Marilynne Robinson’s introductory words to the essay, “Thinking Again”:
It will be a great day in the history of science if we sometime discover a damp shadow elsewhere in the universe where a fungus has sprouted. The mere fossil trace of life in its simplest form would be the crowning achievement of generations of brilliant and diligent labor.
For the Gospel Coalition web site, I recently reviewed a book by Sidney Greidanus, Preaching Christ from Ecclesiastes.
Greidanus opens Preaching Christ from Ecclesiastes with the observation, “Ecclesiastes may be the most difficult biblical book to interpret and teach (1).” He isn’t the first to observe that Ecclesiastes is tough going for students of Scripture. In How To Read the Bible for All Its Worth (243), Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart wrote:
Ecclesiastes is a very difficult book to read, with several passages that seem self-contradictory and others that seem contradictory to the whole of biblical revelation. This confusion has led to polar opposite interpretations, as can be seen from two of the recommended commentaries . . . (whose authors happen to be close friends of one another). Professor Longman (along with one of us) understands Ecclesiastes to be an expression of cynical wisdom, which serves as a kind of “foil” regarding an outlook on life that should be avoided; Professor Provan (along with one of us) understands the book more positively.
So two recommended evangelical commentaries disagree about the purpose of Ecclesiastes—not just a particular passage, you understand, but rather they are fundamentally at odds about the overall purpose of the book. And if Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart can’t agree about which of them is right, how are the rest of us to proceed with confidence?
For a very limited time, you can order an excellent introduction to Jonathan Edwards at 50% off. Click here.
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A few years ago, I mentioned in a sermon that Jonathan Edwards was the greatest theologian in the history of North America.
I added that given that the historic roots of our church are in New England Congregationalism, this should be of particular interest to our church.
As soon as church was over, someone approached me with an interest in reading Edwards. And, at that point, I hesitated. It was ironic. The guy who had just recommended that our people should know about Edwards paused before recommending a particular book.
My reason for hesitation was that I knew the lady had not read very much theology. And, I also understood that Edwards can be hard to follow. I was concerned that if she ordered something like Religious Affections, that she would quickly be overwhelmed.
Thankfully, my answer would now be different. Owen Strachan and Doug Sweeney have edited an accessible and affordable set of books that will introduce you to the thought of Edwards in a way that is far more accessible than diving directly into one of his books.
Do keep in mind that this sale ends on Monday, August 2.
Charles Dickens’ description of France in A Tale of Two Cities might be easily adapted to the 21st century U.S.A.
Dickens:
France, less favored on the whole as to matters spiritual than her sister of the shield and trident, rolled with exceeding smoothness downhill, making paper money and spending it.
Trust is being so convinced that you can rely on the integrity, strength, character, and faithfulness of another that you are willing to place yourself in his or her care.
“Certainly not,” said the lamb. “In the first place, I cannot get into your pen, as I am not old enough to jump over the fence. In the second place, I am not interested in pigs. Pigs mean less than nothing to me.”
“What do you mean, less than nothing?” replied Wilbur. “I don’t think there is any such thing as less than nothing? Nothing is absolutely the limit of nothingness. It’s the lowest you can go. It’s the end of the line. How can something be less than nothing? If there were something that was less than nothing, then nothing would not be nothing, it would be something – - even though it’s just a very little bit of something – - But if nothing is nothing, then nothing has nothing that is less than it is.”
“Oh, be quiet!” said the lamb. “Go play by yourself! I don’t play with pigs.”
Yet, Wilbur finds a friend.
Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite too her place in his heart. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.
A companion of many friends may come to ruin, but there’s a friend that sticks closer than a brother (Prov 18:24).
The sexual relationship is a good barometer for every couple. The character and quality of the marriage relationship will determine the character and quality of their sexual union. You don’t leave disappointment and division at the bedside. You don’t escape misunderstanding and hurt simply because you are in another’s arms. Because, in this most intimate of human relationships, you are actually physically disrobed and in the arms of another to whom you are offering your physical self, most if not all of the layers of self-protection are gone. You are in a place of exposure and vulnerability. This is what makes the sexual relationship so beautiful. You can be exposed and vulnerable in the arms of your lover and be unafraid, because you know he or she will care for you, and you know that the results will be mutual satisfaction.
Hopefully, by the time you read this post, I will have been to Geneva on my sabbatical. So, I will have taken some of the same steps as Calvin.
Geneva in mind, Tim Keller helps us learn about popularity from Bruce Gordon’s biography of Calvin:
For much of his life, John Calvin had two close friends — Farel and Viret. Farel was very hot-headed and out-spoken, while Viret was of very mild temperament, an instinctive peace-keeper. Farel often came to Geneva and stayed at Calvin’s home, where, sometimes with Viret, the friends would have long talks about theology and current events over a glass. Calvin delighted in the company of his zealous friend. Nevertheless, as time went on he came to see that Farel’s inflexible nature made him a doughty defender but a limited propagator of the gospel. He often sent his own discourses and letters to Viret, whose job was to moderate his language. Calvin himself had been more hot-headed as a young man, and he worked to curb his own tongue.
After Farel inappropriately denounced a prominent woman in Geneva from the pulpit, which turned her whole family against him, Calvin wrote him a remarkable letter:
"When you have Satan to combat, and you fight under Christ’s banner, he who puts on your armor and draws you into battle will give you the victory. But…we only earnestly desire that insofar as your duty permits you will accommodate yourself more to the people. There are, as you know, two kinds of popularity: the one, when we seek favor from motives of ambition and the desire of pleasing; the other, when, by fairness and moderation, we gain their esteem so as to make them teachable by us. . .”
Sin darkens the soul. It is a cloud, a thick cloud, that spreads itself over the face of the soul, and intercepts all the beams of God’s love and favour. It takes away all sense of the privilege of our adoption; and if the soul begins to gather up thoughts of consolation, sin quickly scatters them.
But now let the heart be cleansed by mortification, and the weeds of lust constantly and daily rooted up (as they spring daily, nature being their proper soil), there will be room for grace to thrive and flourish, the graces that God gives will act their part, and be ready for every use and purpose!.
But, we need to know how to kill sin. We can’t do it in our own strength, but only by the power of the Spirit.
For more, I recommend the abridged version of John Owen’s, The Mortification of Sin.
“. . . Chris Brauns has done a magnificent job in helping us understand the true nature of biblical forgiveness. Every Christian will profit from reading and applying this book.” Jerry Bridges.
“ . . . Unpacking Forgiveness is an engaging, convicting but emphatically encouraging treatment of this hugely important (and sometimes mindbogglingly challenging) part of life. Dr. Brauns writes from the standpoint of a faithful, wise, experienced and caring pastor . . .” Ligon Duncan, First Pres, Jackson, MS
. What a warm way to teach Proverbs 18:24.
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