The Problem of Evil

The Problem of evil has been brought up by several skeptics throughout the ages as an attempt to disprove the existence of God.  The formal argument goes as follows:

1. If an all-powerful and perfectly good god exists, then evil does not.
2. There is evil in the world.
3. Therefore, an all-powerful and perfectly good god does not exist.

As Christians we need to be able to handle this objection against our faith.  This video below by R.C Sproul will help arm you as you fight against this assault.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas From the Stewart Family

The Call to the Ministry

I was speaking with my good friend Craig this morning about the call to the ministry.  After completing our morning workout he shared with me that he knew some people who were going into the ministry simply as a career move.  I replied that if I had that view of the pastorate I would have quit six months after I started.  There are many unique challenges to the ministry and it is imperative to have the calling from God to endure.

Sent or Called


The bible uses two words to describe ministry responsibilities.  It is essential to place a distinction between these two separate words.  The first word is 'sent.'  This word refers to the duty that all believers have to minister to the Lord.  The second word is 'called.'  This duty is unique as it is used to describe someone who is set aside for full time ministry and serves with the Lord.

The Calling


Being a pastor is truly a calling from the Lord.  I must point out that this calling is not something unique to the New Covenant pastor.  All throughout the Scriptures, God has called individuals into His service to fulfill His eternal will and purposes.  Since this is a calling from God how does a person know if they have this calling?  There are some standards by which we can access if a person is truly called to this work.

Firstly, there are objective elements to a call to the ministry:

1. Meeting the biblical requirements laid out in the Word of God (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9).

2. Having confirmation from the church.

Secondly, there are subjective elements to a call to the ministry:

1. Desire: Paul states that he that desires the work desires a good thing (1 Tim. 3:1).  This desire is for the work of the ministry not just for the position of the minister (3 John 9).

2. Providential leading: The one seeking to enter the Christian ministry must be able to see the hand of God in calling and in equipping them to serve in the body of Christ as a pastor.

The Importance of Teaching About the Calling


If the true biblical teaching about the calling to the ministry is not taught it will do much damage to the body of Christ.  Men who are not suited for or equipped for the ministry will enter in it just like any other profession.  Without clarity about the minister's office the pastor will perform his duties without real authority.  Confusion rather than order will be prevalent in the church.  Finally, if a person is not truly called they will easily give up during times of discouragement and one can be assured that these times will come often. So, if a person desires to serve the Lord in full time ministry it is a good thing, but that person better be absolutely sure their calling is from the Lord.

To Err is Human?

I am sure many of us have heard a statement similar to this, "To err is human, to forgive, divine."  What comes to mind when you first read this statement?  Do you agree with this statement?  It sounds like a good powerful quote.

This is one of those 'tricky' phrases that you really have to examine to test its soundness.  I totally disagree with this statement.  To err is not human, to err is fallen!  We are not being quintessentially human when we sin, we are being quintessentially fallen.

If sin is of the essence of humanness, it raises real problems for God's original creation.  Sin does not make me MORE human.  It makes me LESS human.  God did not originally create us as sinners.

Why does this matter?  Well, if a person believes that sinning is human they have misdiagnosed the problem.  To put it theologically they are saying, "Man's basic problem resides in the fact that he is finite and God is infinite and this chasm cannot be crossed, we cannot conceive Him because he is so majestic, so infinite and we are so finite" (J. Ligon Duncan).

Our finiteness is not the basic problem.  For Adam was created finite and God did not mock him for that.  Sin is the problem!  Rebellion is the problem!  Not finiteness.  If Adam did not sin there would not be a chasm between God and man.

I think the quote in question would be more properly stated if it read like this, "to err is to sin, for God to forgive us, divine."

Exhortation to Christian Parents

J.C Ryle in his treatise titled "Duties of Christian Parents" ended his book with a very powerful exhortation about the responsibilities parents have in training their children in the doctrines of God:

Fathers and mothers, you may take your children to be baptized, and have them in the ranks of Christ's Church: you may get godly sponsors to answer for them, and help you by their prayers; and you may send them to the best of schools, and give them Bibles and Prayer Books, and fill them with head knowledge but if all this time there is no regulare training at home, I tell you plainly, I fear it will go hard in the end with your children's souls...

Continue Reading at Little Church Ministries...

No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets

Today as I was studying Chuck Bentley's newest book "The Root of Riches" and I found myself captivated by a story Chuck shared about William Borden.  I did some research and found an article about Borden that I posted below.

In 1904 William Borden, the heir of the famous Borden dairy estate, graduated from high school in Chicago. As a graduation gift, his parents sent him on a cruise around the world. While on this cruise, God began to open William’s eyes and heart to the masses of unsaved people around the world. William wrote to his mother about his desire to be a missionary. In one of his early letters he wrote, “I think God is calling me to be a missionary.” In his final letter he wrote, “I know God is calling me to be a missionary.” One friend expressed amazement that William was throwing his life away by choosing to become a missionary.

When he returned home, William enrolled in Yale University where he was instrumental in starting campus prayer and Bible study groups and evangelism initiatives. He also worked with the least of these on the streets of New Haven and founded Yale Hope Mission. Henry Wright, a professor at Yale, said, “It is my firm conviction that the Yale Hope Mission has done more to convince all classes of men at Yale of the power and practicability of Christianity to regenerate individuals and communities than any other force in the University.” While in school, William renounced his fortune in favor of missions and wrote two words in the flyleaf of his Bible – “No Reserves.” William wanted to live by faith and to trust God for everything in his life.
  
William attended a Student Volunteer Movement conference in Nashville where he learned about the great number of Muslims in China. He felt God wanted him to go to China where he hoped to work with Muslims. When he graduated from Yale, he had many lucrative job offers, including the opportunity to take over the multi-million dollar family business. However, he was determined to fulfill God’s call to serve as a missionary. Once again, he opened his Bible to the flyleaf and wrote two more words – “No Retreats.”

William set sail for China on December 17, 1912. He stopped in Egypt to study Arabic so that he would be better equipped to work with Muslims. While in Egypt, William contracted spinal meningitis and died on April 9, 1913 at the age of twenty-five. Years of training, a promising future, and William never made it to China. Charlie Campbell, one of William’s college friends, received his Bible after his death. When he opened it he found what William had written in the flyleaf. In addition to the words “No Reserves” and “No Retreats” that William had jotted down during his college days, he found two more words that William had written before he died – “No Regrets.”

Although William Borden never made it to the mission field in China, he touched hundreds of students at Yale University and Princeton Divinity School who became missionaries. And, because the news of his death was published all over the world, many people wrote letters to his family expressing how their lives had been influenced by William’s story of faith and commitment to the cause of Christ. His story continues to inspire selfless service for the cause of Christ.

Article by: Omar C. Garcia

Created in God's Image

What does it mean to be created in the image of God?  We know an image is not the original.  We obviously do not share the divine nature of God but we do resemble some of His characteristics.

First, man is to be a reflection of God to the rest of creation.  We reflect God by sharing attributes (still limited) such as speaking, loving, giving, hearing, and reasoning.  Adam and Eve in their original state were created with a perfect ability to express and share those attributes.

Secondly, man is to live in fellowship with God.  Adam and Eve had the unique privilege of walking and talking with God in the Garden of Eden in complete unity.  Within each person is a longing and desire to be in relationship and fellowship with God.  That was God's design.  He wants to be in fellowship with us as his image bearers.

Third, humankind is to act as God's representative and stewards to all creation.  Genesis 1:28 says, "God blessed them [Adam and Eve] and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."  Man is to rule and act as a steward over God's creation.

Puritans Concerning the Family

With nearly 60 percent of marriages among professed believers ending in divorce today, the Puritan teaching on marriage serves as a biblical remedy to our "quickie-divorce" culture.

Erroll Hulse said, "The Puritan ethic of marriage was not to look for a partner whom you do love passionately at this moment, but rather for one you can love steadily as your best friend for life, and then proceed with God's help to do just that."

Thomas Manton declared that, "marriages are made in heaven before they are made on earth" and Daniel Rogers, son of [Puritan preacher] John Rogers of Dedham commented on what today we call 'falling in love' like this: "Marriage love is often a secret work of God, pitching the heart of one party upon another for no known cause; and therefore when this strong lodestone attracts each to the other, no further questions need to be made but such a man and such a woman's match were made in heaven, and God has brought them together.'"

The Puritans held forth a clearly biblical foundation for the duties of husbands and wives based upon Genesis 2 and Ephesians 5. They saw the first duty of husbands and wives as to love each other entirely in accord with Ephesians 5:25,28 and 33. Husbands and wives also were to be helpers of each other's salvation.

Hulse also stated, "They were to stir up each other to faith, love and obedience, and good works; to warn and help each other against sin and all temptations; to join in God's worship in the family and in private; to prepare each other for the approach of death and comfort each other in the hope of eternal life."

For the husband and father, the Puritans asserted the biblical doctrine of headship. That is, the husband and father is the accountable head for what takes place in the family and is the provider for and protector of his wife and children. The husband is responsible for the spiritual development and biblical instruction of the wife and children.

Fathers sought to equip their sons and daughters with a thorough knowledge of Scripture beginning at an early age.

"The headship is not a ticket to privilege but a charge to responsibility," Hulse said. "It is not tyranny, but leadership based on love."

To the Puritans, concern for family extended to live-in servants and the elderly, who were cared for in the home until death and not relegated to retirement homes, he said.

The Puritans esteemed the family as the basic unit of society and aimed that it be a little church in itself with the husband as its pastor and his wife as assistant. Puritan pastors believed fervently that the family was the foundational unit of a godly society.

The Puritan ethic was to train up children in the way they should go, to care for their bodies and souls together, and to educate them for sober, godly, socially useful adult living. The Puritan way of home life was based on maintaining order, courtesy and family worship.

The Christian Family

Below is an article from A Puritan's Mind:

The Christian Family is a little church, a little government and a little society. It shapes the foundation of the church, and of society itself. Future generations depend on the leadership found in the home, and the values they receive there.
The Family is a God-ordained institution, a spiritual and organic unity, that was established for the cultural mandate of 1) glorifying the Creator, and 2) subduing the earth. In this mandate (Genesis 2) the duties of the husband, wife, children, masters and servants are encompassed, and the Scriptures readily set forth a theology of domestical duties. Husbands, wives and children have specific, God-honoring duties to perform in their respective stations in the economy of God’s redemptive plan. Their goal as a family is to 1) honor God, 2) edify the church and 3) promote Christian values in their respective stations of society. All this stems from the moral and spiritual values enumerated in the home and functioning to honor Christ Jesus. In this regard was the Puritan conception of the family or household. Dr. William Perkins described the family as a “little church”, Dr. William Gouge called it the “seminary of the Church and commonwealth…” and Rev. Richard Baxter characterized the home as “a church… a society of Christians combined for the better worshipping and serving God.” Rev. Lewis Bayly taught that “what the preacher is in the pulpit, the same the Christian householder is in his house.” He was quoting Augustine. The family, then, is the most important institution in society paralleling the relationship of Christ and the Church. Thus, Paul, carried by the Holy Spirit, rightly demonstrates this in Ephesians 5:22-6:9 in the manner of the duty of the husband, of the wife, of the children, and of masters and salves in the household.
May this section of the website be for the edification of the family, and the respective duties of each hierarchical part of the family as ordained by God.

For more on the Christian Family and the Little Church click here.

The Ten Commandments For Children

I have been doing a lot of studying on parenting lately. The reason for this new found desire is obvious; I now have children! I am compiling a book from the Puritans writings of how they educated their children in the tenants of the faith. In my studies today I found this Rhyme for the Ten Commandments. I trust you will find this rhyme helpful in teaching your children God's commandmnents.

1. THOU shalt have no more gods but me.
2. Before no idol bend thy knee.
3. Take not the name of God in vain.
4. Dare not the Sabbath day profane.
5. Give both thy parents honor due.
6. Take heed that thou no murder do.
7. Abstain from words and deeds unclean.
8. Steal not, though thou be poor and mean.
9. Make not a willful lie, nor love it.
10. What is thy neighbors dare not covet.

John Piper-The Gospel Saves Kids

I thought my fellow parents would find this short video to be a great challenge as we seek to bring our children to the saving knowledge of Christ.  It is the gospel that saves!

John MacAurthur on Pragmatology

Here is a video from John MacAurthur talking about pragmatism.  Dr. MacAurthur explains how pragmatology is really an attack on authentic Christianity.

Pragmatology

Pragmatology is an ideology that has become very prevalent in our culture; and has infiltrated the Christian church. Pragmatology is the view that the ends justifies the means. When you talk to Pragmatologists and question their beliefs instead of debating the question at hand they will always respond by saying things like " look at what a difference we are making"; "We have helped save a marriage"; or "I have been blessed monetarily so it must be right." These are just a few examples of the apologia the Pragmatologist uses; however, the defense is always the ends justifies the means.

The truth and reality is no matter what 'blessings' have been bestowed upon them and those around them they are still captive to the master of this world. When a person is enslaved to Satan he will use them for the furtherance of his purposes. This does not mean he always uses people like he did Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin. More often than not he delights to use 'righteous' men who are doing 'good' things. To these people this master appears as "an angel of light."

It was understood that George Washington owned a lot of slaves. It is also understood that he would treat them very well and give them many benefits that were foreign to most slaves. Here is the fact of the matter though. Those people were still slaves to George Washington no matter how good he treated them. People may see glittering things before them but all that glitters is not God. The reality is even if unregenrate people have certain unique blessings they are still slaves to the cruel taskmaster.

The point I have been making is Satan treats his slaves in different ways. Some are given cruel and unusual punishment while others, like the Pragmatologist, seem to have great favor with the master. What we always need to understand is they are still slaves and are being used for Satans selfish purposes.

If you have had a conversation with a Pragmatologist please share it!



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Why hast thou forsaken me?

I posted this mornings devotion from Spurgeon's devotional titled, "Morning and Evening." This is a very fitting verse and devotion to meditate on as we approach the Easter weekend.

"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” — Psalm 22:1

We here behold the Saviour in the depth of his sorrows. No other place so well shows the griefs of Christ as Calvary, and no other moment at Calvary is so full of agony as that in which his cry rends the air—“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” At this moment physical weakness was united with acute mental torture from the shame and ignominy through which he had to pass; and to make his grief culminate with emphasis, he suffered spiritual agony surpassing all expression, resulting from the departure of his Father’s presence. This was the black midnight of his horror; then it was that he descended the abyss of suffering. No man can enter into the full meaning of these words. Some of us think at times that we could cry, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” There are seasons when the brightness of our Father’s smile is eclipsed by clouds and darkness; but let us remember that God never does really forsake us. It is only a seeming forsaking with us, but in Christ’s case it was a real forsaking. We grieve at a little withdrawal of our Father’s love; but the real turning away of God’s face from his Son, who shall calculate how deep the agony which it caused him? In our case, our cry is often dictated by unbelief: in his case, it was the utterance of a dreadful fact, for God had really turned away from him for a season. O thou poor, distressed soul, who once lived in the sunshine of God’s face, but art now in darkness, remember that he has not really forsaken thee. God in the clouds is as much our God as when he shines forth in all the lustre of his grace; but since even the thought that he has forsaken us gives us agony, what must the woe of the Saviour have been when he exclaimed, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Charles Spurgeon)


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What is your desire?

Below is a very searching verse and quote from Albert Barne's commentary.

Psalm 106:15, "And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul."

It means here that the effect of all this on their souls was similar to the effect on the body when it wastes away by disease or want of food. This effect often occurs. In the gratification of their desires, in great temporal success and prosperity, individuals, churches, nations, often forget their dependence on God; lose their sense of the value of spiritual privileges and blessings: are satisfied with their condition; become selfconfident and proud, and forfeit the favor of God. If we pray for temporal prosperity, we should also pray that we may at the same time have grace commensurate with it, that it may be a blessing and not a curse; if we are visited with prosperity when it has not been a direct object of our prayer - if we inherit riches, or if our plans are successful beyond our expectations - or, in the language of the world, if "fortune smiles upon us," there should be special prayer on our part that it may not be a curse rather than a blessing; that it may be so received and used as not to alienate our minds from God. Few are the Christian people who can bear continued success in life; few are those who are not injured by it; rare is it that growth in grace keeps pace with uninterrupted worldly prosperity; rare is it that the blessings of earth are so received and employed that they are seen to be a means of grace, and not a hindrance to growth in piety. A man does not know what is best for him when his heart is set on worldly prosperity; and God is more benevolent to people than they are to themselves, in withholding what is so often the object of their intense desire. "What is asked in passion, is often given in wrath" - Henry.

 

John Blanchard Books

John Blanchard will be at Berean Baptist Church on Good Friday and on Easter Sunday. We are offering a preorder discount on the books/pamphlets that he will be focusing his sermons on during his visit.

Book Titles offered in discount package:
Why the Cross?
Jesus: Dead of Alive?
Meet the Real Jesus
Travel with John Blanchard

Retail for all 4 books is over $35.00

Pre order discount of over 40% = $20.00!!!

$20.00 for all 4 books/pamphlets

Early bird special only on April 10th and 17th!!

Visit the table in the Narthex and place your order with Neal Ruffner or Pastor Eric Stewart by April 17th.


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You alone are holy

"Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested.”
Rev 15:4

God and God alone is the holy one. He is independently, infinitely, and immutably holy. In Scripture one characteristic that is often used to describe God is 'holiness.' This attribute is clearly revealed throughout the canon of Scripture.

The Bible contains some wonderful pictures of a heavenly worship service. There are two specific spots I am referring to in the Bible. In these angelic worship services we find holiness to be the great theme of the angels singing. In the book of Isaiah we find a miraculous event that transpired before Isaiahs very eyes. The Heavens were opened and the Seraphim bursted forth a Heavenly anthem:

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of
hosts;
The whole earth is is full of His glory!"

Or towards the beginning of the apocalyptic book of Revelation John recalls the vision he had while being in the Spirit on the Lord's day. Again the angels stayed focused on this same theme:

"Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is to come!"

So, we must conclude a couple of things from these worship services. The first conclusion we certainly must make is God is holy. The angels sang about it as it is an essential characteristic of the Lord. Secondly, we must conclude that it is an important attribute of God. For there could have been many other attributes the angels sang about but in both of these accounts they were found praising His holiness.



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The example of children

"Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein" Mark 10:15

O how I wish all people would come to Christ as dear children. For they have no prejudices, no preconceived theories, nor opinions it cannot give up; the dear little convert simply believes the word of Christ.

A little child believes with an unquestioning faith which makes everything vivid and real. Believe just so! The child believes in all humility, looking up to its teacher, and receiving its teachers words as decisive. Believe in Jesus just so! Say, "Lord, I am a know nothing--: I come to thee to be taught. I am nothing, be thou mine all in all."

A child when it comes to Christ comes very sincerely, and with all its heart. It knows nothing of sinister motives, or of formality. Its repentance and faith are genuine. The children do not play at religion. They do not look for fine words with which to trim themselves and make their prayers look neat and pretty, but they simply come.

When a child believes in Jesus it cares nothing for critical points. That is the way you must come to Christ. You that have been always inventing religious conundrums; you that have addled your brains with the vain thoughts of vain men, come to Jesus as you are, and believe what Jesus says because Jesus says it. Take Christ at his word, and trust him: that is the way to be saved.

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Bring them unto Christ

In Mark 10:13-16 we read the account of the disciples rebuking the parents that desired to bring their children to meet Christ.  What a gross and heinous sin the disciples committed.  I believe their motives were very sincere in trying to protect Jesus schedule, but what an offense they were to the gospel.

We, if we are not careful, can commit the same sin.  We can discourage people from coming to Christ by our manner of life.  If we habitually live an inconsistent life we will certainly discourage people from coming to Christ.  If we walk in the flesh rather than the Spirit on a continual basis; we enlist ourselves in Satan’s army.  For we must seek to live godly in Christ Jesus because we know this is true, “The force of example, whether for good or bad is very powerful.”

If our life is a prayer less life then we also discourage people to come to Christ.  If we desire people to come to Christ we must take them up in the arms of our prayer.  God uses prayer as a means to bring people to a saving faith in Jesus.

Finally, if we fail to teach people the truth of God’s word we are discouraging them from coming to Christ.  We don’t simply say, “Do not teach people; they will be converted in God’s own time if it be his purpose.”  This sort of reasoning is not only cruel to the person, but displeasing to Christ!  We must teach people the things of God.  For, the Lord works through their mind of understanding.

Woe to those, who like the disciples, act as jackals to the lion of hell.  May God give repentance to those who have been the bodyguard to the prince of darkness.  O God save us from hindering a single soul from coming to Christ.

A mother's prayer

Since my first daughter was born nineteen months ago I have been doing a lot of studying about parenting.  My main emphasis is how I can properly bring my children up in the ways of the Lord.  I have found a lot of great material regarding this topic.
 
Today I read a quote from one of Spurgeon’s sermons and he explained the approach his mother took explaining the things of the Lord to him and his siblings.  I was blessed by this quote and found it provided a great example of a way we can properly teach our children about the Lord.  I thought it might be helpful to other young parents as well.  So here is the quote:
 
It was the custom on Sunday evenings, while we were yet little children, for her to stay at home with us, and then we sat round the table and read verse by verse, and she explained the Scripture to us.  After that was done, then came the time of pleading; there was a little piece of “Alleyn’s Alarm,” or of Baxter’s “Call to the Unconverted,” and this was read with pointe observations made to each of us as we sat round the table; and the question was asked how long it would be before we would think about our state, how long before we would seek the Lord.  Then came a mother’s prayer, and some of the words of a mother’s prayer we shall never forget, even when our hair is grey.  I remember on one occasion her praying thus: “Now, Lord, if my children go on in their sins, it will not be from ignorance that they perish, and my soul must bear a swift witness against them at the day of judgment if they lay not hold of Christ.” Charles Spurgeon