Today in Blogworld 6.6.12

Mike Leake

Southern Baptists and Salvation: It’s Time to Talk

Albert Mohler responds to A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation.  It is a very cordial and bridge building response that I hope every Southern Baptist reads.  As the conversation continues I pray that it does not escalate to anything that we would be ashamed of.  There are a couple of statements in Dr. Mohler’s response that I think some people may jump on—I hope to interact with that a little this afternoon. 

Letter to a 13-Year Old Asking How to Go Deeper in Bible Study

Read John Piper’s response to a 13-year old girl who asks about going deeper in Bible study.  Reading this is helpful advice to anyone and not just 13 year olds.  This is one of the reasons why I love Piper.  He’s not afraid to give advice to a 13 year old girl—but he’s also not afraid to raise the bar for her as well. 

What Every Husband Should Know About Stay-at-Home Moms

Gloria Furman, writing for DG, gives some great advice to husbands of stay-at-home moms.  Just one more reason why my wife is amazing.  I could never do what she does.  Guys when your wife is at home with your kids she isn’t watching Matlock—she’s waging an epic battle. 

Rural Ministry is Not Second Rate

As one that has served in mostly rural settings I really appreciate Jared Wilson’s words here.  There is a little something uneasy in my stomach whenever a vast majority of our church planting efforts go towards the cities.  I understand the trickle down effect—but as one that has lived around farmers it doesn’t trickle down like “city folk” think it does. 

Fill Your Reader: The Masculine Mandate only 99 cents. 

Enjoy this:

When God Taunts

Mike Leake

On an ancient playground two little boys get in a verbal spat. 

“Hey lil’ Judah, your daddy is about as powerful as a malnourished gnat”, the mighty Assyria says with a big bully shove. 

The barbs continue, and given the circumstances little Judah is without much of a comeback.  “Your daddy is about as ferocious and brave as a fainting goat.”  “Yo daddy so dumb, when somebody told him it was chilly outside he brought a bowl”.  On and on it goes with little Judah not having much to say in defense. 

As he sits in ashes and shame all lil’ Judah can really muster is a quiet, “Just you wait, my daddy is gonna show His power.” 

Having a weak daddy can be damaging to a little boy’s psyche.  It induces a great sense of shame whenever little boys perpetually lose these playground battles.  As the other kids talk about how their daddy can wrestle bears, buy them gadgets, and win Pulitzer prizes the little guy who has Steve Urkel for a daddy doesn’t have a ton of ammo to bring to these “my daddy…” battles.  The implication is that if daddy can’t win there is no way that I can. 

And let’s be honest.  As it stood in world history it seemed as if the Assyrians daddy, Ashur, was far more powerful than Judah’s daddy, YHWH.  I mean what kind of dad sits by and lets their little boy get his lunch money stolen day after day after day?  Day after day little Judah sat in shame and had to listen to all the taunts about how impotent his daddy was. 

Comfort from Nahum

Finally, the mountains quake, the hills melt, and the whole earth begins to heave.  YHWH is preparing His speech.  Daddy is going to not only shame the bully but expose the non-existence and powerlessness of the bullies daddy.  In the Old Testament book of Nahum that is exactly what God does.  For three chapters God taunts His (and lil’ Judah’s) enemy.  

Reading through the three chapters of Nahum can leave the reader wondering where in the world is Jesus in this scary oracle.  If you read it as a message to soon to be fallen Nineveh then it makes little sense.  He is obviously not trying to get his enemies to back down, because he is not interested in their repentance or their redemption.  He might be hoping to shame his enemies and to show His power, but that display is not for Nineveh—it’s for the benefit of lil’ Judah.

The message of Nahum is that lil’ Judah can trust in his daddy.  “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him” (1:7).  And as YHWH taunts, belittles, and ultimately destroys Nineveh, those words form a deeper meaning in the heart of lil’ Judah.  He doesn’t need to win those playground battles because the more significant victory will be his.  Your daddy is your refuge, trust him!   

As the shame and destruction of Nineveh is foretold through Nahum’s taunt, I cannot help but see this as a shadow of a greater victory that will be forthcoming. 

Some 700 years later another son is going to endure the mocking, the scorn, and the disgrace of playground bullies.  Only this time they’ll nail him to a tree as they attempt to enshrine his shame.  Yet once again, daddy shows up and displays his power.  Tying His son to a Roman gibbet will not have the last word!  You cannot hide him in a hole in the side of a hill! 

As the son ascends from the darkened tomb the Father’s taunt begins.  The works of the devil are slowly–yet surely and quite cataclysmically–being destroyed.  Cancer. Rape. Lust. Idolatry. And even the greatest enemy Death.  You’ve got nuthin’ fools!  Just as surely as Assyria became as nothing so will these great enemies of the Lord. 

Just you wait!  Daddy will show you how great He is! 

Proverbs for Christian Blogging: Write with “Stumblers” in Mind

Mike Leake

You’ve all met the guy that has a ton of theological knowledge but little experience in how to apply it.  He has a library of systematic theology, biblical studies, and “how to do ministry” books that is growing faster than a rabbit’s family after its wedding night.  Yet when it comes to needing counsel you’d probably rather talk with your drunken Uncle Jack because at least he’d understand what you are going through. 

For those that love knowledge and truth and facts and Bible Trivia it can be really difficult to also love a very basic principle: every truth is not fitting for every person or for every time.  This is why Proverbs 12:23 says

A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly. 

Charles Bridges rightly comments on this passage that, “knowledge is a talent to be wisely, not promiscuously, communicated.”  Of course we are never to hide the precious truths of the gospel.  Gospel preaching is never to be closed for the season.  But there are some things of which it is quite prudent to conceal for a season. 

The Problem with Blogging

This truth creates a problem for blogging.  Whenever I hit “publish” on my Windows Live Writer, and my latest article makes its way to Al Gore’s basement only to then be jettisoned out into the world wide web for all to read, I have no control over who reads it.  I have a vague idea of my audience but for the most part I never really know who will read it. 

This can become problematic because not everything I write is meant for every person in my audience.  Take my recent article on Why I’m Opposed to New Calvinism.  That is meant for a very select audience.  There are people that could very easily stumble upon my blog and read that and be confused rather than helped.  While I mean it to be helpful to one slice of my audience it could actually stir up a sense of disunity within other spheres of my influence. 

This problem is even greater because almost every modern reader instinctively believes that they can handle everything that is written by every author.  If you can Google it you can handle it, is the assumption.  But that is simply not true. 

I’m not ready to read much of anything in the realm of astro-physics.  (I’m not even sure what Astro-physics is except for trying to understand the science behind the movement of the Jetson family dog).  In the same way there are certain theological concepts and discussions that are not meant for everyone.  Not that it’s hidden or there is some vast conspiracy to keep knowledge from you.  It’s just that there are a few prerequisites that you ought to read and grasp first. 

In sum, this is the conundrum.  Not every truth is fitting for every person or for every time.  Almost every modern reader assumes that today is the right season for his acquisition of this knowledge.  I can’t stop him from reading what I publish.  So how do I “conceal knowledge” when it is prudent to do so?  Should I shut down the blog even though it can be beneficial to a great number of people?  I don’t think that is the answer. 

A Small Solution

Though it may be difficult to actively “conceal knowledge” that may not be helpful for some readers, I can do a couple of things to apply this proverb.  First, I can diligently labor to not be the fool described in the latter half of the verse. 

Charles Bridges describes the fool well:

The fool however proclaims his foolishness.  He imprudently opens his heart.  He is dogmatical in dispute, when wiser men are cautious.  He is teaching, when he ought to take the learner’s place; his self-confidence proclaiming his emptiness.  Self-distrust and humility are most important, to enable us to improve the gifts of God for his glory.

I don’t want to simply write as fool who spews about with every passing thought that comes to my mind.  I want to be a careful blogger.  When I ought to take the learner’s place I want to humbly sit there.  When I ought to be cautious instead of dogmatic I want to be.  And at the same time in the things in which I ought to teach in and be dogmatic on I want to do with grace, passion, and humility. 

The second thing that I can do to follow this proverb is write with the “stumbler” in mind.  By “stumbler” I don’t mean the poor lad that stumbles into sin because of something he reads.  Although, I do want to avoid millstones around my neck that is not what I mean in this context.  What I mean by “stumbler” is the person that “just so happens to have stumbled onto my blog”. 

And let me tell you there have been some really weird “stumbles” onto Borrowed Light.  I get a good flow of traffic each month from people looking for “little kittens”, “cousin Eddie”, and “bitter old men”.  My goal is to write in such a way that the guy who finds my article on Cousin Eddie may also see the beauty of Christ as well.  So as I write every article I want to have the “stumbler” in the back of my mind. 

Today in Blogworld 6.5.12

Mike Leake

Teaching Preaching

David Martin explains how he went about teaching future leaders in his church how to preach.  This is a very helpful and practical article for anyone that is given the task of training people to preach but aren’t quite sure how to systematically do it.  (HT: Challies)

Southern Baptists, I Have a Feeling We’re Not in Zion Anymore

Trevin Wax believes that the days of cultural Christianity are well on their way out.  The question before us now is what are we going to do about it?  Will we fight it and bemoan it’s loss?  Or will we take advantage of this opportunity?  Wax has a few helpful suggestions for living out the latter.

Does Scripture Clearly Command This?

Mark Altrogge responds to a church that has issued a “courtship policy”.  His questions and thinking here extends far beyond this churches policy.  It is always important for us to differentiate between practice and principle.

Why Stay-at-Home Moms Are More Depressed Than Working Moms

A recent Gallup Poll indicates what many stay-at-home moms have known for awhile–they battle depression more than moms out in the work field.  Sharon Lerner has commented on these findings, some, noting that it is perhaps a lack of appreciation and/or financial strain that may be causing this.  I, however, think more can be said for Ellen Morgan Peltz’s take.  I appreciate her work here.  (HT: David Murray)

Without a doubt this is my preferred method of carrying in the groceries (minus the fire…usually)

(HT: 22 Words)