Thursday, March 23, 2006
An Edward's quote regarding true and false religion...
". . .till we have learned well to distinguish between true and false religion, between saving affections and experiences, and those manifold fair shows, and glistering appearances, by which they are counterfeited; the consequences of which, when they are not distinguished, are often inexpressibly dreadful. By this means the devil gratifies himself, by bringing to pass, that that should be offered to God, by multitudes, under a notion of a pleasing acceptable service to him, that is indeed above all things abominable to him. By this means, he deceives great multitudes about the state of their souls; making them think they are something, when they are nothing; and so eternally undoes'em: and not only so, but establishes many, in a strong confidence of their eminent holiness, who are in God's sight, some of the vilest hypocrites. By this means, he many ways, damps and wounds religion in the hearts of saints, obscures and deforms it by corrupt mixtures, causes their religious affections woefully to degenerate, and sometimes for considerable time, to be like manna, that bred worms and stank . . . And by what is seen of the terrible consequences of this counterfeit religion, when not distinguished from true religion, God's people in general have their minds unhinged and unsettled, in things of religion, and know not where to set their foot, or what to think or do; and many are brought into doubts, whether there be anything at all in religion; and heresy, and infidelity, and atheism greatly prevail." Jonathan Edwards, preface to Religious Affections, 1746
The Reality of Satan and the Fall of Man
The title is important. The reality of satan’s existence is a powerful fact in the Garden. The fact of satan’s reality in the garden seems ample enough argument for believing his lie. Think of it in terms of this, here is one who is openly defying the Lord God and yet is still alive. This is a powerful reality. And this fact brings to question the validity of God’s statement. Several things begin to be in question, “how can God allow such a being to continue in existence?" With energy, cunning and vitality he challenges the very rule and the very interpretation of that law which demands death for disobedience and yet this serpent lives. How can this be?
Perhaps if such defiance does not result in death then neither would defiance against eating of this fruit. Again, the argument is compelling and strengthening.
Only if God is not believed to be as He has so far appeared to be, i.e. the Sovereign God of all creation and from whom obedience is demanded, can this be so. Existence, which derives from God, becomes part of the argument against God. Satan is alive and well. He is real and he exists. The facts seem to mitigate against God’s sovereign rule in the universe. Things do not appear to be as obedient to Him as He claims they ought to be. The dragon asks, “Who is He to make such demands?” (which questions God’s character) He has not stopped this being from open defiance. (which questions God’s power). This being gives me choice in the matter. (which questions the sovereign rule and legitimacy of obedience to God).
That which is seen becomes more convincing than what is unseen. Where is the omni-present God? It is not merely the silence of Adam which is compelling but most certainly the silence of God. The lusts of the eyes (the fruit is appealing and the existence of very real opposition to God) the pride of life (i exist and no one stops me in my choice, I decide whether God is a liar and a lie) and the lust of the flesh (what I can see, feel, taste, touch; that which is sensate is ultimate reality and the definer of what is true).
We repeat these things daily.
Perhaps if such defiance does not result in death then neither would defiance against eating of this fruit. Again, the argument is compelling and strengthening.
Only if God is not believed to be as He has so far appeared to be, i.e. the Sovereign God of all creation and from whom obedience is demanded, can this be so. Existence, which derives from God, becomes part of the argument against God. Satan is alive and well. He is real and he exists. The facts seem to mitigate against God’s sovereign rule in the universe. Things do not appear to be as obedient to Him as He claims they ought to be. The dragon asks, “Who is He to make such demands?” (which questions God’s character) He has not stopped this being from open defiance. (which questions God’s power). This being gives me choice in the matter. (which questions the sovereign rule and legitimacy of obedience to God).
That which is seen becomes more convincing than what is unseen. Where is the omni-present God? It is not merely the silence of Adam which is compelling but most certainly the silence of God. The lusts of the eyes (the fruit is appealing and the existence of very real opposition to God) the pride of life (i exist and no one stops me in my choice, I decide whether God is a liar and a lie) and the lust of the flesh (what I can see, feel, taste, touch; that which is sensate is ultimate reality and the definer of what is true).
We repeat these things daily.
He's got a gun...
I love my wife. She is wonderful. I am blessed. I read Proverbs 18:22 tonight and wow, it is so true. I have been favored of God to be blessed with her as my body and soul mate. These past two days I think I have told her at least 300 times, "I Love You!" I thank God for giving me a heart to love like this.
I love my son. He is five years old. Today we played hide and seek in the park. He covered his eyes and began counting. I ran behind a tree directly behind the bench he was leaning over to count. I waited, hoping he would not notice me and he didn't. I watched him turn in the opposite direction. He began walking with his fingers pointing like a pretend pistol. He edged close to each tree, inspecting slowly, no doubt prepared to engage in close quarter combat. I suppressed laughter as I watched him. As he continued to other trees I could see as he looked around a look of concern. He was talking to himself, pointing "with frightful seriousness his little finger". In some sense I was testing him, letting him feel alone-ness in the wood. I didn't want to scare him . Yet, I wanted to see what sort of response he would give to the situation. His confidence and seriousness were inspiring. He continued on to each tree with utter intensity, full of hope that this tree would be the tree which hid his father. I loved the fact that he wanted to find me. I watched his smile. He was thoroughly enjoying himself, but I was noticing that his frustration at not finding me. And the concern on his face was beginning to show more. So, I crept very quietly until, SNAP!, a twig broke. He wheeled around, pistol-finger pointing, squeeling with laughter and shouted, "Daddy! I got you!"
It was a wonderful time.
God is good.
I love my son. He is five years old. Today we played hide and seek in the park. He covered his eyes and began counting. I ran behind a tree directly behind the bench he was leaning over to count. I waited, hoping he would not notice me and he didn't. I watched him turn in the opposite direction. He began walking with his fingers pointing like a pretend pistol. He edged close to each tree, inspecting slowly, no doubt prepared to engage in close quarter combat. I suppressed laughter as I watched him. As he continued to other trees I could see as he looked around a look of concern. He was talking to himself, pointing "with frightful seriousness his little finger". In some sense I was testing him, letting him feel alone-ness in the wood. I didn't want to scare him . Yet, I wanted to see what sort of response he would give to the situation. His confidence and seriousness were inspiring. He continued on to each tree with utter intensity, full of hope that this tree would be the tree which hid his father. I loved the fact that he wanted to find me. I watched his smile. He was thoroughly enjoying himself, but I was noticing that his frustration at not finding me. And the concern on his face was beginning to show more. So, I crept very quietly until, SNAP!, a twig broke. He wheeled around, pistol-finger pointing, squeeling with laughter and shouted, "Daddy! I got you!"
It was a wonderful time.
God is good.
A wonderful Baxter quote
This is a wonderful quote from the voluminous Puritan Richard Baxter. This is from his work Saint's Everlasting Rest.
"What weight and worth is there in every passage of the blessed Gospel! enough, one would think, to enter and pierce the dullest soul, and wholly possess its thoughts and affections; and yet how oft does it fall as water upon a stone! The things of God which we handle, are divine; but our manner of handling is human. There is little we touch, but we leave the print of our fingers behind. If God speaks the word himself, it will be a piercing, melting word indeed. The Christian now knows, by experience, that his most immediate joys are his sweetest joys; which have least of man, and are most directly from the Spirit. Christians who are much in secret prayer and contemplation, are men of greatest life and joy; because they have all more immediately from God himself. Not that we should cast off hearing, reading, and conference, or neglect any ordinance of God; but to live above them while we use them, is the way of a Christian. There is joy in these remote receivings; but the fulness of joy is in God’s immediate presence. We shall then have light without a candle, and perpetual day without the sun for “the city has no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it; for the glory of God lightens it, and the Lamb is the light thereof; there shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; and they shall reign for ever and ever.”"
You can also read the entire book online at Christian Classics Ethereal Library:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/baxter/saints_rest.pdf
"What weight and worth is there in every passage of the blessed Gospel! enough, one would think, to enter and pierce the dullest soul, and wholly possess its thoughts and affections; and yet how oft does it fall as water upon a stone! The things of God which we handle, are divine; but our manner of handling is human. There is little we touch, but we leave the print of our fingers behind. If God speaks the word himself, it will be a piercing, melting word indeed. The Christian now knows, by experience, that his most immediate joys are his sweetest joys; which have least of man, and are most directly from the Spirit. Christians who are much in secret prayer and contemplation, are men of greatest life and joy; because they have all more immediately from God himself. Not that we should cast off hearing, reading, and conference, or neglect any ordinance of God; but to live above them while we use them, is the way of a Christian. There is joy in these remote receivings; but the fulness of joy is in God’s immediate presence. We shall then have light without a candle, and perpetual day without the sun for “the city has no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it; for the glory of God lightens it, and the Lamb is the light thereof; there shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; and they shall reign for ever and ever.”"
You can also read the entire book online at Christian Classics Ethereal Library:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/baxter/saints_rest.pdf
up on a roof...
(I am posting old blogs from a previous blogsite, which i no longer use, because it has adds which make a man fall....otherwise the posts here, I think, may be worth keeping and sharing.)
I was sitting on a roof recently and was watching the clouds, large and majestic moved by the wind. The sun seemed to fight for attention and place in the sky, but in its efforts only added to the colorful movements of billowing waves of air and water.
These words came quickly and nearly left and changed as the clouds I was watching:
These words came quickly and nearly left and changed as the clouds I was watching:
The clouds are answering
the call of God
to take flight and move
They are gathering where He bids them be
In Him
they move
and have
their being
Before our eyes
a watching world
sees the purposes of God
blindly
And we do not interpret
rightly
the call of God
to take flight and move
They are gathering where He bids them be
In Him
they move
and have
their being
Before our eyes
a watching world
sees the purposes of God
blindly
And we do not interpret
rightly
On preaching sin and grace to sinners like myself...
Some of my greatest effect/affect on others regarding sin and grace is when and because of God's deepest dealings in my own soul. As the Holy Spirit opens to me the lies of my own heart, the underlying lustings of my motives and the consequences of my own words and actions and thoughts, then and most only then am I able to aim with masterful accuracy that lethal grace which intends to nullify the effects of and kill the life of sin in myself and others.
Others must feel in my speaking and preaching and living that I truly do know where sin hides and they must feel within themselves sin, itself, that evil principle, rise up with horror as God's truth comes through the windows of the eyes and the side-doors of the ears. Their souls must either anguish as they struggle to find new places within themselves to hide their sin or they must rather rejoice and triumph as their sin, which once was hiding insides themselves is found out, cast out and given a public execution.
Others must feel in my speaking and preaching and living that I truly do know where sin hides and they must feel within themselves sin, itself, that evil principle, rise up with horror as God's truth comes through the windows of the eyes and the side-doors of the ears. Their souls must either anguish as they struggle to find new places within themselves to hide their sin or they must rather rejoice and triumph as their sin, which once was hiding insides themselves is found out, cast out and given a public execution.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Television
Here is a recent article I read:
Channel 23
By: Michael Pearl
A modern Psalm taken from “The New International Unchristian Perversion.”
“The TV is my shepherd, I shall not want anything else. It maketh me to lie down on the sofa. It leadeth me away from the Scripture. It destroys my soul. It leadeth me in the paths of sex and violence for the sponsors sake, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will enjoy the evil, for blood and sex they excite me. It’s cable and remote they comfort me. It prepares a commercial before me in the presence of my children. It anoints my head with humanism, My coveting runneth over. Surely laziness and ignorance shall follow my family all the days of our lives, and we shall dwell in the house watching TV forever.”
But don’t worry parents, as you know the TV doesn’t have any influence on the children of parents who don’t want it to influence them. That’s why the sponsors only advertise products you have already decided to buy.
Channel 23
By: Michael Pearl
A modern Psalm taken from “The New International Unchristian Perversion.”
“The TV is my shepherd, I shall not want anything else. It maketh me to lie down on the sofa. It leadeth me away from the Scripture. It destroys my soul. It leadeth me in the paths of sex and violence for the sponsors sake, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will enjoy the evil, for blood and sex they excite me. It’s cable and remote they comfort me. It prepares a commercial before me in the presence of my children. It anoints my head with humanism, My coveting runneth over. Surely laziness and ignorance shall follow my family all the days of our lives, and we shall dwell in the house watching TV forever.”
But don’t worry parents, as you know the TV doesn’t have any influence on the children of parents who don’t want it to influence them. That’s why the sponsors only advertise products you have already decided to buy.
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