More Food for Thought

In the vein of the prior post regarding EMU, more food for thought provided by Peter Leithart on same-sex relationships, gay-marriage, etc., and trending in American culture.

EMU, CCCU, and Listening

From the January/February 2014 issue of Christianity Today, a heading reads "CCCU school mulls shift on same-sex relationships." The short article states:

A Christian college is permitting professors to have same-sex relationships--at least for the next six months. Trustees at Eastern Mennonite University, a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), unanimously voted to let president Loren Swartzendruber lead the school through a "listening period" to review its current ban. During that time, tenure-track faculty will not be penalized for violating current policies which restricts sexual relationships to marriage between one man and one woman.

Personally this is upsetting on two counts: First, I was employed at the largest school in the CCCU from 2002 to 2009, and it is also where I completed my undergraduate degree. This will probably become a watershed event for a watershed issue within CCCU schools. Second, my spiritual heritage (fraternal side of the family) is Mennonite.

I'm not sure where CT gleaned their information regarding tenure-track faculty not being penalized during this six month "listening period" . . . it may be implicit, but nothing is explicitly mentioned in the article from November/2013 at EMU's website. I'm somewhat shocked EMU's original post had open comments. The comments, however, were closed by the "Moderator" after only two days . . . they said they wanted to listen, but not just quite yet.  ;)

1. Moderator says:

   November 20, 2013 at 12:04 pm

   Comments on this blog are now closed. Watch for invitations to speak into the EMU discussion beginning early January 2014.

Death By Living

Death by Living is N. D. Wilson's newest nonfiction book, and sort-of a follow-up to 2009's Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl. I read Notes in 2009, and re-read it in 2010 . . . I also led a men's book study/discussion group over the book. Notes was a fun read. Humorous and rewarding. But at points the prose was forced. However, I just finished reading Death by Living, and it is a great book. Overall, less humorous, but the prose is tight. Reading this book was effortless and sheer joy. Oh, and convicting. 

"Two Things"

"Young men, I beseech you earnestly, beware of pride. Two things are said to be very rare sights in the world--one is a young man that is humble, and the other is an old man that is content. I fear that this is only too true" (J.C. Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men, 23).

Know Thyself: Note-Taking or Active Listening?

"Many people find note-taking helpful in retaining the teaching of a sermon. An elderly woman told me, "I take thorough sermon notes. When I bow my knees on Sunday evening, I put my notes in front of me, underline those things that I should strive to put into practice, and then pray through them one at a time." For many people taking notes helps them remember specific ways in which God challenges their hearts. Recognize, however, that note-taking is not for everyone. For some people, writing gets in the way of active listening, because it makes them lose their train of thought. In that case, note taking does more harm than good. Do whatever helps you remember and pray over the sermons you hear" (Joel R. Beeke, The Family at Church: Listening to Sermons and Attending Prayer Meetings, 26).

For example: I have a friend who is an artist. When he takes notes for sermons, he draws illustrations pertaining to the sermon's subject matter, points of application, etc. 

Beware of Pride

"Pride sits in all our hearts by nature. We are born proud. Pride makes us rest content with ourselves--think we are good enough as we are--keep us from taking advice--refuse the gospel of Christ--turn every one to his own way. But pride never reigns anywhere so powerfully as in the heart of a young man" (J.C. Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men, 22).

"Hell itself is truth known too late."

"Young men, I want to save you all this sorrow, if I can. Hell itself is truth known too late. Be wise in time. What youth sows, old age must reap. Do not give the most precious season of your life to that which will not comfort you in the latter days of your life. Sow yourselves rather in righteousness; break up your hard ground, don't sow among thorns" (J.C. Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men, 18).

Controversy

"In the twenty-first century, few things are more controversial than the Bible's plain teaching on sexuality and gender roles" (Carolyn McCulley, Radical Womanhood: Feminine Faith in a Feminist World, 188).

Meditating on Sermons

"Mediation helps us digest truth and personalize it. One sermon properly mediated upon with the assistance of the Holy Spirit will do more good than weeks of unapplied sermons" (Joel R. Beeke, The Family at Church: Listening to Sermons and Attending Prayer Meetings, 28).

Active Listening + Prayer

"As you listen to the Word of God, ask yourself, how does God want me to be different on account of this sermon? Ask what God wants you to know what you did not know before. Ask what truths you are learning that he wants you to believe. And ask how He wants you to put those truths into practice. In every sermon you hear--even those on the most basic gospel-themes--God offers you truths to believe and put into practice. Pray for grace to work at listening" (Joel R. Beeke, The Family at Church: Listening to Sermons and Attending Prayer Meetings, 20-21).

Active Listening

"As you listen to the Word of God, ask yourself, how does God want me to be different on account of this sermon? Ask what God wants you to know what you did not know before. Ask what truths you are learning that He wants you to believe. And ask how He wants you to put those truths into practice. In every sermon you hear--even those on the most basic gospel themes--God offers you truths to believe and put into practice. Pray for grace to work at listening" (Joel R. Beeke, The Family at Church: Listening to Sermons and Attending Prayer Meetings, 20-21).

Be Spared Many A Bitter Tear

"Young men, young men, I wish you did but know the comfort of a conscience not burdened with a long list of youthful sins. These are the wounds that pierce the deepest. These are the arrows that drink up a man's spirit. This is the iron that enters into the soul. Be merciful to yourselves. Seek the Lord early, and so you will be spared many a bitter tear" (J.C. Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men, 17).

Teaching Children About Sermons

"Teach your children that every sermon counts for eternity. Salvation comes through faith, and faith comes through hearing God's Word (Rom. 10:13-16). So every sermon is a matter of life and death (Deut. 32:47; 2 Cor. 2:15-16). The preached gospel will either lift us up to heaven or cast us down to hell. It will advance our salvation or aggravate our condemnation" (Joel R. Beeke, The Family at Church: Listening to Sermons and Attending Prayer Meetings, 11-12).

Defense and Demonstration

"As twenty-first-century evangelical Protestants, we must combine our defense of biblical inerrancy with a positive demonstration of the transforming power of God's Word" (Joel R. Beeke, The Family at Church: Listening to Sermons and Attending Prayer Meetings, 5).

Aphoristic Commentary: Isaiah 59:21

Isaiah 59:21, As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

Generational blessings, that.

Blessings and Benefits

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter VII, Section IV--This covenant of grace is frequently set  forth in Scripture by the name of a testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ the testator, and to the everlasting inheritance, with all things belonging to it, therein bequeathed.

A. A. Hodge expounds:

Christ as mediatorial King, administers to his people the benefits of his covenant; and by his providence, his Word, and his Spirit, he causes them to become severally recipients of these blessings, according to his will. These benefits he offers to all men in the gospel. He promises to grant them on the condition they are received. In the case of his own people, he works faith in them, and as their Surety engages for them and makes good all that is suspended upon or conveyed through their agency. In the whole sphere of our experience every Christian duty is a Christian grace; for we can fulfill the conditions of repentance and faith only as it is given to us by our Surety. All Christian graces also involve Christian duties. So that Christ at once purchases salvation for us, and applies salvation to us; commands us to do, and works in us to obey; offers us grace and eternal life on conditions, and gives us the conditions and the grace and the eternal life. What he gives us he expects us to exercise. What he demands of us he at once gives us. Viewed on God's side, faith and repentance are gifts of the Son. Viewed on our side, they are duties and gracious experiences, the first symptoms of salvation begun--instruments wherewith further grace may be attained. Viewed in connection with the covenant of grace, they are elements of the promise of the Father to the Son, conditioned upon his mediatorial work. Viewed in relation to salvation, they are indices of its commencement and conditions sine qua non [something that is essential, something that is indispensable] of its completion (A. A. Hodge, The Confession of Faith, 127-128).

Lord God of Hosts

Lord God of Hosts

Lord God of Hosts will judge the wicked;

Lord God of Hosts will judge righteously.

    To the wicked -- He declares warnings, but

    Words of kindness go out from the Lord's lips

    To the ears of the righteous.

Lord God of Hosts is the LORD;

Lord God of Hosts, in battle, will destroy the wicked.

    But the way of the righteous will prosper.

    The righteous will plant their vineyards;

    And they will drink their wine.

    The righteous will also gather the bounty of their fields.

    They will sing songs to Lord God of Hosts;

    Songs of Thanksgiving for Bread and Wine.

Lord God of Hosts is mighty in battle;

Lord God of Hosts is the King of Kings!

Wise Stubb on Laughter

The wisdom of Stubb: "Because a laugh's the wisest, easiest answer to all that's queer; and come what will, one comfort's always left--that unfailing comfort is, it's all predestinated. . . . Well, Stubb, wise Stubb--that's my title--well, Stubb, what of it, Stubb? Here's a carcase. I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing" (Herman Melville, Moby Dick, 168).

On Not Listening Like A Philistine

In 1 Samuel 5 and 6 the Ark of the Covenant is taken into captivity by the Philistines for seven months. The Ark is bad-news for the Philistines: it brings judgment on the idol-worshipers and judgment on their idols.

The idol-worshipers took the Ark captive, but they don't know what to do with it. The wicked don't know what to do when they are in the presence of a Holy God. Colloquially speaking, the Philistines were freaking out.

And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place (1 Samuel 6:2).

 So they brainstorm to send the Ark away.

The takeaway message:

• Don't listen like a Philistine--they heard God's voice--they saw God's judgment on their idols--but they refused to listen and draw near to the Holy God. Instead of truly listening, and being changed by God's word of judgment, they opted to keep their idols and send the Ark (God) away.
• Don't listen like a Philistine--draw near to God in humility and repentance--chuck your idols, pursue the Holy God that spoke a word of judgment. 

Kudos to Pastor Nate Harlan at Trinity Evangelical Church, Larwill, IN. Content for this post inspired by personal notes from his sermon series from 2009.

Thom Rainer on American Churches in 2014

Thom Rainer recently posted "Fourteen Predictions for American Churches for 2014" at his blog in a two-part post: Part-One (Predictions 1-7) and Part-Two (Predictions 8-14). Below I've listed the "predictions" that caught my attention.

Prediction #2: Downsizing of denominational structures. Many denominational structures are becoming smaller because their churches are declining. Others are feeling economic pinches. This trend of smaller and more efficient denominational structures at all levels will only become more pervasive in 2014. 

Prediction #3: Decline in conversion growth. American churches that grow are more likely to get their growth at the expense of other churches. Evangelism is waning in many churches, and fewer non-believers are becoming Christians. The negative reaction to programmatic evangelistic methods has evolved into an overreaction. Too few churches emphasize personal and church-based evangelism. 

Prediction #7: Increased challenges for congregations to build and acquire land due to restrictive governmental policies. American churches will experience more frustration with governmental authorities as they seek to expand, build, and acquire land. Part of the reason will be due to the authorities’ concern about traffic and congestions. Another part is the underlying concern of losing a property tax base to a nonprofit organization. In a few cases there will be outright animosity and prejudice against Christians and churches. 

Prediction #11: Longer pastoral tenure. There will be incremental but steady growth in the length of tenure of pastors at a given church. Part of the reason is the influence of the Millennials who do not view larger churches as their next step in ministry. Part of the reason is economic; moving in today’s economy is not nearly as easy in pre-recession days. Hopefully, the main reason is a sense of God’s call to stay rather than move. 

Prediction #12: Local churches increasing their roles as ministry training leaders. The role of ministry training in the past decades fell largely upon Bible colleges and seminaries. More churches in 2014 will partner with those colleges and seminaries to provide contextual training at a local church. 

Prediction #14: More multiple teaching/preaching pastors. In larger churches, there has been a decided trend toward having more than one teaching and preaching pastor. Now the trend is taking place in smaller churches. We will see more churches with attendance under 200, even some under 100, with more than one teaching/preaching pastor. Of course, not all of them will be full-time vocationally at the church, so there will be more bi-vocational pastors whose role is to be a second or even third pastor in these smaller churches.