Theology on Thursday

Last month I bumped into an old buddy of mine, the Rev. Chris Marley.  Rev. Marley has served as the pastor of Miller Valley Baptist Church in Prescott, Arizona, since 2003.

When we were chatting, he asked if I worked with any study groups who would be interested in studying The Attributes of God, written by A. W. Pink.  I answered in the affirmative, and Pastor Marley and the congregation of Miller Valley were extremely gracious in sending 20 copies of the book to me for distribution to the Band of Brothers study group.  Our group just began meeting on a monthly basis.  Last week, during our initial monthly gathering, I distributed copies of Pink’s work and we agreed to read the first four chapters prior to our next meeting.

After reading the first four chapters over the weekend, I have yet to determine whether Pink’s style is more like a sledgehammer or a jackhammer.  Pink (1886-1952), who served as a pastor for congregations in Colorado, California, Kentucky, and South Carolina, seems to utilize each paragraph to pound away at theological conceptions with which he disagrees.  Much to his credit, he employs Scripture to uphold beautiful (and often difficult) doctrines related to the attributes of God.  Today’s edition of Theology on Thursday is an excerpt from the third chapter, “The Knowledge of God.”  While I do not agree with all Pink pens, his work contains a great deal of encouragement for the Christian which I appreciate deeply.  Pink writes:

God is omniscient.  He knows everything: everything possible, everything actual; all events and all creatures, of the past, the present, and the future. . . .  Nothing escapes his notice, nothing can be hidden from him, nothing is forgotten by him. . . .  The apprehension of his omniscience ought to bow us in adoration before him.  Yet how little do we meditate upon this Divine perfection!  Is it because the very thought of it fills us with uneasiness?  How solemn is this fact: nothing can be concealed from God!  “For I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them” (Ezek. 11:5). . . .

. . . To the believer, the fact of God’s omniscience is a truth fraught with much comfort.  In times of perplexity he says with Job, “But he knoweth the way that I take” (23:10). . . .  In times of weariness and weakness believers assure themselves, “He knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust” (Ps. 103:14).  In times of doubt and suspicion they appeal to this very attribute, saying, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24).  In time of sad failure, when our actions have belied our hearts, when our deeds have repudiated our devotion, and the searching question comes to us, “Lovest thou me?”, we say, as Peter did, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee” (John 21:17).

Here is the encouragement to prayer.  There is no cause for fearing that the petitions of the righteous will not be heard, or that their sighs and tears shall escape the notice of God, since he knows the thoughts and intents of the heart. . . .  an infinite Mind is as capable of paying the same attention to millions as if only one individual were seeking its attention.  So too the lack of appropriate language, the inability to give expression to the deepest longing of the soul, will not jeopardize our prayers, for “It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isa. 65:24).  “Great is our Lord, and of great power; his understanding is infinite” (Ps. 147:5). . . .

The perfect knowledge of God is exemplified and illustrated in every prophecy recorded in his Word.  In the Old Testament are to be found scores of predictions concerning the history of Israel, which were fulfilled to their minutest detail, centuries after they were made.  In them too are scores more foretelling the earthly career of Christ, and they too were accomplished literally and perfectly.  Such prophecies could only have been given by one who knew the end from the beginning, and whose knowledge rested upon the unconditional certainty of the accomplishment of everything foretold.  In like manner; both Old and New Testament contain many other announcements yet future, and they too “must be fulfilled” (Luke 22:44), must because foretold by him who decreed them. . . .

The infinite knowledge of God should fill us with amazement. . . .The infinite knowledge of God ought to fill us with holy awe.  Nothing we do, say, or even think, escapes the cognizance of him with whom we have to do: “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3). . . .  The apprehension of God’s infinite knowledge should fill the Christian with adoration.  The whole of my life stood open to his view from the beginning.  He foresaw my every fall, my every sin, my every backsliding; yet, nevertheless, fixed his heart upon me.  Oh, how the realization of this should bow me in wonder and worship before him!

RSS Attacks Christians

A radical Hindu group, Rashtriya Swayam Sevaks (RSS), stormed the home of Pastor Siluvai Kumar in Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh state on October 18.  A prayer meeting consisting of approximately 40 Christians was being held in the evening when the militants attacked.  Three pastors – Phillip Kumar, Timothy Kumar, and Siluvai Kumar – were injured badly.  Pastor Phillip’s pregnant wife, Kezia, and their 18-month-old daughter, were also beaten.  The militants destroyed Bibles and musical instruments and damaged windows and doors in the house.  They dragged Pastor Timothy to the police station and lodged false complaints against him for allegedly urinating on idols in a nearby temple.  Timothy was detained for a while by police, but later released.

Please pray not only for the recuperation of those injured, but also for those who carried out this cowardly and barbaric attack.

Happy Reformation Day

Wondering what to do in order to celebrate Reformation Day?  Why not polka?

If you don’t polka, The Old Lutheran suggests these ideas:

• Make a “Diet of Worms Cake” and bring it to your office or school
• Have a “Baptismal Apple Dunk”
• Run a “Law and Gospel Shuffle Relay”
• Create a “Fishers of Men” Fishing Pond
• Do a “Defeat the Devil Ball Toss”
• Play “Pin the 95 Theses on the Wittenberg Door”
• Run a “Throw Indulgences in the Trash” relay
• Find a storyteller to tell of the events of Luther’s life
• Have a costume party and have everyone dress up as their favorite Reformation personality
• Have a special showing of the movie “Luther” at church or in your home

I plan on watching Luther.

Theology on Thursday

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses on thecathedral door in Wittenberg.  While the Augustinian monk was intending only to stir academic debate, the Theses ignited a theological and political firestorm now known as the Protestant Reformation.  Luther, the son of a middle-class silver miner was born on November 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany.  He studied law prior to entering an Augustinian monastery. In September 1511, the vicar of the order, Johann von Staupitz, urged Luther to prepare himself for the profession of preaching and become a Doctor of Theology. Having already earned the three prerequisite degrees for the doctorate, Luther consented and received a doctorate in theology on October 18, 1512. That winter, the Rev. Dr. Luther started preparing lectures on the Psalms. The lectures from Psalms continued until 1515, when he began studying and teaching Romans (1515-1516), Galatians (1516-1517), Hebrews (1517) and then returned to Psalms (1518-1519). The Reformer quipped later, “In the course of this teaching, the papacy slipped away from me.”

Luther never intended to break away from the Roman Catholic Church or establish a new sect. He viewed himself as a faithful servant of the Church, feeling deep regret at the “cult of personality” when Protestants began to be called “Lutherans.” He declared emphatically in 1522:

“The first thing I ask is that all people should not make use of my name, and should not call themselves Lutherans but Christians. What is Luther? The teaching is not mine. Nor was I crucified for anyone. . . How did I, poor stinking bag of maggots that I am, come to the point where people call the children of Christ by my evil name?”

As Luther declared, “The teaching is not mine.” What brought about the Reformation and its effects? The German stated:

“I simply taught, preached, wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And then, while I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my Philip and my Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that never a prince or emperor did such damage to it. I did nothing. The Word did it all.”

At the heart of Luther’s theology is the conviction God has given Himself for us through Jesus Christ. Mere acknowledgement of God’s existence or mere belief in Christ’s death is not sufficient for salvation. A faith which is salvific comprehends Christ as given pro me and pro nobis. Luther put it this way:

“Read with great emphasis these words, ‘me,’ ‘for me,’ and accustom yourself to accept and to apply to yourself this ‘me’ with certain faith. The words OUR, US, FOR US, ought to be written in golden letters—the man who does not believe them is not a Christian.”

As Reformation Day (October 31) approaches, I encourage you to view this exemplary presentation by the late Dr. D. James Kennedy, “The Reformation: Then and Now”.

The Missing Element

Most modern American evangelical congregations substitute grape juice for wine during communion, a novel practice in the history of the Church.  This practice can be traced to the 19th century Temperance movement.  During the early part of that century the abuse of alcohol was widespread in the United States.  Methodists were the first to begin a notable protest against this abuse, and the protest gained momentum under the leadership of Charles G. Finney.  Whereas the Church has taught since its inception that drunkenness and alcohol abuse are sinful, those associated with the Temperance movement brought an innovation into the teaching of the Church – that alcohol itself is evil and, therefore, any use of it is sinful.

The Temperance movement met with great political success.  In 1826, the American Temperance Society was formed, consisting largely of clergy.  Thirteen states prohibited the sale of alcohol by the 1850s.  Following the War Between the States, the national Prohibition Party was formed in 1869 and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union was established in 1873.  The WCTU was known for singing tunes such as, “Lips that Touch Liquor Shall Never Touch Mine.”  They distributed pamphlets teaching that alcoholic beverages were spawned by satan himself.  Soon the National Anti-Saloon League was established, and by 1900 thirty states permitted local governments to determine whether or not the manufacturing and sale of alcohol was permissible within their respective jurisdictions.  By 1916, nineteen states prohibited the use of alcoholic beverages whatsoever.  Three years later, the 18th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, forbidding “the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors therein, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States.”  Liberals supported prohibition as an application of the social gospel while many conservatives viewed it as progress for in the fight against “sin.”

A great deal of conflict was created within local congregations during this period.  Congregations which used wine in communion were assaulted by those insisting such a practice was “unbiblical.”  A Methodist dentist, Thomas Welch, utilized Louis Pasteur’s pasteurization process to grape juice to prevent fermentation.  He began to serve juice in his home congregation where he served as a communion steward, although his efforts were not greatly appreciated there.  Welch’s son, Charles, marketed pasteurized grape juice to temperance-minded Christians as authentic New Testament “wine.”  In 1864, the General Conference of Methodists recommended “that in all cases the pure juice of the grape be used in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.”  Though Methodists recognized the “historic and ecumenical practice has been the use of wine,” they believed the use of unfermented grape juice supported “the church’s witness of abstinence.”

In 1925, many Southern Baptists apparently still used wine for communion.  The Baptist Faith & Message (1925) declared members of the church “by the use of bread and wine, commemorate the dying love of Christ.”  American culture, dominated by the Temperance movement, held sway in the early 1960s and so the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message was altered.  It stated members of the church “through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.”  Certainly nothing in Scripture (or scientific data) indicates the absence of alcohol in any form of wine.  Theologians, with the exception of prohibitionists, agree that wine, new wine, old wine, mixed wine, and the fruit of the vine all refer to fermented grape juice – wine.

One wonders how much individuals have been robbed of the fullness of worship by substituting wine with unfermented grape juice during communion.  When Passover was instituted by God, the contents of the meal were prescribed by the Lord Himself – bitter herbs, unleavened bread, lamb, and wine.  Each carried highly symbolic significance.  Continuity existed between the physical elements and the spiritual realities.  The Lord wanted the children of Israel to remember the bitterness of their bondage in Egypt and the sweetness of their redemption in the Exodus.  Wine was an element reminding them that their hearts should be glad (Psalm 104:15).  It was also utilized positively in many of the feasts and celebrations of Israel.  It was during the observance of the Passover meal that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted communion, employing unleavened bread and wine in particular.  Wine has a bittersweet taste and burns when ingested.  What an appropriate element to utilize in worship, communicating to our sense of taste the bitterness of our sin and the sweetness of redemption.  During the Lord’s Supper we remember the Lord’s death in a somber fashion, yet joyfully anticipate His return and the marriage supper which shall follow.  During that great feast, Christians from across the globe and from every age will experience incomparable joy.  Wine – real wine – reminds us of that glorious truth.

Theology on Thursday

For contemporary American evangelicals, Anglican liturgy often appears alien and counter-cultural at best and “Popish” at worst. The truth is, Anglican liturgy is counter-cultural to our individualistic society which focuses on “me-now.” Many attending worship services ask themselves, “What do I get out of this?” Anglican liturgy is about transformation. Individuals gather as a corporate body to be transformed, bread and wine are transformed into the presence of Christ Jesus, the world is transformed as God works through His people. Anglican liturgy can often feel like aerobic exercise to the people of God: Sit. Stand. Kneel. Bow. Turn. Cross. Walk. Smell. Taste. Touch.

The Rev. Eric D. Dudley explains The Nuts and Bolts of Anglican Liturgy from St. Peter’s Anglican Church on Vimeo.

HT: iMonk

Update: Maryam and Marzieh

An Iranian judge is dropping charges of anti-state activities against Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh, but is now going to charge them apostasy and propagation of the gospel.  If convicted, the pair could spend the rest of their lives in prison.  Both women are in poor physical health and in desperate need of medical attention.  They have been imprisoned at the notorious Evin prison since March 5.

HT: Voice of the Martyrs

Chinese Christians Beaten, Leaders Imprisoned

On Sunday, September 13, at 3:00 a.m., 400 individuals dressed in police uniforms with red armbands invaded the Good News Cloth Shoes Factory.  The factory is located on the land of the Fushan Church building in Linfin City, Shanxi Province, China.  Armed with bricks and other blunt instruments, the 400 beat Fushan church members who were sleeping at the site.  Meanwhile, two shovel loaders tore at the factory structure and the church building foundations and destroyed several buildings.  Church property was confiscated by military police, and the campus was closed to church members.  Many of the Christians were injured severely, but refused treatment at a local emergency room due to an order by anonymous authorities.  Nearly two weeks later, nine Fushan Church leaders were taken into custody by Shanxi Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers.  They were traveling to Beijing to petition the central government for justice regarding the raid on their property when they were apprehended without warrant.  Their whereabouts and condition is unknown at this time.  The remaining church leaders are currently under house arrest.

HT: China Aid / Voice of the Martyrs

Proof God Loves Us

It is interesting to note how perspectives can change over time.  Consider the often forgotten facts regarding beverage alcohol in American and Church history.  Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s founding fathers, supposedly quipped, “Beer is proof God loves us, and wants us to be happy.”  Franklin was a deist, but plenty of this nation’s other founding fathers (many of them devout Christians) seemed to agree.  Every individual who affixed his signature to the Declaration of Independence enjoyed beverage alcohol.  John Hancock, whose large signature is found upon that document, was a beverage alcohol salesman, and Patrick Henry was a bartender.  George Washington was a home brewer, and the Colonial Army supplied troops with daily rations of rum or whiskey.  The manufacturing of rum, in fact, was Colonial New England’s largest and most profitable industry.

Today it is known that on average, moderate drinkers live longer than teetotalers.  Apparently some Colonists were aware of this fact, since teetotalers were required to pay at least one company life insurance rates which were ten percent higher than that of drinkers.  Colonial church-goers were usually never far from the pub, since taverns were generally required to be located near church buildings or meeting houses.  Religious services were often held in the major taverns of Colonial towns.  The Rev. Valentine Wightman, the founding pastor of the First Baptist Church of New York, initially held services in the loft of Nicholas Eyres’ brewery in the early 1700s.  Later that century, Baptist minister Elijah Craig invented bourbon whiskey in Kentucky.  The connection between pubs and religious houses didn’t begin in America.  Bavarian monks were the first to brew lagers.  They were the ones who discovered the virtues of hops, which acted as both a preservative and flavor for beer.  Monasteries eventually opened pubs and promoted their beers to the public.

The tradition of enjoying alcoholic beverages in America began with the Puritans, who loaded more beer than potable water onto the Mayflower prior to sailing for the New World.  After they arrived and celebrated Thanksgiving, they had no cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie, but did have plenty of beer, brandy, gin, and wine for the festivities.  These early settlers included more than 100 graduates of Oxford and Cambridge.  Desiring to retain highly educated ministers, the Puritans established Harvard just a few years after their arrival.  One of the first construction projects on the new campus was a brewery.  They didn’t countenance drunkenness, however, which was forbidden and punished.

The Puritans view of alcoholic beverages was in line with that of the early Church, which declared alcohol as an inherently good gift of God to be used and enjoyed.  During the late second century, several heretical sects rejected the consumption of alcoholic beverages and called for total abstinence.  By the end of the late fourth and early fifth centuries, the Church stated that individuals might rightly choose to abstain from alcohol consumption, but advocated moderate consumption.  The excessive and abusive use of alcohol was continually rejected as sinful, but the despising of God’s gift was deemed heretical.  It certainly makes one ponder the words of the Apostle Paul, who declared that our hopes are to be set “on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”  (1 Timothy 6:17)

Bible Burning Baptists

I affirm without the hesitation the fundamentals of the Christian faith, but I detest fundamentalism.  The incongruously named Amazing Grace Baptist Church in Canton, North Carolina, will celebrate Halloween by burning Bibles which aren’t the King James Version.  Pastor Mark Grizzard noted, “We will  also be burning Satan’s popular books written by heretics like Billy Graham, Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, John MacArthur, James Dobson, Charles Swindoll, John Piper, Chuck Colson… Mark Driscoll, Franklin Graham…” and many others.  According to the congregation’s website, members will also torch “Satan’s music such as country, rap, rock, pop, heavy metal, western, soft and easy, southern gospel, contemporary Christian, jazz, soul (and) oldies.”  I don’t think they left out any forms of music, except for classical, but once they determine much of it was written by Germans who smoked and drank, I’m sure it will find its way to the heap as well.  During the, umm, celebration, fried chicken and “all the sides” will be served.