• 1848 Wisconsin became the 30th state of the union
• 1903 Entertainer Bob Hope was born Leslie Townes Hope in Eltham, England
• 1917 John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was born in Brookline Mass.
• 1942 Bing Crosby recorded Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas”
• 1970 Tom Lutz and Sue Spratlin were married in Atlanta, GA

The rest is history

Happy Anniversary Dad and Mom!

On his blog today, John Piper reflects on how reading G.K. Chesterton’s Orthodoxy impacted his own life. Despite Chesterton’s Anti-Calvinistic position, the book drove Piper deeper in his appreciation of these biblical truths.

If I thought his broadsides against predestination really hit home and undid true biblical doctrine, I would keep my mouth shut or change my worldview. But his celebration of poetry and paradox undermines his own abomination of the greatest truth-and-mystery-lovers around today, the happy Calvinists.

Nothing in this Calvinism-abominating book came close to keeping me from embracing the glorious sovereignty of God. On the contrary, the poetic brightness of the book awakened in me, along with the works of C. S. Lewis, an exuberance about the strangeness of all things—which in the end made me able to embrace the imponderable paradoxes of God’s decisive control of all things and the total justice of his holding us accountable.

One of the reasons that Calvinism is stirring today is that it takes both truth and mystery seriously. It’s a singing, poetry-writing, run-through-the-fields Calvinism.

It’s the Arminians that are the rationalists. Arminianism trumps biblical sentences with metaphysics: God can’t control all things and hold us responsible. God can’t choose some and love all.” Why? Metaphysics. Out with mystery! It just can’t be!

So Chesterton’s anti-Calvinist shotgun sprays all around today’s poet-Calvinist and misses the mark.

Proverbs 24:25-26:

24Whoever^(C) says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
^(D) will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
25but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
and a good blessing will come upon them.
26Whoever gives an honest answer
kisses the lips.

My car is the vehicle we have chosen to not put any more money into than needed (it is 10 years old). If something is simply cosmetic then I just live with it. It boils down to priorities, how we want to use our money. Our mechanic has been telling me I need to replace the tires now for about a year (I tend to try and get as much out of the tread as possible). I have finally figured out an ingenious way to stop my mechanic from reminding me, I have quit taking it in to get the oil changed! Perfect, he has not said anything to me about my tires for months now. Before the comments fill up with advice on how bad that is for the car and my safety, I am taking it in tomorrow. And in case the obvious is not clear, the problem here is in no way my mechanic.

It has occurred to me that many of us are tempted to deal with sin in a similar manner. We know there is a lacking or a need of change, but we are not willing to pay the price or use the resources necessary. Therefore, we figure out “ingenious ways” to stop anyone of reminding us: some stop attending church or change churches, others avoid the pastors, maybe we simply stop asking for advice about anything lest the costly issue arises, teens will start clamming up around parents, we become more “selective” about who we seek advice from, still others will avoid certain church settings like Sunday School, after service discussions, etc.. We all know the routines. Now for those of you who thought my idea to stop getting the oil changed so the mechanic couldn’t tell me I need new tires was foolish, how much more foolish is it for us to do this with our souls? If there is a sin problem in your life, a know sin that requires change, it is time for an “oil” change.

We have been discussing Postmodern thought processes, truth, and whether or not there are non-essential truths when it comes to salvation. It seems best to speak of doctrine that is more central to salvation or more foundational to salvation rather than essential or non-essential. I have included the drawing above to help demonstrate what needs to take place in our mind. While all doctrine has ramifications and ties to salvation, certain doctrines are more core, central or foundational to salvation. Who God is, the Person and work of Christ, doctrines of the atonement and faith, and who man is are foundational and central. Therefore, even if I disagree with a brother on baptism or the Lord’s supper, modesty, or eschatology, but we agree on who God is, what Christ accomplished on the Cross, Sin, and faith, then we may have far more in common than other baptist or those within a given denomination. This is why I will often refer to men like John MacArthur (our views of the end times are different), RC Sproul, Sinclair Ferguson, Jerry Bridges (our views of church government and baptism are different), CJ Mahaney and John Piper (our views of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are different, not our view of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit though). These men all get the Apostles teaching on who God is, He is a sovereign creator; who man is, one created in the image of God, fallen in the first Adam, and dead and enslaved in sin unable to save himself or in any way merit God’s grace; what Christ accomplished on the Cross, that he died an atoning death for his people.

In theology it is essential that we keep what is central in the center of our theology. Many claim to hold to Christ and his death and resurrection. However, when He is distorted by adding to Christ then the entire gospel is distorted. Conversely, when He is distorted by minimizing or watering down the truth the entire gospel can be distorted. Paul speaks of men that elevate the doctrine of circumcision, or tried to add back in the doctrine of circumcision. When this happens our focus and hope can be easily shifted off of Christ. Those in Galatia wanted to add to Christ and his righteousness. ‘Sure, you are saved by Christ’ they would say, ‘but the real way of knowing you are a Christian is if you are circumcised. ‘ However, it is important to note that Paul does not write as if doctrines such as depravity (Ephesians 2), election and predestination, the sovereignty of God(Romans 9, Ephesians1), and a literal resurrection of Christ (2 Timothy 2:7-9) were non-central to believing in Christ.

The more we agree on who God is, and the person and work of Christ the more unity we will have in Christ. This does not mean the men and women have never been truly saved under incomplete or even wrong theology. This is the grace of God that he works in such a way. It also does not mean the men and women have not made false professions of faith under good theology. This is the depravity of men’s hearts and the deceptiveness of sin. However, Christ is most clearly displayed and glorified when He is proclaimed as He is revealed in the word.

Dr. Russ Moore has a well written article on why we need more depth than simply Veggie Tales (By the way, I do enjoy watching some of them) and what it means to preach Christ. Preaching Christ is not minimalistic, but whole-istic when it comes to the truths of Scripture.

Have you ever seen the episode of Veggie Tales in which the main characters are martyred by anti-Christian terrorists? You know, the one in which Bell Z. Bulb, the giant garlic demon, and Nero Caesar Salad, the tyrannical vegetable dictator, take on the heroes for their faith in Christ. Remember how it ends? Remember the cold dead eyes of Larry the cucumber behind glass, pickled for the sake of the Gospel? Remember Bob the tomato, all that remained was ketchup and seeds?

No, of course you don’t remember this episode…

There’s plenty of Veggie Tales preaching out there, and it’s not all for children. As a matter of fact, the way we teach children the Bible grows from what we believe the Bible is about–what’s really important in the Christian life. There’s also such a thing as Veggie Tales discipleship, Veggie Tales evangelism, even erudite and complicated Veggie Tales theology and biblical scholarship. Whenever we approach the Bible without focusing in on what the Bible is about–Christ Jesus and His Gospel–we are going to wind up with a kind of golden-rule Christianity that doesn’t last a generation, indeed rarely lasts an hour after it is delivered.

Preaching Christ doesn’t simply mean giving a gospel invitation at the end of a sermon–although it certainly does entail that. It means seeing all of reality as being summed up in Christ, and showing believers how to find themselves in the story of Jesus, a story that is Alpha and Omega, from the spoken Word that calls the universe together to the Last Man who governs the universe as its heir and King….
Every text of Scripture–Old or New Testaments–is thus about Jesus, precisely because, at the end of the day, everything in reality is about Jesus. Why is there something instead of nothing? Why are human beings religious? Why do people want food and water and sex and community? Why are there galaxies and quasars and blue whales and local churches? God is creating all that is for His heir, for the glory of Jesus Christ. When you see through Jesus, you see the interpretive grid through which all of reality makes sense.

With this in mind, the Scripture tells us that all of Scripture tells us the story of Jesus. The Gospel writers show us how Jesus fulfills the Scripture, but, interestingly enough, He doesn’t simply fulfill direct and obvious messianic prophecies. He also relives the story of Israel itself–exiled in Egypt, crossing the Jordan, being tempted with food and power in the wilderness during a forty-day sojourn there. Jesus applies to Himself language previously applied to Israel and its story–He is the vine of God, the temple, the tabernacle, the Spirit-anointed kingship, the wisdom of God Himself.

Boy do I love playing softball with everyone! I had forgotten how much I missed it. I love seeing everyone one extra time a week, I love cheering for others as they do well, I love watching the children play with each other during the game, I love how all the kids lineup after the games to run and hit like their dads and moms! With that in mind, I just want to remind everyone that we are setting examples for the younger ones and for anyone watching. Many times what we do speaks more loudly than what we say. Our kids and teenagers see things and are making mental notes based on our priorities. If dad can have the family re-arrange their schedule, including homework, meals, what time he gets out of work, etc. for a softball game, they begin to see that this is something dad really enjoys and thinks is important. If dad is exhausted from work, but is able to play softball that night it says something. What are they seeing by how we treat other, more central, church activities like worship, prayer meeting, and Sunday School?

We are taught in Scripture not to forsake the assembling of ourselves. This is a biblical command, something that is required of us, something that we ought to delight in as believers, and something that is good for our souls. Softball is for fun and extended fellowship. It can have a wonderful place in the life of a church. However, it is to add to or be extra to the faithful attendance and participation in the main corporate gatherings of the body. So, as much as I want to see many out at the softball diamond, I would much rather worship with you all, pray with you all, and learn from God’s word together. The best scenario is if we can Worship, Pray, Learn, and Play together. We need all of it, but we also need to make sure our priorities stay lined up.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Any discussion on such a subject, non-essential truth, is a dangerous discussion. What is the bare minimum truth we need to hold? An attempt to minimize and streamline what God has revealed as that which man needs to be competent and equipped is the beginning of a slippery slope that many have gone down. However, the truth remains that there are genuine Christians who disagree on doctrines such as baptism, The Lord’s Supper, the end times, and yes even the cross and what was accomplished there. We must first state that this disagreement on such truths can only stem from sin and the fall. It appears we would be better served to state that there are doctrines that are more central to salvation than to call others non-essential. For instance, some would say baptism is non-essential in the discussion of salvation. However, there are others that tie this doctrine so closely with salvation that they end up teaching baptismal regeneration. Others would not teach such a doctrine but they practice it. So I hesitate to even speak of the sacraments as non-essential to salvation. Doctrine is a bit like a quilt. We have individual pieces, but they are all intertwined to produce one large goal.  We may be able to appreciate and examine each individual piece for what it is, but they all are stitched together by God to reveal Himself.

Building on these points, it is important to note that we must think larger than just the individual when we call something non-essential. In calling doctrine non-essential we must ask to who’s salvation is such truth non-essential? You may know a friend that disagrees with you on a doctrine (let us stick with baptism), but you are convinced they are a believer. For that individual we could call the doctrine of baptism non-essential to their salvation. However, what about the generation the comes behind and that they disciple and teach. For instance, if that brother believes in infant baptism or even accepts catholic infant baptism, what damage may that have for subsequent generations? Surely, some could trust in that early, pre-conversion baptism and be deceived. For others, maybe the hold to a man centered gospel, where man’s will is the determining factor in salvation. In one case, someone like this may be a real believer, but what about others they disciple and lead to Christ? Could such doctrine not deter others from Christ?

Last week’s post, on how the Post Modern mindset may be found just north of your shoulders and mine, brought up the the issue of Non-essential truth. While doing research in an attempt to write on this subject, I came across some great truths from C.H. Spurgeon on the subject.

Let us hold God’s truth, but not with a slippery hand. If a doctrine be true, let us grip it [tightly], though the earth shake or the heavens fall. Christian men, where there is a love for God’s truth, God will bless his Church; but because this is a time-serving age, because we have not come out plainly with those things which distinguish us from each other, because we have paid too much deference to each other’s views, and have not boldly declared the great truths of his Word. - these are the reasons why God has to some extent deserted us. You say, “I do not see so much [value] in doctrines, after all.” Then you will not see much blessing. I love so much what I believe to be true, that I would fight for every grain of it; not for the “stones” only, but for the very “dust thereof.” I believe that we ought not to say that any truth is non-essential; it may be non-essential to salvation, but it is essential for something else. Why! you might as well take one of the jewels out of the Queen’s crown, and say it is non-essential, but she will be Queen all the same! Will anyone dare to tell God that any doctrine is non-essential?

Oh gracious Spirit, hast thou written what is non-essential?
Hast thou given me a Book respecting which I say, “My father and mother believed it all, but it is not necessary for me to believe it“? God has given me a judgment; am I to follow in the wake of other people, thinking I shall be sure to be right and that God will never ask me what I was? An easy kind of religion is this! It was not so in the days of good old John Bunyan and Berridge; they sang a far different song. But now people are saying,
“I can listen to So-and-so and So and-so” - men who contradict one another. We cannot think [highly] of people, who can hear opposite opinions, and yet believe both to be correct. We cannot expect much growth unless you hold the truth, and take pleasure in the stones of Zion, and, “favor the dust thereof,” - every atom of [the truth].

–Charles Spurgeon, Zion’s Prosperity

Do not follow a part of his orders, and neglect the rest. The Lord Jesus must be received as a whole, or not at all. Do not say “This is non-essential“, for such a speech is flat rebellion. I do not believe in any words of our Lord being non-essential. They may not be essential to our salvation, but every word of Christ is essential to our spiritual health; neither can we disregard the least of his precepts without suffering loss through our disobedience. Be very careful that you follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth; no other kind of walking is safe in such a world as this. Do what he bids you, as he bids you, and it shall he well with you.

–Charles Spurgeon, Blessed Promises For Dying Outcasts

There is a man in the world, whose views are not quite in consistency with Scripture. He says, “Well, it does not matter it is a little thing, a very little thing.” Yes but that little wrong thing leads to a great wrong thing. The sinner’s path is down hill, and when you take one step in violation of Scripture precept, your next step is not only easy, but seems even to be forced upon you. Doubt election, you will soon doubt perseverance, and you may soon come to deny redemption.

Where did the errors of the church of Rome come from? Were they all born in a day? No, they came by slow degrees. … If you tamper with one truth of Scripture, he that tempts you to meddle with one, will tempt you to tamper with another, and there will be no end to it, till, at last, you will want a new Bible, a new Testament, and a new God. There is no telling where you will end when you have begun.

–Charles Spurgeon, Importance of Small Things In Religion

(ht:jb)

With that said, I still want to try and tackle the issue of what is essential to salvation in the coming days. I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on these quotes though.

The west side of Anderson has taken a real hit business and restaurant wise. There are few sit down places to eat and many vacant businesses. I have good news to report: Pizza Hut on Nichol Avenue has remodeled and added a Wing Street! The staff there has always been great during the lunch hour and now the place has a fresh new look and wings (they will start serving from the new menu next week). The new decor has a sports theme with two flat panel TV’s and framed jerseys from local school including, Frankton, Highland, ICA, and Lapel. This franchise is locally owned and operated by a man from Lapel. Maybe we need to start a Wings night for the College group this summer!

Our oldest invented a word of her own today and I think it may have great usefulness.

Argusation

Please us that word in a sentence:

Dad we were right in the middle of an argusation about my new toys.