This Week in Calvinism - May 9, 2008

What do Calvinists and Arminians want to preserve?

Vince R. on humility and what some call "Calvinism".

Jason Stellman shares his thoughts on the doctrine of the two kingdoms, focusing on theocracy and exile.

Tim Challies reminds us that all men are equal down at the cross.

Ross Middleton asks, "Shouldn’t our theology line up with our worship of God?"

Does God display his glory by "seeking relation with every person in his creation"? John Mark Hicks thinks Calvinism "leaves us with a God whose ego is greater than his love." Let me respond with a question of my own: How is God glorified through his own failure? If he seeks a relationship with every single person and doesn't achieve a relationship with every single person, then that means he has failed, and failure on God's part is in no way glorifying. If, however, he is the one choosing, drawing, saving, and preserving, then he alone receives the glory. We are not equal to God, so it makes no sense to imply that God is egocentric because he holds himself in higher regard than he holds us. There is a HUGE difference between creature and Creator.

A Multi-Ethnic Body

Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton politicize race. Jeremiah Wright offers up a race-based theology. Creflo Dollar and T.D. Jakes promote a prosperity gospel. It is sad to see African-American Christians stereotyped by these so-called "leaders" in the black community. What's even sadder is that believers end up divided along ethnic lines.

Thankfully, there are ministries that are reaching out and bringing healing to the body of Christ:

You can find out more about Mission to North America at PCA-MNA.org.

Our Innate Understanding of Human Nature

When we first decided to adopt from Haiti, we were told that many people there had a fear that rich foreigners might be adopting in order to use Haitian children as organ donors. We found this hard to believe. How could anyone think such a thing? Sure, we have heard of couples getting pregnant for the sole purpose of using their new baby as an organ or tissue donor, but adoption is a long, expensive ordeal. Even if someone was willing to spend the money, it didn't make sense that someone in need of a transplant would bother going through a process that requires a huge amount of paperwork, a thorough background check, a psychological evaluation, and a full medical screening, not to mention a one-and-a-half to two-year wait before the adoption is finalized. Silly, right?

Well, that's what I thought until I ran across MedicalAdoptions.com. Take a look at it for a moment. You can easily see how something like that could get wild rumors started in an impoverished, superstitious Third World country.

Admit it. You were appalled at first. But if you bothered to poke around the site for a bit, you quickly discovered that it is a hoax -- a crude one, yes, but a hoax nonetheless. It does, however, draw attention to the fact that children all over the world are objectified and treated as disposable commodities all the time. (Ever hear of embryonic stem cell research?)

Actually, it really shouldn't surprise us at all that some people would see a site like MedicalAdoptions.com and think it's legitimate. Ryan W. McMaken, blogging at LewRockwell.com, made an excellent observation: "Some people see right through the hoaxes immediately, but many are outraged and quite credulous. In the end, the fact that people are willing to believe, even momentarily, that the proposal in question is being seriously put forward, is an excellent commentary on humanity's opinion of itself."

We have known the difference between right and wrong ever since Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It's not that we are oblivious to God, it's that we actively rebel against God. The Bible merely confirms the fact that "the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Genesis 8:21).

The truth is, most of us have an innate understanding of human nature. We know exactly how depraved we can be. Those who say that people are essentially good at heart are only lying to themselves. They know better.

Truly Together for the Gospel

"The basis for human identity," said Rev. Thabiti Anyabwile at the Together for the Gospel conference a few weeks ago, "is our unity in Adam as his biological descendants and God's image-bearers." Here is a brief clip from that session:

The entire message, "Bearing the Image: Identity, the Work of Christ, and the Church," can be downloaded here. I believe every Christian should listen to it and take it to heart.

There are a couple of reasons why I think it is so important and timely. One is that it comes in the wake of the Jeremiah Wright fiasco. (By the way, Thabiti Anyabwile has some excellent things to say about that on his blog.) It's clear there are still a lot of misconceptions about race, and in spite all of the advances we are supposed to have made, race is still used as a weapon to divide people and stir up hatred.

Another reason I think it's important is that my wife and I have been called to grow our family through international adoption. We are currently in the process of adopting a little girl from China and a brother and sister from Haiti. As you can imagine, we anticipate certain challenges to arise.

But, praise God, we are blessed to be part of a much larger and diverse family, one that is founded on divine adoption and encompasses every nation, tribe, and tongue. No matter what our skin color, we all bear the image of God, and to allow discrimination and division to creep in would be an insult to the gospel.

This Week in Calvinism - May 2, 2008

Two cheers for the resurgence of Calvinism.

The Baptist Standard presents a well-balanced article on Calvinists and non-Calvinists working together.

The Associated Baptist Press reports, "Among Baptist Baby Boomer theologians, at least half of the major authors are committed to Calvinism."

If someone is already a Christian, does it matter if he or she believes in Calvinism or not? St. Brianstine believes it does "because it matters what the bible says about God."

A "New Wesleyanism"?

Does Matthew 13:14-15 refute Calvinism? Kevin thinks so. He writes, "The Calvinistic doctrines of irresistible grace and unconditional election are certainly a crummy grid of theology on which to base the interpretation of the Bible." (That isn't what Calvinists do, but whatever.) He thinks that this passage doesn't fit into that grid because it says that people have closed their own eyes to the reality of Christ (you know, that whole "free will" thing). Of course, that same passage also says that their unbelief was in fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, so I would contend that Matthew 13:14-15 actually supports Calvinism. Whenever we see a fulfillment of prophecy in scripture, I think it demonstrates the glorious truth of God's sovereignty.

Scripture for Busy Guys Who Don't Have Time to Read

This is real. It is not a spoof:

NCV [New Century Version] Align: The Complete New Testament for Men

Product Description
Now delving into the depths of New Testament teachings is as easy as enjoying your favorite magazine! This "Biblezine" is brimming with practical insights to apply your faith to everyday life. Easy-reading NCV text Relevant articles on health, relationships, money, family, and more.

Customer Reviews
***** Reviewed by Natasha Clay (Irvine, CA), December 20, 2007
I love this format. The modern day man can take it to work, the doctors office wherever he goes. This will allow the man that doesn't normally find himself reading the bible consistently, to give him a practical way to incorporate God's word into their daily routine.

Click here to see a sample page from the book of Matthew, comlete with air conditioning tips. (No, I'm not kidding.) Throughout this "Biblezine" you will also find interesting random factoids that make it easy to apply what you read in scripture to real-life situations. For example, did you know that "ten times more people suffer from major depression now than in 1945"? It's true. It's right there in the Bible. Now, doesn't the passage about Jesus being tempted in the wilderness seem much more relevant?

Listen. I'm as open to new ideas as the next guy, but I just don't see how this is of any real use to believers. Are we guys really so thick-headed that scripture has to be dumbed down this much?

Children: Blessing or Curse?

When ministers ignore their duty to preach the gospel, they are inevitably swayed by the latest social trends, and the relevancy of their message caters to the lowest common denominator. Consider the following inane rant from Oliver "Buzz" Thomas:

In the interest of preserving our planet and our species, shouldn't religious organizations be encouraging smaller families? Do our spiritual leaders need additional divine revelation to realize that our current doctrines -- which threaten to take the entire world down with us -- have become ethically and theologically questionable?

Population growth hits hardest in the poorest nations, and as poverty increases, public health declines. I am quite certain that God is not the author of human misery, but by preaching against birth control at the same time we are preaching against abortion, it seems that we're making God out as cruel, a buffoon, or both.

I recognize that religious organizations tend to be conservative institutions. Their continued resistance to equal rights for women and gays is a good example. A woman may be president of Harvard or speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, but in the largest religious organization on the planet, women still can't get ordained as parish priests. It's even worse for gays and lesbians.

All this is to say that religion often comes late to the party -- sometimes kicking and screaming, as did most Southern churches on slavery and civil rights. Only this time, we can't afford it. Not when the fate of the planet might hang in the balance.

How should people of faith respond to this gathering environmental storm?

First, we must stop having so many children. Clergy should consider voicing the difficult truth that having more than two children during such a time is selfish. Dare we say sinful? The average American might not listen to his elected representatives, but he darn sure listens to his pastor. Every week. This will be a hard message for pastors to preach and parishioners to hear, but without it we court disaster.

Contrast that sentiment with Psalm 127:3-5: "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!" Christ himself said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:14).

Sorry, Rev. Thomas, but I cannot subscribe to your implication that children are a curse. (And yes, that is exactly what you are implying.) The world needs more children brought up "in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4), not less.

This Week in Calvinistm - April 25, 2008

Calvinists have the Shepherd's Conference, the Desiring God Conference for Pastors, and Together for the Gospel. Arminians, not wanting to feel left out, are announcing the John 3:16 Conference which hopes "to be a biblical and theological assessment of and response to 5-point Calvinism."

Steve Gaines revives the caricatures of Calvinism.

Jonathan Perreault concludes, "A key element to this Calvinistic doctrine of Total Inability is the teaching that regeneration by the Holy Spirit must precede personal faith." Well, yes. It's only logical.

Rhett believes that "true Calvinism represents a God who is not the Christian God." He would much rather follow a God who isn't in complete control. And he thinks Calvinism is fatalistic?

T4G 2008 Downloads

You can download the lectures and panel discussions from the 2008 Together for the Gospel Conference here.

In Celebration of Earth Day

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:26
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

Deuteronomy 32:1
"Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth."

1st Chronicles 16:31
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, "The Lord reigns!"

Psalm 24:1-2
The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Romans 8:19-22
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

1st Corinthians 10:25-26
Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof."

Revelation 21:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

This Week in Calvinistm - April 18, 2008

Blogger Turretinfan responds to three common objections to Calvinism.

Jason believes in the doctrines of grace, but don't call him a Calvinist.

How Calvinism informs evangelism.

Pulpit Magazine is running a series entitled "Evangelizing Your Children."

Are we guilty of bringing too much Heaven into evangelism?

James Swan at AOM critiques a Catholic critique of the doctrine of sola scriptura.

Speaking of the Reformation, my thanks to John Bird for the reminder that it was on this day, April 18, in 1521 that Martin Luther stood before the Diet of Worms and uttered those famous words: "Since your majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason -- I do not accept the authority of popes and councils for they have contradicted each other -- my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, God help me. Amen."

R.C. Sproul on the Difference Between Justification and Salvation

Christian Statism: Killing for the Gospel?

"The War Prayer" is a short story that was written during the aftermath of the Philippine-American War by Mark Twain and published after his death. In 2007, Markos Kounalakis, the president of The Washington Monthly, adapted the text for this animated short film.

This could easily have been written in response to the current "war on terror." We really haven't changed all that much.

Consider how many churches display the American flag prominently in their pulpits. Is it any wonder why we seem to have such a hard time drawing a distinction between loyalty to Christ and loyalty to country?

A couple of months ago, I heard a comment that saddened me deeply. In the context of discussing how the brutality of bin Laden and other Muslim thugs may be turning people away from Islam, someone mentioned that it's good for Christianity to have the U.S. military involved in the Middle East, and that having Christian GIs in Iraq will help spread the gospel.

Oh. Is that why we invaded Iraq and killed hundreds of thousands of people? It was all part of furthering God's kingdom?

What we did was commit a naked act of aggression against a sovereign nation that neither attacked nor threatened us. Our "liberation" of Iraq has since given rise to terrorist groups that weren't there before and has resulted in a great amount of bloodshed. It has also displaced thousands of Christians who now face violent persecution from militant Muslims. Do American Christians now feel we must justify the actions of our government on the basis that it will help spread the gospel?

My friend Dave Black asks, "How is that we have allowed the Christian Right to be defined by delusional idealism and religious zeal? How is it that American evangelicals not only approved but actually glamorized the war as a form of Christian 'mission'?"

As a Christian and a Calvinist, I understand that God controls all things and does ordain evil for good (Genesis 50:20). But we as Christians should never equate the spreading of the gospel with the use of military force. We are fighting a spiritual war (Ephesians 6:12-13) and our weapon of choice is the "sword of the spirit" (Ephesians 6:17). We should be prepared to give our own lives for the sake of the gospel (Matthew 16:25, John 12:24-25), not to take the lives of others.

Idol Worship

Viewers who tuned in last week to American Idol Gives Back saw something you just don't see on TV -- I mean ever:

Surely this is a positive thing, and we Christians should rejoice!

Right?

Well, there are a couple of things to consider. Bob Kauflin explains:

In the positive column, someone watching "Shout to the Lord" on American Idol might be led by God's Spirit to download the song, or even to start going to church again. They might hear the Gospel and be gloriously converted, all due to hearing "Shout to the Lord" in one of the most unlikely places. For that potential, I praise and thank God. ...

... But there’s a dark side. There's something paradoxical about worship songs being sung on prime time TV by people who don't know why Jesus came. Does the world see any difference between what’s taking place on American Idol and what we do on Sunday mornings? Has worship become part of the entertainment culture? It's unsettling when Christian songs or worship leaders are acclaimed by the masses. Jesus said in Luke 6:26, "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets." He also said, "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me" (Matt. 15:8). Both verses temper my unbridled enthusiasm.

American Idol, for all the good the show is seeking to do, will never be a platform for worshiping a crucified Messiah. The Gospel has to be gutted of a bloody cross to find a place on prime time TV.

Be sure to check out the rest of his post.

How Not to Preach on Pain and Suffering

If you would like to know how not to preach a sermon on pain and suffering, just follow these simple guidelines:

1. Make your sermon topical rather than expositional. People already know about pain and suffering. They want something applicable with lots of anecdotes and illustrations. They don't need to hear all the details of what God's Word has to say on the subject, but do feel free to throw in some random verses here and there.
   
   
2. When dealing with such a serious topic, it's always good to break the ice with a joke. Say something like this: "When we ask questions like Why does God allow pain in my life? it really has a lot of similar questions that kind of butt up against it. Questions like Why is there suffering in the world? Questions like Why does God allow evil? Why do they sell hot dogs in packs of eight, but rolls in packs of 10? You know, really big questions that really get at the heart of what we're struggling with." Be sure to pause long enough for laughter.
   
   
3. Maintain a man-centered perspective. (The congregation is made up of mere mortals, after all.) Stress the importance of free will. We aren't robots, so don't let your congregation think for even one second that things like evil and suffering may have been ordained by God. Sure, scripture teaches that our salvation was secured in Christ before the foundation of the world, but that doesn't mean God had everything planned ahead of time. Let's just try to stick to the subject at hand, shall we?
   
   
4. Remember, you're coming at this from a man-centered perspective, so stick to three practical implications. God allows pain in our lives: 1) to grow our faith, 2) to focus our hope, and 3) to propel our love.
   
   
5. Whatever you do, do not -- I repeat, do not -- bring up God's sovereignty or his glory. Once you do that, your sermon ceases to be man-centered, and people will tune out because you are no longer making it about them.
   
   
6. Humor is especially effective at driving your points home. A joke about shooting your neighbor because his dog poops on your lawn, and then going to jail for it, can be a very effective way to convey the point that suffering can sometimes be the result of bad choices that we make. (You know, that whole free will thing.)
   
   
7. This is a sermon, so will want to mention Christ in there somewhere. Tell the people that Christ suffered and died on the cross to overcome the two biggest problems in our lives: sin and death. If you're delivering this sermon around Easter time, make it relevant by saying something like "That's what Easter is all about." Congregations like that kind of thing.

To hear a sermon that makes great practical use of all these tips, click here.