July 13th, 2008 Jeff
Just finished reading a fascinating book, Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist’s Journey with the New Calvinists by Collin Hansen (Crossway Books, 2008). Hansen is editor-at-large for Christianity Today magazine, and a phenomenal writer and story teller, in my humble opinion.
His new book is an expansion and more detailed research project of his September 2006 article in Christianity Today magazine . During that time and afterward he traveled all around the country (for nearly two years) chronicling the diverse movement, from the Passion conferences to Southern Seminary, to Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis (home of John Piper, pastor for preaching and vision), to Sovereign Grace Churches, to visit with dozens of churches and pastors and professors across the country, to Yale and Princeton (Jonathan Edward’s roots) and all the way to Seattle (home of Mars Hill Church and Mark Driscoll, preaching pastor, and the Acts29 church planting network). It is truly amazing how much info, interviews, reflections and candor he Hansen was able to pack into 156 pages.
Having read and followed most of the "key players" among the resurgence in and towards the doctrines of grace for a few years, I was delighted to better understand their interwoven story. I recommend this quick read for those not familiar with the God-centered theology, or with an caricature/skewed view of it as it relates to biblical doctrine. Others have reviewed and responded to the book in other places (see links below).
Hansen’s book reads like a string of captivating articles, and he does more than give facts as he reflects, summarizes and connects the doctrines of grace, people of grace, the centrality of Christ and some of the various issues facing the American church with journalistic creativity. I especially appreciated the tone found throughout of an others-directed, servant-like humility and the need for evangelism, mission (and missions), and serving the local church and community. To be God-centered, Bible-saturated and Gospel-driven means to give our lives away sacrificially.
Spurgeon is quoted on page 114 noting how the doctrine of election is not aimed at dividing saints, but rather "Israel from Egypt" (as in the OT). He goes on:
“A man may be evidently of God’s chosen family, and yet though elected, may not believe in the doctrine of election. I hold there are many savingly called, who do not believe in effectual calling, and that there are a great many who persevere to the end, who do not believe in the doctrine of final perseverance. We do hope that the hearts of many are a great deal better than their heads. We do not set their fallacies down to any willful opposition to the trust as it is in Jesus, but simply to an error in their judgments, which we pray God to correct. We hope that if they think us mistaken too, they will reciprocate the same Christian courtesy; and when we meet around the cross, we hope that when we meet around the cross, we hope that we shall ever feel that we are one in Christ Jesus.”[1]
Let all remember:
“What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” ( 1 Cor. 4:7 )
(Brister and Challies are both mentioned in the book.)
[1] Quoted in Iain H. Murray, Spurgeon v. Hyper-Calvinism: The Battle for Gospel Preaching (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1995), 112.
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March 20th, 2008 Jeff
Last year at this time Matt Perman of Desiring God gave a short list of various readings related to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, those two coming together as one in “The Greatest Event in History.”
I agree. Furthermore, I don’t think I would be breathing right now if Christ hadn’t tasted death and risen again. And would have no hope, eternal or temporal.
God did not spare His own Son but intentionally and freely gave Him up for the salvation of His people. He bids us come and experience His love. This weekend, may more people trust in Christ and experience God as the fountain of all joy and the source of all love.
—
Here are some recommended resources on the death and resurrection of Christ.
On the death of Christ:
On the resurrection of Christ:
On the resurrection of believers:
See also the sermon occasions “Good Friday” and “Easter Sunday,” and the topics “Jesus Christ,” “the Death of Christ,” “the Resurrection of Christ,” and “Glorification.”
Posted in Blog, God-centered, Gospel, History, Holidays, Jesus, Reading, Theology, Web | No Comments »
October 19th, 2007 Jeff
We can’t ignore Joel Osteen, though I wish we could. His “church” in Houston hosts more than 35,000 attendees each Sunday, and more than 7 million viewers watch his messages on TV each week (no need to wear a cross, just put on an IWJO lapel).
While Osteen’s message is far from the biblical Gospel Jesus Himself preached, people are clamoring for his self-help mantras. His message appeals to the longings of the natural mind — we want money and happiness, but we do not want God Himself. The gifts are more beautiful and compelling than the Giver. We want what God can give us but not God Himself.
Below I’ve compiled a few helpful resources in wading through the shallow waters Osteen swims in. Let me know if you find others.
Watch the video or read the transcript from the CBS 60 Minutes segment on 10/14/07.
Michael Horton of Westminster Seminary was interviewed in the Osteen segment. Read more essays by Horton about Osteen.
Michael Spencer gives some comments on Osteen’s 60 Minutes piece from 10/14 on CBS
Tullian Tchividjian reminds us How to Identify a “Reliable Carrier” of God’s Truth
Tim Challies reviews Osteen’s new book, Become a Better You
Brent Thomas offers some reasons Why Joel Osteen’s Newest Book Should Not Be Sold in “Christian” Bookstores
Prosperity Gospel in Africa in Christianity Today (via Desiring God blog)
Short John Piper video excerpt on America’s Ugly Exported “Gospel”
John Piper sermon, “Prosperity Preaching: Deceitful and Deadly”
Posted in Blog, Gospel, Theology, Web | 2 Comments »
October 10th, 2007 Jeff
Kari is continuing her retelling of our story, “The Road to Santa Clara,” detailing our experiences in leaving all for a ministry opportunity a few years ago. The lessons learned along the way have proved to be invaluable, and although we wouldn’t sign up for it again, we wouldn’t trade it for the world. It is a redemptive story of God’s sustaining grace and the depth of friendship in the midst of confusion and frustrating circumstances.
The entire story is now up:
Ch. 1: The Phone Call | Ch. 2: The U-turn | Ch. 3: The Jeep | Ch. 4: The Apartment | Ch. 5: The Meeting | Ch. 6: The Rack | Ch. 7: The Barium Vials | Ch. 8: The Interview | Ch. 9: The Coffee Shop | Ch. 10: The Memorial Service | Ch. 11: The Seifers | Ch. 12: The Right Stuff | Ch. 13: The Acropolis | Ch. 14: The Home Fellowship | Ch. 15: The Settlers of Catan | Ch. 16: The Valentine Dinner | Ch. 17: The SonShiners | Ch. 18: The Road Home | The Epilogue
Posted in Adventures, Blog, Faithfulness, Kari, Reading, Sanctification, Stories, Theodicy, Theology, Web, godly trajectory | No Comments »
September 26th, 2007 Jeff
Justin Taylor brings us this quote from C.J. Mahaney’s book Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God (pp. 49-50), about transitioning one’s soul during the commute home from work. It struck me as powerful, practical, and very effective for being essentially a small thing. Seeking to do this has had great impact on our home life, and it is easy to tell when I haven’t paused and calmed my soul to be “all there” at home after a long day in class or at work. Let’s strive to be better husbands and fathers. Here it is:
When our first two children were still quite young, I realized that my commute home in the evening was functioning as little more than a review of my day. As far as I was concerned, by the time I got in that car, my responsibilities were pretty much over until the next morning. I saw my home as a refuge, a place where the emphasis, for me, was on being served rather than on leading and serving with Christlike love.
In God’s mercy, he showed me the selfish motivation I was bringing home each evening. I saw that my commute could be best utilized as a time of transition, so that I might be prepared to finish the day by loving and serving my family well.
So I made a practice of pulling the car over a few blocks from home so I could take a couple of minutes to make an effective transition in my soul. There on the side of the road, I meditated on Ephesians 5 as well as on some other passages. I confessed to God my sinful tendency to be selfish and sought to prepare my heart to serve my wife and children when I arrived home. In this way I learned to see my home as the context where I have my greatest privilege and opportunity to serve. This practice had a transforming effect, allowing me to walk through the front door with the mind and heart of a loving servant-leader. By God’s grace, I found it an excellent help in building a loving marriage, enjoying my family, and minimizing regret.
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August 29th, 2007 Jeff
The New York Times reports that after using the same font on highway signs for over 50 years, America’s Federal Highway Administration has approved a new font, ClearviewHwy. Clearview is replacing Highway Gothic which has been in use since Eisenhower decided to expand the Interstate System in 1956. [HT via]
Why does this matter, you ask?
Well, first of all the leading killer in the U.S. is traffic accidents. Second, we perhaps may not realize how what we see and how we see it. That is the reason why I must wear my glasses for my eye exam when I renew my driver’s license. Without being able to see adequately, I well, can’t see. And the purpose of road signs is to help you navigate efficiently, and more importantly, safely.
Another reason (although unimportant) is that I am a fontaholic. I enjoy finding and using a good font. I remember back in the late 90s I would use the font “Impact” here and there. Then all of a sudden that font hit full impact and became way overused, and is pretty much the only font used in direct mailings (read: awfully designed). In its beginning it had potential.
A third reason is that Oregon has one of the best roadway signage systems in the country. Thought it’s not a fair comparison, try driving around California, navigating your way merely by signage and you will see what I mean. Arizona and Hawaii seem to be poorly signed to me as well. Oregon is great in the signage category (and numerous others). I don’t think this new ClearviewHwy font will hit our good state too much, but you can bet I’ll be looking for it when it does.
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August 10th, 2007 Jeff
Tim Challies has written a great article on The Porn Myth, reflecting on an article in New York Magazine (you can get to the article from Challies, but read his post first).
It is time for men to endeavor to be holy. Specifically, married Christian men (okay, all others too). Only Christian men can effectively say “No” to lust, although statistics say we are not. We have the resources of God and His Spirit, but often choose to follow our own depraved corruptions. Let us rise above the cesspool of average un-holiness and be men who seek after our Maker and live lives honoring to Him, in all joy. As John Owen wrote, “Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.” Leave no open door for sin and temptation in your life.
For internet accountability I have x3watch installed on both my home and work computers. Every two weeks Kari gets a detailed list of any site I visited that has even remotely-or-quasi-objectionable material on it. (In fact, in our case, she ends up getting a long list of ESPN.com links, go figure.) But, if on either my home or work computer I were to go to any questionable site, my wife would know. That is a good thing.
Some may tritely say, “If you need a filter to keep you accountable, then you are just not holy enough.” To that I say that out of the 168 hours in a given week I may be strong enough and walking in grace enought for 167.5 of those hours to not need anything to hold me accountable. But what about when I’m tired and weak and perhaps even am coming down from the mountaintop of some great spiritual or personal victory? “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” [1 Corinthians 10:12]. For those times of potential weakness there is the increased measure of safeguard. It’s not worth it to walk close to the edge of the cliff. And for that weak moment, how about we let a little fear keep us out of harm’s way?
The next verse reminds us that none of us is alone in experiencing temptation, and God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can say no to. With each opportunity for temptation God “will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” [10:13].
Accounability and comraderie in growing in holiness is key:
“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” [2 Timothy 2:22]
Notice the two activities of fleeing and pursuing. Saying “No” to sin and temptation and purposefully following with a devoted heart and mind the path of righteousness, faith, love and peace. Not doing this alone, and saying “Yes” to the greater pleasures found in God.
For some help with the mindset of consistently seeking to live a whole and holy life, I encourage these resources:
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July 1st, 2007 Jeff
Matt Perman of DesiringGod posted these thoughts:
So often we think of God as non-enthusiastic or even gloomy. The exact opposite is true: He loves to be God, He takes great pleasure in all that He does, and He is enthusiastic about serving His people and working for their welfare. For example, God says in Jeremiah 32:41: “I will rejoice in doing them good.” Jesus said in John 14:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you.” And Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1:11 of “the glorious gospel of the blessed God.” Blessed means happy. So Paul is saying: “the glorious gospel of the happy God.”
God is infinitely happy because he is infinitely glorious. And, the good news is that he invites us to enter into his happiness. Here is what Piper writes in The Pleasures of God (p. 26): “It is good news that God is gloriously happy. No one would want to spend eternity with an unhappy God. If God is unhappy then the goal of the gospel is not a happy goal, and that means it would be no gospel at all. But, in fact, Jesus invites us to spend eternity with a happy God when he says, ‘Enter into the joy of your master’ (Matthew 25:23). Jesus lived and died that his joy—God’s joy—might be in us and our joy might be full (John 15:11; 17:13). Therefore the gospel is ‘the gospel of the glory of the happy God.’”
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