Gleanings from Haggai

The prophet Haggai ministered to the Israelites who had returned from captivity in Babylon and were poorly motivated to rebuild the temple as had been commanded by the Persian king Cyrus 17 years earlier. Several points still retain their sharpness after 2,500 years:

1. God's people are to reflect on their ways: "Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Consider your ways'" (Haggai 1:5 ESV). Time for introspective inspection is important, so that we may measure the priorities and intentions of our hearts against the standard of God's Word.
   
2. A person who pursues his own desires is never satisfied, "You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes" (Haggai 1:6 ESV). This last statement is especially poignant for those of us who continue to stash money away in retirement accounts but wonder about the fate of the economy and stock market in coming years.
   
3. God is not pleased with our spiritual indifference and misplaced priorities. We live in paneled houses (luxury) yet are stingy toward advancing God's Kingdom here on earth. This can also be applied to time and energy.
   
   "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things
   will be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
   
4. Fallen men are masters at rationalization. The Israelites didn't come right out and say they didn't want to rebuild the temple. Instead they said, 'Now isn't the right time.'
   

Oh, that God would give us hearts that leap at his word, like the Israelites did. Haggai tells us that they "obeyed the voice of the LORD their God" and "feared the LORD" (1:12). They set out to work immediately. Because of their repentance, God gave them two further blessings. First, he comforted with the assurance, "I am with you, declares the LORD" (1:13). He also "stirred up [their] spirit" within them so that they were zealous and enthusiastic for the work God gave them to do (1:14).





So, in summary: a) self-examination; b) repentance; c) assurance; d) God-given zeal for His work. Sounds like a summary of the Gospel, doesn't it?

Gleanings From Zephaniah

Let the sparseness of postings be no measure, the minor prophets have been immensely helpful and encouraging to me this summer! This morning I came to Zephaniah, and the thought occurred to me, it is easy to look at backslidden Israel and despise her syncretism (mixing idolatry with worship of the Lord). But the question that struck me today, Are we not much more like them than we realize?

We are 'neo-syncretists'. We mix materialism or pleasure-seeking (which can be summed up in one word, 'carnality' or worldliness) with worship of the Lord. We try--unsuccessfully--to reconcile these fundamentally incompatible ideas:

• "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24, ESV). Spending and being spent for others (2 Corinthians 12:15).


• Your Best Life--Now! (Affluence and accumulation of more for self-gratification)
  

In this way we are no different from the sinful Israelites. So we should hear, and not gloss over, passages like this:

"I will stretch out my hand against... those who bow down and swear to the LORD
and yet swear to Milcom (21st century readers insert 'mammon' here), those who
have turned back from following the LORD, who do not seek the LORD or inquire of
him." (Zephaniah 1:4-6, ESV)

We try to serve two masters and fail in the attempt due to lukewarmness to each. See Psalm 49:6-9, Proverbs 11:4, Matthew 16:26, Luke 12:13-21 (esp. v.15).

Zephaniah's counsel is not only to hear, but to hear and obey, for he prophesies, "I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, 'The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill'" (Zephaniah 1:12, ESV).

Gleanings from Obadiah

This summer I have been splashing around in the minor prophets. Today I came to the short little book of Obadiah. Here are some of the lessons learned:

1. The value and authority of the message rests on the foundation that, "the LORD has spoken" (v.18), and not on the fame or prominence of the messenger. How profound and humbling!


2. It is the righteous purpose of God, not the evil will of men, that determines history.


3. Despite present adverse circumstances, God is at work to promote our best good and simultaneously his glory and justice.


4. My pride is especially dangerous because it has the ability to deceive me (v.3), and if persisted in, provokes the opposition and wrath of God.


5. No matter how safe the circumstances appear for the rebellious, no one can rise above God. Proverbs 21:30, "No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can availa against the LORD."


6. God loves to use irony in serving justice. Turnabout is fair play. We are treated as we treat others (v.7, 15b). Proverbs 21:13, "Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered."

Deliberate Fatherhood

Last night my wife gently whispered in my ear that perhaps I could devote a little of my reading time to books that appertain to parenting. Now, I think we do as good a job as other parents, and we have four great kids. But am I being as deliberate in looking for opportunities to teach them God's Word? Am I leading family devotions? Am I praying regularly with my kids (not just at meals)?

So as I headed out this morning, I grabbed Raising a Modern-Day Knight by Robert Lewis. I had a particularly sparse day today, and uncharacteristically, I read the entire book in one day. It is a wonderful treatise on deliberate fatherhood. Coming from Focus on the Family, I half-expected it to be "fluff" and unbiblical (something like the ridiculous book Wild At Heart), but it was a breath of fresh air. Although I don't agree with his particular application in every detail, Lewis in effect says, 'that's okay, you don't have to. Just make sure you are raising your son in a deliberate manner.'

His metaphor for raising sons revolves around the process young boys would enter to become a knight during the dark ages. There is something mystical and wonderful about this that dads and boys can identify with. Lewis' main points are:

1. You need an accurate definition of what biblical manhood is. Lewis defines a man as one who "rejects passivity, accepts responsibility, leads courageously, and expects a greater reward (from God)". He goes on to explain what is meant by these points.


2. You need a process by which this definition is passed on to your boy. A code of conduct that is based on the Bible, as well as a means to pass it on (Deuteronomy 6:7).


3. Once he reaches manhood, a ceremony (or ceremonies) will reinforce the importance of what you've taught him. To me, this was the most fascinating part of the book. Believe me, it isn't as cheesy or hokey as it sounds.

Lewis distills his ten biblical ideals of a modern-day knight: loyalty (Hosea 6:6), servant-leadership (Matthew 20:26-27), kindness (Proverbs 19:22), humility (Philippians 2:3), purity (1 Timothy 4:12), honesty (Ephesians 4:25), self-discipline (1 Timothy 4:7-8), excellence (1 Corinthians 9:24), integrity (Proverbs 10:9), perseverance (Galatians 6:9). Needless to say, these are all in the context of advancing the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

As I am writing this, I realize that all this is an unfair oversimplification of Lewis's main tenets. Take in on faith that Lewis's approach is worthy of serious consideration.

Sabbatarianism

Now I would be the first to say, with Thomas Watson, that "If I am not mistaken, practical points are more needful in this age than controversial or polemical." That being said, being immersed as I have in the Puritans this summer, I have inevitably come to question the modern evangelical church's position on the Sabbath. Or "Lord's Day" as it is called to divorce it from the jurisdiction of the 4th commandment. Depending on your view of the scope of the Old Testament, you can either easily or not-so-easily dismiss the implications of this commandment for the 21st century Christian. How is it that we can say that 9 of the 10 commandments are still applicable to the modern believer, and neatly cut out one?

Now, I am not a Sabbatarian--yet. But I am starting to think about it. So far, I haven't seen a consistently scriptural defense of our modern "Lord's-Day-not-at-all-the-same-as-the-Sabbath" observance. Thanks, James for passing this link on Sabbatarianism to me. I was surprised to hear it echo my conclusions. Very stimulating.

I just finished All Things For Good by Thomas Watson, and it was stellar, start to finish. Chapter Eight, "Exhortations to Those Who are Called" (pp.119-123) was encouraging. It answers the question of focus, How now should I live?

1. "Admire and adore God's free-grace calling in you." I ought to marvel in the fact that God passed over so many to choose me. And to consider the miserable state I left, and the glorious state to which I am heading, should comfort and still my heart regardless of what may come while I am proceeding there.


2. "Pity those not yet called." Even the most malicious deserve my heartfelt prayers, for "wicked men are going to [their] execution: sin is the halter which stangles them, death turns them off the ladder, and hell is their burning place."


3. "Honor your high calling." (Ephesians 4:1) I must strive to adorn my life with the attractiveness of the Gospel, and do nothing which mars the image of Christ I am given. A Christian walks worthy of their heavenly calling by:

• Walking consistently. The Christian follows the lead of God's Word (Psalm 119:105), not departing to the left or the right. "We [must] leave men's inventions and cleave to God's institutions."


• Walking singularly. 'Though none go with me, still I will follow.' "It is better to be a pattern of holiness, than a partner in wickedness. We must walk in an opposite course to the men of the world."


• Walking cheerfully. What reason do we have to be dejected and downcast? (Philippians 4:4) A droopy-spirited Christian is dishonorable to God and a poor commendation of the Gospel to lost sinners. For more, consider reading this.


• Walking wisely. This includes being watchful, courteous, magnanimous, and influential.

Thank you, Lord, that the Puritans wrote down so much of their valuable and clear teaching!

Six Problems Faced by Calvinists

I am nearing the end of The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended, and Documented by David Steele, Curtis C. Thomas, and S. Lance Quinn. The appendices are very helpful. Although often Calvinism can be seen as intellectual and not practical, in Appendix E, Curt Daniel describes the practical outgrowth of Calvinism in the believer's life. One of his subsections is "Pitfalls Peculiar to Calvinists" (pp.192-195). It is quite insightful. In it, he lists six problems that Calvinists face on a routine basis:

1. Pride. Personal pride. Pride in being a Calvinist. Pride in being "enlightened" by the Calvinistic doctrine. Looking down our noses at our Arminian brothers. Cure: Ephesians 1:4-6 ('What do you have that you did not receive?').


2. Intellectualism. "Too often we Calvinists spend more time discussing the doctrines of grace than living the grace of the doctrines." Cure: 1 Corinthians 8:1 ('Knowledge alone puffs up').


3. Apathy and Lethargy. This occurs when Calvinists are more interested in election than in practical living. The Puritans, by the way, applied the doctrines of grace to the growth of their own personal piety with wonderful results.


4. Anti-emotionalism. Calvinists are always at risk of becoming cold, unapproachable, or distant, "the frozen chosen". We should instead exhibit the warmth of grace, for God seeks those who will worship him in spirit and in truth.


5. Chronic Introspection. Not the normal self-examination prescribed by scripture (2 Corinthians 13:5), but the sort that goes too far. "True self-examination should lead to renewed faith and love and obedience. False introspection leads to more introspection, and actually less faith. It produces more doubt, not faith. For example, some worry that they might not be among the elect. But this does not lead them to put faith in Christ. If that is the result, then it is not true introspection."


6. Hyper-Calvinism. This is something Arminians are not prone to (nor are they prone to hyper-Arminianism). By over-reacting against Arminianism, Calvinists are prone to place more emphasis on the sovereignty of God that the responsibility of man. This is easier to understand with our finite minds, but theologically imbalanced.

This is a short synopsis. For more, I would encourage you to read the book for yourself.

Puritan Book Club

Last night our Puritan Book Club met for the first time. While we had about 20 sign up, only about 8 came. I guess that is to be expected. Nevertheless, we had a beautiful evening and talked for nearly two hours on our June selection (which has been mentioned already on both this blog and James Kubecki's blog), The Almost Christian Discovered by Matthew Mead.

Dr. Doug Bookman brought interesting counterpoint to the discussion by beginning with a caution that the Puritans often struggled with the concept of assurance of salvation. I am at present more inclined toward the Covenantalist than the Dispensationalist, and so have less of a problem taking the whole hook, line, and sinker. My thought is, if the lack of assurance drives me to pursue a God-honoring lifestyle with greater zeal and fervency, what is the damage to God's glory? In this way assurance of salvation is both a carrot (when it is present) and stick (when it is withdrawn).

It was interesting to hear each man's greatest lesson learned from reading this book. For most it was their first experience with Puritan writers. All agreed, with varying degrees of zeal, that they would read more. In the end, it was a time that was both satisfying, sharpening, convicting, encouraging, and I believe, God-honoring.

Next month we are to read The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes. I already can't wait.

Fourteen Marks of a True Believer

I have been nibbling this week at Thomas Watson's All Things For Good. Nibbling, because it is a short book, and I am trying to enjoy every paragraph. I read in Meet The Puritans that Thomas Watson was one of the easiest Puritans to read, and the authors' assessment is right on--Watson does not mince words or develop clever philosophical arguments. He doesn't need to.

Consider the following outline of chapter 5, "The Tests of Love to God":

1. The first fruit of love is the musing of the mind upon God. Those who love God think about Him often.

2. The next fruit of love is desire of communion. We long to meet him in prayer, His Word, his ordinances, and finally, in heaven.

3. Another fruit of love is grief. Grief for sins committed by us and others, because it injures God's glory, and tramples upon the opportunities and kindness He has extended us.

4. Another fruit of love is magnanimity. Christ's followers are not afraid to own Him or His Gospel: "He who is afraid to own Christ has but little love for Him."

5. The fifth fruit of love is sensitiveness. It brings us pain to see God's honor besmirched, His truth neglected, His laws violated.

6. The sixth fruit of love is hatred against sin. "He that loves God will have nothing to do with sin, unless to give battle to it. Sin strikes not only at God's honor, but His being. Does he love his prince that harbours him who is a traitor to the crown? Is he a friend to God who loves that which God hates?"

7. Another fruit of love is crucifixion. "He who is a lover of God is dead to the world" (Galatians 6:14).

8. The next fruit of love is fear. Fear of displeasing God, fear that God's presence would depart.

9. If we are lovers of God, we love what God loves. His Word, His day (the Sabbath), His Laws, and His people.

10. Another blessed sign of love is, to entertain good thoughts of God. To give God the benefit of the doubt in affliction (Job 13:15). "It is Satan that makes us have good thoughts of ourselves, and hard thoughts of God."

11. Another fruit of love is obedience. In things difficult and dangerous. If we love God, we set ourselves against sins in purpose and in practice.

12. He who loves God will endeavour to make Him appear glorious in the eyes of others.

13. Another fruit of love is to long for Christ's appearing.

14. Love will make us stoop to the meanest offices. Considering what Christ stooped to do as a servant (John 13:3-5), we realize no task is below us.

Boldness in a Culture of Political Correctness

I am a big fan of John Piper. Our cat is named after him. A lot of what he says goes over my head, but what I read this morning sure didn't.

Reading from A Godward Life, I came today to the essay "Very Calmly Say, 'Your Outrageous Opinions Are Not Based on Truth'", which is a reflection on Ephesians 5:11:

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."

So often believers (who are charged with a proclaiming message), myself included, are too timid to say what we know to be true. Perhaps this is for fear of censure or ridicule. Or perhaps it is cultural conditioning: there is no absolute truth, except this one: tolerance for other people's views--no matter how ridiculous--is a virtue. "Do not force your religion on me."

Enter Piper:

"Our job is to speak God's truth at every level. We may or may not change minds or laws. That is not our responsibility. Our responsibility is to speak with boldness and clarity what God would say. Don't be muzzled by the comment that you can't force your religion or morality on others. You are not forcing it; you are commending it for serious consideration. Declaring and persuading are not forcing. [...] Are your biblical convictions no less defensible than [their] incredibly unfounded moral pronouncements?"

Nice. May we all have the boldness and humility to speak the truth in love, for God's glory.

The Excellency of Christ

I have been slowly savoring a book of collected sermons of Jonathan Edwards for the past several months. This morning I finished "The Excellency of Christ," and though not an easy read, like most things in life, it is well worth the effort, just as filet mignon takes more effort to prepare than say, hot dogs. It is, however interesting, that in this case, bookstores seem to sell filet mignon in the discount section, and hot dogs are always at a premium.

This particular sermon is magnificent in its comparison of Christ's diverse and seemingly irreconcilable characteristics--his majesty and yet his humility; his dominion and yet his meekness; his judgment and yet his mercy. He compares and reconciles that Christ is both a Lion of Judah and yet a lamb. He receives poor sinners with all gentleness, then defends them as a roaring lion.

There is an interesting interplay between these diverse characteristics as they pertain to his crucifixion. The lamb is overcome by another lion who prowls about (Satan), and yet though Christ is consumed as it were, Satan is finally overcome. Edwards' presentation masterfully illuminates that this act is both a divine and bottomless mystery.

The apex of the sermon is in its application, both in compelling those who have not yet received Christ, as well as those who already count him Lord and Brother. The final pages, which detail his greatness, goodness, and warmness toward us are very moving, and through them one gains a glimpse into the blessed eternity that awaits those whom he has redeemed. Both the sermon and the Savior are highly recommended.

Spurgeon's 'Marks of True Conversion'

This is quite useful.  This summer our church's formal activities (home groups, children's ministry, choir, etc.) all spin down, and we have organized an informal "Puritan Book Club".  Our first selection, for the month of June, is Matthew Mead's The Almost Christian Discovered.  James Kubecki talks about it on his blog as well.

Do you ever have the feeling you are being watched?  That is the unsettling feeling you get when reading this book--you get the distinct sensation that the book is somehow reading you!  After reading this book, I found the following (from Charles Spurgeon) helpful:

"When the Word of God converts a man, 

    it takes away from him his despair,

      but it does not take from him his repentance.

True conversion gives a man pardon,

    but it does not make him presumptuous.

True conversion gives a man perfect rest,

    but it does not stop his progress.

True conversion gives a man security,

    but it does not allow him to leave off being watchful.

True conversion gives a man strength and holiness,

    but it never lets him boast.

True conversion gives harmony to all the duties of Christian life;

    it balances all duties, emotions, hopes, and enjoyments.

True conversion brings a man to live for God.

    He does everything for the glory of God,

       whether he eats, drinks, or whatsoever he does.

True conversion makes a man live before God;

    He desires to live as in God's sight at all times,

       and he is glad to be there.

And such a man now comes to live with God.

    He has blessed communion with him;

       He talks with him as a man talks with his friend."

 Why doesn't anyone write with this kind of 'studied plainness' today?

The Forgotten Spurgeon

Just finished reading Iain Murray's excellent tome, The Forgotten Spurgeon, and I can't recommend it heartily enough. It is not so much a biography as it is a focus on Spurgeon's not-so-happy years of conflict with those who were content to go with the flow of popular trends in the Church. Trends like hyper-Calvinism, Arminianism, Ecumenicalism, and bending the Gospel to conform to the whims of the culture du jour. Sound timely? George Santayana said something to the effect of, "Those who won't learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Reading this book, I see three generations who haven't learned their lesson--ours looking back to Spurgeon's, and Spurgeon's looking back to the Puritans'.

Spurgeon stood almost alone for doctrinal purity out of a sense of pastoral care for his congregants, because he had a high regard for the Word of God, felt the ends didn't justify the means, wasn't afraid to take abuse from men for doing what he felt Scripture called him to do, and because he felt that the best way to maintain the unity of true believers was sometimes to do things that would make the tares up and leave.

Although outside the scope of this book, Spurgeon's life models a "kinder, gentler Calvinism" (as James McGuire calls it) that showcases grace and truth together. Bravo!