Jan
11
Edwards’ diary-12 January
Filed Under Jonathan Edwards | Leave a Comment
I will likely be away from my computer on Friday, 12 January, so I’ll pass this along a day earlier–an 12 January entry in the diary of Jonathan Edwards:
“Saturday, Jan. 12. In the morning. I have this day, solemnly renewed my baptismal covenant and self-dedication, which I renewed, when I was taken into the communion of the church. I have been before God, and have given myself, all that I am and have, to God; so that I am not, in any respect, my own. I can challenge no right in this understanding, this will, these affections, which are in me. Neither have I any right to this body, or any of its members — no right to this tongue, these hands, these feet; no right to these senses, these eyes, these ears, this smell, or this taste. I have given myself clear away, and have not retained any thing, as my own. I gave myself to God, in my baptism, and I have been this morning to him, and told him, that I gave myself wholly to him….This, I have done; and I pray God, for the sake of Christ, to look upon it as a self-dedication, and to receive me now, as entirely his own, and to deal with me, in all respects, as such, whether he afflicts me, or prospers me, or whatever he pleases to do with me, who am his.
Jan
11
Momofuku Ando-Ave atque vale
Filed Under Ave atque vale, Culture | Leave a Comment
Momofuku Ando died in a Japanese hospital last Friday. He was 96 years old. His death merits Sweet Dropper space because Ando made a major contribution to our lives, especially the lives of college students, grad students, seminary students and ministers (and their children): he invented ramen noodles and the instant noodle cup. In 1958 he unveiled Chicken Ramen, the world’s first instant noodle product. Ando was inspired to develop the instant noodle after coming upon a long line of people on a cold night shortly after World War II. They were waiting to buy freshly made ramen at a black market food stall. The experience convinced him that “peace will come to the world when the people have enough to eat.” He went on to found Nissin Food Products Co., the industry leader in Japan. In 1971, Nissin introduced the Cup Noodle featuring instant ramen in a waterproof plastic foam container…and the rest is culinary history.
Ando’s death caused me to reflect on some great moments of one-to-one ministry as an RUF intern at Mercer University and other moments with college students while an assistant pastor in Auburn, Alabama, over a couple of 15-cent packs of instant ramen (beef and shrimp are my favorites, by the way). There is a lesson here about hospitality. Hospitality, in the biblical sense, does not require Lagasse-like chef skills or Martha Stewart-esque decorating and presentation acumen. The welcome and openness of hospitality does not require food, but in the Scriptures and over history it nearly always includes eating meals together. I think about Luke’s description in Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-36 of the early believers’ fellowship: sharing all things in common and eating together–some of the language may well suggest the Lord’s Supper, but certainly it was not restricted to that, especially if they celebrated it like we do! And hospitality can take place over instant ramen, leftover chicken, or some chips and salsa. Opening our homes and lives to others will require of us an awareness of Jesus’ sacrificial welcome to all who come to him, a light hold on material possessions and a commitment to a simplified lifestyle–and instant ramen fits into that quite well.
So here’s to you, Momofuku Ando, unwitting accomplice to the subversive welcome of the gospel of the ever-blessed God. I’ll be raising a bowl of empty carbs swimming in an MSG-laced brine in your honor in, oh, about three hours.
Jan
9
Longing for Heaven and Tissues
Filed Under Music | Leave a Comment
I’m getting the head cold that seems to be going around. It certainly isn’t anything serious or anything to whine about. But never the less, as I reach for a tissue or my next dose of cold medicine, I’m reminded again that my body is prone to the effects of the Fall. It simply doesn’t work the way it should. It gets sick, breaks down, and eventually will cease operating all together. As depressing as all that sound, this is not the only thought going through my head as my mild illness reminds me of my weakness. I’m also reminded that heaven has been procured for me by Jesus. He has promised me, and all my spiritual siblings, that He will, one day, come again to take us home. I leave you with verse three of Samuel Stennet’s hymn, On Jordan’s Stormy Banks, as an encouragement to us all that redemption is at hand.
No chilling winds nor poisonous breath
Can reach that healthful shore;
Sickness, sorrow, pain and death,
Are felt and feared no more.
Jan
7
4 big ideas: #2-authority
Filed Under Christian Living, Four big ideas, The Church | Leave a Comment
In preaching through Galatians last year I identified four big ideas that run through Paul’s letter. Those four big ideas should form and shape how ministry is carried out in the day-to-day life of the Church. I am trying to embody them in my own ministry and to impart them to our leaders at First, Kosciusko. This is the second of the four big ideas, which are truth, authority, integrity and love.
AUTHORITY: Some people speak, and we ought to listen. As believers we recognize, exercise, and submit to godly authority in Christ’s name. Most of the first two chapters of Paul’s letter to that Galatian churches is a reassertion of Paul’s apostolic authority. The revelation of the gospel of God through the ministry of men makes us attentive and submissive to those who serve us in the ministry of the gospel (1:1, 1:11-2:14; 5:11; 6:17). God has instituted the government and discipline of the Church. Pastors, elders, presbyteries, councils, and church courts can erred and have erred, but this does not negate their legitimate authority.
I have taken a vow in which I promised submission to my brethren in the Lord. They have a right to exercise that authority in conformity with word of God. My brethren in the Lord have a right to examine my theological views, to ask me if I’m sleeping with anyone other than my wife or if I’m dealing well with my children. Convened as a Session, Presbytery or General Assembly, they have a right to make decisions that I oppose. I have promised to submit. My friend Tim Starnes in Cleveland, Mississippi, was the first one I ever heard say, “I don’t mind submitting, just as long as it was something I was already inclined to do anyway.” Thankfully, Tim was being facetious, but I understand all too well that impulse.
I have also taken a vow in which I promised to exercise godly authority in the Church. Paul urges Titus, ‘Exhort and rebuke with all authority,’ and he speaks twice to the Corinthians about the authority the Lord has given him ‘for building up and not for tearing down’ (2 Corinthians 10:8; 13:10). My comfort or convenience cannot trump my duty to exercise my God-granted authority as a minister of the gospel.
We live in an age that chafes against authority, and thus our minds become so trivial and banal and petty and earthly that we find ourselves incapable of trembling under the Word of God. We do not shudder to think of the horror of rejecting Christ. We yawn at a word like anathema. The wrath of God is revealed to shake us out of our stupor and humble us, and God typically informs of us through human authorities.
Peace and mercy be upon all those who walk by this rule…
Jan
5
Hazards of dealing with trials
Filed Under Christian Living, Holiness, Prayer | 1 Comment
A believing friend who is being treated for rapidly advancing cancer wrote in his e-journal today about some scriptural examples of people who succeeded and failed in dealing with fiery trial:
“Let us not be
…Hezekiah and pray for long life
…Asa and only turn to physicians
…Job’s wife and have contempt
…Jonah and long to die.
Let us be like Paul, who chose contentment And most like Jesus, who suffered obediently”
The first four people illustrate some hazards of dealing with trial.
- Hezekiah’s hazard – Focus on loss instead of on gracious provision. Hezekiah focused on future years lost rather than past years provided in grace. “Am I to be robbed of the rest of my years?” (Isaiah 38:10).
- Asa’s hazard – Reliance on medical advice to the exclusion of God’s power. Asa, a good king of Judah, became so focused on medical advice for his disease that he forgot his total dependence on God. “Yet even with the severity of his disease, he did not seek the Lord’s help but turned only to his physicians. So he died in the forty-first year of his reign.” (2 Chronicles 16:12-13). John Piper writes in “Don’t Waste Your Cancer,” “Cancer does not win if you die. It wins if you fail to cherish Christ. God’s design is to wean you off the breast of the world and feast you on the sufficiency of Christ.”
- Job’s wife’s hazard – Bitterness toward God for fiery trial. She said “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” (Job 2:9) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us (Galatians 3:13). Our Savior became a curse for us. There is no curse, no condemnation for those who are in Christ.
- Jonah’s hazard - Giving up the fight. Jonah concluded that the fight was not worth it “Death is certainly better than living like this!” (Jonah 4:7) Satan will use trials to lead us into isolation and solitude instead of deepening and strengthening our relationships with others.
Listen again to my friend: “Asa’s example probably hits closest to home for me these days. Thank God for surgical therapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy - we are using them all. But God help me to remain focused on my need for Him, knowing Prayer Therapy is the best therapy of all!”
Jan
5
Holiness = Happiness
Filed Under Christian Living, Holiness, James Henley Thornwell | Leave a Comment
It is hard not to notice that Calvinism (Reformed Theology) is making a steady comeback in Evangelicalism, especially amongst the younger crowd. I was not exposed to Reformed Theology until College and really not comprehensively until seminary. As I learned Biblical doctrine, one doctrine became exceedingly precious to me: the doctrine that says my happiness is intrinsicly linked to my holiness. It is what the first question of the Shorter Catechism means when it says our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. One of the reasons I love the Reformers and Puritans is that they saw this holiness/happiness doctrine at the root of Christian living and the root of what Jesus provides in salvation. Reading James Henley Thornwell (Southern Presbyterian) the other day I came across the following quote, which I include below, concerning this precious doctrine of holy happiness.
He [Jesus] is styled Savior because he delivers His people from eternal death and gives them eternal life. If we bear in mind that happiness is not an independent, isolated object of existence, but merely the natural consequence of uniform concomitant of holiness, we shall see at once that the salvation of Jesus necessarily includes ample and adequate means of destroying the depravity of the heart and of rendering His followers holy. Happiness and virtue have been linked together by the eternal fiat of Jehovah, and no human ingenuity can tear them asunder. Without holiness it is impossible to see the Lord - that is, to be completely and eminently happy.