The peculiar task of the Church

Of late I have been thinking much about the Church's mission. That reflection has recalled these words of Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the primary task of the Church:

So I would lay it down as a basic proposition that the primary task of the Church is not to educate men, is not to heal him physically or psychologically, it is not to make him happy. I will go further; it is not even to make him good. These are things that accompany salvation; and when the Church performs her true task she does incidentally educate men and give them knowledge and information, she does bring them happiness, she does make them good and better than they were. But my point is that those are not her primary objectives. Her primary purpose is not any of these: it is rather to put man into the right relationship with God, to reconcile God to man . . . .

The business of the Church, and the business of preaching - and she alone can do this - is to isolate the radical problems and to deal with them in a radical manner. This is specialist work, it is the peculiar to task of the Church. . . .

When you depart from the primary task of the Church and do something else, though your motive may be pure and excellent, [failure] is the result. . . I argue that in many ways it is the departure of the Church from preaching that is responsible in a large measure of the state of modern society. The Church has been trying to preach morality and ethics without the Gospel as a basis; it has been preaching morality without godliness; and it simply does not work. . . .

But my objection to the substitution of a socio-political interest for the preaching of the Gospel can be stated more positively. This concern about the social and political conditions, and about the happiness of the individual and so on, has always been dealt with most effectively when you have had reformation and revival and true preaching in the Christian Church. I would go further to and suggest that it is the Christian Church that has made the greatest contribution throughout the centuries to the solution of these very problems . . . My argument is that when the Church performs her primary task, these other things invariably result from it . . . And so you will find that the greatest periods and epochs in the history of countries have aways been those that followed in the wake of great religious reformations and revivals.

. . . I would go so far as to say that never has there been a greater opportunity for preaching than there is today, because we are living in an age of disillusionment. (Martyn Lloyd-Jones Preaching & Preachers pp30-41)

I need again and again to be called back to center, to the central task of the Church - of reconciling people to God - in order that He may do His work in us all those good things that we desire to see.

As I read the history of awakening and revival, I cannot deny his claim that the greatest social and political change follow times of awakening and revival. That social and political change is not prompted by preaching about social and political change, but by proclaiming the cross. In times of revival, I think it is fair to say that people amend their ways, public and private, because of the fear and love of God - and so society is transformed.

With pen in hand

I read this description of Jonathan Edwards some years ago, and it has remained in my mind: of thinking continually, accurately and connectedly by having a "pen in hand." I hope that this blog is, and becomes, a way of living "pen in hand."

clipped from www.desiringgod.org Even while a boy he began to study with his pen in his hand; not for the purpose of copying off the thoughts of others, but for the purpose of writing down, and preserving, the thought suggested to his own mind. . . . This most useful practice . . . he steadily pursued in all his studies through life. His pen appears to have been always in his hand. From this practice . . . he derived the very great advantages of thinking continually during each period of study; of thinking accurately; of thinking connectedly; of thinking habitually at all times . . . of pursuing each given subject of thought as far as he was able . . . of preserving his best thoughts, associations, and images, and then arranging them under their proper heads, ready for subsequent use; of regularly strengthening the faculty of thinking and reasoning, by constant and powerful exercise; and above all of gradually molding himself into a thinking being. . . ("Works, I, xviii)

Camera being cleaned

In the interest of taking better pictures (and caring for my camera) it is "in the shop" for cleaning. I hope that we'll have it back before too long, but I know that they have to ship it to Canon and have it shipped back again, so it may be a while before fun new pics appear on the blog.

Gospel discipline in practice

What makes gospel discipline different from the kind of wise discipline that a non-Christian parent would exercise?

I think that there are several key elements to wise discipline:

1. Clearly name the offense.
2. Secure admission of the offense.
3. Find out why the child committed the offense.
   
4. Ensure understanding of why a particular action is wrong.
5. Offer alternative holy actions.
6. Pray together: for grace for the parent to exercise wise discipline, and for the child to be enabled to submit and obey.

I have seen the first five done exceedingly well by wise parents who are not Christians. They get down at eye level with their child, speak in soft but firm tones, listen to the child's reasoning, explain why the offense is not acceptable, and offer an alternative response for next time. I have watched with admiration, and have learned much from watching parents who don't embrace Christ.

So why am I so passionate about Gospel discipline? If a parent does the first five steps, or some good variation of them, but omits prayer, there is the tacit assumption that their offense is not against God, and that it is within the power of the child to change himself or herself. It is also the tacit assumption that wise methods will lead to necessary moral improvement.

Both of these assumptions are antithetical to the Good News of Christ. The announcement of the Gospel of Christ entails the bad news that "no one does good, not even one" (Romans 3:12). Therefore we need two things: forgiveness (which is freely given, not purchased by repentance) and reformation of the heart (which mere behavior change cannot achieve). If any parent, Christian or not, leads a child through a discipline process that leaves the child with the impression that she or he is not in need of divine forgiveness, and divine power for a change of heart, the natural response of the child will be to put confidence in his or her ability to repent.

For this reason, every discipline encounter is an opportunity to present the Gospel to our children. We stand in desperate need; He is rich in mercy and abundant in power. Prayer in discipline is the inescapable outcome of the Gospel permeating our lives. With our children, we come before Christ's throne seeking forgiveness of sin and divine power without which we may reform the behavior but can never change the heart that manifested in this behavior.

Gospel discipline is in many respects like wise discipline, and yet at its root is entirely different. Its assumptions about human nature, the nature of sin are antithetical. This is what makes it so critical that our discipline be permeated by the Gospel, so that our children learn to rely on, and hope in God, and not in themselves.

Thinking and drawing

He who hates reproof is stupid

When I was a public school teacher, I used this verse in my class as an axiom (without telling them that it came from the Bible):

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge
but he who hates reproof is stupid (Proverbs 12:1)

The kids loved that I used the word "stupid" in class (since I tried to maintain appropriate decorum in the classroom). The starkness of the statement made clear exactly what I wanted them to understand: not to heed my correction or admonition put them squarely in the category of "stupid."

As a father, I deeply want Elisabeth to love discipline. Obviously, the point is not that she enjoy the experience, for "all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant" (Heb 12:11), but that she embraces it because it leads to wisdom and holiness. To that end, I want to "do" discipline in a way that cultivates a love of wisdom and holiness and I want to receive discipline in a way that models what I desire for her.

The writer to the Hebrews makes this connection between love and discipline:

"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives." (Hebrews 12:5-6)

Our relationship with our Father - which must include discipline, reproof and chastisement if we are true children - ought to teach us how to receive reproof, and how to exercise discipline. Our Father "disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness" (Hebrews 12:10). Elisabeth needs to see that when I am reproved, that I receive it readily and humbly because it is for my good, that I may share in God's holiness. She also needs to see that when I discipline her, it is from love, is for her good, and directs her to wisdom and holiness by teaching her to trust and obey Christ. My discipline aims at saving her from being, or becoming, "stupid."

Pulling Daddy

Last weekend, I wasn't the only one doing the pulling.
(Today the last of the snow was melting off . . .)

Augustine on hedonism

"It is the decided opinion of all who use their brains, that all men desire to be happy" (City of God p303)

I'm not quite sure how Augustine escaped being quoted in John Piper's Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. In any case, I would say that the human pursuit of felicity (happiness) is the central thread that runs through the first nine books of the City of God. Indeed, the major claim I have seen thus far is this: God alone is able to give eternal happiness. The founders of Rome sought it through virtue, and their successors through the worship of the gods. Yet neither virtue nor worship of the gods offered hope of eternal felicity. This the one true God alone can give.

Why does it matter that Augustine made so much of the human desire to be happy? Augustine got this perspective from the Scriptures, and brought it to bear on his adversaries. He recognized the pursuit of happiness as the common ground through which he could proclaim the ability of Christ alone to grant that which they sought. He has already taught me much about evangelistic engagement.

Ten minutes before the end of Mommy's last shift

Today is Rebecca's last shift in the Pediatric ER before two weeks of vacation, a 7am-7pm shift.

Elisabeth has been eagerly anticipating Mommy's homecoming this evening, and we were in the kitchen preparing dinner for her. At 6:50, Elisabeth said, "Daddy, I stuck a pea up my nose!"

Immediately I thought, "Oh no! Ten minutes before the end of her last shift, and I'm going to have to bring Elisabeth in to see her in the Peds ER to have Mommy extract a pea from her sinus!"

Thankfully I could still see the pea up her nose. I told Elisabeth to blow out, and she pushed it down far enough that I was able to get it out - without the help of the world's best pediatrician. I think that it was probably best that way for the nerves of all involved.

And best of all, now Mommy is on vacation!

Snow Angels

Scalable business or open source entrepreneurship

In our recent entrepreneurship forum, I realized that there is an understandable love affair with scalable business. Since the industrial revolution, good businesses have often become big businesses. In the field of venture capital, there is an affinity to businesses that are not only viable, but also scalable. There are some businesses that can and should be scalable to provide the greatest impact to small communities and to networks of communities (cell phone service is a prime example).

Yet what is needed most in the field of entrepreneurship is not big benevolent companies, but small repeated entrepreneurship in communities where members of the community assess the needs, the opportunities and the risks and invest in the community. So the very ventures that are most needed in local communities are the least likely to attract the start-up capital to get going. Investors want something that's going to make lots of money. Most small businesses will make a good return, but won't turn anyone into a millionaire overnight.

The more that I am involved with entrepreneurship, the more I feel called to catalyze small, repeated entrepreneurship in the community, from the community and for the community. I think that the way that this happens best is through open source entrepreneurship. By confessing that we are acting for the community, we can be transparent with community members about the process of entrepreneurship, assisting others with intellectual, human and financial capital to establish other businesses that support the community.

Thank You, Mr. Falker

When I was growing up, I remember on many occasions my Mom crying as she read aloud to us. I appreciated the stories, but was never as moved by them as she was. Well, I think that Elisabeth is probably going to grow up thinking about her Daddy the way that I thought about my Mom.

Last weekI read her Thank You, Mr. Falker, and for most of the second half of the book had trouble reading because of the tears. It is the brilliantly told true story of the author's own struggle with learning to read. She captures vividly the shame and frustration she experienced, and the glory (I don't think there's a better word for it) of the teacher who patiently, lovingly helped her learn to read.

Thank You, Mr. Falker is a wonderful example of great children's literature, particularly for a child who struggles with learning, and for those who have the privilege of helping children learn.

Fasting

I am asking you to fast regularly for the end of history as we know it because you want the King to come. (John Piper in Hunger for God, session 3)

In my experience, fasting is not common practice among professing Christians, although it should be. Among those who do fast, I have not found this kind of Kingdom expectancy.

If children grow up seeing their parents fasting regularly "for the end of history as we know it because they want the King to come," are they likely to think that their parents really care about what car they buy next, or where they're going on vacation this year? They're going to see that their parents long for Christ and His Kingdom because it is more to be desired than life.

Gospel discipline

A man may easier see without eyes, speak without a tongue, than truly mortify one sin without the Spirit (John Owen Overcoming Sin and Temptation p80).

If this is true (and it is), then all of parental discipline centers upon the Gospel. The only way to deal with our children in discipline is through the Gospel. Not to make the Gospel the center is demand those without eyes to see, or those without tongues to speak.

Does this mean that until our children close with Christ we cannot discipline? On the contrary, it means that every encounter of discipline brings us to the Gospel, both before and after a child has trusted Christ. Before conversion, we tell our children that the requirements of obedience are not lowered because they are unable to obey; instead, forgiveness is offered to the disobedient, and power for obedience is tendered to those who repent and depend on Jesus! Thus we censure the sin, and require obedience without the illusion that they can do what is required apart from Christ. We embody the Law that is the guardian to direct them to Christ.

Once they have embraced Jesus for forgiveness, and reconciliation with the Father, the Gospel continues its central place in parental discipline. Every time we confront our children on their sin, it is a reminder that only in the Gospel is there forgiveness for the wicked and power for repentance. We press our kids to trust Christ now to deliver from sin by yielding to Him, and to trust Him to restore our fellowship through His forgiveness. So we are humbled, and He is exalted; we receive mercy and grace, and He makes us holy.

This is how our kids see that the Gospel is not just a ticket out of hell. They see that day in and day out, this is the Good News by which we live now. He who saves us from hell also delivers from sin. He is everything!

Sledding with Mommy

Saturday was the first time that Elisabeth had Mommy in the sled with her!

Teaching children to believe (from John 5)

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (John 5:44)

Jesus is very clear that seeking glory from others is antithetical to believing Him. If we care for ourselves and our children, then we will do violence to our own desire for glory from others, and warn our children of the peril of seeking glory from others.

Teaching children how to repent

A man may beat down the bitter fruit from an evil tree until he is weary; while the root abides in strength and vigor, the beating down of the present fruit will not hinder it from bringing forth more. (John Owen Overcoming Sin and Temptation p76)

It is never too early to teach a child how to battle with sin. Sin is with them from birth, and bears fruit for death. A parent may very easily either try to beat the bitter fruit from the tree of a child, or encourage the child to do so, without realizing that the root is untouched. The only way to address the root of sin is through the gospel because sin arises out of our nature, not merely our circumstances or personality (although these certainly play a role). The gospel addresses not only our sinful behavior, but our sinful nature from which all those behaviors arise.

It is to be feared that very many have little knowledge of the main enemy that they carry about with them in their bosoms. (ibid. p76)

The key to teaching children how to repent is to show them that their sin nature is their own worst enemy. If we teach them this, they'll learn not to play the blame game, but instead to pray to God for mercy and deliverance - and they will find it!

To turn the hearts of fathers to the children

Luke describes the ministry of John the Baptist in these words:

". . . he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared" (Luke 1:17)

I don't know that there is another portion of Scripture that captures as well my sense of calling. It is the role of an evangelist, announcing the good news of the kingdom, but also that of a prophet, calling for repentance. It is a ministry that starts at home, turning the hearts of fathers to the children (by example as well as with words), and does not confine itself to Christians, but goes to the disobedient in order to turn them to the wisdom of the just. Yet family reconciliation, and the rescue of the foolish from their folly are not ends in themselves. They are for this purpose: to make ready for the Lord a people prepared - this time not for His first coming, but for His return.

This, I think, is where the strands of gospel, mission, theology and parenting (and particularly fathering) are seamlessly interwoven.

Holy Sonnet XIV

Batter my heart, three person'd God; for, you
As yet but knocke, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow mee, and bend
Your force, to breake, blowe, burn and make me new.
I, like an usurpt towne, to'another due,
Labour to admit you, but Oh, to no end,
Reason your viceroy in mee, mee should defend,
But is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearely I love you, and would be loved faine,
But am betroth'd unto your enemie:
Divorce mee, untie, or break that knot againe;
Take mee to you, imprison mee, for I
Except you enthrall mee, shall never be free,
Nor ever be chast, except you ravish mee. (John Donne)

This sonnet was used in our worship service this morning, and the last three lines caught me in their grip. Then as I re-read the sonnet a few times, gained more appreciation for how whole sonnet was saying the same thing. It is my prayer tonight.

Fun in the snow

Our laundry helper is growing up

Wild swing ride

Although in many ways Elisabeth has a timid temperament, it certainly doesn't manifest in her desire for speed on the tire swing.

Hide and Seek

On Wednesday Elisabeth had a playdate with her friend Aidan. They decided that they wanted to play hide and seek. It quickly became apparent that being inconspicuous was not part of their hiding strategy.

The first time they came running back into the room before I had counted to twenty. The second time they hid behind the couch where there were musical toys on the floor, and every time one of them moved, a toy would start singing.

Elisabeth started to catch on that their noise was giving them away, so the third time they hid (behind the couch again), whenever Aidan knocked the toys and made noise, I'd hear her little voice trying to hush him.

On Thursday Elisabeth proposed playing hide and seek again. This time she hid very quietly, but in full view of where I was (but with her back to me). I explained that it made it too easy for me to find her, and that she needed to go somewhere that I couldn't see her. So she went into the bedroom and stood next to the bed with her eyes covered. I explained that even though she couldn't see me, I could still see her. I left the room for her to hide again.

This time, for the first time ever, when I walked into the room I didn't see or hear Elisabeth! She was lying on the floor behind the bed (still with her eyes covered), but she had gotten the concept of being both quiet and out of view!

Christian business?

I remember distinctly being asked by a friend, "Is your business going to be a Christian business?" I answered yes and no, but not in the ways I think she expected.

Yes, the Gospel will define what we do and the way we do it, but no we're not going to be a Christian business in the sense of targeting our products and services to Christians. In fact, quite the opposite. As those who are changed by the Gospel, we're made missional people. Our mission is to bring the good news to those who have not received it, not to cater to those who have.

Gospel entrepreneurship, as I understand it, is pursuing ventures that act as a sign, and instrument and foretaste of Christ's kingdom. The ethics of our business are the ethics of the Kingdom, and therefore function as a sign to point to the authority and reign of the King. We will end up doing things that appear to be utter foolishness to those in similar fields because of our King. While pointing away to the King, we also endeavor to be His instrument in human society to demonstrate and spread His justice, righteousness and mercy in a way that both magnifies the beauty of His ways and calls people to repentance. We believe that by doing such, we function as a foretaste of the coming Kingdom, in which people who have not received grace may see those who live under grace, and by the Holy Spirit be drawn to bow before our King.

We do not entertain the Pelagian notion that people simply need to see a faithful witness to be convinced of the Good News. Instead, we believe that the obedience of God's people is the chosen instrument of the Holy Spirit to awaken the lost to the beauty of Christ, the greatness of His mercy, and their own need for that mercy.

So the many economic parables of the Scriptures are not merely metaphorical. The diligent investment praised and required in the parable of the talents refers just as much to the affairs of life as to the proclamation of the Gospel because the Gospel redefines all of our participation in human affairs. Entrepreneurship is no longer merely for economic gain. Rather it is obedience to the command of the King who entrusts us with His things, to wisely invest them, according to the ethics of His Gospel and for the sake of His Gospel, so that we function in the affairs of life (and not merely in the 'religious' sphere) as a sign, instrument and foretaste of His Kingdom.

She raised her hand!

One of my major objectives in taking Elisabeth to museum classes (in addition to art appreciation) has been for her to learn to participate in group discussions. We've been going to a weekly class at an art museum for three months now, and Elisabeth has been very timid. When the rest of the kids sit on the floor to look at the art and talk about it, she wants to sit on my lap. While the other kids are raising their hands to make observations about the art, Elisabeth sits quietly either in my lap or on the floor in front of me.

Today Elisabeth shocked me. She wanted to say something, but couldn't get the teacher's attention (since she wasn't raising her hand). I whispered to her to raise her hand. She raised it quickly and then put it down. I whispered to her again to keep it up until the teacher called on her. She did it (much to my surprise). The teacher, who was just as surprised to see Elisabeth's hand, called on her. Elisabeth gave her observation, and then put her hand down.

Something momentous had happened. Not a minute later, her hand shot up again and stayed up, this time without me whispering anything. The teacher called on her again, and she asked a question. Intrigued by her newfound power, she used it again three or four times in the session. I was astounded at just how quickly she turned the corner. At the beginning of the session, she was one of the kids who would sit and pay attention, but never have courage to say anything. By the end, her hand was up whenever she had something to share. What an amazing day!

Here we go!

Gospel Entrepreneurship

One area of my life that hasn't yet surfaced on this blog is entrepreneurship. Right now I'm involved in several new ventures that are at various stages in the process.

One of those ventures is a coffeehouse in a transitional neighborhood. I have the privilege of working with a couple that is very committed to seeing the Gospel take root and bear fruit in the neighborhood. They are involved in a local church there and want to provide a place, through the coffeehouse, that retains the ethnic identity (or identities) of the local population and forms a bridge to the incoming gentrifying population. Since there are not presently other welcoming places to sit and enjoy friends and good (fair trade) coffee and healthy food in the neighborhood, we have a tremendous opportunity to create that space, while running a profitable business.

In an effort to get the coffeehouse going, we submitted our business plan to the entrepreneurship initiative of a local church. Our plan was selected as one among a group of about 15 finalists in the competition, and Mike (the business owner) and I were invited to participate in an entrepreneurship forum of entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists and theologians this past Saturday. I walked away even more encouraged and excited about what we're doing - and about enabling other small businesses in poorer neighborhoods to get off the ground.

So this is likely the first of many posts on Gospel entrepreneurship. Some will have to do with parenting (as the business ventures do in various ways), but perhaps more than that, they will represent the leaven of the Gospel being worked through the flour of my life until it is all leavened.

[Now those reflections can be found on Gospel Entrepreneurship.]

The days are just packed

I've been a little light on posting for the past week or so because I've been a little busy. Uncle Roger came to visit from Sunday to Tuesday, and so we had many adventures to keep us moving while he was here. In addition, I was involved in an all-day entrepreneurship forum on Saturday. (More on that later.) Monday night was a church meeting, and last night was a long-overdue date night! So you can expect a flurry of posts (and fun pictures) from the adventures of the past few days.

All Smiles

Crazy eyes

Elisabeth was given a coloring book of faces that has a page of eye stickers at the front. The idea is that you put the sticker eyes on the coloring page, and then color in the rest of the face. Elisabeth found an alternate use for the sticker eyes . . .

What do you say?

Tonight Mommy came home from work with stickers and a coloring sheet for Elisabeth. Uncle Roger noticed that Elisabeth didn't say thank you and prompted Elisabeth by whispering, "What do you say?" Elisabeth replied in a whisper:

"It's the same one as last time."

It doesn't love me

Elisabeth often answers, "I don't love it," when she is asked to do something that she doesn't want to do. Frequently in the course of the day I hear, "I don't love that," or "I don't want to, because I don't love it." Tonight at dinner there was a new twist on the phrase. I asked Elisabeth to finish her couscous, and she replied,

"It doesn't love me."

I never before realized that it was a reciprocal non-love relationship.

Sliding with Uncle Roger

We miss summer

Well, Rebecca published this. Graham loves winter.

The heart of repentance

When a man on some outward respects forsakes the practice of any sin, men may perhaps look on him as a changed man. God knows that to his former iniquity he has added cursed hypocrisy, and is now on a safer path to hell than he was before. He has got another heart than he had, that is more cunning; not a new heart, that is more holy. (Overcoming Sin and Temptation p70)

This is what we must teach our children! Perhaps we won't have them read John Owen to find it, but we must impress upon them that repentance is not merely the outward forsaking of practicing a particular sin, but that we need a new heart.

He that changes pride for worldliness, sensuality for Pharisaism, vanity in himself to the contempt of others, let him not think that he has mortified the sin that he seems to have left. He has changed his master, but is a servant still. (ibid. p71)

Sleeping on the floor

A couple of nights ago, I sat in the living room while Elisabeth went to sleep with her door open. When I walked into her room, I was surprised to see the bed empty. As my eyes adjusted to the lower light (the picture is grainy because I lightened it), I saw Elisabeth on the floor next to her bed. Apparently she had quietly climbed out of bed and onto the floor to go to sleep! I roused her enough to help her climb back into bed, and in the morning found her (thankfully) still in bed.

We could have Norah!

It is not uncommon for Rebecca to tell Elisabeth that she needs a little sister. (Rebecca has a younger sister of whom she is very fond, and therefore thinks that every little girl needs to have a younger sister.) When Rebecca recently said to Elisabeth, "You need a sister!" Elisabeth quickly replied,

"We could have Norah!"

I don't think it occurred to her that we don't get to cherry-pick friends' children for a sister.

The City of God as missiology

For the past several weeks, I have been pressing through the first 7 books of Augustine's City of God. While discovering tremendous insight and clarity in places, I have found him profuse in his deconstruction, and even mockery of the polytheism of his time in the Roman world. So I've been enduring it, knowing that there are keen insights tucked within the longs sections mocking false gods and their worship, and that perseverance through his deconstruction of polytheism and the theology of the philosophers would help me to understand his view of the city of God.

Tonight, however, I got a glimpse of just what a treasure this book can be as missiology. Elisabeth found the pages in Window on the World on Hinduism as we got ready for bed, and I read it to her. As I did, I realized that Augustine's overly thorough treatment of the polytheism of his day is not antiquated. His line of reasoning is just as potent for Hindu polytheism as it was for the Greek/Roman sort.

What difference a little bit of perspective makes, and that from a children's book!

To sin against the love of God

The contest is for our lives and souls. Not to be daily employing the Spirit and new nature for the mortifying of sin is to neglect that excellent succor [assistance] which God has given us against our greatest enemy. If we neglect to make use of what we have received, God may justly hold his hand from giving us more. His graces, as well as his gifts, are bestowed on us to use, exercise and trade with. Not to be daily mortifying sin is to sin against the goodness, kindness, wisdom, grace, and love of God, who has furnished us with a principle of doing it. (Overcoming Sin and Temptation p54)

To neglect of the means of grace is to despise what is given, and the One who gives it, and is therefore to sin against the very love and mercy of God.

The Best Recipe = the best hummus

Yesterday I made hummus by following the recipe from The New Best Recipe for the first time. Once again I was not disappointed. It was far better than any hummus I have made before. (I have yet to try anything from this book that does not turn out to be the best version of it I have made or had).

So I realized the The New Best Recipe is worthy of a book review. If you don't own a cookbook, this is the one to get. If you have a dozen, this one is better. You can get a smattering of the recipes from the folks who publish it at America's Test Kitchen right here.

Puritan brevity

I picked up Overcoming Sin and Temptation last night before I went to bed, and was amazed again at John Owen's characteristically Puritan ability to pack so much into one sentence. Here is just one of the highlights:

To kill sin is the work of living me; where men are dead (as all unbelievers, the best of them, are dead), sin is alive, and will live. (p83)

Another turn

The concrete visible community

“If Christianity is true, then it is the center - not merely in theory but in a concrete visible community - for the reconciliation of mankind. If it is not that center, then it is untrue in its central affirmations and ought to be abandoned.”
(Lesslie Newbigin: Missionary Theologian p75)

These two sentences are why the Gospel so permeates parenting. If the Gospel is true, it is not true merely as a set of affirmations, but is, and must be, embodied in a visible community for the reconciliation of humankind.

I want our children (our own as God gives them, and those of our visible community) to grow up in this reality: the creation of a new community reconciled to God and one another through Christ, who are continually bringing that reconciliation to the enemies of God. If our children grow up hearing the true story, but not seeing it truly embodied, they may well conclude that "it is untrue in its central affirmations and ought to be abandoned." God save us from that sorry state!

Mouse Paint

Recently Elisabeth was in an art class where the teacher was showing the kids primary and secondary colors using translucent, colored stickers.

Watching her I realized that the best piece of literature I have encountered for teaching primary and secondary colors is Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh.

We started reading it to Elisabeth when she was about 12 months because she loved the vivid colors, the simple text, and the progression of the story. I continue to use it because it is a great way, through literature, to teach primary and secondary colors.

Spinning

Calls into question every human culture

“In speaking of ‘the gospel,’ I am, of course, referring to the announcement that in the series of events that have their center in the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ something has happened that alters the total human situation and must therefore call into question every human culture.” (Lesslie Newbigin: Missionary Theologian p109)

This past week I walked through a new exhibit on human evolution at a local museum. As I did, I couldn't help but notice that they were putting forth a story of origins as true for everyone. In other parts of the same museum, the stories of origins of 'native' or 'ethnic' peoples are put forward as religious or cultural, and are not in any sense presented as true for everyone. The modern scientific world view, it is assumed, tells a story that is true for everyone.

The modern scientific world view is not immune from the Gospel. In the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, something has happened that alters the total human situation and calls into question even this human culture. I believe that Newbigin is not mistaken when he says:

Both Christianity and modernity make global claims. Both are necessarily missionary faiths, because they claim to give the true understanding of the human situation, valid for all peoples at all times (ibid. p248).

This makes the clash between these two missionary faiths all the more violent. Yet Newbigin anticipates what we almost inevitably do (having been raised in this culture), and calls us to a truly gospel-centered encounter with our own culture:

The question with which I am wrestling [ . . .] is this: As people who are part of modern Western culture, with its confidence in the validity of its scientific methods, how can we move from the place where we explain the gospel in terms of our scientific world view to the place where we explain our modern scientific world view from the point of view of the gospel? (ibid. p 199)

The Gospel is the starting point, not less so, but even more so when we engage in dialogue those who don't believe it, or perhaps have never heard it because we've been trying to explain it in words taught by human wisdom rather than in words taught by the Spirit.

I got SOME rest

I'm sitting and having some dinner right now while Elisabeth is going to sleep. [Mommy is working at the hospital, which is why I'm at the computer instead of giving her my undivided attention.] The door of Elisabeth's room is open so that she has a bit of light to read in bed before she drops off to sleep. I just heard her little voice say:

I got some rest, Dad. Is it OK if I don't get any more rest?

Nope. Twenty minutes is no substitute for a good 11 hours. Sorry.

Learning by writing

"I count myself one of the number of those who write as they learn and learn as they write"
(John Piper A Godward Life p17).

There is no question that I fall into this category. However, I think that there is a further nuance to it: I write as I learn in a sort of dialogue with that which I am engaging. Writing forces me to clarify my thoughts, and to be ready for the response of the person, author or situation I am considering.

Hence this blog is both for my readers, to enjoy and to challenge or affirm my musing; and for myself, to enjoy, to consider, and to be corrected and refined. So thanks again for your participation in my learning by writing (and feel free to comment!).

In the teacup

Elisabeth just overcame her fear of the perpetually spinning teacup. (More photos to come.)

Neat feature I didn't know I had

I just realized that Blogger allows you to subscribe to the comments for one particular post only.

If you want to follow the discussion just for one particular thread (one, for instance, that you had commented on), all you have to do is click the post title to take you to the url for that post. (The url for this post, for example, is http://leavened.blogspot.com/2007/03/neat-feature-i-didnt-know-i-had.html.) Beneath the post and comments, there is a link that says "Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)". That link allows you to subscribe to just that thread.

Enjoy the tech toys!

No Fun with Numbers

Some time ago, Elisabeth was given Fun with Numbers, a musical CD designed to help kids with number concepts and simultaneously drive parents out of their minds.

Elisabeth has quickly caught onto our dislike for the CD (since it frequently disappears) and recently announced to a house guest,

"This music really annoys my parents!"

She's right.

Learning to tell time

Elisabeth now has a meaningful reason to learn to tell time: to know when she can get out of bed in the morning. We have told her that she is allowed to get out of bed at 7:00 AM. She can read an analog clock (to the hour and half hour), and can read the hour of a digital clock (although she can't yet read the double-digits to know the minutes past the hour), which I thought was sufficient.

We put a digital clock in her room so that she would be able to know when 7:00 had come and she was allowed to get out of bed. She's become quite good at reading the hour time, and knows whene 7 o'clock has come. Then this morning she wandered into our bedroom at 6:47 and said:

I looked at my clock for 7. I waited three times and it didn't come. I think it's broken.

All the more reason for Daddy to teach her to learn to read double digits!

The nature of the Church

“The whole meaning of this present age between Christ's coming and His coming again is that in it the powers of the age to come are at work now to draw all men into one in Christ. When the Church ceases to be one, or ceases to be missionary, it contradicts its own nature.” (Lesslie Newbigin: Missionary Theologian p126) [emphasis mine]

Newbigin, as clearly as anyone I have read, makes the unity of the church and its missionary nature essential to its identity. The very doctrine that defines its mission is that which defines its unity: the atonement worked on the cross. Thus, "when the Church ceases to be one, or ceases to be missionary, it contradicts its own nature."