Dr. David Platt (Days 1 and 2)

Day 1:

The Presence of God... There is much to be sai don this topic but those that most profoundly struck me were these:

• The Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, our Great High Priest, Wonderful Counselor, Creator, Sustainer, the Suthor and Sustainer of Life... These are but a glimpse of Jesus Christ and we have reduced Him to a puny saviour who waits eagerly -- yea, even yearns for our acceptance? Jesus Christ does NOT need any of us!
• Everytime Moses would leave the camp and go to the tent of meeting all of the people would stand at the entrances of their tents and watch as he passed by. When he entered the tent and the cloud of smoke would descend upon the tent all the people would bow in worship. Today, we need no person to go for us and plead our case because Jesus has torn the curtain in two and now we are able to enter and meet with God ourselves.
• What struck me so severly was this: We are now the tent. The Holy Spirit of the Living God dwells in us! How amazing! How grieving...! How can we, who have the Spirit allow ourselves to ever willingly or knowingly engage in sin?! How can we so defile that dwelling place? While sin is inevitable in this life, it should so much more motivate us to flee from it at every turn...

Day 2:

The Power of God... most specifically in the church and individuals pertaining to the Discipleship and witness:

• He is worthy of our worship but not only this. He is worthy or THEIR worship! This should be the primary thrust of missions and outreach. The evangelical church is missing the mark. The point is NOT:

To rush the return of Christ (because He can only return when all the nations have been reached).

To make good citizens who live peacefully.

To meet the social needs of the world.

• THE REASON WE DO MISSIONS IS BECAUSE GOD IS WORTHY OF EVERY MAN'S WORSHIP!
• Are we teaching to create listeners or reproducers? (Are we being taught for our own gain of knowledge and wellbeing OR do we listen so that we can in turn teach what we have heard and learned to others so that they may do the same and so on?)
• The key to reaching the masses is NOT by reaching the masses but rather by investing in the few so that they too can invest in a few and so on. That is Christ's model and that is essentially discipleship.
• Are we discipling or DISINFECTING Christians?

• "Disinfecting isolates a Christian in a spiritual safety deposit box called the church building and teaches him or her to be good."
• "Discipling propels a Christina into the world to risk his or her life for the sake of others."
• "Compassion is not selective!" We don't only minister to Christians here or abroad. We minister where we are as effectively as we can for as long as we have. The question has nothing to do with be called to foreign missions.

Do You Love Me?

“Do you love me?”

This statement is one of the hardest statements to get past in Scripture. The implications for Peter, as well as for us, are many and they are hard.

The context is familiar to all of us. When Jesus was enduring trial and crucifixion, Peter was denying Him. Three times Peter denied Him. The text doesn’t say it but I’m sure Jesus heard all three. He knew Peter’s heart as well as his sin. When we arrive at this text in the book of John, Jesus has risen from the dead and is now sitting on the beach with some of the disciples. Among them is Peter. After they finished eating breakfast, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Peter’s response each time is “yes” with added emphasis on the last time.

Jesus knew Peter’s heart but He asked anyway. Some people have speculated that Jesus was asking the questions for Peter’s sake or that the questions were to reemphasize to Peter his own love for Christ. This could be true but I don’t think that’s the main point. When I read this text I wondered what the original language was. Did Jesus really ask the exact same question three times? According to the Greek text, the answer is no. The first two times Jesus essentially asks the same question. It was just worded differently. The third time however, Jesus changes the question. In the first two questions Jesus uses the word “agape.” This word means to love or cherish. But the last time Jesus uses the word “phileo.” This word still means to love or cherish but it is a more active word. When Jesus asks, “Do you love me” He also was implying “Peter, is your love for me active?”

This question was asked of Peter specifically but it is also the essence of our Christian faith. We don’t just believe in Him, we love Him. This is what sets us apart from the world. Most people in the world believe in Jesus but their love for Him, if it exists, is not active. They live their lives with little regard for Him and His commands.

The fact of the matter is, if we truly love Jesus we will be different. “How can we who have died to sin still live in it?” (Rom 6:2) Paul’s point is Jesus point. We have been changed. Sin cannot reign in our mortal bodies (Rom 6:12) for this reason we are commanded to flee from it. Jesus’ command to Peter was to care for His people and from this was built the Church of God. In our life however the active question of our love for Christ stands ever before us. Do we love Christ? If we do, our actions will mirror Christ’s and our lives will be a living witness to the truth of the gospel. Sin cannot reign in us because it does not reign in our God. A life of sin is no reflection of Him.

Do you love Christ? Then Prove it.

A New Rebuttal to an Old Issue

Riverbend Church is my mom's "home away from home" church. I have visited there several times and have a few friends there. I greatly respect the senior pastor, Dr. Hargrave.

My mom called today and pointed me in the direction of Riverbend's website because she found yesterday a delayed response to a sermon given in October of 2006 by Dr. Jerry Vine. Dr. Vine is a former President of the SBC and highly respected by many within the convention however he is not always agreed with. The sermon was delivered at his home church and was in regards to the dangers of Calvinism.

Dr. Hargrave considered responding shortly thereafter but decided against it on the grounds that the sermon was given only to Dr. Vine's local congregation. As of June 6, 2007, however, the Florida Baptist Convention (FBC) has printed the sermon and sent it out to all within the FBC.
For this reason Dr. Hargrave has reconsidered and decided to write an open letter in response to the sermon.

I myself have not yet in their entirety. They are a bit lengthy but a very interesting read to be sure. Check it out.

A Life of Modesty

I've decided to take an active stance on modesty. It's not like I was really immodest before but I want to be consciously modest. While this refers to dress in part it is not the entirety of what I am pursuing. I'm talking about modest attitudes, actions, life. I want to actively pursue a modest life.

I believe this coincides with what the Apostle Peter was getting at in 1 Peter 3 (v.1-6 but specifically v. 4). I think, a gentle and quiet spirit stems from a heart of modesty. I think this also helps to answer the question of what biblical womanhood looks like.

So, great. I want to live modestly. What does that mean? Well, I've thought about it and here's what I have come up with thus far:

-> I will dress in such away as to bring attention to the Creator NOT the creation (myself)
-> I will speak graciously and with out exageration and useless or strong words (this includes swearing and words that aren't considered swearing but used in their place)
-> I will live within my means ( not just within but also guarding against unnecessary accumalation)
-> I will be "slow to speak, quick to listen, and slow to anger"
-> I will be generous
-> I will be humble
-> I will avoid gluttony of any kind

I am quite sure there are more practical things that I should be pursuing but this is a start. If you think of other things let me know! I can NOT possibly do any of this on my own! This is going to be really hard and require tons of God's amazing grace and even the help of friends. If you see anything amis in me -- PLEASE point it out! Help me pursue modesty to it's fullest and so glorify my Maker and Bridegroom by becoming biblical woman.

Spurgeon

But, especially for Christ’s own sake, imitate his example.
Christian, lovest thou thy Saviour? Is his name precious to thee?
Is his cause dear to thee?
Wouldst thou see the kingdoms of the world become his?
Is it thy desire that he should be glorified?
Art thou longing that souls should be won to him?
If so, imitate Jesus; be an “epistle of Christ, known and read of all men.”

The Problem of Christianity vs. Science

Within the realms of science, they will tell you that there is no room for God. No, they won't necessarily call you stupid for believing there is a God but they will not allow you to play in their field if you bring Him with you.

What's wrong with this picture?

Why is it that in God's universe men have the audacity to tell Him, the Maker what they study and claim to understand, that He's not allowed within the realm of science? Am I the only one who sees how obsurd that is? Surely not.

I would like to suggest that it is the fault of the Christians just as much as it is the fault of the scientists. Though the scientists tell us that we can't study science because we drag God into it, Christians are too timid and passive to stand up for the Truth -- which by the way, does belong in all of the sciences.

Why are we so quiet? Are we afraid that they are right? Do we fear that we might possibly prove that God is a lie just like they say?
Have we no sense at all? We are better suited than anyone to explore God's universe and study it. We have our eyes opened to the truth of the Gospel. This allows us to see the world for what it is: God's. If we can see it in view of the Gospel we will see even more clearly that faith and reason aren't two seperate worlds. They belong together unified.

Craig said, "We treat them like their right!"
I agree with him. There is no place for timidity and passivity within the christian life. If we don't stand up for what is Truth, who will? The scientists? We have spent the last two hundred years "letting the scientists handle it" and we see how well they've upheld the Truth, don't we?

We have no right to be fearful.
Scripture commands us to fight the good fight.
That is applicable in all aspects of the christian life.
What are we waiting for?

A Few Thoughts on the Mosque Visit

Today we went to a mosque. We have been studying the rise of Islam for the past couple weeks in class but there's nothing like a little hands on experience, right? The goal of today was primarily to observe and thereby gain a better understanding of what Muslims believe.

We arrived in time for Friday prayers and the sermon. The sermon was really interesting. I had a little difficulty following the message but from what I can tell they do not really prepare beforehand. It appears that the aim of the message is to exhort the believers to good works and obedience to Allah by means of the Quran. They main emphasis today was that life is short and one shouldn't waste it with things like television while there are such devotions as prayer and discipleship that are far more profitable to spend time doing.

There are definately things about it that i agree with. James 4:14 tells us that life is just a vapor and as you read James it would seem that he is exhorting us to good works as well but there is a difference. James makes the distinction between believers and non believers in saying that knowledge of truth isn't enough to warrant salvation unless it bears fruit (ie. Good works). James explains that even the demons believe. What sets us apart from the demons is that we love God and out of that comes a desire to serve God and be obedient to His Word (bearing fruit).

Within the context of Islam, goodworks are a means of earning salvation. It would not be possible to live a life of sin apart from good works and still gain entrance into paradise. They do say that the primary requirement is belief in god but it is not enough to simply believe. One must earn entrance by fulfilling the five pillars to the best of their ability: prayers, alms giving, confession, fasting, and pilgrimage. And even in doing these things there is still no assurance. God does as he wills.

What I dislike the most about this god is that he seems fickle. I cannot understand how he can set forth rules and be holy and just as they say he is and yet still be able to make judgements completely apart from the decree he put forth. How can a man live a perfect life and commit one sin at the end of his life and still be cast in to hell while another man can live a terrible life and somehow he can be permitted to enter paradise because Allah wills. This god does not seem to set forth a standard and hold to it. He seems to change his mind and be blown by every little wind. For some reason my mind keeps falling back to the gods of greece...

where i'm standing...

In class today, we discussed the Anabaptists. At one point, Mike Rusten asked what denomination we think we would have been if we lived in the time of the Reformation. I quickly answered that I most likely would have been anabaptist but after thinking about it a minute longer, I changed my mind. I think I would have been Zwinglian. Stephen asked me about it saying that as we are baptist now it would be more sensible to say we'd be Waldensian because their beliefs were closest to our current beliefs. But I responded with a question: Are they really?

Do I really consider myself baptist? Sure, I was raised primarily in the Baptist church amd my parents are Baptist but I have had a lot of time lately to learn and grow and determine where i stand. I am no longer sure that I qualify to be considered baptist. The following are my reasons why:

1. Baptists are most commonly arminian. No, they are not all but when you use the term "baptist" in many circles people jump to arminian.
2. I don't agree with their stand on the gifts. Most baptists tend to be cessationist. That means that they believe the gifts were only for the New Testament time and that they died out a long time ago. We no longer have them today.
   
3. I don't agree with their interpretation of 1 Corinthians 11 -- specifically in regards to head coverings and submission
4. I'm not sure that I agree with their beliefs on infant baptism. Don't call me a heretic yet! I'm still studying it and I plan to formulate my own beliefs according to Scripture so I could go either way on it but I definately don't have the animosity toward paedo-baptists yet. I could go either way at this point.
5. Finally, I'm not sure what their view of the end times is but I hold an unusual view concerning the end times so I doubt it's baptist. i tend to hold the midtrib, amil position... i'm still learning about it but that's where i am right now.

So there you have it. why i'm probably not a baptist. I'm probably more of a non denominational leaning I think. I don't know. You be the judge.

Our god Is Too Small

Are you putting God in a box?

I am not a big fan of the phrase "put God in a box" but as it stands i'm at a loss for a better phrase to describe the situation. I'm tired of defining God. I'm tired of people who think they can define God.

I'm ready to stand with Albert Einstein on this one. He was once asked about church. He said that he couldn't stand the place because no one there knew a thing about God, yet they all thought they did. They drew these lines around where they thought he was but Eistein said that he saw God everyday in science and was conviced that they had no idea what they were talking about.

How often do preachers and teachers stand up before us and try to tell us that God is just so? But how do they know? I feel like the more I read Scripture the less I really know about God. I read His declaration of Himself, The Lord, The Lord, Gracious and Merciful, abounding in Steadfast Love and Faithfulness! and in the very next sentence He declares, Visting the iniquities of the parents on the third and fourth generations! What is that? How does that fit with His graciousness and mercy? He's just but He's merciful. He's love and yet wrathful. He's holy yet personable and desiring to have a personal relationship with us! How does it all work?

I am becoming more certain everyday that I know nothing about God. He's unfathomable and incromprehensible. I think that one of the biggest mistakes made by evangelicals today is to pick one attribute and hold to it. How much more are you missing if you only believe that God is love. That's like seeing a garden and only taking note of the lavender. You go from the garden completely missing the daisies and roses and blackeyed susans and violets and tulips and all the rest of the great things that are there!

Having such a closed minded view of God makes worship shallow. I makes God seem to be less awesome. Maybe this is why we don't tremble when we come before Him... Our god is too small. How can we tremble at someone who is as easily defined as a word in the dictionary? How can we fear the one who can destroy the body and cast it into hell if all we see is God is love? Where is our reverence? We have none and no hope of coming to that point unless our eyes are opened to His immeasurablity.

God, Let me not forget to tremble!

Justification Apart From Christ?

This is the first of two essays that I wrote for the last exam we had. I should say that I am by no means an expert on this! This is only fallible man trying to explain something that he knows very little about. Read on.

The question of whether or not it is possible for a man to be justified apart from knowledge of Christ is an old question. It has been debated and argued for centuries but even with all of the debates, the answer is unchanged. It is just simply not possible.

Some will point to the Scriptures, specifically the Old Testament, and ask how was it possible then for Abraham to be justified? Christ had not yet come. Could he have possibly known? But this really isn't the issue. Paul addresses this in Romans 4, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Abraham received the promise and had faith that God would do it. He looked forward to the fulfillment of the promise. Maybe he didn't fully understand it but He trusted God.

Today, no one can say that they have such an excuse as it might be argued that Abraham had. Christ has come. He accomplished the work His Father sent Him to do. Now, it is for us to spread the gospel in the name of Christ. Jesus Christ came and brought us redemption through His blood. We now trust in His righteousness for our justification because He took our transgressions upon Himself and was punished for them. While before, the Jews missed the mark by trusting in their good works for their righteousness before God, we now look back to Christ and are saved by faith in Him. Romans 10:4 says, “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness and everyone who believes.” The Law was put forth that we might know of our utter inability to keep it and turn to God for the help provided in Christ. This was a stumbling block to the Jews (Rom. 9:33), but for those who will turn to God, He promises salvation. This is seen in Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

But that does bring us back to condemnation apart from knowledge of Christ. What about the man on the Island? Has he no hope of salvation? Because everyone has the general revelation from God, they are without excuse. Paul explains this in Romans 1:19-20, “Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” This should make us realize the necessity for us to proclaim the gospel. We are called by Christ and scripture to proclaim the truth of Christ to nations. “How then will the call on Him in whom they have not believe? How will the believe in Him they have not hears? And how will they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)

Further, the scriptures say that faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of the Lord (Rom 10:17). This states a strong case for the inability of belief apart from preachment. That's not to say that a person can't pick up the Bible and hear the Word of the Lord through the reading of the scriptures. God works through His Word. But it does not help the man on the Island who doesn't have the Bible. He is still condemned because he cannot obtain the special revelation of God solely from what he sees.

This should spur us on in our zeal to proclaim the gospel of Christ to the nations. How will they hear if we do not go and tell them? It is our responsibility as followers of Christ to obey His command to us, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20a) In doing this, they may hear and turn to faith in Christ for their righteousness before God.