Aug
3
Two Excellent Pieces on the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse
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Much of the nations attention is focused on the tragic aftermath of the collapse of the I-35 W bridge in Minneapolis. It is in times like this that Christians and non-Christians alike are asking the question: “Where is God in suffering and tragedy.” I wanted to draw your attention to two well known Christian figures answering this question in light of the tragedy in Minneapolis.
- Al Mohler wrote a blog post about the tragedy, citing some good material from Jonathan Edwards.
- John Piper, who pastors Bethelehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, also wrote on the tragedy. In addition to his article, his church produced a video presentation which I include below
Aug
1
Today is my 29th birthday. Yes, the last birthday I’ll ever have with a two in front of it. I’ve had a little time of reflection today on my past 29 years of existence. I can sum up those thoughts with the following quote, “For now I begin to be a disciple.” I first ran across that quote in the memoirs of Robert Murray MCheyne. He quoted it from Ignatius. I later went back and found the quote in Ignatius’ letter to the Ephesians. Both men used the quote describe their pasts as relatively unimpressive in their own estimations. I happen to agree with them as I estimate my own short existence. I think back on my years of service to my Lord, some 13 of them, and am utterly dumbfounded at how I could have known so little yet been convinced at previous times that I knew so much. I see my past failings. I see my past errors. I see my past sin. I see my past cowardice. I see my past cold heart and apathy. I look to myself now and think, I am now finally beginning to be a disciple.
This all sounds like typical birthday pessimism but I mean it with the best of intentions. The grand theme of my life is God working in spite of me to the glory of his son, the Lord Jesus Christ. That is my hope as the Lord grants me more birthdays, that he will continue to work in spite of me. I am pretty certain that one of my dying thoughts will be, I am now finally beginning to be a disciple. I close with J. C. Ryle’s encouraging thoughts on this:
I believe that just as ‘no man liveth unto himself’ (Rom 14:7), so also no man is converted only for himself, and that the conversion of one man or woman always leads on, in God’s wonderful providence, to the conversion of others. I do not say for a moment that all believers know it. I think it far more likely that many live and die in the faith, who are not aware that they have done good to any soul. But I believe the resurrection morning and the judgment day, when the secret history of all Christians is revealed, will prove that the full meaning of the promise has never failed. I doubt if there will be a believer who will not have been to someone or other a ‘river of living water’, a channel through whom the Spirit has conveyed saving grace. Even the penitent thief, short as his time was after he repented, has been a source of blessing to thousands of souls!
On this, my 29th birthday, I praise the God who has been faithful to work in spite of me.