My latest sermon from this past Sunday. You will want to fast forward through the two Bible readings since they were too far from the microphone:
http://gbfbastrop.org/blog/triumphing-in-a-very-different-way/
I just finished a terrific new biography on George Whitefield. I will soon be posting my interview with the author and Baylor history professor, Thomas Kidd.
It is interesting to note that both George Whitefield and Daniel Defoe commented on how active the Scots were in church with rustling the pages of their Bibles. Ah to hear that sound again!
One of my favorite living writers, Eugene Peterson, reflects on the faithfulness of his parents:
I was talking with a friend the other about the misguided tendency of Christian conferences to have seminars on all kinds of cutting-edge issues coming from the culture. Don’t get me wrong. I think Christians ought to stay abreast of the latest news and be growing in the ability to navigate the various challenges to the gospel.
What struck me is how impractical it is to mainly offer issue-oriented seminars rather than helping people to learn how to think theologically in a way that is truly grounded in Scripture. Too few Christians have taken the time to do this. When we do have the patience over the long haul to learn the Christian faith well it gives us a discernment we can’t find anywhere else.
I read a lot, and I read books on diverse subject matter. However, if I don’t keep meditating, mulling, memorizing, and going deeper in my understanding of God’s Word my discernment in properly engaging culture will be impaired.
While on campus I finally got around to reading the Hays Festschrift.
My favorite chapter was the last one, written by Richard himself along with his wife of over 40 years. It’s called “The Christian Practice of Growing Old: The Witness of Scripture.” The chapter makes several excellent points:
1) Older characters in Scripture are often mentioned for their special wisdom or insight.
2) New Testament elders are worthy of honor and respect if not also special care and attention.
3) Aging “was never seen as a problem by the earliest Christians.”
4) The elderly bear a special responsibility to be models of faithfulness, temperance, and endurance.
5) The New Testament predicts unusual fruitfulness in old age (think Elizabeth and Zechariah).
6) Nowhere in the New Testament are the old said to be pitied or treated with condescension.
7) Like Jesus, we should seek the will of God no matter how old we are or at what age we die. “Consequently, as we grow old, we should seek to discern how to give our lives for others” (p. 660).
8) T. S. Elliot: “Old men ought to be explorers.”
9) “The special responsibility of older Christians is to lead, to teach, to counsel, as their gifts allow and as opportunities arise” (p. 664).
Amen to that! Folks, I realize that aging is not without its mysteries. But when older people choose to serve rather than be served, bless rather than curse, love their enemies rather than fight, truly the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Those who know that they are not much longer for this old world have a heavenly-mindedness that has plenty of earthly good! So — let those of us who are older imitate Jesus. Let’s develop a radical vision of the kingdom. Maybe we could even become out-of-the-box thinkers, given the kind of radical God we serve. Talk about a good reason to grow old! Nothing could be more rewarding than surrendering your gray hair and arthritis to Christ. There’s a choice to made about life, and it is simply this: Will we sacrifice ourselves for others, with whatever resources the Lord has given us? I don’t know about you, but this 62-year old geezer — *creak, creak* — can’t wait to do just that.
HT: David Black
Will Willimon is insightful and has an ability to cut through a lot of fog:
Unfortunately, too often Christians have treated the modern world as if it were a fact, a reality to which we were obligated to adjust, rather than a point of view with which we might argue.
When we speak of reaching out to our culture through the gospel, we must be reminded that the gospel is also a culture. In the attempt to “translate” the gospel into the language of the culture, something is lost. We are learning that you have not said “salvation” when you say “self-esteem.” “The American Way” is not equivalent to “the kingdom of God.”
The rest is here: https://stertin.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/william-willimons-the-culture-is-overrated/
HT: Trevin Wax
Fascinating and exciting discovery: