Creation ex nihilo

"Creation ex nihilo, out of nothing, implies two things. First, there was no antecedent power to stimulate God; there was no one to suggest plans to God, or to suggest alterations to the plans God had; still less could anyone defeat God's purposes. God was alone. He could do as he pleased.

"In the second place, after God created something, the thing had no authority to complain, Why have you made me thus? A wren has no right to complain that it is not an elephant. God had decided to create a world, and a world by definition includes differences. The different things had no right to hold God responsible for the qualities they have or the qualities they lack. god is responsible to no one. He distributed wings, legs, horns, and minds just as it suited him." Gordon Clark, Predestination, p. 111

Victory and defeat

"Victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan." -- Italian diplomat Count Galeazzo Ciano (1903-1944) [Sometimes seen as "Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan."]

"A preacher ain't nothin' but a man." -- Elder Duncan McCranie

Book reviews by others

Book reviews of books on Baptist history, faith and practice:

Jason K. Lee reviews Primitive Baptists of the Wiregrass South. By John G. Crowley

Jason G. Duesing reviews Baptist Ways: A History. By Bill J. Leonard

Jason G. Duesing reviews The Story of Baptists in the United States. By Pamela R. Durso and Keith E. Durso

Jason G. Duesing reviews Paradox and Perseverance: Hanserd Knollys, Particular Baptist Pioneer in Seventeenth-Century England. By Dennis C. Bustin

James Leo Garrett Jr. reviews A Genetic History of Baptist Thought: With Special Reference to Baptists in Britain and North America. By William H. Brackney

Chris Johnson reviews The Baptist Way. By R. Stanton Norman

Multicultural church

"I will say as strongly as I can, you should not start (or have) 'a black church' or 'a white church' or a 'homeschooling church' or a church for professional people and another church for poor people. Nor should you start a church aimed at younger people or older people. In this the modern church has erred. I do not mean that we should not be evangelistic toward all categories and types of people (actually, that is my point), but in building the local church our aim is too low, and frankly, sometimes selfish. We are forfeiting something of the glory of the church by not seeking to blend all kinds of people together, even if we cannot fully accomplish it." -- Multi-cultural Glory in the Church: Should We Have Black Churches and White Churches? Or Cowboy Churches? by Jim Elliff

Demographics are God's business; ours is to "teach all nations".

A brief review of a brief book

Can the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Be Saved? John W. Robbins. Unicoi, TN: The Trinity Foundation. 2004, paperback, 44 pages. ISBN: 0-940931-67-2. $3.95

Your first thought may be, "What is the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, why does it need to be saved, and who cares anyway?"

Well...the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) is a Presbyterian denomination born out of the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy in the first quarter of the 20th century. According to the Trinity Foundation, "The Orthodox Presbyterian Church was founded in 1936 by about 135 people who were offended by the lack of discipline in and doctrinal errors of the Presbyterian Church in the USA." Constituted in 1936 as the Presbyterian Church of America, the name was changed to Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 1939. The OPC needs to be saved from encroaching doctrinal heterodoxy, and John Robbins, at least, cares.

Can the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Be Saved? is not a book I would normally pick up at a book store or order from a catalog. So how did I come to have and read it? The Trinity Foundation prints what they believe are "sound Christian books" and often offer them for sale at substantial discounts. After taking advantage of one of these offers, I received my books with Can the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Be Saved? as a gift of appreciation for my order. I looked at it and set it to the back.

Then, on a day when I thought Gordon Clark's Logic was "too hot" and J. Gresham Machen's Education, Christianity, and the State "too cold" -- like Goldilocks I decided Robbins' 44 page book on the OPC would be "just right".

If nothing else, perhaps the book will add to my memory what my daughter calls my "random facts". This book is probably not for the average reader. It calls for some interest in the OPC, or if not, an interest in religious controversies or random historical facts. It would be good to have a little background not only of the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy, but also of Presbyterian & Reformed controversies -- the Clark-Van Til Controversy, the Shepherd Justification Controversy, etc.

Robbins begins with the question at hand and the OPC controversy over justification by faith alone. Then he delves into the background of this, particularly the dominating influence of the Westminster Theological Seminary and the OPC's penchant to continue to attack Gordon Clark 20 years after this death. Robbins leads us through this forest, back to the present (which is 4 years ago), and the hope that members might wade through the propaganda and save the OPC.

I am certainly in no position to make informed statements about the OPC. This booklet by John Robbins makes up probably 98% of what I know about it. This book will be an important resource to anyone affiliated with it.

If nothing else, the book will add to your collection of random facts. But I believe there is something else. I can recommend Can the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Be Saved? to the general reader* for two reasons: (1) it speaks to the broad liberalizing tendency current among the people denominated Christians; and (2) it provides an example of the tendency of denominational leadership (of whatever denomination) to "circle the wagons" against any threat to the denominational machinery -- whether real or perceived.

*Notes: by the general reader I mainly intend persons who have no particular connection to the Presbyterian Church. The book closes with a "Reformation Day Declaration," and offers those in agreement opportunity to sign it. A list of books available from Trinity rounds the book out to a total of 60 pages. The Trinity Foundation web site offers other books of this genre, including The Clark-Van Til Controversy, The Current Justification Controversy, and A Companion to The Current Justification Controversy.

Burns

They chant their artless notes in simple guise,
They tune their hearts, by far the noblest aim;
Perhaps Dundee's wild-warbling measures rise,
Or plaintive Martyrs, worthy of the name;
Or noble Elgin beets the heaven-ward flame,
The sweetest far of Scotia's holy lays:
Compar'd with these, Italian trills are tame;
The tickl'd ears no heart-felt raptures raise;
Nae unison hae they, with our Creator's praise.

From v. 13 The Cotter's Saturday Night, by Robert Burns

From scenes like these, old Scotia's grandeur springs
That makes her lov'd at home, rever'd abroad:
Princes and lords are but the breath of kings,
'An honest man's the noblest work of God';
And certes, in fair Virtue's heavenly road,
The cottage leaves the palace far behind;
What is a lordling's pomp? a cumbrous load,
Disguising oft the wretch of human kind,
Studied in arts of Hell, in wickedness refin'd!

From v. 19 The Cotter's Saturday Night, by Robert Burns

Faith healing and the law

An intriguing legal battle in Oregon brings together health, religion, faith healing, and the interests of the parents versus the interest of the state.

"...Ava Worthington, died at home March 2 from bacterial bronchial pneumonia and a blood infection. Both conditions could have been treated with antibiotics, according to Dr. Christopher Young, a deputy state medical examiner.

"The Followers of Christ, a non-denominational congregation with roots in the 19th-century Pentecostal movement, came under state scrutiny in the late 1990s after several church children died from medically treatable conditions. The deaths prompted the Oregon Legislature to remove religious shield laws for parents who treat gravely ill children solely with prayer, setting the stage for the Worthington case." -- Child's death tests Oregon law on faith healing

"Tuesday's death of 16-year-old Neil Beagley, however, may not be a crime because Oregon law allows minors 14 and older to decide for themselves whether to accept medical treatment." -- Teenager from faith-healing family dies in Oregon

Vanity of Life

Vanity of Life, Ecclesiastes 2

1 The evils that beset our path
Who can prevent or cure?
We stand upon the brink of death
When most we seem secure.

2 If we today sweet peace possess,
It soon may be withdrawn;
Some change may plunge us in distress,
Before tomorrow's dawn.

3 Disease and pain invade our health
And find an easy prey;
And oft, when least expected, wealth
Takes wings and flies away.

4 A fever or a blow can shake
Our wisdom's boasted rule;
And of the brightest genius make
A madman or a fool.

5 The gourds, from which we look for fruit,
Produce us only pain;
A worm unseen attacks the root,
And all our hopes are vain.

6 I pity those who seek no more
Than such a world can give;
Wretched they are, and blind, and poor,
And dying while they live.

7 Since sin has filled the earth with woe,
And creatures fade and die;
Lord wean our hearts from things below,
And fix our hopes on high.

OLNEY HYMNS, Book 1. Hymn 54
John Newton
Common Meter

July 4 in Vicksburg

Last year, when I was reading a little about Vicksburg, Mississippi re the singing we visited over there, I found that until 1944, the city of Vicksburg did not celebrate Independence Day. Why?

By the way, we attended this year's singing in Vicksburg held at the Old County Court House. It was well attended and we had a good singing from the 1991 and 2006 Sacred Harps and the 2002 Christian Harmony.

Restoring Integrity: our view of God

Restoring Integrity in Baptist Churches requires a correct view of God, a view that many Christians do not have. There are many visions and versions of who or what God is.

To some he is the glorified Santa Claus, the god who exists to grant our wishes. If you need a shiny new toy, he's the go-to guy. Don't worry about him the rest of the year.

To some he is the dutiful servant, a "little g" god who is bound to execute whatever the faithful demand. If you believe the Word of God and confess it then you will receive whatever you want. God must do it.

To many a nominal Christian he is the Deist's disinterested creator, who may have started everything but has left it to its own course. We can't believe all this got here by accident. But we can't believe a sovereign creator is actively governing this world, either.

To others he is an impotent ruler who, like a lame-duck President thwarted by a resistant Congress, is trying to work his will in the face of stubborn human resistance. Man is doing what he will, and God is trying to do what he can.

We need to catch of view of what Isaiah saw, the Lord high and lifted up. We need to hear God as Job heard Him, and know that He can do everything, and that no thought can be withheld from Him. Almighty God is the Sovereign Creator Who reigns on high, rules this universe and conducts its affairs by His All-wise Providence. He is neither a Santa Claus to grant our wishes, a servant who is bound by our commands, a disinterested beginner of events who rarely shows up, nor an impotent ruler who can't quite do anything because of the free will of man. "[God] is both the Almighty Creator and Merciful Redeemer; he is not a valet who caters to our whims."* "God is not your errand boy and He's not going to jump through a hoop just because you hold it up."** If my view of God doesn't inspire awe, I have no vision of the God of the Bible.

"For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." -- Romans 11:36 (source, origin) (instrumentality, power) (purpose, consummation, completion)

'Of Him' suggests source or origin. God is eternal. Before Him nothing exists. God dwells in eternity, beyond the grasp of the thoughts of time-bound mankind. He not only has no end, but also has no beginning!

Before the world’s were set in place
Or angels brought to be,
Eternal Godhead filled all space
Through vast eternity.

The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The All Sufficient Three;
This glorious God whom angels boast,
At first ‘twas only He.

Nothing but God was there at all
No, nothing else but He!
‘Twas nothing there however small,
Nor need there any be.

From everlasting, God is He,
The self-existent One.
His age equals eternity;
He was when there was none.

Eternity - before, behind,
And all points in between,
Were by the Lord clearly defined.
By Him all things were seen.

He spoke creation into place
And fashioned mortal man;
Then saved him by eternal grace -
His everlasting plan.***

'Through Him' suggests power and instrumentality -- omnipotence. By Him everything exists. Without Him nothing exists. He is the Creator, the beginning of all things. He is the Sustainer of all things. For in Him we live and move and have our being. Science (falsely so-called) has robbed us of these two truths. Don't need a creator? Substitute evolution. Don't need a ruler? Substitute chance and the laws of nature. My paternal grandfather was an old-time farmer. He died when I was a small boy. Except for a fleeting memory of a sick man, I've only seen him through the eyes of others. According to my father, he had a saying about the rain -- something like "We'll get it when we need it." Now I used to wonder about that statement; some others have thought it ridiculous. But the older I've got and the more I've thought about it, the more it makes sense to me. If I could I would ask him what he meant. I think he would say something like "It's not the parched ground, the withered crops or the desire of man that determines when we need rain. It is the good pleasure of God."****

'To Him' suggests purpose and completion. It points to His glory. All things are not only by Him and through Him -- they are to Him. "...all things were created by him, and for him." He made this world for Himself, for His own pleasure and His own glory -- "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." He is the purpose of all things; He is the completion of all things. To God be the glory, great things He hath done.

When we see God as He is -- high and lifted up -- we see man as he is -- undone and unclean. We need to restore integrity to and through our view of God.

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art.*****

* John W. Robbins in his introduction to Gordon H. Clark's Predestination
** J. Vernon McGee on Through the Bible Radio, 1 July 2008
*** R. L. Vaughn, 1992
**** Jer. 14:22 - Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things. Matt. 5:45 - That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
***** Carl Gustaf Boberg (1859-1940), Translated by Stuart K. Hine

"Fate"

"A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it." -- Jean De La Fontaine

"He that is born to be hanged shall never be drowned." -- Unknown

"Things don't happen for a reason; they just happen." -- Meg Ryan in "Proof of Life", as the character Alice Bowman

"Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened." -- Sir Winston Churchill

"Every moment, a Christian is in a storm, leaving a storm, or going to a storm." -- Unknown

Random quotes say random things, not all of which agree. Though "fate" is often confused with Biblical predestination, the "Alice Bowman" quote best represents true "fate" -- a "fatalistic" world view.
Fate, Texas

Reviewing "God and Evil"

God and Evil: The Problem Solved, Gordon H. Clark. Unicoi, TN: The Trinity Foundation. Large paperback, 48 pages, [1996] 2004, 0940931737. $5.95.

If someone has solved the "problem" of a good God and the existence of evil, I want to know it. The Trinity Foundation has so re-titled what is Chapter Five of Gordon Clark's Religion, Reason, and Revelation to say that he did.

Who is Gordon Haddon Clark (1902-1985)? He was a preacher, author, philosopher, theologian -- and sometimes lightning rod within the Presbyterian Church. He was an educator for 60 years and author of over 40 books, including A Christian Philosophy of Education, Logic, Essays on Ethics and Politics, God's Hammer: The Bible and Its Critics, The Johannine Logos, Today's Evangelism: Counterfeit or Genuine? and The Biblical Doctrine of Man. He wrote commentaries on about 12 New Testament books.

Many Christians avoid the subject of God and evil. It is (so they say) controversial, unedifying and embarrassing (p. 12). Yet it is a serious topic that cannot be avoided. "How can the existence of God be harmonized with the existence of evil?" (p. 9) Gordon Clark, in his logical and methodical manner, sets about to tell us just that, believing the "...system known as Calvinism and expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith..." provides the answer. The words "Calvinism" and "Westminster Confession" may put off some early on, but patience will yield some interesting fruit. In his review Darrin R. Brooker wrote, "God and Evil...sets forth the only coherent and consistent answer to the problem [of evil]." Earlier he wrote, "Quite simply, the problem only exists where there is an errant view of the character of God."

Clark first provides an historical exposition of the subject/problem, including proposed solutions of both secularists and religionists -- e.g. both good and evil deities, God is not omnipotent, there is no evil, etc. The author serves his readers by clearly defining his terms, a service at times not well performed by authors. Free will is "...the equal ability, under given circumstances, to choose either of two courses of action." (p. 15) "...man faced with incompatible courses of action is as able to choose any one as well as any other." Free will is not free agency (p. 31). "...free agency -- or natural liberty -- means that the will is not determined by physical or physiological factors." Choice is "...a mental act that consciously initiates and determines a further action. The ability to have chosen otherwise is an irrelevant matter and has no place in the definition." (p. 32) Whether the reader agrees with Clark on these definitions, he will know of what the author speaks when he uses a particular term.

One is easily swept along by Clark's logic. His presuppositions admitted, his conclusions are easily accepted. He leads the reader through the "Calvinistic system" to the ultimate question, "Is God the author of sin?" Mr. Clark posits that God IS NOT, though he is "...the sole ultimate cause of everything." (p. 38) God is not sinful. God is not responsible for sin. If anyone has come close to solving the problem, Clark has.

God and Evil is well-written and demands close attention and deep thinking on the part of the reader. It is short enough to read in one sitting. Large side-margins with large print quotes give instant eye appeal (though eventually the older reader may wish the print was larger!). Clark quotes others such as John Gill (Baptist) and Augustus Toplady (Anglican) to demonstrate he is not just espousing a Presbyterian position (p. 29, 30). The Crisis of our Time by John Robbins and a list of books available from Trinity round out the volume to 61 pages.

There are few defects in the work. At times Clark can be a little too heady toward his opposers ("If Arminians had a keener sense of logic they would not be Arminians." p. 28). I noticed one citation error. On p. 31 the text attributes a quote to Toplady while the large print quote on the side margin attributes it to Gill.

Gordon Clark's view of God and evil is well-integrated into his "system known as Calvinism," though it seems to one could embrace Clark's conclusion without adopting Calvinistic soteriology. Whatever one believes, surely Clark is right when he writes, "...the doctrine should be fully integrated with the rest of God's revelation..." (p. 35)

At some point most every God-believer wonders, "If God is all-good and if God is all-powerful, why are sin and suffering in the world?" (p. 7) Gordon Clark is either right or wrong. Regardless, this book is one of the best succinct presentations of the problem of "God and Evil". A philosophic journey on the road to understanding the relationship of God and evil should pass through this place. If your problem isn't solved, perhaps it's just begun.

A nice companion book in publication style and subject is Gordon Clark's Predestination.

Is this thy kindness to thy friend?

Is this thy kindness to thy friend.
2 Samuel 16:17 And Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"

1 Poor, weak, and worthless though I am,
I have a rich almighty friend;
Jesus, the Savior, is his name,
He freely loves, and without end.

2 He ransomed me from hell with blood,
And by his pow'r my foes controlled;
He found me, wand'ring far from God,
And brought me to his chosen fold.

3 He cheers my heart, my wants supplies,
And says that I shall shortly be
Enthroned with him above the skies,
O! what a friend is CHRIST to me.

4 But ah! I my inmost spirit mourns,
And well my eyes with tears may swim,
To think of my perverse returns;
I've been a faithless friend to him.

5 Often my gracious Friend I grieve,
Neglect, distrust, and disobey,
And often Satan's lies believe,
Sooner than all my Friend can say.

6 He bids me always freely come,
And promises whate'er I ask:
But I am straitened, cold and dumb,
And count my privilege a task.

7 Before the world that hates his course,
My treach'rous heart has throbbed with shame;
Loth to forego the worlds applause,
I hardly dare avow his name.

8 Sure were not I most vile and base,
I could not thus my friend requite!
And were not he the God of grace,
He'd frown and spurn me from his sight.

-- John Newton
Olney Hymns, Book 1. Hymn 30, L.M.

It is said

It is said that Civil War veteran Joseph Dark instructed his family to engrave an old Irish poem on his gravestone. It reads something like this:
  Remember, friends, as you pass by,
  As you are now, so once was I;
  As I am now so you must be,
  Prepare for death and follow me.

It is also said that James Burr V Allred (Governor of Texas 1935-1939) sometimes referred to this epitaph in his talks and travels. He added:
  "To follow you I'm not content
  Until I know which way you went."

[Note: Since posting this several years ago, I have found the grave location of Major Dark and added a link.]

Tweedledee and Tweedledum

"This year's Republican primary did provide a wonderful aberration, however, to the usual choices between Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Republicans had an opportunity to nominate a real American constitutionalist, a statesman in the similitude of Thomas Jefferson or James Madison. That man was Texas Congressman, Ron Paul. Unfortunately, the Republican faithful seem to be incapable of discerning the marks of true greatness, not to mention fidelity to constitutional government. It is doubtful that most of them even understand what constitutional government is. And as for Christian conservatives, they can barely see any issues beyond abortion and 'gay rights'. To try and convince them to support a constitutionalist candidate is like talking to a brick wall."

From Only a miracle can save America now by Pastor Chuck Baldwin; click link for more

Like a child at home

"There would I find my settled rest,
While others go and come,
No more a stranger or a guest,
But like a child at home."

Love it. This portion of a hymn was quoted in the article Baptism-Rebaptism by Gilbert Beebe in 1856. If anyone knows the hymn or its author I would be interested in finding it. Thanks.

Does God cause man's choices?

When one biblically and theologically accepts the idea of a sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God, it often taxes our feeble thoughts to reconcile the idea in the human mind. One question that may come to mind is, "Does God cause man's choices?" This make take the form of wondering about all of, some of, or any of man's choices? Here are a few Bible incidents to think about.

Deuteronomy 2:26-35 And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying, Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the high way, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left. Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only I will pass through on my feet; (As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me;) until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the LORD our God giveth us. But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land. Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz. And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people. And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain: Only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took.

Did God cause Sihon to choose to refuse the Israelites passage? Did He do so that He might bring judgement on Sihon and Heshbon? If so, was Sihon still responsible/accountable?

I Kings 22:20-23 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.

Did God send a lying spirit to Ahab's prophets that they would prophesy falsely? Did He do so as the means of leading Ahab to his death? If so, are the prophets still responsible/accountable?

Exodus 7:13; 9:12; 10:1,2,20 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said...And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses...And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD...But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.

Did God harden Pharoah's heart so that he would not agree to set Israel free, and also as an that God might bring judgement on Egypt and their gods? If so, was Pharoah still responsible/accountable? [Also, compare Psalm 105:25]

BTW, if you object to God directly causing men's choices, do you feel better about it if He instead uses means to do so? For example, Exodus 23:28 - And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. Human philosophy has created an idol called free will. To many, human free will cannot be touched by God; it has an almost independent existence. To some, more moderately, God has chosen to leave free will inviolate. The problem with either theory is that they are not consistent with the complete record of God's word. Some will admit to allowing God to cause man's actions indirectly -- as in sending hornets to change their will -- but won't allow God the right to directly or without mediation cause man's actions.

What others say

Augustus M. Toplady: "In the supernatural agency of grace on the heart, compulsion is quite excluded, be that agency ever so effectual; since the more effectually it is supposed to operate, the more certainly it must engage 'the preference of the mind'."

"The beggar incurs no merit when he opens his hands to receive a free gift." -- Ken Keathley in Salvation and the Sovereignty of God: the Great Commission as the Expression of the Divine Will

"I, for one, am fed up with this baloney, because what we are actually faced with is not the 'lesser of two evils' but 'the evil of two lessers'." -- Chuck Baldwin on voting

"No theological tradition has cornered the market on arrogance. I have been accused of it (sometimes, I fear, with very good reason). Yet there seems to be – though I’m sure that what I say here is highly fallible – an amazing quantity of it among the New Calvinists." -- Thomas McCall

A Wasted Vote

John Quincy Adams said, "Duty is ours; results are God's." Let us determine to do our duty (vote on principle) and know that God has determined the results.

Every election year, seems the pickings get slimmer and slimmer -- especially in the higher offices. Some will consider voting for a third party candidate, and will hear "Voting for a third party candidate is a wasted vote. There is no chance that person can ever be elected."

Want to hear what I think is a wasted vote?? (Possibly not, but I'll tell ya anyway). A wasted vote is a vote for a person you know does not hold anything near your principles (or doesn't have any principles). Some people call it holding their nose and voting. Voting that violates your conscience is a wasted vote. Voting for a worthless candidate who actually gets elected is the most wasted vote!!!!

This year there are a few folks I won't vote for because the chances they will be elected are too great. Wouldn't want to have that on my conscience.

Cowardice, expediency, vanity and conscience

"A weasel word is a word that is intended to, or has the effect of, softening the force of a potentially loaded or otherwise controversial statement. "

"Cowardice asks the question–is it safe? Expediency asks the question–is it politic? Vanity asks the question–is it popular? But conscience asks the question–is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right." -- Martin Luther King, Jr. [bold mine]

Thou Fountain of bliss

Thou Fountain of bliss, Thy smile I entreat;
O'erwhelm'd with distress I mourn at Thy feet;
The joy of salvation, when shall it be mine?
The high consultation of friendship divine!

Awakened to see the depth of my fall,
For mercy on Thee I earnestly call;
'Tis Thine the lost sinner to save and renew;
Faith's mighty Beginner and Finisher too.

Thy Spirit alone repentance implants,
And gives me to groan at feeling my wants;
'Midst all my dejection, dear Lord, I can trace
Some marks of election, some tokens of grace.

Thou will not despise a sinner distressed;
All-kind and all-wise, Thy season is best.
To Thy sovereign pleasure resigned I would be,
And tarry Thy leisure, and hope still in Thee.

Augustus Montague Toplady, (1740-1778)

Southeast Texas Singing

The Southeast Texas Sacred Harp Singing will be held (d.v.) Saturday, June 21, 2008 at the Fellowship Primitive Baptist Church on FM 1452 near Madisonville, Texas. Singing will start at 10:00 a.m. and go till around 3:00 p.m. The 1991 Revision of the Denson Sacred Harp will be used. Map at the link above.

A solemn year

June 19 marks one year that Shirley Hunt has been missing. Though absent in body, she is present in our hearts and minds.

Missing person posters for Shirley may be viewed and printed HERE, HERE and HERE.

Relatives Searching For Wife, Mother One Year Later is an article recently posted on Tyler Morning Telegraph's site.

Still missing

Maxine Ethington is still missing. The family has added a $10,000 reward to search. Please be on the lookout and contact the Shelbyville, Kentucky police at (502) 633-2323.

An example of sportsmanship

Touching Them All, an April 2008 softball story; a story of Sara Tucholsky (who had never hit a home run), Mallory Holtman (her school's career home run leader), "fate", a torn knee ligament, and real sportsmanship.

Thanks to Matt Gholson for calling attention to this.

A lot of years

But good ones.

June 17, 2008 around 7 p.m. marks thirty years I have been married to Miss Kimberly Hunt. Happy Anniversary.

God's foreknowledge: contingencies or definities?

How do you view God's foreknowledge? Some who believe in it seem to see it as a foreknowledge of an endless number of possibilities based on numerous choices that many different people could make. Or, IOW, not particularly a foreknowledge of exactly what will happen, but a foreknowledge of all the endless possibilities that could happen.

Let me put forth a piece of history to make the discussion concrete.

Did God foreknow that U.S. President John F. Kennedy would die Friday, November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas? Did He foreknow John F. Kennedy would be assassinated?

If your answer is no, please explain how an omniscient God could not know this.

If your answer is yes, then (1) Could John F. Kennedy have chosen not to go to Dallas on November 22, 1963? and (2) Could the assassin have chosen not to shoot President Kennedy?

Thoughts on King James

...the Bible, not the man

And now, a few random comments on KJV subjects (the Bible, not the man):

In his book The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust the Modern Translations? (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1995), James White provides five "KJV Only" categories: (1) those who like the KJV best, (2) those who support the KJV textually [e.g. those who "are joined by their common belief that the underlying Hebrew and Greek texts used by the King James translators are, for various reasons, superior to all other original languages."], (3) those who are Received Text only, (4) those who believe the KJV is inspired and inerrant, (5) those who believe the KJV is advanced or new revelation [e.g. Peter Ruckman]. I provide this for what it's worth in helping the reader understand there is a wide variety of supposed "KJV Only" people.

Among the fifth category of so-called "King James Only" people are some who believe most or all of the following: that the KJV was given by inspiration; that the KJV is superior to the Hebrew and Greek texts upon which it was based; that the KJV is advanced revelation over the Hebrew and Greek text (and therefore used to correct Greek or Hebrew manuscripts); that Bible translation into other languages should be based on the KJV rather than Greek and Hebrew manuscripts; and finally, that a person can only be saved through hearing the gospel from the King James Bible.*

As a point of reference, I use the King James Bible in private study and public ministry -- not because of convenience, but because I believe its accuracy of translation and underlying Greek texts are superior. I recommend only it to others for personal study, public use and private devotions. That being said, the Peter Ruckman/new revelation issue IS NOT a King James Bible vs. Modern Versions issue. There are people on both sides of the KJV/MV fence who believe that Mr. Ruckman's teachings are heretical and disruptive. No one should charge that a position against Ruckman's teaching is inspired by hatred of the King James Bible. That simply is not true!

The Old Testament and New Testament authors were inspired. The KJV translators were not inspired. I believe they DID accurately translate the Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek scriptures into the English language. I neither use nor recommend modern versions of the Bible; but, for example, any part of the NASB that is accurately translated is as much the word of God as the KJV. If a "thou" becomes a "you" it is still the truth. {though the "thee's", "thou's", "ye's" and "you's" of the KJV have advantage of denoting number and usage}.

Some American detractors say that the 1611 King James Bible is almost unreadable. This is probably more of a reflection on the typical modern American than it is on the King James Bible. I am of average intelligence (I hope). I own a 1611 KJV, and I read it all the way through one year for my Daily Bible readings. Admittedly, the type, spellings, etc. all give own cause to take care, but I see no reason why one who can read any other version of the Bible could not read a 1611 KJV. A few have said the 1611 KJV "isn't even close" to the KJV Bibles we have today. I am no authority on this. But I am quite familiar with the present KJV, and noticed no major difference of real consequence in my reading. A reasonable person who has both a 1611 and a modern print KJV will notice there are changes in spelling and punctuations, and probably corrections of typographical errors, etc. as well. But to say it "isn't even close" is an exaggeration or misrepresentation of the facts.

* I am indebted to David Cloud of Way of Life Literature for clear explanation of some of these teachings.

Zion Hill sings...

...Sacred Harp, every third Sunday in June. For some reason someone decided to designate Father's Day on the day of Zion Hill's singing. The singing predates Father's Day.

The annual Sacred Harp singing and cemetery day will meet this year on Sunday
June 15, 2008 (d.v.). Singing will begin at 10:00 a.m. and continue until about 3:00 p.m. Dinner on the ground will be served. The Cooper book will be used.

Come join us in singing the old songs of Zion "that our fathers and mothers used to sing". Zion Hill Church is located on County Road 368, about 11 miles southeast of Henderson, Texas. For more information, Click here.

Perichoresis, perichoretic

Word for today

According to Wikipedia, "Perichoresis in Christian theology, refers to the mutual inter-penetration and indwelling of the Father and the Son. The doctrine is based on John's Gospel that 'the Father is in the Son, and the Son in the Father'."

"...in John's apocalypse...the Trinity is central, this time in perichoretic imagery." p. 231, Restoring Integrity in Baptist Churches

Restoring Integrity in Baptist Churches: a Review

Restoring Integrity in Baptist Churches. Thomas White, Jason G. Duesing, Malcolm B. Yarnell III, Editors. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2008. pb. 272 pages. $18.99

According to Southern Seminary president Albert Mohler, this "...is a book urgently needed and well timed." Ten Southern Baptist Ph.D.'s and one Ph.D. candidate (Daniel Akin, David Allen, Emir Caner, Mark Dever, Jason Duesing, John Hammett, Jason Lee, Stan Norman, Thomas White, Greg Wills, Malcolm Yarnell) take on modern challenges to Baptist theology and ecclesiology in the areas of regenerate church membership (2 chapters), baptism (4 chapters), the Lord's Supper (2 chapters), church discipline (2 chapters), and the priesthood of believers (1 chapter). All of these I conceived as problems 25 years ago as a young preacher, and tried to address them to some extent in the small church I pastored and the small periodical I edited. I am pleased to see these issues taken up by men of credentials and influence.

In the introduction Thomas White lays out the challenges facing local Baptist congregations and the Baptist doctrine of the church in the five areas named above. Then John Hammett and Mark Dever expound regenerate church membership. Hammett deals with the biblical foundation of regenerate church membership, its demise in the early church and its recent decline among Baptists. He considers regenerate church membership a "Baptist mark" of the church (p. 21), but believes "...regenerate church membership...dramatically declined in Baptist life in the twentieth century and is in desperate need of recovery today." (p. 23) Two examples of the problem are (1) attendance to membership ratio -- about 37% on Sunday mornings -- and (2) moral problems as common among Baptist church members as non-church members. Mark Dever defines a church and church membership, and associates membership with love commitment. His story of squirrels in a church building vividly and humorously illustrates the truth and absurdity of the problem of "absentee membership". Both Hammett and Dever connect regenerate church membership with believer's baptism and church discipline, subjects stressed later in the book. They also offer solutions for restoring a regenerate and meaningful church membership.

One of the most objectionable "solutions", in my opinion, is requiring that a professor pass new membership classes prior to baptism and church membership. This area reveals an area in which Baptists need to meditate deeply in connection with restoring integrity. Can we decry New Testament practice while "restoring integrity" in Baptist churches? This solution makes New Testament practice (immediate baptism) violate New Testament principle (regenerate church membership). Hammett even takes the example of the early church (2nd century) over that of the New Testament church, and, further, dismisses immediate baptisms with an interpretation that (followed to its end) could be used to dismiss baptisms altogether. While seeking to restore integrity, Baptists NEED to examine the discrepancy of (seemingly) arbitrarily choosing or rejecting New Testament practice as it suits us. Do we even have any system here? Why do we follow one example and reject another? If we don't know, it is no surprise we are in a deficit needing to restore integrity. I hope this is an area of research serious and studious minds will soon engage.

Chapter 3 begins the study of baptism with Daniel Akin's "The Meaning of Baptism." In an unique presentation, Akin exposes seven implications of the meaning of baptism from Romans 5:12-6:14. If he approaches correct doctrine on the meaning of baptism, it raises serious questions about delaying baptism. Should we delay testifying our death to sin, our identity with Christ and His resurrection life, our future resurrection and the daily mortification of the flesh? Discussing Romans 6:8-10, Akin touches on the relationship of baptism and eternal security (a recent hot topic in the SBC). But he does not grapple with the implications of that relationship. David Allen follows with "Dipped for Dead", on the mode of baptism. About now some Baptist may say, "I've heard all this before." Hang on. This is important. In the dipper's denomination in America in the 21st century a number is clamoring for laxity on the mode, and many English Baptists have long since adopted open membership. No doubt Allen correctly states "(t)he time is ripe to revisit the theology of baptism." (p. 82) Allen examines linguistic, biblical, historical, archaeological, and theological evidence. The weight of his arguments should crush any hope of defending sprinkling or pouring as the mode of baptism. Thomas White follows by addressing 6 categories related to valid baptism -- subject, mode, meaning, place, administrator, and formula. The first three and last find general agreement among most Baptists, with the 4th and 5th often seen as connected to the Landmark controversy among Southern Baptists. 'Place' deals with baptism as a church ordinance. 'Administrator' inspects who, if anyone in particular, is authorized to perform baptism. While differing in theory with the Landmark view of church authority and administrator, White's explanations on pp. 117-118 make unlikely much variation in practice. His definition of the essentials of a church (being/esse) allows room for a pedobaptist body to be one. But his ideas on baptism make it unlikely that he could accept an immersion from a pedobaptist church. Jason Lee concludes the baptism section exploring baptism and covenant ecclesiology. He examines the historical practice of believers covenanting together to be a church body, and examines the relationship of baptism and the church covenant (as well as connecting covenant and regenerate church membership).

The next chapter is exactly what the title suggests, "A Baptist's Theology of the Lord's Supper." Thomas White does an excellent job of providing an overview of the Lord's Supper and encouraging its meaningful celebration. He addresses thanksgiving, remembrance, community, anticipation, elements, meaning, recipients, administrator, and frequency. With a few changes this chapter could make a good independent overview of the Lord's Supper. Curiously, White advises grape juice as the element because wine "has been the subject of strenuous debate and such debates need not occupy the mind during the celebration of the Supper (p. 143)" -- evidently never conceiving that grape juice is the other side of the debate and that it might also "occupy the mind during the celebration". Emir Caner deals mainly with the participants of communion, connecting it with church discipline (which prepares well for the following two chapters). Even though they don't carry the baggage of some other/older terms, I find it unfortunate that Caner prominently uses three uncommon expressions -- laissez-faire, cracked and locked -- to refer to certain views on the participants of communion. Perhaps these will catch on some day. But not today.

Greg Wills' "Southern Baptists and Church Discipline" reminds us the book is written by Southern Baptists, for Southern Baptists. Wills inspects the shift that made church discipline implausible for Southern Baptists -- they "...based church practices on their apparent effectiveness...redefined Baptist identity...and...modified the church's mission..." (p. 185). Wills believes that together these three changes undermined the effective practice of church discipline. This chapter serves as strong condemnation of the direction of many Southern Baptists. But let us who are not Southern Baptist not "pile-on". Let us rather reflect on how far we have also walked down this same path. It is not peculiarly a Southern Baptist problem. Stan Norman urges the reestablishment of proper church discipline. Both Wills and Norman cite the growth of individual autonomy as a foe of church discipline (which relates well to Chapter 11). Norman examines the biblical foundation of church discipline, church discipline in Baptist thought, the occasion, purpose, decline, relationship to covenant, and practical procedures. Considering the procedures, Norman inexplicably seems to change "tell it to the church" to "tell it to the leaders of the church." (p. 215) He notes well a problem most modern Baptists have seen far too often -- disciplinary action seldom recognized by sister churches. He also candidly addresses two pragmatic fears related to church discipline -- the loss of revenue and the fear of lawsuits.

Malcolm Yarnell calls on Baptists to reclaim of the biblical doctrine of the priesthood of the believers for local Baptist churches. An untutored look at the subjects might leave one wondering why Yarnell's subject is "out there" all alone -- that is, not interconnected with the other four subjects. But it truly is an integral part, which a reading of "Restoring Integrity" will make plain. Yarnell inspects the biblical witness and Christian history on the subject, and draws conclusions of what the theology of the royal priesthood does and does not mean. There is a key difference between "the priesthood of the believer" versus "the priesthood of believers". Two important facts from Yarnell's research are that Christ's priesthood is primary and unique, and that the royal priesthood is plural and thus communal or congregational in nature.

Jason Duesing wraps up with "Maintaining the Integrity of the Church for Future Churches." He believes indifference to ecclesiology and the doctrine of the believer's church is a major obstacle in the way of preserving biblical principles. He further confirms a restoration of the believer's church (including regenerate church membership, believer's baptism and church discipline) as a vehicle for preserving the essentials of the Christian faith.

Restoring Integrity in Baptist Churches is well-written, well-edited and well-published. The authors are well-versed in the Bible and church history. I was glad to see the wonderful return to footnotes (often endnotes are used in scholarly tomes). A complete index would be helpful and perhaps could be added to future printings. These are not just miscellaneous essays by random authors. Rather these are intertwined issues addressed by authors committed to restoring integrity in Baptist churches. The book addresses necessary elements of restoring integrity. This book is not an end, but a beginning. May it begin a dialogue between those who share the burden. The focus of this book is events, problems and solutions of the Southern Baptist Convention. But most Baptists (in America at least) are not far behind. A few are ahead. I believe this book will speak to you even if you are not affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.

Some of you may find Restoring Integrity too liberal. Some of you may find it too conservative. But find it! Buy it. Read it.

Related to Restoring Integrity

On a related note, the 2008 Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution on regenerate church membership, one of the subjects of "Restoring Integrity".

Review of Restoring Integrity in Baptist Churches: Introduction

This September will mark the 25th year of my sojourn as an ordained Baptist elder. The route has been sometimes pleasant, sometimes arduous, and quite circuitous (I am once again preaching at the church that called for my ordination 25 years ago). In 1986 I started what would be a 12-year project -- editing a periodical called The Baptist Waymark. "Waymark" comes from Jeremiah 31:21 "Set thee up waymarks." The goal of that still wet-behind-the-ears preacher was to "mark the way" -- the way of the old paths, the way our fathers trod. Early on, I became concerned about the very issues that 11 Southern Baptist scholars would address in Restoring Integrity in Baptist Churches -- regenerate church membership, baptism and the Lord's Supper (always issues of import for Landmarkers), church discipline, and the priesthood of believers. The latter I knew not how to approach as does Yarnell in Restoring Integrity. But it was obvious to me that historically Baptists had stood for free exercise of religion without giving license for church members to believe whatever they wanted. Research in Baptist church minutes made it apparent that church discipline had been jettisoned. The Baptist Waymark printed a series of L. S. Walker's church discipline. "Let the Redeemed say so" pressed the issue of returning to requiring a clear and credible profession of faith prior to baptism. And so on. These problems I endeavored to address to some extent in a small periodical that reached no more than 500 people (assuming they all read it). This year 11 men of influence produced a book that might potentially reach a hundred times that many people. May God bless it to be so.

As an introducation to my review of Restoring Integrity in Baptist Churches, I would like to introduce you to some of the thoughts of the writers. Michael Haykin called the book "a gold-mine of informed reflection." The quotes are placed in order and divided by the particular chapters in which they are found.

Regenerate church membership
"While Baptists have acknowledged that regeneration is an internal and invisible work, they have interpreted the Bible as assuming that regeneration will have visible results." -- John S. Hammett (p. 30) "If you love to read Wayne Grudem and John Piper but won't inconvenience yourself to go pick up an older person and give that person a ride to church, I don't know if you are a Christian." -- Mark Dever (p. 55)

Baptism
"That there might be an unbaptized believer in Jesus Christ would be an oxymoron to Paul." -- Daniel Akin (p. 70) "In fact, in ancient Greek, Septuagint Greek, and first-century A.D. Greek, the word [baptizo] consistently meant 'to dip, dunk, or immerse'. It is a simple linguistic fact that rantizo ('to sprinkle') and eccheo ('to pour') both occur in the New Testament but never in connection with baptism." -- David Allen (p. 92) "When presenting the gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch, Philip did so in such a way that the eunuch responded not with a prayer or by signing a card but by asking to be baptized." -- Thomas White (p. 111) "The local or visible church is a group that has covenanted with God and with each other." -- Jason Lee (p. 126)

The Lord's Supper
"The Baptist theologian must properly navigate this strait [transubstantiation, consubstantiation, Calvin's mystical view and the "mere symbol"] and present a view that results in a meaningful, symbolic celebration barren of needless mystical infusions." -- Thomas White (p. 161) "...many are guilty of espousing in the Lord's Supper the same faulty hermeneutic as those whom the ardently criticize regarding baptism." -- Emir Caner (p. 164)

Church discipline
"They [Baptists] believed that Christ commanded a specific church order and pledged to carry it out no matter how impractical or ineffective it appeared." -- Greg Wills (p. 181) "Contemporary Baptists seem instead to understand themselves as autonomous individuals casually associated together in loose-knit groupings called churches." -- Stan Norman (p. 199)

The royal priesthood
"The egalitarian nature of this communal concept [of the Christian royal priesthood] militates against the confinement of ecclesiastical authority to any single person or group of persons within the churches." -- Malcolm Yarnell (p. 239)

Conclusion
"...in Switzerland and South Germany in 1525 the distance between believer's baptism, the believer's church, the gospel, and death was short." -- Jason Duesing (p. 248)

I feel to draw the quotes out here rather than intersperse them into the review will break up better for a blog posting. Tomorrow (d.v.) I will post a review of the book quoted above. At least two online reviews have preceded mine: Restoring Integrity in Baptist Churches: a Book Review by Michael A. G. Haykin and the review at Baptist Theology.com by Richard D. Piles of Camden, AR. I hope you will take the time to read them.

Divine Division

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:4

The LORD has revealed HIMSELF as a great DIVIDER, first of all by making a difference (or division) between the light and the darkness.
HE divided the waters of the Red Sea. “He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as a heap.” (Psa 78:13; see Ex.14:21)
HE divided the promised land among the children of Israel . “And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.” (Num 26:52-53)
HE divided the five loaves and two fishes. (see Mark 6:41-44) “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:19)
HE came to cause division among men. “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division.” (Luke 12:51) CHRIST is a line of demarcation. “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4)
HE will divide the sheep from the goats. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Mat 25:31-34)

By Mike McInnis; excerpted from Grace Gazette Vol 6 Iss 11

Here I stand

The religious views of Martin Luther were condemned as heretical by Pope Leo X. Luther was summoned to renounce his views but would not, saying "Unless I am convinced by proofs from Scriptures or by plain and clear reasons and arguments, I can and will not retract..." In that context he said something like "Hier stehe ich, ich kann nicht anders" (Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise). Those words of Luther are well known in the western and Protestant world. I am not Lutheran, but respect Luther or any other person who will stand on his or her views until convinced otherwise by the proofs of Scripture.

Some weeks ago I started to write a post on an idea that derived from "Here I Stand". By now that I have gotten around to writing, I've forgotten just what that idea was (no elderly jokes, please). So, instead, a few sentences.

Here I stand. By the grace of God I am what I am.
Here I stand. By the grace of God I am who I am.
Here I stand. In one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.
Here I stand. With loins girded about truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.
Here I stand. In the liberty with which Christ made me free.
Here I stand. By faith.
Here I stand. By the grace of God I am what I am, and who I am.
Here I stand. Regardless of where I stand, God's counsel shall stand, and He will do all His pleasure.

Worthy of repeating

Last year, Donald E. Martin (elder) of Florida heard the following comment from another preacher and passed it on……

“The first Adam, loved his wife so much that he chose to die with her”.
“The last Adam, (Christ) loved his bride so much that he chose to DIE FOR HER”.

Oak Flat homecoming

The annual homecoming and singing for the Holleman Cemetery and Oak Flat Community will be held Sunday June 8, at the Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church (d.v.), FM 2496 between Laneville and Mt. Enterprise, TX. Starts 10:00 a.m.

Also there is a Sacred Harp singing at the City Hall building in Mandeville, LA, Saturday June 7.

Sacred Harp Concordance

The Sacred Harp Concordance by Chris Thorman is an index to every word and verse in 1991 Revision of The Sacred Harp (228 pages, 9" x 7", perfect binding). Available from Lulu in book form, or free PDF download.

Shelby County, Kentucky Woman Missing

"Maxine Ethington is 5'5", weighs 170 pounds and is believed to be wearing a pink or beige nightgown." Mrs. Ethington is probably driving a silver gray 2001 Buick Century with Kentucky plates 186-BLY (or may have an old plate with 495-JYT). Her niece writes that she "is 87 years old, limited ambulatory ability, suffers from Alzheimer's Disease and exhibits early signs of dementia." If you have seen her, please call Shelbyville Police at 502-633-2323 or Shelby County Dispatch at 502-633-2323.

Shelby County is located in north central Kentucky. But since she is in a vehicle she could be far from the area. Please be on the lookout for her. She has been missing since May 25th

Supplies in the wilderness

Supplies in the wilderness.

When Israel by divine command
The pathless desert trod;
They found, though 'twas a barren land,
A sure resource in God.

A cloudy pillar marked their road,
And screened them from the heat;
From the hard rocks their water flowed,
And Manna was their meat.

Like them we have a rest in view,
Secure from adverse pow'rs;
Like them we pass a desert too,
But Israel's God is ours.

Yes, in this barren wilderness
He is to us the same;
By his appointed means of grace,
As once he was to them.

His word a light before us spreads
By which our path we see;
His love a banner o'er our head,
From harm preserves us free.

Lord, 'tis enough; I ask no more,
These blessings are divine;
I envy not the worldling's store,
If CHRIST and heav'n are mine.

John Newton (1725-1807)
Olney Hymns, 1779.

A little is enough

John Brown (1722-1787), Scottish pastor and teacher, wrote in a letter to Alexander Waugh, one of his students:

"I know the vanity of your heart, and that you will feel mortified that your congregation is very small in comparison with those of your brethren around you; but assure yourself, on the word of an old man, that when you come to give an account of them to the Lord Christ, at His judgment-seat, you will think you have had enough."

-- From John Brown of Haddington, by Robert Mackenzie, BOT, 1964, p.150-151

Materials Toward a History of Feet Washing

The pre-publication offer for Materials Toward a History of Feet Washing among the Baptists has expired, but you will still be able to order the book.

I don’t expect this to be a best seller, so we’re somewhat basing the number of copies to print on our pre-publication orders and other expressed interest. If you’re waiting until the book is in print to buy it, we’d still be interested in hearing from you. If you think you will buy one later, you can register that interest by e-mailing Waymark Publications at baptist.waymark[at]gmail.com. Thanks.

CPS raid and the Texas Supreme Court

"The Texas Supreme Court has ruled the removal of 468 children from a polygamist sect on grounds they were at risk of abuse was unwarranted." -- Texas wrong to take fundamentalist Mormon sect kids

The Fundamentalist Mormons stand a religion before the law and Constitution the same as Baptists, Catholics, Methodists or any other group. If some or many of them have done wrong, let the law punish that wrong. But they should not be dealt with differently. They are not treated one way because they are a "cult" and others are "denominations". To classify all those families as one family because they hold the same faith and live on the same ranch was wrong.

While Texas was removing children from the Yearning for Zion ranch, the state attorney general's office was apparently putting the finishing touches on high school parenting classes. When it's the "normal" kids getting pregnant at 13, instead of removing them from their homes we provide them classes and day care.

Now that's a twist

When legislators undertake to create laws that favor certain groups, they don't always consider all the ramifications.

Enter the state of Maine's laws, Orono School District, a 10 year old with "gender identification issues," and Grandfather Paul Melanson.

Orono School District, apparently seeking to follow Maine's human rights laws and accommodate a 10 year old boy who has problems with knowing his sexual orientation, allowed the boy to use the girls' restroom. After Paul Melanson discovered what was happening, he told his grandson to follow the other boy into the girls' restroom whenever he went in. Melanson's grandson was warned by the school not to enter the girls' restroom (and Melanson was warned by police).

Melanson argues, based on Maine's laws governing sexual orientation, that his grandson is being deprived of a right granted to another boy, and that deprivation of rights is based on his grandson's sexual orientation -- heterosexuality.

And he does have a point!

You can read more about this and HERE, HERE, and HERE. I couldn't find an update on it.

[Note: though I think Paul Melanson makes a correct legal point, I nevertheless do not agree with his handling of the problem.]

Succession

"The word of God is the seed of the kingdom, and true succession is in the seed." -- Unknown

Sensus plenior

sensus plenior - Latin, "fuller sense". According to Wikipedia in Bible exegesis, "sensus plenior is used to describe the 'deeper meaning intended by God' but not intended by the human author."

"...Moo acknowledges Sensus Plenior has almost become short hand for an explanation of a text that cannot be explained (satisfactorily) by the grammatical-historical method." Darren Middleton, Divine Meaning or Authorial Intention: Sensus Plenior - a Blessing or Curse for Evangelical Hermeneutics, p. 5

"In my opinion sensus plenior, though attractive to many, will quickly turn into a curse -- a curse that evangelical hermeneutics could well do without." Darren Middleton, Divine Meaning or Authorial Intention, p. 10

Readers, what is your sense of this as a concept of Bible interpretation?

Rusk County Project Lifesaver

If you would like to donate to help Rusk County, Texas offset the purchase of Project Lifesaver bracelets, please send donations to:

Nancy Jackson
1612 Clearbrook
Henderson, TX 75652

Please make the donation to "Project Lifesaver Rusk County Scholarship Fund". Be sure it includes "Rusk County". If you would like, you may make the donation in honor of Shirley Hunt (or any other Alzheimer's patient or missing individual you know).

Project Lifesaver

Comfort For The Lord’s People

“Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem , and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned…” Isaiah 40:2

Christ has done all the fighting with Satan, sin and death, and, "we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us," "that her iniquity is pardoned." All Zion's iniquity in one lump was removed in one day when Jesus put it away by the sacrifice of Himself. How comfortable the privilege to say with the Psalmist, "Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and do not forget all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquities," (Ps. 103:2,3). How many? "All your iniquities." How clearly Paul states this in Col. 2:13: "having forgiven you all trespasses." Where are the sins of God's people? Hezekiah says, "You have cast all my sins behind Your back," (Isaiah 38:17). The soul says, "Sought for, they shall not be found," (Jer. 50:20). Micah says, "You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea," (Micah 7:19). Not in the shallows, but where they can never be seen or re-appear. The soul that once enjoys the comfort of that, is very uncomfortable without the enjoyment of it. And what a blessing to know that we are now receiving double favors, favors more abundant, in spite of all our sins.

By Thomas Bradbury, as posted on Shreveport Grace Church bulletin, Sat, 26 Apr 2008

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Memorial Day

History of Memorial Day, a United States day of remembrance of those who died in the nation's service.

The name of Jesus

"How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear" is and has been a popular hymn of John Newton -- at least in the circles I travel in. I wouldn't been surprised if it is second only to his more widely known "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound." We usually sing it with the tune "Ortonville" by Thomas Hastings.

Stephen Conte has been going through the Olney Hymn book of Newton and Cowper, posting the hymns on the pb-mb forum. It is good and interesting to put these in context of their original settings. Newton associated this hymn with Song of Solomon 1:3 -- Your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore virgins love you -- and titled it "The name of Jesus". [Olney Hymns, Book 1, No. 57, common meter]

A friend that sticketh closer than a brother

Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

1 One there is, above all others,
Well deserves the name of friend;
His is love beyond a brother's,
Costly, free, and knows no end:
They who once his kindness prove,
Find it everlasting love!

2 Which of all our friends to save us,
Could or would have shed their blood?
But our JESUS died to have us
Reconciled, in him to God:
This was boundless love indeed!
JESUS is a friend in need.

3 Men, when raised to lofty stations,
Often know their friends no more;
Slight and scorn their poor relations
Though they valued them before.
But our Savior always owns
Those whom he redeemed with groans.

4 When he lived on earth abased,
Friend of sinners was his name;
Now, above all glory raised,
He rejoices in the same:
Still he calls them brethren, friends,
And to all their wants attends.

5 Could we bear from one another,
What he daily bears from us?
Yet this glorious Friend and Brother,
Loves us though we treat him thus:
Though for good we render ill,
He accounts us brethren still.

6 O for grace our hearts to soften!
Teach us, Lord, at length to love;
We, alas! forget too often,
What a Friend we have above:
But when home our souls are brought,
We will love thee as we ought.

Olney Hymns, Book 1. Hymn 53
John Newton
Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7.

Some "ifs"

If we learn from our mistakes, most of us will never lack for educational material!

If you learn to laugh at yourself, you'll never lack for a source of entertainment!

If you get into deep water, keep your mouth shut.

If there is no wind, row. -- Latin Proverb

If your mind goes blank, don't forget to turn off the sound.

Baptist violence

Punch to face follows church's prayer meeting

CPS again

The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Austin said CPS had no right to seize over 400 Fundamentalist Mormon children in a raid on FLDS Yearning for Zion ranch. The appeals court ruling gives a lower-court judge 10 days to release the children. The state may appeal to the Texas Supreme Court.

Give to the Winds Thy Fears

1. Give to the winds thy fears,
Hope and be undismayed.
God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears,
God will lift up thy head.

2. Leave to His sovereign sway
To choose and to command;
Then shalt thou, wandering, own His way,
How wise, how strong His hand.

3. Far, far above thy thought,
His counsel shall appear;
When fully He the work hath wrought
That caused thy needless fear.

4. Through waves and clouds and storms,
He gently clears the way;
Wait thou His time; so shall this night
Soon end in joyous day.

Meter = S. M.
Words by Paul Gerhardt
Translated by John Wesley

We love thee, tolerance

...unless we have to tolerate the intolerant.

Yes, those on the left wing that seem to honor tolerance above all values just can't tolerate those they view as intolerant. According to STLToday.com, when Washington University announced it would award an honorary degree to Phyllis Schlafly (president and founder of Eagle Forum), several WU law professors called on the university to rescind that decision. In addition, some students publicized their intent to turn their backs to the stage when Schlafly is honored. For more read Schlafly controversy proves her continuing relevance. Despite the protest and some weasel words from WU, they evidently tolerated both Schafly and the protestors and did what they had decided to do.

Random thoughts on Esther

Esther 4:14 - And who knoweth, whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Esther is a short book of ten chapters, 167 verses and 5633 words.[i]  No Divine title is found in the book of Esther; the Medo-Persian king is mentioned 192 times. No Divine name is found in the book of Esther; the name “Ahasuerus” is given 29 times. Like the story of Joseph, the story of Esther involves a foreign monarch who seems to control the destiny of the Jews. Even though God is not mentioned by name or title, he is clearly at work!

The story of God’s people in the book of Esther makes me think of some lines of a James Russell Lowell poem:

“Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne, —Yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow, Keeping watch above his own.”[ii]

In a movie called “Proof of Life,” the character Alice Bowman says, “Things don’t happen for a reason; they just happen.” Yet in the book of Esther as we see the unfolding of events “just happening,” it becomes clear that they “just happen” for a reason. Men have many names for “God within the shadow” (or for denying that he is even there) – fate and fortune, accidents and coincidence, good luck and bad luck (or as we say around here, “It just so happened that...”). Yet even some of these terms admit some portion of the truth. Fate – beyond the control of man; accident – no man planned for it to happen that way; coincidence – events unusually and strikingly come together.

John Gill writes, “...the hand and providence of God is clearly seen – in raising Esther to such grandeur, and that for the deliverance of the people of the Jews, and in counter working and bringing to nought the plots of their enemies, and in saving them...”

When we don’t see God, He is there.

Though we don’t understand it, He is not far from every one of us.

Whether or not we believe it, God works all things after the counsel of his own will.

---

[i] Information on the words based on MS Word Count feature in Microsoft Word, plus possible human error.

[ii] From “The Present Crisis,” by James Russell Lowell, 1844

An Evening Hymn for a Little Family

Now condescend, Almighty King,
To bless this little throng;
And kindly listen while we sing
Our pleasant evening song.

We come to own the Power divine
That watches o'er our days:
For this our feeble voices join
In hymns of cheerful praise.

Jane Taylor (1783-1824)
Hymns for Infant Minds, 1832.
As posted on Song To The Lamb Thurs 8 May 2008

Dirty movies??

You probably know that movie theaters provide plenty of mental filth. What do you know about the physical filth? Read about it here.

Who said it?

"Few things in our culture are more spiritually numbing than the television. Even the so-called 'good' shows are by and large banal and low-minded and anything but cultivating of a rich, deep capacity to enjoy God. And when you add to that the barrage of suggestive advertisements that accompany virtually every program, I do not wonder why so many of our professing Christians are spiritually incapable of experiencing high thoughts and deep emotions."

Child "protective" services

"Don Duquette, [a University of Michigan] ...says the emergency removal powers of CPS, though "well-intentioned" are "out of control and partly responsible for the large numbers of kids in the foster care system."

Read more:
Hard lemonade, hard price

Speaking of talking

If your mind goes blank, don't forget to turn off the sound.

Many things are opened by mistake, but none so frequently as the mouth.

Two types of people who don't say much: (1) those who are quiet, and (2) those who talk a lot.

One way to save face -- keep the lower half of it shut.

If you get into deep water, keep your mouth shut.

The typical sermon is a swimming lesson on dry land! -- Frank Viola

Every church a seminary

"Every church was then a seminary, in which provision and preparation was made, not only for the continuation of Gospel preaching, but for the calling and gathering, and teaching of our churches." -- John Owen, Commentary on Hebrews, Vol. 3, p. 568. (p. 131 in the Crossway Edition edited by McGrath & Packer, 1998)

The local assembly of gathered believers is the primary and best educational institution for BELIEVERS in spiritual and religious matters.* The "church-based education" model derives from the New Testament, and is for all the people of the church. The seminarian model developed from the university's scholastic paradigm, and seems geared to train a "professionally qualified" minister. I have certain presuppositions that undergird and sustain what I am about to write. I will call attention to them, but not go into great detail. Many will agree with most of them, though not all. They are: (1). The Inspiration of Scripture -- all scripture is given by God and is therefore the place we find our instructions for education. (2). The command of Matthew 28:18-20 -- preach, baptize, teach -- is a command to be fulfilled by local assemblies of believers. (3). The local church is by nature and purpose a gathering of baptized saints committed to carrying out the work of Christ. (4). Consistent New Testament practices are authoritative, including that churches should be served by a plurality of elders. Jesus commanded the apostles to teach all things He had commanded them, and they taught the disciples in the churches to follow the commands and traditions they handed down.

Studying the scriptures exhibits nobility (Acts 17:11) and approves us unto God (II Tim. 2:15). This is not and should not be limited to one class of believers. The purpose of religious education is maturation of the saints that they might engage in ministry, be built up as a body with the goal of unity of the faith and knowledge of Christ (Eph. 4:7-16).

"Church-based education" utilizes the institution Jesus built and follows the example of the apostles. In New Testament times, elders received training in and by the local church, the apostles came to the local church, or they traveled with the apostles and assisted them (Acts 11:22-26; 13:1ff.; 14:21-23; 18:2,5,18; 19:8-10; II Tim 4:20; Heb. 6:1,2). All of these examples relate more to mentoring, apprenticeship, or on-the-job training models rather than a classroom model.

"Church-based education" recognizes the giftedness of ALL the body. Some models of education are designed with preachers (that is, ministers as professionals) in mind. Yet the New Testament teaches that all of the body should be trained and equipped for the ministry, and that all the body has gifts for ministry. Training for "the ministry" is not of greater importance than training for "ministry". A sincere effort to equip all the body begins and ends on the local church level.

"Church-based education" offers the best system of "integrated" education with the Lord's basic institution –- the home. In the church, discipleship, ministry experience, and scholarship are integrated -- not only with one another, but with marriage, home life, child rearing, and in a body that is vitally consumed (or at least should be) with the "whole man" minister.

"Church-based education" does not remove the gift of the "preacher-in-training" from benefiting his church, and it does not remove the church from blessing the "preacher-in-training". The young elder/novice remains involved with the congregation and families where God has placed him. Further, the plurality of elders assures he is not thrown into pastoring alone without the skills to do so, and he is not expected to be THE ONE MAN who knows all and does all.

"Church-based education" recognizes the New Testament assumption that churches are equipped to train their ministers. If they are not, they should be. If churches are not fully equipped to train their ministers, and if seminaries are sincere in their desire to best promote the work of God, let them work themselves out of a job by equipping churches to become able to educate their own people, rather than keeping churches dependent upon them.

In the local congregation of believers, we never finish our education and never receive a degree. In addition to theology, hermeneutics, or homiletics, we learn necessary lessons of interdependence, relations, service, self-denial, longsuffering, meekness, kindness, and love. Instead of pre-designed degrees from which to choose, each "course" can be specially adapted with the particular individual student in mind.

According to R. Paul Stevens (Liberating the Laity: Equipping All the Saints for Ministry, Regent College, 2002, p. 46), "The best structure for equipping every Christian is already in place. It predates the seminary and the weekend seminar and will outlast both. In the New Testament no other nurturing and equipping is offered than the local church. In the New Testament church, as in the ministry of Jesus, people learned in the furnace of life, in a relational, living, working and ministering context." I agree.

* The home is also a God-ordained primary educational institution. But it serves all persons in the home and is not restricted solely to believers or spiritual issues.