The Problem with Pietism

It commends a half-religion, which is another name for idolatry and paganism
The big problem with pietism is simply that it is only a half-faith. It tries to receive God's promises as from the Almighty, and yet it does not receive God's commands as from the Almighty.

So pietism is a half-faith in a half-God that leads to a half-Christian life. The problem with that is that the Bible tells us that half-faith is false religion, and that a half-God is actually and idolatrous caricature and not the true and living God, and half-obedience is disobedience.

It contradicts the most basic Scriptural teaching about the Christian life
When we learn that 1Cor 10:31 intentionally uses the most mundane things--eating and drinking--to instruct us in what the divinely blessed life is, then we are prepared to brush teeth, sweep floors, and yes proclaim the gospel and sing praise... all to the glory of God.

It contradicts the most basic elements of what we confess Scripture to teach
Our catechism's first question and answer encapsulate this well: the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. This is not just our "primary purpose" as some contemporary wordings have tried to say it. It is the "controlling purpose"--the chief that commands the purpose--in absolutely everything that we do.

So, God has not given us a single thing to do, except that it must be done unto His glory. And, God has not given us a single thing to do, except that we must do it in enjoyment of Him.

It confuses poor theology students into downplaying the importance of exercises of piety
Now, please be cautious. Do not throw out biblical piety--and a strong devotion to the exercises of piety--as you reject an unbiblical pietism. There is hardly anything that God commands more than the exercises of piety. The first four commandments--and especially the first and the fourth--strongly stress this piety.

Communion with God continually and daily and weekly, in the assembly and family and privately, are everywhere commanded in the Bible. If these are not the life-breath of our existence, and the hinges upon which our days and weeks and lives turn, then we shall not be pious in any activity whatsoever.

On Reconstructing Antinomianism

An Accusation and a Response

Over at the "gospel" coalition, Tullian Tchividjian has written an article called "Deconstructing Moralism." It is the latest salvo in a series of attacks that basically communicate that those who preach the law just don't get grace. This is an astounding accusation, and you can read my comment on that blog post to see my response to it.

Confusing Rhetoric, with Real-Life Consequences

Having responded there to that accusation, I hope to borrow your eyes and mind for a few moments to consider the danger of the theology behind the accusation. I know of at least two truly converted believers who came under such preaching and learned to call themselves "legalists" and tried to "repent" of loving God's law, thinking much about it, or trying hard to keep it. One of them has escaped. The other continues under that preaching and is sadly confused. This is one of the reasons why the Bible pronounces woe upon them who say that what is good is really evil.

A Question of Trusting God

May the Lord grant to us to trust that His law is good, just as is His gospel, and that He uses both.

The law cannot save, and it cannot power sanctification. But it is a false pragmatism to say that since it can do neither of these things, we should be careful not to give it much place in our preaching. God certainly gives it much place in His Word!

Demonstrating that Trusting Our Own Wisdom Doesn't Work

A little reflection will demonstrate that it is pragmatically suicidal to try to preach only gospel and not law:

One of the main problems with the new antinomianism is that genuinely converted Christians don't to know what to do with themselves under such preaching. They hear from the pulpit that thinking upon the law is useless or even dangerous, and that we should just trust that thinking upon the gospel will accomplish everything by itself.

But they find that it is true that it is no longer they who live but Christ who lives in them, and that this Christ, who now lives in them, loves the law--loves to keep it. He loves to exert Himself (and to exert ourselves as His own body) in keeping it. He loves to meditate upon it. He wrote Psalm 119, and He meant it. And now He has written it on believers' hearts.

And of course, the truly unconverted person cannot repent and believe for salvation, if he knows not from what he is repenting, or from what to be saved by believing.

The Conclusion: May God Grant to His Servants to Trust Him and to Preach His Whole Word

So, neither the truly unconverted person nor the truly converted person is really served well by law-less preaching. God's law is marvelously designed to address both. Without the gospel, it can serve neither very well.

But without the law, neither can the gospel.

Let us trust God, when He says that the law is good (night just right, but good).

O for grace to trust Him more!

Evening Worship and Why I Like It by Ken Pierce

Ever since I was a child, I have enjoyed evening worship. Part of this is nostalgia, but this does not render it any less significant. Journeys with my father to old Fourth Reformed in Grand Rapids perhaps stopping in to see my grandparents briefly before the "long" 20 minute ride home, conversations less important for their content than the fact they happened. Later in life, the sonorous Bronx accent of Charles W. Krahe, so striking to Midwestern ears, on the Seventh Reformed broadcast on the car radio on treks back to Hillsdale College after weekends at home.

Then, the delight of listening to John R. de Witt at the grand, long, full evening services at Seventh Reformed when I was privileged to serve under him: multiple weeks on the story of Blind Bartimaeus by the roadside begging, expositions of Genesis, chapter by chapter, and the singing of sturdy, old hymns.

In our present context, an informal setting, sometimes with heart-stirring spontaneous prayer, different hymn tunes and instruments than the morning, and folks lingering a good while afterwards in fine Christian fellowship and the cords of love.

I have pleasant associations with evening worship. Yet, that is not the only reason I like evening worship. I would greatly miss it if I served a church that did not worship, whether together, or in small groups in homes, on Sunday evenings.

1.) As many have noted, a Sunday without evening worship can, and often does, become the Lord's hour, not the Lord's Day. I notice this when I travel and stay with family. Our Sabbath evening ritual gives a nice balance to the day, keeps Christ in view, and prepares us for the week ahead.

2.) Evening worship has a different feel and flavor. Even if the format of worship is the same, the timbre of it has always differed at night. I have noticed this from my youth, to my days in seminary at First Presbyterian here, in Virginia, and our evening services at Trinity. Sunday morning has a majestic, rousing feel, and Sunday evenings have a softer, intimate feel.

3.) Compared to our ancestors, we sit under a paltry amount of preaching. Sermons have grown shorter and shorter, and services fewer and fewer. Most churches no longer have midweek prayer and preaching services (we don't either, though I often wish we did). Evening worship gives us another opportunity to hear from God.

I hope no-one will take this as necessarily an indictment against not having evening worship. It is more a plea for an old way that has fallen off in many quarters, and which I, for one, am sad to see go.

Is Keeping The Fourth Commandment That Serious?

We are commanded to keep the Sabbath Day holy.  But how serious is it if we don't keep the commandment?  Numbers 15: 32-36 says, 

"Now while the sons of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering wood on the sabbath day. Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation; and they put him in custody because it had not been declared what should be done to him. Then the LORD said to Moses, 'The man shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.' So all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, just as the LORD had commanded Moses."

Open Letter To Tim Tebow

The following is a letter from a friend to Tim Tebow.  The original posting of this can be found here at the author's blog. 

In light of the upcoming NFL draft in which much debate has been given on where Tim Tebow should be drafted and what position he should play in the league, I have decided to write an open letter to Tim Tebow offering another option for his future.

Dear Tim Tebow,

Much has been made in recent weeks of what your potential future may hold. I am sure you have had your fill from men far more knowledgeable than myself in regards to what team is going to draft you, in what round, what kind of quarterback you will be, and even if you should play the position of quarterback at all. As a football fan, I would be remiss to say that I haven’t considered my own opinions in answer to those questions, however, none of that is my reason for writing today. Instead, I am writing to encourage you of another option for your future and that is to disregard football completely and instead continue to live your life for the glory of God.

I am asking you to consider forgoing an NFL career for three reasons: 1) to properly honor the Lord’s Day and keep the fourth commandment 2) to avoid unnecessary temptations of the world and shun sin and 3) to offer a one-of-a-kind testimony of your faith in Christ.

First, while unfortunately not very popular in our present day culture, the bible nonetheless teaches that Christians are to observe the sabbath by sanctifying, or setting apart the day for God’s purposes. The Westminster Shorter Catechism summarizes what this means when it states, “The sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God's worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy.” The majority of NFL games will be played on Sundays so you will regularly miss corporate worship and instead have to prioritize your day around your game, rather than worship of God.

Second, I am perhaps stating the obvious here, but the life of a famous, wealthy NFL superstar lends a young man to many unnecessary temptations that, if given into, will bring dishonor to our Lord and weaken your Christian walk. Great wealth itself has caused many a man to stumble. Couple that with your youth and good looks, and I can assure you that you will almost daily be faced with sinful propositions from countless women. Of course, I am sure a young man who has already endured fame such as yours has also already faced his share of temptations. I am trusting that you have made the most God-honoring choice in these situations in the past, but as an NFL player, invitations to fall into sin will multiply greatly. I pray that if you choose to go the route of an NFL career, God’s grace sustains you while the enemy pursues you. Don’t be deceived into thinking that an NFL career is automatically a “blessing”; it could very well be a curse.

Third, while many will argue that being a Christian with wealth, fame, and privilege is an opportunity to be used by the Lord, I will counter that God uses many men and women of much more meager lifestyles on a regular basis. Instead, think of how awesome a testimony you will have to glorify God if you choose to give up an NFL opportunity and instead choose to live as a “normal” guy. It’s the sinful, greedy man who can’t comprehend how a person could pass up millions of dollars for a 9-5 job. After all, it’s just money. God’s not impressed by it. Think of the testimony of giving up fame and being recognized by millions in order to exalt Christ rather than self. It’s the sinful, proud man who can’t fathom passing up celebrity status for the humble life of a godly husband and father. Many times Christians profess that life is not about money, possessions, fame, etc. Instead we profess that all we need is Christ. But then again, how many of these believers have truly been in the position to live their profession? You have that opportunity.

In conclusion, I hope that you don’t read this letter for something that it is not. I already admitted that I enjoy the NFL. This letter was in no way intended to badmouth the league. I also do not mean to imply that if you choose to play football as a professional, you are no longer a Christian or that there aren’t any Christians in the league presently. What I hoped to accomplish with this letter was to merely get you to think about your future and prayerfully consider that you are by no means obligated to be an NFL player. Instead, your only obligation as a biblical Christian is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. I will be praying for you in whatever you decide to do.

Your brother in Christ,

Andrew S.

A Response To Health Care Legislation

I submitted this article over at The Aquila Report, you can find the link to it here.

It is a wise thing to come to the Confession on days like this.  We are so blessed to have had the day of rest yesterday that now we enter upon the week to news that for many of us is troubling, scary, and frankly bad.  How do we respond to new health care legislation voted on recently by our very own congressmen?  Many of you are perturbed by this, you know it is not good for the economy, your businesses, or your families.  But there is something greater that we need to think upon, and that is the work of the servant of Christ.

I ask you to think upon the Westminster Confession, Chapter 23, Section 4, as it teaches us what duty is required of us, 

"It is the duty of people to pray for magistrates, to honor their persons, to pay them tribute or other dues, to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority, for conscience' sake. Infidelity, or difference in religion, does not make void the magistrates' just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to them: from which ecclesiastical persons are not exempted, much less has the Pope any power and jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people; and, least of all, to deprive them of their dominions, or lives, if he shall judge them to be heretics, or upon any other pretence whatsoever."

Oh yes, we are to honor their persons because of the office they hold.  It is no coincidence that the Westminster Divines made reference, concerning this section, to 1 Peter 2:17ff,

"Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." 

"Oh," you will shout, "this is against the Constitution!"  Right you are, I couldn't agree more, we have the means to go through to see that something is done about this, to the best of our abilities.  We vote for people, we have representatives.  Call, email, bug them.  With God's Word as your guide (the only rule for faith and practice) tell them what is right, and in it, don't forget the Gospel.  But even if they seek to go beyond the Constitution or deny the Constitution, remember that the Constitution is a man-made document.  There is something greater than it though, thankfully.  There is the Word of God, living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, the very breath of God, and we have it.  If all your rights are taken away, your freedom lost, then you are still to be subject to God Himself, and in Him you are free, free indeed.  And I ask you, who is it that put your ruling authorities in office?

Recall what Section 1 of Chapter 23 states of our Confession, 

"God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, has ordained civil magistrates, to be, under Him, over the people, for His own glory, and the public good: and, to this end, has armed them with the power of the sword, for the defence and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evil doers."

So this health care 'fiasco,' although evil, although wrong, although contrary to very foundation of our nation, has God is working through it.  God will, for you, the Christian, work it for His good (Romans 8:28).  Do you remember the story of Joseph, though his brought meant evil in what they did to him, God worked it all out for their good and Joseph's good?  And Job, though much of what he possessed, including much of his family was taken away from him, was he not in the end blessed with more than what he had at first?  In fact, not only is He working through it, He has ordained it to be.  Remember Romans 13, 

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience."  

Let us take great heed to how we speak of our rulers.  We are tempted to bad-mouth them, curse them, but why must we curse them?  Instead, may we pray for them, that they would be shown the error of their ways, even as we are to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44).  So then, "I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:1-4).  

Are you praying, selflessly?  Our Lord says, "Be angry, and yet do not sin" (Ephesians 4:26).  Let us remember, that we have a great God, a holy and righteous God, and He will make all things right.   It is Him who says, "Vengeance is Mine" (Romans 12:19). Our Lord is bringing judgment. Sure.  But He is also bringing much blessing to you who have believed in the only name under heaven by which you must be saved, Jesus Christ.  Do not fret, draw comfort from the infinite goodness of Christ, our Lord.

The Great Moment at Mount Sinai: Exodus 19

3Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, 'Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to Myself. 5Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.'  These are the words you shall speak to the sons of Israel.'

Right before Moses receives the Ten Commandments from the Lord this is what the Lord tells him.  Basically, as you can see, it says, "Because I brought you out of the land of Egypt (see Exodus 20:2), because I redeemed you, because I brought you out of the land of Egypt and delivered you from oppression and slavery, because I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself, because I loved you and showered you with my grace thought you did not deserve it, I have made a covenant with you."  And just as He had made a covenant with Israel because of His grace (redeeming them out of slavery) they must hear his voice and not harden their hearts like Pharaoh.  They must heed, they must listen and obey the very law He is about to give them in the Ten Commandments.  Not because they can by their own wills and strength, but only in the state of grace, only because they have been made God's own possession.  Because it is only through a Redeemer, a bruised reed, and by His righteousness alone that they will be able to fulfill this law, that they will be able to be seen as righteous in the sight of a Holy LORD, that they will be able to be to Him a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.  For just as the LORD called forth Israel from darkness in Israel into a marvelous light, so He does for us in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, who died on the tree of Calvary.  So we must carry out this law, not that we can of our own accord, but through the grace and righteousness of our blessed Savior.

18Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. 19When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. 20The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Only one time in Scripture, to my knowledge and please correct me if I am wrong, does the Lord ever appear in a theophany, where He speaks softly (in the still small voice or gentle wind).  Many times He appears how we see Him in verses 18-20 in unimaginable power, where the earth shakes violently and He speaks in thunder.  O the majesty and the mighty power and the greatness and the splendor and the holiness of our Lord (see Hebrews 12:19-21 which describes these verses).  And yet I wonder if that trumpet spoken of in verse 16 and which is described here as growing louder and louder is the voice of God.  I wonder if that is true because of the only other place a loud trumpet is referred to is in Revelation 1 where it says, "10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet..." In fact, I think we must come to that conclusion.  That the Lord answered Moses in an audible voice which sounded like thunder and a deafening trumpet.  The people in verse 16, as they heard what is described as a 'very loud trumpet' and then in verse 19 that trumpet sound grew louder and louder, it is no wonder they trembled.  For before a thrice holy God speaking, the only thing sinful, wayward, and polluted hearts can do is tremble.  Should we not consider as we live our lives, as we sit and even meditate upon the Word throughout the day, as we spend unceasing time in prayer, and as we gather together on the Lord's Day in public and private exercises of His worship, should we not consider Who we go before, Who we are sinning against, Who we sit under, Who we grieve, Who we are hearing, Who we are exalting?  He is a thrice holy God with unimaginable power, He is righteous and just, but let us also not forget that in Christ Jesus our Savior, He is love, He is full of grace, mercy, truth, and all things good for those who call upon the only Name under heaven by which we must be saved.

Beware Of What You Think, Do, and Say

WLC 113 on the sins forbidden in the third commandment, "The sins forbidden in the third commandment are, the not using of God’s name as is required; and the abuse of it in an ignorant, vain, irreverent, profane, superstitious or wicked mentioning or otherwise using his titles, attributes, ordinances, or works, by blasphemy, perjury; all sinful cursings, oaths, vows, and lots; violating of our oaths and vows, if lawful; and fulfilling them, if of things unlawful; murmuring and quarrelling at, curious prying into, and misapplying of God’s decrees and providences; misinterpreting, misapplying, or any way perverting the Word, or any part of it; to profane jests, curious or unprofitable questions, vain janglings, or the maintaining of false doctrines; abusing it, the creatures, or anything contained under the name of God, to charms, or sinful lusts and practices; the maligning, scorning, reviling, or any wise opposing of God’s truth, grace, and ways; making profession of religion in hypocrisy, or for sinister ends; being ashamed of it, or a shame to it, by unconformable, unwise, unfruitful, and offensive walking, or backsliding from it."

Beware, why?  Because the Lord is a Warrior (Exodus 15:3).  He the God Almighty!  Let us seek Him at the cross and His mercy.

Please Consider Modesty

A friend recently referred me to a great article on Modesty by Terry Johnson.  It is a must read for everyone.  Especially considering what I have experienced in the past, just in two churches (certainly, in almost every church I have gone to there has been some kind of issue with modesty).  The first was last week in worship in Jackson, Mississippi.  A girl with a see-through shirt. Good thing she was sitting in front of me.  Then I remember the teenager showing off her cleavage because of a low-cut shirt she wore during worship at a church in Northeast Misssissippi.  When I got up to exhort the congregation, she sat on the back left side of the meeting room.  Consequently, I preached primarily to those on the right side of the meeting room!  Now I understand, having lived with my wife, that all women aren't necessarily trying to get men to look at them when they wear such clothes.  But they have been influenced by the culture and as Christians are ignorant as it has to do with what men really see.  

So please let us think about our clothing.  One quote from the article is helpful for both males and females, "Given the strength of Jesus' warning about lust (it violates the 7th Commandment prohibiting adultery), the extreme measures that He urges to avoid it (plucking out our eyes, cutting off our hands), the direct Apostolic command to women to "adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly" (1 Timothy 2:7), and given that one comes to worship in order to promote sanctification and piety, it is remarkable that girls and women show up at churches dressed as they do (Matthew 5:30)."  Please consider modesty.

Jonathan Edwards' Resolutions (Part 1)

Many of you are familiar with the resolutions Jonathan Edwards made.  In the preface to his resolutions he said, "Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake." 

Let us look at four of them individually:

"Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but to improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

Resolved, never henceforward, until I die, to act as if I were any way my own; but entirely and altogether God's.

Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I think I would do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and the torments of hell."

The first resolution above concerns loving our Lord by keeping the eighth commandment.  That we wouldn't steal the time God has given to us or waste it.  Our Lord has given us His Word which says in Proverbs 18, "He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster." and in 2 Thessalonians 3, "For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies."  Let us not live as slothful or lazy, we do this all the time in our work, within our families.  But we can't lose one moment of time.  Our Lord and Savior has given each second to us, do not waste your life with frivolous pursuits.  What will it gain you?  More importantly, what will it gain for the Kingdom and His glory?  Nothing!  But to you have been revealed and taught the mysteries which in ages past were hidden from wise men, even the prophets.  You know who your Messiah is, you know who delivered you from all your sins. It was Jesus who is your propitiation (bearing the wrath you very much deserved for your sin).  O let us live for Him, serve Him, give up the pleasures of this life for Him, suffer for Him.  And the promise, if we endure, we will reign with Him, we will receive a righteous man's reward, we will receive eternal blessings in Christ Jesus that cannot be conceived of in our little minds.  Let us improve the time we are given in the most profitable way possible for His glory.  You will not be disappointed, but you will store up treasures in heaven.