Feeling Adventurous?
D.R. Brooker May 1st, 2008
I’m not sure I’d ever want to try this but I find something strangely exhilarating in this little adventure.
For more on El Camino del Rey see this article.
For more on El Camino del Rey see this article.
Two New Books
D.R. Brooker February 13th, 2008
Reformation Heritage Books has recently released two new books by or about Horatius Bonar. I would highly recommend both of these volumes.
Horatius Bonar, a well-known nineteenth-century minister called “the prince of Scottish hymn-writers,” was also a prolific writer of scriptural, practical, and experiential Christian literature. Two of his books that bore considerable fruit and have often been reprinted were The Night of Weeping and The Morning of Joy, here reprinted under one cover. The Night of Weeping expounds compassionately and beautifully a biblical view of suffering, showing how it is an integral part of belonging to God’s family, how to cope with it, and how it benefits the believer. The chapters on the purifying and solemnizing fruits of suffering are themselves worth the price of the book. The Morning of Joy shows how God leads believers to rejoice in the present and future joys of the living church, particularly through fellowshipping with the resurrected Christ. The chapters on the majestic kingdom of Christ and the superlative joys of glory are most uplifting. By the Spirit’s grace, both books can be life-changing; they present us with a clear, powerful, profound, and balanced view of the Christian life and of God’s dealings with His people. This book can be ordered here.
Christ Is All: The Piety of Horatius Bonar highlights the life and work of this memorable Scottish minister and poet, published now on the 200th anniversary of his birth. There is very little biographical information available on Horatius Bonar as it was his own request that no biography be written of him. This book includes a warm account of Bonar’s life by church historian Michael A. G. Haykin that gives more than just a glimpse into a life that God used greatly in the preaching of the gospel and the saving of souls. This volume also includes 65 excerpts from Bonar’s writings that capture his ardent devotion to the glory of Christ. This book can be ordered here.
Onward to Battle
D.R. Brooker October 19th, 2007
It is to battle that we are summoned the moment that we believe. All at once we are translated, not to paradise, but to a battlefield, and there placed face to face with our hellish foes. “Fight the good fight of faith,” is the war note with which our Captain cheers us on.For this battle strength is the first thing needed. But where is it to be found? Not in us, nor in the creature; not in human wisdom, or fleshly sufficiency. Only in Him who hath bought us, and called us, and washed us. “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” Here is the source and secret of our strength. Here is a fullness truly divine and heavenly, and yet as accessible, as much within our reach, and at our disposal, as if it were our own; for it is at the disposal of One who loves us better than we love ourselves.
But strength is not all we need. We require weapons and armour; for the battle is no common one, and the enemy is the leader of the principalities and powers of darkness, who himself needs no armour, seeing he is invisible and invulnerable; who is not only powerful and skilful, but has every kind of weapon at command—the snare, the wile, the sword, the dart, the fire. His object in the present day is to persuade us that he does not exist, that we have to fight no such battle, that we need no sword nor shield, that we can do without anything beyond our own human power and skill. But the divine warning assures us that our enemy still lives and rages and deceives; that he is most to be feared when most invisible; that his last delusions will be his worst, when, as an angel of light, he comes into the Church to mislead by falsehoods, so beautiful, so attractive, so intellectual, so like the truth—it may be, so evangelical—that, if it were possible, the elect shall be deceived.
We must not turn back in the day of battle. We have no armour for our back. We must face the foe. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” And this must be to the end, however long the warfare may be. The prize is not to the conqueror in one field, but to the conqueror at last.
-Horatius Bonar from “The Armour and the Battle” in Light & Truth Vol. IV.
Blogs Contra the FV
D.R. Brooker October 10th, 2007
I have been greatly encouraged over the last while to see a number of excellent blogs taking on the heresy known as the “Federal Vision.” While many are still under the delusion that these men are orthodox, it is nice to see a full-frontal assault on the doctrines that these FV-men are teaching. I think that the FV is far more dangerous to the church and the doctrine of justification than anything coming from even the most liberal end of the “emerging church” spectrum. If you are the least bit interested in this issue here is my list of blogs that are a must read:
1) Green Baggins - Pastor Lane Keister is a fine example of one who painstakingly dismantles an argument with precise exegesis in a gracious yet forceful manner. Where he finds the time, I do not know.
2) Reformed Musings - This man was part of the PCA study committee (I believe) that issued the decision that the FV teachings were not in accord with the Westminster Standards.
3) God’s Hammer - Sean Gerety’s book Not Reformed At All is an excellent (and early) response to Wilson’s book Reformed Is Not Enough. Good to see him blogging.
4) Foedero Schism - Not sure what to make of this blog yet but there has been some excellent articles posted thus far. As with many ex-Moscowites, this person has kept his identity concealed as he knows what it’s like to have to deal with these men firsthand.
There are a couple more I’ll add to this list tomorrow.
A Good Day in Canada
D.R. Brooker September 21st, 2007
As a currency trader by profession, this was a satisfying day. Let’s hope a few years at a premium is in the future!
Bonar Links
D.R. Brooker September 7th, 2007
I must admit that I’m overjoyed to see the number of times that Horatius Bonar is being quoted on blogs. I’ve long held that he is one of the least known/under appreciated men of the 19th century who is worthy of far greater attention for his tireless gospel work.
Here are a few links from posts over the last two weeks that have highlighted some of Bonar’s work. They are all worth reading.
1) Living Upon the Son of God posted by PJ Cockrell.
2) The icy blast of trial awakens the old man posted by Tony Reinke.
3) Here is an excerpt from God’s Way of Peace by Bonar posted on a blog entitled Of First Importance.
4) Jim Bublitz at Old Truth posts a section from one of my favourite pieces of writing by Bonar. It is from his preface to Catechisms of the Scottish Reformation.
5) The guys at Dialogizomai posted one of Bonar’s greatest hymns, Not What My Hands Have Done. Now that is a great hymn!
6) Here is a great sketch on the life of Andrew Bonar by Rev. Colin Dow. Andrew was Horatius’ brother. I am sympathetic to a few tenets of premillenial eschatology, but I can’t say I agree with the last paragraph. But well worth the read.
The Practical Application of (Un)Belief
D.R. Brooker September 5th, 2007
Airline Sacrifices Goats to Appease Sky God
I would like to hear from all my faithful Hindu readers (kidding) on this one. Would you rather fly on a Nepal Airlines plane once a trained mechanic has given the “thumbs up”, or after two goats have been sacrificed to appease the anger of the “sky god”? I don’t know about you, but I would trek through the Himalayas in my bathing suit rather than put my trust in the sacrifice of goats to keep a plane in the air. But I suppose that’s just me.
Eschatology Quiz
D.R. Brooker September 5th, 2007
While I hold a few sympathies for some positions of historic premillennialism, I was relieved to see that I have correctly eradicated any vestige of dispensationalism. Whew! Although, I’m a bit concerned about this “Moltmannian Eschatology.” What in the world is that?
You scored as Amillenialist, Amillenialism believes that the 1000 year reign is not literal but figurative, and that Christ began to reign at his ascension. People take some prophetic scripture far too literally in your view.
What’s your eschatology? |
That Precious Righteousness of Another
D.R. Brooker September 4th, 2007
I have had an absolutely great summer (thanks for asking) and I am saddened to have to turn the calendar to September. But more on that later.
What follows is a wonderful excerpt from the works of Horatius Bonar on the righteousness of our Substitute. One thing becomes eminently clearer as I read and learn: the FV and NPP proponents are dangerous men who strip the gospel of it’s power. The future will see many shipwrecks for those who travel these dangerous waters. NB: it is in understanding this righteousness—whose it is and how it becomes ours—that is the spring from which the power of the transformed life flows. It is a great time of year to assess whether we have an interest in that perfect righteousness of the divine Substitute, or whether we are ones who merely plod along indulging our religious sympathies now and again through labourious duties. God forbid it be the latter.
Religion is fashionable in our age. But is it that which sprang up, after centuries of darkness, among our fathers in Europe? Is it that of apostles and prophets? Is it the calm yet thorough religion which did such great deeds in other days? Has it gone deep into the conscience? Has it filled the heart? Has it pervaded the man? Or has it left the conscience unpacified, the heart unfilled, the man unchanged, save with some external appliances of religiousness, which leaves him hollow as before? There is at this moment many an aching spirit, bitterly conscious of this hollowness. The doctrine, the profession, the good report of others, the bustle of work, will not fill the soul. God Himself must be there, with His covering righteousness, His cleansing blood, His quickening Spirit. Without this, religion is but a shell: holy services are dull and irksome. Joy in God, which is the soul and essence of worship, is unknown. Sacraments, prayer-meetings, religious services, labours of charity, will not make up for the living God.
Men with their feet firmly set on Luther’s rock, “the righteousness of God,” filled with the Spirit, and pervaded with the peace of God, do the great things in the church; others do the little. The men of robust spiritual health are they who, like Luther, have made sure of their filial relationship to God. They shrink from no battle, nor succumb to any toil. The men who go to work with an unascertained relationship give way in the warfare, and faint under the labour: their life is not perhaps a failure or defeat; but it is not a victory, it is not a triumph…
…By faith we choose affliction with the people of God, and despise Egypt’s treasures. By faith we keep our passover; pass through the Red Sea; overthrow Jerichos; subdue kingdoms; work righteousness; stop the mouth of lions; quench the violence of fire; turn to flight the armies of the aliens, and refuse deliverance in the day of trial, that we may obtain a better resurrection (Hebrews 11:35).
It is “believing” from first to last. We begin, we go on, we end in faith. The faith that justifies is the faith that overcomes (1 John 5:4). By faith we obtain the “good report” both with God and man. By faith we receive forgiveness; by faith we live; by faith we work, and endure, and suffer; by faith we win the crown,—a crown of righteousness, which shall be ours in the day of the appearing of Him who is OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
-Taken from The Everlasting Righteousness by Horatius Bonar, 1873.
The Best Laid Plans…
D.R. Brooker August 18th, 2007
On Monday I was scheduled to fly to Harlingen, Texas to meet with the board of To Every Tribe Ministries. I just got word that the meetings have been cancelled due to hurricane Dean, which at this stage looks like it could strike very close to Harlingen.
There are missionaries currently in Media Luna, Mexico, which could be greatly affected. Please pray that they are contacted and made aware of what lies ahead. Please pray for the people in that area as well. It is God’s hand that directs the flight of a butterfly upon a gentle breeze, and it is that same hand that also guides the ferocious winds of the hurricane. It is in that thought that our comfort rests: there is nothing, absolutely nothing, outside the sovereign guiding hand of God.
Gingrich Video
D.R. Brooker August 9th, 2007
I can’t say I’m the biggest Newt Gingrich fan but he makes a lot of excellent points in this video excerpt. Contemplating some of these things should fill us with fear. Thankfully, God is sovereign. That is the believer’s comfort in life and death.
The Shepherd’s Scrapbook
D.R. Brooker July 24th, 2007
If you don’t know of The Shepherd’s Scrapbook blog and Tony Reinke you should add it to your reading list now. Every post is worth the time. I must admit, I’m a little biased towards the excerpts from Horatius Bonar for some reason! This latest one about Living Upon the Son of God is most excellent!
A Biography of Great Worth
D.R. Brooker July 20th, 2007
Would you read a biography of a man described thusly:
In a day of bustle and whirl, like ours, it may be well to study the life of one who stood in the midst of all this, yet was not of it; who was never for an hour drawn into it; but sought all his days to draw others out of it, into the calm and joy which he himself so fully knew.
In an age of false ideals and hero-worship, it will be found good, also, to mark one who took, as his great model, both in service and suffering, the Son of God; who knew, above most, what intimacy with Him could do, in moulding character, and in producing a true and telling life.
I have it from a pretty good source that a major publisher will soon release (DV) a reprint of Horatius Bonar’s biography of the Rev. John Milne of Perth (1807-1868). This is excellent news! Milne is little known today yet Bonar did not hesitate to mention his name alongside the likes of William Chalmers Burns or Robert Murray M’Cheyne. Store the name ‘John Milne’ away and remember to pick up this volume when it’s released sometime in the fall. (It also appears on The Life and Works of Horatius Bonar CD-Rom for those interested). I will post more on the volume closer to release.
The Religious Social Club of England
D.R. Brooker July 11th, 2007
The Religious Social Club of England (for it should not be called the Church of England anymore) has come out with a new warning for its people:
Church of England leaders warned yesterday that calling God ‘He’ encourages men to beat their wives.
They told churchgoers they must think twice before they refer to God as ‘He’ or ‘Lord’ because of the dangers that it will lead to domestic abuse.
Honestly…since when has one of the marks of a Church been blasphemy?
Divine Jealousy For The Truth
D.R. Brooker July 11th, 2007
“O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth?” —Jeremiah 5:3
The word “truth” in Scripture refers both to doctrine and practice. It points both to the “error” and the “lie.” It classes both together. It condemns both. False speaking, whether in reference to teaching or witness-bearing, is declared to be abominable to God. His eyes are upon the truth. They watch over it, to guard it and to maintain it.
The theory of many is that God’s eyes are not upon the truth, and that therefore a man may believe what he pleases, and say what he likes, without fearing God’s displeasure. It is only when the untrue thing which he thinks and says interferes with human rights, or social privileges that he is to be visited with punishment. Jehovah’s eyes, then, are upon the truth,—the truth as found on earth among the sons of men.
In this watchfulnesss, this discernment, this justice, there are some things specially to be observed.
1. There is but one standard of truth. God fixes the standard and acts on it, without caprice, or partiality, or compromise. Error is a thousandfold, —pliable, moveable, uncertain,—truth is ONE. On this God calls on us to act, on this he acts himself. So that man cannot excuse his error or his falsehood on the ground that there were more standards than one.
2. This one standard is definite. It is not vague or shadowy. It does not merely settle certain great principles, but smaller ones as well. It is so very definite and precise as to leave man without excuse. It lets man know explicitly God’s present estimate of truth and falsehood, as well as his future judgment on these. It is so distinct that no one with an open ear and eye can hesitate about it. In our day men call this narrowness, bigotry, littleness. But if we only insist on being of one mind with God, he that condemns us condemns God himself. Let us be as broad as he is, but no broader; that is enough, whatever the age may say.
3. That one standard is universal. It is for every age and clime. It never becomes obsolete. It is like God himself,—unchangeable; like the Christ of God,—the same yesterday, today, and forever. It was given to our fathers, it is given to us. It suited the East, it suits the West. It suited the Jew, it suits the Gentile also; barbarian, Scythian, bond, or free. It suited the Asian, it suits the European. It suits the Briton, it suits the Indian, and the African. It suits the unlearned, it suits the learned too. One standard for all! One universal test or measurement of truth.
4. That one standard is the Bible. It is no secret standard that He judges us by, or by which He tests truth and error. The test which He gives to us He acts upon himself. The Bible is His book of truth as well as ours. That book contains what God calls truth,—truth definite, fixed, certain, not moveable, nor waxing obsolete, nor falling behind the age. The Bible is the one book of the age, nay, of the ages,—of all ages and all climes. Man’s present unbelief seeks to loosen its authority, to dilute its statements, to render indefinite its doctrines. But the word of the Lord endureth forever. God is not a man that he should lie. His word is sure, his truth is everlasting, his book is like the sun in the firmament; a light for all ages and lands.
Thus God’s eyes are on the truth. It is truth that he delights in, it is error that he abhors. It is truth that he is seeking for among the sons of men. What a condemnation to the laxity of thought in the present day! As if man were at liberty to think as he pleases, irrespective of God and his book! God watches over the truth; he marks each error, each deviation from his one standard.
O man, hast thou received the very truth, and the whole truth of God? He has given man a book for a standard, not that he may speculate, but that he may not speculate, but believe. What God, in and by that book, demands of men is not criticism, opinion, speculation, but BELIEF. God’s eyes are on the truth, to see if men believe it.
The day is at hand, the great day of the Lord, when TRUTH only shall be set on high, and error put to shame. O man, God’s eyes are on the truth, let thine be on it too. Be true to truth; be true to thyself; be true to God.
-Taken from Light & Truth: Bible Thoughts and Themes, Vol. I, Horatius Bonar, 1868.
Courage
D.R. Brooker July 11th, 2007
Helium Balloons Carry Man in Lawn Chair 193 Miles. I knew this could be done!
The Vatican Still Blowing Smoke
D.R. Brooker July 10th, 2007
Roman Catholics better Christians, Vatican says. Oh really.
The Vatican said Tuesday that Christian denominations outside the Roman Catholic Church are not full churches of Jesus Christ.
A 16-page document, prepared by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which Pope Benedict used to head, described Christian Orthodox churches as true churches that suffer from a “wound” since they do not recognize the primacy of the Pope.
Newsflash: Christians recognize the primacy of Jesus Christ alone. When you consider the long sordid history of the Roman Church-State, one can only come to the same conclusion as the Catholic historian Lord Acton did when he called the Papacy “the fiend skulking behind the Crucifix.”
Two Quotes
D.R. Brooker July 5th, 2007
A new edition of John Angell James’ An Earnest Church is set to be released by Dust & Ashes Publications in the coming weeks. More details on the release will follow soon but in the meantime, here is a pithy, yet powerful quote from this volume.
“Truth is the food of piety, and, error its poison.” -J. A. James
A new edition of B.B. Warfield’s Counterfeit Miracles is about to be released and from the new Foreword here is an excellent paragraph describing how many church-goers view the Bible. The rest of the essay, which I would highly recommend, can be read here.
“Despite the growing interest in religion, most churchgoers in America - perhaps most churchgoers worldwide - seem never to have read the Bible. That in itself is a damning indictment of contemporary churches. Suppose a literary club were organized to study Shakespeare, but read only snippets from his plays and a few sonnets, and spent most of its meetings doing other things. Would we call it a Shakespearean society? Hardly. Yet churches that claim to be Christian have not taught their members even the most basic things about Christianity. Most of them, in fact, depreciate the truthfulness and importance of Scripture, and instead emphasize religious ritual; social, charitable, and political activity; and emotional experience. It’s as if the Shakespeare society ignored Shakespeare and spent its time bowling. Churches neither encourage nor practice the intellectual experience of studying the Word of God. That, if it is to be done at all, is to be done only by the experts - the academicians in seminaries and universities.”
One’s Theology Does Matter
D.R. Brooker July 3rd, 2007
Here is an interesting article from a former Islamic extremist. If nothing else, it shows clearly that actions follow from belief; that our worldview informs and dictates our behaviour. This is not earth shattering by any stretch. The Bible has taught this for centuries:
As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. -Proverbs 23:7
A Novel Idea
D.R. Brooker June 25th, 2007
A few weeks ago I had this idea. Now, it’s not an original idea by any stretch, but it was one I had never tried. As people refined their summer reading lists, I decided I would ditch mine and sit down and read the Bible cover to cover, much like one would read a novel. No stopping. No studying. Just read, then turn the page, and read some more. I thought this would be good for several reasons: 1) it would give me a better feel for the continuity of Scripture; 2) it would fill in some of the historical gaps I have in my knowledge of the Bible; 3) it would allow me to better follow the thread of redemption that goes from Genesis to Revelation, and 4) it would allow me to see more clearly how Christ is both hidden in types in the OT and then revealed for all to see in the NT. Certainly this could be done by reading a few chapters a day as I’ve done in the past, but I thought reading larger chunks would afford a grander view of the narrative and a clearer picture of the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan.
Before I started, I shared this idea with a friend of mine. Now, everyone needs to have a friend like this. You know, the kind of friend who is only encouraging and whose knowledge of God’s word is light years ahead of your own. He told me he had done it before and it forever changed the way he viewed the Bible. (After 10 days I’m almost halfway through the OT and I wholeheartedly concur with those sentiments). He also gave me two suggestions that have also been worth their weight in gold: 1) As I read, write down questions as they arise but don’t stop to answer them, and 2) Read the books in the order they appear in the Hebrew Bible. As I can already tell, this first suggestion will give me enough Bible study material to last more than a year once I’m done. The second suggestion was something I had never heard before or ever even considered so I asked him further about it. Now none of what follows is anything original to me and comes from the study of this friend. This topic in and of itself will most certainly be something to further study as well.
Luke 24:44 - Then he [Jesus] said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the psalms [the writings] must be fulfilled.”
Jesus Himself refers to the OT scriptures in the order of the law (Torah), the prophets (Nebi’im), and the writings (Ketubim) and this order is quite a bit different than the order we use today (which appears to be based more off the order in the Septuagint than the Hebrew Bible). There are also a number of clues within the text itself that leads one to believe the Hebrew order is how it should be read. For example, while the book of Ruth looks to fit historically somewhere between Judges and 1 Samuel, it actually follows the Book of Proverbs as the 4th book of the writings. It’s interesting to note that Proverbs ends in chapter 31 with a description of a godly woman and is then followed by the book of Ruth, an example of a godly woman. There are many other such examples of this type of continuity which can only help to increase our love for the Word of God as we see His hand ever more clearly in its production. It is also interesting to note that the five books of Moses, the Torah, is really just one book with five chapters and is meant to be read in that way. The twelve “minor prophets” are also only one book in the Hebrew Bible and are meant to be read as one as well. While this may seem insignificant, it is quite an illuminating practice to read them with that mindset. Hopefully somewhere down the road I’ll share more thoughts on this.
I’ve never seen or read anything on this subject and perhaps there are good reasons against it; I’m just not currently aware of any. But I think it worthy of our time to consider seeing that this is how Jesus Himself would have read the OT, along with all the NT writers. My advice/challenge to any who still may stop by here and read is this: set aside the next 4 to 6 weeks and read nothing but your Bible from cover to cover. Take into consideration some of the “tips” I just mentioned. I guarantee your love for the Word will grow and the Bible will become the real “page turner” you just can’t put down, as it should be.
UPDATE: To make it easier for people to locate the Hebrew order, I’ve moved the following list up from the comment section.
| Torah (Instruction) Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy |
Nebi’im (Prophets) (Former Prophets) Joshua Judges 1-2 Samuel 1-2 Kings (Latter Prophets) Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel (The Twelve) Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi |
Ketubim (Writings) Psalms Job Proverbs Ruth Songs Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes) Lamentations Esther Daniel Ezra-Nehemiah 1-2 Chronicles |
1. It must have been a very bloody time in which to live considering the number of animal sacrifices that had to be made and the ongoing slaughter of the enemies of Israel commanded by God. As a man in Israel, their hands must have always had the stain of blood on them; either human or animal.
2. God was very particular about the keeping of the law down to the smallest detail; and for those who transgressed in what to us would seem like the smallest things, were immediately punished and/or killed by God.
3. I often found myself cringing at what I perceived to be the harshness of God in dealing with His people. But this is the God of scripture and the God who laid the foundations of the world. I need to put off the false notions of the popular, contemporary god of the 21st century that still contaminates some of my thinking and bring my thoughts in line with the God of the Bible, even those parts I find difficult.
4. No one who reads the books of Moses honestly should even begin to whisper in contempt for the doctrine of God’s election. It is everywhere. I can’t help but think that the denial of election that is prominent in many circles is really just a variant form of unbelief.
5. The typology of scripture is awesome. It is incredible to see the number of references to the “seed” or “the One to come.”
6. There are no references, that I saw, to hell or eternal punishment. Did the Israelites realize the ramifications of their turning from God?
7. The supralapsarian position (regarding the order of God’s decrees) seems to be the only logically defensible position, IMO.
8. The intracacies of the sacrificial system highlights the impossibility of man ever coming close to doing anything to atone for sin.
9. I still find the Balaam narrative confusing and it certainly seems out of place. I’ve got to go and study that.
10. I am shamed as I realize how much I do not know.
Calling All Funny Pastors
D.R. Brooker June 25th, 2007
Is this really where the world(ly church) is heading? This very well could be a fake advertisement it is so ridiculous. A friend sent me this “job listing” for a new church, which from the ad, I think is named The Comedy Hour. The right candidate for the job will help in:
“Developing new age church. The idea is to use humor and comedy to bring people to Christ. With the right Pastor we plan on becoming a rapidly growing mega church soon. Would like to work with new Pastor to come up with new ideas, so please share what God has put on your heart.”
Now, I know a number of pastors that possess a wonderful sense of humour and are quite funny. But none of them would even think of turning their sermons into stand-up routines. I’m pretty sure God will not find this very funny.
The Priority of the Church
D.R. Brooker June 16th, 2007
This is the best quote I’ve read in a long time:
“The first priority of the church is not mission but confession. Any emphasis on being missional that is not already clear on what it means to be confessional will misrepresent the person and work of Christ and hinder the work of the church. And without a true confession there is no authentic mission. The liberal theologians and preachers of the 19th and early 20th centuries did not intend to destroy the church. Many of them felt compelled to adopt new theological positions because of the impact of new scientific knowledge. And many of them were seeking to reach their generation with the gospel, or what they considered to be the gospel.”
A Pleasant Surprise in the PCA
D.R. Brooker June 14th, 2007
I’m probably one of the few Baptists thankful for the vote in the PCA yesterday that overwhelmingly adopted their study committee report on the “Federal Vision” theology of Doug Wilson, Steve Schlissel, John Barach, Rich Lusk, Steve Wilkins, Peter Leithart, etc., declaring that their teaching does not conform to the Westminster Confession, and by implication, the scriptures. The PCA is not the first Presbytery to rule this way, but it is definitely the largest.
Why am I thankful? Because the Federal Vision, at its heart, is a denial of the gospel. It rejects the necessity of the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to those who believe as the ground by which we are declared just before God. It replaces imputation with a mystical “union with Christ” that occurs at baptism; a union that is kept by the person’s “covenant faithfulness”; a union after which, one may still fall away. Without imputation, there is no “good news”; there is no gospel.
What does this mean practically? I don’t know. I hope that the men who teach this error will either repent or leave the PCA. If they hold to a Presbyterian ecclesiology, they must submit to the ruling and take one of these courses of action. I would even go so far to say that if we start seeing an exodus from the PCA, we may see many travel all the way back to Rome. Once you leave “Geneva”, there is only one destination. Pray that the Lord will purge this and other errors from His church.
Hopefully now, many who have turned a blind eye to the teachings of these men will cease their fawning over them. This is no small issue and many have treated it as such. Hopefully now they will realize that the doctrine of justification IS the doctrine by which “the church stands or falls.” It is one thing to quote Luther in this regard; it is quite another to take it seriously.
For those who are unfamiliar with the Federal Vision, here are the nine recommendations from the study report on why this theology should be rejected.
In light of the controversy surrounding the NPP and FV, and after many months of careful study, the committee unanimously makes the following declarations:
1. The view that rejects the bi-covenantal structure of Scripture as represented in the Westminster Standards (i.e., views which do not merely take issue with the terminology, but the essence of the first/second covenant framework) is contrary to those Standards.
2. The view that an individual is “elect” by virtue of his membership in the visible church; and that this “election” includes justification, adoption and sanctification; but that this individual could lose his “election” if he forsakes the visible church, is contrary to the Westminster Standards.
3. The view that Christ does not stand as a representative head whose perfect obedience and satisfaction is imputed to individuals who believe in him is contrary to the Westminster Standards.
4. The view that strikes the language of “merit” from our theological vocabulary so that the claim is made that Christ’s merits are not imputed to his people is contrary to the Westminster Standards.
5. The view that “union with Christ” renders imputation redundant because it subsumes all of Christ’s benefits (including justification) under this doctrinal heading is contrary to the Westminster Standards.
6. The view that water baptism effects a “covenantal union” with Christ through which each baptized person receives the saving benefits of Christ’s mediation, including regeneration, justification, and sanctification, thus creating a parallel soteriological system to the decretal system of the Westminster Standards, is contrary to the Westminster Standards.
7. The view that one can be “united to Christ” and not receive all the benefits of Christ’s mediation, including perseverance, in that effectual union is contrary to the Westminster Standards.
8. The view that some can receive saving benefits of Christ’s mediation, such as regeneration and justification, and yet not persevere in those benefits is contrary to the Westminster Standards.
9. The view that justification is in any way based on our works, or that the so-called “final verdict of justification” is based on anything other than the perfect obedience and satisfaction of Christ received through faith alone, is contrary to the Westminster Standards.
Quote of the Day
D.R. Brooker June 5th, 2007
This quote made me laugh. Andrew Keen and his take on the “blogosphere” and what comprises it:
“Millions and millions of exuberant monkeys…are creating an endless digital forest of mediocrity…”
While that is definitely not true of all, it is true of many. I’m sure at least a few of those trees are mine.
What is a Christian?
D.R. Brooker May 30th, 2007
In light of recent discussions involving, baptism, covenant, and what constitutes a Christian, here is an excerpt from the Presbyterian minister Horatius Bonar, which speaks to how the Bible describes those who rightly bear the name “Christian.”
A Christian, then, is a copy of Christ. His inner and outer man are to be copies of Christ. It is Christ’s footsteps he is to walk in. It is Christ’s image that he is to reflect. It is not Paul, nor Peter, no Luther, nor Calvin, nor Rutherford that he is to copy, but Christ Himself. Other models may illustrate this, and so help in the imitation of Christ; but only as doing this are they useful; otherwise they are dangerous. What then is a Christian man?
I. He is a man of faith.—It was by giving credit to God’s word that he became a Christian man; for it is by faith that we become sons of God. And his whole life is to be a life of faith. As Christ lived by faith on the Father, so does he. Christ is his model as a believing man. The more that he understands of Christ’s life, the more will he see the faith that marks it, and will learn to copy it, to live, act, speak, and walk by faith.
II. He is a man of prayer.—In this too he follows Christ. Christ’s life was a life of prayer. In the morning we find Him praying, a great while before day. All night we find Him praying more. No one, we would say, less needed prayer; yet no one prayed more. And the disciple herein imitates the Master. He prays without ceasing. He is instant in supplication. His life is a life of prayer,—constant intercourse with God.
III. He is a man of hope.—Christ looked to the joy set before Him, and so endured the cross. He anticipated the glory, and so was a man of hope. There is the hope, the same glory, the same joy for us…Our prospects are bright, and we keep them ever in view. The kingdom, the crown, the city, the inheritance, these are before our eyes. They cheer, and sustain, and purify us. Were it not for the hope, what would become of us? What would this world be to us? Learn to hope as well as to believe.
IV. He is man of holiness.—He is the follower of a holy Master. He hears the voice, Be ye holy, for I am holy. He knows that he is redeemed to be holy, to do good works, to follow righteousness, to be one of a peculiar people. He is not content with being saved; he seeks to put off sin, lust, evil, vanity, and to put on righteousness, holiness, and every heavenly characteristic. He seeks to rise higher and higher; to grow more unlike this world,—more like the world to come. He marks Christ’s footsteps, and walks in them. He studies the Master’s mind, and seeks to possess it; mortifying his members and crucifying the flesh. He aims at shining as He shone, testifying as He testified.
V. He is a man of love.—He has known Christ’s love, and drunk it in, and found his joy in it. So he seeks to be like Him in love; to love the Father, to love the brethren, to love sinners, to show love at all times, in word and deed. His life is to be a life of love, his words the words of love, his daily doings the outflow of a heart of love. He is to be a living witness of the gospel of love. Love,—not hatred, nor coldness, nor malice, nor revenge, nor selfishness, nor indifference,—love such as was in Christ,— that he endeavors to embody and exhibit.
VI. He is to be a man of zeal.—’The zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up,’ said Christ. His life was one of zeal for God,—zeal for His Father’s honour and His Father’s business. So is the disciple to be ‘zealous of good works.’ Zeal steady and fervent,—not by fits and starts; not according to convenience, but in season and out of season; prudent, yet warm and loving; willing to suffer and to sacrifice; no sparing self or the flesh, but ever burning; zeal for Jehovah’s glory, for Christ’s name, for the Church’s edification, for the salvation of lost men;—this is to give complexion and character to his life.
These things are to mark a Christian man. He is not to be content with less. He is to grow in all these things; not to be barren, not to stagnate, not to be lukewarm, but to increase in resemblance to his Lord; to be transformed daily into His likeness, that there may be no mistake about him as to who or what he is.
-Taken from Light & Truth: Bible Thoughts and Themes, Vol. V., The Revelation, The Model of a Holy Life, Horatius Bonar, 1872.
