Don’t Add On…
This poem by Blair is outstanding. The theology here is so correct and so beautiful. May our preachers in churches today listen carefully to what is said here. Please listen carefully….
“For I determined to know nothing among you except Christ Jesus and Him crucified.” - 1 Corinthians 2:2
Amen!
Jesus Christ & Him Crucified
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. - 1 Corinthians 2:2
The core of the Gospel is the absolute key to preaching, teaching & evangelism. Why has most of the American church forgotten this?
In this powerful verse of Scripture Paul explained to the church in Corinth that when he proclaimed the good news of the Gospel that he did not do so with oratorial skills and with the wisdom of man seeking to tickle the ears of the listeners. He proclaimed the truth of the Gospel and the amazing grace of Christ Jesus and Him crucified.
Too often today we see pastors, teachers and preachers who lean on their own persuasive speech, their marketing tactics or even cheap gimmicks to get people to either hear them or step foot into their local church. Anyone aspiring to be an evangelist (and frankly that is every Christian) needs to constantly remind themselves that what Paul says in this verse is tantamount to proper proclamation of the saving Gospel. We must not rest on our own abilities or charisma. We should rest completely on the power of the Holy Spirit and faithfully proclaim the full message of the Gospel - Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
May Christians boldly proclaim the full Gospel message of Jesus Christ - one of trusting faith and repentance in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus! What the visible church so desperately needs is a reformation and return to the Biblical glorious gospel of our Savior and King! Maranatha!
The Point
A story has been floating around the internet the last week or so about Azariah Southworth, the producer and host of a Christian music program called The Remix, who has announced that he is gay. While I don’t wish to discuss Mr. Southworth’s announcement, one of his comments gave me pause -
I know I will be cut off from many within the Christian community, and if so, then they didn’t get the point of the life of Christ. I believe by me living my life honestly and authentically now, I am able to be a better person and a better Christian.
So what is the point of the life of Christ? I would be curious to hear Mr. Southworth’s take on that statement though I am nearly sure it would make my head explode … and not in a good way. I think there is likely a great deal of confusion in the church in the 21st century as to what purpose Jesus had in coming, dying, and being raised from the dead, because rather than holding to the truth of the bible, we have allowed our message to become one that is man-centered rather than God-centered.
In today’s church, it is often about what God can do for me, what Jesus did for me, how the Holy Spirit can empower me and not about God. We are suddenly the center of the story and not God. It is about my sin, not God’s holiness. It is about keeping me out of Hell, not God’s wrath and His justice. It is about my need, not God’s love. So suddenly, we are teaching a self-centered gospel that is about us and we find that we are worshiping the idol of our own importance instead of glorying in the goodness, the righteousness, the holiness, the love of God our Father who sent His son, not so that we would make much of ourselves, but instead make much of God.
Inside the Cup and Platter
Though we may struggle to wrap our minds around the specifics of the regeneration and sanctification process of a man’s heart and life. We do know there are indicators that tell the story of the regenerate life. Such as eternal fruits or lack there of. I recently read a sermon by Spurgeon addressing the Baptismal Regeneration issue of his time and I came upon this phrase ipse dixit. Latin for “he himself said it”. He used this phrase in regards to the requirements for regeneration, mainly faith. Today, society would deem this statement to describe zero grounds to prove anything. Such as in the court of law: You have no proof other than a man’s word. I’ll provide the context of Spurgeon’s message:
This faith is spiritual in its nature and effects; it operates upon the entire man; it changes his heart, enlightens his judgement, and subdues his will; it subjects him to God’s supremacy, and makes him receive God’s Word as a little child, willing to receive the truth upon the ipse dixit of the divine One; it sanctifies his intellect, and makes him willing to be taught God’s Word; it cleanses within; it makes clean the inside of the cup and platter, and it beautifies without;
Spurgeon is addressing the issue of those who believe regeneration takes place at the moment of baptism as if the act of baptism produces regeneration. On the contrary Spurgeon clearly counters this false teaching and provides biblical grounds for regeneration. Faith, as the requisite to salvation. It is imperative for any transformation to take place. A faith that produces the attitude of ipse dixit towards the father. Such a faith that humbles the proud heart of any man. Spurgeon outlines that this faith is a gift of God. This believing consists of “an accrediting of the testimony of God about his son…and to confide in it” to let go of our own feelings and actions and to solely trust in Christ. To do so, produces in us such a faith that submits to anything the Father says. A transformed mind that has raised ears at anything He proclaims. “Creator, God said it. I’m listening. I’m obeying” How awesome is our God to humble the proud and reconcile himself to us in this way! This isn’t some, “Okay, I believe. Now I can get on with my life.” kind of thing. This is a radical change that produces in us a trust that doesn’t require anything other than the proclamation of God’s word to our hearts. Nothing outside of His word is needed.
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. - Romans 1:17-20
John McArthur on Human Depravity
With the amount of ear-tickling content to which believers today are exposed, it is refreshing to listen to the Word being preached well and with no apology. For this reason, I would commend to you a recent mp3 recording provided through Monergism.com of John McArthur speaking at the Together For The Gospel 2008 conference on the doctrine of absolute inability.
To many, the idea of listening to a 50 minute talk on how we are not only unable to do anything to please God but also unwilling to do so would seem a depressing, masochistic endeavor, but nothing could be further from the truth. To have our condition so clearly and biblically laid before you helps drive home once again the awesome love the Father has shown us in Christ and how our justification and sanctification are all of God and none of us. It helps focus our attention on salvation being a God-initiated act and spotlights the rampant error in many of our efforts to evangelize those around us through formulaic methods like repeated prayers. It also spurs us to pray for the lost and praise God for having moved in our lives to give us the faith to believe. McArthur points out that while this is not a popular doctrine, it is a wholly Christian doctrine and one that has been under-fire since the time of Augustine as men have sought to maintain their own inherent goodness.
Take some time and give this a listen - you will be glad you did.
The Emergent Problems of Rob Bell
Adam posted a great article on a book review concerning the typical demographic in America that runs like wildfire to the teaches of the emergent church. One of Rob Bell’s popular books, “Velvet Elvis” is nothing more than a theological mess and frankly should not be labeled Christian. Pastor Ken Silva, over at Apprising Ministries, has an excellent post entitled, “Rob Bell Makes Me Angry: A Pastoral Response to Velvet Elvis.”
Following along the lines of the book Adam reviewed, albeit probably a little more polemic (which in my opinion is needed), Silva gives an excellent response to Bell’s book “Velvet Elvis”. For example,
Rob Bell makes me mad because he downplays the vital role of conversion. In a horrible overreaction against professing Christians wrongly not being compassionate, Bell says “the most powerful things happen when the church surrenders its desire to convert people…” (p. 167). He then proceeds to establish a supporting argument that would surely set well with most anyone who is either ignorant of or ignoring what Jesus says in John 3—unless someone is converted, they will not see the light of day in the kingdom! Bell’s tactic is entirely unacceptable and irresponsible, but dare I say, fits with his mimicking the likes of the quintessential theological liberal Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969).
So, head on over to Apprising Ministry’s web site and read the full post. (And as Dr. Phillips recommends… if you own a copy of Velvet Elvis it’s a great idea to toss it in your trash can!)
Still Emerging?
At the conclusion of Chapel last week our President mentioned a book written by two guys who are not emergent and should be. Honestly, the emergent conversation has been the last thing on my mind, so I figured I’d get back in the game.
While I waited for a flight to the east coast I thought I would be able to catch a few chapters of this book, Why we’re not Emergent: By Two Guys Who Should be. The book’s cover is just as I would expect any smart marketing team would put together for an emergent title. Grungy graphics with an appeal for any “hip” 20 something, apple computing ministry leader. (yes, I’m a 20 something with a mac) As I cracked open the book, I found a very intriguing and honest introduction. Two guys who have every reason to be in the throws of the emergent movement (the look and age). Yet they are both reformed in their theology. One being a journalist and the other being a seminary grad and pastor.
I appreciate the two writers and their differences, both their insight and writing style. Kevin Deyoung, a pastor at University Reformed Church at East Lansing, Michigan offers a more theological and scholarly engagement while Ted Kluck, author and journalist offers an honest, conversational and cavalier observation. The two together make for a read that really kept my attention and turning the page. With insight into several of the current leaders many would point to as contributors of the emergent “conversation”, the book offers a critical look at key works by the key players and attempts to “nail the Jell-O to the wall”.
If you’re looking for an emergent bashing or shooting range. This might not be your book. Though many of the teachings of the movement are false as the authors point out. The book deals with the topic honestly and with a certain kind of care that seeks to critique “Christians as Christians”. Check it out if you’re into the emergent movement. I’m sure you’ll appreciate their contribution to the conversation.
The Decline of the Christian Bookstore
The April issue of Christianity Today has a cover story on the decline of the Christian bookstore. There are a number of articles describing the struggle of such businesses as large chain stores and Amazon.com sell many of the same titles at cheaper prices, how they are often seen by the younger generations as being staid and stuffy, and other issues. This is causing such businesses to close there doors as a huge rate and the articles suggest some ways that some of them have chosen to expand their appeal to the masses. It makes for interesting reading, but in some ways for what it doesn’t say, rather than what it does.
In my mind, one of the first things that has to be questioned is the core mission/purpose of a Christian bookstore - is it to make money or to glorify God? I know that those two things aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive, but sometimes to do one, the other would have to be sacrificed. Case in point, at least one national chain of Christian bookstores has decided to do business on Sunday. Their choice was obvious: stay closed in obedience of the principle of the Sabbath as given to us in the Word and lose sales to your secular competitors or open your doors for business and lose the witness to the community that God’s Word is more important than money. It makes you realize the struggles that Christians have in the world of business and why Christ told us that we can not love God and money.
The second question that comes to mind is what role does a Christian bookstore have in policing the titles that appear in their stores? By labeling themselves as “Christian,” I think there becomes an expectation by the person entering the store that what is in that store is God-honoring and can be trusted. Unfortunately, nothing could be farther from the truth! Rather like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, many of the most popular titles are filled with error, but because they were carried at a Christian bookstore, people have read them and adopted their teaching into their lives not even realizing that often times they were embracing a false gospel. While the store should be held accountable for what they carry, so should the believer be held accountable for testing what they read against the Word to insure that it lines up with the truth.
Ultimately, the decline of Christian bookstores as they exist now might not be a bad thing. When a Christian enters a secular bookstore looking for reading material, his or her radar is up and they realize that they are likely to be exposed to all types of writing from all viewpoints and are likely to be more discerning. Unfortunately, they may feel more relaxed and more confident that what they are browsing may be God-honoring when in a bookstore labeled Christian and this is often an error. So perhaps in some ways, the demise of something with a “Christian” label may in fact be a blessing.
Directions: Biblical Correction in Body of Christ
I travel overseas and tend to stay in the central business district of the particular city that I am working in. At least once per trip, I will be stopped on the street by some passer-by and asked “Do you know how to get to Circular Quay?” Or “Is this the way to David Jones (a department store)?” I have pretty much decided there are one of two reasons why this happens:
- I am the physically least threatening person on the street and therefore they suspect that it is pretty safe to inquire of me where to go, or
- I look like the kind of person that knows where I am going, even in a foreign city
It is really very easy to direct folks when they have come to the understanding that they are lost and need direction or guidance, but what about people who are clearly going the wrong way and haven’t yet realized it? Would it be as easy to stop them and turn them the right way?
I have on a couple of occasions felt moved to directly correct a fellow believer in Christ seeing that their actions don’t line up with what they say they believe, i.e. they are going the wrong way. On those occasions, I have been nervous about the situation because I am not a big person for confrontation and, yet believed that it was for the benefit of the person that I speak up. It is one of the things that we within the body are called to do for one another.
In these occasions I have used 2 Timothy 3:16-17 as a guide. In this passage, God tells us through Paul that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (ESV)
A couple of important points:
- The emphasis is on God’s Word and not my opinion. Taking the person to the Word and showing their error eliminates me from the conversation and makes the matter one of spiritual obedience. Mind you, it also requires me to be sure of what the whole council of Scripture says on the matter, before I approach them. This will also often bring a more funda
- The phrase “man of God” makes this something that can only happen between believers. I can’t tell you the number of times I have gotten frustrated by the actions of a person and wanted to go and confront them and then realized that because they were not a believer that the over-arching issue was one of salvation and their sin nature.
The other issue that I have found is key in such instances is that you have a relationship with that person first, so that your words come out as caring concern for the person. A few years back, I had a situation where I needed to approach a friend of mine about such an issue and our friendship has gotten stronger because I was willing to stop, express concern and call him to the biblical standard that I knew he knew but was not keeping.
ESV Study Bible
I was just on DesiringGod.org and noticed on their blog section that coming October of this year, Crossway will be publishing an ESV study Bible. Woohoo! Here we have a great translation with some great study notes by an editorial staff that includes Wayne Grudem and J.I. Packer. (Can’t go wrong with that!)
The ESV web site has all the information about this fantastic translation. I just wish we didn’t have to wait all the way until October to get our hands on this study Bible. (Hey Crossway - are you listening? We could write up a nice review for you for a few early copies! <grin>)
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