The Idolatry of Talent

This could easily have been written for our time.

“There is in this day an idolatry of talent running through society; and this man-worship has crept into the church, and corrupted its members. It is painful to perceive how far it is carried in many circles, and to see what homage is paid, and what incense is burnt, to their favourites.

It is not religion or holiness that is thus elevated, but genius and knowledge: it is not moral beauty, but intellectual strength, that is lauded to the skies: the loftiest models of goodness receive but scanty offerings at their shrine, compared with the gods of the understanding.

It is very evident that in many cases the gospel is loved, if loved at all, for the sake of the talent with which it is preached, and not the talent for sake of the gospel.”

–John Angell James, An Earnest Ministry: The Want of the Times (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1847/1993), 249.

Preaching in Earnest

Eddie Goodwin at Ardent Cries provides a helpful snippet from John Broadus, as quoted by Alex Montoya:

Some men by nature are shy, timid, and inhibited with regard to their feelings. Unfortunately, our intellectual and reclusive seminary environment appeals to this temperament. In addition, our fear of appearing overemotional, manipulative and nonintellectual makes us want to subdue any manifestation of emotion, excitement, or pathos in our preaching. One’s nature has as much to do with our style of preaching. No one need despair, however. Just read what John Broadus said more than a century ago, which I still believe holds true today:

The chief requisite to an energetic style is an energetic nature. There must be vigorous thinking, earnest if not passionate feeling, and the determined purpose to accomplish some object, or the man’s style will have not true, exalted energy. It is in this sense emphatically true that an orator is born, not made. Without these qualities one may give valuable instruction; without them one might preach what silly admirers call “beautiful sermons”; but if a man has no force of character, a passionate soul, he will never be really eloquent. There are, however, timid and sensitive men who, when practice has given them confidence and occasion calls out their powers, exhibit far more masterful nature than they ever imagined themselves to possess.” (pp.16-17)

May God grant to those who preach souls so taken up with the truth that the heat as well as the light spills over in our pulpit labours.

Written by Jeremy Walker at The Wanderer

Men will be boys

"Men will be boys" is a motto of the foolishness of a society that glorifies those men who never grow up. A society that promotes self-centeredness, immaturity, rashness, and irresponsible living. Yes boys will be boys, but men must be men. Titus 2:2 commands the men of the church to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. We are directed to grow in our faith and maturity in Hebrews 6:1; Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance of dead works and of faith toward God. Further, the parameters of our knowledge of good and evil are drawn for us in 1 Corinthians 14:20, Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

For more to consider, read 1 Corinthians 2:6; Ephesians 4:11-16; and Hebrews 5:12-14. Mine the wells of Scripture, for they are inexhaustible.

Seek Peace and Pursue It

On the route I run, there is a sign posted in the front yard of one of my neighbors that quotes the second half of Psalm 34:14, Seek peace and pursue it. Every time I pass this sign, given liberal nature of the area in which I live, and given the fluffy substanceless nature of liberalism, I wonder if the person who posted the sign has ever read the first half of the verse--Depart from evil and do good. And if they have, I wonder if they understand that the first half informs our understanding of the second, and that it is necessary to understand evil and good as defined by Scripture as opposed to by man. This enables one to know what it is that he must depart from and what he should pursue.

The verses straddling verse 14 further inform our understanding of the verse. Verse 13 commands us to keep our tongues from evil and to not speak deceitfully, and verses 15 and 16 tell us, the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and the face of the Lord is against evildoers. Again, we must look to God's Word to know, as Job asks in 9:2, "How can a man be righteous before God?"

Taking in the entire chapter, we see that everything about Psalm 34 is focused on God and is in the context of how we should relate to Him. It is Him we are to magnify and in whom we are to boast; it is Him we are to seek; it is Him to whom we are to cry out; it is in Him we are to find our refuge, and it is by Him that we are saved. We then see the nature of this peace in the context of the whole chapter, and that informed by the entirety of Scripture, so that we understand the peace we are to seek and pursue, and to what and to Whom it relates.

Seek peace and pursue it.

I can't wait ... For what?

Here is a video promotion of Obamacare by the Catholic Health Association. Some of the "I can't waits" are very interesting. The President states that health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year." Well, what has taken the government so long to come to this conclusion? Many of those applauding this statement have been in office for decades. Could it be the fact that they have set themselves up with some of the best health care available so that they cannot even relate to the average American? Why the sudden concern? Or is it something other than concern? Maybe agenda would be a better term? In the long run, will the weakest and most vulnerable of our society get the care they need or will they be denied care in the inevitable rationing that will occur? It has been within the government's power and ability to provide care for our veterans who have served and sacrificed for our country; how are they handling that responsibility? What is the level of care and the availability of that care for them? The record is not one that recommends government health care for the rest of the country. A little boy in the video holds a sign that states, "I can't wait till my mom's M.S. care is covered." I wonder if he realizes that his mother will be in one of the first tiers denied care when rationing starts? A couple of the signs make references to everyone and anyone, but what about the thousands of babies aborted every year, particularly those who are killed following a failed abortion attempt? Or are they not a part of everyone and anyone because our government views them as no one? What then is the criteria for having no value in our society? Who else could, in time, be placed into that category? Is this criteria a set standard or can it be altered or expanded based on the availability of resources or based on society's view of one's usefulness? And who determines who is useful? Finally, and it is not that I could not say more, the most absurd "I can't wait" is the one held by a group of priests that states, "We can't wait for health care that protects all life!" All life? Who are they kidding? With mandatory funding of abortion by the taxpayer regardless of their religious convictions and mandatory participation of doctors, under threat of penalty, a major plank in this proposed health care is the denial of life to the most vulnerable in our society. This whole campaign for health care for anyone and everyone is a lie, just like the claim that abortion is about women is a lie. Just follow the money and you will see what it is about. Also, history is a good help to understanding the present. Take a look at those in power that are pushing for socialized health care; look at their voting record and past statements. What do they reveal about their attitudes toward the weak, the powerless, toward those who disagree with them politically, socially, and morally, and finally what does their past reveal about their attitude toward freedom and our Constitution? The picture is pretty bleak, and this is without even considering their attitude toward God and His Word, something that should be of utmost importance for Christians. One last note: qualifying for the most delusional "I can't wait" is the group of nurses that can't wait for "less regulatory paperwork." What have they been smoking? This is the government we are talking about.

The Law of God

Proposition IX in James Buchanan's work The Doctrine of Justification states: The Law of God, which is the rule of man's duty, is also a revelation of God's eternal Justice and Holiness.

This proposition reminds us in reference to God, that His law is an "authoritative expression of His supreme will" and a "revelation of His essential nature." Buchanan continues, "His will is determined by the infinite perfections of His character." It is His character that is the "real ultimate standard of 'eternal and immutable morality.'" That which God decrees must be understood in the light of His sovereign will. A will that is "regulated in its exercise by His omniscient wisdom." And His moral law, which is an expression of of His will, is the "image and reflection of His own moral perfection."

God is 'holy, and just, and good;' and therefore His law also 'is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.'

"'Be ye holy'--this is the voice of His law." And why? For I am holy, He says (Lev. 11:44; 1 Pet. 1:16). "This is the ground or reason of that law, and it is derived from His essential nature."

God is holy, and the law of the universe is 'holiness to the Lord;' God is just, and the law of the universe is 'justice;' God is true, and the law of the universe is 'truth;' God is love, and the law of the universe is 'love.'

"It reveals what He is, and what His creatures ought to be." It is important not to miss the inevitable conclusion the preceding brings us to, that we are required to render obedience as a duty that is due Him. And let us be reminded that in His perfection, He "can never require more or less, either of obedience or of punishment, than is just and right."


To read more see: The Doctrine of Justification, James Buchanan, ISBN: 159925073X

Joy Mingled with Sorrow

This morning a dear friend of my precious Kim's went to be with our Lord in Paradise. Jordan's posts through this long difficultly have truly modeled joy amidst sorrow, as is apparent in his words below:

This morning Maggie went home to be with the Lord. She passed in her sleep, very peacefully. We rejoice that she is now with Jesus...that there is no more sickness, no more pain. Death has no sting because Jesus is alive.

Even though we know that we will be reunited one day in Heaven, we still morn the loss of a tremendous life. A great wife, mother, friend...she was and is a tremendous blessing to me and to our kids. Thank you all for your continued friendship and support.

Jordan, Sophie, Jack, Jonas and Owen

Please pray, and continue to pray for Jordan, his four little ones, their family and Missio Church. And please pray for my dear wife as we pray for the Stinzianos.

Upside Down and Turned Around, but Direction Corrected Again

We start every day with our agenda, and struggle through the day to keep the course. Events unfold to alter and derail our plans. Phone calls, e-mails, knocks on the door, the possibilities seem endless. This can be frustrating to say the least, and it is easy to resent interruptions. Today I set out with my agenda in hand, and as so often happens, the alterations began coming in. A question was posed by one in my congregation, a theological question, so I set aside my plans to leave for Lowe's early and made a course adjustment. Bags of sand, pebbles and rocks, and rolls of insulation as well as its installation would have to wait. I set out on this new course with an eye on the rolling clock, knowing time stands still for no man, hoping to return my ship to its course. While working on question one, number two (and #'s 3 & 4 even as I now write) appeared in my inbox. I delved into my books and language resources as I sought to give a clear and biblical answer, and as I was sending the second response out (I was able to work on both questions together and reply consecutively) I realized I was enjoying the task at hand. Then I realized: this is what pastoring is about, meeting the needs of the people God has entrusted to me, not sand, pebbles, and insulation. Oh, how easy we forget in the press of life what is truly most important. Jesus said feed my sheep, not fill my trench or organize my space. I am a pastor and a theologian, not a properties manger. The second might be necessary, but the first is absolutely essential to my calling. Thank you Lord for returning my focus to my first love in ministry; I pray that my brothers in the ministry will have that realization daily as we seek to feed your sheep.