R.C. Sproul's Blog, page 609

Partial Knowledge

We live in a culture that is a quick and dirty culture. We want to become mature Christians in five easy lessons. We want to become saints by fifteen minutes a day. We want to have flat stomachs and strong abs by three workouts a week. That may work over a given period of time for your abs, but it's not going to work for your soul. Attending the school of God takes time and labor and energy and deeply committing oneself to prayer, to the study of Scripture, to fellowship with other believers, to ministry within the life of the church.

We need to listen to Paul: "When I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Cor. 13:11-13). Paul was the most mature Christian alive in the world in his day, a man who had the equivalent of two doctorates in theology by the time he was twenty-one years old. He was a man who spent years in the desert being instructed by Christ Himself and who was made an apostle for the Gentiles. Yet in his letter to the Corinthians, it is that man who was saying, "Now I know in part." He understood that even his understanding was limited and not worthy to be compared with what he would enjoy when he entered into heaven.

He uses the image of a mirror which may be somewhat misleading for us. When you look at a mirror that is made with the craftsmanship by which glass is constructed today, sometimes the mirror shows you things more clearly than you would ever notice looking at a person from five feet away. But in those days, mirrors were not quite as brilliant in their reflection as they are today. There was a certain dimness to them, a certain internal distortion, and Paul was saying that's the way our knowledge is now; it's partial. We see in the glass darkly. We see in the mirror dimly. But all dimness and darkness will be removed when we enter into glory and we look at things as they are bathed in the overwhelming light that comes from the presence of God.

Check Out Today's $5 Friday List

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Find some great $5 Friday resources today on a wide variety of topics. Living By God's Promises by Joel Beeke and James LaBelle is provided courtesy of Reformation Heritage Books. Sale starts at 8 a.m. and ends Saturday at 8 a.m. EST.

View today's $5 Friday sale.

One or Two by Peter Jones

I love paradigms, grids and excel spreadsheets; they have such a wonderful way of providing a means of systematizing information and making it understandable, accessible. Over the years I have tried to provide paradigms to categorize worldviews (or religions). I have employed the work of others and have modified some to try to simplify for my students what the various worldviews have in common and what makes them unique.

The most generalized templates for worldviews typically include between three to eight categories. These categories are not derived from Scriptural exegesis, they are merely tools designed to help us comprehend teachings. But now Dr. Peter Jones (Scholar in Residence and Adjunct Professor at Westminster Seminary in California) has distilled a model with only two classes of worldviews and one of the beauties of this distillation is that it is biblically derived rather than pragmatically constructed.

The two categories are boldly printed on the front of his book, One or Two: Seeing a World of Difference. Simply stated, 'One' refers to the belief that (a la Sagan) the universe is all there is and all there ever will be. Answers should not, indeed cannot, be sought outside the constraints of creation because there is nothing outside of creation. 'Two' refers to the Christian worldview which teaches that there is a personal, transcendent God that created the universe and providentially sustains it, but is not to be identified with it.

The two options are wonderfully explained and contrasted in this book and the exegetical support for this thesis comes from Paul's writings in Romans 1. Dr. Jones culls many helpful insights in his methodical examination of this chapter, summarizing for the reader three areas in which we see the tide of monism (the 'One') rising in our culture: "theology (what we believe about God), spirituality (how we worship) and behavior (specifically, how we live our sexuality)."

These three subjects are further dissected from both from a monistic (One) viewpoint as well as from a Christian (Two) perspective and contrasted with one another in a very helpful, readable, and well supported (Scripturally and otherwise) manner.

The book is full of modern day examples of monism in the thinking, activities, institutions, books and media of our day, so if anyone thinks that Dr. Jones is merely tilting his lance at philosophical windmills he will have to contend with the sheer volume of evidence to the contrary.

Perhaps by this point you are wondering how ALL religions of the world can fit into this paradigm? Dr. Jones presupposition is based on Romans 1:24-25 where Paul writes: "Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen." But the question is: "Is this a necessary consequence of suppression or just one possibility of it?" Jones would answer that it is the former, but this begs the question of how religions such as Islam, Judaism or the cults can be considered monistic.

Dr. Jones is not unaware of the question and addresses both Judaism and Islam in Chapter 6, albeit briefly. He writes, "Practically speaking, most Jews no longer believe in the Bible, for the god of rabbinic Judaism has become an impersonal force, driving many into forms of pagan spirituality that seek the "god" within. Regarding Islam, Dr. Jones points out that Allah swears by the sky, moon and stars and thus puts 'himself' on plane with them. (Contrast this with Hebrews 6:13: "For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself…") Additionally, regarding both Islam and Judaism (and arguably the cults), Dr. Jones contends that any theistic system that is not Trinitarian cannot have a personal God and thus reduces 'him' to a force, a theme that runs rampant in monistic thought and writings.

Dr. Jones has been sounding the clarion call on monism for years. While the church has been fretting over the rise of materialism (a philosophy for little boys according to C.S. Lewis), its parent, monism, has been morphing and metastasizing all around us for decades. This should not surprise us, according to Dr. Jones, for 2 millennia ago the apostle Paul warned his readers that if you do not worship the Creator, you are doomed to worship the creature. If you reject Two, you choose One. Those are the options – there is no tertium quid.

This brings up one criticism of the book: there is no index. In a book that has so many concrete examples (formal names, events, etc.) an index is most helpful to make the book a reference source. Additionally, rather than the chapter title being printed on the top right pages, the most current subtitle in the text is provided; I found this more confusing than helpful as I had to return to the chapter title occasionally to be reminded of the overarching subject of that chapter.

Those without a philosophical background will still find this material readable and insightful. For those students entering college, One or Two is a must read if you want to understand the culture that will soon attempt to smother you. The end of the book contains a Q&A section that will further train and prepare the reader.

You can buy your copy of One or Two at the Ligonier store. To learn more about Dr. Peter Jones visit truthxchange.com.

 

The Dangers of Mixing Law and Gospel

"To this day I can distinctly remember the joy I felt when, upon studying Calvinism for the first time, I discovered that some points of its teachings were nicknamed 'the doctrines of grace.' At the time I was a part of a church (Calvary Chapel) that strongly emphasized the grace of God, but now I was stumbling upon a tradition that emphasized it more often, and more consistently." Jason Stellman's journey to Calvinism sounds like the journey of countless others today.

He continues, "One can imagine my confusion, then, when in the course of my studies I came across an insistence on the part of Reformed theologians upon the importance of the 'covenant of works.' What I was hearing was that the covenant of works is necessary to protect the very doctrines of grace with which I was beginning to fall in love."

You can read about how he resolved that tension in his article from this month's issue of Tabletalk, "The Danger of Mixing Law and Gospel."

Knowing Scripture

One of the first books from the pen of R.C. Sproul, and one that remains in print 33 years later, is Knowing Scripture — a book that offers help for Christians who want to know basic principles of interpretation so they can study the Bible for themselves. In his article for this month's issue of Tabletalk, an article also titled "Knowing Scripture," Dr. Sproul sets forth just a few crucial principles for those who would faithfully interpret the Bible: the analogy of faith, the sensus literalis, the implicit must be interpreted by the explicit and the obscure must be interpreted by the clear. 

Read more about these principles in "Knowing Scripture."

Should churches observe Sanctity of Life Sunday?

It is a legitimate and important question — the appropriateness of celebrating the Incarnation, the celebration of Christmas. I believe it fitting and appropriate, but am in turn always uncomfortable disagreeing with brothers to my right. I understand their concerns, and appreciate their passion for the regulative principle of worship. On the other hand, one can not rightly argue that the birth of the Savior is off limits in the pulpit. The Bible talks about it, and so we may preach about it. Given that, I cannot embrace a position that suggests we can preach about it, but not in December. If we are allowed to preach the promises in Genesis, in Isaiah, if we are allowed to preach the first few chapters of Luke, it seems we ought to be allowed to preach them at any time of year.

The same, it seems to me, applies to not only the church calendar but to church history. That is, we can preach on the Lord's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem and in turn about the resurrection, and so ought to be allowed to preach consecutive sermons on these events each Spring. In like manner, if we are right that the Bible teaches the solas of the Reformation, it seems that it would be safe to preach on them the last Sunday in October. One is not, in so doing, becoming Romish in imposing a church calendar, or constructing holy days without biblical warrant. One is instead remembering the grace of God in space, and in time.

While the choice of December 25 as the anniversary of Jesus' birth is rather dubious, we do know with certainty what happened on January 22, 1973. On that day the Supreme Court handed down its decision in the case Roe v. Wade. The nine men determined that every state had the duty to give women unfettered access to abortion up until the birth of the child. It was a day whose infamy overshadows December 7, 1941 in the memory of the church in America. Since that time perhaps 50,000,000 babies have been murdered in the womb with the full protection of the state and the knowledge of the church.

Abortion in America is, in the judgment of my very wise father, the greatest evil in our history. The American holocaust dwarves the evil of Nazi Germany in both numbers of the dead, and the numbers of we who know what is happening. Can we then impose an obligation that every pulpit should speak against this great evil on the third Sunday of every January? Of course not. The pulpit, like the bearers of God's image, is sacred. We can not rightly impose any obligation not explicitly found in Scripture. We no more ought to impose Sanctity of Life Sunday on the church than we should impose the observance of the birth of Jesus.

On the other hand, Sanctity of Life Sunday is as fitting, as sensible, as reasonable as observing the Incarnation from the pulpit. Just as we must preach the glory of the incarnation, sometime, if not in December, so we must preach the horror of this evil sometime, if not in January.  To be silent is to be complicit. It is to tell our children and grandchildren that we are as guilty as those Germans who knew, and were silent. Of course our pews are filled with the guilty. The same is true of every sin we preach against. Of course the grace of God in Christ trumps even this great evil.

But the same Jesus who died for our sins calls on us to suffer the children to come unto Him. When we are silent, when we treat abortion as a mere social problem, a mere political issue, we expose our complicity. So preach faithfully. Proclaim not the sanctity of life, but the holiness of God, whose image the least of these bear. Call for repentance from the pulpit God placed under your care. Preach the same good news that He preached, that the captive are to be set free, that those marching toward death are to be rescued. Preach, and take the heat. For Jesus says such will make you blessed. Walk by faith, and preach by faith, in season and out of season.

 

[VIDEO] Light & Heat: A Passion for the Holiness of God

Ligonier Ministries 2011 National Conference from Ligonier on Vimeo.

What to Expect from Reformation Trust in 2011

Reformation Trust Publishing, the book-publishing arm of Ligonier Ministries, plans to release ten books in 2011, including new titles in several established series and books by writers both familiar and new to Reformation Trust readers.

In February, Reformation Trust will publish a new edition of Dr. R.C. Sproul's classic children's tale The Priest with Dirty Clothes. This book helps children grasp the important theological concept of imputation, which is central to the doctrine of justification by faith alone. This edition includes new illustrations and a new "For the Parents" section to help moms and dads take their children to a deeper understanding of the biblical truth behind the story.

Also in February, watch for Pillars of Grace: AD 100­–1564 by Dr. Steven J. Lawson, the second volume in his Long Line of Godly Men series. In the first volume, Foundations of Grace, Dr. Lawson traced the teaching of the doctrines of grace throughout the Bible. In Pillars, he explores the development of these doctrines through church history, from Clement of Rome in the first century to John Calvin in the sixteenth.

How the Gospel Brings Us All the Way Home, by Dr. Derek W. H. Thomas, will be released in April. This book walks readers through Romans 8, which Dr. Thomas calls "the best chapter in the Bible," to explore some of the many ways in which the gospel impacts the lives of Christians.

In May, Reformation Trust will release the next volume in the Long Line of Godly Men Profiles series, for which Dr. Lawson serves as series editor and for which he has written profiles on John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards. In The Mighty Weakness of John Knox, author Douglas Bond demonstrates that the Scottish Reformer overcame physical frailty and timidity to accomplish great things for the kingdom of God by trusting Christ to work through him.

Three new entries in Dr. Sproul's Crucial Questions booklet series are planned for summer releases. With these new titles—What Can I Do with My Guilt?, What Is the Trinity? and What Is Baptism?—this series of compact treatments of important theological and biblical topics will grow to eleven.

In the fall, look for Mark, the next release in the St. Andrew's Expositional Commentary Series by Dr. Sproul. Previous volumes in the series, which is jointly published by Reformation Trust and Crossway Books, have covered Romans, John, Acts, and 1 & 2 Peter. These commentaries provide helpful overviews of the major themes of the biblical books.

Reformation Trust is very pleased to be publishing a rare title by esteemed Scottish pastor Dr. Eric Alexander. This still-untitled volume, scheduled for release in October, includes meditations on the death of Christ, the work of the Spirit, and the Christian life.

Finally, also in October, Reformation Trust will release Dr. Sproul's still-untitled look at the ongoing importance of the Reformation in light of contemporary suggestions that Protestantism should consider rapprochement with the Roman Catholic Church.

For more on forthcoming Reformation Trust titles, and to view all the titles in the Reformation Trust lineup, please visit ReformationTrust.com.

10 Ways You and Your Church Can Be Involved in Adoption and Orphan Care in 2011

"Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world." James 1:27

There are more than 163 million orphans in the world today. Even in the United States there are almost half a million orphans in the foster care system. Most of these have been abused, neglected or abandoned. These are the ones the Bible speaks of when it mentions the "fatherless." The Scriptures are clear that the task of caring for these little ones belongs to His people. Christians can not only show the compassion of Christ in caring for orphans, but also display a picture of the gospel.

The question for any believer is not whether to be involved in the ministry of orphan care, but how. Below are ten suggestions to get you thinking about how you might participate in a ministry that can change the lives of children and families.

1. PRAY

Pray for orphans and children in foster care who will go to bed tonight wondering if there is any place they belong. Ask God to meet their needs and provide a forever family for them. Pray for prospective adoptive families who are waiting for children and children who are waiting for families. Seek how the Lord would have you be involved in the work of orphan care. Pray that your church would effectively engage in the global orphan crisis. Thank God for the work of His Spirit in calling out His children to visit orphans in their distress.

2. LEARN

There is much to learn about the needs, resources, and issues concerning adoption and orphan care. Study God's Word to see what the Bible says about the fatherless. Learn about children in your local foster care system and what needs they have. Discover the plight of orphans in distant lands. Recognize your responsibility to care in practical ways for vulnerable orphaned children locally and globally.

3.  WELCOME

God has opened His heart to the fatherless and wants us to open our hearts as well. Create a climate in your home among your family and cultivate a culture in your church that receives the little and the least. Give them a sense that they are welcomed, loved  and that they belong.

4. ENCOURAGE

The life of a foster or adoptive family can have its challenges. Show appreciation for what they are doing in providing a loving family to these children. Your encouraging words may be just the thing they need to persevere through a difficult time. You can support these families by providing respite care to give them a night out, some time away, help running errands, or bring over meals. Be creative and have fun finding ways to be a wrap-around family supporting them in caring for orphans.

5. GIVE

The cost of private or international adoption and the price of ministering to the fatherless can be high. Your financial support can go a long way to help orphans as you give to ministries and organizations who serve the needs of these children. Many of these ministries depend on the faithful, sacrificial gifts of folks like you. Helping cover the high cost of adoption can help make adoption affordable and accessible for a family that otherwise might not be able to adopt.

6. GO

God commands us to "visit orphans in their affliction." This word "visit" means "to show care and provision for." You can do this by participating in a mission trip through your church to an orphanage showing compassion to these children and helping them to understand the special place they have in God's heart. Become a regular visitor to a local orphanage or group home where children in foster care live.

7. VOLUNTEER

Give your time to an organization or family who cares for orphans or is involved in adoption. You might mentor or tutor a young person in foster care. You might volunteer at an adoption agency by helping with a special event, assisting in their fundraising efforts or using your talents in a way that benefits their ministry. You might help one of the 20,000 teens aging out of the foster care system this year by including them into your family's activities. Become a Guardian ad Litem for a child giving a voice to the neglected and abused.

8. ADOPT OR FOSTER

While not everyone is called to foster or adopt, some are. Perhaps God is calling you to open your home to a child who needs a family. You may adopt from foster care or an orphan from overseas. Through adoption your family will display the gospel in a unique and dynamic way. Adopting a child from America's foster care system carries little or no cost at all. Many would step up to adopt if they only knew that.

9. MOBILIZE

Launch a ministry in your church that will impact the global orphan crisis. With the permission and direction of your church's leaders, you can be a catalyst that can meet the needs of children and families in your church, community and around the world. Your ministry might address foster care, adoption or orphans. Doubtless there are others in your congregation who will want to join you in reaching out through this ministry.

10. ADVOCATE

There are many ways in which the current foster care system needs to be revised to be more family friendly. You can be an advocate to speak out for the best interests of children who have been neglected, abused or abandoned. By learning what the current issues are, you will be better able to speak out on their behalf. Let your voice be heard when you can influence legislation or policy change that will benefit children and families and help improve the foster care system.

The Bible says that "true and undefiled religion in the eyes of God the Father is to care for orphans and widows in their distress" There is no clearer picture of the gospel that that of adoption. God took us when we were slaves to sin and brought us into His forever family to become His children. When you become involved in the ministry of adoption and orphan care, you are displaying the glorious gospel for the world to see. Regardless of how you are involved, by engaging in caring for orphans in their distress, you are practicing true and undefiled religion. Yours can be an investment that can impact many lives and will last a lifetime and beyond.

David Wooten is Director of Operations and Development at Embraced by Grace Inc. Adoption Agency

 

Twitter Highlights (1/9/11)

Here are some highlights from the various Ligonier Twitter feeds over the past week.

Ligonier How many contradictions do you need to be convinced that the Bible is not the word of God? http://bit.ly/gxe4fJ



Tabletalk Magazine Love of the creature toward the Creator must include obedience or it is meaningless (Francis Schaeffer).



Ligonier Academy Getting ready to welcome our DMin pastors for Steven J Lawson's course on Missions & Evangelism next week. May the LORD bless these men.



Reformation Trust The new birth is necessary because that which is born of the flesh is flesh—and you can't get spirit out of flesh. -RC Sproul



Ligonier If God is not sovereign, God is not God. -R.C. Sproul



Reformation Trust In His sovereignty, God not only determines ends, He controls all the necessary means to accomplish those ends. -Steven Lawson



Do you realize that the most formidable opponent that you've ever had in your life, your most hostile enemy...is Almighty God? - R.C. Sproul

 

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