R. SCOTT CLARK: The Importance of Catechizing our Children

Here is an interesting post from Dr. Clark on the importance of catechizing our children. He writes:

We can, if we will, break the cycle of theological poverty. Our children are quite capable of learning a great deal at an early age. The real question is whether we are willing to teach them? Do we love them that much? Let me encourage you with this. I’ve catechized young saints and I’ve buried older saints. It’s wonderful to see those facing death reciting Heidelberg 1, which they learned in their youth.

PIPER: On Unity and Revival

Must unity precede revival? John Piper answers along with J. Gresham Machen here. Machen writes:

Souls will hardly be saved unless the evangelists can say with Paul: “If we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel than that which we preached unto you, let him be accursed!” Every true revival is born in controversy, and leads to more controversy.

That has been true ever since our Lord said that he came not to bring peace upon the earth by a sword. Do you know what I think will happen when God sends a new reformation upon the Church? We cannot tell when that blessed day will come. But when the blessed day does come, I think we can say at least one result that it will bring. We shall hear nothing on that day about the evils of controversy in the church. All that will be swept away as with a mighty flood. A man who is on fire with a message never talks in that wretched, feeble way, but proclaims the truth joyously and fearlessly, in the presence of every high thing that is lifted up against the gospel of Christ.” (J. Gresham Machen: Selected Shorter Writings, 148)

MONDAY EDWARDS EXCERPT: The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards

Today was a good day. It was an Edwards day. I had the privilege of reading Dr. Steven J. Lawson's new book, The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards.

Dr. Lawson begins with a brief sketch of Edwards's life. Then he takes Edwards "Resolutions" as a basic framework from which to explore his piety. He summarizes and divides the seventy "Resolutions" into six major categories: (1) Pursuing the glory of God, (2) Forsaking sin, (3) Making proper use of God-allotted time, (4) Living with all his being for the Lord, (5) Pursuing humility and love, and (6) Making frequent self-examination. Dr. Lawson researches Edwards's personal diary, his personal narrative, Soreno Dwight's "Memoir," and a plethora of thoughts from contemporary Edwards scholars in order to trace out an account of Edwards lifelong endeavor to live out his "Resolutions."

Edwards wrote this preamble to his "Resolutions":

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake.

Dr. Lawson remarks:

At the beginning of the Preamble Edwards acknowledged that he was unable to accomplish any spiritual good on his own. He wrote, "Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help . . ." The word sensible indicates awareness. Edwards knew he lacked the ability to "do anything" pleasing to God or to produce his own spiritual growth.

Thus, the preamble shows that Edwards knew he could not fulfill his "Resolutions" by simply resolving to do so. Composing these vows did not indicate that he presumed to possess the natural ability to keep them. Edwards "was too well acquainted with human weakness and frailty even where the intentions are most sincere, to enter on any resolutions rashly, or from a reliance on his own strength" [from Sereno Dwight's "Memoir"].

In his diary, Edwards bared his soul regarding his helplessness to achieve any spiritual advancement by his own strength:

Wednesday, Jan. 2, 1722-23. Dull. I find, by experience, that, let me make resolutions, and do what I will, with never so many inventions, it is all nothing, and to no purpose at all, without the motions of the Spirit of God; for if the Spirit of God should be as much withdrawn from me always, as for the week past, notwithstanding all I do, I should not grow, but should languish, and miserably fade away. I perceive, if God should withdraw His Spirit a little more, I should not hesitate to break my resolutions, and should soon arrive at my old state. There is no dependence on myself.

The book is easy to read and provides wonderful insight into the soul of a man widely regarded as one of the great divines of church history. Read it and be challenged to pursue God and godliness with renewed understanding and vigor.

JONATHAN EDWARDS AND THE RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS

Jonathan Edwards's treatise on the Religious Affections is widely recognized as a classic Christian work. But what does Edwards mean by the concept of affections? Is it simply another way to say emotion or feeling? Are the religious affections a proper end in themselves?

Pastor Jeff Waddington offers excellent answers to these questions regarding Edwards's often misunderstood use of the concept of religious affections in his latest post.

MONDAY EDWARDS EXCERPT: The Concept of Politeness

For the past few years I have been posting excerpts each Friday from the 18th century American Puritan pastor-theologian Jonathan Edwards. Lately, I've been unable to keep up with that. However, I think I have reached a point where I can comfortably commit to jotting down a few thoughts along these lines each Monday.

Today I was able to sit down and finish Dr. John Carrick's recently published work The Preaching of Jonathan Edwards. IT IS EXCELLENT! Dr. Carrick is associate professor of applied and doctrinal theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. His thorough understanding in the field of homiletics makes him an able analyzer of the homiletical genius that was Jonathan Edwards. I have been deeply challenged and instructed in this age-old art. Reading Dr. Carrick's analysis has given me a new appreciation for Edwards. It has also compelled me to more fully endeavor after both faithfulness and excellence in preaching God's Holy Word.

Along the way this afternoon I ran across this historical tidbit from Dr. Carrick. Edwards prefaced a collection of five sermons that were published in his lifetime with these words:

The practical discourses that follow have but little added to them, and now appear in that very plain and unpolished dress in which they were first prepared and delivered; which was mostly at a time when the circumstances of the auditory they were preached to, were enough to make a minister neglect, forget, and despise such ornaments as politeness and modishness of style and method, when coming as a messenger of God to souls deeply impressed with a sense of their danger of God's everlasting wrath, to treat with them about their eternal salvation.--However unable I am to preach or write politely, if I would, yet I have this to comfort me under such a defect, that God has showed us he does not need such talents in men to carry on his own work, and that he has been pleased to smile upon and bless a very plain unfashionable way of preaching. And have we not reason to think, that it ever has been, and ever will be, God's manner, to bless the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe, let the elegance of language and excellency of style be carried to never so great a height, by the learning and wit of the present and future ages (393-94).

Dr. Carrick explains:

The concept of 'politeness', from which Edwards deliberately distances himself in this Preface, was a concept that emerged with great prominence during the Enlightenment. 'Although a concept with an old pedigree', writes Lawrence E. Klein, 'politeness was transformed in the later seventeenth century and the early eighteenth, receiving new meanings that proved distinct for Enlightenment usage.' Emanating from the French salons and the English coffeehouses of that period, the concept of politesse or politeness was one that was associated with a certain courtesy, civility, gentlemanliness, and sophistication in discourse and discussion; it was associated with a certain moderation or restraint. . . . the culture of politeness was, by the second decade of the eighteenth century, beginning to infiltrate New England. . . . Thuesen identifies this 'polite' literature as 'Anglican, latitudinarian, or Enlightenment':

As recent scholarship has shown, this republic of letters was an informal network of learned individuals who eschewed the dogmatism of the medieval and Reformation eras and instead adopted a moderate, latitudinarian, worldly sensibility. Members of this imagined community, in theory at least, ignored distinctions of nationality and religion and willingly assisted each other in cultivating an ecumenical spirit of dispassionate inquiry. . . . espous[ing] a version of Christianity that emphasized morality and reason over strict doctrinal formulations. By the early eighteenth century, this 'polite' style was so pervasive in the Church of England that the once-triumphant Calvinism of the Puritan revolution had virtually disappeared as an effective force in English life (394-95).

For an excellent interview with Dr. Carrick on his book see The Reformed Forum.

NEW COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, RICHMOND HILL, GA

My hometown is Cochran, GA. Cochran is a small farming community just forty miles south of Macon. The closest PCA church is thirty miles away in Warner Robins (Covenant Pres).

Every time I return home I find someone new who is craving inclusion in the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition. They ask with fire in their eyes, "Why don't you plant a PCA church here?" I believe there is a field ripe for harvest in rural America, particularly the American South.

I am thrilled that Nicholas T. Batzig has undertaken the work of church planting in my home state. New Covenant Presbyterian Church meets just southwest of Savannah in Richmond Hill, GA. If you live nearby and are craving inclusion in a Presbyterian and Reformed church, I encourage you to check it out.

THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE COVENANT OF WORKS

I am currently working through Sinclair Ferguson's book The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction, preparing teaching helps for our youth discipleship group leaders at Twin Oaks. Ferguson's book is rich with gospel truth!

In chapter 8 "True Repentance" I found a statement that made me think about the law-gospel debate, particularly the question of whether the Old Covenant was essentially a law covenant or whether it was only administratively a law covenant. Some Protestants would say that the Old Covenant was essentially a law covenant (i.e. do this and live). Others, including the Westminster divines, would say that the Old Covenant was essentially a grace covenant in a law-emphasizing administration (i.e. since you have been redeemed by grace, do this in order to continue to live in the blessing of your redemption).

On repentance in the Old Testament Ferguson writes:

Generally the idea of repentance in the Old Testament is associated with external evidences of its presence (see 1 Kings 21:27; Isaiah 58:5; Nehemiah 9:1; Hosea 7:14; Jonah 3:8). Sometimes in the Old Testament religion these expressions of repentance were corrupted into means of penance, as though God could be impressed by mere externals, and as though repentance were a meritorious work. But at no time did the Old Testament countenance this--it is a book without a trace of legalism (emphasis added) (71).

Ferguson's rephrasing of the law-gospel question is helpful. Rather than asking: "Is the Old Testament essentially a law covenant?" one can address the same point by asking: "Is the Old Testament legalistic?" Answering along with the divines, Ferguson says no, "it is a book without a trace of legalism."

I LOVE THESE GUYS!

The founder and CEO of Despair, Inc. is a member of my former church back in Dallas, TX, Park Cities Presbyterian. His dead pan humor is classic! If you have been on the web in any capacity like email, myspace, facebook, or the blogosphere you probably know about this thing that's being passed around called "25 random things about you." The point is to write 25 random things about you for everyone else to read. I find these sorts of things excruciating. Anyway, check out the latest Despairwear. This is too funny. I have to get this t-shirt (click for larger view):

BIBLICAL COUNSELING AND THE PURITANS

The Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF) has posted a wonderful talk by Dr. David Powlison on Biblical Counseling and the Puritans. You can listen to it here.

(HT: Feeding on Christ)

REAL-LIFE FAMILY MINISTRY

The sweetest times are when my wife, son, and I gather on the couch for family worship. We keep it simple, but simplicity can be rich. Last night we enjoyed such a time. Just before we gathered, I heard my son asking Mama for some water. He had been playing hard, and he was thirsty. So I thought, gotcha! I poured a glass of water and brought it to the couch. Then I opened my Bible to John 4:13-14 and read the text: "Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'" I explained to my son that Jesus is like water for us when we are thirsty. But the water he gives quenches our thirst forever. The water he gives us is eternal life. My son responded, "I want some of that water." From that point we had a good few minutes (which is an eternity for a three year-old) of discussion about the gospel. Then we closed in prayer and sang "Jesus Loves Me This I Know." It was a sweet time.

Family worship is something I cherish. Neither my wife nor I grew up in families where there was regular worship time, so it has been somewhat difficult for us to get in the habit of it. Now we are beginning to form the habit.

I fundamentally believe the family unit is the central front in Christian education and development. Remember the shema. "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise" (Deut. 6:4-7). God relates to his covenant people in family units, each of which gathers with others in particular geographical locations to constitute an expression of the visible church on earth.

Today I was encouraged to read a summary of Tim Jones' seminar at the Children Desiring God conference. Here's an excerpt:

Doing Family Ministry: Real-Life Ministry Models for Real-Life Churches

God commands us in the Scriptures to make the family the fundamental context of discipleship (Deuteronomy 6:4-8; Malachi 4:6; Ephesians 6:4).

Problems in the Church with Family Ministry

1) Parents, especially fathers, have become disengaged from the task of discipling children.

2) Most churches have not consistently expected or prepared parents to disciple their own children.

3) Adolescence is perceived as a developmental ideal instead of as a period of preparation for mature adulthood. It's a recent social construction in which responsibility is minimized and indulgence is maximized, and a lot of our church models have been built around it.

What Do These Problems Look Like?

• The youth group is barely connected to the congregation.
  
  
• The separate aspects of the church's family ministries operate in relative isolation from one another.

What Needs to Change?

Every church is called to some form of family ministry. This doesn't mean just adding one more program.

Rather, family ministry is the process of intentionally and persistently realigning a congregation's proclamation and practices so that parents—and especially fathers—are acknowledged, trained, and held accountable as the persons primarily responsible for the discipling of their children.

ORDINATION EXAMS SUSTAINED

Two weeks ago tomorrow I stood before the Missouri Presbytery for my final ordination exam. After a round of questions, presbytery voted to sustain my examination. My ordination service is scheduled for Sunday evening March 8 at Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church. I am thrilled to be on the verge of ordination as a teaching elder in the PCA.

As I look back and reflect on the past 6 years of seminary, pastoral internship, and now answering a call to ministry at Twin Oaks, I am filled with gratitude. Through all of life's uncertainties, God is ever-faithful. I am amazed at his gentleness and grace with a sinner like me. "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen" (Rom. 11:36).