I am reading through Dever's "The Message of the Old Testament" and came across this powerful quote:
"Sin looks good only in the dark. It looks best when it is barely considered, quickly indulged, and never reflected upon. So bring it into the light of thought, reflection, prayer, and especially of God's Word."
How true!
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
2007 Conferences
National Conferences
February 16-19 - Resolved (Long Beach, CA) is a ministry of Grace Community Church and targets primarily College-age students and young adult Christians. Keynote speakers at this year's conference include John MacArthur, John Piper, C.J. Mahaney, Rick Holland and Steve Lawson.
March 7-11 - The Shepherd's Conference (Sun Valley, CA) is a ministry of Grace Community Church. It is geared towards pastors and includes both general sessions and seminars. General session speakers include John MacArthur, John Piper, Steve Lawson, Albert Mohler, Ligon Duncan and Mark Dever. Seminars are led by pastors and elders of Grace Community Church and professors from The Master's College and Seminary.
March 15-17 - Contending for the Truth - Ligonier Ministries National Conference (Orlando, FL) is the national conference for Ligonier Ministries. This year's speakers will be John MacArthur, Albert Mohler, John Piper, R.C. Sproul and Ravi Zacharias. R.C. Sproul Jr. will be a special guest. This conference is targeted at a general audience.
May 7-9 - The Basics (Pastor's Conference) (Cleveland, OH) is a ministry of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio and is targeted at pastors. The list of keynote speakers includes Alistair Begg and others.
May 26-29 - New Attitude (Louisville, KY) is the annual conference of New Attitude. This year's theme has yet to be announced. The primary audience for this conference is single young adults. Featured speakers include John Piper and Josh Harris. Further well-known speakers will be announced in the near future. The conference includes both general sessions and seminars.
June 26-29 - Southern Baptist Founders Conference (Owasso, OK) is a ministry of Founders Ministries and is targeted towards a general audience. This year's theme is "God's Truth Abideth Still: Confronting Post-Modernism."
October 2007 - Desiring God National Conference (Minneapolis, MN) is the annual national conference of Desiring God. At this time details have not been released.
Fall/Winter 2007 - Alpha & Omega Conference is a ministry of Alpha & Omega Ministries. It is targeted towards a general audience. It typically features a debate involving James White as well as sessions led by Dr. White and other keynote speakers.
Regional Conferences
Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology (Sacramento, CA) is a ministry of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals and is intended for a general audience. Speakers includes Donald Carson, Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, Albert Mohler, Richard Phillips, Philip Ryken and R. C. Sproul. The conference is held four times: Sacramento, CA March 2-4, 2007; Jackson, MS March 23-25, 2007; Grand Rapids, MI April 20-22, 2007; and Philadelphia, PA April 27-29, 2007.
February 16-19 - Resolved (Long Beach, CA) is a ministry of Grace Community Church and targets primarily College-age students and young adult Christians. Keynote speakers at this year's conference include John MacArthur, John Piper, C.J. Mahaney, Rick Holland and Steve Lawson.
March 7-11 - The Shepherd's Conference (Sun Valley, CA) is a ministry of Grace Community Church. It is geared towards pastors and includes both general sessions and seminars. General session speakers include John MacArthur, John Piper, Steve Lawson, Albert Mohler, Ligon Duncan and Mark Dever. Seminars are led by pastors and elders of Grace Community Church and professors from The Master's College and Seminary.
March 15-17 - Contending for the Truth - Ligonier Ministries National Conference (Orlando, FL) is the national conference for Ligonier Ministries. This year's speakers will be John MacArthur, Albert Mohler, John Piper, R.C. Sproul and Ravi Zacharias. R.C. Sproul Jr. will be a special guest. This conference is targeted at a general audience.
May 7-9 - The Basics (Pastor's Conference) (Cleveland, OH) is a ministry of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio and is targeted at pastors. The list of keynote speakers includes Alistair Begg and others.
May 26-29 - New Attitude (Louisville, KY) is the annual conference of New Attitude. This year's theme has yet to be announced. The primary audience for this conference is single young adults. Featured speakers include John Piper and Josh Harris. Further well-known speakers will be announced in the near future. The conference includes both general sessions and seminars.
June 26-29 - Southern Baptist Founders Conference (Owasso, OK) is a ministry of Founders Ministries and is targeted towards a general audience. This year's theme is "God's Truth Abideth Still: Confronting Post-Modernism."
October 2007 - Desiring God National Conference (Minneapolis, MN) is the annual national conference of Desiring God. At this time details have not been released.
Fall/Winter 2007 - Alpha & Omega Conference is a ministry of Alpha & Omega Ministries. It is targeted towards a general audience. It typically features a debate involving James White as well as sessions led by Dr. White and other keynote speakers.
Regional Conferences
Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology (Sacramento, CA) is a ministry of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals and is intended for a general audience. Speakers includes Donald Carson, Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, Albert Mohler, Richard Phillips, Philip Ryken and R. C. Sproul. The conference is held four times: Sacramento, CA March 2-4, 2007; Jackson, MS March 23-25, 2007; Grand Rapids, MI April 20-22, 2007; and Philadelphia, PA April 27-29, 2007.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
The "It's not for me to say" dodge (by Dan Phillips)
(check out teampyroblogspot.com)
Billy Graham.
N.T. Wright.
What do they have in common?
"Not much," you'd think. Okay, they both talk funny. But that's it.
Popular conceptions have the former as the straight-shooting, simple "The Bible says" evangelist, and the latter as the sophisticated, well-spoken, ultra-scholarly academic clergyman.
Well, here's something "Rev. Graham said in a recent Newsweek interview with Jon Meacham:
A unifying theme of Graham's new thinking is humility. He is sure and certain of his faith in Jesus as the way to salvation. When asked whether he believes heaven will be closed to good Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus or secular people, though, Graham says: "Those are decisions only the Lord will make. It would be foolish for me to speculate on who will be there and who won't ... I don't want to speculate about all that. I believe the love of God is absolute. He said he gave his son for the whole world, and I think he loves everybody regardless of what label they have."
Nor is this the only time Graham has expressed such notions—and worse. Now here's something Right Hon. "Rev." Dr. Wright said in an interview:
Q So we won't all be saved?
A According to the New Testament there is a real possibility…
Q No according to you … I want you to tell me.
A … I'm sorry - I'm a Christian theologian - therefore the New Testament is where I must start. And yes I'm affirming this. That there is a real possibility of loss but just at the point where we think the New Testament is going to say 'Bang - there it is. We're going to tell you who's in, who's out,' there are hints and vague suggestions, that actually yes, there will be those who will look God in the face and say 'Sorry that's not for me and I'm going to go the other way,' and that God will ratify that decision, because we are human beings with the dignity of making those decisions - that there are many others who are being drawn towards the light, many others who are being wooed into the love of God. And that it's not up to me to say exactly where that line is drawn on a page. I do believe that there is a real possibility and actuality of final loss, but that immortality is this strange, new gift. It's not that, as Plato said, we've all got an immortal soul and we're all just going to carry on. No, that's not the Christian belief. The Christian belief is that God promises this as a fresh gift to be received gratefully....
At this point, everyone knows what I'm going to say. Right? Some are already really angry about it, and already know how they're going to blister the comments section. Well, don't be so sure.
Both of the interviews contain other statements by both men that range from good to very good. And I don't, by these two interview, judge the entire ministry or career of either men. (Though, candidly, it's awfully hard to have read Iain Murray's excellent but depressing Evangelicalism Divided and not see Graham's remarks as further points along a decades-long path. But I digress.)
And do I object to either man saying "I can't guess every aspect of God's judgment in every case"—if that's what they're saying? Absolutely not. I've often said, and with great sincerity, that I couldn't be happier that those decisions are not mine to make. I couldn't be happier that they are God's provenance alone (Psalm 50:6; John 5:22).
Here's my problem: it's the "It's not for me to say" dodge. What's that? It's where someone asks you point-blank—
· "So if someone lives a good life, gives to charity, and never hurts a fly—will he go to Hell forever when he dies, just because he didn't believe in Jesus?"
· "So what about good, moral Jews, or Moslems, or Buddhists, who live good lives, are just and kind and loving—they go to Hell if they're not Christians?"
· "So what about folks who never hear the Gospel, but they're not like headhunters or rapists. They go to Hell forever?"
· "My mother wasn't a Christian, but she was a really good mother and loved me. Is she in Hell?"
Maybe they're sincere questions. Maybe they're trick-questions. Often they're trick-questions, feints, ploys. The questioner thinks it's a slam-dunk damning question, guar-on-teed to make you and your whole Jesus-thing look foolish and mean and stupid. He can't even imagine you giving him a straight-up answer. And you feel the pressure. You know how you'll look and sound if you fall into his trap. So... you have the temptation to hedge. You have the urge to just wiggle a little, just apply an itty-bitty touch of verbal lubricant, and slip the noose you think is hanging in front of you.
Now, one would hope that if someone has put himself forward, and thrust himself into the spotlight as a spokesman for Christianity—as, say, Billy Graham, and N. T. Wright, and Joel Osteen, and T. D. Jakes have done—one would hope, I say, that they'd be ready not to dodge the hard ones.
But it sure looks to me like Graham and Wright have given in to the temptation. They punted, where God spoke plainly. Billy Graham certainly gave his interviewer that impression. Here's what Meacham writes, in hardy praise of Billy Graham:
But more recent years have given him something he had little of in his decades of global evangelism: time to think both more deeply and more broadly. As he has grown older, Graham has come to an appreciation of complexity and a gentleness of spirit that sets him apart from many other high-profile figures in America's popular religious milieu—including, judging from their public remarks, his own son Franklin Graham, and men such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.
Others relish the battlefield; Graham now prizes peace. He is a man of unwavering faith who refuses to be judgmental; a steady social conservative in private who actually does hate the sin but loves the sinner; a resolute Christian who declines to render absolute verdicts about who will get into heaven and who will not....
You give answers like this because you want to be liked. You want to be everybody's friend. You want to be admired by all. You don't want to be mocked and scorned. You want to be well-thought-of. By men. And you've forgotten how deadly that motivation is (Proverbs 29:25; Luke 6:26; James 4:4). My sputtering readers are still sputtering. "So... so what are you saying?! You're ready to say who's going to Heaven, and who's going to Hell?"
Well—of course I am. Aren't you?
In fact, I'm not just "ready"—I'm obliged. At worst, it would be craven, rebellious, cowering unbelief to know my Lord's standard of judgment, and not to affirm it.
Beyond that, it would be loveless, and would paint me with the blood of my hearers, whose admiration and applause I would win at the cost of their souls (Proverbs 24:11-12; Ezekiel 3:18; 33:8; Acts 20:26-27).
Now, I'm not ready nor able to read off a list of names, and I'm not prepared to predict the end of every specific circumstance. But here is what I am ready to do:
I'm ready to tell my questioner that all—all natural-born sons of Adam, without exception—have sinned, fall short of the glory of God, are without excuse, and can justly demand nothing of God but His eternal wrath and the fires of Hell (Romans 1:20; 3:9-20, 23).
I'm ready to tell my questioner that, whatever excuse he may try to apply to a tribesman who never hears the Gospel, it will not work for him, nor anyone else within hearing (Matthew 11:22, 24; Luke 12:47; John 15:22).
I am ready to tell my questioner that the only hope God holds out is personal, conscious faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), through faith in whom alone we can find forgiveness and reconciliation to God by grace alone (Ephesians 2:4ff.).
I am ready to tell my questioner that his hearing of the word of the Gospel from me serves to heighten his guilt before God if he rejects it, if he refuses to repent and believe in Christ (Luke 12:47; John 3:36; 12:48; Romans 2:4-5).
I am ready to tell my questioner that what the Bible says, it isn't saying to the other guy; it's saying it to him, and to me —and besides, he won't do the other guy any good by going to Hell with him.
No, it isn't for me to say—but it is for God to say, and it is for me to affirm what He has said, boldly and plainly.
And honestly: suppose I ever get too sophisticated, or too educated, or too popular (bwahhhh hahahaha), or too feeble to be willing to say that much, just that plainly. In that case, please, someone—gently, firmly, love God, and love souls, and love me enough tell me to stop talking where people can hear me. Give me something else to do, where I won't obscure the Gospel issues, and bring damage to the cause of Christ.
Billy Graham.
N.T. Wright.
What do they have in common?
"Not much," you'd think. Okay, they both talk funny. But that's it.
Popular conceptions have the former as the straight-shooting, simple "The Bible says" evangelist, and the latter as the sophisticated, well-spoken, ultra-scholarly academic clergyman.
Well, here's something "Rev. Graham said in a recent Newsweek interview with Jon Meacham:
A unifying theme of Graham's new thinking is humility. He is sure and certain of his faith in Jesus as the way to salvation. When asked whether he believes heaven will be closed to good Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus or secular people, though, Graham says: "Those are decisions only the Lord will make. It would be foolish for me to speculate on who will be there and who won't ... I don't want to speculate about all that. I believe the love of God is absolute. He said he gave his son for the whole world, and I think he loves everybody regardless of what label they have."
Nor is this the only time Graham has expressed such notions—and worse. Now here's something Right Hon. "Rev." Dr. Wright said in an interview:
Q So we won't all be saved?
A According to the New Testament there is a real possibility…
Q No according to you … I want you to tell me.
A … I'm sorry - I'm a Christian theologian - therefore the New Testament is where I must start. And yes I'm affirming this. That there is a real possibility of loss but just at the point where we think the New Testament is going to say 'Bang - there it is. We're going to tell you who's in, who's out,' there are hints and vague suggestions, that actually yes, there will be those who will look God in the face and say 'Sorry that's not for me and I'm going to go the other way,' and that God will ratify that decision, because we are human beings with the dignity of making those decisions - that there are many others who are being drawn towards the light, many others who are being wooed into the love of God. And that it's not up to me to say exactly where that line is drawn on a page. I do believe that there is a real possibility and actuality of final loss, but that immortality is this strange, new gift. It's not that, as Plato said, we've all got an immortal soul and we're all just going to carry on. No, that's not the Christian belief. The Christian belief is that God promises this as a fresh gift to be received gratefully....
At this point, everyone knows what I'm going to say. Right? Some are already really angry about it, and already know how they're going to blister the comments section. Well, don't be so sure.
Both of the interviews contain other statements by both men that range from good to very good. And I don't, by these two interview, judge the entire ministry or career of either men. (Though, candidly, it's awfully hard to have read Iain Murray's excellent but depressing Evangelicalism Divided and not see Graham's remarks as further points along a decades-long path. But I digress.)
And do I object to either man saying "I can't guess every aspect of God's judgment in every case"—if that's what they're saying? Absolutely not. I've often said, and with great sincerity, that I couldn't be happier that those decisions are not mine to make. I couldn't be happier that they are God's provenance alone (Psalm 50:6; John 5:22).
Here's my problem: it's the "It's not for me to say" dodge. What's that? It's where someone asks you point-blank—
· "So if someone lives a good life, gives to charity, and never hurts a fly—will he go to Hell forever when he dies, just because he didn't believe in Jesus?"
· "So what about good, moral Jews, or Moslems, or Buddhists, who live good lives, are just and kind and loving—they go to Hell if they're not Christians?"
· "So what about folks who never hear the Gospel, but they're not like headhunters or rapists. They go to Hell forever?"
· "My mother wasn't a Christian, but she was a really good mother and loved me. Is she in Hell?"
Maybe they're sincere questions. Maybe they're trick-questions. Often they're trick-questions, feints, ploys. The questioner thinks it's a slam-dunk damning question, guar-on-teed to make you and your whole Jesus-thing look foolish and mean and stupid. He can't even imagine you giving him a straight-up answer. And you feel the pressure. You know how you'll look and sound if you fall into his trap. So... you have the temptation to hedge. You have the urge to just wiggle a little, just apply an itty-bitty touch of verbal lubricant, and slip the noose you think is hanging in front of you.
Now, one would hope that if someone has put himself forward, and thrust himself into the spotlight as a spokesman for Christianity—as, say, Billy Graham, and N. T. Wright, and Joel Osteen, and T. D. Jakes have done—one would hope, I say, that they'd be ready not to dodge the hard ones.
But it sure looks to me like Graham and Wright have given in to the temptation. They punted, where God spoke plainly. Billy Graham certainly gave his interviewer that impression. Here's what Meacham writes, in hardy praise of Billy Graham:
But more recent years have given him something he had little of in his decades of global evangelism: time to think both more deeply and more broadly. As he has grown older, Graham has come to an appreciation of complexity and a gentleness of spirit that sets him apart from many other high-profile figures in America's popular religious milieu—including, judging from their public remarks, his own son Franklin Graham, and men such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.
Others relish the battlefield; Graham now prizes peace. He is a man of unwavering faith who refuses to be judgmental; a steady social conservative in private who actually does hate the sin but loves the sinner; a resolute Christian who declines to render absolute verdicts about who will get into heaven and who will not....
You give answers like this because you want to be liked. You want to be everybody's friend. You want to be admired by all. You don't want to be mocked and scorned. You want to be well-thought-of. By men. And you've forgotten how deadly that motivation is (Proverbs 29:25; Luke 6:26; James 4:4). My sputtering readers are still sputtering. "So... so what are you saying?! You're ready to say who's going to Heaven, and who's going to Hell?"
Well—of course I am. Aren't you?
In fact, I'm not just "ready"—I'm obliged. At worst, it would be craven, rebellious, cowering unbelief to know my Lord's standard of judgment, and not to affirm it.
Beyond that, it would be loveless, and would paint me with the blood of my hearers, whose admiration and applause I would win at the cost of their souls (Proverbs 24:11-12; Ezekiel 3:18; 33:8; Acts 20:26-27).
Now, I'm not ready nor able to read off a list of names, and I'm not prepared to predict the end of every specific circumstance. But here is what I am ready to do:
I'm ready to tell my questioner that all—all natural-born sons of Adam, without exception—have sinned, fall short of the glory of God, are without excuse, and can justly demand nothing of God but His eternal wrath and the fires of Hell (Romans 1:20; 3:9-20, 23).
I'm ready to tell my questioner that, whatever excuse he may try to apply to a tribesman who never hears the Gospel, it will not work for him, nor anyone else within hearing (Matthew 11:22, 24; Luke 12:47; John 15:22).
I am ready to tell my questioner that the only hope God holds out is personal, conscious faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), through faith in whom alone we can find forgiveness and reconciliation to God by grace alone (Ephesians 2:4ff.).
I am ready to tell my questioner that his hearing of the word of the Gospel from me serves to heighten his guilt before God if he rejects it, if he refuses to repent and believe in Christ (Luke 12:47; John 3:36; 12:48; Romans 2:4-5).
I am ready to tell my questioner that what the Bible says, it isn't saying to the other guy; it's saying it to him, and to me —and besides, he won't do the other guy any good by going to Hell with him.
No, it isn't for me to say—but it is for God to say, and it is for me to affirm what He has said, boldly and plainly.
And honestly: suppose I ever get too sophisticated, or too educated, or too popular (bwahhhh hahahaha), or too feeble to be willing to say that much, just that plainly. In that case, please, someone—gently, firmly, love God, and love souls, and love me enough tell me to stop talking where people can hear me. Give me something else to do, where I won't obscure the Gospel issues, and bring damage to the cause of Christ.
You know you are NOT reformed if....
I ran across this today at http://jollyblogger.typepad.com/jollyblogger/2006/08/riddleblog_the_.html
You know you are not Reformed if
. . . you think the Apostles Creed is the guy who fought Rocky in Rocky I.
. . . you think the Canons of Dort are like the Guns of Navarrone.
. . . you think Ursinus is a nasal condition.
. . . you think Arminians are the people who run convenience stores.
. . . you think the Belgic Confession was from WWII war crimes trials.
. . . you think “popery” in the church makes it smell flowery.
. . . you think the psalter goes with the pepper shaker.
. . . you think unconditional election is a practice of communist dictatorships.
. . . the only “kirk” you know is from Star Trek.
. . . you think the Three Forms of Unity are health, wealth, and happiness.
. . . you think “catechism” and “dogma” relate to pets.
. . . you think Post Tenebras Lux is a breakfast cereal (it’s actually the motto of post-Reformation Geneva).
BY: Kim Riddlebarger
You know you are not Reformed if
. . . you think the Apostles Creed is the guy who fought Rocky in Rocky I.
. . . you think the Canons of Dort are like the Guns of Navarrone.
. . . you think Ursinus is a nasal condition.
. . . you think Arminians are the people who run convenience stores.
. . . you think the Belgic Confession was from WWII war crimes trials.
. . . you think “popery” in the church makes it smell flowery.
. . . you think the psalter goes with the pepper shaker.
. . . you think unconditional election is a practice of communist dictatorships.
. . . the only “kirk” you know is from Star Trek.
. . . you think the Three Forms of Unity are health, wealth, and happiness.
. . . you think “catechism” and “dogma” relate to pets.
. . . you think Post Tenebras Lux is a breakfast cereal (it’s actually the motto of post-Reformation Geneva).
BY: Kim Riddlebarger
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Encouragement from an unlikely source
Mark Driscoll recently wrote, "By way of preface, I will simply say to all the young preachers that preaching is like driving a clutch; it takes a long time to do well if you live through the practice. In high school I was the student body president who did a lot of public speaking to large groups. In college I got my B.A. in Speech, and following college I spent some years as a co-host for a national radio show while also teaching a college group twice weekly in a multi-ethnic church. So, I began Mars Hill Church ten years ago at the age of twenty-five thinking I could step in and preach just fine, only to discover that it was the hardest thing I had ever done. The difficulty of coming up with fresh insights combined with the difficulty of finding my own voice and speaking with clarity, candor, and confidence, not to mention some comedy, took hundreds of sermons to even begin to overcome regularly."
Though the "cussing preacher" is not my role-model for ministry (or preaching) he does offer some insightful thoughts in his most recent blog.
Seeing i have preached fewer than 15 sermons in my life combined with the fact that he said he takes lots of practice and hundreds of sermons before you really get comfortable in the pulpit is definitely a source of encouragment to me.
Though the "cussing preacher" is not my role-model for ministry (or preaching) he does offer some insightful thoughts in his most recent blog.
Seeing i have preached fewer than 15 sermons in my life combined with the fact that he said he takes lots of practice and hundreds of sermons before you really get comfortable in the pulpit is definitely a source of encouragment to me.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Why I love the Dr. (PT 3).
Iain Murray knew Lloyd-Jones very well (they met in the early 1950’s). Murray wrote a wonderful two-volume biography on the good Dr shortly after his death. Murray wrote the following about Pastor Lloyd-Jones; “A lion in the pulpit, he was a lamb out of it, easily approached by anyone, and he must have spent as much time helping individuals as he did in his pulpit ministry.” This is the balance all pastors wish to have. One can be viewed as a lion while preaching God’s Word but as a gentle lamb when counseling, visiting, or discipling.
Murray noted, “Any moderation of fundamental truth in order to gain influence was anathema to him. Here he was stern and unbending. Yet he stressed love as an imperative for all witness, and on secondary issues no one was a stronger believer in the need for Christian unity.” As a pastor’s church grows larger the temptation to compromise grows as well. Mega-churches in my surrounding area (Faith Baptist and College Park) by God’s grace, MUST resist this subtle temptation.
Murray finally adds, “Lloyd-Jones was a Calvinist not simply in belief but through and through. He saw man-centeredness…as the root of modern evangelical weakness.” Nothing humbles man more than a healthy dose of biblical preaching (which of course will include the doctrines of grace).
Maurice Roberts said this of the Dr. “There was an authority in his words and in his whole bearing. It was a combination of both natural and spiritual gifts, blended into sanctified and deeply humble life.” Humility is difficult enough when you’re an oridinary Joe like me. Roberts added, “He was Reformed and also had a passion for the salvation of sinners. He was intensely intellectual and theological but also possessed a burning soul, aflame with the urgency of the gospel of Christ.” Lloyd-Jones’ biblical understanding of divine sovereignty drove him to be a soul-winner (like Spurgeon and Whitefield before him).
Murray noted, “Any moderation of fundamental truth in order to gain influence was anathema to him. Here he was stern and unbending. Yet he stressed love as an imperative for all witness, and on secondary issues no one was a stronger believer in the need for Christian unity.” As a pastor’s church grows larger the temptation to compromise grows as well. Mega-churches in my surrounding area (Faith Baptist and College Park) by God’s grace, MUST resist this subtle temptation.
Murray finally adds, “Lloyd-Jones was a Calvinist not simply in belief but through and through. He saw man-centeredness…as the root of modern evangelical weakness.” Nothing humbles man more than a healthy dose of biblical preaching (which of course will include the doctrines of grace).
Maurice Roberts said this of the Dr. “There was an authority in his words and in his whole bearing. It was a combination of both natural and spiritual gifts, blended into sanctified and deeply humble life.” Humility is difficult enough when you’re an oridinary Joe like me. Roberts added, “He was Reformed and also had a passion for the salvation of sinners. He was intensely intellectual and theological but also possessed a burning soul, aflame with the urgency of the gospel of Christ.” Lloyd-Jones’ biblical understanding of divine sovereignty drove him to be a soul-winner (like Spurgeon and Whitefield before him).
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Why i love the Doctor (part 2)
One of the books that i really enjoyed reading while I was still in college was going through part one of Iain Murray's 2-volume biography on David Martyn Lloyd-Jones. This massive tome is food for the Christian soul. Christian biographies are helpful and instructive for a variety of reasons (it is not the purpose of this post to go into those things). John Piper's recent series (the swans are not silent) are great resources. Everything Iain H. Murray writes tends to be golden as well.
The Banner of Truth magazine recently put out an issue celebrating the spiritual legacy of Dr. Lloyd-Jones. Brian Hedges noted how Lloyd-Jones labored and battled for true Evangelical unity. This is a major issue in our day and age as well. ECT, Promise Keepers, and other ecumenical attempts to foster Christian unity have fallen way short of the biblical standard. During Lloyd-Jones day, "the beliefs which defined one as being Christian were minimized, if not lost; doctrine was being sacrificed on the alter of unity. Lloyd-Jones was grieved at this situation and feared the gospel would be increasingly more and more eclipsed in future years." Hedges points out how Lloyd-Jones sought to avoid two extremes. "He wanted to avoid both the shackles of sectarianism, which majored on minor issues (such as church government, mode of baptism, views on prophecy, etc.) and the precipice of ecumenism, which sought unityh at the expense of the gospel." Lloyd-Jones had strong convictions on secondary matters (issues like tongues, mode of baptism, etc) but he did not make those things the litmus test for Christian fellowship and unity. This is a matter i am increasingly trying to learn as i grow in spiritual maturity.
Jones summarized his convictions this way, "Let us labor for unity, by all means, but let us be sure that we unify around truth: the truth of the gospel."
Together for the Gospel
The Banner of Truth magazine recently put out an issue celebrating the spiritual legacy of Dr. Lloyd-Jones. Brian Hedges noted how Lloyd-Jones labored and battled for true Evangelical unity. This is a major issue in our day and age as well. ECT, Promise Keepers, and other ecumenical attempts to foster Christian unity have fallen way short of the biblical standard. During Lloyd-Jones day, "the beliefs which defined one as being Christian were minimized, if not lost; doctrine was being sacrificed on the alter of unity. Lloyd-Jones was grieved at this situation and feared the gospel would be increasingly more and more eclipsed in future years." Hedges points out how Lloyd-Jones sought to avoid two extremes. "He wanted to avoid both the shackles of sectarianism, which majored on minor issues (such as church government, mode of baptism, views on prophecy, etc.) and the precipice of ecumenism, which sought unityh at the expense of the gospel." Lloyd-Jones had strong convictions on secondary matters (issues like tongues, mode of baptism, etc) but he did not make those things the litmus test for Christian fellowship and unity. This is a matter i am increasingly trying to learn as i grow in spiritual maturity.
Jones summarized his convictions this way, "Let us labor for unity, by all means, but let us be sure that we unify around truth: the truth of the gospel."
Together for the Gospel
Why I love the Dr. (Lloyd-Jones) part 1
One of the Christian heroes I have on my pastoral walls is the good Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Lloyd-Jones was a great preacher and a stalwart leader during an age of theological compromise. When J.I. Packer (author of "Knowing God") first heard Lloyd-Jones preach in 1948, he said "the Doctor's preaching came to him 'with the force of electric shock, bring to at least one of his listeners more of a sense of God than any other man.'" Brian Hedges recently wrote, that "Lloyd-Jones restored Spirit-anointed expository preaching." His sermons can still be heard today. My first Lloyd-Jones sermon experience was listening to him preach on the phrase "BUT GOD" from Eph 2:4. Lloyd-Jones was deep (really deep), very theological, but at the same time crystal clear. As a young preacher these are some of my goals when preaching an expository sermon. You want to go deep (as MacArthur notes, "to take people up to heights of praises you have to dig down deep..") yet at the same time you have to remain clear and concise. That is easier said than done. Lloyd-Jones' sermons are still available in print form (Eph; Acts, Romans, etc), and via. tape (check out the Lloyd-Jones Trust). These are helpful resources if you want to grow in your understanding of the biblical text and esp. if you want to deepen your love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Reading??
What are you currently reading?
Much of my "pleasure reading" takes place at home after the work day. So what are you currently reading (outside the Bible)? How have you enjoyed those books? What did you learn? etc. Please let me know your thoughts and recommendations!
Books I am currently reading or ones I have just finished:
1. No Place for the Truth (by David F. Wells). (almost done)
2. The Cross and Christian Ministry (by D.A. Carson). (just finished)
3. Women's Ministry in the Local Church (by Ligon Duncan/Susan Hunt) (FINISHED)
4. Knowing God (By J.I. Packer) (Ch 18)
5. The Holiness of God (by R.C. Sproul) (FINISHED)
6. Growing Up Christian (by Paul Graustein) (CH 5)
7. Humility: True Greatness (by C.J. Mahaney) (in progress)
8. From Pride to Humility (pamphlet by Dr. Stuart Scott) (in progress)
9. The Message of the Old Testament (by Mark Dever) (just started)
Much of my "pleasure reading" takes place at home after the work day. So what are you currently reading (outside the Bible)? How have you enjoyed those books? What did you learn? etc. Please let me know your thoughts and recommendations!
Books I am currently reading or ones I have just finished:
1. No Place for the Truth (by David F. Wells). (almost done)
2. The Cross and Christian Ministry (by D.A. Carson). (just finished)
3. Women's Ministry in the Local Church (by Ligon Duncan/Susan Hunt) (FINISHED)
4. Knowing God (By J.I. Packer) (Ch 18)
5. The Holiness of God (by R.C. Sproul) (FINISHED)
6. Growing Up Christian (by Paul Graustein) (CH 5)
7. Humility: True Greatness (by C.J. Mahaney) (in progress)
8. From Pride to Humility (pamphlet by Dr. Stuart Scott) (in progress)
9. The Message of the Old Testament (by Mark Dever) (just started)
Monday, August 07, 2006
Humility (part 3)
Being a faithful pastor requires many different skills (see 1 and 2 Timothy). Feeding the sheep through the ministry of the Word is obviously a very essential aspect of pastoral ministry. Discipleship and counseling are essential ministries that go along with this “Word ministry.”
I had the privilege of counseling a couple the past 3 or 4 months through our FBC counseling ministries. For obvious reasons I am not going to share any of the private counseling details with any of you; but suffice to say my experience was pure joy. The couple (I had the privilege of meeting with) were my parent’s age and they taught me so very much. Their willingness to receive God’s Word and act on it (even if the mouth piece was half their age) was a demonstration of tremendous humility (see James 1:21-24). They were so eager to respond to the Word that it brought about conviction in my own heart. Do I always respond this way to God’s Word? Am I willing to respond to the Bible even if the person sharing it with me is younger than I am or not as spiritually mature? If they are faithfully representing GOD's Word then i have no choice but to respond humbly. These are great lessons for me to think about in light of my “humility” book reading.
I had the privilege of counseling a couple the past 3 or 4 months through our FBC counseling ministries. For obvious reasons I am not going to share any of the private counseling details with any of you; but suffice to say my experience was pure joy. The couple (I had the privilege of meeting with) were my parent’s age and they taught me so very much. Their willingness to receive God’s Word and act on it (even if the mouth piece was half their age) was a demonstration of tremendous humility (see James 1:21-24). They were so eager to respond to the Word that it brought about conviction in my own heart. Do I always respond this way to God’s Word? Am I willing to respond to the Bible even if the person sharing it with me is younger than I am or not as spiritually mature? If they are faithfully representing GOD's Word then i have no choice but to respond humbly. These are great lessons for me to think about in light of my “humility” book reading.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Al Mohler bio
My friend at monergism.com gave me permission to post these on my blog site. They are very interesting.
Biographical Sketch
R. Albert Mohler, Jr. (born 1960) is an Southern Baptist, evangelical Calvinist. He presently serves as the ninth President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He has been a member of the board of James Dobson's Focus on the Family since August 31, 2004.[1] He is married to the former Mary Kahler. They have two children named Katie and Christopher.
Early Life and Education
Mohler is a native of Lakeland in central Florida. As a child he attended Lake Yale, a Florida Baptist campground. During his Lakeland years he attended Southside Baptist Church.
Mohler attended college at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, Florida as a Faculty Scholar. He then received a B. A. from Samford University, a private, coeducational Baptist-affiliated college in Birmingham, Alabama. His graduate degrees, a Master of Divinity and Ph.D. in "Systematic and Historical Theology," were conferred by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, also known as Southern Seminary.
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Southern Seminary)
Mohler joined the staff of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky in 1983 as Coordinator of Foundation Support. In 1987 he became Director of Capital Funding, a post he held until 1989. While still a student he served as assistant to then-President Roy Honeycutt.
In February 1993, Mohler was appointed President of the Seminary by conservatives on that institution's board of trustees, succeeding Roy Honeycutt. The seminary soon saw a wholesale shift towards conservative theology (characterised by Mohler as a move toward "confessional fidelity") and a rapid exodus (both voluntary and compulsory) of more than 60 percent of the faculty. Diana Garland the dean of a unit of the Seminary, the Carver School of Church Social Work, was fired over a conflict with Mohler. The Carver School was eventually dissolved as the new administration judged social work to be out of keeping with biblical doctrine. In 1999, nearly a million dollars of its endowment were returned to the Women's Missionary Union in accordance with the terms of an undisclosed settlement.
One departing faculty member, G. Wade Rowatt, referred to the new regime as "a Baptist version of the Taliban." (Mohler shakes up Southern Baptists)
Other, more conservative Baptist leaders were elated: Paige Patterson, another Southern Baptist Convention seminary president, said Mohler's leadership “will mean that they recover their evangelical emphasis there” and that Mohler's Presidency meant that “the worst of the problems” were over: “Al Mohler has the brains of Erasmus and the courage of Luther.”
The move to conservativism also proved much more appealing to those in the Southern Baptist Convention as enrollment has multiplied several times over since Mohler took office. The seminary is now one of the most endowed and largest seminaries world-wide.
The "Conservative Resurgence"
Mohler was also instrumental in the mid-1990's restructuring of the Southern Baptist Convention, which saw the Convention shift from a mixture of moderate and conservative voices to a solidly conservative base.
He was involved in the drafting of the controversial 2000 revision of the Baptist Faith and Message, which added an exhortation to wives to "submit graciously" to their husbands, and removed a clause referring to Jesus Christ as the standard by which the Bible is to be interpreted.
A deadline was set for foreign missionaries to confirm their allegiance to the Baptist Faith and Message in written form. Those who did not were dismissed or resigned. Although adherance to and respect for the creed had been a matter of course historically, this marked the first time that a signed written statement of fealty was mandated in the form of an ultimatum.
Media and Editorial Work
Mohler served as editor of The Christian Index the biweekly newsletter of the Georgia Baptist Convention. From 1985 to 1993 he was Associate Editor of the bi-monthly Preaching Magazine.
Mohler served on the Advisory Council for the 2001 English Standard Version of the Bible (ESV.)
Starting July 29, 2003 and continuing to the present (November 2005), Mohler blogged on CrossWalk.com, a web site maintained by Salem Web Network of Chesterfield, VA.
He presently is heard on a nationally syndicated radio talk show, The Albert Mohler Program, and also maintains a web site, www.albertmohler.com.
Professed Theology
Some references state that Mohler was initially liberal in his theology, particularly during his years as a seminarian, prior to the rise of the conservative movement within the Southern Baptist denomination. One source states that Mohler experienced a conservative epiphany growing from conversations with Carl F. H. Henry, whose essays Mohler later edited. (Realms of Faith: Christian Authors Database at propadeutic.com)
Shortly after his term as President began, Mohler drafted a policy (which was ratified by the trustees) that the Seminary would only hire professors who believed that the Bible prohibits the ordination of women as preachers. Some women already in teaching positions at the Seminary, or who served outside the Seminary in a missionary capacity, were stripped of their posts.
Theologically, Mohler respresents conservative fundamentalist Christianity. He opposes the role of women in preaching roles, opposes abortion, and believes that homosexual acts are sinful.
Mohler's Views on Other Religions
Mohler is on record as rejecting the notion that any other means of salvation exists besides conversion to Christianity, and his soteriology, or theory of salvation, is Calvinistic in the sense that Mohler states that he believes that human salvation is a gift from God, and cannot be earned by human action. He has publicly advanced this position with respect to Judaism, Islam, and Catholicism.
Islam
In the months after the events of September 11, 2001, when broad sectors of the religious community were organizing interfaith prayer services in an effort to improve Christian-Islamic relations, Mohler derided Islam in a sermon delivered to seminary students on October 17, 2001, using phrases such as "kills the soul," "lies about God," and "presents a false gospel."
I'm no specialist in Islamic theology. I'll let those who are debate whether or not there is that kind of militancy and warrior culture within Islamic theology. But I want to say as a Christian theologian, the biggest problem with Islamic theology is that it kills the soul.
The bigger problem with Islam is not that there are those who will kill the body in its name, but that it lies about God [and] presents a false gospel, an un-gospel...These are difficult things to say. This is not polite.
Catholicism
"I believe that the Roman church is a false church and it teaches a false gospel...and indeed, I believe that the pope himself holds a false and unbiblical office."-- (R. Albert Mohler, Jr., on Larry King Live, March 2000)
Mohler has made strongly anti-Catholic statements, but at the same time maintains that much of Catholic doctrine is compatible with his views. In spite of his public criticism of the Catholic Church, Mohler claims in his official biography to have studied at St. Meinrad School of Theology [10] (a few hours drive from the Seminary of which he is President.)
Media Appearances
Mohler appeared on MSNBC's Donahue on August 20, 2002. The subject was Christian evangelization of Jews. The show's host along with members of both Catholic and Jewish clergy squared off against Mohler's insistance that salvation lies exclusively in the acceptance of Christ.
On April 15, 2003, Mohler granted an interview published in Time Magazine. The subject was the issue of evangelization of Iraqi Muslims in the form of proselytizing Christian aid groups.
On December 18, 2004, Mohler debated retired Episcopal bishop John Shelby Spong on Faith Under Fire, a program hosted by Lee Strobel and appearing on PAX, a Christian television network. The subject was the historicity and truthfulness of the Bible.
Criticism of Pat Robertson
Responding to Pat Robertson's remarks advocating the assassination of Hugo Chávez, the president of Venezuela, Mohler said:
With unmistakable clarity and an apparent lack of self-consciousness, [Mr.] Robertson simply called for an assassination, presumably to be undertaken by U.S. military forces in violation of U.S. law," the reverend doctor said. "In so doing he gave the Venezuelan leader a propaganda gold mine, embarrassed the Bush administration, and left millions of viewers perplexed and troubled. More importantly, he brought shame to the cause of Christ. This is the kind of outrageous statement that makes evangelism all the more difficult. Missing from the entire context is the Christian understanding that violence can never be blessed as a good, but may only be employed under circumstances that would justify the limited use of lethal force in order to prevent even greater violence.
Quotes
"An institution has to decide, and it’s not just an option, it’s a responsibility, how much diversity can be tolerated."
"When a denomination begins to consider doctrine divisive, theology troublesome, and convictions inconvenient, consider that denomination on its way to a well-deserved death." (Southern Baptist Convention meeting, July 1995)
Biographical Sketch
R. Albert Mohler, Jr. (born 1960) is an Southern Baptist, evangelical Calvinist. He presently serves as the ninth President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He has been a member of the board of James Dobson's Focus on the Family since August 31, 2004.[1] He is married to the former Mary Kahler. They have two children named Katie and Christopher.
Early Life and Education
Mohler is a native of Lakeland in central Florida. As a child he attended Lake Yale, a Florida Baptist campground. During his Lakeland years he attended Southside Baptist Church.
Mohler attended college at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, Florida as a Faculty Scholar. He then received a B. A. from Samford University, a private, coeducational Baptist-affiliated college in Birmingham, Alabama. His graduate degrees, a Master of Divinity and Ph.D. in "Systematic and Historical Theology," were conferred by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, also known as Southern Seminary.
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Southern Seminary)
Mohler joined the staff of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky in 1983 as Coordinator of Foundation Support. In 1987 he became Director of Capital Funding, a post he held until 1989. While still a student he served as assistant to then-President Roy Honeycutt.
In February 1993, Mohler was appointed President of the Seminary by conservatives on that institution's board of trustees, succeeding Roy Honeycutt. The seminary soon saw a wholesale shift towards conservative theology (characterised by Mohler as a move toward "confessional fidelity") and a rapid exodus (both voluntary and compulsory) of more than 60 percent of the faculty. Diana Garland the dean of a unit of the Seminary, the Carver School of Church Social Work, was fired over a conflict with Mohler. The Carver School was eventually dissolved as the new administration judged social work to be out of keeping with biblical doctrine. In 1999, nearly a million dollars of its endowment were returned to the Women's Missionary Union in accordance with the terms of an undisclosed settlement.
One departing faculty member, G. Wade Rowatt, referred to the new regime as "a Baptist version of the Taliban." (Mohler shakes up Southern Baptists)
Other, more conservative Baptist leaders were elated: Paige Patterson, another Southern Baptist Convention seminary president, said Mohler's leadership “will mean that they recover their evangelical emphasis there” and that Mohler's Presidency meant that “the worst of the problems” were over: “Al Mohler has the brains of Erasmus and the courage of Luther.”
The move to conservativism also proved much more appealing to those in the Southern Baptist Convention as enrollment has multiplied several times over since Mohler took office. The seminary is now one of the most endowed and largest seminaries world-wide.
The "Conservative Resurgence"
Mohler was also instrumental in the mid-1990's restructuring of the Southern Baptist Convention, which saw the Convention shift from a mixture of moderate and conservative voices to a solidly conservative base.
He was involved in the drafting of the controversial 2000 revision of the Baptist Faith and Message, which added an exhortation to wives to "submit graciously" to their husbands, and removed a clause referring to Jesus Christ as the standard by which the Bible is to be interpreted.
A deadline was set for foreign missionaries to confirm their allegiance to the Baptist Faith and Message in written form. Those who did not were dismissed or resigned. Although adherance to and respect for the creed had been a matter of course historically, this marked the first time that a signed written statement of fealty was mandated in the form of an ultimatum.
Media and Editorial Work
Mohler served as editor of The Christian Index the biweekly newsletter of the Georgia Baptist Convention. From 1985 to 1993 he was Associate Editor of the bi-monthly Preaching Magazine.
Mohler served on the Advisory Council for the 2001 English Standard Version of the Bible (ESV.)
Starting July 29, 2003 and continuing to the present (November 2005), Mohler blogged on CrossWalk.com, a web site maintained by Salem Web Network of Chesterfield, VA.
He presently is heard on a nationally syndicated radio talk show, The Albert Mohler Program, and also maintains a web site, www.albertmohler.com.
Professed Theology
Some references state that Mohler was initially liberal in his theology, particularly during his years as a seminarian, prior to the rise of the conservative movement within the Southern Baptist denomination. One source states that Mohler experienced a conservative epiphany growing from conversations with Carl F. H. Henry, whose essays Mohler later edited. (Realms of Faith: Christian Authors Database at propadeutic.com)
Shortly after his term as President began, Mohler drafted a policy (which was ratified by the trustees) that the Seminary would only hire professors who believed that the Bible prohibits the ordination of women as preachers. Some women already in teaching positions at the Seminary, or who served outside the Seminary in a missionary capacity, were stripped of their posts.
Theologically, Mohler respresents conservative fundamentalist Christianity. He opposes the role of women in preaching roles, opposes abortion, and believes that homosexual acts are sinful.
Mohler's Views on Other Religions
Mohler is on record as rejecting the notion that any other means of salvation exists besides conversion to Christianity, and his soteriology, or theory of salvation, is Calvinistic in the sense that Mohler states that he believes that human salvation is a gift from God, and cannot be earned by human action. He has publicly advanced this position with respect to Judaism, Islam, and Catholicism.
Islam
In the months after the events of September 11, 2001, when broad sectors of the religious community were organizing interfaith prayer services in an effort to improve Christian-Islamic relations, Mohler derided Islam in a sermon delivered to seminary students on October 17, 2001, using phrases such as "kills the soul," "lies about God," and "presents a false gospel."
I'm no specialist in Islamic theology. I'll let those who are debate whether or not there is that kind of militancy and warrior culture within Islamic theology. But I want to say as a Christian theologian, the biggest problem with Islamic theology is that it kills the soul.
The bigger problem with Islam is not that there are those who will kill the body in its name, but that it lies about God [and] presents a false gospel, an un-gospel...These are difficult things to say. This is not polite.
Catholicism
"I believe that the Roman church is a false church and it teaches a false gospel...and indeed, I believe that the pope himself holds a false and unbiblical office."-- (R. Albert Mohler, Jr., on Larry King Live, March 2000)
Mohler has made strongly anti-Catholic statements, but at the same time maintains that much of Catholic doctrine is compatible with his views. In spite of his public criticism of the Catholic Church, Mohler claims in his official biography to have studied at St. Meinrad School of Theology [10] (a few hours drive from the Seminary of which he is President.)
Media Appearances
Mohler appeared on MSNBC's Donahue on August 20, 2002. The subject was Christian evangelization of Jews. The show's host along with members of both Catholic and Jewish clergy squared off against Mohler's insistance that salvation lies exclusively in the acceptance of Christ.
On April 15, 2003, Mohler granted an interview published in Time Magazine. The subject was the issue of evangelization of Iraqi Muslims in the form of proselytizing Christian aid groups.
On December 18, 2004, Mohler debated retired Episcopal bishop John Shelby Spong on Faith Under Fire, a program hosted by Lee Strobel and appearing on PAX, a Christian television network. The subject was the historicity and truthfulness of the Bible.
Criticism of Pat Robertson
Responding to Pat Robertson's remarks advocating the assassination of Hugo Chávez, the president of Venezuela, Mohler said:
With unmistakable clarity and an apparent lack of self-consciousness, [Mr.] Robertson simply called for an assassination, presumably to be undertaken by U.S. military forces in violation of U.S. law," the reverend doctor said. "In so doing he gave the Venezuelan leader a propaganda gold mine, embarrassed the Bush administration, and left millions of viewers perplexed and troubled. More importantly, he brought shame to the cause of Christ. This is the kind of outrageous statement that makes evangelism all the more difficult. Missing from the entire context is the Christian understanding that violence can never be blessed as a good, but may only be employed under circumstances that would justify the limited use of lethal force in order to prevent even greater violence.
Quotes
"An institution has to decide, and it’s not just an option, it’s a responsibility, how much diversity can be tolerated."
"When a denomination begins to consider doctrine divisive, theology troublesome, and convictions inconvenient, consider that denomination on its way to a well-deserved death." (Southern Baptist Convention meeting, July 1995)
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Discouragement and Being Overly-Critical (part 2)
An excellent section I read in C.J. Mahaney’s newest book, “Humility: True Greatness” is a great follow up to my last post.
He writes, “Are you frequently critical of others? Do you look at those around you to find one blemish after another? This proud tendency is a deeply rooted habit of many of us who have sown seeds of self-exaltation over the years.”
Mahaney then suggests how we can cultivate biblical humility by “identifying evidences of grace in other people. This means actively looking for ways that God is at work in the lives of other people; pp 97-98).
As Christians, we should be people known for encouragement not discouragement. When I am not cultivating humility in my heart I can find weaknesses in peoples lives more often then evidences of grace. When my daughter grows older I don’t want her to think of me as “Mr. Negative” or “Mr. Critical.” Forgive me everyone because I know I need to grow in this area.
It’s so easy to find fault in others, to not believe the best about them, to be critical and discouraging. I am grateful for this book by Mahaney that has been convicting the socks of me. Now the hard part: mortification and sanctification!
He writes, “Are you frequently critical of others? Do you look at those around you to find one blemish after another? This proud tendency is a deeply rooted habit of many of us who have sown seeds of self-exaltation over the years.”
Mahaney then suggests how we can cultivate biblical humility by “identifying evidences of grace in other people. This means actively looking for ways that God is at work in the lives of other people; pp 97-98).
As Christians, we should be people known for encouragement not discouragement. When I am not cultivating humility in my heart I can find weaknesses in peoples lives more often then evidences of grace. When my daughter grows older I don’t want her to think of me as “Mr. Negative” or “Mr. Critical.” Forgive me everyone because I know I need to grow in this area.
It’s so easy to find fault in others, to not believe the best about them, to be critical and discouraging. I am grateful for this book by Mahaney that has been convicting the socks of me. Now the hard part: mortification and sanctification!
Am I exercising discernment or am I being judgmental?
I have been reading through portions of Dave Swavely’s book, “Who are you to judge? The Dangers of Judging and Legalism,” for an upcoming lesson in our youth group. Their have been sections in this book which I have not fully agreed with (especially his conclusions in Appendix A); but all in all it has been a convicting book. The principles in this book have caused me to think about my own life quite a bit.
The Bible tells us to use discernment. We are not to be naïve or unwise in the Christian life. There are times when biblical love will need to discriminate or even call one to repentance. Yet in my own life, sometimes I classify my sinful judgments as biblical discernment or something nobler. Clearly the Bible warns us against sinful judging (Matt. 7; Romans 14:10, 13; James 4:11-12). To help apply this truth Swavely offers up a few Biblical principles for everyone to consider:
1. Is this opinion based firmly on Scripture, or on my ideas and preferences?
Personal convictions are fine but I need to be careful not to impose these on others in a sinful way.
2. Does the formation of this opinion include any judgments about the person’s thoughts or motives?
This is the area I am most guilty in. I don’t think the best about someone and thus show a deficiency in biblical love. Swavely writes, “We simply cannot know for sure what people are thinking or desiring, unless they tell us.” The book reminded me that someone’s motives may be right, even when what they say is wrong. Later he writes, “Even when you are evaluating someone’s actions, which is a legitimate practice, be careful not to allow opinions or implications about motives to creep in as well.”
3. Am I missing any facts that are necessary for an accurate evaluation?
Proverbs 18:13 and 18:17 speak to this issue very well. Sometimes I am way to quick in my rush to judgment. Have i taken someones word on something without first talking to that person? Have i done everything i could to get the facts straight and to hear both sides of the story?
4. How would I want this person to think of me if the roles were reversed?
Ouch! This is something I don’t think about nearly enough (Matt. 7:12; Luke 6:31). Dave writes, “If you are not careful to avoid sinful judgments and eager to think the best about others. You will find yourself under suspicion by others.”
5. How can I show the grace of the cross to this person? (Eph 4:32)
Could love overlook this offense? Is it necessary to bring this issue up? These are some of the questions I need to ask myself before moving forward on something.
This process is all about cross-examining your judgments before you deliver a negative verdict. Sometimes what I call “discernment” is in fact “a judgmental attitude” which is not pleasing to the Lord. These 5 questions should help protect me from being overly judgmental. By God’s grace I will continue to grow in this area and I trust you will as well.
The Bible tells us to use discernment. We are not to be naïve or unwise in the Christian life. There are times when biblical love will need to discriminate or even call one to repentance. Yet in my own life, sometimes I classify my sinful judgments as biblical discernment or something nobler. Clearly the Bible warns us against sinful judging (Matt. 7; Romans 14:10, 13; James 4:11-12). To help apply this truth Swavely offers up a few Biblical principles for everyone to consider:
1. Is this opinion based firmly on Scripture, or on my ideas and preferences?
Personal convictions are fine but I need to be careful not to impose these on others in a sinful way.
2. Does the formation of this opinion include any judgments about the person’s thoughts or motives?
This is the area I am most guilty in. I don’t think the best about someone and thus show a deficiency in biblical love. Swavely writes, “We simply cannot know for sure what people are thinking or desiring, unless they tell us.” The book reminded me that someone’s motives may be right, even when what they say is wrong. Later he writes, “Even when you are evaluating someone’s actions, which is a legitimate practice, be careful not to allow opinions or implications about motives to creep in as well.”
3. Am I missing any facts that are necessary for an accurate evaluation?
Proverbs 18:13 and 18:17 speak to this issue very well. Sometimes I am way to quick in my rush to judgment. Have i taken someones word on something without first talking to that person? Have i done everything i could to get the facts straight and to hear both sides of the story?
4. How would I want this person to think of me if the roles were reversed?
Ouch! This is something I don’t think about nearly enough (Matt. 7:12; Luke 6:31). Dave writes, “If you are not careful to avoid sinful judgments and eager to think the best about others. You will find yourself under suspicion by others.”
5. How can I show the grace of the cross to this person? (Eph 4:32)
Could love overlook this offense? Is it necessary to bring this issue up? These are some of the questions I need to ask myself before moving forward on something.
This process is all about cross-examining your judgments before you deliver a negative verdict. Sometimes what I call “discernment” is in fact “a judgmental attitude” which is not pleasing to the Lord. These 5 questions should help protect me from being overly judgmental. By God’s grace I will continue to grow in this area and I trust you will as well.
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