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.