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Christ “lifting the cross off my shoulders” - Rutherford Thursdays No. 18

August 21, 2008 by LO

Samuel RutherfordTo Alexander Gordon of Earlston

Much Honored Sir,

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you.

I received your letter, which refreshed me. Except from your son, and my brother, I have seen few letters from my acquaintance in that country; which maketh me heavy. But I have the company of a Lord who can teach us all to be kind, and has the right gate of it. It pleaseth Him to come and dine with a sad prisoner, and a solitary stranger. But I verily think now, that Christ has led me up to a nick in Christianity that I was never at before. I think all before was but childhood and bairn’s play. I look back to what I was before, and I laugh to see the sand-houses I built when I was a child.

At first the remembrance of many fair feast-days with my Lord Jesus in public, which are now changed into silent Sabbaths, raised a great tempest, and (if I may speak so) made the devil ado in my soul. The devil came in, and would prompt me to lay the blame on Him as a hard master. But now these mists are blown away, and I am not only silenced as to all quarreling, but fully satisfied. Christ beareth me good company. He has eased me, when I saw it not, lifting the cross off my shoulders, so that I think it to be but a feather, because underneath are everlasting arms. Nothing breaketh my heart, but that I cannot get the daughters of Jerusalem to tell them of my Bridegroom’s glory. I charge you in the name of Christ that ye tell all that ye come to of it, and yet it is above telling and understanding. Oh, if all the kingdom were as I am, except my bonds! I write now what I have seen as well as heard. Now and then my silence burneth up my spirit; but Christ has said, ‘Thy stipend is running up with interest ill in heaven, as if thou wert preaching’; and this from a King’s mouth rejoiceth my heart. At other times I am sad, dwelling in Kedar’s tents

There are none (that I yet know of) but two persons in this town that I dare give my word for. And the Lord has removed my brethren and my acquaintance far from me; and it may be, that I shall be forgotten in the place where the Lord made me the instrument to do some good. But I see that this is vanity in me; let Him make of me what He pleaseth.

Sir, write to me, I beseech you. I pray you also be kind to my afflicted brother. Remember my love to your wife; and the prayer and blessing of the prisoner of Christ be on you. Frequent your meetings for prayer and communion with God, they would be sweet meetings to me.

Yours in the Lord Jesus.

Aberdeen, Feb. 16, 1637

Who is Alexander Gordon?

Alexander Gordon of Earlston, not far from Anwoth, was summoned before the High Commission by the bishop of Glasgow for preventing the intrusion of an unpopular nominee of the bishop into a vacant parish. This charge was not proceeded with, but on a later, similar charge he was heavily fined. He was a leading Churchman and a member of the Scottish Parliament.

About “Rutherford Thursdays”

Rutherford Reads

Letters of Samuel Rutherford The Trial and Triumph of Faith by Samuel Rutherford

Posted in Lex Orandi Lex Credendi, Pilgrim Praxis, Samuel Rutherford, Sola Fide | No Comments »

Ordained Servant: Trinity in Ministry

August 14, 2008 by LO

Trinity in Ministry

The current Ordained Servant asks, How is the Trinity a vital to the the church’s praxis?

Contents

Posted in Doctrine of God, Systematic Theology | Tagged , , | 1 Comment »

Son of Hamas Leader Converts to Christianity

August 13, 2008 by LO

Fox News reported yesterday that Mosab Hassan Yousef, son of a militant Hamas leader, has rejected Islam, converted to Christianity (via Barabbas Road Church), and fled to the States.

Posted in Cross and Crescent, Ethics, Evangelism, Islam | Tagged , | 1 Comment »

Paedo-Credo Baptism Debate: Dr. Robert Strimple and Dr. Fred Malone

August 8, 2008 by LO

Dr. Robert Strimple

Dr. Robert Strimple

Dr. Fred Malone

Dr. Fred Malone

On 11 March 1999, Westminster Seminary (CA) hosted a fraternal debate entitled, “The Proper Subjects of Baptism.” Dr. Robert B. Strimple argued the paedo baptist (or Presbyterian) view, and Dr. Fred Malone argued the credo baptist (or Baptist) view. The audio recordings from the debate are now available in MP3 format:

Debate Audio

Part 1: Dr. Strimple’s 40 min. opening statement (MP3)

Part 2: Dr. Malone’s 40 min. opening statement (MP3)

Part 3: 10 min. rebuttals and Q/A with the audience (MP3)

Baptism Resources

Posted in Audio, Biblical Studies, Biblical Theology, Ecclesiology, Ex Pacto, Hermeneutics, Pilgrim Praxis, Sola Ecclesia, Systematic Theology | Tagged , | 1 Comment »

“while I live, temptations will not die” - Rutherford Thursdays No. 17

June 26, 2008 by LO

Samuel RutherfordTo Robert Gordon of Knockbrex - Seeing Christ more clearly through tribulation’s lens

My Very Worthy and Dear Friend,

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you. Though all Galloway should have forgotten me, I would have expected a letter from you ere now; but I will not expound it to be forgetfulness of me.

Now, my dear brother, I cannot show you how matters go betwixt Christ and me. I find my Lord going and coming seven times a day. His visits are short; but they are both frequent and sweet. I dare not for my life think of a challenge of my Lord. I hear ill tales, and hard reports of Christ, from the Tempter and my flesh; but love believeth no evil. I may swear that they are liars, and that apprehensions make lies of Christ’s honest and unalterable love to me. I dare not say that I am a dry tree, or that I have no room at all in the vineyard, but yet I often think that the sparrows are blessed, who may resort to the house of God in Anwoth, from which I am banished.

Temptations, that I supposed to be stricken dead and laid upon their back, rise again and revive upon me; yea, I see that while I live, temptations will not die. The devil seemeth to brag and boast as much as if he had more court with Christ than I have; and as if he had charmed and blasted my ministry, that I shall do no more good in public. But his wind shaketh no corn. I will not believe that Christ would have made such a mint to have me to Himself, and have taken so much pains upon me as He has done, and then slip so easily from possession, and lose the glory of what He has done.

Nay, since I came to Aberdeen, I have been taken up to see the new land, the fair palace of the Lamb; and will Christ let me see heaven, to break my heart, and never give it to me? I shall not think my Lord Jesus giveth a dumb earnest, or putteth His seals to blank paper, or intendeth to put me off with fair and false promises. I see that now which I never saw well before.

(I) I see faith’s necessity in a fair day is never known aright; but now I miss nothing so much as faith. Hunger in me runneth to fair and sweet promises; but when I come, I am like a hungry man that wanteth teeth, or a weak stomach having a sharp appetite that is filled with the very sight of meat, or like one stupefied with cold under water, that would fain come to land, but cannot grip anything casten to him. I can let Christ grip me, but I cannot grip Him. I cannot set my feet to the ground, for afflictions bring the cramp upon my faith. All I dow do is to hold out a lame faith to Christ, like a beggar holding out a stump instead of an arm or leg, and cry, ‘Lord Jesus, work a miracle! ‘Oh what would I give to have hands and arms to grip strongly.

(2) I see that mortification, and to be crucified to the world, is not so highly accounted of by us as it should be. Oh how heavenly a thing it is to be dead and dumb and deaf to this world’s sweet music! As I am at this present, I would scorn to buy this world’s kindness with a bow of my knee. I scarce now either see or hear what it is that this world offereth me; I know that it is little that it can take from me, and as little that it can give me.

(3) I thought courage, in the time of trouble for Christ’s sake, a thing that I might take up at my foot. I thought that the very remembrance of the honesty of the cause would be enough. But I was a fool in so thinking. Christ will be steward and dispenser Himself and none else but He; therefore, now, I count much of one dram weight of spiritual joy. Truly I have no cause to say that I am pinched with penury, or that the consolations of Christ are dried up. Praise, praise with me.

Remember my love to your brother, to your wife, and G.M. Desire him to be faithful, and to repent of his hypocrisy; and say that I wrote it to you. I wish him salvation. Write to me your mind agent C.E. and C.Y., and their wives, and I.G., or any others in my parish. I fear that I am forgotten amongst them; but I cannot forget them.

The prisoner’s prayers and blessings come upon you. Grace, grace be with you.

Your brother, in the Lord Jesus.

Aberdeen, Feb. 9, 1637

Who is Robert Gordon of Knockbrex?

Robert Gordon lived in the next parish to Anwoth. He was a prominent figure in Church life in Scotland.

About “Rutherford Thursdays”

Posted in Lex Orandi Lex Credendi, Mortification of Sin, Pilgrim Praxis, Samuel Rutherford, Sola Fide, Soteriology | Tagged , , | No Comments »

“the devil’s stomach cannot digest the Church of God” - Rutherford Thursdays No. 16

June 19, 2008 by LO

Samuel RutherfordTo Mr. Robert Blair - The Other Half of Our Ministry

Reverend and Dearly Beloved Brother,

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, be unto you.

It is no great wonder, my dear brother, that ye be in heaviness for a season, and that God’s will (in crossing your design and desires to dwell amongst a people whose God is the Lord) should move you. I deny not but ye have cause to inquire what His providence speaketh in this to you; but God’s directing and commanding Will can by no good logic be concluded from events of providence. The Lord sent Paul on many errands for the spreading of His Gospel, where he found lions in his way. A promise was made to His people of the Holy Land, and yet many nations were in the way, fighting against, and ready to kill them that had the promise, or to keep them from possessing the good land which the Lord their God had given them.

I know that ye have most to do with submission of spirit; but I persuade myself that ye have learned, in every condition wherein ye are cast, therein to be content, and to say, ‘Good is the will of the Lord, let it be done.’ I believe that the Lord tacketh His ship often to fetch the wind, and that He purposeth to bring mercy out of your sufferings and silence, which (I know from mine own experience) is grievous to you. Seeing that He knoweth our willing mind to serve Him, our wages and stipend is running to the fore with our God, even as some sick soldiers get pay, when they are bedfast and not able to go to the field with others.

When they have eaten and swallowed us up, they shall be sick and vomit us out living men again; the devil’s stomach cannot digest the Church of God. Suffering is the other half of our ministry, howbeit the hardest; for we would be content that our King Jesus should make an open proclamation, and cry down crosses, and cry up joy, gladness, ease, honor, and peace. But it must not be so; through many afflictions we must enter into the kingdom of God. Not only by them, but through them, must we go; and wiles will not take us past the cross. It is folly to think to steal to heaven with a whole skin

For myself, I am here a prisoner confined in Aberdeen, threatened to be removed to Caithness, because I desire to edify in this town; and am openly preached against in the pulpits in my hearing.

There are none here to whom I can speak; I dwell in Kedar’s tents. Refresh me with a letter from you.

Dear brother, upon my salvation, this is His truth that we suffer for. Courage! Courage! Joy, Joy, for evermore! O for help to set my crowned lying on high! O for love to Him Who is altogether lovely - that love which many waters cannot quench, neither can the floods drown!

I remember you, and bear your name on my breast to Christ. I beseech you, forget not His afflicted prisoner.

Your brother and fellow prisoner.

Aberdeen, Feb. 7, 1637

Who is Robert Blair?

Blair became minister of Bangor in Northern Ireland in 1623. But after nine years there he was deposed for nonconformity with a number of other ministers. A group of them took ship to emigrate to America in search of religious liberty but were forced by the weather to return, which is the occasion of this letter. In 1638 Blair was called to be minister in Aye and later in St. Andrew, where he became a close friend of Rutherford. In 1661 he was summoned before the Privy Council for a sermon on the Covenant and deprived of his church. He died in 1666. See also Letter LIV.

About “Rutherford Thursdays”

Posted in Ecclesiology, Lex Orandi Lex Credendi, Pilgrim Praxis, Providence, Sacra Scriptura, Samuel Rutherford, Sola Fide | Tagged , , | 1 Comment »

The Ancient Sociological History of Atheism

June 13, 2008 by LO

Professor Edwin Judge briefly surveys the ancient sociological history of atheism in his interview with Greg Clarke:

Posted in Antithesis, Apologetics, Philosophy, Video | Tagged , , , , | No Comments »

“a sufferer for Christ will be made to know himself” - Rutherford Thursdays No. 15

June 12, 2008 by LO

Samuel RutherfordTo Lady Boyd - Knowing One’s Self in Suffering

Madam,

Grace, mercy and peace be unto you.

The Lord has brought me to Aberdeen, where I see God in few. This town has been advised upon of purpose for me; it consisteth either of Papists, or men of Gallio’s naughty faith. It is counted wisdom, in the most, not to countenance a confined minister; but I find Christ neither strange nor unkind; for I have found many faces smile upon me since I came hither.

I am heavy and sad, considering what is betwixt the Lord and my soul, which none seeth but He. I find men have mistaken me; it would be no art (as I now see) to spin small and make hypocrisy a goodly web, and to go through the market as a saint among men, and yet steal quietly to hell, without observation: so easy is it to deceive men. I have disputed whether or no I ever knew anything of Christianity, save the letters of that name. Men see but as men, and they call ten twenty and twenty an hundred; but O! to be approved of God in the heart and in sincerity is not an ordinary mercy.

My neglects while I had a pulpit, and other things whereof I am ashamed to speak, meet me now, so as God maketh an honest cross my daily sorrow. Like a fool, I believed, under suffering for Christ, that I myself should keep the key of Christ’s treasures, and take out comforts when I listed, and eat and be fat: but I see now a sufferer for Christ will be made to know himself, and will be holden at the door as well as another poor sinner, and will be fain to eat with the bairns, and to take the by-board, and glad to do so. My blessing on the cross of Christ that has made me see this!

Oh! if we could take pains for the kingdom of heaven! But we sit down upon some ordinary marks of God’s children, thinking we have as much as will separate us from a reprobate; and thereupon we take the play and cry, ‘Holiday!’ and thus the devil casteth water on our fire, and blunteth our zeal and care. But I see heaven is not at the door; and I see, howbeit my challenges be many, I suffer for Christ, and dare hazard my salvation upon it; for sometimes my Lord cometh with a fair hour and O! but His love be sweet, delightful, and comfortable.

Madam, I know your Ladyship knoweth this, and that made me bold to write of it, that others might reap somewhat by my bonds for the truth; for I should desire, and I aim at this, to have my Lord well spoken of, and honored, howbeit He should make nothing of me but a bridge over a water.

Thus recommending your Ladyship, your son and children, to His grace, who has honored you with a name and room among the living in Jerusalem, and wishing grace to be with your Ladyship.

Aberdeen

Who is Lady Boyd?

Lady Boyd, whose maiden name was Christian Hamilton, was the daughter of a distinguished lawyer and inherited his abilities and strength of character. She was a trusted friend of many of the leading ministers of the Church of Scotland in her day. When she died the whole Scottish Parliament suspended its sitting to attend her funeral. See also letters LVII [57], LXII [62] and LXV [65].

About “Rutherford Thursdays”

Posted in Epistemology, Mortification of Sin, Pilgrim Praxis, Samuel Rutherford, Sola Fide | Tagged , , , , | No Comments »

An Uncommon Logos Between Christianity and Islam

June 9, 2008 by LO

Abstract

My papers evaluate Dr. Miroslav Volf’s publications and lectures related to A Common Word. In the epistemology paper I examine Volf’s arguments for a shared monotheism between Christianity and Islam, asking, “By what norm can one determine whether Muslims believe in the same monotheistic God as Christians?” In the ethics paper I explore Volf’s love of neighbor ethic, asking, “By what ethical norms does a Christian love his neighbor, and do Christianity’s ethics share ethical normativity with Islam’s?”

From both the epistemological and ethical perspectives I argue that Dr. Volf’s publications and lectures on A Common Word do not adequately account for the uniqueness of Christianity’s trinitarian God, nor of God’s covenantal relation with man, nor of Christ’s office as mediator.

Epistemology and Ethics Papers

  1. Why Christ is the epistemological crux between cross and crescent (18pp; .PDF; 211KB)
  2. Why Christ is the ethical crux between cross and crescent (16pp; .PDF; 182KB)

Related Resources

Posted in A Common Word, Antithesis, Apologetics, Christology, Cornelius Van Til, Cross and Crescent, Doctrine of God, Epistemology, Ethics, Ex Pacto, Geerhardus Vos, Herman Bavinck, John Calvin, John Frame, Love, Metaethics, Miroslav Volf, Pilgrim Praxis, Research Papers, Richard Gaffin, Synthesis, Systematic Theology | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Review: Fools for Christ: Essays on the True, the Good, and the Beautiful by Jaroslav Pelikan

June 6, 2008 by LO

Fools for Christ by Jaroslav Jan Pelikan

Summary

Through colorful biographical sketches of six “fools” from Christianity’s history, Pelikan presents a poignant exhortation: unless one’s head, hands, and heart being “foolishly” committed to Jesus Christ at every point, then one’s pursuit of dogmatics, ethics, and aesthetics become idolatrous journeys into insanity.

Review/Reflection

My response to Pelikan’s book is part review and part autobiographical reflection:

Posted in Book Reviews, Doctrine of God, Ethics, Historical Theology, Pilgrim Praxis, Prolegomena, Research Papers, Semper Reformanda, Systematic Theology | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment »

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