Why @JohnPiper Chooses Mountains Over Beaches

Mike Leake

One of the reasons why I don’t go to be beach is because I cannot swim.  Go ahead and make fun of me.  The other reason is because of the scantily clad femmes that often mute the beauty of the glistening waters and inviting beach fronts.  (I should also mention it is one reason that I almost exclusively use Twitter now instead of Facebook).

Apparently, I am not alone.  In studying for a sermon on 1 Peter I ran across this very helpful statement from John Piper. 

When choosing a place to vacation, my wife, Noël, will more often choose the ocean and I will more often choose the mountains. One of the reasons I incline away from the ocean comes from this text, believe it or not. Beaches are by the ocean and people wear bathing suits while at the beach and the designers of women’s bathing suits, it seems, are constantly finding creative ways to arouse the sexual desires of men.

Now my concern with this is not that I might be tempted by one of these women to commit adultery. My concern is way before that. My concern is how to maximize hope in the grace of God in my heart. That’s what this text says I am to be concerned with. “Hope fully in grace!” But I know from about 34 years of experience and from biblical warnings that titillating sexual input to this mind is spiritually inebriating. That’s my biggest concern. If I allow myself to drink it in through my eyes for long or to return to it often, my passion for the truth and the intensity and fullness of my hope in the glory of God’s grace diminishes. That’s the issue for me.

If I am reading him correctly he is saying that the battle isn’t merely to avoid lust or adultery.  Those are certainly crucial.  But in order to maximize hope he avoids it all together.  To have to do battle (even successful battle) against the lure of the Sirens expends energy and joy and hope that could be expended on that which really lasts; namely, God Himself. 

Our battle against lust and other mind-numbing activities is far deeper than just “don’t engage in sin”.  It’s a battle to not be robbed of hope. 

Quick Review of @stephenaltrogge ‘s Create: Stop Making Excuses and Start Making Stuff

Mike Leake

Stephen Altrogge is one of my favorite authors.  I love reading his blog (The Blazing Center) and found his book on contentment very edifying.  He is hilarious in his writing but he also is faithful in bringing out excellent points.  Therefore, it was nothing for me to shell out $2.99 to buy his new little e-book Create: Stop Making Excuses and Start Making Stuff. 

Though not as catchy this book could have easily been titled, “Create: How the Gospel Motivates and Sustains Creativity”.  What Altrogge unpacks in this little book is the core truth that our Creator God calls his image-bearers to be creative.  That’s scary, though, in a fallen world.  Yet, those that have been redeemed by Christ and have our identity firmly placed in Him, are able to pursue the risk of being creative. 

The aim in this book is not necessarily to spark creative ideas but to give you a theological foundation for venturing out into the creative.  The book, I believe, is written for big chickens like myself that sometimes fear the risk of putting ourselves out there and actually benefitting others with the gifts the Lord has given.  Altrogge rightly called me on some of my ridiculous excuses.  So, in this way it does motivate creativity.  In pointing to gospel security and our mandate to be creative this booklet not only gives permission to be creative it show that God commands it. 

It’s a fun read.  It’s $2.99.  You can read it in a day.  I’m not sure why you are still reading this an haven’t already went to Amazon to purchase a copy.  WAIT!  DON’T LEAVE YET. 

I also encourage you to check out the TweetNotes for this book.  Also stay tuned to Borrowed Light in the coming days, as Stephen Altrogge has agreed to answer 7 questions. 

It’s also worth noting that you should not wait to buy this book in a physical store.  The book only comes in e-book or pdf. format so you will not find a hard copy at your local Barnes and Noble. 

Today in Blogworld 6.1.12

Mike Leake

10 Things Nobody Tells You About Being a Dad

Daniel Darling shares ten things that he has learned since becoming a dad.  It’s easy to be a Monday Morning Quaterback when it comes to parenting.  I appreciate Daniel’s honesty in this article.  And I believe I have learned most of these things about myself as well.  (HT: Z)

10 Ways Fear Robs Me

Fear is a robber.  Here are 10 ways that it robs people. 

An Email Charter for the World’s Sanity

Kevin DeYoung has crafted 10 tips (what is it with the #10 this morning?) to help people email more appropriately.  I’ve considered sending Kevin 10 separate emails breaking each one of the rules, but I think I’ll reconsider. 

“Black Folk Don’t Go to Therapy” 

I found this article by David Murray really interesting.  Murray is working on a DVD Project for his Christians Get Depressed Too.  It’s an excellent book and will probably be a great DVD project.  Here David shares that he is having a difficult time finding subjects that are Black, Hispanic, and Asian.  Also in the article an interesting video. 

I apologize for the NSFW language below, but I couldn’t help but think how wonderful it would be if all of our representatives went to bat for us like this guy did.  Of course he may have just had a really stale bagel that morning too:

(HT: 22 Words)

Why I’m Opposed to "New Calvinism"

Mike Leake 10 Comments

This morning “A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation” hit the internet. The discussion that stems from this should be really interesting–to say the least. In the Preamble the motivation behind this document is set forth. It begins:

Every generation of Southern Baptists has the duty to articulate the truths of its faith with particular attention to the issues that are impacting contemporary mission and ministry. The precipitating issue for this statement is the rise of a movement called “New Calvinism” among Southern Baptists. This movement is committed to advancing in the churches an exclusively Calvinistic understanding of salvation, characterized by an aggressive insistence on the “Doctrines of Grace” (“TULIP”), and to the goal of making Calvinism the central Southern Baptist position on God’s plan of salvation.

I, yes even as a Calvinist, firmly stand with these men in opposing this “New Calvinism”.  Though I adhere to what could be described as Calvinist soteriology, I firmly reject a commitment to make churches exclusively Calvinistic in their understanding of salvation.  Of course I would be quite happy if we all embraced what I believe the Bible teaches on how we become Christians.  Yet, I also understand that in the Lord’s goodness and sovereignty He seems content with allowing some mystery here and room for disagreement.  Perhaps it is to show a watching world that believers are able to have deep and lasting fellowship around Christ and His gospel even when disagreeing on very significant (though not ultimate) issues.  So, though I’m a young Calvinist (30 is still young right?) I firmly reject those in the new Calvinism camp that are committed to only advancing a Calvinistic understanding of salvation.  This would include those that “seem to be pushing for a radical alteration of the long-standing arrangement” of cooperation around the Baptist Faith and Message.

I am especially opposed to those that “are characterized by an aggressive insistence on the ‘Doctrines of Grace’ (TULIP).  I’m opposed to that because aggressive insistence goes against “teaching with gentleness and respect”.  Furthermore, I do not support an aggressive insistence that others be Calvinists because it denies the very sovereignty and power of God that it claims to uphold.  So again count me with these brothers opposing this “New Calvinism”.

I even oppose those that are “making Calvinism the central Southern Baptist position on God’s plan of salvation”.  Of course I believe that a Calvinistic understanding of how we are saved is biblical.  I firmly believe that because of the fall, man is unable to choose that which is good.  A heart change must first take place.  When that happens then people respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I am not 100% sure of what God’s plan of salvation is referring to.  If it is referring to God’s plan to work in the world to root out of his kingdom all sin and unbelief and replace it with passionate worshipers then I must confess I’m not sure what that has to do with Calvinism.  Though I think that being a Calvinist influences the way I share and present the gospel I am not sure what bearing it has on the content of the gospel itself.  So, if there are these “new Calvinists” making predestination and such part of their content of the gospel message then count me out.

So, count me in, fellas.  I have to confess right out front, though, that I do not affirm many of your articles.  I’m not sure that you’ll really count me as part of your team.  I do affirm the Baptist Faith and Message.  And I do stand with you opposing these aggressive new Calvinists.  I just have one more question…

What’s Our Next Step?

If I’m pressed really hard I may be able to think of a handful of these “new” Calvinists.  I’ve often called them hyper-Calvinists (sometimes hyper because of too much sugar and sometimes too much systematic theology) and sometimes just not very good Calvinists.  So, what do we do to find these angry and divisive Calvinists? And what do we do once we find them?

Do we love them and try to steer them to the gospel and address the heart issues that is leading to their anger?  Do we try to change their theology?  Do we encourage them to become Presbyterians?

I’ll be on the look out for these new Calvinists–you guys just let me know what I’m supposed to do when I find one.  I’m sure they’re out there (and that part sadly, isn’t tongue in cheek).   Until I hear from you this will be my strategy: How to Help an Angry and Divisive Calvinist.