Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Reflection 13- Calvin's Institutes: Providence

Reading Calvin’s thoughts on God’s providence in Book I.16-18 is refreshing. In a day when man speaks futile words of being “fortunate” when good things happen and “unfortunate” of bad things it is refreshing to read one who speaks from the truth about God ruling over and governing all. He says, “What then? you will ask. Does anything happen by chance, nothing by contingency? I reply: Basil the Great has truly said that “fortune” and ‘chance” are pagan terms, with whose significance the minds of the godly ought not to be occupied. For if every success is God’s blessing, and calamity and adversity his curse, no place now remains in human affairs for fortune or chance.” In a culture where the activities, accomplishments and hopes for man rise so high and yet bring us so low when man inevitably disappoints and folds under the pressure of adversity a rethinking and retelling of God providentially ruling over all the affairs of his creatures in power, wisdom and goodness is the jab in the side that we need to wake us from the futile stupor.

Calvin explains how “Creation and providence are inseparable joined.” Today even the most “god fearing” man may imagine that God created the heavens and the earth and by this set in motion a force that preserves and governs its activity. Therefore, we must enjoin ourselves to this force and put away our full sized pick up trucks and drive scooters before we bring this spinning globe to a screeching halt. But the minds of the godly ought to rise higher or go deeper than this. As Calvin says, “faith ought to penetrate more deeply, namely, having found him Creator of all, forthwith to conclude he is also everlasting Governor and Preserver- not only in that he drives the celestial frame as well as its several parts by a universal motion, but also in that he sustains, nourishes, and cares for, everything he has made, even to the last sparrow (Mt.10:29).” We not only need to realize that we do not have to put away our pick up trucks for scooters but that this God who created and governs all his creation is a good in his governance.

We read of his goodness in the Scriptures, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth …In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us …He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. This God who created and sustains in power and wisdom is the same God who came down from his majesty in heaven to accomplish the redemption of his fallen creatures. We can find our happiness in him who created us, sustains us and saves us. But we will not find our happiness in him who we only think saves us and does not rule over and govern us. As Calvin says, “Therefore the Christian heart, since it has been thoroughly persuaded that all things happen by God’s plan, and that nothing takes place by chance, will ever look to him as the principal cause of all things, yet will give attention to secondary causes in their proper place. Then the heart will not doubt that God’s singular providence keeps watch to preserve it, and will not suffer anything to happen but what may turn out to its good and salvation.” God has a special fatherly care of his church who is the bride of the Son.
What a joy believers can have in God their exceeding joy when they know of his good, wise and powerful governing and preserving. As Calvin says, “When that light of divine providence has shone upon a godly man, he is then relieved and set free not only from the extreme anxiety and fear that were pressing him before, but from every care…His solace, I say, is to know that his Heavenly Father so holds all things in his power, so rules by his authority and will, so governs by his wisdom, that nothing can befall except he determine it. Moreover, it comforts him to know that he has been received into God’s safekeeping and entrusted to the care of his angels, and that neither water, nor fire, nor iron can harm him, except in so far as it pleases God as governor to give them occasion.” In our current Christian climate where the waters flowing from our souls run cold at the first sign of adversity we need not only believe that Jesus died on the cross for us, but that he created us and rules over us with his powerful word. Is this joyful trust of God in your hearts so that you can sing, “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.” and know that this Shepherd rules over all, even in the midst of adversity? I encourage you to study and meditate upon the providence of God.

You can get started by clicking here and taking your pick from these good readings or recordings that will lead you to a right understanding of the doctrine of God’s providence.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Reflection 12- Calvin's Institutes: Glory Days

The glory days are those we fondly remember as better than the present. But as with much of our maligned memories those days of glory rightly understood would only lead us to thoughts of better days to come. In reading Calvin’s theology on “Free Choice and Adam’s responsibility” I came upon an accurate statement of the glory days as he spoke of man in his original state. He says, “For, the individual parts of his soul were formed to uprightness, the soundness of mind stood firm, and his will was free to choose the good.” Those were the days! “Man was far different at the first creation from his whole posterity, who, deriving their origin from him in his corrupted state, have contracted from him a hereditary taint.” Taint may be a bit to calm of a word if you dip into my soul, sound out my mind and experience my choices down through the years. So what is one to do who sees these glory days in true color, reflects upon his own tainting and looks up at the billboards and cries against the airbrushed images, “Pass What On!”? Look to the glory of God shinning brightly in the face of Jesus Christ who has come to make all things new through his life, death, resurrection and ascension.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Reflection 11- Calvin's Institutes: Education

A closing thought from Calvin at the end of Chapter 14 leaves us sitting at our Creator’s feet being nurtured and learning from Him, and it leaves me with a thought on education.

“To conclude once for all, whenever we call God the Creator of heaven and earth, let us at the same time bear in mind that the dispensation of all those things which he has made is in his own hand and power and that we are indeed his children, whom he has received into his faithful protection to nourish and educate. We are therefore to await the fullness of all good things from him alone and to trust completely that he will never leave us destitute of what we need for salvation, and to hang our hopes on none but him! We are therefore, also, to petition him for whatever we desire; and we are to recognize as a blessing from him, and thankfully acknowledge, every benefit that falls to our share. So, invited by the great sweetness of his beneficence and goodness, let us study to love and serve him with all our heart.”

In a day where “education” is the answer to all our woes, and where the educators are continually changing the way to educate because “education” is not solving our woes, I would suggest all our educators read Calvin’s Institutes. It is here in this first book we find our woes because we have turned our children, parents and their educators away from the knowledge of the Creator in pursuit of false gods. We have stopped believing that we are children who are called to sit at our Creators feet where we can be nurtured, educated and supplied of all we need. We have believed that the false gods who call us to chase their elusive knowledge and presence down through experience and constant experimentation will never leave us destitute, while millions live destitute lives in the miserable wake of elusive “education”. We should be so invited to sit and learn by his sweetness exemplified in his benefits and goodness in the created order that we turn our backs on the gods who leave our lips pursed in sour and bitter tastes as they continually call us out to play.

When I call to my children in the morning to rise, For this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it, I call them to hang their hopes on him who rules the universe, who has made them, sustained them through the night, granted them new mercies, and who calls to them to come and learn from him for he is gentle and humble of heart. Educators take up Calvin and read and let him lead you and the Creators children to the only Creator and Savior.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Preparation for Communion

How should the body of Christ prepare herself to come to the sacrament of Communion? You may not even be thinking of preparation or maybe you do not consider it until during the service right before the taking of the elements. But this is an important matter to consider as the apostle Paul exhorts us, “Let each person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” How do you prepare to come to the Lord ’s Table.?

The sacrament of Communion is a place of recognition of sin and grace. The Scripture tells us we have sin and to deny it is to lie to ourselves and God. Yet, in the midst of this reality the Scripture promises us God will forgive us of sin we confess. The Father has given us his Word and Spirit to keep us from sin but if we do sin he has provided us with a righteous advocate, Jesus Christ. Therefore, self examination in the context of the grace of God in Jesus Christ is necessary as we come to Communion. Self examination is to take stock of one’s self in the light of God’s Word. The Psalmist prays in this way, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Self examination is taking stock of our hearts where sin can be revealed to us through a process of asking questions of one’s self. In asking these questions the Holy Spirit can reveal to us where we are in sin and lead us to repentance where God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us. And the assurance of his faithfulness is in the Word and the sights and smells and communion at the Table of the Lord. In preparation ask yourself, Am I aware of:

1. A heart of pride – an exalted sense of self due to success, a position, gifts, abilities, appearance or intellect; an independent and self important spirit.

2. A heart for glory – a desire to be noticed and approved by men; a desire for being exalted through conversation in the presence of others; a desire for being heard among people.

3. A heart of anger – impatience with people and their thoughts and opinions; touchy and reactionary around family; resentful of those who contradict or disapprove of you; a slanderous tongue justified by “holy indignation”; not overlooking an offense.

4. A heart of self will – being unteachable; being argumentative and sarcastic; unyielding and headstrong commanding of others; criticizing thoughts and words.

5. A heart of fear – shrinking back from responsibility and criticism; giving reasons why I should not bear my cross; not speaking the truth in love; showing favoritism; being compromising; fearing man rather than God.

6. A heart of deceitfulness – being dishonest with words, thoughts, and actions; covering the truth; leaving a better impression of myself than is true; exaggerating or stretching the truth for effect.

7. A heart of unbelief – being discouraged and depressed in times of pressure and opposition; not trusting God; anxiety, worry and complaining in God’s providence; turning to the world to satisfy and quiet my soul rather than God.

8. A heart for ease – living toward prosperity, peace and ease.
9. A heart of lukewarmness – lack of love toward God with my mind, soul and heart; dryness and indifference to the things of God; form of godliness but denying it’s power; lack of concern for the saints or the lost.

10. A heart of covetousness – a desire for those things that do not belong to you.

Through these questions we can ask God to examine our hearts so that we are able to confess known and hidden sins of the heart to him and find forgiveness by his grace. At the cross of Jesus Christ we humble ourselves washing our hands and our hearts being sorrowful for sin and finding grace to meet us in our well timed need of help. Prepare to participate in worship around God’s Word and Sacraments through self examination in the context of the grace of God in Jesus Christ and come with thanksgiving in your hearts.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Confessions of Weakness

Confessions of a Weak Pastor

We grow up dreaming of being strong so that we can do the great things of those who possess strength. I always dreamed of being bigger and stronger than I was. I spent several years of my life at fifty two pounds and it cost me a starting position on the tug-o-war team at Field Day. I spent all my high school years with the lowest weight on the football roster and all my time in vain trying to be, pound for pound, the strongest on the team.. I spent my first years of college in the weight room rather than the library seeking strength of muscle rather than knowledge. I have carried this desire for strength and glory into all my vocations and have found that I am not strong but weak. But my desire for strength to do the great things of those who are strong is a disillusioned pursuit, for it is the weak and frail who find strength.

While wrestling with my own weakness this morning and confessing my sorrow for this weakness to my wife I read the words of the Psalmist, “O Lord, make me no my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath.” It is good for me to find my weakness, frailty and fleeting life in the presence of the Almighty God. It is in weakness that I find the glory of his strength. It is in frailty that I find the glory of his majesty. It is in a fleeting life that I find the glory of his infinite and eternal nature. This is the mystery and glory of living in Christ. As the apostle Paul said to the Corinthian church as he struggled with strength and weakness, “But he [Christ] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses.” Therefore when I am brought into the presence of my glorious Lord by my weakness I can glory in his strength. I will rest content in his strength today while I am weak and hope that in the rest I find more contentment with weakness that I may see more of his glory and be used for his glory. As Wanda Goodall Dalke has said,

“I have no gift but weakness
To give to him today
No mighty deeds of valor,
No majestic words to say
But Lord, who uses weak things
To accomplish your great task,
Please use me to your glory,
That is all that I could ask.”

Fathers, Carry Your Crook

Fathers, Carry Your Crook

Sometimes I find it helpful to be reminded of what our callings are and how we should be carrying them out. Therefore I seek to discipline myself to read in the areas of my callings. For example I am reading at present The Expository Genius of John Calvin by Steven J. Lawson. It is a short read but a strong reminder to me of what is important as I carry out God’s calling as a preacher.

In my reading online today I came across an important read for fathers as the instructors of their children. This is an important calling that I have as a father of six, and a calling that all fathers must find themselves not to busy to fulfill. I encourage fathers (and mothers) to link to this article at the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood web site.

Stir up your thoughts toward the great privilege given you and your affections toward God who has given you this privilege so that you may by his grace carry out your responsibility to fulfill your calling as a father.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Reflection 10 - Calvin's Institutes, Angels 1.14.3-12

Reflection 10 - Calvin’s Institutes Angels 1.14.3-12

You have heard that the pointless studies of the scholastics of the middle ages focused on questions such as, “How many angels can sit or dance on the head of a pin?” Now as to whether this particular point was ever studied by Thomas Aquinas or Duns Scotus we do not have any record, though Aquinas does delve into angelology in his Suma Theologica. But I would argue that the philosophy and study of the scholastics was not pointless as it did aid in giving rise together with the studies of the Humanists, to Biblical theology and the reformation of the church in the 16th and 17th centuries. And while the medieval scholastics did speculate concerning the ranks of angels and their various functions, Calvin counters with ten pages in his Institutes devoted to understanding angels so that we may distinguish the true God from his works in creation and refute the many errors in the study of angels.

Calvin has been noted by B.B. Warfield as a chief plagiarist quoting the Bible more than 3,000 times in his Institutes. In these ten pages on the study of angels he cites 89 references to Scripture. This gives the reader an assurance that in the study of angels Calvin does not depend upon his own philosophical assumptions. Section 4 of chapter 14 begins with the heading, “Also we should not indulge in the speculations concerning the angels, but search out the witness of Scripture.” He leads the reader down the path with the God’s word lighting the way understanding that angels are the creative work of God for the service of the crown of his creation, his image bearers. He reminds us to beware of speculation when he says, “Not to take to long, let us remember here, as in all religious doctrine, that we ought to hold on to one rule of modesty and sobriety: not to speak or guess, or even to seek to know, concerning obscure matters anything except what has been imparted to us by God’s Word...And because the Lord willed to instruct us, not in fruitless questions, but in sound godliness, in the fear of his name, in true trust, and in the duties of holiness, let us be satisfied with this knowledge.” His thinking follows that of the apostle Paul who had been caught up to the third heavens yet did not find it lawful or beneficial to utter what he had beheld. Therefore for Calvin and ourselves the Scripture is sufficient to tell us what we need to know concerning angels as God’s servants to his creatures.

In section 5 through 9 he focuses on the particular qualities and identity of angels given us by Scripture. He talks of the many names in Scripture given to angels in section 5, the angels as protectors and helpers of believers in section 6, so called guardian angels in section 7, the hierarchy, number and form of angels in section 8, the angels as actual section 9. He encourages the believer with these words, “Thus to fulfill the task of protecting us the angels fight against the devil and all our enemies, and carry out God’s vengeance against those who harm us.” But what does Calvin do to our consciences when we delight to have cartoonish imaginations of our guardian angel? After defending his position from Scripture he says, “For if the fact that all the heavenly host are keeping watch for his safety will not satisfy a man, I do not see what benefit he could derive from knowing that one angel has been given to him as his especial guardian. Indeed those who confine to one angel the care that God takes of each one of us are doing a great injustice both to themselves and to all the members of the church; as if it were an idle promise that we should fight more valiantly with these hosts supporting and protecting us round about!”

In sections 10 - 12 on angels he leads the reader to the understanding that angels are servants of the glory of God in that they lead and serve God’s people to that knowledge and enjoyment. Calvin says in some of his closing words, “How preposterous, then, it is for us to be lead away from God by the angels, who have been established to testify that his help is all the closer to us! But they do lead us away unless they lead us by the hand straight to him, that we may look upon him, call upon him, and proclaim as our sole helper; unless we regard them as his hands that are moved to no work without his direction; unless they keep us in the one Mediator, Christ, that we may wholly depend upon him, lean upon him, be brought to him, and rest in him.” Let us with the apostle John not worship the angel who directs and serves us but worship the Lord the angel serves us toward.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Reflection 9 - Calvins Institutes

How can we know the One True God without knowing him in his essence as three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit? In the section (16-20) of chapter 13 Calvin writes concerning the distinction and unity of the three Persons who is one God. He begins by telling us that God is one though he is three persons. If we begin with God in Genesis 1 we find him as one yet already giving us a view of his threeness as he says in his creative words, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” When we come to Great Commission his triune nature is expressed clearly in the baptism formula, baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore his triune nature is expressed clearly. Paul tells us that there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” There is one God to illicit and beget one faith and one baptism to signify we belong to him alone. So as Calvin says, “For this means precisely to be baptized into the name of the one God who has shown himself with complete clarity in the Father, Son and Spirit. Hence it is quite clear that in God’s essence reside three persons in whom God is known.” We must then strive with all earnest thought and affection to know him in his essence in his three persons so that we may known him fully in his oneness.

The apostle Paul directs our thoughts and affections in Ephesians 1 when we see it is the Father who has blessed, chosen and adopted us as sons, the Son who has redeemed us, and the Spirit who has sealed us for a promised inheritance. But it is these distinctions of the persons of the Godhead that draw our thoughts and affections to his unity as the only God who has made us and who can save us. But when our minds and hearts are drawn along the lines of the unified distinction we must not let them wander into a supposed division. Calvin says, “Indeed the words “Father,” “Son,” and “Spirit”, may imply a real distinction- let no one think that these titles, whereby God is variously designated from his works, are empty- but a distinction, not a division.” So we ought to have great reverence as we see these truths about God exposed and delight ourselves in thoughts like the one from Gregory of Nazianzus that Calvin quotes: “I cannot think on the one without quickly being encircled by the splendor of the three; nor can I discern the three without being straightway carried back to the one.”

Calvin warns us against using human analogies to try to describe the distinction or differences that we see in the persons of the Godhead. However he is willing to draw some distinctions where he sees the Scripture leading the way. He says, “To the Father is attributed the beginning of activity, and the fountain and well spring of all things; to the Son, wisdom, counsel and the ordered disposition of all things; but to the Spirit is assigned the power and efficacy of that activity.” He draws these lines of difference as the Scripture tells us the Son came forth from the Father and the Spirit from the Father and the Son. We must let our minds and affections toward God continue to be directed toward him as he reveals himself in Scripture, and be warned of Trinitarian skylarking whereby we invent our own boxes to fit his differences in or fancies to let his distinctions flow through our imaginations.

Calvin rightly teaches a doctrine of the Trinity that unites the three distinct persons of God in one simple essence that leaves us with a sober faith contemplating a mystery revealed though dimly. The Scripture is clear in leading Calvin and ourselves to this knowledge, though our understanding and affections will continue to grow as we apply ourselves to the knowledge of the Holy.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Reflection 8 - Calvin's Institutes

Reflection 8 – Calvin’s Institutes Book I Chapter 13.7-13

In chapter 13 Calvin is arguing for the essence of God being infinite and the person of God being triune. And in sections 7 – 13 in this chapter he is discussing the “eternal deity of the Son”. John Calvin is interested in the reader being convinced of the eternal deity of the Son of God as he is revealed in the Word as the Word, and this eternal deity is confirmed not only by his own testimony in himself, his works and miracles, but by the testimonies of the prophets and apostles as the Word of God has been given us through them as instruments of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ is the Word of God who is the eternal God. “Unchangeable, the Word abides everlastingly one and the same with God, and is God himself.” Therefore all the world is made through and upheld by the Son of God, and he and the Father have been working from the beginning up until every moment that we measure by time going forward. The Father and the Son are God of different persons, but the same God in essence. Therefore to belittle Jesus Christ in our thoughts, prayers and words so that we feel comfortable with him is to make a God of our own image and liking. The Word of God shared with the Father an eternal glory before the foundations of the earth or ever before they said, “Let there be light”. Therefore there is no beginning of the Son, he is the eternal Word of God who is all glorious to be worshiped and adored in exaltation and praise.

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God whose deity shines forth in the prophets. John Calvin points us beyond the arguments of the Jews against the deity of Christ found in the prophets by opening up our eyes to see Jesus Christ revealed in Isaiah and Jeremiah. Of Isaiah 9:6 he says, “But to what purpose would so many titles be heaped up in this place to God the Father, since the intention of the prophet is to adorn Christ with clear marks to build up our faith in him?” He also argues from Jeremiah 23:5-6 that Jesus Christ, the branch of David, will be called Jehovah our Righteousness, and says, “we infer that the only Son is the eternal God who elsewhere declares that he will not give his glory to another [Isa.42:8].” The thousands of prophecies of the Christ in the Old Testament not only point the way of man’s salvation in the Son of God, but that the Son of God is truly God and is to be worshiped as God.

Therefore if you believe in God believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, for those who believe in him will have eternal life. The church must preach, teach, encourage, exhort from no other foundation but Christ. As Calvin says, “Who has dared talk of him as a mere creature, when the knowledge of him is our only reason for glorying?” The Son of God is the eternal God and to know and abide in him is to be “quickened, illumined, preserved, justified, and sanctified” in him. He is revealed in his Word from the beginning to the end and he is the Word from all eternity. Is he worshiped, praised, adored, thanked, trusted and obeyed in your life by faith as the eternal Son of God?