Saturday, October 17, 2009

Soli Deo Gloria

The historic protestant reformation which began “officially” in the 1500’s was a Theo- centric reformation. The reformers through the reading and studying of the Scriptures were given a view to the glory of God that would cause them to cry with the Psalmist, “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,” (Ps.115:1). As God revealed himself in his triune nature to our protestant and reformed forefathers they became entranced with a God centered view of all things so that they could say with the apostle Paul, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Rom.11:36). This historic pillar of the protestant reformation is founded on the doctrine of God revealed in the Scriptures that he is absolutely sovereign in all of his attributes over all that he has made and sustains. God who is incomprehensible, self sufficient, holy, righteous, wise, powerful, and good as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is in the heavens doing everything that he pleases and there is no one and nothing that can thwart his purposes. (Ps.115:3).

We are not certain when this particular Latin phrase, Soli Deo Gloria, began to be used but it found it’s way into the writing, preaching and living of many in the church. It was found carved into Bach’s organ in the church at Leipzig and penned at the end of his compositions. It is found in the writing of the Shorter Catechism in the first question, “What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever”. And it is found in the life and death of many of those involved in the reformation. To this day we do not know where John Calvin was buried because he asked to be buried in a pine box in an unmarked grave in the ground so that none would be drawn to him but to the God of glory who was his life. And many who followed in the way of the reformation were put to death for God’s glory not taking any glory to themselves. Patrick Hamilton at the age of 24 returned to Scotland after his education in Germany and having been soundly converted through the work of reformation in the church. He began to preach in Scotland knowing for certain that preaching salvation in Christ alone through grace alone by faith alone from the foundation of the Scriptures would mean a certain death. Six weeks later he was arrested, tried and burned at the stake. The fires on that cold and wet February day burned for six hours before they finally consumed him and he cried out, “Lord Jesus receive my spirit.” It was not for the glory of Scotland or the reformation that he was consumed in the flames but for the glory of God revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ made known through the Scripture. Soli Deo Gloria was the cry of the reformation because it is was the will of God for all who were made and redeemed for his own glory, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1Cor.10:31).

Is this Theocentric reformation what the church needs today? There are some in the protestant church today who would say that we need to be more anthropocentric than Theocentric. This claim is based upon the idea that the gospel of Jesus Christ is man-centered and not God-centered. Some even say that God limits his sovereignty in order that man may by his own will may chose or reject the gospel. The late Robert Schuller believed the Reformation had “erred because it was God-centered rather than man-centered.” It is believed by many evangelicals today that this Theocentric view does not esteem and value man therefore there is no interest in a God who has such a dim view of his own creatures. The evangelical church of today is intoxicated with man, the church of the 16th century was intoxicated with the majesty of God. And remarkably this view of the majesty of God is what brought about a glorious view of man as the imago dei, freeing him to live for God’s glory in all of life through salvation in Christ. The evangelical movement of our day is saturated with a anthropocentric view of God and man and it is seen in our ambitions and practices. Dr. Michael Horton helps us evaluate our time by asking these questions, “Is our happiness and joy found in God or in someone or something else? Is our worship entertainment or worship? Is God's glory or our self-fulfillment the goal of our lives? Do we see God's grace as the only basis for our salvation, or are we still seeking some of the credit for ourselves? These questions reveal a glaring human-centeredness in the evangelical churches and the general witness of our day.”

When man is the measure of all things, the primary concern, the central focus, then we have reached the ultimate form of idolatry. The incomprehensible, self sufficient and holy God of the Scriptures does everything for his own glory. And the church must adjust her gaze to his majesty and glory that she may in her weakness find her greatest joy in the condescension of his grace and mercy and in doing all that she does for the glory of God alone.

Friday, October 2, 2009

7 Reasons to Study 3 Books on Spiritual Warfare

If I asked the question, “Have you ever heard of spiritual warfare and if so, what do you think about it?” I have the potential of hearing all kinds of responses from evangelicals. As David Powlison says, “A great deal of fiction, superstition, fantasy, nonsense, nuttiness and downright heresy flourishes in the church under the guise of ‘spiritual warfare’ in our time.” It is because of these responses that I write with a sense of urgency on this topic. Therefore, I want to give you seven reasons from David Powlison’s book, Power Encounters; Reclaiming Spiritual Warfare, for the urgent need to study this important topic. I also want to suggest three books to assist you in your study.

1. “We live in a society where the modern agenda has largely failed.” The modern agenda, which grew out of the Enlightment teachings of the 18th and 19th centuries, sought to elevate man and create a better world through reason, science, technology and man’s own moral goodness. In this vision God is replaced by man and a spiritual reality is replaced by a reasonable natural universe. The modern vision sought to create through the enlightened man the true, good and beautiful. But it has produced a postmodern vision that believes in nothing, and where goodness and beauty are relative. In this age the church must reassert a proper worldview which began in the garden where spiritual warfare entered and was promised to continue until that garden is remade into a garden – city where all warfare will cease.
2. “We live in a society that has become increasingly pagan.” The average person in the modern world today would consider themselves “spiritual”. Science and her god, man, did not solve all problems. Therefore all kinds of spiritual ideology and lifestyles have arisen from the depths of the earth. These ideologies affect all realms of peoples lives from their work to their relationships. The practices of these ideologies are often corrupt and of the occult as is seen in their products in the culture. To God these are detestable beliefs and practices. Therefore spiritual warfare must be understood and lived.
3. “Missions, anthropology, and modern communications make us increasingly aware of the practices and beliefs of animistic cultures.” Multiculturalism and the global village are veins through which the world’s religions and occult may flow. The church must know how to minister the Scriptures into such a world and this is better done where spiritual warfare is understood and lived.
4. “We live in a society of high-profile bondage to “addictions”, such as alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, immoral sex, violence, food, work, television, exercise, money, pleasure, sports and so on.” Man living to the bondage of his flesh can walk into an immensity of options through technology, instant gratification and shallow relationships and find a downward spiral into a destructive life. At the bottom of this pit there are no answers to lead them out of the mire and they will continue either in the glitz and glitter or the muck and filth of their slavery. Reclamation of biblical spiritual warfare allows people to see that slavery and slave masters are a reality.
5. “Bizarre or troubled behavior, often related to experiences of extreme abuse, seems to be appearing more frequently.” People are living in extreme distress, confusion, self deception, chaos, disparity, fear and anxiety. What are the components that factor into this devastation of life? Spiritual warfare properly understood will assist us in these times of seemingly hopeless situations.
6. “Many people have sometimes experienced an uncanny, heightened sense of the presence of evil.” Often you may hear people explain a certain place, a work of art or a personal experience with someone as being “dark”. How are we to understand these dark places, people, things we see at work in the culture? In this darkness there may be destruction or chaos, deception or violent manipulation of the truth, or coldness and deadness in things living. Reclaiming spiritual warfare will allow the church to better understand and act.
7. “A growing number of Christians teach and practice “deliverance” ministry in the quest to cast our inhabiting demons.” You may find yourself in a prayer gathering where someone “binding” or “loosing” demons or certain powers. There are churches that will host prayer walks to do warfare against “territorial spirits” around a certain neighborhood or church property. There are those who teach that a Christian can be possessed by a demon. Or you may hear people calling certain demons the cause of certain sins. We need to reclaim a proper biblical view of spiritual warfare in the church.

These seven reasons presented by David Powlison should give the church an urgency concerning reclaiming a biblical view of spiritual warfare so that we may live as the church in the knowledge and enjoyment of God and to our neighbors for the same. It is with this urgency in mind that I would suggest the following books for study.

Power Encounters, Reclaiming Spiritual Warfare. David Powlison. The aim of this book is to assist the Christian church in exploring what the Scriptures say about spiritual warfare to correct her imbalance and error and lead her down a path of truth that will prove helpful to her maturity. It neither minimizes the Enemy nor elevates the demonic spiritual realm to a fantasy plot of good versus evil. It is sound Biblical teaching on this important subject.

The Christian in Complete Armour. William Gurnall. John Newton said, “If I might read only one book beside the Bible, I would choose The Christian in Complete Armour.” This book written by the 17th century English Puritan is available in a shortened modern English version, the original is 1200 pages, through Banner of Truth Trust. This work is a call to the Christian to live a life of warfare in his union with Christ.

Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices. Thomas Brooks. This English Puritan who lived in the 17th century penned this work to strengthen the church in her spiritual warfare. He says, “We are not ignorant of Satan's devices, or plots, or machinations, or stratagems. He is but a Christian in title only, who has not personal experience of Satan's stratagems, his set and composed machinations, his artificially molded methods, his plots, darts, depths, whereby he outwitted our first parents.” To Brooks it is not enough to understand spiritual warfare but he must engage himself in it for his own life and the life of his neighbor. This work is available free online as a pdf file.