Imperishable Inheritance

"It is a marvel how personally the Bible applies. The words pointedly address the concerns of..."

Thu, 16 May 2019 10:58:41 -0400

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It is a marvel how personally the Bible applies. The words pointedly address the concerns of long-ago people in far away places, facing problems that no longer exist. They had no difficulty seeing the application. What they read was personal application. But nothing in the Bible is written directly to you or about what you face. We are reading someone else’s mail. Yet the Bible repeatedly affirms that these words are also written for us: “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction” (Rom 15:4). Application experiences how the Spirit reapplies Scripture in a timely way now.

Furthermore, the Bible is about God, not you. The essential subject matter is the Triune Redeemer LORD, culminating in Jesus Christ. When Jesus “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Lk 24:45), he showed how everything written – creation, promises, commands, history, sacrificial system, psalms, proverbs – reveals him. We are reading someone else’s biography. Yet that very story demonstrates how he includes us within his story. Jesus is the Word of God applied, all-wisdom embodied. As his disciples, we learn to similarly apply the Bible, growing up into his image. Application experiences how the Spirit rescripts our lives by teaching us who God is and what he is doing.

“Personal application” proves wise when you reckon with these marvels. The Bible was written to others – but speaks to you. The Bible is about God – but draws you in. Your challenge is always to reapply Scripture afresh, because God’s purpose is always to rescript your life.

”

- David Powlsion

The Challenge of Going Off Psychiatric Drugs

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 09:15:26 -0400

The Challenge of Going Off Psychiatric Drugs:

This is a long but wonderful article. I’m becoming more convinced by my own experience and those of others that these drugs do far more harm than good.

Are You Open to Spiritual Gifts? Exposing the Least Biblical Position

Fri, 18 Jan 2019 13:19:22 -0500

Are You Open to Spiritual Gifts? Exposing the Least Biblical Position:

This article ends with poor application, but it starts off with a very lucid point: most Continuationists today are very inconsistent. If you believe the gifts are still around and uphold the very obvious NT imperatives around them then they should be pursued more.

"In the midst of an impenetrable depression, one is often unable to sense the presence of God at all...."

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 08:23:25 -0500

“In the midst of an impenetrable depression, one is often unable to sense the presence of God at all. Sometimes all one can feel is the complete absence of God, one’s utter abandonment by God, the ridiculousness of the very notion of a loving and merciful God. This cuts to the heart of the Christian and challenges everything she believes about the world and about herself. But if one is depressed, one should not expect to feel otherwise. In fact, feeling is not really that important for the life of faith.”

- Kathryn Greene-McCreight, Darkness Is My Only Companion: A Christian Response to Mental Illness

I am grateful for Dr. Whitney’s follow up to this other video on...

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:43:47 -0400

I am grateful for Dr. Whitney’s follow up to this other video on the question: Does God hear the prayers of unbelievers? I affirm his reasoning that God doesn’t hear the prayers of unbelievers in a mediatorial sense with an “ear” to answer, but I struggled on how should I handle this with my children.

Caleb Evans On Pursuing Holiness

Sun, 26 Nov 2017 21:30:35 -0500

Recently, Dr. John Piper has come under fire for comments he has made related to the role of works in final salvation. What is surprising is that even some in the Reformed tradition are accusing Dr. Piper of compromising sola fide.

The role of works in the Christian life and final salvation has long been an important and practical topic worthy of reflection for every Christian. Another pastor in the 18^th century also had concerns about the role of works in the Christian life, and his name was Caleb Evans (d. 1791). Evans debated pastor Samuel Rowles (d. 1820) of Chard over Rowles’ support of eternal justification because it concerned Evans that it would lead to antinomianism and a gross misunderstanding of God’s love.

The great truth I wished to maintain, and a great and important truth it is, was this, That God is an unchangeably holy God, that even in the exercise and display of his sovereign love to guilty sinners, he still remains an holy God, and that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. That all pretentious therefore to interest in the love of god, whilst we are not changed by it in the spirit of our minds, are gross and impious delusions. (To the Members of the Baptist Western Association [Circular Letter, Western Association, 1789], 6)

This is not an ethereal issue for Evans and Piper, they shared the same pastoral concern: that Christians would pursue holiness with godly fervor. As Evans alludes to above, the author of Hebrews reminds us: “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14, ESV).

(If you wish to read more about the debate between Evans and Rowles, you can read an extended essay I wrote mining the source material.)

Is Open Air Preaching Effective for Today?

Mon, 16 Oct 2017 22:25:42 -0400

Is Open Air Preaching Effective for Today?:

Very helpful and careful thoughts, and I agree with him.

Your vision is the first step to shaping your reality - Tampa Bay Business Journal

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 13:27:55 -0500

Your vision is the first step to shaping your reality - Tampa Bay Business Journal:

Aimed at professionals, but the advice is solid.

"The Redeemer, in planting us in this heathen nation, rather than in any other, has imposed upon us..."

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 13:38:58 -0400

“The Redeemer, in planting us in this heathen nation, rather than in any other, has imposed upon us the cultivation of peculiar qualifications. We are firmly persuaded that Paul might plant and Apollos water, in vain, in any part of the world, did not God give the increase. We are sure that only those who are ordained to eternal life will believe, and that God alone can add to the church such as shall be saved. Nevertheless we cannot but observe with admiration that Paul, the great champion for the glorious doctrines of free and sovereign grace, was the most conspicuous for his personal zeal in the work of persuading men to be reconciled to God. In this respect he is a noble example for our imitation.”

- William Carey, Joshua Marshman, and William Ward (The Serampore Compact)

Parents, don’t waste your lazy summer days

Sat, 24 Sep 2016 15:48:32 -0400

Parents, don’t waste your lazy summer days:

This is a really great reminder.

What is Christian Community?

Mon, 12 Sep 2016 11:23:35 -0400

What is Christian Community?:

I recently preached two sermons on defining and applying Christian community. The first hyperlinked above sets the theological foundation for community, and the second sermon applies it specifically to my church.

Five Temptations for Classical Christian Education

Tue, 06 Sep 2016 21:11:46 -0400

Five Temptations for Classical Christian Education:

“Creating a truly gracious classroom is much harder than creating an orderly classroom. It is a challenge that requires spiritual preparation far beyond classroom management techniques. But the only Christian education is a thoroughly gracious education. It sounds so basic, but it remains true: Without God’s grace, we can only produce narcissists who are more focused on their own successes and failures than on the eternal reality of God’s love for his people.”

"Entering the presence of God is an overwhelming experience. Because of our union with Christ, God..."

Sun, 31 Jul 2016 13:05:32 -0400

“Entering the presence of God is an overwhelming experience. Because of our union with Christ, God “raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). God has already made us a new creation by spiritually raising us from the dead. Because we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places, we are commanded, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2). This general command for our everyday lives should be all the more applicable to our corporate worship. There should be a tangible solemnity to our corporate gatherings, as the author of Hebrews teaches As the latter-day people of God, we have access to the throne of God to “receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). As we raise our voices in song, we join the chorus of angels and the saints who have gone before us, singing “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (Rev. 7:10).”

- Benjamin Gladd and Matthew Harmon, Making All Things New (113)

Marco Rubio’s Crisis of Faith

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 10:14:22 -0500

Marco Rubio’s Crisis of Faith:

This is actually a very insightful piece into the divide theologically and general distrust between evangelicals and Catholics. It highlights how Rubio is attempting to walk that thin line.

Inside Graduate Admissions

Thu, 07 Jan 2016 11:42:01 -0500

Inside Graduate Admissions:

“What goes on behind closed doors when professors decide who should get chance to earn a Ph.D.? Author of new book was allowed to watch. She saw elitism, a heavy focus on the GRE and some troubling conversations.”

Why America Is Moving Left

Tue, 05 Jan 2016 14:33:37 -0500

Why America Is Moving Left:

This is an absolutely tremendous article. I have become quite the fan of The Atlantic recently.

The Pros and Cons of Telecommuting

Fri, 14 Aug 2015 21:26:01 -0400

The Pros and Cons of Telecommuting:

A recent post of mine outlining the pros/cons and tips for telecommuting well.

The New Intolerance

Tue, 31 Mar 2015 09:32:06 -0400

The New Intolerance:

Indiana isn’t targeting gays. Liberals are targeting religion, the Wall Street Journal writes in an editorial. (HT Matt Miller)

Fascinating video on how the University of Oxford...

Sat, 28 Mar 2015 14:02:21 -0400

Fascinating video on how the University of Oxford is “digitizing” ancient works.

"The point of contextualization is not comfort, but clarity. The gospel will never be completely..."

Mon, 23 Mar 2015 10:27:07 -0400

“The point of contextualization is not comfort, but clarity. The gospel will never be completely comfortable in any fallen society or to any sinful human being. Our goal is to make sure that we do not put any obstacles in the way of the gospel, and that the only stumbling block is the stumbling block of the cross itself.”

- Putting Contextualization in its Place