There is no such thing as existing in a silent, "obedient-less", "rewardless" vacuum. We all listen to someone. We all obey some command. And we all experience the repercussions (good or bad) of our obedience to those commands. This is the human way. As image bearers of God we will always listen, obey and reap.
The mass media understands this. The fact that some believe in a neutral existence is evidence that they have been following a voice so long that they don't even hear it anymore. Magazine covers know all about justification. Talk shows know all about sanctification. And ESPN knows all about glorification. These institutions have made billions off of the innate desire in every person to be acceptable, to remain acceptable and to be happily satisfied.
We have been listening and believing their voices for a while now. And as a culture, we are reaping the rewards. Contrary to popular belief, righteousness doesn't come from looking like Kim Kardashian, or making People's list of best looking guys. Oprah knows nothing about becoming a better individual - that is, becoming more Christ-like. And athletic championships continue to become more and more anti-climactic; while societal celebrations like Mardi Gras continue to miss the mark on what a true celebration really is.
Those striving for the promises of society listed above, are, and will continue to do just that - strive. Kim will get wrinkles. Oprah has retired. Super Bowls will be forgotten. And people will always be puking at Mardi Gras. The voices are nothing but empty lies. The hot sign outside of Krispy Kreme promises a delicious snack, while delivering one big bellyache.
But there is a voice that is always good. The Word of God gives the authoritative command that is always loving, safe, and true. Righteousness can be found only in Christ. Pure instruction comes only from his Word, as we are empowered by his Spirit to hear, understand and obey.
And as we follow, we become more like him; knowing with certainty that our obedience to his voice will be rewarded in heaven. The inheritance is ours in Christ - and the celebration upon receiving it fully will be one like this world has never seen or experienced.
How do we attain all of these things? Rebels don't deserve a safe command. Enemies of God don't deserve to freely obey God. And people who should be punished are not supposed to be rewarded with a heavenly estate.
We attain these things, not by striving, but by trusting Christ alone by faith. By repenting of our wayward obedience, we may have eternal life by faith in this wonderful Savior. In so doing, we are free from the endless hustle of trying to be like whoever, to attain whatever our culture says is glorious. Instead of reaching heaven, heaven has come and rescued us. All striving has ceased. Christ and his glorious benefits are ours! It is because of Christ that I can be like Christ. It is because of Christ that I can act like Christ. And it is because of Christ that I can enjoy Christ's Kingdom forever, and ever.
Listening to someone else simply doesn't make sense. Who's voice are you listening to?
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Dr. Knox Chamblin (1936-2012)
I will never forget the first day of Johannine Literature when Dr. Chamblin trembled and wept as he began to teach on the Word of God, Jesus Christ. The moment was sobering as well as sacred. That semester I was so blessed by his teaching - that was rigorous, but most helpful in getting us to see Christ in the primary source. He was relentless in his desire for his students to wrestle with God and to find refuge in his Word.
But he was also a gracious man. He not only studied the Word of God, but he studied his class role before every class so that he could know his students. He ended every class with an invitation to join him for lunch.
I was convinced that he loved me, with a Christ-centered and enabled love. He always answered my questions. And if he could not answer then, he would tell me so. Days even weeks later, I would receive an email or a note with either an answer or direction towards an answer. I was overwhelmed by his humility and his simplicity.
After emailing him about a biblical question, some year and a half after taking his course, Dr. Chamblin wrote this:
Scott, It was good to hear from you. I have fond memories of our study together during the fall of 2008, pondering the depths of the Fourth Gospel...May our faithful God enlighten and empower you by his Holy Spirit for the work of this term - including your study of the Gospels and Acts. Yours in Christ, Knox
Dr. Knox Chamblin was brilliant, yet modest; simple, yet obviously desired to use his deep knowledge for the glory of his Lord - the Lord that he now sees clearly. I eagerly await the day when I will be able to see this man again in glory.
Dr. Knox Chamblin (1936-2012)
But he was also a gracious man. He not only studied the Word of God, but he studied his class role before every class so that he could know his students. He ended every class with an invitation to join him for lunch.
I was convinced that he loved me, with a Christ-centered and enabled love. He always answered my questions. And if he could not answer then, he would tell me so. Days even weeks later, I would receive an email or a note with either an answer or direction towards an answer. I was overwhelmed by his humility and his simplicity.
After emailing him about a biblical question, some year and a half after taking his course, Dr. Chamblin wrote this:
Scott, It was good to hear from you. I have fond memories of our study together during the fall of 2008, pondering the depths of the Fourth Gospel...May our faithful God enlighten and empower you by his Holy Spirit for the work of this term - including your study of the Gospels and Acts. Yours in Christ, Knox
Dr. Knox Chamblin was brilliant, yet modest; simple, yet obviously desired to use his deep knowledge for the glory of his Lord - the Lord that he now sees clearly. I eagerly await the day when I will be able to see this man again in glory.
Dr. Knox Chamblin (1936-2012)
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Absolutely Certain Proof for the Existence of God
There are many who say that if they were provided proof for the existence of God, they would believe in him. This is nothing new. Even in Jesus' day, people were asking for a sign so that they might believe (Matt 12:38-39; Jn 3). The trouble with this is that it presupposes something incorrect about the nature of mankind. It asserts that the chief problem with man is that he lacks information, and, that given more learning, he will turn in the right direction.
The truth is that man is not inherently innocently ignorant, ultimately in need of more information or scientific facts. Jesus, truth itself, stood in front of a man who asked, "What is truth?" (Jn 18:38) Christ, the God-man, stood right in front of the religious who demanded a sign that would somehow be more convincing than God himself!
Even if we were to try and prove something other than theistic matters, I think most of us can agree that we have empirically seen how man, being presented with the clearest, most-resonable proof, is knuckle-headed and stubborn. How many times have we experienced in others (or even ourselves!) the direct denial of truth ultimately because untruth was simply more desirable?
As a man who sleeps with someone other than his wife ultimately knows he should do otherwise, he does not do otherwise. He wants the other woman more than his wife, and will argue (against what he knows to be true) why he should be allowed to have her.
The fact is that man follows and argues for what he loves; and, he rejects and argues against what he does not love - even though it may be completely unreasonable to do so. Therefore, God himself could stand right in front of an atheist, and because the atheist hates God, he will deny God. Reason is pushed aside by moral hatred.
This is why we must not confuse that which is objectively valid and that which is subjectively acceptable. We could give the most objectively valid proof, and it would still be subjectively unacceptable to the unbeliever. As Van Til once wrote, "It is true that no method of argument for Christianity will be acceptable to the natural man. Moreover, it is true that the more consistently Christian our methodology, the less acceptable it will be to the natural man."
There is absolute certain proof for the existence of God. Van Til pointed this out when he said, "The existence of the God of Christian theism and the conception of his counsel as controlling all things in the universe is the only presupposition which can account for the uniformity of nature which the scientist needs. But the best and only possible proof for the existence of such a God is that his existence is required for the uniformity of nature and for the coherence of all things in the world...Thus there is absolutely certain proof for the existence of God and the truth of Christian theism. Even non-Christians presuppose its truth while they verbally reject it."
Every time an unbeliever opens his mouth, performs a scientific experiment, or even flushes the toilet, we can point to that as proof for the existence of God. For, in doing each one of these things he is presupposing the uniformity and coherence that only Yahweh provides. And, in denying God in this, he is allowing his hatred to triumph over his reason.
The truth is that man is not inherently innocently ignorant, ultimately in need of more information or scientific facts. Jesus, truth itself, stood in front of a man who asked, "What is truth?" (Jn 18:38) Christ, the God-man, stood right in front of the religious who demanded a sign that would somehow be more convincing than God himself!
Even if we were to try and prove something other than theistic matters, I think most of us can agree that we have empirically seen how man, being presented with the clearest, most-resonable proof, is knuckle-headed and stubborn. How many times have we experienced in others (or even ourselves!) the direct denial of truth ultimately because untruth was simply more desirable?
As a man who sleeps with someone other than his wife ultimately knows he should do otherwise, he does not do otherwise. He wants the other woman more than his wife, and will argue (against what he knows to be true) why he should be allowed to have her.
The fact is that man follows and argues for what he loves; and, he rejects and argues against what he does not love - even though it may be completely unreasonable to do so. Therefore, God himself could stand right in front of an atheist, and because the atheist hates God, he will deny God. Reason is pushed aside by moral hatred.
This is why we must not confuse that which is objectively valid and that which is subjectively acceptable. We could give the most objectively valid proof, and it would still be subjectively unacceptable to the unbeliever. As Van Til once wrote, "It is true that no method of argument for Christianity will be acceptable to the natural man. Moreover, it is true that the more consistently Christian our methodology, the less acceptable it will be to the natural man."
There is absolute certain proof for the existence of God. Van Til pointed this out when he said, "The existence of the God of Christian theism and the conception of his counsel as controlling all things in the universe is the only presupposition which can account for the uniformity of nature which the scientist needs. But the best and only possible proof for the existence of such a God is that his existence is required for the uniformity of nature and for the coherence of all things in the world...Thus there is absolutely certain proof for the existence of God and the truth of Christian theism. Even non-Christians presuppose its truth while they verbally reject it."
Every time an unbeliever opens his mouth, performs a scientific experiment, or even flushes the toilet, we can point to that as proof for the existence of God. For, in doing each one of these things he is presupposing the uniformity and coherence that only Yahweh provides. And, in denying God in this, he is allowing his hatred to triumph over his reason.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Not That I Have To, But That I Get To - An Amazing Story of How A Husband Kept His Word
Robertson McQuilkin was the third president of Columbia International University from 1968-1990. He stepped down from his duties to preach and teach in order to care for his wife who was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
This is truly a God-glorifying story.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Falling With The Facts: How My World Is Presently Collapsing
We are not primarily thinking beings. There is a trap to believing this; a trap that is set by the right laws, facts, and morals; and that is sprung by our deep acceptance that the changing of one's mind will ultimately change one's life. And so we read more than repent, we learn more about him than lean more upon him, and we are more dedicated to hearing with our ears than feeling with our hearts.
We cannot understand why the Bible just doesn't work in the heat of the moment - when the girl walks by, when the curse comes our way, and when we simply cannot make ourselves feel the way we know we are supposed to. Our facts seem sharp when we write them down, but then sink into dullness when we attempt to take them when we are at war.
I believe in facts. I believe in doctrine. I love to learn, read, and argue my orthodox positions. It is not right to abandon these things. But it is wrong to believe that they are to remain alone - colorless, lifeless, loveless. Weapons are no good without strength. Laws are no good without love. And right now, I feel like a boy trying to swing Conan's sword.
I have always believed that to follow Christ is simply to learn his way and then to do it. I was thinking one way, now I must think another way. I was living one way, I must now live another way. A changed mind, after everything has made reasonable sense, has been my ultimate goal. Why repent when you have a big library...
I have been forced to believe otherwise. I have learned that, even after being well informed, I have wounded, bruised, and abandoned God's gift to me. This education has made my ultimate goal now my ultimate condemnation. What good is the Bible when we beat people over the head with it?
Yesterday, my eyes burned because they were emptied of their tears. I sat there with my head in my hands, leaning upon her shoulder, feeling my world collapse right before me. I have never felt so helpless.
I wanted to run and watch less than honorable things on the internet - but covenant eyes stopped me in my tracks. I wanted to go read some apologetics - but my desire to read quickly faded. I wanted my wife's approval - but she had already given it, and it wasn't enough. I knew all of the right things. I understood my errors. At that time no amount of learning could fix me.
My heart, for the first time in a while, longed deeply for Jesus. But I didn't know how to reach him, other than to simply ask my heavenly Father to help me. At that moment, color filled my life's picture. I felt more human as I felt the Divine add life to my heart. It was enough for me.
Nothing has been more humbling than to know what to do and how to act, but to be completely paralyzed when it matters most. No matter how hard I try, I cannot make my heart feel something I won't. This tall man, fell. No, rather, this tall man is falling. Intellectually I know it's a good thing. But it hurts. I want it over. I want to be fixed.
At the same time, however, I desire heaven more. I have called upon my Lord more. And quite frankly, because all other options have abandoned me, I have trusted him more. I may be reading ten chapters of my Bible per day and thus remaining faithful to my reading plan; but without love it is utterly useless - a painful clanging in the ears of those around me. Only his faithfulness is enough. Only Jesus can change my heart to give life to my informed (and otherwise dead) mind.
We cannot understand why the Bible just doesn't work in the heat of the moment - when the girl walks by, when the curse comes our way, and when we simply cannot make ourselves feel the way we know we are supposed to. Our facts seem sharp when we write them down, but then sink into dullness when we attempt to take them when we are at war.
I believe in facts. I believe in doctrine. I love to learn, read, and argue my orthodox positions. It is not right to abandon these things. But it is wrong to believe that they are to remain alone - colorless, lifeless, loveless. Weapons are no good without strength. Laws are no good without love. And right now, I feel like a boy trying to swing Conan's sword.
I have always believed that to follow Christ is simply to learn his way and then to do it. I was thinking one way, now I must think another way. I was living one way, I must now live another way. A changed mind, after everything has made reasonable sense, has been my ultimate goal. Why repent when you have a big library...
I have been forced to believe otherwise. I have learned that, even after being well informed, I have wounded, bruised, and abandoned God's gift to me. This education has made my ultimate goal now my ultimate condemnation. What good is the Bible when we beat people over the head with it?
Yesterday, my eyes burned because they were emptied of their tears. I sat there with my head in my hands, leaning upon her shoulder, feeling my world collapse right before me. I have never felt so helpless.
I wanted to run and watch less than honorable things on the internet - but covenant eyes stopped me in my tracks. I wanted to go read some apologetics - but my desire to read quickly faded. I wanted my wife's approval - but she had already given it, and it wasn't enough. I knew all of the right things. I understood my errors. At that time no amount of learning could fix me.
My heart, for the first time in a while, longed deeply for Jesus. But I didn't know how to reach him, other than to simply ask my heavenly Father to help me. At that moment, color filled my life's picture. I felt more human as I felt the Divine add life to my heart. It was enough for me.
Nothing has been more humbling than to know what to do and how to act, but to be completely paralyzed when it matters most. No matter how hard I try, I cannot make my heart feel something I won't. This tall man, fell. No, rather, this tall man is falling. Intellectually I know it's a good thing. But it hurts. I want it over. I want to be fixed.
At the same time, however, I desire heaven more. I have called upon my Lord more. And quite frankly, because all other options have abandoned me, I have trusted him more. I may be reading ten chapters of my Bible per day and thus remaining faithful to my reading plan; but without love it is utterly useless - a painful clanging in the ears of those around me. Only his faithfulness is enough. Only Jesus can change my heart to give life to my informed (and otherwise dead) mind.
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