Worth Memorizing
November 19, 2008 | 2 Comments
“There is more mercy in Christ, than sin in us.”
- Richard Sibbes
Gospel Growth Example
November 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Lar,
Considering it is the weekend, I am going to spread out my post over two days. To begin with, here is another quote from Keller’s The Prodigal God. Actually, it is the continuation of the quote I posted the other day.
“What is the point? What makes you faithful or generous is not just a redoubled effort to follow moral rules. Rather, all change comes from deepening your understanding of the salvation of Christ and living out of the changes that understanding creates in your heart. Faith in the gospel restructures our motivations, our self-understanding, our identity, and our view of the world. Behavioral compliance to rules without heart-change will be superficial and fleeting.
The gospel is therefore not just the ABCs of the Christian life, but the A to Z of the Christian life. Our problems arise largely because we don’t continually return to the gospel to work it in and live it out. That is why Martin Luther wrote, ‘The truth of the Gospel is the principle article of all Christian doctrine….Most necessary is it that we know this article well, teach it to others, and beat it into their heads continually.’”
Pray for me brother. I am so slow to learn this. But by God’s grace, I at least will have an example tomorrow.
Learning A to Z,
Joe
Gospel Growth
November 13, 2008 | 3 Comments
Keller’s The Prodigal God has been a great blessing to me Lar. I am sure you are not surprised to hear that I believe it should be required reading for every Christian. Anyhow, here are a few paragraphs that particularly stood out. Reminders are O so good!
“As we have seen, believing the gospel is how a person first makes a connection to God. It gives us a new relationship with God and a new identity. We must not think, however, that once believing it, the Christian is now finished with the gospel message. A fundamental insight of Martin Luther’s was that ‘religion’ is the default mode of the human heart. Your computer operates automatically in a default mode unless you deliberately tell it to do something else. So Luther says that even after you are converted by the gospel your heart will go back to operating on other principles unless you deliberately, repeatedly set it to gospel-mode.
We habitually and instinctively look to other things besides God and his grace as our justification, hope, significance, and security. We believe the gospel at one level, but at deeper levels we do not. Human approval, professional success, power and influence, family and clan identity–all of these things serve as our heart’s ‘functional trust’ rather than what Christ has done, and as a result we continue to be drive to a great degree by fear, anger, and a lack of self-control. You cannot change such things through mere will-power, through learning Biblical principles and trying to carry them out. We can only change permanently as we take the gospel more deeply into our understanding and into our hearts. We must feed on the gospel, as it were, digesting it and making it part of ourselves. That is how we grow.”
Finding Yourself
October 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment
“Your real, new self (which is Christ’s and also yours, and yours just because it is His) will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him. Does that sound strange? The same principle holds, you know, for more everyday matters. Even in social life you will never make a good impression on other people until you stop thinking about what sort of impression you are making. Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it. The principle runs through all life from top to bottom. Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it.”
- C.S. Lewis
In Pursuit of Shalom
October 23, 2008 | 3 Comments
Lar,
I think we have posted this quote two other times, but I am reading Plantinga’s Not the Way it is Supposed to Be, and therefore, cannot help but post it again.
“The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom. We call it peace, but it means far more than mere peace of mind or a cease-fire between enemies. In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight–a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Savior opens doors and welcomes the creatures in whom he delights. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.”
There is so much more to say, of course, but that is a wonderful summery and worthy of meditation. In fact, I think this book goes on my ‘must read’ list (even though I haven’t finished it). But the concept of Shalom is one that I believe every Christian should become intimately acquainted with. We need to talk like this. We need to ask ourselves: Am I contributing to the shalom of the city by the way in which I drive? Am I contributing to the shalom of my family by my attitude today? Am I seeking the shalom of my body by the way in which I eat? Am I contributing to the shalom of my workplace by the way in which I work?
In fact, I believe such talk should become commonplace in our homes. And I am aiming to do just that in mine. If Abigail is having a difficult time walking in immediate obedience, we will often ask her, “Are you contributing to the Shalom of the home today?” Essentially, are your attitudes and actions helping both yourself and others to flourish? She knows the concept well enough to answer appropriately. And so should we.
Such questions could be asked about every sphere of life. Because our actions in every sphere of life are important to every other sphere. A sound understanding of the way things ought to be is a powerful motivation to do all we can to make things as they ought to be by the power of the Spirit to the glory of God. I encourage you then brother, to make sure those under you in ministry understand well the concept of Shalom.
Seeking the well-being of the world (however imperfectly),
Joe
Well-Rounded People
October 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Lar,
I look forward to seeing a picture of the little Lazarus soon. Until then, here’s a quote I agree with from Leland Ryken’s Work and Leisure in Christian Perspective.
“One of the best tests of whether people are generously educated is what they do in their leisure time. One of the foremost obligations of education is to educate people for leisure, not simply in the sense of introducing them to recreational opportunities but in fostering well-rounded people who can enjoy excellence in a wide range of cultural activities.”
If that is the case (and I believe it is), I ask you: what sort of implications are involved for the Church? After all, the local Church is certainly involved in the education of its members. Indeed, if things are going as they ought to be, the local Church is highly involved in the education of its members. For adults in particular, the local Church might be the only real source of education for many.
Are local Churches doing a good job of educating their members, particularly when it comes to the topics of work and leisure? Ryken didn’t think so 20 years ago (when this book was written, though he has revised it). And I am inclined to think that we still are not being faithful in this regard today?
Longing for Christians to be excellent in their work and leisure,
Joe
Serving the Needs of Society
October 15, 2008 | 4 Comments
Lar,
First of all, I now have Internet at the house, so it is time for us to get back to some serious blogging. We have been slacking for far too long. 5-10 minutes per day is all that is necessary right? Along with some creativity of course. I am confident we can make that happen. Let’s do so again.
Secondly, I read the following in Leland Ryken’s Work and Leisure in Christian Perspective.
“…if a person’s work does not contribute to the needs of society, it is not fulfilling its God-intended purpose.”
I agree with that statement, but also find it to be a difficult one (and one that I have struggled with) because I can’t help but ask myself: As a professional basketball, what need of society am I contributing to? The need for diversion? For leisure? For entertainment? For play?
In the end, I am not exactly sure and would appreciate your thoughts. I don’t like the word ‘need’ but that is the one Ryken uses in his book, so let’s go with it. Is their a legitimate, societal need for professional athletics?
I look forward to your response and to some consistent blogging again.
Joe
Worth Repeating…Daily
October 4, 2008 | 1 Comment
“[Jesus] died for me; he made his righteousness mine and made my sin his own; and if he made my sin his own, then I do not have it, and I am free.”
- Martin Luther
The Prosperity of the Wicked
September 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Lar,
In The Art of Divine Contentment, Thomas Watson comments on the temptation to become discontent when faced with the prosperity of the wicked. His second argument against such discontentment reads,
“To see the wicked flourish is matter rather of pity than envy; it is all the heaven they must have; ‘woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation’ (Luke 6:24). Hence it was that David made it his solemn prayer, ‘deliver me from the wicked, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure (Psalm 17:15). The world (I believe) are David’s litany; from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, ‘good Lord, deliver me.’
When the wicked have eaten of their dainty dishes, there comes in a sad reckoning which will spoil all. The world is first musical and then tragical; if you would have a man fry and blaze in hell, let him have enough of the fat of the earth. O remember, for every sand of mercy that runs out of the wicked, God puts a drop of wrath into his vial!…
So I say, do you envy the wicked? alas their prosperity is like Haman’s banquet before execution. If a man were to be hanged, would one envy to see him walk to the gallows through pleasant fields and fine galleries, or to see him go up the ladder in clothes of gold? The wicked may flourish in their bravery a while; but when they flourish as the grass, ‘ it is, that they shall be destroyed for ever; (Psalm 92:7), the proud grass shall be mown down. Whatever a sinner enjoys, he hath a curse with it, (Mal. 2:2) and shall we envy? What if poisoned bread be given the dogs? The long furrows in the backs of the godly have a seed of blessing in them, when the table of the wicked becomes a snare, and their honour their halter.”
Strong words, huh? But good words. Encouraging and convicting words actually. It leads me to wonder how many preachers out there are speaking like this? Such boldness is needed…at least once in a while.
Thankful for strong words,
Joe
Discussion Starter
September 10, 2008 | 6 Comments
Joe,
If we can’t stir up at least a couple of comments on this quote, I’m not sure what will.
Give it a read and let me know what you think. The comments from JT’s blog are, as you would expect, diverse. I’d be interested to hear where other readers weigh in on these matters.
Larry
More Great Music from Sovereign Grace
August 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment
While I was at the Worship God ‘08 conference last week I bought Come Weary Saints, one of Sovereign Grace’s newest CD’s. I am really enjoying it, and particularly enjoy this song written by Mark Altrogge, called As Long as You are Glorified:
Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt
Refrain:
Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified
Are You good only when I prosper
And true only when I’m filled
Are You King only when I’m carefree
And God only when I’m well
You are good when I’m poor and needy
You are true when I’m parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You’re still God in the darkest night
What a wonderful expression of love for and trust in God’s good purposes in all things. Every time I listen to it, I find myself praying that God would make my heart really embrace what I am confessing.
You can listen to an audio clip of the song here.
Longing (and longing to long) for His will to be done in me,
Larry
God Did It, and God Does It
July 18, 2008 | 1 Comment
Here’s another quote from Noll’s Scandal of the Evangelical Mind:
“For a Christian, the mind is important because God is important. Who, after all, made the world of nature, and then made possible the development of sciences through which we find out more about nature? Who formed the universe of human interactions, and so provided the raw material of politics, economics, sociology and history? Who is the source of harmony, form, and narrative pattern, and so lies behind all artistic and literary possibilities? Who created the human mind in such a way that it could grasp the realities of nature, of human interactions, of beauty, and so made possible the theories on such matters by philosophers and psychologists? Who, moment by moment, sustains the natural world, the world of human interactions, and the harmonies of existence? Who, moment by moment, maintains the connections between what is in our minds and what is in the world beyond our minds? The answer in every case is the same. God did it, and God does it.”
The Church in Society
July 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment
I thought this quote from Harvie Conn was quite helpful in thinking through the Church’s role in the surrounding community:
“Perhaps the best analogy to describe all this is that of a model home. We are God’s demonstration community of the rule of Christ in the city. On a tract of earth’s land, purchased with the blood of Christ, Jesus the kingdom developer has begun building new housing. As a sample of what will be, he has erected a model home of what will eventually fill the urban neighborhood. He now invites the urban world into that model home to take a look at what will be. The church is the occupant of that model home, inviting neighbors into its open door to Christ. Evangelism is when the signs are up, saying ‘Come in and look around.’”
Anyone agree or disagree?
Citizenship
July 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Tim Keller, on Jeremiah 29:
Jesus lost the city that was, so that you and I could be citizens of the city that is to come, and that makes us salt and light in the city that is.
Praising the Rock of Ages
July 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
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