2010 John Bunyan Conference

The info for the 2010 John Bunyan Conference is now up. The dates are Monday April 26 - Wednesday April 28. I am delighted to be speaking again at this year's conference. If you have questions regarding New Covenant Theology, it should be helpful. Here is a tentative schedule of speakers and topics (one speaker is yet to be confirmed):

• John Reisinger will speak on “Continuity and Discontinuiy” and the “Active and Passive Obedience of Christ.”
• Jack Jefferies will speak on “Seeing the New Testament through New Covenant eyes: Two Test Texts – The Point of the Parentheses in Romans 2:13-15 and 1 Corinthians 9:21.”
• Blake White will have two messages on “The Law of Christ.”
• Fred Zaspel did his doctrinal thesis on B.B. Warfield and will share the results with two messages on this great giant of the past.

Edwards on Discontinuity

"There is perhaps no part of divinity attended with so much intricacy, and wherein orthodox divines do so much differ, as the stating of the precise agreement and difference between the two dispensations of Moses and of Christ. And probably the reason why God has left it so intricate, is because our understanding the ancient dispensation, and God's design in it, is not of so great importance, nor does it so nearly concern us. Since God uses great plainness of speech in the New Testament, which is as it were the charter and municipal law of the christian church, what need we run back to the ceremonial and typical institutions of an antiquated dispensation, wherein God's declared design was, to deliver divine things in comparative obscurity, hid under a veil, and involved in clouds?"

--Jonthan Edwards, "An Humble Inquiry."

American Religion

The Calvinist deity, first brought to America by the Puritans, has remarkably little in common with the versions of God now apprehended by what calls itself Protestantism in the United States.

--Harold Bloom in The American Religion.

Lasting Beauty

Beauty is vain but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

(Pictured above: Pamela Anderson)

$$

"We must also dethrone mammon. I fear that many - probably most - Western Christians worship the god of materialism. If their behavior is any measure, they care more about accumulating things than obeying God. How else can we explain the fact that Christians living in the riches nation in human history give less and less to the church even though their annual incomes have increased substantially over the last three decades? Surely biblical people would have joyfully given progressively higher percentages of their income to evangelism and social ministry as they moved from unheard of wealth in terms of all earlier periods of history to even greater, more astounding levels of material abundance. Instead, we have doubled the size of our already spacious houses and the capacity of our garages while reducing the percentage of our giving. Long ago Jesus said, 'Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also' (Matt. 6:21). And evangelicals are piling up ever-greater treasures in their huge houses, growing vacation homes, and expanding investments."
--Ron Sider in The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience, 117.

Best Reads of 09'

In no particular order:

• The Doctrine of God - John Frame: Frame is a beast. Everything he writes is worth reading. He is always thorough. This volume has some of the best treatments of sovereignty/responsibility, open theism, and aseity that I have read.
• Prodigal God - Tim Keller: Keller is a master of applying the gospel to the heart. He does this in this book by exposing the elder brother in us all (Luke 15). Great book. I will use this in small groups or SS fo sho.
• Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God - J.I. Packer: I re-read this classic this year and was just as refreshed as the first time I read it. I think every Christian ought to read this short book. Here is a helpful summary.
• Learning from the Church Fathers - Bryan Litfin: Evangelicals tend to neglect "the Fathers." This is a very good intro to the shoulders upon which we stand. He has short chapters on Ignatius, Justin, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Perpetua, Origen, Athanasius, Chrysostom, Augustine, and Cyril of Alexandria.
• A Call to Spiritual Reformation - D.A. Carson: Carson meditatively walks through the prayers of Paul. This book is excellent. You will learn the Bible, theology, how to pray, what to pray, and most of all you'll be spurred on to pray.
• Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God - Gordon Fee: This is basically the final section of Fee's massive work, God's Empowering Presence. It is a short theology of the Holy Spirit in Paul's letters. Fee is a Pentecostal NT scholar who is tied to the text.
• Fatherhood - Tony Payne: This is a practical theology of Fatherhood. Very easy and nourishing read. Payne paints the Father as life-giver, sustainer, and ruler. I will read this one again.
• The End of the Law - Jason Meyer: This is an important book! It is Meyer's dissertation (reworked for publication) on Paul's theology of the Mosaic law. Though Meyer does not label himself such, this is New Covenant Theology at its best in my judgment. It serves as a commentary on key passages dealing with continuity and discontinuity. Get it. Here are 3 questions on the law with Meyer.
• Galatians - Thomas R. Schreiner: This one is not out yet but we had to read it for his class on Galatians. I can see why Galatians was Luthers "Katie Von Bora." I love this book, so reading through Schreiner's exegesis was great. Each section ends with "Theology in Application." I think this was my favorite part. Pastors, be sure and grab it when it comes out.
• Perspectives New and Old on Paul - Stephen Westerholm: I had read sections of this one and noticed that it was referenced numerous times in any book I read on the law or justification so I finally sat down to read it. Wow. I came away thankful for Martin Luther. If you have questions on justification or the new perspective, go here first.

Here are the favs from 08', 07', and 06'.

Love in 1 John

Those who love their fellow believers live in the light (2:10)

Those who do not love their brothers and sisters are not children of God, but of the devil (3:10-11)

We know that we have passed from death to life because we love each other (3:14)

We know what love is because Jesus laid down his life for us and we ought to do the same for others (3:16)

God's command is this: believe in Jesus and love one another (3:23)

Let us love one another, because love comes from God (4:7)

God showed his love to us by sending his Son that we might live through him (4:9)

This is love: not that we loved God, but he loved us and sent Christ to absorb God's wrath on our behalf (4:10)

Since God so loved us in the cross, we also ought to love one another (4:11)

If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us (4:12)

We love because we have first been loved (4:19)

If we say we love God, yet hate our brothers and sisters, we are liars (4:20)

Those who love God must love one another (4:21)

The Day has Come & is Coming

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.''

Jeremiah 23:5-6

Church & Israel

Seems pretty clear to me:

Those who have faith in Christ are the children of Abraham (i.e. Israel) (Gal 3.7)

If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed (Gal 3.29)

The present Jerusalem is in slavery, but the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother (Gal 4.26)

Like Isaac, we (believers) are children of promise (Gal 4.28)

We are not children of the slave woman - Hagar who represents Sinai, but of the free woman (Gal 4.31)

Those who walk in line with the rule that circumcision or uncircumcisioin means nothing but the new creation means everything (i.e. Christians) are the Israel of God (Gal 6.15-16)

A Jew is one inwardly, not outwardly and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not the letter (Rom 2.28-29)

We (Christians) are the circumcision (i.e. Israel), who serve God by the Spirit, who glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh (Phil 3.2-3)

Why I Believe in Jesus

Here is an article I wrote in this month's Sound of Grace. Other stuff is linked under "Writings" on the right.

Multi-Site Churches and Preaching Personalities

Michael Mckinley has some interesting thoughts on the logic of multi-site campuses:

"Multi-site churches generally operate on the premise that the preacher in question has a gift that must be made available to as many people as possible. The thinking is something like, "We need to be a good steward of ______'s gifts by piping his sermons into different locations". I realize this isn't the only motivation for multi-site churches, but it's usually up there at or near the top.
If that's the case, shouldn't we also start churches that use recording of old, great, dead preachers? Shouldn't we start a church with audio recordings of Lloyd-Jones sermons?
Shouldn't we encourage great living preachers to record thousands of sermons on video so that they can continue to pastor the church centuries after their death?
Shouldn't we plant a multi-site church that employs someone to read great sermons by Jonathan Edwards or Augustine?"

Is this logic flawed?

Josiah @ 26 Weeks

Its the minute that matters

“The year is made up of minutes. Let them be watched as having been dedicated to God. It is in the sanctification of the small that the hallowing of the large is secure.”

-G. Cambell Morgan

Wright is Wrong

For those interested, I recently listened to a very helpful talk given by Ligon Duncan on N.T. Wright and the New Perspective. Here is the link. Also check out the Boyce panel, the Southern Seminary panel, and the Al Mohler radio show with Duncan & Piper discussing the same thing. Also, let me say that I have benefitted greatly from the Bishop. However, I think he gets justification wrong, which is no small thing.

Be You

Praise God we have so many gifted preachers today. Numerous amazing sermons are just a few clicks away. It comes with a temptation for preachers though. We are all influenced by those we listen to, and we can end up just trying to imitate our favorites or favorite. Somewhere, I heard Keller advise preachers to listen to a variety of preachers. He said something like, "If you listen to one guy, you'll become a clone. If you listen to three, you'll be confused. If you listen to 100, you'll be you." I think he is onto something. All that to say, here is a helpful and wise word to young preachers by Kevin DeYoung. Preacher, read it. Also, go here to watch a sermon by Matt Chandler in chapel where part of his sermon is a call to be you. He goes so far as to say that trying to be anybody but you is sinful.

Midwifery & the Sovereignty of God

My wife Alicia is about 20 weeks pregnant with our first child, Josiah White. Recently, we had a visit with the midwife who, Lord willing, is going to deliver our baby. We mentioned that I am currently in school and she asked where I attend. When I told her that I am a full time student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary her eyes lit up and she said she delivers babies of Southern students all the time. I said, “Well, I hope they are some of your best patients.” She said they were.
She went on to say that one thing she appreciates about Southern students is that they are rarely disappointed with the birthing process. She mentioned that some couples get so intent on delivering a certain way – for instance without the use of medication – that they are very disappointed in her and themselves when it doesn’t go the way they had planned. Some think that she led them poorly; others think their bodies failed them, but Southern students accept their lot as from the hand of a good and kind God.
I found this to be very appropriate and encouraging. Southern is known for a robust belief in the absolute sovereignty of God over all things. We also believe in the fallenness of this created order. All that is involved in the birthing process is cursed. It’s messy. There will be disappointments. But our view of the world gives us realistic expectations. Epidurals may be needed; blood will be present; cries will be loud; babies will have abnormalities; some babies will even die. When these things happen, we are deeply hurt, but not devastated.
This world order is broken, but Jesus will make it all right. If Josiah is born with Down syndrome, I know that God will use him to conform my wife and I more fully to the image of Christ. We are praying daily that Alicia will carry Josiah to full term, but the Lord may take him. If that should happen, we will not blame our midwife. We will not blame God. We will weep long and hard. Then we will bless the God who gives and takes away, knowing that death is dead because of the death of Christ. Whatever our lot, He has taught us to say, “It is well with our soul.”
It is good that Southern is known for a deep belief in God’s sovereignty. It is even better when our attitude about disappointment reflects this truth. All too often this is not true in my daily life. I can go from exulting in the doctrine of God’s meticulous providence, to muttering under my breath because I have a flat tire. O, how we of all people ought to have a favorable interpretation of God’s dealings with us. He is for us in Jesus. He is ordering world history, and our own individual histories, to be summed up in Christ. May we view all of the details of our lives, both good and bad, in light of that end.

(Previously published in Towers, p.5)

Francis Chan

From a nice little article on pastor and author of Crazy Love & Forgotten God, Francis Chan:

Despite what is clearly a flourishing ministry, Chan remains an anomaly. He lives in a tract house in one of Simi Valley's down-and-out suburbs with his wife and four children. He rides a 1995 Honda Elite scooter to work. An avid surfer, he emits a laid-back Californian coolness.
According to one comment he made in a sermon, Chan gives away about 90 percent of his income (though his church administrator preferred the phrase "most of his income"). Chan doesn't take a salary from his church, and his book royalties, which total about $500,000, mostly go to organizations like International Justice Mission, which rescues sex slaves in foreign countries. The Chans often open their home to families who need a place to stay. One of Cornerstone's community pastors, Bill Lucas, lived with Chan for nine months, and says he "lives out what he says."

N.T. Wright & Rome

Francis Beckwith is the former president of the Evangelical Theological Society. I recently read his book, which is kind of interesting. A couple of weeks ago, Collin Hanson wrote a piece on the justification debates, and I thought this little bit was very interesting: Beckwith told Christianity Today, "I have met several former evangelical Protestants who have told me that Wright's work in particular helped them to better appreciate the Catholic view of grace."
Also, Taylor Marshall, director of the Catholic Information Center in Washington, D.C., said he speaks with new Catholic converts every month, about half of whom have been "deeply influenced" by Wright. Isn't that interesting?

Keller in the Ville

Peep it. Monday November 16 at 7. Be there.

(Props: J Ham)

Free Desiring God Audio

This month's freebie from Christian Audio is Piper's Desiring God. Grab it.

Good Lookin' Out: Collision

Alicia and I just finished watching the DVD "Collision," with Douglas Wilson and Christopher Hitchens. It is well done and worth purchasing. Buy it here. Watch the first 13 minutes here.

Embrace Accusation - Piper/Shane's

Take 7 Minutes

Rob Bell's Evangelicalism

A while back, I posted a link to an interview where Rob Bell defined the gospel as:

"I would say that history is headed somewhere. The thousands of little ways in which you are tempted to believe that hope might actually be a legitimate response to the insanity of the world actually can be trusted. And the Christian story is that a tomb is empty, and a movement has actually begun that has been present in a sense all along in creation. And all those times when your cynicism was at odds with an impulse within you that said that this little thing might be about something bigger—those tiny little slivers may in fact be connected to something really, really big."

In another interview, he was asked to define an evangelical:

Q: What does it mean to you to be an evangelical?
A: I take issue with the word to a certain degree, so I make a distinction between a capital ‘E’ and a small ‘e.’ I was in the Caribbean in 2004, watching the election returns with a group of friends, and when Fox News, in a state of delirious joy, announced that evangelicals had helped sway the election, I realized, this word has really been hijacked. I find the word troubling, because it has come in America to mean politically to the right, almost, at times, anti-intellectual. For many, the word has nothing to do with a spiritual context.
Q: OK, how would you describe what it is that you believe?
A: I embrace the term evangelical, if by that we mean a belief that we together can actually work for change in the world, caring for the environment, extending to the poor generosity and kindness, a hopeful outlook. That's a beautiful sort of thing.

Where is the evangel?

You've Been Left Behind

The eternal salvation of your friends and family is very important. So, just in case you are too busy or ashamed to share the gospel, and just in case Rapture Letters drops the ball, you better have a back-up plan. Here is where You've Been Left Behind comes in. It is similar to Rapture Letters, but with these guys, you get to write the letter to you lost friend or family member. But you should know that it will cost $40 per year. From their website:

"We all have family and friends who have failed to receive the Good News of the Gospel.The unsaved will be 'left behind' on earth to go through the "tribulation period" after the "Rapture". You remember how, for a short time, after (9/11/01) people were open to spiritual things and answers. (We are still singing "God Bless America" at baseballs' seventh inning stretch.) Imagine how taken back they will be by the millions of missing Christians and devastation at the rapture. They will know it was true and that they have blown it. There will be a small window of time where they might be reached for the Kingdom of God. We have made it possible for you to send them a letter of love and a plea to receive Christ one last time. You can also send information based on scripture as to what will happen next. Each fulfilled prophecy will cause your letter and plea to be remembered and a decision to be made."

Pastor Piper

I was heavily influenced by John Piper during my college years. Who wasn't? The first Piper book I read was "The Pleasures of God." My view of God was small before that book.

At the beginning of this semester, my preaching professor (& dean - Dr. Moore) asked the class to introduce ourselves and name one very influential sermon. I was struck by how many people mentioned sermons by John Piper. If you have listened to much of Piper, I am sure you can recall a sermon where the Spirit moved your heart to love Christ more and love sin less. If you have never heard Piper, peep this.

Justin Taylor has a great post celebrating Piper's 30th year at Bethlehem by recalling how God called him there. Check it out.

Rapture Letters

Once you have made sure that Toodles will be taken care of during the tribulation, you may now want to consider your lost friends and family. This is where Rapture Letters comes in! So the rapture comes and you haven't quite got around to being faithful in sharing the gospel with those you care for, don't worry. Its not too late! From the website:

"After the rapture, there will be a lot of speculation as to why millions of people have just disappeared. Unfortunately, after the rapture, only non believers will be left to come up with answers. You probably have family and friends that you have witnessed to and they just won't listen. After the rapture they probably will, but who will tell them?
We have written a computer program to do just that. It will send an Electronic Message (e-mail) to whomever you want after the rapture has taken place, and you and I have been taken to heaven.
How is this accomplished, you might ask. It's a dead man switch that will automatically send the emails when it is not reset.If you wish to do something now that will help your unbelieving friends and family after the rapture, you need to add those persons email address to our database. Their names will be stored indefinitely and a letter will be sent out to each of them on the first Friday after the rapture. Then they will receive another letter every Friday after that.This rapture letter service is FREE and will hopefully gain the person you send it to an eternity in heaven."

Here is what the letter will look like. So don't worry about being faithful in evangelism now, after all, that could have negative consequences. Instead, let Rapture Letters do it for you. Besides, they are more likely to convert during the tribulation anyway, right?

It's a Boy!!

(See Video Here, Here, & Here)

Toodles & the Tribulation

Are you a dog-loving dispensationalist? Do you enjoy cuddling with your kitten while watching Kirk Cameron? Have you ever wondered if you could grab Toodles the poodle as you are being raptured so you can bring him with you? If so, "Eternal Earth-Bound Pets" is for you. From their site:

"You've committed your life to Jesus. You know you're saved. But when the Rapture comes what's to become of your loving pets who are left behind? Eternal Earth-Bound Pets takes that burden off your mind. We are a group of dedicated animal lovers, and atheists. Each Eternal Earth-Bound Pet representative is a confirmed atheist, and as such will still be here on Earth after you've received your reward. Our network of animal activists are committed to step in when you step up to Jesus.We are currently active in 22 states. Our representatives have been screened to ensure that they are atheists, animal lovers, are moral / ethical with no criminal background, have the ability and desire to rescue your pet and the means to retrieve them and ensure their care for your pet's natural life.

Our service is plain and simple; our fee structure is reasonable. For $110.00 we will guarantee that should the Rapture occur within ten (10) years of receipt of payment, one pet per residence will be saved. Each additional pet at your residence will be saved for an additional $15.00 fee. A small price to pay for your peace of mind and the health and safety of your four legged and feathered friends."

Now, I must admit I am jealous I didn't think of this idea first. If I had, my seminary tuition would have been easily covered, sadly. Wow.

(Props: Beebz)

Contentment

"Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." (1 Tim 6.6-10)

"Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you and I will never abandon you'." (Heb 13.5)

D-Rob Hall of Fame Speech

Related to the last post, Voddie Baucham points out how much different David Robinson's hall of fame induction speech was compared to MJ's. He notes that:

David Elevated Others... Mike Elevated Mike
David Honored His Family... Mike Honored Himself
David Was Brief... Mike Was Indulgent
David Honored God... Mike Honored Basketball
David sees His Legacy in His Family... Mike sees His Legacy in His Highlights

The two speeches are strikingly different. Watch D-Rob's speech here.

(Props: JT)

MJ Hall of Fame

I was a big fan of Michael Jordan. Real big. But I really wish he would have never tried to play baseball, and never came back with the Wizards. It would have been nice if the last thing we heard or saw from Jordan was the famous push-off, jumper, hand hanging in the air after the j. But it didn't and if that didn't leave a bad enough taste in your mouth, now this.

Michael Jordan was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame this year. You can watch the speech here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. It was quite sad. Everyone was there to celebrate him as the best, and he still had to remind everyone that he is the best. Dominating the game was not enough for him. The speech revealed a deep insecurity. It was more of a childish rant than a speech. What a way to end a career. He called out everyone from his high school coach (he even flew up the cat who beat him for the spot), to Dean Smith (for not letting him in on an SI cover), to Buzz Peterson (NC player of the year when MJ thought it should have been him), to Pat Riley, and more. He pretty much told his kids, "Sucks to be you and have to live in my shadow" He even knocked the NBA for charging to much to attend the event. He mentioned a comeback at age 50 and almost seemed offended when the crowd laughed.

MJ wasn't happy about being inducted because it shows that his career is definitively over. He doesn't want to "graze," because he thinks he can still "run with the young horses" (see this interview) I have watched several interviews and it seems that he actually thinks he can still dominate. Doubtful. You can just see him graping for glory. Basketball was his life, his refuge, his place to go to seek peace. He was used to lots of glory, but it's only looking back from here though. All is vanity for MJ. How sad.

As sad as all this was, you still have to admit, the dude could put on a show. Here are his 23 top memorable moments. My favs are 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, & 15. God bless Craig Ehlo. I wonder what Craig is doing now. My guess is he is happier than Michael Jordan.

Today in chapel, pastor Al Jackson said that the SBC took in around 12 billion total from all offerings and gifts and only gave 2.5 cents on the dollar of that to missions. Where on earth does all that cash flow go? That's disheartening.

NIV 2011

For those interested, you can now watch the press release concerning the 2011 NIV update here.

End of the Law Interview

Justin Taylor asks Jason Meyer, author of "The End of the Law," three questions about the law here.

Christ is the One We Need

"I can't argue with the bits of science cited, but here's what history reminds us. When the gene mapping is complete, when the folks on Prozac still can't get along with their spouses, when the fountain of youth still does not arrive in a bottle, when money and achievement fail to satisfy, and when your clone grows up to hate you. . . sinners will yet find Christ to be the one we need."

-Powlison in Seeing With New Eyes, 247-48

A New Way

A while back, I posted the following quote from Herman Ridderbos: "[The Gospel] teaches man to understand himself in a new way, with respect to God as well as to the world and history surrounding him." I was recently reflecting on how true it is. Repentance is a change of mind, first about your evaluation of self. You drop your agenda and follow Christ's. You turn from sin to the Father through Christ by the enabling of the Spirit. Repentance doesn't stop there though. We change our view of everything and let the Story of Scripture frame our thoughts and inform our minds. Faith and repentance in the gospel brings a new view of God, a new view of self, a new view of others, a new view of community, a new view of the beginning, a new view of the end, and a new view of purpose. And praise be to Christ that this view, in the words of Justin, is "sure and fulfilling."

Attn: Seminarians

If you are in seminary, or live near a theological library, I want to point you to a chapter in a book that is must-reading for ministers (I use that term carefully and rarely). It is a chapter called "The Eschatological Conception of New Testament Theology," in a book called Eschatology in Bible and Theology: Evangelical Essays at the Dawn of a New Millennium edited by Kent E. Brower and Mark W. Elliot. It is 40 pages of goodness. Eschatology begins in the first verse of the Bible. Beale is currently working on a New Testament theology which will have "new creation" as its center that should be coming out in the next couple of years. If the 40 page essay is too much, there is an abridged version called "The New Testament and New Creation" in Scott Hafemann's Biblical Theology: Retrospect and Prospect, 159-172. So hit the copy machine and be enriched.

NIV Update

Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society) has announced that they will revise the NIV, and when it is out (2011), the TNIV and the 84' NIV will no longer be published. Although the hundreds of English Bible translations annoys me, I am actually glad about this. I was never fond of the NIV for various reasons and found the TNIV to be a tremendous improvement on it. However, instead of looking at each gender-related verse on a case by case basis, the TNIV seemed more like a systematic agenda to make all that they could gender-inclusive. I am curious to see if they will retain the TNIV's translation of singular's to plural's to avoid "he." For example, "Blessed are they that...." rather than "Blessed is he who." I am looking forward to reading through this new translation.
Read about it here or here.
(Props: JT)

Not Being Able to Do it All

Have you ever heard a preacher or read an author who spouts statistic after statistic about the dying world and then charged you to do something about it, and then just felt worthless, not sure what exactly you are supposed to do next? Kevin DeYoung recently wrote a blog-post that is worth reading if you ever feel guilty that you don't have time to do more for the kingdom. It is long, but full of pastoral wisdom. If you are rushed, at least read the last two sections. Here is the conclusion:

"I’m not for a minute advocating a cheap grace or an easy-believeism. But the yoke still is easy, right? And the burden still is light, is it not? The danger–and it’s a danger I’ve fallen foul of in my own preaching–is that in all our efforts to be prophetic, radical, and missional, we end up getting the story of Pilgrim’s Progress exactly backwards. “Come to the cross, Pilgrim, see the sacrifice for your sins. Isn’t that wonderful? Now bend over and let me load this burden on your back. There’s a lot of work we have to do, me and you.” A cross, yes. Jesus said we would have to carry one of those. But a cross that kills our sins, smashes our idols, and teaches us the folly of self-reliance. Not a burden to do the impossible. Not a burden to always do more for Jesus. Not a burden of bad news that never lets up and obedience that is always out reach.No doubt some Christians need to be shaken out of their lethargy. I try to do that every Sunday morning and evening. But there are also a whole bunch of Christians who need to be set free from their performance-minded, law-keeping, world-changing, participate-with-God-in-recreating-the-cosmos shackles. I promise you, some of the best people in your churches are getting tired. They don’t need another rah-rah pep talk. They don’t need to hear more statistics and more stories Sunday after Sunday about how bad everything is in the world. They need to hear about Christ’s death and resurrection. They need to hear how we are justified by faith apart from works of the law. They need to hear the old, old story once more. Because the secret of the gospel is that we actually do more when we hear less about all we need to do for God and hear more about all that God has already done for us."

(Props: JT)

Restless Rest

"Christians ought to be at one and the same time the most contented and yet dissatisfied people in the world, for they want something this world cannot offer."

-Brian Rosner in Beyond Greed, 99-100.

"The soul that loves God is at rest in God yet at the same time in restless movement toward God."

-Robert Wilken in The Spirit of Early Christian Thought, 309.

True Authenticity

In this week's Towers Magazine, Jim Hamilton writes,

"Do you want singles in their late 20s and early 30s confessing anxiety about finding a mate, asking you to pray for them to trust the Lord's providence in their lives? Do you want guys confessing their struggles with pornography as they seek to join the church? Do you want people with real problems (homosexual urges and the fallout from past sexual sin, whether lingering STD's or guilt from an abortion) joining the church and coming for counsel in their struggle against sin? Do you want guys coming to you because they're afraid of the way they've been rough with their wives and they don't want it to go any further, so they're seeking accountability?

You don’t get this from wearing cool clothes, having a trendy name for your church or learning to preach from comedians. If it comes—and if the authenticity about “big” sins is accompanied by authenticity about “acceptable” sins—it will come by the power of the Spirit through the preaching of the Word. The Bible convinces us to quit playing games. The Bible shows us the beauty of holiness. The Bible convicts us of the worth of this treasure, and we sell all we have-or risk exposing our sin- to buy the field in which the treasure lies."

Fall 09 Chapel

Southern has posted this semester's chapel schedule. It looks great. I am particularly excited about: Moore, Mohler, Ware, panel on the new perspective, Hamilton, David Prince, panel on multi-site churches, and Matt Chandler.

Will the Devil be in class with you this week?

Here are Dr. Moore's insightful thoughts.

More Seminary Reading

Related to the last post, here is a list of books that Dr. Hamilton thinks every seminary student should have read. Ouch.

Seminary Reading

This week starts, Lord-willing, my final year at Southern Seminary. Our time here has been invaluable. I have loved the vast majority of my classes. I have been formed and re-formed by the Scriptures. I realize that a seminary education is merely meant to be a foundation upon which to build for the rest of one's ministry. I fear though, that many students do not sufficiently value life-long learning. Having said that, I am a little disappointed in what we have not been required to read. Granted I still have a year left, but as of yet none of my classes have required any of the following 'classics': Justin Martyr's Apology or Dialogue with Trypho, Athanasius' On the Incarnation, Irenaeus' On the Apostolic Preaching, Augustine's Confessions or City of God or On Christian Teaching, Thomas A' Kempis' The Imitation of Christ, Luther's Bondage of the Will, Calvin's Institutes, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Packer's Knowing God, or anything by John Chrysostom, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus, Basil the Great, very little of Aquinas & Jonathan Edwards, Whitefield, Wesley, Boyce, Owen, Lewis, Stott, or Lloyd-Jones. In my humble opinion, there are a few contemporary books that could be replaced by the older stuff (Lewis would probably agree). I don't intend this post to be a knock on the school, but an exhortation to future preachers to join me in adding these classics to your reading list if you graduate without having read them. We will have no shortage of good stuff to read throughout the rest of our lives.

Ministry Lessons from Chrysostom

This ended up being the summer of the "Fathers" for me and I have gained an immense appreciation for John Chrysostom (349-407), also known as 'Golden-Mouth" because of his eloquent preaching. He was raised by a single Christian mother, converted around age 20, became a monk, then became a deacon, then an elder at Antioch. In 397, he was forced to leave and become bishop at Constantinople, where he was faithful in his work until he stepped on the toes of the empress and was eventually exiled (in large part due to Theophilos, patriarch of Alexandria). He was old and sick and ended up dying on the journey. His dying words were, "In all things, glory to God." Here are some ministry lessons from the bishop:

• He felt unworthy of the task of ministry. Early in life, he bailed on a ministry opportunity to head for the hills. He viewed the priesthood with awesome dignity and terrifying responsibility.
  
• John was an "expositional" preacher, so much so that historians wonder if what we have are his sermons or are just written commentaries. Bryan Litfin writes, "There is scarcely any biblical book, moral topic, theological point, or issue of his day, that John Chrysostom did not tackle" (197). John preached through books of the Bible, verse by verse. The first of many such records we have are 67 sermons on Genesis, verse by verse, from beginning to end. This forces the preacher to tackle all sorts of things he normally could avoid.


• He was a dynamic preacher. The comment above may make it sound like he was simply a running commentary, but John, unlike some Fathers, was a favorite among the lay people. His illustrations were colorful and is topics timely (Litfin, 201). He was very concerned about making the literal meaning of Scripture relevant to his congregation's needs. As Wilken writes, he was "ever mindful of the limitations of his hearers" (47).
  
• Chrysosotom practices what we would call "grammatical-historical exegesis." He was a "stickler for literal exegesis" (Kelly, 60). Seeing the Spirit as the true author, he sought to explain Scripture in the plain historical sense and make application based off of that. As Kelly writes, he was always ready "to go beyond strict comment on the text and draw out whatever useful lessons he thinks he can discern in it" (Kelly, 95).
  
• John avoided allegory but pursued typology (what they called theoria). He writes, "One thing is to be watched: theoria must never be understood as doing away with the underlying sense; it would then be no longer theoria bu allegory. For whenever anything else is said apart from the foundational sense, we have not theoria but allegory." We would say that typology must have textual warrant.


• John set out to reform the clergy immediately upon arrival in Constantinople. He enforced higher standards for worldly clergy. Ministers are to be above reproach.


• He loved the poor and marginalized. He sold church treasures to help the poor and build hospitals. Kelly says he was indignant against conspicuous affluence. He was a champion for the poor. A person's true glory does not consist in things, but in gentleness, humility and charity.


• He showed no favoritism. Regardless of office, all were in need of the gospel, and were subject to the rule of Christ. In a memorial service to Emperor Theodosius I, John remarks that he deserves respect, not because he was royal, but because he had been a devout Christian. While many would have done all they could to stay on good terms with the imperial family, John referred to the emperor's wife as Jezebel.


• John was a practical theologian. Chris Hall writes, he had "an amazing ability to bring Scripture to life, both in its theological richness and practical implications" (94). He loved to explain and apply deep truths of Scripture to his people.


• John was a biblical theologian. He was equally at home in either the Old or New Testament, and understood the progressive nature of revelation (to my surprise). He argued that one must read the OT in light of the fuller revelation that Christ brings. Though I need to read more of his stuff, his comments on Galatians 3 and Matthew 5 is sympathetic to New Covenant Theology.


• He memorized vast portions of Scripture. Master the Bible. John believed that the cause of all evils was the failure to know the Scriptures well. He strove to see all of life from a biblical perspective. Calvin would say he never removed the "spectacles of Scripture."


• John accepted suffering as a gift from God. The gospel had effectively sucked the poison out of the Christian's suffering and now was used by God to conform us to Christ.


• John was an ascetic. He took self-control and discipline very seriously, and wasted little time on "vain" activities. He warned against the corrupting influence of the theatrical shows which "conspires to undermine moral standards, make men discontented with their wives, and break up homes" (Kelly, 97).
  
• The bishop was also characterized by an "incurable optimism." He was quick to give a favorable interpretation of providence and believed that the tomb is empty and that makes a world of differences.

Sources:
Getting to Know the Church Fathers - Litfin
Golden Mouth - Kelly
Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers - Hall
The Spirit of Early Christian Thought - Wilken

10 Weeks!!

The top one is the back of our baby, and the bottom one is the head and hand. Amazing.

Good Lookin' Out: Presuppositional Apologetics

Covenant Media and American Vision have come together to publish a book that the late Greg Bahnsen had written, but lost in a move!! They waited until now to publish it. It is 289 pages, and sure to be helpful stuff. American Vision writes: "This magnum opus of apologetics lays out the Biblical presuppositional method, provides rigorous Biblical proof, and defends the uniqueness of the method. This is the work we all longed for Bahnsen to write, yet never knew that he already had written it! Now rescued from the dustbin of history, this monument of apologetics will provide must-reading for Christian defenders of the faith for generations to come." Here is a link to some short posts I did on presuppositional apologetics.

From the website: Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen (1948-1995) provided perhaps the clearest, most faithful, and most powerful advancement of Cornelius Van Til's presuppositional apologetics of anyone. This statement holds true both for Bahnsen's written scholarly work as well as his practical applications in both formal and informal debates and exchanges. Those knowledgeable of Van Til's “Copernican Revolution” in Christian apologetical method will understand the enormity of this compliment to Greg Bahnsen. Those not formerly introduced to Van Til or Bahnsen will understand shortly after beginning this volume—for this book presents the most clear, systematic, and rigorous statement and defense of Van Tillian presuppositional apologetics written to date.

This volume presents the systematic counterpart to Bahnsen's earlier publication, Van Til's Apologetic: Readings and Analysis. While that previous work included a broad and topical overview and explanation of Van Til's contribution—which, though highly organized according to an outline, and much more accessible than Van Til's own massive corpus of writing, still does not fully execute the task of a systematic work—this volume gets closer to an apologetical version of “systematic theology,” as opposed to, say, “biblical theology.” Both approaches provide vital understanding, and now we have both.

Here is a John Frame's blurb: This book is an important part of the historical record. It is authentic Bahnsen, vintage Bahnsen. It displays brilliantly his intellectual gifts and his devotion to the Lordship of Christ in all areas of life. Despite my differences with Bahnsen, I revere him yet today as a great blessing of God tothe church and as one of the most brilliant apologists I have known. He seeks to set forth the comprehensive lordship of Christ over the human mind as over everything else, and he does that effectively. In that goal we should all be in agreement, and we should seek Bahnsen's help to become more consistent in our commitment to the Lord. So I commend this book to all who seek to think God's thoughts after him.

Good Lookin' Out: The End of the Law

Jason Meyer is assistant professor of Religion (New Testament and Greek) at Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana. I just grabbed his new book "The End of the Law: Mosaic Covenant in Pauline Theology" put out by B&H Academic. I have been waiting a while for this one. While I was doing research for my little book on the same subject, I read parts of Meyer's dissertation with joy and benefit. His doctoral supervisor was Tom Schreiner. I am clearing my schedule for this one. Here are the blurbs from Piper and Schreiner:

"For the last forty years of my ministry no biblical issue has proved more recurrent or more vexing than the nature of the Mosaic law as it relates to the gospel and the new covenant. The pastoral implications for how you preach the gospel, aim at sanctification, comfort strugglers, give assurance, and admit people to membership in the church, are huge. Jason Meyer is a good guide. I found myself writing 'YES!' in the margins repeatedly. And there were enough 'Aha' moments of fresh discovery to make me want to keep going. I thank God for this younger scholar. His book is a precious gift to the church." (Piper)

We will fail to understand the larger storyline of the Bible if we do not grasp the significance of the old covenant and the new covenant. Jason Meyer in this careful exegetical study unpacks the meaning of the new covenant over against the old covenant. One of virtues of this work is its elegant clarity. Meyer defines terms succinctly and clearly, so that readers are not lost in a forest of obscurity. Even more important, Meyer advances his case with in-depth and convincing exegesis. NT scholars are known for their exegetical skills, but Meyer’s exegesis is coupled with theological rigor and insight which one finds too infrequently among biblical scholars. The work concludes with the perceptive and practical and theological implications. To sum up, we can be grateful for Dr. Meyer's assistance in understanding the whole counsel of God." (Schreiner)

Theology in the Church III

"On the other hand, in the West since the Enlightenment the theological enterprise has generally been hived off to academic institutions with no connection to the church. The study of theology and the Bible has been centered in universities. The high priests of Western Christianity, especially of evangelicalism , have been scholars. By virtue of their setting in a secular environment, the Bible and Christian theology have been approached in a manner unsuited to their own intrinsic nature. God gave the Scriptures to the church. The Bible is the church's book. While its humanity justifies its being studied according to all the academic tools available, when the essential ecclesial base that God intended for it has been abandoned in the course of such study, it should be of little surprise if the results are not noticeably conducive to faith and discipleship." [from Robert Letham's Through Western Eyes]

"I know a lot of theologians, and I don't know one who wants to hide theology under a bushel. No, they want to let it shine. But far too often, the best theology is hidden under a bushel of academic jargon and myriad footnotes. Such is the life of many a professor." [Tony Jones]

"My final and most important thanks are extended to my wife Diane. She constantly reminds me that biblical scholarship is a 'noisy gong and clanging cymbal' if the church of Christ is not edified." [Tom Schreiner's Interpreting the Pauline Epistles, 12] Thanks Diane.