To initiate or participate? That is the question.

"He does not care to serve the Good, but to have the advantage of regarding it as a fruit of conquest... He wills that the Good shall triumph through him, that he shall be the instrument, he the chosen one... He cannot, he will not, humbly understand that the Good can get on without him."

In chapter six, "Barriers to Willing One Thing: Egocentric Service to the Good," Kierkegaard addresses the man who wills the Good just so he can add more notch to the belt. This double-minded man reveals his character by his pride and lust for recognition. He is not simply satisfied with participating in the providential will of God in history.

One of the back cover reviews writes, "To read this book with care is to know oneself pursued by 'The Hound of Heaven'." God really has been pursuing me through this book. God has been teaching me and challenging me in innumerable ways through S.K.'s book. This chapter, in particular, has caused me to take stock of my motives in service to God. Would I be satisfied with the role of the servant whose accomplishments aren't recognized this side of eternity? I have to realize that eternity's reward is infinitely better than any earthly recognition or reward. However, to do so requires patience - an immense amount. Impatience leads to desiring the victory of the Good in a temporal and selfish sense - desiring it through self. It fails to realize that "eternally the Good has always been victorious."

In essence, I'm reminded of Dr. Shu's challenge to us. (I don't remember which class.) I do clearly remember him challenging us to think through whether we believe we are here on this earth to intiate or participate. This challenge has honestly been on my mind the last year or so since he gave it. I've certainly come to the conclusion that I'm here to participate: to participate in the infinitely wise and expansive plan of God. However, in the temporal sense, filled with pride and worldly lust, the norm is to initiate. The world looks for leaders who get things done, people who make a difference in the here and now. Initiation is a moment, a constant change at the mercy of public opinion. Participation interacts with the eternal, a patient humility that actively realizes that God's plan is higher than ours.

One of the greatest benefits of this work, I believe, is the deep, soul-searching insights into motivation. What drives my service to God? In his efforts to write this book, he was not simply propogating an individualism that would ultimately morph into what we now know as existentialism; he was inciting believers to view their true selves in light of absolute solitude with God. Oddly enough, not a bad idea.

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8

Thoughts on Our Context

I am almost through reading Timothy George's "Theology of the Reformers," and a continuing stream of thought in the book is the considering of the contexts out of which these men emerged. It should be made clear that this is not to say that these men are merely the product of an age or that culture and society shape people - that is hardly the case. Yet we should understand that these men were shaped (positively and negatively) by the ideas and movements of their time. Certainly they did not acquiesce to every stream of thought or to every principle of an ideology. It cannot be denied however that men always must address, act and react according to the major movers of the age. Moreover, the authors, theologians and philosophers of the past that we choose to interact with also shape us as we embrace or articulately reject their assertions.

What I wanted to highlight for us as budding theologians/thinkers is the personal respect in which this same principle is active. In other words, we are very much the product of the contexts that we live in or deliberately choose to participate. And consequently the shape or emphasis of our particular ministries, writings and lives are the result of the choices we make as we interact with these men. A short but recent example would be our college experience. Principally, we sat under Colin and Dr. Shumaker, who invariably have shaped our thinking in ways we do and do not yet recognize. A cursory examination of our discussions, writings and conversations reveal this. I have found it interesting to connect the thoughts and desires and actions of my current life to past events and experiences. Of course, the Guide, Mover and Example of our life intersects with each of these events and shapes us as He wills after the image of His Son. Through His revealed will (the Word) and through the mysteries of His providence He surely works to shape us. As we recount our lives and consider His ways, we find at least two simple responses. First, a humble gratitude that we know and understand Him in a redemptive way. Secondly, the responsibility incumbent upon us to act, react, think and move in the context of thinkers and ideas in which we participate.

Preaching

Brothers,
This Sunday July 20th, I will have the opportunity to preach at a small church plant. I would like to ask for your prayers in preparation for the sermon, delievery, and that I would be open to the Lord's teaching. I am excited about this sermon because it is my first opportunity to preach without basing any portion of the message on any message that I have done in a Preaching class. My passage is 1 Cor. 7:17-24.

As a second note I am still planning on being off-campus this year at BBC. I think I have found a roommate or two, but now we need to find an apartment. I will be trying to get specific details in the next few weeks.(I hope)

Mexico City Here We Come

Upon Colby's request, I am posting an article to update you guys about our upcoming venture to Mexico.

The hand of God has been clearly evident as plans and finances come together. We have already received about $5,000 in support, and more churches have indicated that they will also give. It's truly great to experience firsthand the charity and love of the Body of Christ. I also had a great conversation with my landlord last night as well. She is a godly lady (even a Baptist), and she is going to try to find someone to fill our apartment by the end of August, so that we will even get our security deposit back. She is also connecting us to a Mexican family here in Hatfield who will be moving back to Mexico at the same time Hannah and I do. They are Seventh Day Adventist and the husband is a lay pastor, but she fears that when they move back, they may get discouraged and drift away from God.

Beyond that, my dad and I have been working out a schedule for our time down there. I will have the oppurtunity to preach and teach in the two churches my dad is pastoring. I'll be preaching at least once a month in both churches, and helping to teach in the new church plant. Hannah will be helping my mom in some of her ministries, and she will be focused on intensive Spanish language study.

Hannah and I have been praying that this oppurtunity will strengthen our resolve to serve God in Mexico City. We also hope and pray that we will grow closer to the Lord and closer to each other. Personally, I've been praying that I would be sensitive to Hannah in her transition to Mexico City. While I've been through the whole process before, this will be entirely new for Hannah.

If you could be praying for us, Hannah and I would really appreciate it. We still have some details to work out on the state side, so pray that those would fall into place. Our tentative date for departure is August 18th, and Lord willing we will be there until at least January. I'll continue to keep you updated, but that's all for now. Love you guys.

Reformers and Moleskin

Hey guys, just wanted to contribute a few things from my readings and doings. One of the reasons I am slowly poking along in S.K. is because I have three books to read before my internship begins. I am on my last one and it is called "Theology of the Reformers" by Timothy George. Some interesting thoughts have struck me as I have read about Luther and now Zwingli:

First of all, these reformers all had a high view of God. These are surely the greatest accomplishment of the Reformation - The reclaiming of the supremecy of the Word, Christ and God's sovereignty. Each of the reformers also had their mistakes. It is encouraging to see their humanity and shortcomings amidst a great movement of God. Even theologically speaking, the men of the reformation did not completely conform to Biblical theology (in my estimation). However, the culture, society and church from which they were emerging was such that we should be very grateful for the indelible marks they made in church history and the spirit of reformation they passed on to us. "Semper Reforma" (always reforming) is one of the commonly forgotten mantras of the reformation that we should continue to practice.

On another note, I have acquired a few moleskin notebooks/journals for this internship. While my emotions toward these notebooks and those who owned them have been mixed up to this point, I must say that they are truly a blessing to humanity and the world of thought and thinkers. I hope that including myself or us into that last statement was not too presumptuous...

s.k. background info

I found an interesting article highlighting the life and work of Kierkegaard. It accompanies the book's introduction well by providing a succint overall view of S.K.

http://www.egs.edu/resources/kierkegaard.html

Colby's Comments

Pardon the alliteration, it is the missionary in me. It is encouraging to know that you guys are reading and studying; it will provoke me to do more. Right now I am beginning to study Hebrew again: writing out paradigms, reading OT Textual Criticism, doing vocab, and hopefully translating. I began this week it hopes of testing out of Hebrew I and II here at TEDS. Right now I am signed up for a OT Intro to the Pentateuch and Geography of Bible Lands. Hopefully I can take some Hebrew courses if I test well.

My job has been going well. I work for an electrician who does high-end residential work. This week I was in a 5 million dollar house. The sad part is that it was a summer house for its owners. The new aspects of my job are driving through Chicago traffic and using pipe to run wires in (something they do here in Chicago). Em and I are looking for a church: you can pray about that. It seems that it is hard to find a solid church around here. The one we liked the most had a woman SS teacher for a mixed group. I wasn't sure what to think. She did a good job though!

Besides learning to love and enjoy my wife, I have been reading Ecclesiastes. I am on my second time through, and the dots are starting to connect. I may post about it later, but I will offer a few comments. There seems to be a difference between our hearts finding pleasure in our toil and enjoying our toil. It seems that our hearts reward should be our Creator, while we should enjoy the lot he has given us. This is especially encourages me because after arriving at graduation from college, marriage, and a job I need to still find pleasure in God above all and not consider my work drudgery.I might want to shun earthly pleasures so I can enjoy God, but actually I should delight in God and the things he has given me: wife, food, drink, work. Well, that is all for now. Please excuse more more colloquial style. I would love to chat with you guys. Maybe Jeremy can do a post on his plans to go to Mexico. Farewell.

Religious Affections 1

I’d like to share some thoughts from readings I’ve been doing in Edwards’ Religious Affections. He makes the cause, rather strongly in fact, that true religion lies in or rather is evidenced by our affections. Hardness of heart, while often implying the presence of sin, also speaks to a lack of what he calls “true religion,” best understood as an active walk with God. He cautions however though that the presence or the perceived presence of religious affections does not always mean a correct walk with God. Discernment here is key. That being said, Edwards’ rightly emphasizes that a proper understanding of God’s redemptive plan creates true affections. “If the great things of religion are rightly understood, they will affect the heart.” He further claims that a lack of affections is really a symbol of a lack of true religion. For while one can fake emotions and desires, one cannot hide the joy and gratitude that accompany a proper understanding of the redemptive work of Christ.

This struck a chord within me as I am so swayed and captivated often by earthly emotions and yet cold and emotionless in my worship and walk with God. I shamefully have to admit more excitement upon receiving my new cell phone that receiving the Word of God. This ought not be so!
“How can they (I) sit and hear of the infinite height and depth and length and breadth of the love of God in Christ Jesus, of his giving his infinitely dear Son, to be offered up a sacrifice for the sins of men, and of the unparalleled love of the innocent, holy and tender Lamb of God, manifested in his dying agonies, his bloody sweat, his loud and bitter cries, and bleeding heart, and all this for enemies, to redeem them from deserved, eternal burnings, and to bring to unspeakable and everlasting joy and glory; and yet be cold, and heavy, insensible, and regardless! Where are the exercises of our affections proper, if not here? What is it that does more require them? If we ought to exercise our affections at all…then they ought to be exercised about those objects which are most worthy of them…How great a cause have we therefore to be humbled to the dust, that we are no more affected!” (123-124)

TURN OFF THE NOISE!

In this trek through Purity of Heart, I have read dozens of things I would love to write about, but one aspect really stands out right now. Turn off the noise!

"But he that in truth becomes at one with himself, he is in the silence. And this is indeed like a changing of raiment: to strip oneself of all that is as full of noise as it is empty, in order to be hidden in the silence, to become open. This silence is the simple festivity of the holy act of confession. For at dancing and festive occasions worldly judgment holds that the more musicians, the better. But when we are thinking of divine things, the deeper the stillness the better (47-48)."

As I read this book, I live in a culture surrounded by noise. Next door I can hear my neighbor's radio as I write. Distraction constantly persists everywhere I am; even as I pray, my mind wanders. It wanders into frivolity: what will I do later? what will I do at work? what time is it? My mind is constantly seemingly enslaved to the temporal. Yet, in the stillness the eternal reigns.

However, this stillness is not a forced emotion. It involves a collected preperation - a collected mind. "Nor is he like the poet who wishes to seek out loneliness and its mood (50)." In preperation for this stillness, just turn off the noise. It does not mean to merely be in a quiet place (though personally I find that essential), it carries the idea of ridding mental distraction and contemplating the seriousness of sin. This preparation for confession has altered the way I have my daily devotions; it has altered the way I pray; it has altered the way I view myself. Coming to God in stillness horrifies me quite honestly. I realize sin after sin as I ask God to reveal them in my life. At the same time though, it astounds me. I am astounded that as I bring each of these sins before God, he forgives me. That is an elementary sunday school truth, but the reality of it is truly amazing.

In this stillness, I learn more of myself. I learn more of my weakness and failures in light of the presence of a Holy God. I also learn however that I am freed from those failures. I am counted as righteous. I am a saint. "The all-knowing One does not get to know something about the maker of the confession, rather the maker of confession gets to know about himself (50-51)." Perhaps, another fascinating discussion on the nature of prayer and confession, but right now I cite it as an example of the benefit of intimacy with God. I have realized that intimacy with the Father leads to a greater intimacy with myself and knowing the true terror of my apalling sin which leads to true repentance and confession.

I hope that you guys are also benefitting from this book. I hope to hear some of your thoughts about what you find interesting or what you have been learning. I hope the pre-existentialism is not rubbing off on you too much though, we're still a community you know. We can share our thoughts.

"to a scientist, all dying boys are equal"

After recently reading Catch-22, this one sentence has been seared into my memory and weighs upon my thoughts. Although it compromises one sentence of one paragraph of an entire book, this sentence creates a haunting image of a cold and sterile modern machine where the sanctity of human life has lost any sense of value in the name of progress.
Literature, I believe, provides much more than an entertaining story line; it grants us insight into the culture in which we live and minister. (Granted, this book was written about 50 years ago, but then again, imagine how far culture has "progressed" since.) In a world where science textbooks replace God's word, and scientists the new prophets of this progressive writ, is it any wonder people have no hope? Rather, the world has turned to musicians to empathize, actors to entertain, the internet to delude, self-centered spirituality to comfort, authors to bestow wisdom, and scientists to answer. Everyone is just "looking for love in all the wrong places."
However, they are looking for love. They are looking for guidance. They are looking for Truth. God has instilled those desires in their very nature, and he has given them a means of attaining it - his Word, taught and lived by His church. We have the answers. We have been given the freedom to love as we ought. Not all dying boys are equal. The church of God should not be just another sterile, indifferent modernist institution. We do value human life because God values human life.
I guess in light of this, I would ask you, "How does our understanding of culture (in this case literature) better enable us to minister effectively in the society which God has placed us?" And, "How do we balance using culture as a means of evangelistic discussion while still maintaining the Bible as supreme authority?"

Let me know what you think.

Picking up the Torch of Hebrew Scholarship

The address at the bottom of this post will take you to an article by the New York Times (it figures) concerning a "deadly blow" to Christendom as we know it. The big news: Hebrew literature speaks of a suffering Messiah! Woah - what? Really? Uh oh... time I ask for my brain back (and my money) because I didn't realize that I'd had that one pulled over my eyes.

Do these people really think they are doing scholarly work? I mean, have they read Hebrew Scripture? Okay, so let's take a trip back to the oldest Hebrew literature we can find... oh, say, Genesis. How about Genesis 3:15 where God says to the serpent, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." Sounds like the Deliverer is going to suffer. Not to mention the book of Isaiah and the whole bloody sacrificial system.

Oh, and then there was Jesus who talked about His own death all the time. Said He was going to die and be raised on the third day, but that must have been added by His followers afterward. Funny that they should add that and then die for it, hmmm. And never-mind the proliferation of Hebrew and Christian literature which document this Jesus fellow thoroughly. Let's be real scholars and bet our eternities on a single stone with a few words on it that every elementary Hebrew student knows like "three" (sh'losh) and day (yom) and prince (Tsar). Let's fill in the blanks, or ignore them because this is rock solid evidence that Christianity is a historical hoax! (Plus, the font of the Hebrew letters put it just before Jesus lived, not after, because font changes a lot in 100 years.)

I should probably address this with a more refined article, but the whole issue seems like a feeble attempt to discredit Christianity.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/world/middleeast/06stone.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss