CJ Mahaney's Main Thing

CJ Mahaney has begun a blog. You should read it. It will prove to be good for your soul.

Why? Because CJ is a cross-centered man and speaks and writes with some of the greatest passion on the planet about the greatest event. His second post, not surprisingly, is on the cross and the books that he recommends as the best on the subject. I encourage you if you have not listened to or read CJ Mahaney before you should. I really believed you will be blessed.

I don't doubt that he will keep the main thing the main thing on this blog and constantly integrate the cross into many aspects of life--the main and the mundane.

Divine Foreknowledge - Syllogisms

God is good.
Satan is bad.
Cancer is bad.
Cancer comes from Satan.

Syllogisms like this should never be the only way we do theology, or to use a less loaded term, the way we view life. I've heard this type of reasoning used when defining issues pertaining to how God knows and/or wills sickness like cancer--or just bad events in one's life. Now in using one lens via the Scriptures this is true, but not fully true or even mostly true. The problem with some who use reasonings like this to interpret Scripture and view life is that there is more to be said, and to only say this is most definitely not true. Some of the biggest lies in life come in kernels of truth and clever sentences.

Let me show you why viewing life this way doesn't work, using similar reasoning:

God is good.
Satan is bad.
Crucifying an innocent man is bad.
The crucifixion of Jesus comes from Satan.

Now, is that true? Well, in one sense you can say yes, but not in the fullest sense, in fact in the biblical sense the syllogism doesn't work at all and is proved untrustworthy in sufficiently dealing with theological matters (again, insert practical LIFE matters). Rather, here is one way the Bible uses syllogism particularly in this context:

God is good.
Satan is bad.
Killing Jesus is bad.
Killing Jesus pleased God.

This is a better syllogism, because Isaiah 53:10 states, speaking of Jesus the Messiah, "But the LORD was pleased to crush him, putting him to grief..." It pleased God to kill Jesus. The Father put His Son to grief. Yet to be fully biblical, we know Satan was involved in Christ's crucifixion, because he entered Judas; and sin was involved, because Jesus died for sinners. This shows that simple syllogisms don't always tell the full truth.

However, back to my first point on sickness, some may go further and say, "Well did not Jesus the Messiah pictured in this passage say that one of the reasons Jesus died was to cleanse those who trust Jesus from things like sickness since the same passage in context says, '...by his scourging we are healed'" (54:5). The answer is yes (sidenote: contextually the Gospel-writer interprets this verse to be used as a basis for Jesus physical healing, but Peter uses this verse to be used as a basis for spiritual healing from sin, which means both are true, and therefore not easily syllog-ized), but it's more then yes. Why: 1. Not all Christians experience physical healing in this life; 2. All Christians are promised that everything in there life works for good, and the everything includes every thing like sickness which happens in Christian's lives (Ro. 8:28).

Also, is not the "everything" in Ro. 8:28 the promise of God and secured by the atonement (see entire book of Romans on things secured by the atonement)? I believe it is, and because I believe the atonement "Is finished" and that God is good, every Christian who died from a sickness of _____ died in the favor of God and in Jesus' effective atonement that purchased them. They died in the promise that even that very sickness that was not healed was indeed part of the everything worked by a sovereign God for their good because the sickness they were given will not separate them from Christ's love and atoning work. Theological syllogisms aren't so simple, and God is always good, but not always in the way we might first think. Our syllogisms must always be in service to the Holy Spirit's breath, the entire Word of God, otherwise we easily drift toward half-truths and values that are conditioned by an over-emphasis of one thing (in this case physical healing) and and under-emphasis or God forbid, ignoring, of another (in this case God's sovereignty over all things). Let me put forth another syllogism:

God is good.
Satan is bad.
God is sovereign over all things.
Satan and sin and sickness are under God's sovereignty.

This is true, and this is good for us, even when it kills us, because nothing can kill those in Christ, those sons of God, without the Father's attentive sovereign eye and kind sovereign hand. Christian, you will never stand face to face with King Jesus until that which snatched you from life was sovereignly ordained to bring you into eternal life, because the hands of Jesus and the Father are greater then the hand of cancer and the hand of death and it is always His hands that hold you.

Trusting God's Promises - Our Second Church Visit

We visited Redwood Christian Fellowship in Fortuna, CA this week, pastored by Bob Hapgood, and enjoyed our time there.

The sermon text was 2 Peter 1:3-4, and pastor Bob called each person to practically trust the promises of God in daily life. God's promises are great and infinitely valuable and He is the one who makes them, therefore they are always true.

A few pointers:

He called his congregation away from trusting in worldly value-systems and instead to be shaped by the value-systems of God's Word. Whenever we are more committed to our immediate needs (in this world) more than our spiritual needs (salvation, trusting God's promises) we are out of whack and we need to have our values "put right" by God's gospel.

Like Christian in Pilgrim's Progress, we all walk a narrow path and many times fall off, but we must continue down the path and we do so by trusting God's promises more then the many offers and temptations of the Worldly-Wise Men that meet us along the path.

One aspect that I really appreciated from Pastor Bob was his authenticity in sharing his struggles. He was not afraid to humble himself and lead his church in speaking out of his own experience and struggles in not trusting God daily. It's sometimes easy to view trusting God as a distant past-event of the first time one believed the Gospel, but our faith is shown by trusting God daily, be it confessing our sin and believing the Gospel and trusting God with our circumstances whether good or bad, because His promises are always sure and deal with the in's and out's of life.

Finally, his analogy of not just putting our wallet on the chair of God's promises, but putting our whole selves (our self-weight) wholly on God in life is the key. Throwing ourselves on God and leaning all our weight into Him is what He desires, not compartmentalizing our lives and only giving God particular categories of our lives.

Another wonderful thing was to take communion with God's people and be called back to the death and resurrection of our Savior. This church, at least on this Sunday, did a good job of keeping that central throughout the service, and that is always a joy to be a part of.

Divine Foreknowledge - Musings

I just finished reading a book that I got back in my seminary days called Divine Foreknowledge. It is a book four views: open theism, simple knowledge, middle knowledge, and the Augustinian Calvinist position. Its been awhile since I have revisited the questions of divine sovereignty, human responsibility, God's knowledge, the problem of sin (what about the problem of grace?), etc., so I figure it was time to dive back in. Here are some random musings:

I find it interesting that many in the church don't even like to deal with this issue, it's too mind-bending and takes to much thought and biblical wrestling. We like to leave it alone or just say that its unimportant and not really a big deal where you come down on these issues.

However, this is a fallacy. It is important and everyone knows it. Why? Everyone deals with it or will deal with it because babies die and some don't until there 90, because men crash planes in buildings and some men build buildings, because some dad's leave their children and some mom's abort them and other dad's raise there children and go to their soccer games and other mom's nurse them at the breast and nourish and care for them till death, and on all these issues the question of how God relates to them (knows them) is no small issue. It matters. Let's not act like it doesn't.

Guys like Greg Boyd, pastor and scholar, say that God knows the future exhaustively but that it is not exhaustively definite because the future has indefinite possibilities (p. 104). Therefore God is flexible in reacting to the decisions of his free creatures, because he has "sovereignly decided to not settle all of the future" (p. 105). In other books, he has written that man in fact creates the future. To be honest, if your highest value in the universe is the free will of man (like I heard one northern California pastor say) then this view probably would fit your value-system. However, I don't think this view is biblical or even helpful, but I do think that out of the other views it "gets God off the hook" the best. Open theism in saying God doesn't know all of the future really does protect man's free will far better then those who like to affirm that man has libertarian free-will and that God knows the all of the future. And if it is God's highest value to preserve the utter freedom of those created in His image, it seems to make the most sense.

Yet, this is not the view of the Bible. God's highest value is not the free-will of man. His highest value is Himself, and because He values Himself so highly He wills that His Son be sent to restore fallen humanity to freedom, that is the freedom to see God as He is and worship Him in His glory. Man is never creator of anything, he is always created, and God as Creator is always in first place and this includes His knowledge about the future. Man's action, is always in some way subject to the action of God. This is basic 101, but that does not entail that it is simple.

Sometimes the most basic things are difficult. For instance, it is a very basic biblical concept that Adam's sin plunged all of humanity into sin, but this is not an easy idea. It is complex. It is assumed in some way by all Christians, and it seems to me on the surface of things it's very unfair.

But fairness should never be a high value for the Christian. Never. It gets us into a world of trouble, because our interpretation of fairness is never as pure as God's justice. It is not the same thing.

More to come, there are many questions and there always will be, but I just had to get some things down. I hope you are patient, dear reader, and continue reading, because God is good all the time, and that is very true and very good and simple. And at times difficult as hell, and this is good for us.

Why So Serious?

This in the wake of Heath Ledger's death reminded me that life and death, heaven and hell, Jesus and Satan, are serious matters indeed. It also reminded me that the one's who trust Jesus should be the happiest people in the world, not 'cause their glib and frothy but because they value the most important realities in life and value every life, including their own, in the scope of eternity.

Jesus Not Ashamed to Call Me Brother

I have been very affected by the reality that Jesus is not ashamed to call me brother. I think the reason why I find this difficult is because I'm ashamed that He would call me brother. Well, if He isn't ashamed to do this I should not be ashamed of it either. If you trust Jesus, be encouraged, for Jesus is not ashamed to call you brother.

"...he is not ashamed to call them brothers..." Heb. 2:11

Do read the context.

Two Recommendations: Inexpensive Magazines

Well, this is just a heads up, in case you didn't know for only 15 dollars you can subscribe to National Geographic for a year. I commend it to you. It may not seem as important as the next recommendation, and it isn't, but I think despite its evolutionary/atheistic bent it reveals the glory of God and can be quite an edifying and important resource for the Christian.

This is not really a magazine, but The Journal for Biblical Counseling is a great resource for Biblical Counseling, and really for sanctification in general. In other words, this is not just for the counselor but for the Christian. It is Gospel-centered, convicting, and practical. They are going through some changes as they think about improving this resource:

"...we are exploring alternative formats for JBC such as electronic format only, or a combination of electronic and print formats. Such a move would enable immediate, worldwide access. We would deliver content more quickly and more frequently, perhaps monthly, instead of quarterly. Readers could make immediate use of an article for ministry purposes. They could interact about an issue or article through an online discussion board. The curious could sample an article of interest before committing to a full subscription period. Finally, a move to electronic format would fit the information access habits of the coming generation of leaders and practitioners in the biblical counseling field."

Here is a peak at titles from the past issue: "The Therapeutic Gospel", "The Poison of Self-Pity", "Basics about Bipolar", etc. If your curious you can listen to one of the leaders, David Powlison, here and here. The first is at a conference at the church John Piper is a pastor of and David does three talks on "God, Psychology, and Christian Care of the Soul" and he is involved in a Q&A panel; the second is "Making all things new: restoring joy to the Sexually Broken" as well as another Q&A panel, and, yes, again a conference put on by Desiring God. Dr. Powlison is articulate, psychologically/psychiactrically informed, and pastorally sensitive. From what I have read the rest of the CCEF guys are too.

MLK Day - Ephesians 2:11-22

It is in the death and resurrection of Christ that we see the death of racism and the inclusion of all races in one new creation. This is by Christ and for Christ, and only comes in Christ. The rejection of Jesus is ultimately an embrace of racism. Jesus made peace. To God be the Glory.

"Part of the new creation that God establishes through his Messiah is a new humanity. In 2:11-22 Paul says that this new humanity consists of both Jews and Gentiles, two formerly discrete and hostile groups that Christ has now united and reconciled (2:14-15, 19). Christ has also reconciled this newly created people to God (2:16-17). He has accomplished both these feats through his death on the cross...

...Paul, like Isaiah before him, combined the notion of the eschatological pilgrimage of the nations to Israel with the notion of a new creation. Isaiah could speak of the 'new heavens and the new earth' in one breath and of 'all flesh' coming to Jerusalem to worship God in the next...Paul similarly could merge these two ideas and speak of Christ 'creating' Jews and Gentiles 'into one new humanity' (2:15)...

Through Christ's death he has also started the process of bringing together in Christ all things in heaven and on earth (1:9-10). Christ's death started this process because it demolished the dividing wall of partition that stood between Jews and Gentiles and also between both groups and God. Christ's death brought in the period of peace that Isaiah said would characterize the time of Israel's restoration, a period when the nations would come from afar and join Israel in the worship of the one 'who created the heavens,... who fashioned the earth and made it' (Isa. 45:18)."

p. 817, 818. Thielman, Frank S. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament.

Fearing what you should Fear - Our First New Church Visit

My wife and I's church that we were a part of is no longer, so we are in the process of looking for another church. The church that we went to this week was Centerpointe Community Church in Eureka, CA.

I really appreciated Pastor Chuck Starnes' message. I can't tell you how refreshing (and convicting!) it is that the first church we go to visit preaches on the fear of God. His introduction was:

"My fear is that you would fear things you shouldn't fear and not fear the things you should."

How true this is, but how often do most American pastors have this fear for their congregation. In my view, it takes much love from a pastor to preach on fearing God. I appreciated Pastor Chuck's loving word to me that I need to fear what is most important. I need to check my values, my dreams, my fears, in light of the reality of the holy God of the universe.

He gave these three bullet points:

1. You cannot hide from the consequences of your sin.

This was contextualized by exhortations away from sexual sin and away from pride and toward confession because God forgives.

2. Being afraid of what people think can be a trap.

Basically this was: Do not fear man, fear God. Do you value God's opinion or man's opinion?

3. You cannot assume the mercy of God.

Do not presume upon God's mercy. God never owes of mercy. He only owes us judgment. His mercy is freely given out of grace, and this is good news 'cause God is gracious.

Another great aspect of this sermon is that it was all clothed in the book of Genesis, which is the book that he has been going through for quite some time. In that narrative we consistently see God's judgment and God's mercy, and the sins and successes of God's people.

It was a good reminder that the wise fear God. May God bless this church.

Depressive Studies on Anti-Depressants

This study, noted by a Wall Street Journal blogger Jacob Goldstein, on anti-depressants is a little depressing. He notes:

"...The authors looked at 74 antidepressant studies that had been filed with the FDA, and found that those deemed positive by the agency went unpublished only 3% of the time, while those deemed negative by the agency went unpublished 67% of the time. When unfavorable studies were published, it was in a way that conflicted with the FDA’s opinion of the study, according to the article."

This is not going to be a rant on the biblical case for/against anti-depressants, rather just pointing out that in many cases even the drugs themselves don't deliver as advertised.

As we all know drugs are big business and especially drugs that say there going to make you happier or at least not (anti) sad (depressant). Now, I believe anti-depressants can be a gift of God's common grace, but I think in a lot of cases it just plain doesn't work. I'm no clinical psychiatrist but I think this could be for several reasons probably two being: (1) It doesn't work because a chemical imbalance in the brain is not the real problem it's relational, spiritual, or another biological/physical deficiency be it in the mind or in the body; (2) it doesn't work.

After reading this, I recalled speaking to a psychiatrist friend of mine a few months ago and he shared with me similar findings of the article. He mentioned that usually anti-depressants don't work. No, not never work, but usually don't; and when they do work many times it's not actually the pill working but its the placebo effect. Herein though lies the rub, if I give you a pill that makes you fell less depressed or not as depressed and you do in fact become less depressed, even though its not the physical causation of the pill, did not the pill work?

Hmmm...I think that itself has much to say about being human.

Klosterman is in my Corner

The other day I was reading and I came upon a paragraph in regards to sports that puts forth an argument that reflects the feelings I have had for quite some time but haven't found it written in print before. (Maybe thats for a reason.) Nevertheless here is mi compadre (at least on this particular issue) Chuck Klosterman:

"...I hate the idea that rooting for a team without justification somehow proves that you are traditional, loyal, and 'a true fan.' All it proves is that you're ridiculous, and that you don't really consider the motivations that drive your emotions, and that you probably care more about geography and the color of a uniform than you do about any given sport. I have a sportswriter friend who constantly attempts to paint me as a soulless hypocrite, simply because I adored the Boston Celtics in 1986 but I'm wholly ambivalent toward them today. His argument makes no sense to me. I have no idea why my feelings about an organization twenty years ago should have any effect on how I think now. The modern Celtics have different players, a different coach, a different offense, different management, different ownership, and they play in a different arena; the only similarity between these two squads is that they both wear green and they both used the same parquet floor.

I'm not rooting for flooring." (p. 257) IV, pub. 2007

Now, let's be fair dear Chuck is writing in the wider context of why he hates the Olympics (hence, the article's title: "I do not hate the Olympics"), but it made me feel good, and that's what's important. Right? Well, not really, but at least there is one person on the earth who is in my corner, and that one person is named Chuck (this has nothing to do with anything except for some reason in our culture the fact that one's name is Chuck is outdated and cool at the exact same time).

Of course, I don't think other's with the opposing view are ridiculous, but knowing Chuck (er...reading Chuck) neither does he.

V, as in Volek, stands for Victory: AKA Thoughts on an NFL Weekend

Seahawks vs. Packers

Funnest Guy to watch: Brett Favre, of course.

The Redemptive theme of the weekend: Seahawks up 14-0 after young Packer Running Back Grant's two fumbles....then 200 plus yards rushing and several touchdowns.

The Highlight that will be the most overplayed on television and still can't be too overplayed: Favre's falling to the ground pitch-pass for a first down on a third down for yet another G.B. score. They scored TD's on six consecutive drives.

The Abominable Snow Man: Seattle coach, and ex-GB Packer coach, Mike Holmgren. Did Mike Holmgren move at all during the game? I'm surprised he could move after being covered by six-feet of snow on the top of his cap...actually I think he was trying to cover up the Seahawk logo. He may have been wishing to be buried in Lambeau. I don't know how many more chances he will get with this Seahawk team to be in this position again.

My Guarantee: Packers win next week against the G-men.

Wouldn't it be cool: I love snow football games. Could it be that next week we will have two snow bowls? That would be cool, literally. Wait: that may be the only way the Pat's can lose, and we don't want that.

Jaguars vs. Patriots

Nicest guy in the playoffs: David Garrard. This man had a foot of his intestine removed, and never stops smiling. He seems like a humble and quiet, yet vigilant leader.

Nice guys throw the same amount of interceptions in the playoffs as their entire regular season: Yes, D-Gar did this, 3 during the season 3 in the playoffs.

How did the other "nice" guy do: Um...he threw two incompletions the entire game. That darn Wes Welker could have made it only one incompletion. 26-28, 3 TD's, 0 INT's. This leads me to this question...

The Question: Joe Montana who? This is from a Joe Montana fanatic.

A scary fact: The Patriots really have a running game, 5.5 yards a carry on 23 carries from Maroney.

Chargers vs. Colts

Biggest disappointment: There will be no Pats vs. Patriots. This is sad. This is one of the greatest rivalries in sports history and its a shame it won't happen.

Favorite moment: Billy Volek led his team to victory while the cocky Philip Rivers taunted the Indianapolis fans and nursed his poor little foot. This was wonderful. I love watching a backup QB come in and lead his team to victory; and watching the starter, who in my view, will never lead his team to an NFL championship, stand on the sideline.

Another favorite moment: Watching Nate Kaeding miss a playoff field goal. It is always enjoyable in the playoffs to watch a field goal kicker who looks like he's in high-school kick like he in fact is in high school.

Worst call this weekend: The holding call against SD on Cromartie's interception of Peyton Manning returned for a TD.

Willow Ufgood moment: Sproles is small and very, very swift.

Final thoughts: Did I mention that Billy Volek is clutch: Volek stands for Victory.

Giants vs. Cowboys

Biggest surprise: Eli Manning has gone farther in the playoffs then his big brother.

Biggest surprise 2: Why has Eli Manning looked unbeatable the last several weeks, even when one of them was in a loss to the unloseable Patriots.

Good, but not good enough: Romo couldn't quite pull it off. Big numbers mean nothing when you are not clutch. This is what separates the winners from the losers. Romo will have plenty of time to spend Rom-ancing Jessica Simpson. MTV, can we do a reality show next year with T.O., Romo, and Jessica during the season?

Best quote of the playoffs so far: "We hope T.O. has his popcorn ready so maybe he and Crayton can sit in his home theater and watch us next week." Michael Strahan

MTP of the playoffs (Most Tearful Player): T.O. crying in defense of his QB after the game.

Radiohead won't Let you Down

I love this song. An oldie but a goodie.

Hebrews Preaches the Old Testament

"For, more than any other NT book, Hebrews, from beginning to end, preaches the OT. The author's explanations of the text serve ultimately to communicate a forceful message aimed at convincing the hearers/readers to respond by persevering in following Christ and standing with his church. His Christology vies for a christocentric life. His hortatory material has one aim: to present a resolute call to endurance and holy living. This is the task that he takes up in taking up the OT, and he carries it out with rhetorical power and artistry." (p. 923)

Guthrie, George H. eds., DA Carson, GK Beale. Commentary on the New Testament use of the Old Testament.

An Odd and Witty Truth

Over Christmas, I came across this unbelievably true quote by the brilliant and at times profane pop culture critic Chuck Klosterman:

"...every great eighth-grade basketball player almost has a mustache."

Chuck Klosterman IV. (p. 2)

Top 9 Questions for Mark Driscoll

You might want to check out this Mark Driscoll series. Driscoll recently asked anyone to ask any question and post it online for everyone to vote on. The results are in, and Pastor Driscoll will tackle these top 9 questions that tens of thousands ended up voting on. Here is my summary:

1. Does Scripture regulate our methods or just our theology?
2. What can traditional churches learn from emerging churches?
3. What are the boundaries between men and women in dating?
4. If salvations is by "faith alone", why verses that make it sound like its "works" as well?
5. How do Christians break sexual sinful patterns?
6. What Christian teachings are hardest for you personally to believe?
7. Why does an all-knowing God create people he knows will go to hell?
8. Why do you make jokes about the same people you are trying to save (homosexuals, vegans etc.)?
9. Birth control?

Slate Magazine on the Smiley message of Osteen

Slate magazine has published an article on Joel Osteen (HT: JT). If a mainstream e-mag like this recognizes the problems with the message of Joel Osteen why doesn't much of the church? Do read the whole article, but the end here is particularly penetrating:

"...This is a long, long way down the road from the inscrutable, infant-damning theology of this country's Calvinist forebears—it is, rather, a just-in-time economy's vision of salvation, an eerily collapsible spiritual narcissism that downgrades the divine image into the job description for a lifestyle concierge. Lakewood and Osteen seem to keep God so preoccupied it's a wonder He can ever find the time to stock his fridge or whip out His wallet.

There's, of course, nothing inherently suspect or dishonorable about seeking uplift and consolation in the Bible. But the point of those "deep theological doctrines" that Osteen seems to deride is to leaven that quest with the less agreeable features of life—pain and suffering, the persistence of evil, the fleeting quality of all endeavor, the cosmic insignificance of the human self, let alone that self's subordinate chosen modes of expression in body posture or a near-pathological penchant for smiling. After all, the same Bible that Lakewood's arena full of believers champion as a handbook for what they can do and be also contains these words, in Revelation 3:17: 'Thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing: and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.'"

A Driftwood Believer

The writer to the Hebrews calls one away from being a Christian akin to a piece of driftwood.

"Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it." (2:1)

Donald Guthrie comments: "He is not thinking of a deliberate refusal to heed, but of an almost helpless slipping away--literally to flow past like driftwood in a river. Hence the words, lest we drift away." (p. 81)

Hebrews. The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. 2002.

How easy it is just to passively believe the Gospel and not pay close attention to it. We often just assume God's message rather then actively listening to His voice in Jesus. I picture it in this way, we should be anchored to the bedrock of the island of the Gospel not sailing past it like a floating log.

A Rebuke to the Church and an Aim of Mine

"Only those who have journeyed through the Old Testament can appreciate the full splendor and glory of the New Testament and fully digest its fruit, and those who have not cannot. The consequence of a general ignorance about the Old Testament among the people of God is a pervasive reduction of the full message of the the New Testament to a basic gospel of atonement and individual ethics. I suspect many Christians feel spiritually undernourished because they live out their lives on the basis of about ten biblical texts. The spiritual life of the church would be greatly enriched by kindling a love of the Old Testament through a more thorough program of adult Christian education." (p. 16)

Source: Waltke, Bruce. An Old Testament Theology.

For this reason and more one of my aims this year is to understand more fully and be transformed by the Old Testament, and in this way gain more understanding of the New.