Jonathan Edwards turned 305 years old on Sunday, October 5th.  From my introduction to Edwards through Iain Murray’s wonderful biography, I have grown to appreciate the writings of Edwards more than any other Christan writer outside of the Bible.  His one desire is to point me to the glory and grandeur of God displayed in the excellency and sufficiency of Christ.  In regard to a wonderful theological conversation currently taking place under the post, “KBC School Meet’s the Calvinistic Challenge”, I thought it fitting to bring in Edwards thoughts on the human will.    I am thankful for John Piper who brings our attention to this portion of writing from Edwards on his blog, Desiring God.

Edwards would remind us, “It depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy” (Romans 9:16). He wrote this seven months before he died in 1758.

By what I have heard, some…think, that if it be really true, that there is no self-determining power in the will…it is of a mischievous tendency to say any thing of it; and that it is best that the truth in this matter should not be known by any means….

I cannot but be of an extremely different mind. On the contrary, I think that the notion of liberty, consisting in a contingent self-determination of the will, as necessary to the morality of men’s dispositions and actions, is almost inconceivably pernicious….

The longer I live, and the more I have to do with the souls of men, in the work of the ministry, the more I see of this. Notions of this sort are one of the main hindrances of the success of the preaching of the word, and other means of grace, in the conversion of sinners….

And with respect to self-flattery and presumption, as to what is future, nothing can possibly be conceived more directly tending to it, than a notion of liberty, at all times possessed, consisting in a power to determine one’s own will to good or evil; which implies a power men have, at all times, to determine them to repent and turn to God.

And what can more effectually encourage the sinner, in present delays and neglects, and embolden him to go on in sin, in a presumption of having his own salvation at all times at his command? And this notion of self-determination and self-dependence, tends to prevent, or enervate, all prayer to God for converting grace; for why should men earnestly cry to God for his grace, to determine their hearts to that which they must be determined to of themselves.

And indeed it destroys the very notion of conversion itself. There can properly be no such thing, or any thing akin to what the Scripture speaks of conversion, renovation of the heart, regeneration, &c. if growing good, by a number of self-determined acts, are all that is required, or to be expected.

Excuse me, Sir, for troubling you with so much on this head. I speak from the fullness of my heart. What I have long seen of the dreadful consequences of these prevalent notions every where, and what I am convinced will still be their consequences so long as they continue to prevail, fills me with concern.

The following is an insightful article written by my friend Jeffrey Cavanaugh.

I have recently been bugged by a trend I’ve noticed in hymnody. It’s not a new trend; in fact it’s been going on for at least a century and a half. It still bugs me.

The trend is to take great hymns from the 17th and 18th centuries and to “update” them by setting them to new music, sometimes changing the original lyrics, and, most irritatingly, adding a chorus or refrain.

Take a modern example by songwriter Chris Tomlin: “The Wonderful Cross”. Tomlin has taken stanzas from Isaac Watts’s hymn “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross” and added his own chorus:

Stanza by Watts

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

Chorus by Tomlin

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless Your name

I believe that hymns (and I include modern “worship choruses” in that category) are fundamentally poetry set to music. Thus, when we’re evaluating a hymn, we should judge the lyrics by poetic criteria. Theological evaluation is important, but poetic evaluation is also crucial. And frankly, Chris Tomlin’s refrain here is poetically impoverished. I don’t claim to be a poet or even a good poetry critic, but as a layman who loves beautiful language even I can see that Tomlin doesn’t hold a candle to Watts.

Or, take another modern example by Bob Kauflin. Kauflin has taken Watts’s little-known but hymn “Join All The Glorious Names,” set it to new music, and added a chorus.

Stanza by Watts

Join all the glorious names
Of wisdom, love, and power,
That ever mortals knew,
That angels ever bore:
All are too mean to speak His worth,
To poor to set my Savior forth.

Chorus by Kauflin

Jesus, Your name is glorious
Our Prophet, Priest, and King
Jesus, You’re reigning over us
And forevermore Your praises we will sing.

I deeply appreciate Bob Kauflin for his gifts with music and songwriting. He and his fellows at Sovereign Grace have done wonderful work for the church in producing new hymns that are reverent, worshipful, and have good substance. And, if you take this refrain of Kauflin’s on its own, it’s fine. But set it in the context of a masterful poem by Watts, and it’s a jarring note.

One final example we’ll consider, and this one is an older hymn. In 1885, Ralph E. Hudson took Watts’s hymn, “Alas, And Did My Savior Bleed,” added a refrain, and retitled it “At The Cross.”

Stanza by Watts

Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

Chorus by Hudson

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

This shows that the phenomenon isn’t a new one, and that it has been going on for nearly a century and a half (For another example, see Robert Lowry’s adaptation of Watts’s “Marching to Zion” from 1867). Hudson’s added refrain is perhaps the most offensive of the three we’ve looked at thus far. Where Watts’s hymn is a deep and moving meditation on the condescension of Christ in suffering for our sins, Hudson’s chorus is trite and shallow, with an unbiblically sunny view of the Christian life.

I should make it clear that I don’t have a problem with setting old hymns to new tunes. I understand that musical tastes change over the centuries, and I think that a new setting can help Christians today to connect with the lyrics. I do think that a hymn tune should be appropriate to the content of the words, and many modern settings fail on this point. But there are actually some recent tunes that I like better than the traditional settings.

I do, however, object to modifying older hymn lyrics, especially when they are from such outstanding hymn writers as Isaac Watts-in my opinion the greatest English hymnodist ever and one of the great English poets in history. If hymn writers or -adapters aren’t poets on the level of Watts, they ought to leave well enough alone. And if they are of Watts’s caliber, they’ll have better things to do with their gift than modifying somebody else’s work.

If you are a pastor or worship leader, or someone else who has a hand in selecting hymns for congregational singing, take care when you consider using these songs. You don’t necessarily have to use the same tunes for old lyrics that have been around for centuries (although many of those tunes would be edifying for your conversation). There are other folks doing great work today in updating older hymns who keep the original texts intact. The best examples I can think of are by the Reformed University Fellowship, compiled in the Indelible Grace albums. They retain the original lyrics of great writers like Watts, Copwer, Newton, and others, pairing them with modern tunes that are usually good and sometimes outstanding.

If you are simply a church member, learn to cultivate a taste for the rich, meaty lyrics that are the legacy hymn writers of the past. Learn to meditate on the stanzas as you’re singing them, and don’t wait for the chorus to really get into the song. Poetry is an acquired taste, but when you learn these hymns and let their truth and beauty sink into your soul, your faith will be deepened and you will find greater delight in the beauty of God.

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Jeff Cavanaugh is pursuing a Master of Divinity at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Originally from central Ohio, he graduated from Patrick Henry College with a degree in Government. Before moving to Louisville, he spent some time in Washington, D.C. where he interned at Capitol Hill Baptist Church and worked for the White House handling presidential correspondence. He is a member at Third Avenue Baptist Church and hopes to pursue pastoral ministry after finishing seminary. He is married to a wonderful wife, Andrea.

Pastor and People,

I have been a pastor for about 6 years in a church in Virginia consisting of a membership of about 125. Besides a part-time secretary I am the only individual on the church staff. Needless to say, I am a very busy man as I strive to meet the needs of our members and reach out to our community. I have two Sunday messages to prepare, a Wednesday night Bible study, weekly counseling sessions, committee meetings to attend and much more. I love being a pastor and love every moment of every job I do. However, I am beginning to feel as if my wife and young son are suffering under the weight of my ministry. My wife has always been supportive and the embodiment of the perfect pastor’s wife. She has never said anything about my busy church schedule, but I can tell she wants me to spend more time at home with her and our son. I am struggling with properly balancing my ministry and family. What are your thoughts on how to bring a good balance between the two?

Christopher D.

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Christopher,

Pastors have been striving to find the balance between family and ministry since the pastorate began. Thank you for brining it to our attention once again.

First of all, let’s agree that there are realistic and unrealistic pressures on the pastors of today. There is a mentality, perhaps among those in our congregation, that all we do is get paid to read the Bible all day. However, this is an unrealistic picture of the hard demands of pastoral work. Pastors across the board describe intense pressure in the ministry. One need only to read Paul’s words to young Timothy to be reminded that the pressure of the pastorate is not a new concept. He encouraged Timothy to be strong, to be like an athlete and soldier facing the opposition that no doubt he would face.

How does one succeed in honoring God in the pastoral call of a church and also glorifying him by being the husband and father he has called you to be? I offer just a few simple and practical suggestions:

1. Your church must have a proper view of pastoral ministry and calling.
Josh Moody in his excellent book, “The God-Centered Life” said, “Most churches today interpret the role of the pastor either as an educational role (like a teacher or academic) or as a business role (like a chief executive officer). Salaries are connected to either academic roles or CEO roles, and job descriptions and expectations tend to be formed by one or other of those common models in our contemporary consciousness.” There must be an explicit understanding among the members of your church what the pastoral role is for and what it does. Biblically the emphasis of a pastor should be on preparing to preach and pastoral work.

2. Invest in the love of your wife.
Know that you have married the right woman. She is also called. Called to stand alongside her husband in support and love for what God has called and commissioned him to do. You invest in the love of your wife by showing her that she is the most important object of your affection, under God. Be affectionate, romantic, and show her in practical ways your appreciation for her support. Never put a church member over and above the needs of your own wife and family. Invest in the love of your wife by giving due attention to her needs over and above your own. It is crucial for a pastor to understand that if he is going to lead the house of God correctly, then he must lead his own house first.

3. Plan your day.
It is crucial to have a day off during the week. This day should be sit aside for you and your family. Let the church know that unless there is an emergency that you will not be reachable on this day. Each day should be planned. Integrate family devotions into the schedule with your wife and your son. Make a point to be at home for dinner every night. Plan your day so that the maximum amount of time is spent where the greatest priorities are: your sermons and your family.

4. Use your deacons.
Many ministry visits, counseling, and leading in the church can be done by your deacons. Many deacon bodies get away with doing absolutely nothing. Use your deacons. That’s what they are there for. Get your people use to seeing a deacon arrive when they call. You can’t be everywhere all of the time. But it is necessary to be at the most important places all of the time.

I could simply go on and on. There are practical ways you can bring a healthy balance to your ministry and family. Don’t let your dear son grow up hating the ministry because it separated him and his father. Begin making the proper and necessary changes today so that tomorrow your family will still remain. May the Lord continue to bless you in your ministry.

Dustin Benge

(I would enjoy hearing your thoughts about this conference.  Please drop me a line in the comment box.)

The Western Recorder included a very disturbing article September 9, 2008 from regular columnist Donnie Fox, President of Clear Creek Baptist Bible College in Pineville, Kentucky.  The article announces the school’s upcoming conference to be held Saturday, October 4, 2008 entitled, “Meeting the Calvinistic Challenge.”  The conference will not be a debate on the issues of Calvinism but rather a response to the “challenges” of Calvinism.  President Fox makes it very clear where Clear Creek stands on the issue when he states, “The trustees and the administration of Clear Creek made it very clear a few years ago when we publicly stated that we do not teach, promote or endorse Calvinism.  We maintain this same position today.”  The conference speaking schedule will be as follows:

Introduction to Calvinism - Robert Hughes
Calvinism’s Effect on the Public Invitation - Dale Rose
The Two Pillars of Calvinism Examined - Malcolm Hester
Does the Gospel of John Teach Unconditional Election? - Bill Helton
A Non-Calvinist Interpretation to Romans 9-11 - Roy Lucas
Five Questions Pulpit Committees Must Ask Prospective Pastors - Jay Sulfridge
Why Can’t We All Just Get Along? - Donnie Fox

To read more about the conference please visit the Founders Ministries Blog.

Clear Creek Baptist Bible Collge, incidentilly, is where I attended college and received my Bachelor’s degree.  Many issues were brewing in the classrooms when I attended the shool and they continue to do so.  I have become so concerned with the situation at Clear Creek I have written an open letter to President Donnie Fox which you can read below:

Dear President Fox,

Upon entering Clear Creek Baptist Bible College in 1999 it was my sincere hope to receive a theological and biblical education unparalleled in training experience for future ministry. Some of the happiest times of my life were spent at Clear Creek. During my four years in the shadow of Pine Mountain I developed lifetime friendships, priceless mentorships, and a biblical framework that gave me an advantage for future education and ministry.

Clear Creek also forced me to ask hard questions in regards to theological truths that were not taught, unclear, and in many cases forbidden in the classroom. Before my graduation in 2003 I began to witness a decline in biblical conviction and doctrinal commitment among the professors and administrators of this institution. The biblical text was pushed aside and dismissed which soon introduced error in the classroom. Sound historical and systematic theology was replaced with the heresy of open-theism, the sovereignty of God was replaced with a man-centered Pelagianism, and anyone asking hard biblical questions about the Doctrines of Grace were labeled as enemies of the gospel. Students were reprimanded and disciplined for asking doctrinal, theological, and biblical questions on subjects discussed throughout church history.

As an alumnus of Clear Creek Baptist Bible College, I have become increasingly disappointed in a school that once was a light for the gospel in the church, the community, and the world. It is easy to be caught in the net of doctrinal compromise while continually maintaining a Christian façade. Perhaps, if I had been in leadership during this decline I would have done far worse and even brought reproach upon the name of Christ; for which we can be thankful has not been done. It is not my intention to harbor ill toward Clear Creek but voice legitimate and loving concern for the dire situation at hand.

I am quite disturbed at the prospect of the upcoming conference to be held at Clear Creek October 4, 2008 entitled, “Meeting the Calvinistic Challenge.” When any theological doctrine is presented and debate begins it should be done in the utmost Christian graciousness and charity. It would be my sincere hope that both sides of the Calvinistic issue would be presented and edifying debate and conversation take place around its biblical parameters. However, this hope will not be realized when the Clear Creek campus and community assembles to discuss this issue. As is evidenced by the topics that will be discussed, the conversation will be very one-sided, and in many ways misleading. I can call this conference nothing more than doctrinal irresponsibility. The fire-storm this conference will cause in surrounding churches will be unquenchable as pastors and people alike take the “word” of Clear Creek over and above the Word of God. The consequences from such doctrinal error will bring more division, not Christian unity.

Clear Creek has become so consumed with purging the world of Calvinism that they have become historically blind to the history of Calvinism in the very organizations by which they were founded. The issue is no longer Calvinism but the issue has now become doctrinal correctness, biblical commitment, and theological soundness; of which Clear Creek lacks. I urge you President Fox, professors, administrators, trustees, and students to consider the implications of such a conference and the lack of historical commitment it will contain. It is therefore my sincere prayer that God’s glory would be revealed in such a way that when we view ourselves in the contrast of His holiness that we would proclaim with the prophet Isaiah, “Woe is me” (Is 6.5).

I pray that you will see and savor the sovereignty of our glorious Maker and Redeemer,

Dustin Benge
Alumni 2003

One cannot overlook the multiple invitations that Jesus offers in the gospels to “come to Him.” Over and over again, Jesus invites people to come to Him for life. He invites the weary and heavy-laden in Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” He invites people to follow him in Matthew 16:24, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Jesus invites those seeking treasure in Mark 10:21, “And looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” He invites those who hear His words in John 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” He invites the thirsty in John 7:37, “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” The examples of Jesus’ invitations could go on and on. All of our Lord’s invitations include something similar. They are invitations to life that is only found in Him.

John Owen said,

Consider the infinite condescension and love of Christ, in his invitations and calls of you to come to Him for life, deliverance, mercy, grace, peace and eternal salvation…This is somewhat of the word which He now speaks unto you: Why will you die? Why will you perish? Why will you not have compassion on your own souls? Can your hearts endure, or can your hands be strong, in the day of wrath that is approaching? It is but a little while before all your hopes, your reliefs, and presumptions will forsake you, and leave you eternally miserable. Look to me, and be saved; come to me, and I will ease you of all sins, sorrows, fears, burdens, and give rest to your souls. Come, I entreat you; lay aside all procrastinations, all delays; put me off no more; eternity lies at the door. Cast out all cursed, self-deceiving reserves; do not so hate me as that you will rather perish than accept of deliverance by me.

Jesus continues to give His invitation today. He gives His invitation to follow Him every time a minister of the gospel stands to proclaim His Word. He gives His invitation to come unto Him every time a Christian shares the gospel with someone lost. You may, at this very moment, be holding to the pleasures and follies of this world. Let them go and come to Jesus. Come to someone far more satisfying, far more superior, far more fulfilling. May the inviting words of Jesus ring in the heart of every lost soul the world contains. May they ring louder than the noises of the world that has deafened us to His words. May they ring louder than the voice of self-reliance and self-righteousness. May they ring louder than the sin that consumes you. Come to Jesus, fly to Jesus, run to Jesus that “you may have life and have it more abundantly.”

The subject of Calvinism has filtered through the Southern Baptist Convention in recent years.  From the halls of SBC seminaries to the pews of our local churches, the Doctrines of Grace have been upon many minds and lips.  In many circles it has been an edifying conversation that has taken place as certain doctrinal topics have been discussed with ease and Christian love.  In other circles however, those who maintain Calvinistic views have been told they are not truly Christians and are sure to inherit eternal hell as their home if they continue down this slippery road of “false-doctrine”.  This particular post is not necessarily to defend the Doctrines of Grace.  If you are a regular reader of Pastor and People you know by now that I believe in the complete sovereignty of God in salvation, the inability of man to do anything to obtain that salvation, and take a firm stand on the Doctrines of Grace as taught in Scripture.

An observation I have made in recent years is a lack of historical understanding in regard to Charles Haddon Spurgeon and his ardent defense of the Doctrines of Grace.  Many Southern Baptists deny the fact that Spurgeon was a “5-Point Calvinist” and regularly defended Calvinism from his own pulpit.  Even educated professors from my undergraduate studies denied the fact that Spurgeon was a Calvinist.  Let me include a quote from his own lips,

The old truth that Calvin preached, that Augustine preached, that Paul preached, is the truth that I must preach to-day, or else be false to my conscience and my God. I cannot shape the truth; I know of no such thing as paring off the rough edges of a doctrine. John Knox’s gospel is my gospel. That which thundered through Scotland must thunder through England again…There is no soul living who holds more firmly to the doctrines of grace than I do, and if any man asks me whether I am ashamed to be called a Calvinist, I answer-I wish to be called nothing but a Christian; but if you ask me, do I hold the doctrinal views which were held by John Calvin, I reply, I do in the main hold them, and rejoice to avow it.

Spurgeon held to the Doctrines of Grace as taught in Scripture not necessarily every doctrinal position of John Calvin himself.  He maintained a healthy biblically balanced Calvinism that did not include a stronger sect of theology called Hyper-Calvinism.  On the contrary he said, “Far be it from me even to imagine that Zion contains none but Calvinistic Christians within her walls, or that there are none saved who do not hold our views.”

It is historically ignorant to not affirm that Charles Spurgeon was a Calvinist in every sense of the word.  It is just as historically ignorant to not affirm that the very SBC was founded by professing Calvinists (but that is for another post).

I have provided a few links below so you can investigate further into the preaching and teaching of Charles Spurgeon on Calvinism.

A Defense of Calvinism

Sovereign Grace and Man’s Responsibility

Justification by Grace

All of Grace

Moral Inability

A Testimony to Free and Sovereign Grace

Election

Election No Discouragement to Seeking Souls

Election: Its Defenses and Evidences

Unconditional Election

Monergism.com has organized and published an extensive but easily navigable new site with essays and vast resources on and by the Puritans. This wonderful site is called PuritanLibrary.com.  It includes free downloadable books and resources by Puritans such as Richard Sibbes | John Owen | Thomas Watson | Thomas Brooks | Thomas Boston | John Bunyan | Stephen Charnock | Thomas Goodwin | Thomas Shepherd | John Robinson | Thomas Case | William Bridge | John Flavel | John Howe | Richard Baxter | Hugh Binning | Thomas Gouge | Jerremiah Burroughs | William Perkins and more.  This stie will no doubt be an invaluable tool for you as you discover the puritans for the first time or simply remind yourself who they are.

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From Isaiah 53 John Piper reminds us that it is God who brings about the suffering and death of Christ.  In this moving and stirring post entitled, God’s Delight in the Son He Strikes Piper, in his usual amazing way, brings us face to face with the text of Scripture and the truth of the wrath of God vindicated on His own Son.

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You can now take online seminary level courses with some of the greatest theologians and biblical scholars of today at Biblical Training.  This is an excellent resource for the pastor or laymen who can’t make it to seminary.

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Justin Taylor gives a brief description of some of today’s Favorite Children’s Bibles.  This would be an excellent article to give to the parents in your congregation via a bulletin insert.

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Dr. Albert Mohler must be in the publishing mood.  Four of Dr. Mohler’s books have been published this year and I encourage everyone to read them all.

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Tony Renike reviews The Complete Works of Thomas Manton.  Puritan divine Thomas Manton was first and foremost an expositor of Scripture.  20 of the 22 volumes of his work are filled with expositions of Scripture.  This complete works collection is for anyone dedicated to the same.

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I pray you have a wonderful weekend.  I leave you with an excerpt from a letter by Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847):

Christian sanctification is boundless, and it is our duty to press forward; and when one looks to himself and feels his woeful deficiencies in the mildness, the patience, the charity, the holiness of the Gospel, he must perceive how much he has yet to aspire after.  We should at the same time never forget in what way the above virtues are formed and have their increase in the soul: they are the fruits of the Spirit, Gal. v. 22 and as the Savior is the dispenser of the Spirit - as it is through faith in Him that the Spirit is given - as without Him we can do nothing - hence the necessity of laying all upon this foundation, of a vital union with Jesus Christ by faith, that He may be our sanctification as well as our redemption.

Dear Pastor and People,

How do you overcome the notion that some churches look at seminarians as “just another seminary student” and do not give them the ministry opportunities during their training time? Most do not see credibility until after one has graduated. I would not say that this applies across the board, but to a majority from what I have observed.  Currently as a pastor it is my sincere desire to assist seminary students find areas in which to serve, even before graduation.  What are your thoughts?

Terry

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Dear Terry,

Your question is a question I have asked for years. I am currently attending The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.  I have been richly blessed in both by Bible College and Seminary training.  However, the New Testament does not speak of a seminary but emphasizes the church as the training ground of which God blesses. I pray to God that churches would recognize the great need to use seminary students in training. When looking for a pastor I think the problem is that many churches look more highly on educational training than they do on their calling to the ministry and practical training experience. How do you get a church to notice you and your desire for ministry while in seminary? If you find out please let me know because this has been my problem for years and continues to be so.  It often seems seminary students are put in the background and not “worthy” or “qualified” to do anything until they graduate. I consider this a great travesty and see a church that is not living up to the NT standards to teach and train ministers of the word; after all it is the churches job to do so.

I suppose we can only be patient and trust in the kind providence of God to open doors of opportunity for us to serve Him in the church. Personally speaking, I have wanted to preach so bad sometimes and the Word has been such a fire within me I walk around my house preaching or take a walk in the woods. In other words, there must be an outlet for what God has called you to do.  If He has called you He will not leave you in the training mode forever but has a grand plan for you in His kingdom and the advancement thereof.  I appreciate your desire to assist seminary students find a place of service.  What is wrong with being in full-time ministry while also attending seminary?  A man’s usefulness is not measured by the fact of whether he has graduated from seminary.

Dustin

I grew up thinking that if you had a good pastor he was not a good preacher and if you had a good preacher he could not be a good pastor.  The two seemed disconnected and not part of the same office.  However, because preaching is at the heart of good pastoring, preaching is the primary responsibility of the pastor and a duty that must be done well.  This part of pastoring often proves to be one of the greatest sources of discouragement to young as well as seasoned ministers.  Archibald Alexander (1772-1851) knew very well the joys and heartaches that accompany this part of the minister’s responsibilities.  Ministers never ultimately know the full effect of their labors in the lives  of the people they serve.  At times it may seem your efforts in the pulpit have accomplished nothing.  On other occasions the good that has been accomplished through the pulpit ministry may not be initially evident.  A minister’s calling is to labor faithfully.  Encouragement is found in obedience to the Master’s commission.  Dr. Alexander connects encouragement to faithfulness.

The minster of the Gospel must not be discouraged because he sees not immediately the fruit of his labors.  The success of his preaching may be real but not visible.  The husbandman who sows his seed in the midst of tares amid many discouragements may have a joyful harvest; but he must exercise long patience waiting for the early and the latter rain.  We are very incompetent judges of the good produced by a faithful ministry - Of necessity all the evils prevented by a holding forth of truth are hidden - Often the calm contemplation of the truth is of unspeakable benefit to the Christian, and often God by the ministry of his servants breaks the spell by which some of his children were held bound, corrects their errors, excites their desires, confirms them in their good resolutions - and frequently when they never make it known, fills their souls with Divine consolation.  That minister whose labors are blessed of God and who feeds Christ’s sheep and his lambs, must not think that the labors in vain, if sinners are not gathered.  There is no work more acceptable to God than the edifying of the body of Christ.

Are you going green?  Have you gone green?  Are you interested in reducing your carbon footprint?  Those concerned about such can now carry a “green” Bible according to an interesting article on the TIME magazine site entitled, The Bible Goes Green for the Prius Age.

On Oct. 7, HarperCollins will be releasing The Green Bible, a Scripture for the Prius age that calls attention to more than 1,000 verses related to nature by printing them in a pleasant shade of forest green, much as red-letter editions of the Bible encrimson the words of Jesus.  Using recycled paper with soy-based ink, The Green Bible includes supplementary writings by, among others, St. Francis of Assisi, Pope John Paul II, Desmond Tutu and Anglican bishop N.T. Wright.

The conservative Christians who drive Bible sales don’t tend to favor the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) used in The Green Bible. Yet publisher Mark Tauber thinks green Evangelicals will leap the NRSV fire wall. He adds cheerfully: “I wouldn’t be surprised if you see so-called big Bible publishers come out with a green edition.” If you want to grow a biblical tree where birds can nest, this is a good way to start.

Is this the new Bible everyone will be carrying the Sunday after it hits store shelves?  I just thought you might be interested in a bit of amusement for your Monday morning - have a good one!

Dear Pastor and People,

I am at a place in ministry where I feel depressed and devoid of any desire to do ministry. How can I get help and still be effective in ministry? I feel like I am losing hope but have to act like everything is OK with my fellow brothers in ministry. They just have a get over it attitude.

Jeffrey

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Dear Jeffrey,

Your situation is the same as numerous pastors around the world. You feel as if you are ineffective in ministry because of your current state of mind and heart. You give and give and never get anything back. I know, I have been in the same exact place.

I would suggest first, to take a small break. Take a few weeks off from your pastoral and ministry duties. You are not quitting on God but simply refueling yourself. Set under good preaching and teaching during this break. Go to the outdoors and enjoy God’s creation as you read, pray, and refocus your thoughts upon His glory and call upon your life.

Your fellow brothers in ministry who feel as if you need to “get over it” do not understand the problem of pastoral depression and emptiness but will before their ministry is over. Seek the counsel of a wise older pastor who has been in the ministry for many years. Someone who understands what you are going through.

Unfortunately this is not a quick fix and one that will take much prayer, discipline, and devotion on your own part. I pray you rise forth from this valley soon!

Dustin

The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, speaks and acts not as some blind force in the universe, but as the Spirit of truth and by the word of God, “the sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 6:17).  The Holy Spirit is a person who makes real the truth preached and proclaimed in the heart and conscience of the individual.  It is part of the office of the Spirit to be the teacher of every Christian giving them understanding into the truth of God’s Word.  If one is not taught by the Spirit and does not have such faith as originates in his light and power, that person is not a Christian at all (John 6:45; 1 Cor. 2:5; 1 John 2:20; 4:13).  Iain Murray says in his book, Pentecost Today? says, “For this reason a merely nominal Christianity always shows itself by the absence of any thrill in the Word of God - an absence which has too often been a feature of church worship in the twentieth century.”  When nominal Christianity arises within a congregation or an individual person there is a deadness in regards to the truth of the Word of God.  There is no relish, no vibrancy, no desire to read and study that which God has given us.  Nominal Christians tend to settle for lesser words not given by or through the power of the Spirit.  In the words of A.W. Tozer:

To the absence of the Spirit may be traced that vague sense of unreality which almost everywhere invests religion in our times.  In the average church service the most real thing is the shadowy unreality of everything.  The worshipper sits in a state of suspended mentation; a kind of dreamy numbness creeps upon him; he hears words but they do not register, he cannot relate them to anything on his own life-level…He is aware of no power, no Presence, no spiritual reality.  There is simply nothing in his experience corresponding to the things which he heard from the pulpit or sang in the hymns. 

The preacher can not be sure those who are feeling such lethargy in the pew but one thing is for sure: if real revival were to come into the church there would be a reawakening in the hearts of the people for a love of the Word of God.  When revival sweeps into a congregation there is a fuller giving of the Spirit and it must follow that there will be a clearer knowledge of the truth and of a more certain knowledge of Christ.  It is clear from Scripture that the Holy Spirit gives the power to preach the truth and also clarity in the pew to love, accept, and enjoy that truth.

Dear Pastor and People,

I am the pastor of a wonderful, growing, and thriving church.  However, we have a situation that I would like some advice on.  We have an occasional visitor that interrupts anytime, anything about the Old Testament is being spoken of as a reference, or support chapter.  He claims that reading anything from the OT is wrong since Christians are no longer under the law. He only wants to hear about the NT.

As any pastor knows that we should never add nor subtract from the word of God, we have mentioned this to him but he rejects the OT so much that he is in some frame of mind that does not seem Godly. We are not sure where he got this from but it is surely interrupting our ministry and we are praying for him. I was wondering if you might pray about this matter and send us any advice on how to address this matter without hurting this man since he claims he was offended and rejected from his previous Pastor. He even refuses to accept the matter of tithing and only accepts the word offering.  Please advise.

Scott G.

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Dear Scott,

Thank you so much for visiting Pastor and People and asking such a good question.

A careful study of the Greek phrase (logos theou, “The Word of God”) finds over forty uses in the New Testament. It is equated with the Old Testament in Mark 7:13. It is what Jesus preached (Luke 5:1). It was the message the apostles taught (Acts 4:31 and 6:2). It was the word the Samaritans received (Acts 8:14) as given by the apostles (Acts 8:25). Paul acknowledged that it was the source of his preaching (Col 1:25; 1 Thess 2:13). In other words, your husband as a preacher of the “whole counsel of God,” must include in his preaching the Old Testament. There is absolutely no way around this.

The Old Testament is biblical history and biblical history is not an objective reporting of purely human events. It is an impassioned account of God’s acts in history as He works in the world to save his people. The OT is theological, prophetic and historical and should be preached in through this framework. The study of the OT is for the purpose of bridging a gap between the Old and New. A primary text encouraging such an approach is found int he gospel of Luke. In his post-resurrection appearance to two unnamed disciples, Jesus remarks, properly, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Lk 24:25-27). Then again to the broader circle of disciples Jesus said, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” (v. 44). It is therefore evident that in both cases Christ was speaking of the entire Old Testament. In other words, the OT does not simply provide proof texts for the coming Messiah. Its major themes point forward to Christ’s coming suffering and glory and therefore must be including in preaching. I could go on with biblical evidence for OT preaching but I will address your visitor at hand.

It sounds to me as if he does not understand the Bible with a historical and theological perspective. The Apostle Paul said he could not know his sin unless it was for the Law. If we do away with the Law we have no sin. I understand your desire to minister to this man but he must subject himself to the teaching of the Word of God, Old Testament and New, if he is to be apart of your fellowship. I would pray first and foremost that he is a Christian. Please remember as you strive to minister to him that he cannot hinder your husband from preaching the “whole counsel of God” or deprive the other members from hearing the “whole counsel of God.” Do not let him be a hindrance to the church and cause division among the other members. If he is not willing to be taught and shown the importance of the OT then the problem goes deeper than him simply disagreeing the OT. The problem stems from his view about the Bible as a whole.

Be assured of my prayer for this man and I hope this advice, what little it is, helps in some way. Please keep me updated on this situation.

Dustin Benge