Of the work of a Pastor, Bishop, or Overseer

1. The work of a Pastor is to preach the Word of Christ, or to feed the Flock, and to administer all the Ordinances of the Gospel which belong to his Sacred Office, and to be faithful and laborious therein, studying to shew himself approved unto God, a Work-man that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. He is a Steward of the Mysteries of God, therefore ought to be a Man of good Understanding and Experience, being sound in the Faith, and one that is acquainted with the Mysteries of the Gospel: Because he is to feed the People with Knowledge and Understanding. He must be faithful and skillful to declare the Mind of God, and diligent therein, also to preach in season and out of season; God having committed unto him the Ministry of Reconciliation, a most choice and sacred Trust. What Interest hath God greater in the World which he hath committed unto Men than this? Moreover, he must make known the whole Counsel of God to the People.

2. A Pastor is to visit his Flock, to know their state, and to watch over them, to support the weak, and to strengthen the feeble-minded, and succour the tempted, and to reprove them that are unruly.

3. To pray for them at all times, and with them also when sent for, and desired, and as Opportunity serves; and to sympathize with them in every State and Condition, with all Love and Compassion.

4. And to shew them in all respects, as near as he can, a good Example in Conversation, Charity, Faith and Purity; that his Ministry may be the more acceptable to all, and the Name of God be glorified, and Religion delivered from Reproach.

5. He must see he carries it to all with all Impartiality, not preferring the Rich above the Poor, nor lord it over God’s Heritage, nor assume any greater Power than God hath given him; but to shew a humble and meek Spirit, nay to be clothed with Humility.

(Benjamin Keach, The Glory of a True Church)

Calvin’s Multi-Faceted Atonement - Derek Rishmawy

If there's one thing anybody knows about Calvin's doctrine of salvation it's that he taught the doctrine of double-predestination. If people venture beyond that, according to the popular picture of 20th-century theology, Calvin is basically the creative chap who invented penal substitutionary atonement as a variation on Anselm's theme, and most of his thought was concerned with Christ satisfying the wrath of God. End of story, right?

Contrary to this opinion, Calvin was not a one-trick pony when it came to the expansive work of Christ's cross. Robert Peterson wrote an excellent book on Calvin's Doctrine of the Atonement, attempting to exposit the great reformer's thought in order to display the multi-faceted, biblical character of theology of salvation. In three early chapters, Peterson establishes a foundation that Christ's work first of all rooted in the free love of God. He didn't need to be persuaded to care for us, but of his own initiative, God sent the Son to save us. What's more, it is a work grounded in a solidly soteriological and Chalcedonian doctrine of the incarnation of the Son; the Son became the Godman that he might save sinners. Then, he moves on to show the way that Christ's atonement accomplished this in his role as the mediator who redeems us in each of his offices of prophet, king, and priest.
Beyond that, Peterson highlights six key biblical themes Calvin used to explain Christ's work on the cross. While the six are clearly intertwined, nonetheless, they all do specific work in Calvin's thought. Following Peterson's framework, I'd like to introduce and highlight selected quotations from Calvin in order to show that he taught a densely woven tapestry bright with the many threads of our redemption.

1. Obedient Second Adam
Christ was the Obedient Second Adam, who undoes the destruction our forefather wrought on his race:

The second requirement of our reconciliation with God was this: that man, who by his disobedience had become lost, should by way of remedy counter it with obedience, satisfy God’s judgment, and pay the penalties for sin. Accordingly, our Lord came forth as true man and took the person and the name of Adam in order to take Adam’s place in obeying the Father, to present our flesh as the price of satisfaction to God’s righteous judgment, and, in the same flesh, to pay the penalty that we had deserved. (Institutes, II.xvi.3)

Calvin clearly sees Jesus as the answer to Adam's fall, in other passages making clear that he comes as the second root of humanity itself (Commentary on 1 Cor. 15:45). This is similar, yet distinct from Ireneaus's doctrine of recapitulation. 

2. Victor 
Unlike many who tend to downplay the element of Christ's triumph over the powers of sin, death, and the Devil in favor of penal categories, Calvin exults in Christ the victor who saves his people. His comment in the Institutes II.xvi.7 is one of many excellent examples:

Death held us captive under its yoke; Christ, in our stead, gave himself over to its power to deliver us from it. So the apostle understands it when he writes: “He tasted death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9). By dying, he ensured that we would not die . . . redeemed us to life by his own death. He differed from us, however, in this respect: he let himself be swallowed up by death, as it were, not to be engulfed in its abyss, but rather to engulf it [cf. 1 Peter 3:22, Vg.] that must soon have engulfed us; he let himself be subjected to it, not to be overwhelmed by its power, but rather to lay it low, when it was threatening us and exulting, over our fallen state. Finally, his purpose was “that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the Devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage” (Heb. 2:14-15).

 This is why Calvin can call the cross Christ's “triumphal chariot” (Inst. II.xvi.6), where he has vanquished the Devil by removing his power of accusation through his sin-bearing death (ibid. II.xvi.7; cf. Col. 2:14-15). And of course, Calvin makes sure to note how important the resurrection is for securing this victory over death and the powers (Inst. II.xvi.13, Commentary on Matthew 28:1). For Calvin, Christ's atonement results in Christ the victor.

3. Legal Substitute 
Of course, Calvin clearly taught a legal theme in Christ's work of atonement. In ourselves, we stand condemned before the bar of God's justice, under the curse, and liable to God's just wrath. Christ, though, obeyed and fulfilled the law, stood under no curse himself, but on our behalf suffered judgment that we might go free. Commenting on Romans 8:34 he writes:

As no one by accusing can prevail, when the judge absolves; so there remains no condemnation, when satisfaction is given to the laws, and the penalty is already paid. Now Christ is he, who, having once for all suffered the punishment due to us, thereby declared that he undertook our cause, in order to deliver us: he then who seeks hereafter to condemn us, must kill Christ himself again. But he has not only died, but also came forth, by a resurrection, as the conqueror of death and triumphed over all its power.

4. Sacrifice 
Calvin also taught that Christ's work on the cross was a fulfillment of the sacrificial system as a means of dealing with sin (Commentary on 1 Peter 1:19). Christ's sacrificial work has many dimensions effecting both a redemption from the bondage of guilt, the propitiation of God's wrath, the expiation of sin, and the reconciliation of happy relations between God and man:

But that these things may take root firmly and deeply in our hearts, let us keep sacrifice and cleansing constantly in mind. For we could not believe with assurance that Christ is our redemption, ransom, and propitiation unless he had been a sacrificial victim. Blood is accordingly mentioned wherever Scripture discusses the mode of redemption. Yet Christ’s shed blood served, not only as a satisfaction, but also as a laver [cf. Eph. 5:26; Titus 3:5; Rev. 1:5] to wash away our corruption. (Inst., II.xvi.6)

For Calvin this was not simply a theme to be taught and checked off a list, but one to meditate on so that we might be assured of God's grace, his good will, and his deep love for us. 

5. Merit
A less central theme, but one that figures nonetheless for Calvin was the idea of Christ as our merit, the one who, in a sense, earns our salvation for us in cross. Calvin dealt with this at length in the last chapter of book 2 of the Institutes, pointing out that the idea is eminently scriptural and there's nothing inherently contradictory about the idea:

By his obedience, however, Christ truly acquired and merited grace for us with his Father. Many passages of Scripture surely and firmly attest this. I take it to be a commonplace that if Christ made satisfaction for our sins, if he paid the penalty owed by us, if he appeased God by his obedience—in short, if as a righteous man he suffered for unrighteous men—then he acquired salvation for us by his righteousness, which is tantamount to deserving it. (Inst., II.xvi.3)

As Peterson points out, Christ as our merit is, in a way, the inverse of Christ our legal substitute. He not only takes away the negative condemnation standing against us, but he merits a positive grace and salvation, not for his own sake, but for ours. 

6. Example
Finally, while not strictly speaking an “atoning” dimension to Christ's work on the cross, following the New Testament, Calvin had a strong place for Christ setting an example for believers to follow. Indeed, one of Calvin's sections on the Christian life was titled “Bearing the Cross” (Inst. III.vii). Though carefully noting that Christ could not be imitated in every respect (Commentary on John 13:14), Calvin still forcefully argues that Christians should look to Christ's cross to learn our way in the world:

For the apostle here reminds all the godly in common as to what the condition of Christianity is, as though he had said, that we are called by the Lord for this end, patiently to bear wrongs; and as he says in another place that we are appointed to this. Lest, however, this should seem grievous to us, he consoles us with the example of Christ. Nothing seems more unworthy, and therefore less tolerable, than undeservedly to suffer; but when we turn our eyes to the Son of God, this bitterness is mitigated; for who would refuse to follow him going before us? (Commentary on 1 Peter 2:21)

Whatever his followers may have done with his work, no one can say that Calvin leaves us without an ethic of the cross. Christ's costly suffering does not exclude us from the cost of discipleship.
This is but a snapshot of Calvin's doctrine of the cross. May Calvin's thought instruct us today as we strive to preach and teach a more beautiful and complete doctrine of atonement.

Whither Reformed Baptist? # Two of Four

In the relatively short span of my lifetime the evangelical world has witnessed a resurgence of the doctrines of grace among Baptist in America and abroad. Among those who adhere to the five points of Calvinism has been a subset of churches who call themselves Particular Baptist, Confessional Baptists, or Reformed Baptist (I sometimes call them capital ‘R’ Reformed to showcase our confessionalism as opposed to “New Covenant Theology” Baptist who sometimes take the moniker reformed Baptist). When I speak of Reformed Baptist I am addressing those churches who hold in principal and in practice substantial agreement with the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. Over the past 25 years I’ve been pastoring, I have seen the Lord bless our little ‘tribe’. There was a time when I think I knew the name of every Reformed Baptist Church in the US and at least one of their pastors. There have been so many churches planted and so many churches embracing not just Calvinism, but Confessionalism that I can no longer keep up. With these blessings have also come some concerns. I have not only witnessed churches birthed, but churches die. I have seen prominent men fall from their positions of esteem through gross sin. I have seen pockets of division (which I will address in part four of this series) erect walls of suspicion among brethren who ought to walk together. I’ve also seen some questioning the doctrines and practices they once proclaimed with power.

In part one I discussed the issue of leadership and the need to see young men not only raised up with gifts and graces for gospel ministry but also men with the Confessional convictions which have marked Particular Baptists for centuries. In this blog I want to address the issue of second and third generation fatigue. I mean this both doctrinally and practically. Reformed Baptist Churches have not only been marked by doctrinal convictions, but they have been marked, by and large, with a serious practical commitment of churchmanship that was expressed in ways that are increasingly out of step with our contemporary evangelical and even Reformed setting.

This tendency to fatigue over doctrine and practice among a second or third generation is something addressed repeatedly in the scriptures. One generation fights ‘for the land’ and a second generation is raised in the land. The new generation doesn’t remember the war. They don’t bear the scars. They didn’t feel the cost of church planting or even moving so that you could be in a setting where you could worship according to your convictions–it’s all simply been given to them. I see second and third generation Reformed Baptist who have embraced Christ and have, thankfully, been desirous to stay within the ecclesiastical framework of their youth. They want not only to be disciples, but Reformed Baptist. I bless the Lord for this. I also desire to see the fervent conquering, giving, self denying spirit that marked the previous generation grip them as well. Though the foundations may have been laid and the walls built up by their parents and grandparents, there is still land to conquer, enemies to defeat, and advances to seek after. Though I realize that the commitment to all the stated meetings (on the Lord’s Day and gatherings for prayer) and to giving can devolve into legalism, I saw firsthand these commitments embraced with love, zeal, and passion. Will the rising generation embrace both the faith and practices that marked their parents? The zeal that planted churches? The zeal that meant folks turned down promotions for the sake of the church? The zeal that birthed family conferences and various associations of churches?

I close with this question to all who read these words: If everyone in your church had your level of commitment would your church thrive or fold? Or to put it another way, if my folks had my commitment, would this church ever be here in the first place?

Jim Savastio, Pastor

Reformed Baptist Church of Louisville

Everything I Know About Worship I Learned from a Whore

Everything I Know About Worship I Learned from a Whore

I’ve had a handful of rather unusual teachers in my life. A shrimp of a man who’d been excommunicated from the Amish community for owning a stereo—he taught me how to shingle a roof. A wheelchair-bound country music singer and songwriter who penned one of George Strait’s hits—he taught me the fine art of woodwork. An ex-con with a string of DWI’s—he taught me the ins and outs of the work I did in the oilfield. You never know at whose feet you might learn something. I certainly never dreamed that I’d learn all about what Christian worship is from a prostitute.

The Prostitute Who Crashed the Party
She must have snuck in the house of Simon since she obviously wouldn’t have been welcomed otherwise. I can’t imagine how shocked this respectable Pharisee must have been to see that that kind of woman had crashed his party.

It was bad enough that she was there, but, dear God, what she did was even worse. A banquet was going on for the religious bigwigs in town. Their special guest that day was a newcomer named Jesus who’d been making waves amongst the Jews by doing and saying some rather unkosher things. He couldn’t be ignored so it was best to have him over and feel him out, to see what kind of man he really was.



This woman, what does she do to Jesus? He’s reclining at table, as the Jews were wont to do at their banquets, lying on his side with his feet outstretched behind him. And this whore, she appears out of nowhere, and starts crying over the feet of Jesus, drenching them with her tears. But she doesn’t stop there. She uses her hair as a towel to wipe clean his dirty feet, kisses them, and tops it all off by pouring perfume over them.

Now think about this. Those eyes, which had viewed countless men naked in her bed, drip tears that wet the feet of the Son of God. That hair, which had been splayed behind her as she lay there offering her sexual services, wipes down the feet at which angels offer adoration. Those hands, which had undressed strangers, touched their privates, held a few coins in exchange for their orgasms, those unclean, immoral, shameful hands cradled the feet of the most holy Messiah. And those lips, which had…well, done what whores do with their mouths, those lips touched the skin of the pure and spotless Lord of heaven and earth. Scandalous is too mild a term for what went down here. This was an outrage.

And these scandalous, outrageous acts of a whore are a beautiful, sacred picture of what worship is. This woman is our rabbi. Christ reveals through her what kind of worship he desires.

The Highest Way of Worshiping Jesus is to Receive
She comes to Jesus with nothing he needs, but needing everything from him. If she brings anything, it is faith—faith which itself is a gift of God. She is defiled and unclean, with her heart’s closet full of skeletons, yet still she comes. She is a pariah in polite society, shunned by the religious do-gooders, yet still she comes. She has no good works to place upon the altar of God, yet still she comes. Nothing, she comes to him who is everything. And in so doing, this most unlikely teacher makes us her students. She who wept upon, dried, and anointed those feet of Jesus—at her feet we now sit to learn what true worship is.

Consider what Jesus says. When Simon the Pharisee got his holier-than-thou panties in a wad over what this woman was doing, Jesus insulted him by pointing out how much a better host this prostitute was than he was. He was a guest in this Pharisees’ home, yet Simon had not washed his feet, had not kissed him, had not anointed his head. Yet this woman did what she did. But the real question is why. Why did she do what she did? Because she believed that he forgave her; and because of that faith, she loved Jesus. “Her sins,” Jesus says, “which are many, have been forgiven, because she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Then to this prostitute, Jesus says, “Your sins have been forgiven…Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

The highest way of worshiping Jesus is to receive from him what this woman received: the forgiveness of sins. Of all the acts of worship in which she could engage, none was greater than coming to Jesus with faith, knowing and believing that he loved her, accepted her, forgave her, and sent her on her way in peace. Her weeping, drying, anointing—all of those were beautiful, meaningful acts of worship, but they were not the greatest. The highest act of worship is not even an act we do; it is a gift we receive.

The Prostitute in the Pew
Every Sunday, when I enter the Lord’s house, an unseen prostitute sits in the pew with me. She doesn’t say a word, but she teaches me throughout the service. No one sees her, but her every act is a lesson to me. I come to my Lord with a heart full of skeletons; I come to him as one shunned by many, especially the spiritual elite; I come to him with no righteousness of my own but gobs upon gobs of unrighteousness; I come to him with nothing, and he gives me everything. He weeps over me with tears of love and bathes away the dirt of my immorality. He wipes clean my feet, my hands, my face, my heart and soul. He anoints me with the oil of the Spirit. He bids me recline at his own table and dine on heaven’s food, drink to the dregs the bloody wine of the Father’s love. Oh, I respond. I pray, I sing, I praise, I confess. But my response, a loving and grateful response, is nothing compared to what Jesus does for me. He forgives. He gives. He floods me with gifts beyond telling, all of which flow from his cross and tomb, onto and into my open mouth, my outstretched hands, my thirsty soul.

The Daughter of God
I’ve had a handful of rather unusual teachers in my life. But none quite like her. None like the woman who taught me that the highest act of worship is not to serve God, but to be served by God; not to give to him but receive from him. Oh, how strange and wonderful our faith is, that everything I know about worship I learned from a prostitute who is the forgiven daughter of our Lord of love.

What we need in our fragmented world, full of hurting people, is the love of Jesus Christ, who welcomes home sinners with a grace that knows no bounds. My book Christ Alone: Meditations and Sermons, is packed with reflections that go that extra mile of grace. Again and again, they present the Christ who is crucified and risen for you. Please take a moment to check it out here. You may also be interested in my collections of hymns and poetry entitled, The Infant Priest, which you can purchase here. Both books are also available on Amazon, as is my booklet Why Lutherans Sing What They Sing (also on Kindle). Thank you for your prayers and support!

Chad Bird

Great news for Reformed Baptists !! My favorite bible is now "going steady" with my favorite confession

New Edition of Ligonier’s Reformation Study Bible to include the 1689 London Baptist Confession

If you signed up to get previews of the New Edition of Ligonier’s Reformation Study Bible then you may of noticed this page in the “Welcome Guide”:



Oh, did you notice that there in the lower right-hand corner? “1689 London Baptist Confession”. 

The next page of the preview reads:

For further reflection and study, the Reformation Study Bible includes many historical creeds and confessions that continue to summarize Christian truth. Subordinate to Scripture, these statements reflect unified positions the church has embraced and guarded for centuries as pastors and theologians have painstakingly labored to clearly communicate essential matters of doctrine and faith. Over time, these creeds and confessions have been affirmed, refined, and reaffirmed with biblical precision and purpose as a faithful testimony in order to continue equipping and encouraging Christians from one generation to the next.

Plus, on the contributors list you’ll find Roger Nicole (his work from previous editions of this study Bible.)

For those living in the continental US, free shipping is available for pre-orders received by February 18.

Jesus Called Them Commandments, Mr. Noble

Jesus Called Them Commandments, Mr. Noble

On Christmas Eve, not only did Perry Noble make the outrageously false claim that the Hebrew language has no word for command (see the graphic on this post to see the proof that this is not true), he claimed that God was the one who laid it on his heart to preach that.

To add insult to injury, this past Sunday Noble defended his false claim by saying, "I didn’t try to rescind the Ten Commandments. I simply declared that they are actually promises from God, because Ten Command…–that word command in Hebrew–it is not command, it is saying. I have resear… I have gone back and talked to people in Israel that confirm those things (Online Source)."

In other words, Perry Noble, rather than retract his false claims regarding the commandments has decided to dig in and double down. But, here's Noble's embarrassing problem, Jesus called them commandments, not promises.

A brief survey of the words of Jesus will suffice in proving this fact.

Quick note: the New Testament was written in Koine Greek, not Hebrew. The Greek word for commandment is entole, and it means:

ἐντολή, 

1. an order authorizing a specific action, writ, warrant,
2. a mandate or ordinance, command
a. of commands by pers. in high position
b. of commands given by divine authorities
α. of commandments of OT law.

Below, are examples of how Jesus referred to the Old Testament imperatives.

Matthew 5:18–19: “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 15:1–4: “Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’”

Matthew 22:35–40: “and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Mark 10:17–19: “And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.”

Notice that in Mark 10:17–19 Jesus quotes directly from the ten commandments, and Jesus does not call them promises, he calls them commandments.

Jesus speaks Hebrew. Jesus grew up in Israel, and Jesus is God in human flesh. In other words, Jesus is the very God who gave these commandments and Jesus knows full well what His intention was in giving them and Jesus calls them commandments of God and says they were commanded by God.

So, who are you going to believe? 

Are you going to believe Perry Noble who admits that he does not know Hebrew but claims that there is no word in Hebrew for command or are you going to believe Jesus who speaks Hebrew and is the God who gave the commandments and calls them commandments commanded by God?

As for me, I'm going to go with Jesus.

χάρις ἔλεος εἰρήνη σοι,

Chris Rosebrough

@PirateChristian

God Consults 4th Member of the Trinity

God Consults Gateway Church Pastor Robert Morris on Future of King’s University

January 4, 2015 by Warren Throckmorton 

 

I have heard many things from megac-hurch pastors that made me do a double-take. The subject of this post ranks up near the top of the list. According to Apostolic elder Jack Hayford, God asked Morris if it would be all right for The King’s University to move to Gateway Church.  At Gateway’s First Conference going on now, Hayford made this claim.

Watch: VIDEO LINK HERE

According to Hayford (who Morris had just compared to the Apostle Paul), Morris wanted Hayford to relate the story:

Three weeks ago I was with the Lord in my morning time with Him and He said ‘Robert, if Pastor Jack asks you to have Gateway be the host site for the King’s University, would that be all right with you? And Robert said to me, ‘And I said to the Lord, yes.’

Hayford then called attention to the incredible claim that God asked Morris if the move would be all right by saying God had never asked Hayford for permission. He then joked that Morris was the 4th person of the Trinity.

Do you suppose the Lord called Jack Hayford, Pastor Jack? I wonder if He had a back up plan in case Morris said no. Apparently, Gateway is such a big deal that even God addresses the Apostolic elders as “pastor” and asks permission.

*Finally* A Big Evangelical Leader Stood Up To Glenn Beck - Pen & Pulpit

A Big Evangelical Leader Stood Up To Glenn Beck

Audio File of Glenn HERE 

[Transcript provided below.]

On his December 9th Radio Show, Glenn Beck let loose a few interesting revelations- primarily that a big name in evangelical circles who was being lined up to appear on his show made his appearance conditional on the provision that he would be able to draw some clear lines in the sand separating and contrasting his beliefs [Christianity] with Beck’s beliefs [Not Christianity] . This drew the ire of Glenn who revealed that he almost hung up the phone at that point, sent some murderous thoughts towards his caller, and then went on a subsequent rant which demonstrated how right and true this “big evangelical” was to insist on being able to draw a clear delineation between a religion of works and one of grace. No doubt, part of the reason Beck was so upset is because he isn’t used to getting that sort of pushback. There’s a big laundry list of “evangelical leaders” who haven’t made those same distinctions with him (and likewise, must not love him much), and have gone along with him in partnership without making it an issue. From the audio, it seems like they could not come to a resolution, and so good on this man for standing firm and insisting on his prerogative. At a time when so many Christian leaders and pastors are caving to this theological phenomenon which attempts to muddy the theological waters for the sake of cohesion and cooperation on social issues, this man ought to be thanked, and appreciated, whoever he is.

“I had a conversation off-air with a big evangelical recently. And he said “you know, if I’m going to come on your show, it’s important for me to point out the differences between our religions. “ And quite honesty I almost hung up the phone. I was like…. but I didn’t. And the reason why I almost hung up the phone was because I thought “Are you really this small? Are you really this small? Do you see what’s happening to us right now?” Nobody cares what my religion is. Nobody really cares what your religion is. What they want are ‘are you putting your principles in action right now? What demonstrates me- don’t talk to me. Don’t preach to me, demonstrate to me. Who are you?  What do you believe?  What are you doing about it right now? Do you know why 20-something’s don’t go to church anymore? Because church doesn’t do anything. You gonna sit here and talk about it, are you gonna talk about the things that change lives, or you gonna do the things that changes lives. Don’t talk to me about theology. Talk to me about God in practice. How can I be a better man. How can I survive today?”

We see the problems here, obviously. Ours is not a religion of works. Beliefs do matter. Not everyone gets to heaven (another difference between our two religions) and the entrance is made by faith in a particular belief in a particular Person. And so, it’s not about what you do, but about what a God-Man once did.

But what’s truly amazing about this clip is the apparent rarity at which Beck – who often has evangelicals on his program to discuss religion – must hear any distinction between Christian monotheism and the most polytheistic religion on the planet, Mormonism. It also demonstrates, or so it would seem, that there hasn’t been an evangelical guest on Beck’s program who has cared to paint that distinction for Beck or loved him enough to evangelize him. Kirk Cameron? Ravi Zacharias? The Falwells? These guys haven’t been like, “Uh, Glenn…just so you know, you’re not a Christian”? Apparently not, at least if Beck’s testimony here is to make any sense.

[Contributed by Dustin Germain]

PS:   By the way, who was that guy? We’re taking no-money bets in the Pulpit Bunker and the best guess is Voddie Baucham, perhaps being invited to speak on The Blaze during his last media blitz to discuss Ferguson. Maybe? Maybe not? Who do you think this evangelical of integrity was? The list can’t be that long.

If All The Bible Translations Had A Dinner Party *humor*

If All The Bible Translations Had A Dinner Party

English Standard Version (ESV): Hey everybody, can I have your attention? Great, thanks. Look, I’m so glad that you’re all here for this reunion of sorts. It sure is great to have all of us translations together in one…

New International Version (NIV): Since when did you become the big cheese who gets to tell us what to do? Look, I know you’re the new kid on the block, and that a bunch of pastors are all like, “Rah, rah, ESV, our study Bible can beat up your study Bible.” But just because you’re new and polished doesn’t mean you’re better. Some of us have been around for a long time and have seen a lot of things.

King James Version (KJV): Hear, hear! Thou young Bibles have no sense of tradition or languages. Thou goest hither and yon, getting makeovers every three years.  NIV, in the last ten years thou hast gotten plastic surgery and thou hast begun dressing like a metrosexual. Thou hast lost thy manhood! I haven’t changed one jot or tittle in over 400 years! [Takes small sip of merlot from a goblet marked “Ebenezer”].

NIV: I am not dressing like a metrosexual! These are skinny jeans. They’re supposed to look…skinny. And in terms of my manhood, let me make something…

The Message (MSG): Dudes, why does Old Man James always talk like that? [Slurps on Redbull]. I mean, like, what’s the difference between “Thee” and “Thou”? And what are jots and tittles? Are they like “Mike & Ike’s”? Honestly, I feel like I’m talking to someone who speaks Mexican. Whatev’s. I totes don’t get it.

ESV: Okay, okay, listen. Yes, I have been getting a lot of attention lately, and I did have a snazzy marketing campaign, but that doesn’t mean I’m bet…

MSG: Dude, can you talk a little quieter. My son, The Message Remix, is competing in the X-Games, and I’m trying to watch on my phone. He’s totes shredding the half-pipe.

Amplified Bible (AMP) [nervously rubbing hands together, perspiration forming on mustache]: I just want to say that I’m really grateful, excited, thrilled, jazzed, stoked to be here. I talk a lot, say a lot of words, run my mouth when I get nervous, anxious, stressed, worried, so please ignore, deny, pay no attention to me. Did I say too much?

KJV [speaking very loudly]: Translations these days have no sense of history, no sense of tradition. I wast commissioned by King James himself. I am practically royalty. Back in my day, there was no New Living Message Voice Remix. There were no glow in the dark covers or Bible XTremes. There was only the king’s English, and we liked it that way. Message, who doth commissioned you? Was it a President or Prime Minister?

MSG: Uhh, a guy name Eugene. He’s from Montana, I think. Wears Birkenstocks. Totes awesome dude.

Scofield Reference Bible (SRB): Guys, I know that, technically, I’m not a translation, so I really appreciate you letting me be here. Gosh, it’s so exciting to be here with all of you. I don’t often get the chance to speak. I’ve prepared a detailed presentation I’d like to share with all of you.

ESV [muttering]: Oh boy. Here we go.

SRB: Anyway, I’ve got a lot of really neat charts and tables that I’d like to show you guys. I think that by the time this dinner is over, we can predict the return of Christ to within 24 hours.

NIV: Look, not to be a jerk, but I think all of us contain a verse in which Jesus says we can’t know the time or the hour.

ESV [snickering]: Are you sure you still have that verse?

NIV: Oh, is that how it’s going to be? Don’t even get me started. Old Man James over there has more errors than Derek Jeter, and The Message is practically having a rave. Then there’s Amp, who can’t stop talking, and Mr. Scofield who has managed to connect Israel, Michael Gorbachev, and Michael W. Smith. I’m the only sane one of the bunch!

AMP: I think you’re overreacting, being hyperbolic, exaggerating. Yes perhaps I do speak, pontificate, ramble on a bit, but it’s all for good. I think if you would just let me speak, talk, hold forth a bit more, you would see that I have wonderful, extravagant, delightful ideas.

NIV: And ESV, don’t get me started on your whole family. You’re brother, Study Bible, has a serious weight problem. I mean, he needs to go on Atkins or something. Your grandma, Mrs. Heirloom, likes to wrap herself in calfskin. Calfskin! Does she sleep on a bed of veal? And your little sister, Glo Bible, looks like she’s ready to hit the rave scene.

ESV [standing up]: You stay away from my family! We’re working on our problems. At least I didn’t have a vasectomy!

MSG: Woah…this just got intense. [cracks open another Red Bull]. What’s a vasectomy?

NIV: How dare you?!? Let’s make this clear. I was neutered. There is a big difference. It’s kind of like being a eunuch, but different.

[Awkward silence]

SRB: So like I was saying, I have these really neat color-coded charts that clearly show how the fall of the Berlin Wall was predicted in…

KJV: Oh just shut up, dear boy. Thou rants and rants when thou knowest nothing! I long for the good old days when a man protected his family with both the broadsword and the Bible.

SRB: Well then. I’ll be leaving.

Catholic Edition Revised Standard Version (CRSV): Guys, I know I haven’t said anything yet, but I really think I can solve this problem.

ESV: No, no. I know how you work. You think that because you have extra books, that somehow makes you special. Well it doesn’t!

MSG: Dudes! Dudes. It’s in these times that I like to quote that verse in Proverbs which says, “Can’t we all just get along?”

EXPOSITIONAL PREACHING: WHAT IS IT? RYAN BURTON KING ANSWERS

 

Pastor Ryan Burton King posted his three part series on Expositional Preaching that was printed in the worship bulletin of Grace Baptist Church (Wood Green):

Preaching is vital to the church’s life and care should be taken with reference to context, time allotted, and biblical exegesis as to what should be preached and how. In any case, an expositional sermon draws its substance from God’s word, deals with the matters raised in a particular Scriptural text, and should consistently point to the message of the Saviour that undergirds all Scriptural texts…

Expositional preaching reads, explains, and applies the Scriptures in a way that is unrivalled by other styles of preaching. It requires attention as the preacher prepares then delivers the message drawn from the text, and as the people listen. It commands devotion, as people are driven to search the Scriptures more deeply and, if the messages are working consecutively through a book, drawn to meet again so as not miss the next segment. It demands a response, challenging head-thoughts, heart-feelings, and life-styles with the call to lay other things aside and seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness in Christ. That is why we preach expositionally.

Whither Reformed Baptists? #1 of 4

It has often been stated that the Lord Jesus referenced only the church twice in His earthly ministry. The first time is in Matthew 16 wherein he stated that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church and the secondly in Matthew 18 wherein He envisions the necessity of church discipline against an impenitent member. In these two statements, it has been said, we have the church triumphant and the church militant (struggling). The history of the Church bears both these marks. There are glorious stories of triumph and grievous stories of shame, infidelity, and retreat.

For over thirty years I have been part of Reformed Baptist Churches. I have pastored one church for nearly 25 years and have sought to help other churches get planted. I have been involved in ministerial training in the US, Africa and the Far East. In recent months I have been thinking through the trajectory we, as churches, seem to be on. I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet. My plan, in these blogs, is to identify four areas of concern and articulate some course of action.

The first area of concern is that of future leadership. While there are numerous Calvinistic Baptist movements marked by vigorous and youthful leadership, our churches are not yet among their number. There are many of our churches where there are sole pastors and some of those churches are pastored by men of advancing years. Not only can they not find a fellow elder to bring about a biblical plurality, they do not know who will lead their flock in the decades to come. No pastor I know wants their churches to fade away when they are gone. They desire that God will replace them with robustly confessional men who love the Lord and His people and who will lead them to the green grass and cool waters of His Word for decades till they themselves are replaced.

What kind of men? We desire biblically qualified men who have a passion to selflessly shepherd Christ’s flock. We desire men of giftedness who will be able to feed the flock. We desire men of confessional conviction. That means, for us, men who embrace the truths of historic confessional Christianity with firmness, conviction, knowledge and joy. Men who embrace Baptist Covenant Theology. Men who love the Lord’s Day and are not ashamed of its place in the Moral Law. Men who believe in the centrality of the church and the commitment of members to it’s life together. If our churches are to remain committed not only to Orthodox and Reformed Christianity but to 1689 Confessionalism then we must do at least three things.

The first we must do is pray that the Lord of the Harvest will raise up laborers (Matt 9:38). As one has well said, only the God who made the world can make a gospel minister. Secondly we must invest in our youth. We must lay bare afresh what we believe and why we believe it and pray that the Lord will instill in them a passion for these truths they have grown up with in a way that does not lead to pride, judgmentalism towards brethren who differ, and isolation. We can and must be a people of narrow convictions and broad affections and associations. Thirdly we must act. Encourage young men to consider the ministry. Pastors need to look for men to mentor and invest time and resources in. Look to give younger men opportunities for ministry—prison ministries, nursing homes, homeless shelters, youth gatherings, Sunday School classes, and eventually morning or evening worship services. Lead the people of God in prayer for the rising generation with hope that God will own and bless His truth till His Son returns in glory.

Jim Savastio, Pastor

Reformed Baptist Church of Louisville

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If you love god (whomever you think that is) we're on the same team....right?

The Warren Trajectory

A lot of folks wonder what exactly we do with our time up here in the frozen wilderness whenever the temperatures drop below – well – liveable.  I don’t know about everybody else, but I’ve spent my winters building a time machine.  It’s been absolutely a blast traveling about, discovering church history in Mr. Peabody fashion.  Why, just last week I sat in on a few of John Calvin’s lectures at the Genevan Academy!

But as exciting as it can be to travel into the past, the real fun is in discovering the future.   Armchair theologians like to speculate about where various theologians church celebrities are going to wind up.  Well, speculate no longer, because I’m back from the future with a thumb-drive, and I’ve discovered some pretty interesting video evidence of the near future.

It appears that recently a lot of folks are up in arms over Rick Warren’s comments on Catholicism (LINK HERE).  What exactly is Rick thinking?  What’s next?  Is this guy even stable?  Who can predict what he’ll say tomorrow?

Well here’s what we found just five years into the future:

VIDEO LINK HERE!!

So, Rick Warren fans, that’s really too bad about the hair.  It’s sad what five years can do to follicles.  On the upside, it appears that Rick’s theological discernment will nevertheless remain intact!

Calvinistic Baptist authors of the seventeenth century # 3 - Thomas Wilcox

Meet Thomas Wilcox

I recently discovered an old article (LINK) from Dr. Michael Haykin on a very interesting early Reformed Baptist named Thomas Wilcox (1622-1687). Below are a number of historical gems from this article:



1.) The saying: “Praying will make thee leave sinning or sinning will make leave praying.” may have originated with Wilcox.

2.)His A Choice Drop of Honey from the Rock Christ gained him an uncommonly extensive readership for a Calvinistic Baptist. From the article:

Of the numerous Calvinistic Baptist authors of the seventeenth century, there were really only three who were being read extensively a century or two later. John Bunyan was, of course, one. Another was Benjamin Keach. And the third was Thomas Wilcox, about whom we really know very little.

3.) His Baptist convictions did not alienate Him from his other Reformed brethren:

Though a convinced Baptist, Wilcox was catholic enough in his sentiments to be invited frequently to preach among the Presbyterians and Congregationalists.

4.) His book A Choice Drop of Honey from the Rock Christ well captures the Christ-centred piety of the early Calvinistic Baptists. They were true heirs of the Puritans.
Be sure to read the linked article for more.

Of the work of a Pastor, Bishop, or Overseer - by big bad Ben-jamin' Keach

Of the work of a Pastor, Bishop, or Overseer

1. The work of a Pastor is to preach the Word of Christ, or to feed the Flock, and to administer all the Ordinances of the Gospel which belong to his Sacred Office, and to be faithful and laborious therein, studying to shew himself approved unto God, a Work-man that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. He is a Steward of the Mysteries of God, therefore ought to be a Man of good Understanding and Experience, being sound in the Faith, and one that is acquainted with the Mysteries of the Gospel: Because he is to feed the People with Knowledge and Understanding. He must be faithful and skillful to declare the Mind of God, and diligent therein, also to preach in season and out of season; God having committed unto him the Ministry of Reconciliation, a most choice and sacred Trust. What Interest hath God greater in the World which he hath committed unto Men than this? Moreover, he must make known the whole Counsel of God to the People.

2. A Pastor is to visit his Flock, to know their state, and to watch over them, to support the weak, and to strengthen the feeble-minded, and succour the tempted, and to reprove them that are unruly.

3. To pray for them at all times, and with them also when sent for, and desired, and as Opportunity serves; and to sympathize with them in every State and Condition, with all Love and Compassion.

4. And to shew them in all respects, as near as he can, a good Example in Conversation, Charity, Faith and Purity; that his Ministry may be the more acceptable to all, and the Name of God be glorified, and Religion delivered from Reproach.

5. He must see he carries it to all with all Impartiality, not preferring the Rich above the Poor, nor lord it over God’s Heritage, nor assume any greater Power than God hath given him; but to shew a humble and meek Spirit, nay to be clothed with Humility.
(Benjamin Keach, The Glory of a True Church)

a Hymn for my sermon - a Word from the Cross for penitent Sinners (Luke 23:43)

And Jesus said to the thief, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

a Hymn for my sermon - a Word from the Cross for penitent Sinners (Luke 23:43)

O Paradise, O Paradise Author: Frederick William Faber O paradise! O paradise! Who doth not crave for rest? Who would not seek the happy land where they that loved are blest. Refrain: Where loyal hearts and true stand ever in the light. all rapture through and through, in God's most holy sight? O paradise! O paradise! The world is growing old; who would not be at rest and free where love is never cold. Refrain O paradise! O paradise! I want to sin no more, I want to be as pure on earth as on thy spotless shore. Refrain O paradise! O paradise! 'Tis weary waiting here; I long to be where Jesus is, to feel, to see him near. Refrain O paradise! O paradise! I shall not wait for long; e'en now the loving ear may catch faint fragments of thy song. Refrain Lord Jesus, King of paradise, O keep me in thy love, and guide me to that happy land of perfect rest above. Refrain