An Interview with John Piper – Tabletalk

Desiring God: An Interview with John Piper by John Piper | Reformed Theology Articles at Ligonier.org.

The May 2012 Tabletalk again features an interview with a contemporary Reformed/Calvinistic person, and this month the interview is with John Piper, well-known pastor (recently retired) of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN. The entire interview is interesting, but one part of it in particular grabbed my attention. It has to do with Piper’s being a slow reader (a “turtle”), something to which I too can relate. You will learn how he turned that “weakness” into a love for poetry – reading it but also writing it.

Here is the pertinent part of the interview; find the rest at the Ligonier link above.

TT: We have heard you say that you read slowly. Is that a disappointment? A hindrance? How do you think about that?

JP: It used to bother me more than it does now. I have tried to stop kicking against this gift of God. The gift of slowness relates to poetry. The fact that hundreds of the pages of God’s inspired Word are devoted to poetry makes me aware that God thinks the sound of language matters.

God has blessed and humbled me with the inability to speed-read. I read about the same speed that I talk. I hear what I read as I read it. Speedreading consultants say that pronouncing the words—even in your head—turns a rabbit reader into a turtle. No use. I’m a turtle.

So I take heart that so much of the Bible is poetry. It is self-evident to me that poetry is not meant to be speedread, but ordinarily read aloud. So now I see that God has forced me to hear. He has forced a slow savoring of the way things are written to be heard as well as seen.

Slowness means I can’t do lots of things other scholars and pastors can do. But when I consider what slowness offers, I give thanks. Consider this observation about what happens when poetry is read aloud and read well by a person who understands it:

Even after almost three millennia of written literature, poetry retains its appeal to the ear as well as to the eye; to hear a poem read aloud by someone who understands it, and who wishes to share that understanding with someone else, can be a crucial experience, instructing the silently reading eye ever thereafter to hear what it is seeing. (John Hollander, ed., Committed to Memory: 100 Best Poems to Memorize, p. 1)

I would recommend that pastors develop the habit of slowing down in their reading when they are reading things that were written with craft and not just as information transmission.

The Need of the Church: Listen to God – W. Robert Godfrey

The Church and Psalm 81 by W. Robert Godfrey | Reformed Theology Articles at Ligonier.org.

Part of my Sunday reading yesterday included this month’s Tabletalk, which is devoted to the theme of the great “Shema”, the introduction to the law found in Deut.6:4-5. Dr.Robert Godfrey tied in nicely to this theme with his article under the rubric “For the Church”. Showing how Psalm 81 (especially v.8b) points us to the same words as the “Shema”, he relates how Psalm 81 speaks to the church’s greatest need at the present hour, and indeed throughout church history: to listen to God. I appreciated this article much, and believe that Godfrey is correct in his estimation of the church’s need. If we ever stop listening to God through His Word, we are done as His church and people.

Here is a portion of the article. You will find all of it at the Ligonier link above.

What does the church most need today? In answering this important but rather general question, Psalm 81 is uniquely important and helpful. This psalm obviously contains beautiful promises and clear directions to help the people of God. But careful study of this psalm will deepen our appreciation of it, increase its value for us, and show us how distinctive it is for helping the church.

As we study psalms, we soon learn that the central verse of a psalm is often significant as a key to its interpretation. The central line of Psalm 81 is the heart of that psalm, as the plaintive cry of God is heard: “O Israel, if you would but listen to me!” (v. 8b). Perhaps this line will resonate more profoundly with the readers of this issue of Tabletalk if we translate it, “O Israel, if you would but hear me!” The center of Psalm 81—indeed the whole psalm—is a reflection on the Shema.

…As the Shema was crucial to the Torah, so it is central to the Psalter and to the Christian life. God’s people must hear His Word, particularly to reject false gods (v. 9) and to walk in His ways (v. 13). They must not follow their own wisdom (v. 12). How sad to contemplate that God might give us what we think is good for us.

The Lord reminds His people that in history He has been the Deliverer and now promises that when we open our mouths in prayer, He will hear us and meet our needs (v. 10). He is the God who preserves and provides for the needs of His own.

The failure of Israel to hear the Word of God was rectified by God’s own Son. Jesus always heard and honored God’s Word. His Father delighted in Him for that reason: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 17:5). Jesus perfectly listened and followed so that His people would have a complete and perfect salvation. The Father continues to call His people to listen, now directing them to the words of His Son: “listen to him” (Matt. 17:5). The salvation and health of the church depend on it continuing to listen to God’s Word.

Vatican Files no. 19 – Reformation21

Vatican Files no. 19 – Reformation21.

I have also referred several times to this on-going series on contemporary Roman Catholicism at the website “Reformation21″. This is actually a post I had saved last month (April 2013), and just yesterday I received notice that #20 in this series has been posted for this month. I believe it is important for us as 21st century Reformed Protestants to stay informed of the modern church of Rome. These posts by an Italian Reformed Baptist church planter in Rome are significant for our understanding of what Rome continues to do and teach. You will find this one and the latest one significant too.

Here is a part of #19; follow the “Ref21″ link above to read all of it, and to find #20.

Left Without Words: How Roman Catholicism is Reshaping the Evangelical Vocabulary

 

“The beginning of wisdom is the definition of words” (Socrates). If you define a word in a certain way you make claims about reality. Our postmodern culture has stirred us to come to terms with the fact that words do not have stable meanings but exist in an flux that drives them in one way or another depending on the interests of their users. This is the current situation of the word “Evangelical”.

Evangelical Catholicism and the Current Genetic Modification

 

The recent book by George Weigel, Evangelical Catholicism (New York: Basic Books, 2013) is a clever attempt to re-engineer the word by overlooking its Biblical focus, by severing its historical roots and replacing them with other roots, by changing its doctrinal outlook, by staffing its experiential ethos differently, and by renegotiating its religious use. In other words, this is a genetic modification of a word.

…According to Weigel, Evangelical is a qualifying adjective, not a noun. The noun which carries “thick” meaning is Catholicism. Curiously, what used to be termed as “Roman Catholicism” is now shortened to “Catholicism” alone. All the Roman elements of Roman Catholicism are nonetheless part of EC: sacraments, Mariology, hierarchy, traditions, papacy, devotions, etc. To this “Catholicism” Weigel adds the adjective “Evangelical,” which basically refers to the depth of convictions and the passion to make them known. EC is a full orbed Roman Catholicism practiced with strong impetus and missionary zeal. Catholicism is the doctrinal and institutional hardware, while “Evangelical” is the sociological and psychological software. While doctrine deeply remains Roman Catholic, the spiritual mood is called Evangelical.

“Authors on the Line”: The Role of the Psalms in the Life of the Church

The Role of the Psalms in the Life of the Church Authors on the Line – Desiring God.

I have noted here several times before Desiring God‘s “Author’s on the Line” podcast feature. After receiving notices of some of the latest ones, which usually relate to subjects of broad interest to Christians – and Calvinistic ones especially – I thought I would reference this fine program once again. The one I have linked above is from March of this year and involves an interview by Tony Reinke with Gordon Wenham, who has a new book out on the Psalms (see the picture here and the link to it below).

There is a renewed interest in the OT Psalter on the part of the church today, and of course, those of us who have a long tradition of Psalm-singing always have an interest in the OT Psalter. So it might be worth your while to listen to this podcast. Here is the introduction that accompanies it. Once at the “DG” website, you will find the link to the audio file.

The Book of Psalms is an amazing gift to the church. Says John Piper, “The Psalms, more intentionally than any other book of the Bible, is designed to carry, express, and shape our emotions, to give vent to them — all of them, and shape them, to reign them in, and to free them up, to explode them, and to kill them when they should be killed.”

The Psalms are useful for shaping our emotions, and rich devotional fuel for the soul, but how are these ancient Psalms to function in the life of the gathered church in weekend worship? Most of us don’t sing from the Psalter, or even recite from the Psalms on a typical Sunday, although such a practice seems to be assumed by the early church (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16).

So we recently went online with Old Testament scholar Gordon Wenham to think more about the place of the Psalms in the life of the local church. Wenham, 70, now serves as an adjunct professor at Trinity College, Bristol. He is the author of several books and commentaries, and from his home in Bristol he talked with us about his newest book, The Psalter Reclaimed: Praying and Praising with the Psalms (Crossway, 2013).

“The Greatest Commandment” – Mark Jones

The Greatest Commandment by Mark Jones | Reformed Theology Articles at Ligonier.org.

As part of my Sunday reading yesterday I read another feature article in the May Tabletalk (Ligonier Ministries). This month’s issue is devoted to the subject of the law of God, or as the cover has it, “The Shema”, based on Deut.6:4-5. The article I read (and linked above) was by pastor Mark Jones and titled “The Greatest Commandment”. In it he focuses on the chief calling we have as believers according to God’s law, as also confirmed by Christ in Mark 12:28-30, viz., to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.

After carefully parsing what this main statute of God’s law requires of us – which is rather overwhelming to us and quite discouraging when we consider our sin and shortcomings – Jones ends on this positive, encouraging note:

POSSIBLE OR IMPOSSIBLE?

Certainly no one disputes that Christ loves His Father with all of His heart, soul, mind, and strength. But not all Christians are persuaded that they can approach such love. However, as Augustine famously prayed, “God give what You command and command whatever You will.” By the Holy Spirit, Christians can, in a real sense, love God.Psalm 119:34says, “Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.” Keeping the law with the “whole heart” may be understood legally or evangelically. Legally, only Christ loved God with His whole heart because the law requires perfect conformity, of which we are incapable. Nonetheless, in an “evangelical” sense (to quote the Puritans), God, out of His love and mercy in Christ, enables us to love Him truly but imperfectly. Evangelically, our love for God is always flawed and incomplete, and we must be ever repenting of our failure to love Him fully. Still, we have love for God, while unregenerate hearts know nothing of it. If our love for God arises from a heart regenerated by His Spirit, we may be said to love God with our “whole heart,” though such love remains imperfect until our glorification.

This should be a great source of encouragement to us. Why? Because our hope is in Jesus, who fulfilled this command perfectly in our place so that we do not have to stand before God with only an imperfect love as our hope for entering heaven. Second, because of our union with Jesus, what is true of Him becomes true of us. God enables us to obey this command and love Him, albeit imperfectly, with all that we are so that God is delighted in the love He receives from His people. After all, an intense desire to love God with all of our being is the only proper response to the One who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all (Rom. 8:32).

You are encouraged to read the entire article at the Ligonier link above.

Dr. Mark Jones is pastor of Faith Reformed Presbyterian Church in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is co-author with Dr. Joel R. Beeke of A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life.

Mother’s Day 2013

In reviewing my previous Mother’s Day posts, I realized that it has been two years since I made reference to this special day set aside to honor our mothers. So, we will depart from our usual meditation on the Psalms today and pay tribute to our covenant, Christian mothers. And though some would call this day another “Hallmark holiday”, or say its origin is of the world so we should ignore it, I believe that it is an opportunity for us as Christians to honor true (Biblical) motherhood and express thanks to the Lord for the God-fearing mothers He has placed in our lives, whether that be our own wife or our own mother.

God certainly honors godly mothers in His Word. The entire Bible testifies to the precious position and value God assigns to believing wives and mothers. Proverbs 31 is the outstanding example, but their honor is woven throughout the Scriptures (Simply do a search on the word “mother” and “mothers”.)

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised (vss.28-30).

 

The Lord sealed this honor in the fifth commandment, calling the children of His covenant to bestow this spiritual “weight” on their mother in attitude, word and deed:

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee” (Ex.20:12). “Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)[Eph.6:2].

The fact that our God gave us His Son Jesus Christ through a mother named Mary elevates their status to the highest levels of earthly praise:

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name [was] Mary.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, [thou that art] highly favoured, the Lord [is] with thee: blessed [art] thou among women.
And when she saw [him], she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS (Luke 1:26-31).

And, of course, our own experience has taught us the beautiful value of our mothers. If you have been blessed with a believing mother and with a believing wife who is the mother of your children as I have, then there ought to be no question in your mind as to the worth of godly mothers and the honor that is due them, today and every day. So today, let’s pause to remember their worth – the worth given them by God Himself. Let’s pause to thank God for them and for the priceless influence they have had on us and on our children. And let’s pause to praise them in the gates and call them “blessed”. For that they are. By grace and grace alone. From the blessed God of the covenant.

For the encouragement of our wives and mothers, we include this quotation from the Reformer Martin Luther, whom God used at the outset of the Reformation to restore women and mothers to their rightful and honorable place in the home and church. This is “vintage” Luther on the high calling of motherhood in the midst of all its miseries and messiness:

Our natural reason looks at marriage and turns up its nose and says, “Alas! Must I rock the baby? Wash its diapers? Make its bed? Smell its stench? Stay at nights with it? Take care of it when it cries? Heal its rashes and sores? And on top of that care for my spouse, provide labor at my trade, take care of this and take care of that? Do this and do that? And endure this and endure that? Why should I make such a prisoner of myself?”

What then does Christian faith say to this? It opens its eyes, looks upon all these insignificant, distasteful and despised duties in the spirit, and is aware that they are all adorned with divine approval as with the costliest gold and jewels.

It says, “O God, I confess I am not worthy to rock that little babe or wash its diapers, or to be entrusted with the care of a child and its mother. How is it that I without any merit have come to this distinction of being certain that I am serving thy creature and thy most precious will? Oh, how gladly will I do so. Though the duty should be even more insignificant and despised, neither frost nor heat, neither drudgery nor labor will distress me for I am certain that it is thus pleasing in thy sight.”

Quote and images taken from this blog – cjt

History of Our Pastime: G.Washington, Wicket, and Baseball!

From my new book on the history of baseball, Baseball in the Garden of Eden: The Secret History of the Early Game, by John Thorn (Simon and Schuster, 2011):

The modern reader may ask: ‘Apart from why it may have mattered to so many in the past, why do the origins of baseball matter today?’ Why does each announcement of a new find – an advertisement for a game of baseball in New York City from 1823, a prohibition against playing it in Pittsburgh from 1791, a diary mention of a game in Surrey in 1755 – land on the front page of major newspapers? Because baseball provides us with a family album older and deeper, by many generations, than all but a relative handful of Americans can claim for their own lineage; because the charm of baseball today is in good measure its echo of a bygone age; and because it is gratifying to think we have something lighthearted in common with the harsh lives of our forefathers, going back to the nation’s earliest period and likely beyond. Parson Weems created the tale about a boyish George Washington and a cherry tree (‘I cannot tell a lie, I did it with my little hatchet’), but it is no creation myth to report that the Father of Our Country played a bat-and-ball game called ‘wicket’, now vanished but long concurrent with baseball, with the troops at Valley Forge (“Introduction”, pp.xiv-xv).

Christ Ascended for His Glory and Our Interest

As we continue our own year-long series on the Heidelberg Catechism – remembering and celebrating her 450th anniversary (see my Thursday posts this year) – today we mark “Ascension Day”, the day the church of Christ commemorates His glorious going up into the glory of heaven, by quoting from Zacharias Ursinus’ commentary on Lord’s Day 18, Q&A’s 46-49. First, let’s put the catechism itself before our eyes and minds:

XVIII. LORD’S DAY.

 

Question 46. How dost thou understand these words, “he ascended into heaven”?

Answer. That Christ, in sight of his disciples, was [a] taken up from earth into heaven; and that he continues [b] there for our interest, until he comes again to judge the quick and the dead. 

Question 47. Is not Christ then with us even to the end of the world, as he hath promised?

Answer. Christ is very man and very God; with respect to his [c] human nature, he is no more on earth; but with respect to his Godhead, majesty, grace and spirit, he is at no time absent from us. 

Question 48. But if his human nature is not present wherever his Godhead is, are not then these two natures in Christ separated from one another?

Answer. Not at all, for since the Godhead is illimitable and [d] omnipresent, it must necessarily follow that [e] the same is beyond the limits of the human nature he assumed, and yet is nevertheless in this human nature, and remains personally united to it. 

Question 49. Of what advantage to us is Christ’s ascension into heaven?

Answer. First, that he is our [g] advocate in the presence of his Father in heaven; secondly, that we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that he, as the head, will also [h] take up to himself, us, his members; thirdly, that he [i] sends us his Spirit as an earnest, by whose power we “seek the things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, [j] and not things on earth.”[a]: Acts 1:9; Mark 16:19
[b]: Heb. 4:14; Rom 8:34; Eph. 4:10
[c]: Acts 3:21; John 3:13; John 16:28; Mat. 28:20
[d]: Acts 7:49; Mat. 24:30
[e]: Mat. 28:20; John 16:28; John 17:11; John 3:13
[g]: Heb. 9:25; 1John 2:2; Rom. 8:34
[h]: John 14:2; Eph. 2:6
[i]: John 14:16; 2Cor. 1:22; 2Cor. 5:5
[j]: Col. 3:1; Phil. 3:20

 

And from The Commentary of Dr.Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism (Transl. by Rev.G.W.Williard; Presbyterian and Reformed, 1982) we find these words (We can only quote a small portion of his treatment of this section of the catechism. To find all of it visit this site. It is from this online version that I quote below.):

III. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DID CHRIST ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?

Christ ascended into heaven for his own glory, and for that of his Father. It was proper, and necessary, that he should have a heavenly kingdom.  Hence it was not expedient that he should continue on earth. “He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things “Wherefore God hath also highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Eph. 4:10. Phil. 2:9, II.) It also belonged to, and was proper that Christ who is the Head should be glorified with an excellency, and superiority of gifts above all the members, which could not have been the case had he remained on earth. And still further, Christ ascended for our benefit, and that in these three respects. 1. That he might make intercession for us in heaven. “ Who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Rom.  8:34.) He intercedes for us, first, by the value of his sacrifice, already offered in our behalf, which is so great that the Father ought, on this account, to receive us into favor. Secondly, by Us own will, by which he continually desires, that the Father would receive us into favor at the sight, and recollection of that sacrifice which he accomplished in his own body. Thirdly, by the consent of the Father, approving the will, and de sire of the Son, accepting the value of his sacrifice, as a sufficient satisfaction for our sins, and together with the Son receiving us into favor. It is by making intercession for us in this manner that Christ applies unto us the benefits and merit of his death. And the entire glorification of the mediator, consisting in his resurrection, ascension and sitting at the right hand of the Father, was necessary in order that this application might be made unto us. But some one may, perhaps, be ready to object and say ; but Christ interceded for us already when he was on earth ? To this we reply, that the intercession which Christ made on earth had respect to that which was yet future; for it was made upon the condition, that the mediator, after he had accomplished his sacrifice on earth, should for ever appear in the sanctuary on high. 2. That we might also ascend, and have assurance thereof. Christ him self says in the gospel of John, “ I go to prepare a place for you.” “ In my Father’s house are many mansions,” that is, places to abide for ever; for he speaks of our continuance there. Christ ascended; therefore we shall also ascend. This conclusion is proper, and forcible ; because Christ is the head, and we are the members ; he is also the first-begotten among many brethren. 3. That he might send the Holy Spirit, and by him gather, comfort, and defend his Church, even to the and of the world. Hence he says, “If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you.” “ Which (Holy Ghost) be shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (John 16:7. Tit. 3:6.)

IV. IN WHAT DOES THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST DIFFER FROM OURS?

Christ’s ascension and ours agree, first, in this, that both, he and we, ascend to the same place. They agree, secondly, in this that both, he and we, ascend to glory. “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory.” (Joh. 17:24.)

They differ in the following respect: 1. Christ ascended by his own peculiar power and virtue. “No man hath ascended up to heaven (that is, by his own peculiar virtue) but the Son of man.” (John 3:13.) Our ascension, on the other hand, will be effected by, and for the sake of, Christ. “I go to prepare a place for you.” “I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am.” (John 14:2; 17:24.) 2. Christ ascended that he might be head, we shall ascend that we may be members; he ascended to glory such as is proper for the head, we shall ascend to glory such as is becoming those who are members; he ascended that he might sit at the right hand of the Father, we shall ascend that we may sit upon his throne and that of his Father, not in the same dignity, but only by a participation therein. “To him that ovcrcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Rev. 3:21.) We shall, therefore, be partakers of his glory, a just proportion being preserved between the members and the head. 3. The ascension of Christ is the cause of ours, but not the contrary. 4. Whole Christ ascended, but not the whole of Christ; because he ascended only as to his human nature, and not as it respects his divine nature, which is also on earth. But we shall ascend whole, and the whole of us; because we have only a finite nature, and that but one.

 

Our Love-Letter from God – T.Watson

Grace Gems!.

Last week “Grace Gems” published a beautiful devotional taken from Puritan Thomas Watson’s Body of Divinity. It is about the beauty, power and value of the Word of God to the child of God, and a call to use it accordingly. Following my previous post on the new book by Rob Bell, it is important for us to remember that this divine Book is the perfect antidote to all false teaching. May we never forget what it means to be Reformed – “reformed according to the Word of God”!

A love-letter sent to you from God

(Thomas Watson, “Body of Divinity”)

“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Colossians 3:16

STUDY the Scripture. It is a copy of God’s will. Be Scripture-men, Bible-Christians. Search the Scripture as for a vein of gold. This blessed Book will fill your head with knowledge, and your heart with grace!

There is majesty sparkling in every line of Scripture.

There is a melody in Scripture. This is that blessed harp which drives away sadness of spirit. How sweetly does this harp of Scripture sound, what heavenly music does it make in the ears of a distressed sinner, especially when the finger of God’s Spirit touches this instrument!

There is divinity in Scripture. It contains the marrow and quintessence of true religion. It is a rock of diamonds–and a manual of piety. The lips of Scripture have grace poured into them. The Scripture speaks of faith, self-denial, and all the graces which, as a chain of pearls, adorns a Christian.

Oh, then, search the Scripture! Had I the tongue of angels, I could not sufficiently set forth the excellency of Scripture. It is a spiritual telescope, in which we behold God’s glory! It is the tree of life, the oracle of wisdom, the rule of godliness, the heavenly seed of which the new creature is formed.

‘The two Testaments,’ says one, ‘are the two breasts which every Christian must suck, that he may get spiritual nourishment.’ These holy leaves of Scripture are for the healing of our souls.

The Scripture is profitable for all things. If we are downcast–here is spiced wine that cheers the heavy heart. If we are pursued by Satan–here is the sword of the Spirit to resist him. If we are diseased with sin’s leprosy–here are the waters of the sanctuary, both to cleanse and cure. Oh, then, search the Scriptures!

Read the Bible with reverence. Think, in every line you read–that God is speaking to you. The ark wherein the Word was put was overlaid with pure gold, and was carried on bars, that the Levites might not touch it. Exodus 25:14. Why was this–but to give reverence to the Word?

Read with seriousness. It is matter of life and death; by this Word you must be tried and judged.

Read the Word with affection. Get your hearts quickened with the Word. Labor that the Word may not only be a lamp to direct–but a fire to warm. Read the Scripture, not only as a history–but as a love-letter sent to you from God, which may affect your hearts. Pray that the same Spirit who wrote the Word, may assist you in reading it; that God’s Spirit would show you the wonderful things of His law, so that the Word will become effectual.

“Oh, how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97

What We Talk About When We Talk About God – Rob Bell Reviewed at “Ref21″

What We Talk About When We Talk About God – Reformation21.

Perhaps you have heard – the infamous postmodern “Christian” (heretical) teacher Rob Bell has a new book out: What We Talk About When We Talk About God (HarperOne, 2013). Perhaps you don’t care, based on his previous heretical publications. But you should, not because his book is “must reading”, but because we should know what postmodernists like Bell are doing to and saying about the Christian faith. Indeed, we must defend the faith against those on the outside (such as the new atheists) but also against those on the inside (heretics), who claim to speak for the Lord and for His church. Bell does not, and he must be exposed as such.

As a brief introduction to this book, this is how the publisher describes it on the back cover:

How God is described today strikes many as mean, primitive, backward, illogical, tribal, and at odds with the frontiers of science. At the same time, many intuitively feel a sense of reverence and awe in the world. Can we find a new way to talk about God?

Pastor and New York Times bestselling author Rob Bell does here for God what he did for heaven and hell in Love Wins: he shows how traditional ideas have grown stale and dysfunctional and reveals a new path for how to return vitality and vibrancy to how we understand God. Bell reveals how we got stuck, why culture resists certain ways of talking about God, and how we can reconnect with the God who is with us, for us, and ahead of us, pulling us forward into a better future—and ready to help us live life to the fullest.

What I have linked you to above (top of the post) is a solid, straight-forward review by Dr.Michael Kruger, President and professor of NT at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. It appeared yesterday (May 6) at the “Reformation21″ website. Here are a couple of points Kruger makes (Read all of his review at the “Ref21″ link above.):

…Of course, Bell’s method of defending Christianity is not by stripping it of its supernatural elements (that was the issue in Bultmann’s day). On the contrary, Bell is quite keen to remind the reader of the supernatural–God is everywhere, busy at work, in us and in our world.   Instead, Bell’s makeover method is to change Christianity into a broad “spirituality.”  His book downplays (and in some instances, simply ignores) many of the key doctrines that make Christianity distinctive. He simply turns Christianity into vague, general, theism. Whereas Bultmann demythologized the faith, Bell has detheologized the faith.

…In the end, my overall concern about this volume is a simple one: it is not Christian. Bell’s makeover of Christianity has changed it into something entirely different. It is not Christianity at all, it is modern liberalism. It is the same liberalism that Machen fought in the 1920′s and the same liberalism prevalent in far too many churches today. It is the liberalism that teaches that God exists and that Jesus is the source of our happiness and our fulfillment, but all of this comes apart from any real mention of sin, judgment, and the cross. It is the liberalism that says we can know nothing for sure, except of course, that those “fundamentalists” are wrong. It is the liberalism that appeals to the Bible from time to time, but then simply ignores large portions of it.

Bell’s book, therefore, is really just spiritualism with a Christian veneer. It’s a book that would fit quite well on Oprah’s list of favorite books. What is Rob Bell talking about when he is talking about God? Not the God of Christianity.