The Plowman

publishing is warfare. Doug Wilson The pen is mightier than the sword, but more appropriately, I’d much rather go to war with pastor Wilson than against him. He can be my co-belligerent any day.

For a worldview is not just something you think. It is something you tell, something with a plot line and characters. It is a set of symbols, the kind that bring a lump to your throat. It is what you think. And your worldview is also sprinkled on your head, and is something you must eat and drink. Doug Wilson If someday he were to become a baptist, I might just up and move to Idaho.

I generally try to discourage Christians from trying to develop a better understanding of theology by listening in on heavy-drinking armchair-theologians’ dialogues anyway. Phil Johnson Good advice, but then, there wouldn’t have been anything fun to read, and write and laugh about for the better part of the last two weeks.

Could we do something less poultry-oriented this year? Phil Johnson That’s not American, is it?

they realize that the “old way” isn’t broke – its just filled with broken people. Jason Roberts at Fide-O Indeed, it is true. We all need to turn to the one unbroken man for mending.

Commenting on Phil Johnson’s Thanksgiving post: If only the Italians had landed on Plymouth Rock! We wouldn’t be eating flappy birds every Thanksgiving… Daniel at Doulogos

One thing that Cessationists and Continuationists must agree upon - there are very counterfeit versions of the gifting of tongues. Daniel at Doulogos Let’s hope that at least the honest ones do.

. . . pay attention in church on Sunday - God will speak to you if you let Him. Daniel at Doulogos

We should be far more concerned to see Christ kept in the Church and in professing Christians than we are to see what unbelieving institutions do with a holiday. Tom Ascoll at Founders Blog

But quirky is not heretical, which is, I guess, fortunate for me. Doug Wilson From the same post pastor Wilson concludes with this: As an amillennial Lutheran, I understand the need for patience. Don’t tease us, please.

This week I will be posting a series on what ‘Calvinism’ is not. . . . You might get thunk and need a ride home. Jeremy Weaver at Doxoblogy There will be a sobriety check as you exit your browser. Seriously, this should be a good set of posts. In fact before I posted this Doxoblogy posted his first installment concerning the radical corruption of man. In case you didn’t get it, I dislike the acronym TULIP.

Criticism is not hard to come by. Winston Churchill stated, “Criticism is easy; achievement is more difficult.” Jason Janz at SharperIron It would appear to me that if you don’t draw at least some criticism once in a while, you aren’t running a very good blog. All of the best ones seem to move fluidly from, lets see, what was that word I saw earlier? Oh yes, all of the best ones seem to move fluidly from one imbroglio to another, without even skipping a beat.

We had a drama at church today! Pastor Steve Weaver I wonder how many Baptist church’s get this kind of a drama on a regular basis. Read this post by pastor Weaver for an excellent accompaniment to any Lord’s Supper observance.

Faithful next relates his trip over the hill Difficult, first meeting Adam the first, and then Moses. One tries to enslave him, and the other tries to beat him to death, but in the end one comes to his rescue.

When I came to the foot of the hill called “Difficulty,” I met with a very aged man, . . . Then I asked him his name, and where he dwelt? He said his name was Adam the first; and that he dwelt in the town of Deceit. . . He told me that his work was many delights; and his wages, that I should be his heir at last. . . So he told me that his house was maintained with all the dainties in the world; and that his servants were those of his own begetting. . . . He said that he had but three daughters,–the lust of the flesh; the lust of the eyes; and the pride of life; . . . Then it came burning hot into my mind, whatever he said, and however he flattered, when he got me home to his house he would sell me for a slave.
As heirs of Adam: We are slaves of sin: Galatians 4:3; We are in bondage: Romans 6:6; We are spiritually dead: Ephesians 2:1-6;
his wages: Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death.
three daughters: 1 John 2:16 . . . not of the Father, but of the world.
sell me for a slave. John 8:34, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
1st Adam/2nd Adam: Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:42-50
. . . so soon as the man overtook me, he was but a word and a blow; for down he knocked me, and laid me for dead. But when I was a little come to myself again, I asked him wherefore he served me so? He said, because of my secret inclining to Adam the first; and with that he struck me another deadly blow on the breast, and beat me down backward, so I lay at his foot as dead as before. So when I came to myself again, I cried him mercy; but he said, “I know not how to show mercy,” and with that knocked me down again. He had doubtless made an end of me, but that one came by, and bade him forbear. . . . I did not know him at first; but as he went by, I perceived the holes in his hands and in his side; then I concluded that He was our Lord.
The man beating Christian is later identified as Moses, who represents the law given on Mt. Sinai, the Ten Commandments which require perfect obedience by the Law Giver. See Galatians 3:10
Christ our savior is the only One who can deliver us from the sin nature we have inherited from our federal head, Adam, and the only One who can fulfill the demands of God’s law.
The section continues by Faithful relating his encounter with Discontent and then Shame.
Yes, I met with one Discontent, who would willingly have persuaded me to go back with him; his reason was, for that the valley was altogether without honour. He told me moreover, that there to go was the way to disobey all my friends, as Pride, Arrogancy, Self-conceit, Worldly-glory, with others; who he knew, as he said, would be very much offended if I made such a fool of myself as to wade through this valley.
Contentment: 1 Timothy 6:6; Romans 11:33-36, . . . how unsearchable are his ways . . .The Cross is foolishness to the world: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
And I thought again, this Shame tells me what men are; but tells me nothing what God or the word of God is. And I thought moreover, that at the day of doom we shall not be doomed to death or life according to the blustering spirits of the world; but according to the wisdom and law of the highest. Therefore, thought I, what God says is best, indeed is best; though all the men in the world are against it. Seeing, then, that God prefers his religion; seeing God prefers a tender conscience; seeing they that make themselves fools for the kingdom of heaven are wisest; and that the poor man that loves Christ is richer than the greatest man in the world that hates him– SHAME, depart! thou art an enemy to my salvation!
Think God’s thoughts: Romans 12:1,2
Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed . . .
2 Timothy 2:12, . . . if we deny Him . . .
(to be continued)

A very fine piece on this topic by Daniel at Doulogos got me started on this topic. As icing on the cake, he also has a great graphic to compliment the post.

The issue of tongues and healing is not really all that hard. You separate the wheat from the chaff by “knowing them by their fruits.” We have been told in several places in the New Testament that counterfeits would abound. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1) I was looking at 1 Timothy 2 a bit ago, and it struck me, if all of us would make full use of the ordinary means of grace, we would be so equipped for service, and so busy, we wouldn’t have time to learn “tie my bowtie, tie my bowtie, tie my bowtie . . .ldiut hhvnv asldyt0 q9wnvn ,jghy pe9nn”

I guess the tongues and healing issues seem so obvious (to me) that I don’t worry much about them. I can conceive of situations, and have heard stories of missionaries, where those “gifts” advanced the gospel of saving grace, that it is genuine. I can see in those contexts where they build up the body, by saving lost souls into it. After all, what was the purpose of these gifts in the first-century church?

What worries me most is the whole issue of prophecy. Take, for instance, 1 Timothy 1:18, where Paul states that someone made some kind of a prophecy concerning Timothy and his calling as a pastor. All we hear about today is prophecies of impending disaster, or the return of our Lord (He even told us no man knows the day or the hour.), or “God told me to tell you to give me some money.” Now if someone were to say “God told me that you should become a missionary to Afghanistan.” How do you know, or how can you verify that God is really speaking to that individual. I understand the passage above in 1 John about testing the spirits; you have that Berean spirit and index everything with the Scriptures, but still, in this area, not every situation is so easy to discern.

Certainly we cannot put God in a box, and say He cannot do this or that. What we can do, under most instances, is tell when some huckster is trying to put God in a jack-in-the-box. All you have to do is look and see who is turning the crank.

Give Thanks to God for his bountiful blessings this Thanksgiving. Don’t just say a “special” prayer over the turkey. Take time this Thanksgiving to meditate on the way you live your life the rest of the year. Think of how you can express your gratitude to God for His constant watchful care over you each and every moment. Think about every breath you take (Psalm 104:29). Ponder where your food comes from (Psalm 104 14,15). Consider your strength and health (Psalm 41:3). Don’t forget your mind (Daniel 4:34) and soul (Romans 8:1-39. Are you a grumpy sort? Stop it! Do you complain alot? Why? Turn to God our Savior, and ponder all our blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior on this Thanksgiving holiday.
One way to give thanks is in song. The following hymn by Matthias Claudius (1740-1815) is one we don’t sing any more, though I don’t know why. I don’t know if it was ever among the hymns of the previous editions of the Baptist Hymnal. I learned it many years ago from the Presbyterian Trinity Hymnal. You can hear and sing along using the standard tune “Wir Pflügen,”by Johann A. P. Schulz (1747-1800, that accompanies this hymn (compliments of The Cyber Hymnal). Image compliments http://www.suffolkpunch.com/horses/mares.html

Doug Wilson: But then there is that other group, those with Calvinist brains and Pelagian hearts, who take credit for their understanding that they can’t take credit for anything. Good point. That makes all of a little bit Pelagian then, doesn’t it?
Doug Wilson: But to put it this way is really to invite confusion. So, what has stopped you in the past?

Dr. Albert Mohler: Dr. Rogers was a lion in our midst — the man God used to serve as leader and voice for a great resurgence of biblical Christianity. He was a man of tremendous gifts, whose booming voice was matched by a gift for words and a powerful delivery. He dominated the pulpit as few men ever have, preaching the Word and calling sinners to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He was a modern-day “Prince of Preachers” whose personal example served to encourage thousands of others to greater faithfulness in preaching the Word of God. We’ve all got warts, don’t we? At death is not the time to point them out, though. Dr. Mohler is one class act. God bless him.
Dr. Albert Mohler: “Are you Metrospiritual?” The title says it all you must read this one.

Feel free to leave comments.
After Christian catches up with Faithful he asks about their old home, the city of Destruction:
Chr. How long did you stay in the city of Destruction before you set out after me on your pilgrimage?
Faith. Till I could stay no longer; for there was great talk presently, after you were gone out, that our city would in short time, with fire from heaven, be burned down to the ground.
Chr. What! did your neighbours talk so?
Faith. Yes; ‘t was for awhile in everybody’s mouth.
Chr. What! and did no more of them but you come out to escape the danger?
Faith. Though there was, as I said, a great talk thereabout, yet I do not think they did firmly believe it.
Today many people do not believe in the wrath of God. This could be for any number of reasons, all connected with either a wrong view of the nature of God, or a wrong view of the corrupt nature of mankind. The Scriptures are replete with references to the wrath of God and the final judgment: Romans 2:5, Ephesians 5:6, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, and Revelation 6:16 are just a few.
Faith. [Pliable] hath, since his going back, been had greatly in derision, and that among all sorts of people: some do mock and despise him, and scarce will any set him on work. He is now seven times worse than if he had never gone out of the city.
Chr. But why should they be so set against him, since they also despise the way that he forsook?
Faith. “Oh,” they say, “hang him: he is a turncoat; he was not true to his profession!” I think God has stirred up even his enemies to hiss at him, and make him a proverb, because he hath forsaken the way.
It is interesting how the godless will mock and ridicule Christians, but sometimes they will treat the fresh apostate even worse. See counting the cost of discipleship at Luke 14:27-30.
Tell me now what you have met with in the way as you came; for I know you have met with some things, or else it may be writ for a wonder.
At this point Faithful begins to recount his experiences while on their journey. Here again we find the recurring theme of two brothers sharing experiences, and by so doing, encouraging one another. Faithful begins with his temptation to sexual sin, represented by the woman Wanton, and he describes how he resisted those temptations. Notice how he brings to mind scripture (Proverbs 5:5 and Job 31:1).

Catch part 2 of “Christian Meets Faithful” later this week as Faithful relates his encounter with Adam the First.

Podcast Review

Here’s the best in Christian audio on the internet for this past week.

• Renewing Your Mind continues to be at the top of my list when it comes to audio listening. Unfortunately, RYM continues to resist the prevailing direction of the future in online audio, namely podcasting. Right now, the free stuff is available strictly via audio streaming. I would be happy with a monthly subscription fee, just to be able to automatically download the radio broadcasts.
  In any case, this week on Renewing Your Mind has featured a great series by Dr. Sproul entitled Keeping in Step with the Spirit, which has concentrated on the practical means to growing in grace. To get a feel for the flow of this series here are the individual titles: Playing for keeps, Planning to Grow, and three lectures concerning the Obstacles of the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. All very practical stuff. And remember, even though you can’t download them as mp3’s, you can listen to the streaming audio online for 30 days from their original airing.
• Desiring God Radio, one of the newer podcasts that I have begun listening to also deals with a practical theme. John Piper began last Thursday on a series dealing with personal evangelism, using a booklet named Quest for Joy, designed after the pattern of the book on Christian hedonism, Desiring God, also by John Piper. Each episode is only 25 minutes long, but there is quite a bit packed in each one of those 25-minute packets.
• The Spurgeon guyhas thrown us a curve this week by publishing a sermon not by Spurgeon. Yes I know I need to get his name since this is the second time I have cited his podcast. In any event, what came down the pike this week was none other than Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, by Jonathan Edwards. If you have ever heard Max Mclean’s version, this is every bit as good, but distinctly different. This is a must get. You will want to keep this classic.
• Bulldogs and Piggies is the only true podcast on this list. By true, I mean as the term was first intended. This is not a spin off from an already existing radio program. There is no professional studio putting this out. There are no paid audio technicians, no slick announcers, no polished musical-backgrounded intros. There is just me introducing the sermons of my pastor preaching at my church. We are in 2 Timothy on Sunday mornings, and we are going through the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 on Wednesday evenings. We just finished a four-plus year journey through the Psalms last Sunday evening, and I am not sure where Pastor Harris is going next on Sunday evenings. You will just have to “tune in” to find out.

There you have it; four fine picks. Go back and catch what you missed this last week or so, and subscribe to them so you don’t miss another exciting episode.

Topic: The Pilgrim’s Progress

For some months now in the high-school Sunday-school young men’s class I teach, we have been reading through and discussing The Pilgrim’s Progress. When I began this venture (My wife is doing the same with the young ladies’ class.) I wasn’t sure how it would go. To my amazement, men and ladies alike took right to it. We all take turns reading, taking parts where the passages need that, and then discussing what we have read. They enjoy taking on the parts, and entering into the story. They are extremely attentive when you point out to them “This is your life as a Christian. This is your walk, your story.”
The following represents the last two weeks of class discussion. Later this week I plan to post this upcoming Sunday’s lesson, with subsequent lessons coming earlier each following week. If you are familiar with Pilgrim’s Progress or would like to read along, please feel free to leave comments or suggestions.

1. One valley followed another. Isn’t that just the way it is for the believer here on earth. In this life, peace and security doesn’t last long. More often than not one trouble follows on the heels of another. Pastor Rod has said many times, “The Christian life is one of either just coming out of trouble, getting ready to experience trouble, or being right in the middle of trouble.” The comforting truth as we will see later in this section is that God is going through this valley with us. He never leaves us or forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5).
2. Note that the valley is described as only the shadow of death. Often times what we see does not take into account the mighty hand of God. The dangers are real, to be sure. The smell of death is all around. But for the child of God it is only the shadow of death. Christ has won for us on the cross, victory over death and hell (1 Corinthians 15:57).
3. It is necessary for Christian to pass through this valley, because the way to the Celestial City passed through that valley. Even though we are the children of God, we must still pass through this valley. We still live in a fallen world. We still have the “old man” about us that we must put to death. The world, the flesh, and the devil still plague us.
4. At the beginning of this valley, Christian meets two men going back. Just as we have seen before in this story, here again is the picture of some who forsake the journey to the Celestial city. It is this way too, in our Christian journey that we will encounter men who have forsaken the Christian walk. (1 John 2:19) The parable of the sower also comes to mind (Matthew 13:3ff). Not all of the seed that came up survived. So too, not every professor is a possessor.
5. Notice also the report of the men when Christian ask them what they saw. Their first response is “pitch dark”, and then they proceed to describe all they have “seen”. If it were pitch dark, then they are only describing what their imaginations have seen. Though they be fearful accounts, Christian is not put off. He has set his eye on the goal, and he will press on.

1. The ditch on one side represents legalism. The blind have led the blind is a reference to Matthew 15:14, where Jesus speaks of the Pharisees, and their dead legalism, leading the nation of Israel into this same ditch.
2. The quagmire on the other side of the path represents the opposite extreme: lawlessness.
3. The section that follows further describes the narrowness and difficulty of the path that lies between these two ditches, and how hard it is not to swerve into one ditch while trying to avoid the other.

Christian’s reasons for gladness are the same reasons for our gladness. Just at this point, day breaks and the way becomes even more treacherous. This all bears to the point that God is with us in this journey, giving us light when we most need it, preventing us from slipping and falling down to utter destruction, and giving us each other to comfort and aid one another in this pilgrimage, as we will see in the next section.
(To be continued)

Dr. Adrian Rogers, went to be with the Lord yesterday. I made a passing comment about him on this weblog last Thursday, totally unaware of his illness. The remark was in reference to the voice of a man who has been recording Spurgeon sermons and making them available on the internet as podcasts. Here is my remark from that post:

In using Dr. Rogers as my example, I did not mean anything disrespectful. His name just happened to be the first well-known southern preacher that came to mind. I know that a Tennessee drawl is not the same as a Texas drawl, but you get the idea. I read about Dr. Roger’s passing at numerous sites yesterday, but a tribute by Dr. Albert Mohler on his weblog was by far the best. One comment in particular jumped out at me. It seemed to have been placed there just for me concerning my British-accent pun. Among many kind words and high praises, Dr. Mohler said:

. . . momma’l set your pants on fire.
Well, I was going to write on a serious subject, but something came up. My pastor called me yesterday afternoon about 4:30. To get the story straight let’s go back to Sunday night.
Pastor Rod and I talked Sunday night after church. Here’s pretty much how it went:

At that point the talk turned to other issues more serious. After a good discussion on a variety of issues, my wife and I decided to go home. I don’t think any more about it until 4:30 yesterday afternoon.

Okay, so now I get to live in mortal fear, for how long, who knows. The buggar, up there alone with no one to confirm or deny, to keep him reined in. How can I know where the truth ends and the fibbing begins. Only time will tell. Only this one thing. Pastor, if you read this, don’t make me come over there and get you. This could get ugly. You might want to check the podcasts for next week. You just might have one of those funny little chipmunk voices preaching a five-minute sermon. Who knows?
And to think, I was going to write something serious today. Maybe tomorrow, God willing, and the fire engine doesn’t pull up to my house later today.