A Response to Timothy (regarding a comment from my last post)

[This is a response to a comment on my last post...if you're interested check it out first . . . I'm afraid this may not make sense if you don't:)]

I have been out of town for the last couple days . . . so I apologize for my delinquent response.

Anyhow, thanks for the thoughts; however, I still disagree with you.

We're probably going to have to agree to disagree on this one. But here is a little bit of a defense of my view:

I agree that Matt 16:18 is inseparable from 16:19, but it is also inseparable from 16:16..."You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." This is what I believe Jesus is referring to as the rock... the faith in Jesus Christ that Peter had just confessed. The division between faith and apostasy is belief in Christ . . . the foundation of the church. Why would Jesus make the division between heaven and hell a foundation of the man Peter? Also, how does the "foundation" of the church built on Peter harmonize with Ephesians 2:19-20 "citizens of the household of God are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone."

Earlier Jesus had already given Peter the new name…John 1:42 makes it clear that Jesus gave Simon the name Peter when he called him to be a disciple…not later at this point in Jesus’ ministry.

Regarding the keys to the kingdom, I believe this means a confirmation of Peter’s apostleship. The keys are as John Calvin would say, “Applied to the office of teaching. [John Calvin's commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2 pp. 180]” The knowledge is Peter’s confession of Jesus being the Christ, the Son of the living God (Luke 11:52 “key of knowledge”). However, this is a difficult phrase. To build one’s theology of the “foundation” of the church solely off of this passage that is highly contested would be an error (in my opinion). See other New Testament references to Christ as foundation (Luke 6:48-49); also, Paul speaks of building not on other’s foundation (Ro 15:20; 1 Cor 3:10-12) [possibly similar to when the Word says foundation of the world partly meaning Christ as the cornerstone and partly the beginning, in one sense Peter’s confession is the beginning of the gospel confession of the church, but I don’t believe Matt 16:18 refers to the cornerstone/physical weight bearing foundation of the church. I believe that is faith in Jesus and Jesus Christ Himself.] He is calling Peter to be the steward of the kingdom.

Regarding the “keys to the kingdom” William Barclay has a pretty good description of my view:

“In actual usage in the New Testament, this phrase is regularly attached to Jesus. It is in His hands, and in no one else’s, that the keys are. In Revelation I:8 the risen Christ says: ‘I am He that liveth and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the the keys of Hades and of death.” Again in Revelation 3:7 the Risen Christ is described as, ‘He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth and no man shutteth; and shutteth and no man openeth.’ It is clear that this phrase must be interpreted as indicating a certain divine right, and whatever the promise made to Peter was, that promise cannot be taken as annulling, or infringing, a right which belongs alone to God and to the Son of God.

All these New Testament pictures and usages go back to a picture in Isaiah (Isaiah 22:22). In that picture Isaiah describes Eliakim, who will have the key of the house of David on his shoulder, and who alone will open and shut. Now the duty of Eliakim was to be the faithful steward of the house. It is the steward who carries the keys of the house, who in the morning opens the door, and in the evening shuts it, and through whom visitors gain access to the royal presence. So then what Jesus is saying to Peter is that in the days to come, Peter will be the steward of the Kingdom. And in the case of Peter the whole idea is that of opening, not shutting, the door of the Kingdom. And indeed that came abundantly true (then he cites Acts 2:41, Acts 10, 15:14) . . . The promise that Peter would have the keys to the Kingdom was the promise that Peter would be the means of opening the door of God for thousands upon thousands of people in the days to come. The plain fact is that it is not only Peter who has the keys of the Kingdom; every Christian has; for it is open to every one of us to open the door of the Kingdom to some one, and to enter into the great promise of Jesus Christ.” [pp. 155-156 of William Barclay's commentary on Matthew Vol. 2 of the Daily Bible Study Series]

Also, if Peter is the cornerstone of the church the other synoptic gospels don’t speak to this citing the same confession of Peter [Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20]. I believe the whole counsel of God [particularly Eph 2:19-20] must be taken into account regarding this “foundation” of the church the “household of God”.

Regarding your citing of Tertullian in church history . . . I’m afraid that argument is not a very good one. Tertullian’s dates are approximately 160-230 A.D. I believe you may have stated his view correctly, but what are we to make of an earlier writing of Ignatius of Antioch approximately 35-107 A.D regarding this text. I will quote early church fathers' views that John Owen cites earlier on pgs. 6-7 of his preface to the book I quoted in the last post:

Ignatius (35-107 A.D.)

“‘He’ (that is, Christ) ‘is the way leading unto the Father, the rock, the key, the shepherd.’”

Origen (185-254 A.D.)

“If you shall think that the whole church was built on Peter alone, what shall we say of John, and each of the apostles? What! [S]hall we dare say that the gates of hell shall not prevail against Peter only?”

Eusebius (c. 275-5/30/339 A.D.)

“ Praeparat. Evang., lib.i. cap. 3 . . . He proves the verity of divine predictions from the glorious accomplishment of that word, and the promise of our Saviour, that he would build his church on the rock, (that is, himself,) so as that the gates of hell should not prevail against it.”

Hilary de Trin. (I don’t know his dates)

“This is the only immovable foundation, this is the blessed rock of faith, confessed by Peter, Thou are the Son of the living God.”

Epahianius (I don’t know his dates)

“Upon this rock” of assured faith “I will build my church.”

Augustine (354-430 A.D.)

“He (Christ) meant the universal church, which in this world is shaken with divers temptations, as with showers, floods, and tempests, yet falleth not, because it is build on the rock (Petra) from whence Peter took his name. For the rock is not called Petra from Peter, but Peter is so called from Petra the rock; as Christ is not so called from Christian, but Christian from Christ. Therefore, said the Lord, ‘Upon this rock will I build my church;’ because Peter had said, ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Upon this rock, which thou hast confessed, will I build my church. For Christ himself was the rock on which foundation Peter himself was built. For other foundation can no man lay, save that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Unfortunately, your argument that the “true historic Christian interpretation” is not the same as the “400 year-old post-Reformation Protestant interpretation” doesn’t completely hold up. Besides the interpretation of Scripture is not substantiated by the interpretation of man, rather through the commentary of the entire counsel of God. Unfortunately, I don’t see your interpretation being confirmed by the rest of the Word. Therefore, I don’t think it would be wise to base the foundation of the church on a man other than the God-Man Jesus Christ.

I believe this is the truth.

Soli Deo Gloria
Noah

John Owen Laying an Axe to the Root of Roman Catholicism

From John Owen [From The Glory of Christ pg. 32]

Here’s a brief introduction to the context of this quote. Owen is talking about how Roman Catholics are wrong in their claim that Peter is the foundation of the church from Matthew 16:18 . . .

“How they bring in the claim of their pope by Peter, his being at Rome, being bishop of Rome, dying at Rome, fixing his chair at Rome, devoting and transmitting all his right, title, power and authority, every thing but his faith, holiness and labour in the ministry, unto the pope, I shall not here inquire; I have done it elsewhere. Here is fixed the root of the tree, which is grown great, like that in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, until it is become a receptacle for the beasts of the field and fowls of the air – sensual men and unclean spirits.”

Owen then says, regarding this root of Peter being the foundation of the Roman Catholic church . . .
“I shall, therefore, briefly lay an axe unto the root of it, by evidencing that it is not the person of Peter who confessed Christ, but the person of Christ whom Peter confessed, that is the rock on which the church is built.”
Wow! I have to say that I agree with the protestant reading of Matthew 16:18.

Her Husband's Crown

I’m definitely going to buy this for Linds when it comes out! Check it out! It might be a good one for you to get for your wife, your pastor's wife, or any other lady in your life.

BTW, are there any other books that have been an encouragement to you wives?? If yes, please post the titles/authors.

[I'm not sure if it's a book or just a booklet. Either way it looks great!]

Here's the blurb:

Here's what will be the newest addition to the Banner booklet series - to be released in a few short weeks.
------------------------------------
Although much has been written to prepare men for the work of the Christian ministry, there is comparatively little in print that will help prepare the minister’s wife for her role within the church.

The pastor’s wife is neither ‘The First Lady of the Church’, nor just another member of the church. She has certain basic responsibilities laid upon her and this booklet aims to encourage and help her to serve the Lord alongside her husband.

Although written primarily for pastors’ wives, this booklet will encourage Christian wives in general and will stimulate prayer for and support of pastors and their wives everywhere.

[HT: Steve Burlew]

The Eternal Enjoyment of Christ

John Owen on Christ and believers.

“Unto them that believe unto the saving of the soul, he is, he always hath been, precious – the sun, the rock, the life, the bread of their souls – every thing that is good, useful, amiable, desirable, here or unto eternity. In, from, and by him, is all their spiritual and eternal life, light, power, growth, consolation, and joy here; with everlasting salvation hereafter. By him alone do they desire, expect, and obtain deliverance from that woful [woeful] apostasy [desertion/departure] from God, which is accompanied with – which containeth in it virtually and meritoriously – whatever is evil, noxious [harmful], and destructive unto our nature, and which without relief, will issue in eternal misery. By him are they brought into the nearest cognation , alliance, and friendship with God, the firmest union unto him, and the most holy communion with him, that our finite natures are capable of, and so conducted unto the eternal enjoyment of him.”

John Owen in the preface [pg. 3] of A Declaration of the Glorious Mystery of The Person of Christ – God and Man: with The Infinite Wisdom, Love, and Power of God in the Contrivance and Constitution Thereof; as also, Of The Grounds And Reasons Of His Ministry In Heaven; The Present State Of The Church Above Thereon; And The Use Of His Person In Religion; with An Account And Vindication Of The Honour, Worship, Faith, Love, And Obedience Due Unto Him, In And From The Church. Banner of Truth Trust; Carlisle, PA. 2000

I love it how Owen's titles are almost as long as the quotes that people cite from him!

Affirmations and Denials; Articles XIII-XV

Here are the next three affirmations and denials from Together for the Gospel's document.

Article XIII

We affirm that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to believers by God’s decree alone, and that this righteousness, imputed to the believer through faith alone, is the only righteousness that justifies.

We deny that such righteousness is earned or deserved in any manner, is infused within the believer to any degree, or is realized in the believer through anything other than faith alone.

Article XIV

We affirm that the shape of Christian discipleship is congregational, and that God’s purpose is evident in faithful Gospel congregations, each displaying God’s glory in the marks of authentic ecclesiology.

We deny that any Christian can truly be a faithful disciple apart from the teaching, discipline, fellowship, and accountability of a congregation of fellow disciples, organized as a Gospel church. We further deny that the Lord’s Supper can faithfully be administered apart from the right practice of church discipline.

Article XV

We affirm that evangelical congregations are to work together in humble and voluntary cooperation and that the spiritual fellowship of Gospel congregations bears witness to the unity of the Church and the glory of God.

We deny that loyalty to any denomination or fellowship of churches can take precedence over the claims of truth and faithfulness to the Gospel.

Here's a quick commentary regarding Article XIII and Article IV:

XIII: The forensic/legal aspect of justification is a very important one that many just don't believe. As you can see in this series of comment posts I had recently at a friends blog that some folks don't believe that the "imputation" language of justification is what Paul meant by the word "justification". However, by the word "justification" Paul [and other Scripture passages] did mean imputation of righteousness to us (2 Cor 5:21; Ro 4:25; 5:18, etc.), and likewise the sin of believers to Him on the cross(1 Pet 2:24; Gal 3:13; etc.). This is the center of the gospel...indicating how Jesus achieved a propitiatory sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin.

XIV: This a strong motivator for the local church. Also, church membership. Do you belong to a church? Lindsey and I are currently looking. If you do belong to a church are you getting the "teaching, discipline, fellowship, and accountability of a congregation of fellow disciples" characteristic of a "gospel church"?

My Birthday This Year!

Well here's a belated pic from my birthday this year. I am officially 6 and 3/4 birthdays old [I was born on leap year 2/29/1980]. This is a pic of my folks and the Marks and us at Ohana's Steakhouse.

The next one is of me and Linds [for those of you that don't know me that's my wife!] Check out that German chocolate cake she made. That's my favorite!

Affirmations and Denials; Articles X-XII

Here are the next three affirmations and denials from Together for the Gospel's document.

[Hang on there are only six to go!]

Article X

We affirm that salvation comes to those who truly believe and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We deny that there is salvation in any other name, or that saving faith can take any form other than conscious belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and His saving acts.

Article XI

We affirm the continuity of God’s saving purpose and the Christological unity of the covenants. We further affirm a basic distinction between law and grace, and that the true Gospel exalts Christ’s atoning work as the consummate and perfect fulfillment of the law.

We deny that the Bible presents any other means of salvation than God’s gracious acceptance of sinners in Christ.

Article XII

We affirm that sinners are justified only through faith in Christ, and that justification by faith alone is both essential and central to the Gospel.

We deny that any teaching that minimizes, denies, or confuses justification by faith alone can be considered true to the Gospel. We further deny that any teaching that separates regeneration and faith is a true rendering of the Gospel.

Brother Eric on the Front Page!

Check this out...my brother-in-law Eric Newman was on the front page of the local paper today. The pic below was taken in the middle of a timed fire fighter physical agility test that he was doing. Eric had the fastest time in the entire group! Awesome!

Two things! First,the orange thing around his chest is a strap that the guy behind him was holding because the load was pretty heavy. Second, this task was done after multiple heavy lifting in other tasks in the middle of the test.

Affirmations and Denials; Articles VII-IX

Here are the next three affirmations and denials from Together for the Gospel's document.

Article VII

We affirm that Jesus Christ is true God and true Man, in perfect, undiluted, and unconfused union throughout his incarnation and now eternally. We also affirm that Christ died on the cross as a substitute for sinners, as a sacrifice for sin, and as a propitiation of the wrath of God toward sinners. We affirm the death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Christ as essential to the Gospel. We further affirm that Jesus Christ is Lord over His church, and that Christ will reign over the entire cosmos in fulfillment of the Father’s gracious purpose.

We deny that the substitutionary character of Christ’s atonement for sin can be compromised without serious injury to the Gospel or denied without repudiating the Gospel. We further deny that Jesus Christ is visible only in weakness, rather than in power, Lordship, or royal reign, or, conversely, that Christ is visible only in power, and never in weakness.

Article VIII

We affirm that salvation is all of grace, and that the Gospel is revealed to us in doctrines that most faithfully exalt God’s sovereign purpose to save sinners and in His determination to save his redeemed people by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to His glory alone.

We deny that any teaching, theological system, or means of presenting the Gospel that denies the centrality of God’s grace as His gift of unmerited favor to sinners in Christ can be considered true doctrine.

Article IX

We affirm that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s means of bringing salvation to His people, that sinners are commanded to believe the Gospel, and that the church is commissioned to preach and teach the Gospel to all nations.

We deny that evangelism can be reduced to any program, technique, or marketing approach. We further deny that salvation can be separated from repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Any thoughts?

New Chair...

Well, I'm going to turn in for the night...and I thought I'd post a pic of the new chair we purchased last weekend. It reclines too! It's perfect for reading...and better support for my back while studying...

Oh...and that's my cat Trixie sleeping on it.

205.5!

Update on working out!

Back in January I started running 3-5 days a week for 30 minutes with a 5 minute cooldown. I'm happy to say that I've kept it up. I started at 5.6 miles per hour and weighed in at 216.5lbs [I had dropped from 225lbs when Lindsey and I started lifting weights last October].

I'm down to 205.5lbs! I know it's been slow, but that's approx. 20lbs since last October...and 11lbs since January. My goal weight is 185 for my height [5'11"]. And I think at this rate I might be able to get there...someday!

Also, I'm running for 30 minutes now at 6.5 mph instead of 5.6 where I started. Not bad! It's nice to run from the car to the grocery store and not get out of breath!

Affirmations and Denials; Articles IV-VI

Here are the next 3 Articles from Together For the Gospel's Affirmations and Denials.

Article IV

We affirm the centrality of expository preaching in the church and the urgent need for a recovery of biblical exposition and the public reading of Scripture in worship.

We deny that God-honoring worship can marginalize or neglect the ministry of the Word as manifested through exposition and public reading. We further deny that a church devoid of true biblical preaching can survive as a Gospel church.

Article V

We affirm that the Bible reveals God to be infinite in all his perfections, and thus truly omniscient, omnipotent, timeless, and self-existent. We further affirm that God possesses perfect knowledge of all things, past, present, and future, including all human thoughts, acts, and decisions.

We deny that the God of the Bible is in any way limited in terms of knowledge or power or any other perfection or attribute, or that God has in any way limited his own perfections.

Article VI

We affirm that the doctrine of the Trinity is a Christian essential, bearing witness to the ontological reality of the one true God in three divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each of the same substance and perfections.

We deny the claim that the Trinity is not an essential doctrine, or that the Trinity can be understood in merely economic or functional categories.

Are we in agreement so far?

Affirmations and Denials; Articles I - III

Over the next couple weeks I'm going to blog through the affirmations and denials that were written in conjuction with the Together for the Gospel conference last year. I'll do a few articles every few days. I'm curious to see what any of you think regarding this.

Is this something you could sign?

Here are the first three articles

Article I

We affirm that the sole authority for the Church is the Bible, verbally inspired, inerrant, infallible, and totally sufficient and trustworthy.

We deny that the Bible is a mere witness to the divine revelation, or that any portion of Scripture is marked by error or the effects of human sinfulness.

Article II

We affirm that the authority and sufficiency of Scripture extends to the entire Bible, and therefore that the Bible is our final authority for all doctrine and practice.

We deny that any portion of the Bible is to be used in an effort to deny the truthfulness or trustworthiness of any other portion. We further deny any effort to identify a canon within the canon or, for example, to set the words of Jesus against the writings of Paul.

Article III

We affirm that truth ever remains a central issue for the Church, and that the church must resist the allure of pragmatism and postmodern conceptions of truth as substitutes for obedience to the comprehensive truth claims of Scripture.

We deny that truth is merely a product of social construction or that the truth of the Gospel can be expressed or grounded in anything less than total confidence in the veracity of the Bible, the historicity of biblical events, and the ability of language to convey understandable truth in sentence form. We further deny that the church can establish its ministry on a foundation of pragmatism, current marketing techniques, or contemporary cultural fashions.

Insurance Biblical??

What do you think?

Here's a quote from David Wells...

"What has replaced the idea of providence, of God's exercise of his rule in life, is chance and luck, and evil has simply devolved into bad luck ... perhaps ... the six hundred thousand who died in the American Civil War contribued much to the demise of the idea of providence ... However, it was not just war that contributed to this sense of the decentering of the world. Everything in the modern age seemed to point in this direction: why one person was unemployed and another was not; why one woman got pregnant and another did not; why some got fatal diseases in the prime of life and others did not; and why some struck it rich and others remained paupers. Life, it seemed, is just a large, complex, and unpredictable accident. This was the context in which insurance companies began to thrive in the nineteenth century . They developed actuarial charts in an attempt to handicap chance. But was the buying of insurance, this making of bets against the future, really different from gambling? It was hard to know. [Above All Earthly Powers pp. 241"]

A few quick things...first, we often justify paying so much for insurance because the possessions that keep us so in debt are so costly. Are we any different than bond-servants to these possessions? A slave serving created things? Second, what's the difference between us [who "NEED" to have insurance] and our ancestors who didn't? Possessions! Healthcare! Oh how we could use to live more simple lives... Lastly, insurance isn't all bad [actually good stewardship almost requires it in this country where you can sue for almost anything], but we can't complain about the state of gambling, because thinking rationally and honestly ... insurance companies have some of the same implications and effects on our society. Just some food for thought. Insurance is good but don't let it be your god!

Think about this the next time you say, "Good Luck!"

Banner of Truth Preaching Conference

This conference looks awesome...click the pic to view the brochure. As of today the speaker line up is different.
Here are the speakers:

• Sinclair Ferguson
• Derek Thomas
• Mark Johnston
• Patrick Harrison
• Ben Short
• Jonathan Watson

I hope we're out in D.C. in time to go to this one. If not that's cool.

The Worst Bad Theology Alert [so far] of 2007: "The Secret"

This is an extremely popular book endorsed by Oprah [the idol/god of many American women].

Here are a few quotes to whet your appetite:

"Nothing [good or bad] can come into your experience unless you summon it
through persistent thoughts" (p. 28).

"Your thoughts are the primary
cause of everything" (p. 33).

"Your current reality or your current life is a result of the thoughts you
have been thinking" (p. 71).

"There isn't a single thing that you cannot
do with this knowledge. . . . The Secret can give you whatever you want" (p.
xi).

"...you will come to know how you can have, be, or do anything you
want" (p. xii).

"You are God in a physical body. You are Spirit in the
flesh. You are Eternal Life expressing itself as You. You are a cosmic being.
You are all power. You are all wisdom. You are all intelligence. You are
perfection. You are magnificence. You are the creator, and you are creating the
creation of You on this planet" (p. 164).

"The earth turns on its orbit for You. The oceans ebb and flow for You. The birds sing for You. The sun rises and it sets for You. The stars come out for You. Every beautiful thing you see, every wondrous thing you experience, is all there for You. Take a look around. None of it can exist, without You. No matter who you thought you were, now you know the Truth of Who You Really Are. You are the master of the Universe. You are the heir to the kingdom. You are the perfection of Life. And now you know The Secret" (p. 183).

"...no one will stand in judgment of [your life], now
or ever" (p. 177).

[HT: Lindsey referring me to this review by Don Whitney A Review of The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.]

Also, if you want to know what Oprah thinks of the exclusivity of Jesus for salvation check out this video...keep your eyes open to who is influencing you and your kids!

Projects on the Docket!

• Infant Salvation: As always, I collect articles and mark up books where they discuss infant salvation. I’m curious what folks have thought throughout history about this. One area that I need to dig more into is the Jewish thought regarding the topic.
• The Repentance of God [Term Paper for SBTS]: To what extent linguistically or philologically do anthropomorphisms apply to God. When the Bible uses these descriptors of God do they place all the implications on God that they would when they are used in regard to man? [e.g. anger, lying, repent, etc.]
• The Development of the English Reformation [Term Paper for SBTS]: What primary influences caused the “Church of England” to break away from Roman Catholicism. [I’m not going to write about the inclination of the Anglican Church today to seek communion with the Roman Catholics…but I am curious what the cause of the split originally was (I'm assuming it's the gospel...which the Anglican Church in England has largely lost). It’s amazing how few generations there are between a split and an ignorance of why the split happened…and ultimately falling into unbelief can occur.]
• Book Review on John Piper’s Counted Righteous in Christ [Book Review for SBTS].

If you have any ideas of some good sources for these topics…please let me know. I’m open to any commentary or sources! As I get some of this done I'll post some of the ideas:) It won't be right away though.

Have a great blizzard...I mean day!

La Ma'an Shmo

Noah

Toilet Ipod Dock

Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

Snowed in Sunday Worship!

[UPDATE: Turns out Valley Church had services. Still the plows hadn't come yet and we only have one car...an honda civic that slips on everything and and would get stuck pretty easily. So we didn't brave the conditions. Besides after watching the news I just assumed that every church cancelled. Wrong assumption I guess:)]

Well, we couldn't get out for worship at a local church this morning, I woke up early this morning and every church cancelled services. But we could worship at home. So here's the family worship time we had this morning.

Preparation for worship: Prayers from the Valley of Vision

• I read...Meeting God [p. 148] favorite line: "Strengthen and give thee no rest until Christ shall reign supreme within me."

• Lindsey read...Christ Alone [p. 23] favorite line: "Here, it is my duty to be as Christ in this world to do what he would do, to live as he would live, to walk in love and meekness; then would he be known, then would I have peace in death."

Scripture Prayer

• Ephesians 3:14-21 favorite line: verse 18-19, "to know the love of Christ that suprasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Prayer

• Lindsey
• Me
• Lindsey

Scripture Reading
• Hebrews 7-10 Favorite lines:

o 7:3 "[The priesthood in the order of Melchizedek...namely Christ] Having neither beginning of days nor end of life"

o 7:24-25 "[Jesus] holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."

o 8:10, 12 "...I will be their God, and they shall be my people...I will remember their sins no more."

o 9:22 "...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins."

o 9:26, 28 "...But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself...Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."

o 10:31 "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Exposition/Preaching of the Word

• We listened to Ligon Duncan's Sermon on Titus 2:1-10.

Singing Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs [Lindsey is an excellent pianist!]

• My Jesus, I Love Thee [no. 405] Favorite line: "I love Thee, because Thou hast first loved me, and purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree, I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow."
• Take My Life, and Let It Be Consecrated [no. 310] Favorite line: "Take my moments and my days; Let them flow in ceaseless praise."

Soli Deo Gloria
Noah

Why Do We Go to Church?

Hebrews 10:23-25
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Mark 18:20
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

1 Corinthians 5:4
"When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus..."

Acts 20:7
"On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight." [Notice what else happened on the first day of the week...the resurrection of our Lord! (Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, 19)]

1 Corinthians 16:2
"On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come."

[All this Scripture is from the English Standard Version of the bible.]

From the above passages I believe we have a precedent that the disciples/apostles and early Christians gathered together on the first day of the week...the day of the resurrection. We commanded to not neglect meeting together. Where 2 or more are gathered there Christ is with us. Also, how are we to live out the love one another passages if we never see each other? [John 13:34-35, etc.] Also, we're to worship in spirit and truth [John 4:23]. No church is perfect, but when you no longer feel that you can worship the Lord in spirit and truth you need to seek fellowship, accountability, and worship with another group of believers somewhere.

Something to think on...

[I know this is a simplistic answer to why we go to church, but I believe these are pretty good simplistic answers...what do you think?]

Rick Warren and Gregory Boyd What a Pair!

No offense, but I didn't really hear a clear message about what the gospel is from Rick in this interview...what do you think?

Also, although I agree with some of the things the second interviewee [Gregory Boyd] said about Christians and politics...he's a pretty big "bad theology alert" when it comes to his Open Theism...

Warren and Boyd both think the church is to look like Jesus...unfortunately other than social issues they didn't say too much more about what that really means. What about the exclusivity of the gospel. Warren was cornered on the exclusivity of Christ and he acted like he didn't want to say...I don't think you'd see that in the book of Acts. Warren's brief summation of liberalism and evangelicalism was tragically simplistic.

Also, what do you think all of this talk on the kingdom of God? If Charlie Rose was interviewing you...what would you have said? I posted a response to the NY Times report on the sermon series that Boyd was talking about here a while back...it's interesting that he lost 1,000 members over politics...but when it comes to his heretical doctrine on the openness or non-sovereignty of God they stay. Wow!

Interesting stuff...

The Presence of God in The Deep, Frightening Waters of Life

"To live with the Lord when things are light makes real the potential of realizing His presence when things are dark and when finding Him is not easy. The more we value our daily walk with Him when all is going well, the greater the potential of experiencing His fullness when moments of crises come. From the well of rich, historical experiences we are able to draw forth the lessons to be learned from those traumatic times. How wonderful to walk through the deep the frightening waters of life and emerge on the other side with a new understanding of the reality of the presence of God!"

[James, Sam Servant on the Edge of History: Risking All for the Gospel in War-Ravaged Vietnam. Copyright Sam James, 2005. Garland, Texas. Pg. 45]

A Prayer of Augustine

"My God, let me be thankful as I remember and acknowledge all your mercies. Let my whole self be steeped in love of you and all my being cry Lord, there is none like you! You have broken the chains that bound me; I will sacrifice in your honour. I shall tell how it was that you broke them and, when they hear what I have to tell, all who adore you will exclaim, ‘Blessed be the Lord in heaven and on earth Great and wonderful is his name.’"

Pine-Coffin, R.S. [Translator and Introduction] Saint Augustine Confessions. Penguin Books Ltd., London; 1961 Pp. 157 (Bk 8.1).

Prayer Request: Randy's [a good friend's] Family

I’m posting this with Randy’s permission.

I just spoke with a good friend who needs your fervent prayers.

Randy’s Brother:

He received a message last night from his brother in Denver, CO. He mentioned in the message that he may be having a stroke. Randy tried to reach him numerous times this morning with no success. He also tried the local hospital and his brother was not there. So he called the police. They picked up Randy’s brother, and unfortunately we don’t know too much more right now.

Randy’s Sister:

Also, Randy’s sister is in the hospital in Omaha, NE. She is being treated for OCD, depression, and anxiety. Please pray for her as well.

Randy:

Lastly pray for Randy’s health as he bears the difficult burden of helping his siblings. Pray for strength and God's glory!

In Christ
Noah

Depressed

We're pretty depressed right now...

Please pray for us.

For His Glory
Noah

"Straying Like Sheep"

Okay one last post before I start studying Hebrew again. I've been thinking about sheep for a while because of the label Jesus gives us as His sheep...

Have you really ever thought about what sheep are like? I've heard people say that sheep are really dumb. A good friend of mine, PJ Holmertz, was teaching once and said that a speaker brought a sheep to demonstrate its stupidity. He said they walked it into a corner and it couldn't find it's way out.

Honestly, that was hard for me to believe. But I love PJ and I believe him.

So last Thanksgiving I while we were driving out to Greeley, CO in the RV to hang with family I was talking to my dad about sheep. They used to have sheep. He told me a story that I think is good for understanding what we are like in the Lord's eyes.

Here it goes...

They had just acquired a flock of sheep and one had gone astray. I'm not sure if my dad was told he had to go find it and get it, or if he noticed it was gone and went after it...nonetheless he went after it. He didn't run or walk after it though...he took a tractor. He said that he spotted the sheep and it was up against a fence. As he pulled the loud tractor closer to the sheep he noticed that it got really scared and shook a little before falling down. Dad went up to the lamb and tried to get it to come to, but he couldn't. So he drove the tractor back home to get Grandpa Braymen.

So they come back out together to get this lamb. After looking at it a minute Grandpa told dad that the sheep had died. It must have had a heart attack or something.

Okay, I haven't worked with sheep before, but dad has. And this story really brings a few things to light to me. If we are truly like sheep...then when something big and glorious comes after us we are scared and we would literally die in the presence of this glory [I know, my dad on a tractor is an imperfect example of glory, but you get the point...sorry dad:)].

Second, the owner of the sheep isn't going to just let the sheep stray. They're going to actively go out after them.

Lastly, the sheep are so stupid. Do you get it. You're dumb...and I'm dumb. Nothing cultivates humility like coming to a realization that there is a lot that is wrong with you. Don't get too depressed though, because there is grace to be found in Jesus Christ. Don't be fearful and die in your stupidity and ignorance. When the Good Shepherd gently puts His hand you your shoulder when you are completely distraught and says, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid [Mark 6:50]," stand up and follow Him in repenting and believing in the gospel [Mark 1:15]."

God bless you brothers and sisters. My prayer is that you will be strengthened in all hope and love in the gospel this week. May God be glorified in you, to you, and through you!

Redeemer Presbyterian DSM, IA

I went to a Presbyterian Church of America church this morning called Redeemer Presbyterian in Beaverdale, IA. Lindsey is down in Arkansas so I thought I'd see what the only PCA church in central Iowa was like.

This church preaches the Word of God! Expositional all the way! Praise God for the labor that they are doing in DSM, Iowa!

Anyhow, the passage that Wayne preached on was 1 Peter 2:18-25...here are some of my notes.

• Introduction: Commentary on slavery.
• First Sentence… “What do we think of when we think of slavery?”
• Main point: Because Jesus Christ suffered for us we must follow in His steps.
• Suffer for the sake of the gospel.
• Suffering injustice is a gracious gift from God.

o Because by obedience we find grace to do what is commanded of us.
o We are not suffering because of our sin, but we are suffering by the grace of God.
o It is a gracious gift of God because it points us to Jesus Christ!

Now my favorite part…

• Atonement: The extent of Christ’s sufferings…

o The atonement wasn’t just an example as some folks would say today.
o Here where Peter is outlining and exhorting us most strongly to follow Jesus’ example in suffering he says that Jesus was crucified in our place.
o This is the vicarious [suffered in the place of another] subsitutionary [replacement for another] atonement [satisfaction of God’s wrath for the sins we have committed against Him].
o 1 Corinthians 5:21 “He became sin who knew no sin”
o 1 Peter 2:24 “He…bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.”

• “Look to God in faith to Jesus Christ who bore our sin on the tree…that we might follow and imitate.”
• “We cannot atone for our sin, but we are called to lay down our lives…in that people see self sacrifice and the love of God in our lives.”
• “The price of suffering is all worth it to be with our God.”
• “We are most effective in ministering when we come in our own brokenness…not to hide and cover up…it’s the power of the gospel.”
• Last Sentence… “Live life to follow our shepherd.”

Amen!

The thing I liked the most about this service was the reverence for the word of God! We stood when Scripture was read. Also, I loved how we actually prayed the Lord’s prayer, and said the Apostle’s Creed out loud.

Communion was pretty sweet too…I was pretty surprised when I drank of the cup though…it was wine…and I don’t drink.

Lama’an Shmo
Noah

My Cousin Rocks @ Juggling!

Check this video out. If I'm not mistaken he's juggling to a great band Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Isaac is seriously one of the best jugglers I've ever seen. He juggles at family stuff all the time. It's great! I guess he's practiced so much in the yard that he has killed the grass in patches...check him out!

Wowsers!

Pistol Pete

I'm not a huge sports fan...but this guy looks like he was an amazing basketball player. Wow!


[HT: Michael Meisen at the "Blazing Fire"]

Duo Set List: 2/16/2007

Here's an old picture of Steve Gilbertson and I [not very high quality, but that's the best I could do with a glossy picture:)].


Well...the gig last night was great! We played from 6:00 to 8:00pm. It was at a jewelry/art store called M. C. Ginsberg [their philosophy is a bad theology alert:)].

Anyhow, Steve and I had a blast. He was on piano and I was on guitar. We just jammed on standard jazz tunes for a few hours. I love going to a gig with no particular set list in mind and just calling tunes and playing them! Here's the set list in case you're curious...

(1) The Days of Wine and Roses [Mancini] Medium Swing
(2) Blue in Green [Miles Davis] Ballad
(3) Alone Together [Dietz and Schultz] Medium Swing
(4) Stella By Starlight [Victor Young] as a Bossa Nova
(5) There Will Never Be Another You [Warren/Gordon] Medium Swing
(6) All the Things You Are [Hammerstein/Kern] Medium Swing
(7) Calypso [Kenny Baron] Medium/Up Latin Tune
(8) Sandu [Clifford Brown] Medium Swing Blues
(9) Alice in Wonderland [Fain/Hilliard] Jazz Waltz
(10) Summertime [George Gershwin] Bossa Nova
(11) Scrapple From the Apple [Charlie Parker] Medium Bop
(12) It Could Happen To You [Burke/Van Heusen] Medium Swing
(13) Don't Get Around Much Anymore [Duke Ellington] Medium Swing

It all came back pretty quickly. Also, we didn't take any breaks, because we were having so much fun.

If you're still reading...I'll tell you something funny that happened really quickly. We started to play Stella By Starlight [bear in mind that I'm a little rusty] and it sounded terrible. Our intonation was terrible. Steve looked at me like I was messing up and I was looking at him the same way. He lifted up his book and played the first few notes of the head...and I did too and we sounded fine. Then he set his book down again and we tried to start again. It sounded terrible again!

Well, it turned out that Steve had set his music on the "whammy" bar of his piano dropping the pitch by at least a half step. Man, we cracked up! Then we played it in the correct key.

It was a ton of fun...thanks Steve!

Jazz Duo Gig

Wow...it's been a while...but tomorrow I'm playing a gig with an old good friend. It'll be a blast as soon as I can get my fingers back:) Sorry folks...it's a private party.

I love jamming...playing jazz standards for two hours with good friends. The funny thing is that people actually pay us for this and they enjoy it. Who knew!?!? I'll let you know how it goes. As long as we can play "All the Things You Are" I will be happy.

When It Rains It Pours!

Wow...what a week...sheesh!

Bible study @ work Friday 2/09/2007...I talked to my boss about the "political correctness" of doing a bible study at work. She got back to me later in the day and told me it would be cool if I did. And she told me how I can do it following company guidelines. Pray for her...she's been a great help. Also, a co-worker that is a sister in Christ has set up a conference room for the future after this week. This was a huge help. Praise the Lord for her.

Evangelism @ Post Office Saturday 2/10/2007...I had a 40 minute discussion with Tom at the Waukee Post office about the gospel. We talked about everything from substitutionary atonement to how Christianity helps the government. He wouldn't repent and believe in Jesus, but I made it clear that that is what he must do. I made it clear the Jesus is exclusive in order to experience heaven with the Lord [I posted about it here]. Please pray for him.

Evangelistic Bible study @ work Monday 2/12/2007...I asked around 8 guys to do a Bible study with me here at work. Some were more interested than others...I don't know if most of them are Christians or not...but I felt like God would want me to do this. So it will be an "Evangelistic Bible" study. We will study Mark...and hopefully they will come...and hopefully they will be confronted with who Jesus Christ is. Please pray for them to come and be open to talking about the gospel.

Evangelism to Neighbor Tuesday 2/13/2007...I was out shovelling after work and I got into a conversation with my neighbor. He is Hindu. Anyhow, once again we talked about everything from substitutionary atonement [I didn't use this word though] to whether or not the Hindi faith is exclusive or not. I gave him a Tim Keller talk "Who Is This Jesus" and he wouldn't take it. I explained how I'd listen to anything he would give me. But he kept refusing. The conversation wasn't abraisive but he didn't really respond favorably when I started to explain that the only way to heaven is through Jesus. He said Hinduism believes in Christianity, but I told him it didn't. He didn't like that. Please pray for him and me...that he'd be softened and I would be humble.

Sharpening by/with a Brother Wednesday 2/14/2007...I was involved in a pretty intense discussion about election/predestination with a fellow Christian at work. He clearly doesn't agree with what I have read in the Bible...but that's okay. We're here to sharpen each other...him me, and I him. Please pray for us.

Evangelistic Bible study @ work Thursday 2/15/2007...We start the evangelistic Bible study at work [I'll post more later as to how I came to the conclusion of doing this]. Please pray for us.

Tonight we celebrate Valentine's Day and then I study Hebrew, have a writing assignment to do, etc. This week has been crazy! I've been emotionally high, low, have felt spiritual warfare...and am tired. Praise God for a week well spent!

Soli Deo Gloria
Noah

Bad Theology Alert: Flyer

I blurred out the phone #...but not the website...but anyhow, this bad theology alert was torn out of the local [Des Moines] paper. A friend gave this to me on Sunday.

As a church following Christ, hence Christian church, how do they reconcile this add with John 14:6?

"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [ESV]"

D. A. Carson: Christians/Alcohol

Check out this quote from D. A. Carson. The context of this is in a lecture about the New Perspective on Paul. He's making an anology of why Timothy was circumcised by Paul. Carson says, this...

"...Timothy was not forced to be circumcised...But then, along comes Paul and circumcises Timothy. What’s going on? If somebody is saying that you have to circumcise someone in order for him to be a Christian, Paul will say, “Absolutely no way.” If on the other hand Paul...thinks it wise to avoid offending Jewish sensibilities by paying for somebody’s sacrifices or by circumcising Timothy so that they can get into the synagogues without raising a whole lot of questions. Then fine, he’ll go ahead and do it. [2:43:27]"

Then Carson makes an anology to drinking alcohol. This is classic check it out!

"To take an analogy that’s not very good, but nevertheless shows something similar, you know that in certain parts – now I’m a Canadian – but in certain parts of the United States do you know that many Christians don’t drink alcohol. Now, if I’m in one of those parts and everyone’s going to be all upset if I drink alcohol, then – I don’t drink alcohol, it’s not worth the fight and so on. But if somebody says to me, “You cannot be a Christian and drink alcohol,” I will say, “pass the Bourgogne [Canadian wine]’!” Do you see?

Because you do not ever allow anything to jeapordize the absolute sufficiency of Christ. Not anything! [2:44:37-2:45:25 (Emphasis added)]

[These quotes are taken from D. A. Carson’s talk on the New Perspective on Paul ELF 2003 Theologians Network (European Leadership Forum). The hour, minute, and second markers corresponding to where I trascribed the quotes from are listed after each quote.]

To listen to the entire lecture click here [beware, it's around 3 hours long].

Capitol Hill Baptist Church and 9Marks Ministry

Lord willing...this is the church that I will be interning at next Fall. Check out the video!

In Christ
Noah

New Attitude 2007: Humble Orthodoxy

Check out this video trailer about this year's New Attitude conference!

The Preaching line-up looks pretty darn good:)

Josh Harris
Eric Simmons
C.J. Mahaney
Mark Dever
Al Mohler
John Piper

The Post Office, Patience, and The Gospel: Journal 2/10/07

It seems like a unlikely combination...I know. But that is my story today.

I had to mail some books back for the classes I didn't end up taking. Also, I had to mail in some rebates for our cell phones [among a few other things].

The Post Office on a Saturday

It's ludacris to go to the post office on Saturday morning from 11:30 to noon. Guess, what time I pulled up...11:45am. I knew I was going to have to be patient. So, I walked in.

I stood in line for about five minutes and then realized I wanted to send the rebates certified mail with a slip to be mailed back to me upon receipt at the destination. So I walk out of line to get the slips and I fill them out. I turned around and about five people arrived and jumped in line.

After waiting in line for about twenty minutes I got to the counter. The man behind the counter was a really nice Chinese guy named Tom. Anyhow, he rung up a bunch of stuff I was mailing...and then he pointed out that I had not boxed the boxes up correctly. I asked him what I needed to do and he told me.

Patience

I asked for help because I don't ship stuff very often and he abruptly said, "Sir, we are really busy, and we don't have time to offer these kinds of services." I turned around and sure enough there was a line behind me about as long as it was when I arrived. I thought, "Oh great, another 20 minute wait." I apologized and said to go ahead and ring everyone else up. He snapped at me and said, "I've already started to ring up your stuff." I tried to patiently say, "Well, let's ring up this stuff...then I'll go package this stuff appropriately...and you can ring everyone else up...and then we can take care of my boxes." Thus, I proceeded.

I went over to the area where they sell stamps and stuff, and started to put labels, and rebox items. He helped everyone else and then started to close everything up. Then I went back over and we started to take care of business again.

The Gospel

He asked what was in the boxes and I said, "Books, and shirts." Then I said the books were for a class I couldn't take. He asked what my major was. I responded, "Biblical and Theological Studies." He asked what classes I'm taking right now, and I said, "Hebrew and some others."

Then he asked me if I was a Jew. I said no. He was puzzled and asked why I'm taking Hebrew...as a Christian wouldn't I be taking Latin? I chuckled a little and asked him if he's ever read the Bible. He laughed and said, "No." Well, I explained, the first part of the Bible is called the Old Testament and it was written by the Jews in Hebrew, and the New Testament was written around the time that Jesus Christ was on earth and it was written in Greek. So the languages of the original manuscripts of the Bible are Hebrew and Greek. He was a little surprised.

He proceeded to ask me what the difference is between Christians and Mormons. "Well," I explained, "Christians believe in what is called the Trinity, and the Mormons don't. I explained that there is one God eternally...and that One God exists in three different states/forms/persons...God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It seems like there are three Gods, but it's really One. The Mormons believe that we humans can become Gods, and they don't believe in the Trinity...among other things." He was intrigued.

He asked me what good Christianity is to the state/government. I described that most Christians would desire a separation between church and state because we would never want the government to impose on religious beliefs. I asked him if he's ever heard the “gospel” or the “good news” about Jesus Christ. He said, “No.”

So, I described that there is and always has been this One God. He created all things...and every good thing on earth comes from Him. He created humans [Adam and Eve] and they sinned by disobeying God's laws. This sin is also in us. I pointed at him and said, "So that means you’re sinful," then I pointed at myself and said, "and I'm sinful." I told him that we are created to be in a relationship with God and that if we don't repent in believe in Jesus Christ [in that our sins were paid for by Jesus' death] the Son of God for the forgiveness of our sins then we will spend eternity in hell. I described hell means separation from God and all the good things we encounter on earth [never ending torment].

"So," he said, "why are there all these denominations?" I described how a Christian denomination is principally grounded in the fact that the people that are a part of it believe in the gospel that I just told you. He asked why in the Middle Ages that Roman Catholics disagreed with some of the things the denominations believed [He was trying to make a case that basically all generations of Christians negate the truth of their message because it's different in every age]. I told him that part of the reason that people thought differently back then was because people couldn't read, and the leaders did not teach what the Bible says. He seemed to acknowledge my rebuttal.

"So," he said, "are you going to be a priest." I said, "No." I described how, Lord willing, I will be a minister/servant and a pastor. Then he started asking how I would make money as a pastor. I told him that a portion of the money that people give to the church will provide for my food and house and stuff. “As a pastor,” I described, “I will labor and work take care of the people God has brought to our church body by studying the Bible, helping spiritually, and in times of need.

He said, "So, like the bigger churches in West Des Moines...does that mean that you'll make more money the bigger the congregation. So being a pastor is a pretty good business strategy." I described how the "church" is not the building and it is the people that gather together. I told him that he's spot on in his observation that pastors of larger churches make more than smaller churches. I told him that private planes though [that he cited] is probably a poor use of God's money. I described that Christians see the money they have as God's money so it's used to teach about the gospel which is the power unto salvation. I told him that it’s not a business strategy…it’s people coming together to worship God and teach about Him to the world.

He said, “Yeah, like in Europe…they don’t believe in God anymore and so Christians send missionaries there to teach about what they believe.” I told him that he’s right. He said, “So then, there are not Christians anymore in Europe.” I told him, “Because Christians didn’t keep teaching the gospel in Europe [and many other factors]…it is largely an unbelieving place now. I told him that there are Roman Catholics there, but it is largely not effective in teaching the gospel.

I asked him if he wanted to meet sometime and he said, “No, I’m too busy.” I said, “How are you too busy?” He said, “Well, I have to work, sleep, and do things on my computer.” I told him he should go to the little Waukee Baptist Church [a block away] sometime and just watch what Christians do. He seemed a little uncomfortable with that.

I asked him if he had a Bible, and he said he did…so I told him to just pick it up and read it sometime. He looked at me and said, “You’re one of the most patient people I’ve ever seen here.”

Conclusion

Needless to say, if you go somewhere and you’re ticked because something inconvenienced you and you have to be patient...BE PATIENT! God might have ordered those events so that you might witness the glorious gospel. Praise God that I was able to today!

I intend on doing more business at the Waukee Post Office! See you soon Tom!

Soli Deo Gloria

Is Congregationalism Biblical???

I know...first ordination...then eldership...now congregationalism. You're probably all ecclesiologied out by me today. But this stuff is really important. We go to church every week [possibly numerous times a week]. Do you even think about how this stuff is done at your church?

Do you have elders acting as what the Bible qualifies as deaconal in role? Do you have deacons acting as what the Bible defines as the roles of the elder? Do you have people that aren't members of your church teaching and leading? Does it matter??

It seems to me that if these roles are all intermingled and flip-flopped around there's the possibility that there is great confusion in your church. It's a good indicator that confusion or pragmatism [or both] have taken over your church. If it is true that His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness [2 Peter 1:3] should we rule out that the Bible is the authority to train us in that life and godliness? That's absurd. Of course it has the authority as all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness [2 Timothy 3:16]. Okay...so if the Bible is the guide for our individual lives then why not for church life as well. I've heard people say, "[the book of] Acts is descriptive...not prescriptive." True enough, but is that a blanket statement spread out in order to ignore what Acts [or the rest of the New Testament for that matter] says about church life? I have heard from others that my ideas about the church [no matter how good they might be] might be Satan getting a foothold into the church. This might be correct, but I've never heard other people say that about themselves. We might all be correct, but we might all be wrong. What's the rule bar that we measure ourselves on? The Bible...we have to come to agreement based on the Bible...because if we don't we're looking at schism because people just disagree about everything.

I think there is a lot written especially in the epistles of Paul that give us a glimpse at how to conduct church life. The Bible isn't only authoritative in regard to spiritual disciplines and my personal life. It has a ton to say about ecclesiology. Maybe if we are faithful to what the Bible says [even a little more than we are] God will be seen as greater and us as smaller and weaker.

So here's the last church government post from me for today:) Is congregationalism biblical? Is it a democracy? Check out this article by Paul Alexander, Is Congregationalism a Democracy. This explains pretty well why I believe the Bible teaches that congregationalism is the Biblical model for church government [as opposed to an Episcopacy or Presbyterian persuasion]. These are just a few quotes, but I recommend you check out the rest of the article.

"Biblical congregationalism is democratic in the sense that it is not strictly monarchic (rule by one), oligarchic (rule by a few), aristocratic (rule by the fittest), or anarchic (rule by no one), but rather government by the people (the demos). It is the gathered local assembly that is the final court of appeal, not the pastor or the elders, and not a deliberative body outside or above the local church...

In a congregational system, the gathered assembly is only the final court of appeal in matters of discipline (1Cor 5:1-13), doctrine (Gal 1:6-9; 2Tim 4:3), personal dispute (Matt 18), and church membership (2Cor 2:6)...

Yet there is a significant sense in which even a congregationally governed church is also a monarchy, Christ being the benevolent King and the members his willing and submissive subjects. Christ alone is the true head of the church (Eph 1:22; 4:15; 5:23). And again, there is a significant sense in which a congregationally governed church is also an oligarchy or aristocracy, overseen by a plurality of Christ’s qualified under-shepherds, the body of elders (Acts 14:23; 20:28; Phil 1:1; Titus 1:5; 1Peter 5:1-5)...

...the congregation is also responsible to obey its leaders and respect their authority (Heb 13:17)...

Biblical congregationalism also recognizes that the congregation is not the infallible guide to faith and practice (2Tim 4:3)...Congregational decisions are not right simply by virtue of being made by the congregation. Vox populi (the voice of the people) is not always tantamount to vox dei (the voice of God), which is why the leaders of the church must be those who are “able to teach” from God’s word the “doctrine that conforms to godliness” (1Tim 3:2; 6:3)."

[As always I tried to bold and italicize all the Scripture references.]

The Importance of Elders

In light of my last post on Ordination...we have to know what the biblical mandate is for the office of elder. So here's a non-exhaustive description biblically.

The 9news for this month is in regard to eldership, but I didn’t see the following from the Deliberate Church in the article [maybe I just missed it]…and I believe the following is a big part of making a case for a plurality of elders and deacons in the structure of a local church. What do you think??

"A Brief Biblical Background

Acts 20:17-38 shows that the words elders (presbuterous, v. 17) and overseers (episkopous, v. 28 [also known as bishops]) are interchangeable, and that both do the work of pastoring (poimainein, v. 28) or shepherding God’s flock. A pastor, then, is an elder, and an elder is a bishop/overseer – all three terms refer to the same office and the same work of pastoring [Note the same interchangeability of “elders” (presbuterous) and “the overseer” (episkopon) in Titus 1:5-7]. Note too that Paul “sent to Ephesus” for “the elders [presbuterous, plural] of the church [ekklesias, singular]” (v. 17). The pattern is of a plurality of elders in each local church [Cf. Acts 14:23, where Paul and Barnabas appoint elders (presbuterous, plural) in every church (kat’ ekklesian, distributive singular].

1 Timothy 3:1-13 distinguishes the office of elder (episkopos) from that of deacon (diakonos). Each must meet the same character requirements, but elders must also be able to teach [Cf. also Titus 1:9] – an ability not required for the office of deacon. In fact, D. A. Carson has observed that all the qualities Paul lays out for elders are elsewhere in the New Testament enjoined on all Christians – every quality, that is, except the ability to teach. Right away, then, we see that elders are different from deacons in that teaching is pivotal to the elder’s responsibility, while the deacon’s tasks lie elsewhere. Both offices must be present for a church to be organized, led, and served according to the Word.

Acts 6:1-4 further clarifies the distinction. There we read of a controversy between Greek and Hebrew widows about the equity of food distribution among them. The disciples gather the whole congregation and say, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve [diakonein] tables. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry [diakonia] of the word” (6:2-4). The division of labor is clear. The seven chosen men “deaconed” (served) tables, which released the apostles for “deaconing” the Word.

Deacons, then, serve to care for the physical and financial needs of the church, and they do so in a way that heals divisions, brings unity under the Word, and supports the leadership of the elders. Without this practical service of the deacons, the elders will not be freed to devote themselves to praying and serving the Word to people. Elders need deacons to serve practically, and deacons need elders to lead spiritually. [Emphasis in bold added for clarity]"

[Dever, Mark The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel Crossway 2005. Wheaton, IL Pp. 131-132]

Ordination...Biblical?

Well a while ago I met with a youth pastor at our church. We talked for a few minutes about ordination. I thought it was biblical because of the laying on of hands discussed as elders were appointed to their responsibilities. I was using the unbiblical term "ordination" to describe a biblical act of pulicly installing a man that meets the qualification for eldership into that role in the local church.

Anyhow, he disagreed with me and was using the unbiblical term "ordination" to describe an unbiblical pragmatical reality of what "ordination" means in much of the church today. He said something to the extent that, "Ordination is just the title of pastors in churches that are paid...to distinguish between paid elders and unpaid elders." I agree with him that this is what "ordination" has come to mean. But I still think that there is a biblical mandate for "ordination".

Check out this article, Should Elders Be Ordained? . This describes my position pretty well. Here's the conclusion from Benjamin Merkle's article...

"Elders should be "ordained" if by ordination we simply mean the public recognition of someone to a particular office and ministry. Perhaps a more appropriate, and biblical, term is "appointment" or "commission." The appointment to a ministry was often accompanied by prayer and fasting and the laying on of hands. These public acts draw attention to the seriousness and importance of the appointment. In addition, elders should be appointed as soon as they take their office. [Pp. 23 of the 9news article]"

You should check out the entire thing.

"The Physical Death of Jesus Christ"

[HT: Justin Taylor]

This article is excellent...and I'm in a rush so here's a direct quote from Justin's Blog.

"Those who have been involved in evidential apologetics undoubtedly already know about this article. But for some it may be new. Over 20 years old now, it was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, examining the physical aspects of Jesus' crucifixion. It is a sobering read. Even more sobering to consider that the physical aspect of Christ's pain paled in comparison to the pain of being rejected by his Father and propitiating his Father's wrath that we deserve."

You must check this out!

In the Name of Felt Needs

I'm doing a book report on Counted Righteous in Christ: Should We Abandon the Imputation of Christ's righteousness? and a quote really stuck out to me in the reading...

"Growing a Church Without A Heart For Doctrine

To begin with, the older I get, the less impressed I am with flashy successes and enthusiasms that are not-truth based. Everybody knows that with the right personality, the right music, the right location, and the right schedule you can grow a church without anybody really knowing what doctrinal commitments sustain it, if any. Church-planting specialists generally downplay biblical doctrine in the core values of what makes a church "successful." The long-term effect of this ethos is a weakening of the church that is concealed as long as the crowds are large, the band is loud, the tragedies are few, and persecution is still at the level of preferences.

But more and more this doctrinally-diluted brew of music, drama, life-tips, and marketing seems out of touch with real life in this world-not to mention the next. It tastes like watered-down gruel, not a nourishing meal. It simply isn't serious enough. It's too playful and chatty and casual. Its joy just doesn't feel deep enough or heartbroken or well-rooted. The injustice and persecution and suffering and hellish realities in the world today are so many and so large and so close that I can't help but think that, deep inside, people are longing for something weighty and massive and rooted and stable and eternal. So it seems to me that the trifling with silly little sketches and breezy welcome-to-the-den styles on Sunday morning are just out of touch with what matters in life.

Of course, it works. Sort of. Because, in the name of felt needs, it resonates with people's impulse to run from what is most serious and weighty and what makes them most human and what might open the depths of God to their souls. The design is noble. Silliness is a stepping-stone to substance. But it's an odd path. And evidence is not ample that many are willing to move beyond fun and simplicity. So the price of minimizing truth-based joy and maximizing atmosphere-based comfort is high. More and more, it seems to me, the end might be in view. I doubt that a religious ethos with such a feel of entertainment can really survive as Christian for too many more decades. Crises reveal the cracks. [Emphasis added]"

[Piper, John Counted Righteous in Christ: Should We Abandon the Imputation of Christ's righteousness? Crossway 2002. Wheaton, IL Pp. 22-23]

My Celebrity Profile

http://www.myheritage.com

http://www.myheritage.com

[HT: Brandon and Abbey Mick]

Provocative Statements...

I was listening to J. Ligon Duncan III's sermon on Ephesians 1:7-8 today called Abundant Grace preached 7/24/2005. Anyhow he said something that really stopped me in my tracks...here it is...

"'Hell is eternity in the presence of God.' I meant to say it that way. Listen to it again: 'Hell is eternity in the presence of God. Heaven is eternity in the presence of God with a Mediator.'"

[Duncan III, Ligon fifth-seventh paragraphs under: II Forgiveness of our sins – breaking of God’s law in the sermon Abundant Grace. He is quoting Professor Finlayson of the Free Church College.]

This reminds me of another provocative statement that either he or Dr. Kelly said in one of my systematic theology classes. That went something like this...

"Salvation is by works...that's correct, salvation is by the works of Christ, not mankind."

These kind of statements are great...because at first the confuse you, but then you think about it and it makes pretty good sense. Anyhow, I just thought I'd share:)

Shalom [שָׁלוֹם] Peace

For devotionals I’m currently reading Ephesians. In William Barclay’s commentary he had a good description of the word Shalom. I thought I’d share...

“[Regarding Ephesians 1:2's use of “Peace”] In Greek the word is eirene, but it translates the Hebrew word shalom. In the Bible the word peace is never a purely negative word; it never describes simply the absence of trouble and hardship and distress. Shalom means everything that makes for a man’s highest good, everything which is calculated to make him a man in the highest sense of the term, everything which is calculated to make life truly worth living. This Christian peace is something which is quite independent of outward circumstances. A man might live in ease and luxury and on the fat of the land; he might have the finest of houses and the biggest of bank accounts, and yet not have peace; on the other hand, a man might be starving in prison, or dying at the stake, or living a life from which all comfort had fled, and be at perfect peace. What is the explanation of it? The explanation is that there is only one source of peace in all the world, and that is doing the will of God. We know perfectly well that when in life we are doing something which we know we ought not to do, or when we are evading something that we know we ought to do, there is always a haunting uneasiness and dispeace at the back of our minds; and we know quite well that even if we are doing something very difficult, even if we are doing something which we do not want to do, if we know that it is the right thing there is a certain contentment in our hearts. 'In His will is our peace.' The only peace on earth is in the will of God.”

[Barclay, William The Daily Study Bible: The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians The Westminster Press, Philadelphia 1958 Pp. 87-88]

It’s interesting that every time I hear the word “peace” I think of it in the inactive/negative sense. That is, the absence of fighting, war, violence…etc. The active/positive aspect that Barclay discusses here is almost never thought of today [that I know of…if it is please give a reference…I’d be curious to read it]. Maybe next time we say or think of peace we will think of the active/positive aspect of it, and not just the inactive/negative aspect of it. Hopefully meditating and thinking of the positive aspect of peace will draw us to worship God not ourselves and our materialistic idols. Just something to think on.

In Christ
Noah

The System is Down

[Update: Sorry...this is Strongbad from Homestar runner...an old college classic!]

In honor of the system being down @ work I figured this would be appropriate...

Enjoy!

Love and Marriage...What Happened?

Okay I was listening to some Frank Sinatra this afternoon. This guy swings hard!

Anyhow, I was listening to the words of Love and Marriage [by by Sammy Cahn and James Van Heusen 1955] and the thought came across my mind, "what the heck happened," these words wouldn't have any traction anymore in our culture at large.

Frank's saying:

"Love and marriage...goes together like a horse and carriage...you can't have one without the other...it's an institute you cant disparage...Ask the local gentry and they will say its elementary...try to separate them, it's an illusion...Dad was told by mother you can't have one without the other."

What happened?? It seems like our culture heard the words to "My Way" and decided to follow that instead.

Here are all the lyrics in case you wanted to read the entire thing...

Love and marriage, love and marriage
Go together like a horse and carriage
This I tell you brother
You cant have one without the other

Love and marriage, love and marriage
Its an institute you cant disparage
Ask the local gentry
And they will say its elementary

Try, try, try to separate them
Its an illusion
Try, try, try, and you will only come
To this conclusion

Love and marriage, love and marriage
Go together like a horse and carriage
Dad was told by mother
You cant have one without the other

PoMo Culture: Out of My Dreams in 1943

Here is a quick commentary on our culture from a while back.

The musical Oklahoma! There’s a line from the song Out of My Dreams [by Rogers and Hamerstein] that clearly represents postmodern [PoMo] thinking. Postmodernity was alive and well in the midst of modernity! This musical was written in 1943. I’ll get you up to speed...

Okay…Oklahoma is a love story…basically a modern/western/country take on Pride and Prejudice. Well, Laurey’s [lead woman] too proud to go to a dance with the protagonist Curly. Curly’s too proud to ask her to the dance.

They love each other but both are to proud to admit it. Meanwhile, the antagonist of the story, Judd, asks Laurey to the dance…naively she says, “Yes.”

Anyhow, she takes some smellin’ sauce [basically drugs] and starts hallucinating about how she wishes she could be with Curly. Before she takes it she sings this song Out of My Dreams. At the height of her passion and emotion in the song her friends encourage her by saying the following…

“Ask your heart, whatever it tells you will be true”

Sheesh! I love this musical especially the version with Hugh Jackman, but come on! It’s these kind of false philosophies that ruin things for me. I’m thinking, “good dancing, singing, fun lyrics…etc.,” and then this huge stinkin’ lie that so many people believe. Bummer…

I’ll have you know that I did enjoy the rest of the musical…just goes to show you that PoMo philosophies have been around for a long time…it’s just accepted generally as actually being true now. This stuff didn't start with Oprah folks:) Back then people might have believed it, but it seems was either just an exercise in romantics, e.g. this song, or a pipe-dream not generally accepted in the wider culture.

I’ll post on another song here in a minute.

My Choice

I was listening to Mark Dever’s overview sermon on Ephesians today…and he read this poem [written by Bill McChesney around 1960 at the age of 25 in the World Evangelization Magazine], so I thought I’d share. The author was a missionary to the Congo in Africa and he was brutally murdered at age 28 along with hundreds of other missionaries. Blessings!

My Choice
By Bill McChesney

I want my breakfast served at eight
With ham and eggs upon the plate.
A well-broiled steak I'll eat at one
And dine again when day is done.

I want an ultramodern home
And in each room a telephone;
Soft carpets, too, upon the floors
And pretty drapes to grace the doors.
A cozy place of lovely things,
Like easy chairs with inner springs,

And then, I'll get a nice T.V.
- Of course, I'm careful what I see.

I want my wardrobe, too, to be
Of neatest, finest quality,
With latest style in suit and vest
Why should not Christians have the best?

But then the Master I can hear
In no uncertain voice, so clear:
"I bid you come and follow Me,
The lowly Man of Galilee."

"Birds of the air have made their nest
And foxes in their holes find rest,
But I can offer you no bed;
No place have I to lay my head."

In shame I hung my head and cried,
How could I spurn the Crucified?
Could I forget the way He went,
The sleepless nights in prayer He spent?

For forty days without a bite,
Alone He fasted day and night;
Despised, rejected - on He went,
and did not stop till veil He rent!

A man of sorrows and of grief
No earthly friend to bring relief;
"Smitten of God," the prophet said
Mocked, beaten, bruised, His blood ran red.
If He be God, and died for me,
No sacrifice too great can be
For me; a mortal man, to make;
I'll do it all for Jesus' sake.

Yes, I will tread the path He trod,
No other way will please my God,
So, henceforth, this my choice shall be,
My choice for all eternity.

"Redeem The Time"

I read the following in my devotion this morning...

Ephesians 5:15-21
"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. [ESV]"

Right before this passage it says, "...when anything exposed by the light...becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, 'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.'" [5:13-14 ESV]

So then, because of this light that has shone; we must look carefully at how we walk. Redeem the time [Eph 5:16 KJV]! How??

(1) Don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
(2) Don't be drunk, but be filled with the Spirit

(a) addressing one another in psalms hymns and spiritual songs
(b) singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart
(c) Give thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of your Lord Jesus Christ.

(3) Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

I don't this is saying, "DON'T EVER HAVE FUN." I do think that this passage is giving us a good dose of sobriety in the Spirit that we don't take things nearly as seriously as we ought.

Brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us redeem the time today, for the days are evil. Life is a vapor (James 4:14)!

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen"

Appointment With Death

I was listening to a John Murray sermon on Hebrews 9:27-28:

"And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. [ESV]"

After listening to the sermon I was thinking about life. I remembered a very close friend I had in college. The last night that I spoke with him we were talking about heaven, and we clearly had a disagreement [I'm sure he's forgotten, but it's still vivid to me]... He thought that this earth, and what we experience in life, here, is heaven. I told him that if this is heaven he's crazy. Life is really hard and it hurts to lose loved ones, and see people in general die.

Anyhow, I was making copies of letters for 4 + hours like I do every day, and I was thinking about my friend. I really loved that guy, but it's been probably 2-3 years. My flesh was starting to tempt me to desire the worldly things I desired when I was in college...you know...glory for myself, friends that are famous in the jazz industry, etc. Then I looked up and saw the cross on the top of the Roman Catholic church next to our building and my delusions of grandeur were broken. Then I remembered the passage above...

I'm clean in Christ...it is appointed for me to die, so redeem the time. I can play the guitar to God's glory in heaven.

For now, keep studying to prepare for the teaching and preaching of the gospel.
For now, keep groaning with the rest of creation waiting for adoption and the redemption of my body.
For now, tell people about who Jesus is and as Johnny Cash would say, "God's going to cut you down," if you don't repent.
For now, grasp for Joy in my saviour and His bride.
For now, enjoy the blessing Lindsey is in my life.
For now, enjoy His grace that I might breath another breath.
For now, sanctification.

When He appears it won't be to deal with sin, but it will be to take me home. When He appears we will be changed. Keep grasping and fighting this good fight of faith!

"We Are Dwarfs On The Shoulders Of Giants"

Here's a great quote from my reading assignment today...

"We are like dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants; thanks to them, we see farther than they. Busying ourselves with the treatises written by the ancients, we take their choice thoughts, buried by age and human neglect, and we raise them, as it were, from death to renewed life."

Peter of Blois PL 207, col. 290 AB (Epistola) [George, Timothy Theology of the Reformers Broadman & Holman Publishers 1988. Nashville, Tennessee Pp. 21]