On Becoming Attentive, Inside-Readers

For the past four weeks I have been writing curriculum for a class, Christianity Explored: The Gospel of Jesus Christ from the Gospel of Mark, at our church, Redeemer Church, Fort Worth. What follows is part of the Interpretive Prolegomena for the course. In the coming days and weeks I will include here reflections from the curriculum. May God use it to enliven your faith.

There are many approaches to studying Scripture. To be sure, if each of us were honest about our own presuppositions, principles and rules we bring to a text, which supply the conclusions at which we arrive, the multiplicity of interpretive approaches would be evident. Studies of the Gospels often times have their own set of methods which arrive at their particular conclusions. More often than not, anytime you hear or read biblical commentary it is for the purpose of persuading or dissuading toward or away from certain theological convictions.

For the purpose of spiritual and doctrinal formation, we seek to pull the curtain back, not only on our presuppositions and principles of biblical interpretation, but also on our approach to the study of the Gospel of Mark. We admit that we too are hoping to persuade you to delight yourself in our Triune God--Father, Son and Holy Spirit--and despise your sinful flesh.

It is our hope that we all become better and better attentive, inside-readers of the biblical Text. As our knowledge of the text improves, so too, our interpretation of the text. From the attentive, Spirit-led reading of the Text, our presuppositions, principles and rules are sanctified, and, therefore, so too are our theological conclusions.

In a similar way that a family develops their own inside jokes, stories and experiences, the reader of the biblical Text develops in their ability to recognize the intimate verbal, structural and theological connections within Scripture.

Scripture is rightly interpreted only by members of the Family of God, or Christian readers. The student of the Word of God who is led by the Spirit of God increasingly recognizes the intertextual clues provided by the author(s) of Scripture. They will also better understand the author’s purpose in selecting and arranging the particular historical material at his disposal.

The greatest difficulty of interpretation does not primarily lie in a particular author’s lack of clarity, but rather in the readers’ lack of knowledge of, saturation in and submission to the Text.

Welcome Deacon Curtis Deevers

Our third child was born yesterday.  Deacon Curtis Deevers was born at 6:13 am is 7 lbs 15oz & 21 inches.

Sharpening Stone Men’s Retreat

What? 2008 Sharpening Stone Men’s Retreat hosted by Redeemer Church

When? Friday & Saturday, February 22-23, 2008

Where? Riley Center on the campus of Southwestern Seminary.

Topic: “Purity in This Evil Age”

Who? Dr. Harry Schaumburg

Registration: Call church office for more information and registration 817-292-4722.

A Religious Monster Bash - Catholic and Baptist Ghosts on the Rolls (SBC Ghostbusters)

Below is commentary on the USA Today story Are There Really 64 Million U.S. Roman Catholics?

US Roman Catholic Membership
To no surprise Southern Baptists are not the only religious organization suffering from AWOL members. The 2007 Official Catholic Directory for the Roman Catholic Church in America boasts of a staggering 64 million members. However, according the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey, 9.5 million people consider themselves to be ex-Catholics. Of these 9.5 million ex-Catholics, 28% said they left religion altogether, while 11% claimed to have become Baptist. We can assume (maybe) that they were re-Baptized by immersion following their conversion.

SBC Membership
In 2005 the SBC claimed 16.3 million members. An increase of 400k members from 2000, an average of 80k per year. The rub is, prepare yourself, that only 38% or 6.2 million claim to regularly attend the church's primary worship service. In other words, there are 10.1 million "ghosts" on the SBC rolls.

Just as one may question the Catholic, they have the right to question the SBC - "What about integrity of church membership and accurately representing your rolls?" If you are seeing the inconsistencies and asking similar questions, have no fear.

Help is on the way.

"Who We Gonna Call?"
"Who we gonna call?" You may ask. The SBC Ghostbusters. Who else? They ain't afraid of no ghosts. The SBC Ghostbusters are a wily group of paraecclesiologists armed with proton pacs (read, membership interview process) and not afraid of a little ectoplasmic slime (read, difficulties of purging the rolls). They set up shop in a rundown firehouse and are ready for business. Their ghost eliminating method is sure to route out the Gatekeeper and Keymaster from your paranormal roster.

Select your paraecclesiologist SBC Ghostbuster.

~Dr. Raymond Stantz, aka, Dan Aykroyd, aka Mark Dever

~Dr. Peter Venkman, aka Bill Murray, aka Tom Ascol

~Dr. Egon Spengler, aka Harold Ramis, aka Matt Schmucker

~Winston Zeddmore, aka Ernie Hudson, aka Thabiti Anyabwile

There you have them...the SBC Ghostbusters.

Reflections on the Baptist Distinctives Conference on the Family

Reclaiming a Biblical View of the Family, Womanhood and Manhood

The Baptist Distinctives Series conference this year at SWBTS was not only apropos for our nation, convention and school, but also for my own family. The conference was all about The Family: Reclaiming a Biblical View of the Family, Womanhood and Manhood. I’ve been to all three of the Baptist Distinctives Series conferences and, while the two previous were challenging and enriching, this year’s conference particularly stood out. I foresee it serving my family well for many years to come. I have been married for almost four years, have two children (two and a half and one and a half) and another child on the way in January. Needless to say, matters of the family matter very much to me. Thus, the reason why I am so grateful to the Lord for the men who presented at the conference.

In summary, Russell Moore challenged some of my complacencies in thinking and acting upon a sound theology of the family. Thomas White urged me to lead my family appropriately amidst the raging war on my family. Paige Patterson brought me to question my view and enactment of authority in my life and home. John Mark Yeats made a clarion call for orphans and adoption ministry in which I should have a vital part. Mark Liederbach confronted distorted views of beauty pointing to where I acclimate to the culture in what I view as sexy. David Jones championed biblical exegesis in matters of divorce and remarriage and pleaded with me to handle the biblical text well. Malcolm Yarnell was used of the Lord to bring conviction for my failures in family worship, especially with my wife. Richard Land urged me out of lethargy to actively advocate for unborn children, God’s gifts to the world to show off His glory. Finally, Tom Elliff caused me to reflect on the manner in which I lead my wife and how our marital unity has a massive gravitational pull on my children’s coming to know the Lord and persevering in the faith once and for all delivered to the saints. I would like to mention four sessions which were particularly helpful and used by the Lord to convict me of sin.

In plenary session one Dr. Russell Moore from Southern Seminary spoke on “Have Baptist Changed or Has Culture? The Baptist View of the Family.” Dr. Moore, in his characteristic modus operandi, spanned the horizon of cultural mores and Baptist ideals. I was challenged throughout his presentation to think biblically and act rigorously for the sake of my family and others coming to enjoy Christ by my family’s testimony to the gospel. He aptly wove his way through the contemporary Baptist scene in which many churches are “moving along the very same tide” as our culture which “empowers predatory men toward their appetites” noting that we “are just a little bit behind” our culture. He explicitly pointed out the fact that “issues of the family are gospel issues” claiming that we have lost the idea of a biblical husband, “Headship cannot be a grasping for privilege, but a burden of responsibility.” Dr. Moore dissected our Baptist theology of children and their need for me to share the gospel urging that “we don’t baptize babies, thus we believe that we have a special and unique responsibility to evangelize our children.” He attacked my own materialism, “The issues most often is love of money. We have men and women who want to live with the same standard of living as the people around them and are willing to grind their children down to get it.” He did not shy away from issues of deacons carting off their daughters to get an abortion, mommies dropping their children off at daycare so they can have significance in their career, the selfishness of parents unwilling to have multiple children or even adopt, the failed commitment men taking short pastorates to climb the corporate-church ladder and churches who have multimillion dollar family life centers who have no family life. Dr. Moore revealed that both Baptists and culture have changed, but they have remained the same as well. I was challenged not to be like the culture, rebelling against God, but to stand upon the sure foundation of Christ and the gospel as God’s appointed shepherd of my home. Thomas White echoed this last refrain.

Dr. White’s (Vice President for Student Services), presentation was entitled, “It’s Not Hillary’s Fault: A Discussion of Proper Male Headship.” From the outset Dr. White stated his purpose, “I’m here to talk about the major problem – the lack of male leadership in society. It’s our fault and our churches’ fault.” He shined the light on four models of fathering, begging the question as to which one I am, and which one I will be: the absentee leader, the abusive leader, the acclimatized leader and/or the appropriate leader. He made his case for me to be an appropriate leader with eleven scriptural insights found in creation. He then showed the three areas where an appropriate leader will lead: he will provide, protect and lead spiritually. I was prodded to “Cowboy up!” and lead with a knight’s valor, not blaming Hillary, but myself when I’m not appropriately leading my family. John Mark Yeats encouraged me to lead my family into adoption.

Dr. Yeats spoke on “The Biblical Model of Adoption.” I was thoroughly convicted and exhorted to “wake up and realize that [my] walk does not equal [my] talk.” He provided daunting figures reflecting the heart wrenching reality that our churches and I am not doing enough, much less our part. In the DFW Metroplex alone there are over 5,000 children who are awaiting adoption. Following his presentation, I had a long discussion with my wife in which we prayed and decided that we need to begin now making arrangements for the next child God brings into our home, Lord willing, via adoption.

David Jones’s presentation “The Betrothal View of Divorce and Remarriage” was instantly formational. I first heard of the view in Daniel Heimbach’s Christian Home class. I do find the betrothal position to be a convincing argument making best sense of the biblical and lexical data. I was challenged toward thoughtful, careful exegesis no matter the issue at hand.

I’m very grateful to our Father in Heaven that He made way for me to attend the conference. For there He used His servants to sanctify this servant’s shepherding of his family and those generations of Deevers to come. May He accomplish His purposes in my life and the life of my family.

Should I Ask the Question? Question & Comment Evaluation Chart for Students

While in the classroom have you ever thought to yourself:

1. Should I ask this question?
2. I shouldn't have asked that question.
3. I wish that person would stop asking questions/making comments and dominating class discussion.
4. I think I have something good to add to this discussion, but I'm not sure if I should say anything.
5. I should've said something.
6. I know that person has something good to say, but why won't he/she say it?
7. I'm lonely.

The folks at Christians for Better Classrooms have provided all students around the world a Question & Comment Evaluation Chart to help us answer the inner-monologue many, if not all, of us reherse each time we are in the classroom. Enjoy.

The Gospel in Our Mouths

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:13-17 ESV).

“But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1Peter 3:15 ESV).

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV).

“But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it” (Deuteronomy 30:14 ESV).

“And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore” (Isaiah 59:21 ESV).

Preach the word. Share the Gospel with your mouth. Plead for His grace to help you do it. Fail on human terms and let God determine what is successful. His Word has and will triumph in bringing His sheep into His flock, bringing the captives home and brining life where there was death.

Best of WTS Sale: Pastoral Ministry Resources

Prices good until August 28

Called to Awaken the Laity (Paperback) by Oak, John H. $15.99 $9.59	Cross and Christian Ministry: Leadership Lessons from 1 Corinthians by Carson, D. A. $12.99 $7.79	Elder and His Work by Dickson, David $9.99 $6.99	From Embers to a Flame: How God Can Revitalize Your Church by Reeder III, Harry L. $12.99 $5.85
Heart of a Servant Leader: Letters from Jack Miller by Miller, C. John $12.99 $6.49	Making Kingdom Disciples: A New Framework by Dunahoo, Charles H. $12.99 $5.85	Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Dever, Mark PT 211: 100% $15.99 $8.79	The Peacemaking Pastor: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Church Conflict (Paperback) by Poirier, Alfred $14.99 $8.99
Reformed Pastor by Baxter, Richard PT 311: 100% $9.00 $4.95	Shepherds After My Own Heart: Pastoral Traditions and Leadership in the Bible (New Studies in Biblical Theology Vol 20) (Paperb by Laniak, Timothy S. PT 311: 100% $24.00 $13.20	Spiritual Leadership: Principles of Excellence for Every Believer (Paperback) by Sanders, J. Oswald PT 332: 100% $13.99 $9.09

Christina & Baby Are Immune!

We just received word from our doc that Christina has been previously exposed to Fifth Disease, therefore, she is immune and consequently the baby in her tummy is immune. Praise the LORD!

Interesting to think of certain trials, illnesses, pains, sufferings etc. that the LORD ordains to take us through for future blessings. Principally, these bringings from God are for our eschatological blessing in Christ's return and our eternal communion with the Triune God.

May we rejoice always and

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when [we] meet trials of various kinds, for [we] know that the testing of [our] faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4 ESV).

• See Brothers, Our Affliction is for Their Comfort.

Prayer Request for My Wife, Son and Unborn Baby

We found out today that our 2.5 year old has Fifth Disease which is usually not that big of a deal for kids.

The rash can last a couple of weeks (some cases lasting for several months) and may itch. Patients are usually no longer infectious once the rash has appeared.

In most cases Fifth is mild, however, there are serious consequences for certain risk groups:

In pregnant women, infection in the first trimester has been linked to hydrops fetalis, causing spontaneous abortion.

My wife, Christina, is 18 weeks pregnant. She is going in to the hospital tomorrow morning (Friday) to get blood work done.

Please be in prayer for her, our nonborn baby and Nation. I'll give updates when I get them.

I'm leaving Sturgis early to be with her, Nation and Noelle during this time.

As an update on Sturgis...

God encouraged my heart much this week with the power of the Gospel to convert the desires of non-believers and increase affection for Christ in believers. By God's design I met and shared the Gospel with numerous people this week. But, one of those most impacted by its power was me.

Thank you for your prayers for us while we were here. And, thank you for your prayers for my wife, our non-born baby and Nation.

Muzzled Mouths: If Not in Sturgis, in God's Courtroom

Please continue to pray for us as we share the law to the proud and grace to the humble. Pray that idolators of self would become worshippers of our Triune God. Pray that our people will have boldness to declare with their mouths "that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God" (Rom. 3:19 ESV).

Pray that we would not be silenced by uncomfortableness, but would "Count it all joy...when [we] meet trials of various kinds, for [we] know that the testing of [our] faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that [we] may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4 ESV).

“What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet'”
(Romans 7:7 ESV).

Please also be in prayer for my beautiful, pregnant helpmate Christina and my two wonderful children as I am gone. Pray that the children would be obedient and Christina will have energy to care for them and that she will delight herself in the LORD.

The Word Has Not Failed in Sturgis

This is Bike Week in Sturgis, South Dakota. Over 500,000 bikers have overtaken a town of around 6,000 like they have for the past 67 years. I am here with Southwestern in partnership with a motorcycle ministry group called the Hellfighters to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to 1) non-believers in hope that they will repent of sin and believe in Christ through the change of desires birthed by the Holy Spirit; and, 2) to believers that they would continually delight themselves in the LORD as the Spirit gives them affections for Him and keeps them until the day of salvation.

Sharing the Gospel is so profitable for our souls - we see our need for our Savior afresh; we recognize our depravity and His grace and mercy; we feel the enlivening power of the Holy Spirit attesting to the power of God for salvation for all who believe, us included; we pray fervently that God would bring life to the corpses with whom we speak; we see the work of the conscience which God has graciously placed in every person as it condemns or commends them as they stand before the good law of the LORD; our hearts' yearn for strangers that they become brothers and sisters.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel. For it is the power of God for salvation for all who believe, to the Jew first and then to the Greek, for in it (the Gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed for faith from faith (Romans 1:16ff).

What about all those who reject Him here when you share the Gospel or even attempt to speak to them and they will not listen?

It is not as though the Word of God has failed. He will bring to Himself His sheep and His Word will succeed in that. His Word will not fail in the conviction of sin. His Word has succeeded on the cross, in the hearts of those who have and will believe and in the hearts of those who reject Him for it bears witness to their guilt before God.

I urge you now - believe in the Gospel. Plead with God to give you affections for Him. Plead that He would give and keep your faith in the treasure of all that God is for us in Jesus Christ by the uniting power of the Holy Spirit. Repent of sin and hope in God. Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. Share the Good News with others teaching them to observe all that Christ commanded. Rejoice in the LORD always!

Straight Out of SWBTS Host Change

Starting this Friday Straight Out of SWBlogTS will be hosted at Straight Out of the SWBTS Blogosphere by another a group of folks more capable than I.

My goal for Straight Out of SWBlogTS was to highlight the positive work and interesting thoughts of current SWBTS student and faculty/staff bloggers. May the weekly updates at their new host reflect well on the seminary - it's dedicated faculty, hard working staff and developing student-theologians - and our beautiful Triune God.

Straight Out of SWBlogTS Host Change

UPDATE:

Starting this Friday Straight Out of SWBlogTS will be hosted at Straight Out of the SWBTS Blogosphere by another a group of folks more capable than I.

My goal for Straight Out of SWBlogTS was to highlight the positive work and interesting thoughts of current SWBTS student and faculty/staff bloggers. May the weekly updates at their new host reflect well on the seminary - it's dedicated faculty, hard working staff and developing student-theologians - and our beautiful Triune God.

ORIGINAL POST:

Straight Out of SWBlogTS (pronounced Swibits - the log is silent) is a weekly overview of interesting blog commentary from current students and/or professors who are enrolled or on faculty/staff at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The first installment is slated for this Friday, August 3rd.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed by student and/or faculty/staff bloggers are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SWBTS, any employee thereof or the author of this blog.

NOTE: If you are a student and/or faculty/staff member and would like to be included in the blogroll from which the content for Straight Out of SWBlogTS is taken, please email me your name, degree seeking/position and blog url. If you want to be removed or not included in the blogroll please email be your url and a removal note. No anonymous blogs will be accepted.

What's the Greatest Danger Facing the Church?

Jim Hamilton's take is that it "is from within...from well meaning pastors."

How could well meaning pastors pose the greatest threat to evangelical churches today?

Do they deny the truth?

No, the pastors who pose the greatest threat to the church today will all confess belief in the right things. They will say they believe in the authority and inerrancy of the Bible, that Jesus saves, and even that Jesus is the only way of salvation.

So how can these guys who mean well and make the good confession pose such a threat to the church?

His advice for our avoiding a psychologyzing shepherd "who will harm the church by turning Christianity into the American religion of self help therapy"...

1. Look at the biblical qualifications for men in the ministry (1 Tim 3:1–7; Tit 1:5–9), and ask pastoral candidates direct questions about whether they meet these qualifications.

2. Since the feature that most distinguishes the qualifications for an elder (pastor) from the qualifications for a deacon is that the elder be “apt to teach” (1 Tim 3:2), pay close attention to his teaching.

3. Based on what you have heard of his preaching, ask yourself these questions:...

4. Ask direct questions about what he understands pastoral ministry to be about:...

• Check out The Greatest Danger Facing the Church

Has the Father Given You Eyes to See and Ears to Hear?

But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear (Deut 29:4).

Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun (Eccl 11:7).

Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house (Ezek 12:2).

And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” Mark 8:23

Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! Luke 10:23

as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.” Romans 11:8 (Show me Romans 11)

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Revelation 3:18 (Show me Revelation 3)

• Read Ched's helpful commentary on Mark 8 and Why Jesus Healed the Blind Man Twice.

8 Reasons Why I Can't Share My Faith

I promised my wife that I would not post any more YouTube embeds on my blog. So, I'm forwarding you to one that I found on a friend's site. It's called 8 Reasons Why I Can't Share My Faith.

It's entertaining to say the least.

ChristCentric Spittin' God-centered Lyrics

Welcome to SWBTS Quincy, aka Q-Dog.

Quincy is part of ChristCentric, a group reforming hip-hop by the transforming truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sale: WTS Best of Biblical Theology

Up to 55% off. Sale ends August 14th.

According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible by Goldsworthy, Graeme $22.00 $12.10	Central Themes in Biblical Theology: Mapping Unity in Diversity (Paperback) by Scott J. Hafemann and Paul R. House (Editors) $29.99 $16.49	Far as the Curse Is Found: The Covenant Story of Redemption by Williams, Michael D. $17.99 $8.10	From Every People and Nation: A Biblical Theology of Race (New Studies in Biblical Theology Vol 14) (Paperback) by Hays, J. Daniel $22.00 $12.10
God's Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible (Paperback) by Roberts, Vaughan $12.00 $6.60	Goldsworthy Trilogy (Paperback) by Goldsworthy, Graeme OT 141: 70% $12.99 $8.44	Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament (Paperback) by Wright, Christopher J. H. OT 223: 100% $16.00 $8.80	New Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Exploring Scripture's Unity & Diversity (Hardcover) by Alexander, T. Desmond OT 113: Recommended $50.00 $27.50
Redemptive History and Biblical Interpretation (Hardcover) by Vos, Geerhardus ST 313: 30% $29.99 $16.49	Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses by Poythress, Vern S. $18.99 $8.55	Symphony of Scripture: Making Sense of the Bible's Many Themes (Paperback) by Strom, Mark OT 131: 100% PT 173: See Syllabus $14.99 $7.50	Temple and the Church's Mission:

You'll Have to See It To Believe It

The title may be misleading, because if you've attended church for very long, you probably have seen it.

Without further ado, from the church I attended during High School and shortly after college.

• Bible Boot Camp.
• Update: Playdoh was passed out before the speech as an object lesson.
  

In one of the videos, during the music portion of the event, one of the electric guitarists was wearing a coconut bra! Fortunately they took the video down. I don't have conclusive evidence as to why, but I have reason to think that they were tipped off that a coconut bra had no place in a service where people gather to worship the Triune God.

Question 1: Is this type of sermon what you are accustom to in your church?

Question 2: What is right or wrong about this approach to "preaching"?

Book Recommendation - When Sinners Say I Do: Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage

Here's a look at the table of contents:

Chapter 1 - What Really Matters in Marriage
Chapter 2 - Waking Up With the Worst of Sinners
Chapter 3 - The Fog of War and the Law of Sin
Chapter 4 - Taking it Out for a Spin
Chapter 5 - Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment
Chapter 6 - Forgiveness, Full and Free
Chapter 7 - The Surgeon, the Scalpel, and the Spouse in Sin
Chapter 8 - Stubborn Grace
Chapter 9 - Concerning Sex
Chapter 10 - When Sinners Say Goodbye

Recommendations

“I read this book on marriage and this an honest impression of mine—it blew me away. I was very glad to write the foreword to this book because it was probably one of the most honest looks at the joys and struggles of marriage, a marriage between two flawed people who are living in a fallen world who are the sons and daughters of a faithful God. You’re selling yourself short if you don’t read this book. Don’t read it only if you’re married. Everyone should read this book because it has so much to say about the struggles that happen when sinners live near sinners; and how God rescues us by His grace and gives us the possibility of having good rlationships...This is the best book on marriage I have ever read.” - Paul D. Tripp, President of Paul Tripp Ministries and Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary

“Dave Harvey skillfully exposes the real root of most marriage problems – each spouse is still a sinner. But he doesn’t leave us to wallow in our sin. He shows the way out through the ongoing power of the gospel. This book will be helpful for any married couple whether they’ve been married five weeks or fifty years.” — Jerry
Bridges, author of The Pursuit of Holiness

“Dave Harvey not only offers a biblical diagnosis of marital strife, but prescribes the cure as well - the gospel. When Sinners Say "I Do" provides clarity in conflict, hope in despair, and points the way to a joy-filled, God glorifying marriage." — C.J. Mahaney, author of author of Humility

How to Grow a Church Without God

Ten Ways To Grow a Church Without God
By Ray Baumann

I have spent many hours figuring out how to grow churches. I recently found some old notes that I had taken at a conference some years ago. To my surprise, I had an outline for success that was void of a Savior even being involved. Back then I focused on what attracted people to church. This is what my list read:

1. “Leadership is key.” This will be my number one way to grow the church without God. Thinking back, I would say that if I had a board comprised of wealthy businessmen, I’d have a great foundation for growing a church. You need resources to reach the community and what better way than to have many resources at your fingertips?

2. You want to create an oasis at church; let’s take a few ideas from Starbucks. Starbucks created a community of coffee drinkers. Starbucks is less about coffee and more about a place to commune. That is what you want to reproduce on Sunday; a place where people want to gather.

3. Next, your church has to offer something others don’t. You have to ask yourself who is your target audience. Find out what your audience wants and give it to them. This includes the type of music, programs, length of service and other variables. You want people to know that all of their needs can be met at church.

4. Spend money on logo and website design. You have to out market the church down the street. Mass mailings, newspaper ads and website traffic are key.

5. Advertise in the phone book, at movie theatres and during school programs. Call the media every time you have an event to get free publicity.

6. Be creative with your presentations. Be sure to utilize all of the latest technology for your cool short video illustrations. To get the full effect, you must have video projectors and plasma TVs. Lighting is also essential to set the mood during services.

7. Don’t let anyone come to church and leave without getting their information. You have one chance to make a first impression. When you have a visitor they must be greeted and shown around the facility and introduced to other church members. Giving them a free gift, like a thumb drive with the church’s information preloaded, is a nice gift.

8. Always be planning for your next event, whether it is an Easter egg hunt or Christmas drama. Every two months something big must be occurring to create excitement.

9. Have sermons focused around life issues such as parenting, managing money, eating right, getting along with others and making the best of your life.

10. Network. If you are going to grow a church, people must know who you are. Make it a routine to eat at the same places frequently. Always be involved with whatever is happening in the community.

Wondering About the Purpose Driven Church or Your Best Life Now?

If you've ever wanted a second opinion on the best selling books by Rick Warren (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary graduate) Purpose Driven Church or the Purpose Driven Life check out here and here respectively.

If you are wondering about Joel Osteen's Your Best Life Now see here. Here's a preview of the review to whet your appetite.

Someone might legitimately raise the question why we are reviewing this book. After all, the pattern here at 9Marks has been that we review Christian books.

I suppose we must be branching out now, because Joel Osteen’s Your Best Life Now is decidedly not one of those. Open the book to any random page, and you will likely find some mention of God or even a reference to Scripture. Yet that is just window-dressing.

When you wring the book out, what you end up with is nothing more than the soggy old self-help pop-psychology that people have been lapping up for a generation—with the word "God" thrown in every once in a while for good measure.

Is the Holy Spirit You Believe in Divine?

Often our claimed "orthodox" pneumatology (doctrine of the Holy Spirit) finds itself subordinating the Holy Spirit into a lesser being (we'll still call Him divine though - and please don't use the pronoun "it" for the Spirit) who functions as a helper to the greatest beings, the Father and the Son. Now, we're quick to claim that the Holy Spirit is God, but functionally worked out, His divinity comes up lacking.

Have you ever thought of the Holy Spirit as "the sum of all that Christ purchased for man" (Edwards, Discourse on the Trinity, Yale: 136)? If you, like myself, have found yourself struggling over how to begin appropriately thinking of the personhood and the role of the Holy Spirit, let Jonathan Edwards pour affection and worship for the Holy Spirit over your heart and mind.

Just a quick note...neither Jonathan Edwards nor anyone else will exhaust the mystery of the Trinity, but this doesn't mean we can't think right thoughts about Him and rightly worship Him.

Our dependence is equally upon each in this affair: the Father appoints and provides the Redeemer; and himself accepts the price and grant the thing purchased; the Son is the Redeemer by offering up himself, and is the price; the Holy Ghost immediately communicates to us the thing purchased by communicating himself, and he is the thing purchased. The sum of all that Christ purchased for man was the Holy Ghost. Gal 3:13-14, he was "made a curse for us...that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." What Christ purchased for us, was that we have communion with God in his God, which consists in partaking of the Holy Ghost as we have shown. All the blessedness of the redeemed consists in their partaking of Christ's fullness , which consists in partaking of that Spirit which is given not by measure unto him. The oil that is poured on the head of the church runs down to the members of his body and tho the skirts of his garment (Ps. 133:2). Christ purchased for us that we should have the favor of God and might enjoy his love; but this love is the Holy Ghost. Christ purchased for us true spiritual excellency, grace and holiness, the sum of which is love to God, which is but only the indwelling of the Holy Ghost in the heart. Christ purchased for us spiritual joy and comfort, which is in a participation of God's joy and happiness; which joy and happiness is the Holy Ghost, as we have shown. The Holy Ghost is the sum of all good things. Good things and the Holy Spirit are synonymous expressions in Scripture. Matt. 7:11, "How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" The sum of all spiritual good which the saints have in this world is that spring of living water within them, which we read of, John 4:10-15; and those rivers of living water flowing out of them, which we read of, John 7:38-39; which we are there told means the Holy Ghost. And the sum of all happiness in the other world is that river of water of life which proceeds out of the throne of God and the Lamb, which we read of, Rev. 22:1; which is the river of God's pleasures and is the Holy Ghost; and therefore the sum of the gospel invitation is to come and take the water of life (v. 17). The Holy Ghost is the purchased possession and inheritance of the saints, as appears, because that little of it which the saints have in this world is said to be the earnest of that purchased inheritance (Eph. 1:14, II Cor. 1:22 and 5:5). 'Tis an earnest of that which we are to have a fullness of hereafter. The Holy Ghost is the great subject of all gospel promises, and therefore is the Spirit of promise (Eph. 1:13)....All our good is of God the Father; 'tis all through God the Son; and all is in the Holy Ghost, as he is himself all our good. God is himself the portion and purchased inheritance of his people. Thus God is the Alpha and the Omega in this affair of redemption.

Thank you Holy Spirit for binding my heart to the Triune God.

Independence Days

1. 2nd Birth, Regeneration, Reborn, Christian Birthday, when I got saved, the day I was justified by God, through Christ's imputed righteousness and the other names we may attach to the time when the Holy Spirit brought us into union with the Father and the Son.

God gave us independence or freedom from the sting of death, power of Satan, the curse of the law to be fulfilled for righteousness, idolatry of self and gave us independence or liberated us to justification by Christ's righteousness, fulfill the law out of our enjoyment of the Father and the Son by the Spirit not to gain righteousness, union with the Triune God and with other believers, an on and on we could go.

2. The Second Coming of Christ

When Christ frees us once and for all from the remnant of original sin that so wages war on our desires for enjoyment of God, and frees us to perfect loving, eternal union by the Spirit with our Triune God and all His children of every tribe, tongue and nation. There will no longer be tears of loss, for we are all found in Him.

There will be no more dark nights of depression, for the Light of God will fill all in all. We will not have faith in the products of sin, but a joy in GOD so intense that there will only be desires for Him. The slain Lamb standing will be exalted forever. The Father who governs His children with hesed (covenant loyalty) will be extolled eternally. And, the Spirit who keeps GOD's people in union with Him will be praised from age to age.

Glory in HIM today for your independence from self and independence to live in HIM.

NOTE: I consciously did not include "the rapture", aka the "secret coming". Also note that the great trumpet sound will coincide with the Second Coming.

False Prophets: What Should We Do with Them?

In the November/December 2002 issue of EndTimes Magazine, this man claimed that Saddam Hussein was the AntiChrist, Apollyon (Greek) or Abaddon (Hebrew) in this article.

Here we have the sun being hidden by the smoke, attack helicopters described as locusts coming out of the smoke, and a king over them by the name of the destroyer — and Saddam’s name literally means "the destroyer."

What are the odds that the Bible would call this king by his actual name? At what point can we no longer say, “This is a coincidence?" If we were reading an Iraqi Bible, it would say, "They had a king over them called Saddam."

My point in referencing this man and his teaching is to say:
1. Yes, false prophets exist.
2. What should we do with them in cosideration of this verse?

But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22, ESV)

Edwards on the Trinity

When we speak of God's happiness, the account that we are wont to give of it is that God is infinitely happy in the enjoyment of himself, in perfectly beholding and infinitely loving, and rejoicing in, his own essence and perfections. And accordingly it must be supposed that God perpetually and eternally has a most perfect idea of himself, as it were an exact image and representation of himself ever before him and in actual view. And from hence arises a most pure and perfect energy in the Godhead, which is the divine love, complacence (read satisfaction or contentment) and joy. Edwards, Works v21, Writings on the Trinity, Grace and Faith, Yale. p113

Some helpful notations:
1. God eternally and infinitely enjoys Himself.

2. God's "most perfect idea of Himself" which is an "exact image and representation of himself" and which He constantly has his eyes on is the Son.

or - God's most perfect idea of himself = His exact image and representation of Himself = the Son.

3. The "perfect energy" which unites God's perfect idea of Himself to Him is the divine love, contentment and joy which is the Holy Spirit.

or - The perfect energy uniting Father and Son = divine love = the Holy Spirit

• Was Jonathan Edwards Promoting an Emergent Culture?
  
• Read a lot of Edwards.
• Sam Storms' Edwards resources.
  

The Golden iPhone - Copper Will Do.

Apple's iPhone is scheduled to release on June 29th. You can watch the promo video here.

Susheel Daswani, attorney in San Francisco, makes no qualms about it,

"I've always had a huge case of gear lust for the iPhone. If I don't get one...Friday, I'll be utterly disappointed" (USA Today, June 25, 2007, 4B).

Gear lust. Utter disappointment. Unfortunately, I was there at one time. Maybe not utter disappointment, but the mindset was there. However, do in large part to God's using this man, I now have an internal war over lusting for other things more that I lust for fellowship with the Trinity and how that relationship actually plays out in my love for others over my love for gadgets.

God gives us money not so we can pound it into golden idols, but so we can use it as a means to being utterly delighted in Him in our God-lust and other's being gifted with a God-lust. By God's grace copper will do!

If you want learn what it means to have a pilgrim mindset with a war-time lifestyle. Go here and bathe in the gold of God's perspective on the almightly dollar. Below is one excerpt of the resources therein.

Lavish Giving, Loving Guests, Living Christ

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Romans 12:13

How do you live when you know and feel that the mercy of God, obtained by the death of his Son, is the source of your life past, present, and future? That’s the question Romans 12 answers. Notice verse 1 again: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers,by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice . . .” I appeal to you therefore. “Therefore”—on the basis of everything I have shown you in chapters 1-11 about God’s wrath and mercy, about Christ’s deity and death and resurrection and reign and intercession for you, about the Holy Spirit poured out with love into your hearts, about justification by faith alone and how we are counted righteous because of one man’s obedience, about the sovereign power of God that governs the universe and works all things together for your good and will never let anything separate you from the love of Christ—therefore, because of these mercies, give your body to God and live like this.

Romans 12 is a description of how we live when we know and feel the truth that we deserve nothing but misery forever, but instead, because of Christ, we have the promise that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to glory that will be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). Romans 12 is the way you live when you have been broken because of your sin—when you have said with the apostle Paul, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24)—and then, after being broken, you have discovered that in Christ God is for you and not against you, and that neither tribulation, nor distress, nor persecution, nor famine, nor nakedness, nor danger, nor sword can separate you from the love of Christ and from everlasting joy. Romans 12 is how you live when you know this Christ-bought, broken-hearted joy.

The Issue of How to Handle Our Money and Possessions

One of the great issues of life facing Christians in every age, and especially in times and places of great prosperity (like 21st century America) is how to think about and feel about and handle our money and our possessions. For Jesus this was simply huge. He spoke about it over and over again. He gave promises and warnings and commandments. He rebuked people bent on bigger and bigger barns for the sake of their ease. He told stories and parables. By hoarding possessions, he said, you can perish, and by giving them you can lay up treasures in heaven. How we handle our money and possessions is the barometer of how we trust God and treasure Christ. Where you treasure is, there will your heart be also.

How Crucial Are Giving and Hospitality?

Is it really that crucial? Is it near the center of life in Christ—giving to the needs of the saints and welcoming people into your home as v. 13 says?

Randy Alcorn says so well, “God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving” [The Treasure Principle (Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah, 2001], 71).

In answer to the first question: yes, giving lavishly and loving guests is near the heart of what it means to walk as a Christian. I appeal to you by the mercies of God, give generously and open your homes to the saints.

What Prevents Giving and Hospitality?

What stands in the way for us to do better at giving and at hospitality?

Four reasons we don’t give as we ought:

1. Obliviousness. For whatever reason, you may have never even thought about giving away your money regularly. It never occurred to you that this is part of worship (verse 1). The height of virtue for you is, “Thou shalt not steal.” Good start. But now God is calling you to hear the New Testament command. Not just: Don’t take what’s not yours, but give what is yours. “Contribute to the needs of the saints.” “Let him who contributes do so generously.” Don’t be oblivious anymore.
2. Carelessness. Perhaps we are not oblivious. We know this is what people who love Christ do. But we just never seem to get around to planning how much and when and where to give. Things just slide. God has appointed this message to bring you to a critical new place in your walk with him this week. Don’t be careless. Be thoughtful. Be intentional.
3. Greed—the desire to keep more than we need. The spirit of greed groans when it gives. It thinks of all the things we could buy if we didn’t give. The biblical alternative to this is not disciplined groaning. The alternative is a new heart and the joy of being free from the bondage of greed. It’s the glad experience that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Don’t live in the bondage of greed. Be free.
4. Fear that we won’t have what we need. Fear is the flip side of greed. Greed focuses on what we don’t have but would like to have. Fear focuses on the consequences of not having what we need to have. The answer to greed is the pleasure of Christ’s presence. The answer to fear is the certainty of Christ’s promise. Don’t live in fear. Be satisfied with Christ, and trust his promises.

How Do We Break Free in Order to Give Lavishly and to Open Our Homes?

The point of God’s providence is the point of his promises: trust me, and go beyond in ministry and in giving what you think you can.

What Are the Rewards or Giving Lavishly and Opening Our Homes?

Finally, our fourth question: what are the rewards if we trust God’s promises, give lavishly, and open our homes to each other and the needy?

1. The suffering of the saints will be relieved or at least diminished. That is what verse 12 means when it says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints.” We lift a burden. We relieve stress. We give hope. And that’s a reward!
2. The glory of God is displayed. Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Lavish giving and open homes display the glory and the goodness and the worth of God in your life. The reason God gives us money and homes is so that by the way we use them people can see they are not our God. But God is our God. And our treasure.
3. More thanksgiving to God is unleashed. 2 Corinthians 9:12, “The ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” God has given us money and homes not just so that we are thankful, but by our generosity and hospitality to make many people thankful to God.
4. Our love for God and his love in us is confirmed. 1 John 3:17, “If anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?” In other words, when we give generously and open our homes, the love of God is confirmed in our lives. We are real. We are not phony Christians.
5. Finally, we lay up treasure in heaven. Luke 12:33-34. “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail. . . . For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

$5 Piper Books

Every book in our store will be $5 on June 27-28, Wednesday and Thursday next week. No limits, so spread the word.

Abraham Piper, Desiring God blog

Was Jonathan Edwards Promoting an Emergent Culture?

Though there may be some ends of particular works of providence that were not the last end of the creation, which are in themselves grateful (read, pleasing) to God in such particular emergent circumstances, and so are last ends in an inferior sense; yet this is only in certain cases or particular occasions.

This is an excerpt from Jonathan Edwards's Dissertation Concerning the End for Which God Created the World, Introduction, eighth general position.

In the eighth position Edwards is arguing that the "ultimate end...of [God's] works of providence must be the ultimate end of...creation." Edwards' definition of providence is God's putting His creation, especially the "moral world" (read, humans) to use toward His highest end in the world, that end being the "emanation and remanation" or, knowing and delighting (not two things) God and expressing it back to God praise.

"The end of God's main works of Providence towards moral beings, or the main use to which he puts them, shews the main end for which he has made the whole world" (Section II, Chapter II, Position 6).

Edwards's metanarrative for the End for Which God Created the World is,

God's respect to the creature's good, and his respect to himself, is not a divided respect; but both are united in one, as the happiness of the creature aimed at is happiness in union with himself. The creature is no further happy with this happiness which God makes his ultimate end, that he becomes one with God. The more happiness the greater union: when happiness is perfect, the union is perfect (Section 7).

Or, in an abbreviated form, GOD aims that His children glorify Him by delighting in Him as He delights in Himself. "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him" (John Piper).

?Where does the Emergent Church come into this? (Note: I am not addressing the Emerging Church or Missional movement in this post. There are differences in the three, especially Missional from the other two.)

The postmodern* mindset, to which the Emergent Church movement tailor their propositionless "conversation", is incredulous to metanarrative (i.e. an overarching story to explain all knowledge and experience). Postmoderns* along with the Emergent Church deconstruct propositions, beliefs, overarching stories, etc. into more palpable minor narratives that aren't so "restrictive and suppressive".

Clearly, incredulity to metanarrative is incredulous to Jonathan Edwards. The story of God's glory is the bettametanarrative (read, better - should be "best" but it wasn't as phonetically pleasing) by which all other minanarratives (minor) should be understood and held in place.

Edwards, Emergent? No!

*if there is such a thing as "postmodern". See here and here.

Are We Amusing Ourselves to Death?

Short Review and Response to Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Showbusiness.
Disclaimer: I do not want this to come across as if I think I have all the answers or that the effects or solutions I see and posit are all inclusive. I do hope it spurs on your thought in regards to being a good steward with TV.

In the form of a response to Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman, I would like to: 1) state the problem as postulated by Postman; 2) apply it to Evangelicalism during television's brief 20th century setting by showing some of the effects of TV epistemology on our seminaries, churches and missions agencies; and, 3) give four potential solutions.

The Problem. Neil Postman, with sharp discernment, posits that the television as a

“major new medium changes the structure of discourse; it does so by encouraging certain uses of the intellect, by favoring certain definitions of intelligence and wisdom, and by demanding a certain kind of content – in a phrase, by creating new forms of truth-telling” (27).

Formerly, the structure of discourse in the American culture was dominated by print. Under the influence of typography,

“public discourse tends to be characterized by a coherent, orderly arrangement of facts and ideas…which revealed the world…to be a serious, coherent place, capable of management by reason, and of improvement by logical and relevant criticism” (51, 62).

However, “as typography moves to the periphery of our culture and television takes it place at the center, the seriousness, clarity and, above all, value of public discourse dangerously declines” (29).

Application to Evangelicalism. Neil Postman’s juxtaposition of the typographic mind and television-based epistemology can be applied to evangelicalism by way of seminaries, preaching, the laity and missions agencies.

God has revealed Himself through Christ and a Book, the Bible. Thus Christians should be the most highly adept readers possible, able to develop thoughts, track proposition on proposition, focus intently on a text, and clearly and accurately articulate positions as a reflection of their love for the Text-Giver. The Age of Show Business with its easy access entertainment, context-free environment and amusement driven come-back-for-more TV ideology has devoured the Age of Exposition which had a

“sophisticated ability to think conceptually, deductively and sequentially; high valuation of reason and order; abhorrence of contradiction; capacity for detachment and objectivity; and tolerance for delayed response” (63).

“Television’s way of knowing is uncompromisingly hostile to typography’s way of knowing; its conversations produce incoherence and triviality; the phrase “serious television” is a contradiction in terms, and television speaks only in one persistent voice – the voice of entertainment” (80).

How has television-based epistemology affected the seminaries, churches and missions agencies? (in no particular order)

1. A decreased ability to focus intently for sustained periods of time and demand from ourselves rigorous attention to the study of the Word and the preaching/teaching of the Word .
2. A decreased ability to intelligently read, question, ascertain meaning, demand academic work from a text or a sermon/presentation.
3. The evaluation of methods by means of their visual excellence rather than their God honoring accuracy.
4. Aesthetic value is elevated over biblical accuracy.
5. Acceptance of what is biblically profane as commonplace.
6. Instant access and the remote control have elevated autonomy over the denial of assumed personal rights and living in community.
7. Comfort elevated over conviction due to the ability to control the output of “the tube”.
8. Humor esteemed of greater value to the soul than serious reflection and conviction over sin.
9. Felt needs esteemed over real needs the Text says one has but does not feel due to the blinding effects of the sin nature (i.e. conviction and godly shame for sin, fear of God, trembling in His presence).
10. The weighty things of God (gravitas) traded in for levity (levitas) due to the value of humor and entertainment on television.
11. Affluence prized over modest living.
12. Polished professionalism prized over servant hearted work in the trenches.
13. Sermons become commercials (Sermercials) built to address “the psychological needs of the viewer” (130).
14. Uncritical acceptance of ideas.
15. Pastor/teachers become celebrities (a cult of personality can happen without the TV).
16. The emptying of substance for the sake of image.
17. A decreased ability to retain information or memorize.
18. Emotionalism becomes commonplace over a consistency and balance of the heart’s affection and the mind’s attention.
19. Topical sermons mirror television as a “non-graded curriculum” which “excludes no viewer for any reason, at any time” (147) and do not push one to in-depth study due to a non-hierarchical, non-systematic bias doing away with systematic and biblical theologies.
20. Because on television “perplexity is a superhighway to low ratings”, (147) and “contentment, not the growth of the learner is paramount” (148) so churches can become comfort driven rather Gospel-driven.
    

Four Potential Solutions.
First, we must foster environments in seminaries, churches and missions agencies which are open to dialogue and serious thought over the effects of television-based epistemology.

Second, we must recover the Text by rigorous exposition aimed at conforming the heart and mind, which shows itself in joyful obedience to God (which is faith). This may force us to preach with notes as we attempt to develop Text-driven sermons and classes, built proposition by proposition through determined study.

Third, help people to set stewardly parameters on their consumption of television.

Fourth, if we televise our services we should ask “What is accurate to the text as God honoring?” rather than, “What is best for television?”

Below I have provided some links that you may find interesting.

• You can attend church online - totally autonomous.
• But, if it's too autonomous, you can join an after service chat room.
  
• You donate to the online offering plate.
• Check out how these two churches are promoting their series on Desperate Households and mylamesexlife.com
  

Theology, Unity and Inner-Trinitarian Unity-Reflection

The Question:

For all the good that Continental Pietism did to nourish the spiritual lives of millions of Christians in Europe, it did downplay the need for doctrinal precision. In your view is this lack of an emphasis on theology for the sake of unity within the church healthy for a church or denomination over a long period of time? Why or why not?

My Answer:

Where an emphasis on theology does not exist, true unity, one will not find. Let me explain.

Theology: the humble, joyful submission to the Word of God in practice and in theory - worship with head and heart, affections and intellect. All learning is for lauding. Theology is a commitment to studying about the Triune God to apply His truths in order that the believer increasingly die to sin, live to righteousness, care for the saints, and to ultimately develop faith, hope and love for the Triune God.

Unity: the act of reflecting the inner-Trinitarian fellowship. Unity is the eager communion of the saints by the Spirit in the bond of peace in Christ as the Spirit enables the believer to fellowship with one another and the Trinity. The inner-Trinitarian fellowship, which the unity of the saints with Christ and each other reflects, is the intimate, open, submissive love which eternally radiates among the persons of the Trinity.

True Trinitarian unity-reflection only happens in a community which is beautifully and joyfully submitting itself to the Word of God (this is worship which is the purpose of theology), in order that the institutions - which God has erected to reflect His inner-Trinitarian unity - would submit themselves to Christ as Head of the Church and thus, show off His love for Himself.

Thus, theology and unity are inseparable because both are inseparable in their purpose - knowing and loving the Trinity to reflect His beauty back to Him.

Remove either one, theology or unity, and you never produce or maintain the other. They go hand in hand in their purpose.

Is the lack of theology for the sake of unity unhealthy? It's impossible. You can't produce beautiful Trinitarian-reflecting unity where worshipful Trinitarian-knowing theology doesn't exist and vice, versa.

Abort 73 - Help Stop Infant Homicide

Abort73.com exists to cut through the skewed rhetoric of a broadly “pro-choice” culture by presenting young people with the conclusive evidence that abortion is a massive injustice, one which has and continues to systematically destroy the most innocent and helpless members of
the human race.

Abort73.com further exists as a gateway into the more fundamental questions of human existance. Where does human life come from? From whence does evil emerge? What is the meaning of life?

ANNUAL ABORTION STATISTICS

• In 2002, approximately 1.29 million abortions took place in the U.S., down from an estimated 1.31 million in 2000 and 1.36 million in 1996. From 1973 through 2002, more than 42 million legal abortions have occurred in the U.S. (AGI).


• In 2001, the highest number of reported legal induced abortions occurred in NYC (91,792), Florida (85,589), and Texas (77,409); the fewest occurred in Idaho (738), South Dakota (895), and North Dakota (1,216) (CDC).


• There are 36 abortions per 1,000 live births in Idaho and 767 abortions for every 1,000 live births in NYC (CDC).


• Overall, the annual number of legal induced abortions in the United States increased gradually from 1973 until it peaked in 1990, and it generally declined thereafter (CDC).


• In 1998, the last year for which estimates were made, more than 23% of legal induced abortions were performed in California (CDC).


• The abortion rate in the United States was higher than recent rates reported for Canada and Western European countries and lower than rates reported for China, Cuba, the majority of Eastern European countries, and certain Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union (CDC).


• The national legal induced abortion ratio increased from 196 abortions per 1,000 live births in 1973 to 358 abortions per 1,000 in 1979 and remained nearly stable through 1981. The ratio peaked at 364 abortions per 1,000 live births in 1984 and since then has demonstrated a generally steady decline. In 2001, the abortion ratio was 246 abortions per 1,000 live births (for the states that reported, a 0.4% increase from 2000 (CDC).


• 49% of pregnancies among American women are unintended; about 40% of these are terminated by abortion (AGI).

• Why the name Abort73?
• 10 Ways You Can Help.
• Shop Abort73.

All Books at Desiring God $5

Every book in our store will be $5 on June 27-28, Wednesday and Thursday next week.
No limits, so spread the word.

Abraham Piper, Desiring God blog

Do You Suffer From Teenage Affluenza