Christ & Contemporary Art

Being both an artist and a Christian (of which I am both, but not presenting them as two separate attributes) in this post-modern society is viewed as a dichotomy waiting to subdue or compromise one of the other. There exist this tension between both camps – as opposed to the harmony of poetic beauty of art and Christianity during the middle ages – and neither side will come in agreements with the other and usually if it does so, it comes at a cost, where it is met on a middle ground often by compromise resulting in a bizarre form of syncretism.

I don’t mean to make an error of hasty generalization, but it’s often the case that most Christians (stigmatized by the liberal emergent types) will view artistic pursuits, predominantly by Christian artist, with a higher degree of scepticism. Understanding that most scepticism arises due to the object of scepticism failing to meet a particular model resulting in a sense of mistrust that leads and carries on generations turning those mistrusts into dispositional prejudices, a Christian who wishes to pursue a particular genre of art (most of which arise from some sort of retaliation to a subduing grand narrative) and who wishes to contribute to the universal church is often overlooked as “non-functionary” and “unpractical” serving no purpose whatsoever to building the church. But I beg to differ, the potential for art to become an instrument in pursuing the great commission and building the universal body of Christ is still untapped and waiting to be accommodated.

Nonetheless, I encourage Christian artist (whatever genre and aspect) to anchor their ships to the harbour of the gospel and scripture. Withholding yourselves from settling to pursue your creative endeavours to mere abstractions and alien vernaculars which lay contrary to the vernaculars of sound biblical truths. This is not an anti-art proposition, but merely an expression to guide Christians to strive for excellence in maintaining the integrity of orthodoxy in their creations. Unlike artists who do not follow the Christian faith and whose mandate is primarily the deconstruction of conventionalism, a Christian artist should find peace knowing that what proceeds from sound ideas is therefore good and does not pose as a threat to distortion of truth. Thus, as opposed to finding meaninglessness, one will find the establishment of meaningfulness between the truth pertaining to Christ and the expressionism (don’t think Edvard Munch) of art and other fields that can be categorized under orthopathos (true emotions).

But on the other hand, let me no longer add to this issue but give to you Makoto Fujimura’s latest project (copy from crossway.org):

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In Celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible

Makoto Fujimura, one of the century’s most highly regarded artists, has illuminated the Four Holy Gospels. Fujimura is known for his use of traditional Japanese Nihonga techniques and his passion for reconnecting Christian faith with fine art. This will mark the first time in nearly 400 years that an illuminated book of the four Gospels has been undertaken by a single artist.

 
Fujimura - 4 Holy Gospels from Crossway on Vimeo.

The Four Holy Gospels is based on the ESV translation of the Bible and also coincides with the 400^th anniversary of the King James Version (KJV) Bible, published in 1611. The ESV is a direct descendant of the KJV Bible; first published in 2001, the ESV carries forward this classic Bible translation legacy.

Fujimura explains, “By using the ESV translation, we honor the King James Version by allowing contemporary vernacular to reflect the timeless truth of the Bible. This project brings a reconciled whole of the Gospels to a new century and a global audience.”

Editions of The Four Holy Gospels will be available January 31, 2011. An exhibition of the works featured in The Four Holy Gospels will take place from December 9 through January 9 at the Dillon Gallery in New York City. You may download the preview PDF here.

A Face-Lift

First off, I wish to apologize to all my readers for the lack of frequent updates with this blog. I’ve been quite busy looking for work and have dedicated much of my time to my portfolio/homepage (do check it out!).

Just to sort of kick start this hiatus that Oikodome went through, I’ve decided to give it a facelift. The new look is a lot cleaner, simpler, and modern. Although being a traditional snob, I hope to see the incorporation of orthodox principles through the form of a contemporary modernisation. The blog will still be dedicated to ensuring excellent posts as it already does.

Feedbacks are welcome!

- C.Varthoumlien

This Too Shall Pass, So Persevere!

“When we are foiled, let us believe we shall overcome; when we have fallen, let us believe we shall rise again. Jacob, after he received a blow which made him lame, yet would not give over wrestling (Gen. 32:25) till he had obtained the blessing. So let us never give up, but, in our thoughts knit the beginning, progress and end together, and then we shall see ourselves in heaven out of the reach of all enemies.” – Richard Sibbes

John Piper’s First Graphic Novel

Being an avid fan of the graphic novel genre, I find combining both Piper – who has equipped, and encouraged me abundantly in my Christian walk – and the upcoming release of “The Gadarene” would prove to be something I won’t be missing out!

God, Became Man

“Why art thou proud, O man? God for thee became low. Thou wouldst perhaps be ashamed to initiate a lowly man… He, since He was God, became man: do thou, O man, recognize that thou art [emphasis mine] man. Thy entire humility is to know thyself.” – St. Augustine of Hippo

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 ESV)

The Only Sufficient Motive For Evangelism

“Love for God is the only sufficient motive for evangelism. Self-love will give away to self-centeredness; love for the lost will fail with those whom we cannot love, and when difficulties seem insurmountable, only a deep love for God will keep us following his way, declaring his Gospel, when human resources fail. Only our love for God –and, more important, his love for us—will keep us from the dangers which beset us. When the desire for popularity with men, or for success in human terms, tempts us to water down the Gospel, to make it palatable, then only if we love God will we stand fast by his truth and his ways.”
- John Cheeseman (The Grace of God in the Gospel)

The Bible Is Primarily Not About You

If so, then what is it all about?

Dr. Tim Keller at The Gospel Coalition (2007)

"There is more of His glory in the Word than there is in the whole creation of heaven and earth" (Burroughs, Gospel Worship, 226).

Why is Christ the only answer to our problem of sin?

"Of all the great founders of  religions, Christ is the only one who will come alongside us, claiming to be our Creator incarnate, come to deal with the problem of guilt of our sin by means of His sacrifice on the cross so that we can receive forgiveness and peace with God. To ask why we must think that Christ is the only way to God is to miss the point completely. For Christ does not, in that sense, compete with anyone for the simple reason that no one else claims to deal with this fundamental problem. He is the only one in the running. How can it be narrow-minded or arrogant to accept from Christ when no one else offers?”
- Dr. David Gooding

The Humility of Calvin's Calvinism by Burk Parsons

The following is an excerpt from John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology edited by Burk Parsons

As the surest source of destruction to men is to obey themselves, so the only haven of safety is to have no other will, no other wisdom, than to follow the Lord wherever he leads. Let this, then, be the first step, to abandon ourselves, and devote the whole energy of our minds to the service of God. By service, I mean not only that which consists in verbal obedience, but that by which the mind, divested of its own carnal feelings, implicitly obeys the call of theSpirit of God.1? —John Calvin

It has not been my habit to refer to myself as a Calvinist; if memory serves, I have never done so, primarily because I don't think John Calvin would want me to. In fact, whenever another Christian asks me what I am (with the seeming hope of determining my particular denominational affiliation), I respond simply, "I am a Christian." Nevertheless, if I were ever truly pressed on the matter of being a Calvinist, I suppose I would respond by saying, "Yes, I am a Calvinist because I am a Christian, and I am a Christian because I believe the gospel."?

Continue reading the article here.

Thanks to Monergism ministry for providing and hosting the article. 

And Can It Be That I Should Gain?

Written by Charles Wesley and first published in 1738.

“Expressing an inexpressible wonder,
I long to be released, so that I may cry;
”Holy is the LORD, who causeth hearts to thunder”,
and that I may be free, to express the oversupply.”
- C. Varthoumlien

And can it be that I should gain An interest in the Saviors blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain— For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Tis mystery all: thImmortal dies: Who can explore His strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries To sound the depths of love divine. Tis mercy all! Let earth adore, Let angel minds inquire no more. Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; Let angel minds inquire no more. He left His Fathers throne above So free, so infinite His grace— Emptied Himself of all but love, And bled for Adams helpless race: Tis mercy all, immense and free, For O my God, it found out me! Tis mercy all, immense and free, For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay, Fast bound in sin and natures night; Thine eye diffused a quickening ray— I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee. My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee. Still the small inward voice I hear, That whispers all my sins forgiven; Still the atoning blood is near, That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven. I feel the life His wounds impart; I feel the Savior in my heart. I feel the life His wounds impart; I feel the Savior in my heart. No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him, is mine; Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach theternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own. Bold I approach theternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Forgiven Little?

A Sinful Woman Forgiven

[36] One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. [37] And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, [38] and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. [39] Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” [40] And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

[41] “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. [42] When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” [43] Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” [44] Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. [45] You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. [46] You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. [47] Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” [48] And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” [49] Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” [50] And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
(Luke 7:36-50 ESV)

The desire to love God even more is a blessing to a Christian, and many times people (including myself) have sought to see this emanating from their lives. But why is it difficult to grow in love for God? Jesus’ parable to Simon provides a clear solution: we need to learn and see the gravity of our sins by the foot of the cross. Hence, unless we learn that we are forgiven of much, much of our love will not be towards Christ our redeemer. For if we love little towards God, we have settled to be forgiven of little.

- C. Varthoumlien

(Video) What is the Gospel?

Brought to you by the guys at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The Titanic’s last hero: John Harper

A young Scotsman, who survived the tragic mishap, tells of an extraordinary story of how he was saved. He had been on the Titanic the night it struck the iceberg. Clinging to a piece of floating debris in the freezing waters, “suddenly",” he said, “a wave brought a man near, John Harper. He, too, was holding a piece of wreckage.

“He called out, ‘Man, are you saved?"’

“‘No, I am not’ I replied.

“He shouted back, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.’

“The waves bore [Harper] away, but a little later, he was washed back beside me again. ‘Are you saved now?’ he called out.

“‘No,’ I answered. ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.’

“Then losing his hold on the wood, [Harper] sank. And there, alone in the night with two miles of water under me, I trusted Christ as my saviour. I am John Harper’s last convert.”

Taken from Moody Adams, The Titanic’s Last Hero: Story About John Harper (Columbia, SC: Olive Press, 1997), 24 – 25.

A Pardoned sinner – Robert Murray M’Cheyne

“I often pray, ‘Lord, make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be made.’” - Robert Murray M’Cheyne

“I feel, when I have sinned, an immediate reluctance to go to Christ. I am ashamed to go. I feel as if it would do no good to go – as if it were making Christ a minister of sin, to go straight from the swine-trough to the best robe – and a thousand other excuses; but I am persuaded they are all lies, direct from hell. John argues the opposite way – ‘If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father;’ This is God’s way of peace and holiness. It is folly to the world and the beclouded heart, but it is the way.”  - Robert Murray M’Cheyne

Abide With Me – Henry F. Lyte (1847)

 

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need thy presence every passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;
ills have no weight, and tears not bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes;
shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Book Recommendation – What is the Gospel?

What is the Gospel? A question which most Christians will answer based more on their personal understanding of it as opposed to what the Word of God actually says it is.

Forwarded by D. A. Carson and endorsed by a handful of other eminent Christians, comes a book that seeks to point Christians to the gospel –amidst the entire muddle –on what it really is as presented in the New Testament by the earliest Christians. Titled simply as “What is the Gospel”, Greg Gilbert who serves as an assistant pastor to Mark Dever at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC, presents the gospel that is very much centred on the cross. He summarizes the presentation of the gospel as noted from the apostles in Acts and in Romans by Paul as consisting of four central subjects which are: God, man, Christ, and a response. I highly recommend this book if you find yourself still confused on what scripture says is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Here’s a video of him talking about his book.

 

Jonathan Rourke Impersonates C.J. Mahaney

Humour for the soul :)

Jonathan Rourke as CJ Mahaney from Resolved on Vimeo.

The Romans Road

I use this method of sharing the gospel quite often, considering that it is easily accessible (using my iPhone) and that it has strong biblical references all from Romans. You simple use the following verses from Romans and follow them in a sequence. Thanks to Matt Slick from CARM.org for the tip!

1. Rom. 3:10 “As it is written, 'There is none righteous, not even one...”
2. Rom. 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
3. Rom. 5:12, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned."
4. Rom. 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
5. Rom. 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
6. Rom. 10:9-10, "if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
7. Rom. 10:13, "For whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."

Pray that it will be a blessing to you!

One Society, One Family

"Christ has brought it to pass that those whom the Father has given Him should be brought into the household of God: that He and His Father and His people should be as one society, one family--that the Church should be as it were admitted into the society of the blessed Trinity."

- Jonathan Edwards

Your “Testimony” Is Boring

While working on my testimony for my baptism. I came across this article by Michael S. Horton titled “When Your ‘Testimony’ Is Boring”. It proved to be of a great help to me and definitely worth checking out if your baptism is coming up or perhaps practically any time when sharing your testimony. Horton, grounds much of the order of salvation to Christ, turning our ill notions of “how we came to know Christ” into something more Christ centred, giving all credit to him.

“The process [emphasis his] of repentance and sanctifying conversion is not a goal to which we strive, but a reality from which we live.” Horton

Link to the article

- C. Varthoumlien

The Prodigal

One of my favorites from the album “Sons & Daughters” by Sovereign Grace Music.

 

 

“ This animation is built on 1 John 3:1, and a song by Sovereign Grace Music entitled Prodigal Which, in turn, is based on Christ's parable of the prodigal son. As humans we, by our nature, run from and hate God and anything that would bind us to Him - Yet in His great love He sent Jesus Christ to bear all our punishment and to bring us into the love filled, all satisfying arms of our Father God. Consider Him and His love for YOU as you watch this, that He would call us His own children.”

- actionJones

The Drama of Doctrine – Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer

Kevin J. Vanhoozer (b. 1957) is the Blanchard Professor of Theology at Wheaton College Graduate School. He was previously Research Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) where he taught from 1998-2009. From 1990-1998 he was Senior Lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies at New College, University of Edinburgh and previously taught at TEDS from 1986-1990. Vanhoozer received a B.A. from Westmont College, an M.Div from Westminster Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Cambridge University, England having studied under Nicholas Lash.

Vanhoozer's The Drama of Doctrine was named best book in theology in the 2006 Christianity Today Book Awards. In this book, Vanhoozer proposes a way of doing theology that corresponds to its subject matter: doctrine is direction for the fitting participation of the individual and the church in the ongoing "theodrama," the reconciling action of the triune God. Theology is faith seeking understanding of the theodrama, but understanding demands not only that we comprehend but that we also perform the Scriptures, the script that forms and transforms the people of God.

- Taken from Theopedia.com

Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer - "Gospel Theater: Staging, Scripting, Directing" from Southeastern Seminary on Vimeo.

Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer - Gospel Theater: Rehearsing, Improvising, Performing from Southeastern Seminary on Vimeo.

We Are Far Too Easily Pleased

 

Directed by Tristan Carnahan of Desiring God; excerpts from C.S. Lewis’ book The Weight of Glory.

“If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” (The Weight of Glory, 26)

 

It reminds me of a quotation by Malcolm Muggeridge:

"It is difficult to resist the conclusion that 20th century man has decided to abolish himself. Tired of the struggle to be himself, he has created boredom out of his own affluence, impotence out of his own erotomania, and vulnerability out of his own strength. He himself blows the trumpet that brings the walls of his own cities crashing down. Until at last, having educated himself into imbecility, having drugged and polluted himself into stupefaction. He keels over, a weary battered old brontosaurus and becomes extinct.”

A Critique of “The Five Love Languages”

I have been asked a couple of times this question: “what is your love language?” To be honest, I never knew how to answer them. It wasn’t because I didn’t know what these ‘languages’ were, but because I knew there was something more than what affinity people simply adhered to ‘naturally’. Gary Chapman, known for his best-selling book, The Five Love Languages, proposed a set of 5 love languages (henceforth, 5LL) which are: affirming words, quality time, gift giving, physical affection, and acts of service. Since the release of this best-seller (and the series that followed it), Chapman’s concept of this model has entered much colloquiality.

In a nutshell, the book shows us that we each have one primary love language, and we must become somewhat like a polyglot, speaking many different languages. We are to not only express and communicate which of the 5LL is our primary, but we must also learn to speak the languages of our loved ones.

Nevertheless, Chapman points out why such dysfunctions within relationships exist. We tend to love others by simply loving them the way we would want them to do for us, while still disregarding their interests completely. Thus, our simple attempts to love others still misfire. The 5LL, at its best, addresses this ignorance and clumsiness. Offering couples constructive and pragmatic advice. However, the whole model within its structured form of principles and methods, fails to address why our tank needs incessant filling in the first place. The root of relational problems cannot be treated pragmatically, but it must be dealt with deductively, meaning the root of the problem must precede the result of the problems. We ought to be fixing the why questions, before we fix the how questions.

David Powlison, in his article, “Love Speaks Many Languages Fluently”, summarizes Chapman’s philosophy as such:

I’ll find out where you itch, and I’ll scratch your back, so you feel better. Along the way, I’ll let you know my itches in a non-demanding manner. You’ll feel good about me because your itches are being scratched, so eventually you’ll probably scratch my back, too. [1]

According to Powlison, Chapman’s 5LL model “fails the class ‘Human Nature 101’. [And] Like all secular interpretations of human psychology (even when lightly Christianized),” says Powlison, “it makes some good observations and offers some half-decent advice (of the sort that self-effort can sometimes follow)”[2]. The 5LL doesn’t take in consideration the “perverse unwillingness and inability to love”[3] resulting from the radical falleness of the human heart; it “leaves fundamental self-interest unchallenged, [but] … plays to self-interest”[4].

“Chapman’s model”, says Powlison further on, “is premised on a give-to-get economy”[5]. A gloried form of the “I scratch your back, and you scratch mine” or rather, “I scratch your back (and then it’s likely you’ll scratch mine)”, where the hope of filling someone’s “love tank” is still contingent on yours being filled. It still views the problem through the “lens of ‘my needs’ (even if it reads a book teaching it to call itself a need)”[6]. This is unlike what Jesus instructed, “Expect nothing in return” (Luke 6:35).

Finally, Powlison in his article further dissects each of the 5LL and compares it to the love of Christ. Which being, “the greatest love ever shown [that] does not speak the instinctively self-centered language of the recipients of such love”[7]. Fundamentally, the love of Christ “speaks contrary to your ‘love language’ and ‘felt needs’”[8]. “Life in the kingdom”, says Powlison, “is much more complex than just lining up one abstract model against another abstract model”[9].

- C. Varthoumlien

_____________________

---

[1] (Powlison 6)

[2] Ibid., p. 5.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid., p. 7.

[7] Ibid., p. 9.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid., p. 10.

Haiti - “A Call To Fasting & Prayer”

Haiti - "A Call To Fasting & Prayer" from anthony gehin on Vimeo.

On February 12, 2010, President Préval of Haiti called his nation to 3 days of fasting and prayer. Over 1 million Haitians attended this epic event.

lovinghandsministryhaiti.com

What is the solution to arrogant orthodoxy?

DugDownDeep_Shook.mov from Covenant Life Church on Vimeo.

Why Theology Matters

Here’s a clip that illustrates why it does. Good job to the guys that made this!

 

DugDownDeep_Carnahan.mov from Covenant Life Church on Vimeo.

The Gospel Coalition Canada Conference

Conference Topics

Christian Faithfulness in the Last Days: The Need for the Gospel Coalition
D. A. Carson  |  2 Tim 3:1-4:8

The Functional Centrality of the Gospel
Mike Bullmore  |  1 Cor 15

New Beginning: What Is the Gospel and How Does It Work?
D. A. Carson  |  John 3:1-21

Entrusted with the Gospel: Communicating the Gospel in a Post-Christian Age
Mike Bullmore  |  1 Thess 2:1-16

For more information click on the banner.

The Gospel-Centred Singleness

Being part of the series: “The Gospel Centred Home”, my pastor Paul W. Martin, concludes the series with “The Gospel-Centred Singleness” today. Keeping all biasness aside, I must admit that it was one of the best sermon on singleness I’ve heard up till now; reasons being the constant emphasis on the centrality of the Gospel. I do hope you would be edified by this talk as much as I was. This talk is applicable to both singles and married couples.

 

The Outline:

1. The Gospel proves that singleness is not a state of incompleteness.
2. The Gospel teaches that God deals with all people as individuals/singles first and primarily.
3. The Gospel makes marriage temporary.
4. The Gospel elevates Christ's family above the natural family.
5. Some people may choose life-long singleness for the sake of the Gospel.
6. Undesired singleness must be brought to the Gospel.
7. If someone desires to end their singleness, it must be for the sake of the Gospel.

UPDATE:: 15:12 - 17:46 is missing, will try and get a hold of a fresh copy.

 

The Power of the Cross

A great song that speaks of the immeasurable glory of the cross.

 

 

We sang this song today at church, It was beautiful!

The Parable of the Sower Explained

In Matthew 13.18-23, Jesus explains "The Parable of the Sower" to His disciples in response to their question regarding why He chose to speak to the crowds in parables. It is evident that the disciples understood what Jesus was trying to convey in the parable. Their receptive hearts to “the secrets of the kingdom of heaven” is a clear example of the fulfilment of the fourth scenario: where the seeds feel on good soil, only because they heard His word and understood it.

Much of the crowd, in comparison to Jesus’ disciples, were dull in their hearts; their eyes and their ears were closed. They were spiritually deprived of the knowledge of the kingdom, and were dead in their sins (Ephesians 2:1) –- This is a good example of an unregenerate state.

God in His sovereignty, uses parables as a sifting tool to call before Him those whom the Father has given unto Him (John 6:44). It is what separated the disciples from the Pharisees who, because of their hardened state, where driven to frustrations because they could simply not make sense of Jesus’ plain parables (John 10:24).

So how are we to know if we belong to Christ? How are we to know if we are part of His flock? Simply by this, we will “understand with [our] heart” (Isaiah 6:10), and we will hear His voice (John 10:27), because we have been drawn to Him by the Father.

In conclusion, among the four scenarios of "The Parable of the Sower", Which one do you associate with when the word of God has been preached to your heart? how do you respond?

• “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. this is what was sown along the path” (Matthew 13:19).
• “As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away” (Matthew 13:20).
• “As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (Matthew 13:21).
• “As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty” (Matthew 13:22).

So I encourage you brothers and sisters, examine yourself in light of scripture, for you very well might still be dwelling in that euphoric joy that has absolutely no root. Pray that God may test your fruitfulness, so that you may progress with righteous confidence that He indeed had begun a good work in you, and will indeed complete it (Philippians 1:6).

- CHELMS VARTHOUMLIEN

Stubborn or Strong Conviction by John G. Reisinger

[from - http://www.the-highway.com/stubborn-or-strong_conviction_Reisinger.html]

 

“How do I know when I am being stubborn or when I am being strong in a right conviction?”

 

Other people are stubborn, but I have strong convictions. ‘You may not be prepared to admit the truth of the above, but it is often our attitude when someone differs from us. I am sure you have met some stubborn people, and I hope you have been fortunate enough to meet some good men of strong convictions. The obvious problem is ‘How do I know when I am being stubborn or when I am being strong in a right conviction?’ How does one know the difference? When should we ‘give in’ for the sake of peace and when would it be the sin of compromise? When does standing firm violate the law of love, and when is it essential to the cause of truth? These are difficult questions that every true Christian must face. We who hold the Doctrines of Grace are going to be more and more faced with them.

I am sure we all despise the argumentative dogmatist who wants to argue about every jot and tittle. Every “i” must be dotted just so and every ‘t’ must be crossed in a precise manner or else there is cause for a major war. However, we must never think that every person who refuses to conform to the majority is of this temperament. We must not think it a virtue to accept everything from everybody without question. Many ‘pious’ souls have caused more trouble than the worst of the dogmatists, even if they have never been blamed by others or felt guilty themselves.

The man who will not face problems is the church’s biggest enemy. Vance Havner is right when he says, ‘The appeaser does more harm than the opposer.’ J. C. Ryle is also right when he blames the appeaser for running the church and losing the truth. The appeaser will not attempt to discern the difference between stubbornness and conviction. Why? He thinks it is because he loves God and his fellow men, but such is not really the case. Either he does not care which is right or else he does not have the courage to side with true conviction when he does see it. He loves peace more than anything, but actually his love of peace is fear of getting hurt in a battle. The ‘peace at any price’ gentlemen (and he is almost always the nicest of all gentlemen) will do anything and sacrifice everything to keep from getting involved in a situation that requires choosing a side, defending a position, and making enemies of those who disagree. He is neither stubborn nor a man of strong convictions.

As I write these lines, I think of two different men that I learned to know in very intimate relationships. One was more feared than he was ‘liked.’ He had few, if any, enemies who hated him, but he also had few real friends. Those who really knew him loved him. He was an extremely gentle man, but as firm as steel when it came to the truth of God’s Word. He cared for no man’s applause or approval, but ordered his entire life by the law and gospel. Many professing Christians ridiculed his ‘narrow’ view. He often had the charge of ‘bigot’ come down on his head. He was excluded and shunned by the generation of ‘open minded’ Christians. However, I never once knew him to knowingly violate his conscience or what he believed was his duty in the light of God’s Word in order to be ‘accepted.’

The second fellow was just the opposite. He was ‘liked’ by all but feared by none. His personal life was beyond reproach as far as ‘worldliness’ was concerned. He loved and cared for his family. He was respected by neighbors and friends. He was also a gentle man, but not in the same sense as the other man. The second man was not directly concerned about man’s approval, but he was afraid of man’s disapproval. He lived by one rule, PEACE AT ANY PRICE. He would willingly endure any hardship or abuse without a word. Under no circumstance would he take another person to task or force an issue that might cause hard feelings. He was not excluded and shunned by others, nor was he called narrow-minded and bigoted. It is with sadness that I must say that this man did violate conscience and truth. He sinned, not by doing what he believed was wrong, but by refusing to do what he knew was his duty if he knew such a course of action would cause trouble of any kind.

I remember how I used to pity both of these men. I pitied the first one because he did not seem to enjoy a lot of the ‘good times’ that other people did. He would refuse to participate in anything that was questionable. He felt it wiser to ‘give God and his personal testimony the benefit of any doubt’ than to accept the easy answer that ‘all Christians do this.’ Other things were skipped, not because they were questionable, but simply because there were far more profitable ways to spend either the time or money that would be involved. I think I pitied him most when, knowing his actions would bring him under the scorn of many he loved, he would nonetheless wholeheartedly pursue his duty. But you know, I could never conscientiously try to talk him into changing. Oh, I tried to ‘reason’ with him about some things, but I did not expect him to change. In fact, if I would have been honest, I know I would have been forced to admit that I really hoped he would not listen to me. Looking back I realized I was glad to know that God had some men who would not bend to or for anyone except Himself. I even admired him for things which I did not have the courage to follow myself.

I also pitied the second fellow but not in the same way or for the same reason. I pitied him for the way people took advantage of him. He was such a nice guy that no sacrifice was too great for him to make in order to please people. I think I pitied him far more when, knowing his clear duty in a given situation would force him to take a stand against another person, he would run away from the whole problem. I pitied him when I thought of him looking in the mirror as he shaved, and as he felt the hurt and ache inside that always comes when we betray the truth by silence.

If anyone asks me if I know these two men and what I think of them, the same thing always comes into my mind. I always think of the second man as a nice guy, a real swell fellow. He is one of the nicest fellows I know. I never once thought of the first man as a nice guy. I always think of him as a Godly Christian, a man whose fear and love of God forced you to think about God and His holiness.

I often pray for courage to be like the first man. I have no trouble at all being a ‘nice guy’, but nice guys don’t move men toward God. Nice guys don’t leave behind them a trail of men and women who testify to have seen and felt the power of another world because they saw a living example. No, nice guys leave behind a lot of people who gladly acknowledge, ‘He was a swell fellow.’ I think we should be so wedded to the truth of God’s Word that people will not remember our niceness but our God and truth. Let them even call us stubborn if they want to, but let us so cleave to the truth in doctrine and practice that they are forced to think about God and eternity.

The Altar of Cynicism by John Sartelle

[from - http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/altar-cynicism/]

People lose their souls to many gods. There are the popular gods like money, sex, and power. But there is one unusual god to which men lose their souls, and maybe that god has seduced more people than any of the more famous or obvious gods that live in our hearts.

Cynicism is the god of the thinking person. Cynicism at first sight is not attractive, and thus, it does not seem seductive or powerful.

It was the god with whom Solomon battled from the beginning of Ecclesiastes to the end. Oh, he spoke of living for money, sex, and power, but what did he conclude? He concluded that they were void of meaning. They were carafes that looked like they were filled with wine, but they contained only colored water. Solomon surveyed all the gods. In fact, he was intimate with each of them. But the one that came the nearest to owning his soul was cynicism. He looked at everything — his money, his power, his work, his brilliance, even his relationships with his wives and friends. He concluded that all of these were useless. There was nothing or no one who delivered what they seemed to promise. These gods that he had loved with all his might went back on their word; they double-crossed his soul. Thus: “Vanity of vanities…all is vanity” (Eccl. 12:8). The Hebrew word translated vanity means empty, transitory, unsatisfactory. His gods were empty and could not satisfy. They could not be trusted.

Last year I read a very powerful book in which the protagonist had everything (money, power, prestige, family, sex), but he “woke up” to discover how empty his life was. So he set out to find a reality that could be trusted. Along the way his wife, parents, and friends all proved unfaithful and untrustworthy. In the end, he sailed out of the harbor into the ocean alone on his boat with no direction. He had lost his soul to cynicism. Every god, every man, every woman, every institution he trusted let him down. But then he, too, had proved to be unfaithful and untrustworthy, because like all of us he had lied, he had failed to deliver when others trusted him. He, himself, had not been faithful. In the end he became cynical. He kept saying, “To hell with it, to hell with it all.”

This is where cynicism takes hold: with our realization that nothing or no one can be totally trusted, and we can’t even point the finger of accusation at others because we ourselves cannot be trusted. We must number ourselves among the unfaithful and untrustworthy. Cynicism is the temple to which we finally come after stopovers at the houses of all the other gods. It is the temple at the end of “temple row.”

At the last, Solomon was saved from his cynicism. Ecclesiastes did not end like the book I read. Solomon did not sail out of the harbor into an endless ocean of emptiness. He did not end his story with the words, “To hell with it, to hell with it all.” He came to the sanctuary of a changeless God — a God who made incredible promises of grace and then kept His word. He came to a God who forgave unfaithful and untrustworthy people. He came to a God who said, “I will be faithful to my covenant with you. I will be faithful even though you have not been faithful to Me.”

Don’t expect more from your deities than they are able to deliver. Money will fail you, pleasure will fail you, power will fail you; friends, wives, husbands, fathers, mothers, and children will fail you. Solomon was right about that. And when they do, many of us are devastated. In our bitterness and resentment we go to the temple of cynicism. But there is a gospel for cynics. There is a gospel that says to us, “Of course, all of these will fail you. Of course, they are unfaithful and untrustworthy, and so are you.” So, in the words of Solomon, let’s hear “the conclusion of the matter.”

Don’t give up; there is one more temple. It is the temple that welcomes the unfaithful and untrustworthy. Above the door are words of grace: “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” (Isa. 55:1–2).

The cynic comes to this temple and finally finds One who will not betray him and who will never fail him. This God has declared that the sun and moon will fall from the sky before His word and promises can be broken. He went to the extreme of sacrificing His own Son to keep His promise, to be faithful to His oath of justice. He has never lied. He has never broken His word. Here is One who is trustworthy. And surprisingly, He has invited the unfaithful and untrustworthy to come and live with Him. The way His creation treated Him, we would expect Him to be cynical. Yet, He speaks grace to the very people who failed Him. Former cynics no longer go about every day saying, “Vanity of vanities…everything is vanity.” They are singing a new song, one about an amazing grace that saves wretches.

And now a very strange thing has happened. These former cynics now give the grace they received to those who have been unfaithful and untrustworthy to them.

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From Ligonier Ministries and R.C. Sproul. © Tabletalk magazine. Website: www.ligonier.org/tabletalk. Email: tabletalk@ligonier.org. Toll free: 1-800-435-4343.

Christ The Only Way-R.C. Sproul