summer school

At the end of this week, I will have concluded a 2 week 3 credit summer school course on Theories of Counseling, part of the requirements for my M.S. in Biblical Counseling. I’ll not take the time to detail all I’ve learned so far, but I will say that I am greatly thankful for beginning to get a broader picture of where we’ve been and how that’s led to where we are now in Biblical counseling. It’s been a tremendous blessing to be reminded of the sufficiency of God’s Word to deal with all that God sovereignly ordains in the lives of His children.

Our God is great!

Glorifying God in Media

Change doesn’t always feel good, but sometimes it’s necessary.

Kate and I recently “discovered” a TV show called 30 Rock. I have to be honest, it’s pretty funny. It’s a comedy about a NBC TV show and its producers, writers, actors, and other staff. The humor is a bit over the top at times, but that’s pretty much what makes it funny, and we’ve watched several episodes. So there’s a context for you…

Through my recent reading of a book called “Worldliness” with a guys discipleship group I’m a part of, God has been gracious to change my thinking regarding some things. Most notable for me has been the section regarding “What They Say”. Ephesians 5 makes it very clear that there should be “no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude jesting, which are out of place…” (vs. 4). Filthiness is simply referring to any kind of vulgar, lewd, perverted, or off color speech and is “out of place” in the life of a believer. Foolish talk either mocks or blatantly ignores God and his law. Crude joking refers to any kind of humor with sexual overtones; this could be in the form of perverse humor of some kind or just a dirty joke. Each of these things has no place in the life of a believer (assuming of course that believer acknowledges and believes Ephesians 5 is part of God’s revealed Word). The thought that caught my attention is the logical conclusion following this truth: “If we’re forbidden to speak with filthiness and crude sexual humor, we’re equally prohibited from listening to it when we have a choice.” The point is this – if we’re consciously deliberately putting ourselves in a position to be entertained by such speech, we are “out of place.” Commonly heard about a TV show or movie is this: “There’s no sex, there’s just some crude humor.” The reason that participating actively or allowing ourselves to be entertained by such speech is forbidden in Ephesians 5 is because it’s reflective of a heart and attitude characterized by the world, one that disregards God and His Word.

So, when I read this section in my book, and in turn meditated on this passage in Ephesians 5, I was struck with the fact that I had a decision to make right then and there. In this 30 Rock show we’ve been watching, there has been no shortage of dirty jokes, crude sexual humor, or in general lewd vulgar humor, and it’s been somewhat of a predominant comic feature in the show. So, I knew I was either going to decide to not watch it anymore, or ignore what God’s Word was telling me to do. I was also fully aware that this show would not be the only entertainment option that would be affected by this decision. But, here’s the depressing part – I hesitated. I actually wasn’t sure if I wanted to do this. But then, the exciting part – the Holy Spirit was gracious in reminding me of my need to seek God’s glory in everything I do, and that glorifying Christ with my life is a much greater cause than some temporal foolish TV show. If God has revealed in His Word that this kind of speech has no place in the life of a believer, and I call myself a disciple of Jesus Christ, there should be no hesitation but to eliminate it.

This principle of course applies elsewhere in life, but the immediate application for me was media intake that has in it this kind of forbidden speech. That could include movies, TV shows, Youtube, or other internet entertainment sites that have as a dominant feature or characteristic this kind of forbidden speech. Sometimes a movie or TV show has moments of off color humor, and we’re unaware of it coming, but when we are consciously deliberately on purpose allowing ourselves to be entertained by it, there the problem arises. So it’s one thing to unintentionally hear something and be discerning and mature about it, yet quite another to know that a particular show or movie has consistent or repeated off color humor as its dominant feature and consciously choose to turn it on to be entertained and influenced by it. When a moment of decision like this comes, it’s easy to be tempted to think, “But it would be such a huge sacrifice to get rid of _____ in my life!” (insert TV shows like 30 Rock, Friends, or movies like The Hangover, etc) but such a thought is reflective of a heart that is valuing something higher than Christ and His glory.

The good news is that the gospel gives power to God’s children to live life for His glory, and not for themselves. While I may sinfully resist responding to the truth of God’s Word at first, God doesn’t leave us to ourselves, but is gracious to convict us of our sin and through His Spirit give us the ability to turn from sin and live for Him.

Change is good.

Holy Spirit’s work Pt. 2

So, as a refresher, apart from the Holy Spirit’s work, there would be no New Testament, and no gospel at all.

Secondly, Packer says, “Without the Holy Spirit there would be no faith and no new birth – in short, no Christians.” The gospel’s effect is often compared with the concept of light, and in contrast to that “the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers” (2Cor. 4:4). Blind people do not perceive light, and they are uncapable of responding to it. In John 3, Christ tells Nicodemus that no one can see the kingdom of heaven unless he is born again (vss. 3, 5). He then goes on to explain in verse 11 that people who are stuck in their unbelief do not respond to the conviction of the gospel. So, it would seem that evangelism and preaching/teaching the gospel is a futile excercise given that there is no chance of an unregenerate person responding to the gospel at all. But, The Holy Spirit has been given to the Church to testify of Christ. He revealed Christ to the apostles and inspired their words, and He illumines us even today through the revealed Word of God, convicting us of sin, righteousness, and judgment (Jn. 16:8).

The Spirit is the One Who bears witness of Christ, opening blinded eyes and illumining darkened minds. It is because of this witness solely that people come to faith and repentence when the gospel is preached.

Holy Spirit’s work Pt. 1

As I mentioned, I have been going through a book by Dr. J.I. Packer entitled “Knowing God”. The book in its entirety has been nothing short of life changing, but one section in particular stood out to me recently.

One of the main points Packer makes in his section about the Holy Spirit is that many Christians do not realize fully the role of the Holy Spirit, and its importance in the lives of believers. The first reason he gives for the importance of the Holy Spirit is this: “Without the Holy Spirit there would be no gospel and no New Testament.” When Christ came to earth, he had a group of followers who witnessed His ministry of preaching, teaching, healing, and all around serving. When the time came for Christ to leave earth (following His death, burial, and resurrection), he commissioned His followers to continue His gospel spreading ministry, and make more disciples “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). It’s interesting to note that these same people were the ones who had repeatedly failed 1.) to understand the reason for Christ’s life and ministry was (evidenced by their arguing with Him about His impending death, burial, and resurrection), 2.) believe in His power (evidenced by their constant lack of faith regardless of everything they had seen Him do), and 3.) be faithful in their own ministry (sleeping while He told them to stay alert, etc). It would seem that these men would be a rather poor choice for the responsibility of teaching all nations about the glories of Christ.

BUT, they would not do this alone. Christ promised them that the Holy Spirit would teach them and aid them in their ministry. “The Counselor…will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (Jn. 14:26). The point is, it was only by the work of the Spirit of God that these fallible men, who had failed so many times before, would be successful in spreading the gospel to all nations. And turns out He was right – the Holy Spirit came upon these men, and the gospel was spread to the glory of God. The Holy Spirit taught/reminded/testified the gospel to these disciples, and inspired them to communicate it without error. Thus the gospel, thus the New Testament. Were it not for the Holy Spirit, the New Testament gospel message would not be.

(the second main reason is forthcoming…)

Why do Christians know so little about the Holy Spirit?

It’s a question that I myself don’t have an answer for, I simply know that the question refers to me just as much as the next guy. In J.I. Packer’s “Knowing God“, he discusses the fact that so many Christians, even those who are not very serious about their relationship with God, can easily give an explanation of the work of Christ, who He is, what He did on the cross, and what that means for people, but cannot nearly as simply give a description of the past, present, and future work of the Holy Spirit. Sadly, I have found this to be true in my own life. The work of the Holy Spirit is vital, and believers would do well understand it better. Packer describes two parts to the importance of the third part of the Triune God-Head, and I plan on discussing them both in future posts.

Prayer and the Sovereignty of God

Great thoughts by Piper on the sovereignty of God and our prayers. Based on the “you have not because you ask not” passages, Piper says:

“Prayer causes things to happen that wouldn’t happen if you didn’t pray…If you do not avail yourself of the privilege of bringing to pass events in the universe that would not take place if you didn’t pray, you are acting like a colossal fool – aren’t you?”

GREAT thoughts…

Advice Pt. 2

As promised, more Jonathan Edwards advice to young converts…

13. When you counsel and warn others, do it earnestly, affectionately, and thoroughly. And when you are speaking to your equals, let your warnings be intermixed with expressions of your sense of your own unworthiness and of te sovereign grace that maks you differ.

16. Don’t let the adversaries of religion have any grounds to say that these converts don’t carry themselves any better than others…How holy should the children of God be! And the redeemed and the ones beloved of the Son of God should behave themselves in a manner worthy of Christ. Therefore walk as a child of the light and of the day, and adorn the doctrine of God your Savior. Particularly be much in those things that may especially be called Christian virtues, that make you like the Lamb of God. Be meek and lowly of heart and full of a pure, heavenly, and humble love to all. Abound in deeds of love to others and of self-denial for others, and let there be in you a disposition to account others better than yourself.

18. In all your course, walk with God and follow Christ as a little, poor, helpless child, taking hold of Christ’s hand, keeping your eye on the mark of the wounds on his hands and side. From these wounds came the blood that cleanses you from sin and hides your nakedness under the skirt of the white shining robe of his righteousness.

Some tremendous pieces of advice from America’s greatest theologian.

Jonathan Edwards’ Advice

In 1741, Jonathan Edwards received a request from one of the young ladies in his congregation for some advice, he wrote a letter which includes 19 separate points of advice that he deemed important to convey to her. In their entirety, they are certainly worth reading, but several jumped out at me.

3. When you hear sermons, hear them for yourself, even though what is spoken in them may be more especially directed to the unconverted or to those that in other respects are in different circumstances from yourself. Let the chief intent of your mind be to consider what ways you can apply the things that you are hearing in the sermon. You should ask, “What improvement should I make, based on these things, for my own soul’s good?”

4. Though God has forgiven and forgotten your past sins, yet don’t forget them yourself. Often remember what a wretched bond slave you were in the land of Egypt…

5. …Look upon the faithfulness of Christ in unchangeably continuing his loving favor, and the unspeakable and saving fruits of his everlasting love. Despite all your great unworthiness since your conversion, his grace remains as great or as wonderful as it was in converting you.

7. …Come to Christ as Mary Magdelene did…Just like her, come and cast yourself down at his feet and kiss them, and pour forth upon him the sweet perfumed ointment of divine love, out of a pure and broken heart, as she poured out her precious ointment out of her pure, alabaster, broken box.

10. …Apply yourself with all your might to an earnest pursuit after renewed experiences, new light, and new, lively acts of faith and love. One new discovery of the glory of Christ’s face, and the fountain of His sweet grace and love will do more towards scattering clouds of darkness and doubting in one minute than examining old experiences by the best mark that can be given for a whole year.

More to come in the near future…

Piper on Twitter and other media

This is a very helpful note on Twitter and other media by John Pipter in regards to how they can and should be used.

Rumblings…

This could have some serious implications for church planting in the future…