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Again, how does the “Ways of the Lord” or to “walk in the ways of the Lord” harmonize or contrast with what would be perceived as normal Christian behavior? Said another way, does whatever a Christian set himself to do with the best of intentions, become “Gods ways” by virtue of his having good intentions or being born again? How about if there is a whole bunch of other Christians doing it too, does that make it “walking in the ways of the Lord?”
The standard has to be Gods word, and not us, because…
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Prov 14:12 and God also said “For my thought are not your thoughts, nor are my ways your ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth. So are my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 58:8,9
God did specifically command us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” I do think a person can assume that this just happens, that being born again accomplishes the same thing. That if your born again, Prov14:12, just couldn’t be talking about us. The letter to the Corinthians and the Galatians and much of the New Testament shows that being born again, doesn’t all of a sudden elevate our thoughts up to his thoughts or make us comfortable with his ways. The record shows, and if we just stop to think about it, that Christians are full of “ways that seem right to a man”.
Like Doug Phillips asking, “does a fish know he’s wet?” Brad Heath joins so many others as he points out that we don’t realize the size, type and kinds of the impression that the culture has put on us. Being born again doesn’t inoculate us from the culture or undue how our minds have been trained to think.
God never even hints that ,“now that your saved”, you are fully equipped for every good work. Rather the fact that we must be “equipped” says that it’s not standard issue, but like 2timothy3:10-17 said, he had to learn them.
Botkin used the term, Americanized Christian faith.
As Americans, it is taken for granted that, no one can tell us what to do and no one should tell us what to think. What does that do to Eph4:11,12 He himself gave…apostles..prophets, pastors, teachers for the equipping of the saints…
Swanson put it this way “…As one church- goer told me recently, “I just don’t like to be told what to do”. Or in the words of another evangelical preacher in the little chat he had with his congregation, “ I just want to make a few suggestions for you today. I don’t ever want to tell you what to do” pg115 The Second Mayflower
But that is exactly what Jesus wants to do. He wants to let us know not only how to think, but also what to think, and do. Now if it was any name but Jesus the first thought would be, “Who does he think he is?”
We give our hearts to Jesus but who gets our minds? You don’t hear it mentioned much , we are called to love God with all our hearts, soul, mind and strength. How do you love God with your mind? How does that fit in?
I have pressed into another chapter of Brad Heath’s Millstones and Stumbling Blocks. This chapter alone is worth the price of the book for the insight he gives. He spends a chapter looking at this weekness of evangelicals, our minds , and how we think or don’t think, and points out that Pietism reigns...”Pietism is another impediment to loving God with all our minds. It is the abuse of piety, the wrong use of a right thing… when the devotion of our hearts is severed from the devotion of our minds, the result is an escapist mentality, leading to self righteous pietism...“ He continues...“ Pietism draws us into a self centered sphere of introverted personal experience where Christianity is reduced to a privatized (often Gnostic) faith. Jesus becomes one-dimensional in pietism-reduced to a ooey, gooey, sickly sweet sentimental experience. (David says: perfect for Oprah) Syrupy pietism, makes many evangelicals embark on an endless quest to change their personalities and temperaments with the dubious goal of becoming sweeter than Jesus. We find this engaging, but those around us find it irrelevant.”
Boy does that resonate for most of my Christian experience!
Heath tries to drive home a point about govt schools, but realize that you can put a couple of thousand different topics in its place and most Christians would respond the same way. As you read the following section, think, does the way he portray how Christians respond, which I believe is accurate, come about from their studying Gods word? Or is it the spirit of Americana, our culture, manifesting and asserting itself ? Protecting its turf.
From pg64 of Millstones…
"Our political, religious, and educational ideas are forged in the fires of free will and tempered by personal choice. In America, the right to choose trumps everything including the right of to life itself ."
"We live in an individualistic culture enveloped in an autonomous age, fertile soil for the evangelical doctrines of “soul competency” and the priesthood of the believer (singular). The very idea of absolutes applicable to all believers is regularly discounted in light of the final accountability we owe to God individually. American evangelicals are comfortable with this autonomy; they are not comfortable with uncompromising biblical standards or with admonitions for failing to adhere to them. The evangelical concept of “just me and my Bible” has become so pervasive we rarely unite around creeds, confessions, or even common commitments. To have anyone (including ecclesiastical authority) call us to a biblical standard of Christian education . . . .Well, bless your heart, brother; we would rather not talk about it."
"How do we approach these things having been taught to fear intolerance, not error? How do we appeal to biblical standards when our Christians brothers differ with us, demanding that all ideas be accepted as equally valid? How do we call believers to universal biblical truths when they recognize no universal biblical truths and they recognize no universal biblical authority? Such theological individualism makes it easy to get along, but reduces Christianity to a least common denominator, letting everyone believe anything if they have Jesus in their hearts. And this, for evangelicals, is yet another personal choice. No matter what arguments are presented for Christian education, they can always be dismissed with the wave of an autonomous hand: “oh, it’s nice Christian education works for you, but we chose public schools.” Period. End of debate. Discussion closed. Personal choice trumps all. Preference is king" .
David again: I think you pick any topic and this is how it can be treated by us. I think he nails it, this is the default position of most of evangelicals. These expressed attitudes would conflict with New Testament exhortations of, “not my will but thy will”… or… “you are not your own you have been bought with a price”….and…”Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death”…phil2:5-9
That we might be found thinking Gods thought after him.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Ways of the Lord
In the 70”s Francis Schaeffer had already noted, “ …much of the church is no help here either, because for so long a large section of the church has only been teaching a relativistic humanism using religious terminology”. From “How Should We Then Live?” 1976
Relativistic humanism using religious terminology. Ouch.
Of course in the 70’s I would’ve said “no way brother we’re on fire for Jesus.” Actually a few years ago I would’ve said the same thing.
Rushdoony was a voice in the wilderness in the 60’s crying out to the church. He started Chalcedon, laying bread crumbs on the ground, that the church would some day, find their way back. I have since found out there were others even further back. Dabney, after the Civil War for example.
So how does the “Ways of the Lord” contrast with what would be perceived as normal Christian behavior today? Did we lose our way?
It is a humanistic assumption that because we are saved and belong to God that our minds will just automatically get in line with his program. (I know this is a chicken bone in most throats, “ No way! Not if your really saved!!)
But because God himself warned his chosen ones “..that you should no longer walk as the rest of the gentiles In the futility of their mind..( that is, using human reason… see Eve’s example from Genesis, in an unfallen state no less! As example number one)” eph4:17 And “ Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world and not according to Christ.” Col2:8 He would not warn us if this wasn’t possibly. This is just so hard to believe. But HE said it.
So Im afraid Swanson is right when he writes that “ …where the law of God has been abandoned, the consciences of men over time can no longer make the fine distinctions between good and evil. As time goes by, the grosser distinctions become equally fuzzy. While the church itself is about a generation behind the rest of the culture in drawing these ethical distinctions, the church bears less and less influence on the minds and lives of its parishioners. This is because the media and the secular education system have far more access to the minds of Christians who patronize them, then does a church which hardly has the courage or the conviction to raise the antithesis of the Lawgiver against the worldview and ethics of the occupational force”… Second Mayflower pg119 emphasis mine
Exhibit A : Vison Forums “Walt Disney, a Christian critique”. Another great cd set from Vision Forum. You can see where Walts vision for normalcy, for what a family is, kind of became a default vision for American families, even Christians. Moralistic goodness, moralism, but disconnected from Gods absolutes of his law word. Disney was at least engaging the culture, even steering it. Most of his errors slipped under most Christians radars and were not even noticed or pointed out or challenged from the pulpits. We have been world view challenged for a long time. I think we were just excited to have something to watch that didn’t overtly offend us.
Doug called one aspect of Walts work the “cute-if-ication of Evil” So long as it was cute, amazing animation, well executed, and great music ,we drank it up and his world view became our worldview along the way. Very good food for thought in this set. Phillips, Botkin, and issac ,Botkins son. Good stuff.
Jeff Baldwin would teach on worldviews, movies, books and literature and he always stressed never ever, ever, go take in a movie or anything of popular culture if you just want to relax and veg out. Rather you must be cogniscent of what your taking in. (taking every thought captive, not only yours but the other ones being shown or expressed around you)
Swanson on the one hand, doesn’t say you shouldn’t go see movies either . He mentions the topic briefly in his war of the worldviews message. But then does emphatically say if you cannot identify worldviews like existentialism, experientialism, etc, etc, in the films, then you have absolutely no business watching them.
A legalist? Or does he take very serious Col2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit...
Relativistic humanism using religious terminology. Ouch.
Of course in the 70’s I would’ve said “no way brother we’re on fire for Jesus.” Actually a few years ago I would’ve said the same thing.
Rushdoony was a voice in the wilderness in the 60’s crying out to the church. He started Chalcedon, laying bread crumbs on the ground, that the church would some day, find their way back. I have since found out there were others even further back. Dabney, after the Civil War for example.
So how does the “Ways of the Lord” contrast with what would be perceived as normal Christian behavior today? Did we lose our way?
It is a humanistic assumption that because we are saved and belong to God that our minds will just automatically get in line with his program. (I know this is a chicken bone in most throats, “ No way! Not if your really saved!!)
But because God himself warned his chosen ones “..that you should no longer walk as the rest of the gentiles In the futility of their mind..( that is, using human reason… see Eve’s example from Genesis, in an unfallen state no less! As example number one)” eph4:17 And “ Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world and not according to Christ.” Col2:8 He would not warn us if this wasn’t possibly. This is just so hard to believe. But HE said it.
So Im afraid Swanson is right when he writes that “ …where the law of God has been abandoned, the consciences of men over time can no longer make the fine distinctions between good and evil. As time goes by, the grosser distinctions become equally fuzzy. While the church itself is about a generation behind the rest of the culture in drawing these ethical distinctions, the church bears less and less influence on the minds and lives of its parishioners. This is because the media and the secular education system have far more access to the minds of Christians who patronize them, then does a church which hardly has the courage or the conviction to raise the antithesis of the Lawgiver against the worldview and ethics of the occupational force”… Second Mayflower pg119 emphasis mine
Exhibit A : Vison Forums “Walt Disney, a Christian critique”. Another great cd set from Vision Forum. You can see where Walts vision for normalcy, for what a family is, kind of became a default vision for American families, even Christians. Moralistic goodness, moralism, but disconnected from Gods absolutes of his law word. Disney was at least engaging the culture, even steering it. Most of his errors slipped under most Christians radars and were not even noticed or pointed out or challenged from the pulpits. We have been world view challenged for a long time. I think we were just excited to have something to watch that didn’t overtly offend us.
Doug called one aspect of Walts work the “cute-if-ication of Evil” So long as it was cute, amazing animation, well executed, and great music ,we drank it up and his world view became our worldview along the way. Very good food for thought in this set. Phillips, Botkin, and issac ,Botkins son. Good stuff.
Jeff Baldwin would teach on worldviews, movies, books and literature and he always stressed never ever, ever, go take in a movie or anything of popular culture if you just want to relax and veg out. Rather you must be cogniscent of what your taking in. (taking every thought captive, not only yours but the other ones being shown or expressed around you)
Swanson on the one hand, doesn’t say you shouldn’t go see movies either . He mentions the topic briefly in his war of the worldviews message. But then does emphatically say if you cannot identify worldviews like existentialism, experientialism, etc, etc, in the films, then you have absolutely no business watching them.
A legalist? Or does he take very serious Col2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit...
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Update on Housing and whats Around the Corner
We have the central banks of england,Canada,USA,and the European market nations acting as giant pawn shops for not just big banks, but incredibly for large wall street investment houses. Gary North is right when he says they are very afraid of chickens coming home to roost. The following was on lewrockwells.com
From Gary North,The $10,000 Atlanta Houses
You read that right. You can buy a house in Atlanta for $10,000.
That's if you're a high roller. How about one for $5,900?
Whenever you see something like this, you should think to yourself: "This sounds crazy; so, the government has to be involved." This may be incorrect, but you will save a lot of time barking up wrong trees by starting with this assumption.
In this case, it's a conclusion, not just an assumption. I will get to this later on. But first. . . . whole article
From Gary North,The $10,000 Atlanta Houses
You read that right. You can buy a house in Atlanta for $10,000.
That's if you're a high roller. How about one for $5,900?
Whenever you see something like this, you should think to yourself: "This sounds crazy; so, the government has to be involved." This may be incorrect, but you will save a lot of time barking up wrong trees by starting with this assumption.
In this case, it's a conclusion, not just an assumption. I will get to this later on. But first. . . . whole article
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
So they Called Out and I Would Not Listen
Tonight as our normal evening reading of the word we reached Zechariah chpt 7 and it too makes the point I thought I was seeing in Proverbs. But first note in verse 10, another place that shows we’re so full of oatmeal to have believed that the Old Testeament was about externals. Where? Did that idea come from?
Zechariah 7:10-14
10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless,
The alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart Against his brother.’
11 “But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear.12 “Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts.13 “Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen,” says the Lord of hosts.14 “But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they had not known. Thus the land became desolate after them, so that no one passed through or returned; for they made the pleasant land desolate.”
Is Jesus a "Get out of jail free" card? If we disregard his law and commandments , if we stop up our ears, do we continue to GO and collect $200 dollars?
Zechariah 7:10-14
10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless,
The alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart Against his brother.’
11 “But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear.12 “Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts.13 “Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen,” says the Lord of hosts.14 “But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they had not known. Thus the land became desolate after them, so that no one passed through or returned; for they made the pleasant land desolate.”
Is Jesus a "Get out of jail free" card? If we disregard his law and commandments , if we stop up our ears, do we continue to GO and collect $200 dollars?
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Even his Prayer is an Abomination
I am probably the last one to get to the party on this.
I have been reading Proverbs with Jamie in the morning for awhile now. Noticed something different this time around. I have always thought of Proverbs, as Solomons proverbs. Almost as a separate category of left over wise stuff. I have never associated them as Gods directly.
As an evangelical, Proverbs have been none threatening to me. Because they really came across as “optional wisdom” ( I believe that’s a Rushdoony) and not commandments.
But as you read that first chapter its like the book fades in and out of Solomon speaking and then God speaking. Now all the word is inspired by God. But like verse 8 “My son hear the instruction of your father…”
But when you hit the end of chapt 1:26-33 the tone and tenor changes and this is God, not Solomon saying “ I will laugh at your calamity…mock when your terror comes… when distress and anguish come upon you….v28 Then they will call on me but I will not answer: They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, they would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way."
In the day of calamity,distress, anguish and terror, no one will think to call on Solomon, you will call on God.
I now see Proverbs as the wise application, practical applications of Gods commandments, his law. Solomon didn’t spring forth with any new truth that is apart from Gods truth. If anything is true, if any fact is correct its only because its reflecting Gods truth. Just like The Psalms are Gods heart for his law and commandments, and they are just loaded with praise and wonder for Gods commandments .
Its that verse 28 ..Then they will call on me but I will not answer: They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, they would have none of my counsel..
This reminded me of another passage that has the same ring to it and I think its because it’s the same topic.
In amos 2:1-4 he speaks of calamities coming and in verse 4 says “… because they have despised the law of the Lord and not kept his commandments…”
And in proverbs 28:9 "One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. When the day of adversity comes, it looks like how you have viewed and handled Gods commandments has much bearing on how God will respond." Heresy?
I have been trained to think that if you have asked Jesus into your heart then of course God is always ready to listen and answer our prayers. The commandments are Gods righteous decrees for how man should interact with one another. Jesus doesnt wipe out his own righteous standards for all of life. These are the standards/laws that he said he would write on our hearts.
How do we view Gods laws, his commandments? Are they honey to us? Why not?
In the Second Mayflower Swanson comments on the modern affection for subjective ethics “… the fact that Gods law is objective that makes it too dogmatic and authoritarian for the modern “Christian”….this use of the bible is far to objective for the humanist man because he would rather live, work and worship without directives from a God who has the right to be God over mans ethics. Natural man doesn’t want God hemming him in.” pg114
I think of all these years where Gods commandments have been like an afterthought to the modern church. Yikes!
follow up article
I have been reading Proverbs with Jamie in the morning for awhile now. Noticed something different this time around. I have always thought of Proverbs, as Solomons proverbs. Almost as a separate category of left over wise stuff. I have never associated them as Gods directly.
As an evangelical, Proverbs have been none threatening to me. Because they really came across as “optional wisdom” ( I believe that’s a Rushdoony) and not commandments.
But as you read that first chapter its like the book fades in and out of Solomon speaking and then God speaking. Now all the word is inspired by God. But like verse 8 “My son hear the instruction of your father…”
But when you hit the end of chapt 1:26-33 the tone and tenor changes and this is God, not Solomon saying “ I will laugh at your calamity…mock when your terror comes… when distress and anguish come upon you….v28 Then they will call on me but I will not answer: They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, they would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way."
In the day of calamity,distress, anguish and terror, no one will think to call on Solomon, you will call on God.
I now see Proverbs as the wise application, practical applications of Gods commandments, his law. Solomon didn’t spring forth with any new truth that is apart from Gods truth. If anything is true, if any fact is correct its only because its reflecting Gods truth. Just like The Psalms are Gods heart for his law and commandments, and they are just loaded with praise and wonder for Gods commandments .
Its that verse 28 ..Then they will call on me but I will not answer: They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, they would have none of my counsel..
This reminded me of another passage that has the same ring to it and I think its because it’s the same topic.
In amos 2:1-4 he speaks of calamities coming and in verse 4 says “… because they have despised the law of the Lord and not kept his commandments…”
And in proverbs 28:9 "One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. When the day of adversity comes, it looks like how you have viewed and handled Gods commandments has much bearing on how God will respond." Heresy?
I have been trained to think that if you have asked Jesus into your heart then of course God is always ready to listen and answer our prayers. The commandments are Gods righteous decrees for how man should interact with one another. Jesus doesnt wipe out his own righteous standards for all of life. These are the standards/laws that he said he would write on our hearts.
How do we view Gods laws, his commandments? Are they honey to us? Why not?
In the Second Mayflower Swanson comments on the modern affection for subjective ethics “… the fact that Gods law is objective that makes it too dogmatic and authoritarian for the modern “Christian”….this use of the bible is far to objective for the humanist man because he would rather live, work and worship without directives from a God who has the right to be God over mans ethics. Natural man doesn’t want God hemming him in.” pg114
I think of all these years where Gods commandments have been like an afterthought to the modern church. Yikes!
follow up article
Sunday, May 11, 2008
What Law is Over the Public Square?
From Douglas Wilson, responding to the Evangelical Manifesto. It shows our fear of God actually ruling over us. We just dont get it. We dont think it is right for God to rule over all? For his standards to apply to all.
..."In a society as religiously diverse as America today, no one faith should be normative for the entire society, yet there should be room for the free expression of faith in the public square."
"We are firmly opposed to the imposition of theocracy on our pluralistic society."
"In contrast to these extremes, our commitment is to a civil public square -- a vision of public life in which citizens of all faiths are free to enter and engage the public square on the basis of their faith, but within a framework of what is agreed to be just and free from other faiths too. Thus every right we assert for ourselves is at once a right we defend for others."
In short, in this manifesto, there is a clear desire for religious liberty in the public square, but no religious law over the public square. But that leads to the obvious question, what law is over the public square?
According to this manifesto, the law over the public square must be faithless, and this faithless source of law must faithfully guarantee liberty and freedom of conscience for all. But why would it want to do that?
While we are all of us down in the new civil public square, jostling around, visiting, talking, sampling one another's spicy foods, and the Evangelicals are busy witnessing, some of us find ourselves talking to a Muslim and a Buddhist. We tell them, rightly, that Jesus is Lord and that we all must believe in Him, and follow Him. The Buddhist points to the fellow, a big guy with a square jaw, arms folded, standing at the entry way to the public square. He is the guy maintaining order in the civil public square. "What about him?" the Buddhist asks. "Does he have to follow Jesus too?" "Yeah," the Muslim wonders. "Does he?"
"Um, no," the manifesto says. "Actually . . . and I know this must sound a little strange to you guys . . . especially to you, Muhammad, but that one is actually required not to believe...
Read his whole post.
..."In a society as religiously diverse as America today, no one faith should be normative for the entire society, yet there should be room for the free expression of faith in the public square."
"We are firmly opposed to the imposition of theocracy on our pluralistic society."
"In contrast to these extremes, our commitment is to a civil public square -- a vision of public life in which citizens of all faiths are free to enter and engage the public square on the basis of their faith, but within a framework of what is agreed to be just and free from other faiths too. Thus every right we assert for ourselves is at once a right we defend for others."
In short, in this manifesto, there is a clear desire for religious liberty in the public square, but no religious law over the public square. But that leads to the obvious question, what law is over the public square?
According to this manifesto, the law over the public square must be faithless, and this faithless source of law must faithfully guarantee liberty and freedom of conscience for all. But why would it want to do that?
While we are all of us down in the new civil public square, jostling around, visiting, talking, sampling one another's spicy foods, and the Evangelicals are busy witnessing, some of us find ourselves talking to a Muslim and a Buddhist. We tell them, rightly, that Jesus is Lord and that we all must believe in Him, and follow Him. The Buddhist points to the fellow, a big guy with a square jaw, arms folded, standing at the entry way to the public square. He is the guy maintaining order in the civil public square. "What about him?" the Buddhist asks. "Does he have to follow Jesus too?" "Yeah," the Muslim wonders. "Does he?"
"Um, no," the manifesto says. "Actually . . . and I know this must sound a little strange to you guys . . . especially to you, Muhammad, but that one is actually required not to believe...
Read his whole post.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Follow Up,part two, Lone Rangers
Rob made the point well Sunday, that what we perceive and think, might not be what God has meant. Especially if your reference point for understanding is the culture. Back to the piece of meat the hyena made off with, as Rob expressed…
How many times have we heard in reference to the Bible, “Oh that was a different culture back then” or “that was an agrarian society” or “they didn’t have the understanding we have.” This could be in reference to women pastors, or any biblical principle at odds with society. At odds with society is the key.
If at any point you let the culture be the deciding factor over something the Bible teaches. You will have elevated that culture over God and his word. It is Gods word or we lower God in subservience to a different controlling factor. We make that factor god in effect.
I don’t think anyone thinks this is what happens. Except for God. “ ..Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, They have done violence to the law.” Zeph3:4
In America, which is, “it is all about the individual.” Every institution exists to serve the individual, every one should reach their full potential. In effect Gods purpose for creation is lost as we are consumed with ourselves.
We are so wet as a people that this disease was transferred straight into the church over time. The body of Christ works itself to death in trying to make sure that , everybody’s needs are met. Programs for everyone. The major difference is that now that someone is saved, we think that they really can, find themselves and their potential. But now its, in the Lord. "He who loses his life, will find it" doesnt get much traction in our culture.
If we repent of this sin of Americana and can now see how God wants the family working, we can get a different Problem of sorts.
Because we can see that the church has actually misdirected Gods people. For the most part in an innocent fashion, they just cannot see it. They don’t understand. They might be well meaning, caring, but unable to see life as God has defined it. Its like doctors of old, who would bleed someone. They were trying to save life but in actuality they killed many people.
So there is a danger that as you get your family correctly ordered you start to see the church as an add on. Like parsley on your plate to make the meal look nice. But not really necessary. For many God had to use groups from outside the normal church to open our eyes. Maybe the church then resisted what God directed us to do, which leaves someone thinking that the church is useless.
But you can take the incorrect focus off of individuals and kick it up the road and make it an incorrect focus on the family, apart from the covenant community. You wind up with family's functioning as islands. No, the family integrated churchs havent arrived. But we're on the way.
Sproul also handles this topic very well and is another reason I think his book should be standard issue around any church.
How many times have we heard in reference to the Bible, “Oh that was a different culture back then” or “that was an agrarian society” or “they didn’t have the understanding we have.” This could be in reference to women pastors, or any biblical principle at odds with society. At odds with society is the key.
If at any point you let the culture be the deciding factor over something the Bible teaches. You will have elevated that culture over God and his word. It is Gods word or we lower God in subservience to a different controlling factor. We make that factor god in effect.
I don’t think anyone thinks this is what happens. Except for God. “ ..Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, They have done violence to the law.” Zeph3:4
In America, which is, “it is all about the individual.” Every institution exists to serve the individual, every one should reach their full potential. In effect Gods purpose for creation is lost as we are consumed with ourselves.
We are so wet as a people that this disease was transferred straight into the church over time. The body of Christ works itself to death in trying to make sure that , everybody’s needs are met. Programs for everyone. The major difference is that now that someone is saved, we think that they really can, find themselves and their potential. But now its, in the Lord. "He who loses his life, will find it" doesnt get much traction in our culture.
If we repent of this sin of Americana and can now see how God wants the family working, we can get a different Problem of sorts.
Because we can see that the church has actually misdirected Gods people. For the most part in an innocent fashion, they just cannot see it. They don’t understand. They might be well meaning, caring, but unable to see life as God has defined it. Its like doctors of old, who would bleed someone. They were trying to save life but in actuality they killed many people.
So there is a danger that as you get your family correctly ordered you start to see the church as an add on. Like parsley on your plate to make the meal look nice. But not really necessary. For many God had to use groups from outside the normal church to open our eyes. Maybe the church then resisted what God directed us to do, which leaves someone thinking that the church is useless.
But you can take the incorrect focus off of individuals and kick it up the road and make it an incorrect focus on the family, apart from the covenant community. You wind up with family's functioning as islands. No, the family integrated churchs havent arrived. But we're on the way.
Sproul also handles this topic very well and is another reason I think his book should be standard issue around any church.
The Truth Project
We made it through “The Truth Project”. Except this set is missing lessons 10 and 11. I believe we saw number 10 at the fellowship during a second service. Number six on history and the one on the State are worth the time of the series alone. To show that if your U.S. history is manipulated, changed, you can then be taken captive through hollow philosophies…easily. To show in one hour how our State/Nation will tend to grow and try to control everything was masterful. Plus it showed from scripture how the State must submit to God and his word, that is a shocker for most evangelicals!
The Truth Project grabs the modern evangelical and tries to get us to see that we have been missing some big areas of understanding. The size and magnitude of the error is staggering. You have to start somewhere. But this DVD series stayed on the big picture items and it is the basic areas, the little foxes, that are just killing us! The big areas are impossible to fix, if you don’t first have Gods understanding for the individual, which then lets you build the family Gods way, only then can the Church be as God wants it to function. Then you are ready to have a Nation , whose God is the Lord. An awful lot of the big problems get taken care of along the way.
Gods method is always to establish or correct the basic areas. If you dont get this part right then always, always you will have well meaning individuals and institutions trying to fix what are obvious problems. But they are problems that can only be fixed by those within that jurisdiction, so if the church tries to make up and address issues within the family, if the magistrate tries to fix problems in the church or if the church tries to to do the magistrates job (Salem witch trials) , all that gives you is, Super Uzzahs, all over the place, getting cursed instead of blessed for trying to do what we think is the right thing. But when you attempt to do anything, even good things, apart from Gods way, you get, even more problems.
It was fitting, at the end, when the tour guide says “I don’t know what you should do, now that you have seen this”…. “ you need to ask God” Because after twelve weeks of lessons the modern evangelical is left with a view of the family that was the same as it started. I.E. that the family is a group of individuals that God has no unifying vision and purpose for. Or that it is part of Gods solution for the truths that we're presented. The individual is allowed to keep his autonomy, to do pretty much as they wish, which is what got us to where we are at.
The viewer is left with himself, to find out what God wants you to do, as an individual. The State, the Church, Family, the individual are Gods creations. Only when viewed and submitting to Gods terms and definitions will they not be self destructive. Right now all four are seen and acted upon as a part of the Americana experience. The culture has a bigger determanitive influence on them than Gods word. (Part of Robs message)
Everyone who has taken that course should be given Sprouls new book. Sprouls Book is about having a biblical worldview when you look at you, your family, The church, the State.
I am serious here, in my humble opinion, Gods Kingdom would be able to advance further and faster if everyone would have read Sprouls book instead. Sproul repeated back what God says about the basic areas, this is like his life message I think, so he has gotten pretty good at saying it consisely and powerfully over time! “Bound for Glory” c2008
The Truth Project grabs the modern evangelical and tries to get us to see that we have been missing some big areas of understanding. The size and magnitude of the error is staggering. You have to start somewhere. But this DVD series stayed on the big picture items and it is the basic areas, the little foxes, that are just killing us! The big areas are impossible to fix, if you don’t first have Gods understanding for the individual, which then lets you build the family Gods way, only then can the Church be as God wants it to function. Then you are ready to have a Nation , whose God is the Lord. An awful lot of the big problems get taken care of along the way.
Gods method is always to establish or correct the basic areas. If you dont get this part right then always, always you will have well meaning individuals and institutions trying to fix what are obvious problems. But they are problems that can only be fixed by those within that jurisdiction, so if the church tries to make up and address issues within the family, if the magistrate tries to fix problems in the church or if the church tries to to do the magistrates job (Salem witch trials) , all that gives you is, Super Uzzahs, all over the place, getting cursed instead of blessed for trying to do what we think is the right thing. But when you attempt to do anything, even good things, apart from Gods way, you get, even more problems.
It was fitting, at the end, when the tour guide says “I don’t know what you should do, now that you have seen this”…. “ you need to ask God” Because after twelve weeks of lessons the modern evangelical is left with a view of the family that was the same as it started. I.E. that the family is a group of individuals that God has no unifying vision and purpose for. Or that it is part of Gods solution for the truths that we're presented. The individual is allowed to keep his autonomy, to do pretty much as they wish, which is what got us to where we are at.
The viewer is left with himself, to find out what God wants you to do, as an individual. The State, the Church, Family, the individual are Gods creations. Only when viewed and submitting to Gods terms and definitions will they not be self destructive. Right now all four are seen and acted upon as a part of the Americana experience. The culture has a bigger determanitive influence on them than Gods word. (Part of Robs message)
Everyone who has taken that course should be given Sprouls new book. Sprouls Book is about having a biblical worldview when you look at you, your family, The church, the State.
I am serious here, in my humble opinion, Gods Kingdom would be able to advance further and faster if everyone would have read Sprouls book instead. Sproul repeated back what God says about the basic areas, this is like his life message I think, so he has gotten pretty good at saying it consisely and powerfully over time! “Bound for Glory” c2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Doug Wilson On Republicans And Democrats
Us Evangelicals, as in so many other areas need to slow down and look to see if what we do comports with God's Word. Most of America's elders have had a botched understanding of what it meant to make disciples of all nations. We have equated for 150 yrs that getting people saved, is making disciples. We were wrong. Here is another example from Wilson of what should be normal Christian thinking, but instead he sounds like he is from outer space.
Secular Conservatives and Real Ones
I take it as a given that our standard right/left political dichotomy does not represent a Trinitarian approach to politics at all. I have argued this for quite a number of years now, with no appreciable sign that anything is getting through to anybody who is actually running the show. Nevertheless, let us keep on keeping on, as we used to say.
But the mistakes made on the right and on the left are very different...
Now this next distinction is crucial. The fact that secular conservatives can see it and so express their support for things like pro-life legislation or marriage protection laws does not mean that they are capable of helping us out when it comes to the more complex, systemic and corporate issues we must face. The fact that they can read the big E on God's eyechart for mankind does not mean that they can see the lowest line. As Trinitarian Christian we must affirm that our ethical responsibilities are both individual and corporate, which means that however much we might agree with certain Republican talking points in a campaign (on issues like abortion and sodomy), we also must acknowledge that such appeals are inadequate -- they do not fill out our vision for Christendom at all. They are fine as far as they go, but they don't go very far.
In the case of liberals, it is completely different. They celebrate sodomy, and say that a woman has the right to chop her baby up in little pieces. They cannot read the big E and insist that being asked even to try reading it is an insult to their core values. Now, this being the case, I am not even going to ask them to read the lowest line. My reason for this is that they are clearly blind... whole article
Secular Conservatives and Real Ones
I take it as a given that our standard right/left political dichotomy does not represent a Trinitarian approach to politics at all. I have argued this for quite a number of years now, with no appreciable sign that anything is getting through to anybody who is actually running the show. Nevertheless, let us keep on keeping on, as we used to say.
But the mistakes made on the right and on the left are very different...
Now this next distinction is crucial. The fact that secular conservatives can see it and so express their support for things like pro-life legislation or marriage protection laws does not mean that they are capable of helping us out when it comes to the more complex, systemic and corporate issues we must face. The fact that they can read the big E on God's eyechart for mankind does not mean that they can see the lowest line. As Trinitarian Christian we must affirm that our ethical responsibilities are both individual and corporate, which means that however much we might agree with certain Republican talking points in a campaign (on issues like abortion and sodomy), we also must acknowledge that such appeals are inadequate -- they do not fill out our vision for Christendom at all. They are fine as far as they go, but they don't go very far.
In the case of liberals, it is completely different. They celebrate sodomy, and say that a woman has the right to chop her baby up in little pieces. They cannot read the big E and insist that being asked even to try reading it is an insult to their core values. Now, this being the case, I am not even going to ask them to read the lowest line. My reason for this is that they are clearly blind... whole article
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Contrasts Bound For Glory, The Truth Project
It's a tale of two worldviews.
The Truth Project grabs the modern evangelical and trys to get us to see that we have been missing something big. The size and magnitude of the error is staggering, but it is so important that we begin to grasp it and address it. But this DVD series seems to just touch on some of the big picture items and it is the little areas, the little foxes, that are just killing us! God's method is always to establish correctly the basic areas. If you don't get this part right then always, always you will have the wrong people and institutions tring to fix Its the only way to stop the slide. Everyone who has taken that course should be given Sproul's new book.
Sproul's book is about having a biblical worldview when you look at youself, your family, the Church, the State, which then controls so many other things.
The Truth Project grabs the modern evangelical and trys to get us to see that we have been missing something big. The size and magnitude of the error is staggering, but it is so important that we begin to grasp it and address it. But this DVD series seems to just touch on some of the big picture items and it is the little areas, the little foxes, that are just killing us! God's method is always to establish correctly the basic areas. If you don't get this part right then always, always you will have the wrong people and institutions tring to fix Its the only way to stop the slide. Everyone who has taken that course should be given Sproul's new book.
Sproul's book is about having a biblical worldview when you look at youself, your family, the Church, the State, which then controls so many other things.
Sickness, RC Sprouls, 2008 Bound for Glory
A prayer request, we have been hit by some flu bug. Started last night at 10:30 and went all night. At 2:30 I gave up, got dressed and sat in the hall reading a book going from patient to patient as needed. As of 1pm today it still hasn’t stopped. So for healing and God's mercy that it spread no further. Thanks.
Since I stayed home and haven’t gone to bed yet. Let me tell you about a great little book I read through the night. Beth actually read it first and told me it was a winner. She said it's so small you will read it in a night. I laughed, but I was up long enough and it's small enough that I finished it about 7:30 this morning, it's called “Bound For Glory” A Practical Handbook For Raising A Victorious Family By RC Sproul Jr. I was very impressed.
One hundred fourty five pages, 6 by 5 inches it will be a quick read for anyone. But for anyone who is looking to sharpen his vision with biblical guidance for their existance, purpose for their marrage, family and Church, it is a one stop shop. Beth is right, it is a winner. I would nominate it as one of those books for a short list of must reads for a Family Integrated Church, give to your old friends or believing family members that struggle with how different you may be.
This will be the next vision book I read to my kids after the Second Mayflower is done. Sproul lays it out easy enough you will be able to see how to impart some deep truths to even your youngest kids, or to us adults. No baby baptism stuff so don’t worry about that.
I once passed on a comment from Francis Schaeffer on how the early Christians had a standard by which they could judge the Roman Empire, and out survive it. The more positive you are, on what you should be doing the easier it is to make decisions for you and your family and with it, the will to stand firm, because you have purpose, clarity. Most believers today do not have this kind of conviction. There are times when you want to grab people and say please, please read this, think about this.
Read this from the questions and answer section, an exchange between RC and a guy named Bill Spady who’s known as the father of outcome based education. It was a panel discussion on the issue of children and public schools.
Mr Spady had the task of convincing the Christians that it was safe for their children in Public school. …He argued, “ if you come to the public school, were not interested in undoing your children’s convictions-that outcome based education is all about choices, we don’t want to say ‘no’ to any point of view in outcome based education. That’s why your children are safe with us.”
RC said…it was my job to respond to his talk, and I stood up, and I said, “ I’m a Christian. I’m a reformed Christian, I’m a Presbeterian, Reformed Christian,….I went on and added about thirty Qualifiers about my convictions, and then I said ”Every morning when I wake up, my job is to teach my children all those things, and every night when I go to bed, I pray that they will learn these things because the reason I am all these things is because I believe all these things to be true. So don’t tell me you want to give my children choices. My job is to teach my children the truth…..
The contrast is so sharp between these two visions. It can make your teeth hurt.
My copy is available to be borrowed, or get one from RC’s Highland Study Center
Since I stayed home and haven’t gone to bed yet. Let me tell you about a great little book I read through the night. Beth actually read it first and told me it was a winner. She said it's so small you will read it in a night. I laughed, but I was up long enough and it's small enough that I finished it about 7:30 this morning, it's called “Bound For Glory” A Practical Handbook For Raising A Victorious Family By RC Sproul Jr. I was very impressed.
One hundred fourty five pages, 6 by 5 inches it will be a quick read for anyone. But for anyone who is looking to sharpen his vision with biblical guidance for their existance, purpose for their marrage, family and Church, it is a one stop shop. Beth is right, it is a winner. I would nominate it as one of those books for a short list of must reads for a Family Integrated Church, give to your old friends or believing family members that struggle with how different you may be.
This will be the next vision book I read to my kids after the Second Mayflower is done. Sproul lays it out easy enough you will be able to see how to impart some deep truths to even your youngest kids, or to us adults. No baby baptism stuff so don’t worry about that.
I once passed on a comment from Francis Schaeffer on how the early Christians had a standard by which they could judge the Roman Empire, and out survive it. The more positive you are, on what you should be doing the easier it is to make decisions for you and your family and with it, the will to stand firm, because you have purpose, clarity. Most believers today do not have this kind of conviction. There are times when you want to grab people and say please, please read this, think about this.
Read this from the questions and answer section, an exchange between RC and a guy named Bill Spady who’s known as the father of outcome based education. It was a panel discussion on the issue of children and public schools.
Mr Spady had the task of convincing the Christians that it was safe for their children in Public school. …He argued, “ if you come to the public school, were not interested in undoing your children’s convictions-that outcome based education is all about choices, we don’t want to say ‘no’ to any point of view in outcome based education. That’s why your children are safe with us.”
RC said…it was my job to respond to his talk, and I stood up, and I said, “ I’m a Christian. I’m a reformed Christian, I’m a Presbeterian, Reformed Christian,….I went on and added about thirty Qualifiers about my convictions, and then I said ”Every morning when I wake up, my job is to teach my children all those things, and every night when I go to bed, I pray that they will learn these things because the reason I am all these things is because I believe all these things to be true. So don’t tell me you want to give my children choices. My job is to teach my children the truth…..
The contrast is so sharp between these two visions. It can make your teeth hurt.
My copy is available to be borrowed, or get one from RC’s Highland Study Center
Swanson, Brad Heath, What Happens At Gov't School
We have made it up to page 93 of Swanson’s “The Second Mayflower” book. The last almost 50 pgs have tried to get the reader to grasp that by almost any measure we are living under tyranny. These have not been uplifting pages. That we don’t recognize it as such, speaks to how, this too, has been re-defined by our culture. Afterall we live in America, land of the free and home of the brave.
On his conclusion pages in this section he makes note that he thinks the homosexual marrage issue has been lost. Barring God moving differently…. It's just a matter of time, one of his reasons is that the schools “ teach an education not rooted in the fear of God. But rather a religion of tolerance, pluralism and polytheism…doesn’t matter how many republicans you elect…,or money you spend….because education works….and now 70% of those under 35 yrs old, (the generations coming behind us) support homosexual unions.” (It's no big deal to them. ) By definition public schools will endorse statism and immorality….as long as Christians support the godless agenda by supporting the governmental educational system, and as long as they send their children to these schools, they will lose every political battle in the long run.”
I hadn’t noticed at first, that Kevin Swanson did a worldview message to his congregation just before he started his economic series. Very good. You can download it for free here. He uses the biblical principle of Leaven , As in to “Leaven the whole lump of dough” to help explain worldview. Perfect. I predict that the phrase "another women of faith conference" will be as popular as... Super Uzzah!
For most of us we have been leavened in a manner, exactly opposite, to God's instructions through the government schooling and the popular culture at large. Instead of us seeing God as upholding all things and seeing his perspective for all that’s around us. We were what? Given the most sophisticated, form of humanism. One that has managed to soak us, even believers, to the bone. It convinced us, that it's not any viewpoint at all. Why we were just learning about facts.
About 4 months ago? Or so, I started on Bradley Heaths book “ Millstones and Stumbling Blocks” ( get used copies from 7 bucks) Understanding education in a post Christian America. I only read about a chapter every few weeks/month. Because it just seemed that he so overkilled the point he wants to make with us modern evangelicals, that to have our kids educated by government schools is to violate God's word, every which way from Sunday. I have not read any more since chapter five. Each chapter just seemed like such a body slam that it really didn’t seem like I needed to go further. Look out…Heath points out that "we tend to be offended when our unexamined beliefs and easily accepted notions are challenged." Pride.
This book will not be a best seller at your local Christian bookstore. If you do understand how your worldview controls how you respond to everything, everything, and how leaven really does work through the whole lump of dough, then it just doesn’t seem possible that God Hates government schooling. But if he does, and if he is your Lord…..
Impossible many will say, partly because we have all known good Christians who are teachers and they love the Lord. I have known two believing Principles as friends. But only by the light of God's word can we say for sure that we haven't been taken captive, not just because we don't want to believe it.
Mr Heath opened the book with Proverbs 24:11-12
Deliver those who are being taken to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back. If they say, “See we did not know this,”
Does he not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does he not know it who keeps your soul? And will he not render to man according to his work?
Here is a sprinkling of Mr Heath's observations……
God's word must be used to judge what is being done, not just the stated goal…
The schooling lacks substance, integration and context….Knowledge without wisdom…
The irrelevance of God is the fundamental doctrine of Public schools…. Modern education presupposes in both content and context the irrelevance of God…
You get 12 yrs of content and context that said there is no God and if he is there he does not matter, except maybe for personal spiritual matters on Sunday….
His biggest charge against the Schools….an unwavering commitment to secularism (humanism, which remember it is a religous faith) - universally held, religiously practiced, and judiciously enforced….God is not honored, obeyed or acknowledged in these schools,
Schools claim exemption from the Lordship of Christ …this is bias, contempt, rebellion against God and his word…12 yrs of training to think like an athiest
We would recoil in horror if another believing friend sent their kids to a Islamic school or a jehovahs witness school, but it is the same thing.
Ok, Im back, the fact that I have only recently understood and can see this, that after 39 yrs as a believer I couldn’t spot this, screams how loudly my own lump had been leavened. I didn't see a verse that said "thou shalt not public school your kids". Ninety percent(?) of the churchs cannot see this. Those that can are afraid to speak the truth, this is so engrained into us.
I must keep scraping away at my "unexamined beliefs and easily accepted notions”
On his conclusion pages in this section he makes note that he thinks the homosexual marrage issue has been lost. Barring God moving differently…. It's just a matter of time, one of his reasons is that the schools “ teach an education not rooted in the fear of God. But rather a religion of tolerance, pluralism and polytheism…doesn’t matter how many republicans you elect…,or money you spend….because education works….and now 70% of those under 35 yrs old, (the generations coming behind us) support homosexual unions.” (It's no big deal to them. ) By definition public schools will endorse statism and immorality….as long as Christians support the godless agenda by supporting the governmental educational system, and as long as they send their children to these schools, they will lose every political battle in the long run.”
I hadn’t noticed at first, that Kevin Swanson did a worldview message to his congregation just before he started his economic series. Very good. You can download it for free here. He uses the biblical principle of Leaven , As in to “Leaven the whole lump of dough” to help explain worldview. Perfect. I predict that the phrase "another women of faith conference" will be as popular as... Super Uzzah!
For most of us we have been leavened in a manner, exactly opposite, to God's instructions through the government schooling and the popular culture at large. Instead of us seeing God as upholding all things and seeing his perspective for all that’s around us. We were what? Given the most sophisticated, form of humanism. One that has managed to soak us, even believers, to the bone. It convinced us, that it's not any viewpoint at all. Why we were just learning about facts.
About 4 months ago? Or so, I started on Bradley Heaths book “ Millstones and Stumbling Blocks” ( get used copies from 7 bucks) Understanding education in a post Christian America. I only read about a chapter every few weeks/month. Because it just seemed that he so overkilled the point he wants to make with us modern evangelicals, that to have our kids educated by government schools is to violate God's word, every which way from Sunday. I have not read any more since chapter five. Each chapter just seemed like such a body slam that it really didn’t seem like I needed to go further. Look out…Heath points out that "we tend to be offended when our unexamined beliefs and easily accepted notions are challenged." Pride.
This book will not be a best seller at your local Christian bookstore. If you do understand how your worldview controls how you respond to everything, everything, and how leaven really does work through the whole lump of dough, then it just doesn’t seem possible that God Hates government schooling. But if he does, and if he is your Lord…..
Impossible many will say, partly because we have all known good Christians who are teachers and they love the Lord. I have known two believing Principles as friends. But only by the light of God's word can we say for sure that we haven't been taken captive, not just because we don't want to believe it.
Mr Heath opened the book with Proverbs 24:11-12
Deliver those who are being taken to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back. If they say, “See we did not know this,”
Does he not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does he not know it who keeps your soul? And will he not render to man according to his work?
Here is a sprinkling of Mr Heath's observations……
God's word must be used to judge what is being done, not just the stated goal…
The schooling lacks substance, integration and context….Knowledge without wisdom…
The irrelevance of God is the fundamental doctrine of Public schools…. Modern education presupposes in both content and context the irrelevance of God…
You get 12 yrs of content and context that said there is no God and if he is there he does not matter, except maybe for personal spiritual matters on Sunday….
His biggest charge against the Schools….an unwavering commitment to secularism (humanism, which remember it is a religous faith) - universally held, religiously practiced, and judiciously enforced….God is not honored, obeyed or acknowledged in these schools,
Schools claim exemption from the Lordship of Christ …this is bias, contempt, rebellion against God and his word…12 yrs of training to think like an athiest
We would recoil in horror if another believing friend sent their kids to a Islamic school or a jehovahs witness school, but it is the same thing.
Ok, Im back, the fact that I have only recently understood and can see this, that after 39 yrs as a believer I couldn’t spot this, screams how loudly my own lump had been leavened. I didn't see a verse that said "thou shalt not public school your kids". Ninety percent(?) of the churchs cannot see this. Those that can are afraid to speak the truth, this is so engrained into us.
I must keep scraping away at my "unexamined beliefs and easily accepted notions”
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