Luther on Falling and Rising

Mike Leake

“Here it appears either Paul or Barnabas went too far. It must have been a violent disagreement to separate two associates who were so closely united. Indeed, the text indicates as much.

“Such examples are written for our consolation: for it is a great comfort to us to hear that great saints, who have the Spirit of God, also struggle. Those who say that saints do not sin would deprive us of this comfort.

“Samson, David, and many other celebrated men full of the Holy Spirit fell into grievous sins. Job and Jeremiah cursed the day of their birth; Elijah and Jonah were weary of life and desired death.

“No one has ever fallen so grievously that he may not rise again. Conversely, no one stands so firmly that he may not fall. If Peter (and Paul and Barnabas) fell, I too may fall. If they rose again, I too may rise again.” 

Martin Luther

Review of Rediscovering the Church Fathers by Michael Haykin

Mike Leake 1 Comment

In the spirit of Jeff Foxworthy with the lameness of Mike Leake:

  • If you think Basil is a only a name for a spice, then you might need to Rediscover the Church Fathers.
  • If you think St. Ignatius is only a high school, then you might need to Rediscover the Church Fathers.
  • If you think Diognetus is something you need to go to the doctor for, then you might need to Rediscover the Church Fathers
  • If you think Cyprian and Ambrose may be the name for a law firm, then you might need to Rediscover the Church Fathers.
  • If you think Origen is where you are from, then you might need to Rediscover the Church Fathers.
  • If you think St. Patrick is only about wearing green and getting drunk, then you might need to Rediscover the Church Fathers.

If you are guilty of a couple of these then I have great news for you:  Michael Haykin has written an excellent book, Rediscovering the Church Fathers, to help you fill in a few gaps.  Haykin is a professor of church history and biblical spirituality at SBTS.  And if my memory serves me correctly he actually teaches a class on the patristics (early church fathers). 

Some evangelicals may be a little turned off by the mention of Church Fathers.  As Haykin remarks, “far too many modern-day evangelicals are either ignorant of or quite uncomfortable with the church fathers” (13).  Because of this reluctance to study the Fathers, Dr. Haykin offers five key reasons why we need to study these early Christian witnesses:

  1. Reading of the Fathers liberates us from the present (17)
  2. Reading the Fathers helps us to understand the New Testament (19)
  3. Reading the Fathers assists us in engaging “bad press” about the Fathers (20)
  4. Reading the Fathers aids us in defending the faith (22)
  5. Reading the Fathers will nurture us spiritually (27)

Haykin “seeks to commend the reading and prayerful study of the church fathers” by looking at the lives of a few specific church fathers:  Ignatius of Antioch, the author of the Letter to Diognetus, Origen, Cyprian, Ambrose, Basil of Caesarea, and Patrick.  Each of these early witnesses are given a chapter of consideration. 

The eighth chapter closes out the book with Haykin telling his personal journey and interaction with the Fathers.  There is also a helpful Appendix on helping a beginner in reading the Church Fathers.  It is obvious throughout that the main purpose of this work is to encourage the reader to pick up the original sources and begin studying and enjoying these pillars of the Christian faith. 

Am I Hungrier for the Church Fathers?

So, does Haykin succeed?  Do I want to start reading more of the early Church Fathers after reading this work? 

In an effort to be fully honest you should know that I am a giant history nerd.  It doesn’t take much to stir up my heart to want to study some good history.  But there have been books that bored me to no end and inspired me to look at a different historical era.  I’m passionate about the era’s of history that I am because of works like Haykin’s. 

From my perspective Haykin accomplishes his goal.  He interacts with the sources just enough to whet your appetite.  He is neither incomplete nor exhaustive.  And because of this endearing quality I found myself downloading the works of some of these Early Church Fathers. 

This work serves as a wonderful introduction to studying the patristic era; but it is so much more.   At each turn the reader is given practical application from these early believers.  Haykin does an admirable job of showing by real example how each of his five reasons for studying the patristic era is true.  I found myself spiritual nurtured, inspired to read more, and even began to reconsider some long held theological assumptions. 

Whetting your Appetite

As a church leader I often find myself wondering, “where in the world did _____ come from”?  If you tend to ask those questions or are just a curious George you will find a good smattering of these questions answered and probably even more questions will be birthed in your mind through reading this work. 

Have you ever wondered about early Christian martyrs?  Why were martyrs eventually held in high esteem within the church?  The chapter on The Thought of Ignatius will iron out some of these questions. 

How did Christian go from being a small, and somewhat hated but often neglected sect, to having an audience with Rome?  How did the early Christians relate to their culture?  How did these early believers engage in apologetics?  The Letter to Diognetus may answer some of these questions.

Have people always interpreted the Bible the same way?  How did those in the early Church view and read Scripture?  For those within the first few centuries of Christianity what principles were used in interpretation?  Where did the idea that Scripture is an encoded text come from?  The Exegesis of Origen may assist in discovering these answers.

How did the early church celebrate the Lord’s Supper?  What was their view of the Supper?  Where did sacerdotalism come from? What in the world is sacerdotalism?  The Eucharistic Piety of Cyrpian and Ambrose may cause you to study your view of the Lord’s Supper a little more deeply.

How did our doctrine of the Holy Spirit develop?  What did it mean for early believers to be holy and to renounce the world?  What was the early Christian experience of the Spirit?  Haykin’s chapter on The Experience of Basil of Caesarea may begin to answer some of these questions. 

Finally, the chapter on The Mission of Patrick will certainly redeem your St. Patrick’s Day.  But it may also give you an appreciation for the way early believers engaged in mission.  Perhaps it will even inspire your own calling to “live-sent”. 

This certainly is a book worthy of being added to your collection.  If you are not interested in the Church Fathers and have little prior understanding this book is a great place to start.  You do not have to be an expert in theology or church history to enjoy this book.  Haykin writes in a very readable and helpful way. 

I encourage you to buy this book, but I will warn you—your purchasing probably won’t stop here.  After you read Haykin’s book you will probably be adding some of the Early Church Fathers to your collection of books as well.  But start out by reading this excellent work. 

I received this book free from Crossway in exchange for a review.

On Being a son of Sceva

Mike Leake 1 Comment

I have always loved the story of the Sons of Sceva (Acts 19).  To me it’s pretty funny that these guys think they can exorcise a demon only to wind up naked, wounded, and running away.  I like to laugh at these goons. 

But I’m not really laughing as hard this morning.  It’s easier to laugh when I distance myself from them.  Today I don’t feel so different than these Sons of Sceva. 

I could easily seem myself trying the same thing as the Sceva kids.  Yeah, I don’t really try to exorcise demons.  But in a way I kind of do.  I preach in the hopes that people may turn from darkness to light.  I counsel people.  I teach.  I write.  I plan programs/ministries.  I do many things with the hopes of overturning darkness and healing those wounded by evil. 

And I sometimes undertake this “ministry” the same way Sceva’s boys did it:

“By my degree in Christian Education I adjure you…”  “By the Jesus I read about in a Piper book I command you…”  “By the name of Jesus that I learned about in Romans: Syntax and Exegesis be healed”  “By the wisdom and power of John Newton’s Jesus be gone Satan…”

The danger of second-hand faith

A second-hand faith doesn’t have any power.  Not because the degree of second-hand faith is deficient, but because that faith is misplaced.  A second-hand faith has its object as a person that has faith, or even faith itself.  But the only type of faith that matters is the faith that is placed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. 

Second-hand faith will only leave you wounded, naked, and running.  This goes for life and this goes for ministry.  It’s not enough to simply speak about Jesus, or know about Jesus, what is required for hell-jarring ministry and living is actually knowing and believing Jesus Himself. 

None of this is to discredit the importance of reading good Christian books.  I’m not at fault for admiring Newton.  In fact I’d be stupid not to.  I’m at fault whenever I stop there.  If reading John Newton doesn’t lead me to worship His Jesus then I’m wasting my time and not reading him rightly.  Same goes with my pursuit of a degree at SBTS.  This labor and sweat is meant to lead to more passionate worship.  If it doesn’t then I’m wasting my time and only training myself to be a better son of Sceva. 

The only source of power

This story isn’t primarily a call to not be like the sons of Sceva.  This story is primarily about the power of the word of God.  Notice in 19:20 that Luke sums up the story by saying, “so the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily”. 

Did you notice that?  Earlier we saw that the demons “overpowered” the sons of Sceva.  Why?  Because they only had a second-hand faith.  But look what the word actually does.  It overpowers or “prevails mightily” over the darkness. 

We see this illustrated in the bonfire.  These former magicians realized that Jesus is more powerful than silly magic or feeble Jewish exorcists.  They came to place their faith in Jesus and it caused some serious repentance.  Not only did these former magicians come together to confess their sin but they also burned their old books in the sight of all.  At this bonfire they burned some (in today’s’ currency) 6 million dollars worth of goods.  That’s some serious repentance. 

What brings about this change?  The powerful name of Jesus displayed in His proclaimed Word. 

So, I’m convinced that if I want to see a massive bonfire of repentance then I probably have a few “magic books” that I need to throw in the fire myself.  I have some second-hand things that I am trusting in to be successful in ministry.  If I trust in these things I’ll wind up naked, wounded, and running.  But if I stake all my life and ministry on the power of Jesus and His Word then I might see a $6 million bonfire. 

Rancid Sweet Tea and Gospel Ministry

Mike Leake 1 Comment

I don’t want to be like the rancid half-empty glass of sweet tea sitting on my desk. 

It used to be refreshing.  It was cold, it was tasty, and it went well with my lunch.  On a hot day it was wonderful to have the cold ice crash into my parched mouth.  And the sugary sweetness of McDonalds tea, combined with the extra shot of caffeine gave an extra boost. 

It’s not refreshing any more.  The heat of my office got to it.  It’s invigorating chill has long sweat-out through the McDonalds cardboard it was housed in.  It’s hot tea that was once cold tea and now it is nauseating. 

You see, ice is only a temporary fix to a hot day. Eventually it loses and the heat overcomes it.  Then it turns into water.  Then it makes your tea disgusting.  Tea needs ice—not long ago melted ice—to make it awesome. 

Without grace I’ll be like that sweet tea.  Once refreshing but now rancid.  Like a hot day overcoming an ice cube ministry has a tendency to suck life out of you.  That’s nothing against ministry.  That is simply saying that we are weak vessels that need grace every day.  Sweet tea can’t withstand one entire day in my office with only its original dose of ice.  And I can’t withstand the heat of life and ministry with only yesterday’s grace.

I, and you, need grace today.  Without it you and I will be like the rancid sweet tea sitting on my desk.