Congrats to Adam Pohlman! He won a copy of Trellis and the Vine. Even if you did not win you can still purchase this book for only 17.95.
Adam, email me your mailing address so I can get this excellent book out to you.
If you did not win, stay tuned, there will be more drawings in the upcoming weeks.
On Tuesday I asked, where do churches come from? To which I answered, “Elaborate and decorated church buildings came from the time of Constantine. Functional church buildings came from a time prior—perhaps a century before.” I promised that today I would try to draw out some implications of this. Before we do this it may be wise to think about whether the early disciples would have built church buildings had they the opportunity.
Would the Early Church Have Built If Given a Chance?
To answer that question we will have to engage in some speculation as to why they did not build church buildings. Perhaps it was economic reasons. Or maybe it was because of their relatively small number. But that does not square well with history. There were indeed a decent number of believers living in Jerusalem shortly after Pentecost. Certainly, enough to necessitate a church building. And some of these (see Joseph of Arimathea) were quite wealthy. Yet, they chose to meet in the synagogues and houses instead of building a distinctly Christian building. Why?
My guess, and it is only a guess, is that they did not build a distinctly Christian building because they were not quite ready to “break with Judaism”. It is only after persecution that they were spread and subtly began to see the chasm between Christianity and Judaism .
But why did they not build exclusively Christian buildings (assuming they did not) in larger metropolitan areas where they were not yet persecuted? Perhaps it was for financial reasons. Perhaps it was for missional reasons or even social reasons. I doubt they were fundamentally against functional buildings designed exclusively for Christian worship. But, my guess is that the elaborate Constantine-type of buildings would have been appalling to the early disciples—but that is simply a guess.
Two Beliefs Driving the Early Church
I say this because there were two beliefs that seem to have driven the early church: A detachment from “this world” and a strong belief that Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of the Old Testament expectation.
Because of their detachment from “this world” and belief that Jesus was coming any day building an elaborate dwelling place would seem foolish. They would soon be living in the New Jerusalem and all of their resources would be given to announcing the coming Kingdom.
Sojourners don’t build mansions.
Secondly, their strong belief that Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of Old Testament expectation would probably cause the early disciples to shy away from recreating the temple. In the Old Testament you went to a building to meet with God. But Jesus obliterated that. The curtain is torn. Jesus is our Immanuel. Temple worship is offensive to Jesus’ mission of rescuing a blood-bought community of redeemed believers. The temple was elaborate because it was a display of the greatness of the God that dwelled therein. God doesn’t live there anymore. The indwelling Spirit creating holiness and unity in diverse peoples is now the cosmic display of the manifold wisdom of God (see Eph. 3).
From Constantine to Church the Noun
Enter Constantine. He was concerned with creating a “this world” type of empire. Therefore, spending empire money on creating a place to worship was not foolish to him. Secondly, he was converted (which could be argued that he was not) out of paganism. The One that rescued Constantine was to be considered the superior God. You displayed that by building elaborate temples to show this.
Fast forward some 18 centuries and we have church buildings that might shame Constantine. Through the centuries the Church (now a noun) has labored to make all things bigger and better. One church recently began 130 million dollar renovation plan. Their justification for doing so?
As I look around downtown Dallas, I see spectacular temples of commerce, of culture and of government – many new, some restored to former glory, and all intended to stand for generations. The Kingdom of God needs a home to equal them – a spiritual oasis in the middle of downtown.” (HT: Ken Eastburn)
Sound familiar?
“The Kingdom of God needs a home to equal them”. No, it doesn’t. The Kingdom of God has within it a home that shames them, and it is not found in Dallas, Texas. It’s one thing to look at a 130 million dollar renovation plan and consider it extreme, but the average church has 40-60% of its budget sucked up in building and maintenance.
I am not against church buildings. Let me rephrase that, I am not against functional church buildings. I just do not buy the “Our God deserves the best” argument that I typically here to excuse elaborate expenses on church buildings. I agree that our God is absolutely awesome and deserves the absolute best from us. I just do not buy that “our absolute best” is a temple made with hands. Rather, I think it is lives marked with single-minded devotion.
Undoubtedly there are those leading churches with large buildings and those attending large churches that have a single-minded devotion. Just like Constantine I doubt very seriously that these believers intend to do anything wrong. And maybe they are not. But my heart breaks that our church buildings are state of the art while children starve to death and a large part of the world lives in the darkness of no gospel knowledge.
Maybe the Great Commission Resurgence should involve selling church property (like state of the art sound, lights, seats, etc.) to fund a missionary, support a family desiring to adopt, feed the hungry, or engage in other mercy ministries. I have said it once before and will say it again, something is wrong with this:
It is no secret that I love John Newton. His wise counsel On Trusting God is ample reason for a deep love and respect for Newton. This may end up being a rather lengthy post but I want to slowly work through this letter to hopefully show you why the writings of Newton is a treasured jewel to me; and hopefully encourage you to read more of him.
This letter is the first in his 41 Letters On Religious Subjects. It appears that a young man, passionate about giving, has recently gotten married. This has caused a conundrum for him. He desires to continue giving but at the same time knows that he needs to provide for his wife. Should he lessen his giving to better provide for his new family?
Before, we begin going through this letter pause and consider how you would answer this young man…
Here is how Newton began:
There is doubtless such a thing as Christian prudence; but, my friend, beware of counterfeits. Self-love, and the evil heart of unbelief, will endeavor to obtrude upon us a prudence so called, which is as opposite to the former as darkness to light.
Newton wisely cautions the man that there is a type of prudence (wise use of resources) which is really not noble but rather selfish and miserly. There are some that would never be so bold to counsel in such a way. Newton has a deep knowledge of the depravity of man and he will not rule out that something that sounds holy is actually a guise for sin. But Newton is also a balanced man. He realizes that he could be wrong and he is also sensitive to living by gospel instead of Law. So Newton balances with this:
I do not say, that, now that you have a wife, and the prospect of a family, you are strictly bound to give to the poor in the same proportion as formerly. I say, you are not bound; for everything of this sort should proceed from a willing heart…if you find yourself very unwilling to be one sixpence in the year less useful than you were before, I could not blame you or dissuade you from it.
Then Newton writes the major thesis of this letter: “that when the Lord gives such a confidence [a heart to give], he will not disappoint it.” In other words if God has given you a passion to give then he will provide the means to do so.
After this Newton begins encouraging towards generosity. He speaks of “mere professors” and his picture of them seems to be an accurate picture of the American way (and this perhaps before there was an American way):
For the most part, we take care, first to be well supplied, if possible, with all the necessaries, conveniences, and not a few of the elegancies of life; then to have a snug fund laid up against a rainy day, as the phrase is, (if this is in an increasing way, so much the better), that when we look at children and near relatives, we may say to our hearts, “Now they are well provided for.” And when we have got all this and more, we are perhaps content, for the love of Christ, to bestow a pittance of our superfluities, a tenth or twentieth part of what we spend or hoard up for ourselves, upon the poor! But, alas! what do we herein more than others? Multitudes, who know nothing of the love of Christ, will do thus much, yes, perhaps, greatly exceed us, from the mere feelings of humanity.
We make certain that we have everything we need, then that our kids are well supplied, then that we give to Christ. Do you see what Newton is doing here? He is considering the trajectory that this young man may be setting himself on. He is in danger of refusing to give because he is not trusting that God will provide for his family. But again Newton is a balanced man, so he considers the question at hand—is it not right to provide for my family?
Newton’s answer is quite simple—lending to the Lord IS a surefire way of providing for you wife. In a brilliant couple of sentences Newton shows how the Lord provides:
He has more ways to bless and prosper those who trust in him, than we are able to point out to him. But I tell you, my friend, God will sooner make windows in heaven, turn stones into bread, yes, stop the sun in its course, than he will allow those who conscientiously serve him, and depend upon him, to be destitute.
Knowing this Newton probably believes the man will continue in his present state of trusting the Lord and giving freely to the poor. But perhaps after weighing what Newton says “prudence will be heard”. Newton then offers two points to consider. First, buy nothing unnecessary. “You cannot, I trust, in good conscience think of laying out one penny more than is barely decent; unless you have another penny to help the poor”. Secondly, let your friends in good circumstances know that you can no longer entertain them. If you do not have enough money to help the poor then you do not have enough money to entertain your friends.
He then quotes Luke 14:12-14 and comments thus: “I do not think it unlawful to entertain our friends; but if these words do not teach us, that it is in some respects our duty to give a preference to the poor, I am at a loss to understand them.”
So as to prove that he is not just doling out theoretical advice Newton provides a testimony from his own life:
I was enabled to set out upon the plan I recommend to you, at a time when my certain income was much too scanty for my own provision, and before I had the expectation or promise of assistance from any person upon earth. Only I knew that the Lord could provide me with whatever he saw needful; and I trusted, that, if he kept me dependent upon himself, and desirous to live for his service only, he assuredly would do so. I have as yet seen no cause to repent it. I live upon his promise; for, as to any present ways or means, everything here below is so uncertain, that I consider myself in the same situation with the birds of the air, who have neither storehouse nor barn. Today I have enough for myself, and something to impart to those who lack: as to futurity, the Lord must provide; and for the most part I can believe he will. I can tell you, however, that now and then my heart is pinched: unbelief creeps in, and self would much rather choose a strong box, or what the world calls a certainty, than a life of absolute dependence upon the providence of God. However, in my composed hours I am well satisfied. Hitherto he has graciously taken care of me; therefore may my heart trust in him, and not be afraid.
He then places the man in a similar situation as himself and encourages him to “beware, therefore, of that reasoning which might lead you to distrust the Lord your God, or to act as if you did.”
We now learn that this young man is a minister. And he is a minister that has on occasion complained that those in his congregation have “much of an expensive taste”. Obviously, if this young man is going to be used of the Lord then he needs to set a good example:
If you set yourself to discountenance this, and should at the same time too closely shut up your hands, they will be ready to charge you with being governed by the same worldly spirit, though in another form. If you have been hitherto tender and bountiful to the poor, and should make too great and too sudden an alteration in this respect, if the blame should not fall upon you, it probably would upon your wife, who, I believe, would be far from deserving it. If the house which has been open to the poor in former times, should be shut against them, now that you live in it, would it not open the mouths of those who do not love your ministry, to say, that, notwithstanding all your zeal about doctrines, you know how to take care of your own selfish interest, the same as those whom you have thought indifferent and lukewarm in the cause of the Gospel? Would it not?—But I forbear. I know you need not such arguments. Yet consider how many eyes are upon you, watching for your halting.
Newton closes by showing his confidence in the young man to do what is right and he also encourages him to decide in his mind now what is fitting for him to do. “It is easier to begin well, than to make alterations afterwards.” And I think towards the end Newton (a very tender man) desires that this young man know his love for him and that even though he speaks with “much strictness” he does so out of deep love.
This is but one example of why I love John Newton. You can tell even in this letter that he has deep humility. He does not just give advice and say, “Follow my advice. I’m John Newton, fool. Booyah!” Neither does he shrink from giving hard advice. He loves deeply and because of that he rejoices in the truth. He has solid evangelical theology but it is married to a heart overwhelmed by grace. We would be wise to sit under such godly counsel.
And that is why I share insights from Newton every Thursday…
Author: Daniel Darling
Pages: 224 pages
Publisher: New Hope Publishers
Price: 10.19
Genre: Youth/Christian Living/Teen Devotional
Quick Summary:
Crash Course is a self-described “fast-paced, 100 day journey to forming a solid foundation of faith for the rest of your life”. Each day features a one page devotional, a bottom line statement, a power prayer, a power passage, and an invitation to “own it”.
The devotionals are short and simple with catchy illustrations that provide solid nuggets of truth. The prayers are also simple yet pointed. The power passages are relevant to the devotional and not simply plucked out of nowhere. What may be unfamiliar to many devotional readers is Darling’s “own it” section. Here he encourages teens to dig deeper and really study the topic at hand.
What I Liked:
I love that Darling raises the bar for teenagers. He does not allow them to settle for a quick read and then done with your devotional time. His section encouraging students to “own it” is an excellent idea. This would make a pretty encouraging read for students during the summer months. The 100 days would be perfect for such an endeavor.
I also like that the author is very ecumenical in his beliefs. He is solid in the essentials and lenient in the non-essentials. As an example of this, on Day 18 Darling discusses Jesus’ second coming. He says this, “Christians disagree on the specifics of Jesus’ coming. Here is what I believe…” Then he discusses his belief in the Rapture, etc. As you are probably aware I disagree, but I thoroughly appreciate the way he worded this; he leaves room for disagreement.
This book is a simple way to whet the appetite of teenagers and fill them with solid orthodoxy without a ridiculous amount of struggle.
What I Disliked:
One of the things I dislike most about devotionals is their format. They are typically extra heavy on story, little exposition, and a nice little bible verse to tie it together. I do not fault the author as much as I do the system. I simply wish our devotions were more solidly geared on expositing texts rather than topics with Bible verses added on. But as far as teen devotions go this one is good, I just wish the whole genre were transformed.
Should You Buy It?
I am torn on this one. I think this book may be best suited for a junior high student that has recently been converted. If you are buying it for someone in that age range then this is an excellent resource. But I could be wrong, it is quite possible that senior high students would like it to. Just know your students. If they are more established in the faith this may not be the book for them. If, on the other hand, you have a decent group of new believers then this may be a great resource to put in front of them.
Rating 3.5 out of 5 Stars