I am disappointed with the characterization and outright misrepresentation of Reformed theology (yes, Calvinism) that people who should know better offer up. We all have presuppositions (traditions) and those who claim to have none are the most enslaved to theirs. That is the only reason, I can think of, for men who ought to know better to misrepresent other believers. Well no, I can think of another. Perhaps it is just outright ignorance of what is being taught or said in other traditions. When you think that you have a corner on the truth why would you study what someone else believes to accurately represent them? Instead what is offered up is a dogmatic rejection of a position that I do not even recognize as my own, and yet is attributed to me.
Let me be a little more clear. When someone says that they "reject the 5 points of Calvinism" they ought to be able to explain what it is exactly they are rejecting. Instead what is offered, often times, is a straw man. A straw man is a weak or incorrect argument offered in place of the proper argument because it is easier to defeat. Once the straw man argument is defeated it is offered that the proper argument is defeated. The old switch-a-roo. This at best is ignorance and at worse underhanded. Either way it is shameful for a Christian (especially a minister) to behave in such a way. But careful study and accurate representation is difficult, not as emotionally tantalizing, nor is it as appealing to the crowd or ones own pride as is setting up a straw man and then knocking it down and claiming victory. Sad. Truly sad.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The quoteable Calvin
We celebrate the Advent season at Sovereign Joy. This is something that I had not done in previous churches that I have attended. Hopefully this will become a rich tradition in our church that we all look forward to with great expectation and joy.
Well as I am preparing to preach on Jesus as our Priest I find myself reading Calvin. He had been the first (I believe) to articulate the Prophet, Priest, King distinction of Jesus' ministry for us. So naturally I would look to him for some insight. Here is just one of many quotes that I could give on this subject. May your faith be strengthened by these words.
"It was no ordinary example of incomparable love toward us to struggle with dire terrors, and amid fearful tortures to cast away all care of himself that he might provide for us. We must bear in mind, that Christ could not duly propitiate God without renouncing his own feelings, and subjecting himself entirely to his Father's will. ..Thus, as trembling consciences find no rest without sacrifice and ablution by which sins are expiated, we are properly directed tither, the source of our life being placed in the death of Christ...Our acquittal is in this-that the guilt which made us liable to punishment was transferred to the head of the Son of God. We must specially remember this substitution in order that we may not be all our lives in trepidation and anxiety, as if the just vengeance, which the Son of God transferred to himself, were still impending over us." Book 2 Chapter 16
Well as I am preparing to preach on Jesus as our Priest I find myself reading Calvin. He had been the first (I believe) to articulate the Prophet, Priest, King distinction of Jesus' ministry for us. So naturally I would look to him for some insight. Here is just one of many quotes that I could give on this subject. May your faith be strengthened by these words.
"It was no ordinary example of incomparable love toward us to struggle with dire terrors, and amid fearful tortures to cast away all care of himself that he might provide for us. We must bear in mind, that Christ could not duly propitiate God without renouncing his own feelings, and subjecting himself entirely to his Father's will. ..Thus, as trembling consciences find no rest without sacrifice and ablution by which sins are expiated, we are properly directed tither, the source of our life being placed in the death of Christ...Our acquittal is in this-that the guilt which made us liable to punishment was transferred to the head of the Son of God. We must specially remember this substitution in order that we may not be all our lives in trepidation and anxiety, as if the just vengeance, which the Son of God transferred to himself, were still impending over us." Book 2 Chapter 16
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Oops is's been a while.
Wow!! I have not posted since October. Well shame on me. There is no excuse except busyness, but that does not always suffice. But it will today. So on with the post.
I have a great quote to post. I have been doing a "guess the quote" thread on my facebook page but you will not guess this quote so I will give you the name of the author. Actually it is the same man as my last post, Peter White. His book "The Effective Pastor" is excellent. A ministry resource that ought to become a classic.
"This is what we aim to achieve in public worship: a people bowed in heart and spirit, in homage, adoration, love and fealty, before God in His glory. When God is being genuinely accorded the weight and worthiness that are His by His people, there is true worship."
That should suck the wind out of many a sail in the modern, and let's be fair, post-modern churches today. Is that what you expect when you gather together with the saints in a Sunday to worship? Most go to sing a few happy-clappy "love songs" to Jesus and then hope to get something out of the sermon. True worship does not exist in many a gathered body of believers, to the shame and added weakness of the church. We need a awakening of the majesty, justice, holiness, glory, grandeur, weight, mouth stopping awesomeness of God almighty.
So my prayer for myself and Sovereign Joy is that we would experience such an awakening by the moving of the Holy Spirit that we would come prepared to offer true worship to God when we gather together. For His glory and His great namesake.
I have a great quote to post. I have been doing a "guess the quote" thread on my facebook page but you will not guess this quote so I will give you the name of the author. Actually it is the same man as my last post, Peter White. His book "The Effective Pastor" is excellent. A ministry resource that ought to become a classic.
"This is what we aim to achieve in public worship: a people bowed in heart and spirit, in homage, adoration, love and fealty, before God in His glory. When God is being genuinely accorded the weight and worthiness that are His by His people, there is true worship."
That should suck the wind out of many a sail in the modern, and let's be fair, post-modern churches today. Is that what you expect when you gather together with the saints in a Sunday to worship? Most go to sing a few happy-clappy "love songs" to Jesus and then hope to get something out of the sermon. True worship does not exist in many a gathered body of believers, to the shame and added weakness of the church. We need a awakening of the majesty, justice, holiness, glory, grandeur, weight, mouth stopping awesomeness of God almighty.
So my prayer for myself and Sovereign Joy is that we would experience such an awakening by the moving of the Holy Spirit that we would come prepared to offer true worship to God when we gather together. For His glory and His great namesake.
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