Thomas Brooks on the New Birth...

There's something present within the writings of the Puritans that seems to always captivate and refresh me like no other Christian piece of literature can do. Along with the seemingly non-existent emphasis on the necessity of regeneration in our churches today comes the devastating result of a nominal Christianity which is worldly (in its true sense) in nature, and lacking in power. The Puritans were stalwarts of truth with regard to the necessity of understanding the new birth, and I personally found this quote encouraging. I pray that the many deluded and deceived "Christians" of our day would be reformed by the Spirit of God and come to an understanding of the importance of regeneration in the life of Christ's disciples. I pray this for my own heart as well.

"A man, be he old or young, learned or unlearned, high or low, rich or poor, knowing or ignorant, circumcised or uncircumsised,, under this form or that, a member of this church or that, let his disposition be never so high, and his conversation as to men never so blameless and harmless; yet, except this man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God....Except a man be first unmade, and new made up again; except he be of an old creature made a new creature, yea, a new creation of God, there is no seeing of the kingdom of God. The whole frame of man must be dissolved, and a new frame erected, else there is no heaven to be enjoyed. The kingdom of God is a divine kingdom, and there is no possession of it without a divine nature. A new head without a new heart, a new lip without a new life, will never bring a man to this kingdom of light. That man is for the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of God is for that man, that hath got the kingdom of God within him. If the kingdom of grace do not enter into thee here, thou shalt never enter into the kingdom of glory hereafter. A new heart is for a new heaven, and a new heaven is for a new heart."

-Thomas Brooks, The Crown and Glory of Christianity: The Necessity, Excelleny, Rarity, and Beauty of Holiness.

Spiritual Leaders v.s. Slaves of Jesus

"If you think you're a true leader then look behind you to see who is following. If no one is there, then you're no leader at all!"

I wonder how Jesus would have repsonded to that statement near the end of His life when everyone had abaondoned Him! Truth is, throughout the past few years, I've heard a number of alarming statements like these, made by sincere and godly people who honestly think that Jesus' only desire for us is to go out into the world and become "more effective ministry leaders." "Leadership" itself is a buzzword I hear all the time. The word can be found in purpose statement's, sermons, books, discussions, classes, etc. Supposedly, God has created every single individual with the one purpose or goal of become a more effective ministry leader. What I would like to propose is that 1) "leadership" as defined by many evangelicals today is nothing more than a modern construct imposed upon the Bible. "Leadership" is not a category found within the pages of the New Testament. Nehemiah is not a leadership manual, given to Christians so that they can become their own version of the world's CEO's and businessmen.

Pastor's, instead of tirelessly attempting to transform their church's into "more effective spiritual leaders" need to be teaching their church's about the beauty of Jesus' Lordship and our position as subjects and slaves to His Kingly rule and Priestly intercession. The modern world heavily emphasizes this concept of leadership as necessary and important. Donald Trump's popular show The Apprentice is a visible example of how many peoples' lives are supremely devoted to making it to the top and becoming succesful CEO's, businessmen, and millionaires. In our highly industrialized and utilitarian society, leadership is an important role. Businesses have to be run, money has to be made, and projects have to be completed. It is my contention that this huge emphasis on leadership and control within our culture has infected the church. Some people I know cannot distinguish between biblical teaching and modernity's death grip, lumping this secular idea of leadership into the same category of biblical teaching. Don't get me wrong: leadership properly defined is indeed Biblical. Pastors, Elders, Bishops, (whatever you prefer) are all called to lead the flock of God and to shepherd them tenderly until the bridegroom returns for His bide. Husbands, as a visible representations of Jesus, are commanded to humbly lead their wives in marriage. Yet what many people fail to realize is that every sheep in God's eyes, both pastor and laymen, husband and wife, deacon and sunday school teacher, worship pastor and teenager, are subject to His Lordship and are called to serve, love, worship, and obey the King who rules in their hearts and minds. Is there an emphasis on leadership in the Bible? If leadership is properly defined, yes. Are other more important concepts, insufficiently emphasized in today's church, explicitly and radically emphasized by the writers of the Bible? Absolutely! God has called some to serve in positions of leadership, yes. Yet I will say this. This non-sensical modern babble which states that the purpose of every Christian is to become a "more effective ministry leader" detracts from the glory of Christ, and instills a sinful and self-centered confidence in our abilities and skills to "lead." The New Testament never specifically calls all Christians to become "leaders" I can't help but think that if Jesus Christ were to have seen his disciples carrying around "Leadership Study Bibles", his reaction might have been similar to his reaction to the apostasy which took place in the temple. God calls us to be slaves of Jesus, not Christian businessmen who parade around talking about the latest leadership techniques. God calls us to be the subjects of His Son, not people who call themselves Christians yet scour the latest secular business manual for tips which can "transcend" the secular/religious divide. No, God has declared Jesus Christ our only sovereign leader, who sits and reigns in the heavens even now, ruling and reigning within the hearts of His flock. He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Ressurection and the Life, the Glorious Leader-King who has purchased us with His blood, and who calls us to worship daily at His feet, basking in the beauty of His divine person. We're called to be slaves of Jesus (Rom. 6) not "spiritual leaders."

Salad Fingers?

Okay...So this guy named Josh came over to my dorm the other night to show me the most bizarre cartoon I have ever seen. It's called "Salad Fingers" and I have no idea what in the world the inent of these short little clips even is. I guess that the creator of "salad fingers" doesn't intend for his cartoon to be funny. Which makes it even stranger! I'd like to know what some of you think of this. I thought it was both hilarious, disturbing, entertatining, and very confusing!

http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/salad+fingers+2/

Here I Stand...

On January 6, 1521 Martin Luther was summoned to the Diet of Worms, a meeting ordered by Charles the V, Emporer of the Holy Roman Empire. Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, along with other books written against the Roman Catholic Church, had sparked such a controversy within the Roman Empire that he was ordered to appear before the Diet and recant his writings. On the first day, the chancellor of the Archbishop of Treves, told Luther to look upon the writings before him and agree to the fact that he had written them. Luther agreed. The chancellor asked Martin Luther to recant but Luther asked for more time saying that he wished to have time to prepare an answer that did not offend God’s Word. Luther was given 24 hours and he returned the next day to give his answer.

Chancellor: Martin Luther, yesterday you begged for a delay that has now expired. Now, therefore, reply to the question put by his majesty, who has behaved to you with so much mildness. Will you defend your books as a whole, or are you ready to disavow some of them?

Luther: Yesterday, two questions were put to me on behalf of his imperial majesty : the first, if I was the author of the books whose titles were enumerated; the second, if I would retract or defend the doctrine I had taught in them. To the first questions I then made answer, and I persevere in that reply. As for the second, I have written works on many different subjects. There are some in which I have treated of faith and good works, in a manner at once so pure, so simple, and so scriptural that even my adversaries, far from finding anything to censure in them, allow that these works are useful and worthy of being read by all pious men. If therefore I were to retract these, what should I do? I alone would abandon truths that friends and enemies approve, and I should oppose what the whole world glories in confessing. Second, I have written books against the papacy, in which I have attacked those who, by their false doctrine, their evil lives, or their scandalous example, afflict the Christian world and destroy both body and soul. If I were to retract these works, I should thus become a vile cloak to cover and conceal every kind of malice and tyranny. Lastly, I have written books against individuals who desired to defend the Roman tyranny and to destroy the faith. I do not recant these writings.

Chancellor: Martin Luther, you have not answered the question put to you. You were not summoed hither to call in question the decisions of the councils. You are required to give a clear and precise answer. Will you or will you not retract?

Luther: Since your most serene majesty and your high mightiness require from me a clear, simple, and precise answer, I will give you one, and it is this: I cannot submit my faith either to the pope or to the councils, because it is clear as the day that they have frequently erred and contradicted each other. Unless therefore I am convinced by the testimony of Scripture, or by the passages I have quoted, and unless they thus render my conscience bound by the Word of God, I cannot and I will not retract, for it is unsafe for a Christian to speak against his conscience. Here I stand; I can do no other; may God help me. Amen.

Chancellor: If you do not retract, the emperor and the states of the empire will consult what course to adopt against an incorrigible heretic.

Luther: May God be my helper; for I can retract nothing