The Root of Angry and Divisive Calvinists: Part Eight

Mike Leake

This will be the last installment in this series.  Hopefully it has been helpful. 

One of the greatest critiques that has come to this series is the title.  Why in the world would I have titled this Angry and Divisive Calvinists if the real issue is not about Calvinism?  Why bother with the potential vitriol that could come from people on either side of the issue?  There were three main reasons why I wrote this series and titled it the way that I did:

First, I wrote this series for angry and divisive Calvinists.  There really are angry and divisive Calvinists.  Yes, there are those that are angry and divisive in other theological camps as well.  But right now Calvinists are in the minority.  Sometimes when you are in the minority there can be seeds of anger and pride crop up.  I want to see consistent Calvinists.  I want to see Calvinists be known for their grace as much as their doctrine.  So, in one sense I did write this post about Calvinism and to angry and divisive Calvinists.  Calvinism is not the problem angry and divisive hearts are.  But there is a certain way that anger and divisiveness can hi-jack Calvinism and I want to address that.

Secondly, I wrote this series for those who view Calvinism as the problem with angry and divisive Calvinists.  I hope that this series has made the point that the way to help “Mark” is not to change his doctrine but to be a means that the Spirit uses to change his heart.  We can continue to discuss the merits of Calvinism or non-Calvinism and compare them against Scripture.  We can even have very strong opinions and truly believe that the other person is in error and really hope that they embrace the doctrine we hold.  We can faithfully teach what we believe.  But at the end of the day it is the Spirit’s work to mold and shape His children—not ours.  The world doesn’t need to be filled with Calvinists or Arminians.  The world needs to be filled with the glory of God shown through the passionate and single-minded worship of His redeemed. 

Thirdly, I wrote this series for those that have a “Mark” in their life.  Regardless of the doctrine that “Mark” holds so dearly I want to give you encouragement and a few pointers on being a means for his help.  The “Mark” in your life needs the gospel just as you do.  Love him and shepherd him towards the Good Shepherd. 

Conclusion:

Perhaps the title was simply stupid.  It is possible that it undercut my entire point.  I don’t think it did—I think it was necessary.  I just don’t see a title like The Root of Anger and Division being something that would hook us and startle us to pay attention.  I told the story of Mark the way that I did because I want angry and divisive Calvinists to see that there are Mark’s and he is a problem.  I also want non-Calvinists to know that Mark’s problem isn’t his theology it’s his heart. 

Hopefully this was helpful…

Idol Destruction 101 Part 7

Mike Leake 1 Comment

When in doubt just quote Spurgeon.  If you’ve gotten lost in anything I’ve said in the past 6 articles on idol destruction this quote by Spurgeon sums it up nicely:

It is ever the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan’s work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, “Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of his children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus.” All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: he tells us that we are nothing, but that “Christ is all in all.” Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument—it is Christ’s blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith. We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by “looking unto Jesus.” Keep thine eye simply on him; let his death, his sufferings, his merits, his glories, his intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to him; when thou liest down at night look to him. Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after him, and he will never fail thee.

Yep, that about sums it up. 

Idol destruction does not happen through a morbid introspection that tries to cast down idols and give them to the Lord.  Idol destruction happens because God is radically dedicated to your joy in Him.  This destruction happens because it is the work of Jesus to overthrow the works of the devil.  Idols are cast down because that is what God does through His gospel.  We work to expose their emptiness in light of His fullness. 

Though it sounds too simple and too passive the way to idol destruction (as has been shown in the previous articles) is to aggressively and believingly trust in what Christ has already accomplished.  Idols are empty but until they are seen in light of the gospel they look appealing and they look strong.  But once idols are viewed in light of the unblushing promises that we have been “blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing” they soon melt like wax.

Expose their Emptiness by Exalting His Fullness.  That’s the key.

The Root of Angry and Divisive Calvinists: Part Six

Mike Leake

Epilogue: What Continued Happening to Mark

Angry and divisive Mark is no more.  Next month Mark will be returning to Podunk Baptist Church.  This time as a new man.  He still has his beard, he still hold to much the same doctrine, but he holds it differently. 

It had been eight years since his disaster of a revival service.  Mark left the people wounded…and truth be told Mark left wounded as well.  His desire to “set his old church straight” came from a mostly good desire—though Mark will admit that it was mixed with a good deal of pride and bitterness. 

A good part of Mark thought that his former church would embrace the doctrines which have led to much growth in his own Christian walk.  He was shocked and dismayed to be met with rejection and to have caused somewhat of a division within the ranks of Podunk. 

Now Mark is a different man.  After much repentance on the part of Mark and healing of broken relationships he is being invited back to Podunk Baptist.  His doctrine hasn’t changed but his heart has.  This time Mark will be lovingly and passionately preaching on the excellencies of Christ. 

What happened to Mark? 

Shortly after his disaster of a revival service Mark went back to his seminary community.  He called upon one of his favorite professors—a faithful defender of all things Calvinism.  He figured that if he could have about 15 minutes of venting to this professor he would feel better.  Even more so he probably would be given a few tips about how to defend his doctrine even better and help those that differ to come to grips with what the Bible says about God and His sovereignty in salvation.

Mark was shocked when instead of a “go get those rank heretics” he was met with a gentle and loving rebuke.  This wise professor was every bit the Calvinists that Mark is in doctrine.  But something this professor had that Mark didn’t was that he was a  Calvinist in his heart.  He held the doctrines of grace quite graciously.  He trusted the sovereign Lord even in theological differences.  Through years of ministry, study, and life with the Spirit he had come to grips with the importance of love. 

Thankfully for Mark and for the Podunk Baptist’s of the world this dear man took Mark under his wrinkled wing.  He modeled for him the love and grace that every believer (nobody his stripes) should live.  He loved Mark and taught Mark to love.  They still chatted Reformed theology, they still even debated some texts, and at times disagreed with non-Calvinists but the way this dear man “debated” was contagious.  You see this old man was much like John Newton.

As Newton once said:

‘I am more of a Calvinist than anything else; but I use my Calvinism in my writings and my preaching as I use this sugar’—taking a lump, and putting it into his tea-cup, and stirring it, adding, ‘I do not give it alone, and whole; but mixed and diluted.’

His Calvinism was superseded by something more important—the gospel.  Yes, men like Spurgeon and even Newton could believe in one sense that “Calvinism is the gospel”.  (You can debate for yourself the wisdom of such a statement).  But at the end of the day we see with men like Spurgeon and Newton that fellowship, love, and advancement of the gospel trumped Calvinism.  Not that it was insignificant.  Their Calvinism permeated their fellowship, their love, and their advancement of the gospel, but it wasn’t the whole or end of any of those things—God and His glory were. 

Next time I will offer a few basic tips if God places an angry and divisive Calvinist in your life…

Idol Destruction 101 Part 6

Mike Leake

Idol destruction does not take place by slavishly and morbidly looking to yourself and your surrender of these idols.  Yet, it is fundamentally God that does battle with our idols.  He does destroy them.  One of the means that God uses to destroy our idols is a Spirit-directed exposing of our idols and a Spirit-inspired exaltation of all that is ours in Christ.  That sounds good but what does that look like practically?

A Couple Quotes Before the Practical

Thomas Chalmers once said, “The true way to facilitate self-examination is to look believingly outwardly.”  Robert Murray McCheyne picked this up and quipped his famous saying:

“Learn much of the Lord Jesus. For every look at yourself take ten looks at Christ. He is altogether lovely . . . . Live much in the smiles of God. Bask in his beams. Feel his all-seeing eye settled on you in love. And repose in his almighty arms.”

For every look at self take 10 looks to Christ.  Yes, this is the way to destroy idols.  Yes, this is the way to captivate our affections and destroy our idols.  To believingly look outward makes idols melt like wax against the radiant beauty of the Lord Jesus.  What then does it look like to “take 10 looks to Christ”?  What does exposing idols look like?  What does it mean to exalt the fullness of Christ?

A Scenario

I had a somewhat rough day at the office.  It was one of those days when my list of “to-do’s” grew instead of shrunk.  Every time I would begin a project and try to complete something that I need to get done the phone would ring and another something was added to my list of things to do. 

Though my day seemed like I moved backwards, 5:00 still rolls around and my wife and kids are expecting me home for dinner.  All of the burdens of the day are still on my back but I know that I need to shake them off so that I am home when I’m at home.  I want to be emotionally and spiritually present whenever I am physically present.  That is something that I have been working on. 

I pull into the driveway and I am immediately hit with crying children and a frazzled wife.  Apparently I am not the only one that has had a difficult day.  It becomes obvious to me fairly early on that my hopes of a fun-filled and stress-free evening is dashed.  My angelic children have been overtaken by what appears to be a legion of demons—or at least that is what it seems like to a discouraged daddy. 

What do I do?  I’m empty.  I’m burned out.  I need to re-energize.  I really NEED a stress-free evening.  That isn’t happening.  Relaxing will not be an option on this evening.  Perhaps around 11:30 I can catch a few relaxing moments before I enter into restless sleep and then begin to play catch-up again tomorrow. 

Truth be told I’m angry.  I’m angry that things are so busy, I’m angry that I can’t relax like I want to.  I’m angry that my imaginary night has been hi-jacked by reality.  I try to hide my anger.  I try to play the role of super dad and super husband but I just hit a wall.  My anger shows.  I’m sharp with the kids.  I’m distant from my wife.  All I’m really thinking about are those 15 minutes of relaxation at sometime around 11:30. 

A Solution

Of course that is an imaginary situation.  I hear that some husbands and fathers can struggle with those types of things.  Not me.  I’m a pastor, seminary student, writer, and all around super Christian.  But for your sake I’ll imagine that I actually do struggle with the above scenario and that it has played out more than once in my life. 

The above scenario is an idolatry problem.  It’s a worship problem.  If I want to see my anger repented of, healed, corrected, and ultimately changed then I need to get real with what is causing the anger.  It is suicidal idolatry.  A false god has sold me a lie and I bought it.  Hook.  Line.  Sinker.  I swallowed the whole stupid thing.  

What happened that night?  What was really going on in my heart?  I had an idol of comfort and control.  I wanted to be in charge of my day.  I want things easy.  I want to be a good parent and a good husband.  But mostly I want those things to be easy. 

Remember our task in idol destruction is to expose the emptiness of idols and to exalt His fullness at their expense.  So I do that by getting real with what this idol is promising.  I write down it’s marketing pitch.

Comfort: You work hard, Mike.  You are tired and you are exhausted.  You have a right to relax when you come home.  You need to be re-energized and we know that the best way for you do that is to disengage and just chill out.  If people cannot understand that they are working against you and the plan of God for your life.  You have every right to be righteously angry and indignant that circumstances are ruining the awesome plans that God has for you.

The Gospel: Jesus has already accomplished everything that you need.  Your to-do list doesn’t matter as much to God as His DONE list.  You have been given the Holy Spirit.  You have everything you need for life and godliness.  He will re-energize you.  Yes, God has given you the gift of sleep.  But He is also Lord of your circumstances.  There is not one square inch of your life that does not belong to Him.  And there is not one square inch of your life that He is not in the process of redeeming and transforming for your joy and His glory.  Those things that you think are “ruining” God’s plan for you actually ARE God’s plan for you.  Trust Him—He is radically dedicated to your joy in Him. 

Suddenly the fleeting pleasures of a comfortable night of disengaging in front of a television screen do not seem as appealing.  Christ is calling me to more deep and lasting joy than a “comfortable night”.  Not only this but He has promised and provided for me the power to be “re-energized” by the very things that I thought were standing in my way of joy.  My grouchy kids (and this grouchy dad) aren’t hurdles to be leapt over on the path to my couch.  These are opportunities to see grace shine and to delight in the Savior. 

All I did in the above scenario is take a look at myself and discover that I do fall short, I am prone to anger, I do believe stupid promises of false comfort, and I mess up as a husband and daddy.  But I feast upon and camp out under the promises of Christ on my behalf.  I take one look at my sin—I’m not surprised by it—and I abhor it.  But rather than trying to get rid of it for the sake of having a relationship with Jesus I preach the gospel to myself; I expose the emptiness of the idol next to the unblushing promises that are mine in Christ Jesus. 

There is still one amazing Spurgeon quote and a little summary…