Taking Thoughts Captive

While I was in seminary, a new Calvinism was flourishing among Evangelicals in the United States. Well, to be honest, a partial Calvinism was flourishing. The Calvinism then (and still) popular among American Evangelicals like John MacArthur, John Piper, Albert Mohler, Mark Dever, and others was a Calvinism that was limited to following Calvin on the “doctrines of grace” when it came to salvation. Men like these, all baptists, have very little room for Calvin when it comes to his teaching on the sacraments.

Here is an excerpt I ran across recently from John Calvin's commentary on John 20. Here, he takes a very Augustinian view on the power of the sacraments as coming from the joining of the sacramental act with the word or promises of Christ:

But let the reader observe, that with the visible and outward sign the word is also joined; for this is the source from which the sacraments derive their efficacy; not that the efficacy of the Holy Spirit is contained in the word which sounds in our ears, but because the effect of all those things which believers receive from the sacraments depends on the testimony of the word. Christ breathes on the Apostles: they receive not only the breathing, but also the Spirit. And why, but because Christ promises to them?

In like manner, in baptism we put on Christ, (Galatians 3:27,) we are washed by his blood, (Revelation 1:5,) our old man is crucified, (Romans 6:6,) in order that the righteousness of God may reign in us. In the Holy Supper we are spiritually fed with the flesh and blood of Christ. Whence do they derive so great efficacy but from the promise of Christ, who does and accomplishes by his Holy Spirit what he declares by his word? Let us therefore learn, that all the sacraments which men have contrived are nothing else than absolute mockeries or frivolous amusements, because the signs can have no truth unless they be accompanied by the word of the Lord. Now, since we never sport in this manner with sacred things, without wickedly pouring contempt on God and ruining souls, we ought to be most carefully on our guard against those stratagems of Satan.

Here Calvin sounds almost like Luther. Indeed, there is very little for this Lutheran to quibble with here. If only Calvin's contemporary followers read and taught more of what Calvin actually taught!

#theology #sacraments #Reformed #Lutheran #Evangelicalism

Aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

— The Apostle Paul, 1 Thessalonians 4.11-12

Biblical Christianity, properly lived out, has always been counter-cultural, whether in the by-gone days of Christendom or in the nominally-Christian American culture in which many of us grew up. The difference between Christianity lived and the life epitomized, encouraged, and admired by our culture, however, has never been greater than it is today. While Scripture clearly does not call us to a life of isolated quietism, it also does not permit us to get dragged (or drag ourselves) into the swap that describes most of our culture and the ways in which we interact with it.

We would do well to reflect on what a disentangled life characterized by quiet, intentional labor would look life and how we can live that out in the midst of the bitter clamor and true laziness that describe so much of our culture.

#culture #life

Psalm 107 begins with a wonderful call to worship, “Oh, give thanks for the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” This summons to praise God certainly calls to us from the beginning to the end of Scripture; however, what jumps out at me in this Psalm is the use of cycles of events as the proof or rationale for our worship...answering the unasked question, 'Why should we worship the LORD?'

Over and over, the psalmist recites a cycle of hardship or suffering followed by a desperate cry to God for help, which results each time in God coming to the aid of the faithful who cry out to him. This cycle ends each time with the line, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!”

After three cycles in the past tense, the psalmist switches to the present tense to describe a storm on the sea and the desperate situation that results. Here, in the present tense, the terrified sailors cry out to God who delivers them again and gives them peace, rest, and a safe port at the end of their journey. This present tense deliverance is yet another reason to implore us to worship. “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for his goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!”

Finally, the psalmist reflects on the great goodness and sovereignty of God over creation, over politics, and over the lives of the righteous—again, all present tense. The Psalm concludes with this reflection, “Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.”

Though written more than two thousand years ago, Psalm 107 considers the realities of God's covenant faithfulness to his people (past, present, and—by implication—future) and our sinful failure to rightly worship God for his watchful care. More than this, we should find here great hope both in God's past acts and in the gift of prayer, through which God answers the cries of his people, fulfills their every need, and protects them from harm.

#devotional #psalms #theology

There is a clear and present danger that the devil may take away from us the pure doctrine of faith and may substitute for it the doctrines of works and of human traditions. It is very necessary, therefore, that this doctrine of faith be continually read and heard in public. No matter how well known it may be or how carefully learned, the devil, our adversary, who prowls around and seeks to devour us (1 Peter 5:8), is not dead. Our flesh also goes on living. Besides, temptations of every sort attack and oppress us on every side. Therefore this doctrine can never be discussed and taught enough. If it is lost and perishes, the whole knowledge of truth, life, and salvation is lost and perishes at the same time. But if it flourishes, everything good flourishes—religion, true worship, the glory of God, and the right knowledge of all things and of all social conditions.

— Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 26: Lectures on Galatians, 1535

(Note: There are very few commentaries that I would ever recommend a Christian take up and read cover to cover just for edification; however Luther's great Galatians commentary is one that every believer should purchase and read slowly, from beginning to end. It is a devotional work of such depth and richness that you will not be disappointed. I promise.)

#Luther #quotes #theology

Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.

– C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock

#quotes #Lewis #theology

On this Good Friday, you could do no better than to listen to one of J.S. Bach's most wonderful works, “St. Matthew's Passion.” This is an incredible way to spend the next three hours of your life. You won't be disappointed. I promise.

#theology #hymnody

[The cross] is the only ladder which reaches up into the better world; the only way to heaven leads through suffering; there is none other bridge from death to life. This way of the cross to the glories of heaven has been prepared for all men; and whosoever will, let him come. Hanging on the cross, and sitting on the throne of heaven, the will of the Savior is to draw all men unto himself. But he that will not die with him cannot live with him. Our own life, or, in other words, our evil nature, all our sinful lusts, which Paul calls “the body of sin” (Romans 6, 6), the combined force of wicked desires, whose root is willfulness, and whose strength is pride and deceit; — this life of the world in you must die, if you are to live. In the name of God, sacrifice all this! You have been baptized into the death of Christ, and your old man is crucified with him. Let the efficacy of your baptism prove itself. If you believe in the Lord, be assured that you shall not want the grace to mortify the flesh and lead a new life in him. To this end he helps us by means of our many trials and tribulations from without and within, vexations, temptations, sickness, suffering; but the strength itself comes from the death and resurrection of Christ. There are the roots of your new life; and thence it must receive nourishment, if it is to increase. In his word and sacraments he gives to his believers the strength of his life and death; and through these means we of a truth receive grace to mortify the flesh, to take up the cross, and to live for heaven.

— N.J. Laache, Book of Family Prayer

#quotes #devotional #theology

link: Vicious Talk

If we can be certain of anything in these uncertain times, it is that nearly every modicum of civility, maturity, and decency in our American culture has evaporated more quickly than dew in the southeast Texas summer.

Presidents are no longer remotely presidential (this is not novel with the current administration). Successful businessmen talk to and about others in ways that would've gotten our mouths washed out with soap as children. And everyday average people treat others online in ways that ought to make them utterly ashamed of their vitriol and immaturity.

None of this is news, but it should concern us. It should be especially concerning to Christians, who are by no means above the fray or immune to the temptations of unleashing childish diatribes against others online and in person. What ever happened to the civilized part of our civilization?

Anthony Esolen has written a great piece lamenting this reality. As one on the right side of the political, theological, and cultural spectrum, he does not mind taking aim first at his own. He writes:

That most of the spitefulness is aimed by the left against the right is no comfort for the conservative, because quite enough of it goes the other way, and the general effect is the same. It will do you no spiritual good, and it is unlikely to achieve even a worldly purpose, to be pleased to find that your opponent, who may be to blame for falsehood or cowardice or outright wickedness, has justified your low opinion, and to make that pleasure evident to everyone. It is not a love of truth. It is a love of falsehood in others. One sign of it is the disappointment you feel when you learn that someone is innocent of the sin you had attributed to him.

The rest of his piece, which quotes largely from 19th century Italian author Alessandro Manzoni, shows us that our current state is neither unique to our day nor new in its ugliness.

It is definitely worth a thoughtful read.

#links #culture #theology