839-04:00Biblical PoetryBefore I was saved I used to write a lot of poetry. It was a means of expressing my disappointment with reality and at the same time, it was a way for me to express a belief in something far more profound that I wasn't really aware of in a concrete way. C.S. Lewis would call that my Joy, I suppose. Anyhow, after I became a Christian I stopped writing poetry--though my love for the art never went away.<br />
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Recently I have started to write poems, but I have attempted to craft poems that reflect the biblical narrative. For the most part they have been overwhelmingly sonnets, my favorite form, and an indirect homage to the great Doctor Donne.<br />
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Anyway, here are two that belong to the beginning, as it were. I haven't written one yet on Genesis 1-2: the goodness of pre-Fall creation seems to be much harder to articulate than the Fall and everything that has followed... I suspect there is a lesson about myself buried in there.<br />
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Please do not share these without my permission.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Fall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The crafty snake, the shrewdest
one<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of all the animals God had made<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Did question Eve and it was done<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She ate what God forbade. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One longing glance shared by Eve,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One quickly eaten bite;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One lie was told and did deceive<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As Adam and Eve gained sight</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But not of God but rather shame<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As sin ruined the gift. In doubt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">they hid, Adam tried to blame<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eve, and God forced them out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They took the bait, they fell for
the lie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And now in Adam all men must die.
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Expelled<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To “become like God” was the
first sin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Committed by Adam and by Eve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The ground was cursed with all
the of men<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And God forced them to leave. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">the Three watched the two depart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">the Three but really One</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">--</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Son said he will do his part<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And sorrow filled the
Three-in-One.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“In another garden, in another
place<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ll crush the serpent’s head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ll be a gift of your grace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ll bring life to the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ll be the Adam he should have
been<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ll be the hope for the race of
men.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-6785045535429830762013-02-22T11:31:00.001-05:002013-02-22T11:31:14.229-05:00Pastoral Theology: Stewardship<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Gentium;">Despite the freezing rain,
spring is approaching. This great beast of a grizzly bear has emerged from
hibernation with a craving for blueberries and blogging. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Gentium;">During my devotional
readings this past winter a word and related charge kept jumping out of the
pages at me and this word was stewardship. Now pastors like to talk about
stewardship. Or rather, it is expected they talk about stewardship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once a year at least, perhaps more, it is
expected the minister talk about stewardship of our resources. Usually this
ends with an appeal to not forget the church when you plan your yearly budget.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Gentium;">Stewardship is a much more
important concept than that, however. Stewardship is about responsibility.
Being a proper manager or administrator of what God has given to an individual
in the form of their time, talent <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i>
treasures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christians ought to be a
people who do not waste time, who do not squander their talents and who do not
spend money that doesn’t exist as though it did. We are to be responsible with
the gift that God has given to each one of us. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Gentium;">With this responsibility
comes a necessary <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">giving away</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is clear that we are not to horde, say our
money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even in our dispensing of our
gifts, we are to be responsible and make sure what we share is not foolishly
wasted by the very act of sharing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Gentium;">But it never occurred to
me, or rather it was something I felt but I had never truly encountered in
Scripture, that this is true also of Ministers and the administration of God’s
grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word translated as
stewardship is </span><span lang="EL" style="font-family: Gentium; mso-ansi-language: EL;">οἰκονομία</span><span style="font-family: Gentium;"> and it refers to the
“responsibility of management.” It appears 9 times in the New Testament; 3
times in the Parable of the Dishonest Manager and twice in reference to God’s
plan of salvation (Eph 1.10, 3.9). The other four occurrences are all related
to proclamation of the gospel and the grace of God that accompanies the Good
News.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Gentium; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1 Corinthians 9.17: </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Gentium; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own
will, I am still entrusted with a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">stewardship</b>.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Gentium; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ephesians 3.2: <sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></sup>A</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Gentium; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">ssuming that
you have heard of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">stewardship</b> of
God’s grace that was given to me for you,</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Gentium; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Colossians 1.25: <sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></sup></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Gentium; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">of which I
became a minister according to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">stewardship</b>
from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Gentium; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1 Timothy 1.4: <sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></sup></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Gentium; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">nor to devote
themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather
than the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">stewardship</b> from God that
is by faith.</span><span style="font-family: Gentium; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Gentium; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Individuals who have been called into positions of leadership within
the church have a responsibility. We are to be good stewards of God’s grace.
That is, we are to share it but share it wisely. There is nothing that bothers
me more than when I hear of the passing of an individual and promises about
everlasting life are made <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">when we simply
do not know</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One can still share the
gospel and the glorious promise of forgiveness of sins found in Christ without
therefore concluding that such and such individual—without any knowledge of
them—is thus in heaven. That is poor stewardship. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Gentium; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Stewardship of God’s grace of course extends beyond the setting of a
funeral. In an age when the world is clamoring for the road to be made wider
and the gate to be enlarged, we are reminded of Paul’s words in Ephesians 3.2:
“…a</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Gentium; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">ssuming that you have heard of the stewardship of
God’s grace that was given to me for you…” We have been given stewardship of
God’s grace. Make no mistake: this is a burden. It has been given to us to be
shared (“given to me for you” as Paul put it) but shared wisely (Mark 6.7-13).
It has been given to us to be proclaimed, but proclaimed wisely which means not
in the way the world would expect (1<sup>st</sup> Corinthians 1.17-25). Just
because the world expects everyone to be saved does not mean we should
therefore say, “everyone will be saved.” Just because the world expects good
deeds, or the attempt at good behavior (however confusingly “good” is defined
in a world of relativism) to merit eternal life that does not mean we should
agree (Matthew 7.21-23).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Gentium; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rather, we are to be honest. When the
New Heavens and New Earth arrive there are those who will be left out (Rev
21.8). When the joyful wedding feast of the Lamb and his Bride takes place
there will be those who are not admitted (Matthew 22.11-14).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make promises to the contrary would be a
misuse and abuse of the great resource that has been entrusted to us. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-36758597563462140012013-01-11T10:03:00.003-05:002013-01-11T10:04:08.645-05:00Calvin 365 Week II<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Book
One: The Knowledge of God the Creator</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Calvin begins his monumental work appropriately
addressing the topic of knowledge. “Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is
to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and
of ourselves.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2010683437601876955#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Knowledge
is not power; it is everything for Calvin. It is vitally important to
understand God, to understand yourself and (perhaps most importantly) to
understand your relationship to God. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">In our
understanding of God we are after knowledge that will lead to a personal
understanding of God. He writes, “Now, the knowledge of God, as I understand
it, is that by which we not only conceive that there is a God but also grasp
what befits us and is proper to his glory, in fine, what is to our advantage to
know him.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2010683437601876955#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">John is
in many ways following the logic and argument that Paul presents in Romans
chapter 1-3.20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does this by
demonstrating that everyone has an inborn knowledge of God, that because of the
universe we have an external proof of God’s existence and character
(providence) and as a result no one is without excuse when it comes to how they
live their lives. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Guido deBres
was able to craft his beautiful interpretation of this revelation in the Belgic
Confession Article 2:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Means by Which We Know God</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We know
God by two means:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First, by
the creation, preservation, and government<br />
of the universe,<br />
since that universe is before our eyes<br />
like a beautiful book<br />
in which all creatures,<br />
great and small,<br />
are as letters<br />
to make us ponder<br />
the invisible things of God:<br />
God's eternal power and divinity,<br />
as the apostle Paul says in Romans 1:20.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All these
things are enough to convict humans<br />
and to leave them without excuse.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Second,
God makes himself known to us more clearly<br />
by his holy and divine Word,<br />
as much as we need in this life,<br />
for God's glory<br />
and for our salvation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">We are
able to know there is a God through general revelation, that is his “creation,
preservation and government of the universe.” As Calvin says, “As a
consequence, men cannot open their eyes without being compelled to see him.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2010683437601876955#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a>
Secondly, we know God through specific revelation through his “holy and divine
Word.” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">He
spends a great deal of time (I’m now on page 72) building this argument. All in
all, there is not much that he is making clear that he didn’t already make
clear in the initial opening of this work. It has been a while since I read the
first part of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Institutes</i> so
perhaps I’m just remembering what I already read as I read and thus feeling a
bit…bored.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">But
with that being said, it is worth noting that there is an important point that
Paul, and now Calvin makes: people are without excuse. The argument, “What
about those who have never heard of Jesus?” isn’t a valid argument. Just by
observing the world around them people are able to discern that there is indeed
a God. But that they then do not believe is their own fault, and not the fault
of God. This indeed is a hard saying, but the truth is never easy. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Alongside
that, if we are to truly learn about ourselves and who we are then we realize
that if we were to rely on human achievements or the human will all would be
lost. Only if something from outside ourselves were to enter our reality and
rescue us would there be hope. True knowledge of self cannot but help point us
to our need for a Savior. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the end, this all amounts to misguided knowledge.
If knowledge of God and of ourselves is of the utmost importance, and we are
honest about ourselves, we must acknowledge that when all is said and done all
we have done is spent too much time learning about the wrong things and
ignoring, even denying, the true God. </span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2010683437601876955#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
1.1.1</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2010683437601876955#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a>
1.1.2</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2010683437601876955#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a>
1.1.5</div>
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The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-78230746135182216122013-01-04T01:19:00.000-05:002013-01-04T01:19:02.499-05:00Calvin 365A<span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="el"><span style="font-family: Gentium;"> συνεργός</span></span>
in this area created an open <a href="http://www.layman.org/news.aspx?article=31043" target="_blank">Facebook group </a>with the intention of encouraging people to read all of John Calvin's<i> The Institutes of the Christian Religion </i>in a year. This group both surprised and encouraged me because I had already been planning on reading through the Institutes this year but as is the case for so much of what I do, I felt this would be something I did alone. So I was quite happy to discover this was not the case and even happier by the prospect that such a group just might keep me accountable in this endeavor.<br />
<br />
Shortly after I began to read I had the thought, "you could blog about this." Well, maybe. This blog has become for me an enigma: how should I handle it? When there are prayers that need said, Scripture that needs read, shut-ins that need visited and a personal life that needs attended too (perhaps not in the righteous picture I just painted) should I maintain this blog? Of course I have things to say; but so does that annoying dog I hear barking when I'm out walking. The simple existence of having something to say doesn't necessarily mean that one then needs to share it with others. But, sinfully (or not) the thought came to me that I could blog about it and it didn't go away.<br />
<br />
I prayed about it and did not receive any clear direction.<br />
<br />
I considered not doing it because it would be "legalistic" to blog every week. But then I reminded myself, so long as I don't think this will somehow help me be saved, it isn't actually legalism. Rather, it would be commitment and commitment is something far too few Christians (regrettably I include myself here) possess.<br />
<br />
One of my resolutions for 2013 was to severely limit my time online (EPIC fail this first week out of the gate :( ) So...what follows was typed in word and simply copied and pasted into blogger. My apologies if there is something wrong with the formatting... <br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">John
Calvin to the Reader (1559)<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2010683437601876955#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></b></span></span></span></a></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In this short address, John Calvin demonstrates two
remarkable aspects of his faith.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Goudy Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Goudy Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All of the success he had experienced
with the Institutes in the more than 20 years since their first publication
Calvin attributes solely to God.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Goudy Old Style"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Goudy Old Style";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When he was sick (near death) with a
form of malaria, he made all the more effort to work!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally, Calvin ends with a fantastic quote by
Augustine: “I count myself one of the number of those who write as they learn
and learn as they write.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Subject
Matter of the Present Work</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">John Calvin was a man consumed with a desire to
instruct people in the authentic Christian faith. He undertook to write the
Institutes in the lingua franca of the time, Latin. But as a French refugee
living in Geneva, having had to flee his native France due to his faith,
Calvin’s heart was always for his French countrymen (9). So in a way, remarkable
(perhaps?) like Luther’s translation of Scripture into the common German,
Calvin also translated the Institutes into French. Additionally, he addressed
every edition of his work to the French King. Finally, Calvin invites
disagreement but urges that all those who disagree “have recourse to Scripture
in order to weigh the testimonies that I adduce from it.” (8)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And really Scripture is in many ways what the
Institutes is all about. Calvin makes it clear that he is providing “a key to
open a way for all children of God into a good and right understanding of Holy
Scripture.” (7)</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Prefatory
Address to King Francis I of France</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Calvin begins his defense of the faith in his
prefatory address to his king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In doing
so, Calvin introduces a Reformed understanding of government: “Now, that king
who in ruling over his realm does not serve God’s glory exercises not kingly
rule but brigandage. Furthermore, he is deceived who looks for enduring
prosperity in his kingdom when it is not ruled by God’s scepter, that is, his
Holy Word…” (12). From there, he introduces a short summary of the gospel: that
there is nothing within humans of which they can boast and that “whereby we
have been received into hope of eternal salvation through no merit of our
own….” (12). Calvin anticipates the normal response to an honest evaluation of
human nature, that we misrepresent humans because human beings are
fundamentally good. He then attacks the root of that flawed argument by
pointing out that those who disagree “cannot bear that the whole praise and
glory of all goodness, virtue and righteousness, and wisdom should rest with
God.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And in this point lies the heart of Reformed
theology and all other flawed teachings: is God <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">alone</i> deserving of our praise or not? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Calvin proceeds from there to dedicate a bit of time
to reinforcing the idea that the Reformers were teaching nothing new. He states
quite clearly that the gospel as presented by the Protestants is in line with
Scripture and the church fathers. This is an important point; as Calvin puts
it: “by calling it ‘new’ they do great wrong to God, whose Sacred Word does not
deserve to be accused of novelty. Indeed, I do not at all doubt that it is new
to them, since to them both Christ himself and his gospel are new.” (15-16) It
logically follows that if one cannot depend on the Word of God to spur worship
they will grasp at heretical straws and so Calvin concludes, “They invite no
one to faith in Christ and believing communion of the sacraments; rather, they
put their work on sale, as the grace and merit of Christ.” (21)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Interestingly enough, Calvin embarks on a discussion
of Satan roaring like a lion in this world, opposing the pure doctrine of God.
What is interesting is Calvin’s description of how Satan works (28) follows
many of the same patterns of the Screwtape Letters. Though C.S. Lewis seemed to
despise (from a mistaken understanding) Calvinism, I think they had far more in
common than Lewis ever dreamed. </span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">General
Conclusions…</span></i></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Generally
speaking none of us manage our time well. Jonathan Edwards, at the ripe age of
either 18 or 19 resolved that he should “never to lose one moment of time; but
improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.” He was also resolved “never
to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my
life.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yet nowadays, we do not live in this way. Rather, we
live as though our time was infinite—we have all the time in the world. What we
don’t get to today will be waiting for us tomorrow. Over and against that, and
especially convicting if you happen to call on the name of Christ, Calvin was
resolved to work all the more determinedly when he thought he was going to die.
So often when I am sick I follow the protocol of rest. I think I am not alone
in this rule of thumb. Yet John Calvin followed his faith and desire to always
serve the Lord while he could even when he was near death. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How we use our time is a reflection of our faith and
devotion to God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How do you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">spend</i>
your time? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Generally, churches can lose their mission and focus
when they either construct a building or become overly proud/protective of their
building. Reinforcing his (correct) belief that the true church has always
existed no matter how things may appear Calvin points out a dependence on the
visual can become a sin. Quoting Hilary of Poitiers Calvin writes, “One thing I
admonish you, beware of Antichrist. It is wrong that a love of walls has seized
you; wrong that you venerate the church of God in roofs and buildings; wrong
that beneath these you introduce the name of peace. Is there any doubt that Antichrist
will have his seat in them?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I wonder how many parishioners “love” their building
walls and “venerate the church of God in roofs and buildings”? Our weak demands
for something concrete to believe in can literally be our downfall. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Speaking of appearances, it is comforting to
remember the story of Elijah (1<sup>st</sup> Kings 10). Calvin reminds us that
the true church has always existed since Christ called it into being because
Christ still reigns (25). Our hope and glory, our strength, our ability to do “all
things” rests in the simple yet profound fact that Christ reigns in glory.
Despite all appearances, despite the leaders of the world assembling against
the Lord’s anointed, the one enthroned in heaven…is still enthroned in heaven. May
that comfort you as it comforted me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally, Calvin points out that the Word of God is
unpopular; only Satan’s lies gain the popular approval. “This is the surest and
most trustworthy mark to distinguish it from lying doctrines, which readily
present themselves, are received with attentive ears by all, and are listened
to by an applauding world.” (28) If what is presented in the pulpit is accepted
by everyone, then odds are you are only presenting them with exactly what they
wanted in the first place (Romans 1.24). </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Specific
Conclusions…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Specifically, several points really struck a nerve.
But one in particular I wish to address. Near the end of his prefatory Calvin
writes, “And we have not, by God’s grace, profited so little by the gospel that
our life may not be for these disparagers an example of chastity, generosity,
mercy, continence, patience, modesty and all other virtues.” (30)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am often aware simply by driving around that I
live in a region where many dwell in mobile homes while I live in a home, and a
large one at that. While the church owns this manse my wife and I are very conscious
of the fact that this house is larger than anything we ever dreamed of actually
owning. I strive to not take such blessings for granted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nevertheless, there is an undercurrent to what John is
saying: the pastor’s life must at all times be in line with his faith. While
this is true for all Christians, no one more so than a pastor can harm a church
if their life does not match their faith. This is something I am always
seeking, by God’s grace, to do: “C<span class="text">ount 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</span></span> <span class="text"><sup><span id="en-ESV-29414">9 </span></sup><i>and
be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,
but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that
depends on faith—</i></span><i> <span class="text"><sup><span id="en-ESV-29415">10 </span></sup>that
I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings,
becoming like him in his death,</span> <span class="text"><sup><span id="en-ESV-29416">11 </span></sup>that by any means possible I may attain the
resurrection from the dead.</span>” (Philippians 3.8-11 ESV) </i></div>
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<i>Especially
with the New Year just past may I use this time wisely and always be found in him.</i></div>
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All citations come from the Battles translation of the Institutes. </div>
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<br />The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-2463724624060163492012-11-07T22:12:00.000-05:002012-11-07T22:12:16.135-05:00Pastoral Theology: Naming Names From the Pulpit<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Before we get started let me make something clear: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is not written with anyone in mind, rather my purpose in most of these posts are to share pastoral theology insights I have had for the benefit of other pastors, lay leaders, seminarians and other members of the body of Christ. </span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">In seminary one common theme professors told us was, "Don't preach against people in the pulpit." Or, "Don't name names from the pulpit." Or, "Don't write sermons with individuals in mind." You get the point I'm sure. Since becoming a pastor this has been a theme of advice that I continue to receive.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I agree. And I disagree.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">A sermon should not be written with one or several individuals in mind. One should not "preach against" people from the pulpit. That is pretty much the extent of what I agree.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I disagree however that names should not be named from the pulpit. If the situation warrants a sermon, then why not name names? I prayerfully plan out the entire year's worth of sermons at the start of the year. I know the Spirit is at work in my planning because so often as the text/date approach something in the church or community or world at large arises that fits into the text so well I couldn't have planned it if I tried. If a situation arises, good or bad and the text addresses it--why not make the point clear?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">These conclusions I have reached through reading the Scripture so let's look at a few passages to consider the point I am trying to make:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>Point #1: Paul's letters were intended to be read out loud</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">In 1st Thessalonians 5.27 Paul writes, "<span lang="en-us">I put you under oath before the Lord to have </span><i><sup><span lang="en-us"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2010683437601876955#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""></a></span></sup></i><span lang="en-us">this letter read to all the brothers." Paul's intention in writing the letter was to have it read before the entire body of believers. This was not a private letter intended for the leadership of the church, or for Paul's good friend, but for <i>all</i>. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="en-us">1st Thessalonians is not the only place this instruction shows up. Paul also gives similar instructions to the church in Colossae. </span><span lang="en-us">Colossians 4.16: "And when </span><span lang="en-us">this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2010683437601876955#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span style="vertical-align: super;"><span></span></span></a>" This passage sheds even more light on the concept of the letters being read out loud because Paul is not only encouraging the letter to be read to the Colossian church but to then have it shared with the church of Laodicea as well. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://thebiblicalworld.blogspot.com/2012/08/read-this-letter-thoughts-on-reading.html" target="_blank">A former professor of mine writes</a>, "<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">But Paul’s charge
that they “read it to all the brothers and sisters” suggests that he expected
it to be read to the whole church together as part of a gathering. Letters were
not so much read as they were heard. Paul’s letter would have served as a
sermon, read out loud, allowing him to “be there with them” even though he was
absent.</span>" </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">So Paul's letters were intended to be read out loud to a gathering of the church and acted in much the same way as sermons do today in the church. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Points #2 Paul was not afraid to name names</span></i></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In one of the most famous of Paul's letters, the letter to the Philippians, Paul names names. The letter is much beloved because of his numerous references to joy and of course, the famous Christological hymn of 2.6-11. The circumstance for Paul writing the letter is generally believed to be two-fold: he is responding to the Philippians for their timely gift they gave him. But he takes advantage of the opportunity to address an issue of division within the Philippian church. Suddenly, he calls out Euodia and Syntyche in 4.2 to get along! Imagine how they must have felt, as they suddenly hear their names read out loud, as they hear their names being called out. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">So a letter (sermon) read out loud to the gathered body, calls out certain individuals and names their problem: disagreement; then proceeds to urge them to work it out. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Points #3 Paul's letters were considered Scripture</span></b></i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Another argument against the practice of addressing individuals in a sermon is, "That is not how the Word of God should be used or proclaimed." </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Peter, perhaps revealing his more common roots makes an observation about Paul's letters in his second letter being "hard to understand." But Peter also makes a telling comment about the authority of Paul's letters in 2nd Peter 3.15-16: "</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="text 2Pet-3-15" id="en-ESV-30521">And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,</span> <span class="text 2Pet-3-16" id="en-ESV-30522"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.</span>" The ignorant are twisting the words of Paul's letters, as they do the <i>other </i>Scriptures. Other is the key word there: Paul's letters and the <i>other </i>Scriptures. Paul's letters were considered Scripture by his peers.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">And of course we consider his writings to be Scripture now. So the argument, "that is not how the Word of God should be used or proclaimed" really makes no sense. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Objections to this train of thought naturally arise: isn't this arrogant? Who are you to name names from the pulpit? </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Paul gives us another valuable lesson about the way he handled speaking the truth in love (Eph 4.15). Paul was always honest. He held nothing back because he was on fire for the Lord and the proclamation of the gospel. Indeed, he opposed Cephas (Peter) to his face (Galatians 2.11). When the Galatians were acting like fools, he let them know they were acting like fools (3.1). Yet, he was never boastful but always recognized the grace of God in all he did (1st Corinthians 15.10). And he was honest about his own flaws (Romans 7.7-11, 2nd Corinthians 12.7-10). Paul was concerned enough about his own weaknesses, and humble enough to be honest, that he continually practiced self-discipline (1st Corinthians 9.26-27). </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">So we as preachers must be humble. We must be honest about ourselves and our lies. Paul names one sin (Romans 7.7) but I'm sure, was guilty of others. We don't need to open the doors of our lives and say to everyone, "here's my brokenness" yet we ought not to hide it as if we were ashamed. The Lord already knows and his opinion matters far more greatly than anyone else in this world (1st Corinthians 4.3-4). So we must be humble, honest and on fire for the gospel.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I have always been amazed by a prayer request Paul makes in his Ephesian epistle. Paul asks for the words to proclaim the mystery of the gospel boldly, as he ought to do (Eph 6.19-20). This request is made while he is a prisoner for the sake of the gospel! We must be on fire for the gospel of God's grace and always seeking to have the courage to proclaim it, no matter the circumstances (Acts 16.25-34), no matter our past mistakes (Galatians 1.13). And if someone is living out of line with the gospel (Galatians 2.14), then we must have the courage to say so, even if it happens to be from the pulpit. </span></span></span><br />
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<br />The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-65032807556484166262012-10-08T10:36:00.005-04:002012-10-08T11:04:59.480-04:00Pastoral Theology: CatechismThe introduction to the Large Catechism by Martin Luther is dedicated to <a href="http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/catechism/web/cat-01.html" target="_blank">"<i>...to All Christians, but Especially to All Pastors and Preachers, that They Should Daily Exercise Themselves in the Catechism, which is a Short Summary and Epitome of the Entire Holy Scriptures, and that They May Always Teach the Same.</i></a>"<br />
<br />
Many Protestant denominations have as founding documents, often worked into their very constitution, catechisms and confessions. These are there for a reason: the original reformers felt these documents accurately represented the Scriptures. They were written and structured to preached from and taught, diligently, to the congregation year after year after year.<br />
<br />
Yet this has by and large, fallen by the way side. And in the mean time, Protestant churches are full of Christians who do not know the fundamentals of their faith. They doubt the Virgin Birth, they don't think Jesus led a sinless life, faith in Christ alone as the means to salvation is doubted or unrealized, differences between Protestants and Catholics are minimized, good works are celebrated, human nature is over emphasized and the American Dream has perverted the gospel.<br />
<br />
I attended a conference this past week emphasizing the Heidelberg Catechism. In my denomination, the Reformed Church in America, this catechism is part of our very constitution. Ministers of the Word and Sacrament must promise to teach the contents of it to their church on a regular schedule. Yet it too, has fallen by the way side. Discussion was held related to the Standards and something stood out that Luther picked up on nearly 500 years ago: many of us are ashamed of the teaching in the Catechism and so we hide it.<br />
<br />
Speculation on my part follows: perhaps the shame is that we disagree with something so irrational as election, or maybe we are embarrassed to try to use some "dry" old document when clearly it is modern, contemporary, praise music that people enjoy. Whatever the case Luther said this: "<i>To this there is added the shameful vice and secret infection
of security and satiety, that is, that many regard the
Catechism as a poor, mean teaching, which they can read
through at one time, and then immediately know it, throw the
book into a corner, and be ashamed, as it were, to read in it
again</i>." We must not neglect the contents of our catechisms. <br />
<br />
If you are a minister in a denomination that has as its foundation catechism documents: where are yours and when was the last time you used them? When was the last time you faithfully taught the contents to your congregation?<br />
<br />
Luther continues to urge pastors and preachers to not go the route of the academic too quickly. Again, advice I see many of my brethren ignoring. One thing that astounded me in seminary was how many people there were already contemplating going on to get their doctor in ministry--when they hadn't even been a minister yet! I have been out of seminary a little less than a year and people I graduated with are already pursuing this degree. Luther wrote, "<i>Therefore I again implore all Christians, especially pastors
and preachers, not to be doctors too soon, and imagine that
they know everything...</i>"<br />
<br />
Are you a new pastor already contemplating another degree? Perhaps a D.Min? Is this degree your ship to Tarshish? <br />
<br />
Being a pastor is hard. I have learned much in my first year. One lesson stands out above all: there is even more that I do not know. <i>Every day</i> (or so it seems) a new challenge arises that I have to again turn to the Lord and ask for wisdom.<br />
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Therein lies the value of a catechism. The wisdom of the Lord shines forth through its pages. We are reminded that we are too puffed up and in need of a savior. We are taught who the savior is, why he came and how we have been saved. Then we are reminded of how to respond to such a great gift. And we are given the perfect outline to present <i>the best news ever</i> to our flock, year after year--for they too need to be reminded of this truth year after year. While the gospel may not give me the answers to every problem, it puts problems in perspective and reminds me that ultimate "dilemma of existence" has been solved through the costly gift of God's Son.<br />
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Luther goes on to say, <i>"And I must still read and study daily, and yet I cannot master
it as I wish, but must remain a child and pupil of the
Catechism, and am glad so to remain.</i>" Remarkably similar to what Jesus said in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%2010.13-16&version=ESV" target="_blank">Mark 10.13-16:</a> "<i>whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter into it</i>." Like a child, I have much to learn. And like a child, I trust that my fathers in the faith have honestly represented the truth of Scripture through the catechisms they have written. What about you? <br />
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The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-70701794320463135112012-10-07T21:04:00.001-04:002012-10-07T21:04:43.406-04:00What do you believe? What do you teach your children? Phil Vischer was the creator of Veggie Tales. Veggie Tales didn't work out the way he envisioned, or he envisioned it wrong. I'm not sure which--I haven't read<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Me-Myself-Bob-Talking-Vegetables/dp/1595551220/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349658238&sr=1-1&keywords=my%2C+myself+and+bob" target="_blank"> his memoir</a>. But I keep seeing excerpts from it popping up on the blogosphere and I must say, it sounds remarkable. Consider this:<br />
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<span id="stacks_in_199_page0"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font: 15px Georgia, serif;"><em>I
looked back at the previous ten years and realized I had spent ten
years trying to convince kids to behave “Christianly” without actually
teaching them Christianity. And that was a pretty serious conviction.
You can say, "Hey kids, be more forgiving because the Bible says so,"
or, "Hey kids, be more kind because the Bible says so!" But that isn’t
Christianity, it’s morality.<br /><br />American Christian[s]… are drinking a
cocktail that’s a mix of the Protestant work ethic, the American dream,
and the gospel. And we’ve intertwined them so completely that we can’t
tell them apart anymore. Our gospel has become a gospel of following
your dreams and being good so God will make all your dreams come true.
It’s the Oprah god… We’ve completely taken this Disney notion of "when
you wish upon a star, your dreams come true" and melded that with faith
and come up with something completely different. There’s something wrong
in a culture that preaches nothing is more sacred than your dream. I
mean, we walk away from marriages to follow our dreams. We abandon
children to follow our dreams. We hurt people in the name of our dreams,
which as a Christian is just preposterous.</em></span></span><br />
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<span id="stacks_in_199_page0"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font: 15px Georgia, serif;">Remarkable. Absolutely remarkable. Do you believe the gospel or some perverted version of the American dream and the gospel? What are you teaching your children? The gospel or the "power" of their dreams? <em> </em></span></span>The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-84808325453882370042012-10-06T18:51:00.000-04:002012-10-06T18:51:00.668-04:00Civil Religion and Election YearIf you have a few minutes do yourself a favor and head over to this blog: <a href="http://kingdomshalom.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/the-politics-of-the-kingdom-2/">http://kingdomshalom.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/the-politics-of-the-kingdom-2/</a><br />
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The author is a high school chum of mine, a good seminary friend and a brother in Christ. His insights are very timely. Here is a little excerpt: I question the narrative that one political party (either one, or even a
new one) has its finger on the pulse of this nation, wants selflessly
to meet the needs of the people, and can summon the resources to do
this, if only elected through your allegiance.<br />
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One thing I think is helpful to do as a Christian is to tell it like it is. If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. For many Americans and regretably, many so-called evangelical Christians, their true hope is found in politics and political parties and that of course, is idolatry. I've said is much on this blog,<a href="http://wellerthanyou.blogspot.com/2012/07/freedom-isnt-free.html" target="_blank"> particularly on the 4th of July</a> and I preached it just this past Sunday in church as we concluded our series on 1st John 5.13-21. I'm amazed how often people come to me and lament the language and negative energy so many devote to politics, especially this time of year. My response is always, "Well, it is their religion--what do you expect?"<br />
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Little children, keep yourselves from idols. The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-75483248317691386552012-09-29T16:17:00.001-04:002012-09-29T16:17:16.733-04:00What's Your Number?I believe firmly that as you read Scripture more and more, a certain passage will speak powerfully to you personally. That it will mean something to you in a way that none of the other passages do. <br />
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As time goes by, that verse (or verses) may change. And that of course is okay because it speaks to you where you are at, or about where you have been and where you are going. What I'm wondering is what is your favorite Scripture? Or what verse of Scripture speaks to you more strongly than any other?<br />
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My favorite verse of Scripture comes from Galatians 2.20: "I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live by Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."<br />
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Such a profound truth: Christ lives in me.<br />
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What is your favorite verse of Scripture? <br />
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<br />The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-72571847216052795832012-09-27T10:44:00.002-04:002012-09-27T10:49:12.120-04:00I could have been a Luddite*<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Warning: Hypocrisy alert!</b></div>
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Let's get the obvious charge of hypocrisy aside. Yes, I'm using a modern technology and the medium of a blog to pooh-pooh the evils of technology. <br />
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That being said...<br />
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It is no secret that I view smart phones quite critically. It has been my experience that smart phones, despite their name, usually cause the user to act like an idiot. I once had to slam the brakes of my car to avoid a teenage boy who stepped directly in front of me while texting (or playing a game, or watching a video, who knows and who really cares?). He never flinched--I don't think he knows I almost hit him. Then he tripped on the curb and then he...wait for it...walked into a tree.<br />
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Good thing his phone was smart.<br />
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If only such idiocy was limited to the youthful, we could chalk it up to youthful enthusiasm. Alas, I see people of all ages, grown adults and card carrying AARP members, mimic such idiotic actions of that young, teenage boy.<br />
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Aside from the general rise of stupidity that seems to be directly related to the use of smart phones, <a href="http://wellerthanyou.blogspot.com/2012/01/simon-do-you-see-text-message-this.html" target="_blank">I do not care for them because of the disintegration of social interaction that I witness in the world around me.</a> Sometimes I just want to scream, "Is the text or Facebook status update or e-mail you just received really more important than the conversation we were having face to face?"<br />
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I realize I'm in the minority, but sometimes I enjoy talking to someone without having them immediately go to wikipedia to look up the topic we are discussing and start reading it, thus effectively killing the conversation. <br />
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But I've never considered the ways in which smart phones can cause a disintegration of our relationship with God. Carl Trueman has just posted an excellent essay on just that topic. When I purchased my last phone I told the salesman, "I only want a phone that makes and receives phone calls." He kept trying to offer me complex little fake tricorders until finally my wife spoke up and said, "He isn't kidding. He doesn't want any of that stuff." I have since operated under the false belief that I was, apparently, the only person on the planet who felt that way. But I'm not, and that is refreshing.<br />
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Even more refreshing is his perspective on solitude. Consider what he has to say on the sound and fury--signifying NOTHING--of our age of smart phones:<br />
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"<i>I suspect Christians can be among the worst offenders. I hope that no
Christians were lining up for the latest Apple iPhone many hours before
it was released. It is, after all, just a phone - just a phone! - and
not a cure for cancer, AIDS, poverty or the lack of clean drinking water
in many parts of the world. But I am confident that my hope on that
score is a vain one. Many Christians are as deeply embedded in the sad
culture of consumerism as anyone. And even those of us who are not, who
have phones that look as if they predate VHS recorders, can still con
ourselves that all of our activity, all of that sound and fury in our
lives, signifies something worthwhile. Yet how often does it signify
nothing but the fact that we strut about on the stages we have made for
fear not simply of loneliness but even of solitude; for solitude is the
place where we have no alternative but to reflect upon the most serious
realities of our existence.</i>"<br />
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<a href="http://www.reformation21.org/articles/just-disconnect.php" target="_blank">You can read the rest of his essay here</a> <br />
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*I realize I'm misappropriating the term Luddite. The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-89743755686958108102012-09-21T14:25:00.000-04:002012-09-21T14:38:02.288-04:00Tending My GardenIt has turned out to be a much more beautiful day than I anticipated so I took advantage of the weather and took my garden apart. Notice, I didn't say harvest my garden, but took it <i>apart</i>.<br />
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In early Spring I decided I wanted to try to garden. So I moved bricks and built a raised bed garden behind the manse. It was a very small garden, which was my intent, just a small garden where we could get some delicious fresh vegetables. <br />
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It didn't really work the way I anticipated.<br />
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I had great soil brought in from a local farmer's barn. He warned me, "Anything will grow in this stuff." I smiled, envisioning giant tomatoes. I planted my seeds. I watered...occasionally. I watched green shoots sprout up. I marveled at how many little bursts of life were breaking through the soil. I looked closely. They all looked remarkably like grass!<br />
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A week went by. I had been right: I had a nice raised, bricked-in patch of grass.<br />
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I set about tending it. I pulled the grass. I spent hours pulling grass. And weeds. Weeds had also started to grow. I know so little about gardening that I let the weeds grow to see what fruit they would bear, since those <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207:15-20&version=ESV" target="_blank">wise words well, are so wise, that we can know something by its fruit.</a> As I weeded I reflected on many such spiritual truths that were evident. Jesus after all practiced his ministry in a predominantly agricultural society. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013&version=ESV" target="_blank">Matthew 13 is a great example of this: there is a parable of the sower, a parable about weeds, even a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven being like a mustard seed</a>. <br />
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What is truth, Pilate wondered, while Jesus stood silently before him. Jesus <i>is </i>the truth. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20cor%205.17&version=ESV" target="_blank">When we come to know Jesus as Lord, we move our lives into him</a>. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gal%202.20&version=ESV" target="_blank">And he simultaneously lives within us</a>. Our new existence could be likened to a distorted Venn Diagram. Distorted, because there should be no realm of our life (circle) outside of Christ. When we start to live a life of truly abiding in Jesus then we can realize <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rom%201.20&version=ESV" target="_blank">that God communicates his truth continually to us through creation</a>.<br />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%203.17&version=ESV" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%203.17&version=ESV" target="_blank">In planting a garden we can learn about being rooted in Christ</a>.<br />
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In tending the garden we can learn about the dangers those weeds in life pose to us.<br />
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And in taking apart a failed garden (repenting?) we can learn something too.<br />
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To disassemble my garden, I removed the bricks stacked 3 high and re-stacked them by the house. I was doing this so that the groundskeeper could mow over the garden. Utterly destroy it. There was nothing there to be harvested. As I re-stacked the bricks I realized that in my entire gardening endeavor I had spent more time building up the brick walls then actually tending to the garden. When I had built the walls, before I had planted a single seed, I stood back and admired my work. I thought it <i>looked </i>pretty good. I was focused entirely on outward appearance and neglected to do the real work of tending to what was planted underneath the soil.<br />
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I wonder how often in my walk with Christ I spend too much time cultivating an outward image without tending to the real work of those roots of faith buried in my heart? I wonder how many other believers spend too much time building up walls that look pretty without concentrating on creating ideal situations for the Spirit to produce fruit? <br />
<br />The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-12770952583476498292012-09-13T14:39:00.002-04:002012-09-13T14:39:17.406-04:00Where have all the blog posts gone? I want to apologize for the lack of posts lately. There are primarily two reasons why I haven't posted much on here. The first is my new daughter. Little babies take up a lot of free time. I realize this is nothing new for many readers, and something I was warned of but the reality is always unexpected, even when you are warned. I'm not complaining, I love it, but she takes up a lot of my free time. I say "free time" because I try to restrict writing blog posts to outside my "working hours." I don't think part of my calling is to write a blog and it seems there are better things I can do during my working hours than write an entry. The result is that when I do have some free time, I rarely feel like sitting down and typing up the sundry topics that bounces about inside my skull. <br />
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The other reason escapes me at the moment. But it was secondary anyways, and in our culture only the winner counts. <br />
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I do have a list of blog topics I'm keeping so there will be posts forthcoming. And soon! Until then...The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-6381437364702179942012-09-04T11:22:00.003-04:002012-09-04T11:22:57.167-04:00KerygmaEvery Lord's Day I happen to administer the non-sacrament of preaching. (Calvinists will understand what I mean by that statement). If the content of my sermons happen to interest you--you can find them here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.millcreekworship.org/home/sermons/">http://www.millcreekworship.org/home/sermons/</a><br />
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Coincidentally, you can also find out other information about the life of the church where I currently serve God.<br />
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<br />The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-77518284717585912382012-08-18T09:24:00.003-04:002012-08-18T12:38:55.218-04:00Pastoral Theology: Practical Advice I DisregardedWell it has been a year since I received the official call to the church I currently serve. More than a year. Hard to believe how fast time flies. The older I get, the more inclined I am to agree with C.S. Lewis' conclusions in <a href="http://www.verber.com/mark/xian/weight-of-glory.pdf" target="_blank">The Weight of Glory </a>about our relationship with time, our nostalgia for the past and our future glory. <br />
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Over at the blog <a href="http://practicalshepherding.com/2012/08/15/what-should-your-first-year-as-a-pastor-look-like/" target="_blank">Practical Shepharding, a first time pastor asked "What should my first year look like and how much change should come?"</a><br />
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His question was answered thusly: "Preach the Word. Love the people. Don't change anything."<br />
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Very similar to the advice I received repeatedly in seminary. <br />
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Class after class of seminary the professors provided this advice, "change nothing your first year." I heard it from outside sources as well, such as from colleagues in ministry. One professor said, "If you want to move the piano to the other side of the sanctuary move it one inch a month." "When change comes, make sure it is slow"was another common adage.<br />
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I pretty much threw all of that out the window in my first year. Not because I am bold but rather forgetful. I simply forgot that piece of advice. There is a reason when I was little my mother would lovingly call me "Forgetful Jones."<br />
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But hindsight is twenty-twenty and I have come to the conclusion that the advice "to change nothing" is stupid.<br />
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First of all, preaching the Word is doing something. And as Brian Croft notes in his post when the Word is preached change will take place. Secondly, loving is doing something as well. When you love them you'll build relationships. Finally, giving the instruction that pastors should wait at least a year before instituting change works on an assumption of time that is outside of the biblical witness.<br />
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012.20&version=NIV" target="_blank">"You fool!" Jesus said. "This very night your life is demanded of you!</a>" No one knows the length of their life, all we know is that <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=deuteronomy%2030.20&version=ESV" target="_blank">God is our source of life and length of days</a>. To assume that God has called us to a church for a least a year is arrogant. To further then assume that for the first year the most important thing we can do is nothing is to castrate the calling that God has put on our hearts.<br />
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Perhaps we have forgotten that Christ will return and that it will be unexpected, like a thief in the night. The Apostles expected Christ to return within their lifetime, and they are sometimes ridiculed for getting this wrong. But that sense of urgency fueled their ministry. They traveled incessantly, preached boldly, established churches, fed congregations and defied civil authorities. The result? A church spread throughout the most powerful empire in the world uniting slaves with rich merchants, royal officials with uneducated fishermen, Jewish scholars with Greek philosophers. A church that claimed absolutes in defiance of the established pluralistic philosophy of the day.<br />
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%2017.6&version=ESV" target="_blank">They turned the world upside down.</a><br />
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Today our seminaries and established pastors encourage first call ministers to change nothing.<br />
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"Change nothing" is another way of saying "be a maintenance man." <a href="http://www.intothyword.org/articles_view.asp?articleid=36557" target="_blank">What are we maintaining? A sinking ship with four churches closing for every one church that opens its doors</a>.<br />
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The solution? Change nothing during your first year because apparently, we have all the time in the world. <br />
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<br />The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-78102141223325701292012-08-17T13:39:00.002-04:002012-08-17T13:40:59.091-04:00Salt, Light and Honey Part II<a href="http://wellerthanyou.blogspot.com/2012/07/salt-light-and-honey-part-i.html" target="_blank">Following the last post</a> a natural question arises: <i>who is to blame?</i><br />
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I would say the primary blame lies with pastors. <br />
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The pastor can't be everything in the church, but when it comes to denominational structures those who are ordained (so in some situations elders as well) serve as the gatekeepers. They interview and examine candidates to see if they truly are called and to see if they are theologically sound. Through General Assembly or General Synod (or whatever such gatherings are called in Episcopal governments) doctrine is upheld or altered, policies are set, and the future is planned.<br />
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All of these important decisions start at the local church and work their way up. Or they should. They should begin with the pastor and the pastor should begin with the Word of God and prayer. Their relationship with how they approach Scripture, how they understand it, and most importantly, how they preach it naturally follow. Is the gospel still proclaimed throughout American churches today?<br />
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In Helmut's criticism of Christians mistakenly thinking they are the honey of the world, and not the salt, he carries that criticism over into the pulpit. "So where there is no bitter reaction to the message, the true salt is lacking. It is a dubious sign if the world lives too peacefully with the church. It is not a good sign when people are all too admiring of their preacher, for then as a rule he has not been scattering salt from the pulpit...Enthusiasm and excessively unanimous agreement with a sermon usually indicates that it is suffering from a serious deficiency disease" (p. 29).<br />
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This has led me to reflect on my role as a pastor. Do my sermons bite, at least occasionally, the way salt bites at a wound? Or do I seek praise and affirmation that I am "doing a good job"? I once heard that a pastor should comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Yet how many pastors truly seek to do just that: afflict those who have become too comfortable with the world by confronting them with the Word of God or comfort those aware of their depravity with the hope of the gospel? <br />
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A sermon should light a fire in the hearts of those who hear it. We should, like Jesus, explain to others what the Scriptures say concerning him so that they can, like Cleopas and his friend, feel their hearts burning within them as the Scriptures are opened before them (Luke 24.13-35).<br />
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If the word of God is not being proclaimed on Sunday from the pulpit, it is only naturally that we will end up with (or have already) a collection of Christians who believe they are the honey of the world. The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-76535843370907659752012-07-23T12:20:00.001-04:002012-07-23T14:11:48.587-04:00Pastoral Theology: PreachingBrian Croft has written an excellent, short, blog on preaching through entire books of the Bible.<br />
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I try to do a mixture. I have preached through all of Philippians and we are currently working through the all of 1st John. I have also preached topically using the psalms and other passages and I have done a few narrative sermons.<br />
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Check out his blog post to see what he has to say:<br />
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<a href="http://practicalshepherding.com/2012/07/23/why-should-a-pastor-preach-through-whole-books-of-the-bible/">http://practicalshepherding.com/2012/07/23/why-should-a-pastor-preach-through-whole-books-of-the-bible/</a>The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-91198513440765480942012-07-21T22:20:00.002-04:002012-07-21T22:20:13.207-04:00Pastoral Theology: OrdinationFor the last several months I have been seeking greater intensity in my relationship with God. I have been trying to "up the ante" if you will and be "all in." It is a call that I have been feeling for some time, a desire to go even deeper into the love of God. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%204.7-8&version=NIV" target="_blank">Whatever the Apostle James may say</a>, it has felt as though the more I pursue God the stronger the devil, instead of fleeing, tries to get in the way. But all in all it has been a good journey and yesterday I have a wonderful experience. I won't go into the details but God really spoke to my heart, and for that I'm grateful. It was significant enough that I thought, "I should remember this day" so I looked at the date. <br />
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07/20/2012<br />
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I stared at that date for a minute, lost in thought. I knew that date was already significant in my life, but why? Then it hit me: 07/20/2011 is the date I was ordained by the Classis of Lake Erie into the Reformed Church in America. It appears this date might be repeatedly significant for me. <br />
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Thus the topic I want to talk about today: ordination. When a minister is ordained, it is the final confirmation by a body of believers regarding the call God has placed on that persons life to proclaim the gospel and administer the sacraments. There are songs; there are hymns, there is Scripture, there are prayers offered and there are liturgical formulas read and followed. It is awe-inspiring; it is uplifting; it is a moment saturated with God's grace. It is of the utmost importance for religious bodies to continue this tradition.<br />
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Two things I have learned since being ordained. Being ordained does not change your human nature. We know what we are called to do; we know what God desires of all who call on his name and by the grace of God we will usually succeed in doing those things. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%207.14-25&version=NIV" target="_blank">But as Paul put it so well in Romans, though we inwardly delight in God's law, we are simultaneously aware of our rebellious nature</a>. Nevertheless, we go forward and proclaim the good news that the wretched man can be saved through God in his great mercy. Thanks be to Jesus Christ!<br />
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Another thing I have learned, is ordination is two fold. The first is in the liturgy, the holy convocation, the prayers and the Scripture that takes place during the official ceremony. The second takes place when we start to do the work of God in the place where we are called. In addition to the great moment I had with God yesterday, I also started reading <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Buchan,_1st_Baron_Tweedsmuir" target="_blank">John Buchan's</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_Wood" target="_blank">Witch Wood</a>. The book thus far revolves around the work of a Presbyterian minister in Scotland named David. It is his first ordained call to a small, rural kirk. The first winter a terrible storm hits. Buchan wrote, "Yet it was the storm which was David's true ordination to his duties, for it brought him close to his people, not in high sacramental things like death, but in their daily wrestling for life. He might visit their houses and catechize their families, but these were formal occasions, with all on their best behaviour, whereas in the intimate business of charity he saw them as they were" (p54). <br />
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I experienced this in my first call. Several weeks after I started the church does its biggest outreach and fundraiser as it runs the cafeteria at the Hookstown Fair. Each morning I would go into the office and then head over to the fairgrounds. I prepped food, I served food, I mashed potatoes but more than anything, I washed dishes. I washed and I washed and I washed. And I got to know lots of members of the church I now serve. I got to know them in a more familiar way, brushing shoulders with them side by side as we did every day work together. I struggled that week with the work and yet in the process I felt like I forged an identity and understood a completely different, but just as important, realm for the pastor to be a pastor.<br />
<br />
So one year into being an ordained minster I would offer two points of advice to my brethren considering a call. When you mess up, don't be surprised--it is just your human nature. The ordination doesn't wash that away. And when you get to your call, jump into the every day life of your parishioners in anyway you can and experience the other side of ordination.The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-16219455735214050802012-07-16T14:28:00.004-04:002012-07-16T14:29:04.892-04:00Salt, Light and Honey Part IIn yesterday's New York Time's journalist <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Religion-Became-Nation-Heretics/dp/1439178305/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342462047&sr=8-1&keywords=ross+douthat" target="_blank">Ross Douthat</a> wrote <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/opinion/sunday/douthat-can-liberal-christianity-be-saved.html?_r=4&smid=tw-share" target="_blank">an insightful critique of the future of liberal Christianity</a>. He points out that as liberal denominations like the Episcopal Church become more and more like the world their church shrinks more and more. In the last decade the Episcopal Church <a href="http://archive.episcopalchurch.org/documents/ASA_by_ProvinceDiocese2000-2010.pdf" target="_blank">has shrunk nearly 25% with not a single diocese showing any growth</a>. He writes: "Today, by contrast, the leaders of the Episcopal Church and similar
bodies often don’t seem to be offering anything you can’t already get
from a purely secular liberalism." Douthat's point is that as the church becomes more and more like the
world, the world sees no reason to become involved with the church.<br />
<br />
In St. Mark's Church in Stuttgart during the post-war years of 1946-1948 German theologian and pastor Helmut Thielicke delivered a series of sermons on the Sermon on the Mount. Those sermons have been collected into a book, <i>Life Can Begin Again</i>. Preaching on <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:13-16&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 5.13-16</a> Thielicke writes, "To look at many Christians who are soft and effeminate and sweet one would think that their ambition is to be the honeypot of the world. They sweeten and sugar the bitterness of life with an all too easy conception of a loving God...They have retouched hell out of existence and only heaven is on the horizon. When it comes to the devil and temptation they stick their heads in the sand and they go about with a constant, set smile on their faces, pretending that they have overcome the world. For them the kingdom of God...has become an innocuous garden of flowers and their faith a sweet honey they gather from its blossoms. And this is also the reason why the world turns away, sickened and disgusted, from these Christians." <br />
<br />
The world doesn't buy it, Thielicke argues, because they know life is harder than these Christians are making it out to be and a watered down God of happiness and sugary pleasure isn't a God at all. Thielicke goes on to say, "But Jesus, of course, did not say, 'You are the honey of the world.' He said, 'You are the salt of the earth.' Salt bites, and the unadulterated message of the judgment and grace of God has always been a biting thing..." (p. 28)<br />
<br />
I am struck by the similarity in the observations. Germany, as is the rest of Europe, is post-Christian. Of all the options for religious affiliation in Germany, "No religion" leads the charge with 34%. Among German youths (12-24) 23% are agnostic and 28% are atheists. In Hamburg, where Thielicke spent most of his career post-WWII, no religion is the dominant affiliation. Thielicke realized the popular religion being preached and the changes that were advocated for within the church were attractive to the world and so useless for the kingdom. Now, denominations in America are drifting the same way. All we have to do is gaze across the pond to see the future of the American church if these trends continue. In line with that Douthat concludes that as American denominations change and lose their distinct Christian heritage and adopt more of the world's culture "..their fate is nearly certain: they will change, and change, and die." <br />
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<br />The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-33581145803312374152012-07-13T11:28:00.003-04:002012-07-13T11:28:47.859-04:00The thorn in our fleshKevin DeYoung, author and pastor, has written a challenging blog post for <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/" target="_blank">The Gospel Coalition</a>. You can read the entry in its entirety <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2012/07/13/why-no-denomination-will-survive-the-homosexuality-crisis/?comments#comments" target="_blank">here</a>:<br />
<br />
His basic point is that denominations cannot maintain the course they are on when it comes to the issue of homosexuality in the church and that they need to take a stand: either for or against and move on from there and dispense with the debates, study groups and compromises.<br />
<br />
What are your thoughts on his point?The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-46235531459220634972012-07-09T11:51:00.003-04:002012-07-09T11:51:33.825-04:00A Query for Biblical ScholarsIn the preface to DA Carson's <i>Jesus Confrontation with the World</i> Carson tells of how he was going to spend an academic year in Cambridge on sabbatical and ended up spending the first six weeks filling the pulpit of a local church. He writes, "...I am deeply persuaded that those whose privilege and responsibility it is to study the Scriptures owe the church whatever help we can give at the popular level, quite apart from the responsibility of producing work that attempts to influence teachers and scholars. If the purpose of my sabbatical was to complete a syntactical concordance to the Greek New Testament, there needed to be space as well for something that served the church more immediately."<br />
<br />
Do you feel the same way?<br />
<br />
What is your view of the church?The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-51943053469677655542012-07-04T07:54:00.000-04:002012-07-04T07:54:17.768-04:00Freedom Isn't FreeHappy Independence Day to all of my fellow Americans! This is the great day of celebration and appreciation for the many freedoms we enjoy in this prosperous and peaceful nation. Thank a soldier! Eat a hot dog! Watch some fireworks! And for God's sake, practice critical thinking!<br />
<br />
I am very grateful to be an American. It would be a lie to say that I have in-depth experience of other cultures. But I have seen enough, and read enough, to know just how good we have it. <br />
<br />
A common statement to remind us of how good we have it is, 'Freedom isn't free." Such statements refer, of course, to the ultimate sacrifice paid by soldiers in wars defending the freedoms and liberties that we have today. That I am able to freely access the internet and write this blog is a testament to the sacrifices that have taken place. Such creeds also provide us with a simplified statement that sums up the American civil religion of patriotism.<br />
<br />
Independence Day, while giving us a red letter day and an opportunity to celebrate, also helps cement the unity of a nation that shares no common ethnic heritage. Germany has a German ethnic heritage, France has a French ethnic heritage, Italy has an Italian ethnic heritage and so on. But what ethnic heritage does the melting pot, I'm sorry-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salad_bowl_%28cultural_idea%29" target="_blank">-the salad bowl--</a>of these fair shores have? None! We have no ethnic heritage.<br />
<br />
But we have a shared history and story. We have the declaration of independence! We have the stories and legends of our Founding Fathers. We have the underdog story of a colony defeating a world power and then rising to be THE world power. We have an American dream and an American ideal. We have a flag to pledge allegiance to, we have amber fields of gold, we have fireworks, history, glorious freedom and the constant reminder that the sacrifice paid by soldiers is the glue holding all of this together. We have an American mythology that gives our nation a civil religion and provides a point of common interest to a vast array of different cultures. All told, the American civil religion is brilliant, captivating and alluring.<br />
<br />
Therein is found my concern.<br />
<br />
Sometimes I worry that within the church, the language of sacrifice about veterans and the hopes of the American dream are usurping the gospel. The American dream promises us that if we work hard enough, are determined long enough and focused clearly enough, we can accomplish anything we want. The gospel promises us that we cannot save ourselves no matter how hard we may try. Contradictory messages. One is beautiful and one is frustrating. Both true, but how to make sure our belief in the American dream doesn't distort our understanding of the gospel? So often I hear people hope, that when all is said and done, that they have done enough good--as if that even mattered. When I hear this I can't help but wonder if the Protestant Work Ethic married the American Dream and birthed some sort of theological monstrosity. <br />
<br />
"Freedom isn't free" is a civil religious creed that populates bumper stickers, t-shirts and Facebook. And it is entirely true. Nothing is free except, as Mattie Ross reminds us in True Grit, the grace of God. The grace of God is free to us but it came at a price, the death of the Son of God on the cross. As Paul told the <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A1&version=NIV" target="_blank">Galatians, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."</a> The Galatian believers were in danger of letting some subvert their belief. "Stand firm" Paul exhorts them, "And do not submit again to the yoke of slavery." We too, must stand firm to the onslaught of our culture. There is much to be admired and enjoyed about America, but it must not be worshiped. We must not forget that while freedom isn't free, there is only one who paid the ultimate price. <br />
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As I said, I'm proud to be an American. I try to not take the freedom or the prosperity I experience for granted. I try to always thank a veteran when I meet one. I enjoy America, but I try my very hardest to not idolize Lady Liberty. For Artemis, I'm sorry, Lady Liberty of America may be great, but God is greater still. Our shores may be a welcome sight for the downtrodden, but no one provides a greater promise of rest <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2011.28-30&version=NIV" target="_blank">for the burdened than Jesus does</a>.The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-43827473013774640842012-07-03T15:31:00.005-04:002012-07-03T15:32:04.534-04:00First world, but not first rate, ChristiansWhile I am currently living in Western PA, I am from central Ohio.
Particularly the Columbus suburb of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilliard,_Ohio" target="_blank">Hilliard</a>. I draw attention to this because this past week, in
case you weren't aware, serious storms went through the area. Trees were blown
down, roofs damaged and power was knocked out. Some of the lines that went down
caused significant outage for many days, in some instances as many as nine
days! That is a long time to be without power and it is made even worse when
temperatures are in the 90s every day.<br />
<br />
To my brothers and sisters in Christ I feel the need to remind you that
these are first world problems. (1)<br />
<br />
In 2006 I spent an extended period
living in Belgrade, Serbia. I was amazed at the number of businesses that
advertised that they had air conditioning on their front windows. I felt like I was transported back
in time when I would see that stenciled on the windows of a shop. I shared a
room with a great guy and instead of beds we were supplied couches to sleep on.
When I complained about this to a Serbian they laughed with me.
Later I learned that same individual also slept on a couch. And Serbia is not
(and was not at that time) a third world country!<br />
<br />
We forget how good we have it here in America. We also forget how
challenging this “goodness” can be for our faith. Being a Christian in America
is hard. Not because of persecution but because of comfort. We live in a
country that is so rich and our lives are so comfortable that we have come to
expect the very best at all times. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk" target="_blank">God forbid we lose internet service on an airplane</a>. Or worse, our cell phone drops a call. We have lost all perspective on how good we have it here and instead we cry foul when we encounter the mildest of discomfort! <br />
<br />
In the great documentary, <a href="http://www.pbs.org/alifeapart/" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Life Apart</i></a>,
the story is told of how the rebbes in Eastern Europe urged their flocks to
remain in Eastern Europe despite the rise and influence of Nazism. The reason for
such odd advice? The dangers of comfortable America. Shortly before WWII
started, a Rebbe wrote a book and dedicated it to the Jews in America. He said
in essence, “We Jews in Europe are about to lose our lives, but you Jews in
America are about to lose your souls.” <br />
<br />
For many American Christians, losing their lives is the worst thing that
could possibly happen because the chief end of man is no longer about God, but
about ourselves and pleasing ourselves. Instead of seeing suffering <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A10-11&version=NIV" target="_blank">as a way of being conformed more to the image of Christ</a>, it is seen as an unfair burden.
The language of self-denial, so potent and powerful in the gospels, is ignored. I cannot recall the last time I heard a prominent Christian speak about the importance of self-denial.<br />
<br />
There are a tremendous number of differences between the first world and the
third world. But those differences, for the most part, can be summed up in one
word: economics. I am aware of another difference, however, between the first
and third world regarding theology. The third world church is, by and large,
conservative; while the first world church is growing increasingly more
liberal. Could this theological divide be related to our level of living as
well? If air conditioning is out in your church and the temperatures are in the
90s, does the American believer still go? If they go do they complain incessantly? If air conditioning has never been present in the church
and you have to walk for more than an hour one way to get there, does the African believer still
go? Do they praise God along the way? Tremendous differences, indeed. <br />
<br />
Perhaps this is why so many denominations are determined to whitewash what
Scripture names as sin. Could it be they are aware on some level of how far
their lives are lived out from what Scripture describes and so they have taken
up false causes in an attempt to justify their false worldviews? Perhaps the Christian
who throws a fit when they are
overcharged on their cable TV bill or when their air conditioning is out is the same type of Christian who feels determined
to push for non-biblical definitions of marriage. When all is said and done these sins are all
rooted in self-satisfaction.<br />
<br />
As I mentioned in April, <a href="http://wellerthanyou.blogspot.com/2012/04/pastoral-theology-iv-on-mount.html" target="_blank">I am currently reading the Sermon on the Mount every week</a>. To expand my knowledge of that block of
teaching, I have started reading some works on it as well. One that I have
really been enjoying is D.A. Carson’s, <i>Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation with the World</i>. Commenting on <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%206.31&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 6.31</a> Carson writes, "Our worries must not sound like the worries of the world. When the Christian faces the pressure of examinations, does he sound like the pagan in the next room? When he is short of money, even for the essentials, does he complain with the same tone, the same words, the same attitude, as those around him? Away with secular thinking, The follower of Jesus will be concerned to have a distinctive lifestyle, one that is characterized by values and perspectives so un-pagan that his life and conduct are, as it were, stamped all over with the words, 'Made in the kingdom of God'" (p98-99).<br />
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If I were permitted to make an addition to this work I would add, "Our complaining must not sound like the worries of the world but demonstrate a gratitude for what we have received and a trust in the God who still reigns."<br />
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(1) I recognize the arguments in favor of Minority World/Majority World instead of 3rd world and 1st world distinctions, but as Newbigin states words have history and if I were to use those words without supplying the history my point might be lost. <br />
<br />The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-57667789619252396842012-06-12T10:01:00.002-04:002012-06-12T10:01:14.208-04:00Pastoral Theology: The Poetry of LifeFor Ordinary Time I have been reading <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/At-Still-Point-Literary-Ordinary/dp/155725785X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339506953&sr=8-1&keywords=At+The+Still+Point" target="_blank">At the Still Point</a></i> by Sarah Arthur. It is a wonderful look at the quiet movements of God through literature. I found this to be an interesting angle but nonetheless an appropriate approach for devotionals during Ordinary Time. Last Friday morning, while waiting on my daughter Lydia to be born, I was reading through her work and had the pleasure of enjoying Robert Siegel's Poem, "A Song of Praises."<br />
<br />
This poem, is a wonderful illustration of discovering the beauty of God in the every day things of this world. In captivating language he describes the morning routine so many of us go through at the start of every day. Here is the poem in its entirety as found online at <a href="http://www.thehighcalling.org/family/song-praises" target="_blank">The High Calling</a>:<br />
<br />
for the gray nudge of dawn at the window<br />
for the chill that hangs around the bed and slips<br />
its cold tongue under the covers<br />
for the cat that walks over my face purring murderously<br />
for the warmth of the hip next to mine and sweet lethargy<br />
for the cranking up of the will until it turns me out of bed<br />
for the robe's caress along arm and neck<br />
for the welcome of hot water, the dissolving of<br />
the night's stiff mask in the warm washcloth<br />
for the light along the while porcelain sink<br />
for the toothbrush's savory invasion of the tomb of the mouth<br />
and resurrection of the breath<br />
for the warm lather and the clean scrape of the razor<br />
and the skin smooth and pink that emerges<br />
for the steam of the shower, the apprehensive shiver and then<br />
its warm enfolding of the shoulders<br />
its falling on the head like grace<br />
its anointing of the whole body<br />
and the soap's smooth absolution<br />
for the rough nap of the towel and its message to each skin cell<br />
for the hairbrush's pulling and pulling,<br />
waking the root of each hair<br />
for the reassuring snap of elastic<br />
for the hug of the belt that pulls all together<br />
for the smell of coffee rising up the stairs announcing paradise<br />
for the glass of golden juice in which light is condensed<br />
and the grapefruit's sweet flesh<br />
for the eggs like two peaks over which the sun rises<br />
and the jam for which the strawberries of summer have<br />
saved themselves<br />
for the light whose long shaft lifts the kitchen<br />
into the realms of day<br />
for Mozart elegantly measuring out the gazebos<br />
of heaven on the radio<br />
and for her face, for whom the kettle sings, the coffee percs,<br />
and all the yellow birds in the wallpaper spread their wings.<br />
<br />
I have read this poem now maybe a dozen times. Each time a different aspect of the morning routine jumps off the page and grabs my attention, holding it for a prolonged moment before leading me back into the next line. Several thoughts have emerged out of this poem that I think are useful for believers and non-believers alike.<br />
<br />
The first is the joy of the present moment. Last night, around 2.30am in an attempt to stay awake while I rocked my newborn daughter back to sleep I began to wonder how Robert Siegel would describe the darkened nursery? As my bleary eyes scanned the walls and furniture, as my hands sought to absorb the texture of the comfortable rocking chair and her soft newborn skin, and as my senses strained to truly draw in the warmth from the tiny ball nestled on my chest and my eyes worked hard to transform the small sliver of light coming in through the slightly opened door into something more useful I realized that I am quite terrible at being in the present moment. I am willing to hazard a guess that is true for so many of us. We focus on the past, either for the better or the worse, or we cast our thoughts forward to the future. While the present moment fails to gain our focused attention. <br />
<br />
If we are to truly look at the birds of the air or consider the lillies of the field then we need to let go of what is needlessly occupying our mind and attention. Jesus urges us in the Sermon on the Mount to not worry about tomorrow but instead turn our attention to the present moment. In doing so, we recognize the magnificent provision of God and are able to face the future without anxiety about what may come and our priorities become properly focused on the Kingdom. But first, we must <i>look </i>at the birds of the air; the "Pentecost of finches" as Siegel <a href="https://redemptionsbeauty.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/igniting-the-flame/" target="_blank">describes in another poem</a>.<br />
<br />
Siegel's poem also reminded me of the power of the mundane. Many would be willing to testify that the morning routine is odious. Rare is the person who joyfully proclaims that they are a morning person, even rarer is the person who enjoys waking up in the morning. Yet if our senses had a tune-up and we were able to see the morning the way Siegel sees it, wouldn't we agree that it is a cause for praise? I can't remember the last time as I brushed my teeth that I was reminded of how every time I take part in such an action I am experiencing a "resurrection of the breath." Or how in the act of shaving, my skin takes on a newborn appearance. A hot shower in the morning has never caused me to consider the grace of God, my only source of complete absolution. I am incredibly skinny; belts are a reality of my every day existence. Just as my belt holds everything together, so too do God's hands hold the universe together. And on and on. God is present in the mundane events of our lives. As Jacob exclaimed after awaking from a strong dream one night, "Truly God is in this place and I did not know it! (Genesis 28.16)" And just like that, a nameless place takes on a name full of significance: the mundane becomes the house of God.<br />
<br />
Ordinary Time is just that: ordinary time. It is the time on the church calendar in between the big events of Pentecost and Advent. It is the time when the Creasters are not found in church <i>at all</i>. It is the time when the rest of us, most likely, are thinking about summer vacations, days at the pool, fireworks, ice cream, corn on the cob and night excursions filled with the intent to capture lightning bugs alive. It is the time when the magnificence of creation is on display and so we are without excuse in recognizing the Artist behind the painting. Yet, we overlook the presence of God.<br />
<br />
In his <i>Reflection on the Psalms </i>C.S. Lewis wrote, "<span class="text">Poetry too is a little incarnation, giving body to what had been before invisible and inaudible."</span> That is where the power of a poem like Siegels can be found: it gives body and form to what had been invisible. It can remind us to keep our eyes open and to not take anything for granted. Everything is a gift, even that gray nudge of dawn first thing in the morning. Therein lies our role as followers of Christ--to look for the poems present in our life and in the lives of those around us. To give form to the randomness of their day; to point out the pattern of the Spirit whether it as easily discernible as a Petrarchan Sonnet, or as hard to pin down as free verse. And in doing so, to realize that for everyone God is present in ordinary. That the ordinary is extraordinary when seen in the right light. <br />
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<br />The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2010683437601876955.post-85416150435949678502012-06-03T13:00:00.001-04:002012-06-03T13:00:44.689-04:00The New Roman RoadsIn the June issue of Christianity Today, there is an article on the new innovative strategies being taken to share the gospel by current leaders in the church. The article, <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/june/social-network-gospel.html">The Social Network Gospel</a>, makes some interesting points but this point especially struck me as being right on target. The author wrote, "The ancient Roman roads spanned more than 250,000 miles. The Romans started building these continent-connecting arteries in 500 B.C., enabling both their empire to grow and the gospel to advance rapidly.<br />
Today's Roman roads are the Internet, the smartphone, the tablet, and social media, ready and waiting for innumerable journeys of faith and witness. While the ancient roads connected hundreds of towns and cities, the new ones connect millions of homes and individuals."<br />
<br />
This passage stood out to me because last fall we had one of our missionaries come and speak at the church. He told us how the internet was the new roman road and the way to spread the gospel throughout the world. We have a duty to spread the gospel, indeed are commanded to do so in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020:19-23&version=NIV1984">John 20.19-23</a>. Of course we must do so in person, but we must also utilize these new Roman roads. So it is with great pleasure I announce that the church now has an active website. Two people worked very hard behind the scenes to make this possible, they know who they are, and I thank them.<br />
Please share it with others in the hopes that many will be saved.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.millcreekworship.org/"> http://www.millcreekworship.org/</a><br />
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<br />The Chasidic Calvinisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12551359050292584020noreply@blogger.com0