A.W. Pink and the Knowledge of God (Apologetics)

[Alex, Moderator]

Hi everyone,

Here is a message that I'm posting on behalf of Pastor Overduin. Have a happy New Year! :)

Alex

*****

Hi all,

At our first reading group meeting, the name of A.W. Pink was mentioned. Some questions were asked concerning him, in the context of expressing great appreciation for his writings. It made me pick up again Iain Murray’s biography on Pink, (Banner of Truth, 1981). I’m more than halfway through it and find it a very instructive and edifying book to read. Let me just give you few quotes (below), maybe to whet your appetite. (I will take the book with me at our Jan. 24 meeting, God willing, if any of you wish to borrow it to read it too.

In connection with the first quotation making reference to apologetics, I don’t think it should be interpreted to mean Pink saying, that he saw no value in apologetics. As Bavinck also stated (p. 91) even about the six arguments (philosophical proofs) for the existence of God, “they are of no small value”. Indeed, in the context of the witness of that exercise of love which Pink speaks of, can we not say, apologetics can be for some the initial instrument God uses to make others begin to pay attention to the word of God? It can cause skeptics to begin to think it is not unreasonable to listen to God’s word. Coming to the word then, and under it, God may work with His illuminating regenerating Spirit. Pink would agree with Bavinck, I think, in saying the field of apologetics can serve in the way of “signs and testimonies” to the Christian faith, leaving an impression helping to make room for the gospel to come in mind and heart with “compelling force” or irresistible grace.

With Pink and Bavinck, we keep coming back to the Word itself as the chief instrument God uses to accomplish that indispensable supernatural work of regeneration in people’s lives. Hence also this other quote from Pink, “None will ever be drawn to Christ, savingly, by mere preaching; no, not by the most faithful and scriptural preaching: there must first be the supernatural operations of the Spirit to open the sinner’s heart to receive the message!... How can we expect him to work miracles in our midst, while there is no humble, earnest, and trustful praying for his gracious activities!... O brethren, join the writer, in contritely owning to God your sinful failure to give the Spirit his proper place.”

In connection with the place of apologetics, see also I Cor. 9:22, especially the phrase, “that I might by all means save some.”

Just some thoughts,
pho


“The cultivation and manifestation of Christian affection between the people of God is a far more weighty argument with unbelievers than any apologetics.” A.W. Pink

“The fact is that if we do not desire and earnestly endeavor to keep all of God’s commandments, we are totally lacking in the spirit of genuine [Christian] obedience. As one has well pointed out, ‘It is the exactness of obedience which constitutes the essence of obedience.’” A.W. Pink

“More and more we are learning that there is a vast difference between a theoretical knowledge of the truth and inward experience of it. The general neglect of the heart is the root cause of the present sad state of Christendom.” A.W. Pink

“We know from experience how hard it is to break away from early ideas, while we are not unmindful of the danger of grasping at (without thoroughly weighing) what is novel.” A.W. Pink