Follow who?

From Wordsmithy by Douglas Wilson.

The Gadarene Swine Rule - just because a group is in formation doesn't mean it knows where it is going.

Douglas Newell

Book Review: James Robinson Graves: Staking the Boundaries of the Baptist Identity.

James Robinson Graves: Staking the Boundaries of the Baptist Identity.

By: James A. Patterson
B&H Publishing Group 
Copyright 2012 

The publisher describes the book as the “first biography of Graves in more than eighty years” but in reality the book suffers from an identity crisis, halting between two genres. It is both a book about Baptist doctrine and a biography, but fails at becoming either. From the outset Patterson says his book “… should not be read as a traditional biography; instead, it is weighted more towards Grave’s thought than his life.” Though billed as a biography, the book is an editorial piece about the influence of J.R. Graves. I’m thankful for his honesty up front, but disappointed that I bought a biography and read an editorial. The book is how J.R. Grave and Landmarkism put its mark on the Southern Baptist Convention from the perspective of someone who is not very happy with that. The book is also not a scholarly treatment of Landmarkism, but rather a diatribe against it.  A biography would tell the unbiased story of the man. A critical treatment of Landmarkism would explain the doctrines and deal with the scriptural nature of the subject. This book doesn’t do very much of either one.

The first half of the book is dedicated to trying to figure out why JR Graves was motivated to “establish” Landmarkism, even though Patterson admits himself that Graves 

“stood as a fairly typical representative of Baptist belief and practices that he had encountered in Vermont, Ohio and Kentucky; his thinking, particularly about the church, was not unusual or exceptional” 

and later he quoted Alan Cureton as saying “neither Graves nor any other Landmarker, invented [church] successionism; they simply adopted what most Baptist historians of the 19^th century espoused.” While Patterson attempts to make Graves the creator of Landmarkism, he admits and even chronicles Landmark belief prior to Graves.

I didn’t have to go very far into the book (the introduction) before I realized what I had gotten myself into by reading this book. How would this book about Baptist history in the late 1800’s begin? Why, drawing implications that Landmarkers are pseudo-pagans of course! 

“The practice of boundary beating actually traces back to pagan Britain more than 2,000 years ago. First the Celts and later the Romans often incorporated the inspection of boundaries with superstitious ceremonies of blessing for crops or animals. For instance the Roman god Terminus was the deity assigned to boundaries and landmarks…”

 Patterson goes on to describe rituals of the Celts in setting boundaries and landmarks (see, get the connection?) in their pagan rituals, describing a Catholic landmark ritual. He then says

 “Ritual, whether pagan or Christian, consequently functioned to help maintain the integrity of historic boundary lines. While these time-honored rites may seem quaint or even bizarre to the average American living in a bustling city or suburb, they point to the basic human need for a sense of place that is delineated by well-defined borders.”  

He goes on to quote Dean Hodge, former professor of Catholic University of America and sociologist Zygmunt Bauman to tell us that there is something in human beings that need to have boundaries and landmarks, an “us vs. them” mentality about things. So, in Patterson’s mind, anyone that holds to Landmark teaching is fulfilling a sociological need to know who we are bordering on paganism.  Patterson says “Indeed, both boundary-beating rituals and boundary-maintenance theories suggest some intriguing applications for interpreting the life and legacy of J.R. Graves.” As Mr. Patterson searches for the reason why JR Graves ‘came up with’ Landmarkism, he lists sociological reasons, family history and the stories of his family fighting in the Revolution. He lists political reasons and even Andrew Jackson gets some credit in shaping Landmarkism through his Republicanism.  The only time that biblical references are used in explaining the church, they are used in a disparaging offhanded way. In Patterson’s mind 

“…Graves’ ecclesiology cannot be fully understood apart from the radical individualism that undergirded it”. 

So, naturally, I’m ready to dig into the first chapter of this “unbiased” biography.

On more than one occasion, Patterson sets the tone for Graves using conspiratorial language and claims of outright dishonesty in his life and ministry of JR Graves.

 “In two articles in 1855, Graves approvingly cited Brown to justify the need for rewriting of church history and to propose that a revisionist tack demanded a special focus on faithful believers through the ages who had suffered at the hands of ecclesiastical tyrants.” 

This is the first of many great ironies in the book. Patterson portrays Graves as a dishonest, mean spirited intolerant man – while showing none to the subject of his book. He decries the tone of Graves’ writings, but he himself implores a more sophisticated way of insulting someone he disagrees with. He decries his son in law O.L.Haily for not being a reliable historian because of his close ties to his subject because he is unable to be objective – but it is equally true that someone who has a disliking for his subject will be equally as biased against him.  Another irony is within the same book he decries Graves for holding to Baptist distinctive and his battles against those who disagreed with him, Patterson portrays him as a villainous deceiver and a disrupter of Baptist unity. 

“While the level of purity might be questioned, there can be no doubt that Graves creatively applied the criteria of a Christian republicanism to justify his Landmark Baptist ideas and to denigrate conflicting ideologies.” 

You see, it’s okay for Mr. Patterson to question the “purity” of Graves, his intentions, his truthfulness because he disagrees with him, but it isn’t okay for Graves to do the same. We would have unity if everyone would just agree with me. Also, you have the freedom to disagree with me, but just don’t say anything about it.  This theme comes up in almost every chapter. He continues to question or to call into question Graves’ intention, his heart and his words. There has only been one perfect man and it certainly wasn’t J.R. Graves, but I would prefer in a biography, someone to tell me what happened, instead of telling me what they think this person probably thought.

Mr. Patterson’s editorial has much to say about the book The Trail of Blood.  The arguments against Baptist “secessionism” as he calls it, puts historical writings of men above scripture.  Patterson fails to realize that Landmarkism takes God’s Word as true and interprets everything through the eye of scripture. Whether he agrees with that or not, makes no difference to me, but it shows a lack of respect for those he disagrees with to completely ignore the foundation for Landmark belief, the Bible. He said 

“Ultimately, Grave’s subordination of history to ecclesiology dealt a troublesome setback to the Baptist historical enterprise. After carefully assessing the successionist legacy, Baptists who are serious about history might well wonder whether they have been victims of identity theft.”  

In other words, secular history trumps Biblical authority. Secular history also tells us that the world is a billion years old and that man evolved from monkeys and any Christians who is “serious about history” may wonder what Christians are doing preaching that the world is 6,000 years old and was created in six 24 hour days. Patterson looks for every reason (except the one Landmarkers actually give) for the succession of the church, the Biblical promises of perpetuity. He mentions this once in the book in passing, but in a disparaging way. 

“In the face of [a challenge of church succession] Graves primarily repeated his oft-utilized argument from Scripture (Matt 16:18): ‘If Christ’s words be true, His church has had a continuous existence from His day until our own, and if His words are not true He is not the Christ of God, and we have no Saviour.’ Since history could not always prove what was needed to validate successionist dogma, Graves turned to his trusted biblical hermeneutic to defend his cause.” 

The book attempts to prove Graves was always looking for links to Jerusalem that did not exist to hold his thesis; Patterson does the same with Graves’ life and belief. Patterson attempts with innuendo and assumption that J.R. Graves’ political thoughts are what influenced him. Because Graves held the view that the scripture taught church perpetuity, he looked for it in history. Patterson believed that Graves was wrong about the church, so he looked for reasons for his ecclesiology. Maybe he could have named his book the “Trail of Thought” since much of the book is Patterson telling us what Graves may have thought, why he may have thought it and what his intentions were when he thought them. Ultimately, the book was written by a man who doesn’t understand the position or the motives of the man he is writing about, or didn’t care to portray his subject in a fair light by allowing Graves to speak for himself.

Regarding those men that J.R. Graves disagreed with, the book is sympathetic to the views of those who oppose Landmarkism –even more sympathetic to Alexander Campbell than to Graves when he said that Campbell had some “problematic” teachings. Having grown up in Eastern Kentucky, very close to a Church of Christ seminary, in a region where Alexander Campbell’s influence still reeks havoc on the souls of men in the churches belief in Baptismal regeneration, I would say that a damnable heresy is a little more than problematic. Patterson, scolds Graves for setting up boundaries, because those boundaries differ from his own.  The idea that J.R. Graves was a Baptist and that he held to Baptist principles and believed those to be right seems bewildering to Patterson. In a post-modern world where right and wrong is left up to the individual to find their own truth, the idea that a Baptist can say “I’m right, you’re wrong” is offensive.  Patterson seems to have missed the motive behind Graves’s zeal. The Bible teaching on the church, the ordinances on doctrine are very clear, and if a Bible believing Christian believes those things, they should hold to them. Graves did not believe salvation was locked up in a Baptist church, but he believed immersion means going under the water, and if you are not going under the water, well, you are not going under the water. It seems offensive to Mr. Patterson that J.R. Graves actually held to his beliefs about the church and thought it was important enough to stand for those truths.

If you are looking for a biography of J.R. Graves, this is not for you. If you are looking for an honest critique of Landmarkism, this book is also not for you. If you are looking for a book from an author who, neither likes J.R. Graves, nor Landmarkism, and would like a denunciation against both, you have found it in James Robinson Graves: Staking the Boundaries of the Baptist Identity.


Doug Newell 

BH Carroll on Gnosticism

"Gnosticism is derived from the Greek word gnosis, which means "knowledge, like "agnosticism," which means ignorance, not knowing. We get some conception of Gnosticism from mystical dreamers. We occasionally meet them in the present time. They are very confident of everything saying "I know, I know, I know." "How do you know?" "Well, I just feel that it is so." "Can you prove it from the Bible?" "The Spirit moves men now as well as he did in the Bible days." So he goes on Spirit knowledge, as he calls it, and places what he says above what is written.

I believe the Word of God is more reliable than any mystic philosophy, and if a modern mystics wants me to accept his vagaries, let him give the sings of an apostle. Let him by miracle accredit his inspiration. Let him raise the dead and perform other miracles, and then I will be ready to accept what he says, provided it harmonized with God's written Word."

What's Whiter than Snow?

From The Watchman's Message: 1877

"Do you know anything whiter than snow? I put that question to an old man, one who was tottering on the brink of the grave, and to whom I was endeavoring to speak of Jesus. Some remark having been made relative to the late fall of snow, I seized the opportunity, and asked him the question I ask you now. He seemed surprised, hesitated, and then declared that he did not. I said I did. 

He, looking very hard at me asked what it was. 

I replied " A sinner washed in the precious blood of Jesus." I then told him of the verse in Isaiah which says "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool"; also the end of the seventh verse of the first epistle of John " the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." and of David's prayer "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." 

Have you been washed whiter than snow in the precious blood of Jesus? You can never enter Heaven unless you are. 

Because the sinless Saviour died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on HIM and pardon me."

The Antinomian Legal Spirit

Originally posted in 2010, adapted and updated for today.

The Antinomian Legal Spirit by Thomas Boston from the notes on the book The Marrow of Modern Divinity by E. Fisher.

"The Antinomian principle, that is needless for a man, perfectly justified by faith, to endeavor to keep the law, and do good works is a glaring evidence that legality is so ingrained in man’s corrupt nature, that until a man truly come to Christ, by faith, the legal disposition will still be reigning in him’ let him turn himself into what shape, or be of what principles he will in religion; though he run into Antinomianism he will carry along with his legal spirit, which will always be a slavish and unholy spirit. He is constrained, as the author observes, to do all that he does for fear of punishment, and hope of reward; and if it is once fixed in his mind that these are ceased in his case, he stands still like a clock when the weights that moved her go are removed, or like a slaved when he is in ho hazard of the whip; than winch there cannot be a greater evidence of loathsome legality."

Boston points out a great irony in the life of the antinomian. The very spirit that happily declares there is no law is the spirit of legality, just the other side of the coin of depravity. The lawless do not rejoice in the rest of Christ, but the freedom from law; which display the legalistic heart of the antinomian. Both the legalist and the antinomian have the same problem. One thinks that the law can justify, the other rejoices that the law is gone and believes it to be altogether unprofitable. The Biblical teaching shows us that we are dead to the law unto justification. We cannot, could not and will not keep God’s law and Jesus Christ came and freed us from the curse of the law; it now has no condemning power over us any longer. We are not under the law for justification, but under grace. We are not free to live as we will because we will not live as we ought (Romans 7). We are to follow Christ, not for salvation, but follow Him since we have been saved. We do not obey God to be saved, but because we are. No longer is it ‘do this and live’, but ‘live and do this’. We cannot please God without faith and faith without works is dead. A Christian follows and obeys Christ, not out of hope of Heaven, but love for the Lord.

The legalist has a heart to keep the law to go to Heaven, the antinomian has a heart to break the law because he feels freed from its grievous hold on him. The leagalist tries to keep the law because he feels he has to, not out of love for God. The antinomian has no concern for the law, not because he wants to please the Lord, but because he no longer feels he has to.

So both people are running in opposite directions from the same heart, a heart of law. One loves the law and runs under it for justification. The other hates the law and runs from it for perceived freedom. But both are running BECAUSE OF THE LAW. The love of the law, or the hatred of law cause both camps to run. The Child of God runs to Christ, with Christ and for Christ. He is the freeman who runs not because of the law, but because of Christ.

The Lord’s commandments are a rule of life to us, not a means of justification. We must strive not to drive in the ditch of the legalist who uses the law to be saved in hope of reward; and not to swerve into the ditch of antinomian and rebel against following Christ in spiritual anarchy against the Lordship of Christ.

______________________________________________________________________


Douglas Newell 

The Divine Attributes of Christ

Charles Hodge:

"All divine names and titles are applied to [Christ]. He is called God, the mighty God, the great God, God overall; Jehovah; Lord; The Lord of lords and the King of Kings. All divine attributes are ascribed to Him. He is declared to be omnipresent, omniscient, almighty and immutable, the same yesterday, today and forever. He is set forth as the creator and upholder and ruler of the universe. All things were created by Him and for Him; and by Him all things consist. He is the object of worship to all intelligent creatures, even the highest; all the angels (i.e., all creatures between man and God) are commanded to prostate themselves before Him. He is the object of all the religious sentiments; of reverence, love faith, and devotion. To Him  men and angels are responsible for their character and conduct. He required that man should honor Him as they honored the Father also. He calls all men unto Him. Promise to forgive their sins, to send them the Holy Spirit; to give them rest and peace; to raise them up at the last day and to give them eternal life. God is not more, and cannot promise more or do more that Christ is said to be, to promise and to do. He has therefore been the Christian’s God from the beginning, in all ages and in all places."

Evil and Error by J.C. Philpot

The following is and excerpt from J.C. Philpot's excellent book The Eternal Sonship of Christ.

"There are two things which every child of God has the greatest reason to dread; the one is evil, the other is error. Both are originally from Satan; both have a congenial home in the human mind; both are in their nature deadly and destructive; both have slain their thousands and tens of thousands; and under one or the other, or under both combined, all everlastingly perish but the redeemed family of God."

God is Able

Matthew 9:27-28  And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.  And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

How would you answer the question Jesus asked the blind men? Do you believe that God is able?  The Holy Word of God is full of victorious language to the saints of God.  They are doubtless words to doubting men.  Time and time again we are encouraged in the inspired scriptures and are told how great our God is, and with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible, and we can do all things through Christ which strengthen us. God is able!  Speaking as a man, God has power to accomplish His will.  He has strength, knowledge and wisdom to carry out what he wills to be.  There is indeed nothing that is able to keep God from doing what he wills.  There is no power in Heaven or Earth that can overcome God.  In other words, God can!  Where man fails, God is able, when you and I can’t even try, God can.  When I don’t have the capacity to imagine, God is masterful in His works.  We have a tendency to get discouraged.  We can look at a situation and feel it’s lost, and that we are defeated.  That is what happens when we rely on self and live by sight.  But we serve a mighty God, and our Lord Jesus is our victorious King!  We are in Christ, and Jesus is all powerful, and with Him all things are possible.  As obedient children, we must submit to the will of God, and not question Him, so the purpose today is not to wonder why, but to understand why it is that we DO NOT question His will and trust Him, because God is able.

God is Able to Heal

Isaiah 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 

 God can heal our physical bodies, without question, but more importantly, He is able to heal the soul. Sunken and consumed in the depravity of the human heart, I am not able to offer my wicked heart to God, I am not able to offer for  myself let alone anyone else.  You, dear reader as well, are in such a state of despair, left to yourself. No, it is only Jesus the Christ who could be able to be made sin for another, the holy, blameless, righteous Eternal Son of God, only He is able.  Jesus is able to save 

 Hebrews 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.  

 He saves to the uttermost, He is victorious, not simply trying His best, but is able and never fails!  Put your trust in He who is worthy, the Lamb of God, who is able to intercede.  It’s not a blind faith in uncertainty and unproven experiments, but a living faith in the risen Saviour!  What the bible declares of our Lord is true, believe in Him who is able to save.

God is able to HEAR

 Ephesians 3:20-21  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.  

God is able to HELP

Hebrews 2:16-18  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

  Our Great High Priest has the power to help us, no matter the trouble. Whether facing a giant Philistine, or facing a fiery furnace He has the power to help. Whether accused by Potifars wife, or accused by the enemy, Jesus has the power and ability to help us to serve Him.  Jesus knows how to help us. He knows what to do, for lack of a better phrase. Our merciful High Priest knows how we need help. As he was fully man as well as fully God, He is experienced (yet without sin) in the temptations we face. He also desires to help those He loves. How often we run to those who can’t help us, or won’t help us, or don’t care even if they do try to help us. We, who are saved, have a merciful and faithful priest. When we are tried or tempted, or in spiritual battle, Jesus intercedes for us, knowing our struggle, loving and not forsaking us, but gives us grace in our time of need. He heals, hears, helps and he also holds us. Not only does he start the work, but is able to see it through. You may not be like me, I sometimes will think I would like to try my hand at a certain project, or a new hobby.  I will be resolved to finish it, but as time goes on, the thought of the project or hobby was more enjoyable than the work, and it may go unfinished. Are there any half finished projects laying around our homes or work areas, or maybe project we didn’t put all we had into it, and could have done a little better job? Jesus knows nothing of that.


God is Able to Hold

 Jude 24-25  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.  He is able to keep us from falling into sin.  Where would you be, had not the Lord kept you from fulfilling all the lust of your heart? Our Lord is able to keep us to him, his love constrainth us, and thank God he doesn’t leave us to ourselves. He is able to keep us from falling into error. Let us not be so bold as to think that we hold to the truth by our great intellectual prowess and fortitude. God keeps us from falling by his marvelous grace.  I know men who have fallen farther spiritually than I thought was possible. Not one of us is beyond or above falling into error, save God keep us from falling. How happy Satan must be when a child of God, who is blessed to be a member one of the Lord’s churches, falls into error and from the truth.  He is able to keep us from falling into temptation.  If Jesus wasn't able, then why would He have told us to pray that He would not lead us into temptation, but DELIVER us from evil?  Jesus can, will and is in every way masterfully qualified with  all power, to keep us from falling. Are we so strong as to never be led away?  Oh, if it were not for the Lord, what depths of wickedness would we presently reside? Praise be to God that Jesus Christ is able to keep us from falling!  I can’t keep you, I am not able, I can’t even keep myself,  but God is able to keep you from falling.  He is able to present me faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.   He is going to bring me through to the end.  I don’t trust a Saviour that can only do half the job, but one who is able and will save me to the uttermost, and with Him, I stand and fall.  He WILL present me faultless, cleansed by His blood, with great joy, and He is the only one who can, and the only one who will.  He will, with joy, be successful, as nothing can separate us from the love of God. 

Good, Evil and God

"Let us confess with the greatest benefit, what we believe with the greatest truth, that the God and Lord of all things who made all things very good --
both 
foreknew that evil was to arise out of good,
and 
knew that it belonged to  his most omnipotent goodness to bring good out of evil, rather than not permit evil to be, and so ordained the life of angels and men as to show in it --
first:
what free will could do, and
second:
what the benefit of his grace and his righteous judgment could do."
Augustine.

Scandal Monger

Proverbs 11:13  A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

The talebearer. Strong defines the Hebrew word râkı̂yl as “a scandal monger” and that, my friends, wins the definition of the day.

That is exactly was a talebearer is - a scandal monger. He is a purveyor of confidence, a seller of secrets, and dealer of confidence. And we like it, except when it is about us -- and then of course, it is awful, just awful. How dare he spread MY secrets. 

WARNING: the next tale the talebearer tells may bear your secret tale. 

Selah.

Prospects for the Future: M.D.Lloyd-Jones

A Queen and Two Kings

Here is a message I preached a couple weeks ago at the New Testament Baptist Church in Bristol, TN with Pastor Lewis Kiger. The message is when the Queen of Sheba went to meet one king, and he introduced her to a greater King.

You don't get Grace Gems?

If you are not getting the daily Grace Gems e-mail, then you are missing out on sound, Biblical daily devotions. They are always theologically deep and edifying. Click here to sign up.***

Here is a sample:

(J.C. Ryle, "HAPPINESS" 1878)
It is an utter mistake to suppose that PLEASURE-SEEKING and AMUSEMENTS alone can give happiness. Of all roads that men can take in order to be happy, this is the one that is most completely wrong! Of all weary, flat, dull and unprofitable ways of spending life--this exceeds all! To think of a sinful, dying creature, with an immortal soul, expecting happiness . . .
  in feasting and reveling,
  in dancing and singing,
  in dressing and visiting,
  in ball-going and card-playing,
  in races and fairs,
  in hunting and shooting,
  in crowds, in laughter, in noise, in music, in wine!
Surely it is a sight that is enough to make the devil laugh and the angels weep!Even a child will not play with its toys all day long! But when grown up men and women think to find happiness in a constant round of amusement--they sink far below a child! 

*** I'm not affiliated in any way with Grace Gems, but I highly recommend the daily devotions. This is a free service that doesn't shy away from the truth and continually blesses and encourages me.

The Best Form of Government

Here is an excerpt from The Golden Age: A treatise on the One Thousand Year Reign of Christ on Earth by A.W Pink and Luther C. Peak. From the Tea Party to Occupy Wall Street, everyone knows that there is a problem with government and everyone has a way to "fix" it - but the only way to fix it is to take care of the root of the problem that ruins all systems of government, and that is sin. When Christ comes to rule, his reign will bring peace and joy.

The form of Christ's [millennial] government with be theocratic, not democratic. (Zec 14:9)  And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. Many have been the experiments of politicians and reformers for the establishing of a government that should be equitable, stable and pure; but all have been in vain. Ever since the Flood, 4,500 years ago, God has allowed man every opportunity to develop hi schemes, but ancient and modern, Oriental and Occidental, monarchies and republics all have served only to demonstrate that man is a colossal failure. The record of human government is tyranny and oppression, greed and discontentment, war and bloodshed. How all this serves to show the crying need for One who has all power and yet all compassion, One who is God and yet Man. Under the rule of Christ shall be solved every problem of capital and labor, wealth and poverty, war and peace.

Solomon, I have a question. What is the Purpose of Proverbs?

Reader - "Solomon, what is the purpose of Proverbs?"

Solomon - "Glad you asked! The purpose of the book of Proverbs is...

1. To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;   
2. To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;   
3. To give subtilty to the simple, 
4. to the young man knowledge and discretion.   
5. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:  
6. To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.  
7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

(Pro 1:1-7)

Proverbs takes us to Christ. No one can live up to the book of Proverbs, not even Solomon. No one, but Christ Jesus, the greater than Solomon, who the world will not heed. 

The Power and Influence of the Holy Spirit

A.W. Pink in his book The Holy Spirit said

“The greatest lack of all Christendom today is the absence of the Holy Spirit’s power and blessing. Review the activities of the past 30 years. Millions of dollars have been freely devoted to the support of professed Christian enterprises. Bible institutes and schools have turned out “Trained workers” by the thousands. Bible conferences have sprung up on every side like mushrooms. Countless booklets and tracts have been printed and circulated. Time and labors have been given by an almost incalculable number of “personal workers.”  And with what results? Has the standard of personal piety advanced? Are the churches less worldly? Are their members more Christ-like in their daily walk? Is there more godliness in the home? Are the children more obedient and respectful? Is the Sabbath day being increasingly sanctified and kept holy? Has the standard of honest in business been raised?

Isn’t this the case? Assemblies grow in size and wealth but have no power – no influence. Even among the Lord’s churches:

·         an apathy towards truth,

·         a coldness towards service

·         an indifference towards of godly living

·         an scoffing of separation until there is no difference between us and the world, let alone churches of Christ and worldly churches 

On one side of the road is the ditch of Pentecostalism that wrongly attributes the works of Satan and the works of their own fleshly desires to the Holy Spirit.

On the other side of the road is the ditch of intellectualism that makes Christianity nothing more than a topic  of discussion and logic exercises. 

The Holy Spirit is not merely a force, or a power, or an influence. He is a person. He is God. He is a "He" not an it. He is God, and without His power or influence, all of our feeble efforts are worthless. 

 Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. (Zech. 4:6)

Paul and the heart of a pastor

On Paul's pastoral heart in Acts 20:17-38 from the chapter The Focus of Paul's Ministry

"Here is a man sacrificial in love, selfless in service, earnest in labor, honest in dealing, conscientious in duty, sober in warning, fierce in defense, faithful in prayer, fixed upon Jesus, pouring himself out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of the faith of the church."  - A Portrait of Paul Ventura & Walker

The Church Needs MEN

BH Carroll was right on when he described the need of the Lord's men to act like men. Baptist churches need men to act like men. We need "creek swimming, brier cutting men" today. Men who will stand up and fulfill their roles God has called them to, namely to act like men. In I Corinthians 16:13 it says "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." God has challenged us, to BE A MAN. Carroll says:

"It is the creek-swimming men that shake the world—the brier-cutting men who will not allow obstacles to keep them from doing what God wants them to do.
Let a congregation get the idea of their pastor that he is pink of perfection, can beat anybody in town tying a cravat [neck tie], and wears the nicest little shoes, knows how to fasten a nose-gay in his vest, and how to enter a room and entertain company; carries an umbrella so as not to burn his delicate skin, then what will be his power to awaken and save the lost? An umbrella is all right in its place, but what I want to impress is this—that a stalwart man, a real man, will accomplish more of the great things in the work than all of these little fellows. He will not stop to consider a thousand things that absorb the mind of the trivial man, but will go right straightforward to the accomplishment of his great purpose. I have heard these dainty essayists preach. I have gone to their churches hungry and tried to -get something—and failed.
It reminds me of the story of a preacher who tells this of himself: During the civil war he went to a house to get some supper. Army rations were poor, and he was very hungry. They had just a little butter and they all wanted to make it go as far as possible, so each one tried to hurry through in order to get another chance at the butter before it disappeared. He said that he could not get rid of the butter in his plate. He even tried to sop it up with his bread, but it did not have any taste to it. At last he looked up and saw through knot-hole in the roof over his head that the moon was shining down through into his plate, and that all the time he had been sopping moonshine.”

Thankful for the Dentist

Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

I don't like going to the dentist, but I'm thankful for them. Friday morning I had to go to an oral surgeon and have two impacted wisdom teeth removed. Today, my face is swollen to the point I look like a greedy chipmunk, but I am thankful. I'm thankful for the skill of the dentist. I'm thankful that he was able to use medicine to put me to sleep during the procedure. I'm thankful for the medicine that is used to protect from infection. I'm thankful that the removal of these problem teeth. I'm thankful that the worst part thus far is the swelling. I live in a country and in a time where I can have this procedure done. 100 years ago, I would have put up with the pain. In another country today, I would have had to put up with the pain. God is so good.

It's not about you

"People are brought to faith in Jesus Christ not because a preacher happens to be exceptionally dynamic one Sunday morning, or because he finishes his sermon with a spell-binding story. Rather, in a mysterious works that is both sovereign in expression and divine in origin, the power of God unites with the proclamation of the word of God and produces effects that are in keeping with the purposes of God."

Spirit Empowered Preaching by Art Azurdia

Happy in God's Word

Happy is the man who doesn't walk with the worldly. Who shuns the conventional wisdom of the ungodly. He will not be in the majority and he will not be popular - but he will be happy.

Happy is the man who is happy in the Word of God.

Want to be sound? 
Want to be fruitful? 
What to prosper spiritually? 
Get in the Word of God and meditate on it day and night.

Psalm 1:1-2  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Family Man

Sweet song by Andrew Peterson.

Which way do I go? To fight or not to fight

Pro 26:4-5  Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Which way do I go? How do I given an answer when I'm challenged or when I'm question? It isn't an easy question to answer and when you are standing at the proverbial fork, this passage might not seem to help much because sometimes the road to the left is good, and sometimes the same road is bad. Sometimes you need to answer and sometimes you don't. It would be much easier if we only had verse 4 or 5, we could be NASCAR drivers and always turn left. We get to the fork and the our directions say "it is necessary that you turn right - but sometimes you have to turn left."

What's the point then? You have to stop and think.* You have to consider the consequences of your words. You have to determine what kind of "fool" you are dealing with and where your answer will lead you and if your answer will help or hurt. You have to consider the wisdom in answering at all because once you answer, you have chosen your path. 

Just because you CAN win a fight doesn't mean that you should. Sometimes it is better to let someone wallow in their own foolishness. On the other hand, sometimes you can best glorify Jesus Christ by rebuking error. Often you can best show love to your neighbor by knocking the chair of conceit out from underneath him. 

This doesn't bode well for social media because internet fights are often like wildfires. They burn hot and they burn quick, but the damage lasts for a long time.

So, stop and think. Look down both paths. Pray and study God's Word and take the route that best glorifies Jesus Christ, even if that means you don't get to win. 

*Sometimes you don't have this luxury to spend hours in contemplation. Some situations require immediate decisions. Even so, we cannot be thoughtless in our response and must trust in God's grace and His good providence. 

Envy's Choice

Amiable Arminian Adam Clarke tells an apocryphal Jewish fable about Envy's choice.

There were two persons, one covetous and the other envious, to whom a certain person promised to grant whatever they should ask; but double to him who should ask last. The covetous man would not ask first, because he wished to get the double portion, and the envious man would not make the first request because he could not bear the thoughts of thus benefiting his neighbor. However, at last he requested that one of his eyes should be taken out, in order that his neighbor might lose both.

Particular Redemption

If the purpose of the cross was to save from sins, redeem from wrath, to deliver from the curse of the law and the guilt of the law to reconcile us to God, giving eternal life - then Christ only died for those unworthy souls that are saved, redeemed, delivered from the curse and guilt of the law and those that are reconciled. Since all are not saved and delivered and since all sinners will not be saved and delivered, then they could not have been the object of Christ’s work.

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Did He or didn't He?


Before there was an angel, earth or sky, God chose, unto Himself a particular people, not according to their works, but according to His mercy. Those people were sinners, aliens and guilty in their sins. Christ, God the Son, loving those people came and offered Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice in the place of those beloved of God.

Jesus, while on the cross, made a full sacrifice for the sins of His people, paying for sin, satisfying God’s justice, paying the eternal debt due those elect. The end of that sacrifice was the people Christ came for, have eternal life and the forgiveness of sins. All that Christ redeemed shall be saved because of taht redemptive work.

Did He accomplish what He set out to do or didn't He?

If that was the aim of the Lord Jesus Christ in coming to Earth, did He accomplish what He set out to do?

Selah.

Ye must be born again

From Peter Van Mastricht's book A Treatise on Regeneration:

Without [regeneration] he can neither see the kingdom of God -- this is, mentally, since he is blind, and perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them ,because they are spiritually discerned (I Corinthians 2:14) --nor, if he could see, could he enter in to the kingdom of God, since he is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be (Romans 8:7. Of himself he is not sufficient to think anything spiritually good (II Corinthians 3:5), and therefore stands in absolute need of illumination by regeneration in order to see the kingdom of heaven and of a renovation of his will, in order to be willing to enter into it.

Mitt Romney is Not a Christian

Be careful.

The interesting thing about Christians who try and sit at the table with the political right -- when the political right no longer needs the Christian, the Christian will be the first to be eaten.

Over the last year, I have heard several of the talk radio types give some warnings about social issues: forget about them. Forget marriage, abortion -- we need to focus on getting republicans elected, to make sure taxes stay low.

We don't live in a theocracy and I am not going to hold my breathe and wait on a Baptist to win the presidency. Elections have consequences and the majority get to set the agenda.

Having said all that....in comes Mitt Romney and this is were the trouble is going to start, in my opinion.

Mitt Romney is a Mormon who is trying to pass himself off as a Christian. Mormon's are not Christians. Mormons have different gods, a different Jesus and different theology than Christians have. Conservative leaders have already begun to make their veiled threats against anyone who questions Romney's Christianity.

I'm not proposing that there is a standard of theology to run for president. But I am not going to support someone who lies about what they believe either. Christians cannot hide the fact that Romney claims to be a Christian when he is not. We MUST expose that. Not because of political purposes, but because of the gospel. On a national stage, there will be a leader corrupting the gospel, with thousands of talking heads confirming this damnable heresy for the sake of political power. We are being warned to keep our mouths shut about Romney's religion.

We can't stay quiet about this, and that is why the political right will turn on Christians in a heart beat if we don't "fall in line" when Romney gets the nomination. I cannot keep my mouth shut and put a pretty face on a damnable evil.

It will be interesting to see the fall out if he does get the nomination. Christians need to pray and be prepared to give an answer, because Mormonism is coming to the national stage in the clothes of Christianity.

How Deep the Father's Love

I have been particularly blessed by this song over the past week.

"Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom"

Spurgeon on "Salvation is of the Lord"

C.H. Spurgeon

"Salvation is of the Lord." That is just an essence of Calvinism; it is the sum and substance of it. If anyone should ask me what I mean by a Calvinist, I should reply, "He is one who says, Salvation is of the Lord." I cannot find in Scripture any other doctrine than this. It is the essence of the Bible. "He only is my rock and my salvation." Tell me anything contrary to this truth, and it will be a heresy; tell me a heresy, and I shall find its essence here, that it has departed from this great, this fundamental, this rock-truth, "God is my rock and my salvation."

What is the heresy of Rome, but the addition of something to the perfect merits of Jesus Christ—the bringing in of the works of the flesh, to assist in our justification? And what is the heresy of Arminianism but the addition of something to the work of the Redeemer? Every heresy, if brought to the touchstone, will discover itself here.

I have my own private opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel, if we do not preach justification by faith, without works; nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel, unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross; nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called, and suffers the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation after having once believed in Jesus. Such a gospel I abhor.”

Speak with conviction, you know?

HT:Challies.

Able to Read the Word of God

"No event in any nation's history can be more momentous and far-reaching than giving to them of the Word of God in their mother tongue and allowing it to be an open book at every fireside, with no page or promise or precept darkened by the proscriptive shadow of priest or state."

BH Carroll

Are We Christians?

Amos 6:1

What do we say to . . .
our self-indulgence,
our sloth,
our love of ease,
our avoidance of hardship,
our luxury,
our pampering of the body,
our costly feasts,
our silken couches,
our brilliant furniture,
our gay attire,
our braided hair,
our jeweled fingers,
our idle mirth,
our voluptuous music,
our jovial tables, loaded with every variety of rich viands?

Are we Christians? Or are we worldlings? Where is the self-denial of the New Testament days?

Where is the separation from a self-pleasing luxurious
world? Where is the cross, the true badge of discipleship,
to be seen–except in useless religious ornaments for the
body, or worse than useless decorations for the sanctuary?

“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion!” Is not this
the description of multitudes who name the name of
Christ? They may not always be “living in debauchery,
lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable
idolatry.” But even where these are absent, there is
‘high living’–luxury of the table or the wardrobe–
in conformity to ‘this present evil world.’

‘At ease in Zion!’ Yes! there is the shrinking . . .
from hard service;
from ‘spending and being spent;’
from toil and burden-bearing and conflict;
from self-sacrifice and noble adventure,
for the Master’s sake.

There is conformity to the world, instead of conformity
to Christ! There is a laying down, instead of a taking up
of the cross. Or there is a lining of the cross with velvet,
lest it should gall our shoulders as we carry it! Or there
is an adorning of the cross, that it may suite the taste
and the manners of our refined and intellectual age.

Anything but the bare, rugged and simple cross!

We think that we can make the strait gate wider, and
the narrow way broader, so as to be able to walk more
comfortably to the heavenly kingdom. We try to prove
that ‘modern enlightenment’ has so elevated the race,
that there is no longer the battle or the burden or the
discipline; or has so refined ‘the world and its pleasures’,
that we may safely drink the poisoned cup, and give
ourselves up to the inebriation of the Siren song.

‘At ease in Zion!’ Even when the walls of our city are
besieged, and the citadel is being stormed! Instead of
grasping our weapons, we lie down upon our couches!

Instead of the armor, we put on the silken robe!

We are cowards, when we should be brave!
We are faint-hearted, when we should be bold!
We are lukewarm, when we should be fervent!
We are cold, when we should be full of zeal!

We compromise and shuffle and apologize, when
we should lift up our voice like a trumpet! We pare
down truth, or palliate error, or extenuate sin–in
order to placate the world, or suit the spirit of the
age, or ‘unify’ the Church.

Learn self-denying Christianity. Not the form or name,
but the living thing. Let us renounce the lazy, luxurious,
self-pleasing, fashionable religion of the present day!

A self-indulgent religion has nothing in common with
the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ; or with that cross of
ours which He has commanded us to take up and carry
after Him–renouncing ease and denying self.

Our time,
our gifts,
our money,
our strength,
are all to be laid upon the altar.


My thanks to witherblog.com. I googled the sermon title and found the transcript there.

He knows our frame

An excerpt from John MacDuff's excellent devotional on suffering-“A Bow in the Clouds”:

“There are many sensitive fibers in the soul, which the best and most tender human sympathy cannot touch. But the Prince of Sufferers, He who led the way in the path of sorrow, "knows our frame." When crushing bereavement lies like ice on the heart, when the dearest earthly friend cannot enter into the peculiarities of our grief-Jesus can, Jesus does! He who once bore my sins--also carried my sorrows. That eye, now on the throne, was once dim with weeping! I can think in all my afflictions-"He was afflicted;" in all my tears--"Jesus wept."

The Next Story By Tim Challies

“Do you own your technology or does it own you?"

Tim Challies book, The Next Story: Life and Faith after the digital explosion takes an in-depth look at how are lives are being affected by the changes in our digital technology--from a Christian perspective.

Our world is different than it was 50 years ago because of how our technology has changed. My great-grandfather told of how their evenings were spent in the kitchen playing music. My grandfather purchased the first color TV in his family. My Dad told of Saturday Night Movies on television – the only place to catch movies you didn’t see at the theatre. I recall going to the movie rental store for the first time after we had purchased a VCR (after a long deliberation, we decided NOT to go with Beta). Now, my kids are growing up in the streaming video world – countless choices on demand, instantly.

The Next Story takes a step back from the technology and considers what it is we are doing to ourselves, our minds bodies and souls with the plethora of technology that “controls” our lives. Technology has changed our lives – but not for the better in every case. I grew up in a house without an air conditioner for a time. It was much better to be outside in the evening instead of sitting on the couch because it was much cooler outside and more desirable to be outside. Today, with the A/C, technology has enabled your house to be as hot or cold as you want it. I have a friend who lives up North, and he said the winters up there don't bother him at all, because it is 72 degrees inside his house, no matter how much snow is outside. That one advance in technology is a blessing, but it has changed the way we live. The world is changing so fast and we can easily be caught up in the changes, without carfully considering the consequences of our actions.

Challies main thrust throughout the book is that we should not abandon technology, but we should not blindly accept all that it sells us. Every product, every advance in technology is selling us something and will in some way affect us for better or worse. The latest and greatest will not give us joy, peace, security, happiness and often times it steal it away.

This is a good book, especially for parents or teenagers who are immersed in the digital world. Facebook, Twitter and the other social media sites can be a great danger to young people. Challies demonstrates how technology can hurt our relationships rather than help them. Whether by text, e-mail or instant messaging, relationships can suffer because of a lack of intimacy. Websites give you the ability to create your online persona were the weak can act strong, the shy can be bold, the lonely can be popular. But that is not who we are, that is who we are when we sit in front of the screen.

Challies brings about a great point about information and that it is not necessarily a blessing. The ability to get your phone out and google the answer to a trivia question does not equate to having wisdom. Much of the news that is covered on 24 hours news stations relates information and news that either will not impact me at all, or if it does, there is little I can do about it. I had to stop and think about all the news sites I read, and wondered how the information I was reading on these sites impacted me. I realized that much of what I was reading and listening to was just information that could not help me in any way, nor did it really inform me of things that I didn't already know or tell me anything I could either do anything about or affect me other than irritating me.

My favorite chapter to read was chapter 3 A Digital History. Challies is a skilled story teller and I found myself in this chapter drawn into the story of our digital landscape. As I finished the chapter, I felt it was too short – in my opinion, he was be a great biographer.

And it isn’t a review if I don’t say something negative, right? ENDNOTES – NOOOO!!!! I am thankful that the endnotes were almost exclusively (with one exception) giving the name of the book or article.

The “creation mandate” bothered me. I worked as a sheet metal worker in a factory for a while, and I would take a flat sheet of metal approximately 5 foot by 8 foot and when we would get finished with it, it would be a kitchen appliance. But all along the walls of our shop were tools, screws, welders, rivets and a number of other tools and parts. We didn’t “create” anything, we made something. Only God can create. Also, even if we COULD create something,where is the COMMAND to create? If God commands men to create we are sinning if we do not. How much and how often must we create? What did Abraham create? What did Paul create?

The last point, and this is just a minor point, but the book wore me out on the recapping. In a sermon it is a mark of great preaching and communicating to tell where you are going in your message, tell the message, then recap where you have been. But with a book in my hand, I can turn the pages back and read again if I need to, I don’t need to read the same thing three times in one chapter.

I enjoyed this book, and it was a blessing to me and I recommend it to you. After reading it, I evaluated my use of technology and I trimmed down my usage of some of the technology that, unbeknownst to me, had enslaved me. Truthfully, not only do I not miss it, but am happier with it gone.

The World's Only Hope

Martyn Lloyd-Jones from Courageous Christianity: Studies in the book of Acts; volume II.

The times in which you and I are living are too desperate for any of us to indulge in some historical or antiquarian interest. We are looking at [Acts 4:1-10] because unfortunately the attitude we see here is still true of so many men and women today As I am trying to show, this attitude is the supreme tragedy of the world. Our world is a world in trouble, a world in confusion, a world toying with forces and powers that could put an end to civilization as we know it. But to such a world there still comes the message of the Christian Gospel. It is the only hope for that world, and yet the world is rejecting it.

These sermons were originally preached in London, England in 1965. The world has waxed worse and worse but the answer remains the same. The only hope for the world is Jesus Christ.

The Voice of the Bride of Christ

She is the voice of brotherly love that “saluted her sister churches”
She is the voice of praise in the gospel throughout the churches
She is the voice like goads- exhorting in the truth
She is the voice like nails – piercing the hearts and minds
She is the voice as a honeycomb – delivering the sweet words of life
She is the voice of apples of gold in pictures of silver –fitly spoken in honor of the Lord
She is the voice of life to those who hear it
She is the voice of health to those who perceive it
She is the voice of warning to those in danger
She is the voice of encouragement to those who are feeble
She is the voice of comfort to those who mourn
She is the voice of grace to those who stumble
She is the voice of love to the Groom

Distracted

From The Next Story by Tim Challies

"During a time of singing at a recent conference, I spotted a woman raising one hand in worship while sending a text message with the other one. We mix worship with our work and pleasure. Why are we surprised then when we can only give partial attention to any one of them?"

Can we really worship God with all our hearts when one eye is on the text and the other on the phone? When we are thinking about sending/receiving texts or facebook updates about the message or the song?

The Lord our Righteousness

Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Robert Haldane said of this passage

"This righteousness is also said to be of God by faith-- that is sinners become partakers of it by faith. The righteousness of God, then, is not a method of justification, but the thing itself which God has provided, and which He [gives it] through faith. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, because it reveals God’s righteousness, that righteousness which fulfils the demand of His law, which His justice will accept, and which is upon all them that believe."

What a glorious thought, the imputed righteousness of Christ! Oh that we could grasp being "in Christ" - what joy, what peace that would bring.

Many mistake the Old Testament as being a covenant of works for salvation however nothing could be further from the truth.

Jer 33:14-16 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.

The LORD our righteousness. Our own righteousness being filthy rags, dung, worthless and vile being taken away, and by faith, receiving the righteousness of Christ making Jesus the Lord OUR righteousness. I have righteousness, but not mine, His imputed to my account that I am reckoned as righteous in the sight of God, that I will be presented in the courts of Heaven guiltless, blameless, perfect in His sight.

Eye of Faith

"Faith is the least self-regarding of the virtues. It is by its very nature scarcely conscious of its own existence. Like the eye which sees everything in front of it and never sees itself, faith is occupied with the Object upon which it rests and pays no attention to itself at all. While we are looking at God we do not see ourselves--blessed riddance."

The Pursuit of God AW Tozer

Don't Leave Your Cows in the Field

God had providentially led Moses from the palace of Pharaoh to the wilderness as a shepherd- then he called him to lead his people, Israel, from Egyptian bondage.

Pharaoh, not wanting to release his slaves, would not let God's people free to worship the Lord. God showed His power through a series of plagues- each resulting in much pain & suffering and the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart not to let God's people go.

Exodus 9:13-26 is the description of the 7th of these awful plagues. Moses went early in the morning to Pharaoh to tell him to let the people go so they could serve God. God would send more plagues to show him and all the Earth that the Lord, He is God by smiting the powerful Pharaoh.

In fact, the very reason God raised up Egypt to a world power and specifically Pharaoh to the height of worldly power was to show GOD'S power in removing Pharaoh.

A plague of rain, hail, and fire threatened. Not just any storm. A storm so fierce that it would not be equaled since the nation of Egypt had been in existence. The people were warned by the Word of the Lord to flee to safety.

Exodus 9:20-21 He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses: And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.

Those that heard and feared God's Word obeyed. Those that did not regard God's Word, did what they wanted to- and reaped the consequences.

This is the arrogant pride of man refusing to head God's Word. The Bible gives warning after warning of the consequences of sin- yet we do not heed. God is SO good in giving us His Word and often we take it and scoff at it, which is scoffing at God. There are eternal warnings of Hell and the Lake of Fire, there are warnings to repent and that judgment is coming- yet man leaves not just his cows in the field, but his soul.

Think about it- why would the Egyptians at this point DOUBT that another plague would come?

Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.

They did not like to retain God. They just did not want to.

Unbelief. This is a picture of what Biblical unbelief really boils down to. Biblical unbelief is not regarding the Word of God. It wasn't that the people did not believe the Lord Jehovah existed- they most certainly did. And it wasn't that the people did not believe that God had the power or the will to send another plague - they did. The people did not regard God's Word- they just didn't care.

When you do not listen to God's Word, follow His commands, heed His warnings you are living in unbelief. You may believe that God exists and know for a fact that God is almighty and sovereign, but you do not regard His Word, you do not believe His Word.

Don't leave your cows in the field. God is faithful that promised. Both in the promises of blessing and the promises of judgment and chastisement.

A Good Contest

The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes

"It would be a good contest amongst Christians, one to labour to give no offence, and the other to labour to take none. The best men are severe to themselves, tender over others."

Church Authority Online Message

I was privileged to preach at the Kings Addition Missionary Baptist Church this weekend at their Bible conference. The theme was on the Lord's church and I started things off preaching first on "church authority".

The message stresses the need for the work of God to be done through the Lord's local church.

If you would like to hear me preach on church authority, I start about the 13:00 minute mark.


Watch live video from kingsadditionbaptist on Justin.tv

Unicorns and the Bible

New Testament Synonyms

Sometimes we can miss the forest for the trees when it comes to reading the Bible. Robert Thomas, in dealing with eternal punishment in the Fall 1998 edition of the Master's Seminary Journal points out a common flaw in the interpretation of NT synonyms.

"A basic principle for interpreting NT synonyms dictates that a distinction in meaning between two words does not necessarily exist unless they occur in the same immediate context. That principle applies to pairs such as "I love" (agapao)/"I love" (phileo) and "other" (allos)/ "other" (heteros).

Unless they occur together, an interpreter cannot press for differences.

The same apples to kolasis/timoria (punishment/vengence). It is poor exegetical methodology to try to evade the teaching of eternal punishment on the basis of a distinction in vocabulary."

Jesus View of Eternal Punishment by Robert L. Thomas

Justice of God in Damning Sinners

Excerpts from Jonathan Edwards sermon "The Justice of God in the Damnation of Sinners."

“There is something peculiarly heinous in sinning against the mercy of God more than other attributes. There is such base and horrid ingratitude, in being the worse to God BECAUSE he is a being of infinite goodness and grace…. above all things [this ingratitude] renders a [sinners] wickedness vile and detestable. This ought to win us, and engage us to serve God better; but instead…[man] sins against him the more.

Romans 2:4-5 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God

....Your own conscience can give testimony to it, that this has made you refuse God's calls, and has made you [uncaring] of his repeated commands. Now, how righteous would it be if God should swear in his wrath, that you should never be the better for his being infinitely merciful!”

Who are we to judge God?



(I updated some language indicated by the bracketed words.)

The valley of Hinnom by Albert Barnes

"The valley of Hinnom. This was formerly a pleasant valley near to Jerusalem, on the south. A small brook or torrent usually ran through it and partly encompassed the city. This valley the idolatrous Israelites devoted formerly to the horrid worship of Moloch, 2 Kings 16:3; 2 Chron. 28:3.

In that worship, the ancient Jewish writers inform us, the idol of Moloch was of brass, adorned with a royal crown, having the head of a calf, and his arms extended as if to embrace anyone. When they offered children to him they heated the statue within by a great fire, and when it was burning hot they put the miserable child into his arms, where it was soon consumed by the heat; and, in order that the cries of the child might not be heard, they made a great noise with drums and other instruments about the idol."

Moloch is still worshiped today. We just call him Abortion.




DPN

She Did What She Could

I'm studying for this mornings message and wanted to share a portion of a message I was reading from Charles Spurgeon from a message he preached on the woman who broke the alabaster box in Mark 14 titled "To Lovers of Jesus -- an Example."

“And oh, Brothers and Sisters, let us always carry our case into the highest court and live before the Lord and not as the slaves of men! If we are conscious that we have sincerely done what we have done as unto the Lord and if we feel sure that He has approved our service, it is of the smallest possible consequence what men shall say about us! Let us never provoke our Brothers and Sisters to be ill-tempered with us, neither let us do anything that can be rightly censured—but if we have gone somewhat beyond common custom in the fervor of our spirit, let us reply with young David to his envious brethren, “Is there not a cause?” The opinions of other men are no rule to us—we have our own obligations to discharge and, as our debt of love is larger than usual, let us take liberty to be as full of love and zeal as we can be—only regretting that we cannot go still further in the way of sacred service.”

C.H. Spurgeon

Walking to church

I always thought it would be nice to live so close to church that I could walk. How far is too far to walk to church? Well, I suppose it depends on how bad you want to go to church.

The following is from Compendium of Baptist History by J.A. Shackleford.

Beaver Dam church, Ohio county, Kentucky, is one of the oldest churches in that state, it having been constituted as early as 1798. Some of its members lived twenty miles distant, but were regular in their attendance. They would leave their homes on Friday afternoon, many times on foot, and go part of the way, stopping to hold prayer meeting at night with some brother on the road. The journey would be finished the next morning in time for the eleven o’clock sermon. There would be preaching on Saturday both in the morning and at night, also on Sunday at eleven o’clock and at night. Monday morning the members living distant would return to their homes. There were conversions and baptisms at almost every meeting of the church. If such were not the case the members would consider the church in a very luke-warm condition, and the next meeting was usually preceded by fasting and prayer.

Such consecration and earnestness would not doubt be attended with the like results at the present day. The indifference of many church members to the interests of their church work is a said commentary upon their profession.

People do what they want to do. These people wanted to go to church, so they walked.

The Word of God is Not Bound

I like to read about the Civil War. There are so many fascinating stories, people and event that took place during this tragic war. One thing that I always find fascinating is how the war impacted people in areas that I had not before considered, especially in the churches.

The following was published in the TENNESSEE BAPTIST, August 31, 1861 by J.R. Graves,that I was directed to by Pastor David Green.

The title of the article is The Word of God is Not Bound.

“The first set of plates for printing pocket Bibles and Testaments ever owned and worked in the South were laid upon the press of the Southwestern Publishing House last Wednesday, and it can now be said for the first time that the South is independent of the North for the Word of God. Lincoln no longer binds the Word of God.

These plates for the Bible and Testament have cost, including tariff, ($150), freight and other expenses connected with them, some $1250. More than one-half of this sum was contributed by the brethren and citizens of West Tennessee and North Alabama to us personally—to enable the Publishing House to print cheap Bibles and Testaments for the Confederate soldiers. There is not another set of plates on which a pocket Bible or pocket Testament can be printed in the Southern Confederacy to-day.

Believing that the balance for the plates will be contributed as a voluntary offering to the enterprise, the Southwestern Publishing House offers to print Bibles and Testaments for the Confederate army at the following rates:
Pocket Testaments.—Plain $12.50 per 100—15 cts. retail; Gilt Sides $15 per 100—20 cts. retail.
Pocket Bibles.--$7.50 to $12 per dozen, according to style and binding. Fine bound copies, with name in gilt letters, from $2 to $5 per copy. Let every community that has sent out a company forward each soldier a Bible or Testament, and a package of religious tracts—price 25 cents per package of 300 page.

Will all our exchanges in the South call attention to this enterprise, and to the fact that the Southwestern Publishing House offers to supply 100,000 Bibles and Testaments for the Confederate army at cost of material and labor?”

There were a few thoughts I had about this.

1. Baptists love God's Word.
2. Even in the midst of Civil War, God's people must care for souls.
3. Prior to higher textual criticism, when people spoke of the Bible they thought of the Word of God, not about translations.
4. The GREATEST need in any nations is Jesus Christ.

On yard work, apples, grapes and agricultural empires

There is something about having my hand in the soil that makes me happy. As a child, I hated weeding in the garden almost as much as I hated picking green beans. It wasn't so much the work as it was not wanting to do work of any kind, and gardening was the kind I had to do. Now, I do it because I like to do it. I'm not post-modern enough to say that it is therapeutic, but gardening does make me feel better.

I've moved four times in six years, and have only had one garden in all that time, and that was a shared garden with the owner of the house I was renting. I probably won't get to have a garden this year either. The house that we bought sits on an acre, but the yard was/is in a mess. I've done a lot of work to it over the last two years, but have a lot more to go. I would like to have the land worked enough to have a garden next year, Lord willing. Today, I started planing instead of destroying, which made me happy.

Thus far, my work has consisted of deconstruction, which is really a lot of fun too. I LOVE cutting down trees. Cleaning up after? Not so much. But breaking, tearing down, cutting off is so much easier. Today marks the first day of replenishing lawn maintenance, when I have come, not to kill or destroy, but to plant.

My vast agricultural empire will consist of one Golden Delicious apple tree and four Concord Grape plants. It will be a few years before I reap any fruit, but these things take time. One thing that you don't get in moving around is the time to plant. My grandpa has trees that he planted almost 60 years ago in his yard, and a whole orchard of trees he has planted, pruned, and kept up for decades. But still, this is vanity. Those trees will eventually die, they will stop yielding fruit and will be fit for nothing but the fire. Yet the gospel seed is eternal and will reap eternal blessings. Having a farm, or a garden, or a place to plant is such a blessing but I wouldn't trade it for what God has called me to do in the ministry.

Pro-choice video

I saw this video today at challies.com. It is intentionally provocative, but needfully so. Thinking in these terms you can see how effective the pro-abortion advocates were at defining the terms. So I've decided to define the terms of my post. This is the choice.

Never say baby, use the medical term "fetus".
Never make the issue about abortion, make it about "choice".
Never say pro-abortion, say pro-choice, everyone loves to make their own choices.

Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men.

This includes abortion.

Up a Tree

I walked outside, looked up in tree in our yard and saw C.W. up in the tree. It is amazing how boys survive, with both the lack of fear, and that lack of thinking one step ahead, like "how am I going to get down?" or "I wonder if this little twig I'm standing on will hold my weight?" (look real close, can you see the limb he is standing on? Yeah, me either.)

This is how God made boys. Boys who test boundaries, who explore, who attempt feats of strength are our future dad's, future soldiers, future police officers and future preachers.

The duty of every parent of boys is NOT to keep them from being boys, but to mold them into men. To take what God has given them by way of nature and personality and then prune, bend, shape, mold them as best we can, by God's grace, into what they should be. We have failed if we turn our boys into sissies, but we have also failed if we turn our boys into selfish, reckless, arrogant men. I worked as a 4th generation apple farmer before I moved to NC. I know a little about pruning trees, especially young ones. You can prune a tree so much that you ruin it forever. You can bend a young tree until it breaks. But, it is just as bad and just as disastrous to let the tree grow wild without any pruning. My Grandpa wouldn't let anyone prune his young trees, he had to do it because he didn't trust anyone else to work on them at such a critical age. Are our kids more valuable than trees? He that hath an ear, let him hear.

That being said, all boys are different. Mine are very different, and only one of the four attempted to scale the tree. Since all boys are different, all boys needed to be molded and shaped and pruned differently. Not by what society says boys should be, but what God says boys should be. Reading through Proverbs (a book written to boys specifically: 'my son') you don't read a lot about sports, but much about the soul.