Sing to Myself a New Song

Douglas Wilson has a tremendous article on sacred music in his blog today. Here's an excerpt to whet your appetite. Be sure to stop here and read the entire post.

"As we sing, certain characteristics should be obvious to all who hear the singing. Our congregational singing should have at least the following characteristics. First, it should be reverent. The flippancy with which some address God is truly frightening. "The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; let the earth be moved! The Lord is great in Zion, and He is high above all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name -- He is holy" (Ps. 99:1-3). We should note the KJV translation of awesome -- terrible. Moreover, this requirement to be God-fearing was not an Old Covenant thing -- notice Paul's teaching in Philippians, which is to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (2:12). Do not sing to the Lord with your mind somewhere else, or while entertaining various jolly thoughts. Worship of God needs to be acceptable, which means it must be offered in reverance and godly fear. This is because God is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:28-29)."

Amen!

James White on the Trinity

Watched this great clip on the Trinity from James White's blog this morning. He gives a thorough yet simple (as simple as a discussion of the Trinity can get, anyway) explanation of the unique Christian doctrine of the Trinity, over against the charicature held by Muslims.

Real, Old-School Calvinism

Teaching through 1 & 2 Thessalonians & found this insight by Warren Wiersbe. It's amazing how verse-by-verse, expository preaching will keep you in balance.

"But election and evangelism go together. The person who says, 'God will save those He wants to save and He doesn’t need my help!' understands neither election nor evangelism. In the Bible, election always involves responsibility. God chose Israel and made them an elect nation so that they might witness to the Gentiles.
"In the same way, God has chosen the church that we might be witnesses today. The fact that we are God’s elect people does not excuse us from the task of evangelism. On the contrary, the doctrine of election is one of the greatest encouragements to evangelism."

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, "An Exposition of the New Testament Comprising the Entire 'BE' Series"--Jkt. (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996, c1989), 1 Th 1:8.

We've Got Spirit, Yes We Do! (But Which One?)

2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline."

I was reflecting this morning on some past experiences and this verse came to mind. One of the warning signs when you step into any ministry--whether joining a church, visiting another ministry, listening to an evangelist or special speaker, or signing on to work with a church or para-church ministry--there is a warning sign you need to watch for. Over the years I have learned how to spot it. Unfortunately I had to learn the hard way. Several times.

If the people involved in that ministry are driven even a little bit by fear of the man in charge, you need to run--don't walk--away from there. I don't care how many gazillion people they've seen saved and baptized, how many missionaries they support, how many attend their services, etc etc ad nauseam. If you see people freely sharing ideas until they're in the leader's presence, at which time they immediately shut down, get out now. If a man's name is all it takes to win an argument ("Well, Dr. So-and-so would/would not like that.") turn your knees to the breeze. That fear is unhealthy. It is a sign that God is only in control insofar as that man allows Him to be.

It won't seem all that bad at first. That's the nature of a honeymoon. You'll find ways to rationalize things that you see that bother you deep down. Don't do it. Leave now. Get out. Don't even stop to collect your red Swingline stapler from your desk. There's something wrong. Respect for a Godly man doesn't make people clam up. It doesn't produce forced conformity in nonessentials. That's fear. And it's not of God. There's something seriously wrong -- get out before you get hurt.

Pragmatism is another warning sign. I may post on that later, but only if it will get me more readers.

Words Matter as a Matter of Fact

Greg Koukl is one of my very most favoritest apologists. In this clip he makes an important point about the word faith. This is more than just semantic hair-splitting: if you watched the recent debate between the theist Dinesh D'Souza and atheist Christopher Hitchens you saw the normally brilliant D'Souza acquit himself magnificently UNTIL he sold the farm - for no good reason - on the meaning of faith. Watch this clip from Greg Koukl:

Another Tool for the Do-It-All Pastor

Just starting to lay the groundwork for an areawide visitation "campaign" for the church. Basically it's just a systematic invitation for everyone in the area. Since I am the design staff I am always on the prowl for tools to help with both inspiration and implementation. Found this one today, and it has already paid for itself! It is a 3-volume set of books to help with color scheme, typefaces, and overall design. Be sure to check it out!

Clash of the Titans

I have long admired Dinesh D'souza as an articulate, reasonable spokesman for conservatism. I find him doubly admirable as a champion of Christianity. Here he is skillfully debating the ever-bucolic Christopher Hitchens at King's College.

Welcome to Reality. We Hope You Enjoy Your Visit.

Forget the DOW and NASDAQ. Western civilization hit a new low today, as reported in the London Daily Mail. In an article titled "Challenge Churchill!" the results of a recent poll revealed that one in four Britons polled believe that Winston Churchill was a fictional character. Other "fictional" characters included Richard the Lionheart, Sir Walter Raleigh, Charles Dickens and Cleopatra. On the other hand, the respondents knew that Robin Hood, The Three Musketeers, and Sherlock Holmes were real.

Of course, in a postmodern society, who's to say?

Another case for a bulging toolbox

I have mentioned before that as a pastor, pressed for time yet convinced of the necessity of careful study, I have found Logos Bible Software to be invaluable. Here is another witness to the powerful tools available through Logos: Professor William Varner of the Master's Seminary has written a review of Logos, available here. Even if the price tag were twice as much as it is, you would not regret adding this powerful tool to your library.

The Bible vs. the Qur'an

Came across an article by Dr. James White comparing the textual arguments for the reliability of the Bible vs. that of the Qur'an. This issue hits close to home, as the arguments for the Book of Mormon are closely parallel to those advanced for the Qur'an. Here's the précis of Dr. White's article:

"As Christians encounter Islamic apologetics the topic quickly turns to ultimate sources of authority. Muslims are taught that the Bible is untrustworthy, and many believe that its text has been altered. In reality it is the Qur’an that suffers in comparison with the Bible on the issue of textual study and purity. Christians believe that the more the Bible’s history is studied, the more certain its text becomes. Christians encourage textual study and discovery of new manuscripts, while Muslims show little interest in researching the history of their own scriptures, preferring the traditional belief that the Qur’an is perfect in its current state. Often believers are stymied by attacks on the text of the Bible because of their misunderstanding of the history of the transmission of the text of Scripture. Christians need to be able to defend the integrity of the biblical text and to use the sharp contrast between the scriptures of the two faiths as a means of presenting the truth about Jesus Christ."

The entire article is available from the Christian Research Journal, at this link. Here's to thoughtful Christianity!

Following God for the Wrong Reasons

Here's a challenge from Pastor E. Dewey Smith:

Lead, Kindly Light

As I struggle with temptations to slip into a pragmatic, man-centered approach to ministry--one which asks questions like:

"How can I convince people to come back to church week after week?"

"How can I get people saved?"

"How can I make people love the Bible?"

"How can I make people grow in the Lord?"

I think of the words of the old hymn, written by a man whose conscience had been smitten upon an awareness of his own self-reliance:

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!

Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on;

I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead Thou me on!

I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,

Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on.

O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till the night is gone,

And with the morn those angel faces smile, which I

Have loved long since, and lost awhile!

Meantime, along the narrow rugged path, Thyself hast trod,

Lead, Savior, lead me home in childlike faith, home to my God.

To rest forever after earthly strife

In the calm light of everlasting life.

Perhaps this hymn strikes home because I am studying 1 Thess. 1:5, and recognizing how it is not my words that are effectual, but the Word of God accompanied by the work of the Holy Spirit. Keep your methods. Keep your schedules and plans and conniving sciences of manipulation. Give me Christ, lifted up in the pages of Scripture. And let Him have His way.