He initially settled in Massachusetts.  Massachusetts authorities were not enamored with his views of religious tolerance and exiled him from the commonwealth.  He settled in what became Rhode Island and is considered the founder of that state.

Williams had an eventful religious journey that some admire and some count quirky or unstable.

1.  Williams was ordained by The Church of England.

2.  He left the Church of England to follow the ways of the Puritans.

3.  In Boston he declined to pastor the church because of the church’s ties to The Church of England.

4.  He pastored in Salem until conflict arose.

5.  He pastored in Plymouth until more conflict arose.

6.  He was expelled from Massachusetts by the Puritans.

7.  He settled in and established Rhode Island.

8.  He founded the first Baptist church in America in Providence.

9.  He abandoned being a Baptist to become non-sectarian.

Despite his constant movement geographically and religiously, Williams did lay the groundwork for much of the religious liberties we value today.

1.  Rhode Island became a haven for other religious dissenters.

2.  He claimed that civil powers had no right to judge the convictions of men’s souls.

3.  He wrote a defense of religious freedom in 1644.

4.  His treatment of Native Americans was exemplary.

A.  He spoke out against the taking of land from Native Americans.

B.  He bought the land that would become Rhode Island from the Native Americans.

C.  He learned the language of the Native Americans in his area.

His influence on the early colonies eventually led to the religious clause in the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.  When rightly understood, this amendment prevents the establishment of a state religion and restricts the government from infringing on the practice of religion.

This is often misunderstood to mean that religion should have no influence on government.  Not so.  Williams exerted his religious beliefs on the government of Rhode Island.  He was a Baptist pastor who founded and established the state.  The church in America should follow his lead in providing prophetic influence on the affairs of the state.  However, we should resist any infringement of the state upon the religious exercise of its people – even if we disagree with those practices.

Too often that line is being blurred or crossed.  We may choose to forego Williams path, but we must surely stand for his values on religious freedom.

First, some were unconverted.  It is interesting to note that she commented that these unconverted folks had long been the subject of intercessory prayers.  The other group of people were Christians who were living without any joy.

At the onset of her visit, Havergal indicated that God gave her a prayer, Lord, give me all in this house.  God answered that prayer.  In the space of those five days, the house became a house of rejoicing.

Unable to sleep this woman who saturated her life with the Bible (she had committed to memory the Psalms, Isaiah and most of the New Testament), penned the words to the hymn that congregations have been singing for over a century.

Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in endless praise.

****

Take my hands and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

****

Take my voice and let me sing,

Always, only for my King.

Take my lips and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee.

****

Take my silver and my gold,

Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect and use

Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

****

Take my will and make it Thine,

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart, it is Thine own,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

****

Take my love, my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure store.

Take myself and I will be

Ever, only, all for Thee.

It is refreshing that this woman took to heart the words she wrote.  Four years later she applied these words in a tangible way.

The Lord has shown me another little step, and, of course, I have taken it with extreme delight. ‘Take my silver and my gold’ now means shipping off all my ornaments to the Church Missionary House, including a jewel cabinet that is really fit for a countess, where all will be accepted and disposed of for me…Nearly fifty articles are being packed up. I don’t think I ever packed a box with such pleasure.

With this hymn writer, we should say, Take my life.

This giveaway is for an Advance Proof of the book, Die Young: Burying Your Self in Christ by Hayley and Michael DiMarco.  The book is currently available from Amazon for $10.08.  Here’s a blurb about the book:

A challenge to believers to die to the bondage of living for self.

You can read my review of the book here.

I am using Punch Tab to determine the winner.  Registration for the free book will remain open through Tuesday, February 7th.  You have an opportunity to be entered multiple times in the contest.

1.  Hillbilly 10 Commandments

2.  Matt Chandler: God is for God

3.  52 Lessons from 52 Years

4.  The Grilled Tebow

5.  Flourish Like the Palm Tree

If you ask me that is really not a commitment, is it?

Commitments really are not commitments until players sign on the dotted line.  College coaches will stand around their fax machines awaiting these signed documents.  Once the fax sheets roll out, then the players are committed.

Think about how this differs for the Christian.  Our admittance into heaven is based upon our name being written in the Book of Life.

Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
(Philippians 4:3 ESV)

These words from Paul the Apostle indicate that the Philippian Christians had their names written in the book of life.  Conversely the Bible teaches us that those who do not have their names written in the book of life are not Christians.  In fact, their destiny will be the lake of fire.

And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
(Revelation 20:15 ESV)

Another difference for the Christian is that God is not in heaven watching his fax machine looking for our letter of commitment.  Our names have long ago been written in the book if we are his.

…everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
(Revelation 13:8 ESV)

And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast…
(Revelation 17:8 ESV)

The names have been written in this Book of Life from the foundation of the world.  Since we were not the ones writing at this time, we understand that it was God himself who penned our names into the book.  Since he has placed our names in this book, his Spirit blows into our life to give us a heart which desires to know him.  When this happens we turn from our sin and place our trust in him and his wonderful gospel.

But what if we sin still more?  Or what if this beast spoken of in the Revelation is too powerful?  Those who have their names in the book may falter through sin, but they will strive to live holy lives.  Then we can take heart in the promise that Jesus made to those in the church at Sardis who were striving this way,

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
(Revelation 3:5 ESV)

So, it is God himself who writes our names in the book from the foundation of the world, and it is the Lord Jesus himself who refuses to blot our names out of the book.

How much more glorious is this than for us to be like the high school athlete faxing in our commitment.  God is not like a coach hoping that his recruiting efforts pays off.  He knows his team.

Yes, we do make a commitment.  But it is not the kind of commitment that makes us smart enough to join the right team.  It is that God demonstrates to us that he has chosen us for his team.  We have already been placed on the roster.  We acknowledge that and show up to play.

Is your name in that book?  Are you on the team?

Church Covenant Wordle

Last night Suzie and I met with our pastor and his wife for dinner.  We enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship and took the final step in being members at First Baptist Church of Boynton Beach.  We love Dr. Buz and Sandy McNutt.

Church membership is taken seriously by the church.  The final step we took was to sign a copy of the church member covenant.  I am sharing it here as an encouragement for those who might wonder if a Christian should be a member of a church.  We are joining together with fellow believers to function as the body of Christ in our community.

First Baptist Church of Boynton Beach

Church Member Covenant

Having, as we trust, been brought by divine grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to give up ourselves to Him, and having been baptized upon our profession of faith, in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, we do now, relying on His gracious aid, solemnly and joyfully renew our covenant with each other.

We will work and pray for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

We will walk together in brotherly love, as true members of a Christian Church, exercise an affectionate care and watchfulness over each other and faithfully admonish and entreat one another as occasion may require.

We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, nor neglect to pray for ourselves and others.

We will endeavor to bring up such as may at any time be under our care, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and by a pure and loving example to seek the salvation of our family and friends.

We will rejoice at each other’s happiness and endeavor with tenderness and sympathy to bear each other’s burdens and sorrows.

We will seek, by Divine aid, to live carefully in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and remembering that, as we have been voluntarily buried by baptism and raised again from the grave, so there is on us a special obligation now to lead a new and holy life.

We will work together for the continuance of a faithful evangelical ministry in this church, as we sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines.

We will contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.

We will, if we move from this place, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.  Amen.

I am excited about being in this kind of covenant relationship with God’s people in this church.  Does your church have a covenant?  Do you know what it says?  Feel free to post any links to your church’s covenant in the comments below.

Easier for a rich man to get to heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a mule. -Kaitlyn, 7, quoted in my msg

— Ed Stetzer (@edstetzer) January 29, 2012

“How can we love sin, when we remember that because of our sins Jesus died?” ~ J.C. Ryle — J.C. Ryle (@JCRyleQuotes) January 30, 2012

64 people attended an “interest” meeting tonight for a mission trip to Kenya.Grateful to see God working! — Timothy Hight (@TimothyHight) January 30, 2012

Martyrdom: Being killed for inviting people to an all-satisfying marriage feast. Matthew 22:6

— John Piper (@JohnPiper) January 30, 2012

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!”(Psalms 103:1)

— Desiring God (@desiringgod) January 30, 2012

Christianity provides a unified answer for the whole of life. Francis Schaeffer (Jan 30, 1912 – May 15, 1984) — Burk Parsons (@BurkParsons) January 30, 2012

“The beginning of the way to heaven, is to feel that we are on the way to hell.” ~ J.C. Ryle — J.C. Ryle (@JCRyleQuotes) January 30, 2012

Christ clothes us with the cloak of His righteousness, covering our nakedness & shame, & says to us, “Neither do I condemn you” —R.C. Sproul

— Ligonier Ministries (@Ligonier) January 30, 2012

The Church consists of the spiritually poor. The only condition of eligibility is destitution. -John Stott

— Philip Nation (@philipnation) January 30, 2012

“One reason why the church has little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church.” C.H. Spurgeon

— Sojourn Network (@SojournNetwork) January 30, 2012

Have you seen a great tweet lately?

I was first introduced to Schaeffer on video and in books while in Germany serving in the military.  This was between my high school and college days.  For years one of my prized possessions in my library was a set of the complete works of Schaeffer.  Unfortunately, I sold those books when I departed from the pastoral ministry.  However, several years later I met a pastor who is now a missionary in Kenya.  He told me that he had  the set that was previously mine and that they had been very beneficial to him.

Here are some of the ways in which Schaeffer influenced me:

1.  He challenged me to be a thinking Christian.

2.  He was influenced me to see Christianity as a worldview.  

3.  He shaped my views on the life issues like abortion and euthanasia.

4.  He spurred my love for things European and shattered the provincial faith that was around me.

Today we are indebted to God for using this man to help shape our Christian world.  I would have loved to have spent time at L’Abri in Switzerland.

There is a Francis Schaeffer section in our bookstore that you might want to check out.

Here are some web resources and articles about this date in history:

• No Little Person – J.I. Packer
• Know Your Evangelicals – Joe Carter
• 100th Anniversary – Ligonier
• Gimme Shelter – R.C. Sproul, Jr.
• How Francis Schaeffer Saved by Saved Soul – Challies
• Francis Schaeffer – Trevin Wax
• Remembering Francis Schaeffer - Don Sweeting
• Schaeffer at 100 – Justin Taylor
• Learning to Cry for the Culture – John Fisher

The following is a part of Schaeffer’s video series that I watched back in the early 1980′s.

If you look above at the menu for this blog, you will find a section “Bookstore”.  When you click on that, you will find the new FrankGantz.com Bookstore.  In partnership with Amazon, we are helping you find great books to help you in your Christian journey.  (I do get a small commission for any books you buy).

The exciting part of this is that we are able to feature some special books and music.  Each month the link will open to 9 books that we are featuring.  Most of these are books that are on my “want to read next” list.

All of the books that are reviewed on this site will also be easily accessible.

You will easily be able to find books by and about great Christian historical figures as well as the best and brightest minds of today.

Whatever you want from Amazon, you can find with the search feature.  If you are going to buy on Amazon anyway, you might as well do so through our bookstore.

Some of the most meaningful music in my life is listed.

I will update the bookstore on a regular basis, so check back often.

Forty Days of Mourning

On this, my fortieth day of mourning my beloved, I remove the ring she put on my finger. I cried through putting her ring on, even as I cry in taking mine off.

R.C. Sproul Jr. lets us take a look into the past 40 days after the death of his wife.  This is definitely worth the time to read.

Is Your Faith Towards Christ Real?

Would you like to know whether your faith is real? Then try it by the feelings toward Christ which it produces.

Wise words from a 19th century giant, J.C. Ryle.  This short article gives us a great test to determine if our faith is real.

The Clap Offering

But at church, we aren’t supposed to be performing. Yet, we feel this compulsion to clap. We can’t help it. We find ourselves clapping, then realize we can’t clap for the band so someone will shout “Let’s give a clap offering to the Lord! Hurray!”

Ben Cotton provides a great tongue-in-cheek post over at Stuff Christians Like.

Post-Prayer Satanic Whispers

Relentless, cruel, malicious Satanic whispers that begin the second I end my morning prayer with, “Amen.”

Anyone else get that?

David Murray explains how he handles those whispers from the wicked one that begin when you finish praying.

From the Archives: The Fallacy of Similarity

One of the most common usages of this fallacy relates to Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. If one states that anybody or any group has any point of comparison to Hitler or the Nazis, the response is almost automatic, “Are you calling me/us Hitler or Nazis?” The answer is clearly no.

Almost 4 years ago, I penned this article.  I continue to see this fallacy when people argue.

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All these toys were never intended to possess my heart. My true good is in another world & my only real treasure is Christ

— C. S. Lewis (@CSLewisDaily) January 22, 2012