The problems with the former are numerous. Here are three off the top of my head:

1. It gives power to the translator and the pastor and away from the people. Wasn’t that one of the problems of Rome during the reformation?

2. It doesn’t prepare them to defend against heresy, as they could be easily led astray by another.

3. It doesn’t prepare for the future but accepts the present. Someone might struggle to interpret scripture on their own, but to therefore just accept it and not pursue understanding will hurt the next generation as they will not have such a drive to understand scripture either.

Agree? Disagree?

Christ is Risen by Matt Maher

Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
But fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely You’ve bled for us

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but heaven’s will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer’s crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead
He’s alive! He’s alive!

Go purchase it on Amazon, it is well worth the $0.99

American democracy has accomplished far more than any other government in human history. It has broken barrier after barrier, bringing a voice to the people and overthrowing the more often than not oppressive rule of royalty. But even so, the people are still not fully heard and still not fully free. If the people of America aren’t oppressed by a king, the wealthy still hold the most power as those without influence or worth can cast a vote, but never truly have a voice. It took years to bring rights to those who were “created equal,” and though equality may be complete within the government, it is far from on the street. People aren’t loved, cherished, cared for by the government. It may be of the people, but many would agree that it is not for the people as special interests wage war, elected officials waste the people’s hard earned money on selfish exploits, and the branches fail to uphold the very document which created them.

No, American democracy has failed to be the humanistic solution to the human problem. And the Kingship of Christ, which was predestined before the foundation of the earth, before all created things came to be, remains alone in perfection. The total depravity of humanity cannot be overcome by the creation of a republican democracy, nor can it overcome the tongue and race barriers brought about by the judgement of Babel. No, Christ still remains as the perfection of rule as all will one day kneel at His throne when peoples of all nations and tongues will gather and sing praises to His name.

Freedom will come, not by human means, but by God’s hand. Equality will come, not by human rule, but by God’s scepter. The governments of man will perish, but He will reign forever.

(I apologize for the short post. I had planned to write in far more depth but my internet access is sparse. Hopefully in the future I will write more on this topic.)

As I was reading one sermon in particular it was as if my heart was being lifted from the body which contains it, into the heavens as the greatness and glory of God became ever more evident in its sight, tears dripping from where there are no eyes, pouring down at the feet of my Lord for His most wonderous nature gloriously present in the work of redemption.

I cannot pinpoint the exact sermon that brought me to such a feeling, but this is a good place to start.

UPDATE: I will be posting my Edwards paper shortly as well as a project for my New Testament Survey class.

Brother, sister: John Piper isn’t your pastor. John MacArthur knows nothing about you. Dave Hunt never got on his knees and prayed for you. Lloyd-Jones won’t come to your house when you’re recovering from surgery, or one of your children shatters your heart, or your marriage is shaking and rocking and barely hanging on. Charles Spurgeon won’t weep with you as you weep.

But we cannot allow this to happen, we cannot allow our hearts to grow cold. I believe it was Spurgeon who said that we must read of the cross again and again until are affections (a little Jonathan Edwards there) are moved. It was Edwards who said that man cannot be moral without a love for God, for morality without heart is no morality at all. This, as Christians, is crucial, for we must have the heart, we must be moved to actions, moved to live.

We must live in the context of the resurrection, remembering always what Christ started on the cross and finished in the empty tomb. He has risen! Christ has triumphed! He reigns!

Oh how I pray that the Lord would ignite the hearts of the elect who have yet to taste death, to see Christ’s bride living with joy in the glorification of a sovereign God.

This hit me pretty hard in the gut. I watched him pitch yesterday. I followed his career in the minor leagues. And now he is gone.

This question filled my mind when I read of his death. Do we live in the context of death?

Do we live our own lives in the context of death, in the knowledge that the next hour might be our last on this earth?

And do we treat others in the context of death, in the knowledge that the next hour of their life might be their last chance to escape eternal death?

Do we look at the people around us in the context of death, in the knowledge that they are dying, not just physically, but spiritually?

Death breaks my heart, most of all because judgment is coming and the church is failing in its calling to make disciples of all nations.

People are dying, what are you doing?

Renkie goes on to show how the simplicity of “I’m with Jesus” can answer a barrage of questions. This woke up my brain, as it did his, and reminded me how central Jesus is to questions of the Christian faith. If one accepts Jesus everything else falls into place, from the authority of scripture, to practical living. Which also reminds me of how important it is to point to Christ when defending the faith. Jesus is the door, there is no other way in. If we preach Christ, his acceptance will lead to the acceptance of his divinity, the innerancy of the Bible, the existence of the prophets of old, the resurrection, justification, total depravity… because to accept Jesus is to accept his words. C.S. Lewis’ description of Jesus either being a liar, lunatic or Lord, though so overused, is so true. If you say you are with Jesus yet do not accept his words as his own, then you are not with him. You cannot accept Jesus without accepting him as Lord.