We might be seeing the first light of a post-secular dawn in Western Europe. See this story on “Holland’s Post-Secular Future” from the Weekly Standard.
What Will You Do When the Bulls Run?
Biblical illiteracy is rampaging through our culture like a bull through the streets of Pamplona. We won’t put a stop to it by fleeing, but by facing the beast and, though it trample us, standing our ground.
Maybe that’s a little extreme, since reading the Bible won’t necessarily be physically dangerous for you, but it is not desperate enough. The great challenge of our day is for Christians to be truly heroic, and true heroes live in reality. Part of being a hero is recognizing what is most important, and another part is acting in a manner that corresponds with that recognizing. We Christians must recognize that there are few things more important for us than reading and knowing the Bible, and we need to act heroically and read it! By reading the Bible, we can save the West. Think that’s an overstatement?
Our spiritual lives are sustained by the Word of God. The health of our churches is sustained by the spiritual life of its members. The future of Western Culture depends on the health of our churches.
Therefore, the future of Western Culture is directly linked to biblical literacy among Christians. Biblical literacy is directly linked to whether Christians stand and face the bull and read the Bible.
Can you put a stop to your hectic life long enough to change the world by reading the Bible every day this year?
There are handy tools available, such as the HCSB One Year Reading Bible:
Whatever fears you may have about doing it. Whatever reasons there may be for not doing it. However likely it may seem that the romping bull will indeed tread you under foot, or rather, hoof. I can promise you that it will be much, much worse if you do not stop running, face the beast, and read the Bible.
Be a hero. Save the west. Change the world. Read the Bible.
Two Sermons
My sermon on 1 Samuel 24 is here: David Mercies Saul.
And my sermon on 1 Samuel 25, hopefully better sound quality, is here: David, the Fool, and Abigail.
Great Christian Literature: P. D. James’s “The Children of Men”
Here is a book in which the birth of a male child signals hope for the whole world. The child is hunted by an evil ruler (remember Herod?), fathered by a man named Luke, Christened by a man named Theo (the Gospel of Luke is addressed to Theophilis), and born of a woman with a deformed hand. Hope comes through an unexpected, rejected mother. Soon after the child’s birth, rulers visit in wonder, almost reverent worship (not three magi from the east, but close). The birth of the helpless child brings an end to tyranny, a tyranny driven by hopelessness and despair.
Seeking a safe place to give birth, the mother is forced to flee the danger posed by the evil ruler. At one point her traveling party is imperiled and one member of the group is killed that the others might live. The mother says, “He died for me,” another lady in the traveling party answers, “He died for us all.”
This book is about real life. It is deeply Christian. We Christians should embrace the western literary tradition for what it is, our own preserve—a preserve of the great ideas that grow out of belief in God as he is revealed in the Bible.
I am grateful for Justin Taylor’s recent post on a movie based on this novel to be released Christmas day, and even more grateful to have read this book. Actually, I didn’t read it, I listened to it. I checked the book on tape out from the public library and listened to it while I folded clothes, raked leaves, did dishes. But it’s so good that I’ve ordered a copy to re-read and quote.
Much more could be said about the way that this volume explores the hopelessness and vanity of life without God. There were passages that made me want to be a better husband to my wife, a better father to my children, a better son to my parents. Read this book. Let it help you feel. Enjoy.
Baptism
I got a note from an old friend today asking if I had written anything on baptism. That prompted me to search my blog for the things I’ve written on Baptism, and I thought maybe others would be interested in these links as well:
Why Don’t Baptists Commune with Presbyterians?
Baptism, Church Membership, and “Together for the Gospel”
Baptism, Baptist History, and Church Membership
In these posts I link to some things others wrote or said:
The Future of Baptist Theology according to Timothy George
What Is Baptism and Is It Worth Dying For?
Ray Clendenen on B&H Academic
I’m very excited about the direction that B&H Academic is going, and I’m particularly grateful that they decided to start the series NAC Studies in Bible and Theology, the first volume of which is God’s Indwelling Presence (pictured on the right).
I commend to your attention an interview with Ray Clendenen on where B&H Academic is headed. The great commission sends us out to make disciples, teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded. Any Baptists interested in this task will be very encouraged by this interview!
HT: Tom Ascol
God Did Not Give David to Saul
My sermon on 1 Samuel 23 is online here.
David and the Priests
My sermon on 1 Samuel 21-22 is online here.
Jonathan Helps David Escape
My sermon on 1 Samuel 20 is online here.
The Hope of Our Calling: Rewards Promised by Jesus to Those Who Overcome
Paul prays for the Ephesians that they will have the eyes of their hearts enlightened to know the hope of their calling in Ephesians 1:18. It seems that God wants us to be motivated by the astonishing things promised to those who are called. So what awaits them, what is the hope of their calling? Here is a list of things Jesus promises to those who overcome in Revelation 2-3:
- The right to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God (Rev 2:7).
- To the one who is faithful unto death, the crown of life (Rev 2:10).
- Protection from the second death (Rev 2:11).
- The hidden manna and a white stone, with a new name written on it that no one knows except the one who receives it (Rev 2:17).
- Authority over the nations, ruling them with a rod of iron (Rev 2:26).
- Given the morning star by Jesus (Rev 2:28).
- Those who do not soil their garments will walk with Jesus in white (Rev 3:4).
- White garments, and a name never to be blotted out of the book of life, a name confessed by Jesus before the Father and his angels (Rev 3:5).
- Made a pillar in the temple of God by Jesus, never to go out, on whom the name of Jesus and the new Jerusalem, and Jesus’ own new name are written (Rev 3:12).
- Communing with Jesus (Rev 3:20)
- Sitting on the throne with Jesus, as Jesus sits with his Father on his throne (Rev 3:21).
Pastors Are Not Elders: An Egalitarian Suggestion?
The content of this post will, Lord willing, appear in the Spring 2008 issue of the Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. At the request of the editor, the post has been removed and will be re-posted once the journal has been out for 90 days.
Thanks for stopping by!
“Rejoice”, by Todd Twining
Far and away my favorite new Christmas song this year is on the Savior CD I was given this past week.
Here are the lyrics to the song “Rejoice” by Todd Twining:
All the earth rejoice
Your Creator reigns
As the only awesome God
The Alpha and the Omega
Who was, is, and is to come
Let the oceans roar and the mountains sing
He provides for all He has made
So be comforted as He rules with grace
Rejoice, all the earth, rejoice
All the world rejoice
For the baby comes
As a humble prince in the night
The Word made flesh, Emmanuel
The Everlasting Light
Let the warmth of heaven reach the coldest heart
With the gospel of His grace
For His heel will bruise the serpent’s head
Rejoice, all the world, rejoice
All the church rejoice
For your King returns
On a white horse wearing a crown
He will break the sky with the angel’s shout
Descending from the clouds
Then the dead will rise from the land and sea
All His people will ascend
We will reign with Him for eternity
Rejoice, all the church, rejoice
You can hear the first verse of the song here. You can download the lead sheet here, or if you just want the guitar chords, they’re here.
Is Saul Among the Prophets?
My sermon on 1 Samuel 19 is online here.
Overcoming Sin and Temptation: A Suggestion for Pastors
Kelly Kapic and Justin Taylor have blessed us with a new edition of John Owen’s three classic works on overcoming sin and temptation.
You can read the commendations here. For my part, I have a suggestion that I hope at least some pastors and ministers will take up.
I’ve said before that I think every seminary graduate should have read or be planning to read this book. It would also be beneficial for all church leaders to have read or be reading this book.
So here’s my suggestion: if you’re a pastor or ministry leader, how about grabbing a couple guys in your ministry and reading through this book together? You could give them the book for Christmas and ask them to give you the gift of walking through it with you (and arranging the meetings!).
Take it slow and soak up this rich truth. You don’t have to cram, and with a book like this you shouldn’t. If all you do is 20 pages a month, and if you don’t meet more than once a month, an exercise like this might be the means God uses to protect you and those with whom you minister from the ravages of sin waging war on our souls.
Reading this book won’t hurt your preaching, either.
We can thank Kapic and Taylor for their labor on our behalf, and we should take up this book and fight for our lives against sin and temptation by the power of the Spirit.
Prayer of the Month: Ephesians 1:16-19
ESV Ephesians 1:16-19
I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
I encourage you to use this prayer of Paul to guide your prayers for yourself and others this month. Enjoy! And may God make us warriors!
Blessed by a Well Known Brother
Because I don’t want to steal anybody’s reward, I’m not going to name the brother who blessed me. But I am going to tell this story and show you what he gave me, so his identity might not be hard to figure out. Actually, it’ll probably be obvious.
I got to sit down with Justin Taylor at ETS, and as we were making our way to a table to visit, we happened upon a well known pastor who has joined Together for the Gospel with some other well known people. As Justin introduced us, he mentioned that I had played baseball in college, which met with an enthusiastic reception. Many, many people, including myself, have been blessed by this brother’s ministry, but he went out of his way to thank me for the things I’ve written.
Then I received a note in the mail today, accompanied by these two CD’s:
and these three books:
I hear that this brother is well known for this kind of generosity—what a reputation! And I want to publicly praise God for him and his remarkable humility and concern for those under him in the Lord. May his tribe increase, may we all be so generous and humble, and may all the glory go to God.
These CD’s are spectacular, and I heartily commend them to you. The Cross Centered Life is one we should all pursue. Who doesn’t need Humility? And God will be honored as we strive to make our marriages a picture of the Gospel, a gladsome part of which is Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God. You will not regret buying and reading these books.
God’s Sovereign Providence
The Sunday before last Travis Cardwell preached a robust sermon on providence at Redeemer. You can download it here.
If you’re interested in knowing God and understanding the way that he preserves and governs all his creatures and all their actions, this sermon will repay being listened to over and over.
New Website for Redeemer!
Thanks to the efforts of my friend Chris Caldwell, Baptist Church of the Redeemer now has a new website. Check it out.
The Reverend Doctor Denny Burk would say something really cool here, like, “Shout out to my homie, Chris!” but I’ll just say “Well done, brother, and hearty thanks!”
The Church Militant and Her Warfare
ETS last week was a great experience. It was good to fellowship with old friends, spend more time with some new ones, and enjoy some stimulating presentations.
I presented a paper called “The Church Militant and Her Warfare: We Are Not Another Interest Group.” The gist is that the church is God’s tool for transforming culture, but in order to be used of God to “rule over the earth and subdue it,” i.e., carry out the great commission by proclaiming the Lordship of Christ to all nations, we must understand the nature of the new birth and we must practice church discipline.
I am more and more convinced that the folks at 9Marks are correct that the church is God’s program for evangelism and discipleship, and I agree with Russ Moore that the church is the manifestation of the Kingdom of God in our day. Here’s the paper if you’re interested: The Church Militant and Her Warfare: We Are Not Another Interest Group.
Five Marks of a Healthy Church
As I traveled last week I listened to a sermon preached by my friend and fellow elder, Travis Cardwell, called “Five Marks of a Healthy Church.” I was heartily encouraged by it and commend it to you. Enjoy!