A Chalcedonian Poem by Edward Taylor

I am reading through Stephen Nichols’ book Jesus: Made in America.  I am very much enjoying it!  Nichols surveys the landscape of popular understandings of Jesus from the early American Puritans to Mel Gibson’s Passion of Christ. In his chapter on the Puritans he spends some energy on one particular puritan named Edward Taylor, who was a preacher for 58 years and a poet.  He wrote many poems on the mystery of the Incarnation and the union of the human and divine nature of the one Person of Christ.  Below is one that I found myself reading over and over:

In Essence two, in Properties each are

Unlike, as unlike can be.  One All-Might,

A Mite the other; One Imortall Fair:

One mortall, This all Glory, that all night:

One infinite, One finite.  So forever:

Yet ONED are in Person.  Part’d never.

 

Remembering the Gospel (1): Big Picture

“For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:19

At a very basic level, when God looks at the world he only sees two men.  Although these two men lived generations apart, God envisions the world, ultimately, only through them.  One man, Adam, lived before the face of God, yet rebelled against God’s command and a curse was laid upon him and his offspring.  The bad news is that everyone born after him, all of mankind, inherit this curse.  This curse, apart from a divine remedy, not only leads to sin, suffering, and death in this life, it also leads to eternal destruction and separation from God after it.

And yet we see Jesus.  He also lived before the face of God, yet he lived in perfect obedience and submission to the will of his Father.  The significance of the person of Jesus Christ, is that he not only lived a perfect life before the face of God, he also lived a perfect life as the divine Son of God.  So then, when he was crucified on the cross for sins, he was a perfect sacrifice for the sins of many – a perfect Mediator between God and man because he was both fully God and fully man.  The good news is that all who repent and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ can be saved from the curse of Adam and live in union with Christ, so that when God looks upon you he no longer sees the person of Adam and his curse, but Christ and his righteousness.  Praise God for his mercy and grace!

 

A Few Highlights from ETS

I spent the last week in New Orleans, LA at the Evangelical Theological Society meeting.  It is always nice to see old friends and meet new ones.  I did not spend a fortune on books, though I did make a short [wish] list.  Its always hard to be away from my family, especially now since we just recently had our third child.  I am thankful for a very faithful and loving wife.

Here are a few highlights from the meeting that I thought was worth sharing:

(1)  Al Mohler and John Piper were involved in a panel discussion on the “Common Word Between Us” effort to bridge Muslims and Evangelicals theologically.  Below is the audio:

• Muslim Perspectives on the Writing of “A Common Word”
• Christian Defenses of the Yale Response to “A Common Word”
• Q&A

(2)  Owen Strachen live-blogged Bruce Ware’s presidential address on the humanity of Christ.  Owen did a superb job.  I cannot imagine trying to live-blog an address like this.

(3)  Speaking of Owen Strachen, he also introduced me to Bible Mesh.  While many of you, like me, have probably seen this new teaching tool recently mentioned on  popular Christian blogs, I wanted emphasize the value of it.  I would encourage you to spend some time and explore their website.

 

JMBW Fall 2009

Below are the contents to the Fall 2009 JBMW from CBMW

Item Title	Author
Editorial	Denny Burk
Odds & Ends	JBMW
Sorry, President Carter … This Argument Falls Flat	R. Albert Mohler Jr.
You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby	Mary A. Kassian
Raising Girls to be Godly Women in a Confused and Conflicted Culture	Nina Fry
The Syntax of 1 Timothy 2:12: A Rejoinder to Philip B.Payne	Andreas J. Köstenberger
“Son of Man” or “Human Beings”?: Hebrews 2:5-9 and a Response to Craig Blomberg	Barry Joslin
The Means, Mandates, and Motivation for Biblical Womanhood (Titus 2:4-5)	Eric M. Shumacher
Whence Evangelical Feminism?: A Review of Pamela D. H. Cochran, Evangelical Feminism	Mark Rogers
Finally Unconvinced: A Review of John G. Stackhouse Jr., Finally Feminist	Robert E. Sagers
New Paradigms or Old Fissures?: A Review of Mark Husbands and Timoty Larsen, eds., Women, Ministry and the Gospel	Jared M. Compton
Where Faith and Life Meet: A Review of Carolyn McCulley, Radical Womanhood	Candi Finch
Costly Tolerance: A Review of R. Albert Mohler Jr., Desire and Deceit	Timothy Shaun Price
New Testament Theology and a Biblical View of Gender	Christopher W. Cowan
Annotated Bibliography for Gender-Related Books in 2008

 

Christian Thankfulness

Christian thankfulness is not primarily Well, at least I’m not as bad off as… or I need to thankful for what I have because there many who do not have what I have.  Christian thankfulness has a more significant level to it.  Mainly, a child of God has what he has free of charge.  Jeremiah Burroughs, in his Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, explains it like this (I will summarize):

A child of an inn-keeper has his diet, lodging, and anything else he needs provided.  A stranger comes and he, also, has his diet, lodging, and anything else needs provided.  The child of the inn-keeper may have a very plain meal, while the traveler feasts.  At the end, the child never pays for his provisions.  But, as for the traveler, there will be a reckoning for everything.  Burroughs writes, “Grace shows a man that what he has, he has free of cost, from God as from a father, and therefore it must needs be very sweet.”

The Christian may be thankful and content in what he has, even though he has very little.  For all that he has is free of cost, paid for by the purchase of Christ Jesus.

 

A Tempered View of Controversy

Working at CBMW I have been exposed to a fair bit of polemics – whether it be about women in ministry, the Trinity, or the meaning of certain terms in Scripture (like headship, authority, submission ,etc).  It is easy for one to get caught up in controversy.  Its energizing.  It puts purpose behind your efforts.  As a Christian, I can be thankful for historical controversies.  Our faith and understanding of Christ is furthered because of efforts of men who have thought deeply in order to guard against heresies.

But controversy can be consuming.

1. It can divert our attention away from feeding our souls on the more necessary things.  I do not want to diminish the importance of theological controversies.  I am thankful that men devoted their lives to defend the Trinity, justification, or the divinity of Christ.  Yet, many of these men kept the Gospel at the center.  They did not let controversy divert their attention away from their own increase in holiness, letting the love of Christ improve upon their hearts and lives.  We must be careful that our attention to controversies are fueled by the loved of Christ and the preservation of the Gospel.
2. Controversy has a tendency to fuel pride and the desire to be right.  The more we invest into whatever controversy we are involved in the more we have to lose.  Corrupt desires to be right can cause us to be dishonest in our writings, with others, and  even with ourselves.
3. We must guard against the tendency to lose our desire to love our brothers and sisters in the midst of controversy.  Dysfunctional desires to win arguments can cause us to misrepresent our opponents, create straw arguments, or paint opponents in an unfavorable light.

These are lamentable fruits of evil desires and contrary to the Gospel.  Keeping the fruits of the Spirt in mind when amidst controversy is helpful.  Ask questions like:

1. Am I acting with self-control?  Is something other than a redeemed heart and affections controlling my words and temper?
2. Do I desire to be right to such an extent that I am willing to put down or, even, hate others?
3. Am I patient with others, even when they are not with me?
4. Do I desire to continue in controversy more than I desire peace?

As Christians, we should be faithful to the Gospel and defend it whenever there is compromise.  We should be firm, steadfast, and courageous.  Yet, these are not contrary to the fruit of a redeemed heart.

 

What if a man, who had a sex change…

Classic Dr. Russell Moore:

 

Multi-Site Churches – Pragmaticism

Southern Seminary had their own panel discussion on the topic of multi-site churches, which has spawned much discussion and debate.  I do think clear and biblical arguments against multi-site campuses have been given, so I am not going to rehearse them.  You can read a few here:

John Meade

Thabiti Anyabwile (very pastoral)

I wanted, however, to make an observation.  It seems that many who argue for multi-site campuses and who argue, biblically, for the necessity of eldership in the local church speak out both sides of their mouths.  What I mean is this, an argument for eldership in the Church is based upon the regular practice of the NT church.  Throughout the NT, churches were governed in some way by male elders and they were given the task of shepherding the flock.  Since this was the normal way in which the apostles set up local churches, then it should be normative for churches today.  Many on the pro-multi-site church debate argue for biblical eldership this way, yet do not apply this same sort of reasoning to their understanding of how a local congregation should gather.  The normal way in which the NT church functioned was to “gather together” – since the meaning of the word Church in the NT is “gathering.”

At the end of the day, it seems like pragmatism.

 

CBMW’s Three Part Response to TIME Magazine

Here are all three parts of CBMW’s response, with myself, Denny Burk, and James Hamilton, to the TIME magazine article “The State of the American Woman.”

 

Seeing Your Savior – Counsel from the Cross

I mentioned earlier this week that I have begun reading Counsel from the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Dennis Johnson.  It has proved to be a very practical, gospel-guided book.  Chapter 2 is very helpful.  They point to 2 Cor. 3:18 as the main source of sanctification for the believer: “We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” along with 2 Cor. 4:6, “God has shone in our hearts the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.”  What Fitzpatrick and Johnson seek to answer is how might we see his face?  How are our hearts and minds informed and illumined by the gospel? They give four basic ways:

(1) In the Word Preached

“The Word of God, in particular, the gospel message, which is the integrating center of the whole Word of God, is the means that the Spirit uses to transform the hearts and minds of the elect.”

(2) In Baptism

Baptism is an ongoing sign to assure believers of the washing of their sins, our union with Christ in his death, and in our new resurrected  life.

(3) The Lord’s Supper

A sign to confirm our confidence in the Gospel.  ”We are seated with him, dining at his table, eating the meal that he paid dearly to purchase.”

(4) Fellowship with other Believers

“The Gospel of Jesus Christ – that we are all more sinful and flawed that we ever dared believe but more loved and welcomed that we ever dared hope – is meant to be lived out in relationship: each of us assuring, reminding, confronting, counseling, and listening to one another, praying for one another, and bearing one another’s burdens.  It’s here, within gospel-centered relationships, that the Spirit will reveal the Son to us.”

 

New England, the Gospel, and Church Planting

The Associated Press released an article Evangelists Target Spiritually Cold New England. It is an encouraging trend to see more and more evangelicals aiming at New England for church planting.  The statistics of unbelief in New England are daunting.  In Boston, MA only 2% attend an Evangelical church and many of those churches are closing.  The article is right in saying that many Christians now are calling New England a lost people group.  A large percentage of people not only did not grow up attending church but their parents and grandparents never attended church as well.

Chris Bass, pastor of the newly planted Redeemer Fellowship Church, and pastor Wes Pastor, president of NETS Institute for Church Planting were both mentioned in the article.  The ministries of Bass and Pastor are prayed for often by my family and local church.  In the dark and cold spiritual climate of New England these are two bright lights. May the Lord bless and increase their work of the Gospel!

 

John Calvin Painting by Phil Starke

My father, Phil Starke, sent me a very special gift in the mail yesterday.  He is an artist, professionally, and, also a reformed Christian.  He did his first painting of a Reformer or Church history figure and sent it to me as a gift.  This is a painting of John Calvin to commemorate his 500th birthday.  I wish I had a better camera to capture this image.  Its an amazing painting.  What a treasure for our household to cherish!

 

Counsel from the Cross

I’ve recently picked up Counsel from the Cross: Connecting Broken People to the Love of Christ by Elyse Pitzpatrick and Dennis Johnson.  I have enjoyed reading books and articles from both of these authors and I am excited to go through this book.

Paul Tripp writes about this book:

A triumph of a maturing biblical counseling movement. Elyse Fitzpatrick, a counselor with uncommon insight into common problems, teams with Dennis Johnson, a seminary professor with a firm fix on justification and the centrality of the gospel, to produce a cross-centered counseling tool. Expect to find the refreshing intersection of the liberating truth of the cross and the power of the gospel to move counselees and impart hope. This book is a major contribution not only to biblical counseling but also to the person in the pew.

 

Jim Hamilton and Denny Burk Respond to Feminism in America

I got to sit down with Jim Hamilton and Denny Burk to discuss the recent TIME article “The State of the American Woman.”  Here is part 1.

Here is the entire conversation:

CBMW Responds to TIME (Full Version) from CBMW on Vimeo.

 

Reformation Day – What Do You Do?

This is sort of a unique year for Reformation Day, since it is Calvin’s 500th birthday.  Here are some suggestions as to what you can do to commemorate Reformation Day and Calvin’s birthday:

As a family:

Read John Calvin (Christian Biographies for Young Readers) by Simonetta Carr.

Read Reformation Heroes by Joel Beeke

Reformation Heroes is not a children’s book. It is an attractive, “coffee table” style illustrated guide to the great names of Reformation history. However, many parents will find it a useful tool for bringing the stories of these heroes into the hearts and minds of their own children.

Watch Luther

Great biographical movie on Martin Luther based very closely upon the biography Here I Stand by Roland Bainton.

Listen to Martin Luther’s famous speech Here I Stand at the Diet of Worms read by Max McLean for free until November 1.

By yourself

Read Douglas Bond’s historical novel on the life of John Calvin The Betrayal.

Read a new (there are lots this year) or old biography of John Calvin.  Here are a few suggestions:

New

John Calvin: a Pilgrim’s Life by Herman Selderhuis – This is actually the one new biography I have read.  It is different than any other biography I have seen.  Its reads like a discussion throughout, not an academic biography.  Its enjoyable and I recommend it.

Calvin by Bruce Gordon – I have not read it, but I have heard it is the new standard.

Old

John Calvin: a Biography by T. H. L. Parker – This is my favorite biography on Calvin.

Happy Reformation Day!

 

Sinclair Ferguson’s New Children’s Book

One of my favorite children’s book is Sinclair Ferguson’s Big Book of Questions and Answers About Jesus. Now he has a new children’s book entitled The Plan: How God Got the World Ready for Jesus. This book looks fantastic!  You can Preview the PDF.

Here is the Publisher’s description:

Publisher’s Description: Before the dawn of time a plan was made… a plan to save and a plan to love, a plan to rescue and a plan to send. One after the other people were sent to be where they were needed to be.

In the distance wise men ride camels through the desert. A star glimmers in the night sky. They have a long way to go and many months of travel ahead of them.

Some shepherds stand guard over their flock of sheep as a young couple struggle the last few miles of a tiring journey desperate for shelter and a place to sleep.

All have been sent to one place for one event that will change the world forever. The one and only saviour of the world will be born that night in a stable, in a little country called Israel in a little town called Bethlehem.

The key part of the plan is a baby and His name will be Jesus for he will save his people from their sins.

 

Richard Baxter and the Christian Man

It still amazes me how practical the Puritans were.  Chief among them in practicality was Richard Baxter.  I wrote earlier last week on Richard Baxter and redeeming the time in his book Christian Directory.  Still reading further, Baxter comments on “The Special Duties of Husbands to Their Wives.”  His chief concern for men when leading a home is that they be fit for the task.  He writes, “He must labor to be fit and able for the government (leadership role) which he undertaketh.”

Striving to be godly and sanctified is the labor he describes.  Baxter writes, “An ungodly or irreligious man is both a stranger and enemy to the design of God for the Christian home.”  Men who desire to be married and lead their families should labor to fit themselves for the task.

May God give us strength to resist sin, lead our families to glorify God, and treasure his Gospel.

 

The Devotional Christian

Recently, I have been contributing to the Devotional Christian.

Below are some posts that I have submitted:

The Gospel Sustains and Strengthens for Real Life

Christian, Consider Jesus

God Will Keep You from Stumbling

 

Carl Trueman on the Life and Thought of J. I. Packer

I have been deeply impacted by the writings of J. I. Packer and, more and more, am influence by Carl Trueman.  Trueman gives an interesting 5-minute video explanation of how Packer has influenced him and the modern evangelical Church.

 

If You Printed the Internet…