David Gordon answers the question by stating "the media have shaped the messengers."
This book was well written, and frankly it shook me up. Gordon's analysis of culture and its affect on preaching/preachers is penetrating, and perceptive. This is a book that I would recommend to anyone who is looking to go to seminary. I would recommend this to someone who is a student of the word as well.
The book itself is divided into 5 chapters. Gordon says the preaching today is particularly bad and writes three chapters to describe why it's bad and one chapter that summarizes and offers suggestions to cure the problem. Gordon says Johnny can't preach, because Johnny can't read literature, Johnny can't write, and Johnny has forgotten the purpose of the pulpit. Gordon suggests that seminary students, preachers and the like read poetry and ancient literature, write hand written letters and prayers, and remember to keep Christ and the message of the cross central in preaching. Developing these sensibilities, Gordon says, will only help Johnny's preaching.
But more than anything, I think I found one of Gordon's last paragraphs most interesting.
"Before (or during, or after) seminary, the ministerial candidate can and should make efforts to cultivate the sensibilities requisite to preaching well. Perhaps the most straightforward way to do this is to follow the late James Montgomery Boice's example. When Boice left Stony Brook, Frank Gaebelein directed him to harvard university to pursue a degree in English literature. It is no surprise, therefore, that one of the late twentieth century's most natural an dcompetent expository preachers was Jim Boice. His pre-divinity training cultivated careful attentiveness to texts; he was a close, careful reader of texts long before he began his study of Greek, Hebrew, homiletics, or systematic theology."
Now this quote may not seem like anything too exciting, but as soon as I give you a little background information, it might. When God saved me over two years ago, I knew that everything would be different and everything in my life must change. I wanted to go into ministry, and had this idea that's where I'd end up. Since then, I've been told by several people that one of my spiritual gifts is teaching. As soon as I was saved, I changed my degree from business to english. I didn't necessarily know why at the time, only except, I had this idea that I might as well learn how to speak properly if I'm going into a ministry where communication is central. Ever since that time I've approached my major with this attitude: "The only reason I'm in school is to get my bachelor's degree so that I might go to seminary." God's providential workings are profoundly mysterious. I'm not positive I'll be going to seminary. I'm not positive what God's plans are for me. But from all I've been told, and what I have placed on my heart, it seems seminary is highly probable. It seems to me that my english major isn't worthless after all. It seems to me that God is behind it.
Time will tell.
3/29/2009
3/26/2009
So... a tat?
(Click the images to get the full picture)
So, one thing led to another the other evening. This is my tattoo idea. I think it's hilarious.
The tattoo would be on my right side most likely, around the ribs I imagine. Here's the idea.
The idea isn't entirely mine, so I cannot take credit for it's greatness. Billy and Day are the center of most of the inspiration. But sometimes you just need to make an idea your own.
Something like this would be put on my right side
Now, that right there alone looks pretty funny and pretty serious at the same time. If that was all I did, it'd still be down right hilarious. The check marks are an excellent touch.
These five Solas of the reformation would actually be put on something like this.
My skin color would actually probably be the color of the parchment. There would only be a darker outline to let people know that is indeed parchment.
Now here is where the tattoo gets that much more fun.
Martin Luther would be peeking over the the top of the parchment, Giving a thumbs up. He'd have exaggerated cartoony features. His left hand would probably be holding the top of the parchment and his right would be giving a thumbs up.
Here is what He looks like.
And here is kind of an idea of what kind of cartoony thumbs up I'm going for.
I think it'd be a good idea to have Luther's head be a bit bigger than his body. Just an idea. Finally to cap off the piece, two other famous fellows would be underneath the parchment kind of standing back to back, also giving a thumbs up.
John Calvin!
John Calvin would look like John Calvin. He'd be skinny, old, and scrawny. He'd be decked in full robes and unlike Luther, His whole figure would be revealed under the parchment rather than just half of it sticking out like luther would be.
The next fellow is none other than Charles Spurgeon!
Spurgeon would be full of life, and well round... it'd be a nice contrast to calvin.
I think it's also very appropriate to note that each figure (luther, calvin, and spurgeon) would have a very satisfying smirk of sorts on their faces. Spurgeon and calvin would be back to back giving a thumbs up as well.
For some reason, this idea reminds me of those mentos commercials where they hold out the mentos with that big smile on their face at the end of the commercial. Check it out-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwDKCaXF0is&feature=related
That is my idea. Grand right?
So, one thing led to another the other evening. This is my tattoo idea. I think it's hilarious.
The tattoo would be on my right side most likely, around the ribs I imagine. Here's the idea.
The idea isn't entirely mine, so I cannot take credit for it's greatness. Billy and Day are the center of most of the inspiration. But sometimes you just need to make an idea your own.
Something like this would be put on my right side
Now, that right there alone looks pretty funny and pretty serious at the same time. If that was all I did, it'd still be down right hilarious. The check marks are an excellent touch.
These five Solas of the reformation would actually be put on something like this.
My skin color would actually probably be the color of the parchment. There would only be a darker outline to let people know that is indeed parchment.
Now here is where the tattoo gets that much more fun.
Martin Luther would be peeking over the the top of the parchment, Giving a thumbs up. He'd have exaggerated cartoony features. His left hand would probably be holding the top of the parchment and his right would be giving a thumbs up.
Here is what He looks like.
And here is kind of an idea of what kind of cartoony thumbs up I'm going for.
I think it'd be a good idea to have Luther's head be a bit bigger than his body. Just an idea. Finally to cap off the piece, two other famous fellows would be underneath the parchment kind of standing back to back, also giving a thumbs up.John Calvin!
John Calvin would look like John Calvin. He'd be skinny, old, and scrawny. He'd be decked in full robes and unlike Luther, His whole figure would be revealed under the parchment rather than just half of it sticking out like luther would be.
The next fellow is none other than Charles Spurgeon!
Spurgeon would be full of life, and well round... it'd be a nice contrast to calvin.
I think it's also very appropriate to note that each figure (luther, calvin, and spurgeon) would have a very satisfying smirk of sorts on their faces. Spurgeon and calvin would be back to back giving a thumbs up as well.
For some reason, this idea reminds me of those mentos commercials where they hold out the mentos with that big smile on their face at the end of the commercial. Check it out-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwDKCaXF0is&feature=related
That is my idea. Grand right?
3/24/2009
John Bunyan
John Bunyan is one of the two people I know of that knows exactly what my spiritual struggles are like. Even though he is dead, his words still speak volumes to me. It is good to know I am not alone. I am thankful that even though he is gone and with the Lord, John Bunyan would understand exactly what I'm going through and exactly what it is I go through. Here is the summary of his autobiography. These things describe my experiences probably better than I could myself.
"Of all the temptations that ever I met with in my life, to question the being of God and truth of his Gospel is the worst, and the worst to be borne. When this temptatoni comes, it takes away my girdle from me, and removes the foundation from under me. OH! I have often thought of that word, "Have your loins girt about you with truth": and of that, "When the foundation is destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (eph 6:14, Psalms 11:3)
Sometimes when, after sin committed, I have looked for sore chastisement from the hand of God, the very next that I have had from him has been the discover of his grace. Sometimes, when I have been comfroted, I have called myself a fool for my so sinking under trouble. And then again, when I have been cast down, I thought I was not wise to give such way to comfort; with such strength and weight have both these been upon me.
I have wondered much at this one thing, that though God does visit my soul with never so blessed a discovery of himself, yet I have found again that such hours have attended me afterwards, that I have been in my spirits so filled with darkness, that I could not so much as once conceive what that God and that comfort was with which I have (had) been refreshed.
I have sometimes seen more in a line of the bible than I could well tell how to stand under; and yet at another time the whole bible has been to me as a dry stick; or rather my heart has been so dead and dry unto it that I culd not conceive the least dram of refreshment, though I have looked it all over.
Of all fear they are best that are made by the blood of Christ; and of all joy that is the sweetest that is mixed with mourning over Christ. Oh! it is a good thing to be on our knees with Christ in our arms befor God: I hope I know something of these things.
I find to this day seven abominations in my heart.
1. Inclining to unbelief.
2. Suddenly to forget the love and mercy that Christ manifests
3. A leaning to the works of the law
4. Wanderings and coldness in prayer
5. To forget to watch for that I pray for
6. Apt to murmur because I have no more, and yet ready to abuse what I have.
7. I can do none of these things which God commands me, but my corruptions will thrust in themselves. "When I do good, evil is present with me," Romans 7:21
These things I continually see and feel, and am afflicted and oppressed with, yet the wisdom of God does order them for my good.
1. They make me abhor myself.
2. They keep me from trusting my heart
3. The convince me of the insufficiency of all inherent righteousness
4. They show me the necessity of flying to Jesus
5. They press me to pray to God
6. The show me the need I have to watch and be sober
7. And they provoke me to pray to God through Christ, to help me and carry me through this world."
That is me over and over again. I don't think there is anyone on this earth that could describe me better than this man has described himself. Perhaps this is the life of every christian. Maybe I'm not as alone as I think. Either way, Thank you God for giving us the writings of John Bunyan.
"Of all the temptations that ever I met with in my life, to question the being of God and truth of his Gospel is the worst, and the worst to be borne. When this temptatoni comes, it takes away my girdle from me, and removes the foundation from under me. OH! I have often thought of that word, "Have your loins girt about you with truth": and of that, "When the foundation is destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (eph 6:14, Psalms 11:3)
Sometimes when, after sin committed, I have looked for sore chastisement from the hand of God, the very next that I have had from him has been the discover of his grace. Sometimes, when I have been comfroted, I have called myself a fool for my so sinking under trouble. And then again, when I have been cast down, I thought I was not wise to give such way to comfort; with such strength and weight have both these been upon me.
I have wondered much at this one thing, that though God does visit my soul with never so blessed a discovery of himself, yet I have found again that such hours have attended me afterwards, that I have been in my spirits so filled with darkness, that I could not so much as once conceive what that God and that comfort was with which I have (had) been refreshed.
I have sometimes seen more in a line of the bible than I could well tell how to stand under; and yet at another time the whole bible has been to me as a dry stick; or rather my heart has been so dead and dry unto it that I culd not conceive the least dram of refreshment, though I have looked it all over.
Of all fear they are best that are made by the blood of Christ; and of all joy that is the sweetest that is mixed with mourning over Christ. Oh! it is a good thing to be on our knees with Christ in our arms befor God: I hope I know something of these things.
I find to this day seven abominations in my heart.
1. Inclining to unbelief.
2. Suddenly to forget the love and mercy that Christ manifests
3. A leaning to the works of the law
4. Wanderings and coldness in prayer
5. To forget to watch for that I pray for
6. Apt to murmur because I have no more, and yet ready to abuse what I have.
7. I can do none of these things which God commands me, but my corruptions will thrust in themselves. "When I do good, evil is present with me," Romans 7:21
These things I continually see and feel, and am afflicted and oppressed with, yet the wisdom of God does order them for my good.
1. They make me abhor myself.
2. They keep me from trusting my heart
3. The convince me of the insufficiency of all inherent righteousness
4. They show me the necessity of flying to Jesus
5. They press me to pray to God
6. The show me the need I have to watch and be sober
7. And they provoke me to pray to God through Christ, to help me and carry me through this world."
That is me over and over again. I don't think there is anyone on this earth that could describe me better than this man has described himself. Perhaps this is the life of every christian. Maybe I'm not as alone as I think. Either way, Thank you God for giving us the writings of John Bunyan.
3/13/2009
3/05/2009
Ton o'bricks
I feel like I've been hit with a ton of bricks recently, and I'll explain why. I'm totally getting flattened by the Lord and the desire to pour myself out like a drink offering is growing. My primary concern and passion right now is understanding the culture we live in, and reforming.
Post-modernism has destroyed effectiveness of church words, which has undermined the truth of the ages. Evangelicals are to blame. I'm to blame. The words Sin, Atonement, Holiness- so on and so forth mean nothing to the post modern world because evangelicals like myself have lost our backbone. Instead of reforming, we've conformed. We've lost fervor for theology and with it, important words have lost their meaning. This isn't because the truth behind the words all of sudden stopped being true. I'm convinced it's only because the truth behind the words has stopped being talked about in detail. If people only hear they're sinners- without any explaining the fact, without any talk of God's righteousness, without any mention of God's purity and good law/perfect standard- they're going to think you're a fool. If people are told they are evil, they are going to gasp that you'd call them such a thing and say that is a word reserved for Hitler. Have we forgotten what Christ said on the sermon on the mount?
"You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court."But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell."
Practically speaking, we're all murderers! We're all adulterers- for if you look at someone lustfully you've committed adultery with them! Just because a sin does not manifest itself physically does not mean that it hasn't manifested itself in the heart.
James is a book that is being studied in detail in this day and age. That's great. It's the word of God. This is what James says about the subject matter-
"But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death."
The moment you have a sinful thought- for example "Hey, I really hate that guy, I wanna punch Him in the face" whether or not that sin is accomplished, that sin has still be conceived. That means in my heart, I'm murdering people all the time!
I'm not going to jump on the bash the church train. I don't want to do that. What I want to do is call evangelicals to a place of reforming. I want to pour out my life to understanding this culture- understanding post modernism, so that I can effectively address this culture with the truth of the ages. The truth has not changed. Just because culture has "changed" does not mean truth has as well. And really, I would venture to say we haven't changed at all. Satan- remember, Satan actually exists. Satan, the great deceiver has a really good way of using the same old tricks in different candy wrappers. The wrapper may look different than the one used before, but when you open it up, you'll find the same old candy bar.
This post is fragmented, and I'm only at the beginning of my understanding, but I know that I must do something about it and will not stand aside waiting for someone else to pave the road before me to make things easier (even though many already have).
People are still "sinful" even if they're convinced they're not, or have no understanding of the word. God is still Holy and Righteous and Just. People Still need a Savior. Jesus is still risen and living and His sacrifice is still effective. These things have not changed.
And perhaps that's the offense of the gospel. People don't want to hear they NEED a Savior. Moderns didn't. Pre-moderns didn't. Post moderns don't.
Lord Help me be faithful to your cause. Without your help, I will fail. I will fall. I will go down in a ball of flames, and remain only a zealous hypocrite. I'm just a weakling who cares about your Name and Fame, and I want people to know you.
Post-modernism has destroyed effectiveness of church words, which has undermined the truth of the ages. Evangelicals are to blame. I'm to blame. The words Sin, Atonement, Holiness- so on and so forth mean nothing to the post modern world because evangelicals like myself have lost our backbone. Instead of reforming, we've conformed. We've lost fervor for theology and with it, important words have lost their meaning. This isn't because the truth behind the words all of sudden stopped being true. I'm convinced it's only because the truth behind the words has stopped being talked about in detail. If people only hear they're sinners- without any explaining the fact, without any talk of God's righteousness, without any mention of God's purity and good law/perfect standard- they're going to think you're a fool. If people are told they are evil, they are going to gasp that you'd call them such a thing and say that is a word reserved for Hitler. Have we forgotten what Christ said on the sermon on the mount?
"You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court."But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell."
Practically speaking, we're all murderers! We're all adulterers- for if you look at someone lustfully you've committed adultery with them! Just because a sin does not manifest itself physically does not mean that it hasn't manifested itself in the heart.
James is a book that is being studied in detail in this day and age. That's great. It's the word of God. This is what James says about the subject matter-
"But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death."
The moment you have a sinful thought- for example "Hey, I really hate that guy, I wanna punch Him in the face" whether or not that sin is accomplished, that sin has still be conceived. That means in my heart, I'm murdering people all the time!
I'm not going to jump on the bash the church train. I don't want to do that. What I want to do is call evangelicals to a place of reforming. I want to pour out my life to understanding this culture- understanding post modernism, so that I can effectively address this culture with the truth of the ages. The truth has not changed. Just because culture has "changed" does not mean truth has as well. And really, I would venture to say we haven't changed at all. Satan- remember, Satan actually exists. Satan, the great deceiver has a really good way of using the same old tricks in different candy wrappers. The wrapper may look different than the one used before, but when you open it up, you'll find the same old candy bar.
This post is fragmented, and I'm only at the beginning of my understanding, but I know that I must do something about it and will not stand aside waiting for someone else to pave the road before me to make things easier (even though many already have).
People are still "sinful" even if they're convinced they're not, or have no understanding of the word. God is still Holy and Righteous and Just. People Still need a Savior. Jesus is still risen and living and His sacrifice is still effective. These things have not changed.
And perhaps that's the offense of the gospel. People don't want to hear they NEED a Savior. Moderns didn't. Pre-moderns didn't. Post moderns don't.
Lord Help me be faithful to your cause. Without your help, I will fail. I will fall. I will go down in a ball of flames, and remain only a zealous hypocrite. I'm just a weakling who cares about your Name and Fame, and I want people to know you.
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