Love's Fire

This may sound odd, but I like reading books by authors that have already died.  The main reason for that is that they can't do or say anything now that disappoints me.   Sure, there are contemporary writers that are solidly Christian who speak the truth, but once in a while even the best of them says or does something that makes me shake my head.   But that's because we're all sinners.

One of my favorite dead authors is William Gurnall.   He went to heaven more than 300 years ago.  Even so, his words are just as relevant today as they were in his day.   In his classic work, 'The Christian in Complete Armour', Gurnall makes this statement on the fire of love:

"Love is the great conqueror of the world.  Thus if you are inflamed with love for Christ, you will toss all your worldly attractions to the four winds rather than tarnish His honor.  Love is like a fire in that it consumes everything near it.  It turns all into fire or ashes.  Nothing foreign to the nature of fire can dwell very long with fire's own simple and pure nature.  Thus love for Christ will not allow the existence of anything in the heart which is unlike Him."

"Love for Christ will not let you agree with anything which is against Him but, on the contrary, will take His part against every one of His enemies."

As long as dead authors keep making statements like that, I'll keep listening!

Winning the War

William Gurnall suggests numerous ways in guarding against the assaults of the enemy. If your faith is ailing, he says, renew your repentance as if you had never repented. Put forth fresh acts of faith, as if you had never believed, and you will beat Satan at his own game. Gurnall says this is one way we maintain our assurance of salvation. If the devil continues to haunt you with fears of your spiritual condition, then appeal to God and hear the news from heaven, rather than listen to the tales your enemy brings from hell. If you would argue less with Satan and pray more to God about your fears, they would soon be resolved.

Sail away from the enemy and head straight for God's harbor. Make an honorable retreat into those assurances and strengths which Christ provides for his endangered soldiers.

Another way Gurnall states is helpful in the battling the sinking doubts of our faith is to tell a trusted Godly friend of your struggles, because it often brings relief. He says, 'you lose two blessings by keeping the devil's secrets - the counsel of your fellow brethren and their prayers. And what a serious loss it is!"

Fighting the good fight,
Mark

A Good Investment

I have some good investment advice. Even when Wall Street isn't doing so well, you are guaranteed a good return on this investment: buy good theology books. Read them. Study them. It goes without saying, that Christians ought to be spending time reading their Bibles, but buying theologically sound material and keeping it at your fingertips is one investment that doesn't go sour. I was thinking tonight about how blessed I am with good reading material. I like to read, and it follows that I spend alot of money on books. While some people I know are complaining and fretting about their 401K's and mutual funds in an uncertain economic climate, I am collecting all the blessings of the dividends that a library of theology pays.

I am half way through the first of three volumes of a work by Puritan author William Gurnall entitled The Christian in Complete Armour. I paid $19.99 for these paperback books and I can state confidently that so far, this has been one of the best books I have ever read. The author sheds much light on the warfare we are engaged in against our enemy the devil. He teaches the reader how to wear his armor, what the enemy's tactics are, how to be assured of victory, and other valuable information in the fight. The lessons learned from a work like this far exceed the price paid for the books. Does any mutual fund or stock provide this kind of return? Hardly.

The Meaning of Heroism

"Today the word 'hero' has been diminished, confused with 'celebrity'. But in my father's generation the word meant something. Celebrities seek fame. They take no actions to get attention. Most often, the actions they take have no particular moral content. Heroes are heroes because they have risked something to help others. Their action involves courage."

- James Bradley, author of 'Flags of our Father" and son of John Bradley, one of the flag raisers on Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima

Aiming Higher

I am reading great book by Bishop J.C. Ryle called ‘Holiness’. This book is a case study on why it is important for Christians to be consistently reading soul-satisfying, thirst-quenching, sin-convicting books. So far, Ryle draws a clear distinction between God’s role and our role in the sanctification process. While God is intimately involved in our growth, there is none of this ‘Let-go-and-let-God’ philosophy. We are to participate in our own growth… we just don’t stand by idly and hope that God is going to hold us by the lazy hand and do everything for us (for example, see 2 Peter 1, where we see God’s part and our part in the growth process clearly outlined).

Believers have settled for a brand of Christianity that lacks vision and is content with mediocrity. We embrace every wind of doctrine because diligent study of God’s word is ‘too hard’. Our worship is lackluster and our evangelism stinks because we think people will laugh at our devotion and think we’re religious nuts.

I say we aim higher. Did not Christ die to deliver us? Could we not put a whole-hearted effort into our relationship with Him? Should not our prayers be more fervent and our Bible intake be more regular and meaningful? Aim higher. Should not our affections of Jesus Christ be more sincere? Shouldn’t we have a white-hot passion for the things of God regardless of what people say or think? We ought to aim higher! When we’re cut, we ought to bleed scripture. When we breathe, words from God’s Word ought to burst forth from our souls. Aiming higher in our faith… that’s when people will start to realize that Christians are for real, and God will get the glory.

How to Know Right from Wrong

The first 'Christian Living' book I ever read the whole way through is called 'The Pursuit of Holiness' written by Jerry Bridges. A pastor of a church I had attended gave it to me about 15 years ago or more. It laid in a dresser drawer for awhile... and then on a bus trip to Detroit I decided to take the book with me and read it. I couldn't put the book down. At every food and bathroom break along the way, I remained in the bus to read my book.

I credit this book for sparking my love for reading and to develop my own pursuit of God. I decided to re-read the book and it is wonderful for my mind to go back to that time when I first read the words that helped lead me to a closer relationship with the Lord. For that, I owe Jerry Bridges a great debt of gratitude.

Last night, I read a page that poses questions to help in determining what is right and what is wrong. I'll share part of it here:

1). Is it helpful- physically, spiritually and mentally? (Everything is permissible for me - but not everything is beneficial - 1 Corinthians 6:12)

2). Does it bring me under its power? (Everything is permissible for me but I will not be mastered by anything - again 1 Corinthians 6:12)

3). Does it hurt others? (Therfore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall - 1 Corinthians 8:13)

4). Does it glorify God? (So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God - 1 Corinthians 10:31)

The Pursuit of Holiness: 153 pages, packed with encouraging conviction.

Pew Crimes

I recently read an outstanding book by James R. White called "Pulpit Crimes". In it, he suggests that the impotency found in today's Christian circles is largely due to the 'crimes' committed in the pulpit. In some cases, pastors (or anyone who stands behind the sacred desk) often have not taken their task of preaching the Word quite as seriously as they are expected to. Clarity of speech is non-existant at times. Explanations of crucial cornerstone doctrines maybe confusing or even flat out wrong. Proper exegesis, dividing the Word correctly, is a thing of the past.

In typical James R. White fashion, he does much to make the reader think through the issues. I did come to an unexpected conclusion, however, upon finishing the book. I wondered how many of those 'pulpit crimes' I had been committing as I teach Sunday School. Furthermore, I wondered how many 'PEW' crimes I had been committing. After all, the pastor is not the only criminal here, right?

I considered writing my own book on 'pew crimes'. If I were to write such a book, I would include the following 'pew crimes', of which there is enough evidence to convict any of us of being guilty:
1). Stumbling into church at the last minute, unprepared for worship. How often have we stayed up late on Saturday night for entertainment value, only to have our worship lackluster on Sunday morning.
2). A wandering and distracted mind during worship. The afternoon dinner or football game looms large in our minds while we're singing, 'How Great Thou Art'.
3). Pretending to know it all, thus being unteachable. We're a pretty intelligent bunch of Christians, we are...
4). Carrying a load of guilt from unconfessed sin into the worship service. Isaiah tells us in chapter 57 that our 'iniquities have made a separation between you and your God'.
5). Participating in the communion service without a full self-examination (eating and drinking condemnation to yourself).
6). Being an "over-Berean", that is, over-criticizing the pastor. Holding the pastor or teacher accountable to Biblical truth, as the noble Bereans did in the book of Acts, is one thing. Criticizing out of selfish motives is quite another.
7). Focusing on style and dress. Yes, the fashion police are alive and well in the church. We want to make sure we are respectful and modest in our attire, but our family motto has always been: 'we dress up on the inside'.

I am sure there are many others I could list, but I am starting to convict myself.
Are you as guilty as I am?

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

When I get to heaven, one of the people I want to have conversations with would be Martyn Lloyd-Jones. He went to heaven on March 1, 1981. I was finishing up eleventh grade at that time and had no clue who this man was back then. In the last six or seven years though, I have grown to love this man who has written many books and commentaries that have impacted my life profoundly. He was a master using the right words to convey the message that was intended in the scriptures. In some cases, he'd spend hundreds of pages expositing just one verse, mining deep and pulling out those great spiritual nuggets of gold. I try to read at least two of his commentaries every year - there are many volumes to Romans, eight on Ephesians, two on Philippians, two on the Sermon on the Mount, several on Acts and others. There is no shortage of reading material from this great Bible teacher. Below are some of my favorite quotes out of one of my recent readings from Romans 1.

What a denial of Scripture it is to say it does not matter very much what you believe as long as you call yourself a Christian in general, or to say that you need not hold on to these doctrines as absolutes.

It ought to be impossible for us to use the word ‘gospel’ without bursting forth, as it were, into a hymn of praise and thanksgiving.


The Bible is authoritative. It is the only authority. It is our only rule and standard, and we must abide by its teaching in every respect. I must not believe anything unless it is plainly stated in the Scriptures or else can be ultimately deduced from the Scriptures.


[Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ] means a surrender of ourselves, a committal of ourselves, the involvement of our whole personality. No one can be regarded as having believed the gospel who has not repented and turned from a life of sin to a life of obedience to God in Christ Jesus.

Who are the unstable? The unstable are always the unlearned. The spiritual butterflies are the people who do not know doctrine. It is the unlearned who are always unstable, and every single New Testament epistle was written in order to stabilize people, to establish them, to ground them, to root them! And it is by the doctrines, the teaching, and the exposition that it is done. It is not entertainment we need. It is truth. It is knowledge. There are no shortcuts in the spiritual life. You cannot gallop through these epistles. You cannot rush through them a chapter at a time. It is only a deep and thorough knowledge of the Word that will give us true stability.

Dynamic Devotional Living

I have many things to learn about being a parent, and therefore I am always reading material on how to raise my children effectively. I have read many resources on parenting. Just as with anything, there are some really good books and pamphlets, but there is alot of junk out there too. There is nothing worse than a parenting book that is all psycho-babble mumbo jumbo. Who writes these books anyway?

Our kids just finished a week of Vacation Bible School where our church hosted 'The Musical Merrill Family'. While they were here visiting our church and ministering to our family, I noticed a book they had for sale by Gail Martin, "What Every Child Should Know Along the Way". I leafed through it real quick and decided it might be worth the $10 they were asking for it. Today I read through about half the book. This is probably one of the best parenting resources I have ever read (at least so far). The premise of the book is developed in the first chapter on "Dynamic Devotional Living", which the author defines as "being vigorously active and profoundly dedicated to the love, praise and service to God; resulting in the power of God affecting further life transformation, thereby producing the joy of holy Christ-like living". This book is solidly biblical and contains valuable practical advice.

There is a section on manners, practical living checklists for specific age groups, the importance of mining out childrens talents and spiritual gifts. There are chapters ranging from personal safety to biblical character traits.

I am sure we will be referring to this book over and over again. I strongly recommend this book to any parent with children still at home.

Mark

Four O'Clock in the Morning

Taking a break from my Romans commentaries last night, I decided to open another Puritan paperback by a man named Joseph Alleine, called 'A Sure Guide to Heaven'. I never heard of this guy until recently, but the subject matter of this work interested me and so I made the purchase.

The back of the book says, ‘When the spiritual history of the Western world in the 20th century is written, it may well be seen as the epoch of spiritual sloth and slumber’. The purpose of the book is to alarm and awaken people to the concerns of life and death.

The introduction tells us that Joseph Alleine lived in the mid-1600’s and was very protective of his study time. If his friends interrupted him, he would say ‘it is better that they should wonder at my rudeness than that I should lose my time; for only a few will take notice of my rudeness, but many may feel my loss of time’. For someone who took great pains to evangelize the lost, study time was essential.

Alleine certainly knew how to redeem the time. He made it a regular habit to wake up every day at 4:00am. He spent the next FOUR HOURS in prayer, contemplation, and singing psalms. Is it any wonder he was effective in ministry?

I barely made it out of the introduction and was convicted about my own slothfulness. I love my morning sleep. Apparently much more than some quiet study in the Scriptures.

Mark