Blogging… leave of absence

I will temporarily take a leave of absence in blogging until May 2010. I shall return!!!

How Do You Take Criticism of Your Views?

Recently several people have asked me ‘how do you deal with harsh criticism?’ In each case, the inquirer had felt stung by what they felt were unfair attacks on him or her. In this internet age, anyone can have their views censured unfairly by people they don’t know. So what do you do when that happens? Here’s is the gist of the counsel I give people when they ask me about this. For years I’ve been guided by a letter by John Newton that is usually entitled “On Controversy.”

The biggest danger of receiving criticism is not to your reputation, but to your heart. You feel the injustice of it and feel sorry for yourself, and it tempts you to despise not only the critic, but the entire group of people from which they come. “Those people…” you mutter under your breath. All this can make you prouder over time. Newton writes: “Whatever…makes us trust in ourselves that we are comparatively wise or good, so as to treat those with contempt who do not subscribe to our doctrines, or follow our party, is a proof and fruit of a self-righteous spirit.” He argues that whenever contempt and superiority accompany our thoughts, it is a sign that “the doctrines of grace” are operating in our life “as mere notions and speculations” with “no salutary influence upon [our] conduct.”

So how can you avoid this temptation? First, you should look to see if there is a kernel of truth in even the most exaggerated and unfair broadsides. There is usually such a kernel when the criticism comes from friends, and there is often such truth when the disapproval comes from people who actually know you. So even if the censure is partly or even largely mistaken, look for what you may indeed have done wrong. Perhaps you simply acted or spoke in a way that was not circumspect. Maybe the critic is partly right for the wrong reasons. Nevertheless, identify your own short-comings, repent in your own heart before the Lord for what you can, and let that humble you. It will then be possible to learn from the criticism and stay gracious to the critic even if you have to disagree with what he or she has said.

If the criticism comes from someone who doesn’t know you at all (and often this is the case on the internet) it is possible that the criticism is completely unwarranted and profoundly mistaken. I am often pilloried not only for views I do have, but also even more often for views (and motives) that I do not hold at all. When that happens it is even easier to fall into a smugness and perhaps be tempted to laugh at how mistaken your critics are. “Pathetic…” you may be tempted to say. Don’t do it. Even if there is not the slightest kernel of truth in what the critic says, you should not mock them in your thoughts. First, remind yourself of examples of your own mistakes, foolishness, and cluelessness in the past, times in which you really got something wrong. Second, pray for the critic, that he or she grows in grace. Newton talks about it like this:

“If you account [your opponent] a believer, though greatly mistaken in the subject of debate between you, the words of David to Joab concerning Absalom are very applicable: ‘Deal gently with him for my sake.’  The Lord loves him and bears with him; therefore you must not despise him, or treat him harshly.  The Lord bears with you likewise, and expects that you should show tenderness to others, from a sense of the much forgiveness you need yourself.  In a little while you will meet in heaven; he will then be dearer to you than the nearest friend you have upon earth is to you now.  Anticipate that period in your thoughts; and though you may find it necessary to oppose his errors, view him personally as a kindred soul, with whom you are to be happy in Christ forever.”

So whatever you do, do anything you can to avoid feeling smug and superior to the critic. Even if you say to yourself that you are just ’shrugging it off’ and that you are not going to respond to the criticism, you can nonetheless conduct a full defense and refutation in the courtroom of your mind, in which you triumphantly prove how awful and despicable your opponents are. But that is a spiritual trap. Newton’s remarks about this are very convicting:

“A man may have the heart of a Pharisee, while his head is stored with orthodox notions of the unworthiness of the creature, and the riches of free grace.  Yea, I would add, the best of men are not wholly free from this leaven; and therefore are too apt to be pleased with such representations as hold up our adversaries to ridicule, and by consequence flatter our own superior judgments.  Controversies, for the most part, are so managed as to indulge rather than to repress his wrong disposition; and therefore, generally speaking, they are productive of little good.  They provoke those whom they should convince, and puff up those whom they should edify.  I hope your performance will savor of a spirit of true humility, and be a means of promoting it in others.”

Dr. Tim Keller is the Senior Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Manhattan, NY and a Council member with The Gospel Coalition.

Baxter on the Family: Directions for Wives

This is Part 2 of our series on Richard Baxter’s instructions for the Christian family.

It is important to realize, when reading Baxter and the Puritans, that there was no guarded language when speaking of how the Christian household ought to look like. They simply assumed the clear, biblical teaching of a husbandʼs authority in the family and a wifeʼs joyful submission. So then, at one level, Baxterʼs direction for women wouldnʼt sound too different than John Piperʼs or Wayne Grudemʼs.

However, Baxter, in a way that Puritans are known for, approaches the heart of the wife. What would cause a wife to rebel against the biblical mandate to follow the leadership of the husband? Baxter gives a few reasons:

1. Failure to believe Godʼs will is best. Godʼs design for the Christian family, which includes the structure of authority and submission, is best! God is wise and we, as sinners, need divine wisdom. He writes, “Who are you to assess Godʼs Word in a way different than his own qualifications.” What Baxter means is, we are to allow Godʼs Word to explain itself in its own terms. We must not explain away difficult, but clear, instruction. As Christians, we must trust Godʼs counsel for the home. Failure to trust Godʼs will can only bring turmoil and unrest.

2. Discontentment. There is something about the sinful heart that is always wanting something other than the place in which God has placed him or her. When something other than God is the desire of the heart, it begins to desire more than the portion granted. The sinful cravings of the heart are deceitful and can justify sin or can explain away divine instruction. Baxterʼs appeal to wives is to find your contentment and treasure in Christ and you will recognize the joy in resting in his purposes.

3. Distrust in the leadership of your husband. Following the leadership your husband is not first and foremost based upon his merits, but upon the design of Godʼs intentions. Baxter recognizes the failures of husbands, since he was one himself, and there is no biblical expectations for women to follow their husbands in sin or submit to abuse. Yet, many may see the husbandʼs imperfections as an opportunity to exchange roles, as if he has lost his chance to lead. Baxter encourages wives to put away their fears of following their husbands, for it is not in him that you place your trust, but in the Lord who has given you good and perfect instruction for your joy. Rebelling against Godʼs instruction for the home will never bring peace or contentment.

For Baxter, submitting to Godʼs will for the home, whether it be for men or for women, is fundamentally a heart issue. Baxter wrote in a day when feminism didnʼt exist as a movement. There were no books to argue for egalitarianism. No one was attempting to re-interpret Ephesians 5. Yet, he understood that men and women have always had sinful impulses to rebel against Godʼs instructions.

Source: http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/Baxter-on-the-Family-Directions-for-Wives

Baxter on the Family: Duties of the Christian Husband

John Starke
November 16, 2009

Much could be said about Richard Baxterʼs, the 17th century puritan, instruction for the Christian family. He is deeply practical and has the actual family in mind when writing. What I mean is that he is not speaking to academics, scholars, or, even other pastors. He is mainly speaking to fathers, mothers, and, also, children. For the Puritans, every home was a small church, with the father as the shepherd. So then, Baxter has two concerns when writing to families: perseverance in the faith and growth in godliness. He begins his directions for the family with the husband.

Directions for Husbands

The husband has the authority in the home. Baxter doesnʼt argue for the husband’s headship in the home, but rather assumes it as biblical. There is a question, however, of first importance that every man should ask of himself: Am I fit for task? The purpose of the question is not necessarily to see whether or not one should start a family (though it may be a good one to ask before you begin), but ultimately to know exactly what to repent of and, then, seek godliness. Out of all the qualities a man needs in leading his family, godliness has pride-of-place. Baxter writes:

And if God shall not govern in your families, who shall? The devil is always the governor where Godʼs governments is refused; the world and the flesh are the instruments of his governments; worldliness and fleshly living are his service. Undoubtedly he is the ruler of the family where these prevail, and where faith and godliness do not take place. And what can you expect from such a master?

According to Baxter, an ungodly man is the chief stranger and enemy to Godʼs design for the Christian family. A godly governed home “is an excellent help to the saving of all the souls that are in it.” Men, fit yourselves for the task!

Why is godliness so important to the task of leading the home? For Baxter, the husband is responsible for the normal teaching and instruction in godliness. Therefore, the husband must hunger and thirst for the knowledge of Godʼs Word. Baxter writes, “Those husbands that despise the word of God and live in willful ignorance do not only despise their own souls, but their families also.”

Because the husband is responsible before God for his family and all this included in it, apathy is not an option. An apathetic husband has authority over his family in name and image only. Husbands, do not be marked by a couch and a remote control. Do not lie to yourselves, thinking that your work is done at 5:30 pm. Too many young husbands, today, spend more time on XBox than instructing their families in godliness. Men, if your children relate you with video games more than service and care, then you should repent.

source: http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/Baxter-on-the-Family-Duties-of-the-Christian-Husband

So You Think You Can Pastor?

October 14, 2009 by pastorpeterko

I was challenged as I read this morning about John Piper’s personal call to full-time pastoral ministry. This is an extract from the letter his father Bill Piper, himself an itinerant evangelist, wrote to him when John felt it was time to take up the call. As a new pastor of a church plant, I’m only just beginning to realise how much I’d been shielded from the wider range of pastoral experiences until now. Therefore it’s a huge encouragement and a challenge to me reading it at this point in my ministry:

Now I want you to remember a few things about the pastorate. Being a pastor today involves more than merely teaching and preaching. You’ll be the comforter of the fatherless and the widow. You’ll counsel constantly with those whose homes and hearts are broken. You’ll have to handle divorce problems and a thousand marital situations. You’ll have to exhort and advise young people involved in sordid and illicit sex, with drugs and violence. You’ll have to visit the hospitals, the shut-ins, the elderly. A mountain of problems will be laid on your shoulders and at your doorstep.

And then there’s the heartache of ministering to a weak and carnal and worldly, apathetic group of professing Christians, very few of whom will be found trustworthy and dependable.

Then there a hundred administrative responsibilities as pastor. You’re the generator and sometimes the janitor. The church will look to you for guidance in building programs, church growth, youth activities, outreach, extra services, etc. You’ll be called upon to arbitrate all kinds of problems. At times you will feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. Many pastors have broken under the strain.

If the Lord has called you, these things will not deter nor dismay you. But I wanted you to know the whole picture. As in all of our Lord’s work there will be a thousand compensations. You’ll see that people trust Christ as Savior and Lord. You’ll see these grow in the knowledge of Christ and his Word. You’ll witness saints enabled by your preaching to face all manner of tests. You’ll see God at work in human lives, and there is no joy comparable to this. Just ask yourself, son, if you are prepared not only to preach and teach, but also to weep over men’s souls, to care for the sick and dying, and to bear the burdens carried today by the saints of God.

No matter what, I’ll back you all the way with my encouragement and prayers.

For the full article written by Justin Taylor on John Piper’s call to ministry 30 years ago, have a read here from The Gospel Coalition.

BRIAN MCLAREN ON RELIGIOUS INSANITY AND EVANGELICAL COWARDICE

Brian McLaren, a leading guru in the egregiously ecumenicalEmerging Church de-formation of the Christian faith aka Emergent Church—now morphing into Emergence Christianity (EC), says — “Enough is enough” in his post Religious Right Insanity, Evangelical Cowardice:

I’m disgusted by the latest absurdity from the religious right covered in the clip below. I’m also depressed by the lack of courage among Evangelical leaders to speak out strongly against it (also covered in the clip below). How about it, Evangelicals? How many of you will join Frank Schaeffer and say, “Enough is enough?” (Online source)

The clip McLaren places in his post discusses the use by some “evangelicals” of Psalm 109:8 concerning President Barak Obama. It sounds to my ears a chance for Shaeffer to use this idea, by a group he initially says is “a crazy fringe,” to promote his book while grinding an ax against the evangelical movement and taking a shot at those “deluded” people who would hold a pre-trib pre-mil eschatology.

Well now I’m saying, Enough is Enough: Religious Left Insanity, Evangelical Cowardice. You see, I’m disgusted by the latest absurdity from the religious left in the EC with their Growing Gay Agenda In Evangelicalism as they attempt to convince us that the deviant lifestyle of having sexual relations with another of the same sex, i.e the sin of homosexuality, is a viable one for the evangelical Christian.

In posts like But Do Emergence Christianity And Brian McLaren Really Love Gay People? I shared that couldn’t care less what [insert celebrity-level evangelical leader here] has to say concerning their opinions about the issue of homosexuality; I care: “What does the Bible—God’s Word—itself have to say.”

If so-and-so’s opinions, speculations, and/or teachings, line up with that (see—Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21) then I will agree; if not, then it matters little what they say. And since Holy Scripture is crystal clear regarding the sin of homosexuality I’m also depressed by the lack of courage among evangelical leaders to speak out strongly against the EC’s homopression in lying to GLBTQ people.

Now, if only I had a book to promote, eh.

http://apprising.org/2009/11/brian-mclaren-on-religious-insanity-and-evangelical-cowardice/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+apprising%2F2+%28Apprising+Ministries%29

 

Jaime Mirhan

1. What if a person has accepted Christ in his heart and prays everyday, but he doesn’t go to church nor reads the Bible. Then will he still be saved? – True acceptance means you are now living in the economy of God and not of man. Going to church may not be a requirement but doing so may help one improve his spiritual growth. Accepting and not doing the command of God may be considered hallow faith. If one truly believes in the Lord he will make it a point to worship God with fellow believers. Many people who fall into the trap of “Easy Believism” or “Cheap Salvation”, meaning receiving the Gospel just because you want to go to heaven but not to the point of living the life our heavenly Father desires us to live.
2. 2. Will the Roman Catholics be saved by God? – Salvation is not based on what religion you are in. Let me clarify this, salvation is based on one’s true relationship with Christ. There are people who consider themselves Roman Catholic just because they were raised that way but their belief is based biblical truth (no worshipping of idols, sacraments doesn’t saves, only Jesus can wash away sins). Therefore, it boils down to what is salvation. The basis of salvation is no other than receiving by faith that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. Savior – only Christ is the means of salvation. Lord- since He paid the price of our sins, He now owns us and therefore we need to serve (obeying His commands) Him as master.
3. Is Mary considered an idol for Protestants? – For the protestant, Mary is just an ordinary human being, capable of sinning and was born with the original sin. Worshiping an image of Mary is considered idol worshipping.
4. Does a person really need to choose between Catholicism and Protestantism, can’t a person be saved if he has no religion as long as he is a Christian? He isn’t a Catholic nor a Protestant. – Please base my answer on questions 1 and 2. It is not about religion per se but relationship with Christ.
5. 5. Are Catholics and Protestants equal in God’s eyes even though Catholics believe in praying to the saints and Mary? – They are equal in God’s eyes however, people who will received Him will get their rewards in heaven, but to all the things they do here, they will all face the same rewards and consequences. Remember the story of David, when he sinned, he reap the wrath of God. His son died and his children’s fight one another. But when we follow the will of God, we will reap good fruit. It is like, when you study hard you will pass the test, if you didn’t you will fail. God is just. So if one will worship or pray to the saints or Mary, the Lord will not be happy about that because in His commandment He forbids worshipping anything, anyone “… for the Lord our God is a Jealous God” (Exodus 20). Praying is a form of worship.
6. 6. If #4 wasn’t really that understandable, a clearer version of the question would be, do Christians really need to be classified, Protestant or Catholic? – Honestly, it is not about the classification, it is about the way we truly live our life and devote our faith.

Hannah Samantha Key

1. If someone was not chosen person of God, then he/she accepts Jesus Christ as his/her personal Lord and savior, will he/she still be saved? Why or Why not? – If one truly received Christ therefore he is chosen. That is the only way you can know if one is chosen or not.  If one is not chosen, that one will never ever truly receive Christ as savior.

 

1. Why did God allow people to live when He knows He’s not going to choose them? Why should there be people suffering in hell? -  According to His sovereign will. Only God can answer that. This is what He revealed to us through His Word. This is the question I am to ask God when I meet Him in heaven.

 

 

1. 3. What is the purpose of life and the teachings of the gospel when all people can be saved? – Yeah, true what is the purpose? If all are saved, no need for that right?

 

1. 4. Why did Jesus Christ only die for some chosen men and not for all? – Only God can answer this question. But according to His Word, this is His based on His sovereign will.

 

1. If God all loves all the people in the world, why does he choose from them and not save all? – God is love, but He also is just. First of all, it is in the Bible that God chooses His people (John 10, Eph. 1). It would seem unfair, remember, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). We are all bound to hell; it was just through God’s sovereign grace that He had chosen some to be saved. The fairness is that all must go to hell, the mercy part is God making some saved. But God treated us equally in this world, we enjoy the same benefits the other do, like sunshine, air, plants, and more. But we must understand the gravity of our sins first, before we ask if the Lord is fair or unfair. How do you take the sins you have committed? How repentant were you whenever you sin against the Lord? These are the “fair” questions we need to ask ourselves. The problem with us people, we always want God to play fair for our benefit. Will we, people, accept fairness just to benefit others? I doubt, people will think that way, if so, we should have not ask the fairness question in the first place.

Frederick Go

1. What is the feeling when you are saved? – Very good, unexplainable relief.

 

1. 2. What is your stand in salvation? – I already explained it in class.  I believe in the TULIP of Calvinism.

T Total Depravity (i.e. Total Inability)

U Unconditional Election

L Limited Atonement (i.e. Particular Redemption)

I Irresistible Calling

P Perseverance of the Saints

If you truly desire to know my view, come to me and I will explain this to you. J

 

1. Why do Catholic do the sign of the cross and the protestant don’t? -  It is just an act of respect for the Roman Catholic believers. Better respect those who do it.

 

1. 4. Can (Will) gays go to heaven? – God made Adam and Eve and not Adam and Steve (Read Genesis Chapter 1). Remember Sodom and Gomorah? They were homosexuals (Read 1Corinthians 6). When we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, we are expected to follow His Words. We are now new creature. (2Corinthians 5:16-21)

 

1. 5. If Catholic and Protestant have a fight, What (Who) will God favor? – Neither, God will not be pleased if they fight.  The Bible taught us to love and not to hate.

Benedict Tan

1. Do you believe that the world will end at 2012? – No, I never believe in the predictions concerning the End Times. (Matt. 24:36)

 

1. 2. Will all present Israelites go to heaven? No matter their fault? Even if they have not accepted Jesus Christ in the their hearts because they are God’s chosen people. (I heard another pastor say this.) – NO!!!! The New Covenant in Jeremiah 31:33-34 speaks of the faith each believer will receive through the Holy Spirit. They need to accept Jesus as their Savior before they will be saved. The same thing with us gentiles. No Jesus as savior and Lord, No salvation. (May I know who is this pastor? J)

 

1. 3. The other Books that were rejected by the church are the stories in these books true? Why were they rejected? – The stories in the Apocryphal books were not validated as true, at least by the council who approves of canonizing the books of the Bible. They were rejected because they were not able to meet the standards set by the council.

 

1. Who came first the caveman? Or Adam and Eve? – Are you sure about this question? Isn’t it that Adam is the first human being created by God? So, who do you think came first? But I give you credit for making me smile… J

 

1. 5. Do you believe in divorce? – Yes, I do. I only accept divorce based on Biblical teaching.