Sep
21
Jonathan Edwards resources
Filed Under Jonathan Edwards, Resources | 2 Comments
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said,
“No man is more relevant to the present conditions of Christianity than Jonathan Edwards…He was a mighty theologian and a great evangelist at the same time. If you want to know anything about true revival, Edwards is the man to consult. My advice is, read Jonathan Edwards. Go back to something solid and deep and real.’
Lord willing, I’ll finish my Wednesday night sketch on Jonathan Edwards next week (9/27). The good attendance and discussions and conversations that have followed are not only encouraging, but they also confirm for me that Edwards’ life, ministry and legacy are truly compelling and, as Lloyd-Jones asserted a few decades back, relevant. Edwards was and is a great blessing to the Church. Moment of self-disclosure: I harbor a secret fear that no ‘normal’ person is really interested in the dead men with whom I converse on a daily basis. I do have friends who are alive–really, I do!
Sweet Dropper readers may appreciate another opportunity to check out some of the Edwards resources I have recommended:
- Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography by Iain Murray. If you want a serious, in-depth study of Edwards from a Reformed admirer, then this is the Edwards biography for you. If you read only one Edwards biography, read this one.
- Jonathan Edwards: A Life by George Marsden. Marsden, who teaches history at Notre Dame, won a number of literary awards after the 2003 release of this book. Marsden tells the story well, but also deals with Edwards as a figure in the context of his own time. Marsden is not afraid to present Edwards in a critical light, but he never attacks or dismisses Edwards, as many biographers have done.
- A God-Entranced Vision of All Things: The Legacy of Jonathan Edwards (ed. John Piper and Justin Taylor) is a collection of essays that grew out of a 2003 Conference in Minneapolis sponsored by Desiring God Ministries. Like most collections, the quality of the individual essays is rather uneven, but they do set forth the continuing relevance of Edwards to Christian living and ministry today. Sherard Burns’ ‘Trusting the Theology of a Slave-Holder’ is excellent, as are the short expositions of Edwards’ major theological works, Original Sin, Freedom of the Will and A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections. [NOTE: This book is available also as an on-line book from Desiring God Ministries.]
- A Jonathan Edwards Reader (ed. John E. Smith, Harry S. Stout, and Kenneth P. Minkema). Better than reading about Edwards is actually reading Edwards! The editors of the Yale collection of Edwards’ works have assembled a fine paperback anthology which includes the major theological works, some sermons, and autobiographical material.
Sep
19
Means of Grace: Sacraments
Filed Under Christian Living, Worship | Leave a Comment
So far we’ve looked at two of the four means of grace. Today we briefly cover the sacraments as means of grace. There has been considerable debate over the past few years over what place drama should have, if any, in worship. We hold to the regulative principle of worship that basically says, we do in worship what the Bible says to do in worship. So where are we left when we ask the question concerning drama in worship? Is there any merit for visual descriptions of the gospel in the corporate worship of God’s people? Sure there is! God has given us two incredibly rich visuals for worship in the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
In baptism, the covenant promises of God are signified and sealed to his people. It is a sign because it illustrates, rather than accomplishes, what God does in uniting lost sinners to Christ in conversion. A frequent metaphor that Paul uses is that we are baptized into Christ’s death. That is, we have died to the reigning power of sin. But our union to Christ in baptism is also illustrated in that we are united to Christ in his resurrection. That is, we given to new life in Christ. Baptism is a seal because the promises that are offered in baptism to the believer are true as if God himself signed his signature to them.
In the Lord’s Supper, we see the death of Christ portrayed in the bread and wine. We are invited to the table to “feed on Christ by faith.” It is a chance for us to declare our need of spiritual nourishment that only Christ can provide. It is our chance to see again and consider again the great transaction that took place on the cross of Christ for our sins.
In both of these sacraments we have all of the rich visual metaphor that we need. Even old saints have deeper depths to probe when it comes to understanding the meaning of the sacraments. Let us not take for granted the grace that our God holds out to us in the sacraments.
Sep
18
Says who? Says a web statement of the Mujahideen Shura Council, an umbrella group led by the Iraqi chapter of Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda militants are vowing war on ‘worshippers of the cross’ and protestors are burning effigies of Pope Benedict XVI, who had the gall to quote 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who had the gall to point out the prophet Mohammed’s final directive to wage war until everyone confesses that Allah is God.
Islamic outrage is on the front page again, as it was earlier in the year when the Danish cartoons which mocked Mohammed provoked violent demonstrations in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. At that time, I read aloud in prayer meeting an outstanding article from the pen of John Piper called ‘Being Mocked: The Essence of Christ’s Work, Not Mohammed’s’. This latest ‘outrage’ against Islam makes me think it would be worth reading again. Piper puts his finger directly on the great difference between the Gospel and Islam–the cross! This short piece is a must read if you would understand the fundamental difference in the ‘DNA’ of the Christian faith and the false religion of Islam.
By the way, if you ever get worried that Islam will triumph, remember to read Psalm 2.
Sep
15
Progressing Pilgrims
Filed Under John Bunyan, Puritans, Resources | Leave a Comment
The Pilgrim’s Progress lecture series began last night with an excellent introductory lecture into the life of John Bunyan and into his most famous work, Pilgrim’s Progress. If you have not signed up or if you were not able to attend last night, don’t let that keep you from attending the rest of the series. We will continue to meet on Thursday nights at 6:30 (Derek promises not to be late) through November 14. We will not meet on October 26 (Missions Conference) or on November 2 (Derek travelling).
If you would like to read more on John Bunyan, take a look at the wikipedia entry for John Bunyan and make use of the various articles and websites at the bottom of the page.
Sep
13
Edwards and Spiders
Filed Under Fun, Jonathan Edwards | Leave a Comment
I just came across a funny, cartoon illustrated edition of Jonathan Edwards’s essay on spiders. If you aren’t familiar with the piece by Edwards, he was acutely interested in all areas of knowledge, including natural science. Around the age of 20, he did an in depth study of spiders, showing tremendous skill in scientific study for his time.
Sep
12
Four gods?
Filed Under Christian Living, Evangelism | Leave a Comment
Research from Baylor University has prompted a front page article in USA Today entitled, ‘View of God can reveal your values and politics.’ It contains some very useful information regarding the way people think about God in various regions of the country. The article is written in the predictably bland, flat, simplistic style of USA Today (can you tell I’m not a subscriber?) and, like most newspapers, can only trace ideas back toward politics–ugh!
Having vented my literary snobbery for the day, let me add that the information in the Baylor study confirms a couple of stark realities of which we should be mindful: First, when we say the word God to our neighbors, it does not necessarily mean the same thing to us as it means to them. They may be bringing some pretty heavy baggage into the conversation. Being alert to this helps us speak about the gospel more clearly and intelligibly to others.
Second, it is rarely, if ever, useful to bring politics into our discussions of the gospel with others. We live in a politically-charged society. In other words, if we lead with our politics or believe that on every issue there is only one truly Christian view, people will be more ready to dismiss us as shills for a political party. But remember, the gospel turns everybody’s politics upside-down, for Christ’s kingdom is not of this world (John 18-36-38).
Third, it is as important as ever that the Christian faith makes all the difference in the way we live day-to-day. Evangelism is not putting sentences inside people’s heads and getting them to nod their heads in agreement. If God has such a broad range of meaning, then it’s not enough to put a tract into everyone’s hand. We must put the gospel on display all the time! We put the gospel on display in the way we love each other, the way we raise our families, spend our money, savor God’s good gifts, struggle with sin, worship, forgive and laugh–and all those other things I forgot to add to the list!
NOTE: This will be last blog until next week, as I am leaving Wednesday for RYM Board meeting in Fort Collins, Colorado. I don’t know if they have computers there or not.